jbherrin@heart4god.8k.com

Chapters 9, 10

The matter to be discussed in this chapter is very important. Multitudes of saints are falling for this particular trap of the enemy. Nearly every week I get a letter from someone that sends me some warning of dire things that are occurring in the world, or a link to some site where such issues are discussed. There is a whole industry that has sprung up to fulfill the desire of those who want to be kept up-to-date about the latest thing that is happening in the kingdom of darkness.

I have heard the stories about the secret societies, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Skull and Bones organization, the international bankers, the Bilderbergers, the Rothschilds, the Jesuits, the United Nations and its New World Order, the smart chips and digital implants, the secret prison camps, the black helicopters, and government complicity in just about every evil deed imaginable, etc., etc.. I would think it remarkable if any of the readers of this book have not heard many of the same stories.

Although I know there is a great deal of speculation and wild imagination relating to these matters, I also recognize some truth in the stories. I would not tell you that all such stories are false, nor that every conspiracy theory is the product of a suspicious and delusional mind, for there truly are many conspiracies in the world, and there are many wicked men who are pawns of Satan who are working out his evil schemes in this world. The person who believes that history is simply a product of chance is really somewhat naive. Many of the wars and events of history have been the product of collaboration and collusion among evil men who were working out their own agendas. Conspiracies are real.

The question is not whether there is truth in these stories, the question the saints should ask is, "Would the Father have me to focus on these matters?" There is a whole industry built around exploiting the interest of people, mostly Christians, who are fearful or curious about end time events, and the number of books, cassette tapes, radio broadcasts, television shows, magazines, video tapes, etc., that are put out continually to discuss these matters is legion.

I have found many saints inside and outside of Babylon to be focused on these matters. I get "emergency" e-mails from saints who have heard some new pronouncement of events that are occurring and they feel that everyone should know about it, although the reason why is often unclear, for quite often there is nothing the saint can do about this "emergency" matter. The tone of the letters I get from people who are focused on these issues is always the same, they are full of fear. Some people are angry as well, but fear is always present. Focusing on what evil men are doing in the world always produces fear in the hearts of God’s children.

Focus is vastly important for the saint who would journey toward Zion. Our focus should be on the joy set before us, not the plans and schemes of wickedness in this world. A focus on Yahshua will produce peace and faith in the life of the saint. A focus on the conspiracies of wicked men and of angels will produce a troubled soul and stir up fear.

Consider the account of Peter and the other disciples who were crossing the Sea of Galilee on a stormy night when they saw Yahshua walking on the water. The disciples were afraid that they were soon to be under the water, drowned and dead, while Yahshua demonstrated how to put the water under His feet. Peter called out to his Master and said, "Lord, if it is really You, then bid me come to you on the water." In reply Yahshua said, "Come."

Matthew 14:29-31 29 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Yahshua. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Yahshua reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Peter was able to put the stormy water under his feet while he looked to Yahshua. The scriptures say that he "walked on water and came toward Yahshua." Never before had it ever been recorded that any man had walked on water. What Peter did was extraordinary. It was miraculous, and he did it because he saw Yahshua doing it and Peter’s eyes were on Yahshua.

But then Peter looked to the wind and the waves. He took his eyes off of Yahshua and looked at the raging storm around him, and we are told that "he was afraid and beginning to sink." No longer was Peter able to do the miraculous when his focus was taken off of his Savior. Instead fear gripped his heart and he began to succumb to the wind and the storm.

When Peter cried out for Yahshua to save him we are told that Yahshua immediately reached out His hand and caught Peter. I am confident that Peter’s focus then returned to his Savior, that he saw his hand in Yahshua’s hand, and his faith returned and he was able to return to the boat.

Notice how critical focus was to this entire episode. In the midst of the storm when Peter kept his eyes on the Savior he was able to rise above the stormy waters and place them under his feet. We live in days when many storms are stirring and they are about to break forth upon this world with great suddenness and fury. Yet we can rise above the storms, putting them under our feet, and maintain a peace and a calm in the midst of the storm. To do so we must focus on Yahshua. If we look at the storms and make them our focus we will succumb to fear and will be overwhelmed by them. We can only walk as Overcomers as we keep our eyes on Messiah.

Many are making the storms of this world their focus. By constantly paying attention to what is going on in the world as it relates to wicked men and their schemes, these saints are filling their minds with fear and they are being assailed by doubts. As they see the schemes of evil men moving forward they become fearful of the power of these same men. Yet evil men are merely pawns in God’s hands. They can do nothing without His permission. Their power is an illusion. The early apostles understood this.

