FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


I remember STUDYING about the "marriage" of Rebecca and Isaac:

Genesis 24:67..."And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and TOOK Rebekah (had sexual relations with her), and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death."

THIS IS MARRIAGE! ACCORDING TO GOD'S DEFINITION, YOU ARE MARRIED to ANYONE with whom you "join your body"....in other words, anyone you've had "sex" with is your husband/wife.

The Bible says NOTHING about standing in front of ANYONE and making vows (that you don't keep, anyway) to anyone, as being the definition of "MARRIAGE". Whom you join your body to....you are "married" to.

[Now go and call people who are polygamists "sinful and evil"...."take the beam out of your own eye, etc"...Matthew 7:3]

LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT GOD IS TELLING US ALL! We are the "BODY of Jesus Christ" (spiritually). We are "born again" INTO HIM. We are THE LOWER PART OF HIS BODY....FROM THE NECK DOWN. Jesus Christ is our HEAD...and the BODY IS CONNECTED TO THE SAME PERSON AS THE HEAD. We are NOT a "decapitated" body...our life and thoughts come from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit (as Rebecca came to Isaac through the guidance of the "servant of Abraham"...and at the end of the journey, the marriage was consummated).

If the HEAD has the name of "Jesus Christ", then WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BODY?? Revelation 2:17 says we shall receive "a white stone with a new name". If our HEAD has the name of "Jesus Christ", then what NAME do you think we receive?

If my name is "John Doe". My head is "John Doe" as is my body....because they are CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER. And thus are we all in JESUS CHRIST....BECAUSE OUR "NEW NAME" WILL BE THE SAME NAME AS HIS when our "marriage" to Him is CONSUMMATED.

BUT WE MUST GROW SPIRITUALLY...from "little children", to "young men", to "fathers" during our time here on earth....see I John 2:13. God does not "marry" children. His ultimate "WIFE" (after the consummation) will rule and reign with Him. A "babe" (or child) in Christ is not qualified to do this and will not be "chosen" for this honor.

It is explained very well in what is told to us about the 144,000 who are "sealed" by God....those who are making the journey (through the Holy Spirit) to qualify. They are "spiritual virgins". They have NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING JEWISH. AND IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BEING FAITHFUL TO THE "WORD OF GOD" (Who is "Jesus Christ"...see John 1:1)

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Understand what journey each of us should be taking, as explained by J. Preston Eby:

Piece of the article:


“Out of Jacob came twelve sons and they were mighty ones, God’s Israel for that generation. Out of them came twelve tribes, and they were God’s Israel for their generation. Then, finally, out of the twelve tribes came Jesus, and while Jesus was in the world, He was God’s Israel, God’s Prince. Then out of Jesus came a generation of enChristed Israel and they were God’s Israel, God’s mighty ones, for their generation. Then over the last 2,000 years have come generation after generation of enChristed Israel. Each out of the previous generation, and they were God’s Israel for their generation and now, we who have been called and chosen by the Spirit of God out of the masses of the world and religious Babylon, that God might deal with us and change our nature, that he might change our name — we are God’s Israel for our generation!


http://www.godfire.net/eby/rev-98.html


Another piece of the article:

All who are called and chosen of the Father as king-priests are diligently climbing up that ascending pathway! We are daily applying ourselves to this walk! By the strength and power of the Christ within, we are pressing upward through one tribe at a time. The twelve tribes were not all birthed at the same time! The head of each tribe was born in his time, one after another, until all twelve had been birthed! This is a picture of our progression in spiritual life from one tribe to another! As we pass from tribe to tribe we experience within ourselves all that each tribe embodies. When we have arrived at the last tribe — Benjamin — we will be sons of the right hand! We will have experienced within ourselves all the authority, power, and dominion of God’s omnipotent throne! Once the reality of each of the twelve tribes has been progressively fulfilled within us, the victorious believer is then complete, mature, and has attained the first resurrection and the glory of manifest sonship. We will be able to rule over all things as sons of God! God’s promise to Abraham in the long ago will at last be fulfilled in all its glorious and eternal reality — “in thee, and in thy seed, shall ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED!

