A Rockefeller Christmas

Joseph Herrin (12-08-2010)

Wisdom  - Rockefeller Center

One can at times be helped to discern the origin and the hidden esoteric meaning of a symbol by looking at how those who are known workers of darkness employ them. The image I want to examine in this post is that of the Christmas tree. Hopefully, some readers will perceive its Luciferian connection through what is presented here, and will thereby escape from the deception foisted upon the masses.

The Rockefeller family is well known to be filled with Illuminists who are striving to bring forth a New World Order. In the utopia they envision, the entire world is under one government.

A lifelong globalist, due to the strong influence of his father, he had at an early age further spread his connections when he was invited to attend the inaugural elitist Bilderberg Group meetings, starting with the Holland gathering in 1954. He has been a consistent attendee through the decades and has been a member of the "steering committee," which determines the invitation list for the upcoming annual meetings. These have frequently included prominent national figures who have gone on to be elected as political leaders of their respective countries including Bill Clinton who first attended in 1991.

David Rockefeller joined the Council on Foreign Relations as its youngest-ever director in 1949 and subsequently became chairman of the board from 1970 to 1985; today he serves as honorary chairman.

In 2002 Rockefeller authored his autobiography “Memoirs” wherein, on page 405, Mr. Rockefeller writes: “For more than a century ideological extremists at either end of the political spectrum have seized upon well-publicized incidents such as my encounter with Castro to attack the Rockefeller family for the inordinate influence they claim we wield over American political and economic institutions. Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure - one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rockefeller]

It is not Yahweh, or His Son Yahshua, who are the inspiration for this push for a one world government. It was Yahweh who divided mankind into peoples and tongues and tribes and nations. This was done to deter them from pursuing a unified course of sin that would lead to immense destruction, perversion, and blasphemy. Mankind was divided at the Tower of Babel. Ever since that time, Satan has worked to bring back a united world where he would be seated as its ruler. He is seeking to restore Babel, which in the New Testament is referred to as Babylon.

Those who are laboring for a one world government are servants of Lucifer. They would characterize their labors as benevolent, and for the good of mankind and the earth. Though the majority of people on the globe do not desire this restructuring of the world under one great architect, these Illuminists believe they have superior wisdom and knowledge, and are justified in forcing their ends upon the masses.

The Bible recounts the fall of Lucifer from heaven, and his subsequent deception of the woman. In the Garden of Eden Satan appears in the form of a serpent. The word serpent comes from the same root as the word sapient, which means “wise.” Satan promised the woman wisdom that would benefit her, making her like God. In truth he came only to kill, steal and destroy. Eve was beguiled by Lucifer.

Genesis 3:13
Then Yahweh God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

The Bible reveals that Satan ever seeks to present himself as the benevolent bringer of wisdom to mankind. Those who are disciples of Lucifer have cast him in an altogether different light. To them, Lucifer is mankind’s champion. The wisdom he possesses is given to man for humankind’s progress and blessing. The following quotation from a self-professed Luciferian, reveals the mindset of those, like Rockefeller, who are servants of this fallen dignitary.

The Devil—Lucifer—is a force for good (where I define ‘good’ simply as that which I value, not wanting to imply any universal validity or necessity to the orientation). ‘Lucifer’ means ‘light-bringer’ and this should begin to clue us in to his symbolic importance. The story is that God threw Lucifer out of Heaven because Lucifer had started to question God and was spreading dissension among the angels. We must remember that this story is told from the point of view of the Godists (if I may coin a term) and not from that of the Luciferians (I will use this term to distinguish us from the official Satanists with whom I have fundamental differences). The truth may just as easily be that Lucifer resigned from heaven...

God, being the well-documented sadist that he is, no doubt wanted to keep Lucifer around so that he could punish him and try to get him back under his (God’s) power. Probably what really happened was that Lucifer came to hate God’s kingdom, his sadism, his demand for slavish conformity and obedience, his psychotic rage at any display of independent thinking and behavior. Lucifer realized that he could never fully think for himself and could certainly not act on his independent thinking so long as he was under God’s control. Therefore he left Heaven, that terrible spiritual-State ruled by the cosmic sadist Jehovah, and was accompanied by some of the angels who had had enough courage to question God’s authority and his value-perspective.

Lucifer is the embodiment of reason, of intelligence, of critical thought. He stands against the dogma of God and all other dogmas. He stands for the exploration of new ideas and new perspectives in the pursuit of truth.
-Max More
[Source: http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=329]

The image at the top of this blog is found over one of the doors of Rockefeller Plaza. It is called Wisdom, but actually is a depiction of Satan in the guise of one who brings wisdom and knowledge to mankind. The quotation declares, “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.” It is the age-long promise of becoming like God through the acquisition of heavenly mysteries, and Lucifer would present himself as the keeper of this wisdom.

II Corinthians 11:14-15
For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.

That Lucifer had great wisdom and knowledge is declared in the Scriptures.

Ezekiel 28:12-17
"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God... You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground...

Lucifer’s wisdom, once perfect, became perverted by self-seeking. When he appears in Eden in the form of a serpent we find this wisdom described by the word “cunning.”

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh God had made.

The word cunning speaks of a wisdom that has been defiled by conceit. The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, gives instructions for appointing elders among the assembly of believers. He warns him with the words, “and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil” (I Timothy 3:6).

We see the same traits in those who are the chief disciples of the devil this day. They too are corrupted by the abundance of their trading. They seek to enrich themselves, and they esteem themselves worthy of a much higher position than that of other men. Even as Satan sought to ascend to the throne of God, so too do these men seek to ascend, placing the rest of mankind and creation under their feet.

The Rockefellers are Luciferians, championing this fallen angelic being as a bringer of wisdom and knowledge to mankind. Their esteem of Lucifer is revealed in the artwork found at Rockefeller Center.

Prometheus Bringing Sacred Fire to Man

The statue of Prometheus bringing fire down from heaven and giving it to mankind, is one of the most evident pieces of art found on the Rockefeller Center complex. It is a re-telling of the story of Lucifer who offered to mankind the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. An Internet website shares the following commentary on this statue found on the Rockefeller property.

This statue depicts Prometheus, a Titan of Greek mythology known for his great intelligence. He has however betrayed the god Zeus by stealing fire and giving it to mankind. He is credited to have taught mankind the arts of civilization such as writing, mathematics, agriculture, medicine, and science. Zeus then punished Prometheus for his crime by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day.

