Monday, November 21, 2011

Part One of the "Identities of Revelation" Series

What is a wife?


"And Yhvh God went on to say: “It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.” Gen.2:18
From this we see that the first man Adam had need of a helper, to "complement" him.
What does that word "complement", mean?


a : something that fills up, completes, or makes perfectb : the quantity, number, or assortment required to make a thing complete <the usual complement of eyes and ears — Francis Parkman>especially : the whole force or personnel of a shipc : one of two mutually completing parts : counterpart


com·ple·ment  (kmpl-mnt)
n.
1.
a. Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection.
b. The quantity or number needed to make up a whole: shelves with a full complement of books.
c. Either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually complete each other.


God is teaching us in the account of Genesis, that human men need completion through a mate. When unified with a wife; man is ideally made whole, complete, perfect. Eve enabled Adam to fulfill his purpose. If he did not have her, he would not be able to fulfill it (Gen.1:28; 2:18; 3:20). God himself said that Adam alone, was "not good" (Gen.2:18). After God finished his creating (which included Eve), only then did he say that it was "good" (Gen.1:31).


I call your attention to this scriptural fact, because it had been forgotten while certain men fabricated their own doctrines.
I hope that by reminding you of the original perfect purpose of a wife, you will be enabled to adjust your own thinking, if it has been molded by that false doctrine.

In teaching the interpretation of the "woman" found at Gen.3:15 & Rev.12:1,2,13,14,15,16,17 ;  you may have heard it said that it is "Jehovah's heavenly 'wife-like' Organization".
I submit to you that this is not only without scriptural footing, and is in fact even in conflict with the scriptures....it also dishonors Yhvh God; to imply that he, like Adam, needs a wife to be "complete, made whole, or made perfect"; or that He needs anything in order to fulfill His purpose in living (Acts 17:25; Job 22:2; Isa.42:5). He is omnipotent, and can accomplish anything without needing to rely on anyone (Psalm 62:11; Matt.19:26; Ec.3:14).

The Bible refers to the covenants/promises that God makes, as women (Gal.4:24)... not for his own sake nor for the sake of angels in heaven, but for the sake of dying mankind.
These promises/covenants involve others who enter into the covenant with him. The purpose of those covenants, is to accomplish God's will and man's salvation, by bringing forth a righteous  "seed". This is why these covenants, are compared to women. For through these covenants, God's "sons" and people, are "born". Those "sons/seed" are His solution to sin and death. Yet God himself has no need of those sons, nor the covenants that give them life. He is already complete and perfect within himself.

To reason on this false doctrine.....
It is asserted that by means of the "heavenly wife-like organization", Christ was brought forth. It is said that these angelic Sons of God somehow gave birth to Jesus Christ, as well as the group of 144,000.
Please...according to reason and logic....
Who created these angelic sons of God in heaven? Were they not created by means of the Firstborn...the Christ? (Col.1:15,16,17,18) Yet, he himself was NOT the WIFE of his heavenly Father. He was God's firstborn Son, and "master worker" (Prov.8:22,30). It was through HIM that the angels were created...not the other way around (Col.1:16). Once created, these angels are also referred to, as "sons"... (not as "wife") (Job 38:7).

Col.1:15-
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, All [other] things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist".


Proverbs 8:22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32


There is no record of an agreement with the angelic heavenly host, for them to bring forth "seed".
What about the 144000? Who gives them life? Does the Bible indicate that the angels in heaven are their mother?
The Bible itself tells us who this woman/mother is, as well as how she gives life to the 144000. It does NOT teach that this woman, is the angels in heaven!

