Christ and his beloved bride.

This was a time unlike any other time in history. In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul affirms that the Son of God came to this earth at just the right time in the divine scheme of things. He expresses the thought like this: “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law.” (Galatians 4:4) For centuries this time had been in preparation.

Paul also tells us that Jesus came to fulfill all the promises made unto the fathers. Romans 15:8 I SV For I tell you that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth in order to confirm the promises given to our ancestors.

The problem was during Jesus' time the Jews were under Roman domination. Many of the Jews were hoping the Messiah would be more like a political Savior, a King the Messiah who would free them from the Roman yoke.

In response to this hope, a huge crowd set up a virtual parade for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. They laid down palm branches across the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (also prophesied regarding the Messiah). And they called out, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Even Jesus' disciples enthusiastically asked him, "Is this when you will set up your kingdom?"

In short, Jesus did not fit who they expected the Messiah to be. In fact, most of what Jesus did was contrary to their view of a Messiah. The Old Testament Scriptures do contain a multitude of prophecies about the Messiah who will come as ruling, triumphant King and set up his kingdom. In addition to this portrayal of the Messiah as King, there are hundreds of other Old Testament prophecies clearly refer to the Messiah as a Savior from sin. (Isaiah 53:5)

They thought if Jesus was the Messiah, he should think and behave more like themselves. As time went on many of the Jews were going apostasy from the church 1John 2:19; Act 15:24 and became the primary enemies of Christians in the early years. Paul said, “Five time I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes” (2 Corinthians 11:24) as well as in ‘dangers from my countrymen’ (11:26). Then at Lystra,’... Jews came from Antioch and Iconiun, and having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to dead’ (Acts 14:19) Of course, when the unbelieving Jews instigated the Gentiles, they also joined in persecuting Christians. (Acts 14:2) It shows how passionate the Judaizers hatred was against the Christians. Acts recording in 23:14 how the chief priests and elders has made a great oath to even kill Paul.

They were extremely bitter toward believers and inflicted much tribulation. One of the main purposes of Revelation was to encourage the “bride” in the midst of severe persecutions and tribulation they were undergoing. John calls himself their brother and companion in the tribulation. Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

As time progressed things became worse and Nero began his assault on the Church. This began a great persecution of the Church for 3 ½ years from A.D 64 till A.D 67, These early churches, staggering from both persecution and apostasy. Rather than stand up for Jesus and die, many of the Jews went apostasy. It was a rugged time for the infant churches.

The first collective persecution of the Christians took place in Rome under Nero, towards the close of the year 64, very soon after sentence had been passed on to Paul.
Nero came up with some most extraordinary ways to torture Christians. Nero performed the worst atrocities upon his victims he did not want to just kill Christians, he wanted to make them suffer first. Nero enjoyed dipping Christians in tar, or oil, or resin, and nailed them on pine poles were lighted and burned as torches for the amusement of the mob; while Nero, in fantastical dress, figured in a horse race, and displayed his art as charioteer. Burning alive was the ordinary punishment of incendiaries; but only the cruel ingenuity of this imperial monster, under the inspiration of the devil, could invent such a horrible system of illumination.

Around his palace, were also Christians torches that illumined the night while he yelled: "Now you truly are the light of the world." Nero also performed many other kinds of torture, often killing them in the Amphitheater in front of large crowds of spectators where he did some of his most gruesome murders. The ghastly way in which some of the victims aroused were put to death was to wrap Christians up in animal skins and throw them to the lions, or wild dogs to be ripped apart. Many others men and woman were tied between two oxen or horses tearing these men and women apart in front of thousands of entertained spectators.

At other times he would crucify them, and after the crowd would get bored, he would set the Christians on fire. Nero falsely accused and executed Christians, who were infamous for their faith in Christ. Ultimately, Christians were executed not for the public good or any criminal acts, but on the account that they were believers in Christ.

These are the ones who John said came through that great tribulation in Revelation 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The bride’s is clean and bright, denoting her sinlessness before God. The clean and bright linen, which the bride wears also corresponds to the clothing promised to the over comers in the church at Sardis (Rev. 3:4-5).

These Christians had not been defiled by the “harlot woman” and are “virgins to the Lamb of God.” Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These saints were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Pentecost, the Feast of Firstfruits, represents the first part of God's spiritual harvest.

