The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2/The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO/spirit/40type.zip/40TYPE.TXT

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HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED.....HOW OFTEN THE NUMBER 40 APPEARS IN THE
BIBLE??? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES, AND IN THIS BOOK, WE WILL SHOW WHY
THE NUMBER 40 IS SO SIGNIFICANT.

The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Gen.7:4).

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (Gen. 25:20).

Esau was 40 years old when he married Judith (Gen. 26:34).

Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).

Moses was with God in the mount, 40 days and nights (Ex. 24:18).

The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Ex. 26:19 & 21).

Moses was AGAIN with God 40 days and 40 nights (Ex. 34:28).

Moses was 40 years old when he first visited his people (Acts 7:23).

Moses led Israel from Egypt at age 80 (2 times 40), and after 40
years in the wilderness, died at 120 (3 times 40; Deut. 34:7).

The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Num. 13:25).

Therefore, God made Israel wander for 40 years (Num. 14:33-34).

40 stripes was the maximum WHIPPING penalty (Deut. 25:3).

Caleb was 40 when he spied out the land of Canaan (Joshua 14:7).

God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).

God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31).

God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28).

Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14).

Israel did evil; God gave them to enemy 40 years (Judges 13:1).

Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18).

Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Sam. 17:16).

Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21).

Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Sam. 2:10).

David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Sam. 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).

The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17).

40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Kings 7:38).

Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).

Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).

Jehoash (Joash) reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1).

Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezek. 29:11-12).

Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezek. 41:2).

Utter courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ez. 46:22).

God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4).

Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).

Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13).

Jesus remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).

IF WE LOOK CAREFULLY TO FIND THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THESE VARIOUS
INSTANCES, WE FIND A FAIRLY COMMON CIRCUMSTANCE IN THEM. THE NUMBER
40 SEEMS TO BE USED BY GOD TO REPRESENT A PERIOD OF TESTING or
JUDGEMENT (ie.THE LENGTH OF TIME NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH SOME MAJOR
PART OF GOD'S PLAN IN HIS DEALINGS WITH VARIOUS PORTIONS OF
MANKIND). It should be OBVIOUS to the reader that the 40 days of
rain in the days of the FLOOD were the judgements of God. Also, it
should be easy to see that the 40 day periods of fasting, testing,
and communing with God that were faced by Moses and Jesus were a
form of God's judgements. The FORTY years that the Israelites spent
in the wilderness were also OBVIOUSLY the judgements of God. Various
leaders in Israel who reigned for 40 year periods were put there BY
God according to HIS WILL and JUDGEMENTS. Egypt was left desolate
for 40 years because of God's judgements. I could go on and on, but
I think these examples should suffice for now.

Twenty-eight out of  thirty-five of these situations that we have
listed were dealing with the passage of time (ie. 40 days or 40
years). The other seven include:
     (1) Maximum number of "stripes" allowed for punishment.
     (2) Number of sons which a "JUDGE" in Israel begat.
     (3) Number of "sockets" or foundation supports for the
tabernacle SIDE walls.
     (4) The VOLUME of the temple LAVER (which had to do with
ceremonial cleansing of the priests).
     (5) through (7) These all have to do with the LENGTHS of rooms
in Solomon's and Ezekiel's temples.

Looking at these descriptions, it should be easy to see that:
     (1) "Stripes" have to do with JUDGEMENT (including God's). See
Luke 12:47-48. When God brings judgement upon His people, it may be
rightly termed, "STRIPES". When Peter states (about Jesus) "by whose
STRIPES ye were healed" in 1 Peter 2:24, he is quoting from Isaiah
53:5 which is a prophecy concerning SPIRITUAL and not physical
healing as many teach. Although physical healing from God is a
wonderful blessing, SPIRITUAL healing is an even GREATER blessing.
Our salvation is dependent on the fact that Jesus BORE the STRIPES
that you and I deserve to bear. In other words, Jesus' bore the MAIN
FORCE of the JUDGEMENTS that SHOULD come upon you and I as
Christians. Isaiah's prophecy shows the JUDGEMENTS OF GOD were
poured out upon Jesus for OUR HEALING.

     (2) Forty sons of a judge in Israel (Abdon), whose NAME means
"servitude" represents the PRODUCT or offspring of a JUDGE who
SERVES in ISRAEL. A TRUE judge should begin with judgement at home
(according to Bible principles...1 Peter 4:17), and therefore HIS 40
sons should have been the subjects of his judgement. Once again we
see the number 40 used in connection with the subject of JUDGEMENT.

     (3) While the 40 silver sockets on each side of the tabernacle
may be a little more difficult to understand than some of the things
that we have already mentioned, we need only to take note of the
following:
         (a) The OUTSIDE of the tabernacle was made of "badger's
skins". Although these were not literal BADGERS (those are not found
in that part of the world), and (based on the meaning of the Hebrew
word) were actually DOLPHIN skins, our MAIN lesson we need to learn
for THIS study is found in Ezekiel 16:10. That verse of scripture
shows us that these "BADGER'S SKINS" were used for SHOE LEATHER.

         (b) In the Bible, the Christian life is called a "walk" (1
John 1:7, Romans 8:1&4, and MANY other verses). In Ephesians 6:15,
Paul said we should have our "feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace". In the context, Paul is describing the armor and
weapons that a Christian needs in order to be victorious for Christ.
It should be easy to see that as usual, Paul is speaking in symbolic
terms, and therefore SHOES are used symbolically in the Bible. If we
can understand that symbol and its significance, then we can better
understand our subject (40 TYPE).

     When Moses blessed the tribes of Israel before his death, he
mentioned something that gives us a real "KEY" as to the meaning of
the shoe symbol. In Deuteronomy 33:25 he said, "Thy shoes shall be
iron and brass". Both of these metals are used in the Bible in
connection with the ability to withstand heat (judgement). We can
also observe the fact that even though such shoes (literally) might
be VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, they WOULD stand up very well as protection
against the various "enemies" of our walk which lie in the pathway
of LIFE. To better understand what I am saying, consider how
difficult it is to walk on stony or thorny paths WITHOUT SHOES.
Therefore, SHOES symbolize the protection that we have spiritually
which allows us to WALK in the Christian "pathway" without
experiencing the painful (symbolic) sharp stones and thorns which
lie there are the result of the the intense JUDGEMENTS AND WRATH of
Almighty God.

     Have you never wondered WHY God told Moses to take off his
shoes because he was standing on HOLY GROUND? That event happened
for a spiritual "type" (allegory), as did ALL OF THE EVENTS OF THE
OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Hebrews 8 and 9,
Galatians 4:22-31, Romans 5:14, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, etc.). God
was demonstrating that "holy ground" does not require shoes in order
to "walk" comfortably. The reason we need SPIRITUAL "shoes" is
because most of our "walk" takes place amongst the world which is a
"path" full of (symbolic) thorns, stones, and stumbling-blocks.

     (c) Since the outside of the tabernacle is covered with
Badger's skins (which is SHOE LEATHER), and since the purpose of
shoes is to withstand outwardly harmful forces, tests, and
judgements, we can conclude that the outer of the four coverings of
the tabernacle represents its ability to receive the judgements,
tests, and trials that (symbolically) would fall upon it. Literally,
the sun would of course POUR DOWN upon the tabernacle. In the
thirteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus used the sun to symbolize the
"SPIRITUAL HEAT" which would come upon people as the result of the
word of God. Since the "SUN" symbol in the Bible portrays the word
of God (and indirectly Jesus himself), the rays of the sun would
symbolize the BURNING HEAT caused by the intense rays of LIGHT. This
would symbolize the JUDGEMENTS OF GOD AS BEING LIKE "FIRE".

     (c) This "roof" of SHOE LEATHER was supported by BOARDS
standing upright and fitted carefully into "sockets" which were made
of silver. There were 40 on each side, and of course the roof would
not have been supported without BOTH GROUPS of 40. We won't expand
on the subject in this study, but there are TWO kinds of JUDGEMENTS
that God brings upon His people as a FOUNDATION for their experience
and to allow them to be HIS "tabernacle" or dwelling place. Those
TWO sets of 40 silver sockets WERE the main foundation for the two
walls of the tabernacle that supported the ROOF of "shoe leather".
There are of course many DEEP and beautiful truths in this type, but
rather than leave our main subject we will move on for now. Suffice
it to say that the TWO sets of 40 sockets have MUCH to do with God's
judgements which is applied in two different manners.

