(01/22/2017) The Lion of Judah

Today, reply is made to a question on Jesus as the “Lion of Judah.”  The many titles to acknowledge and honor Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of divine proclamations, promises and prophecies regarding divine Judgment and the rule of GOD over all existence include Alpha and Omega, Faithful and True, the Branch, the Holy One, the King of the Jews, the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, the Lamb of GOD, Messiah, Prince of Peace as well as The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers (UK & Ireland)” using the ID “Risen Corey” (Level 5 with 7,724 points, a member since September 14, 2015) posted the following:

What is the Lion of Judah?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!  Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words:  but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.  Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.  For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them:  so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.  As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.  Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.  (Isaiah 31:  1-6, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Sure Mercies of David (09/19/2016); Jesus Known As Word (01/17/2016); The Lamb of GOD (08/19/2015); Why the Jews Were Called Out? (06/15/2015); About Knowing the Name of GOD (09/21/2014); About Deluding Yourself? (09/22/2014); The Root of Jesse (01/03/2013); Newness of Spirit? (01/04/2013)

“Risen Corey”, Christian believers speak of Jesus of Nazareth  as being the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.”  There are multiple streams of sacred covenant between the Creator and mankind that blend and come together proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of Man (Adam) and the Son of GOD who fulfills eternal promise and prophecy.  Included are the words overheard by Adam and Eve that were spoken to the serpent and that ignited their hope for forgiveness, resurrection from death, and restoration to everlasting life.  Others, such as the promises to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and Moses, clarify and crystallize the divine intent to rule through created beings and living creatures using the frameworks and elements of their existence.  From Adam, there would be an embodiment of divinity (we say, an Incarnation) whereby Deity would appear and operate upon the earth.  In preparation for this, a people would be established in covenant relationship, that first would appear as a household, then a tribe, then a nation, then a dynasty that would become the primary device to introduce the divine ruler, the Messiah.   In contrast to Satan—described as a roaring lion going to and fro upon the earth seeking whom he may devour—Jesus is called the “Lamb of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world”.  Even so, he is honored as the Lion of Judah who appears as the warrior that dares to embrace the full revelation of GOD on behalf of all who have ever existed by opening the sealed books of heaven.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Genesis 3:  14-15, King James Version (KJV):  14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:  15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

(2.)  Genesis 49:  8-11, KJV:  8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise:  thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.  9 Judah is a lion’s whelp:  from the prey, my son, thou art gone up:  he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  Revelation 5:  1-14, KJV:  1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:  behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:  for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we shall reign on the earth.  11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:  and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;  12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.  14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(10/16/2010) Known by GOD?

Rejection, judgment, and denial by Jesus comes under consideration, today.  The writer “hopeof kingdom”  at “Yahoo! Answers” posted the following:

Christians: Jesus, speaking prophetically, said "I never knew you." Why would this be?

This is looking forward to the time when he returns and separates the sheep from the goats.


THE BATTLE AXE:  Why Clothing? (10/15/2010)—The use of clothing began with mankind’s use of leaves as aprons.  Through a perversion [i.e., turning away from truth; applying sacred objects and truths to profane, and secular purpose], the pair associated themselves with trees rather than animals or created beings, and sought to be covered and hidden through “rootedness” [i.e., inactivity, silence, stillness].  In place of leaves, GOD supplied Adam and Eve with a physical covering of sheepskin through the sacrifice of a living creature that still held its sacred content in innocence, a lamb.  The pair also required a “covering” for their minds.  Thus, the divinely prepared clothing was to serve as a memorial to the lamb that was slain, and a prophetic foreshadowing of Christ, the Messiah.  Thereafter, each time they looked on one another the pair was to be reminded of (1) the difference from their former status, (2) the difference in their accountability as female and male, and (3) that the divine person is revealed in judgment, just as GOD would see the blood and spirit-covering of Jesus eternally when looking upon the believers among fallen mankind.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Who can understand his errors?  cleanse thou me from secret faults.  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalm 19:  12-14)


*THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Two Wisdoms? (10/12/2010); Judgment Now? (10/06/2010); Holy Guidance? (08/24/2010); The Antichrist (07/17/2010)


Be encouraged as you consider the following:

Presumption is acting with unfounded confidence; assuming authority or privilege without concession or consent by others; taking to oneself the identity and  resources of another without permission (i.e., stealing).  The statement, “I never knew you,” is made in sacred judgment to those who presume upon GOD, and the servants of GOD.  Believers are admonished, cautioned, and exhorted [i.e., further energized to be alert; roused to action; urged on] by this statement.  The wicked, the unrighteous, and all unbelievers, are condemned and consigned to perdition, the second death, by this statement.

