Luke 24:1 "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."

We are told in Mark 16:1 that Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome had brought sweet spices, that they might anoint the body of Jesus. It was Salome that brought her two sons to Jesus and asked that they sit on both sides of Christ in His kingdom. The time of this anointing would be on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, but think for a moment, Jesus had foretold all things that would happen, to His disciples. So why would these ladies come to anoint a body, when Jesus had already told them He would not be there?

Jesus body was anointed by the woman that brought her expensive box of ointment of Spikenard, as recorded in Mark 14:3, and this woman did the anointing for both Jesus burial and His resurrection. So when the three ladies came to the tomb early that morning, they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. These ladies brought their spices to anoint the body of Christ, for they had been eye witnesses to the death of Jesus.

Luke 24:2 "And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre."

This stone that they expected to find before the sepulcher was huge, for the Kenite religious leaders wanted to make it so large so that no one could come and take the body of Christ, then claim that Christ had risen. After all Jesus warned them in their Temple that He would rise from the dead after three days and three nights: The same time Jonah was in the belly of the giant fish. This was the only sign that Jesus would give these Kenites.

Luke 24:3 "And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus."

When the ladies entered into the sepulchre, they saw that Jesus body was gone, He had risen.

Mark 16:5 tells us that as they entered into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and the three ladies become frightened. This man standing before them was an angel from God. While Mark only mentions the man addressing the ladies with this good report, Luke tells of the other man there with him.

Luke 24:4 "And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:"

The address given to these ladies by this angel is recorded in Mark 16:6; "And he saith unto them, "Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: Behold the place where they laid Him." As He said unto you. Of course these men would appear to be young men, for there is no aging process to angels and the spiritual body. Their shining garments made it obvious that they were from the Father.

Luke 24:5 "And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?"

Of course these ladies were afraid, and bowed down before these angels, but the two angels asked the ladies why they sought the living Christ among the dead?

Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee,"

This angel reminded the ladies how Jesus told them of the things that would happen to Him. Those events were as it was recorded in the Scriptures by the Prophets. As Jesus and the disciples were heading for Jerusalem for the time of the crucifixion: Jesus told them in detail the events that would take place. [Luke 17] The angels is reminding them here of that time. We will see shortly that God closed the minds of two of his disciples so they would not recognize Jesus, while He walked with them on their way to Emmaus. This is a warning to us living in the time of the fig tree, that we had better not go to sleep on our watch in these last days. Sure Jesus told them what was going to happen, but their minds were closed to that understanding. He has also warned us of the events of our day, and we had better pay attention to those warnings.

Live Link to-  The Parable of the Fig Tree

Luke 24:7 "Saying, `The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' "

Luke 24:8 "And they remembered His words,"

After the angel spoke these words, these ladies remember Jesus words to them.

Mark 9:30, 31 "And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and He would not that any man should know it." [30] "For He taught His disciples, and said unto them, "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day." [31]

Sure Jesus told the disciples, "But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him." [32] Then a little ways down the road to Jerusalem, Jesus told them again.

Mark 10:34 was also a very detailed report of what would happen in Jerusalem. "And they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again." Over and over Jesus repeated, in three days I will rise from the dead. Jesus even told the crowd in the Temple the day before his trial.

Luke 24:9 "And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest."

These ladies have been told to go back to town and tell the things you have seen to the disciples, and the rest of Jesus' followers. Judas was not with them for the Kenites had murdered him; cut him open from groin to his throat, and jerked him on the rope till all his insides came out, as recorded in Acts 1:18.

Luke 24:10 "It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."

The ladies did as the Angel instructed them. Joanna was one of Herod's steward's wives, as we read in Luke 8:3; "And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward,....ministered unto Him of their substance." She was there with all the other followers of Christ at this time. She was at the crucifixion, and was a witness that morning at the sepulchre. Though it calls the disciples "apostles" they will not be Christ's sent ones until after Jesus ascension into heaven, and the Holy Spirit comes to indwell them on the day of Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit will be fifty days later. Keep in mind that there was great trauma that the disciples and His followers witnessed as Jesus would be beaten, spit upon, and murdered at the hands of the Kenite religious leaders. For three years each of these disciples spent their entire time serving Jesus, and then to see Him so abused and murdered, would cause their mind to be forgetful.

As we approach these end times, there are going to be many events and wonders that shall take place, and we also must keep our mind focused on the instructions from the Word of God, so we don't get carried away also. God's Word must come to pass exactly as it was written.

Luke 24:11 "And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not."

Remember that the Holy Spirit had not come to indwell the disciples yet, and when they heard this report from the ladies, it sounded like fairy tales and nonsense to them. They just did not believe what the ladies had told them. The Greek text said they were in "Leros", a medical term given here by Luke meaning in "delirium". Here they had walked with Jesus for three years, and seen people healed, freed of their evil spirits, and even witnessed Lazarus raised from the dead, but now three days later they seemed to forget it all. Peter just couldn't believe what the ladies had told him, and he had to see it for himself.