Notice how the New International Version interprets this verse. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were (purchased from among men) and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4) [emphasis added] The purchase here is the betrothed or bride-price for the virgin. We first see this concept of a bride-price in. (Exodus 22:16-17)

Revelation 14:4 states unequivocally that these first century saints are the virgin to the Lamb Christ. The Bible also unequivocally states, these numbers of them which were sealed are from the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:4-10) The 144,000 are called "virgins." Isaiah tells us how God loving delights, over this virgin. “For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)

Revelation tells us the bride has made herself ready and the fine linen is identified as the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-9 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His “ wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the “fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." [emphasis added]

The characteristics describing the bride, making herself ready, and being “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,”the righteous acts of the saints” identify those who have been redeemed. In Isaiah 61:10 the saints are joyful to be clothed with the garments of salvation, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah. 61:10)

The chapter begins with a prophecy of Jesus Christ: Isaiah. 61:1-3 Uses the imagery of marriage pictures God's supreme gift. Jesus righteousness, is presented to the saints as a costly robe of righteousness adorning His bride. Just as the bridegroom is adorned with a beautiful robe on his marriage day, so is the bride decked out or adorned with her jewels.

The Bride Of Christ.

The bride of Christ. Paul tells us that there was a remnant who remained faithful to Yahweh. Romans 9:26-27. Before we start to tie all this in together we need to back up a bit and take a quick look at another historical setting of Israel. Elijah marked a time of awful apostasy in Israel. After Jeroboam died, there were many kings of Israel, but none so wicked as Ahab. He married a heathen woman, named Jezebel, and worshiped gods and built temples for them, which provoked the anger of the Lord against Ahab more so than against all the kings of Israel that were before him. So bad was it that Elijah felt he was the only true Israelite left.

Elijah had been true to the Lord, and under God had done his best to fight the idolatry that covered the nation. In God's power he had challenged the prophets of Baal on mount Carmel. God had wonderfully proved himself to be the one true God by answering Elijah's prayer and sending fire down from heaven to consume Elijah's offering, when all the crying of the prophets of Baal to their god had been in vain.

The prophets of Baal had been killed, and the people had bowed down and cried 'The Lord he is God'. Then the Lord had sent rain on Israel and ended the drought, but all seemed in vain. Jezebel still dominated over Ahab, and Elijah found himself fleeing for his life. In this situation Elijah cried out to God in despair. In his flight from Jezebel, God asks Elijah what he is doing. Elijah replies I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me. Elijah was in despair, yet after God had dealt with him in earthquake and fire and thunder and a great stillness, God points out to Elijah that his assessment of the situation was wrong. God tells Elijah "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." For the entire story, read all of 1 Kings 16-19.

Paul goes into the history of the Jews, and for this he chooses a spectacular example in the history of Elijah the prophet. "I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the scripture says in the passage about Elijah - how he appealed to God against Israel: 'Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me?' And what was God's answer to him? 'I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:1-6)

Paul asks the question as to whether God has rejected his people. This seems to be so because the nation of the Jews had been rejected by God, and the understanding prevalent at the time was that the whole nation of the Jews constituted the chosen people of God. Much like some believe today.

Paul's answer to his own question is a plain rejection of such an idea. Has God rejected his people? By no means! Paul then proves his point by two illustrations. The first one is concerning himself, and the second is found in the history of the Jewish nation.

Paul argues that to say God had rejected his people, and had gone back on his word, was proved wrong straight away because of his own experience. Paul then describes briefly his Jewish pedigree. He was a true Jew. He could trace his ancestry back to Abraham, and to the fact he belonged directly to the tribe of Benjamin. What Paul is arguing is that here was a true Jew, of the nation of the Jews, and this true Jew was accepted by God.

Paul plainly had in mind the fact of his conversion. As a Jew, he was angrily opposed to Christians, and to the Gospel. He went out of his way to exterminate the followers of Jesus. Never in his wildest dreams does he think of becoming a Christian and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Yet in spite of this God stopped him in his tracks and in his virulent attack of the church of Christ, and made him one of Christ's disciples. Paul had no desire to become a Christian yet he was owned by God, and made by God one of God's own people. Paul saw this as a very powerful argument that God had not rejected his people. If God had rejected his people, he would not have gone out of his way to save and accept Paul who was a true Jew.