Acts 4:23-28 23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST YAHWEH AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Yahshua, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur."

Did you note that it said that Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles (Romans) and the people of Israel only did what Yahweh’s hand and purpose had predestined? They simply fulfilled the plan of God. It was necessary that the Messiah should suffer and then die for the sins of the people. Satan did not have a victory on the day Yahshua was crucified. It was the day of Satan’s doom.

In the same way there are many people today who are raging against God and they are devising futile things. Kings (mighty ones) are taking their stand, and rulers are gathering together (conspiring). Yet not a one will prevail in their wickedness. Certainly, many saints will be martyred, even as Yahshua was martyred, but the end will be glory for the saints and judgment for the wicked. Why focus on what wicked men are doing? The predestined purposes of Yahweh are moving forward and they cannot be turned.

Has it not been prophesied that in the last days men will wax worse and worse? Has it not been foretold that wickedness will abound? Why make this wickedness your focus? It will only bring trouble to your spirit. Instead, focus on Christ. He will put every enemy under His feet. He will rule the world with a rod of iron, and He will use His saints to accomplish these things.

Follow Yahshua’s own example when people came to Him to disturb Him with news of a conspiracy being birthed by King Herod to capture Him.

Luke 13:31-32 31 Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." 32 And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, "Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.'"

The Pharisees wanted Yahshua to be manipulated by fear. They wanted Him to change His plans to avoid the schemes of wicked men. But look at Yahshua’s confidence. He would not allow fear to rule for even one minute. He would not focus on the schemes of wickedness. Instead He declared that nothing could be done to Him until the time set by the Father. He said, "I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal." Herod could not change the timetable of God by so much as a second.

This is the confidence that God would have the Elect to walk in today. Know that it is the Father that orders the steps of the righteous. The Elect are not at the mercy of scheming men or fallen angels. Their lives are kept in the palm of the Father’s hand. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ: not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing. We are always kept in the love of God. No New World Order, no secret society, no international banker, no world government, no scheme of man, can do anything to alter the plan of Yahweh for our lives. He alone orders our steps, and He will bring us forth victorious over all.

I am not saying that we should be ignorant of the day and time we live in. It is well and good to know that things are marching forward to a great confrontation between good and evil, between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. There is nothing wrong with being aware of what is going on in the world, but we should not make it our focus. We should make Yahweh our focus, and we should know what He says about these days. Let the nations rage and peoples plot futile conspiracies. Yahweh’s predestined plan will be accomplished right on time and in the exact manner that He has determined.

You can know that you live in stormy times without making the storm your focus. What possible benefit is there in staring at the wind and the waves, looking intently to the schemes and actions of sinful men? You will only find your soul troubled as you do so and your faith will flee away. Heed the words of Paul to the Hebrew believers:

Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Yahshua, the author and perfecter of faith...

Those who run a race with diligence are those who are focused on the finish line. They are not staring at the crowds in the stadium, nor looking to the flowers and grass planted beside the race track. They are focused on the goal. In the same way the Overcomers are to focus on Christ who is the goal and sum of all things for the saint. Let us "fix our eyes" on Yahshua. Let us have our eyes fastened and immovable upon Him. Then we will rise above the storm and the waves, and we will find every enemy under our feet.

There are many people who will come to you in the same way that the Pharisees came to Yahshua, and they will tell you of some plot or conspiracy that is being hatched in this sinful world by wicked men. Don’t give into the temptation to run and hide. Don’t focus on the vain plots of men and their raging against God and His anointed ones. Respond as did Yahshua. Tell them a thing or two. Tell them that you will do the will of God until you have reached the end of the race, and then you will have reached your goal. It is Yahweh that determines where the finish line is for each saint, not man.

Stand firm in your confidence in God. Storms will come. Men’s hearts will fail them for fear due to the calamities to come upon this world, but those whose eyes are on Yahshua will be kept in peace. Is there anything you cannot endure if you have peace?

Fix your eyes on Yahshua. Fix them and do not look to the right or to the left. Refuse the bait when people come and tell you to focus on the wind and the waves. Remain steadfast.

Fix your eyes on Yahshua.

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Zion’s Gates

The chapters of this book have examined many of the ambushes, traps, and snares along the road as one journeys from Babylon to Zion. Not all such hazards can be addressed in one book, and this writer has spoken only of those things that he has personally encountered. I pray that many might be helped along their own journey by the words recorded here, and that they might overcome all and reach their goal.

The first chapter of this book spoke of Babylon, and attempted to give some definition to it. It seems fitting that the last chapter should speak of Zion. Zion is the goal set before the saint, but what is Zion? We have mentioned some things that are characteristic of Zion throughout the book, and we have contrasted it with Babylon.