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This link describes the journey through ALL the "tribes" in the life of the believer:


http://www.godfire.net/eby/rev-99.html


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Now you should know what your "new name" will be when your "marriage" is consummated and "New Jerusalem" is REVEALED. IT IS THE REVELATION OF "JESUS CHRIST".

BUT....we have to wait for this until all of Gods plan for this age is completed. New Jerusalem is revealed when the "new heaven and a new earth" comes to pass...see Revelation 21:1.

If what you are told in the Bible does not match the doctrine you believe....REPENT (re-think) of your false doctrine NOW, and start studying the Bible for what it REALLY says....and not what some Pastor tells you it says.

I like to think of it as we are "climbing up Jacob's ladder" as we become, as Jacob did....the "Israel of God". The "first step" of the ladder has changed us to "Israel" in making the higher journey until we have reached the "consummation".....ever looking forward to that "joy" that Paul saw as the "prize" of the "high calling"...Philippians 3:14.

Arlene

Hi Arlene,
I commend your very excellent post.
It's sad that Most of the "brethren" are so narrow
in Spiritual sight; But I pray some will take this post to heart.
Maybe they need to read the Bible where it says, IN CHRIST, there is NO male or female because we are ALL HIS vessel, that NEW MAN, in corporate union, the working of the Holy Spirit,
submitting to Christ's living His Life out thru us, IN MEASURE.
We may not agree on everything, but on THIS post, I AGREE. Smile!
God's peace and love to you!

My dear "Sister-in Christ", Sally!! You have touched my heart beyond belief.

I have been through MANY of the wrong doctrines, myself, and believed them. So I can understand why so many are deceived. I can't say when, for sure, but it has just been recently that God opened my "spiritual" eyes to see what He was saying. It was there all along, but I just couldn't see it. Until someone else said something...and it stopped me in my tracks.

I totally understand those who don't yet see. But there will come a certain "AHA"!! MOMENT....and understanding of who we really are, and are growing to be, floods in. It takes the breath away!!

Every day I feel like I'd just like to sit back and scour the Bible for those "bits and pieces" that fall into place now. (And I do that often) But, when I see the same things in others that I believed before, I have to say something!! If I don't, I feel incomplete. Someone "out there" may just hear what I'm saying....exactly like I heard someone else!

Prayerfully, it's a "gift" that will keep on giving. That's what we are here for..

Again, thank you so much for your comment! I'm smiling now!

Arlene

Simplification of Eby's article:

FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES



When reading and studying the Bible, there are "levels" of understanding which come through with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Initial reading does not show the "types and shadows" that one sees after deeper study of the NT when compared with the OT. After study, we realize that the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham was a "type" of the sacrifice of Jesus by God the Father. There are so many "types" that can be seen but only by those whose "eyes" and "ears" are opened by the Holy Spirit.

The sealing of the 144,000 in Revelation chapter 7 is another scripture that has a hidden lesson underneath the actual verse. Some people say that these "tribes" indicate the Jews, which they think to be "natural Israel"...but they are wrong. In ANY listing of the Tribes of Israel in the OT, they ALWAYS begin with the Tribe of REUBEN because he was the "first born", and this is essential for the Jews.

The Tribes of Israel in Rev. chapter 7 begin with JUDAH, which indicates JESUS CHRIST (The Lion of the Tribe of Judah) as the "Firstborn" of the CHURCH, which is the "body of Christ". The NAMES of the people indicate the SPIRITUAL JOURNEY through which each one of the "sons of God" must go through in their journey to being a MATURE Christian. The "kings and priests" who will rule in God's Kingdom will not be those who are still "babes in Christ", and this journey is through much "tribulation" while in this world....and through much study and faith....see II Tim. 2:15...."Study to show thyself approved unto God....etc"

This is the "mark of the prize of the high calling" talked about by Paul in Philippians 3:14. This is best explained by J. Preston Eby from pieces taken out of several of his writings on these tribes of Israel.