To be known of GOD is not the same as knowing about GOD.  Having information to describe divine acts, divine attributes, divine intent, or divine names is not the same as containing divine substance that would allow one to be recognized in sacred judgment as having proceeded forth from GOD.  The Scripture speaks to this point in many ways, including the language that says men must receive the mark of GOD, be sealed in their spirit, and be covered by the blood of the Lamb.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, “I never knew you” also rebukes the Antichrist, any imitation Messiah or counterfeits, every pretender, and all false prophets.  Such are not anointed, certified, empowered, endowed or endorsed of GOD.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC


*SEE ALSO THESE ENTRIES POSTED PREVIOUSLY AT YAHOO! PULSE

(12/29/2012) Purchased With Blood?

     Redemption and the Holy Spirit are topics, today.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Alex” (Level 2 with 460 points, a member since October 19, 2012) posted the following:

Christians, why does the Bible say God 'bought' the church with his own 'blood'?
Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
Who bought the church—the church of God—with His own blood?

THE BATTLE AXE:  The Dove (12/28/2012)—The standard of the dove signifying peace is lifted up for the kingdom of heaven in contrast to the ensign of the Roman eagle, a bird of prey, that signals conquest, destruction and war.  Like John the Baptist, mature Christian believers proclaim the kingdom, and are endowed with the Holy Spirit (also called the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Prophecy).  As one continually nourished by holy offerings, sacrifices and tithes, and who continued upon holy ground until carried to serve as a herald and witness in the wilderness, the Prophet John acknowledged the consecration of Jesus as High Priest, his anointing as king (Messiah), public recognition of his claim as heir to Adam, Abraham, and David (the Son of man) as well as divine confirmation that Jesus is the Son of GOD.  The appearance of the dove as the voice sounded from heaven was in the nature of jubilation, proclamation, revelation, and testimony in judgment.  All the spirit-persons of the GODhead are present in the scene; and each affirms the authority and fullness of the others.  These things were exposed to the Prophet allowing him to identify Jesus as “the Lamb of GOD” to those who had been prepared to become the first followers of Christ.  (See John 5:  33-38, John 1:  29-37 and 1st John 5:  6-12, KJV.)

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,  that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah’s.  And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck:  and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.  And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:  and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast:  therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.  (Exodus 13:  11-15, American Standard Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust (12/14/2012); More Than Salvation (11/27/2012); The Slave to Law and Sin Made Free (11/16/2012); Lawful Divorce (11/17/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); Jesus Our “Advocate” (08/16/2012); Girdle 14:  Reasonable Service (11/29/2011); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010); Appetite (10/14/2010)

     More than merely saving believers in judgment from their sentence of damnation, the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ establishes eternal life through redemption.   Redemption is the provision of divine covenant that allows things dedicated, offered in prayer, and promised to GOD (e.g., oneself, ones firstborn, donkeys, goats, sheep, oxen) to be recovered from the altar of GOD.  All living things delivered to the altar (a holy table that serves as a point where heaven and earth are joined) must be sanctified, sacrificed, and salted (i.e., washed, set apart, slain, and transferred to GOD through holy fire that accomplishes cleansing, judgment and lifting).  The redeemed are recovered from the altar to continue in service as living sacrifices.  Those that cannot be used in sacred service and worship, that would defile and profane the altar when offered, and where no redemption price has been paid (say a mule), the neck is broken, and it is destroyed.

     That Jesus Christ may bestow eternal life to those that are his by their “saving purchase” is a fulfillment of divine law, promise, and prophecy, and constitutes lawful redemption.  The provision of redemption again displays the law as righteous, and in agreement with the mercy found in judgment.

     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, less mature Christian believers tend to oversimplify the truths of redemption and salvation, ignore them altogether, or lump them together as though one is no greater than another.  It remains, the devotion, gratitude, obedience, thoroughness and zeal of believers will vary according to their right knowledge and understanding.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC