Gideon |
Chapter 33 |
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10-28-12 (1 Th 4:13-18) But I would not have you to be ignorant [Gk: not know, not understand], brethren, concerning them which are asleep [Gk: are dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [Gk: precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Th 5:1-6) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail [Gk: childbirth] upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep [Gk: to lie down to rest], as do others; but let us watch [Gk: be vigilant] and be sober [Gk: to abstain from wine]. 1. “caught up” = Gk: harpazo; to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer:--choose. [syn: to seize, to pull up]
(Rev 12:1-5) And there appeared [from whence it had not appeared, i.e., a created entity] a great wonder in heaven; a woman [the church] clothed with the sun [the celestial symbol of God and Jesus Christ], and the moon [the celestial symbol of Allah and Islam] under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars [perhaps the twelve disciples, but more probably the twelve tribes of Israel]: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth [Gk: odino odino; to experience the pains of parturition], and pained to be delivered. And there appeared [another created entity] another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [Gk: (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent (perh. as supposed to fascinate)] [hypnotize] [Satan, the Devil] [“God shall send them strong delusion” 2 Thes 2:11], having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven [fallen angels], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before [Gk: in the face of] the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth [in childbirth] a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron [Moses’ wooden rod (Exo 4:1-5) of forgiveness (a type of the wooden cross) having been transformed (Rom 12:2) into the iron rod of judgment (a type of the iron sword)]: and her child was caught up [Gk: harpazo] unto God, and to his throne.
LOT’S RAPTURE (Gen 19:1-3) And there came two angels to Sodom [Heb: to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district] at even; and Lot [Heb: a veil: covering] sat in the gate of Sodom [a position of authority]: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house [representing the house of God, the church, heaven on earth, heaven]; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread [symbolically, pure and without sin], and they did eat [i.e., they received Lot’s offering].
(Gen 19:4,5) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed [Heb: surrounded] the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them [in the sexual sense – they wanted to rape them, by force (Mat 11:12)].
(Gen 19:6-8) And Lot [representing saved but minimal believers, the lowest category of believers] went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him [as a type of “a flaming sword” (Gen 3:24) keeping the way of righteousness], And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow [protection] of my roof [and I am responsible for them]. (Gen 19:9) And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn [Heb: to turn aside from the road as a guest] [to temporarily abide; a stranger in a strange land], and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door [in a vain attempt to enter into heaven, by force Mat 11;12]. 1. Commentary: “he will needs be a judge” = an example of an occassionally used speaking convention in the Bible, an unintentional prophecy (truth) uttered by sinners, for Lot will indeed one day judge. “Know ye not that we shall judge angels” (1 Cor 6:3). 2. (John 10:1,2) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
(Gen 19:10,11) But the men [the two angels (plural)] put forth their hand [singular = the holy power of God], and pulled Lot into the house [of God] to them [a macrocosmic type of “the rapture”], and shut to the door [Gen 3:24]. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
(Gen 19:12-14) And the men [the two angels] said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked [Heb: played, made sport] unto his sons in law. THE RAPTURE, “HARPAZO” IN NATURE (Gen 19:15-17) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened [Heb: hurried] Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. //// And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without [Heb: outside] the city. //// And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 1. Commentary: Lot lingered, thereby manifesting a degree of reluctance to leave his world, but Lot’s wife was much more extreme in her reluctance to leave her world and disobeyed the angelic command to “look not behind thee.” Consequently, she became “a pillar of salt” (Gen 19:26), “consumed,” blown away by the wind. Why? Because she placed her own wants and desires over the command of the holy angel, a Christophane, which is idolatry. 2. (Luke 17:32) Remember Lot's [disobedient] wife.
Amen
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