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The Beginning of The End of All Things Part 22 Publication #201.07 Names Written
*1. "had a name written," The Majority Greek Text has it as, "had names written." (This Greek interlinear version is arrived at by comparing all known manuscripts with one another and deriving from them the readings that are more numerous than any others. There are two published Greek texts which purport to represent the Majority readings -- Hodges & Farstad 1982 and Pierpont & Robinson 1991. - Michael D. Marlowe. (http://www.bible-researcher.com/majority.html) We are at a loss for words to describe the scene of this majestic horseman. There has never been such a rider nor will there ever be another. It is hard to imagine one such as this who brings judgment with fire blazing from His eyes. It is truly incomprehensible to the natural man. There is no way for him to lay hold of these mysteries. It is literally impossible, yet it is easily understood by those who have been awakened to spiritual realities. And it is for their sake that we will continue looking into the symbolic language concerning this mighty King of war and His host of the heaven's. Upon the rider's head are many crowns, which signifies many kings, and unlike most kings with spotless, flowing robes of grandeur, He is not arrayed in such. He is not seen in an unstained garment of courtly prestige, but is wearing a vesture dipped in blood! His garment does not express an honorary promotion, an inherited station of power by default due to his old father, the king, dying, or any other such government edict or kingdom fiat. His ordination and badge of honor was his blood shed for the cause, which we know to be for the salvation of the world. And now we see Him going forth robed in His vesture dipped in His own shed blood, and accompanied by his valiant ones, the 144,000 Sons of God, and together they will bring it all to pass. It is truly, a graphic picture of staggering proportions -- truly, the Beginning of the End of All Things! The host of heaven with Him, this vast multitude of the Sons of God, are clothed in fine linen, white and clean, which speaks of the righteousness of the saints. Their white horses symbolize the strength in its pure form of godliness. It speaks of victory, and power of Christ Jesus, and all of this is by His blood. It is by His blood that their garments are white and clean, and it is by Him that they conquer. The sharp, two-edged (The Majority Greek Text) sword that proceeds from His mouth is the spoken Word of God. It is a living sword with which to smite the nations, and is certainly not with brutal force and unmerciful slaughter; but rather, with Truth and Life. And the name written on His vesture and His thigh is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! With such a name inscribed upon His thigh, there is neither angel, force, course, nor power to compromise that strength. By no means can the hollow of His thigh be touched as it was with Jacob. What we read here defies human expression, yet men and women in the church and secular fields worldwide futilely attempt it, and they fail at every turn. And there is good cause for it. Namely, the book of Revelation is a spiritual book. It is not a natural book of natural flesh and bone events. It speaks of spiritual realities, and these spiritual realities are conveyed to us by signs and symbols. Jesus most often spoke in parables, and gave the reason why: "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." Matthew 13:10. The book of Revelation is akin to the way Jesus spoke over two thousand years ago in parables, signs, symbols, and allegories. Such wonderful things are not meant to be understood by the carnal mind, nor will they ever be. With this being true, we will not see televangelists declaring or talking about the fulfillment of these heavenly prophecies on their TV shows. The newscasters won't be broadcasting it as some late, breaking news. And neither will we read about it from the pages of our daily newspapers. When the climactic hour comes, however, we will see those realities expressed with clarity and without question. They will be seen in the lives of men and women all over the world. For you see, the Word of the Lord is spiritual. It speaks of spiritual things. His Word does not depict natural warfare between flesh and blood nations. Such wars have nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. They are natural while our wars are spiritual. The battles that John saw while in exile speak of spiritual battles. They are battles between the carnal mind of man and the mind of Christ. They are between light and darkness. These conflicts are between spirit and flesh, between truth and error. These battles rage between righteousness and evil. These battles are expressly between life and death. And be sure to know, each of us must experience these battles within our own being in order to overcome all things. It is when we have put death under our feet that we are given the victor's crown of life. When Jesus was in the world, He knew firsthand such spiritual warfare, but infinitely more intense, we are sure. And He overcame all those powers, particularly the powers of the flesh and of the devil. By His perilous acts and ultimate sacrifice, and especially the power of His Life, He opened wide the way to victory and triumph for all who are called and who are willing to follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth. They must follow not only into the heat of the battles, but also into the lifestyle of the Kingdom of God. It is strange; but some people don't mind the war as much as they do the life in the Spirit of holiness. The heat of battle invigorates them, while the tranquility of life bores them. (Suggested reading. Pub. #187.06 "And There Was War In Heaven" free upon request.) Before proceeding, there is something to be said about the subject of this study, which has to do with the unassuming word, name. Other than names written upon people having great spiritual significance, knowing something of the Greek word for name sheds additional light upon what we are looking into. Name is translated from onoma, and there is no better word than name for it to be translated, that is, if we understand what exactly the translated word means. The Greek definition of the word says that it expresses the thought of one possessing a certain character, or nature (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). Thayer's Greek Definitions add to this: "1) name: univ. of proper names "2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc." The Hebrew for name is Shêm, and it is, a "...word (...through the idea of definite and conspicuous position...); an appellation [or designation], as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). Interestingly, the only place we find names written upon people is in the book of Revelation. There is one time in the Old Testament, of course, that Aaron's name was written upon the rod of Levi, which was symbolic of people, i.e., the entire tribe of Levi. Aaron's name -- his nature, his position, his authority as the high priest -- was written upon the tribe of the priesthood that the rod represented, and now, we see the fulfillment of that type in the last book of the Bible. Let us take a moment and notice the exclusive verses where we read about names being uniquely written upon people: "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Revelation 19:12. "...I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1 And, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Revelation 2:17. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelation 3:12. The new name is the new nature of the resurrection power and glory of our ascended Lord. It is not the name of Jesus of old. Not the name of the Jesus of Nazareth. Not the name of the Jesus who was tempted in all points as we are tempted. We have that name right now; but it is His New Name! It is the nature of Jesus the overcomer! It is the nature of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ from on high! Many would settle for having the old name of Jesus who fed the people loaves and fishes, but not they who rule with the rod of iron. They will have nothing less than the Jesus who Paul spoke of, saying, "16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV). We cannot leave the list of scriptures in reference to names being written without adding a verse from the Old Testament; for it declares the power of a king's name, and much more the name of our King, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS: "8Write ye...in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse." Esther 8:8 The name seals forever the nature, the power, and the authority of the King, and note the ones that are written on the overcomers: a name no man knows, one's new name, the name of God, the name of the city of God, the new name of Jesus, and the name of our Father. There's a lot of name writing on people's bodies and once upon a stone in the book of Revelation. It is with stones, of course, as it is with the rods. They are both symbolic of people. A name written on a person, or a rod, or a stone, simply speaks of the essence that is being imparted. Therefore, the substance of those being written upon is that of God, the city of God, the new name of Jesus Christ, their new name/nature, and the name of their Father. That, my dear friends, is what I call substance, and no man can reverse it! There is no falling away, no backsliding, nor a hint of being defeated by the devil and his hoards. These names stick, forever! It is no wonder that these names of substance being written upon the 144,000 are recorded in the last book of the Bible; for this is when all things come to a head. This is the unveiling of many events having to do with the Beginning of the End of All Things, and the overcomers are certainly part of the beginning and the end of all things. The world will be again turned upside down; but this time, ending all things forever that are contrary to life. These sons of God will be a part of making all things new. They manifest the royal substance of the Kingdom as they shepherd the nations with the rod of iron. Once more we will say that these names are written upon no one except the overcomers! For they alone are worthy. They alone are victoriously mature, first within and then without. The substance of those mature names will be manifested in full glory which Paul called the manifestation of the sons of God. This unveiling ushers in those who are as solid as their Rock. They are irrevocably sealed, and no man can reverse it. It is not my intention or desire to cause consternation to anyone; but for the good of truth which is good for everyone, I am compelled to make it clear that overcoming and becoming can never be achieved by being super religious, walking the strait and narrow path by the will and might of the mind, self determination, knowing the right doctrines, believing end-time truths, doing or not doing things, or belonging to a certain church or special group of believers. It is Jesus the Author and Finisher of everyone's faith, the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega who will make it so as they all walk in harmony with His Spirit. If we were able to buck up and overcome all things by the mighty grit of ourselves, there would have been no need for Jesus to have left the glory He had with His Father and suffer the humiliating death of the cross. But there was a need, a great need, and He, therefore, descended from His celestial glory and made it possible for us to ascend and overcome all things. He made the way, and it is by Him, in Him, and through Him that we will mature, overcome, and take on the substance of His new name that is written upon us. The Lamb's Father, who is our Father, will also write His name upon our foreheads, filling our minds with the substance of Himself! 1Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1 (NAS). The Diaglott also includes His name along with His Father's name having been written on their foreheads, which we noticed earlier in Revelation 3:12 when Jesus said, to him that overcomes, I will write u0pon him the name of my God, and My new name. What is the significance of having both names written in their foreheads rather than the one name, especially since Jesus said in John 17:11-23 that He and His Father were one? We might think that by having one name that the other came with the package, but not necessarily so. I believe both names are mentioned in order to signify that the overcomer's mind would be the substance of both characters. The mind of the followers of the Lamb upon the Mountain of the Kings (Zion) would be that of the Father and the Son. The character of the Father is that of guidance, firm correction, authority, and power. The character of the Son is that of obedience, responsibility, empathy, trustworthiness, having no condemnation, sacrificial, and a savior. The Son identifies with man in his weakness, temptations, and passions. The Son is the mediator. And with the 144,000 having both names (natures) written upon their foreheads, they have the mature substance of both, the Father and the Son, and they can easily rule the nations with and as a rod of iron. In our previous article we saw that the Greek word for rule comes from poimaino, meaning: to shepherd, guide, govern. This speaks of a ministry of love and care. It is not the wielding of an iron rod in a tyrannical