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The Prophetic Pre-Trib Psalm of the Church: Parable of the Virgins DECODED



While working on the new LSV Bible translation, I was recently struck by an often overlooked psalm: Psalm 45.  You know when you've seen something a hundred times, but have never really seen it?  That was my experience.  And I'll tell you, translating the Bible has fundamentally shifted my thinking (or perhaps added to it) in two key areas:


1. I used to think that Jesus' message and the New Testament books frequently touched on Old Testament Scripture, but were largely innovative.  That is to say, God was revealing lots of new things after the establishment of the Church.  I don't think that anymore.

Yes, there are most certainly new truths revealed, but virtually every bit of Jesus' message can be directly tied to the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), even down to His parables.  Regarding the gospel, the entirety of the good news can be found in Isaiah 53, including Jesus' atoning death, His burial, and His resurrection.  It's all there.  Even the prophesied existence of the Church, in cryptic form, can be routinely found in the Prophets.

The New Testament is less an addition to the Old Testament, and more a fulfillment and unveiling of it.  It is the culmination and fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Seed that began back in Genesis.  What was just an image in the Artist's mind in the Old Testament, becomes the completed, unveiled, crystal clear picture in the New.


2. I once thought that the Bible's primary audience was you and me.  Now I think that the primary audience of the Old Testament was Christ Himself and the primary audience of the New Testament is the Church.

I won't dive too deep into this one as that's a subject for another time, suffice to say, the Hebrew Bible presented a coherent message, along with a set of rules that the Jewish people thought was about them, yet they didn't keep the rules.  They held the rules in highest esteem, thinking that their unique possession of the rules made them God's corporate prophetic "son" (see classic Rabbinic interpretation).  Yet the routine employment of the Son of God, Servant of the LORD, Son of Man, Branch of Jesse, Son of David, and so forth in the Old Testament, were not ultimately references to Israel or to some mere human Israelite, but to a Man who is truly God—and God's Son.

This divine Man would actually keep the rules and actually fulfill the prophecies.  How would He know which rules to follow if not for the Hebrew writings that had been written in advance of His coming?  He was born just like you and me, in mortal flesh.  He had to learn (Heb. 5:8).

We don't usually give much thought to this, but how did Christ discover who He is and what He had to do and accomplish?  Did God just download everything into His mind at a certain age?  Did angels come in secret and tell Him everything?  Neither of those possibilities is mentioned in Scripture, though we know that angels briefly ministered to Him during the two most trying times of His life: after His temptation (Mt. 4:11) and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:43).

I imagine it is a virtual certainty that His mother and earthly father recounted to Him the bits and pieces they were told by angels and in dreams at the time of His conception and after His birth.  He would have learned from them that He was God's Son (Lk. 1:35) and the Messiah (Lk. 2:11).  His loving, but imperfect parents, would perhaps share with Him as much from the Scriptures as they could.  As He grew, His sinless mind surely absorbed much Scripture from synagogue.  And by the time He was 12, Jesus was clearly listening to the Jewish authorities and asking them questions (Lk. 2:46), though by that point He seems to have already had a greater grasp of Scripture than them (Lk. 2:47).

Around the age of 30 when His public ministry was about to begin, His understanding of His purpose seems to have become so clear that He knew the very timing of when things would get underway (Jn. 2:4) and that He would be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike (Jn. 1:29, 36; Jn. 3:14–15).

This brings us to an intriguing saying of Christ recorded in Luke:

And having taken the Twelve aside, He said to them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things will be accomplished that have been written through the prophets to the Son of Man, for He will be delivered up to the nations, and will be mocked, and insulted, and spit on, and having scourged they will put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise again.”
- Luke 18:31–33 (LSV)


Note the preposition the LSV supplies before "the Son of Man": to.  A number of older translations do the same (ASV, ERV, WNT, and YLT), which makes sense given that Son is in the dative case and the preposition must be supplied in English (often to in the dative, whereas of or from would be used in the genitive when no preposition is explicitly given in the Greek).  Yet modern translations universally insert concerning or about, which in similar passages is supplied as περὶ in the Greek (cf. Lk. 24:44; Jn. 5:39).  I believe the LSV, YLT, and these other translations are more accurate in this instance.

The Old Testament wasn't primarily written for the Jews or for the Church.  It was written by the Jews for Christ (unbeknownst to them), because Christ would be the One to actually read, do, and observe all commanded in it in order to 1. fulfill the Prophecy of the Seed, and 2. save us all.  In fact, though the Hebrews were the ones to record the Scriptures, given that the Scriptures are God-breathed, God is the real author.  The Scriptures were written by God, concerning God, for God.

To think about this another way: one could know nothing of the Old Testament and yet be saved, but if Christ did not know the Old Testament He could not have carried out His earthly purpose.  Our life is in Christ who Himself fulfilled the Scriptures, not in the Scriptures themselves (Jn. 5:39).


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Psalm 45


Now I want to turn your attention back to Psalm 45.  As I carefully researched each Hebrew word in this psalm of the sons of Korah, I was suddenly startled as I realized that it is entirely Messianic.  The author of Hebrews recognizes it as such (Heb. 1:8–9; cf. Ps. 45:6–7).  Furthermore, The Parable of the Virgins recorded in Matthew 25, the subject of much debate among those watching the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, appears to be based on Psalm 45.  By recognizing where the inspiration for Jesus' parable came from, might we gain new insight into what the prophetic parable in Matthew 25 foretells?  Let's unpack this Messianic super-psalm verse by verse.  I think you'll be amazed.

V. 1 - TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “LILIES.” AN INSTRUCTION OF THE SONS OF KORAH. A SONG OF LOVES. My heart has stirred a good word, || I am telling my works to the King, || My tongue [is] the pen of a speedy writer.

Here begins this psalm.  It is a love song of sorts, written by the Korahites, the descendants of Moses' cousin Korah.  The opening lines express an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement, arranged in such a way and with a certain formality that commentators believe this would have been considered one of the most important psalms (source).

