PART 2
Romans chapter 1 verse 20says: For the invisible things from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead so they are without excuse. Paul is saying that nature itself shows things pertaining to Jesus Christ that were built into the creation. Even though the old scriptures speak of the things concerning Jesus. Nature also shows many of the things that God has purposed in Christ Jesus.
The whole creation was made for and by Jesus Christ, the word. Mark 4:28 says: The earth brings forth fruit of itself. ( We will learn more about this statement in the last chapter of this book.) First comes the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Many of you who read this have grown corn in the garden. Have you noticed the little blade that forms about half way up the stalk about where the stalk and a leaf join? This happens about midway through the growing season, in June or July here in the Ohio Valley. This little blade is the "forerunner" of the ear. The ear will form inside this blade. There are THREE stages of development of an ear of corn. Take note of this number three, it is a very important number. You will begin to see it's importance as you progress through this book. In the beginning, the blade gives the appearance of a new leaf. But in a few weeks, the ear begins to take shape inside of it. The blade, ear, and the grains symbolize the three dispensations of God's creation.
Please note that this blade comes from the stalk and always remains a part of it. When the stalk dies the blade dies with it. Only the ear and the grains remain. This blade, "forerunner", becomes the shuck. It is the shuck that covers and protects the ear while it is developing. It remains with the stalk and falls back to the earth in death. Jesus is symbolic of the ear. Though he brought fourth the grains, he was part of the old law and he volunteered to die that the grains might live. Though we know that Jesus has ascended to the Father to be our great high priest he had to die to bring fourth the grains. We find that the blade is "called out" to be the forerunner of the ear. Abraham was called out of the world ,by God, for a special purpose. He lived in pagan Babylon and was an idol worshiper. His purpose was to bring fourth the Holy Seed. God made a covenant with him for his seed to bless all nations of the earth. Just like the little blade, Abraham, Moses, The Law, and the prophets are all part of the scriptural "forerunner" of Jesus Christ. The special purpose of the blade is to bring fourth the ear and the seed in the ear. The Law and the prophets were given by almighty God to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ. The stalk comes of the earth and returns to the earth in death. It symbolizes the natural creation, as well as the Law. Before Jesus came all was death. Romans 5: 12,13,14 says: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death entered because of the sin of Adam, for all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is the prototype of Jesus that was to come. This is saying that from Adam to Moses there was no commandment (Law). Adam's sin was a transgression of the commandment not to eat of the tree, but, from Adam to Moses there was no commandment, therefore, people had no sin imputed to them until the law came. Paul says; (Romans 7:9 ) The law came and I died. Paul tried to keep the law but found out that it was impossible, and cried out in Romans:7, Who will deliver me from the body of this death? He saw that every thing under the law was death because of sin. No man except Jesus has ever kept the law. We had to have a savior to deliver us. When any one encounters the law they cry out in helplessness, I need a savior. Buddha encountered the law of sin and death and cried out "NOTHING ALL IS NOTHING". Solomon encountered death also for he said, "I perceive that there is one event that comes to all men, both the wise and the fool." He cried out VANITY, ALL IS VANITY UNDER THE SUN. The blade is symbolic of the law which points out to flesh that it is of death and is in need of a savior. The blade, like this flesh, which is SELF, is under the law and must fall to the ground and die. But, praise God, the grains in the ear have the seed of life in them and will come out of the ground in a new body. Thanks to the ear, Jesus Christ, these are the ones who bear their cross daily until "old man SELF" is crucified with Christ. Then ,they live forever with him.