Paul then is telling the truth. God foreknew Paul, and it was because he was foreknown by God before the foundation of the world, that God accepted him in Christ's death, and numbered him amongst the members of the true Israel of God.

What Paul is arguing, therefore, is that God had not rejected the people of the Jews altogether. The nation of Israel had been rejected, but there was still the remnant whom God had chosen before the foundation of the world, and these were being saved all the time.

Paul tell us about this remnant in Romans 9:26-27 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: " Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.

Paul argues that this was and is the pattern of the work of God since the days of Elijah. Just as in the past God preserved a remnant chosen by grace all down the history of the Jews, so now and in the future, he was doing the same, as in the time of Baal.

What was true of Paul in this respect was all the apostles, and many other Jews, the 3000 converted on the day of Pentecost, and indeed many thousand souls were added (Act 2:41) God had not forgotten his promise to Abraham. There were on Gentiles in the early Hebrew Christian Church from 32 to 42. He was accepting all the true children of Abraham by faith. Paul himself, happened to be one of those Jews, that God had not forgotten.

The Gentiles did not start coming into the Hebrew Christian Church until the council at Jerusalem in the 60's. Starting from Pentecost, the infant Church was being trained and prepared as a pure virgin to take on the role of a wife and fitting bride for her mate.

Here is one prime example from the words of Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 NIV I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. “I promised you to one husband, to Christ, “ so that I might “present you” as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (emphasis added)

It should not be overlooked here that Paul says he promised the Church of Corinth to one husband, to Christ as a pure virgin. The church was already promised to Christ as a radiant, blameless bride. This is the period of time that she is observed for her purity. It is with this remnant of Spiritual Israel that Yahweh make his bride.

Old covenant Israel the treacherous wife of Yahweh.

In Exodus 19 Yahweh comes down to the Israelites to sign the wedding covenant agreement with the people. Moses now brings the proposal of Yahweh to the elders and the people. Israel promised to be faithful in all things. Exodus 19:6-8 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

The proposal was accepted. "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." Now the bride, the children of Israel, had to be prepared for the wedding. Exodus 19: 10 "Then Yahweh said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day Yahweh will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people'."

Later, Yahweh gave the bride the contract or agreement for the marriage. The terms of the Covenant contract between Yahweh, and Israel, contained the Ten Commandments. The main condition of this marriage contract was that the Wife (the congregation of Israel -PSALM 135: 4), would not become an adulteress woman.

Let's have a look at a few of the clauses of this marriage contract found in the Book of -EXODUS "You shall have no other Gods before Me"... -EXODUS 20: 3. ."You shall not commit adultery"... -EXODUS 20: 14.
Now readers, what finally happened in this relationship between Israel and Yahweh is that, the congregation of the “Nation of Israel” (the Wife of Yahweh) became an adulteress woman. Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. Finely Yahweh calls her a harlot. (Hosea 9:1)

As a wife treacherously departed from her husband so does the Nation of Israel treacherously departed from her husband. Jeremiah 3:20 Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," says the LORD. The children of Israel are a stiff necked lot for the marriage had only just begun when they went astray.

God would punish them and they would cry out for help. He would help them and they would obey for a time and disobey again. Judges 2:11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook Yahweh God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked Yahweh to anger. 13 They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of Yahweh was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.

Now, because Israel breached the marriage contract by committing adultery, Yahweh then made a judgment on her according to the terms set forth in the marriage contract, which started at (Mount. Sinai) and gave her a bill of divorce. In Jeremiah 3:8 Yahweh gives Israel a bill of divorce for her adultery. The Greek word apoluo, translated as “divorce in this passage, means to let loose from, let go free.

Unlike marriage, divorce was not instituted by God. His comments on divorce, Jesus explained that divorce represents a change in God’s order because "from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8). He further observed that it was because of the "hardness" of the human heart that Moses "allowed" divorce (Matt 19:8) Yahweh determines to override the law for the sake of a future divorce from His partner National Israel. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

Israel has left her husband, Yahweh, and committing spiritual adultery “with another” (Baal) and worshiped wooden images. (1 Kings 16:31). Then Ezekiel writes "How degenerate is your heart!" says the Lord GOD, "seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot. (Ezekiel 16:32)

This deed entitled Yahweh to divorce his wife National Israel. In terms of the divorce law, Yahweh cannot remarry the former wife (Israel), and the unfaithful wife cannot return to her husband. Such action would pollute the land even more severely. Jeremiah 3:1 "They say, 'If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man's, May he return to her again?' Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me," says the LORD.

