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NORTHERN STYLE
CREDO
`Behold, I come quickly! '
These words from the Book of Revelation continue with: `Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this Book (Revelation 22:7). As we have said many times, we so often use words with `Greek minds', skimming over the words of a sentence, looking for the knowledge we think lays in the conclusion. Yet if we are to take seriously the words of the apostle Paul, when writing to his `true son in the faith' that `all (every word) is God-breathed (inspired)', it requires our attention. With that said we will take our thoughts back to the title and the opening word `Behold'.
In both the Hebrew and Greek use of this word there is a sense that we need to pay attention to what follows - to attend to, to heed, what is about to be said - not just in the act of looking but in seeing the person and his intentions. In the following words we see not only He who is coming, but coming `quickly', understanding this to mean `coming suddenly, without warning' - which brings us back to that so-important word `Behold'. The verse concludes with an encouragement, `Blessed is he . . .' and an exhortation, `that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this Book'. Such words of encouragement and exhortation within the understanding of His sudden return will take us back to His `Great High-Priestly Prayer' shortly before Jesus left His disciples, as recorded in John 17: `Father the hour has come': (John 17:2-24 KJV)
" As You have given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth; I have finished the work which you gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your Name unto the men which You gave me out of the world; Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever You have given Me are of You. For I have given unto them the words which You gave Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You, and they have believed that You did send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your own Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are one. 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, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through the truth; Your word is truth. And as You have sent Me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they might also be sanctified through the truth. Neither do I pray for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word. That they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. "
Throughout this High Priestly prayer is the cry of the Lord Jesus, that His disciples, and those who follow, `be kept' as they have kept the Father's word that He gave them. Blessed indeed `are those who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this Book'. In stopping and considering the word `behold' in the last verses of the Book of Revelation, and in seeing Him who is speaking, we surely need to heed His words! Using our `Greek minds', dare we simply say that in these `Last Days' before His coming quickly for His own, we are exhorted to `care for the brethren' in all the fulness of that expression:
" . . . speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who
is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole Body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work. " Ephesians 4:15-16
And also to be `My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth'. We are to care for each other (in all the fulness of that word) and to proclaim the Kingdom of God: `That the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me'. With these thoughts in our hearts and minds, we would turn back in Scripture to earlier times to see a foreshadowing of the words of the Lord Jesus in His prayer to the Father and bring together `the Old and the New', the Word of God, hearing His Voice through His exhortation to `Behold'.
First we would introduce the historical background surrounding an earlier time in which we hear the exhortation to `Behold', and for that we turn to the time of Hezekiah King of Israel, long understood by Bible scholars to be a foreshadowing of One who would come, bringing deliverance from Israel's enemies and restoring the Kingdom of David . . . the Kingdom of God! For many long years the coastal strip of the land of Israel had been the landbridge over which the armies of Assyria, the kings of the north, had tramped as they sought to bring the land of the Pharoahs, the kings of the south, under their heels. The great kings of the Assyrians fill the pages of the Books of Kings and Chronicles: Tiglath-Pileser of King Ahaz's time, which saw the land of Edom, Philistia and much of the Negev lost to Judah . . . the mighty Assyrian kings Shalmaneser the Fifth and Sargon the Second followed on, all bent on conquest and adding to the power and might of the Assyrian Empire, leading finally to the conquest of the break-away Northern Kingdom of Israel.
And so, during the time of Hezekiah, would come striding across the pages of history the son of Sargon, the mighty King Sennacherib. In any imperial change of kingship there would have been a time of unrest, uncertainty, as the new king asserted his authority over his domains and subjects. It was also at this time that Hezekiah son of Ahaz, ruling over Judah experienced a time of National Revival - indeed it could be called a time of National Salvation from the wars that had been continually fought between the kings of the north and the kings of the south, using most cruelly the coastal landbridge of Israel as their `Highway of War'. We learn of his high esteem from the Book of Kings: (2 Kings 18:1-6)
" In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign . . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles . . . . Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no-one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow Him. "
During his great reforms he worked through the Levitical families, using them for the internal restoration cultural, administrative and religious life of his kingdom. Externally he undertook major defensive fortifications, building store-houses for food and then his great undertaking of water provision by turning the waters of the spring Gihon and directing them into a great subterranean tunnel inside the city walls of Jerusalem, thus enabling Hezekiah to withstand the armies of Sennacherib when they finally laid siege. Jerusalem, surrounded by the Judean mountains, had its own natural fortifications, and rarely did the marching armies wander off the narrow coastal landbridge on their way to conquest. Never-the-less, Hezekiah, always concerned with the need to prepare for whatever might occur, built upon the defensive walls of Jerusalem built by his great grandfather Uzziah, followed on by Jotham.
