November 2000

[Part Twenty-six]

                STONES are commonly seen in Scripture, both as weapons and as instruments of building. As weapons, they are used for destruction, even pain and death. As construction materials they are used to erect sites of distinction, including altars and the House of the Lord. Interesting to note that Heb 68 for this word is the root “eben” meaning “To build” which comes from 1129 “banah”, and is not only used throughout the O.T. as “build”, but it also means “To obtain children”! God used 1129 ”banah” in Gen 2:22 with this definition clearly in mind; but chose to keep hidden its glorious context from theologians who translate it as “made” (Amplified Bible goes one step further adding the interpretation “built up”.) The passage now reads. “The Lord God ‘made’ a woman from the womb (chamber, rib) that He took from the man (Heb 120 adam).” How much more sense the passage reads as, “The Lord God ‘obtained children’ from the woman’s womb He took from the man (adam)”; especially in view of the fact that this is the same root for Heb 1121 “ben” (as “Ben-Hur”; meaning: “Son of Hur”; or “Of the House of Hur”); and is translated: “A SON (as the builder of the family name!!” When a woman is married, it is the natural course of events for her to bear her husband’s children. Now God calls Eve (Ge 3:20), “Mother of ALL *LIFE”!! (*Heb 2416 is also used for: “Tree of LIFE” (Ge 3:24); “Path of LIFE; and “Way of LIFE” (Pr 5:6; 6:23).
                 God says, “The first man Adam- the man of earth, earthy- was made a living soul; whereas the last Adam- the Lord from Heaven- was made a LIFE-giving Spirit! But that which is spiritual was not manifested first; rather the natural man was first, then afterward the spiritual!” (1 Cor 15:45-46) Clearly this “Last Adam- the Lord from Heaven” is Jesus Christ! And because He, (not the natural man) is the “Giver of LIFE” and as Eve is the “mother of ALL LIFE”, we see her as the Bride of Christ, the Mother Church, who “Shall be SAVED through CHILD-BEARING”. (1 Ti 2:15) But from what must this woman be “saved”? From her adulterous affair with this world! Jas 4:4 says (to all harlot, manmade religious systems of this world), “You are unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world] breaking your marriage vow to God! Don’t you know that being friends of this world means you are GOD’S ENEMY?! To clarify what is meant by being “friends of this world”, Ro 8:7 says, “The carnal mind is GOD’S ENEMY!”
                To unbelieving hearts God says His Word is a “Stone of stumbling and Rock of Offense”! (1 Pe 2:8) But to men of faith, He says, “Come to Him- the Living Stone- the One that men tried and threw away; but which is Chosen and Precious in God’s divine esteem. Come and be made living stones that are built into a spiritual House!” (1 Pe 2:5) Christ is the “Chief Cornerstone” the “Sure Foundation” and “Rock of Salvation” of this glorious House of God! We are, therefore, the precious “SON-STONES” which Carpenter Jesus will use to build it! For this reason He says, “Except the Lord build the House (sire the family- obtain children), they labor in vain that build it!” (Ps 127:1) God says the “house” (the. “church family” produced by religious systems) is built on SAND and is not able to stand when great winds of tribulation come. That is why their only “protection” has been to deceive themselves with false doctrines like the “rapture”which fantasizes Christ as a physical Knight on a white horse appearing in the physical sky to vacuum them up from the earth and escape trials- and this is because these terrified virgins have no faith (i.e., “oil in their lamps”) on which to stand and overcome! But Jesus spoke of another House “BUILT ON THE ROCK” that withstand and overcome all tribulation- to the Glory of God! These are His SONS OF FIRE!! They were sired by the same Father of the Last Adam Who is a “CONSUMING FIRE” (Dt 4:24) and His bride, Eve- our Mother Church- who has been purged by the FIRE OF HIS LOVE! And the testimony of their offspring “FIREWALKERS” throughout their times of discipline has been, “When He has tried me (“in the Furnace of afflictions”), I shall come forth as GOLD!” (Ps 23:10) These shall go forth to tell the world, “I counsel you, buy of Me, Gold tried in the Fire!” (Re 3:18)

[TO BE CONTINUED]