Also, according to the law once at women has become a harlot, she could not be taken as a wife. Leviticus 21:7 'They shall not take a wife who is a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God. If Yahweh asked the priest to do something that was just right and holy would He not do the same? Under just these two sets of circumstances Yahweh could not remarry His old bride. So, if one is to obey the law, no renewal of the relationship between God and National Israel was possible.

While Yahweh could not remarry His old harlot bride He also could not comply walk away from her because through her the Messiah would be born. (Isaiah 9) So Yahweh waited until Jesus the Messiah was born then He judged the harlot according to the terms of the marriage contract. Ezekiel 16:38 "And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. This judgment was done when the harlot was completely destroyed in A.D. 70.

This left the way open for Yahweh to take a “virgin as a wife.” Leviticus 21:13-14 'And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 'A widow or a divorced woman or a defiled woman or a harlot, these he shall not marry; but he shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife.

Israel the vineyard: of the Lord.

The application of the vine goes back to the time the nation of Israel left Egypt. David. Speaking of God, said, “You brought a vine out of Egypt: you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.” (Psalms 80:8-9, 16)

Isaiah later continues this figurative language about the house of Israel to which he says; Isaiah 5:1-7 I will sing for the One I love a song about His vineyard: My Loved One had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 2He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it, and cut out a winepress as well. Then He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. 3Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard. 4What more could have been done for My vineyard than what I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? 5Now I will tell you what I am going to do with My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. 6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned, nor cultivated, and briars and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. 7The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of His delight. And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. What did God want to communicate to the people of Judah in the Song of the Vineyard? It’s obvious that the Song is actually a true story. In the story God planted a vineyard and it’s clear it. He chose fertile soil on a hillside where there would be plenty of sunshine and rainfall. He cleared away the stones—which is no small task in the land of Israel!

The Lord planted His “choicest vine” of Abrahams descendants in the vineyard. For protection and security, He planted a hedge and built a wall around the vineyard, and built a watchtower in the center. In addition, He made a winepress in anticipation of a bountiful harvest. Then He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.

God gave His people every advantage and opportunity to produce good fruit. However, Israel produced nothing but the worthless fruit of wild grapes. In sorrow and disappointment, the vineyard keeper decided to turn away from His vineyard and allow it to go to waste. He would no longer cultivate and protect it, and it would become overgrown with briars and thorns. God would remove His hand of protection from the nation, and would literally allow it to be destroyed verse 5.

There are several other “vineyard passages” in the Old Testament. Israel is likened to a vine or vineyard in Jeremiah 2:21 and 12:10, Ezekiel 15 and Hosea 10:1. In every one of these passages God’s people were expected to produce fruit. In fact, Ezekiel belabors the point that producing fruit is the only purpose for a vine! It’s good only for producing fruit—and it’s expected to bear good fruit!

The good fruit here is related to the fact that Israel was to be the light of God unto the gentiles. However Jesus said when they win one over they made him twice as much a son of hell as themselves ( Matthew 23:15)

What more can the Lord do for them? In Isaiah’s Song, God’s vineyard willfully produced only wild, worthless, unusable fruit—in spite of the fact that God did everything that could possibly be done to assist it to produce a glorious harvest.

John’s original Jewish audience knows these metaphors were drawing no the spiritual truths and historical realities of the nation of Israel. The language had a specific purpose to remind Israel of her long history.

As a result John writes in Revelation14 about the subject of God’s divine wrath poured out upon the vine. This is done by way of the picture of a harvest by which God reaps the earth. Revelation 14:14-20 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the “vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

One may note some key elements in these verses: (a) The Reapers are. The Son of Man (is the Lord Jesus Christ) with His holy angels (vss. 14-14-20) This stresses the source. It is an act of God.

The “vine of the earth, are fully ripe." The words “are ripe” represent the Greek akmazw which means “to be in its prime, be at its peak of ripeness.” A peak of ripeness THEN not over 2.000 years later.

