Over the Deep

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters." Genesis:1:2

The great inspired Creation Epic of the Scripture begins in a world of confusion and darkness. Winds blowing unobstructed over the  earth which was in shrouded  by thick cloud cover and complete night. 

All ancient cultures have a "creation epic" which they have formulated to help them understand the world that they inhabit and informs their understanding  regarding that worlds' "Cosmological Order" , where it came from and why is it the way that it is.

Genesis

A reading of Genesis  reveals that Moses, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God,  understood that pagan cultures saw the world in particular ways and that their views stood as a barrier from seeing Who the Creator was, and is. 

 Moses' main goal in Genesis is to establish Who is and  who is not God. He is more concerned about revealing God as God  and that He alone is God above all that is called god,  the Creator Who rules over all things with the power to order things as He will. Genesis is more about Who created rather than how He created.

The Deep

 
"And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters." Genesis:1:2

Through out the Bible the  image of water is often spoken of  and here in Genesis we see the Spirit moving or hovering above the dark and chaos "primordial waters" ., that is "The Deep" .  In Hebrew the word here is Tehom,
it's Greek equivalent is Abysos

Tiamat, Babylonia sea goddess,brings chaos

In the  ancient world "Tehom"  is the enemy of the Creator God who brings desolation and breeds the darkness and chaos that we see in Genesis:1:2. "Tehom"was the power of the world.

Closely associated with "Tehom" is the Babylonian sea goddess "Tiamat" , this goddess was thought to bring chaos and disorder. "Tiamat" was symbolized by a serpent or dragon  and was considered the embodiment of evil."Tiamat" is spoken of in the Babylonian myths of the Enuma Elish as bringing forth sea serpents.  

Cosmology of the Ancient World

In many of the ancient cultures it was believed that the power of evil was found in the sea(s) or within bodies of water.That is if a person was to encounter demonic powers it would be in or by bodies of water. This belief was passed down through the ages and spurred many of the myths and legends regarding encounters upon the sea with sea monsters and malevolent  spirits.

Understanding this cosmology reveals much about events found in the Holy Bible which took place near water(s) the sea its self became a symbol of the evil. These themes reemerge throughout Scripture from Genesis even to Revelation with the Beast which arises out of the Abyss,  in Greek Abysos which means "the deep"  Revelation:13.

 God Rules Over the Deep

Even at the onset of the inspired creation epic of Genesis:1, we see God  bringing order to the darkness and chaos of "Tehom", showing His sovereignty and power not just over the material creation but even the unseen powers.  It is God Who brings order and light and sets thing right. 

God is God and there is no other He has power over "Tehom"  we see this in Genesis:7:11 and 8:2

In the Book of Job the suffering Patriarch speaks of God's power to subdue the sea and the power behind it.

"He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea" Job:9:8

“Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,

when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? Job:38:8-11

River and  Sea

The people of  Egypt worshiped the Nile River, as well as other "gods" . Each of the plagues that God visited upon Egypt was done to demonstrate Who is and who is not God.The Plagues are out lines starting in Exodus:7:14-25 thru Exodus:12:36. The visited plagues upon the object of Egyptian worship shows that the God of Scripture is the God Who rules over all things. He is God alone.

The plagues result in the freeing of the people of Israel and their journey to the shore of the Red Sea. Why would God lead His people to the impasse of the Red Sea?
"Tehom", the power of the world ,  was associated with the Red Sea (Yam), and it was now the Red Sea (Yam)    which stood in Israel's way preventing them from moving forward. Yet God demonstrates His power over it parting it so the people of Israel were delivered. The Lord God is showing that not even the power of this world can stop Him from delivering us.

"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea(Tehom) into jars ; he puts the deep(Yam) into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him" .Psalms:33:6-8

 Calming the Sea

God is again establishing His power over the chaotic spiritual powers in this world. He limits what they can and can not do and they can not stop what God will do. Psalm 89:9 speaks of God's power to bring order

" You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them."

Even in spite of His Disciples not recognize Jesus as He approaches them in upon the sea, their cosmological view comes out believing that Jesus is a "ghost"  they instinctively perceive this due to the idea that "evil"  could be encounters on bodies of water.