     (4) There were ten LAVERS in Solomon's temple, and each one
contained 40 BATHS of liquid volume (over 350 gallons each). Do
these have anything to do with JUDGEMENT? Yes, because the water in
the LAVER was symbolic of the word of God which "washes" us as
Christians today (Ephesians 5:26). God's judgements which come to us
through the WORD OF GOD allow us to be JUDGED NOW, so we don't have
to be judged in ETERNITY  (1 Peter 4:17).

     (5) The LENGTHS of some of the rooms in Solomon's and Ezekiel's
temples are representative of God's judgement, but the study
requires MUCH more space than we can give to it here, so we will
have to save it for another book. I think we have given enough proof
so far that the reader surely will continue to bear with us as we
prove this point more and more in this study. I will say this much
for now; The dimensions of the TEMPLES, the ARK of Noah, the
TABERNACLE, etc. are VERY important in the spiritual TYPOLOGY that
is presented in each picture. The 40s used in each are
representative of a certain PERIOD of God's judgement.

I believe one of the EASIEST "40s" to use to illustrate this
symbolism is the story of Noah and the FLOOD. There are two basic
forms of judgement that God sends forth. One is the type that He
pours out upon the ungodly. This would be the kind we see
illustrated in the FLOOD, and also the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah. The other is the type that He sends upon HIS people in
order to awaken them or bring them to a closer "walk" with Him.

We know that in Noah's day, the EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL coming down
from "heaven" had TWO different affects. Obviously, it was a VERY
destructive force as far as the LOST were concerned. They were
OUTSIDE of the ark of safety, and therefore beyond any hope of
survival. However, when the water hit the earth it raised the ark.
Raising the ark heavenward symbolises our being "lifted up to sit in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:"6)". THE SAME waters that
DESTROYED the wicked also caused the people of God to BE LIFTED UP
(thanks to the ARK).

God poured His judgements upon the ark. He knew it would stand fast.
It was built to His plans and specifications. Why would God require
the people to build an ark if He did not plan on sending the same
judgements upon it as he sent upon the people who were not in it?
THE ARK WAS A GOD GIVEN ESCAPE ROUTE FROM JUDGEMENTS WHICH FELL UPON
THEM ALL. Many people think that when God shut the door of the ark,
it represented (in type) the end of this time world. NOT SO. The
forty days and nights of the flood are symbolic of God's judgements
which fall primarily upon HIS PEOPLE AND THE SPIRITUAL ARK TODAY.

In one of our studies years ago we proved that the INITIAL waters
which fell, came as a HUGE BLAST from God. Then it continued to RAIN
for 40 days. The INITIAL BLAST of water took care of destroying most
life. We can still see proofs of what happened to our planet at that
time when we look at some of the discoveries being made today. For
example, the ancient MUSK-OX that was found frozen in Siberia with
tropical plants still frozen in his mouth; He certainly was not
killed by the flood, but rather by the blast of water knocking our
planet off its axis by about 23 and 1/2 degrees. That produced
INSTANT DEEP-FREEZE in some tropical locations.

Even though the wicked DROWNED right away, God STILL had a purpose
for the ARK to go through the 40 DAY AND NIGHT period in order to
picture the spiritual type. The judgements of God had to fall upon
EVEN HIS TRUE PEOPLE, but He had provided a means which would save
them from those judgements.

We COULD write many hundreds of pages commenting on each of the
texts which use the number 40 in type, but we trust that the reader
will do some thoughtful study on their own, and allow us to move on
with this subject.

Numbers 32:
 13. And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made
them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the
GENERATION, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was
consumed.
     We can easily see from this text that God calls 40 years a
generation. This is VERY IMPORTANT for us to know, as it will
benefit us in studying the meaning of Jesus' words in Matthew 23.

 23:31  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are
the children of them which killed the prophets.  (WAS JESUS SPEAKING
THOSE PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT DAY OR TO US TODAY? OBVIOUSLY TO THEM).
 23:32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
 23:33  [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye
escape the damnation of hell?
 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise
men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and
persecute [them] from city to city:
 23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed
upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood
of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple
and the altar.
 23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon
this generation. (NOTE: "THIS GENERATION").
 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!
 23:38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Take CAREFUL notice of the fact that Jesus SPOKE TO THOSE PEOPLE
STANDING THERE and said "THIS GENERATION". There are preachers today
who want to believe their FALSE DOCTRINES so badly that they are
willing to twist the scriptures any and every way possible to try to
prove that Jesus was referring to OUR GENERATION today.

We are about to put some BIBLICAL PIECES together in a puzzle that
can solve a lot of unknowns and uncertainties in some major doctrinal
areas. Let us look at the "pieces" we have figured out so far:

     (A) The number 40 has to do with God's judgements.
     (B) God speaks of a GENERATION as 40 years.
     (C) Jesus speaks of VERY SEVERE JUDGEMENTS that will come upon
a PARTICULAR GENERATION of the LITERAL JEWS.

Now we need to review briefly a subject that we have covered in
detail in our book on the "SPIRITUAL A.I.D.S. DISEASE". The
following is taken from that book:
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Much of what professes to be "christianity" calls the last part of
the Bible the "New Testament", and in so doing it blinds most people
to what the "NEW TESTAMENT" really  is. If you read the book of
Hebrews and especially the ninth and tenth chapters, Paul the apostle
states (as was prophesied by the prophets of ancient Israel and
Judah) that the NEW TESTAMENT began with the death of Jesus Christ.
THIS SPEAKS OF A PERIOD OF TIME AND A MANNER OF GOD'S DEALING WITH
MAN, RATHER THAN A PART OF THE BIBLE ITSELF. Notice especially the
words of Hebrews 9:

 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
 9:16  For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity
be the death of the testator.
 9:17  For a testament [is] of force after men are dead:
otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator
liveth.

When verse 15 says that Jesus is the "mediator of the New Testament"
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR OF THE LAST PART OF THE
BIBLE. THE BOOKS OF MATTHEW THROUGH REVELATION ARE NOT THE NEW
TESTAMENT. IN FACT, MOST OF THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN MATTHEW, MARK,
LUKE, AND JOHN TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA, AND ALL OF
THE EVENTS MENTIONED IN OUR BIBLE TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE FULL END OF
THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA. We will explain that in a moment, as it is
very important.

Verses 16 and 17 will help us to see what the "TESTAMENTS" are if we
look carefully and thoughtfully at what Paul has stated. The word
"testament" and the word "covenant" mean basically the same thing.
The "new testament" is really a "new covenant" or a new "will" to use
today's modern terminology. I'm sure the reader realizes that it is
normal for a "will" to be read and to begin to be brought into effect
AFTER THE ONE WHO HAS MADE THE WILL HAS DIED. Verses 16 and 17 tell
us that a testament or WILL goes into "force" after the person who
is its maker is DEAD. This tells us that the "NEW TESTAMENT" or new
"will" of God for his children was able to be put into effect
because of the (and at the time of the) DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.

There are many FALSE doctrines in professing "christianity" today
which result either from people not understanding the covenants and
their purpose in the plan of God, or else from their not
understanding the TRANSITION PERIOD during which the two covenants
OVERLAPPED. There are many proofs that we could offer and will cover
in a longer study, but for now I will just mention one thing for your
consideration. Paul states in Hebrews 8:13 that the reason for the
new covenant is because God had made the first covenant old by the
bringing in of a better one. Then comes the "key words"; he says,
"Now that which decayeth and waxeth old  (which in the context
speaks of the old testament era) is ready to vanish away".

Study the the context of that statement, and it will begin to open
up the fact to you that when the book of Hebrews was written, the
NEW TESTAMENT was in effect, as Jesus' death and resurrection was
many years past. Yet the OLD TESTAMENT was not yet fully removed.

This was similar to times (today) when a person has DIED, and the
will is made known, but it takes a little time to process all of the
details and give the full possession of property to the heirs. During
that time the "heirs" get by with what they already have. It is not
difficult to prove (though lengthy) from the prophecies, from certain
events in Paul's writings, and from details in the book of Acts, that
since all of the nation of Israel had not yet had opportunity to hear
the gospel (that Jesus was truly the messiah for which they had
waited), GOD GAVE THEM A JUDGEMENT PERIOD OF ONE GENERATION (FORTY
years) TO REPENT (this generation was mentioned in Matthew 23:36 and
Matthew 24:34 by Jesus...).