Luke 24:12 "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stopping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass."

With all this happening, the witness of the ladies at the tomb, the speaking by the angels, all the other things going on at the time; Peter is confused as to what is happening. He was wondering within himself what all this meant. So it is very important to pay attention to what is going to happen to two of Jesus disciples as they walked down the road to Emmaus. God has a way of blinding certain people to the truth, to keep them innocent unto the time He can use them. God is allowing us to see man for what he is.

Luke 24:13 "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs."

Two of the disciples left Jerusalem and were walking on the road to Emmaus. Emmaus was about seven to eight miles south west of Jerusalem. Emmaus was located where the modern day town of Khan el Khamaseh is today. The meaning of Emmaus is "hot bath".

Luke 24:14 "And they talked together of all these things which had happened ."

These two disciples were discussing the events that had happened over the past week. Jesus had instructed them of the events of the end times. They had witnessed His trial and death on the cross, and the affect that it had on all the disciples. There was so much to talk about, that their minds were not aware that Jesus had joined them, and was walking with them.

Luke 24:15 "And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them."

As they were walking along, Jesus Himself entered into the conversation with them.

Luke 24:16 "But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him."

Their eyes were "holden"; # 2902 in the Strong's Greek dictionary; "krateo; held fast, seized or retained." From # 2904 "kratos; prime, to show vigor, might, dominion." This lets us know that God was the one that prevented them from recognizing Jesus at this time. God is teaching each of us a lesson from this verse. So why did God not want the disciples not to recognize Jesus at this time? This was done so that we could understand how those many signs that are written in Prophecy can be seen and yet Christians can be blind to them. The events of the end times are happening each day around us, and reported in the news and on television. Those events are affecting our personal lives, and yet the Christian world at large is blind to the signs that are in His Word for us to understand.

A mentally ill lady had a vision from sick bed back in May 1830, and the Christian world is willing to throw all the warnings of Christ aside to follow visions of this rapture doctrine. Why would Christians be so blind to the truth? Because God withheld the understanding from them just as these disciples on the road to Emmaus were blind to the fact of Jesus' identity. The signs of the end times are in every area of our lives, and they are well planned by the four hidden dynasties. God has given us signs in the heavens, of an eclipse of the sun for five straight six month periods. The one world system that comes into being in the end times controls every area of our lives, and the trade borders are being removed for free world trade. The fig tree was planted way back in 1948 when the Jews are back to Jerusalem, (given possession of it) and all the rest of the events going on today. Yet Christians would rather bet their soul on a mentally ill woman's fly away dream. Yes the Scriptures even talked about false teachers hunting souls to fly out with them.

Ezekiel 13:18 "And say, `Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every statue to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of My People, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?"

The women are the bride of Christ, if you claim to be a Christian then you are one of those women spoken of in this verse. The word "women" is filled in here by the translators, but God is addressing those preachers and teachers that are sewing their pillows, "kesathoth" doctrines over the outstretched arms of our Lord. The purpose of these pillows are to cover over and conceal the loving arms of our Lord. These "Kerchiefs" are wraps that cleave close around the head, to cover over the face, so that the eyes of the person can not see the hand of God stretching out to them. The "statue", or "komah" in the Hebrew as recorded in the Massorah text means "height", and is addressed to persons in high and lofty stations or offices.

God is warning those "women" those of the bride of Christ, that call themselves preachers and teachers; "WOE" unto you that are creating and passing on your false doctrines to hunt the souls of my people. Then God asks you, Do you think you are going to get away with what you are doing? covering over my outstretched arms to My People?

Ezekiel 13:19 "And will ye pollute Me among My People for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to My People that hear your lies?"

You pollute Me among My People when you tell them something that goes against the Word of God. God told us to take on the whole armor of God that we may stand against the wiles of the devil, and you tell them that much of the Word is not necessary. That is a lie, and when you teach things that blind God's people to the truth, you are lying to them, and God doesn't like it or you. You write your books, sing your songs, and take your offerings for the sake of selling your false doctrine for profit, for that pension fund, for the increase in your attendance or what ever the reason. God doesn't like it. Pay close attention to the word "hunt", for in the text it means to ensnare. You use false doctrine to ensnare people to keep them for understanding the truth. But what doctrine is God talking about here specifically?

Ezekiel 13:20 "Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; `Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tare them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly."

Our Heavenly Father is telling you that He hates your fly away doctrine. Behold I am against your doctrines [pillows], wherewith you use to draw the souls of My people to make the fly. It can not be any clearer what God thinks of your rapture or fly away doctrine. So why is it so bad? Because it causes Christians, God's people, to be blind to the truth, and not prepare to the time to tribulation, Satan's great deception that will cover the entire earth. You are going no where, if you think you are flying away, but right into Satan camp. You will become one of Satan's whores, and part of Satan harlot church in these end times. We are in the end times, and it is time to wake up and study the word, not mess around with Satan's pillows and kerchiefs.