Israel is the only nation in the Bible call the vine. Jeremiah 2: 20 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

Then to this, John adds the word “grapes.” John’s original Jewish audience knows these metaphors were drawing no Isaiah. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. (Isaiah 5:2)

The vine of the earth, in the land of Israel, is thrown into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Isaiah 5:2 63:3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.

The term “earth” is often used in our translations of the book of Revelation. The Greek word ym would often be better translated “land.” Its definition is given by various Greek Lexicons as land, earth, soil, or dirt. Our modern definition of the word “earth” makes many passages appear to be world-wide when the context indicates a localized action or condition. Note how it is normally translated “land” as in Matthew 10:15 and Mark 11:24.

The Results of the Reaping, a harvest would be bloody carnage occurring particularly in Palestine. This will result in the bloodiest battle and carnage of human flesh that Israel has ever known. From this battle blood will flow up to the horse’s bridle. Revelation 14:20 . And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

The blood flowing as high as the horses’ would portray the gravity of this judgment. The distance of 1600 stadia (about 180 miles) just happens to be the approximate length of the land of Palestine.

Revelation perfect "harmony."

When I began to study the book of Revelation I begin to see the complete and perfect "harmony" that Revelation has with all the Bible. One of the promises themes that runs throughout the Bible is God’s promise Wedding to Israel. (Isaiah 62)

In Matthew, Jesus spoke in parables about the wedding feast, and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:2-7)

A call went out to them that were bidden, “as in already invited to the wedding.” In its 1st-century Palestine setting, the parable in Matthew 22:1-14 is one of many which Jesus declares that God was going to bring about His kingdom. The time had come when God was going to consummate all his promises to Israel including the wedding.

The king sends his servants to call them in, and they would not come. Then he sends forth other servants to tell them again, and they still don't come. Did you see the mercy the Lord showed in this parable on the ones bidden (Israel) to the wedding? Two times the Lord asked the people of Israel to come and they chose not to.

They PAID NO ATTENTION to the second invitation and ignored the king in favor of their agriculture and commerce. And the rest of the servants the (prophets) they seized and treated spitefully, and killed. Jesus speaking to Pharisee, and scribes later said, "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. (Matthew 23:34)

Paul confirms this as well. Act 7:52 "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 1Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

Notice also that those the king invited to make light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. " They thought more of their agriculture and commerce than the king's invitation to come to the wedding. Jerusalem was a beautiful city, and the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world John tell us when all these things were destroyed the merchants will cry and weep. (Revelation 18:11-19)

Next the king was going to sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7; Luke 19:43; 21:20-22)

The analogy of Matthew 22:1:7 refers unmistakably to the time when Babylon/Jerusalem is destroyed as will. There are two very important parallels that should not be over looked. One there is gong to be a wedding. Two the king will send out his armies, to destroy those murderers, who killed his servants and burned up their city.

These events Jesus mentioned are synonymous with John’s teaching in Revelation after all Jesus was John’s teacher. In Revelation 18:24 we see that it was Babylon the Harlot Jerusalem who killed the “prophets and saints” and were guilty of “all who were slain on the earth.” That city would be burned. Revelation 18:18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying “What is like this great city?

What happened after God the king sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. The wedding of the Lamb begins. Revelation 19: 6:9 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

John’s prophecy is in perfect harmony with Jesus’ teaching in (Matthew 22:2-7) The Wedding motif in Revelation, demands that we place Revelation in the first century context along with the fall of Jerusalem that Jesus also mentioned in (Matthew 22:7)

The city of Tyrus.

As we have seen Tyrus was a beautiful seaport, and the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world.Let's continue 22 "The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 "Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 "These were your merchants in choice items--in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace. 25 "The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise. You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas. 26 Your oarsmen brought you into many waters, But the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas. 27 "Your riches, wares, and merchandise, Your mariners and pilots, Your caulkers and merchandisers, All your men of war who are in you, And the entire company which is in your midst, Will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin. 28 The common-land will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots. 29 "All who handle the oar, The mariners, All the pilots of the sea Will come down from their ships and stand on the shore. 30 They will make their voice heard because of you; They will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads; They will roll about in ashes; 31They will shave themselves completely bald because of you, Gird themselves with sackcloth, And weep for you With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. 32 In their wailing for you They will take up a lamentation, And lament for you: 'What city is like Tyre, Destroyed in the midst of the sea? 33 'When your wares went out by sea, You satisfied many people; You enriched the kings of the earth With your many luxury goods and your merchandise. :34 But you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters; Your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst. 35 All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you; Their kings will be greatly afraid, And their countenance will be troubled. 36 The merchants among the peoples will hiss at you; You will become a horror, and be no more forever.' " ' " (Ezekiel 27:22-36).

