Monthly Archives: December 2014

“Wise Men” From the East

Teaching, , , , ,

Matthew 2:1-12.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Who were these “Wise Men from the East”? The Greek word here is from magos, defined as “an Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician: – sorcerer, wise man. [1]

In historical context of the times, however, they were not “Oriental scientists,” nor magicians, but rather the ‘sages’ from the Jewish colony in Babylon, about 500 miles east of Jerusalem. There was still a strong colony of Jews in Babylon dating from the captivity when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and Judea in 605 BC. Although, after seventy years, a remnant of them had returned to Palestine, the majority of them remained in Babylon and prospered as international merchants, even in the successive empires that ruled this area.

‘Sages’ Were Wise Men

These were not astrologers, enchanters, practicing astrology, magic and witchcraft as did the Babylonian magos. Certainly not. These were astronomers, having the wisdom of the movements of the heavenly bodies for the purpose of telling time and location. When God created the lights of the heavens, Genesis 1:14-15, they were for the purpose of giving light upon the earth, to divide the day from the night and for signs of seasons, and for days, and for years. God gave the knowledge of these movements to Adam and they were passed down through the generations to the priestly class. This was astronomy, the farthest thing from astrology.

In Babylon, the Jews considered their ‘sages’ to be ‘wise men,’ but not astrologers. These ‘sages’ were the Biblical scholars, or intelligentsia, of their colony. They knew the priestly lore of the time-telling heavens, for determining the times by reference to the stars was one of the duties of the Hebrew priesthood. By reference to the stars, they were to announce the Sabbaths, New Moons, (months), the times for the feasts, and the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. They would then have been able to determine which astronomical events would mark the time foretold for the birth of the Messiah. Thus, they would have recognized the “star” that announced this event. They were expecting it.

These particular ‘wise men’ probably were sincere in their desire to worship the new-born Messiah, Matthew 2:2, 11. They were truly guided by their knowledge of the Scriptures and of the stars and had the spiritual insight to hear and obey the warning of God, (vs. 12). They were, therefore, among the first Jewish converts to Christianity and bore a powerful witness to the deity of Jesus Christ. The very heavens had  declared it unto them, (Psalm 19:1-4). When they returned to Babylon, they would have announced the “Good News” that the Messiah had indeed been born in Bethlehem of Judea, as foretold by the Prophets, and announced by the time-telling heavens.

This scenario would have been much more in keeping with the Biblical record than to think that these ‘wise men’ were “Oriental scientists or magicians”. These men were aware of the message from the stars that the time had come and their Messiah had been born. Matthew 2:10: “And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

[1] Strong’s #3097.

Lesson 5 of Series – Old Testament Prophets Proven

Revelation Commentary

Jeremiah Proven

Jeremiah had proven to be a true prophet in his own lifetime when he predicted the fall of Judah and the destruction of the temple and the Babylonian exile. He was also given a prophecy that the nation would be restored after an appointed time of 70 years, not an indefinite time which could not be determined. It was therefore a provable prediction, one that could not be avoided by saying that it was for some indefinable future time, even though most or all of his generation may have passed away.

Daniel Proven

Daniel had proven to be a true prophet in his own generation when his interpretation of the dreams of the kings of Babylon came to pass, (Dan. 2 through 5). He, too, was given another prophecy that was not for his generation, but was to be sealed for an appointed time, (Dan. 7 through 12). Again, this was for an appointed time, not an indefinite future event. It was provable, although not in his generation.

By the time of Christ the appointed time of Daniel’s sealed book of prophecy was nearing its completion. A view consistent with Scripture is that the sealed book of Revelation 5 and the opening of the seals in Revelation 6 through 18 portray the fulfillment of the “time of the end” which Daniel foresaw, that is, the end of the fleshly nation of Israel, and their holy city, Jerusalem. Daniel’s prophecy was to be “sealed until the time of the end,” (Dan. 12:9). That “end” was to be at an “appointed time,” and the Book of Revelation begins by saying that the “appointed time is near,” (Revelation 1:3).

