Fulfilling Torah Ministries

September 21, 2013 Shabbat Bible Study

©2013 Mark Pitrone and Fulfilling Torah Ministries

September 21, 2013 – Year 1 Sabbath 28

Genesis 29:31-30:20   –   Isaiah 66:15   –   (No Psalm)   –   Revelation 19:1-21

Links:

 

Gen.29.31-35 – Remember this from last week:

Yacov definitely favored Rachel over Leah, and Y’hovah rewarded Leah for the attitude Jake had toward her. I think the love/hate thing is more a ‘by comparison’ than an actual hatred of Leah. In the same way as Y’hovah ‘formed light and created darkness’ and ‘made peace and created evil’ and ‘loved Yacov and hated Esav’, so Jake loved Rachel and hated Leah. Y’hovah no more created evil or darkness than Yacov hated Leah. But the love for the one engendered an apparent opposite emotion toward the other.

So Leah bore children and Rachel was barren to the purpose of trying to get Yacov to repent of his attitude (IMO). Yacov was not the sharpest tool in the shed, though, because he didn’t get it. He walked more in the flesh than in the Spirit of Y’hovah. His conversion took all of the 20 years he spent in Haran, and then it only took partially. The rabbis have this thing about the patriarchs, holding them as something greater than the mortal men they are revealed to be in scripture. Scripture is very honest in its portrayal of the heroes of the faith, revealing them with all their warts. So, while the rabbis are right in that the patriarchs and matriarchs are ‘righteous’ (positionally), they are wrong in emphasizing their righteousness without making much mention of their human weakness and inability to do what is right without the Ruach of Y’hovah giving them the strength and power to do it. They were just people, like us, subject to the same fleshly attractions as we are, whatever they may be. In Yacov, it was favoritism, first in his wives, then in his children, and then in his grandchildren. And he’d learned it from his father and grandfather before him. It’s a human weakness. I’ve tried to overcome it, with some success, but I can’t say I was perfect, either.

Reuven = ‘Behold! A son!’ and Leah hoped that her bearing a son would give her favor in Yacov’s eyes. Nothin’ doin’, there. He loved his son, but the fact that Leah had borne him didn’t change his favoritism for Rachel. Schottenstein’s Chumash[1] has an interesting note on pg.166. If the Chumash’s rabbis are right, it surely didn’t show in his treatment of Leah, who still felt unloved.

Shim^eon = BDG gives no meaning to the name, so I resorted to the meanings of the root and letters themselves[2], as (IMO) sheen, mem, ayin spells sh^ema – heard, the vav denotes close connection like a nail holds close and the nun denotes life or action, so Shim^eon – shema + nun = [my prayer is] heard and action taken [by Y’hovah]. Yah saw her disfavor in her husband’s eyes and he acted to correct it by giving more life through her.

Levi = my heart. Leah thought this 3^rd son would cause her husbands heart to be joined to hers. Nothin’ doin’ there, either. V. 34 of Chumash’ translation says “He [capitalized in Chumash] called his name Levi”, implying that Y’hovah named Leah’s 3^rd son “My heart”. Perhaps that is the rabbis reading into the verse the position Levi would have in Israel, but it is an interesting conjecture, even if that’s all it really is. Chumash’ note is good on pg.167, as well.

Yehudah = Praise. No wish this time for her husband to be joined to her. Yacov had made his favoritism known to her. Rachel was the wife of his youth and Leah was an also-ran, so I think[3] she gave up on that idea and just gave the glory to Y’hovah and voiced her praise to him for his favor. Q&C

 

Gen.30.1-13 – Rachel got jealous of Leah’s fertility and demanded that Jacob do something about it. And he said something along the lines of, “Hey, girl! It ain’t ME!” So Rachel proposed that Jake do as Avraham had done and go in to her handmaid. Now there’s an interesting scripture in the Torah Moshe received in Horeb that may be salient:

If he (any Israelite) take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. (Exodus 21:10)

The more wives Jacob takes to himself, the more demands there are going to be on his … time. He cannot pay less attention to his previous wives just because he’s taken on another. Believe me when I tell you that this is not an ideal situation for either the wives or the husband. Jacob’s favoritism had caused jealousy and rivalry between the sisters.

The rivalry has gotten to the point that Rachel gives here handmaid to Yacov as a surrogate, so that Rachel can raise children to him. Bilhah, whose name is from the root balah, trouble, conceived and bore Yacov a son ‘on Rachel’s knees’, meaning for her to raise as her own. Bilhah bore Yacov two sons for Rachel, their names reveal a lot about what Rachel thinks.

Dan = judge. Rachel called the first son of Bilhah Dan, saying that Yah had judged her and given her this child. Can you see how twisted our minds can get when we compete for someone’s attention? Dan became a trouble (mom’s name) to the nation Israel. His conspicuity by his absence in Rev.7 makes many commentators think that AntiMoshiach will arise from the tribe of Dan. Being that the fulfillment is yet future, they MAY be correct … or not.

Naphtali = my wrestling or struggle. Rachel says she has struggled with her sister and won. Though the root [Str.079, abaq] is entirely different, we will see Ya’acov wrestling with a risen Yeshua in 32.24-25, of which this MAY be a foreshadow. The root here is Str.6617, pathal, to twist or struggle. It’s interesting that My Struggle was the name of a book written by a famous Austrian ½ Jewish anti-Semite. We know it as Mein Kampf.

Now Leah, not to be outdone and still striving for her husband’s attention, gave her handmaid, Zilpah, to Yacov. Zilpah’s name is derived from an unused root zalaph and means drip or trickle (as myhhr? Str.2153). Zilpah bore Yacov 2 more sons:

Gad = a troop. The root is Str.1464 guhd which means attack or overcome. Overcome is another way that pathal is translated in the KJV, so this looks like a reaction to Bilhah’s 2^nd son’s name, Naphtali. The rabbis say that Naphtali and Gad were born in the same year of Ya’acov’s marriage.

Asher = blessed. When Zilpah bore Leah another son for Yacov, Leah declared victory by naming the boy Asher. She uses the root Str.833, ashar, in 3 different words. Happy is from 837, osher– happy, blessed is 833, and Asher is 836. The root means straight, honest, or proper. The inference I take is that Leah believed Rachel had not been honest in the competition by throwing Bilhah into the match, but that turnabout is fair play. Did Zilpah’s boys become a ‘dripping’, or annoyance to the nation of Israel. 

Q&C

 

30.14-20 – Mandrakes are hallucinogenic poisonous plants. Here’s a def from a website called Christian Answers;

Hebrew: dudaim; i.e., “love-plants” (dodi = my love) occurs only in Gen. 30:14-16 and Song of Songs 7:13. Many interpretations have been given of this word dudaim. It has been rendered “violets,” “Lilies,” “jasmines,” “truffles or mushrooms,” “flowers,” the “citron,” etc. The weight of authority is in favor of its being regarded as the Mandragora officinalis of botanists, “a near relative of the night-shades, the ‘apple of Sodom’ and the potato plant.” It possesses stimulating and narcotic properties (Gen. 30:14-16). The fruit of this plant resembles the potato-apple in size, and is of a pale orange color. It has been called the “love-apple.” The Arabs call it “Satan’s apple.” It still grows near Jerusalem, and in other parts of (‘the land’ – edit).

Mandrakes were believed to be aphrodisiac in nature, hence Rachel wanting to purchase them from Reuven. They are used in many pagan rites, including Wiccan rites. The idea in these rites is that if both parties use the mandrake, the likelihood of conception increases dramatically. Here’s what Wiki says in its opening paragraph:

Because mandrake contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, apoatropine, hyoscyamine and the roots sometimes contain bifurcations causing them to resemble human figures, their roots have long been used in magic rituals, today also in neopagan religions such as Wicca and Germanic revivalism religions such as Odinism.

It could be that Rachel was grasping at straws by this time in her attempt to conceive a son of her own. Sometimes we want things so badly that we’ll go to any length to have it. I am relatively certain that Rachel knew that mandrake was a dangerous herb, but that by now she had become desperate.

When Rachel leased/sold Yacov to Leah, Leah conceived once again. In fact, she had 2 more sons in succession. This must have made Rachel either despair and give up or just give the problem over to Y’hovah. Leah’s last 2 sons are named;

Issachar, spelled and vowel pointed Yissas’char – literally means ‘He has paid a reward’. The root is Str.7936, sakar, temporary purchase or hire (would this be like a lease today?). Leah paid Rachel for the use of her husband and received her desired reward, her 5^th son.

Z’vulun – from the root Str.2082, z’vul, lofty abode. In YeshaYahu 63 we see, z’vul kadsh’cha, the lofty abode of thy holiness. Leah said to herself that NOW her husband would live with her, for she’d given him 6 sons + Zilpah’s 2 =  4/5 of his seed to this point. Still nothin’ doin’, by the evidence we have.

