The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #6322

The foundation for the use of symbolism in scripture

Our Father has a simple method of drawing very colorful and impressively graphic pictures in our mind's eye so that we can SEE a visual representation of things which are unseen, invisible, i.e. spiritual. In fact the Apostle Paul explains this in Romans 1:20:

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Editors Note: It would be of value to read Pamphlet #1151 "A horse riding on a chicken?"

This is the foundation for the use of symbolism in scripture, which is to take things we can SEE with our flesh eyes and use them to represent something else that we need to SEE with our spiritual eyes. However, there is a unique and beautiful two-fold aspect concerning the use of symbolism and that is this:
If you understand what the symbols represent in an analogy then that which is being taught will be made very simple and easy to understand by the imagery etched in your mind. The proverb  "a picture is worth a thousand words"  is true, and it is a well documented and established fact that people remember far more of what they SEE than what they hear or read, even if what they SEE is only in their mind's eye, i.e. a picture which they have mentally created! God knows that, of course, which is exactly why the Holy Spirit gives us so many simple pictures, models, and plays to see and watch in His Word.

However, if you do not understand what the symbols represent, you will then scratch your head in wonderment and declare that which has been made so simple to be confusing, complex and mysterious, which is the way many folks describe the plain and simple Word of God.

This 37th chapter of Ezekiel is remarkable indeed, for in it we are going to learn how the restoration of the people, which we just read about in our last study, is going to unfold right up to end, and so it concerns the ministry of God's watchmen, who are His servants and His handmaidens, to the whole House of Israel. That's right! The watchmen, those who have been strengthened by the continual consumption and feasting at the table of the Lord, which is the Word of God, have a part in bringing to life (spiritually) the whole house of Israel. Though we are careful to recognize that it is totally the LORD's doing, nevertheless, what a privilege and honor it is to serve Him in whatever capacity He so chooses to use us.

Are you familiar with what God's elect, His watchmen, will be doing in the last days? Yes, they will be teaching His Word, but there also comes a time when they are to be delivered up. Here it is in Christ's own words as recorded in the Gospel of Mark:

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
God's elect will be delivered up for religious reasons, i.e. because they are Christians. You see, it will be a very religious time for someone who claims to be our Lord will be standing in the holy place performing miracles in the sight of men and handing out free tickets for a ride in his shiny Rapturemobile.
[10] And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
The Greek word for "published" is "kerussoto" and it means "to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel) :- preach (-er), proclaim, publish."

How is this proclaiming of the gospel among ALL NATIONS going to be accomplished? Is man going to do it, or is God going to do it? Here is your answer:

[11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
WOW! Does this say that the Holy Spirit Himself will speak directly through the mouths of God's elect? Yes it does!  It has not come to pass yet, but it shall happen soon!

Has there ever been anything like it before? Yes there has! Remember what happened on Pentecost Day in Acts chapter 2? Let's go there because this is important to understanding Ezekiel 37.

Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
What is the Day of Pentecost? It is "the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field:" (Ex. 23:16). Are you tilling ground and planting seeds in the field?
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
There came a sound as of a rushing mighty "Wind" right from heaven!
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Notice that without forethought or premeditation these disciples began to SPEAK, but it was not their words and it was not their spirit, it was the "WIND", the Holy Spirit speaking through them! Shall we read again how the gospel is proclaimed to the world?  Mark 13:11 "...take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

Now, as these men of God were speaking "the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11), which by the way every person present out of every nation present clearly heard spoken in his own language, some were making false accusations against them of being drunk, etc. But Peter stood up and said "No, these men are not drunk. This is an example of what will happen in the last days (which we just read about in Mark 13)."

Then Peter quoted His documentation from the book of the prophet Joel. In other words, Peter spoke in the manner of "Thus saith the Lord GOD", "here's what the Word of God says."

Acts 2:16
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

This is happening right now! The sons and daughters of the final generation are prophesying (i.e. teaching, working in the field, planting seeds for the harvest), and they SEE, which means to "Understand" visions. What visions? The visions of the prophets through whom Christ has foretold us all things! The prophet Daniel was told to seal the vision and seal up his book until the time of the end when the wise would understand (SEE) them.They now do!

And they now understand the "visions" Ezekiel saw too, including the highly polished spectrum metal circular whirling vehicle which came out of the north sky, let down its landing gear, and landed right in front of him!

They also understand the dreams of Daniel, etc., even king Nebuchadnezzar's dreams! And the Word of God is being taught chapter by chapter and line by line by those sons and daughters, the "children of the prophets" (Acts 3:25).

But as we just read, there will come a time when the "WIND" comes rushing from heaven and the Holy Spirit is poured out on HIS servants and HIS handmaidens and they shall prophesy, to that WIND! Here it is:

Acts 2:18
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Peter was documenting that what they were witnessing right then and there was only a sampling of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the last days, when this prophecy of Acts 2:18 will be fulfilled. It happened back then for our benefit today, so that we could SEE how Mark 13:11 shall come to pass. Got the PICTURE?
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

The Holy Spirit shall come and speak through His servants BEFORE the day of the Lord, before the 7th Trump, which means it happens during the 6th Trump, during the tribulation of the reign of antichrist.

With that background we are now ready, in our next pamphlet, to study the great 37th chapter of Ezekiel.



1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.


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