One

In the last entry, we considered what occurred with God's people in a particular gap. That gap involved a physical location between two mountains, but it was a spiritual gap as well, as God's people turned away from Him. It comes up again in this entry.
Ezekiel was a very unusual prophet. He was carried away into captivity from Judah, Israel to Babylon with thousands of others. He was trained as a priest, but in captivity, he was physically separated from the Temple in Jerusalem, and the service for which he, and his fathers before him, had been trained. His father's name was Buzi, meaning "contempt, despised, shame", and this was the condition of the priesthood in Israel. So, looking at Ezekiel's situation in the natural, we would think that he had lost everything. However, Ezekiel tells us that his home in captivity in Babylon was by the River Chebar (Ez. 1:1). This is important because Chebar means "far off, length of space, continuance of time, already, long ago, formerly, now, joining together, length". The very length of the river was used to express the connection between past, present, and future, and between near, and far away. The picture this river gives us is of a connection among those things, and a lack of limitation or boundary between them. Ezekiel's prophetic visions were of the same nature. He saw into places that were far in distance, and he saw into the spiritual realm in a way that few others experienced.
The elders of Judah in captivity would come to Ezekiel and ask for the word of the LORD. In chapter 8, Ezekiel is given a vision of what is occurring at the Temple in Jerusalem, many hundreds of miles away. There were bizarre idol images and worship within the Temple walls. Elders that remained in Jerusalem, including Jaazaniah ("The LORD Hears"), were burning incense, waiving their censors in front of the abominable images. They were practicing abominable things in private as well saying, "The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land" (Ez. 8:12). They were practicing sun worship from the Temple site, as they faced eastward (v. 16). The land became filled with violence as a result. Yet, here was Ezekiel, far away in the land of captivity, "seeing" everything they were doing, whether in public, or private, because the LORD did indeed see it.
As we go to chapter 22 in Ezekiel, the physical and spiritual condition of Jerusalem and Judah has continued to decline with their idolatry, presumably because they continued to think that the LORD did not see. The land was filled with violence, injustice, greed so brutal that souls are destroyed, and evil, debauched sexual behavior from the princes who govern, to the priesthood, to the prophets who prophesy falsely. They looked at other men and women as prey for their greed, use and abuse.
The description from this chapter sounds very similar to what we have become in our country. We also live as though we believe that the LORD does not see, that we also can do as we please in the secrecy of our minds, in our private chambers, and even in the open places.
Then the LORD says something pitiful:
"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."  Ez. 22:30
The LORD wasn't looking for thousands. All it would have taken was a single man who would stand and intercede in this spiritual gap. He couldn't find even that one.
Could it be possible that Jaazaniah, the only person Ezekiel specifically mentioned by name, whose name  means "The LORD Hears", was one of those who had been called and purposed to stand in the gap? If he had been standing in the gap, would the LORD have heard, stopped the judgment, and healed the land? We don't know for sure, but instead of standing in the gap, he was waving a burning incense censor (representing prayer) before abominable idols with the others-idols that couldn't hear, and couldn't save.
The LORD says in another place to the prophet Jeremiah:
"Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment (justice), who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her."  Jer. 5:1
He is looking for a person who does not just talk, but whose heart, desires and actions are to seek God. It just takes one.
The scriptures say of Moses:
"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses, His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them."  Ps. 106:23
How did Moses make this intercession for the people? How did He move the LORD to spare hundreds of thousands from destruction after they chose to worship idols instead of God? Moses said to the LORD:
"Yet now, if You will forgive their sin-but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which you have written."   Ex. 32:32
Words are easy. Sacrifice is not. Moses interceded, stood in the gap, from a place of self-sacrifice.
In another place in scripture, we are told that in order to stand in the gap for our land, we who are called by His name must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our own wicked ways (2 Chron. 7:14). It requires more from us in order to stand in that position. The prophet Isaiah was a tremendous prophet of God, one of the greatest in scripture, who had the devastating and humbling experience of having his spiritual uncleanness revealed to him. His cleansing took the form of a spiritual hot coal taken from the altar in heaven and touched to Isaiah's unclean lips. Only at that point, could Isaiah volunteer to fill the need and say, "Send me." (Isa. 6:1-8).
We might say, "But this is the Old Testament. Jesus already sacrificed Himself to stand in the gap for us." However, the Apostle Paul tells us to let this same mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, being that Jesus humbled Himself, became of no reputation, leaving kingship to become a servant, obedient to death, even a humiliating death (Phil. 2:5-8). So even after Christ died for us, we are still expected to have the same mind regarding our purpose. Our purpose involves walking in His character.
I am not talking about a physical death here for us, but I think it does require more than the words that come so easily out of our mouths. This is probably why it is so difficult for the LORD to find someone who is spiritually prepared, to do it. It just takes one.
Our nation, according to the path it has rebelliously chosen while believing that God does not see, may soon come to the point of impending destruction as a result. God will look, is looking now, for someone who will make a wall, and stand in the gap. I need to develop the spiritual character necessary for that coming moment now, otherwise, I will not be ready and able to do it. 