GOD CLOSED THE DOOR TO THEM, WHEN IN FULFILLMENT OF WHAT HE HAD
DECLARED TO THE PROPHETS, HE SENT THE ROMAN ARMY UNDER TITUS TO BRING
TOTAL DESTRUCTION TO THEIR TEMPLE, THEIR HOLY CITY JERUSALEM, AND TO
THEIR RELIGIOUS ARTICLES. GOD HAD INSTITUTED A NEW COVENANT WHICH WAS
A SPIRITUAL COVENANT, AND HE NO LONGER WAS GOING TO PUT UP WITH
EITHER THE OLD COVENANT, OR WITH THOSE WHO TRIED TO PREVENT THE
CESSATION OF IT.

TODAY THERE ARE MULTITUDES WHO ARE STILL LOOKING AT PALESTINE AS
THOUGH IT OR ITS PEOPLE ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE EYES OF GOD. YET
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SCRIPTURES WHICH SHOW THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE. IN
ABOUT A.D. 70 THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS TOTALLY DONE AWAY WITH BY GOD. I
AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST PART OF THE BIBLE. I AM SAYING THAT
GOD CHANGED THE "WILL" AND DID AWAY TOTALLY WITH THE OLD ONE. He
proved it by destroying the temple and furnishings that OLD Israel
was dependent upon in order to go through their rituals of the OLD
LAW.
              THE TRANSITION PERIOD OF THE TESTAMENTS
Moses              Jesus      Jesus                  God
GIVES              Ministry   DEATH                  SENDS
Israel             Begins     On                     Destruction
God's              At Age     The                    On Jerusalem
LAW                30.        Cross                  In A.D. 70.
|<---------------Old Testament Period--------------->|
                              |<--------------New Testament Period---
  Gospel to ISRAEL>|          |<--Transition Period->|
  Matthew 10:5-6                 ("this generation")

THE TRANSITION PERIOD WAS TO BRING OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL (GOD'S OLD
COVENANT PEOPLE) TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR MESSIAH HAD COME.
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This is GOD'S way of doing things. For example, Revelation 2:21
says, "And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she
repented not". In this scripture, the Lord is saying that he:
          (1) Gives "light" or understanding to expose the sin.
          (2) Then gives a "space" of time for the person to QUIT
              and make restitution for their sin.
          (3) God goes on in the context to show that if they do not
              repent, then He brings severe judgement against them.

God not only worked in this manner for the JEWISH people (literal
Israel), but ALSO did the same in other cases as well. For example,
God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent, and JESUS realized that was a
"type" of what God was doing to LITERAL ISRAEL. Jesus ALSO knew that
literal Israel would NOT REPENT as did Nineveh. Matthew 12:38-41,

 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and
adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the
whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth.
 12:41  The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the
preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is]
here.

At this point in our study, I HOPE the reader can see through the
common FALSE TEACHING today, and realize that when Jesus repeatedly
talked about the JUDGEMENTS of God coming on a "generation", he was
NOT TALKING ABOUT THE GENERATION WHICH LIVED IN 1948-1988.

Matthew 11:
 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it
by force.
 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
 11:14  And if ye will receive [it], this is Elias, which was
for to come.
 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 11:16  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? ("HE" IN VERSE
15 REFERS TO THE GENERATION LIVING IN THE DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST,
WHICH IS THE GENERATION OF THE "TRANSITION PERIOD" OR IN OTHER
WORDS, THE OVERLAP OF THE TWO COVENANTS). It is like unto children
sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
 11:17  And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not
danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
 11:18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they
say (ie. those people living in his day), He hath a devil.
 11:19  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say,
Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
 11:20  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his
mighty works were done, because they repented not:
 11:21  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for
if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes.
 11:22  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
 11:23  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven,
shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which
have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have
remained until this day.
 11:24  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Honest hearted readers will want to know the truth of this matter
badly enough to study carefully Matthew 24:27-42 and Luke 17:24-37
comparing them carefully. It SHOULD be VERY evident that those two
passages refer to the same message (which is finished in Luke 21).
Notice the following portions of those contexts:

Matthew 24:
 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even
unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luke 17:
 17:24 Tor as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part
under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall
also the Son of man be in his day.
 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of THIS
GENERATION.

The contexts are about the same thing, and Jesus is speaking the
words at the same period of his ministry. OBVIOUSLY, THE GENERATION
TO WHICH JESUS REFERS HERE IS THE GENERATION OF LITERAL ISRAEL WHICH
WOULD REJECT AND CRUCIFY HIM.

Was Jesus ESPECIALLY dealing with the GENERATION of JEWS in his day?

1 Thessalonians 2:
 2:14  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of
God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have
suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they
[have] of the Jews:
 2:15  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets,
and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are
contrary to all men:
 2:16  Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might
be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come
upon them to the uttermost.

Matthew 23:
 23:31  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are
the children of them which killed the prophets.
 23:32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
 23:33  [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye
escape the damnation of hell?
 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise
men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and
persecute [them] from city to city:
 23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed
upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood
of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple
and the altar.
 23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon
this generation.

The reader should be able to see that IT IS SO PLAIN THAT JESUS WAS
SPEAKING OF THAT GENERATION LIVING IN HIS DAY. So why do people
today so often teach he spoke of OUR GENERATION? It is because they
do not understand the surrounding context of Matthew 24. They have
been taught the old false doctrine that places the "great
tribulation" and other events of Matthew 24 in OUR DAY. Therefore,
we need to take a look at that text as well.

Matthew 24:
 24:1  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and
his disciples came to [him] for to show him the buildings of
the temple.
 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things?
verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone
upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples
came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these
things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of
the end of the world?

The companion texts (same statements) of this passage are found in
Mark 13, and Luke 17 and 21. Those passages express the disciple's
questions (as expressed here in verse 3) as follows:

MARK 13:4
     (1) "when shall these things be"
     (2) "what shall be the sign when all these things shall be
fulfilled?"

LUKE 21:7
     (1) "when shall these things be"
     (2) "what sign will there be when these things shall come to
pass?"

MATTHEW 24:3
     (1) "when shall these things be"
     (2) "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of
the world?"(Greek = AGE or ERA).

In order to truly understand this text we MUST remember that ALL
three of these writers are describing the SAME EVENT. Whatever was
spoken (the exact words), all three writers are trying to correctly
describe. Mark 13:3 tells us WHO was present when these words were
spoken. It was JESUS, PETER, JAMES, JOHN, and ANDREW. Those
disciples ask Jesus "PRIVATELY" about these things. Therefore,
Matthew, Mark, and Luke WERE NOT PRESENT. However, they are all
three telling the same story, and in fact all three are conveying
the same basic meanings to us. Notice the following thoughts:

     (1) All THREE writers express EXACTLY the same FIRST question.
The disciples ask, "WHEN WILL THE TEMPLE BE DESTROYED AND ALL OF THE
STONES CAST DOWN". That is what Jesus had just spoken about when
they ask him, "when shall these things be?" PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THEY
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TEMPLE AND BUILDINGS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING
UPON; NOT SOME REBUILT STRUCTURE TO BE REBUILT MANY CENTURIES LATER.

     (2) Biblical teachings PROVE (stay with us and we will show
you) that Mark, Luke, and Matthew were all expressing the EXACT same
thing in different manners when they recorded the words of the four
disciples who were "privately" speaking with Jesus in this instance.
Notice:
          (a) Mark says they ask about a sign to accompany the
fulfillment of the destruction of the "buildings of the temple".
          (b) Luke says they ask about a sign to accompany the
fulfillment of the destruction of the "temple".
          (c) Matthew says they ask about a SIGN (singular
sign...not two signs) of JESUS COMING and the end of the "world".
The Greek word translated "world" here is "aionos" (from the root
"aion"). The Greek word for this time world is "cosmos". The word
used in Matthew 24:3 means "ERA". The disciples understood enough of
prophecy and knew enough truth concerning future events which would
come upon their (Jewish) people that they realized the destruction
of their TEMPLE was to bring the FULL END to the OLD COVENANT
(testament). They wanted to know HOW THEY COULD TELL WHEN THE OLD
TESTAMENT ERA HAD COME TO A FULL END.

I can almost HEAR readers saying, "BUT MATTHEW SAID THIS EVENT WOULD
HAVE TO DO WITH JESUS' COMING".

I certainly agree, BUT WE MUST CHECK THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE WHAT THE
BIBLE CALLS HIS "COMING" (Greek word is "parousias"). The Bible
speaks of several DIFFERENT events as all being Jesus' "coming".
THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF HIS "COMINGS"
(for example, Matthew 16:28 speaks of Jesus "coming" [Greek =
erchomenon] in his kingdom before some of the people "standing" in
his very presence that day died).

