Rising of the Son no. 17

God's shield of protection,  His Crown of Glory

November 16, 2016

Brian Kocourek, pastor

 

2 I certainly deem this a marvelous privilege this morning to be back here in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with this great congregation, the church packed and standing in and outside and in the lots and everywhere. To you people on the phones across the nation, it's a beautiful morning here. Five o'clock this morning, my little friend with a red breast flew up at the window and woke me up. Seemed like his little heart would burst saying, "He is risen." I've always thought of this little bird as being a friend to me because I like him. As the legend about him says, a little brown bird saw Him suffering on the cross where sin had placed Him. Of course, the little bird had no sin; He didn't have to die for the little bird; but he flew in to the cross and tried to pull the nails out with his little beak, and he got his breast all red. And that's the way I want mine too, as this shield of trying to protect this glorious thing that He died for.

 

Now, this paragraph might seem a little innocuous, but it is not. Notice his story about the little robin was to bring out a little thought concerning the red breast and he called it  "this shield of trying to protect this glorious".

 

Notice he is referring to a shield to protect the glory. Now, we know what the glory is that Christ died for, it is the glory his Father gave him before the foundations of the world.

 

John 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

 

So the red breast he says represents the shield that protects the glory.

 

Therefore this odd expression that brother Branham used is what I would like to speak on tonight, and go into scripture so we can get an idea of what he is referring to here with this illustration of the little robin and its red breast. 

 

In his opening statement in his sermon, Who is this Melchisedec brother Branham says, We thank Thee for Thy great power, Thy great revelation of thyself to us in this last days. It makes our heart most happy and joyful to know that we have come in contact with the living God, Who vindicates it right back in physical, material evidences as He did in the days gone by and as He has promised for this day. We're so grateful to Thee our God. This dark day where no one seems to know which a-way to go, we're so glad that we found the safety zone, the retreat.

 

Now, this evening, we will focus our thoughts on these two statements from the two sermons brother Branham preached, We're so grateful to Thee our God. This dark day where no one seems to know which a-way to go, we're so glad that we found the safety zone, the retreat.

 

Notice, in this quote br. Branham speaks of a safety zone in difficult times. Times of trials and uncertainty. Yet it is been given us to know that during these times we will have a zone of safety.

 

Now to begin with we must ask ourselves what is this zone he speaks of is, because in Rising of the sun he also calls it a shield or protection for the Glory 

 

The word Zone comes from a Greek word Z.o.n.e. pronounced zo-nay,  and it refers to a belt used to gird about.

 

Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

 

This girding of the loins is not something children need to do. But it is done by the male only, and for the purpose of protecting his future family, his heirs to be.

 

Job 38:1 ¶  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3   Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

 

Job 40:6 ¶  Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  7    Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 

In Ezekiel we find when God calls Him to go forward, Ezekiel still thinks he is a child, but God tells Him not to even think it, for he is now a man, and He must go forth, gird his loins and speak.

 

Jeremiah 1:4 ¶  Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  5    Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6    Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. 7    But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8    Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9    Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10    See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 11     ¶  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.  12    Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. 13    And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof [is] toward the north. 14    Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15    For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 16    And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.  17    Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.  18    For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19    And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

 

Now, we find Peter speaking of a girding up and getting ready to move out in at the end time when the great Revelation of Jesus Christ is to take place. 

 

1 Peter 1:1-13 ¶  Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4    To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5    Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6     ¶  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7    That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8    Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9    Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls. 10     ¶  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 11    Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12    Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 ¶  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

And notice what loins he is speaking of? he said gird up the Loins or your mind. That is where the seed has been placed. And when you are ready to move out you must protect that seed.

 

The next time we see this girding take place in the scriptures is in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, when Jesus Christ, the God of heaven and earth is gird about with a golden girdle.

 

Revelation 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

 

Now, it does not say this was the Son of Man, but One Like unto the Son of Man. It is God. 

 

Now, notice that the Son of Man comes forth wearing a golden girdle, that is the word Zone. 

