Are You the coming One or do We Look for Another? Luke 7:18-22

When John the Baptist was in prison, he heard the reports about what Yeshua was doing. What he heard apparently made him doubt what he knew about Jesus. 

Luke 7:18-19 KJV 18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

At Yeshua’s baptism, John the Baptist testified that Yeshua was the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

John 1:29 KJV 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

What was John looking for that he apparently didn’t see as expected in Yeshua’s ministry? John’s message was baptism for the repentance of sin.

Matthew 3:1-2 KJV 1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John preached repentance in preparation for the coming of the LORD.

Luke 3:4-6 KJV 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

As we go back to the book of Isaiah, we see that the original words are slightly different.

Isaiah 40:3-5 KJV 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

In Luke, we read that all flesh shall see the salvation of God. In Isaiah, we read that all flesh will see the glory of the LORD. So, we can conclude that the salvation of God equals the glory of the LORD. Yeshua’s name, of course, means salvation. His purpose is to glorify the name of the Father.

John 12:27-28 KJV 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Later Yeshua says that the Father is glorified in Him when we ask and receive in the name of Yeshua.

John 14:13 KJV 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John spoke of the One coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Luke 3:16-17 NKJV 16 John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

The Holy Spirit brings the power and authority of God; fire is the substance that purifies. The righteous are purified in the fire and wicked are consumed. The temple of God was built on a threshing floor, and John uses the analogy of the winnowing the harvest to teach that the coming One will be the one to “winnow” or separate the righteous from the wicked.  His threshing floor or temple would be thoroughly cleaned. The righteous will be gathered into the barn or temple and the chaff or wicked burned in the fires of judgment.

In other words, John was looking for the triumphant Messiah! He was looking for the triumphant Messiah;  the One who would be revealed before all flesh; the One who would appear as the glory of the LORD bringing the salvation of God.

Yeshua answers John’s disciples by citing the results of His ministry.

Luke 7:22-23 KJV 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Yeshua’s answer to John’s disciples has two levels of meaning. The first is the literal meaning of His words. The people received physical healings even to the raising of the dead. The second level of meaning is spiritual. Each of these conditions speaks to a spiritual state.  Isaiah writes of this spiritual state.

Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV 9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 10 "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."

Those who rebel against God are dull of seeing and hearing. They are dead but don’t even know it. Yeshua chastised the leaders of the Jewish people telling them they were dead and leading others into death as well.

Luke 11:44 NKJV 44 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them."

Yeshua opens eyes and ears, causes people to walk in His ways, and brings new life. 

Isaiah 29:18-19 KJV 18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 35:5-8 KJV 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

The poor have the gospel preached to them. What is the “gospel?” The gospel is the good news that our King reigns!

Isaiah 52:7 NKJV 7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Yeshua sent good news back to John through his disciples. Yeshua is the coming One; the one who is Salvation and the Glory of the LORD!

Shalom and be blessed

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Visit our web site at www.moedministries.com

Yeshua in the Counting of the Omer part 1: Fishers of Men

The period of time on the Biblical Calendar known as the Counting of the Omer is the 50 day period from the day after the regular weekly Sabbath which falls during the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot.  In Christian circles this holiday is known as Pentecost but is little known beyond recognition as the day the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and they spoke in tongues.  But this Feast has great significance in the life and ministry of Jesus (Yeshua) and in the lives of his disciples including us today who follow Him.  Yeshua was very active during this time teaching and preparing His disciple to go out into the world and preach the Gospel.

After the eighth day following Yeshua’s resurrection, the disciples head off to Galilee according to the instructions of both the angel at the tomb and Yeshua in the garden, and probably at His appearance on the eighth day of the counting of the Omer.

Matthew 28:10 NKJV 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

Luke later tells us the reason that Yeshua appeared to them over the forty days prior to His ascension.

