Birds, Goats, & the Two Works of Christ

BIRDS, GOATS, AND THE TWO WORKS OF CHRIST

Judah, the son of Jacob, was the holder of the dominion or scepter promise.  The genealogical linage can be seen in the first chapter of Matthew and the third chapter of Luke.  This was fulfilled with the birth of Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, who is the current and eternal holder of the dominion or the kingship of the entire earth, not just Canaan.

Aaron was of the tribe of Levi, therefore the priests are referred to as Levites or Aaronic priests.  The priests of the temple fulfilled the sacrificial duties and therefore the Levites or Aaronic priests of the 1^st century Jerusalem temple unknowingly offered up Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for sin. 

However, a human being from either the linage of Judah or Levi were never given the work of establishing the Kingdom of God, which will be done at the return of Christ.  The birthright promise was given to Joseph and then to Ephraim and Manasseh.  The current nation of Israel, even if there is an authentic tribal member of Ephraim and Manasseh among them is not qualified to bring forth the birthright or the Kingdom of God.  Only the leaders and the majority of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh can constitute the birthright.  It will also require the entire tribes of Israel and God will search and find them.  The birthright promise does not involve kingship (which is the dominion promise) but a family or kingdom of righteous people in total agreement with Jesus Christ and the laws of God.

Ezekiel 34:11 KJV  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Cleansing Ceremony for a Healed Leper

Leviticus 14 details the ceremonial law for the cleansing of a leper.  The cleansing process was performed during the same day the leper was healed.  There is more to the process than the coped verses below but the primary point is the two live birds.

Leviticus 14:4-7 KJV  Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:  (5)  And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:  (6)  As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:  (7)  And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Leviticus 14:4-7 KJV:  Highlights concerning the two birds

Two birds alive and clean / one of the birds to be killed over running water /  dip the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water / let the living bird loose into the open field.

The live bird is dipped into the blood of the sacrificial bird over water which is the basis of Baptism.  The leper had to be already healed and the ceremony was priestly recognition proclaiming the leper had been healed.  Likewise Baptism is a public testimony the repented sinner is now a Christian justified by faith in Christ.  The two birds are a symbolic type of Passover and Tabernacles.  Jesus was sacrificed or crucified on Passover and thus fulfilled the work of the 1^st advent.  Fifty days after His resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit as a partial fulfillment of Pentecost.  The Pentecost event and the receiving of the Holy Spirit today is not receiving the fullness the Holy Spirit or the complete filling as some claim today.  It is only a partial filling, an earnest, or a down payment.

The complete finished work of Christ is in two stages or junctures with the two birds as a symbolic type.  The first stage involves the death or sacrifice of the first bird and the death sacrifice of Jesus fulfilled the first stage or the first sacrificed bird.

The live bird was dipped into the blood of the sacrificed bird over a bowl of water.  The second appearance of Jesus will represent the live bird with smeared blood or drops of blood on His robe.  Revelation chapter 19 pictures the returned Jesus on a white horse with His robe (or vesture) dipped (the Greek word bapto defined as baptized) in blood.  This is symbolic of the live bird set free in the field (world).

Revelation 19:13 KJV  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Isaiah 63:3-4 KJV  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.  (4)  For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

The death, or first work of Christ imputes or credits eternal life to the believer but at the second work of Christ we will be given eternal life.  The sacrifice of animals only covered sin as did the sacrificial death of Jesus, but the return of Jesus will remove sin completely.

The leper was pronounced clean of the eighth day and was anointed with oil.  Recall the parable of the ten virgins and oil?  The Ten Virgins  The pouring of oil on the healed leper is a type and shadow of the future fulfillment of the eighth day of Tabernacles_, not the partial fulfillment at the Pentecost event.

The Day of Atonement and Two Goats

As stated earlier, the second work of Christ is the removal of all sin.  The atonement ceremony with the appropriate information can be found in Leviticus chapter 16.  There is much more to the sacrifices and ceremony than what is given in the 4 copied verses below, but the current understanding is the two goats.

Leviticus 16:7-10 KJV  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  (8)  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.  (9)  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.  (10)  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

The ceremony of the Day of Atonement involved two goats.  The first goat was to be sacrificed outside the tent (or temple) and the blood of the sacrifice was to be brought into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat for the atonement of the sanctuary as a covering for sin.  The second goat was to remain alive.  The priest was to lay his hands of the head of the goat while imputing all the sins of the people onto the goat.  A different man was to take the goat and release it into the wilderness (or an uninhabited area).  In this manner the sacrificed goat covered all sin and the live second goat removed all sin for all people.

The first goat, a shadow and type of Jesus’ death, covered sin or imputed righteousness in the eyes of God.  The second, a type and shadow of the return of Christ, will forever remove sin and make us completely righteous before God. 