While the psalm is Messianic in nature, there is some question about the "King" here in verse 1.  Is the psalm addressed to an earthly king of Israel concerning the ultimate King to come, or is the psalm addressed to the Messiah Himself?  Either way, the psalm is entirely about Christ the King.

V. 2 - You have been beautified above the sons of men, || Grace has been poured into Your lips, || Therefore God has blessed You for all time.

Verse 1 is a formal introduction, but verse 2 is where the real meat-and-potatoes begins.  The Messianic King (Christ Jesus) is undoubtedly in view here.  The Messiah is the beautiful one, greater than all the sons of men.  His mouth is full of grace, as, according to the Apostle John, He came "full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14).  He is blessed forever.

VV. 3–5 - Gird Your sword on the thigh, O Mighty [One], || Your splendor and Your majesty!  As for Your majesty—prosper [and] ride! Because of truth, meekness, [and] righteousness, || And Your right hand shows You fearful things.  Your arrows [are] sharp—Peoples fall under You—In the heart of the enemies of the King.

When the glory of the Messiah-King is revealed to the world, His enemies will perish.  Notice that He bears a sword and rides out to battle.  There are numerous similarities between verses 3–5 and Revelation 19:11–16:

And I saw Heaven having been opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who is sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war, and His eyes [are] as a flame of fire, and on His head [are] many crowns—having a Name written that no one has known, except Himself, and He is clothed with a garment covered with blood, and His Name is called, The Word of God.  And the armies in Heaven were following Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen—white and pure; and out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He may strike the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron, and He treads the press of the wine of the wrath and the anger of God the Almighty, and He has on the garment and on His thigh the name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

In both passages we see Christ the King riding into battle to vanquish His enemies.



VV. 6–7 - Your throne, O God, [is] for all time and forever, || A scepter of uprightness || [Is] the scepter of Your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hate wickedness, || Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You || With oil of joy above Your companions.

Verses 6–7 are directly quoted by the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 1:8–9.  The quotation opens with "but about the Son He says..." indicating that God Himself is calling the Messiah God.  Don't let anyone tell you Jesus isn't God.  God Himself calls Jesus God.

God the Father declares that the throne of His Son will endure forever.  Carefully note that the Son reigns with a "scepter of uprightness."  This is yet another connection to the picture of Jesus' return in Revelation 19.  He will rule the nations with a rod of iron—a rod the Church will also possess (Rev. 2:26–27).

Now get this, not only do we see the distinction between God the Father (speaking) and God the Son (the One being spoken to) in this passage, but there may even be a hint of all three Persons of the Godhead working together.  Note verse 7: "therefore God, Your God, has anointed You..."  Which member of the Godhead anointed Christ?  Was it not the Holy Spirit at His baptism?

God the Father, speaking, tells God the Son that "Your God has anointed You..."  The Divine Speaker refers to God here in the third person doing the anointing of the Son, perhaps indicating a distinction between the Speaker and the One doing the anointing of the Son, yet all three are explicitly called God.

V. 8 - Myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia || [Cover] all Your garments; Out of palaces of ivory, || Stringed instruments have made You glad.

This is an unmistakable reference to the burial of the Messiah after He died as an atoning sacrifice for sin.  Compare to John 19:39–40:

...and Nicodemus also came—who came to Jesus by night at the first—carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, as it were, one hundred pounds.  Therefore they took the body of Jesus, and bound it with linen clothes with the spices, according as it was the custom of the Jews to prepare for burial;

Either the Apostle John made this account up in order to demonstrate that Jesus fulfills Psalm 45 or Jesus did indeed fulfill the words of the psalmist just as He said He would (Lk. 24:44)!



VV. 9–12 - Daughters of kings [are] among Your precious ones, || A queen has stood at Your right hand, || In pure gold of Ophir.  Listen, O daughter, and see, incline your ear, || And forget your people, and your father’s house, || And the King desires your beauty, || Because He [is] your Lord—bow yourself to Him, || And the daughter of Tyre with a present, || The rich of the people appease your face.

The scene now shifts to the King enthroned in His palace.  At His right hand, beside His throne, is a Gentile queen covered in the gold of Ophir (Ophir is the name of a Gentile port city or coastal region from which King Solomon obtained large amounts of gold).  The queen is adorned in the most exquisite gold of her Gentile people.  "Daughters of kings," the queen being one, is a reference to the royal daughters of the Gentile nations who in ancient times would marry the princes and kings of other kingdoms for purposes of alliances and covenants between the royal families.




Not only is her husband the King, He is also her Lord.  She worships Him.  Compare this gold-adorned bride to Revelation 21:9–10, 18.

This queen is a vivid picture of Christ's primarily Gentile Church.

VV. 13–17 - All glory [is] the daughter of the king within, || Her clothing [is] with filigrees of gold.  In various colors she is brought to the King; Afterward, virgins, her companions, || Are brought to You.  They are brought with joy and gladness, || They come into the palace of the King.  Instead of Your fathers are Your sons, || You appoint them for princes in all the earth.  I make mention of Your Name in all generations, || Therefore peoples praise You, || For all time and forever!

This final section opens with a further description of the queen's beauty: she has filigrees of gold (compare to the streets of gold in Rev. 21:21) and is covered in many other colors (compare to Rev. 21:19).  She is brought to the King in the palace.  The Church doesn't enter Heaven by its own power, but is literally "brought" or "carried" (תּוּבַ֪ל) into the Throne Room of God (cf. 1 Thess. 4:16–17; Acts 15:14).  Notice again from the previous section that the queen is standing right beside the King (cf. Rev. 3:21; 4:1–2; 12:5; see also this article).

Now the big reveal comes in verse 14: only after (אַחַר) she comes to the King are her virgin companions brought into the palace.  This is the only place in the entire Old Testament that virgins in a wedding party are depicted entering in to meet a bridegroom.  This processional follows afterward.

