The Message Part B

BA. Ecc 3:1 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; Ecc 3:11 - ...also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end; 

BB. Rom 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

BC. Based on our knowledge about this world, or that in our mind or heart, His first coming has occurred; however, I aim to expand your understanding. Therein lies the renewal teachings. 

BD. Based on this, we should not hold too tightly to the things we’ve known or seen. That is, our imagination should not be used to oppose the possibilities of His power and mysteries [Matt 22:29 - ...ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God]. 

BE. Perhaps, you may be curious to know why His death is expressed in past tense if it has not occurred. We’ve seen this in verses such as Rom 5:8 [...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us]. It is because it is written as a fulfilled prophecy: 

BF. Isa 48:3 - I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass; 

BG. Rev 21:1-4 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea… for the former things are passed away. 

BH. The former things are the things happening in the present heaven and earth. Unto the Creator, these things have been fulfilled even though we're still in the present heaven and earth. 

BI. Then, how do we relate Christ to the other biblical figures? It is important to note that His works, the written words - the scripture - that reveal His works, and His spoken words [BF] expressed as written words were finished before the foundation of the world: 

BJ. Heb 4:3 - ...although the works were finished from the foundation of the world; Rom 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

BK. Though the scripture is expressed as a series of narratives for our learning, we’ll discover that these narratives are prophecies that testify of Christ. We’ll also discover that these biblical figures themselves testify of Jesus: 

BL. John 5:39 - Search the scriptures...and they are they which testify of me; Matt 11:13 - For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 

BM. Matt 5:18 - …till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled; Matt 24:35 - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 

BN. John 5:39 and Matt 11:13 reveal the knowledge in BK. In case we have doubts about the meaning of the law referenced in Matt 11:13, Matt 5:18 alongside Matt 24:35 should help us understand that the law means His words which we have in the scripture. 

BO. An example of a narrative that is written for our learning, or as an ensample, is that about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha. This narrative is a prophecy about the day of judgment: 

BP. 2 Pet 2:6 - And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 

BQ. Matt 10:14-15 - And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet; Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city 

BR. To establish this point, have you ever wondered why Sodom and Egypt are spiritual names for the place where the Lord was crucified?: 

BS. Rev 11:8 - And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified [Rev 11:8]. 

BT. They are because Sodom, Egypt, wilderness [Isa 14:17 - That made the world as a wilderness...], prison [Isa 14:17, Ps 142:7, Ps 146:7, Isa 61:1], shadow of death [Luke 1:79, Job 10:22] among others, are parable names for this present world. 

BU. Based on the letter, the Lord was not crucified in Egypt nor in Sodom. He was crucified in Golgotha [Matt 27:31-33]. 

BV. Based on this knowledge, the interpretation of Matt 10:14-15 is that whosoever will not receive His words will be subjected to something worse than someone in Sodom and Gomorrha - as imagined - would have experienced. 

BW. The cities and houses referenced in Matt 10:14-15 [BQ] denote individuals [Matt 5:14, Luke 11:24] - we receive His words individually [John 12:47-49]. It is easier to assimilate if we consider a similar expression: 

BX. Acts 13:50-51 - But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts; but they shook off the dust of their feet against them… 

BY. By extension, the city of the great King, Jerusalem, referenced in Matt 5:35 [Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King] denotes the natural body of Christ [1 Cor 15:44] or the earthy image of Christ [1 Cor 15:47]. 

BZ. We know that the great King and Lord is a Spirit [2 Cor 3:17, John 4:24]. We also know that He dwells in the temple of the body [John 2:21, 1 Cor 6:19]. The Jerusalem we just described is the earthy Jerusalem.  

NEXT: The Message Part C