The  word "coming" in Matthew 24:3 is also translated "PRESENCE" in
our Bibles, and that is in fact a very good rendering. I would like
to ask you a question and I hope the reader will consider it VERY
carefully. If what I have been teaching is TRUE, and the two
covenants DID indeed overlap in a "transition" status, and the OLD
TESTAMENT era did FULLY END with the destruction of the Jewish
TEMPLE (and therefore the destruction of their means of "worship"),
WOULD THE COMING OF THE FULNESS OF THE NEW COVENANT IN A.D. 70 BE
ANYTHING SPECIAL IN THE EYES OF GOD? WOULD JESUS' PRESENCE BE
SPECIAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE COVENANT WHICH HE PURCHASED WAS
FULLY COME?

Notice the events that are being spoken of in such a manner as to
RELATE them to each other:

     (1) The destruction of the buildings of the TEMPLE.

     (2) The end of the "world" (Greek = AGE) of the Old Covenant.
(i.e. that which was "decaying and waxing old" would "vanish away".

     (3) The "days of vengeance" and fulfillment of "all things
which are written", upon the generation which rejected the Messiah
(Luke 21:22).

     (4) "Jerusalem compassed with armies", and the resulting
"desolation" (Luke 21:20). In A.D. 70 Titus' armies of Roman
soldiers destroyed (after a lengthy siege) Jerusalem and the
buildings of the Temple. They have never been rebuilt to this day.
Read the works of Josephus, the Jewish historian of that day. All of
Matthew 24 was fulfilled if you look for the kind of fulfillment
that Biblical language dictates.

(5) The "abomination of desolation" spoken of in Matthew 24:15
is a reference to Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 9. There, the events
described are said to take place at the end of 70 weeks (of
prophetic years) or 490 years from the "going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem".  This rebuilding of
Jerusalem is described in detail in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
It took place AFTER the 70 years of Babylonian captivity which was a
present experience in the day that Daniel lived. The "abomination of
desolation" was to be an event which immediately followed the coming
of the "MESSIAH THE PRINCE" to his "own" people, LITERAL ISRAEL AND
JUDAH. Today, false preachers teach a "GREAT PARENTHESIS" between
the 69th and 70th "weeks" of Daniel's prophecy in order to make the
events of the "great tribulation" still future in our day. That is
necessary for them to FIT together their false theories concerning
the "millenium", which they TWIST from the book of Revelation. If
the reader would like to study further on this subject, we have a
lengthy study book we would like for you to consider that shows the
errors in the commonly taught false theories of today.

     (6) When Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 24:4-9 he was
speaking to his four disciples; NOT TO YOU AND I TODAY!!!!!! NOTE:

 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no
man deceive you.
 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many.
 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that
ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.
 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes, in divers places.
 24:8  All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and
shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my
name's sake.

Can anything be any more plain? If Jesus said all of these things to
them and yet meant someone other than them, JESUS WOULD HAVE CAUSED
THEM GRIEF AND WORRY FOR NO REASON. Also, in the true sense of the
word, these statements would have been LIES. Before you get upset at
me for saying this, REMEMBER, I am NOT saying that Jesus lied!!!! I
AM saying that what he said was true, and PREACHERS today are the
LIARS when they apply his words to us today in a LITERAL sense
(there IS a spiritual TYPE there for us to learn from today).

I know there are several verses in Matthew 24 that are commonly
misused (literalized) and misunderstood, and therefore it becomes
difficult for people to see that entire context is fulfilled in the
destruction of Jerusalem, and the following events. I won't have
space in this study to cover everything, but I would like to at
least give you an example of what I am talking about.

Matthew 24:
 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall
the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken:
 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

There is a MAJOR KEY that we must make use of if we are to
understand these verses within this context. We MUST remember that
once the FULLNESS of the NEW TESTAMENT ERA was begun, then there
were NO MORE TYPES, but rather the spiritual fulfillment of those
types. The events described leading up to this "great tribulation"
were taking place while the OLD TESTAMENT era was "waxing old", but
still very much alive.  However, the events which FOLLOW the "great
tribulation" in A.D. 70 ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE FULNESS OF THE NEW
TESTAMENT ERA, AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE LITERAL EVENTS, BUT RATHER
SPIRITUAL EVENTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (SAME GREEK AS HOLY GHOST)
DISPENSATION (i.e. the NEW TESTAMENT).

Matthew 24 is not speaking of the LITERAL "sun", "moon", and
"stars". Instead, it is speaking of what the LITERAL sun, moon, and
stars symbolize in type.

The STARS symbolize ministers of the gospel. Jesus said in
Revelation 1:20 that the "stars" were the "angels" of the churches.
The word "angels" comes from the Greek word "aggeloi". This Greek
word means a messenger. Luke 7:24 shows that John the Baptist's
disciples were "messengers". The SAME BASIC GREEK word is used (with
a different ending to show its usage in the sentence)..."AGGELON".
There are many different kinds of ANGELS (messengers). There are
HEAVENLY, DEMONIC, and HUMAN! Every scriptural principle PROVES that
God uses HUMAN MESSENGERS (angels) to gather HIS ELECT. The angels
of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3 were HUMAN
messengers or PASTORS of those churches. That is why God sent the
message to them, EVEN THOUGH THE MESSAGES ARE DIRECTED TO GROUPS OF
PEOPLE (their congregations). Even the "angel" that John the apostle
fell down to worship in Revelation 19:10 said he was one of John's
brethren who had the testimony of Jesus. HE WAS A HUMAN "ANGEL"
(MESSENGER).

THE SAME GREEK WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED "ANGELS" IN MATTHEW IS ALSO
TRANSLATED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  "messenger" in Mark 1:2 (speaking of John the Baptist as a
messenger or ANGEL),
     2.  "messengers" in Luke 7:24 (showing that even John the
Baptist had his own "messengers" or "angels" and they were other
human beings that helped carry his message forth),
     3.  "messengers" in Luke 9:52 (showing that the HUMAN
messengers that Jesus sent before him were "angels" in the
Biblical meaning of the word).
     4.  "messengers" in James 2:25 (showing that the Israelite
spies that Joshua sent into Canaan were HUMAN angels in the true
sense of the usage of the word in the Bible).

When we realize that Paul was received by the church of God at
Galatia as an "angel of God" (Galatians 4:14), it is easy to see
that any messenger of God (HUMAN OR HEAVENLY) is an ANGEL OF
GOD!

The SUN symbolizes Jesus as the WORD OF GOD (Mal. 4:2, Matt. 13:6
and 21, John 1:9, etc. ).

The MOON symbolizes that LESSER light which reflects the LIGHT FROM
THE SUN (the WORD), so the "moon" represents God's children (i.e.
the CHURCH). Bible symbolism speaks of Jesus as the husband, and the
church as the bride of Christ. That would make the SUN a "HE", and
the MOON a "SHE". Notice Isaiah 13:10.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not
give their light: the sun shall be darkened in HIS going forth, and
the moon shall not cause HER light to shine.

Isaiah's prophecy is about the SAME thing as is declared by Jesus in
Matthew 24. They are prophecies of APOSTASY that would come upon the
New Testament church in her early stages. Let us briefly look at
another prophecy which speaks of the symbolism of the sun and moon.
We will keep it brief, but I would like to include this excerpt from
Chapter 9 of our study book on Revelation:
*******************************************************************
 30:26  Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of
the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the
light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the
breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

Many people find this prophecy difficult to understand, and most
seem to feel it has no meaning for us today, but was fulfilled in
the past. However, even though the text is "deeper" than many
others, and requires much more study (to make it clear) than what we
can cover here, I believe the following thoughts will at least help
the reader to begin to comprehend its meaning:

     (A) As verse 26 shows, this prophecy concerns a time when God
would use GREAT LIGHT (understanding of the word of God) in order
to "heal" and "bind up" the breach (DIVISION) among HIS TRUE
PEOPLE. This thought presented in this verse CAN ONLY be fulfilled
in one of two ways:
          (a) To "bind up" the division between the two branches of
          the twelve tribes of Israel (i.e. Israel and Judah). This
          never happened according to the Bible and History. In
          fact, there are still people today looking for the "10
          lost tribes".

          (b) To "bind up" the division between God's true people
          in the NEW COVENANT (CHRISTIANS). That DIVISION is the
          result of the many different denominations and churches
          brought about by FALSE RELIGION. Although this "binding
          up" has not taken place it the past (and instead more and
          more denominations have constantly arisen which have
          further divided God's people, it IS TAKING PLACE TODAY in
          this seventh seal age of time IN GOD'S TRUE CHURCH.