Yet, we see the power of God  exerted over the powers of this world in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus orders the storm to calm in Matthew:8 and then Matthew:14  as Jesus walks upon the water of the sea , He is showing that He is above it and that He  rules over the deep, it has no power over Him.  Jesus is not just putting on a spectacle,  to show His mastery over the powers of nature but He is proclaiming His  rightful place as above all powers seen and unseen.Jesus is showing that He is God.  Jesus' command over the waters bring peace and order and  leads the Apostles to worship Him.It is Jesus Who rules not "Tehom" or "Tiamat"or any other.

  "Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew:8:22-27

  "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew:14:22-33

Out of the Sea

We see the powers of this world associated with water all through the pages of the Bible even in the Books of Daniel:7 and Revelation:13 as the "Beast(s)"  rises up  out of the sea , this indicates that the power behind the world system is satanic. It is the same dragon or serpent spirit powers that  was believed to be be the adversary of the Creator God, "Tehom" and " Tiamat" which brought chaos and darkness from the very dawn of creation and throughout all human history. This system resembles the power behind it.
We see this system again taking shape and rising again at the end of human civilization, symbolized by the "Beast"   we are told receives his power from the dragon. This system again will, as it did at the beginning  arise and bring chaos and darkness.

"The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”Revelation:13:1-4

In the culture in which Scripture was written these symbols would have spoken to themes that people were familiar  with.

Defeat 

 This system again will, as it did at the beginning ,  arise and bring chaos and darkness but God will do as He did at the dawn of creation He will set things right. The system of the world and the unseen powers which move it will ultimately be removed forever. God will send Jesus, the One Who walks above and beyond the reach of the powers of this world He will put an end to the troubles of the Earth and bring peace.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords." Revelation:19:11-16

Jesus will descend from the Heavens even as the beast ascended out of the Sea, the beast then will be removed , never again to give expression to the satanic powers which led it.

"But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur." (20)

In the end, the very sources of all the troubles from the beginning unto the end will be dealt with , satan the great dragon as he has been from beginning Revelation:12:7-10  will be,  like the system he birthed , cast into the lake of fire forever.

"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Revelation:20:10

No More Sea

 John the Apostle writes that as God's purpose upon the Earth concludes  and the Kingdom of God, which was there in the Person of Jesus as He calmed the sea,  is fully brought to pass and human history as we have lived it now is behind us ,  John tells us that there is  " no longer any sea" .

"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." Revelation:21:1

This is not just  there will be no body of water called the sea, but it tells us that the powers  of "Tehom" and "Tiamat" which were believed to be found there, the same power which we see symbolized by the "Beast" , will be gone forever. There will never again be chose and darkness but peace and order.

 The chaos, "Tehom" and "Tiamat"  of this world will  brought to a conclusion and the spiritual powers that caused it all will be  gone for ever ,  because our Lord Jesus has power and victory over the deep. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Called By Name

"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John:10:3

There may be seasons in our Christian life, when we wonder if  the Great Creator God even know who we are. We may look at conditions and circumstance that we face in life and we and ask " does He even know that I exist?"
We may feel alone and even abandoned by Him. We can be like Mary who stood  outside of the Tomb of our Lord weeping.  John20:11-18 
Our lives, like her's like can be turned upside down, things that we put our trust in and vested out hope in have come undone. 
We can be like her in our Christian life we believe and have confidences as long as things are going well, then the unaccounted for occurs and things come crashing down around us. We feel that Jesus is not with us, we may even feel pressured by associates who speculate on the cause of  difficulties some going as far as asserting that our hardships are the result of  and evidence of divine displeasure.

 Seeing Only an Empty Tomb

All this abounds and we ask "have we misunderstood Him?"  do we truly know Him or just know about Him?

We see that He is not in the grave but miss the most important thing of all. We might be able to quote Scripture regarding His resurrection, we may know that Jesus is resurrection yet miss again the point. We may only see an empty tomb and that is all that we see. But the resurrection is more than just a vacant burial  place that was once occupied by the dead body of our Lord. The resurrection is ,that our Lord lives and stand with us even if He goes unrecognized by us as He was with Mary.

Calls Our Name 

 Even as there in the garden as Mary weeps in perplexity Jesus is there, she see Him now only as a Gardener, not Who He is. Even as Jesus engages Her she does not yet see Him for Who He is she still to this moment see Jesus as dead having only been carried off to another location.


"Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” John:20:11-15

It is only after our Lord address Mary , calls her by name  does the realization comes and her and eyes are then opened to see that it is Jesus Himself  Who is with her, she sees that He lives.

"Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”)".(16-17)

We too can be like Mary, we stand outside the empty tomb of Jesus we see that it is empty but maybe He is just removed,  dead, that is powerless to help us , our lives has fallen into disarray or our hopes have not come to pass we feel alone. It is in such moments we can fail to see the truth, that Jesus is not removed dead powerless to help but rather that He is there even if we mistake Him only for the gardener.
It is when He calls us by name that our eyes are opened we see Him and we recognize Him as "Rabboni" we see that Jesus lives, that the resurrection speaks not just of a vacant place among the dead but rather proclaims that He lives and is with us, the resurrection is more then an event it is Who Jesus is. But this opening of our eyes comes when He calls our name
“I am the resurrection and the life." John:11:25

the Apostle Paul prayed that all of our eyes could be open to see all that He has called us to.

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people" Ephesians:1:18

 He Knows Us

This calling us by name should  not surprise us, He know us all and has will not forget us even in our difficulties. It is as we read in the Prophet Isaiah 

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me" Isaiah:49:16

 

 Jesus has inscribed your name and all our names even upon the palm of His  hands that reflects the eternal commitment that He has made to us all. 

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand" John:10:28

Our Lord has called each of us to by name to see that He lives and is with us , That Jesus has spoken your name and called you  that you might believe and see that He lives and is with you..Amen

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

"I'm a Prophet"

"Lay hands suddenly on no man," 1Timothy:5:22a

This was the advice that the Apostle Paul gave to the young pastor Timothy regarding placing different ones in potions of leadership within the Church.

Over the years that I have  spent in the ministry some few have wondered at how the leadership of the Church is brought to lift one to a positions of responsibility , ordaining them or giving them a commissioning to serve with in a particular ministry with in the local assembly.

All fellowships have their own way that this process  comes about, but in the end it is always that our Lord Jesus has appointed such a one to serve,  and the Church leadership simply acknowledges that this is so.

"I'm a Prophet"

In a particular congregation a person, on more then one occasion,  approached me and informed that "God has called me to be prophet" to certain churches in the area. When this was said to me the Holy Spirit said, (for lack of better words) "Be careful (again,  over the years I have heard such assertions before) do not let your guard down".

 This is what is called discernment, a gift of the Holy Spirit . It is provided that Pastors see what is behind words  and actions. It is difficult to put it into words, yet it is real, simply put you can see the heart.I do not know any other way to say it.

 The holy skeptic reared its head,  and I gave this person a little space and considered what  was underfoot. Several more times this person came again  and each time asserting certain insight into situations and telling me about  encounters which they had with leaders in different churches and thier place in giving  these leaders direction.
On several occasions this person had offered input to me  that , well,  quite frankly did not match what I knew to be true. This person had given comments regarding my private prayers to God. What this person  said did not match reality. 

There are many, and I seemed to encounter them all , self ordained persons roaming the church , many of them carry with them an attitude, or if I may uses what some of our Pentecostal breatheren would call a "Jezebel Spirit."   The main goal is ,  in spite of claims to the contrary , power and control not truth or right and wrong, but power. I have never seen it different.

Just a note where as the "Jezebel spirit" seems to effect lay persons the "Nicolaitan spirit" seems to be found with some of the clergy. The "Nicolaitans" Revelation:2:15 was a group of "power driven" clergy which were found in some places with in the early church. These ones began as disciples of the Deacon Nicholas from Antioch who was among the first Deacons of the church. The "Nicolaitans" used their position and authority for their own gain and advancement. They liked power. This cautions all who are in leadership to be servants of the people that God has placed us over.

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," Matthew:23:11

"This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them" .Acts:6:5-6

Self Ordained

This article  is really not regarding the Jezebel spirit and such,  but please bear with me. This spirit or attitude in my experience seems to effect "lay persons"  rather than the clergy. The description of it is found in Revelation.

"I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead." Revelation:2:20-23

The description of  "calls her self a prophet" speaks of  this spirit as being self ordained not having the blessing or oversight of church leadership but taking it upon them selves, they want it so they take it. It is sad but over the years many have wanted potions of authority and attempted to insert them selves into such potions without God's calling.