When Jesus returns, He will come as the Son of Joseph with His robe dipped in blood as the King of the Judah linage and will fulfill the birthright promise as the son of Adam through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The second coming will also fulfill the type and shadow symbolism of the second live bird released in the field and the type and shadow symbolism of the second goat carryings the sins of the people into the uninhabited places.

The first bird and the first goat represent the dominion (scepter) work of Judah which was to bring forth the Messiah as the suffering servant and sacrificially dying to cover the sins of the people.  The second bird and the second goat is a work of Joseph (or Ephraim and Manasseh) which would save the world or remove sins as if they never happened although a complete and total removal will not take place until the second coming of Jesus Christ when the birthright promise is fulfilled.

Reversal of Jewish and Christian Eschatology

The nature of the two works of the Messiah in the Bible is that Jesus would first appear as the suffering servant and claim the dominion or scepter promise as initially given to Judah and be a sacrificial sin offering to cover the sins of the believers (or all people if they repent and believe).  This kingship promise was later given to David by God as an everlasting covenant referred to as the Davidic Covenant.  This covenant was fulfilled by Jesus at His first advent when He became King of the Kingdom.  At His second appearance, Jesus will inherit and fulfill the birthright promise by bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to the earthly domain.

It was apparently inconceivable to the Jewish mindset (then and now) that the Messiah could be a conquering eternal ruler of the world and at the same time show evidence of weakness, failure and death.  To resolve this contradiction, the concept of two messiahs was developed by the Jews, with the names of “Messiah ben Joseph” for the first one who would die and afterwards, the second would appear called “Messiah ben David.”

Jesus Christ first appeared as the suffering servant, preaching meekness and the coming of the Kingdom of God.  He was despised by the majority of Jewish leaders, was put to death by crucifixion, rose from the dead after three days, and prophesied to  return, as the ruler of the world.  As stated in, “Jewish Expectations of a Messiah” the Jewish intellectuals do not promote a messiah on an installment plan.  If Jesus had started the Kingdom of God immediately after His resurrection and drove out the Romans, He may have been immediately accepted by the religious leaders.  According to Talmudic writings, after 2000 years, the Jews are attempting to be their own messiah and establish their own dominion with a one-world-system and total control.  Jesus first appearance was to inherit the dominion or kingship of the Kingdom of God as promised through Judah, die as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, and establish a basis of salvation and righteousness.

It is my understanding that medieval Jewish eschatology has named (or invented) a person called Armilus (or Armilius), with a description that is comparable to the Christian antichrist.  Armilus will, according to legend, apparently kill Messiah ben Joseph who is the first appearance of the Jewish messiah.  Ben Joseph will then be replaced by Messiah ben David, or to explain it another way, ben Joseph will be supposedly resurrected and become ben David.  This, of course, is the opposite understanding of the New Testament scriptures (with the added Jewish feature of an Armilus type of antichrist).

For more information concerning Messianic Jewish eschatology, go to the following link: 

The Life & Times of the Antichrist - Part 3

Visualizations Of The Kingdom Of God

VISUALIZATIONS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Seeds of the Kingdom:  Good and Bad

Matthew 13:24-30 NET  He presented them with another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.  (25)  But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.  (26)  When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.  (27)  So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'  (28)  He said, 'An enemy has done this.'so the slaves replied, 'Do you want us to go and gather them?'  (29)  But he said, 'No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them.  (30)  Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First collect the weeds and tie t hem in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn."

The enemy can either be Satan or false teachers energized by Satan or demons.  It can also be someone who distorts the gospel of the Kingdom. According to sources, darnel or wild wheat and domestic wheat look exactly alike until they bear fruit. The wild seed has a dark grain, while edible wheat has a light brown grain.  The farmer ordered the harvesters to delay the separation of the wheat and darnel (weeds).  I have read that the roots of the grain and darnel are so intertwined that it is virtually impossible to pull up one without uprooting the other.  The same difficulty will appear in human separation and intervention.  It is not always possible for a person to distinguish the saved from the unsaved – only God has that ability, therefore He will do the separating.

There is no way for humans to entirely know the hearts of other humans.  One of Satan's most effective schemes is religious activity.  People appear to be spiritual but they are inwardly not.  The wheat and tares look alike, but time reveals the difference. Many people are fooled by religious appearances masquerading as true spirituality.  Only the grace of God can help believers understand the fakery and resist error.

Satan is not able to uproot the true wheat (Christians) so he plants counterfeits among them.  The good seed is the Word of God but in this parable the good seed represents true believing Christians.  The field is not necessarily human hearts but is the world of the Kingdom of God.  When a true believer is planted, Satan plants a counterfeit.  The churches have many counterfeit “Christians” with a counterfeit gospel.  At the end of the age there will be a counterfeit Christ known as the beast or man of sin.  We must work against Satanic influences and expose the lies of false gospels, but we must also sow the Word of God and bear fruit in the place where He has planted us.