Given that virtually everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the gospel accounts was sourced from something in the Hebrew Scriptures, it would seem that Psalm 45 forms the basis of the Matthew 25 Parable of the Ten Virgins.  This connection is further bolstered by the fact that this entire psalm is about the Messiah-King—Jesus Christ—who Himself is the bridegroom in the psalm, just as Jesus is the bridegroom pictured in Matthew 25!




While the question of what the oil in the parable represents is certainly meaningful, it may be a less practical pursuit then who the virgins are.  What we immediately find in Psalm 45 is that the bride and her virgin companions are separate entities.  The bride has already met the bridegroom before her companions do.  This would add weight to the position of the late Jack Kelley, who makes a clear case that the virgins have nothing to do with the rapture and everything to do with the Second Advent—those tasked with being faithful as they await Christ's physical return to earth.

Psalm 45 connects the dots.  It tells us about our glorious and divine King who will vanquish His enemies and marry His bride, the Church, who is stationed with Him in His palace before her virgin companions arrive.


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The Life of Joseph and The Time of Jacob's Trouble


The amazing picture shown us in Psalm 45, which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, is similar to the prophetic template revealed through the life of Jacob's favorite son Joseph, which perfectly foreshadowed all the major aspects of the life of Christ, including, and up to, the rapture of Christ's Church and the deliverance of Israel during the future Tribulation.  Compare:

  • Jesus Christ, a Jew, an Israelite / Joseph, son of Jacob (Israel)
  • Jesus' miracles make His Pharisee countrymen jealous / Joseph's dreams make his own brothers jealous
  • Jesus handed over to death by His own people / Joseph handed over to death by his own brothers
  • Christ in the tomb / Joseph in the pit
  • Christ raised from the dead / Joseph lifted from the pit
  • Christ leaves Israel / Joseph taken to Egypt
  • Having overcome, Christ exalted and seated at the right hand of God, to rule all nations / Joseph exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh; Egypt was the world superpower at the time (ruling all nations)
  • Jesus begins His ministry at about the age of 30 / Joseph enters the service of the king at the age of 30
  • God the Father gifts Christ with an elect body of primarily Gentile saints—His body, His bride, the Church / Pharaoh gifts Joseph with a Gentile bride, Asenath
  • Jesus receives His bride shortly before the seven year Tribulation / Joseph receives his bride, Asenath, shortly before the seven years of famine
  • Christ and His bride remain in Heaven during the full extent of the Tribulation / Joseph and Asenath remain safely tucked away in Egypt, in palaces of splendor, during the full extent of the seven years of famine
  • Israel will enter the Time of Jacob's Trouble, a future seven year period of judgment on all nations; this is the prophetic "woman in labor"; and it happens because of Israel's unbelief in Messiah, thinking He is dead, not knowing He can deliver them / Jacob (Israel) and his sons enter seven years of famine thinking that Joseph is dead, not knowing He already had all the power to deliver them
  • In the midst of the Tribulation, Israel begins to understand and believe that Jesus is the Messiah / Two years into the seven years of famine, Joseph's brothers discover that he is alive and second-in-command of Egypt
  • God delivers the Israelites in the middle of the Tribulation, taking them to a place prepared outside of Israel for the last half of Daniel's 70th Week / Joseph's brothers and his father Jacob, and their families who remained in Israel, escape the famine, coming to the land of Goshen in Egypt near the middle of the famine where they are provided for by Joseph



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Tribulation, Great Tribulation, and The Time of Trial


Oftentimes the simplest explanations are the correct ones.  I've found that many of my greatest blunders in life have come from overthinking and overcomplicating things.  God's messages recorded in Scripture were not given to create confusion, but to clear it up.  God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).  He blessed us with Scripture so that we could see the world around us clearly and understand Him intimately.  Theology that requires intellect rather than humility to decipher is not right belief.  God's truth is freely available to all who would receive it.  If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense—line upon line, here a little, there a little.  Trust the plain words of Scripture.

Connecting with Stephanie's recent article on the Lord's Prayer, perhaps the Church has historically been overthinking eschatology, prayer, and many other things.  Perhaps the most simple answers, if grounded in the literal interpretation of Scripture, suffice.

Jesus clearly told His disciples that they would suffer tribulation (θλῖψις) in John 16:33.  Yet Jesus also told His disciples that they should pray for deliverance from temptation/trial (πειρασμός) in Matthew 6:13.  These are not the same things.




Christians cannot escape tribulation (θλῖψις), but they can escape temptation/trial/testing (πειρασμός).

Little 't' tribulation has been faced by every generation of Christians, yet every generation has prayed for God to lead them away from temptation.  What have we really been praying for?  Scripture says God cannot tempt anyone (Jas. 1:13; verbal form of πειρασμός), so why would we need to pray for Him to not lead us into it?  I can vouch that I've prayed that prayer many thousands of times and yet I never escaped the temptation of sin.  I overcame sin and avoided sin, but have not been delivered from the very temptation itself.  In this body of sin and death temptation is ever-present.  Our escape from temptation itself is yet to come.

Now if God hasn't kept us from the general temptation to sin (πειρασμός), then what πειρασμός are we really asking Him to "not lead us into" when we pray the Lord's Prayer?

Scripture supplies a clear, literal answer in Revelation 3:10:

Because you kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of the trial [πειρασμός] that is about to come on all the world, to try [verbal form of πειρασμός] those dwelling on the earth.

This is the exact same word found in the Lord's Prayer.  Here is a temptation/trial that we can be kept from!  It's a period of time yet to come that will literally effect "all the world."  Revelation 3:10 is the very fulfillment of what the Church has been praying for for 2,000 years!  We've been asking God to deliver us from this time of trial coming on the whole world, and in Revelation 3:10 God says, "Yes!"

Furthermore, in Luke 21:36 the Lord told His disciples that they were to pray for escape:

...watch, then, in every season, praying that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Perhaps this was just a simple reminder to His disciples to continue the manner of prayer He first taught them as recorded in Matthew 6—the Lord's Prayer.