All of this greatness, all of this power, all of this glory, all of this wealth, all of this commerce is going to cease. The Lord is going to bring it all to an end.

Israel always wanted to be like other nations. (1 Samuel 8:5) However the problem is if you don’t learn anything from the history that tells why those nations were destroyed you are boomed to repeat it.

Ezekiel prophesied this warning to people of Tyrus century’s before now God gives Christ this revelation to show to John. In Revelation, chapter eighteen, the Bible speaks of the destruction of the commercial system of Babylon/Jerusalem in the great tribulation period. God is finally bringing an end to commercialism that has preyed upon the weakness of man. These are many parallels between Ezekiel 27 and Revelation 18. Tyrus was at one time, the center of the commercial activity of the world. (27:8-21) Babylon/Jerusalem was the center of the commercial activity of the world. (Rev. 18:12:13)

Tyus claimed 'I am perfect in beauty.' (27:3) Babylon/Jerusalem “glorified herself.” (Rev. 18:7)

The merchants said, “What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?” (27:32) In Rev. 18:18 the merchants cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like this great city?

The mariners, and all the pilots of the sea threw dust on their heads while walling and weep, because they have been made rich by bringing the merchandises. (27:30-32) The merchants threw dust on their heads while wailing and weep over the rich wealth that are lost. (Rev. 18:19) Their kings will be greatly afraid, And their countenance will be troubled. (27:35) The kings of the earth will stand at a distance for fear of her torment. (Rev 18:9-10)

Tyre will fall into the midst of the season the day of its ruin. (27:27) Babylon/Jerusalem will be threw into the sea. (Rev 18:21) The greatness, and glory of Tyrus, would be no more . (27: 36) The greatness, and glory of Babylon/Jerusalem will be no more. (Rev. 18:21-22)

The message against Tyre was given in the year 586 B.C., just after the fall of Jerusalem. The name Tyre means "rock." It was built on an island rock about half a mile from the main-land. Unlike other Phoenician cities, it formed a little kingdom in itself. Hiram, king of Tyre, built a house for David in Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 5:11) This same Hiram brought materials to Jerusalem to build the temple. The wood was hewn in Lebanon, taken to the sea, and sent in floats over seventy-five miles to Joppa. ( 2 Chron. 2:16)

He also furnished sailors for Solomon's navy when it went from Ezion-geber to Ophir for gold. (1 Kings 9:26) Tyre again supplied cedar wood for the building of the second temple. (Ezra 3:7-8) Tyre citizens were merchant traders and abounded in wealth.

Here in Ezekiel, however, is a picture of the greatness of Tyre, and of its fall. How well equipped was this city! How widespread was her trading and how valuable her goods! Yet "thy riches, thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy marines, and thy pilots, thy entire company, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee . . . shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin." Knowledge is power. And interior knowledge of scripture brings great power. Israel knows what was written in Ezekiel, about Tyre any why. They also know there was nothing wrong with wealth after all God really blessed her as a nation. But when wealth is made into a minister called legalized extortion on the backs of other people by the Temple Priests of all people Jerusalem was headed to doom.

The more I read the Bible the more I understand that fleshly Israel stocked up a long list of reasons as to why she was headed to destruction. In Malachi 2:1-9, the people of Israel, and in particular their priests, were guilty of having “corrupted” the covenant that God had made with them. She treacherously departed from God her husband. Jeremiah 3:20 Surely as a wife treacherously departed from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

She backslides on God and played the harlot. Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. She became murderers. Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

She turned her Messia over to be put to death.. She made wealth out of legalized extortion. And the list goes on. It is times like this that I say thank you Lord for it is only by your grace that I am not in their place.

