Jesus, the Wisdom of God...

 Make you think or ponder…

Jesus, the wisdom of God

1Co 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

Paul says this:

1Co 2:6-7 

6 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: 

Jesus is the wisdom in a mystery which was hidden. And most of it is still very hidden.

Eph 3:18 

18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth (of Jesus),

Pro 8:1-4 

1 Doth not wisdom cry,  And understanding put forth her voice? 2 On the top of high places by the way,  Where the paths meet, she standeth; 3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,  At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud: 4 Unto you, O men, I call;  And my voice is to the sons of men.

Jesus came for men…

Joh 1:4

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Pro 8:5-11 

5 O ye simple, understand prudence;  And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things;  And the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall utter truth;  And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;  There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. 

-Opening of my lips

-my mouth

-all words of my mouth

Jesus IS the Word of God.

Joh 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pro 8:9-12

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,  And right to them that find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;  And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies;  And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it. 12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling,  And find out knowledge and discretion.

Jesus...the wisdom of God, better than rubies, gold and silver.

Pro 8:14-17

14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:  I am understanding; I have might. 15 By me kings reign,  And princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule,  And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me;  And those that seek me diligently shall find me. 

Seek and ye shall find...Matt 7:7-8

Pro 8:18-21

18 Riches and honor are with me;  Yea, durable wealth and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;  And my revenue than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness,  In the midst of the paths of justice; 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,  And that I may fill their treasuries.

Spiritual treasure, not earthly treasure.

**Here is a mystery**

Pro 8:22

22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way,  Before his works of old. 

One of these mysteries??

Possesed? H7069

-to erect, that is, create ; by extension to procure, especially by purchase (causatively sell); by implication to own: - attain, buy (-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess (-or), purchase, recover, redeem, X surely, X verily.

The KJV translates Strong's H7069 in the following manner: Buy (46x), get (15x), purchased (5x), buyer (3x), possessor (3x), possessed (2x), owner (1x), recover (1x), redeemed (1x), miscellaneous (7x).

Pro 8:23

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,  Before the earth was. 

Wisdom/Jesus was there before the earth was. Jesus was 'setup' from everlasting. This is one of those mysteries. How?

Setup? -H5258 -to cast (as metal)?

The KJV translates Strong's H5258 in the following manner: pour out (12x), pour (4x), cover (3x), offer (2x), melteth (1x), molten (1x), set (1x), set up (1x)

Example: Psa 2:6-7 'set' in verse 6

John seems to concur with this:

Joh 1:1-2 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Prov 8:24-26

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth,  When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled,  Before the hills was I brought forth; 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,  Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 

H2343 - brought forth

to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), that is, (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively to wait, to pervert: - bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow (-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded

Prov 8:27-29

27 When he established the heavens, I was there:  When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When he made firm the skies above,  When the fountains of the deep became strong, 29 When he gave to the sea its bound,  That the waters should not transgress his commandment,  When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Pro 8:30-31

30 Then I was by him, as a master workman;  And I was daily his delight,  Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth;  And my delight was with the sons of men. 

Jesus as a Master workman/craftsman/architect

Col 1:16 

16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; 

Through him...w God's help???

Joh 1:3 

3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 

Prov 8:32-36

32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;  For blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise,  And refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me,  Watching daily at my gates,  Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,  And shall obtain favor of Jehovah. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:  All they that hate me love death.

Maybe read this…

Col 1:17-20 

17 and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.

*Seems to suggest that it was the "good pleasure of the Father" that in Jesus, all fullness should dwell. And that Jesus the "master workman or builder",  who went to the cross (went to bat) for his creation is given the preeminence. (Superiority)

########-stop here if out of time-########

Who created the heavens and the earth?

The Father through Jesus (wisdom of God) 

Or

Jesus thru the Father?

Hmmm…

Gen 1:1-4 

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Joh 1:5 

And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.

The time is at hand, go not after them...

 Finish the last thought on what we did last time in Luke 21:8:

Luk 21:8 

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he (the careless city-Zeph 2:15); and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

The time is near

The time is at hand

The time is come

The time is drawn near

Time is come nigh

The season is near

***What time? Is there a link btw "the careless city" and "the time is come"?

**Could Jesus statement be a warning for us to go not after "I am" AND "the time is come"? Go ye not after them!!!

Eze 7:7 

Thy doom is come unto thee, O inhabitant of the land: the time is come, the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful (probably a joyless shout) shouting, upon the mountains.

The day of the Lord (Zeph 1:14-16)

Zep 1:14-16 

-day of wrath, trouble, distress, wasteness, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds, thick darkness, trumpet and alarm

Eze 7:12 

12The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

Whole "multitude"? Where?