This time we look at the Second Book of Chronicles which records these events:
" Then he (Hezekiah) worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David. " 2 Chronicles 32:5
In the opening words of this same chapter we find recorded his concern and anxiety as he saw the possibility of the siege of Jerusalem: (Verse 1)
" After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennarcherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself."
We know of course that Sennarcherib did finally bring the Kingdom of Judah to heel, and later we read in the Second Book of Kings of the Assyrian king receiving tribute from Hezekiah at Lachish. But that is to go beyond the historical time in which we are interested in this Credo, for we are looking at types and shadows of the underlaying principle seen in the life and time of Hezekiah king of Israel. Why, then, this concern of Hezekiah, for rarely did the armies of the kings of the north and south concern themselves with Jerusalem, set high as it was in the Judean mountains? Hezekiah was not only the king of Judah . . not only a political, military leader . . for his reforms were centered on `the faith of his fathers', his heart and mind were set on the deliverance and restoration of the Kingdom of David, the Kingdom of God. His trust was centered on the faithfulness of the LORD God of Israel who had entered into a Covenanted relationship with Israel, and his heart grieved over the rebellion and separation of the northern tribe of Israel. Hezekiah's heart and mind were on the City of God that the patriarch Abraham had `seen' - as have the many others who have followed (and still follow) after him! Hezekiah had seen the beginning of the fall of Assyria to the rising power of the Babylonians. Entering into league with Ashkelon, a principal city of the Philistines, and supported by the ruling Pharaoh of Egypt, who were always concerned for the coastal landbridge and its denial to the kings of the north, Hezekiah brought back much of Gaza under his authority. The Book of Kings records that:
" The LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. " 2 Kings 18:7-8
As Hezekiah's authority grew, he sought to re-establish Judah's control over the Negev and Edom and he began to advance his authority into the northern kingdom of Israel, challenging the power of Assyria under the kingship of Sennacherib. The time would undoubtably come when that challenge would be met, but that is for a time beyond our intention to enter into here. The advance into the Northern Kingdom can be seen in 2 Chronicles 30 verse 1:
" Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Mannasseh, inviting them to come to the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. "
In Hezekiah's heart and mind was the deliverance, the salvation of all Israel - they were to celebrate together the Passover, the miraculous deliverance of their forefathers when they groaned under the heavy yoke of the Egyptians. Verses 4 and 5 give this understanding:
" The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written. " 2 Chronicles 30:4-5
In Hezekiah's heart was the desire, through the call to all the tribes of Israel to assemble in Jerusalem for the Passover, to remind them that they had once been delivered from the bondage of Egypt and that now, as the one people of God, they would be delivered from the bondage of Assyria! But to further reveal the Purpose of God, the call to Passover would co-incide with another joyful National Event signifying the Oneness of God with His Beloved People in the marriage of King Hezekiah to his bride Hephzibah - a Covenanted one-flesh relationship with God. With that we can turn from historical events back to Scripture to see these thoughts set out in the Word of God.
We are not seeking to set out the chronological structure of these events, for that is notoriously difficult. We leave chronology to greater minds who have diligently laboured over many long years to piece together Scriptural and historical dates. For instance in the person of Hezekiah, who is used as a foreshadowing of the Messiah of Israel in this Credo, we see in the Book of Kings three chapters recording his secular events and three verses recording his religious reforms - whereas in the Book of Chronicles we have three chapters recording his religious reforms and one chapter for the secular events of his reign. In `Kings' there is a chronological order, whereas in `Chronicles' we see set out mainly the religious order in the consequence of secular events. `Kings' will show the history of all Israel, whilst `Chronicles' is concerned with the House of David and the tribes of Israel regarding the LORD's Covenant with David - seen in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. If we add to this the so-called `Lo-Ammi times' - as seen in Hosea 1:8 - where Hosea's wife gives birth to "another son, about whom the LORD said: `Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God' - we can understand why Scriptural chronology is left to more gifted men whose work we can draw upon when needed. `Lo-Ammi's Days' are days when IsraeL was out of a relatonship with God and those times are not recorded in sacred Scripture for `you are not My people, and I am not your God'!
