Daily Bible Portion (Friday)
Daily Bible Portion – 6 of 7
"WHEN YOU KINDLE"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 8:1 to 12:16, Zechariah 2:14 to 4:7, John 19:31–37, Hebrew 3:1-6)
Who are the Two Witnesses?
(Zechariah 2:14 (2:10) to 4:7)
Along with Hosea and Malachi, Zechariah is one of the prophets of mercy who dealt with the return of the whole House of Israel. His life was 135 years AFTER the House of Israel went into captivity and was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. This portion starts in the middle of a vision given Zechariah while in captivity.
Zechariah prophesies,
There are conditions:
The vision of Zechariah then focuses on “a solid gold lampstand/menorah with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there were two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” Zechariah did not know what they were. After being asked three times by the angel to identify what he was seeing, he was told, “These are the two who are anointed to serve Yahweh of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:1-14; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1, 53:2; Psalm 132:17; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Ezekiel 29:21).
The two olive trees on either side of the lampstand/menorah represent two people groups who are witnesses of the true Gospel of the Lord. The Branch of the lampstand/menorah represents Jesus the Light of the world. The true Light reveals His Word, the Torah to His people. The two people groups are the House of Israel and the House of Judah, the twelve tribes of Israel united together as one in Christ. These are His two witnesses who reflect His Light, the Gospel, to the nations (Ezekiel 37:15-28).
A wild olive tree has the same genetics as a cultured olive tree - they are both olive trees. The Lord does not mix seed as mixed seed was forbidden in Torah. For instance, a non-fruit-bearing tree would not be grafted into a fruit-bearing tree, such as a cedar tree with an olive tree, nor would a weed-like tree similar to a cottonwood be grafted into an olive tree.
We mentioned before that the term gentile means pagan, confused and without God. Gentiles were not the people Paul was referring to in Romans. Paul’s ministry was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, and the word used when referring to them was the Greek word akrobustia (Strong’s #G203). The akrobustia were thought of as a “wild olive tree.” When the House of Israel went into captivity they were scattered living among the Gentiles, or Nations assimilating into their lifestyle and culture. In doing so the House of Israel lost their identity as Israel and their understanding of the promised inheritance God gave to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
The people of Christ Jesus are the physical seed of Abraham. The people returning to Kingdom principles and walking in their inheritance are called the akrobustia, Strong’s #G203 in the New Testament. They are the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9, 29).
If a tree lost most of its roots it would look wild, sparse and emaciated, baring little or no fruit whereas a complete healthy olive tree near a life source and tended regularly would look full of life, cultured and bear abundant fruit. The wild olive branch spoken of in Romans chapter 11 is the House of Israel, which is being grafted back into the true olive tree the Whole House of Israel (all twelve tribes), with Christ Jesus as its Root. The Life of the Living Torah that was given to Israel, according to the covenants the Lord made with His chosen people, flows from Jesus the life giving Root.
Although the House of Israel is a part of the Abrahamic Covenant, it became corrupt when its people failed to observe the instructions, which were contained, in the next covenant called the Mosaic Covenant. The teaching of Moses is the Gospel designed to give Israel their full inheritance in the Abrahamic Covenant. The point that Zechariah was making was this: when believers return (meaning when they return to participate in the Mosaic Covenant) this action grafts them back into the olive tree, rejoining them to the sap of the Tree of Life. Why is this important? As believers we are called to be a royal Priesthood. It is all about holiness.
continues tomorrow...
"WHEN YOU KINDLE"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 8:1 to 12:16, Zechariah 2:14 to 4:7, John 19:31–37, Hebrew 3:1-6)
Who are the Two Witnesses?
(Zechariah 2:14 (2:10) to 4:7)
“They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the House of Israel and the House of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers. The Lord called your name, Green Olive Tree, lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. For the Lord, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you for the evil of the House of Israel and of the House of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to Baal” (Jeremiah 11:10-17).
Along with Hosea and Malachi, Zechariah is one of the prophets of mercy who dealt with the return of the whole House of Israel. His life was 135 years AFTER the House of Israel went into captivity and was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. This portion starts in the middle of a vision given Zechariah while in captivity.
Zechariah prophesies,
“Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon! For I am coming, and I will live among you. Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people” (Zechariah 2:7,10-11).
There are conditions:
“If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here. Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:7-8).
The vision of Zechariah then focuses on “a solid gold lampstand/menorah with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there were two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” Zechariah did not know what they were. After being asked three times by the angel to identify what he was seeing, he was told, “These are the two who are anointed to serve Yahweh of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:1-14; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1, 53:2; Psalm 132:17; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Ezekiel 29:21).
Revelation 11:3-4 “Who is the Lampstand and who are the Two Olive Trees? Yeshua spoke and said, ‘and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.’"
The two olive trees on either side of the lampstand/menorah represent two people groups who are witnesses of the true Gospel of the Lord. The Branch of the lampstand/menorah represents Jesus the Light of the world. The true Light reveals His Word, the Torah to His people. The two people groups are the House of Israel and the House of Judah, the twelve tribes of Israel united together as one in Christ. These are His two witnesses who reflect His Light, the Gospel, to the nations (Ezekiel 37:15-28).
Romans 11:16-18; 25-27 Paul spoke, saying, “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”
A wild olive tree has the same genetics as a cultured olive tree - they are both olive trees. The Lord does not mix seed as mixed seed was forbidden in Torah. For instance, a non-fruit-bearing tree would not be grafted into a fruit-bearing tree, such as a cedar tree with an olive tree, nor would a weed-like tree similar to a cottonwood be grafted into an olive tree.
We mentioned before that the term gentile means pagan, confused and without God. Gentiles were not the people Paul was referring to in Romans. Paul’s ministry was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, and the word used when referring to them was the Greek word akrobustia (Strong’s #G203). The akrobustia were thought of as a “wild olive tree.” When the House of Israel went into captivity they were scattered living among the Gentiles, or Nations assimilating into their lifestyle and culture. In doing so the House of Israel lost their identity as Israel and their understanding of the promised inheritance God gave to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
The people of Christ Jesus are the physical seed of Abraham. The people returning to Kingdom principles and walking in their inheritance are called the akrobustia, Strong’s #G203 in the New Testament. They are the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9, 29).
Galatians 3:7-9, 29 “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture [Jesus], foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. And if you are Christ's/Messiah’s, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
If a tree lost most of its roots it would look wild, sparse and emaciated, baring little or no fruit whereas a complete healthy olive tree near a life source and tended regularly would look full of life, cultured and bear abundant fruit. The wild olive branch spoken of in Romans chapter 11 is the House of Israel, which is being grafted back into the true olive tree the Whole House of Israel (all twelve tribes), with Christ Jesus as its Root. The Life of the Living Torah that was given to Israel, according to the covenants the Lord made with His chosen people, flows from Jesus the life giving Root.
Although the House of Israel is a part of the Abrahamic Covenant, it became corrupt when its people failed to observe the instructions, which were contained, in the next covenant called the Mosaic Covenant. The teaching of Moses is the Gospel designed to give Israel their full inheritance in the Abrahamic Covenant. The point that Zechariah was making was this: when believers return (meaning when they return to participate in the Mosaic Covenant) this action grafts them back into the olive tree, rejoining them to the sap of the Tree of Life. Why is this important? As believers we are called to be a royal Priesthood. It is all about holiness.
continues tomorrow...