Examples of things which occur on day seven…
1Ki 18:43-45
43 And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in a little while, that the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel:
Eze 46:1
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days...but opened on the Sabbath day and on the day of the new moon.
Which day is the Sabbath? Seventh day
New moon?
New moon occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. It doesn't give off light
Significance
What does the moon represent?
Church that reflects the light of the sun (Jesus)
So if the moon is dark, what is the state of the church?
Dark/Desolate
So God intentionally waits for the church to be desolate on day seven before opening the gate of the inner court that faces to the east.
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Who resides in the inner court? These are those that on day seven see the light from opening of the Eastern gate
"The inner court in the NT symbolizes a personal relationship with God Himself. This is the kind of intimate relationship He wants with each of us. Instead of just knowing about Him, He wants us to know Him personally.
In this place of intimacy, our lives are transformed. We experience the fullness of His presence and power. His promises come alive. Our eyes are opened to greater insights and more of His wisdom.
Yet many Christians never enter this inner court. They stay outside, content with a superficial relationship with God. They fail to surrender everything to Him. They allow their lives to be controlled by the flesh, instead of being filled with the Spirit and surrendered to lordship of Jesus. They cherish the things of this world rather than the deep things of God."
What should be happening in the lives of those who live in the inner court?
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2Ch 29:16
And the priests went in unto the inner part of the house of Jehovah, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the house of Jehovah. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.
Kidron is a brook near Jerusalem where idols/altars were cast or destroyed at, including Baal and Asherah.
So in the NT, if we reside in the inner court, the idols and uncleanness of our heart will be cast down and thrown into the Brook of Kidron.
The inner court is what is vitally important to Jesus in the NT. How do we know?
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: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
It was emphasized to John to NOT include the outer court which is just outside the inner court. It'll be tread under foot in the NT.
Very important. WE WANT TO BE IN THE INNER COURT that will be measured!!!
This is what is of great value to God/Jesus in the NT!!
Referring back to Ez 46:1, read Rev 16:12.
Rev 16:12
12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.
Let's compare...to Ezk 46:1
Is there an example of the new moon in this verse?
Yes, the water thereof was dried up.
Is there an example of the "Eastern gate of the inner court being opened"?
Yes, "way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising"
Rev 16:15-16
15 (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) 16 And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.
This battle is between the INNER COURT and those in the OUTER COURT
Those in the outer court are part of the….harlot! Also known as Jezebel. Who hasn't rid herself of idols, sin, etc.
2Th 2:1-5
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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Let's find Ezk 46:1 in this passage:
Where is "Opening of the gate to the east on the Sabbath"?
-coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
New moon?
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
Notice that the falling away has to come first just like the Euphrates River has to dry up "that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising" Rev 16:12
Now back to the (Jezebel) harlot who rides on the beast with ten horns (Ahab).
1Ki 19:1-6
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5 And he lay down and slept under a juniper-tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
Spirit of Jezebel today
"Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time."
Jezebel dominates over her husband. Notice, Ahab had done nothing other than report back to his wife. (Jezebel)
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Remember, Elijah has lived years in the wilderness. He knows how to survive. Travels 110 miles to Beersheba.
What is Elijah struggling with? Depression, confusion, bewilderment, fear, mistrust, self doubt, feels like a failure? What does it mean: "I am not better than my fathers?"
I'm assuming an angel appears, makes a fire, bakes bread and gives Elijah water?
1Ki 19:7-10
7 And the angel of Jehovah came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Angel appears again? How long? Why
Wherever he plans on going, is "too far to survive on no food"?
I suppose his intention is to go to "Mt Horeb the mount of God" without eating?
Since he knows how to survive in the wilderness, we can assume he is either fasting the entire time OR is too distraught to eat? Not sure
"Forty days and forty nights" (to Mt Horeb)?
-Same length of time that Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness
-Moses fasted 40 days/nights when he went up to Mt Sinai and met with God in Exodus.
-some scholars believe Mt Horeb and Mt Sinai are the same place
-was Elijah trying to meet with God on the mountain like Moses did???
At Mt Horeb, Elijah finds himself in a cave. God says, what are you doing here? why?
Elijah pours out his heart to God. Telling him how faithful he has been, how wicked Israel is, how there are no more true prophets left. And how he is the only one left!
I'm guessing God allows Elijah to grieve, and to express his disillusionment with this entire process.
And to allow him to question, why did you allow Jezebel to come after me??
Must have been very confusing for Elijah. God is VERY patient!!
Did Elijah not know that Obadiah had hid 100 prophets of God in a cave?
1 King 18:4? It doesn't seem that he knows.
1Ki 19:11-14
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: 12 and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
God passes by Elijah in strong wind, earthquake, a fire. But God wasn't in any of those. He was in the still small voice that follows. Some versions say God was was in the voice of a gentle breeze.
What is Gods point in showing Elijah the wind, earthquake and fire? Unsure
altho the words may appear in Isaiah 29:6
Isa 29:6
She (ungodly) shall be visited of Jehovah of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.
God says again, what are you doing here? Why?
Word for word, Elijah repeats
Vs10. Telling God:
how faithful he has been
how wicked Israel is
how there are no more true prophets left
and how he is the only one left
Elijah is describing to God the:
"new moon" state of His people.
Or the great falling way of God's people
Or the fact that the Euphrates River is completely dried up.
1 Kings 19:15-21
15 And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
God response:
Vs 15
Return via wilderness of Damascus (Syria)
Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria
Why?
-to begin the process of bringing judgement on Israel
Vs 16
Anoint Jehu king over Israel (who is currently king? Ahab)
Annoint Elisha prophet to replace you.
Vs 17 Prophecy
Anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill (if someone escapes the king of Syria, the king of Israel will kill)
Whoever escapes escapes from Jehu, Elisha will kill. (If someone escapes the wrath of the king of Israel, the prophet of Israel will kill him)
Vs 18 God responds to Elijah thinking he is the only remaining true prophet:
Prophecy
I WILL HAVE 7000 prophets who DON'T worship Baal!
Vs 19 Elijah encounters Elisha first
Elisha is found plowing with 12 yoke of oxen (think 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel)
Elijah is plowing with the 12th (who is the 12th/last son of Jacob/Israel?)
Benjamin, mother is Rebecca
Now Israel in the time of Elijah, included the northern 10 tribes of Israel.
Judah in the time of Elijah included the remaining two tribes/sons of Jacob/Israel?
Judah/Benjamin
Who does Judah represent?
(Hint: The lion of Judah)
Benjamin - "son of my right hand"
Significance? Yes. Jesus is called of the arm of the Lord (John 12:38). Who is His hand?
Remember last chapter (1Ki 18:44) "at the seventh time, ...there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand."
(God's greatly empowered right hand that does his 7th day work on earth)
Remember in Luke 6:6-10, the man with the withered "right hand" whom Jesus restores on the Sabbath?
Sabbath is the 7th day
Elijah puts his mantle on Elisha. Eventually Elisha is given a "double portion" (2Ki 2:9).
He represents the end time raised up, restored and empowered withered hand that God uses in his end time plan.
Vs 20-1
Elisha asks if he can kiss mom and dad goodbye and then follow Elijah. Elijah allows him.
When Elisha returns, he takes the pair of oxen, sacrifices them, boils their flesh with the oxen instruments. With this he feeds the people. Then he follows after Elijah
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