We can add another matter, seen in the `Jubilee Year' of Leviticus 25: If you count the 50 years of the Jubilee cycle you count off 49 years and start again at Year 1 - the 50th year is overlayered onto Year 49 and Year 1. (We could also illustrate this by bringing in the Sabbath day but shall resist this as we are looking at the principal message in these historical events of Hezekiah and the mighty kings of the south and north.) Several pages on, as we mentioned, we turn to Scripture to see written again the exhortation `behold', seen in Psalm 133, and as we read on we remind ourselves that this word `behold' has a meaning of `heed' . . pay attention to what is being said . . don't only look at the words but see the person speaking and know his intention . . and in the context of the intention of Hezekiah, with his heart's desire for all the people of Israel, we see a foreshadowing of the Messiah of Israel, David's Greater Son, the Lord Jesus!
For the sake of new readers of our Credos we need once again to set out the relationship between the Books of the Law, Torah, and the Books of the Psalms. In most modern translations of the Bible you will find, correctly, that the Psalms are divided into five separate Books, with the central message in each separate Book corresponding with the five Books of the Law. This understanding comes from the Jewish Midrach, which says:
" Moses gave the Israelites the Five Books of Law, and corresponding
to this David gave them the Five Books of Psalms. "
We liken this understanding to say that as in Torah we have the Word of the LORD, in the Psalms we hear the Voice of God - and so we move from Law into Grace, into a relationship! Indeed, as the Apostle Paul said in his Letter to the Galatians, `so the Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ'.
With this in mind we see that Psalm 133 is set within the `Deuteronomy' Book of Psalms', which covers the faithfulness of God to His Word for Salvation and Blessings. Psalm 133 is set within `the Fifteen Songs of Degrees'. Hezekiah, on his sick-bed, asked for a sign that he would be healed, according to the word brought to him, and the sign he asked for was that the shadow of the sun on the sun dial would move backwards. In Hezekiah's heart was the anxious knowledge that he was at that time childless, even though he knew that the promised Messiah of Israel would come through the family line of Judah. Natural man, although believing, needed a special sign that would overcome his fears, and so the `Songs of Degrees' were written or compiled by Hezekiah and set in the Fifth Book of Psalms, revealing his trust in God to fulfil His Word and deliver him. The Fifteen Psalms of Degrees are set in five groups of three Psalms - and once again the understanding of numerology within Scripture speaks a silent though powerful message! In all cases three Psalms in each section have the same message that Hezekiah needed as he lay on his sick-bed, with all the promises of God under threat in the event of his death, childless as he was.
The first Psalm in each group of three starts with a message of distress; the second of trust; and the third of blessings and peace in Zion. Psalm 133 is therefore the second of the last group of three Psalms (in the Psalms of Degrees) and continues the principle of distress, trust and blessing. Finally all merge into one Blessing as they are set within the Fifth Book of Psalms, corresponding to the message of the Book of Deuteronomy where Moses spoke `the words to all Israel' who were about to enter the Land of Blessing. Psalm 132 is a blessing for the House of the LORD; Psalm 133 is a blessing in the House of the LORD; and Psalm 134 is a blessing from the House of the LORD. And so we see in these last three Psalms the heart-desire of Hezekiah for all the people of Israel, no longer divided through rebellion and idolatry but one People of God, attending the Passover in Jerusalem in joyful yet solemn understanding of the LORD God of Israel, who delivered them out of bondage and who will continue to do so as they assemble in the House of God in Jerusalem.