Paul Manship’s sculpture featured in the Sunken Plaza of the Rockefeller Center portrays Prometheus holding the fire stolen from Zeus and gliding towards humanity. He lies inside a ring in which are outlined the signs of the Zodiac. Behind the statue is an inscription saying:

“Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends.”
[Source: http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=329]

Substitute the name Prometheus for Lucifer, and you will perceive the true substance of this monument. Lucifer was judged by God, not for a benevolent act on behalf of mankind. Lucifer’s fall actually occurred prior to Adam and Eve’s residency in Eden. It is described by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 14:12-14
"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'”

It is necessary to understand this history of Satan’s fall in order to properly perceive the symbolism present in the Christmas tree. It will perhaps come to some people’s minds that it is traditional to either place an angel or a star atop the Christmas tree. Though these symbols are commonly related back to the birth of Christ, this is merely the deceit of Satan. That the star and angels are commonly lighted relate to his name Lucifer which means “light bearer.”

The Rockefellers are far from being champions of Christ. If the Christmas tree were a symbol of the birth of the Son of God, then why would the Rockefellers have established a tradition of placing one of the largest, most expensive Christmas trees in the world in a central location at Rockefeller Center? There are no other symbols of Christ present. However, there are a great many symbols relating to Lucifer. Note the image of Prometheus, and its proximity to the Christmas tree.

Rockefeller Christmas Tree w/Prometheus Carrying Fire

These two symbols are very much linked to one another. There is no disparity in the minds of Illuminists. To them the image of this fallen bringer of forbidden knowledge, and the lighted tree behind it, tell one and the same story. An interesting link in this story is found in an online news account of the renovation of the star atop the tree.

Star Redesigned as Comet
The star, now five years old, was made by the crystal manufacturer Swarovski, which had commissioned the designer Michael Hammers to design a replacement for an aging fiberglass star. Mr. Hammers's star had 12 rays, spiky triangles of glass with 25,000 tiny crystals glued inside. All told, the crystals have a million glittery facets.

For the makeover, he decided to do more to project light through the rays. That meant adding the LEDs. Mr. Hammers said in an e-mail message from Beijing, where he is involved in a performance of Bach's ''Christmas Oratorio,'' that he had a comet in mind.

''Every star on a Christmas tree is a Christmas star,'' he wrote, adding that many people suspect the original Christmas star was a comet.

Of course, comets streak across the sky like a certain sleigh with eight tiny reindeer, but that is another story.
[Source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE2DA173AF93BA25752C1A96F9C8B63]

There is another being who is compared to a streaking star, a flash of light, as he was cast from heaven to earth.

Ezekiel 28:16
Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.

Luke 10:18
And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning...

Revelation 12:9-10
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Satan seeks to portray himself as a victim of an unjust God. He declares himself to be an angel of light, a bringer of knowledge and truth. In one story he is depicted as Prometheus seeking to aid mankind, incurring great personal loss in the process. In other stories he is depicted as the Phoenix, consumed in fire, but rising to ascend again into the heavens.

Phoenix - Note Rising Sun Image

The Phoenix is a very prominent symbol found in Freemasonry. Its image is on the cover of the standard book given to new initiates to this secret society. Its name is given to one of the most prominent organizations within Freemasonry.

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/

There is a direct correlation between the Phoenix and the date established for Christmas. The ancient Babylonian mystery religions were based upon the worship of the sun and the moon. At Christmas a grand celebration was held to commemorate the victory of the sun over darkness. At the winter solstice the sun is in the sky for the shortest period of the day. It seems that darkness will triumph, but then the sun begins to arise once more, spending an ever greater amount of time in the sky each day after the winter solstice. This is Lucifer reborn; the light bearer ascending.

Another name found in antiquity for the worship of Satan is Baal (also spelled Bel). The obelisk is a symbol of the worship of Baal. It is closely related to Freemasonry and illuminati, for these groups serve Lucifer, and ascribe to the Luciferian doctrines, though those at the lower degrees or levels are given deceptive stories as to the actual rites and symbols employed.

The Christmas tree is a form of obelisk. The following pictures will reveal this better than any other argument I could present.

Christmas Tree and Washington Monument - World’s Largest Obelisk

Look at the following view of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller center.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Does this bring to memory images of the Washington Monument at the end of the Reflecting Pool?

Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool

If these pictures do not establish the image in your mind of these two symbols representing the same thing, then look at the following. This is an image of Monument Square in Indianapolis. At the center of the circle is a great obelisk. Every Christmas (winter solstice) the obelisk is decked out and is hailed as the world’s largest Christmas tree.

Indianapolis Monument Square

As is common among Illuminist depictions, the greatest light is placed upon the top. This star, or angel, which we find on the Christmas tree, is a symbol of Lucifer, the Light Bearer. He is the “all seeing eye.”

All Seeing Eye

The all seeing eye represents the fulness of wisdom and knowledge, the ability to perceive all things and understand all mysteries. This is the boast of Satan. He claims to be the possessor of all wisdom and knowledge. With much guile he offers to share his wisdom with mankind for their benefit. Look again at the image at the very top of this post. This is Satan bringing the gift of knowledge to mankind.

It is hard to imagine men who are devoted to serving Lucifer spending so much time and expense to set-up commemorations to Christ. A recent article recounted the labors of staff at the White House taking four days to set-up the Christmas tree in the Blue Room.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336470/Obamas-Christmas-tree-takes-4-days-height-economic-crisis.html

White House Christmas Tree

Those with eyes to see will note the aspects of Sun worship in this round room with the sunburst centerpiece on the ceiling. Indeed, the nation’s capital was laid out by a prominent French Freemason, and the White House is located at a position that figures as the head of Satan.

Washington D.C. Map

The inverted five pointed star is an occult image known as the Goat Head of Mendes. It is a symbol of the devil.

Goat Head of Mendes

Do you really think that the one who governs the United States (man or angel)  is seeking to honor Christ by setting up a Christmas tree in the White House? The same spirit that is pushing for the spread of homosexuality, the unrestrained murder of babies, and the robbery of the wealth of a people, is the one behind the setting up of this symbol. This long-time pagan ritual falls  at the time of year that sun worshipers counted as one of their high holy seasons.

It is well to be reminded of the character of the adversary with which we have to contend.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

Christ was not born at Christmas. The Christmas tree was never given as a symbol by which to commemorate His life, or birth. Those who are servants of darkness understand the symbols they erect, but of Christians the saying is true:

Isaiah 42:19
Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of Yahweh?