God will gather the tares together and burn them at the end of the age.  It is difficult to tell the false from the true today, but the angels will separate them and place them into the lake of fire.

The kingdom of God (heaven) designated by the church is not going to be a perfect representation.  That which is not true, that which is not genuine, that which is false will arise within the Church, that is, the tares will be there with the wheat.

The Great Mustard Tree

Matthew 13:31-32 NET  He gave them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.  (32)  It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches."

The mustard seed is a small garden seed and a relatively small leafy plant.  The Kingdom of God began with one man, Jesus, sowing the seed in the garden of Judea.  However, this normally modest plant becomes a great tree.  It grew bigger than what it really is intended to be.  This depicted parabolic mustard plant has an abnormal growth until it resembles a tree or a world empire.  The end of the age tree has little reference to its beginnings as a humble plant.  Its vastness and lack of true substance now allows wild birds to make their homes within it.

The wild birds represent Satan and his demons with their untrue versions of the gospel.  Its complex organization with many branches is filled with organizations that do not represent the Kingdom of God.  It has become an abnormal forced thing of man, not representative of the true righteous kingdom of heaven, and it will become a shelter for all kinds of evil purposes, as the church has been used today as a shelter for all kinds of evil purposes.

Some make this parable teach the worldwide success of the Gospel. But that would contradict what Jesus taught earlier. If anything, the New Testament teaches a growing decline in the ministry of the Gospel as the end of the age draws near.

So here the Lord forewarned the disciples that during His absence the kingdom would experience a phenomenal growth. They should not be deceived nor equate growth with success. It would be an unhealthy growth. Though the tiny seed would become an abnormal tree, its largeness would become “a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird” as the end of the age mystery, Babylon.

He shouted with a powerful voice: "Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast.

(Revelation 18:2 NET)

The Flour and the Yeast

Matthew 13:33 NET  He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen." 

This parable has been interpreted in two diametrical opposite ways:

(1)  The Incorrect Interpretation:  The yeast is the gospel of the Kingdom or the Church as it starts very small but gradually develops and grows until it influences the whole world for good.  In agreement with this thesis the Utley Commentary says:  In the OT yeast was often a symbol of evil, but here it was an obvious symbol of the pervasiveness and growth of the Kingdom of God.  In disagreement the Chuck Smith Commentary states:  As I look at the world today, I cannot honestly rejoice for the tremendous effect that the world has received from the influence of the church. I look at a sick world; a world that seems to me is getting sicker every day. I have difficulty with that particular interpretation.

(2)  The Correct Interpretation:  The use of leaven in the New Testament is an unhealthy ingredient and is symbolic of sin and/or evil.

Three measures of meal was the exact amount customarily used in a grain offering to God, and leaven (which always is a picture of evil and sin in the Bible) has absolutely no place in a grain offering.  The idea of hiding leaven in three measures of meal would have offended any observant Jew. This would certainly not be a picture of the church gradually influencing the entire world for good.

The mustard seed of the previous parable illustrates the false outward expansion of the kingdom, while the leaven illustrates the inward development of false doctrine and false living. Throughout the Bible, leaven is a symbol of evil. It had to be removed from the Jewish homes during Passover (see Exodus 12:15-19; 13:7).

Bread made without yeast must be eaten for seven days; no bread made with yeast shall be seen among you, and you must have no yeast among you within any of your borders.  (Exodus 13:7 NET)

Yeast (or leaven) was excluded from the sacrifices (Exodus 34:35), with the exception of the loaves used at the Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-21).

Jesus used leaven to picture:  hypocrisy;

Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  (Luke 12:1 NET)

False teaching;

Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(Matthew 16:12 NET)

Paul used leaven to picture carnality in the church (1Corinthians 5:6-8) and false doctrine (Galatians 5:9).  Sin is like leaven (yeast): It quietly grows, it corrupts, and according to Paul, it “puffs up” (KJV) or makes one arrogant (NET).

Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.  (1 Corinthians 4:18-19 NET)

 It would seem that making the growth of the leaven a picture of the spread of the Gospel throughout the world would violate the meaning of this important symbol. It would also contradict the other parables concerning yeast.

Satan has worked hard to introduce false doctrine and false living into the ministry of the Word of God. From the very early days of the church, true believers have battled false doctrine and hypocrisy.

The kingdom of God (heaven) began with the sowing of the Word of God in the hearts of men. Much of the seed did not bear fruit; but some was fruitful. Satan opposed the work of God by sowing counterfeit Christians, by encouraging a false growth, and by introducing false doctrine.