Psalm 133 opens up this understanding as a Song, a Mizmor (of Degrees) of David. In Hebraic understanding a Mizmor is a Song to be sung whilst meditating on the promises and goodness of God. It is a Psalm of David, who understood God's grace, mercy and deliverance from death in his own circumstances. The Second Book of Samuel reveals this in chapter 19, recalling the rebellion of David's son Absolom which caused David to pen Psalm 133. Verse 9 records the distress caused by Absolom's rebellion, which separated and divided the one people of Israel: (Verse 9 KJV)
" And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, `The king saved us out of the hands of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hands of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land for Absolom'. "
As the narrative continues we see why Hezekiah set Psalm 133 into the last group of the Fifteen Psalms of Degrees. He had the heart of David - who had the heart of God - which would finally be revealed in David's Greater Son, Jesus: (2 Samuel 19:11)
" And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, saying, `Speak unto the elders of Judah saying, `Why . . . .' "
In verse 14 we hear the Voice of the LORD speaking through the voice of David, speaking to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, and through the voice of Hezekiah and on into the Priestly Prayer of Jesus - as we have seen in John 17: `That all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me, and I am in You'. To David's heart-cry came the response: `He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man' (v14). Not only was Hezekiah King of Judah, he was a man of God who knew the LORD's intention, His Will and His Purpose, in bringing a people out from bondage in Egypt, and his words echo those of David from whose line he sprang. We have seen this previously and need to repeat it here: (2 Chronicles 30:1)
" Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. "
and in verse 12 we hear again the Voice of God, spoken earlier in David's distress: (KJV)
" Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the Word of the LORD. "
In Psalm 133, this second Psalm of the last group of three, Hezekiah was called to trust God within the borders that God Himself had given him:
" Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to dwell together in unity. "
That unity was likened to the Precious Ointment of Priestly Anointing upon the head of Aaron - a foreshadowing of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus. The Psalmist reminds us that `the dew of Hermon' in the north of Israel comes down to the land of the rebellious people of the northern tribes as well as to the land of the self-righteous people of Judah, for the LORD's blessing is for all His people who assemble in His Name!
However we need to keep in mind that Hezekiah was drawing the one people to assemble in Jerusalem to remember God's mighty deliverance through the drama of the Passover Feast. At the same time he also used the occasion of his marriage to his bride, Hephzibah, to show the LORD's desire for His people to live together in unity, to remind them of His `Covenant of Love' into which they were joined together as one people under God - as written in the Book of Deuteronomy, the Word of God. For that we need to turn to the Psalms again the hear the Voice of God, where `my tongue is the pen of a ready writer'. Psalm 45 is set in the Second Book of Psalms, corresponding to the Second Book of Torah, Exodus, wherein is set the Purpose and Will of God for a total and everlasting salvation for His people. Therefore this Psalm will also reveal the LORD's Will and Purpose, and within that principal message of salvation, of deliverance, we will see that this salvation has an all-encompassing, everlasting aspect to it. Indeed the opening words of the actual Psalm reveals the very heart of the LORD: `My heart is stirred by a noble theme'.
As we have mentioned in earlier Credos, the inscriptions placed between Psalms are part of the inspired Word of God and are set there to point to a pause for reflection on what has been said and direction for what is to follow, and the context of the narrative will determine what the inscriptions point to. Psalm 45 is placed within a group of 5 Psalms, from Psalm 44 through to Psalm 48. The first Psalm of this group clearly looks to the LORD for deliverance from enemies, and the opening inscription refers to the Sons of Korah, the offspring of those of the tribe of Korah who died following their rebellion against Moses. It is entrusted to `the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim' which has a meaning of `the Tune of Lilies' - a reference to the Spring Festival, the Feast of Passover, which features flowers in its celebrations.
Beyond Psalm 45 lay the remaining three Psalms, all referring to Sennarcharibs's siege of Jerusalem, and the wording of these three Psalms show not a victorious celebration but praise for their Defense, the LORD God of Israel Himself:
" God is our Refuge and Strength . . . . Clap your hands,
all you nations, shout unto God with cries of triumph . .
.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised . . . "
In these five Psalms we read of Hezekiah's heart's desire - a foreshadowing of One to come greater than Hezekiah - bringing in all that we have set out earlier of Hezekiah's call to all Israel to assemble together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover, together with the occasion of his marriage to Hephzibah. Returning to Psalm 45 we find it opens with the inscription `For the Sons of Korah' - again pointing to God's Grace towards His people, called out of the nations as one people, His treasured possession. It is a Maschil, a Song of Love, a Wedding Song, to be sung with joy and thanksgiving for the LORD's everlasting salvation, protection and care. Here we are looking at the heart of Hezekiah, a king who knew with certainty that the God of Israel will protect and deliver His people from the threat that confronted them because they are in a Covenanted relationship, with God Himself as a Husband to the nation of Israel: (Verses 3-5)
" Gird Your sword upon Your side, O mighty one;
clothe Yourself with splendour and majesty.
In Your majesty ride forth victoriously on behalf
of truth, humility and righteousness;
let Your right hand display awesome deeds.