Father, lead your people out of Babylon! Deliver us from all the deceit of that one who is so full of cunning. Lead us in the paths of truth for your name’s sake.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

An Important Decision

I will be taking a break from posting the chapters of The Remnant Bride in order to publish multiple articles on Christmas and Easter. Yahshua has drawn my attention to this subject once again. He has shown me that observing holidays that are not in His word, and which are nowhere taught by Christ or the apostles, is not His will. In fact, it is a key test of whether men and women will stand with Him as they make a determination between the holy and profane, the clean and the unclean.

Ezekiel 44:23
"And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the clean and the unclean."

The symbols of the holidays from the Christmas tree to the Easter ham are also set in opposition to Christ's symbols in the Bible. We will look at all of these things as we go through the symbols.

Joseph Herrin

Christmas and the Test of Truth
Joseph Herrin (12-18-2013)

Some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories were of Christmas. Each December my parents would go pick out a live Christmas tree and bring it home. I still remember the heavy metal stand, painted green. It had thumb screws on three sides of the base to tighten down on the trunk of the tree. The center of the base held water, which my parents would keep filled so that the tree would continue to live even after it had been cut down.

My mother was in charge of decorating the tree, but she asked us as children to help her put some ornaments, or tinsel on the tree. There were also strings of colored lights to be strung on the tree. I remember one year when I must have been somewhere between 5-7 years old finding the lights to be so beautiful. Perhaps we did not have colored and blinking lights before that year. I was so enthralled by them that I lay down on my back on our living room carpet and scooted my head up under the edge of the tree boughs so I could look up through the branches at the blinking colored lights. I was transfixed at the scene before me, and the smell of the fresh evergreen was delightful.

I cannot remember a Christmas as a child when we did not have loads of presents under the tree. One of our great thrills as youngsters was trying to guess what was in the boxes. When our parents were not looking we would shake a box, or see if we could read through a thin spot in the wrapping paper. Everything about the Christmas season was magical for me as a child. There were parties at church where gifts would be exchanged. Poinsettias would be purchased and placed in the sanctuary of the Baptist church we attended. We even attended a couple of churches that put up a Christmas tree.

The allure of the Christmas holiday season did not end there, however. All my life I have loved food, and sitting around eating with friends and family was an occasion of much joy. Christmas and Thanksgiving were the only two holidays when my family did such things. When I was a child, my family would travel to visit aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins. There were always piles of food: ham, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, cookies, pumpkin and mincemeat pies, in addition to the pre and post-feast appetizers such as chips and cheese dip, sausage balls, spiced cider, and hot cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream on top.

My parents eventually established a tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve. Perhaps they gave in to the clamoring of my two sisters and I (my young brother came along 8 years after me, so he wasn’t much of a presence in my early years). My parents would gather us together and my dad would read about the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. Try as I might to be a good young boy, I couldn’t wait for the Bible story to end so we could get to unwrapping the boxes of presents.

I still remember some of my prized presents from childhood. One year among the various gifts I received were two yellow steel Tonka Trucks, one was a road grader and another was a steam shovel. They both had adjustable and moving parts and I spent many hours playing with them. Then there was the erector set I received one Christmas Eve. It seemed to have a million little metal parts with pre-drilled holes, and there were masses of little nuts and bolts to hold everything together. I remember one of my dad’s friends from work came over that Christmas Eve with his family. My dad and his friend spent most of the evening building things with my erector set, but I didn’t mind. I had so many other presents that I could easily wait to get my turn. I remember the Tinker Toys and the Lincoln Logs, the Lego construction kits. Perhaps all of these were my dad’s way of getting me interested in building things. I certainly didn’t mind. I spent many hours with these treasured toys.

Another fond memory of Christmas celebrations from my early years was the music. That was back in the day when music came on records. We had a decent collection of special holiday music. There were Christmas albums by Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Burl Ives, and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

It is easy to see how men and women develop such strong attachments to Christmas. The various traditions of Christmas appeal to all of the human senses, and fulfill many longings of the soul. It is a time of indulgence, but also a time of joy in giving to others. It is an unusual time of year when strangers will speak kindly to others, wishing people they pass on the street a “Merry Christmas.”

There was never any discussion in the churches I grew up in of the origins of the various Christmas traditions. We never questioned where the Christmas tree, colored lights, tinsel, wreaths, spiced cider, Christmas ham, mistletoe, or feasting originated. All these things were simply accepted as Christian traditions of long standing. There was the annual Christmas play at church put on by the children. Since the story of Christ’s birth, the journey of the magi and their camels laden with gifts, and of the angels appearing to shepherds in the field to announce the birth of the Savior, was recounted in church at this time of year, I assumed that Jesus must surely have been born on December 25th.

The only Christmas controversy, or word of concern, I remember hearing of in three decades of church attendance related to warnings of the danger of the holiday taking on too much of a materialistic emphasis, or of secularists trying to remove Christ from the Christmas holidays. To combat these threats we were plied with slogans such as “Keep Christ in Christmas,” and “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

I remember in my thirties being pretty self-satisfied that I was pushing back against the encroaching secularism by putting up a lighted manger scene in our front yard and wearing a button to work that said “Wise Men Still Seek Him.” I think it was the very next year that I began to encounter teachings about the pagan origins of many of the dates and traditions that surround this “Christian holiday.”

For some time I vacillated back and forth. Christmas had a very strong bond to my soul. All of my memories of Christmas were pleasant ones. I now had children of my own and as a father I delighted to give them gifts and see their reactions of joy. I have remained a child at heart in many ways, and I still enjoy colored lights and vibrant decorations. It was a struggle to consider ending an annual tradition in which my soul had found so much pleasure.

I also considered that there was much spoken about Christ at this time of year. Although I could not deny the pagan origin of the date established for the celebration, or the many traditions attached to it, I questioned the role a person’s attitude and focus had in such a matter. After all, do not the Scriptures state, “To the pure all things are pure”? Could I not observe a holiday of unclean origins as long as I made Christ my focus at this time of year and adopted Christian explanations for the various traditions?

From my earliest days I have had an unusual affinity to God. I have never been one to place denominational beliefs over what I discerned to be truth in the Bible. I have since my youth questioned, and at times challenged, the teachings and practices of the churches that I attended. I have always understood that my chief loyalty lies with Yahweh. He it is Who created me, and it will be to Him that I will have to give an account one day.

At the same time, I have since my early years had an inquisitive spirit, wanting to understand mysteries, and to comprehend the things of God. I have made the study of the Scriptures my avid pursuit since my early teen years, and perhaps before that. I have wanted to know truth, and I have called out for it.

One thought that stuck with me from my youth is of reading the story of Solomon. There came a day when Solomon was newly appointed as king of all Israel. He went up and offered many sacrifices to Yahweh, and Yahweh appeared to him in a dream in the night. Yahweh instructed Solomon to ask for anything he desired, and it would be granted to him. Solomon could have asked for riches, for a long life, or victory over all his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked for God to grant him wisdom that he might rule well the nation of Israel. This request pleased Yahweh, and he gave Solomon breadth of mind and understanding that surpassed any man before, and which would not be excelled until that day when the Son of God appeared in human form.

I Kings 3:10-13
And it was pleasing in the sight of Yahweh that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”

I remember in my youth intensely desiring that Yahweh might grant me the same gift. I did not desire wealth, or physical strength, or any other thing. What I yearned for was a wise and understanding heart. I wanted to receive the knowledge of mysteries, and to perceive spiritual truths that others did not see. I do not believe there has been a time since my teenage years when I have read the story of Solomon when this desire has not burned in my heart. I want to know truth. I yearn to have a wise and understanding heart.

Because I frequently made this request known to Yahweh, He began to reveal to me some things about the apprehension of truth, wisdom, and understanding. He showed me one of the principles of His kingdom that was inextricably linked to the acquisition of truth. The principle is revealed in the following words of the Messiah.

Luke 8:18
"Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

Christ spoke a parable in which He said, “He who is faithful with a little will be given greater things.” As Christians, we often equate this saying to money, for that is the immediate context of the parable. What we fail to understand is that parables are used to convey spiritual truths. If we understand them in a natural sense only, we will fail to comprehend the true meaning of God. In Luke 8:18 Yahshua reveals that this principle applies to the things we listen to. We are admonished to take care HOW we listen. If we want to be given more truth, more understanding, more wisdom, more discernment of God’s mysteries, we must prove ourselves faithful with that which has already been entrusted to us.

I thought on this as the Father began to show me the historic roots of various Christian holidays that are not found observed in the Bible. I began to meditate upon how Yahweh’s feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles had been replaced by festivals that occurred on different dates, and which contained different symbols, practices, and traditions. The modern church’s two highest holy days are Christmas and Easter. They are both traceable back to the mystery religions of ancient Babylon and the worship of fertility gods and goddesses.

This writing would be too lengthy to recount all of this information here, but I will include the following links to articles that explore the origins of these holidays.

Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/fat-tuesday-mardi-gras-ash-wednesday.html

Removing the High Places
http://www.heart4god.ws/index_htm_files/Removing%20the%20High%20Places.pdf

As I continued my studies on the pagan origins of Christmas, I became disturbed in my soul. I could not reconcile the unclean, clearly idolatrous, origins of this festival with the Christian practice today. I knew from having been an ardent student of the Old Testament that Yahweh is a jealous God who requires purity among His people. Yahweh judged Israel and Judah repeatedly for mixing together the holy and the profane. He charged His priests and prophets with teaching His people to distinguish between that which is clean and unclean.

Ezekiel 44:23
“Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”

Yahweh so impressed upon His people the fact that He did not like mixture, that he forbid them to wear a garment woven of two types of material, or to sow their field with two types of seed, or to yoke together an oxen and a donkey. Nor did this emphasis on distinguishing between the holy and unholy end with the new covenant established by Christ.

II Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

I Corinthians 10:21-22
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?

After much prayer, study, and meditation on the matter, I found that I could no longer in good conscience continue to observe Christmas with my family. I sat my wife and children down and shared with them about the matter. They were very understanding, and did not object. This will strike some as remarkable, but we had already been on a journey for more than a year that others would view as quite radical. We were daily choosing obedience to God to an uncommon degree for our day.

Because we had annually exchanged Christmas gifts and cards with other family members, and participated in Christmas day gatherings with my wife’s parents, her brothers and their families, I knew that I needed to share with them as well. At the same time, I realized that it was not my place to tell them what they ought to do. I could only explain to them my own convictions and what our practice would now be. So, some weeks before Christmas in 2001 I sent out a letter to all of our family members. Following is an excerpt from that letter.
---
Dear Family Members,

As we enter into the midst of the holiday season, we desire to let you know of some changes we are making in our home this year. Our Heavenly Father continues to lead us into new truths that require obedience from us, and we are finding that many things that we could do in former years without any violation of conscience we are now not able to do...

It may come as a surprise to some that there are a number of holidays that are routinely celebrated by Christians that have their origins in the worship of false deities. It was prophesied by both Jesus and the Apostle Paul that in the last days before Jesus returned that the church would turn aside from truth and they would embrace many myths and fables and false traditions. This has occurred and, as the Father reveals these false traditions to us, we are hearing His call to separate ourselves from them.

There is a scripture in Revelation that is written to those who have participated in these false traditions in the days we live in. The scripture is Revelation 18:4, “Come out of her, My people, lest you participate in her sins and partake of her plagues.” We have been hearing the call of God to come out of all that does not originate in Him that we might obtain His favor and escape the judgment to fall on those who walk in disobedience...

This mixing of the sacred and the pagan, the holy and the profane is not pleasing to God. In the book written by the prophet Ezekiel, the following words are related to us:

Ezekiel 22:26
"Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean...”

As the Father has given us light and understanding of these things, we feel that we must respond in obedience and separate ourselves from these practices. For this reason we will not be celebrating these holidays established by man, instead we will seek to remember the holy days established by God; Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Trumpets. All of these are recorded in scripture and their dates are given.

We are not judging any others who choose to still remember these dates or participate in these celebrations. We must all walk in the light we are given, and we simply desire to share what we have received from the Holy Spirit as the manner in which we are to walk. We want to let you know of our decision that was arrived at after much prayer and consideration.

We acknowledge that many family members have taken these holidays as an opportunity to express their love for one another through the giving of gifts, and we have done so ourselves in years past. We will not be able to participate in the giving or receiving of “Christmas gifts” this year, and we hope that no one will take offense at this. We are simply seeking to be found pleasing to God by walking in a clear conscience before Him.

The Father has revealed nothing wrong in giving or receiving gifts, as it is an expression of love, and there were many gifts given from one person to another in scripture. The greatest gift we have ever received is the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. However, this gift has no association with December 25th. We will continue to give and receive gifts on appropriate occasions, or simply as an act of love from one person to another.

As the days we are living in grow darker in many ways, we feel called to walk in a greater separation from the darkness. This is our heart and we hope you will understand and that you too will find a place of peace and security in the midst of troubled times.