Our Father is asking, "Is there any man who would make a wall, and stand in the gap?"


"PRAY"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC4kbteMLCg&sns=em

"Take Me Into the Holy of Holies"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfZp8ev1MD0

Voices

The prophet Jeremiah describes an amazing transformation that takes place to a desolate wasteland in chapter 33. The transformation is accomplished through "voices". These voices are the voice of mirth (also meaning an ointment used in a banquet), the voice of gladness (as found in a joyful banquet), the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and the voices of those who will say, "Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endures forever." (Jer. 33:11). The Hebrew word for voice is "qowl". It means voice, noise, sound, thunder, proclamation, send out, call aloud, bleating, cry, sing, yell, sound of a multitude, sound of water. These five voices are brought to a place that has been made desolate (laid waste, decayed, drought, destruction, parching heat, dried up, sword, knife, slay, destroyer). There is no life, not even animal life, left in this place (v. 10), however, these voices sound in the desolation.
After the voices sound, not only do inhabitants return to the land, but the LORD brings the fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy of the One who will "execute judgment and righteousness in the earth" (v. 15). In that day, Jerusalem and Judah will be called "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (v. 16). The place transforms from desolation into Messianic kingdom reign.
It might be said that the voices, including that of the bridegroom and bride, precipitated the change. It should also be noted that the voice of the Bridegroom and bride are listed together as a couple, not as separate individuals.
The opposite is also true. The removal of these voices by the LORD caused the desolation in the first place:
"Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall be desolate."  Jer. 7:34
"For thus says the LORD God of Israel:" Behold, I will cause to cease from this place, before your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride."  Jer. 16:9
"Moreover, I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones (grinding grain, or prosperity) and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment."  Jer. 25:10-11a
It is interesting that when the LORD destroys the stronghold/city of Mystery Babylon in the Book of Revelation, He also describes it in terms of removing many sounds including the sounds mentioned above: "...the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore."  Rev. 18:22b-23
The term "light of a lamp" brings to mind its connection to a wedding, and the coming of Himself as the bridegroom that Jesus teaches (Mt. 25:6-7). The voice of the bride and bridegroom play an essential role in spiritual desolation and renewal, as we see in the verses above.
As John the Baptist explained his relationship to the Messiah, he said, "I have been sent before Him. He (speaking of Messiah) who has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled."  Jn. 3:28b-29
John is described as "a voice crying in the wilderness", or desolate, parched land  (Mt. 3:2, Mk. 1:3, Lk. 3:4, Jn. 1:23). He is crying out in order to prepare the way of the Lord, or the coming of Messiah. John also connects the hearing of the bridegroom's voice with joy. Along with the voices of the bridegroom and bride in all of the above verses, come the voices of mirth and gladness. The prophet Isaiah also connects the transformation of a wilderness place into an Eden with "joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody (psalm, sing forth praises)" (Isa. 51:3).
The concept of bride and bridegroom have spiritual importance, as well as a Messianic connection. The word bridegroom in Hebrew is "chathan". It refers to a marriage covenant or agreement, the law, husband, and circumcision. The word for bride, "kallah" means betrothed, made perfect, completed, to crown".
As the prophet Joel called the congregation to assemble for repentance in order to intercede or change the course of the judgment of God against the land, he made sure to call forth the bride and bridegroom specifically (Joel 2:16). Joel has prophetically seen the desolation and destruction. So he calls forth prophetically, renewal and restoration through repentance, and then commands the people and the land to "be glad", and "rejoice" (2:21, 23). Not only is restoration on its way (2:25-26), but the pouring out of the Spirit of God (2:28-29), and the salvation and deliverance, or Messianic kingdom reign in Zion (2:32). As with Jeremiah's prophecies, "the captives" are also returned at this time (3:1).
As the Church, our relationship with Christ is one of Bride and Bridegroom, so we should find the bridal role involved with desolation and renewal very important to us.
At the removal of the bridegroom's and bride's voice, the destroyer ("charab"), desolation moves in. The various Hebrew words used for "destroyer" mean: violently destroy, corrupt, waster, spoiler, robber, ravenous, violent one. The destroyer has its own sound, or voice:
"Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him."  Job. 15:21
David remarked that his own words and the spoken words of the LORD (the voice of the Bridegroom), had an effect on the destroyer:
"I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer."  Ps. 17:3-4
The Apostle Paul warned the Church:
"...nor let us tempt Christ...nor complain (murmur) as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer."   1 Cor. 10:9-10
As Paul warned, if those who are to be the voice of the Bride, instead speak with the same voice and sound of the world and the destroyer, then the necessary voice of the bride has been removed from the land, and the destroyer rushes in. What is the voice of the Bride to be saying? She says the same thing as the voice of the Bridegroom. They speak as one (echad). For example, the Bridegroom says, "Behold, I am coming quickly..." (Rev. 22:12). The Bride along with the Spirit responds to Him, "Come!" (Rev. 22:17).
As Jeremiah tells us, these voices say, "Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endureth for ever." The two, Bridegroom and Bride, speak with one accord.