If we could add a few hundred extra pages to this study, I would
have much more opportunity to greatly DETAIL the meaning of the
context of Isaiah 30:26. Since we cannot do that now, I would like
to at least present a few thoughts for your consideration in this
teaching:

    > The SPIRITUAL body of Christ is the CHURCH; 1 Corinthians 12.

    > Jesus fleshly body was not broken; type of CHURCH. John 19:36

    > Passover lamb (TYPE) no bones broken; Ex. 12:46; 1 Cor.5:7.

    > God does not want division in the church; 1 Corinthians 1:10.

    > DIVISION shows SPIRITUAL BABYHOOD & CARNALITY; 1 Cor. 3:1-11.

    > God wants the CHURCH to "grow up" SPIRITUALLY; Ephesians 4.

    > The TRUE SPIRITUAL "BODY" OF CHRIST can NOT exist in its FULL
AND COMPLETE FORM UNTIL THERE IS NO DIVISION in it at all!!!

Since this DIVIDED CONDITION OF THE CHURCH is the result of
denominations and the large number of "churches", God is bringing
to pass something very special in the "SEVENTH" or last "DAY".
Isaiah's prophecy describes the event in common symbolism. SUNLIGHT
and MOONLIGHT are both said to be equal, and in fact, ARE TO BE
SEVEN TIMES AS "BRIGHT" AS NORMAL! Many people literalize this
passage, but it is quite obvious that if the sun were to increase
to seven times its intensity, NO LIFE would survive! Isaiah 30:26
shows us that the people of God are healed; NOT KILLED!!

Most readers will realize that the SUN is used throughout the Bible
as a symbol of JESUS AS "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (John 8:12).
Malachi 4:2 calls Jesus the "SUN of righteousness". Matthew 13:5-6 &
21 will show the reader another picture of the "WORD" (Jesus - John
1:1-14) being symbolized by the "SUN".

PSALMS 121:
 121:6  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by
night.   (Ever been "smitten" by the LITERAL moon?).

Literalists would have to teach that this means a Christian does
not have to use lotion to prevent sunburn! However, IT IS NOT
LITERAL, and in fact, if it WERE, then TRUE SAINTS do not have to
worry about "MOON BURN" either!

The SUN pictures Jesus as the "LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (John 8:12),
and the MOON represents the means of REFLECTING the light of
Christ to the world (just like the literal moon reflects light
from the sun! This "moon" is a spiritual picture of God's true
people who are "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" when they REFLECT the light
of Christ (the "sun"). (Matthew 5:14)!

That is why the stories of God's people in the Bible are "TYPES",
or symbolic pictures of spiritual truth. That is also the reason
that Christians need to SHINE AS THE MOON TODAY (ie: reflecting
the light of Christ)!

Friend DO YOU REALIZE WHAT ISAIAH 30:26 IS SAYING? If we summarize
its teaching in the light of the entire Bible, we realize the
following truths:
     (A) God's people are separated by a breach (division)!

     (B) Jesus prayed that we would have TRUE UNITY (Not just
union) in John 17:20-23!

     (C) False doctrines and traditions of men have created FALSE
RELIGIONS in hundreds of variations (II Peter 2:1-3; II Timothy
4:2-4; I Timothy 3:1-2; Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:24; etc.).

     (D) These FALSE RELIGIONS are the cause of the "BREACH"
(division) among the people of God, which is forbidden in
I Corinthians 1:10!

     (E) This division has "WOUNDED" the BODY OF CHRIST; THE
CHURCH!

     (F) There is a time that God has foreordained and prophesied,
when He would "BIND UP" (close) the "BREACH" and HEAL the "WOUND"!

     (G) We can know the time of this "HEALING" work of God has
begun, by the BRIGHTNESS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIGHT SOURCES AND
REFLECTORS (ie: the amount of greater light coming forth from the
word of God through true preaching, and being reflected by the TRUE
CHURCH)!

     (H) The LIGHT will be seven times (SPIRITUALLY COMPLETE or in
other words, fully understood and taught in a SPIRITUAL manner
rather than literalizations) from the SUN.

     (I) The LIGHT of the MOON (The TRUE CHURCH) BECOMES EQUAL TO
THE LIGHT OF THE SUN! The TRUE CHURCH in these last days is to have
understanding of the WORD of GOD which is equal to that of Jesus'
understanding.

     (J) The time of this fullness of light is on the SEVENTH DAY,
OR AT THE END OF A COMPLETE PERIOD OF TIME (ie: the New Testament
day)! This is why Isaiah 30:26 says, "as the light of seven days"!
Seven basic periods of events (seven seal "days") make up the New
Testament age. Since we live in the last part of the last day, we
can expect the LIGHT given by God today to be VERY BRIGHT!

     (K) The sun and moon are common symbols in the book of Isaiah
(and in other scriptures). For example, Isaiah 60 is showing the
picture of the change in God's dealings with His people under the
New Covenant as contrasted with the Old Covenant. In the Old
Covenant, there was a LITERAL city of God; JERUSALEM. However,
Isaiah 60:18 shows the New Covenant city of God has walls of
"SALVATION" and gates of "PRAISE".  NOTICE the difference in "THE
sun" versus "THY sun" and "THE moon" versus "THY moon". This is
comparing the LITERAL versus the SPIRITUAL. "THE" sun is literal,
and "THY" sun is spiritual. Keep in mind the prophet is declaring
all of these things in a spiritual manner. Isaiah 60:

 60:18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting
nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy
walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. (New Testament CHURCH).
 60:19  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
 60:20  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon
withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light,
and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:18-20 is a comparison picture. Verse 19 shows the NEW
TESTAMENT city of God does NOT NEED THE  LITERAL SUN OR MOON FOR
LIGHT! Instead, (as verse 20 shows), God's SPIRITUAL city (THE
TRUE CHURCH WHICH IS THE NEW "HEAVENLY" JERUSALEM; THE BRIDE OF
CHRIST; Revelation 21:2 ,& 9-10), has its own SPIRITUAL SUN AND
MOON, which NEVER CEASE TO GIVE LIGHT! This of course refers to
the LIGHT of Jesus shining through His word; the light that
"REFLECTS" from Christ through the spiritual symbolism of the
scriptures; AND THE WORD "LIVED" BY THE TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD!

Should someone object to the teaching of the SUN picturing Jesus
and the MOON picturing the CHURCH (the BRIDE OF CHRIST), study
Isaiah 13:10 where the spiritual symbolism identifies the SUN as a
MALE ("his"), and the MOON as a FEMALE ("her")!

If the reader is still having trouble with the meaning of Isaiah
30, I would like to give you a little more help with the context.
Please take note of the following:

     (a) Isaiah 30:23...speaks symbolically of a time of GREAT
blessing when the "bread" is "fat and plenteous" and the cattle
"feed in large pastures". Obviously this is a spiritual picture of
a time when the BREAD of LIFE is VERY RICH and the PASTURES (the
word "pastor" means "pasture") OF SPIRITUAL "FEED" FOR GOD'S "CLEAN
BEASTS" will be "large" spiritually (i.e. Large pastures cover a
lot of ground and so will TRUE preaching in this last day).

     (b) Isaiah 30:24...speaks of the "oxen" and the "young asses"
(Hebrew word means YOUNG BURDEN BEARERS) eating "CLEAN Provender".
This "CLEAN" food comes as the result of winnowing or separating
the CHAFF (no life) from the WHEAT (the grain wherein is genuine
life). This separating task is the same as illustrated in TYPE in
John the Baptist's ministry, and is pictured also in the parable
describing the SEVENTH SEAL AGE OF THE NEW COVENANT in Matthew 13.

It surely should be evident to the reader that the period of time
prophesied in Isaiah 30 is a time of GREAT "FEEDING" and blessing
for the people of God (spiritually). This is the result of the 7
TRUMPETS (complete and full TRUTH) sounding forth in the SEVENTH
SEAL AGE.
*******************************************************************

We cover these prophecies in MORE detail in our other writings, but
for now let us look briefly once again at the statement in Matthew
24:

 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.

THIS TEXT IS OFTEN USED AS PROOF THAT THIS PASSAGE REFERS TO THE END
OF TIME. HOWEVER, THE REASON FOR THIS USAGE IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN TAUGHT SO WRONGLY AS TO THE EVENTS OF THE END OF TIME.