Meanings behind the names of the Tribes of Israel: EACH CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY TOWARD THE "PRIZE"



Can you not see the mystery? As we progress from tribe to tribe there is an ascending scale of spiritual growth, experience, and development moving us along from step to step, from dealing to dealing, from accomplishment to accomplishment, and from attainment to attainment. God continuously and increasingly floods our hearts with light, understanding, glory, reality, and power!

In the tribe of JUDAH (to be a praise) we receive the revelation and call to sonship.

In REUBEN (behold a son!) the life of sonship appears and begins to be raised up within us.

In GAD (a troop) we learn spiritual warfare by which we begin to overcome.

In ASHER (happy) we are flooded with the overwhelming joy of the kingdom of God - unaffected, indestructible joy and confidence.

In NAPHTALI (wrestling) we are given hind's feet to ascend into the high places of the Spirit in overcoming victory.

In MANASSEH (causing to forget) we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.

In SIMEON (hearing) the revelation of God's truth and purpose in us comes into focus with great clarity as we truly "hear" what the Father is saying to us.

In LEVI (joining, union) there is the marriage of soul and spirit within, restoring us into singleness, oneness, and wholeness in union with Christ - man as man was meant to be.

In ISSACHAR (payment, compensation) we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, endued and empowered with all that is needed to fulfill the sonship ministry - all the fullness of God!

Now we come to ZEBULUN (dwelling, habitation) where we no longer just "receive" things from God, but at last we enter into the high calling of God, granted an abundance entrance into the kingdom of God, to remain, abide, and dwell in the Father's house of sons! It is here that we find our place in the new order of sonship, knowing of a certainty who we are, what we have received, what our mission is, and we recognize that now the hour of the unveiling is nigh at hand! There is a sense of urgency, yet we abide in Him and wait for God's hour to strike when we shall receive our marching orders!

In its spiritual meaning, JOSEPH points unerringly to the great increase that has come into the lives of God’s sons as we have progressed on this journey into God’s fullness! I realize that many speak of Joseph, and the meaning of his name (may He add), in outward terms of the multitude of his descendants or of the vast increase of the kingdom of God in the earth. But when Rachel named Joseph, she did not have in mind the increase that would come out of Joseph himself, but “may He add” expressed her deep and insatiable desire for yet another son! Her reference was to Benjamin, not Joseph! Spiritually this points us to the ultimate consummation of our sonship where the work within us is complete, and in Benjamin we stand in all the glory, authority, and dominion of our full sonship as SONS OF THE RIGHT HAND! Oh, yes! In Joseph we have come to a high stature in Christ, to a place of rich fulfillment and glorious potential, yet still we yearn for the completion, for the fullness, for the HOUR OF MANIFESTATION! Our desire is for Benjamin!

A son! A son at the right hand! In BENJAMIN we complete our journey into sonship and to the throne! The throne of Israel was in Jerusalem, and it is wondrously revealing that Jerusalem was located, not in Judah as is commonly supposed, but in the territory of Benjamin! (Josh. 18:2 .

Many have seen a reference to Jerusalem in Moses’ blessing on Benjamin, “And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all day long, and He (the Lord) shall dwell between his (Benjamin’s) shoulders” (Deut. 33:12). The dwelling place of the Lord among His people Israel was in Jerusalem, in the temple. Thus, the Lord later located His sanctuary, the temple, in the territory of the inheritance of Benjamin! The glory of the Lord now rests upon the sons of God who make up the body of Christ, which is also the true and eternal and spiritual and heavenly temple of God and the New Jerusalem!

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If there are any BETTER explanations of Revelation chapter 7, I would love to hear them.

Arlene