Just as there is a distinction between general πειρασμός that all Christians face and the coming worldwide πειρασμός that we will be delivered from, so too there is a distinction between the general tribulation of life in a post-Edenic world that no Christian can escape from and the Great Tribulation yet to come (Mt. 24:21; Rev. 2:22; 7:14).

The pre-tribulational rapture isn't escape from trial and tribulation, it is escape from THE trial and THE tribulation.  No Christians escape the former.  All Christians escape the latter.  The rapture is a promise firmly grounded in the plain sense of Scripture.

Post A Comment

76 comments:

  1. Gary. MIND BLOWN. What a blessing this article is, and you are. I'll never see the OT the same again. It all makes so much sense as you've written it here and this feels like a balmy, refreshing wind. And way to gently lay any questions of the Parable of the 10 Virgins to rest, once and for all. Excited to see more revelations you've uncovered through the work you've done on the LSV.

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    1. Regarding the primary audience of the OT being Christ Himself, I wonder if the devil knew that too and so this gives an even more diabolical twist to his temptation of Christ.

      Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

      ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

      and,

      ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
      Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
      Matt. 4:5-6

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    2. Yep. Gary's on to something here with the OT being written to Christ. Nice catch, Hillary.

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    3. There's a lot more that could be said, but I think we're just starting to see the tip of the iceberg here. Christ was the promised Seed and the OT was His instruction book to accomplish the plan made before the foundation of the world. By virtue of the Incarnation, He had "emptied Himself", coming in the likeness of sinful flesh (though He did not sin). So He had to learn, experience, and obey just like we mere mortals do.

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    4. That is not to say that the Jews and the Church are not also intended audiences of the OT, but not the *primary* audience.

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    5. This is an excellent article! My Spirit responds with a resounding "YES!". I am experiencing the Peace that passes all understanding and am so blessed! Thank you!

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    6. Amen Gary this mind is blown as well ! Praising God with such a grateful and thankful heart!!!!!!

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  2. So true! AMEN and Maranatha!!! Carole

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  3. I'm still in the process of reading this one, Gary. Going slowly to take it all in, but I have to post one of my favorite quotes so far, "Don't let anyone tell you Jesus isn't God. God Himself calls Jesus God."

    A hearty amen to that! Can I get a witness? How many times have y'all heard skeptics say, "Show me where in the Bible Jesus says He is God?" Well, we don't have to: God says Jesus is God. So there :)

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    1. Yup, lol. When God says Jesus is God that pretty much ends the debate! The JWs gonna start arguing with God??

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    2. AMEN!!

      I've only been able to skim so far but I too think you're onto something here.

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  4. So cool Gary. Spirit in me is singing!

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    1. Thank you Miguel. I can't wait to be singing with you in the Throne Room! Maranatha.

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  5. Excellent! :)

    The situation you describe up front:

    "the Hebrew Bible presented a coherent message, along with a set of rules, that the Jewish people thought was about them, yet they didn't keep the rules. They held the rules in highest esteem, thinking that their unique possession of the rules made them God's corporate prophetic "son" (see classic Rabbinic interpretation). Yet the routine employment of the Son of God, Servant of the LORD, Son of Man, Branch of Jesse, Son of David, and so forth in the Old Testament, wasn't ultimately a reference to Israel or to some mere human Israelite, but to a Man who is truly God—and God's Son."

    This idea is further marked in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

    Most will focus on the youngest son returning to the Father, but how many look at the eldest son? His reaction of jealousy?
    His interaction with the Father in anger?
    His refusal to come back in for the celebration?

    He is being quite self centered and hostile to both his brother as well as the Father. He acts as though it ought to be his way and not the Father's way.

    :)

    There are two brothers in the Parable of the Prodigal son, who are dealt with by the Father in two different ways. The Prodigal (Lost Gentiles) and the elder brother (Israel).

    God has established the different approaches.

    One Tree, one Vine, but more than one branch. This is not division, but unification.

    The savior is Jesus, not Israel.
    The Feast days are God's days, not Jewish days.
    Unification is God-centric, not Israel-centric.

    Etc... :)

    🚫 🍇

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    1. Amen x1000! 🚫 🍇

      The Bible is by God and for God. We're just the lucky ones that get to be included in the story.

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  6. Sorry, if anyone encountered the issue with a pop-up asking you to login, that's now been fixed!

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  7. Psalm 45:13 names the King's DAUGHTER as the bride. How is the church both the daughter & bride of the King?

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    1. That's a good question. Probably a lot could be said about this, but here are a few thoughts:

      1. Skip back to v. 9: daughters of kings are brought. It seems logical that the new queen is a daughter of a king, as well. This would be the custom of the time (royals marrying royals, and so forth).

      2. She is called "queen," so it is clear she has married the King.

      3. Check the commentary on this Psalm. Virtually all of it (Jewish and Christian alike) recognizes that this is a clear portrayal of a royal wedding between the King and queen.

      Now here's a speculative one:

      4. Figuratively the Church is a bride. That is clear from Scripture. But individually we are sons and daughters of God. Jesus is both our eldest brother, but also a father of children in a sense (Isa. 9:6).

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    2. The more I study Scripture the more I find that there are many symbols for many different things.

      For instance:

      The Church is a bride, but also: 1. a spiritual Temple, 2. a corporate male child, 3. one new man, 4. a holy priesthood, etc.

      Israel is a nation, but also: 1. a son, 2. a wife, 3. a fig tree, and so forth.

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    3. And a bride is not yet married (fully) though in custom she is bound as though she is already.

      So how to solve this quandary?

      Most of us don't look at time as a corporate flow of events, but single out each event as a reference to everything else.

      Our God is an eternal one not bound by time and space, yet to become a man He had to set it aside to be a valid example and sacrifice.

      This is why you always hear Jesus say and do things "as the Father gave Him" (as a man).