Jehovah made a seed covenant with Abraham. He told him that his anointed one was going to come through his seed. This promised one was going to bless all the families on the earth. (Genesis 17:7) Of course this one, that was to come, was Jesus Christ. All the prophets from Amos to Zechariah were of Abraham's seed. This seed covenant made with Abraham was not the only one that God made. God made a second one with a man named Phinehas, a Levite, who was the grandson of Aaron. This account is found in the book of Numbers chapter 25 vs. 11-15. This covenant was for the establishment of the everlasting priesthood through the seed of Phinehas. Jesus's mother Mary was a Levite of the daughters of Aaron. She was the cousin of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. The third seed covenant was made with David the King of Israel. This covenant established an everlasting kingdom through the seed of David. God revealed this to Nathan the prophet. He said the covenant would be fulfilled through David's sons. This account is found in 2nd Chronicles chapter. 17. These seed covenants were word and could not be broken. Like the little blade they were the forerunner of the promised seed that was to come.
These people of the old scriptures were "school master's" and examples to this generation of Grace. Their experiences and tribulations were for the benefit of this generation. We were shown how they murmured and fell away into idol worship on the desert with Moses. Even after they came into the land that God promised them they continued to sin. In the book of Judges, when they began to sin the surrounding nations would send soldiers against them and overcome them. Then they would cry out to God for deliverance and he would forgive them and deliver them from their enemies. However, God's patience came to an end and he finally pronounced judgment on them. We all know how the Jew has suffered down through the ages because of the judgment of God on his sins. This is meant to be an example to God's people today. We also saw how God rewarded them with plenty while they were obedient to his commandments. Their land produced, the people were happy and healthy and their country was rich. But when they fell away into the worship of other gods they lost it all and were scattered throughout the world. Psalm 19 vs 9-12 says: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, much fine gold; sweeter also then honey. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping them is much reward. We have seen how our country was founded by men who wanted the freedom to worship and honor almighty God. While this country kept His commandments it prospered and yielded its fruits. However, we are beginning to see the judgment of God upon it because we have turned away from God into paganism and the worship of material gadgets that are made by our hands. The idols that the Israelites worshipped were made by men's hands. Let his people of this day be warned by the schoolmaster, the blade.
These people were of the "old". Their purpose was to be an example to the people of the covenant and to bring fourth the ear Jesus Christ. Their experiences and tribulations were for our benefit. Anyone who thinks that the old scriptures are not necessary and are not needed by our new dispensation of grace are wrong. There are innumerable types, shadows and prophesies from which we learn the purposes of God. Paul. says they were our school master; we must learn from them.
The law shows sin for what it is, death! The law cannot be kept by flesh. It shows us that we are in need of a savior. The shuck (blade), the tassel, the whole stalk of corn, falls back to the earth in death. They are all part of the natural creation. But they point to a new creation that is yet to be manifest. They are born in a system of death. There is no way out of it, just as there was no way out from the law of sin and death before Jesus Christ opened the door to real life. This is why those who are still under the law (sinners) are so desperately in need of a savior. But, praise God, from the blade came the ear. It was brought fourth by that which is of death but the ear brings fourth life. The grains have life in themselves because they are formed in the ear not out on the stalk.
So we see that the blade represents the first dispensation of God's creation. We find the whole creation and the universe itself right along with the law and the prophets part of this first dispensation. The first member of the godhead, Jehovah, God the Father, was dominant in this time period. The people of this dispensation did not know him as Father. They did not see his great love for them as his sons. This would not be revealed until Jesus the first born son came into the world. Jesus, was God manifested in the flesh!
Sometime in midsummer the ear begins to form. Then, small rudimentary grains start to form in the ear. The corn silk forms at the tip of these grains, and then it grows from the grains down between the rows to the end of the ear. The tassel high above starts to rain pollen down on the corn silk below. (Note the type of the Holy Ghost which rains down on the newly converted Christian.) This little pollen grain of life begins to grow down the hollow silk right into the grains. Thus, the grains are fertilized, and life forms within them. At this point we must take special note of some things pertaining to the grains and the ear. First, the grains are formed only in the ear. Second, they have life within themselves. It is the ear that gives them life. Third, the ear and the grains are one body.