The city of Tyrus. Part 1

Many years before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70 under divine inspiration Ezekiel predicted the fall of the city of Tyrus. Ezekiel 27 So the word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, And it is a lamentation that he is told by the Lord to take up a funeral dirge for Tyrus.

This great, glorious, beautiful seaport, sort of the center of the commercial world, which trades and does commerce with the nations of the world, is going to be destroyed, it’s going to die. So the funeral dirge, the lamentation for Tyrus.

Thus saith the Lord God; And again the claim, “God is speaking”. O thou that are situated at the entry of the sea (Ezekiel 27:3), This is a reference to the harbor of Tyrus, and there was two entries from the harbor, one from the north, and one from the south, so that it made it easier to enter the port, because of the direction that the wind might be blowing. You could enter the port from the south, or the port from the north.

You are a merchant of the people for many coast lands, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, you have said, I am of perfect beauty (27:3). That was the claim.

Your borders are in the midst of the seas, It was, it’s a, it’s directing the attention to this island city of Tyrus, a half mile off shore. your builders have perfected thy beauty. They have made all of your ship boards of fir trees from Senir: Which is mount Herman, the beautiful fir trees on mount Herman.] they have taken the cedars from Lebanon to make the masts for the ships. Because they’re tall and straight, and of course they’re strong, they resist dry rot. The oaks of Bashan Which was famous for its oaks, it was on the other side of the Jordan river. that use them for the oars of these ships; and the company of the Ashurites have made your benches of ivory that have been brought out of the islands of Chittim. Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt Comprised the sales of these ships. they were blue, and purple from the coast of Elishah which covered thee (Ezekiel 27:4- 7).

So there were beautiful ships of the Phoenician merchant marine. With their beautiful blue, and purple sails as they plied the waters of the Mediterranean, were the main merchants of those days.

The inhabitants of Zidon A neighbor city, twelve miles, fifteen miles away from Tyre. and Arvad were your mariners: The sailors your wise men, O Tyrus, that were in you, were your pilots. The men who learned to navigate by the stars and all, pilots of the ships. The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee as thy calkers: and your ships of the sea with their sailors were in thee to occupy your merchandise. So it speaks of the very prosperous commercial enterprise by the people of Tyrus, their ships, the description of the ships, but then, Those of Persia and Lud and Phut were your army, your men of war: and they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; and they set forth your beauty. The men of Arvad with your army were upon your walls round about, and the Gammadims were in your towers: and they hanged their shields on the walls round about; that you might be made perfect, or in beauty. Tarshish An area of Spain was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; They brought from Tarshish silver, iron, tin, lead, and they traded in your fairs. Which were the trademarks. Javan, Tubal, Meshech, There around the Black sea in Russia. they were your merchants: they traded in slaves They used in those days slave trading from those tribes, and at that time they were just tribal people, and they were slaves actually, and trading in slaves. vessels of brass in your market. The house of Togarmah Which was Armenia] traded in your fairs with your horses and their mules. And the men of Dedan Now this is not Dedan of Arabia, but this is Dedan that is further north. were your merchants; many coasts were the merchandise of your hand: they brought you for presents these horns or tusks of ivory and ebony. Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of your making: and they occupied in thy fairs with their emeralds, and their broidered work, and the fine linen, the coral, and the agate. Judah, the land of Israel, they were your merchants: they traded in your market the wheat of Minnith, and pannag, A couple of areas in Israel that were noted for the wheat and the honey, Of which the land of Israel was known, as the land of milk and honey. and oil, and balm. Damascus Syria, the capital was your merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all the riches; in the wine of Helbon, An area just north of Beirut, where they grew the grapes for wine and it was a famous wine in those days. the white wool. Dan also Javan going to and fro occupied your fairs: they brought the bright iron, the cassia, the calamus, and they were in your market. More into spices. And Dedan This is the Dedan of Arabia. was there with the precious clothes for the chariots. Arabia, and all of the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in the lambs, and the rams, and the goats: in these were thy merchants (Ezekiel 27:8-21).

I think you’re getting the idea, and the feel of a vast commerce in all of these goods. It would be more or less, like going over to the port of Los Angeles, and watching these ships come in from the far east with all of the goods from the far east, the various kinds of merchandise. More on this tomorrow.