In gratitude and sincerity,

Joseph, Tony, Kristin and Josiah
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I anticipated that this announcement would not be well received by most, if not all, of our family members. Some were Christians, and some were not, yet all of them celebrated Christmas with much zeal. In my heart, I had peace with God, and that is what was most important to me. I desired to be found faithful with the truth Yahweh had entrusted to me, in hope that I would be given greater truths in the days ahead.

The fact cannot be avoided that truth is divisive. When a man or woman embraces truth, and orders their life in accordance with the same, it must necessarily result in separation from those who have not embraced truth. Yahweh will in this way test His people to see if they are lovers of the truth. Those who love truth are willing to suffer in obedience to it. Those who do not love truth will compromise, or make excuses, in order to continue to enjoy those things their soul loves, and to maintain peace with men. Though compromise may afford them some temporal satisfaction, the end will reveal the serious error of failing to embrace the cost of obedience to the truth.

The Father was to test me sorely in this matter of holding to my spiritual convictions. In October of 1999 my family had been led into a great adventure as the Holy Spirit directed me to leave my employment as a computer professional and to begin writing while looking to Him to supply all our needs. There was correction that came to my life at the same time, for I had accumulated many things through debt. A spirit of covetousness had been manifest in my life for many years. The, discipline I endured as Yahweh stripped me bare of all things gained during my years of covetous living was excruciating, and at times terrifying, but the Holy Spirit held me to the course.

December of 2001 found us as a family having been stripped clean of our former way of life. I had recently had my final yard sale, disposing of all the furniture and appliances we had left. The Father was indicating that He would have us traveling in a motorhome for a season, though we had no idea where it would come from. When December came I had just enough money left to pay for two weeks in a Super 8 hotel room in Perry, Georgia.

Super 8 Perry, Georgia

This was a season of intense praying for me. I had endured more than a year of fiery cleansing. I had been scourged, and was at a time of new beginnings. In hindsight I recognize why the Father led me to the Super 8 motel. The number 8 signifies new beginnings.

It had been the practice of my wife’s parents for all the years my wife and I had been married, to give each of their children and their children’s spouse’s a large financial gift at Christmas. The previous year they had given each couple $8,000. I knew that the money would meet some very pressing needs, but I did not know how our heavenly Father would work all things out. I knew that I could no longer receive the money as a “Christmas gift,” but I also knew the gift had little to do with Christmas. It was just a way for my wife’s parents to help their children out financially once a year. I committed the matter to prayer and waited to see what the Father would do.

At this time, my wife’s family had come to despise me. This was not due to the announcement that we would not celebrate Christmas, but rather because I had followed the Lord in quitting my job, with the result being that Yahweh had stripped us of our home, all but one vehicle, our furnishings, and we had only the possessions we could carry with us into the hotel room. Even those relatives who were Christians could not accept that Yahweh had led me to take my family down this path. Those who were not Christians concluded that I was a lunatic, and did not hide their displeasure.

It had been the practice of my wife’s parents to always hand out checks on Christmas morning as all of their children and grandchildren were gathered in their home. I had announced that we would not be attending any Christmas celebrations this year, so I committed the matter to the Father’s hands. We had been at the hotel some days when my wife’s parents did something they had never done before. They gave all of their children checks on December 8th instead of on Christmas day. Because I had fallen out of favor with them, instead of giving me a check for $4,000 and my wife the same, as they did with every other one of their children and their wives, they wrote a single check for $8,000 and put it in my wife’s name.

The check was endorsed by my wife’s father, and certified. This was typical, for he did the same every year. He would simply give us an envelope with an unadorned check inside. This year, however, my mother-in-law also did something she had never done before. She wrote in the comment line on the check, “Merry Christmas!” in large letters, and she affixed numerous Christmas stickers to the face of the check. I knew this was done to spite me, and to show her contempt for the convictions I had shared with each of our family members.

I recognized the test immediately. Here I was in a hotel room with my family. We had little more than a week left. I had sold the rest of our possessions and had no other way to raise income besides returning to secular employment, and the Spirit of Christ was restraining me from doing so. The money would go a long way toward meeting our needs, but if I accepted it I would be demonstrating that money was a greater priority than obeying God. It did not take me long to announce to my wife that we would not be able to accept the check, but would have to return it to her parents. My wife understood, as she saw clearly that the message and stickers on the check were intended as a dig. To my knowledge, no such message or stickers were put on any of the other children’s checks.

People of God, I firmly believe that Yahweh orders the steps of His sons and daughters. He brought me to this test because He wanted to prove my heart. He wanted to demonstrate whether I walked in the fear of Him, and how much I truly desired truth. Yahweh does not dispense spiritual knowledge and understanding indiscriminately. Truth is costly. Had I failed this test I do not doubt that my life from that day forward would have been very different from what I have experienced. Since that date, Yahweh has given me many revelations of truth which are largely unknown to the majority of His people. Receiving these further truths has also proven costly, resulting in my being rejected from various fellowships of believers, reproached by online ministers as a teacher of heresy, having to find my consolation in Christ. Yet, I would rather walk alone with Christ in truth than to have abundant fellowship with men mired in error and deception.

My wife took the check to her father who was at work and explained to him that because of what her mother had written on the check, and the Christmas stickers, that we could not receive it. I had no expectation of how her meeting with her father would go. She could have returned empty handed. Her father could have become very angry, venting his rage at me. Yet, neither of these things are what occurred. Instead, her father took the check from her and wrote her a new one without any messages or stickers on it. With that money the Father purchased for us a motorhome in very good shape. Thus, at the Super 8 Motel, on the 8th of December, Yahweh provided for us $8,000 with which we began anew as a family.

(For a fuller account of the tests, trials, and miracles of God experienced by our family, I recommend to you the autobiographical book Evidence of Things Unseen.)

http://www.heart4god.ws/index_htm_files/Evidence%20of%20Things%20Unseen.pdf

During the years in which I have had an Internet ministry, I have had individuals with a hunger for truth write and inquire how to gain understanding of the hidden things of God. Many have lamented to me that the Bible is to them a closed book. Others have told me with sorrow that they do not hear the voice of God. Repeatedly, I have pointed them back to this principle of the kingdom that Yahweh revealed to me years ago. “Those who are faithful with the little they have been given will receive greater things.”

You may be vacillating over the issue of celebrating Christmas. I understand the struggle. My counsel to you is that when in doubt, follow the course of greater obedience to God. Do not think that your celebrating Christmas is of no importance in the eyes of God. He tests all hearts with such matters. He wants to clearly identify those who will place a love of truth, and conformity to it, above the desires of their soul and the acceptance of man.