 

Revelations 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

 

52-4 Patmos Vision   Church Age Book CPT 2 No Longer The Priest "Revelation 1:13, "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." There He stands, One like unto the Son of Man. As the jewel is beautified by the mounting of the ring, so He is glorified in the midst of the churches. It is the Lord's Day; for John sees Him standing, not as a priest, but as the coming Judge. The golden girdle is no longer girt around the waist where the priest must wear it as he ministers to God in the Holiest Place, but it is now around His shoulders, for He is not now the priest but the JUDGE. Now has John 5:22 come to pass, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." His service has been rendered. The priesthood is over. The days of the prophecy are finished. He stands girded as the JUDGE.

 

Now, this is very significant because during the seven church ages, he served as the High Priest of our confession, but now in this hour H has appeared as the white wigged one, the Supreme Judge. and the significance of the girdle or sash moving from his waist which hung over his loins, to now it covering his heart, show that the Glory of God, His Doxa in this hour is protected in the heart.

 

In the book of Jeremiah we are told there will come a people that will Know God in their  hearts and will serve Him with their whole heart.  

Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

 

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

 

Yet we are also told by this same prophet Jeremiah, that the heart is desperately wicked, and no man really knows his own heart. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

But notice in both Jeremiah and in Isaiah as we will read, God said His Law which is His word will be established in the hearts of a certain people. Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know right-wise-ness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

 

Yet we are told in John 1:12 that God gives those who are born of His Spirit a heart that can receive His Word, and a heart that can make a right decision to become what they were ordained to become which is sons of God. 

 

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, (The word received is translated from the Greek word Lambano, which means to lay hold of, to appropriate to oneself, to give one access to oneself, to experience) and John is talking of him, to them He gave power (to them gave he exousia  which is the authority, or right, or judicial decision, or judgment, in other words, He gave the ability to make a right decision, He gave the ability to make a right choice. And what is that right choice?) to become (to ginomai, to come to fulfillment as) the sons of God,)

 

And Brother Branham tells us in  Who is this Melchisedec  65-0221E  P:26  "The very revelation itself is sovereign in God. That's how people pound at things, and jump at things, and hit at things, and not knowing what they're doing. God is sovereign in His works."

 

And that is exactly what John tells us in verse 12 because he goes on to say in verse 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

So this tells us we are looking at God seed, sons and daughters of God being given this ability to make right decision or judgment, and receive right opinion, and right values, which is the doxa of God, his very Glory.

 

But as we read in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

Then it is not our ability to know our own heart, but to know Him is what counts, and His Word, His Glory, His opinions, values, and thus have right judgment which is right decision making ability.

David said in the Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

 

Therefore it is not you knowing your own heart that matters, but God knowing your heart and sovereignly placing in your heart his doxa to make you one with him as He and His first born son were one.

 

Now, we find that this girdle or Zo-nay or ZONE is used for protection, and in Who is this Melchisedec we find brother Branham speaking of this Great Revelation of God in this hour is our safety Zone. And in The Rising of the Son brother Branham called it "a shield of protection for the glory."

 

Notice that brother Branham uses the word safety zone or shield of protection in context with the world groping in darkness and being uncertain as to which way to go. But we have a safety Zone  given by a vindicated Revelation. And don't forget we have already established that this word means to encircle, as like a belt.

 

Brother Branham spoke of this same thing when he preached the Rapture message and in fact took for his text 2 scriptures which speak of a time when we will need this protection.

 

Psalms 27:1 ¶  [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  2    When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  3    Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: (you see, it is all about the heart in this hour. This is the hour that the hearts of the children is turned to the doctrine of the fathers) though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

 

And we know according to Davis that this secret place where God will hide us in His presence.

 

Psalms 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy Presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

 

Psalms 23:1 ¶  A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; (it's all about His presence with us and even in us) thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

Proverbs 18:10 ¶  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

 

Now, let's go back to Jesus prayer in John and get an application of what we have read so far.

 

John 17:11  ¶  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14    I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  17 ¶  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.  20  ¶  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

 

Now, this Glory which He has given us is our protection, for it is the wisdom and the very mind of God. It  is the Doxa, the opinion, assessment and judgment of God.