Acts 1:1-3 NIV 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Luke records that He had three purposes:

            1. To prove His resurrection.

            2. To give instructions to His apostles.

            3. To speak about the kingdom of God.

His first appearances on the first and eighth day of the counting of the Omer proved His resurrection but now He needs to give them instructions. We saw that He explained to them the necessity of His suffering when He appeared to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus and later that same day to the eleven apostles.

Luke 24:26-27 NKJV 26 "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:45-48 NKJV 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 "And you are witnesses of these things.

So, what instructions does Yeshua give to His disciples? He told them that they would preach His name to all nations and that they are to bear witness to all these things! So, let’s join the disciples in Galilee and see what Yeshua taught them. Yeshua said that He would meet them there but when we join the disciples, we see that He has not yet arrived. Tradition says that He would no appear until the seventeenth day of the Omer. No wonder Peter is getting antsy! What is going to happen next? Just sitting around waiting is the hardest thing to do. Peter, who was known for being impetuous couldn’t stand it anymore. He declares, “I’m going fishing!” I can just hear the next sentence, “All this sitting around waiting is driving me crazy!” Six of the other disciples who also happened to be fisherman jumped at the chance to do something, too. They reply, “We’ll go with you.”

John 21:2-3 NKJV 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

Now, the fishing described takes place at night. They were probably using trammel nets which basically form a wall as they drag it along the sea floor. They fish at night so the fish don’t see the net coming. The net gets filled with silt and other debris along with the fish as it is dragged along the sea floor. As morning comes Yeshua calls out to them.

John 21:4-6 NKJV 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

There is no reason they should have followed this man’s instructions who is standing there on the shore. Number one, they didn’t have any success at night when the fish couldn’t see the net, it is now daylight and the fish will see the net coming and swim away! Why would they have success now? Number two, they have to clean the net first! But for some reason they decide to go ahead and try again. Maybe they didn’t like the thought of waiting around for one more day as they counted up to the Feast of Weeks. But they clean their nets and throw them down on the right side. When they begin to haul in the catch of fish, John recognizes Yeshua and impetuous Peter jumps in the lake!

John 21:7-11 NKJV 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

Not only does Peter bring some of the fish, he counts them! Why would the Bible tell us that they caught exactly 153 fish? It doesn’t tell us there were about 150 fish or just a lot of fish; John records that there were 153 fish. Now the Bible doesn’t contain irrelevant details so what is the significance of 153?

What clues do we have for the meaning of this number? First, notice that their efforts were unsuccessful even in the best of conditions before Yeshua came on the scene. With Yeshua’s help, they were hugely successful even in the worst of conditions.

Second, in Luke, we see another incident when Peter, John and James were fishing and they didn’t catch any fish until Yeshua came along. This incident ended in Yeshua calling them to be fishers of men.

Luke 5:5-6 NKJV 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

Luke 5:9-10 NKJV 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."

These are the disciples along with two others who are present this day on the Sea of Galilee. The fish that they caught then represent the men they are to reach with the testimony of Christ. But why 153? In Hebrew, each letter not only represents a letter and a picture, it represents a number.

Now John tells us that as many as believe become the sons of God.

John 1:12 KJV 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Again, we have the testimony of His name; that Yeshua is the Messiah the son of the Living God! This is what they were to preach to all nations beginning with Jerusalem.

Finally, Job refers to the sons of God presenting themselves before God.

Job 2:1 KJV 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

During this encounter, Satan accuses Job of only worshipping God because God has blessed him. The name Satan means accuser (#7853). Zechariah reports on another occasion when a son of God stands before God with Satan as his accuser.

Zechariah 3:1 NKJV 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose (satan) him.

When Yeshua comes again, Satan, the accuser of the brethren will be cast down.

Revelation 12:10 NKJV 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

It just so happens that the phrase “sons of God” has the number 153!

Yeshua is telling them that in their own power, they will not be able to catch any men but with the power of God they will catch all the sons of God and will not lose any! Yeshua, in His last recorded prayer to God, states that He has not lost any that God gave Him and He prays that God will keep all that come to Him now that He is no longer in the world.