It was the “end of the age,” for the fleshly nation, not the end of the whole planet. This ‘end’ established the pattern for the end of any nation that has had the knowledge of God and refused it. This is consistent with 1 Corinthians. 10:1-11, that is, that the experiences of the fleshly nation serve as an example to the Church, even to the end.

Next Lesson: Daniel’s Prophecy of the End Was Fulfilled.

The Manger Tabernacle

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Luke 2:7: “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Verse 12: “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

The majesty of this scene is only matched by its simplicity: The Creator of heaven and earth had come to deliver Mankind from Death and He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, a feed trough in a stable for cattle.

What Kind Of ‘Barn’ Was This?

In context of the New Testament times, was this stable an Old English or Early American barn? I don’t think so. In Biblical times, it was probably a ‘booth’, such as was built for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The instructions for this celebration are recorded in Leviticus 23:39-43: “Also, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. (40) And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. (41) And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. (42) Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: (43) That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I AM the LORD your GOD.”

Keeping the Feast would have resulted in hundreds of these ‘booths’ in and around Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Hebrew word for ‘booths’ is Succoth. It is defined as: “booths, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, and tent.” It is most familiar to us in its translation as “tabernacles.”

The Succoth Were Also Barns

This word is used in Genesis 33:17: “And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle, therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.” From this passage we know that these ‘booths’ or ‘tabernacles’ were also used for sheltering animals.

In Biblical context, it is likely that Christ was born in one of these succoth – a tabernacle, a temporary shelter. As He was “an Israelite born” He probably lived there for the seven required days, thus fulfilling the law. After the seven days in the succoth, on the eighth day they took him to be circumcised, Luke 2:21.

He is said to have “tabernacled” among us, John 1:14, Amplified Version: “And the Word became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten Son receives from His father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”

God hid His glory for a while in a stable, a succoth, as foretold by Psalm 27:5: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” The stable became a royal pavilion for a while.

Jesus Shared The Brevity Of Life In The Flesh

Jesus shared with us the human condition of the brevity of this life in the flesh: He was born in a “tabernacle.” He thus exemplified the true meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles; that is, that our flesh is merely a temporary abode:

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. (3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (5) Now He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit,”    2 Corinthians 5:1-5.

Peter also saw his earthly body as a temporary tabernacle: “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; (14) Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me,” 2 Peter 1:13-14.

Jesus Became Our Tabernacle, Immanuel

Jesus became our tabernacle as foretold by the Prophets. His Body fulfilled Amos 9:11: “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will built it as in the days of old.”

Isaiah 4:6: “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and rain.”

His Body is “the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man,” Hebrews 8:2.

Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Jesus is our Immanuel, God with us.

Lesson 4 of Series – Tests Of A Prophet

Revelation Commentary, , , ,

Proof Tests Of A Prophet

At the time of the writing of the Book of Revelation, it was morally necessary that He meet the requirements of the Biblical tests of a prophet.

The four proof tests required of a prophet were:

  • First, He should cause signs and wonders to come to pass. This is seen as evidence of the prophetic calling from Moses to the Apostles. Jesus clearly qualified under this test. But signs and wonders alone did not suffice for proof of the prophetic office, as stated in Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
  • Secondly, even though the prophet could do miracles, he also must turn the people from their evil ways according to Jeremiah 23:22, and not to strange gods. Again, Jesus qualified eminently under this rule.
  • The third test is illustrated in Deuteronomy 18:18-22 and Jeremiah 28:9: the true prophet would be proven when his words came to pass; whereas if he made predictions that did not happen, then he was known to be a false prophet. That this attitude toward the office of a prophet was prevalent in the New Testament era is evidenced by the words of Gamaliel to the Sanhedrin when he said:

“Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them, lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God,” (Acts 5:33-39).