Vs 2 ...the land of Israel

Then all of Eze 7

Eze 7:1-4

1 Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 2 And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto the land of Israel, An end: the end is come upon the four corners of the land. 3 Now is the end upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways; and I will bring upon thee all thine abominations. 4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity; but I will bring thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. 

Read all of Eze 7….

Summary:

Why shouldn't we go after them? Who is "I AM"? 

Why can't we listen to their statements regarding "the time is come"?

-she was a place for beasts to lie down (Zeph 2:15)

-a desolation (Zeph 2:15)

-didnt trust God or draw near to him (Zeph 3:2)

-didnt obey (Zeph 3:2)

-her prophets are light (reckless) and treacherous (deceitful) (Zeph 3:4)

-walk like blind men (Zeph 1:17)

Luk 21:8 

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he (the careless city-Zeph 2:15); and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

***********

Temple: Hieron vs Naos 

Hieron (g2411) (71x's in 67 verses)

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g2411

a sacred place, temple

-used of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus

-used of the temple at Jerusalem

Mat 24:1 

And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

Joh 8:2

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

Jesus uses it from time to time.

Mat 12:6 

But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.

Joh 18:20 

Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing.

Mat 12:3-5 

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; 4 how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?

Used throughout Acts

....Paul

Act 19:26-27 

26 And ye see and hear; that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands: 27 and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

Act 26:21 

For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me.

Paul uses it in comparison similar to Jesus in Matt 12:3-5 - we just read

1Co 9:13-14 

13 Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? 

Naos (g3485) (46x's in 40 verses)

used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies 

any heathen temple or shrine

metaph. the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ

Mat 23:16-17 

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. 17 Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?

Joh 2:18-21 

18 The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Stephen

Act 7:48

Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses (temples) made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Paul

Act 17:24 

The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Paul mentions 'shrines' to Diana (Artimus)

Act 19:24 

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;

1Co 3:16-17 

16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

2Co 6:16-17

16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,

Eph 2:20-22 

20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

God temple is now spiritual AND in his people

**REVELATION IS A SPIRITUAL BOOK**

Rev 4:2 

Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;

Rev 11:1-2 

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations (GENTILES): and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

God has allowed the outer court of his NAOS to be trample by the GENTILES

2Th 2:1-4 

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; 2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; 3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.

**The falling way occurs in the NT NAOS of GOD, not in a building in Jerusalem.

***We can be fairly certain that the naos that is mentioned in Revelation is a spiritual picture of God's people. And in order to see it we can't take it literally, it is with spiritual eyes we have to look at it.

***Misc verse which support the "falling away"

(Mat 24:15)

When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),

Eze 7:22 

My face will I turn also from them, and they shall profane my secret place; and robbers shall enter into it, and profane it.

Eze 7:14 

They have blown the trumpet, and have made all ready; but none goeth to the battle; for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

***Why didn't they go to battle? They weren't prepared!!

Eze 7:16 

But those of them that escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity.

***Escaped of Babylon or "I am"

Isa 47:8 

Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, that sittest securely, that sayest in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

Isa 47:1-3

1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. 2 Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers. 

Isa 47:5-7 

5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called The mistress of kingdoms. 6 I was wroth with my people, I profaned mine inheritance, and gave them into thy hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the aged hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke. 7 And thou saidst, I shall be mistress for ever; so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end thereof.

Isa 47:10-11 

10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me; thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me. 11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know the dawning thereof: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou knowest not.

***Revelation's verse w NAOS:

Rev 3:12

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple G3485 of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

Rev 7:15

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: G3485 and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Rev 11:1

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple G3485 of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Rev 11:2

But the court which is without the temple G3485 leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Rev 11:19

And the temple G3485 of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple G3485 the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Rev 14:15

And another angel came out of the temple, G3485 crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

Rev 14:17

And another angel came out of the temple G3485 which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

Rev 15:5

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple G3485 of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

Rev 15:6

And the seven angels came out of the temple, G3485 having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Rev 15:8

And the temple G3485 was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, G3485 till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Rev 16:1

And I heard a great voice out of the temple G3485 saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Rev 16:17

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple G3485 of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Rev 21:22

And I saw no temple G3485 therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple G3485 of it.

*****Stop here, if out of time***********

The Patterns of God in OT are followed in NT

 God follows patterns in his word. 

Ecc 1:9 

That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecc 3:15

That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

Here is one pattern:

*In Exodus 19, God wanted to show himself to the people on My Sinai. Only Moses (and Aaron) were allowed to go up.