John 17:11-12 NKJV 11 "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Paul writes with confidence: Romans 8:38-39 NKJV 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yeshua is setting the stage. On the Feast of Weeks, the Holy Spirit would come on them with the power needed to reach the world with the gospel message. Continue with us as we continue to count up to day 50, the Feast of Weeks!

שלום ברוך

Shalom and be blessed,

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Visit our website at www.moedministries.com

NEW video teaching series: Who is the Babylon of Bibical Prophecy?

Who is the Babylon of Biblical prophecy? Who is the Babylon that is mentioned 261 times in the King James Bible?  Who is the Babylon of Revelation?

Revelation 18:2-4 NKJV 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Did you know that Israel is the center of the theological universe, and as such, is the most important focal point when it comes to interpretation and understanding of biblical prophecy?  In this video teaching series we established three main parameters or guidelines that govern our study of biblical prophecy in general and this study of Babylon in particular: First, we recognize that Israel is a physical nation; the promise to Abraham that the Promised Land would always belong to his descendants is an eternal promise.  Second, the nature of scripture and prophecy is that it is cyclical.  Beginning with Genesis and the creation of the sun, moon, and stars as signals, we see that events are cyclical:  the pattern of the weeks with the Sabbath every seventh day; the pattern of the feasts cycling through every year.  As we cycle through the appearances of Babylon and the other kingdoms of the Bible, we are looking for patterns and cycles.  Third, numbers play an important role in scripture.  The numbers seven, eight, and ten play an important role in the Babylon of prophecy in particular. Seven is the number of spiritual completion. There are seven days in a week, every seventh year is a Sabbatical year; seven Sabbatical years usher in the Year of Jubilee. There are seven yearly feasts of the LORD with the seventh one in the seventh month lasting seven days. Eight is the number of new beginnings. An infant is circumcised on the eighth day bringing him into the covenant of Abraham which symbolizes a new birth.

As we search out and identify the biblical Babylon is that we are called to come out of in Revelation 18, we will use scriptures itself as a guide.  In this pursuit we ask the all important question, “What does the Bible say about the identity of Babylon?”  Not what someone thinks it is, based on our world geo-political situation of our recent past or of today.

This series will take you on a journey of discovery that may surprise you in many ways.  The Babylon of the Bible may not be what you think it is!

Here are links to the three pars of this series:

Part 1:  http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/hiddentreasures/20130408.html

Part 2:  http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/hiddentreasures/20130415.html

Part 3:  http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/hiddentreasures/20130422.html


Shalom and be blessed
Dan and Brenda Cathcart

Visit our website at www.moedministries.com

Up to Jerusalem!

After Yeshua’s transfiguration, the focus of His ministry changed. We read that He set His heart steadfastly toward Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51-52 NKJV 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face.

The time of His crucifixion was drawing close and He was drawn inevitably to Jerusalem. But before He gets there, He must journey throughout the land of Israel. It is around this time that He sends out the seventy messengers to go before Him into all the cities which He would visit.

Luke 10:1 NKJV 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Their instructions were to go only where they were welcomed, heal the sick, and spread the news that the kingdom of God is near.

Luke 10:8-9 NKJV 8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Seventy is a significant number. It is composed of seven and ten. Seven is the number of spiritual completion and ten is the number for the end or completion of a cycle. The number of Jacob’s sons that went into captivity were seventy; according to which the number of the nations of the world was determined. Symbolically, we can see that Yeshua sent out all the sons of Jacob—all the children of the nations that belong to Him. We can also see that a cycle had been completed. Yeshua’s ministry on earth was reaching an end that would bring in spiritual completion.

The seventy disciples return rejoicing in the miracles done through them by the power of God. Imagine the excitement that must have been rippling through the entire land of Israel. Seventy disciples sent out in pairs to visit all the cities that Yeshua would visit; thirty-five cities at a time visited by the power of the Holy Spirit, healing the city and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Then Yeshua visits and the excitement reaches fever pitch. Not surprisingly, multitudes begin to follow. Excitement continues to build. The crowds grow so large they begin to trample one another.