Let us briefly look at the "cloud" symbolism, and then perhaps we
can better understand the picture portrayed in this text. In the
book of Jude, verse 12, he tells us that FALSE PREACHERS are "clouds
WITHOUT WATER". Whenever the Bible gives us a "key" (such as this)
to the meaning of a symbol, we must also examine the IMPLICATIONS of
the "key". The IMPLICATION here is that a TRUE child of God (and
especially a TRUE PREACHER) is a (spiritual) cloud that carries with
it the "water" of life to pour out on those who are "thirsty earth".
In our study book on Revelation, we have demonstrated and PROVED
that the Book of Revelation is SYMBOLIC, and NOT LITERAL PICTURES OF
TRUTH. Therefore, these are symbolic pictures:
     (1) Revelation 10:1, the angel "clothed with a cloud".
     (2) Revelation 14:14-16,
 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the
cloud [one] sat like unto (IT DOES NOT SAY IT WAS JESUS...REMEMBER,
HE IS NO LONGER LIVING IN A FLESHLY BODY BEING MANIFEST AS THE "SON
OF MAN", BUT HIS TRUE PEOPLE ARE HIS SPIRITUAL "BODY", AND ARE "LIKE
UNTO HIS FLESHLY MANIFESTATION) the Son of man, having on his head a
golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a
loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle,
and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the
harvest of the earth is ripe.
 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on
the earth; and the earth was reaped.
     (3) Revelation 1:7, "behold he cometh with clouds".

Paul was familiar with this symbol and used it in Hebrews 12:1,
where he spoke of the saints of the old covenant era as a "GREAT
CLOUD OF WITNESSES". He also showed the "cloud" was a symbolic
"type" in 1 Corinthians 10:1;
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that
all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea.

In verse 11 of this same text, Paul said that these things were for
OUR ADMONITION and that they are "ensamples" (Greek word translated
ensamples is "tupoi" which is Greek for "types"). Paul went on to
say in verse 2;
And were_all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Notice what this is declaring; ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE BAPTIZED
(IMMERSED) UNTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD. This means that when Moses led
the children of Israel, spiritually speaking HE WAS MANIFEST IN THE
"CLOUD" OF ISRAEL. Symbolically, they were immersed unto him, or
became part of him "IN THE CLOUD". We COULD say then that the
Israelites who followed Moses were IMMERSED or symbolically placed
IN HIM as the result of being under the CLOUD (which symbolized the
SPIRITUAL "VAPORS" or outward manifestation of the WORD AND SPIRIT
OF GOD). Therefore, in true prophetic language, Moses "came out of
Egypt" in a "cloud". This illustrates to us how JESUS' "coming"
spiritually in the FULLNESS of the NEW TESTAMENT era was in a CLOUD
of "witnesses" (those who were baptized or immersed unto him).

Was Jesus REALLY manifest to the world in a "cloud" of NEW TESTAMENT
witnesses near and at the end of the OLD TESTAMENT? Let us check:

     (A) The church was the "body of Christ", and the saints in the
church were "members" of that "BODY" (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Therefore, the only PHYSICAL manifestation of Jesus (in this world)
was the TRUE CHURCH.

     (B) When Jesus was here in his own MORTAL body, God was IN HIM,
and using him to reconcile the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:18-20).
However, that same text shows that after Jesus ascended back to the
Father, the ministry of reconciliation was passed on to the CHURCH.
Paul's exact words are these; "we pray you in Christ's stead".
Therefore, at that time Jesus' manifestation in the world was
through the "spiritual body", the CHURCH.

     (C) 1 John 4:
 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world.
 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ IS come in the flesh is of God:
 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ IS
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even
now already is it in the world.
     This is written AFTER Jesus' ascension, and therefore AFTER HE
WAS NO LONGER PERSONALLY "come in the flesh". However, the
translation is in the correct tense...IT SHOULD BE "IS COME", and
not CAME. It is STILL true today as it was back then...ANYONE WHOSE
SPIRIT WITHIN THEM DOES NOT "CONFESS" OR MANIFEST THAT JESUS DWELLS
IN THEIR FLESH IS OF THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST.
     I know this confuses many people, because they think that
"ANTICHRIST" means AGAINST CHRIST. The Greek word translated
"antichrist" is "antichristou", and the word "anti" in the GREEK
means to replace or "instead of". It does NOT mean someone is
necessarily AGAINST CHRIST. IF SOMEONE WITH THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST
WAS OPENLY AGAINST CHRIST, JOHN WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO TELL THEM HOW
TO RECOGNIZE SUCH A PERSON. YOU DON'T HAVE TO "TRY THE SPIRIT" OF
SOMEONE WHO IS OPENLY AGAINST CHRIST IN ORDER TO KNOW IF THEY ARE OF
GOD. Instead, those who have the spirit of antichrist PROFESS to
serve Christ, yet their spirit does not manifest ("confess") that
Jesus is come in their flesh (i.e. dwell within their BODY which is
"the temple of the Holy Ghost". Such people are described in Matthew
7:13-23. Such people say, "LORD, LORD, WE HAVE DONE THIS AND THAT IN
THY NAME SO YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE US TO HEAVEN". In other words, they
are TRUSTING in their own works for their salvation, rather than
having TRUE salvation PRODUCING the GOOD WORKS (Eph. 2:8-10, James
2, etc.).

     (D) Let's look at a "type" in the life of Jesus AFTER HIS
RESURRECTION.
John 20:14  And when she had thus said she turned herself back, and
saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She, supposing
him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him
hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Mary mistakenly thought Jesus to be the gardener. The mention of a
gardener carries our minds back to something almost four thousand
years before this particular day, when Adam was the first gardener
in the first garden. Adam was the first of the human race.  Jesus
is the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45 and Romans 5:14), and he was
mistaken by Mary to be a gardener. This shows us she did not realize
it was him, in spite of him manifesting himself to her. This was
during the forty days of testing (judgement) of his disciples after
his resurrection (Acts 1:3).

This testing was for Jesus' disciples, and yet today you and I are
still subject to this same testing. Jesus appeared to Mary, and she
thought he was the gardener. Jesus appears to you, and you think it
is one of the saints. Our human vision looks to the flesh, and
thereby misses the realization that we are standing in the very
presence of our Savior. Remember friend, "JESUS IS COME IN THE
FLESH". He lives in the heart of every true child of God, and the
manner in which we treat them is the manner in which we treat Jesus.
In the parable of Matthew 25:40, Jesus is picturing himself as the
king and he said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. "  In Jesus'
own words, OUR ACTIONS TOWARDS OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS ARE TAKEN BY
JESUS TO BE OUR ACTIONS TOWARD HIM. Can you see how that
(symbolically) one manner of Jesus' "coming" or "presence" is in
the lives of New Testament Christians? That is his meaning of his
words in Matthew 24.

One of the means of judgement God is using today is much like what
He used back then. He is checking to see if we ARE SPIRITUAL ENOUGH
to recognize Jesus whenever he comes around, or if we will think he
is just the gardener, or Tom, Joe, or Sally. We can look on one
another as commonplace, and in ourselves we know we are NOTHING, but
when we look at one another as saints of God, we need to see ONE
ANOTHER with different vision. When we look at one another we must
see each other as part of the "body of Christ" manifest. If we do
not do so, we fail the "forty", and fall under the judgements of
God. The reason people are chastised and have heartache and
suffering is because they flunk the test.

Luke 24:13-35 takes place during the forty day period of testing and
judgement. It is another instance of Jesus appearing to some of his
own, and they fail to recognize him. When Jesus began to teach these
people, "He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself."  He used every one of the Old Testament
scriptures concerning himself. Some things seem to be of face value
and very evident concerning the Messiah. Those would have not been
necessary to be expounded upon. I believe Jesus gave them a quick
lesson in "types" as they walked along the road. They walked eight
miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, had a meal with Jesus, and got so
excited they very likely ran the eight miles back. It says "...they
rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem,..."  They did not
hesitate to get started, and I do not believe they tarried along the
way. If they did not run, they at least hurried very quickly. Why?
because their whole direction in life had been changed by coming to
a realization that they had seen Jesus, even though they did not know
HIM at the time.

We are spiritually going through the same "forty days" today. We are
going through a SPIRITUAL "40" of testing and JUDGEMENT. God is
giving us the test, and "correcting" our papers. In that day,
those who had known him did not recognize him until they NOTICED one
symptom. They said,"... Did not our heart burn within us, while he
talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"
THAT IS HOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE TRUE SPIRITUAL BODY OF CHRIST
TODAY IN THE MIDST OF SO MANY FALSE PROFESSING "BODIES".

I would like to briefly summarize some of our MAJOR points we have
studied so far (as a reminder before we apply them to something VERY
important).