      This answers why Jesus did not know (while on earth) but only the Father knew. Once He ascended, His glorification was no longer set aside. So by the time He has John writing Revelation there has been ~60 years on earth for the Apostles to write about such things as given by Christ, especially Chapter 1 of Revelation.

      This also answers the situation with daughters as brides. This is a corporate situation with many members all along the timeline of Grace.

      The marriage will occur after the Age of Grace is ended. Before this, everyone is a son or daughter and we all are a bride waiting to be married to our groom.

      Indeed as Einstein said, Time is relative. A day as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. To the Lord, time is irrelevant.

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    4. Jack, three thoughts for that person arguing with you on Facebook:

      1. Luke 18:31–33 - we *do* have Scripture that suggests the Scriptures were written to Christ.

      2. He's taking the "divide and destroy" tactic setting up a fight we're not taking. I didn't suggest that the Jews and Church are not an intended audience of the OT, just not the PRIMARY audience (:

      3. Jesus did not sin, but He was made in the likeness of sinful, mortal flesh. He did have to learn things (Heb. 5:8).

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    5. Gary: I went further... :)
      ___

      Let's include the whole paragraph for context (verses 14-17).

      Do you think in (verse 14) that Paul refers to himself as the "whom"?

      "since you know from whom you have learned them"

      And verse 15, the "holy scriptures" referred to was only what we call the Old Testament, and yet;

      "which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus".

      This is present tense and yet was past tense also.

      I submit that Paul, Timothy, all of us throughout time have learned from Jesus Himself, pre-carnate, incarnate, post-carnate.

      ___

      2 Timothy 3:14-17 (KJV)

      14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them];

      15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

      16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

      17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

      ___

      2 Timothy 3:14-17 (BSB)

      14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.

      15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

      16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

      17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

      ___

      I'll offer these points (especially the 2nd one):

      [Old Testament Canonicity]

      1.) - Jesus made reference to the Law and Prophets as a unit:

      "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill," (Matt. 5:17).

      2.) - Jesus explained the Scriptures:

      "Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures," (Luke 24:27).

      3.) - Jesus referred to the entire Old Testament Canon by mentioning all the prophets from Abel (from Genesis, the first book, and first martyr) to Zechariah (Chronicles, the last book, and the last martyr) in (Matt. 23:35).

      ___

      Here in (Luke 24:25-27) Jesus explains the Old Testament to the disciples...

      "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them [what was written in all the Scriptures _about Himself_.]"

      (As a man), as they were, He learned about Himself as much as they learned about Him themselves.

      His word (while in Glory), to Himself and all of us (as a man and out of Glory), and His reliance on the Father (as a man and out of Glory).

      "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

      So yes, it is to all men, but it was first to Him. He was the only one who could do it, He was the first. He was our example.

      We die in Christ so that we can live. We will be like Him because of it.
      ___

      Luke 24:25-27

      [Jesus Opens the Scriptures]

      Then Jesus said to them,

      “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

      Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

      And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

      Delete
  8. To Gary's point about the OT being written as a life manual for the incarnate Christ; here's another one to consider:

    Compare Hebrews 10:5-7 and Psalm 40:6-8.

    If you can't find the phrase "a body you have prepared for me" in your English translation of Psalm 40, then check out the Greek version of this OT psalm: Verse 6, LXX.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Wow!

      "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
      *****as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.*****"

      Delete
    2. As Barry S. says, "BOOM!"

      Delete
    3. So true, as I was reading the article I kept remember Missler saying, the more I study, the longer I live I find myself going to the more and more literal understanding of scripture.

      Delete
  9. What an amazing article. It's really four articles in one.

    The New Testament is the unsealing of the Old Testament

    “He would have learned from them that He was God's Son and the Messiah.” That is a mind-blowing thought!

    I wonder at what age he wrote his own copy of the scriptures? 5? 6?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you Gary, this is a masterclass teaching every Christian should read and study thoroughly! I read the Jack Kelley teaching my first time back in 2009 and have been trying to tell people ever since how wrong they got the parable of the virgins. It is shocking to me how few actually get it right. This parable specifically is so grossly misunderstood that it winds me up because people as you know form a partial rapture doctrine as well as a "some are saved and some are not" which is a works based gospel and it is leading people away from Christ. I am thankful for this teaching, great work. On another note, any way to get the LSV in a Bible app or something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's the link to the Olivet Discourse Parables on Grace Thru Faith:
      https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/prophecy/understanding-the-olivet-discourse-parables/
      Jack also published individual studies on the Psalms and the prophetic parallels to the life of Christ.
      * * * * *
      Gary - thank you.
      I've wondered about how Jesus came to know who He was... excellent insight: He READ the Book!
      Just like us, we too can read and grow in our understanding of who we are in Christ!
      * * * *
      Before His ministry, Jesus was a "carpenter", though more realistically a stonemason/craftsman. His earthly father worked as such and it's what he was trained to do.
      As you're reading, you can see the references throughout His teachings.

      Delete
  11. Interesting thought. Perhaps a bit of both? Life revolved around synagogue in 1st century Judea. I imagine He hard a LOT of Scripture growing up. Memorizing the Torah was the basic goal of Jewish boys in that era.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gives a bit of new meaning to the 'Come as a child' instruction. I've never heard a child explain scripture the way adults do. They keep it at a much simpler level...

    Maybe there is a time to go from milk to meat, but perhaps some of us have done that too fast.

    Ah well, Jesus can set us all right when He comes and gets us.

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  13. Great article Gary, your ability to dig deep and come up with pearls of Wisdom is mind blowing. Thanks so much, Love you brother.

    ReplyDelete
  14. When reading Hebrews 1:8 we have to keep a few things in mind. When translating the word God the translators had the option of using a capital G or lower case g. Here they use a capital G. The question is, should they have?

    In the O.T. men of authority were referred to as "gods" lower case. In Exodus 7:1 Moses was made "a god to pharoah".

    In Isaiah 9:6 using the NIV version the word God is used. Now look at Ezekiel 31:11, that same word is translated "Ruler", referring to a babylonian king.