If you want to receive greater revelations from the Father, you must first prove yourself faithful with what has already been entrusted to you. If God is giving you light on some subject, such as the pagan origins of Christmas and Easter, you would do well to consider carefully what Yahweh would have you do in regard to the truth.

We live in an hour where the church is compromising more and more with the world. Some denominations are even ordaining homosexuals to the ministry. Please consider that such apostasy does not occur in a single moment of time. Compromise advances one decision at a time. This is true for an individual as well as an entire denomination.

It is needful in this hour to discern clearly between the holy and the profane, between the clean and unclean. Perhaps this decision regarding what you will do about Christmas is a test in your life. Will your choice lead to a greater sensitivity to the distinction between the holy and profane, or to a greater blurring of the differences between them?

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

The Remnant Bride - Part 15

The Victory of the Bride

There are many false teachings circulating among the church in this hour concerning a rapture of the saints out of this world and away from all the trials and testing that will be  a part of what is called The Great Tribulation. Many lukewarm, carnal, worldly saints have placed their entire hope upon this rapture occurring. They seek to live as the rest of the world during their days on earth, pursuing mammon, harboring idols in their lives, yet they anticipate that they will be delivered out of this world just prior to the judgments of God based upon the single act of having confessed Yahshua as their Lord and Savior. These carnal saints have neglected many scriptures that would show them the fallacy of such belief, but like the ostrich they prefer to remain in ignorance with their head in the earth (flesh) when it would be better that their head were in the scriptures seeking out the truth.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

We have seen already that in a great house (Yahweh’s Kingdom) there are both faithful and unfaithful servants. Yahweh does make a distinction between them. Those servants (saints) who have acted wickedly will receive punishment (many stripes), and they will be barred from partaking of Yahweh’s most holy things. Their punishment will even extend as far as having to endure the day of evil, the great trials that come upon the earth during the Tribulation. Note that in the following scripture that it is only the faithful that are promised to be kept from these things.

Revelation 3:7-8, 10
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write... "I know your deeds... you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

In the book of Revelation we are given very great evidence that there will be a large number of saints who will NOT be kept from this hour of testing. Instead they will go through this hour, and they will be cleansed and purified as they patiently endure, and even give up their very lives, to purchase white robes of righteousness. Because they did not voluntarily submit themselves to the purging and purifying of the cross in days prior to this time of great trouble, they will have to be cleansed in the midst of great adversity.

Revelation 7:9-17
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."

A central part of this passage is identifying who the people are who are being described. John is pointedly asked in verse 13 by one of the elders around the throne,  "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" The Father is taking pains to identify who they are because it is important to our understanding.

John doesn’t know the answer to their identity, so the elder tells him. "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Note, that as in the parable of the wedding supper, we have mention of garments here again. These people are ones who had soiled robes and needed them washed. They were once unworthy, but have washed their robes. The washing has taken place during the great tribulation. The washing has come at great cost.

The statement, “they have made their garments white in the blood of the Lamb,” refers to the necessity of their also having had to go the way of the cross, even to the point of death. This is further borne out in the following passage.

Revelation 6:10-11
And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.

The condition of the wearers’ garment reflects their worthiness before God. If they have lived in an unworthy manner; a wood, hay, and straw manner before God, their robes become soiled. Note that it is a great multitude that John sees before the throne. It was also a great multitude that was found to be unprepared to attend the wedding feast of the king’s son. Few were originally chosen from among all of those called to attend. This is reflected in the words, “For many [a multitude] are called, but few are chosen.”

All of those referred to in the above passage of scripture were given white robes. Where were those who already had white robes? The Father had already made a separation between them and those whose garments were soiled. They were kept from the hour of testing that is to come upon the whole world.

Many Christians are counting on God to rapture them out of this world before the time of tribulation. What will be the impact on the church when she finds that the rapture does not occur as has been preached from a multitude of pulpits, as it has been depicted in numerous movies and written about in a flood of books? They will have to abandon their doctrines. They will also have to acknowledge that it was because their robes were soiled; it was due to the lack of a wedding garment; it was their unworthiness that precipitated their calamity and caused them to not be spared from the day of testing.

But what of those who are kept from the day of testing? Are they raptured out of this world? Are they caught up to heaven? We know they are kept from the day of testing. They already have garments of white. They have kept Christ’s word. They have persevered. They need not purchase these garments through The Great Tribulation, for they have already stood faithful in the midst of the trials and tests that have come their way.

The answer lies in understanding Yahweh’s plans for His Overcomers. It is Yahweh’s plan to subdue every enemy of Christ in heaven and on earth through a body of Overcomers.

Matthew 22:44
The Lord said to my lord, “sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”

Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

It was prophesied of Yahshua the Messiah that all enemies would be put under His feet, but the outworking of this complete victory will be through Yahshua working through a body of Overcomers who will rule and reign with Him, and who will destroy every enemy and cast down all things that stand in opposition to Christ. It is not God’s plan to simply rapture the Overcomers off into heaven. It is His plan to use these Overcomers to complete the subjection of all enemies under the feet of Christ.
In Revelation we are given a glimpse of a firstfruit company of saints who will be present during the Tribulation, but they will be untouched by the Tribulation. This firstfruit company is called the 144,000.

Revelation 7:1-4
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand...

Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

The characteristics of this group are similar to the Bride. These are ones who have been purified and they are declared blameless, which is to say that they are pure. These are proclaimed to be virgins who have not been defiled, and this is in agreement with Paul’s words to the church:

II Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

Although the symbolism is changed, and the gender of the 144,000 is referred to as male, the characteristics of this group and the Bride are the same. They are known by their purity and devotion to Christ. They are zealously pursuing the Lamb. The result is that these are sealed, and the sealing is for their protection that they might not be harmed by the judgments of God that are poured out.

At the time of the sealing we see four angels who are standing to hold back the wind from the four corners of the earth, and we see another angel ascending from the rising of the sun and we are told that the earth and sea and trees are about to be harmed. This is symbolic of a great scorching coming upon the earth, but this scorching will not touch the 144,000. Contrast this with the great multitude that purchased white robes for themselves during the Tribulation. We are told:

Revelation 7:16
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat...”

These have been touched by the judgments that have come upon the whole world. They were not sealed in their foreheads before these judgments were loosed. They did know hunger. They did know the burning heat of the sun. Yet by their patience in the midst of great tribulation they have purchased white robes and have entered a place of rest.

We can see in this that Yahweh does make a distinction between His saints, between those who have been faithful and those who have not. One group is kept from the day of great evil and the other is not. Yet those who were sealed were still present on the earth. They were not raptured into heaven. They were like the children of Israel who were kept from the judgments of God when the ten plagues were loosed on Egypt. We have these words recorded of those earlier tribulations:

Exodus 8:22-23
"But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living..., in order that you may know that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land. I will put a division between My people and your people.”