In talking about the Covenant with the Nation of Israel, in comparison to the New Covenant, we read at Gal.4
21 "Tell me, YOU who want to be under law, Do YOU not hear the Law? 22 For example, it is written that Abraham acquired two sons, one by the servant girl and one by the free woman; 23 but the one by the servant girl was actually born in the manner of flesh, the other by the free woman through a promise. 24 These things stand as a symbolic drama; for these [women] mean two covenants, the one from Mount Si´nai, which brings forth children for slavery, and which is Ha´gar. 25 Now this Ha´gar means Si´nai, a mountain in Arabia, and she corresponds with the Jerusalem today, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother."
28 "Now we, brothers, are children belonging to the promise the same as Isaac was.29 But just as then the one born in the manner of flesh began persecuting the one born in the manner of spirit, so also now. 30 Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the servant girl and her son, for by no means shall the son of the servant girl be an heir with the son of the free woman.” 31 Wherefore, brothers, we are children, not of a servant girl, but of the free woman.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother."


Clearly, the "mother" of those in the New Covenant, is symbolized by "Sarah". That Covenant is also called "Jerusalem above".  The Sarah/New Covenant/New Jerusalem is the means by which "Abraham's seed" receive their spirit lives/resurrection. 
There were those who were born "Abraham's seed" in the manner of the flesh (through the "Hagar" Covenant). These were born as "slaves" to the Jewish Law. 
But those born of the "free woman"...the New Covenant... are free of the Law, and of the sins the Law atoned for. For these, the heavens are reserved....."Jerusalem Above".


Old Law Covenant, made with the Nation of Israel:
    symbolized by Hagar
    "from Mt. Sinai" ("a mountain in Arabia")
    "Jerusalem today"
    "in slavery with her children" (slaves to sin, slaves to the "Law")
    "born in the manner of flesh" (physical descendants of Abraham)
    persecutes the one "born in the manner of spirit"
    "by no means shall the son of the servant girl be an heir "


New Covenant made with the "Israel of God" (Gal.6:15,16)
    symbolized by Sarah (1Pet.3:6)
    from Mt. Zion (a mountain in Heaven) (Rev.14:1)
    "New Jerusalem", the "afar off" City of promise (Heb.11:10,13,16)
    "free woman" whose "children are belonging to the promise" 
        [free from sin, free from the written Law, belonging to Heaven (Heb.12:23)]
    "born in the manner of spirit" (spiritual descendants of Abraham)
                     (through "Isaac"/Christ -- Rom.1:6; 8:2; Heb.11:18;  1Cor. 15:45; Gal.3:14)
    persecuted (John 16:33)
    Heirs of the promises made to Abraham (Rom.8:17)
    
Men may teach us that the angels in heaven are mother to the 144,000;
but the Bible teaches that the New Covenant/Jerusalem Above/"Sarah"/the promise,  is.

Gal.3:
7 Surely YOU know that those who adhere to faith are the ones who are sons of Abraham. 
14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham might come to be by means of Jesus Christ for the nations, that we might receive the promised spirit through our faith.
18 For if the inheritance is due to law, it is no longer due to promise; whereas God has kindly given it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; 
26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all ofYOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOUare all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise."


If these "heirs" have Abraham as their Father, and they are born by means of the "free woman", then they are also sons of "Sarah"...also called "Jerusalem above". This is the "woman" who provides the faithful anointed life. She is their "Mother" Covenant. Can you see this?

"Jerusalem above" is a Covenant in the heavens....a promise for the inheritance given Abraham. These are the "seed" through which all the families of the earth "will bless themselves".

The identity of "Jerusalem Above" is clear. It is the new Covenant that gives the 144000 life, and is symbolized by the "free woman" Sarah. This covenant provides freedom from sin, without the sacrifices of the Law (Hagar).
The descriptions of "Jerusalem above" contain no reference to the angelic sons of God in heaven, nor identify these, as Jehovah's "wife".

The angels in heaven have no need to enter a Covenant with God. These are not involved with mankind's fall into sin and death. Neither can they be party to God's solution.
God's perfect justice demands that the solution be arrived at, through those directly effected. The issues of free will...the choice to follow Satan or Christ...the Heirs of Promise...the war over earthly sovereignty; does not involve, nor can it be justly solved by, the spirit sons who belong only to heaven.