Let Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
let the nations fall beneath Your feet. "
The next verse takes us into a different dimension as the Psalmist `looks back' to the glory of an earlier wedding, when Israel was under the kingship of Solomon and in a Covenant relationship, with all the blessings as the Wife of Yahweh, the God of Israel. During the reign of King Solomon the nation of Israel rose to its full height of power and splendour. This drew the surrounding nations to send ambassadors to the court of King Solomon, who sat on the throne of David reflecting the majesty and splendour of the God of Israel. As we have mentioned in an earlier study, under King David, and later under his son, King Solomon, the cult - and we use that word in the correct context - of the kings of Israel rose to its full height of power and influence. Ruling and reigning with justice and equity they sat on a throne as the representatives of the God who came and manifested Himself and dwelt amongst His people in the Most Holy Place in the Temple in Jerusalem. The kings who sat upon the Chariot Throne above the outstretched wings of the cherubin were the image of the unapproachable God who was seen amongst His people in the kings of Israel. This setting needs to be seen with spiritual eyes, and yet it is fully revealed in human pomp and ceremony and centered in human kings upon a throne.
There is no need to fear that God would somehow be robbed of His awesome splendour and majesty by `seeing' Him in the human frailty of an earthly king. Shadows and reflections are exactly that, and when kept in correct balance and tension they will never encourage the worship of men. As the skilful Psalmist looks upon that splendour and majesty his heart is stirred: (Verse 2)
" You are the most excellent of men
and Your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God Himself has blessed You for ever. "
As the Psalmist looks upon the splendour of the king and sings his praises, the Holy Spirit moves upon him and reveals the true King whose Glory is reflected in a human king in the Temple in Jerusalem, the City of the Great King. For a moment the two are joined as one as the Psalmist cries out: (Verse 6)
" Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever!
A sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of Your Kingdom. "
As the spiritual awareness is dimmed the Psalmist's thoughts come back to the earthly king as he continues his praise:
" You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your
companions by anointing You with the oil of joy. "
We can once again see this spiritual dimension as we `see past' the king who is waiting for his bride to the King of kings, the Messiah Jesus, seated high abve His companions by the will of His Father and waiting for His Bride. The Psalm concludes with the inscription: `To the Chief Musician for the Sons of Korah upon Alamoth' with its meaning of `musicians attending' (as in a marriage ceremony). We therefore know that it points forward to a time of total fulfillment as the Holy Spirit has been instructed to reveal the glory of the Risen King, the Lord Jesus!
Wherever something unusual appears in Scripture we need to pay heed to what is being said. This has occurred in Psalms 133 and 45, both of which concern Hezekiah who is a foreshadowing of the Messiah of Israel and the Christ of the Church - for these two Psalms reveal the heart's desire of God for all His people today. It will be noted that Psalm 133, which speaks of National Deliverance, is set within the Fifth Book of Psalms with its central message of National Consummation within a Relationship, whereas the second Psalm, Psalm 45, speaks of National Consummation within a Relationship and yet it is set within the Second Book of Psalms, with its message of a National Deliverance! There appears to be a `crossover' . . a confusion in the setting of these Psalms until we bring them together and see that only in a National Consummation is there a National Deliverance! It is in the `Oneness of the People' that they experience the fulness of the Consummation of a Relationship.
And so we would close this Credo, trusting and believing that we have heard the Voice of God in these Psalms and acts of King Hezekiah, who was, without knowing it, a foreshadowing of his Messiah: (John 17: 20-21)
" My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You."