The grains are formed only in the ear. Only in the ear can they ever receive nutrients and life. The devil has put a lie into many people's minds that they can come into Godhood without Jesus Christ. Some people think that they can become godlike by the process of evolution. Others think that salvation and godhood come about by a continuing reincarnation process of their flesh. Others think that their works will eventually make them gods after they die. There are others, worse yet, who think that they are already gods. These are the secular humanists. Just about any man who is honest within himself will admit to a belief that somehow or someway he will live after death . However, most of them do not believe the truth. The truth is that only in Christ Jesus is there eternal life. There is a "Babylonian" spirit of religion that believes that all religions will eventually bring about salvation. Remember in the book of Daniel that Nebuchadrezer, the Babylonian king, placed Daniel in the same esteem as all the rest of his Priests. The Jewish God, Jehovah, was accepted along with all the other Gods. These people believe that Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and all the rest of the figures in religions of the world were "superstars" or "masters" sent by some unknown force that they call Karma. They believe this "force" is God. Daniel chapter 38 vs.37, speaks of the coming Antichrist: And the king will do according to his will and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honor the god of forces and a god that his fathers knew not he will honor with gold and silver. They do not believe that Jesus brought salvation. they say he was just one of the "masters"
But there was something different about Jesus. He not only raised from the dead as none of the others did, but he also ascended to God in the flesh. Jesus was not a risen spirit. He ate with the apostles. (John 21 vs. 9--; Luke 24 vs. 38- 43) Spirits don't eat fish breakfasts and you will never hear a spirit invite you to feel the wounds in his side and hands as Jesus invited Thomas, the doubting apostle, to do. This Jesus ascended to the Father in the flesh. He didn't disappear in the spirit to join some nebulous "force". In the seed covenants mentioned before, God promised these men that their seed, (Jesus) would stand before his face forever. He didn't say the spirit of your seed will stand before me. This is why Jesus, the seed of Abraham, David and Phinehas, ascended to the Father in the flesh. These seed covenants had to come to pass. Jesus was not just one of the "masters", he was the master.
These "grains" in Jesus, the ear, have life within themselves. Paul has said that those who sleep in Jesus Christ will someday hear his voice calling them to arise into eternal life. The 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians starting with the 22nd verse says: For as in Adam all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits (the ear) afterward those that are Christ's at his coming. (grains) Then comes the end when he will deliver up the kingdom to God. The body of Christ, the overcomers, are the kingdom. But some men will say, how are the dead raised up? With what body will they be raised up in? Thou fool, that which you sow (grain) is not quickened (made alive) except it die. (Here he is talking about planting them in the ground. (the grave) But that which is planted is not in the body that shall be, (come up in) but it is the bare grain. But God gives it a body as it pleases him. So is the resurrection of the dead. It is sewn in corruption; and it is raised in incorruption. It is sewn in dishonor it is raised in glory. It is sewn a natural body and raised a spiritual body. Please read this in the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians. The great apostle Paul likens those that are dead in Christ to grains. He is speaking of those Christians who are put into the grave in this corrupt flesh body but they are raised in an eternal spiritual body. What a beautiful vision! Who says that keeping the words that Jesus commands us to keep, isn't worth it? We have everything to gain and eternal death to loose.
Thus we see that the blade is symbolic of the first dispensation of God's creation. Are you beginning to see what the real eternal creation is? His intended creation is a body of sons fashioned into the image of his first born son Jesus. His sons will overcome the flesh and the world system. They will die to flesh but they will be born again into a spiritual body. They will all be one body with Jesus Christ , their head. The universe is only a huge school house. It is a system of eventual death. It is running down and slowly coming to a state of death. The stalk of corn, the law and the prophets, our bodies, are all of the first dispensation and are destined for death. The only purpose of the law was to show us the need for a savior. The law brings forth death because he that transgresses the law of God sins, and sin brings forth death. The flesh cannot keep the law no matter how much it tries, Eventually it cries out as the apostle Paul did, Oh, Wretched man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans chapter 7) However, praise God, Paul says we have the ear, Jesus Christ. He has made a new law that frees us from the old law of sin and death. Thus, the second dispensation lasted only 33 years, the life of Jesus. He has made the way for men to escape the law of sin and death. Jesus Christ is the second figure of the Godhead, God in the flesh.