Only by the integrity on the part of sons of men, can these promises come to pass for Adam's offspring, and divine justice be satisfied.
When the issue of mankind's loyalty is resolved, the basis for salvation is justified.
Sin and death will only be removed, if men keep their part of the Covenant made with God.
If they do, God has promised to provide life to those who prove faithful.
The angels in heaven have no part in the earthly issues of sovereignty and sin; nor in their solution.


This false "woman" doctrine is "strongly entrenched", and prevents the understanding of many things. But for those who are willing to have their thinking molded by God's Word, this false doctrine can be overturned and set straight (2Cor. 10:4,5;  2Tim. 3:16,17).
The Bible gives clear indication of who the "woman" is.
Once we are set on the right path concerning the "woman", many more identities within the Book of Revelation, will become clear.
                                               -----------------------------------------

The first recorded Covenant that God made, was with the Original Pair, Adam and Eve. He agreed to provide for all their needs, which included the "tree of life". In return, he explained what he expected from them. They were to continue advancing the act of creation, until it's full purpose was realized. (Gen.1:22,28; 2:15,16)
If Adam and Eve had remained faithful according to the terms of the covenant/agreement/promise; it would have resulted in a perfect seed as plentiful as the sands of the sea. The earth would have been "subdued"/tamed. The planet and all living things upon it would have lived forever in peace, righteousness, happiness and perfection, while in subjection to benevolent mankind.
The endless life of humanity would have been based on perfect parents, and the Tree of Life.

Eve was the means by which Adam would see the fulfillment of God's covenant with him. The earth would be "filled" by means of her, as her name indicated....
"Eve"..."the mother of all those living" Gen.3:20.

As we all know, this original "woman" failed. God's blessing turned into a curse (Gen.3:17,18,19). God's perfect righteousness could not bless evil rebels with endless life. Yet the curse to come upon them, was not from a vindictive Creator. It was the result of Satan's dominion, which sadly, Adam and Eve selected (Hosea 6:7).  They chose to be directed by the Tree of Knowledge of good and bad. It was not possible to be directed by opposite sayings/"fruit", of two opposite "Trees"/messenger angels.
In choosing to listen to Satan, the Tree of Death; the "Tree of Life" was temporarily lost to them and their children (Gen.3:24), along with it's benefits.
(for the Bible's meaning of "trees" and "fruit", see pearl-finetrees.blogspot.com )
How would the "Tree of Life" be returned to righteous humanity?
How could the inheritance of corruption and sin be removed?
Without "repurchase" (Isa.47:4)...
Never again would there exist another female in Eve's line, who could bring to birth a perfect human race.
Never again would there exist another male in Adam's line, who could father a perfect human race (Psalm 49:7).
These two....this original pair...could no longer provide for God's original purpose.(1Cor. 15:22; Romans 5:14)
The human race, needed a perfect "Repurchaser", to "father" children for the "dead" Adam (Deut.25:5).

In God's love and justice, He did not simply start with a new physical pair. He was not going to execute those who left Him. But, according to Adam and Eve's free will, God would leave them to the consequences of their choice, to reject the Tree of Life. Since it was not the choice of Adam and Eve's offspring to reject God's guidance; these would be permitted their own choice and will. Yet all these would have to suffer their parent's choice of subjection to Satan, until God's righteous arrangement for a legal restoration could be judicially accomplished (Eph.1:10).
Although not yet born, God transferred his promise/covenant to the offspring of Adam and Eve.
Yet not for those who would choose wickedness as their parents did (Rom.6:16).
There was yet a way for God's foundation of physical creation, to prove successful!

In God's love and justice, He allows Adam and Eve's offspring, a choice.
They can remain in the inheritance of sin and death from their physical ancestors, or
they can choose a different spiritual standing before God, based upon identification with new spiritual parents. That new Adam/father and new Eve/mother would rescue these from their inheritance of sin, and offer them what Adam and Eve lost...access to the Tree of Life (John 14:6; 6:68; 1:14).