We opened this Credo with the title `Behold I come quickly', and we centered on King Hezekiah's cry in the Song of Degrees. `Behold, how good and pleasant it is . . .' These two `Beholds' are joined in the cry of Jesus to His Father. It is beholden to respond to this cry. `Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah' for it is the cry that the Lord God will respond to in the next and final work of God. No longer Protestant or Catholic, Coptic, Syrian or Orthodox, but one people of God remembering our Passover in Jesus and preparing:
" For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself
ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear. "
` Behold, I come quickly! '
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Finally there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron -
for iron breaks and smashes everything . . . In the time of
those kings, the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom that
will never be destroyed . . . . '
A Postscript is required as in this Credo we have concerned ourselves with two major themes seen in Psalms 133 and 45 - that of Deliverance and Consummation. There is, however, a third theme which needs to be brought in lest what we have set out in the main body of this Credo becomes merely an encouraging word, not set in any historical time. The times in which Hezekiah lived were set in history and recorded in such Books of Scripture as Kings and Chronicles. As the Books of Psalms are prophetic and often handed to `the Chief of Musicians' to remind the people of past history as well as being brought out when similar occasions occur, they clearly point forward to the Total Fulfillment of God's Word for our times. Therefore the third theme which needs to be considered is this: If there is the need for deliverance, there must be a threat from which we need delivering; and if there is a marriage, there is a need for preparation. We have already looked at Paul's Letter to the Ephesians concerning that preparation, but it is worth repeating here: (Ephesians 4:11-16)
" It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be shepherds and teachers,to prepare God's people for works of service so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. "
In this Postscript we need only to look at what the people of God need deliverance from, thereby grounding the Credo into an historical time. For that we need to step back in time in order to see the rising power of the Fourth Kingdom `strong as iron' which God gave Daniel sight of. We have written in previous Credos that the last great Move of God (which was outpoured in 1967) was not, as believed, a `Western blessing' alone, for it encompassed the whole world. Many turned to God and were blessed with salvation, but many more turned to other gods and remain in darkness. Fourty years later the warnings from God also came upon the whole world. Many saw those as warnings to the `Christian' nations (if indeed there is such an entity) which had turned from the ways of the Lord. Others saw them merely as natural, cyclical, economic movements which have to be accepted in a world of Free Market Capitalism.
The title of this Postscript refers of course to the great statue which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of, the interpretation of which was given by God to Daniel to explain to the king. God revealed to Daniel the great Empires which would emerge at stages of World History, but here in this Postscript we are concerned with `finally, there will be a Fourth Kingdom, strong as iron, for iron smashes and breaks everything'. The statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream had `two legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay' and is historically understood to be the Roman Empire, but as these Scriptures are prophetic it should rather be seen as an imperial system of power - seen initially as Rome, which has seven manifestations in the course of history (as seen in Revelation 17:9). Historically, those two legs of iron can be seen in the division of the Roman Empire when `one leg' was seen in Constantinople and the other `leg' was seen in Rome. The Eastern leg embraced `Christian Orthodoxy' as its State religion and the Western leg accepted the religious rule of the Pope.
With the onslaught of Islam, the Eastern leg was pushed up into Russia, which became the dominant core of Orthodoxy, whilst the Western leg, although tied to Papal Rome, shifted its secular base between the various Western European Empires which rose up over the centuries, and with the demise of European power is now seen as being centered in America. As we have already said, until recently these `two legs of the Fourth Kingdom' were seen firmly planted in Western Imperial power and in the Imperial power of Russia. However, in 1991, with the collapse of the USSR, the Eastern leg of the Fourth Kingdom was broken, leaving only the Western leg centered in the super-power of America. Physically, a one-legged person is very unstable, and within the context of the Fourth Kingdom of `Nebuchadnezzar's statue' this leaves us with a very unstable World Power, although still powerful enough in military and economic domination as it `staggers' around the nations of the world, seeking to exercise a `Balance of Power' as the ten toes (or kings) begin to reveal themselves. Today we call it `Globilisation' (an economic expression) which we can see expanding its economic power over all the world, crushing the aspirations of Nation States!
Never before in the history of the world has it been possible for the final manifestation of the Fourth Kingdom of Daniel to be outworked. It required the development of the World Wide Web (www.com) before total Globilisation could be achieved . . . before total Imperial power, through an economic system, could emerge. A reading of the fall of Babylon in the Book of Revelation will reveal this when read with spiritual eyes. Imperial power, true total Imperial power, can only be exercised through economic power supported by militry strength - which brings us to the threat from which the people of God will need deliverance, for all physical power is exercised through the control of money, as the Book of Revelation reveals: (Revelation 13:16-17)
" He (the Anti-christ) also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. "
As we have stepped back in time to the last outpouring of the Blessing of God, now we need to step back even further to see the development of the `Fourth Kingdom', now standing in its last phase, on one leg, attempting to devour the whole world. As past readers are aware, we write these Credos not to critisise or judge any particular political Credo or Imperial power, but only to look for God's Will and Purpose within such Powers with their continuous struggle to obtain universal power. All great Empires that emerge have one purpose in mind, and it is not to bring enlightenment to the `benighted heathens' - to use a more modern expression, to `nation build'. The primary purpose is to extend the power and wealth of the Imperial Power concerned. Cecil Rhodes, during the time of the British Empire, thought only of adding Africa `from the Cape to Cairo' to what he saw as the highest form of civilisation in the world, the British Empire. If tribes or countries stood in his way, they were swept away, even with the collusion of the government of Great Britain in the infamous `Jameson Raid' which sought to overthrow the legitimate rule of the Boers. Sustained power comes from continung wealth, therefore Imperial Power comes from the rape and pillage of conquered countries until all is exhausted and a new Imperial Power appears on the scene. A reading of the 18th chapter of Revelation will confirm such remarks, where is described the `Fall of the Fourth Kingdom' of Daniel, developed here as Babylon, a full-blown commercial, economic power which has control of the wealth of all the nations of the world.
