Firstly, I would like to discuss the meaning of "Christ".
"Christ" is a translation of the Greek word "Christos" which means "anointed".
In the Hebrew language and scriptures, the Hebrew word "meshiach" meant "anointed".
From the Hebrew word "meshiach" comes our English word "messiah".
Therefore, both Messiah and Christ mean the same thing, namely one who is anointed.
In the Hebrew scriptures, those who were anointed into the service of God and His nation, were kings, prophets, and priests. They were anointed upon their heads with literal olive oil, which had been blended with the ingredients of a sacred recipe (Ex.30:22-23,34-35,31-32).
After Christ arrived, the anointing was done by God's holy spirit (Acts 10:38) poured into the heart of those chosen to serve God
(Rom.5:5; 2Cor.1:21-22; 1John 2:20,27; John 14:26; Mal.2:7; Rev.5:10).
Rather than serve in a literal temple; the royal priesthood under their high priest Christ, would become
the spiritual dwelling of God within their hearts
(1Cor.3:16; Eph.2:20-21,22,6; 1Pet.2:5,9; Rom.15:16; Heb.8:1-2; 9:11,23-24; John 14:2,23).
At Matt.24:3,24-25,8; Mark 13:22-23 and Luke 21:8 we can read Jesus words about conditions which he prophesied would exist at the time of his presence and conclusion of the age. Within his description of that time of tribulation/"birth pangs", he foretold that there would be "false Messiahs" or "false Christs".
It is typical to conclude that the trait of being "false" would mean being fake or counterfeit. When we apply the description of "false" to anointed Christs, we may conclude that these are impostors and that they were never anointed by God's holy spirit.
Jesus is the one who tells us that false Christs will arise and mislead many at the end of the age. As usual, I am compelled to turn to his other words in scripture to define the meaning of "false Christs".
Jesus is the one who tells us that false Christs will arise and mislead many at the end of the age. As usual, I am compelled to turn to his other words in scripture to define the meaning of "false Christs".
I will share with you the scriptures that teach me that meaning.
As we will see in scripture, the falseness of those Christs may not be what we expected.
At Matt.7:15 Jesus refers to "false" prophets. Genuine prophets would be among those anointed. Jesus describes these false ones as having an appearance of belonging to Christ's flock, but that their appearance does not accurately present what they really are inside (Matt.23:27; 7:22-23).
Another verse that helps us is 2Tim.3:5,4.
There we read that there are those who "have a form of godly devotion" but they deny and disown the genuine power of that devotion (2Pet.2:1; Acts 20:29-30). Those who have been genuinely anointed by God can leave the path of faithfulness (2Tim.2:15; 1John 2:4) to betray their Lord (2Tim.3:4-5,13).
A genuine anointed one can appear faithful and holy, while being unfaithful. In this way that one proves false to their image, rejecting the power of the holy spirit that they were graced with and are obliged to serve.
Jesus clearly spoke of this option, at Luke 12:42-43,45-46.
There we learn that both the faithful and the unfaithful alike were originally appointed into their managerial position by Christ. They were genuinely anointed, but they proved false in their faithfulness. They are able to craft an honorable exterior, but they fail in carrying through with their divine assignment.
Their unfaithfulness causes them to lose their connection to their head Jesus Christ (Col.1:18; 2:19). Without Jesus, those anointed can do nothing (John 15:4,5,6). Their doctrine becomes sourced with their own minds (Jer.23:16; Matt.15:9; 2Tim.4:3-4; 1Tim.4:1).
In time, their human doctrine is proven to be comprised of falsehood
(Luke 8:17; Rom.2:16; 2Cor.5:10; 1Cor.3:13; 2Pet.3:7,12,10,17).
The main meaning of "false" in scripture is associated with deceiving others. Hence, false prophets and false Christs do assume their position to feed people spiritually, but their provisions are not divine truths. Their teaching is not the proper food at the proper time" (Luke 12:42)
(Acts 20:30; Matt.24:4-5,11; Rom.16:18; Jude 1:4; 2Cor.11:13,14,15; 1John 2:19; 4:1; Luke 18:8; 1Tim.4:1; Rev.16:13,14,15).
In the time of the end and the presence of Christ, false Christ's will arise and mislead many, even endangering other anointed (Matt.24:11,24).
Col.2:8; Luke 21:24; Rev.13:10,7; 20:9; Luke 21:20; Matt.24:15.
Dan.11:31,32,33,34,35,36,37; 2Thess.2:4; Rev.11:2; Dan.12:7
- - - - - - -
I also wished to cover in this post, my reply to a question about Ezekiel 2:6.
There we read;
"And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with (surrounding) you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." ESV
Most translations read that Ezekiel "sits among" scorpions.
LSB, NASB and LNV are other translations that render the text as saying "sit on".
SEATED
--- I was asked, "In what way did Ezekiel "sit on" these rebels and their words, which apparently "surrounded" (EHV, CJB, NET, NLT, NRSV) God's prophet?"
Please consider these Bible verses, while paying attention to any mention of a seat or sitting:
Ps.110:1; 1Cor.15:25; 2Cor.5:10; John 19:13; Rev.17:1,3; 18:7; Rev.20:11; 2Thess.2:4; Matt.19:28; 20:21; Acts 23:3; Rev.3:21
- While not all "sitting" in the Bible refers to a position of judge, a throne, or a position of authority and power over others; it is symbolically used in this way.
How then did the prophet Ezekiel, "sit on" the rebels that surrounded him?
Ezekiel was God's prophet. As such, God's prophet was backed by divine spirit. As God told Ezekiel, he should not be intimidated by the rebels that surrounded him. God Himself was giving Ezekiel a higher ground, a position of authority and power over the rebellious scorpions.
Ezekiel was also in a judgment seat over them, so that he could declare God's judgments against them (Eze.2:4,5,6). For good reason, God told Ezekiel not to fear his enemies. The prophet Jeremiah was told the same (Jer.1:8,9).
- How do we know that "sitting on scorpions" can be a position of authority and power (a symbolic throne) over the rebellious scorpions?
At Luke 10:19 Jesus said;
"19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Those who were sent out by Jesus also received a symbolic seat on top of scorpions and their words. They too were given divine authority and power over their spiritual enemies.
Eze.2:6
SURROUND
Now, what does it mean that Ezekiel was "surrounded" by the scorpions?
-- At Luke 19:43,44, Jesus associates being surrounded by an enemy as a dire calamity which appears hopeless. It represents a total advantage to the enemy, who is able to prevent any escape or the entry of supplies, necessities or reinforcements.
-- At Revelation 20:9 we see Satan's forces surround the camp of the saints. The immediate result? Luke 21:20 tells us that the initial result is desolation... a complete and utter destruction during the Great Tribulation (Rev.13:7; Dan.12:7,10,11; 11:31).
The final outcome is told at the end of Rev.20:9. Judgment arrives through the mouth of the two witnesses
(Rev.11:12; Eph.2:6; Rev.11:5; Jer.23:29; 5:14) (Eze.2:1,2,3; Rev.11:11,3).
We can understand why God advised his prophets not to fear the rebels that they had to preach God's judgments to. In a symbolic way at least, the prophets were surrounded by the rebels. But whether the rebellious would listen or refuse to listen; God's prophets had to declare a message that the people in general did not want to hear (Eze.2:3-4,5-6,7-8).
These things apply in the time of the End as well (Rev.9:3,5,10; 1Cor.15:55,56,26; Rev.6:8; 13:1,7).
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share below, your thoughts about this post.