Luke 12:1 NKJV 1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another …

Yeshua continues to travel through the cities and villages, teaching as He journeyed toward Jerusalem. He didn’t take a straight line path, but went throughout Judea and Samaria one last time before arriving at Jerusalem for a final Passover. It is interesting that the gospel of Luke introduces us to the boy Yeshua for the first time as Yeshua journeys with His family to Jerusalem for the Passover.

As He journeys, He heals the sick and casts out demons all the while preaching the Kingdom of God. He warns that those who would be His disciple must put Him first. (Luke 12).  He warns that those who follow Him must be fruitful (Luke 12, 13). He teaches that those who would follow Him need to focus on the message of the Kingdom of God not things of this world (Luke 14). The Pharisees and scribes confront him with their doubts; the multitudes follow Him because to the miracles He does. Some follow out of faith, and cry out to Him in faith. But throughout His journeys, the multitude continues to grow.

Finally, as he approaches Jericho before taking the long road through the mountains up to Jerusalem, the multitudes continue to follow Him. A blind beggar hears the crowd and asks who is coming. He had obviously heard of “Jesus of Nazareth” or, in Hebrew, Yeshua haNatzerat, because He immediately cries out naming Yeshua, “the Son of David.”

Luke 18:35-38 NKJV 35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Yeshua healed the blind man and all the people gave praise to God. This is the scene as Yeshua enters Jericho and goes on toward Jerusalem. The multitudes are ready to proclaim that Yeshua is the King of Israel! Yeshua, of course, knows this and tells them a parable warning them that the kingdom of God would not be established immediately.

Luke 19:11 NKJV 11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

In the parable, He warns them that the master who departs on a long journey expects his servants to work for him in his absence. Yeshua knew that this was not the time that His kingdom would be established. Yet, He allows the multitude that follows Him to proclaim that He is King. Indeed, He proclaims His right to the Kingship by His entry into Jerusalem.

Imagine this scene. The multitudes have come from all over Israel. They’ve followed Him until; finally, it is the time of the Passover. At the original Passover, God sent Moses to take them out of bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt to receive the Promised Land. Will Yeshua, the Son of David, the promised King of Israel, deliver them from Roman rule and restore the Kingdom of Israel? Yeshua comes riding into Jerusalem from the east through the gate called Beautiful.

Luke 19:33-38 NKJV 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Zechariah writes of the King coming in humility to Jerusalem.

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV 9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Luke 19:39-40 NKJV 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

But Yeshua’s time to establish His earthly kingdom was not yet. The context of this prophecy in Zechariah is the establishment of the nation of Israel as the pre-eminent nation. The King of Israel will have dominion over all the earth.

Zechariah 9:10-11 NKJV 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be 'from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.' 11 "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Even at His ascension, forty days after His resurrection, when His disciples asked if the time had come Yeshua side-stepped their question.

Acts 1:7-8 NKJV 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

What, then, is the purpose of this grand procession into Jerusalem? Yeshua is the Son of David who will reign over the nations from His throne in Jerusalem. But first, He had to die to redeem His subjects, His people from slavery to sin. Yeshua communicated His mission to His disciples as they were on the final leg of their journey to Jerusalem.

Luke 18:31-33 NKJV 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 "For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 "They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

The prophet Isaiah wrote about the need for the Messiah to die for the iniquities of His people.

Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

The purpose, then, was first to communicate that He is the rightful King. He is the one Isaiah wrote about who would die and then reign.

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

He lets His followers know that He is the rightful King, but He isn’t going to reign just yet. This was a paradigm shift for the Jewish people of that day. They weren’t looking for the same “man” to be both the suffering servant who would die for them and the ruling king. The purpose is also prophetic. Like all the scripture, it is about Him. He is letting us know that He will return, and gather all His followers, not only from Israel, but from the entire world. He will enter through the east gate to the cries of His people, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Yeshua, Himself, prophecies about His return.