However, here in this PS we need only to concern ourselves with the rise of Rome - the beginning of the Fourth Kingdom which ravished the whole known world in order to feed the central power of Rome - and then extend this concern to other more familiar outworkings of Imperial Power. The Bedouin tribes which poured out of Arabia, bent on conquest, built two great Empires from the pillage and rape of the conquered countries. Napoleon set out on his Imperial dreams to feed the pride and honour of France. The Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese sought greatness through the pillage and rape of many countries, only to lose it. The British Empire first set its sights on the newly-discovered wealth of America before rising to its full power through conquest in the East with its `Jewel in the Crown' of India. We need not say much of the 1000 Year Reich of Nazi Germany, with its allies of Italy and Japan, seeking World conquest with the destruction of all that lay in the path of its Imperial Glory. No matter what the history books of those nations say, all such Powers were seeking Imperial greatness sustained by the wealth of the vanquished nations. To achieve such Imperial ambitions first must come the destruction not only of the governing structure of that country but also, if it is to rule as an Imperial Power it must totally subdue and cower whole sections of its population by destroying all that is familiar in their normal way of life - that is, the destruction of the infrastructure of the settled community!
Over the long centuries during which the Fourth Beast of Daniel has travelled in its seeking of total and lasting Imperial Power, the history books of the world describe our own general comments in graphic detail. Whether it be the Bedouin hordes with their cry, `Allah is great', destroying all before them; the burning of Moscow by Napoleon; the horror of the Spanish looting of South America; the destruction of the centuries-old culture of India by gun and bayonet; the Blitzkrieg of Nazi Germany pouring out over Western Europe, or, to mention an uncomfortable truth of our time, the `Shock and Awe' destruction of Iraq, with the excuse of removing a tyrant - all had the same aim of overthrowing an existing rulership by destruction and the subjection of the population by a violent removal of all that was familiar to the functioning of that community. But we need to anchor such comments in more specific detail lest we drift into generalisations. The intention of this PS to our Credo is to give substance to our comments as to the next, and, we would believe, the last outpouring of God upon the whole world as we see the last desparate move of the spiritual Power behind the Fourth Beast of Daniel, `strong as iron . . . which breaks and smashes things to pieces' - or to use modern expressions, `Blitzkrieg' or `Shock and Awe', a lightning war, shaking all in its path in order to terrorise the people.
Let us step back some 65 years to a more familiar period of Western history. Western Europe, in particular, but also many far-flung parts of the world lay in ruins, with devastated countries swarming with frightened refugees who had had everything familiar to them totally destroyed by war. The only Power able to deal with such an overwhelming catastrophe was America, the newly-rising Imperial Power of the world. And so was launched the much-acclaimed US President Rosevelt's New Deal and his Marshall Plan for the re-construction of Western Europe and Japan, pouring out untold wealth in the form of loans in order to restore order. There was, however, one other Power that had survived the war, also with Imperial Power in its sights through the ideology of Communism. The USSR, the second leg of Nebuchadnezzar's statue at that time, was in direct competition with America - both had dreams of world domination! The stain of this new ideology, with its promise of equality and collective wealth, had spread into the hopes of millions of devastated people of Europe and threatened the imperial designs of an America which saw the vast continent of Europe as an undreamed market for its developed industry - now in danger through the cessation of world war.