In chapter one it was mentioned that, at its heart, Babylon represents a spiritual principle, and we must conclude the same for Zion. If Babylon represents mankind attempting to ascend to God by their own labor, sweat, and efforts, then Zion in contrast must be a people who are at rest, resting in the finished work of Yahshua. If Babylon is typified by men and women living according to the leading of their flesh and soul, then Zion is typified by those who walk by the Spirit. If Babylon is unbelief and sin, then Zion is faith and obedience.

The pathway to Zion is the way of the cross, and those who are citizens of Zion are being conformed to the image of Christ as they submit to the purging, refining, and purification of Yahweh.

In the Old Testament, Zion was identified as one of the hills, the highest hill, in Jerusalem. It was the hill that David’s throne sat upon. Yet Zion and Jerusalem were not part of Israel when David became King. This man with the heart after God had to take it by force. David saw Jerusalem and Zion as beautiful and he wanted them for his capital, his home, his dwelling place.

II Samuel 5:6-8 6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 Now David said on that day, "Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul), he shall be chief and captain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

What awesome prophecies and spiritual truths are revealed in these words. When David went to capture Jerusalem, the stronghold of Zion, the Jebusites who inhabited it said that the lame and the blind would be able to keep David out. David in return said that his soul hated the lame and the blind, and the saying arose that the blind and the lame would not come into the habitation of Zion (II Samuel 5:6-8). The blind represent those without spiritual vision, and the lame those who fail in obedience. Those who dwell in Zion must have spiritual vision and obedience.

It is quite striking that the manner in which historians and archaeologists have identified Zion’s hill today is by finding the spring that feeds the water channel that supplied water to Zion. This water channel was the path that David’s army took to enter into Zion and wrest it from the Jebusites. Astonishingly, the spring of water today is called the "Virgin’s Fount".

What a picture this is of spiritual truth. One must battle to enter into Zion, and the entrance is through the Virgin’s Fount. Water is for cleansing and all those who enter Zion must be cleansed. What a perfect correlation this is to John’s words that the 144,000 are on Zion and they are all virgins, not having been defiled by women.

Revelation 14:1-5 1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste (virgins). These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

It is certainly no coincidence that the spring that provides water to Zion is called the Virgin’s Fount today. This depiction of those who inhabit Zion as virgins has nothing to do with men or women who are physical virgins. The scriptures are speaking of spiritual virgins. We see this symbolism used in Paul’s writings.

II Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

Those who are pure virgins are those who remain pure in their devotion to Christ. They are not harlots in their affections. They do not profess love of Christ and also harbor a love for the world and its idols. They have been cleansed and purified of all other loves until they are focused only upon one thing, which is Christ. The next verse reveals what constitutes unfaithfulness.

II Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

We are called to a pure and simple devotion to Christ. He is to be our only desire and our single pursuit. Many are the saints who profess devotion to Christ, but their lives reveal that they are devoted to other things. They labor for that which perishes, and they fail to walk in the Spirit fulfilling all obedience and walking in all truth. These are not pure virgins. In their hearts they desire Christ and something else. Self has not been crucified.

Those who are the 144,000 dwelling on Mount Zion are pure virgins in their devotion to Christ. When Yahshua calls they respond with obedience, even to the crucifying of their own flesh, will and desires. They may struggle, but in the end they will respond, "Not my will, but Your will be done."

In an earlier chapter we looked at those things that are promised to the Overcomer in Christ. The 144,000 are overcomers and will partake of all these promises. The number 144,000 does not necessarily speak of the actual number of saints anymore than virgins speaks of those who have never had sexual relations. Revelation is a book of symbols that must be interpreted by the Spirit of Yahweh. In another passage in Revelation John reveals that the 144,000 are comprised of 12,000 saints from twelve different tribes of Israel. This too is symbolic speech.

Twelve is the number of divine government and election. Yahweh chose twelve tribes to represent Him to the world. Yahshua chose twelve disciples to do the same. The 144,000 represent the elect of God who are called to rule and reign with Him. Symbolically they are 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

They are firstfruits unto God, the first to be conformed to the image of Christ. These have submitted voluntarily to the cross during their life on earth. They have walked in faith and chosen a path of obedience to God. They have been aliens and strangers in this world and have had no permanent home here, looking instead to the promises of God. They have not been as Esau who traded his birthright for a pot of stew, fulfilling of his fleshly desires while sacrificing his inheritance. The Overcomers have chosen Yahweh over the world.