Those who carry the attitude of   the "Jezebel spirit" claim to have special insight and understanding to truth, above that of the God appointed church leadership. They will often circulate through a local congregation looking for  ones to tolerate them and give ear to their ideas.  They at times will do this under the pretense of a "prayer group"  to mask their true intent, what they are in reality doing is attempting to create their own church within a church. Dear Christian, please learn to recognize this spirit when it raises its head to cause division in the church, even when it assumes the face of long time friends.

"Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets",(24b)

  When Christians tolerate such a one to operate among them then there is a price to pay for the division that is spawned.  God will move to deal with a person   after giving them time to change.

 "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols" (20)

" I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead"(21-23a)

 How to Know

So having said all  that, how does the church leadership know when a person is being called into a particular ministry ?

If the leadership of the church listen they will heard the , "Vox Spiritum Sanctum" the voice of the Holy Spirit. How do we hear?

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Acts:13:2

The Holy Spirit spoke in the midst of the church and designated Barnabus and Saul to go and preach.  So how would the Spirit of God speak to us today regarding the calling on a persons life into ministry?

The Holy Scriptures give us sound input about choosing church leadership. Paul writes regarding the Elders and Deacons. We can read of Paul's instructions in 1Timothy:3:1-12

Paul tells us that a persons desire to serve in leadership is good,

"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a good thing."(1)

So if there is an inclination toward leadership that is "a good thing" , but that alone is not sufficient, Paul ,after giving the general requirements  as to how such a one should conduct themselves , tells Timothy that such candidate.

" ....must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons."(10)

 In a Local Church

This being tested takes time. It requires the leadership of the church to watch and pray asking for God's direction. Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives?  Is the Holy Spirit speaking about them? The Holy Spirit will speak regarding one that is called, He will do this through the members of the local assembly who will be gently prompted by Him to give feed back to the church's leadership.

This is why it is so important for one to be a committed  part of a  local assembly, if one is not part of a local church there will be none to testify regarding their calling,  or if  person can not be  committed to a local assembly and drifts from church to church they can not be vested with responsibility.  

The Holy Spirit, in short speaks through the church to verify a persons ministry not though anyone coming to the leadership and announce "I am a Prophet" ...self testimony is not evidence of a persons calling, it may be what they want but not what God wants. This is especially true when a person has no lengthily history with a church.

Even Jesus did not speak of Himself in this way but the Father did of His Son.

"If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. "There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true".…John:5:31-32

 From God

All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are made to be used within the community of the church because they are at their heart relational not functional. 1Corinthians:12:

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his 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 fullness 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 people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of 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:4:11-16

This means within the community of the church we help each other and others help us.

All valid ministries within the body of Christ ,  whether  they be the upper leadership  of a denomination or in a local church assembly, these potions come from God Himself." So Christ himself gave,"  as we read in Ephesians.

"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Hebrews:5:4

When God places one in a position of leadership, the church  acknowledge  it through the ceremony of laying on of hands we simply say  that we know God has placed such a one in a given role publicly before all.

This should bring support from the church and do-a-way with politicking , if any resist  after God has over time  made it clear  of the persons calling then they are not rejecting the person but God himself whether they understand it or not.

"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." Luke:10:16


If the church has somehow misunderstood God's will then God will , over time,  make it clear. This calls on us to have faith and trust in the leadership of Christ over His church.

God has and is working in the midst of His people, our Lord invites us all to participate with Him as He carries out His work upon the Earth. He calls each of us into ministry. He will show us where and how we can serve.  It comes though Him alone not just through our own desire to be in a given role or self declaration.  Remember the words of Paul "Lay hands suddenly on no man",   the next time someone declarers to you "I'm a Prophet"....Amen.

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Glory Filled the Temple

"Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house" .Ezekiel:43:1-5

The Prophet Ezekiel ,in vision , beheld and he saw the Temple of God, beginning in the 40th   chapter of his book the Prophet describes  the  layout and design of what has been called by some Biblical Scholars as the Millennium Temple. It is believed by some that just prior to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ the Jewish people will construct a Temple on the historic site of Salomon 's Temple at Jerusalem and it is to this Temple that some believe our Lord will come and fill with His glory. There may be some credibility to that view, but it is not the only view regarding Ezekiel's vision?