     (1) The number 40 is a number of God's JUDGEMENT, and God
allowed ONE GENERATION of 40 years from the time of the ministry of
Jesus Christ until the TOTAL DESTRUCTION of JERUSALEM (if you don't
think that it was 40 years, contact us and I will give you the name
of some historical reference works that will prove it. The calendar
is not entirely accurate today).

     (2) During the 40 years, the prophecies concerning ONE PHASE of
Jesus' "coming" were fulfilled. This "coming", or manifestation of
Jesus spiritual "body", was a gradual GROWTH process, EVEN AS JESUS
LITERAL BODY BEGAN AS A BABY, AND GREW INTO MANHOOD. The church (the
"body of Christ") was in its BABYHOOD in the early years of that
"40" (1 Cor. 3:1-2, Heb. 5:11-14), but the SEVERE TRIALS of that
time of JUDGEMENT caused it to grow up to as great a degree as the
LIGHT of the first century would allow. That fulness of spiritual
growth in the first century took place at about the same time as the
destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. AFTER THAT, APOSTASY BEGAN TO
TAKE PLACE VERY QUICKLY, AS THE MORE SPIRITUAL AND FAITHFUL SAINTS
WERE SLAIN AS MARTYRS. We could illustrate it as follows:

 Last   |<-------------------------40 YEARS----------------------->|
 half Daniel's       Paul's letters      church grows up   Jerusalem
 70th week.          to "BABES".         spiritually       Destroyed
 IMPERFECT, PARTIAL UNDERSTANDING OF N.T. TRUTH            "PERFECT"
 IMMATURE .........SPIRITUAL "BODY" GROWING.................MATURE.

In order to understand this chart, lets look at 1 Corinthians 13.

 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

Paul speaks here at a time early in his own ministry, and at a time
when the church he was addressing (as well as others) was in its
BABYHOOD (see 1 Cor. 3:1-2). He says that AT THAT TIME the KNOWLEDGE
and PROPHESY was PARTIAL (ie. not complete).

 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which
is in part shall be done away.

"THAT WHICH IS PERFECT" is contrasted with "THAT WHICH IS IN PART".
Whatever "that which is perfect" refers to, it will be a COMPLETE
manifestation of "that which is in part". That is like saying that a
baby is PARTLY perfected, but when they reach their full growth
they will be MATURE. The Greek word translated "PERFECT" is
"teleion", and it MEANS to be MATURE. That is why Paul continues in
the next verse:

 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as
a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put
away childish things.

Paul uses this example because he is speaking of the "body of
Christ" and its growing to maturity. In the PREVIOUS chapter, he
spoke of this VERY subject. We need to remember that HE IS NOT
WRITING this in chapters and verses. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A LETTER,
AND HE IS STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME BASIC THOUGHT AS HE WAS
COVERING IN CHAPTER 12. He shows us that a greater perfection or
MATURITY is coming, and that it will change the manner in which the
church functions, just as maturing causes a baby to change the
manner in which THEY function.

 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face
to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also
I am known.

Many people THINK that this text refers to JESUS as "THAT WHICH IS
PERFECT". However, I challenge you to find any other place where
Paul or anyone else referred to Jesus as "THAT". Many people also
think that verse 12 speaks of our seeing Jesus "face to face" in
eternity. HOWEVER, the GREEK word here translated as "GLASS" is
"esoptrou", and is the same as is translated "glass" in James 1:23
which speaks of a mirror. MIRRORS used to be called "looking
glasses" or referred to as a "GLASS". In the day when Paul was
writing, there were many different kinds of "looking glasses",
manufactured by different methods. Some of them were "dark" or hazy
to look into. An example is the polished metal mirrors commonly
found in that day. Paul was drawing the analogy that even as the
UNDERSTANDING of TRUTH was still very much like drinking "MILK" (1
Cor. 3), and therefore the church was not able to look into a very
clear "MIRROR" of God's word, the day would soon come when they
would GROW UP and would see themselves in the mirror "face to face"
(ie. CLEARLY). If the reader will read James 2:22-25, you will see
that this symbolism was commonly used in the first century church.

When he said they would "know" as they were known, he was speaking
of the fact that when the WORD of GOD becomes clear, and we see
OURSELVES CLEARLY IN IT, then we can KNOW what we look like as God
and others see us (spiritually).

I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE TEACH THIS PASSAGE VERY DIFFERENTLY, BUT
THAT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT INTERPRET THE PASSAGE IN THE LIGHT OF
ITS CONTEXT. NOTICE:
     (1) Paul is very concerned with the problems that are existent
at Corinth, as is obvious from the fact that he deals with many of
them in this letter. He stresses that the majority of their problems
comes as a result of their being "yet carnal" (BABIES). He SCOLDS
them like babies all through the letter.

     (2) Paul finally begins to scold them for their carnal (baby-
like) actions, and their failure to understand and discern the true
BODY OF CHRIST in chapter 11:29 and context. In chapter 12 he begins
to explain WHAT IS the TRUE BODY OF CHRIST, and to show it is not
something that you can "feed" upon in a literal manner, because it
consists of God's true people (chapter 12:23).

     (3) As Paul teaches about the TRUE "body of Christ", he begins
to explain how each member functions differently within a human
body, and he uses that analogy to picture the functioning of the
spiritual "body". In the last part of the twelfth chapter, he tells
of some of the FUNCTIONS of the "body of Christ" in its "BABY"
stage.

     (4) It SHOULD be obvious to the reader that a "BABY" acts
differently than does a mature adult. Paul is trying to convey to
the church at Corinth that the SAME is TRUE of the CHURCH. Notice
again his analogy:

 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as
a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put
away childish things.

WHATEVER THE READER BELIEVES IS PAUL'S SUBJECT, SURELY YOU CAN AGREE
THAT HE IS SPEAKING OF A TIME TO PUT SOMETHING "AWAY". Remember, he
is trying to teach the church something about some of the spiritual
gifts they were experiencing AT THAT TIME. NOTE:

Paul said, "WHEN I WAS A CHILD..."
     (a) "I SPAKE as a child.."
     (b) "I UNDERSTOOD as a child.."
     (c) "I THOUGHT as a child.."
A careful Bible student who is led by the Holy Spirit will notice
that in spite of the fact there are many things a child does
differently than an adult, Paul lists only three, and those directly
relate to the three gifts he has just mentioned in this chapter! For
example, "tongues" would relate to the aspect of speaking! Since
Paul is writing about gifts which cease when something better comes
along, it is obvious his illustration refers to the gift of tongues
as a form of baby talk! This baby talk ceases when more mature
speech is learned. In other words, the gift of tongues would no
longer be needed when the early church GREW UP and ceased to be
"babes", so they could speak the Word in a mature manner!

The second thing Paul mentioned is "I understood as a child". This
is a comparison with the gift of prophecy. Numbers 12:6-8 show us
that prophecies are "dark speeches".  They are often hard for even
the prophet to fully grasp (Dan. 7:15-16). This is comparable to
the way that little children "understand". They really are not able
to study and comprehend for themselves. Instead, their
"understanding" is that which their parents give them (partial). In
the same manner, the early church had not achieved the spiritual
growth and obtained sufficient understanding of the WORD to give
them the ability to study and learn on their own. In fact, until the
book of Revelation was written, they did not even have the spiritual
keys to unlock the door to understanding the rest of the Bible
(Remember, the Greek word for Revelation means unveiling or
revealing.  The first verse of Revelation shows us that it unveils
or reveals Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is the word manifest [John 1],
then we really cannot understand much of the rest of the Bible,
until we truly understand the Book of Revelation! For more
information ask about our study guide to Revelation.). Because of
this, the early church only had a partial or childlike understanding
at this early stage of growth. Until the book of Revelation was
given, the prophecies were incomplete and based upon this special
gift of prophecy rather than upon the completed scriptures!

In Paul's third comparison, he said, "I thought as a child". The
word thought comes from a Greek word which means to reason or
determine. A child reasons or determines things according to the
influence of parents and superiors, rather than as the result of
personal experience! This is the way that the saints labored as
"babies" (spiritually) in the early church. The gift of the word of
knowledge helped them to "reason" according to the influence of
their heavenly Father. Someone might ask, "why would God ever take
away such a gift?" To answer we might remind the reader that since
a baby or small child does not have a way to read and learn about
things, they are easily influenced in the wrong directions. They can
easily be turned away from the reasoning or knowledge given to them
by their parents. They might believe one theory one day, and another
the next! They are easily tossed to and fro with every wind of
doctrine (Eph. 4:11-15)! For this reason, the Lord gave us a
completed Bible so we can read it, and keep close track on those
who preach to us! That gives us something we can "hold on to"!