Luke 13:35 NKJV 35 "See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"

Imagine that you are in the crowd following Yeshua into Jerusalem. As you follow Yeshua up to Jerusalem, will you count the cost? Will you put Yeshua and the message before everything else? Will you be the faithful servant who diligently works to build His Kingdom until He comes? As we approach the day of Passover, the anniversary of Yeshua’s death and, three days later, His resurrection, read Luke 9 through 24, and meditate on His message to those who would follow Him.

Shalom and be blessed,

Dan and Brenda Cathcart

Visit our website at www.moedministries.com

The Ten Banquets in the Book of Esther

The Book of Esther is all about a man who hates the Jewish people and schemes to kill them. He achieves a high position in the government of Persia and uses that position to enact a decree to kill all the Jews. When the queen, herself a Jew, finds out about the decree, she approaches the king, exposes the man who wants to kill her and all her people, and gets a new decree signed allowing the Jews to fight back. On the fateful day, the Jews triumph overwhelmingly over their foes.

 

One of the themes of this book is that things that are hidden will be revealed. Mordecai reveals a plot to kill the king; Esther reveals Haman’s hidden agenda; Esther and Mordecai’s hidden identity is revealed. This pattern points to the revelation of another hidden character in the account. God’s working behind the scenes is hidden. His name is not mentioned at all in the Book of Esther, yet His hand is evident throughout as events “just happen” to occur leading to the exposure of Haman and the redemption of the Jewish people.

 

One of the hidden patterns of the Book of Esther is the appearance of duals. A detail will be mentioned twice, an event will happen twice, or an event will occur that is parallel to another event. Some examples of these duals are two lists of the king’s servants, two reports that Esther concealed her identity, two houses for the women, and two references to the death of Haman’s sons. Through these duals, the number two is hidden or embedded into the account. What is the significance of the number two? Two is the number of the Son, the second person of the Godhead. It is also the number of differentiation. God separated darkness from the light on the second day of creation. Yeshua, the Son, comes twice. In Yeshua’s first coming, He dies and is resurrected ensuring life for those who believe in Him. He separates life from death. When He returns, He comes with the two-edged sword to judge the nations.

 

Re 1:16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (NKJV)

 

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJV)

 

Yeshua, the Living Word, differentiates between those who are His and those who are destined for death. So, throughout the Book of Esther, there is the hidden theme of a ruler coming who will rule in righteousness and justice. Where do we see this theme in the Book of Esther and what does it tell us about the coming of Yeshua?

 

One of the patterns of duals is in the pairing of the ten banquets in the book. Ten is the number of perfection of divine order. It signifies a complete cycle or the whole of something. In this case, we will see that it represents the completion of the cycle of the exaltation of man above God which began when Adam and Eve chose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and “become like God.” It continued through Nimrod who led the building of the Tower of Babel to “reach the heavens.”

 

The ten banquets are:

1)      The king’s banquet to begin the 180 day display of his wealth and power.

2)      The king’s seven day banquet at the end of the 180 day display of wealth and power.

3)      Queen Vashti’s banquet for the women.

4)      The banquet given in honor of Esther being made queen.

5)      The private banquet between Haman and the king at the signing of the decree to kill all the Jews.

6)      The first banquet Esther gave for the king and Haman.

7)      The second banquet Esther gave for the king and Haman during which she denounces Haman.

8)      The public banquet given to elevate Mordecai to the rank of second only to the king.

9)      The banquet celebrating Jewish victory in the provinces.

10)  The banquet celebrating Jewish victory in Shushan.

 

The first two banquets serve to exhalt the king.

 

Esther 1:3-4 NKJV 3 that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants-the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him- 4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.