Ezekiel Chapters 40 to 46 describe the lay out of the Temple complex and some courts and the uses of the different  chambers in the Temple and the sacerdotal  function of the Levites and priest and furnishings.  Also is described is the "Holy District" and the the "Prince and the Feast".

The reason given for this prophetic tour of the Temple is found in Ezekiel:43:10-12

"You son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion of it, and the goings out there, and the comings in there, and all the forms of it, and all the ordinances , and all the forms , and all the laws : and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form of it, and all the ordinances , and do them. This is the law of the house; On the top of the mountain the whole area  of it round about will be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house."

The vision is that there might be a change of heart and mind with in them and if that change came , then even more revelation would be forth coming to them.

What Did It Mean? 

  What did all this say to the Prophet? How did those who prophesied for the Lord understand their relationship with God? To the Holy Prophets  they saw the sin and neglect of Israel toward the Covenant which their fore Fathers  made with God. To the Prophets  The Temple ,  was the center and focus  of their relationship with God. They understood that relationship through the view of the Temple, a glorified Temple spoke of Israel's relationship with God as being what it was meant to be.

In Ezekiel:47: 1-2He is shown, as he stands in the door  a flow of water that issued from the threshold and the south side of the Alter and went forth to bring healing

The Water  Flows

"Afterward he brought me again to the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without to the utter gate by the way that looks eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side"

  This stream of water grows ever deeper as Ezekiel wades into it.

"And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over." (3-5)

The man, or angel who is accompanying Ezekiel asked the Prophet.

 "Son of man, have you seen this?" (6b)

Ezekiel's  guide  takes him back to the bank of the river and give him the direction to which this flowing stream from the Temple of God goes unto, healing the salt sea and brings life to the parched land.

"And he led me, and brought me back to the bank of the river.When I returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said unto me, These waters issue out toward the east district, and go down into the plain, and go into the sea; when they are brought forth into the sea, the waters thereof will be healed. And it will come to pass that every living thing which moves, wherever the double river will come, shall live. And there will be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters will come there, and the waters of the sea will be healed; and everything will live where the river comes. And it will come to pass, that fishermen will stand upon it; from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim will be a place to spread forth nets: their fish will be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. But its marshes and its pools will not be healed; they will be given up to salt.And by the river, upon its bank, on the one side and on the other, shall grow all trees for food, whose leaf shall not fade, nor their fruit fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, for its waters issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof will be for food, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (6c-11)

For Us in Jesus

Is this vision for the future only? What about for Christians?  How can we see in this something more than just a "prophetic event" that is waiting for the people of Israel? 

When we read the Bible through Who Jesus is, and not just through the view of events, we can see that 

Ezekiel's Temple speaks to us regarding our Lord and Savior Jesus. Again,  understand what the Temple represented to the Prophet it was the center of Israel's relationship with God. In the vision Ezekiel  sees that relationship as it should be, in it's ideal expression the way all the prophets of God would want it. But what about for us Christians , what is the ideal expression of the intended relationship that we are given with the Creator God? That relationship is modeled for us and in Christ we are included in that relationship.

When we view the Word of God through who Jesus is this  allows for a deeper greater meaning for all time,  not divided into the past or future. We see our Lord standing forth as the central theme of all the Word. Jesus Himself tells us that He is the very subject of all the Bible.

"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me," John:5:39-40

"He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself"Luke:24:25-27

The Glorified Temple

When read in this way what we can see  is the Glorified Temple of our Lord's raised humanity. Speaking of His resurrection and  Jesus tells the religious leaders.

"Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
They replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"
But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken" John:2:19-22

Jesus tells us that His resurrection, that is His being glorified occurred at the resurrection. His resurrection unleashes for humanity a divine chain of events. After His death upon the cross,  to pay the penalty for our sins the stone dead and lifeless body of Jesus lay in the darkness of the tomb, then the glory of the Lord filled again His body . He is raised up and the relationship that was always meant to be is now accomplished by Him for each and all who will but freely receive it.

What we are seeing in Ezekiel is a glimpse of the resurrection symbolized by the Temple which moments before lay still and lifeless as our Lord was in the tomb.

Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when hecame to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.Ezekiel:43:1-5

This is the glorious moment of Jesus' resurrection the Temple of His body  filled with glory.Jesus raised from the dead. We catch a glimpse of this glorified Temple of the Lord in Revelation:1:12-18

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

The Waters Flow

As the glorified temple is then shown the Prophet now made as it was always meant to be, this now holy restored relationship, called  the "law of the House" Ezekiel:43:12 ,  so now in Jesus we are in relationship. And as the water flowed to the healing of land and sea so the Holy Spirit flows now unto each.

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." John:7:37-39

John speaks of the Water flow of the Holy Spirit coming forth after the Temple of Jesus body is glorified, this holy water flow of  God the Holy Spirit  brings healing  to us and spiritually and bodily as the flow in Ezekiel' s' vision healed the sea and land that brought forth  life  the abundant fruit from the trees which lined its banks.. There is now life and fruitfulness in us as the Holy Spirit transformed us. Galatians:5:22-25

We who come to but our faith in Jesus, that is Christians ,  are like those fisherman who at the waters  near En Gedi, and bring forth an abundant catch of many kinds, that is we are now fishers of men who as the Gospel about Jesus is preach people from many lands are drawn in into the faith our our Lord Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit flows forth.

"Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea". Ezekiel:47:10

 "And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" .Matthew:4:19

The Glory Forever

Will there be a temple constructed at Jerusalem? Maybe, could be,  probably,  but far above and beyond the Temple thought to be yet constructed in Jerusalem these words are far more glorious when read as applying to Jesus and all that is found in Him, for all that we see in Ezekiel only again hints at what lies  in eternity for any and all who will but freely receive it in our Lord.Here we see life eternal with the Holy Trinity,and all who will freely receive it through Jesus Christ.

"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life."Revelation:21:22-26

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."Revelation:22:1-5

All praise to God as we too look to that "moment" in eternity , when will walk in the Holy courts of that relationship and we will behold the very living Jesus Who is that Temple filled with the glory of the Lord. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The End of the World

From the earliest  times in Christian history there have been those who were convinced that they were, or are, living in the last days. Some Christians anticipated that our Lord Jesus Christ would  return during the life time of the Apostle John.

 In the first century Christian Church many viewed the conditions that they were facing and came to believe that the end of the world was at hand. In the early church there was belief that the Apostle John would be alive when Jesus would return and extend the rule of God over all things. This view was circulated around the church and was based on an exchange that Peter had with the risen Jesus there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” Jhn:21:20-23

John Saw Coming & Died

Some have believe that in one sense John did see our Lord's coming as he was moved to pen the Book of Revelation in the 90s AD. John sees and interacts with the living Lord Jesus Christ.

"Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Revelation:1:7

"And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the middle of the seven candlesticks one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength". (12-16)

So John sees Jesus at the onset of the Book , and  at the very end in Revelation: 19 
but of course John has long died and Jesus has not yet descended from the Havens in the way that Christians have traditionally believed that He would.

Trend of History

In the Oliveit prophecy,  found in the synoptic Gospels, Matthew:24, Mark:13 and Luke:21, which was given by our Lord Jesus Himself and reveals to us the general trend(s) of human history from  that time until the end of human civilization. This history is filled with religious and spiritual deception, wars, natural upheavals, famine, epidemics and more. Each of these things gather momentum and intensity as the years go by resulting in a condition that if God would not send His Son humanity would destroy them selves.

The End Time

 Are we living in the "End Time" , the answer is yes we are, do we know how long that time will be..no we do not know,  what we do know is that we are in the "general time period"  of "the end". We do not know how long it will be, nor is there an  undiscovered code within Scripture that will allow us to pin point when our Lord will return, all we can know is, that Jesus will return and the world will end, that is,  human misrule under the deceptive sway of satan will terminate.

 Predictions made by different  ones  ,many times come with books, CDs, DVDs and others items described as vital, which it becomes apparent  that they are designed to offer you even more books, CDs DVDs and others which again offer more items all vital to your understanding  and again  more items that you need to buy.

Every time a time frame is offered  that Jesus will return within He does not come. Often dates are picked or strongly hinted at, often these dates revolve around the Holy days found under the Old Covenant. Others believe  that there is a  cryptic  message hidden within the Bible its self that will enable you to determine when Jesus will come.
Even in recent decades predictions have been made and the dates come and gone,  yet , those who make them and their followers  seem not to notice.  New dates are figured and predictions are updated and again Jesus does not come.
Often this habit of predictions gathers some attention,  and when the prediction fails skepticism in the Christian message increases  and give the enemies of Christianity ammunition to denounce us,  not for a message about our Lord but for failed predictions. We need to stay riveted upon Jesus not events. Its important that we understand the times, but its even more important to know Jesus.