These three tests had served the nation well for many years, but when false prophets proliferated at the time of the Babylonian exile they began to say, (perhaps citing such works as the Book of Daniel), that their prophecies were for a distant time, and that they were not to be judged by their own generation. This situation created a crisis such as described in Zechariah 13:1-5 wherein parents were to slay their own child if he claimed to be a prophet, and Amos was ashamed to be called a prophet, asking only to be known as a herdsman and gatherer of sycamore fruit.

The prophet could not, however, forbear prophesying simply because the people rejected his message and continued in their sins or ridiculed him. When the Lord told Amos to “Go, prophesy” he went, for “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8).

Ezekiel also was directed by the Lord to speak “whether they hear or refuse to hear,” (2:5). Either way, the time would come when “they will know that there has been a prophet among them.” It was not required that they turn the whole nation, nor even a majority, to righteousness. It was only required that those who did heed their words would be turned from sin.

The Fourth Test Of A Prophet

  • The fourth and final proof test of a prophet was that their predictions should not only be proven true, but be proven true within the generation who heard the prophet speak the prediction. The prophet was to give a signal prediction by which he would be proven in his generation, Ezekiel 12:25:

“But I the Lord will speak the word which I will speak and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, says the Lord God,” (RSV).

Christ Proven To Be A True Prophet

It is in this context that we see the implications of Christ’s words concerning the fulfillment of His prediction in “this generation.” Jesus would have been judged a false prophet if His prediction of the fall of Jerusalem had not happened within the time frame of the life of the contemporary generation. He offered this as the signal prediction by which His prophetic calling would be proven. In this context, the very event of the destruction of Jerusalem was itself a revelation of Jesus Christ because it proved His prophetic anointing.

Next Lesson: Old Testament Prophets Proven

 

Lesson 3 Of Series – To Fulfill the Old Testament Prophecies

Revelation Commentary, ,

In all Bible prophecy, there is:

  •  An immediate literal fulfillment that proves the inspiration of the prophet;
  • Then there is the general reference, or universal principle that is involved because God does not change, because He is no respecter of person, and because His Word is eternal;
  • Then there is the eschatological reference which involves the ultimate fulfillment.

Many years before this, God had spoken through Jeremiah, (chapter 25), to serve up the wine cup of wrath first to Jerusalem, then to all the nations of the earth. Some of these nations are called by name, while others are grouped in large headings, or, as in verse 26: “All the kings of the north, far and near…and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth.”

Note that the immediate fulfillment of judgment upon Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah, was the destruction of the city followed by a captivity of seventy years. This was literally fulfilled in about 588 BC.

The General Reference or Universal Principle

After the nations are called by name, (Jeremiah 25), it is said: “…the king of Sheshach shall drink the cup of wrath after them,” (v. 26). Sheshach is a code name, or cipher, for symbolic Babylon; that is, any city that fills the same role as Babylon did in that day. For example, in Jeremiah’s time, Babylon had “served themselves” of God’s people: They had slain them, made them captives and had otherwise persecuted them. Babylon had worshiped and served idols and indulged in astrology and had infected Israel and Judah with this sin. The term Sheshach represents the pattern, symbol, or name, of all who do these sins, (the general reference or universal principle involved). So in Jeremiah’s prophecy the pattern was set by which the whole world would be judged. That is, the universal principle was declared and demonstrated. Verse 29 states:

“For lo I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.”

The Ultimate Fulfillment

The destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day was the beginning of the pattern of God’s wrath poured out upon a people who have had the full revelation knowledge of Him and have turned from Him. By the time of Christ, it was Jerusalem that had moved into this role of symbolic or Mystery Babylon. She had served herself of God’s people, the Christians, (true Israel), and had worshiped idols of Mammon and of military power. She had even rejected and crucified the Christ, the Son of God. So it became morally imperative that God’s vengeance for His saints and His wrath against sin be fulfilled. The Book of Revelation declares that the time has come and it “must shortly come to pass.”

Next: Lesson 4: Tests Of A Prophet