Our Father uses the voice of the Bridegroom and the voice of the Bride.

"Hear the Song of Your Bride"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnMoiq_H1Ak

"Mystery of the Heavenly Bridegroom and the Bride-The Khatan and the Kalah"
(teaching by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrPIxFwVUNQ

"Behind the Veil"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPmJhmEIBL4

Man

Man was a wondrous creation. There were three stages to his creation by Elohim, the Ruler, the Judge, the plurality of God.
Stage 1 was "Adam":
"Then God said, "Let Us make man (adam) in Our image (resemblance, representative figure), according to Our likeness (similitude, like manner, to be like, comparable); let them have dominion (rule, reign, prevail against, tread down as a wine press)....over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."    Gen 1:26
At this point, in Stage 1, the man is referred to as adam. The Hebrew word refers to a reddish complexion. The root word, dam, means blood. The first stage is the blood.
This man was created to be a representative figure of God, with like manner, even comparable manner, and his purpose was to rule and prevail against.
Stage 2 was "Nefesh":
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed (blow, kindle, give up life) into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life, and man became a living soul (nefesh)."   Gen. 2:7
First of all, God's name has changed for this stage of the creation of man. He is LORD God. His name reflects that He is existing, and He brings forth, and sustains or continues all existence.
As the breath left LORD God and entered into man, man received the life force, the spirit and the soul (heart, mind, will) of God, and became a soul (nefesh) himself. "Nefesh" also means life, to refresh, take rest, cease from working. LORD God gave up a portion of His life breath into the man He created.
Stage 3 was "Iysh":
The iysh stage of man came into being upon man's marriage:
"And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called "Woman" (iyshah), because she was taken of man (iysh)."
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one (echad) flesh."        Gen. 2:23-24
The Hebrew meaning of iysh (man) here is husband, servant, champion, great man, high-degree. The root includes a plurality- mankind, or a part of a greater number.
So this man, created from the blood, a representative of God, comparable to God, filled with LORD God's own breath, soul and spirit, was meant to be both a servant, and a champion, containing the great number of others called "mankind".
However, this man, who was created to be a champion, instead became a co-conspirator with a creature who only wanted to see man die. It is almost too pitiful to bear.
With great and eternal thanks for the mercy and loving kindness of the LORD God, our Father, the story doesn't end there. Out of the iysh-man's future multitudes, and from the work of the Holy Spirit, LORD God redeemed us through His only begotten Son, Jesus, and re-created us anew: Ber-i-yah. Let us look at this new creation:
Stage 1- The Blood:
As with Adam, our Father started this new creation with the blood, in this case, the blood of Christ:
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
                                                                                           Mt. 26:28
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."                                                                               Eph. 2:13
Stage 2-The Breath:
As LORD God breathed into Adam to create Nefesh, a living soul, we also have received the breath of the Holy Spirit as Christ did the new work in us:
"And when He (Jesus) had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."                     Jn. 20:22
Stage 3- The Marriage:
"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."     Rev. 19:7
When Adam recognized his wife, and God defined marriage, man became "iysh", champion.
We also have been called into a marriage with Christ. While we are not the champion, we have the "Champion" in us:
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."      Col. 1:27
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."         1 Jn. 4:4
As Adam became aware of his plurality upon marriage, we also are plural in nature. Not only, does the plurality of the Trinity dwell in us, and we in them, but we are a city on a hill (Mt. 5:14), having many members(1 Cor. 12:20), a New City come down from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, as the Bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev. 21:2,9-10). As this city, we contain the Tabernacle of God (Rev. 21:3), and the throne of God and the Lamb (Rev. 21:5, 22:1), the light of the Lamb and the glory of God (Rev. 21:13, 22:5), the river of life flowing through us, and the healing of the nations contained within this city that is the Bride (Rev.22:1-2). This New City, created by marriage to the Lamb, is the home of countless numbers:
"(You) have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."                    Rev. 5:9-10

Adam attained a greatness of number, stature and purpose when he married and became "iysh". We, also have attained a great destiny through our marriage to the Lamb.

We have been created again, miraculously, and anew, by the atoning work of Jesus.
That creature in Gen 2, who only wanted to see man die? He's still around (Mt. 10:28, Jn. 10:10).
Let's not make the same mistake twice.

Our Father has made a new creation, Ber-i-yah.

"A New Creation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DhpPJdd9vo

Garden

Garden
July, 2015

We can get a glimpse of the eternal will and purpose of God as we look at some scriptures dealing with gardens. Even as Adam's marriage to Eve (see "Marriage" post), and all of our marriages, are a type and shadow, a picture, of Christ's relationship with His Church-Bride, I think even the Garden into which the man and woman were placed, points us to a fascinating prophetic image of the Bride of Christ. The Bride has been kept veiled and protected, and, at most, we have had small glimpses of her. But it is now the time to see her more clearly. If we look under the veil, we can see the beauty, the anointing, and the importance of the Bride, not only to Jesus, but to our Father as well by looking at the prophetic picture of the garden. 

The first garden that comes to mind is the Garden of Eden in Genesis.

"The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed..."        Gen. 2:8

 

So, as we can see above, the man was not created in the Garden of Eden, but was put there after the Garden had been planted. If we do a word study of the underlined words of this above verse, we will find some remarkable things.

• The LORD God planted- means He fastened or fixed the Garden into place
• He fastened a garden-  meaning an enclosed garden, a chaste woman, a bride.

An example of a garden being used to describe a  bride can be found in Song of Songs 4:12-15:

         "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse,

          a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

         Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates

          with pleasant fruits..."

• This Garden/Bride was fastened eastward- aforetime, antiquity, that which is before
• This Garden/Bride was fastened in antiquity, at the beginning, in Eden- pleasure, luxury, dainty, delight, finery.

So, this dainty, delightful Garden/Bride was fixed or fastened from the beginning, in antiquity. Into this Garden/Bride,

• the LORD God put- set in place, ordained, appointed, directed, made for a sign
• the man- mankind, human being, rubbed red, shown red, emit redness.
• that He had formed- pre-determined, pre-ordained, planned of divine purpose

This special being, Adam, was divinely purposed, even before he was created, to be placed in this Garden/Bride. For what divine purpose was he placed there? We can read that purpose in Gen. 2:15:

"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it.

• The LORD God took the man- fetch, lay hold of, seize, take in the hand, marry, take a wife, carry off, be removed
• The man was put in the garden to dress it- to work, serve as a subject, to serve with Levitical service, to be led to serve.
• And he was to keep it- keep, guard, observe, give heed, protect, save life, treasure up, celebrate, keep (Sabbath, covenant, commands), perform a vow, preserve

The man was ordained and appointed for service in the same manner of the priesthood, in order to preserve and guard the Garden/Bride, to keep the commands and covenant of God regarding the Garden/Bride. He was physically and spiritually moved from one location to another in order to begin this service. The man was created and formed in a pre-determined divine plan for this important priesthood service.

What we can see is the importance of this Garden/Bride depicted in Genesis that caused the LORD God to fasten it onto the earth, and to appoint a priest to care for, preserve and protect it. The meaning of the Garden/Bride was important enough that when the man neglected to do the service that the LORD God had pre-ordained him to do, he was forced to leave the Garden/Bride, and he could never enter again. This is covered in mystery in many ways, but we can get a beginning glimpse into the divine purpose from scripture.