Although the Marshall Plan was undoubtably set up to rebuild the industrial bases of Europe and Japan, this associated threat of communism had to be dealt with. From that concern came the foundation of modern European Social Democracy, the Welfare State, and so the social revolution of Communism which threatened to overwhelm Europe and close its markets to America was thwarted. The modern Welfare State, with its universal Health Care, Retirement Pensions and its many forms of social concern, assuaged the fears of the people and kept `the Market Place of Europe' open to the now-dominant Imperial Power of America which had taken advantage of the world-wide crisis to add Europe, in particular, to its `Imperial Orbit'. The means were different but the object remained the same . . . Imperial Power through world wealth. Little needs to be said concerning the `Banana Republics' of South America during the early part of the 20th century. The West heard of Military Juntas, the Generals, who rose to power, terrorising the people and destroying the emerging social democratic form of government, by `removing' their leaders and bringing in `reforms' supported by enormous loans from the Financial Institutions of the West - which had been formed by the Imperial Power to provide armslength aid to corrupt politicians who opened their countries' markets for Corporate businesses to exploit! The Fourth Beast was manifesting in a modern form of the old Imperialism, now seeking power through the commercial conquest of a terrorised people, which is a modern form of rape and pillage of the wealth of conquered countries now under the ideology of Free Market Capitalism - wealth for the few at the expense of the many.
We have no wish to prolong this PS, for our purpose is only to show the `threat' from which Deliverance is needed. So, briefly, we would say that these principles can be seen outworking in collapsing and reforming countries, more rapidly than in previous ages as Globalisation through the development of www.com entered the whole world. Consider the collapse of the USSR: The whole infrastructure of this country collapsed leaving millions in utter despair, and the aspirations of the people, trusting in its newly-emerging form of Social Democracy were quickly dashed as the promised loans from Western Financial Institutions were withdrawn. This led to the pillage and rape of the country's assets, sold off to the so-called Oligarchs (modern-day pirates) thereby thwarting the aspirations of those who intended to open up the `Russian Market' to the Imperial Power of Corporate Business America.
If we but stop and quietly consider the momentous changes occurring over the recent past in the `rise and fall' of modern countries throughout the world we will see the same principle at work. Poland and the betrayal of Solidarity (the newly-awakened hope of the people) . . . China and the brutal repression of Tianamin Square (a social oppression) . . the destruction of Iraq, its population terrorised by the `Shock and Awe' of modern warfare. Fast upon the heels of the invading forces came `Corporate Business' which raped and pillaged the natural assets of the country . . and left . . seeking new grounds for wealth creation for the few at the expense of the many. Then came the Banks! - which raped and pillaged in their desire for wealth and power through every national currency of the world. A one-time UK Prime Minister, and other political leaders since, said openly that this financial crises was a global phenomenon which no government could have foreseen. Indeed it was a phenomenon, but no Bank or Corporate Business, however powerful, could have operated outside the law enacted by governing politicians in their respective National Assemblies - unless the intent of Government and Corporate Business had merged and become one! That was certainly manifested in the Iraqi war where Imperial State Powers destroyed the infrastructure of that country, paving the way for Corporate Business to move in under the guise of Nation Building for an Open Free Market to exploit.
What, then, has happened which gave `the Banks' the opportunity for the modern `rape and pillage' of National economies. For that we have to step back to the Reagan-Thatcher years and the de-regulation of the Financial Institutions of Western countries (albeit with incompetent Regulating Bodies who applied their own Constitutional powers in a very haphazard manner). De-regulation unleashed the flood of opportunity for wealth-creation for the Banks and Corporate Business, who knew exactly what they were doing within the law created by the governments of the countries they exploited. The results of the following financial crisis for which the various governments are responsible are outworking themselves in the destruction of the modern Social Democratic form of Government that has been in place for the past 65 years. There is no longer the need to assuage the fears of the people, for there is no apparent ideological threat to the government which the people would turn to. We will therefore find the Welfare State increasingly shrinking and given over to Corporate Business, which will affect countless numbers of people as free unfettered Free Trade Capitalism grows!
As we have said before, our intention is not to critisise or judge, but merely to see the form of the threat of the final stages of the Fourth Beast of Daniel, for this provides the threat from which we will need deliverance. We see it as the erosion of Social Democracy with its core values of care for all the people, and the rise of Corporate Business with its core values of power and wealth for the few under the dominant yet fearful Imperial Power who knows that at the end of time will come forth `a Rock that will break the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces' - and that is close at hand!
`Behold, I come quickly'.
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You may E-mail us at: derek@northernstyletrust.com or Telephone (01493) 444494 (UK)
Our Web Address: www.northernstyletrust.com
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