Adam and Eve and their descendants continued to commence with filling the earth. But God commenced with His plan to provide all these descendants with a new source of eternal life (John 5:17; Eph.1:8,9,10,11,12). God's name "YHVH" infers that He can overcome any roadblock to his purpose (Ex.3:13,14,15; Isa.55:11).
On the very day that the need for these replacements/repurchase was made evident, God pronounced how His purpose would see fruition. His words would point to the means by which the human race would be provided "living" parents; and again gain access to the Tree of Life.
Adam would be replaced by Christ (1Cor. 15:45).
Eve would be replaced by "the woman", "Sarah" (Gal.4:26).

When referring to these new spiritual parents, God said:
 And I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.” Gen.3:15

In Gods great wisdom, He saw that the introduction of  "bad" into the world, would cause a conflict;
between those who would follow Satan in the same course of Adam and Eve;
and those who longed for redemption, salvation, and the restoration of righteous rule by God (Eph.6:12).

This "woman", was God's means/promise/covenant for repurchasing righteous humanity back to life. That journey would involve a progression of covenants...all symbolized by the "woman". Yet we see from this verse, that Satan would fight against the seed produced by these Covenants, and the seed would fight against Satan.

This conflict/"enmity" would rage, until God's plan of redemption came to full completion (Eph.1:10). This full time limit would be reached, when the woman gave birth to the full number of her righteous "seed" (Rev.12:5). That full number would have had to prove their rejection of submission to Satan (James 4:7; Luke 22:31) and his sayings of death (Heb.2:14; John 8:44; Rom.5:14a; Rom.5:17a). Only then could the woman's seed prove to be the antithesis of Eve...and fitting daughters to this new mother covenant of life (1Pet. 3:6;  2Cor. 11:2). Once given in marriage, these seed "virgins" will become the next woman/covenant/promise...to benefit further living "seed" (Rev.21:2,10; 22:3,2,17).
The newborn presence of the completed administration/seed, would bring about the final battle/enmity,
between Truth and Lies....between the remaining remnant of the woman's seed, and Satan's seed (Gen.3:15; Rev.12:7 ). Each side would be lead by their leaders. Satan leading the troops of deception;
Christ leading the victorious warriors of Truth (Rev.19:11,14; 6:1,2; 12:11).
This final battle of this enmity/war is said to be fought by
    *the "kings of the earth" Rev.16:16
    *the "angels" of "Michael" and of the "dragon" Rev.12:7
    *Jesus and the "armies" following him on white horses, in white linen. (Rev.19:14,8)

[For a scriptural study of who fights the battle of Armageddon, see the article,
 "Who are the Kings of the Earth?"
http://pearl-kingsofearth.blogspot.com/

This is a greatly simplified overview of the steps God's purpose progresses through;
between mankind's fall into sin and death, and mankind's redemption and justification back to life.
The initiators and source of this salvation, is God and Christ.
The means by which these things come to pass (and "seed" of blessing come to life),
are by means of covenants/promises, which are symbolized, by a woman.

The interaction between God and His covenant,
and Christ and his covenant,
is compared to marriage..."owned AS a wife" (Isa.62:4,6).
The "marriage" Covenant mentioned here (Isa.62:4,6), was with the earthly Nation of Israel....
NOT with angels in heaven.
This comparison to marriage, is so that we humans may gain understanding. This "marriage" is symbolic. It represents the promises of a progressive legal basis, which when finally established, will enable perfect life to be restored to the earthly Creation. This legal basis, is provided for through the free will of the "seed", and their refusal to become a slave of Satan, despite all manner of persecution (Job 2:4;  1Pet. 2:24;  2Tim. 2:12; Rom.8:17; Matt.20:22,23)

In the last phase/promise/Covenant, Christ becomes the new perfect father of life (Isa.9:6;  1Cor. 15:45,46) and the 144000 "bride" becomes the New and perfect "foundation of Peace" (the meaning of  New "Jerusalem") Rev.21:2; 22:17. That solid foundation of Peace (Heb.11:9,10) will set physical Creation free! (Romans 8:19-21)

                              ------------------------------------------------------------

After having been introduced to this idea of the "woman" as representing Covenants of life, let us briefly review.