There is great precedence for Yahweh setting His people apart during times when His wrath is poured out. Egypt is a type of the world, and when Yahweh brought judgment to Egypt He made a distinction between His people and the people of Egypt. He will do so again in the time of tribulation that is coming upon the world. Yet those children of God who are friends to the world, who have embraced the idols of the world, will not be kept from this time.

If we look at the verse again that was written to the church of Philadelphia, and we examine the phrase “I will keep you from the hour of testing,”” we find that the word ‘keep’ is derived from the Greek word ‘tereo’. Strong’s Dictionary of Greek words has this to say about this word:

NT:5083
tereo (tay-reh'-o); from teros (a watch;); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon...)

How perfectly this fits with what we have read about the 144,000. They are not removed from the earth during the Tribulation, but they are watched over by God as He guards them from all loss or injury. We can see this same pattern played out in numerous instances throughout scriptures.

God preserved Elijah during the three years that He punished Israel with a drought so severe that no rain fell during the entire period. First God provided water for Elijah at the Brook Cherith, and the ravens brought him his food. Later God sent Elijah to a widow, and her oil and grain never ran out as long as Elijah dwelt with her.

Similarly, God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were cast into the fiery furnace. The guards and soldiers who cast them into the furnace perished from the heat of the flames, but these three came back out and did not even have the smell of smoke on them. We could also speak of Lot and his family’s protection when God destroyed the plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Noah and his family when God destroyed the earth with a flood. The pattern is clear. God makes a distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous when He sends His judgments upon the earth.

One of the clearest passages of scripture that shows the importance of being prepared ahead of time for the return of the Lord is the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Many saints who have slumbered spiritually while the hour grew late, and who have bedded down with the world, will find that it is too late to remedy the situation when the Lord appears. As the five foolish virgins who failed to keep oil in their lamps, these foolish saints will rush out to acquire what they lack, but it will be too late. The door will have been shut. The number of guests for the wedding feast will be complete. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the prudent answered, saying, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. And later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Who are the virgins that wait for the Bridegroom? Certainly they do not represent the lost world. The world is not waiting for the Bridegroom. All of the virgins had lamps to give forth light. This is true of saints, only. However, not all of them had oil with which to light their lamps. It will be too late to remedy this when the Bridegroom appears. Over and over throughout scripture, Christians are urged to be on the alert, be awake, be ready.

Again, this does not imply loss of their initial salvation. What is pictured here is the loss of the fuller salvation of the soul, and the great reward of the Overcomer, including being counted among the Bride of Christ. Not every believer’s reward will be the same. To be included in the Bride is tremendous reward, as is being invited to attend the wedding feast. Not all will attain to this honor. Many are called, but few are chosen.

According to scripture, there will be three divisions of Christians. The Bride is those who have kept their garments clean. They have allowed the Holy Spirit to perform His work of preparation and cleansing in their lives. They have remained alert and vigilant, waiting with anticipation for the return of the Bridegroom. They are mature and have intimate knowledge of their Lord. (Intimate knowledge of Yahshua is a characteristic of the Bride and is lacking in those who are unprepared. Yahshua spoke to the foolish virgins, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”)

The ten virgins do not represent the Bride. They are attendants of the Bride and they represent two other groups of saints. As attendants of the Bride, “they all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased...” (I Corinthians 10:3). The Bride remained alert and vigilant while the ten virgins all fell asleep. The ten virgins failed to keep watch and be alert and they were sleeping when the Bridegroom came for the Bride.

However, among the attendants of the Bride, a distinction is made. Five were wise and were let into the wedding feast and five were foolish and were excluded. The difference was that some had extra vessels of oil for their lamps and some did not. Although oil often symbolizes the Spirit of God, I believe this oil represents the good works of the saints for this was an oil used to give light. This connection can be seen in the following passage.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Although all ten of the virgins had fallen asleep, some had done many good works to the glory of the Father and some had not. The foolish had vessels that were made to give forth light, but they had not ever been used for this purpose, this being typified by the lack of any oil. They were like the wicked servant that went and hid his talent in the ground until the return of his master. Not only had these foolish virgins fallen asleep, but they had no good works for men or God to see. Their vessels were essentially wasted. They had never used them for the purpose they were created for; the vessels being their bodies which are the temple of God. They were sleeping when the Bridegroom appeared.

This last group will suffer complete loss of reward for Yahshua will testify that He does not even know them. They will realize how great a grace they have resisted and how tremendous a reward they have forfeited. Even these will eventually have their tears wiped away, yet there will be no remedy for their loss. They will receive reward according to their works.

The wise virgins will have reward, though not of the same measure as the Bride. It is one thing to be let in to attend the wedding feast, and quite another thing to be the Bride who is being wedded. So we see in the Bride and the two groups of attendants, three separate and distinct groups of saints. It is the wise who will submit to the cross while they are freely able to do so, and who will allow God to cleanse and purify them. These will be spared a much more difficult cleansing.

The Bride will be kept from the day of testing, but she will not be removed from the earth during this time. God has a group of Overcomers who are being prepared to prevail over every work of the enemy and to put every enemy under their feet. We have already seen that David is a type of the Bride. David was also a warrior, and he fought and conquered all the enemies round about until Israel knew rest. The enemies of God were made subject to David and they brought tribute to him. Even so, those who are a part of the Bride will be used to put every enemy under Christ’s feet. They cannot do so if they have been raptured up to heaven.

When God completed His judgments of Egypt, the people of Egypt saw how God had made a distinction between them and those who dwelt in Goshen. Egypt knew God was with His people. God gave the children of Israel great favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and the Egyptians gave the Israelites gifts of all that they owned to the extent that we are told the Israelites “plundered” the Egyptians. In a similar way all the world will know those who belong to God in the days of tribulation. They will see that the Overcomers are not harmed in any way by the judgments of God. The words of Isaiah will be fulfilled:

Isaiah 60:1-5
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But Yahweh will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.”


Repeatedly the testimony of scripture is that God does preserve the righteous from His judgments and His wrath. "For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (II Chronicles 16:9). Those who have not given their heart wholly over to the pursuit of God and to a desire to walk obediently before Him have somewhat to be concerned about. Yahweh would not have such careless ones to feel comfortable or complacent about their future. The righteous, however, are to be as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1).