The commentary at messianic.ws, relying on rabbinic tradition (which is possibly correct here) says that;

Jacob had twelve sons (and a daughter) in seven years:

Leah bore

Reuben in year 1 (near end of year AM2192?),

Simeon in year 2 [AM2193?],

Levi       in year 3 [AM2194?],

Judah    in year 4 [AM2195?];

Bilhah (Rachel’s maid) bore

Dan        in year 4,

Naphtali in year 5 [AM2196?];

Zilpah (Leah’s maid) bore

Gad    in year 5,

Asher in year 6 [AM2197?];

Leah bore

Issachar in year 6 (after Reuven brought mandrakes),

Zebulun in year 7 (and also Dinah AM 2198);

Rachel bore

Joseph      in year 7 [also due to the mandrakes?],

Benjamin   in year 8, after leaving Haran (2199?).

So, according to tradition, Jacob arrived in Charan around AM2185, worked for Rachel for 7 years, married Leah in the ol’ switcheroo, then married Rachel a week later in exchange for 7 more years of labor. In those 7 years he built up a herd of sheep that was stronger and better than the herd he started with – Laban’s. I assume that Laban’s sheep were still blessed under Yacov’s shepherding, but Yacov used selective breeding with Laban’s sheep to produce better offspring for himself, as we’ll see next week. The tradition we speak of today only accounts for 14 years in Charan, when Ya’acov states plainly that he worked 20 years for Lavan [31.38, 41]. It IS possible that it only SEEMED like 20 years when it was really 14, but I would not hold hard and fast to that bit of speculation. I think there is something wrong with the tradition that all 12 children were born in a 7-year period. BTW, Dinah was at LEAST 13 or so for Shechem to desire her so soon after the fam returned to haAretz Yisrael. Q&C

 

YeshaYahu 66.15 – According to the above tradition, Yoseph was born in year 7. So were Zevulun and Dinah. After Leah bore Zev, she proclaimed, “Now my husband will dwell with me.” When Yeshua returns to marry his Bride (at the end of 7 years of Jacob’s trouble?), he will arrive to take vengeance on those who have been persecuting her, as we will see in Rev.19 and as we see right here in YeshaYahu 66.12-16 where he says, speaking of Jerusalem,

12 For thus saith Y’hovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon sides, and be dandled upon knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when ye see, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of Y’hovah shall be known toward his servants, and indignation toward his enemies. 15 For, behold, Y’hovah will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will Y’hovah plead with all flesh: and the slain of Y’hovah shall be many.

 

In YeshaYahu 60.15, Y’hovah has a word of encouragement for Zion that ties to Leah.

15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

As Leah was ‘hated’ by Ya’acov, so is and will be his seed in the time of Ya’acov’s trouble. But Moshiach will come and call her to himself and resurrect Zion from the nations of the earth. Then after the Kingdom ‘age’, he will dissolve this present creation and create a new one ‘wherein dwelleth righteousness’ and make us HIS joy and excellency through eternal generations. Q&C

 

No Psalm

 

Rev.19.1-5 – “After these things” begs the question, “What things are those?” Well, the fall of both Religious and Economic Babylon, the Great in ch.17-18, at the very least, but possibly everything that has transpired in the whole letter up to now. The first voice heard from hashamayim is ‘a voice’ of many people. Everyone in the heavens is saying the same thing all at once. They are echad. Wouldn’t that be a great thing to have happen? Unity in ANYTHING would be so good. If we could just get Messianics to do this, it would be a miracle of Y’hovah. About the only thing believers seem to agree on is the Messiahship of Yeshua, and I hear believers accusing fellow believers of not ‘really’ being believers because of some minor doctrine they disagree over. What we need to get over is our own selves.

The one that’s driving me up the wall lately is some Sacred Namers breaking fellowship with OTHER Sacred Namers who pronounce the Sacred Name differently than they do. This is the height of arrogance, IMO. In the Hebrew language, I know of 7 vowel points and 4 consonants in the Sacred Name. I started running the math on the possible combinations. Just for the first 2 consonants, the possibility is that there are 49 possible pronunciations of yud + hey. If you figure just 7 vowel points in 4 consonants, the possibility is 7x7x7x7 = 2401. So which one are you going to defend to the death, only to find out when you talk face to face with Yeshua that you were wrong? The entire ordeal among Sacred Name Messies is merely pride showing its ugly head. And haSatan LOVES the discord he’s sown among the brethren.

Are you applying Torah to the best of your knowledge and ability? Is the guy you’re arguing with about the Sacred Name applying Torah to the best of his knowledge and ability? How about we lighten up on the ‘doubtful disputation’ [Rom.14.1] in which we might ALL be wrong and come alongside our brother to help him in his actual WALK? I mean, when I say, Yehovah or Yahweh or Yahuwah or another permutation of the Tetragrammaton, do you not know to whom I refer? When you say Yeshua or Yahshua or Yahushua, do I not know to whom you refer? Please, lets get over our need to be right and apply the Shema, which is the central truth of ALL scripture. If Y’hovah Elohenu, Y’hovah is echad, do you not think he wants us to all be echad? Why do we build new partitions to keep others out? Stop bickering and start building each other up. And may it start right here, in MY heart. Sorry – back to the text.