Exo 19:10

10 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, 

Exo 19:12-13

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13 no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

Exo 19:14-15 

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.

Exo 19:20 

And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

-Preparing for the third day, sanctified themselves by washing garments, not come near woman. But only Moses goes up.

*In NT, God desires to fellowship with his people, only instead of it being just Moses, God (thru Jesus) begins the process of son building.

Rom 8:14 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom 9:26

And it shall be, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people,  There shall they be called sons of the living God.

Heb 2:10-11

For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

*So God's method remains the same (meet His people on a mountain), but the way with which he does it is modified. It is spiritual not physical.

 We meet him on the spiritual Mt Zion mentioned in Heb 12:22. And instead of it being only Moses (and possibly Aaron), now it many sons. But unless we go thru the process of sanctification, we won't with him there.

Rev 14:1-5 

1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth. 4 These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.

God brings natural Israel to his mountain w Moses (maybe Aaron and a few others). In New Testament, God (via Jesus) brings spiritual Israel (144,000) to Mt Zion who are undefiled, following Jesus wherever He goes.

*So Ecc 1:9 is true here.

**************************************************

Here is another pattern:

Despite God's work on behalf of OT Israel, they seem to establish the beginning of another pattern:

Isa 5:1-7

1 Let me sing for my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry. 

Vs 9-10

9 In mine ears saith Jehovah of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah. 

Vs 12-14

12 And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst. 14 Therefore Sheol hath enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend into it.

So God OT people morph off into apostacy. 

**The old testament points to Jesus but unfortunately very few we're correctly looking for the first coming of the Messiah. Most saw or expected the Messiah's coming inaccurately because the signposts had been changed.

Anna and Simeon were those that were looking. 

Simeon

Luk 2:25-35

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; 32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; 35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.

Pharisees don't recognize the Messiah or maybe don't want to recognize Him.

Mat 16:1-3

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. 

Luk 12:54-56

54 And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass. 55 And when ye see a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time? 

*Remember Ecclesiastes 1 9. God follows a pattern. And then carefully notice Jesus's words regarding the up-and-coming kingdom of his fathers:

Luk 13:18-21 

18 He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it? 19 It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof. 20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?  21 It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

Notice Paul's words:

Act 20:29-30 

29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

*Notice Peters words:

2Pe 2:1-3 

1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

**Remember Ecclesiastes 1 9. God follows a pattern. 

All of these seem to be establishing the same pattern which was set in the old testament. In particular in Is 5: 10;13-14:

10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath (possibly 9 gallons), and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah. 

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst. 14 Therefore Sheol hath enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend into it.

Eze 23 Two sisters. OT 

I Am who should not be followed

 Matt 24:1-5

1 And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.

Mark 13:1-6

1 And as he went forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! 2 And Jesus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.  3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished? 5 And Jesus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. 6 Many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and shall lead many astray.

Luk 21:5-8

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them. 

**the word 'he' (which appears in other translations) is italicized and not in the original greek.

2. 'I am' - refers not to I AM as in Exodus 3:14 but to I AM in these verses:

Zep 2:15 

15 This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in, every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. 

**Beasts lie down in?? (Heb 12:20-23) 

Remember Mt Sinai and Mt Zion?

Heb 12:20-23 

20 .…If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned (Mt Sinai); ...22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... 23 to the …church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And just in case you wanted to be sure WHO this verse refers to:

Zep 3:1-4 

1 Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city! 2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God. 3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow. 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. 

Zep 1:1-3 

1 The word of Jehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amarah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2 I will utterly consume all things from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. 3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. 

**I will cut off man from the face of the ground

NT refers to these as those who "dwell on the the earth"

(Luke 21:34-35; Rev 2:13; Rev 3:10; Rev 8:13; Rev 11:10; Rev 12:12; Rev 13:8, Rev 13:12-14) 

Those that "dwell in the heavens"

(Rev 12:12; Rev 13:6; 

Rev 17:1-2 

1 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.

They were supposed to live on Mt Zion/heavenly Jerusalem. But instead dwelled on the earth

Heb 12:22  

but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

Eph 2:6  

and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:

Zeph 1:4-13

4 And I will stretch out my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarim with the priests; 5 and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam; 6 and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him. 7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand: for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath consecrated his guests. 8 And it shall come to pass in the day of Jehovah's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel. 9 And in that day I will punish all those that leap over the threshold, that fill their master's house with violence and deceit. 10 And in that day, saith Jehovah, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills. 11 Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off. 12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil. 13 And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.

Great day of the Lord

Zep 1:14-18 

14 The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land.

*************Stop here if out of time*******