First of all, the Garden/Bride contained the three Persons of the Trinity. The Father and Son are present in the Garden/Bride, the Son being represented by the Tree of Life that was in the very center of the Garden/Bride. The cool Winds (Ruach) (Gen. 3:8) in the Garden/Bride represent the reviving and refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit. The Garden/Bride ushered in the presence of the LORD God for fellowship with the man.

The Garden/Bride of the Song of Songs mentioned above, is also described as containing very precious trees, plants, and herbs that were used in creating the anointing oil of the priests and kings, and also of use for medicinal purposes. In fact, in another garden of scripture, the Garden/Bride  in which Jesus prayed before He was crucified, was called "Gethsemane", which means an oil or wine press (also oil used for anointing), and also meaning a medicament or unguent, which is used for healing. It is, to this day, full of very old olive trees. All of these things paint a lovely picture for us of some of the qualities of the beautiful Garden/Bride.

The prophet Isaiah admonishes and encourages the people of God to extend their soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted so that they can then become lighted from within by the LORD, who will make them like a watered garden, whose springs of water will not ever fail (Isa. 58:10-11). That whole chapter of Isaiah gives us a further look into God's calling for us as that Garden/Bride. The Garden/Bride is a place of ministry, a place of comfort and healing to those who have need. A creative power, and a restoring and rebuilding purpose flows from the Garden/Bride, if she will walk in that calling of God as we see in the next verse (Isa. 58:12):

"Those from among you

Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations

of many generations;

And you shall be called the

"Repairer of the Breach",

"The Restorer of Paths to Dwell in".

 

The Bride in New Testament scripture plays a very important role in the earth, especially in End-Time events, and is a purpose and calling in every believer's life.

The Bride in the Book of Revelation plays a part with the Holy Spirit in calling and bringing the return of the Messiah to rule and reign on the earth (Rev. 22:17).

As Isaiah prophesied about the Garden/Bride above, together with the Lamb of God, the Bride has a part in bringing forth the New Creation, even the descending of the New Jerusalem to the earth, "being adorned as a Bride for her Husband" (Rev. 21:2). And once again, the presence of God will dwell with men.

"God Himself will be with them and be their God." (Rev. 21:3). AMEN.

An important thing to note before we leave this topic: all of the gardens mentioned in the above scriptures were directly fed by living waters. A mighty river came from Eden to water that garden. The meaning of the word used here for "river" is to flow, to shine, to be radiant, to flow together, even describing a conflux of people, to give light, to be glad, to rejoice. It is the river of salvation, the river of the Gospel of Good News. After passing through the Garden/Bride, it became four mighty rivers that watered other lands. The Gospel of Salvation flows through the Garden/Bride, and from her, it is dispersed throughout other lands and peoples in all directions. The Garden/Bride of Song of Songs, and Isaiah 58 were both watered by springs and fountains within and without them. The Garden of Gethsemane, mentioned above, is beside the Kidron Valley, where a river flows during the rainy season. The Garden/Bride of Rev. 21 and 22 had a pure river of water of life running through her. Trees with healing leaves also grew in her. What are these waters mentioned here, but the written and living Word, Jesus (Jn. 7:37-38). The relationship between the garden and the water is a close one. A garden cannot be watered by water that is not physically touching it. It is necessary to keep ourselves close, even right next to, the source of our water if we wish to become that Garden/Bride. A garden far separated from its water source soon becomes a desert, a wasteland.

Although the first Adam failed to fulfill his priestly service, not only to the Garden/Bride, but to his own natural bride as well, the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, kept all that the Father had placed into His care and hands, and He kept them in, and by, the power of His Father's name (Jn. 17:12). He is very desirous of His Bride, and the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

The beauty, mystery, purpose and anointing of the Bride of Christ is revealed by our Father even back in the Book of Genesis, and throughout scripture. It is ready to be revealed in us, to us, and through us. It is for us to seek it out, and unveil it.

 

Our Father has fastened a Garden/Bride in the earth.

 

"In The Garden"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jEllIaBdyM

 

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfdD3pBUig

 

"Comfort Ye, My People"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZvpbBD75M

 

*Special thanks Pastor Ken S. for his encouragement and feedback, and to Fran B. for her thoughts and contributions to this post

 ** Photo at the top of the page-Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Israel