    Also consider John 10:34

    There are many scriptures used to support the deity/trinity of Christ. This is not the best one.

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  15. Gary, thank you for so eloquently sharing the details of your time with Our Lord. Clearly, He Has Shared Much and you do a fine job delivering it with us. Maranatha!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gary, this is just so wonderful and so full of depth and meaning. I'll need to go through this one several times to really let it all sink it where it belongs. I just received my copy of the LSV late yesterday and looking to spend some time in it this weekend. Thank you for all you do! Blessings, Sherry

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  17. Wow, this is just mind blowing. It eases my heart to see that we do indeed go before the Great Tribulation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving us all this insight into the scriptures.

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  18. Spot on Ryan. It is a beautiful Messianic prophecy about the Servant! I love how it says that Jesus was given the tongue of the learned so that He could sustain the weary with a single word. And the weary still need and receive that life giving word today!

    Throughout His ministry, Jesus only said and did what He had heard from the Father (John 5:19, John 12:49). He had an intimate, unhindered relationship with His Father. Even before His public ministry to Israel He was taught morning by morning directly from His Father through the Spirit. And thus, even at the very start of His public ministry, the Father could say of Him:

    "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mat 3:17)

    The Father was well pleased with His Son because Jesus had learned from the Him as the ultimate disciple, in complete dependence, all His years. And the marvelous thing for us is that He would obey what He heard no matter what the cost...

    "The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. "For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed."
    (Isa 50:5-7)


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  19. Thanks Gary! Very insightful and eye opener. I believe as we draw closer prior to our take off to the clouds, many more will be reveled for clarification as well as the day and hour of the Rapture - I know many will take me up on that one......

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  20. Ok, Gary, just wow. I just finished my second reading--read it yesterday and had to let it percolate a bit, so much to take in. So much food for thought: details in Ps 45, Jesus as the primary audience, etc. I truly appreciate your explanation of the parable of the virgins. Like Jack Kelly and David Hawking years ago, it's obviously not about the Rapture, but I never knew what to do with the prepared virgins. They aren't in the Rapture, so how can they be attending the Bride at our wedding feast? Your explanation totally solves that puzzle. Just shows how the answers are there in Scripture, if we only know how to find them. I want to thank all the crew here who devote so much time and research to writing articles to enlighten and encourage the rest of us. Even many of those writing comments: Pastor Rich et all. Also, thank you for making the LSV available for pdf download. At my age (ahem)reading hard copy is really difficult for me anymore. Being able to read digitally, with adjustable type and back-lighting, is my preferred choice now. Not as easy to navigate quickly as a hard copy book but at least is readable. Thanks guys!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I understand your caution. A lot of folks like to use the 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine to "prove" a 14-year scenario of the end. A key to remember is that these are types and shadows which, while similar, are vastly different than the substance....as different as your shadow on the ground is from you in real life.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Or a 21 year scenario... (7 years for first wife, another 7 years for the second, then yet another 7 for the sheep as an inheritence...)

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. "Many post-tribbers believe that Christians will be protected during the tribulation events (aligning with Rev 3:10 'I will KEEP you from the hour of testing' (not remove), meaning as those had preserved/protected Gods word, he will also protect them during the trials."
    ___

    Revelation 3:10 (KJV)

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

    ___

    Revelation 3:10 (BSB)

    Because you have kept My command to endure with patience, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

    ___

    Notice here two things.

    First, Jesus isolates this church from the rest of the world, implying removal from the physical world and those in it, and it's coming trial.

    Second, is the use of the Greek preposition "ek".

    I see Jospeh more as a type of Christ than he being the church. The church "may be" defined in this motif as the "Gentile Bride", which we don't hear about once Joseph's brothers and family are spoken of and reunited. Where is she then? :)

    And Joseph's tearful and dramatic reunion with his brothers and family in the midst of a 7 year famine is clearly a representation of Israel in the Tribulation to me.

    I would suggest the use of "ek" speaks to "removal from" as in Resurrection and Rapture (especially Harpazo), and not "through" as would have been the case with Noah and family in the Ark.

    (G1537) ek -

    from out,
    out from among,
    from, suggesting from the interior outwards.

    1537 ek (a preposition, written eks before a vowel)

    – properly, "out from and to" (the outcome); out from within.

    1537 /ek ("out of") is one of the most under-translated (and therefore mis-translated) Greek propositions – often being confined to the meaning "by."

    1537 (ek) has a two-layered meaning ("out from and to") which makes it out-come oriented (out of the depths of the source and extending to its impact on the object).

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow! That was an awesome post. My mother in law/Bible study leader always says Jesus had to find himself in the scripture. And I have always loved psalms 45. You put everything together so well. Makes perfect sense to me. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. So enjoying this article, Gary! Am pausing after reading the Psalm 45 section and how it forms the basis of the Matthew 25 Parable of the Ten Virgins. When I was preparing an article on Is the Rapture Earned? (https://lynmelvin.blogspot.com/2018/10/is-rapture-earned.html) I shared my belief that Jesus was speaking to the Israelites when telling this parable. I also shared my viewpoint about the OIL.

    After reading your article, however, I realize I was only partially correct! I am so thankful for the gifting of God in you :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...And I made sure to add your link to that article!

      Delete
  27. I am always uplifted and enlightened by your articles. God Bless

    ReplyDelete
  28. Yes, the scrolls were meant for Jesus to understand so He could carry out His preordained ministry. But if we read Proverbs 25:2, we will see that it was meant for the kings and priests of Rev1:6, too. That's us, folks. The reason why so many are not catching on to available hidden matters can be answered in 2Timothy3:7.