SO WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS SHOW US? LOOK AT 1 CORINTHIANS 13 AGAIN.

 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a
tinkling cymbal.
 13:2  And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand
all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing.

Paul is making it VERY CLEAR here that the gifts of TONGUES,
PROPHECY, and WORD OF KNOWLEDGE are NOT PROOFS THAT A PERSON IS A
CHRISTIAN. They are NOT the most important aspect of the Christian
life. IN FACT, LOOK AT WHAT HE STATES IN VERSE 8.

 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether [there be]
prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they
shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish
away.

I remember reading an article recently by a well known Pentecostal
preacher. He said that these gifts were STILL here today because man
still has knowledge, and therefore it has not vanished away. That
verse of scripture IS NOT speaking about KNOWLEDGE in general. It is
speaking of a miraculous means by which spiritual knowledge was
given without the means of a completed scriptural basis for study.
Paul was showing that once the church was grown from baby-hood,
and the Bible was completed, then those three special gifts for the
BABY stage of the church would no longer be needed. NOTICE:

   CHILDHOOD STAGE              *               MATURE STAGE
                                *
   Gifts of:                    *
   Prophecy - Tongues           *    Completed N.T. scriptures
   Word of Knowledge            *         Church grows up.
                                *
   PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE            *    Complete "first seal" LIGHT
   PARTIAL PROPHECY             *    Book of REVELATION given
                                *
   Like looking at oneself      *    Like seeing oneself face to
   in a dark mirror             *    face (clearly).
                                *
   Jesus knows us but we do not *    We look into the scriptures and
   see ourselves as He sees us. *    they show us how we look in
   We only partially know what  *    Jesus' sight. Then we can know
   we "look like" spiritually.  *    ourselves as Jesus knows us.

Friend, if you object to the last portion of the chart above, just
look up the meaning of the word translated glass (as used in I
Corinthians 13:12) in a Greek dictionary. It means "mirror"! What do
you see when  you look into a mirror? YOU SEE YOURSELF, IF YOU ARE
FACING THE MIRROR SQUARELY!!! Since Paul is giving us a series of
comparisons here (as we have already shown), it is obvious that what
is seen more clearly (ie: "face to face") is the same as what is
seen "by means of "the dark glass"! James 1:22-23 did not say we
look into the "glass" and see Jesus! Looking in the GLASS lets us
see ourselves.

In the rest of the verse he says, "Now I know in part, but then
shall I know even as also I am known". People say we cannot know
Jesus in this life as well as he knows us. He is not talking about
knowing Jesus! He says, "Right now I am looking in a glass. I know
partly what I look like in the sight of Christ! When the glass
clears up, I will know as much about what I look like (in the sight
of Christ) as He and my friends know about me"! Isn't that what
James 1:22-23 is teaching about the purpose of the "glass"? We look
in a mirror to see what others see when they look at us.
I Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity". "NOW abideth",
means that they are going to stay around for THIS period of time.
That which was perfect was going to come and do away with the three
sign gifts, but faith, hope, and charity were still going to abide!
Friend, that cannot refer to eternity. When we get to eternity we
will not live by faith! The Bible shows us when we get to eternity,
our hope will be a realized EXPERIENCE! It will not be hope anymore;
it will be fulfilled hope! There is not going to be any more
fighting the good fight of faith because our battles will all be
over! Paul was not talking about something over in eternity! He was
talking about something that was going to abide even after these
special sign gifts passed away! Today (thank God) we STILL HAVE
"faith, hope, and charity". Those are MUCH GREATER than the other
"gifts" that so many people are boasting of or fighting over today.

There are many people fussing and fighting over WHETHER OR NOT the
gift of tongues is STILL in the church today. Many people quote 1
Corinthians 14:39 stressing, "FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES".
They talk as though they believe Paul spoke those words directly to
you and I today. We must realize that when Paul wrote to the church
at Corinth, the church was STILL A BABY, and Paul was saying,
"DON'T FORBID THE BABY TO TALK IN BABY TALK". Why? Because that is
the only way a baby can communicate. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY
TO GO INTO THE TINY DETAILS OF 1 CORINTHIANS 14 AND ACTS CHAPTER 2,
ETC. IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT ABOUT THE GIFT OF TONGUES. IF WE
SIMPLY UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE WHAT PAUL HAS TAUGHT IN 1 CORINTHIANS
13, THEN IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT TONGUES WAS A GIFT FOR THE
TRANSITION PERIOD. NOTICE 1 Corinthians 14:

 14:21  In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues
and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all
that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that
believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying
[serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which
believe.
 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one
place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those
that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye
are mad?

It should be obvious that Paul is not referring to ALL unbelievers
in verse 22. If that is the case, he is telling us that the "SIGN"
for unbelievers makes them think God's people are "MAD". Surely you
will agree that is not a very good sign. The KEY to understanding
what Paul means in this text is our context. In verse 21 Paul quotes
from Isaiah 28:11. That prophecy is a statement that God makes about
UNBELIEVING JEWS. Paul then goes on to say in verse 23 that those
who are "unlearned" (ie. don't know of Isaiah's prophecy) or
unbelievers (ie. GENTILES) will think the tongues speakers and those
in the congregation are MAD. PAUL MAKES IT PLAIN THEN (TO THE
CAREFUL BIBLE STUDENT) THAT "TONGUES ARE NOT A SIGN FOR BELIEVERS"
NOR ARE THEY A SIGN FOR UNBELIEVING GENTILES. THEY ARE ONLY A SIGN
FOR UNBELIEVING JEWS WHO KNOW OF THE WRITINGS OF ISAIAH THE PROPHET
CONCERNING THEIR NATION. This shows us then that since TONGUES were
a sign for unbelieving JEWS, then when the Jewish nation was cut off
by God in A.D. 70, that sign was no longer needed and PAUL SAID IT
WOULD "CEASE" (1 Cor. 13:8). "Perfect" or mature prophesy and
knowledge were then "come", as the church was growing up.
1 Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall
fail; whether there tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge (ie. the "gift of the word of knowledge"..1 Cor. 12:8), it
shall vanish away.
If the gift of tongues IS still used by God in the church today, it
would have to fulfill these conditions:

1) "Tongues" are not to be spoken without an interpreter (1 Cor.
14:27-28)!

2) "Tongues" and all spiritual gifts are given for the benefit of
all the body of Christ; not just personal edification (I Cor. 12:7).

3) TRUE "TONGUES" were under the control of the speaker (I Cor.
14:27-28) and did not "overcome" him!

4) "Tongues" speakers were to keep themselves under control so that
only one spoke at a time (ie: "by course" - I Cor. 14:27)!

5) "Tongues" were limited as to the amount of usage (I Cor. 14:27)!

6) True "Tongues" were used as a sign to unbelieving Jews (I Cor.
14:21-23 and see comments in this booklet)! If there are no
"literal" Jews present (as there were in every place where "tongues"
were spoken in the scriptures), then beware of the "tongues" which
are spoken.

7) If TRUE "TONGUES", there will be a balance in their usage along
with all other gifts (I Cor. 12:17-19)!

8) If true "tongues", those who speak in them will not feel
"superior" in any way to those who do not, but will live according
to the rules in I Corinthians 13:1-7!

9) If true "tongues", you will receive them because God wanted you
to have them, AND NOT BY ASKING FOR THEM (I Cor. 12:11; Heb. 2:4)!

10) True "tongues" will unify God's people in the TRUTH (context)!

11) True "Tongues" will NEVER produce "holy rolling" or other
indecent actions (I Cor. 14:33 and 40)!

12) "Tongues" are NOT in any way proof of salvation OR of the Holy
Ghost (I Cor. 13:1 - "Charity" or Godly Love - Rom. 5:5)!

13) True "tongues" were not for everyone (I Cor. 12:29-30)!

14) True "tongues" is the least gift (I Cor. 12:28), and was greatly
prized by a "carnal" church (I Cor. 3:1-4)!

Paul the apostle stated in 1 Corinthians 12:31, "But covet earnestly
the best gifts: AND YET SHOW I UNTO YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY".  Go
to the Greek and it only emphasizes MORE what Paul is stating here;
the message we have been teaching which Paul presented in 1
Corinthians 13 WAS THE "MORE EXCELLENT WAY". Chapter 14 does not
nullify or cancel that truth; it only explains how the gift of
tongues was to be dealt with during the intermediate time before its
cessation. The coming in of the "MORE EXCELLENT WAY" at the end of
the TRANSITION PERIOD brought an END to the SIGN GIFTS (Heb.2:3-4).