V.2 brings the point I just made home. When exactly will we be told that we had the pronunciation of his Name right? May I suggest to you  that it will be before the Bema b’shamayim, the Judgment Seat in heaven? We’ll be commended for our righteousness, and admonished for our sin and selfishness. The letters to the k’halim – ‘churches’ – in ch.2-3 deal with the predominant qualities of the kehalim in the world – in Babylon. Look at

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 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 tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim. [Rev.2.2-7].

Do you remember what it was like when you first understood what Y’hovah had done for you and was doing in and through you? Is it like that now? If not, then this admonition is for you (and me). After we’ve had the kind of judgment the k’halim get in ch.2-3 [I think we ALL go through these various stages of development to one degree or another], do you think we’ll be patting ourselves on the back and high-fiving Michael and Gabriel? Or do you think you’ll be ashamed and repentant? I am not looking forward to that judgment. I know how guilty I am, and that if it were not for Yeshua I would get and deserve EVERYTHING Babylon got. How about you?

I love the setting. Yochanan is outside of time and space and he can see eternity at a glance, ‘her smoke rose up forever and ever’. And the 24 elders and the 4 beasts agree (2^nd voice – again echad) with the judgment and Praise Y’hovah for it. The 3^rd voice we hear is coming from the throne. Whose voice is coming out of the throne? It’s telling us to praise Elohim, so it ain’t Avinu. Who sits at the right hand of majesty on high (Col.3.1)? Q&C

 

Vv.6-10 – The 4^th voice we hear is of a great multitude, many waters, and mighty thunderings. This is reminiscent of the voice at Horeb in Ex.19-20.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with Elohim; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because Y’hovah descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and Elohim answered him by a voice. 20 And Y’hovah came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and Y’hovah called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it , they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for Elohim is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off,

Then there are these other references in Tanakh:

The voice of Y’hovah is upon the waters: the Elohim of glory thundereth: Y’hovah is upon many waters. (Psalms 29:3)

 

And, behold, the glory of the Elohim of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. (Ezekiel 43:2)

 

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Daniel 10:6)

This is the same Almighty who spoke to Yochanan in ch.1-3. It is Yeshua, praising Avinu, Y’hovah El Shaddai, who reigns from Heaven.

The Bride hath made herself ready – this is Yom Teruah language, folks. Beginning with the 1^st day of the 6^th biblical month we are to examine ourselves to find what in our lives needs repentance. We are to have figured it all out by the Yom Teruah, Resurrection Day, the day of the Wedding Ceremony, Judgment Day for believers – to see if they are ready, like the wise virgins in the Mat.25 parable. If we aren’t found ready, we will get to experience the wrath of Y’hovah on the earth, instead of being delivered from it to a ‘keep’ of safety. Those who are not ready for Resurrection day WILL see great tribulation. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your personal perspective), that will last for only about 10 days – the Days of Awe leading to the Day of Atonement and the Appearing of Moshiach.

Note the verbiage of v.8, “fine linen, white and clean” is Yom haKippurim language; the blood of atonement by which we partake of the righteousness of Moshiach has been applied for them. Theses are ‘granted’ the right to wear the fine linen, clean and white; they do not DESERVE to wear it by their own merits. When we have confessed our sins and repented of going our own ways and turned to go HIS way, we are made righteous, clean and white. On Yom haKippurim, it is traditional to go to shul dressed in white linen to signify that atonement has been made and you are in perfect standing with the Creator again, the Almighty. May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Without the fine linen, clean and white, you ain’t getting into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Do you suppose that’s what Yeshua was referring to in the parable (READ Mat.22.1-10 referring to the Yehudim, the leaders of the religion in Yeshua’s day; and 11-14 referring to the so-called believers in the k’halim today)? I do. Q&C

 

Vv.11-12 – The horse represents strength and freedom. That it is white represents its purity or righteousness. That he is being ridden represents his submission to the rider. That the one designated King of kings and Master of masters is riding him shows the submission of his freedom and his strength to his Master and King. I think the horse represents believers who are sold out to Yeshua. The Rider is called Faithful and True and he judges and makes war in righteousness, which means it can be none other than Y’hovah in the flesh, Yeshua haMoshiach. All judgment has been given to him.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (Yochanan 5:22)

When it says he makes war in righteousness, it means there is no mercy for his enemies beyond the offer of peace as he takes the field of battle against them in Is.27.