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  29. I have been a Christian my whole life basically. And my parents were pre- trib. And so am I. This site has really helped me understand what that really means. It definitely feels like Christ's return or, rapture rather, could be literally any day. I try not to read too much news. It scares me. But it's hard to avoid knowing things like the coronavirus. I have three little kids and I'm starting to get a little anxiety about it. Crazy things are going on. Really crazy. Is it possible that the tribulation has started? I don't think so. It's not what I believe. I don't believe the great wrath and the day of vengeance is meant for the Church. I find comfort here. Reading things from folks who know the Word. It encourages me. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Also, my heart breaks for the city of Wuhan. What they're facing is unimaginable with the virus and the quarantine. It's scary. I've been praying that " in their affliction they will earnestly seek Him" and that what was meant for harm will be used for good. Praying that God's Holy Spirit will hover over Wuhan and other affected cities. For revival. For people's hearts to be turned back to Jesus. Who knows. Maybe this will usher in the rapture. I know you are all praying too. I just thought I would share. May the Lord bless each of you and your families.

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  31. Gary, what an amazing article. Maybe someone mentioned this, but how could one really interpret Matt. 25:13 as Jesus the Son, God Incarnate not knowing the day or the hour when he probably had a mind like Adam and could see all the types and correlations, how everything written in the OT predicted what would happen in the NT, and how all the threads of his Father's tapestry could be woven together to display how the end of the Age of Grace would play out? I guess we'll get all our answers soon. Many blessings to you and all your co-laborers at Unsealed! Maranatha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From the context, it appears He was referring to when the old heavens and earth would pass away... A point sometime after the end of the Millenium. The day/year of the Rapture is probably hidden, only to be understood after it happens.

      'Blessed is he who waits and remains until the 1,335th day' from Daniel 12 is probably giving us the day of the Rapture. We just don't know when the start of the day counter is right now... and may not know until the 1,336th day :P We also have to ask in light of some other prophecies if these are actual days, or 'I give you days for years' like Jeremiah was told.

      We can guess that whenever God interacts with the creation, it causes ripple effects in time that change how future events play out. It is certainly possible that all the 'Mandela effects' people think are happening is the result of being near the end of the tapestry and feeling the butterfly effect upon reality caused by Him intervening to shape the end. Of course, He could know the result of every intervention in advance because He already did them, but thinking in 11 dimensions is just too hard for us barely 4 dimensional beings. Heh...

      Delete
    2. I think the 1335 days is 1260 + 75. These are the 75 days following the 2nd half of the Tribulation , before the Millenium. We are long gone before that.

      Delete
  32. I see it simply as 'If He doesn't remove the church, the mark of the beast system will receive such criticism and resistance that it probably won't happen in the exact form as scripture.'

    Christians (and Jews/Muslims) will pose legitimate challenges to a microchip system. If we decide we'll go along with being implanted, we'll at least demand alternate methods of carrying it or implanting it. Scripture says it goes into the right hand, but what if we put it in the left hand? Put it on the forearm? Wear it as a bracelet/ring/necklace/dog tags? Isn't there a better system than having a radio transmitter broadcasting to any receivers you get near, whether state or privately made? How do you prevent identity theft when a custom made chip can simply copy what your chip puts out on request and be passed off as you? What happens if the chips break? What if it malfunctions? How do you upgrade it when new and better versions are developed? What's wrong with continuing to use plastic cards with magnetic stripes or a verifier chip? Etc... etc...

    As a computer programmer, I just don't see them being able to implement it without the removal of all opponents to it or extreme violence that would cause a sure revolt... and the common people outnumber their rulers by a large margin. It's only agreeing to go along with the rules of society that keeps us 'in line' as it were.

    For that reason, and many others, I believe the Rapture/'escape' exists. The spiritual people of this world are actively restraining the implementation of the evil things we have been told are coming. To get it done, God either has to take us out of the way (which scripture says He will do) or the enemy has to kill, nullify or disable enough of us that we can't have an effect on his plans. Either way though, God wins in the end, and if we have believed the Gospel, our being saved is assured.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thats how I understand it too. There will be a big mess to clean up after the trib. in preparation for the millenium. After its all done thats probably when the first resurrection takes place and we will be able to meet all the O.T. patriarchs like Moses, Abraham and David which will be cool.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will clean the whole planet by a simple word, after He has arrived onto the planet earth.

      Delete
    2. Or, He just leaves us with New Jerusalem while He goes down to deal with the loose ends? Who really understands what the plan is but Him? I know it's in the scriptures and I can see it there, but every time I see that verse about 'Not leaning on your own understanding...' I just have to say, 'I look forward to Your explanation of what this means, and trust that it will be Good.' Otherwise, I just keep asking questions, getting into debates with people sure of their answer, and probably come to the wrong conlusions. *laughs*

      Delete
  34. And dont forget Noah...I cant wait to talk to that guy!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I thought of that Moin, why do you think there is a 75 day gap between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the millenium? I agree that it should'nt take that long.

    The only thing I can figure is that the 75 day period has to accomodate the remaining unfulfilled feasts. Feast of trumpets etc.

    ReplyDelete
  36. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa-coronavirus/

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is a link to a video that explains how it is known that the barge that has been stuck on the rocks of the Niagara River for 101 years will go over Niagara Falls on February 29th, 2020. 11 days later President Trump will die of heart attack on March 11th, 2020. These conclusions are absolutely, and inextricably tied to the following conclusions, and therefore, when these events come to pass on Feb 29 and Mar 11 this will prove certain the following other conclusions. 1) The date the End Times begins is knowable, and it is certain beyond a reasonable doubt that it will be on Pentecost on June 7th, 2020. 2) The identities of the two Antichrists are knowable, and it is certain that they are Pope Francis and Barack Obama. 3) The Lord is pouring out judgment warning signs specifically on the American evangelical church for its Nicolaitan deeds and doctrine (Calvinism and Free Grace), that Jesus said he hates in Revelation chapter 2. The nation and the world is a mess because the Church is a mess, and judgment begins with the Church. 4) The Lord's End Times signs is a big picture puzzle, in which each piece is dependent on the others pieces for their full, true intended meaning. This is why these conclusions are inextricably tied together. When these events come to pass on Feb 29 and Mar 11 this will prove that this method of interpreting the signs as a whole, rather than isolated events, is correct. Similar to how the Bible needs to be interpreted as a whole, rather than through selectively using isolated passages. If you truly love the Lord's signs, after these events come to pass I'm sure you will want to watch every minute of this long video series that explains the Lord's big picture of End Times signs. Every minute is important and mind boggling. When these events come to pass it will be one of the biggest achievements of the watching community. I believe the watching community should unite around, and focus on, getting this information out about how this was known ahead of time. God bless. 

    Darren
    YouTube clearlywrittendotnet

    https://youtu.be/lBdaf7IiFiw1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats interesting. I like Trump and pray for him often regarding his health both physically and mentally with all the stuff being thrown at him. We will have to see what happens on the 11th next month. Can you give a scriptural reference to there being two anti-christs?

      Delete
    2. He might be referring to the beast and the false prophet... They are both technically against Christ... One trying to replace Jesus and the other fighting against Him directly...

      However, I wouldn't call these claims interesting... There is something repelling about this message... I smell the stench of dead 'works salvation' and 'we're right and you're all wrong' ego all over it. Anyone may accept the free gift of grace from the Lord Jesus. He bought it and freely offers it to everyone. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!' Or if you prefer it from His mouth instead, 'The work of God is to believe on the One who was sent!' or 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but if they don't believe they are condemned already.'

      It starts with belief, and will end with belief. 'And Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness to him.' When we get there, we can spend the rest of eternity paying Jesus back if that's what He wants. In a body that will actually do what we will it to do and isn't always falling apart of tired. A salvation that can be undone by brain damage is not salvation...

      Imagine being a pastor for 50 years, leading thousands to salvation, losing it because of a stroke... Be gracious to others... as God is gracious to you. Only Jesus was perfect.

      Delete
    3. No offense, but I smell “charlatan” all over the assortment of videos posted by this user. Or perhaps merely misguided. Over and over, there are claims of “ABSOLUTE DATES!!!”. You should sell your snake oil elsewhere. And for starters, what does a rusted century old barge going over Niagara have to do with ANYTHING? Last but not least, nice touch with the Obama fixation.

      DW

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. This is total BS. This same person claimed that barge going over the falls last February 17th. These false prophets just reinforce my faith as they are supposed to be many of them. This just hurts the faith of lurkers seeking truth. Even if Trump has a heart attack on March 11th .he still is a false prophet. Unless you are 100%, that makes you one.

      I do NOT doubt that people have visions and dreams divinely inspired, but many are proven wrong when their dates come and go. This is yet another one, and I am not aprophet, but I guarantee there will be many more dates come and go that add to this false prophet list.

      Delete
    6. and don't forget, OJ didn't do it, Anna Nichole married for love and the Astros didn't steal signs. :)

      Delete
    7. And Epstein didnt kill himself..

      Delete
  38. In Re OT being a Guidebook to a Worthy, But Unknowing Redeemer, I am reminded of another Desert and another sleeper.

    "He shall know your ways, as if born to them."

    46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. LUKE 2:46-47, NIV

    (For 2k Years) "I have faced your Gom Jabar; Now You Will Face MINE." ISAIAH 13:9-11

    Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light. Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.

    Maranatha!

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  39. Great article! I always thought that 10 virgins were the Jews waiting for Jesus 2nd coming after Jesus explains this in Luke 12:36

    Luke 12:36 King James Version (KJV)
    36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

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  40. Good article, but I think that you too are overthinking it. I don't think this has to do with the 10 virgin parable, but the 144,000 that are virgins in Revelation. The second group in Psalm 45 is not just Jews in general, but the 144,000 sealed in Rev 7 before the harm to the land or sea and the 1st Trump. Then they are seen again in heaven on Mt. Zion, Rev 14, where they sing a new song only they can learn, they were redeemed from the earth and were virgins, they follow Jesus where ever He goes, and are the first fruits to Jesus and God. These are a special group of Jews that are martyred preaching Him to others it seems. The are first fruits of a harvest from Israel that is AFTER the rapture. The Israelites Jesus comes to save at the second coming on earth are still mortal and go into the millenium kingdom promised. There is still a bit of a mystery to this group of 144,000 and how they know Jesus and are virgins here on earth.

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  41. Hi Gary and Jeff, I have been reading the Book of Psalms and came to realise this interesting pattern: Psalms seem to come in pairs, based on their numbering (eg. Psalm 36 and Psalm 63, Psalm 37 and Psalm 73). These 'reverse number pairs' of Psalms do seem to talk to each, ie. they share common themes, imageries, language, come from different perspectives on the same issue, etc. Do go check it out! Some pairs are more apparent (eg. those I cited), whereas for others it might not be apparent at first sight, but so far this pattern has held true for me in many pairs I have seen.

    For Psalm 45, if we look to Psalm 54 it is a very short Psalm and might not seem connected initially. But I believe the aforementioned pattern still applies, and it does confirm much of your interpretation of Psalm 45. For instance, the voice of the person of says 'Save me, O God' in Verse 1 is likely to be the 'bride'. It further speaks of rewarding evil and cutting off of one's enemies, which echoes Psalm 45 of Messiah riding into battle. The voice says she will 'free sacrifice' to God, which reminds of Psalm 45's bride forsaking her earthly heritage to enter with the Groom. Interesting in verse 4 of Psalm 54, there is this odd reference to God being with 'them that uphold my soul', which is likely a reference to Psalm 45's virgins.

    Hence, Psalm 54 confirms that the Bridge is delivered from her enemies. When exactly? That will depend on how we interpret Psalm 45, in which you have offered a compelling analysis above. Psalm 54 alone cannot tell when this deliverance will occur, ie. pre-Wrath, pre-Trib?

    This pattern has been very useful for me in shedding insight into the individual Psalms. I am sure there are other 'patterns' which help us interpret the Psalms, waiting to be discovered. I also hope to hear from you whether this can help you shed additional light on Psalm 45.

    Many thanks!

    ReplyDelete


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