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

The Remnant Bride - Part 14

David, A Type of the Bride

Anyone familiar with the story of David will recognize in him attributes of the Bride of Christ. As we have mentioned, love is the greatest attribute of the Bride. It is no coincidence, therefore, that David’s name means “loving.” From the first mention of David in scripture, we see elements of the Bride of Christ.

When God allowed Saul to be anointed as King of Israel, He was giving the people of Israel what they wanted. They wanted a figurehead that they could rally around. They wanted someone who was striking in appearance and had outward characteristics that were impressive to mankind. Saul, however, failed to lead the people according to God’s will. The attributes that appealed to man proved to be insufficient to impress God.

When God rejected Saul, He sent Samuel to find and anoint a man who would fulfill God’s desire. He sent Samuel to anoint a young shepherd boy who was impressive on the inside. David had a heart after God. David was passionate and his passion was focused upon Yahweh.

Samuel was sent by God to anoint David to be king. In this role, Samuel was representing the Holy Spirit who, along with God’s eunuch ministers, is preparing a Bride for Christ. In I Samuel 16 we read of Samuel arriving at Bethlehem and inviting the elders of the city, along with Jesse and his sons, to a sacrifice. A dinner is prepared and seven of Jesse’s sons pass before Samuel as he looks for the one who is the chosen one of God.

I Samuel 16:1-10
Now Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.' And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you." So Samuel did what Yahweh said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?" And he said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely Yahweh's anointed is before Him." But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these."

It was a tremendous honor for Jesse and his sons to be invited to a dinner and sacrifice with the elders of the city. As a father, I am sure that Jesse wanted his sons to make a good impression upon Samuel and the city elders. Indeed, Jesse had some sons that were impressive to look at, and these were presented first to Samuel.

Jesse, however, did not invite his youngest son to the event. David was still a youth and, though he was a beautiful youth, he did not have the attributes that impressed his father. His father did not feel that his presence would contribute anything to the meeting, so he was left out.

In the same way, the Bride that God is preparing lacks that which is impressive to man. Even among the Body of Christ, the Bride is little esteemed. She is rarely at the forefront of what the world sees as the church. While men of ambition and stature steal the limelight, the Bride toils faithfully in the background, overlooked, even by those of her own household.

Samuel must have been surprised that God had chosen one whose father was not even impressed with him enough to include him with his other sons. God had chosen someone who was so slighted as to not even be invited to an important meeting. When Samuel inquired if there were another son, Jesse revealed that there was another.

I Samuel 16:11
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

Although Jesse had neglected to invite David, he now becomes the most important member. All others must wait until David is located and brought before them. This wait was probably fairly lengthy. The sheep would not necessarily have been kept close at hand. Someone had to run and locate David and then return with him to the meeting.

Samuel informed Jesse and all the city elders that they would not sit down until David had arrived. This indicates that a dinner was being given, symbolic of the wedding feast of Christ and His Bride. The wedding feast cannot be held, the guests cannot be seated, until the Bride arrives. The one who was overlooked has become the focus of the event to the consternation of those who had misjudged things.

I am sure that Jesse must have been somewhat embarrassed. Desiring to make a good impression upon Samuel and the city elders, he was now causing them to wait due to his decision to not invite his youngest son. Even so, when Christ returns for His Bride, those in charge of God’s house, the church, will be surprised that the treasure Christ seeks has been lightly esteemed in their sight.

When David arrived, his appearance is described.

I Samuel 16:12
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance.

David’s image is one of loveliness. His skin has a beautiful, ruddy appearance and his eyes are striking. Even so, when the Bride is revealed, she will appear beautiful to all those who behold her.
I have heard a number of people mistakenly interpret the word “ruddy”” to mean “runty.” This does not do justice to the Bride of Christ, nor to David. The word ruddy means reddish in appearance. It is speaking of someone who has a beautiful complexion. In the Song of Solomon the term is used to describe beauty.

Song of Solomon 5:10
My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

David typifies the Bride in many ways. His beauty, his heart after God, his great courage, his love of justice, his desire to walk uprightly, are all qualities of the Bride. Another way in which he typifies the Bride is his separation. David stood apart from his brothers. This was not because David was aloof, rather, it was due to his being lightly esteemed.

When Jesse was told to bring his sons, he invited all but David. David remained with the sheep. After Samuel left, David returned to the sheep, while his brothers went to serve with the king in battle. Jesse once more sent those whom he felt were the best qualified and the most impressive.

It did not enter Jesse’s mind that his youngest son would be of any use in a battle. When David was finally sent to the battle, he was sent as a delivery boy to his brothers. No one, least of all his father and his brothers, expected that he would prove to be Israel’s champion.

In the same way, the Bride will often find herself separated from her brothers. Although overlooked and lightly esteemed, those who comprise the Bride will achieve the greatest victories, and in the process they will deliver those who have scorned them.

The Bride need not be concerned about her lack of stature in the eyes of others. As she remains humble, God will select the time of her exaltation. David did not go seeking to impress anyone. The Spirit of God was upon him and he was genuinely incensed at the affront that Goliath presented to God and the armies of Israel. He was seeking God’s honor, not his own.

As the Bride demonstrates courage and valor, she will find herself coming under the attack of those who are walking in fear. She will be accused of pride due to her boldness, even as David was accused by his brother Eliab (I Samuel 17:28).

As we mentioned in an earlier chapter, those who will go further into the temple must confront and overcome fears in their lives. They must express confidence in God even when He leads them to places where their natural resources are inadequate to see them through. There are many who will be unwilling to go forward into these areas of faith. These will remain at the Outer Court and some will become offended at those who would go farther in than themselves.

Those proceeding on in their pursuit of Christ will encounter opposition from their own household, the household of God. In fact, the most severe opposition will come from within the church. Rather than returning insult for insult, the Bride must remain steadfast in her pursuit of Christ, not allowing herself to become entangled with the pettiness of others. This was David’s example.

I Samuel 17:26-30, 32
Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who kills him." Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"  Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before... And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

Like John, it was David’s love for God that enabled him to endure, bear, and believe things when others faltered. His exploits were inseparable from the trust he had in Yahweh whom he was so passionate about. David did not seek to impress God or man with his exploits. David had a heart after God and these things flowed out of his love for God and his confidence in Him. This is the heart of the Bride.


As we already saw in David’s beautiful Psalm, David had a heart after God and, although he became king of a great nation and had everything available to him, his passion remained the Lord. The Bride of Christ, whether she is abounding or receiving the meagerness of the wilderness, will not have her heart captivated by things of the world. Her eyes will be turned toward Yahshua the Messiah, the Lover of her soul.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063