4 Fury is not in me [the days of awe are over]: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. 5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

Even when he comes to judge and make war, his mercy will be offered. Woe to those who refuse. The judgment will be total and incredibly swift.

 

Look at the description in v.12. Eyes like flames of fire.

For, behold, Y’hovah will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. (Isaiah 66:15)

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Daniel 10:6)

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of Elohim, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Revelation 2:18)

That Daniel passage sounds kind of like the description in Ch.1 of Revelation, doesn’t it? And the Rev.2 passage removes all doubt as to whom this rider is.

On his head, many crowns. This brings to mind Zech.6.

9 And the word of Y’hovah came unto me, saying, 10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Y’hovah Tzavaoth, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of Y’hovah: 13 Even he shall build the temple of Y’hovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Y’hovah. (ZecharYah 6.9-14)

Those 4 names have meaning. Helem = bind firmly, TobYah = goodness of Y’hovah, JediYah = I know Y’hovah or Y’hovah knows, and Chen = graciousness or beauty. All terms that are descriptive of the Melchizedek High Priest who is coming to rule the Kingdom and to judge it in righteousness, which is exactly what the order of Melech Tzadik implies. Yeshua is our MelechTzadik, Righteous King.

He has a Name that only HE knows. THIS implies the Ayn Sof, the one who cannot be fully known. It certainly looks as if Yeshua is the embodiment of the Almighty Y’hovah. Q&C

 

Vv.13-16 – Clothed in a vesture dipped in blood – This is a reference to Is.63.

1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

Does this say that even though he has offered peace to any who will accept it (Is.27.4-5), none did? Looks as though.

His Name is called ‘D’var Y’hovah’. Yochanan tells us in the first words of his gospel that the Word was with Elohim in the beginning and that he became flesh and dwelt among us.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. 2 The same was in the beginning with Elohim. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The armies that come with him are also riding white horses and are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. That’s the same verbiage as in v.7 about the Bride who has made herself ready. So he comes with his Bride, because as soon as this battle is over and his coronation is complete, he is going to marry her. SHE has nothing to do with the battle, as that is handled by the sword that proceeds from his mouth – his very Word will destroy them. That is his righteous judgment and as soon as he is finished with it he takes his father David’s throne to rule over his physical Kingdom from J’lem, where he will reign as King of kings and Master of masters. We see that he has at least 3 Names; 1) that only He knows, 2) the Word of Elohim and 3) Kok and Mom.

Why the name King of kings? His bride will be kings and priests under his Kingship and High Priesthood. Master of masters may refer to the firstborn of the families who will inhabit the millennium, who would correspond to the tzadik of MelechTzadik. I could be way off base on that, but it makes a modicum of sense to me. Maybe we could noodle that a bit.

Vv.17-21 – In ch.16, the 4^th angel pours out his vial on the sun. Perhaps this angel in the sun is the same one. He calls together ALL the birds of the sky to feast on the carrion left behind by Yeshua after his destruction of the armies of the earth. This is called the Supper of the Great Elohim, but NOT the Marriage supper of the Lamb (v.9). This will be a part of the cleansing of the earth that will take 7 months to complete (just in time for Pesach?) in Ez.39.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. 12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. 13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith Master Y’hovah. 14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. 15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. 16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

‘Continual employment’, marking and burying bones? Y’hovah must have had a clue about the economic problems we’d have back in the 700’s BCE. This is not just ‘make work’ employment, like our government enjoys to pay for – it will be necessary and the employment will be for EVERYONE in the land, because there will be that many bodies to bury. Wouldn’t the census workers have liked something besides their ‘make work with stimulus $$’ jobs?

V.19 says the kings and their armies gather themselves to fight Yeshua. Birds are usually symbolic of evil spirits, though the reference in v.18 may be literal. But what if calling the birds to feast on the armies of the earth was a call to the demons that control the kings and armies of the earth? Or perhaps, in true Hebraic style, both are true? The beast, who was the satanic counterfeit of the Messiah coming with clouds on the white horse, and his deputy, the false prophet (like unto Moshe

13 Thou shalt be perfect with Y’hovah Elohecha. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, Y’hovah Elohecha hath not suffered thee so. 15 Y’hovah Elohecha will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of Y’hovah Elohecha in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Y’hovah Elohai, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And Y’hovah said unto me, They have well which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name [beast/false prophet], which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. [Dt.18.15, 18].

perhaps?) are thrown ALIVE into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat.25.41). Satan, in the meanwhile, is tossed into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (20.1-3). Q&C

 

End of Shabbat Bible Study