However, most people prefer the old to the new. The devil is still telling mankind the same lie he told Eve, "Oh, you shall not surely die." So men stay in the old way of sin instead of committing themselves to Jesus and the new man. Jesus said, no man who has tasted the old wine wants the new. That's the way it is between the flesh and the spirit. The old pleasures, the wealth and pride of life, the ways of lust and comfort are hard for most people to give up. The devil deceives them into believing that they can have salvation without giving up the world. But these ways all lead to death. The new way is sometimes hard. It is completely opposed to the world and it's lust. It is a life of denying self and being hated without a cause. You are misunderstood by your loved ones and those you work with. Those who live by all the words of Jesus and teach these things to others will also be hated by some of their own Christian brothers and sisters. These "church" people refuse to live by every word of God. But don't fret yourselves because of evil doers; we have life to gain and death to loose. Many people in the church say they are already born again. However Jesus said in John 3: 7 That those who are born again are like the wind, they can come and go, but you don"t know where they come from or where they go. Before the resurrection, when Jesus was still in the flesh, the scriptures say Jesus passed through their midst and went on his way. (Luke 4:30 also in John 8: 59). After the resurrection when he was really born again, the scriptures say that he vanished out of their sight. Or He appeared in their midst. (Luke 24:25-31; Luke 24 : 35-37; John 20:19and John 20 26 ). We saw a preview of the coming kingdom of God on the mount of transfiguration. This was to show us what it really means to be born again. The description of this preview of real life is found in Matthew chapter 16 with the last verse ending in the 17th chapter the 8th verse. Verily I say unto you there be some standing here which shall not taste of death until they see the son of man coming in his kingdom, and after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a high mountain apart and was transfigured before them: And his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light. This is a brief preview of the glory that awaits those "grains" that overcome this world in Jesus Christ. The apostle John said we do not know what we shall be but when he appears we shall see him as he is.(now) (John 3:2)
As we said before, the 2nd dispensation was the birth, life and death of Jesus, It was only 33 years but all things that were spoken of him in the old scriptures were fulfilled during his life. He brought fourth the "grains" by the seed of the word. At his resurrection the "old" passed away, all things have become new. You have a choice to make. Will it be the old comfortable way of death or will it be the new, sometimes difficult way of self sacrifice in Jesus Christ.
The third dispensation is the maturing of the body (grains) of Jesus Christ. This is the last dispensation of almighty God's creation. His word will not return to him void. (without accomplishing it's purpose) Jesus Christ, the Word has returned to the Father to intercede for the grains he brought fourth in the ear. The bible says that God patiently awaits the precious fruit of the earth. (James 5:7) He has sent fourth his Holy Ghost through Jesus's sacrifice to minister to the grains in the ear. The Holy Ghost is the 3rd manifestation of the one God. He ministers, comforts and teaches these overcomers. It is a narrow gate and a (hard) straight path that leads unto life and few there be that enter therein. Don't fret if you are lied on, your old life is thrown up to you, or you are called vile names, and persecuted for the name of Jesus. Remember the promise that was shown to Peter, James, and John on the mountain of transfiguration. You have glory to gain and death and hell to lose. Praise the good word of God.
In the day of the coming of Jesus, God will have a family made in his image. God has no lack he is complete! He has all power, all knowledge, he IS truth. Besides all this he is love. Because he is love he holds nothing back from his beloved sons. He shares all that he has with them. They become one. The blade then, represents the creation and the law and the prophets. God the Father is the main figure of the Godhead in this first dispensation of the creation. The ear that forms from the blade is the type of the second dispensation of the creation. Jesus Christ the second member of the Godhead is the dominant figure. The grains that form only in the ear and have life given to them by the ear are the type of the coming manifested sons of God. The Holy Ghost who ministers to these overcomers is the third and last member of the Godhead. If you see this vision of the coming manifested sons of God, give up SELF ( selfishness) to the ONE who is the life. AMEN
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