Some have made ministries dedicated to the study of prophecy yet, their spiritual conditions are, in some cases,   stunted . Rather then preaching that the "end is at hand"  lets boldly preach Jesus. This is the ultimate fulfillment of prophecy and the whole point of the Apostolic church message .

"for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" .Revelation:19:10c


If you do not join in the prediction of "end time" events  often you are accused of "not believing the Bible" or as some will retort that those who do not join in are "scoffers" such as the Apostle Peter says  would arise in "the last days".

"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2Peter:3:3-4

Those who make such charges often do this  as a ploy, I suspect in an  attempt to force others to go-along with them or appear to be a "scoffer".
 I knew a man in a church that I pastored, he made bold "predictions" of things that he was confident would come to pass, he even had dates set that he "knew things were going to happen on". The dates came and went. This man never got over that he had been wrong, he sat forlorn looking at is feet, his hopes dashed, events did not play out as he predicted. He never was the same again.

  This constant preoccupation with "end time" events, however has one effect that those who delve into them may not realize. When we focus on events we are not focused on our Lord. When we make our mission to proclaim events then we diminish our Lord Jesus down to a mere participant in those events.

The Great Disappointment

Col.William Miller

 In America , during the 1800s a man named Col.William Miller became interested in prophecy. He was a good and sincere Christian, he came to believe that he could by studying  the Scripture know when Jesus would return he arrived at a date, he shared his findings with others they became convinced that Jesus' return was at hand. Col.Miller and his followers, called Millerites, waited,  some having sold homes and lands feeling that they would no longer need such things. The date came and went, and Jesus did not return, many were crushed and dishearten. 

Miller returned to his calculations realizing that there was no year Zero, he came to feel that Jesus would return the following year. One year later Jesus did not return.This episode became known as the Great Disappointment. 

  Again,  let me say that YES! we are in the "general time"  of "the end",  but we do not know how long that time will be, it could be ten years or one hundred and ten. So when did the "end time" begin?

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" Acts:2:17

Peter quotes the Prophet Joel's prophecy regarding the "last days" and Peter interprets the day of Pentecost ,approximately  33 AD  as the start of the "last days" , If that be  true , then "the end"  is transpiring all around us and has been for the last two thousand years, we can witness all that Jesus spoke of taking place around us.

When look out at a world in disorder we should not allow this to eclipse our Lord, all the more our voices should raise all the louder that Jesus is Lord that He is God's uniquely born Son the one and only Savior of humanity. This should be our message in all and every time, all about Jesus all the time , not events not  even "end time" ones.

 No Need to Fear

From speaking to many, who are intensely interested in "the end"  , it seems that eventually what comes out is, fear!  They are afraid that if they do not "pay attention"    to what is going on they will be get caught up in it, or they will not have "done enough" to be found "good enough" to escape,    yet , our Lord Jesus tells us not to be afraid.  Jesus tells His disciples  and to we today.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But do not be afraid for I have defeated the world.” John:16:33

And to the ages Apostle John on Patmos in the Aegean Sea while under house arrest for preaching about Jesus.

“Do not be afraid." Revelation:1:17c

We do have to fear, not even the "end of the world" ,  our Lord is with us in all and every time even the "end time" .  I have heard ministers even admit fear at the prospects of facing "the end" . It is true that the closing years of human civilization will be difficult, yet our Lord can and will see His people through them. The most often repeated admonition in all Scripture is "do not be afraid" .

In Jesus our God has accomplished the salvation of any who will but freely receive it. Jesus has won the victory over all that would or could keep us from experiencing this salvation. Even the devil is defeated, and he knows it. Jesus did this through the incarnation and His death for us all.Satan and even death have been conquered.

"For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" Hebrews:2:14-15

 Victory

Through Jesus the fallen  world  and its unseen rulers is already defeated and victory over it is ours already not just some day, but ours' now , today ! For the Christian when we came to believe in Jesus , we can now experience this victory that is already our in our Lord. For us the world has ended in Him.