I John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

James is even more plain, and he uses language that is in perfect agreement with what John has written regarding the 144,000 virgins on Mount Zion.

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If adulteresses are those who are friends (lovers) of the world, then virgins are those who deny the world and love only Christ. Zion is a place of heavenly vision, where the saints look beyond that which their natural senses report to see into the heavenlies. That is why the blind cannot enter into Zion. The blind see only what their physical senses report. The blind live always in the physical to attain the pleasure of the moment. The blind will not choose to turn away from the pursuit of the things of this present world, for they do not see the better and more glorious inheritance that lies ahead.

Zion is a realm of purity. Babylon is a corrupt mixture which is detestable in the sight of God. Babylon mixes the pursuit of Christ with a pursuit of the world and all it offers. Zion has come out of Babylon, out of mixture, into a pure devotion to Christ. Is Christ alone enough to satisfy you, or do you, along with the manna from heaven, also cry out for quail to satisfy your flesh? Is it sufficient in your heart to have only Christ, and to forego any demand that you have all the nice things that others have? Are you content to know lack in the things of the world, and still consider yourself rich in Christ? Or do you murmur and complain that you do not have all the luxuries that are afforded to others?

Those who do not have eyes to perceive the riches of Christ will always cry out for quail. The manna that has come down out of heaven does not satisfy them. The manna (Christ) feeds the spirit, but many saints want to feed the flesh as well. If God were to determine that you were to live as one who is destitute in this life with no home of your own, no new cars, no nice clothes, suffering lack even in the area of food, would you be satisfied?

There was a time during the 18 months that the Father forbid me to work when we did not have any meat in the house. For a time we got down to having only a bag of grits and some butter. In the darkest hour we even went without electricity in the house and I had to cook the grits on a gas grill outside. Yet during this time the Father gave me the grace to thank Him that we had food and that we were not going hungry. I meant this with all the sincerity of my heart.

When we did not have meat I thanked Yahweh for what we did have. I did not want to be as the generation of Israelites in the wilderness that murmured and complained against God. I did not want to be disqualified from entering into the promised rest. Though I did not demand it, the Father did give us meat. It was only a short time that we were without meat, and it would have been a short time for Israel, too had they not murmured and complained. They did not have to die in the wilderness. They did not have to suffer a forty year delay to enter into the promised land.

What the Israelites underwent was a symbolic representation of the test before the saints today. Yahshua declared that He is the bread come down out of heaven. In the same way He is testing the saints to see if they will be satisfied with Him, and Him alone. All those who travel to Zion will go through wilderness places. They will know lack in some manner or another. It may be a lack of food. It may be a lack of clothing. It may be a lack of shelter. It may be enduring sickness. It may be deprivation of any number of things. Yahweh will allow us to suffer these things to see whether we are pure virgins in our hearts, or not.

Will we blubber like babies saying, "Did you bring us out to this wilderness to die?" Will we demand quail, and dream of the leeks and onions that others are eating? Or will we be satisfied with Christ, our manna, our daily bread?

I am speaking from a place of experience when I say that the test is not easy. Our flesh desires many things that compete with our devotion to Christ. We must crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts (Galatians 5). When the flesh yearns for that which is withheld by the will of God, we must buffet our body and keep it under subjection to the spirit. We must make the good confession that we are satisfied with Christ alone.

This is the purity of devotion found in the inhabitants of Zion.

The glory and fulfillment and joy and satisfaction of those who dwell in Zion is seen in this verse that we have looked at already:

Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

Do you see it? The Lamb is standing on Mount Zion along with the 144,000. The Lamb is in the midst of Zion. The Lamb has been the focus of those who left Babylon. The Lamb has been their passion and desire. It is for the Lamb that they have endured rejection, shame, scorn, heartache, lack and many other things. It is in pursuit of the Lamb that they have known sorrow and grief. The saints of Zion have been pursuing the Lamb, and now having attained the goal they find themselves dwelling with the Lamb of God. Hallelu-Yah.

Isaiah 51:11-12 11 So the ransomed of Yahweh will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. 12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you."

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore..., let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..., fixing our eyes on Yahshua.

Yahshua is the glory of Zion. He is the joy set before every saint of God, yet many saints are blind and lame. They do not see the glory of Yahshua, nor will they make the effort to follow hard after Him. For this reason the blind and the lame will not enter the habitation of Zion.

If you see the glory of Christ, if He has become your passionate pursuit, the Lily of the Valley, the Pearl of great price, if He is that which you desperately seek, then blessed are you. May you rise up on strong legs and swift feet and pursue Him to the end. The gates of Zion await you, and inside is the everlasting joy.

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