 

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

 

Notice then this crown of Glory is also what shall protect us.

 

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

Revelations 2:10-11 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

 

Notice this crown of Life is for our protection, and he that hath the crown of Life is protected from the second death.

 

And yet this crown can be taken from us, because we are warned in Revelations  3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

  

Now, We have talked about the hedge that GOD has put around us for our protection, and it is His Glory which lays not in the mind but in the heart;

 

Psalms 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. The word Knoweth was translated from the Hebrew word yada' which means to be made known, be/become known, be revealed to make oneself known: to be perceived : to be instructed, to cause to know to make oneself known, reveal oneself...

 

Therefore we see that the Lord actively works in the Life of the righteous, to make sure that the Righteous understands the True Revelation and disclosure of God. In other words, God purposes in His heart to make sure that His kids know Him.

 

Now that sounds like a real dad, doesn't it? But with the ungodly it is not so. Notice what is said about the ungodly... : but the way (the course of Life) of the ungodly shall perish

That word perish was translated from the Hebrew Word 'abad = which means be lost, strayed to give up as lost.

 

So we see in Psalms 27:5  God takes an active participation in our protection and we read, For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

 

And again in Psalms 31:20 we find out this pavilion is His Presence. 20  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

 

And we find the devil calling this protection of God's Presence a hedge that God places around his elect.

 

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

 

Therefore we come to realize that the hedge is GOD Himself.

 

Notice this hedge of protection is called a hedge by Satan, but one of God's children David calls it a crown of protection. Psalm 103:4   Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; And the word crowneth was translated from a Hebrew word "atar" which means "to encircle from attack".

 

Again we see this also in  Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. Like a hen doth her brood Jesus said. And how does a hen watch over her brood? She lays a covering of her wings all around them.

 

We again see this crowning or covering is God's presence in Psalms 31:20 20  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

 

We see in all these examples of scripture that God encircles us and we are  caught up  into His Presence like a whirlwind that encompasses all around us.

 

2nd Corinthians 3:18 we read NIV "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORD'S Glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, (with ever increasing doxa, with ever increasing opinions, values, and judgments) which comes from the LORD, Who is The Spirit.

 

And we find that this crowning is one which fadeth not away as we see in 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 

But we see in Isaiah 40:5-8 that man fades and everything that is created will fade, so this crown which fades not must be the Word as ISAIAH says," only the Word of GOD will not fade but endures forever." 5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6  The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

 

Now, remember in Isaiah 28:5 he tells us God is our Crown. 5  In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

 

Br. Branham from a message entitled Testimony of a True Witness says,"I got Isaiah 28:11, let's just read for a moment and find out here what He said about the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT.  Isaiah the 28th chapter, let's begin at the 5th verse "'In that day shall the Lord of Hosts be for a crown of Glory."' "He's speaking of this great day when the Witness would come. What is our crown? ( pounds on pulpit ) The Holy Spirit crowns us. A crown of Glory, "and for a diadem of beauty unto the residue of His people." 'The residue, the people that's left over. He'll be a Diadem, a Crown of Glory, a Diadem of beauty. Think, this is seven hundred years before it happened'. "For a spirit of judgment to him that is setting in judgment," 'That's what He does to us at the altar. '"For strength to them that turn the battle to the gate." 'Let me see, "that turn the battle to the gate," 'them who are standing for Him and with Him, this Great Spirit, Holy Spirit that  is prophesied , will be the strength of him that stands at the gate in the battle. He is our strength, we rely upon Him, not upon culture, not upon education, not upon things of the world. "Not by power, not by might but by My Spirit, Saith the Lord." The church rest's solemnly in that. He will be the strength of him that stands in the gate, not his theological background, not his denomination, but the Holy Ghost will be his strength. He'll be the One that'll stand at the gate. He'll rely upon the strength of the Holy Spirit to turn the alien away.'

                     

Now Jesus received this same crown as we see in Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

Which David prophesied in Psalms 8:5 5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

 

Therefore we must ask the question, "When then does this crown come to the Elect?" 

 

And we find our answer in 2 Timothy 4:8 8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, (a crown of right-wise-ness) which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Therefore at the time of the appearing we find in 1 Peter 5:44  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  At the time of THE Appearing. This word for crown is the Greek word (stephanos )'A BADGE OF ROYALTY. 

 

Brother Branham said to Lee Vayle in his private audio letter, "For as He come then to the natural seed, Abraham, He comes now to the Royal seed Abraham, who is  ALSO  waiting for the promised Son, not the natural son Isaac, but the Royal promised Son." 1 Pet 5:4.

 

Now as she receives this crown which is Himself, and never forget he is the Word.  Therefore as she receives His presence and His Shout, His Message, She gives back to Him this revelation which she received by Him and this then becomes her offering unto Him. She then becomes His crown as we see in Isaiah 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

 

And we also see this by type in Proverbs 12:4 "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."

 

Therefore the difference between Him as her crown and her as His crown is that the Hebrew word for Him as CROWN is TSePHIYRAH meaning a crown ( as encircling the head). But the Hebrew word for her as a crown is TSANIYPHAH a head dress (ie. a piece of cloth wrapped around ) a hood, diadem, mitre. MITRE as in the official headdress of the ancient Jewish High-Priest.

 

And we all should know and understand the parable that Jesus told of the wife who lost the piece of silver in her crown. And brother Branham told us concerning that parable

 

Second Coming of the Lord  57-0417  56 Today, if a woman is married, she should wear a wedding ring as a sign that she's married. That's to keep other men from having anything to do with her. They look and they see she's a married woman. In those days, they didn't have wedding rings; they had a tablet They call it "tablet." they put on their head. It had ten coins, and it went around their head. And that was a sign they were a married woman, and no man was to fool with them; no boys was to flirt with them. They were married.

 

So we see that she is not for His protection as He is for hers, but rather she is for his beauty personified, in which she, by her beauty and life, is to attract attention to the head, giving the head the full preeminence. Thus we have a true picture of a bride and her groom and how each compliments the other.

 

Malachi 3:16-18 gives us a better understanding then of this protection he gives her and her giving back this revelation to Him which He has given to her. 16 "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name.   17 "They will be mine," says the LORD ALMIGHTY, "in the day when I make up My treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

 

Now once again we have a perfect picture of Eden again where husband was to feed wife from the tree of life, she then would feed him of the same tree (a beautiful type of giving back to GOD the revelation He has given to HIS bride) but instead, before Adam gave to her, the serpent got to her with the wrong tree and thus perverted the original course GOD had intended for man. But at this time He has come back "to restore the kingdom to its rightly position that fell by sin by the first Adam, back to where He walked in the cool of the evening with His people, talked with them, fellowshipped with them." Christ is the Mystery p.24-25  

 

Now we see here a beautiful picture of Bride and Groom. As she dresses to meet her mate, she first puts on her shoes (which is the preparation of the Gospel). She is then dressed in the Word and the last piece of apparel she puts on before she is presented to her Groom is the crown or headpiece which consists of a headband, veil and train, representing God before her, GOD behind her, GOD over her and all around her." 

 

She is then ready to proceed down the aisle to meet her Groom.  As she walks toward her Husband she is veiled to all who happen to look on. She then takes her place before Him and as she stands in His presence, He reaches forward, removes her veil once and for all. He then kisses her and for the first time she is purely face to face and mouth to mouth. 

( for the Bride will have "Thus Saith the LORD," or she will keep still.)

 

Christ is the mystery 63-0728 P:199 Now, my, there's just so much here, we could just keep on going. Notice, the Tree of Christ, the Body in the garden, making now--making His mystery known to this Bride Tree (watch) redeemed by Christ, the second Adam (You believe He was?), going back home to Eden with His fallen wife, redeemed back home again. That's Christ and the Church today--taking His Wife back. See the threefold mystery now? God manifested in Christ; Christ manifested in the Church; all together to bring back the original Adam and Eve again, man and woman, which are one, made out of the same Blood, and same Spirit, and everything else.

 

Zephaniah 3:9-17 " Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

 

let us pray