 "But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Corinthians:15:57

Even now we walk as citizen of His kingdom , not just some day.

"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Colssians:1:13

This reality that we now are under the rule of our God should inspire us to walk in a way that bring glory to our Lord and points others to Jesus not to "events"

"That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory." 1Thessalonians:2:12

What Do We Know?

Again, yes the world will end,  and there are moments under  human misrule  which we live , when that "end"  seems to be very is closes at hand and other times when it does not.
What can we know regarding these things? We can know that we are in the "general season of the end" , that this, " general season"  will be characterized by difficult times. Luke:21:30-31.  There will be and is deception spiritually,  politically, educationally. Matthew:24:4-8. Mark:13:29.  There will be wars, natural disasters of every sort.  The challenges for humanity will intensify. Social problem will increase humanity will become more harden and selfish looking more to the gratification of the flesh.2Timothy:3:1-5

Confronted with these challenges will lead humanity to look to its self , and to a "personality" which will emerge at the end of human history,   for answers.    Revelation:13.

Nero

Many early Christians believed that this "personality" would be the Emperor Nero returned from the deadly wound of assassination, this belief was circulating with in the church even in the 422s AD, even St. Augustine of Hippo wrote of this anticipation among some Christians especially in the eastern churches.   

This belief was known  as the Nero Redivivus (Again) Legend . The legend of Nero's return lasted for hundreds of years after Nero's death. 

Yet this "personality"  , this "Nero" of the years ahead  whom much of humanity will look to for answers,  will bring only more tyranny and suffering increasing the severity of humanities problem  with increased conflicts and power struggles until, if our Lord does not intervene,  humanity for which the Son of God gave Himself would be destroyed. Jesus Christ will return from the heavens and the rule of God will extend over all things and there will finally  be peace.Revelation:19:11

Nero Imposters 

The civil war during the  "Year  of Four Emperors"  in 69AD , was described by some  ancient historians as a troubling period. Tacitus, attributed this instability was due to   the fact that emperors could no longer rely on the  legitimacy of the imperial bloodline, as Nero and those before him did.  
Galba's  short reign began with the execution of many who were allies of Nero and any possible future enemies.  One such was  Nymphidiue Sabinus who laid claimed to be the son of emperor Caligula. until the final accession of Vespasian. 


Otho overthrew Galba. Otho was said to be liked by many legionnaires  because he had been an ally of Nero's and looked like him  and was somewhat  like Nero in temperament. It  has been reported that the common Roman hailed Otho as Nero himself.  Otho used "Nero" as a surname and made   many statues to Nero. 
 Vitelius overthrew Otho.  Vitellius began his time of rule with a  funeral  of much fanfare for Nero complete with songs composed   by Nero himself. 
After Nero's suicide, or assassination ,  in 68 AD, there was a widespread belief, especially in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire  that Nero  was not really dead and somehow would return. 


At least  Three Nero imposters emerged leading rebellions. The first, who sang and played the cithara or lyre and whose face was similar to that of the dead emperor, appeared in 69 AD during the reign of Vitellius. After persuading some to recognize him, he was captured and executed. 

Sometime during the reign of  Titus around  79–81 AD  there was another impostor who appeared in Asia and also sang to the accompaniment of the lyre and looked like Nero as well  but he, too, was killed. Twenty years after Nero's death, during the reign of , Domitian there was a third pretender who was  Supported by the Parthians, There is ,and always will be a "Nero"  who is claiming  to be able to bring what only our Lord Jesus can.

Nearer Then Yesterday.

So as to the timing of "the end",  in one sense the "end"  has come for those who believe, but for the world at large,  these things are yet to play out;  as to when?  we do not know,  and if one asserts to know the day  we can only refer you to the words of our Lord.  

"But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew:24:36

But there is also this reassurance, of  the  coming of our Lord Jesus  and the end of human misrule is
"  nearer than when we believed." Romans:13:11


The coming of Lord is near at hand therefore we should go forth with godly confidence and preach the message about our Lord Jesus Christ and all that God has done for each and all who will but freely receive it.The Apostles themselves asked about the "end" , they and we are natural curious about such things,  but Jesus directed them and us to our primary  mission which is of telling others every where about Him.

 "Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts:1:6-8

 His coming is at hand and the end is come.Amen


Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 

 2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com