 

When we add the length of the seven day feast that followed this 180 day display, the entire period of 187 days is two days longer than the interval between Passover, the first Feast of the LORD, to the end of the seven day Feast of Tabernacles, the last Feast of the LORD. Passover demonstrates the humble character of God who through His son Yeshua, died on the cross to bring salvation to mankind. Paul writes that Yeshua:

 

Philippians 2:6-9 NKJV 6 …who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

 

The final feast celebrates Yeshua’s return when God will finally and forever dwell with man. It is the wedding feast of the Lamb where the bride and groom feast and celebrate together. One of the things we notice about the King of Persia’s final seven day feast is that the queen is not there! She is busy holding her own separate feast.  In this scenario, the wife of the king remains rebellious against the king, reminding us of mankind’s rebellion against God.

 

Esther 1:10-11 NKJV 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.

 

Esther 1:13-14 NKJV 13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice, 14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):

 

The king called for Vashti on the seventh day of the feast. For those of you who are familiar with the Feast of Tabernacles, you know that the seventh day is called “Hashanah Rabba” or the great seventh. This last day of the Feast is celebrated with more joy, enthusiasm, and extended ceremonies than the previous six days. Also, notice the preponderance of the number seven. Seven is the number of spiritual completion. It points to the ultimate Sabbath or seventh day rest when Yeshua will rule and reign from Jerusalem with perfect justice and righteousness. So, hidden behind the king’s feasts exalting mankind, is the promise of the coming of the King who rules under the authority of God and exalts God.

 

Notice that King Ahaseurus is advised by seven princes who supposedly understand the times and are wise in matters of the law and justice. When Yeshua reigns, the seven spirits of the LORD are before Him.

 

Revelation 1:4 NKJV 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

 

Zechariah 4:2 NKJV 2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.

 

Zechariah goes on to explain that the seven lamps are the seven spirits of God. Isaiah also writes about the seven sprits of God.

 

Isaiah 11:1-4 NKJV 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

 

Yeshua is advised by the Spirit of the LORD who is truly understands the times and is wise in matters of law and justice.

 

Vashti attending her own feast reminds us of Yeshua’s parable of the ruler whose guests he invited for his son’s wedding can’t be bothered to show up for the wedding.

 

Matthew 22:8-9 NKJV 8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'

 

Vashti, as the bride, is not ready or willing. Esther is a type of bride who has made herself ready. The banquet Vashti holds has its dual in the banquet the king holds for Esther.

 

Esther 2:16-18 NKJV 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.

 

The next banquet is a private banquet with just Haman and the king as they celebrate the signing of the decree to kill the Jews.

 

Esther 3:15 NKJV 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

 

The villain’s identity, Haman, is hidden from public view. The public is confused and bewildered about this decree.

 

The dual for this banquet is a public banquet elevating Mordecai to a position of authority. The feasts that Queen Esther gave for the king and Haman fall between these two feasts. During the course of these two banquets, Haman falls from his favored position and is executed. Mordecai goes from obscurity to second in command. During this time, the king discovers that Mordecai had exposed a plot to kill him but had not been rewarded for that act. To begin Haman’s humiliation and Mordecai’s exaltation, Haman is the one who must clothe Mordecai in the king’s robe, place him on the king’s horse and parade through the streets of Shushan proclaiming that the king delights in Mordecai

 

Esther 6:11 NKJV 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!"

 

After Haman is executed, Mordecai is appointed in his place and rises to an even higher honor, that of second only to the king. He is clothed in the garments of royalty and given a gold crown. His identity is open and revealed for all to see and a feast is held in his honor.

 

Esther 8:15-17 NKJV 15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. 17 And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

 

The last two feasts of the book are together duals of the first two feasts. In these last two feasts, the Jewish people celebrate the victory over their enemies. Instead of exalting in their power, they refuse to take plunder from their enemies and, instead, give gifts to the poor.

 

Esther 9:16-22 NKJV 16 The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

 

The feast days were held as days of rest, joy, gladness and generosity. Their sorrows were turned to joy. When Yeshua reigns and we enter into His rest, all our sorrow will turn to gladness.

Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

Revelation 21:4 NKJV 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

 

Shalom and be blessed

Dan & Brenda Cathcart

Visit our web site at www.moedministries.com