manner. But rather, it is the firm exercise of authority to assure that the purpose is accomplished. Ruling with a rod of iron is undergirded with all the firm guidance of a father and the loving care of a good shepherd. It is the ministry of Christ through a people who have become one in Him and their Father, and when they are seen, the Father and the Son are seen. "26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power (Grk. exousia, authority) over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." Revelation 2:26-27. Again, the rod symbolizes His unbreakable authority, and that authority is of His Spirit, His word, and His law of the Spirit of Life. They are unbendable, and the 144,000 overcomers are the corporate manifestation of the three in the hand of their Father to break to shivers the vessels in need of being broken. They are also they who tread out the wine press. Treading out the winepress is similar, if not the same, as ruling with a rod of iron. The rod is used to break people like a potter breaks his vessels. The afflicted are pressed and broken in order to bring forth something much greater, life from the world of death. Those broken to shivers are the marred and cracked vessels who are unusable and unfit for the glorious Kingdom of God. They are not able to hold the simple water of the Word or the wine of the Spirit. It is difficult to repair cracked vessels of clay; but it is a simple matter to break them to shivers (Grk. to crush completely), grind them to powder, cast them into the Potter's field to be weathered, worn, and reduced to pliable clay. When the time is right, they are then reformed in the Potter's hands, and all are made new as Revelation 21:5 says they will be. As it is with the reforming of the Potter's vessels, the treading out of the winepress brings forth a higher, everlasting form of life. For instance, ripe grapes are full of sweet juices. They possess beauty and sustenance. They are pleasant to the eye and taste. A burst of energy can be had when grapes are eaten; but the true life, the higher life of the vine is not known until it is released. That releasing is due to the crushing of its fruit, and seemingly a spoiling during the fermentation process. But there is no spoiling. There are no values lost. To the contrary, much is gained. The life of the vine in that fruit is released and manifested in that process of bruising and dying. There is a marvelous transformation and resurrection. Abundant life comes out of death. Now we know why wine is called spirits. The spirit/life has been released as the essence of the fruit is transformed. Many may appear as though they are rich and full of life, like plump, religious grapes, yet they will never drink of the new wine of the Kingdom without the treading out of the winepress, or being vessels broken to shivers and reformed. We should note that neither the treading out of the winepress nor the breaking of vessels are in vindictive vengeance. There is no anger of any sort, and neither is it a cold, uncaring, retribution to someone who "deserves" God's harsh, legal "justice." By no means is this rule of iron done in malice or without heartfelt feelings of love. These rulers have no need to see anyone suffer, even though there is often great suffering on the road to correction and change. Before closing this issue of the series, let us note a verse in the Psalms concerning one of the types of Jesus, David, the apple (the pupil, the central focus) of God's eye. It captures so clearly the spirit of those whose foreheads have the name of their Lord Jesus and the name of their Father written therein, and who rule (shepherd) with a guiding rod of iron: "72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands." Psalm 78:72. (NKJV). This is what is awaiting the 144,000, the rod of iron, the company of Sons who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, and who rule in the name of the Son and of the Father. They shepherd according to the integrity of their heart, which is the Lord's, and they guide with the skillful understanding, knowledge and wisdom of their Father. Brethren, that's the mighty host of God's sons whose name is written upon and in their foreheads. It is they who stand upon Mount Zion and rule the nations in His irrevocable name, and the LORD set the tone very well for that which we speak when Jeremiah wrote: "14'...I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16'Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,' says the Lord, 'that they will say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord. It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore. 17'At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.' And '4I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking, says the Lord.'" Jeremiah 3:14-17 & 23:4 (NKJV). You see, the throne of the Kingdom where God abides, and from where His glory comes, is no longer in the temple made with hands. He is no longer confined to one place to where no man can approach. The throne is a city! The throne is a people, and the glory of the inscribed names of the Son and the Father are seen in them as they shepherd all the people by the integrity of their hearts which will usher them into the fulness of life for evermore. These royal shepherds do not wield a rod of iron in a harsh, autocratic manner. Not at all. But they do rule firmly and exercise authority to insure that God's ultimate purpose of removing the burden of sin and death from every soul is accomplished. These rulers are not uncaring tyrants, but are undergirded with the love and care of the chief Shepherd. This iron rule is the ministry of Christ through a people who have become one with Him in every way while standing upon Zion with Him. It is from that high place called the Mountain of the Kings, having His name and His Father's name written in their foreheads, that they rule. And this, my dear friends, is truly the Beginning of the End of all Things. It is the Beginning of the End of All Things for everything and everybody that is not rooted and grounded in the life of Jesus Christ -- the one who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End of all things! Elwin R. Roach 1. "had a name written," The Majority Greek Text has it as, "had names written." (This Greek interlinear version is arrived at by comparing all known manuscripts with one another and deriving from them the readings that are more numerous than any others. There are two published Greek texts which purport to represent the Majority readings -- Hodges & Farstad 1982 and Pierpont & Robinson 1991. - Michael D. Marlowe. (http://www.bible-researcher.com/majority.html) 2. The Majority Greek Text has two-edged
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