God's first Covenant was inaugurated in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Yet Eve was made for Adam (1Cor. 11:9;  1Tim. 2:13). She would be the means by which he would fulfill his purpose to "fill the earth" (Gen.1:28).

God's second covenant was with Abraham (Gen.12:1,2,3). He promised Abraham a "seed". That seed would come through Sarah. These events would become a pattern (Gal.4:24) of God's progressive solution, through "Sarah"-like Covenants, which would also produce promised seed.
The name given Jacob and his descendants, was "Israel". "Israel" basically means when translated, "Sarah of God".

This brings us to the third covenant, that which God made with the "Sarah of God", Israel. (Rom.9:4,5)
That covenant promised, that if the Nation agreed to keep itself clean by means of God's commandments and Laws; God would provide the promised "Seed" through it. Sacrifices involving blood were also necessary, for the forgiveness of their sins. The Covenant God made with Israel, once again was for the purpose of bringing forth the "seed", Jesus Christ (Gal.3:16). Just as Israel was the symbolic wife/"Sarah" of God, Jesus became the symbolic "Isaac", "Sarah's" promised son/seed. (Heb.11:18; Gal.3:14,16; Rom. 9:9)

Once "Sarah's" Son (Christ/"Isaac") was born (resurrected to immortal life), What was to be the next step in the promise/mother covenants? Were there more "seed" promised to come forth?
What "seed" would be produced next by means of the "New" Sarah/covenant?

"For not all who [spring] from Israel are really “Israel.” 7 Neither because they are Abraham’s seed are they all children, but: “What will be called ‘your seed’ will be through Isaac.”(Christ). 8 That is, the children in the flesh are not really the children of God, but the children by the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For the word of promise was as follows: “At this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.” Rom.9:6-9 (Gen.18:10)

This illustrative "Sarah of God" (according to the Bible) was FIRST, the Covenant with Israel. The son/seed, produced/promised, was Isaac/Christ (Gal.3:16).
The New Covenant came next (as the "free woman", Sarah), and produced the promised 144000 seed of Abraham, by which "the families of the earth bless themselves".
 “At this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.” also applies to these (Gal.3:29,26,28). For when Jesus returns/"come"s, the New Covenant [also called "Sarah" (Gal.4:22,23,24)] will have given birth to her "son/seed", (Rev.12:5) the completed administration (Gal.3:29; Rev.12:5; 2:26,27) symbolized by a "firstborn" son (Heb.12:23; Rev.14:4; Rev.20:6).

After the "woman" gives birth, she is seen on earth. This is because once the Covenant's members/seed are completed, her sealed members have now become the manifestation of that Covenant. All those sealed become part of the New Holy City, New Jerusalem (according to the promise). Once the promise is fulfilled, that covenant/woman becomes a reality, it is not just a promise anymore.
(Just as Christ fulfilled the promised seed of the Old Covenant, and so brought about it's transition to the New; so too, the resurrection of all 144000 fulfills the promised seed of Abraham through the New Covenant/Free woman. This seed fulfilled, also brings about the next transition).

Once this completion occurs through the full 144000 being sealed, the "remaining ones" on earth, are the only ones to represent her/Sarah/New Jerusalem/New Covenant. These living members are alive on earth, though belonging to "heaven" (Eph.2:6; Rom.8:9; Col.1:13).
This is why the woman is no longer seen as a promise  "in heaven" (Rev.12:1,2) but after she gives birth to the full number, she is seen "on earth"(Rev.12:13,15,16,17).
Clearly, Satan at this point in Rev.12, has already been thrown to the earth. Yet, he is able to persecute the woman after she gives birth. She is then, no longer seen in heaven.
This can not possibly be the "heavenly wife-like organization of angelic spirit creatures". For, these are not bound on the earth. Neither are they persecuted by Satan, after he is "thrown down" (Rev.12:13)!

The allegory/"symbolic drama" continues (Gal.4:24)...

When Jesus paid for the next, "New" Covenant with his own blood, it was also with the purpose of bringing forth a "seed" (Gal.3:14; Rom.9:7). After paying for this Covenant of Life with his/"Isaac's" own blood, he himself was raised from the dead, under that Covenant. He became the "firstborn (man) from the dead" by means of this New Covenant/"mother"/promise (Col.1:18 b).
The new, resurrected Christ became the symbolic "Jacob" (son of Isaac)....father to the twelve tribes of the "Israel of God" (Gen.35:10 [Gen.32:28; John 16:33] 1Kings 18:31; Gal.6:16).
His first Sons (the twelve apostles), are the "fathers" of the twelve tribes of those sealed. These twelve nurture and "judge" those whom they assist and approve to become sealed members in their own tribe (Luke 22:30). These 12 tribes are judged and sealed by the fathers/apostles of those tribes, from among those chosen by God, through Christ (Rev.7:4; 21:14). Only the twelve were given this power to judge anointed ones, and they manifested this even while still men on earth (Acts 19:6).

This New Covenant (also still called "Sarah") would be the next stage of the "woman", which would now bring forth 144000 of  "Abraham's seed". (Abraham's free wife, was Sarah. If they are "Abraham's seed", then they are also children of his wife, "Sarah") Rom.9:8
As we saw in Gal.4; Abraham's seed by means of the "Hagar" covenant, are the Jews.

This New Covenant also, would reach fulfillment. Once all 144000 are sealed in the heavens, the Covenant/woman again adapts to the progression of God's solution. Once 144000 receive life through the New Covenant, "all Creation" has not yet attained to life. What yet needs to occur, to bring "all creation" back under the perfection of God's sovereignty?

Once all 144000 are given life (resurrected into spirit bodies) by means of the mother covenant; the "marriage/adoption" in heaven takes place (Rom.8:23; Eph.1:14). The promise of this covenant is then fulfilled. The inheritance of actually becoming New Jerusalem, materializes. This living City is now the next stage of the "woman/covenant/promise".

Who stands to benefit next? Who are the next "seed" to receive life through the new manifestation of this woman/Covenants/promises of God?

The Final Stage of the "woman"/Covenant/Promise, arrives!
The blessings of this final stage of the Covenants, arrive to the earth, where their purpose began.
Finally, the effects of sin and death are to be removed from the Creation on earth!

The new father Christ (Isa.9:6), and the New mother his bride/covenant/New Jerusalem, reach the earth (Rev.21:2,3; Heb.1:6; Acts 3:20,21). With them, they bring the return of the "Trees of Life" (Rev.2:7; 22:1,2). These provisions of living forever are once again within reach of all mankind! God's original purpose has at last been restored, by means of "the woman" (his covenants/promises)! This new Eve, "Sarah"/the Bride; will become a loving, tender, nurturing mother, who will offer eternal life, to anyone who truly wishes it! (Rev.22:17; Gen.22:17,18)
[Isa.42:6; 49:6; 62:5) -- Isa.62:5 needs a good translation (http://biblehub.com/nasb/isaiah/62.htm)]


So while our heavenly Father and Christ are complete, whole and perfect within themselves, they do make use of "women"/covenants, in order to produce "seed", through which they will fulfill the promised blessings of life/healing, to all appreciative mankind.

"And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of its broad way. And on this side of the river and on that side [there were] trees of life producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month. And the leaves of the trees [were] for the curing of the nations."  Rev.22:1,2


(To learn more about the blessings of the "trees of life", see article about  
The Holy City
and 
pearl-treesoflife.blogspot.com)

pearl-finetrees.blogspot.com


To learn more about our "heavenly mother" and how she is within reach (Matt.24:19), see:
("Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers")

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