Yet with all this going on, most Christians today have chose to ignore the warning that God has given us through His Word. They chose to be blind to the truth, to all the signs in the heavens and on the earth that are written in His Word. Just like this time that Jesus was walking with these two disciples, Christians are blind to the whole thing. God closed these disciples eyes to show us how God can withhold understanding to those that are unable to discern. It is for their own good, and in due time God will give them understanding, but it may not be until the Millennium age. However the elect will know the times and the seasons they are in, for they will be sealed at the coming of Satan to the earth during that hour of temptation. 

If you are not sealed in your mind to the truth, Revelation 9:4, 5 tells us that God will turn you over to to Satan and his fallen angels that will arrive here shortly, and He will allow them to sting you just as a scorpion strikes a man. That will leave you defenseless from what ever Satan has planned for you.

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We are going to take a little side trip here to look at these Scorpions of Revelation chapter 9  Pay special attention to verses 4 & 5

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Revelation 9:1 through 6  Pay special attention to verses 4 & 5

Four Trumps have now sounded as we move down the line towards the end, to the angel of the 5th Trump, which is the first of the 3 Woe Trumpets. Remember that the "woe" is to the inhabiters of the earth. The spiritual conditions down here have so deteriorated to the point that the enemies of God and of His children will now be likened to a great army of swarming locusts. This is the "Picture" that our Father would have us see in our "minds eye" representing the terrible devastation wrought upon the minds and souls of men and women by the "children of disobedience".

Rev. 9:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

The word "fall" used here should be "fallen" (See note on verse 1 in the Companion Bible). In other words, John now sees a star "which had fallen" from heaven, previously in the world that then was, be given the key to the bottomless pit.

What is the bottomless pit?  A pit is a something with which everyone is familiar, a hole in ground for instance, that you can look down into. (Keep in mind, however, that there are some who can't tell the difference between their donkey and a hole in the ground. Fortunately, our Father uses many different analogies so that perhaps one will "ring a bell" up there.) However, when you look into the pit described here there is no end in sight, for it is so deep it has no bottom, hence the term "bottomless". This Picture in your mind is to graphically illustrate the depth of the state of degradation to which the one who is in the pit has fallen, i.e. Satan. He has fallen to a depth so far down and is become so infinitely low that you cannot get any lower. Got it?

Now, let's see what happens when the bottomless pit is opened.

[2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

The first thing out of the pit is so great a cloud of smoke (read deception) that you can't see any truth anywhere.  Everything is dark. And what is causing this humongous smoke screen of deception?

[3] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

LOCUSTS? You mean insects?

No, now you're off track again! Back to paragraph one of this lesson. "This entire description is the "Picture" that our Father would have us see in our "minds eye" representing the terrible devastation wrought upon the minds and souls of men and women by the "children of disobedience". Understand, you can't "see" a lie. And you can't see it devour someone's chance to see the truth.

So we are talking about the enemies of God and "Seeing" an analogous "Picture" of them. They are like a bunch of insects, i.e. locusts, scorpions, etc. Are they to be feared?

NAW! Jesus Christ has given His own His Two-edged Sword, remember? And along with it, the POWER of it, i.e. the power to wield it! Here's what He has to say about creepy, crawly snakes and insects, i.e. low life creatures, Satan's own.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Squish! They're gone! Bye!

Actually, you can see you can just tread on these venomous insects with the gospel armour boots and save the Sword for the fire breathing dragon, to cut off his head! "I just can't wait for the opportunity", I say, as I polish my gospel armour. "Let that old dragon out the pit!"

Now, here's another key to remember to help understand "Pictures" more fully, shall we say to a deeper level. The Holy Spirit in giving us these Pictures doesn't just arbitrarily pick the symbols He uses. There is a purpose and a meaning contained in the selection. So if we learn the characteristics of the symbols we can better understand what is being described.

Let's start with the scorpion. Here's a link, one of many, where you can go to learn how the scorpion takes its prey.

http://www.desertusa.com/oct96/du_scorpion.html

You'll learn that scorpions are nocturnal, i.e. creatures of the night. They love darkness. That certainly fits! And here's a paragraph from this website describing the venom which, guess what?, affects the nervous system of its victims. Hmmmmm!

"The venom of scorpions is used for both prey capture and defense. Scorpion venoms are complex mixtures of neurotoxins (toxins which affect the victim's nervous system) and other substances; each species has a unique mixture."

And what of the locusts? We don't even need to research the worldwide web for this one. We can go to the Book of Joel, which we will later, and to Exodus, where God's two witnesses, Moses and Aaron, were sent to Pharaoh. Here we see locusts used in one of the judgments poured out, where we "See" the physical type set forth.

Note: Those locusts were sent by God just as we will read in Joel that these locusts in Revelation are also sent by, controlled by, God. Why? For the same reason the plagues were brought upon Egypt... "So that they may know that the Lord God Almighty doth reign supreme in both heaven and earth".

These insects when they swarmed through the land of Egypt consumed everything in their path. Here's the narrative:

Exodus 10:14-15
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. [15] For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

They licked the platter clean, Jack!

But wait, those were actual locusts that ate every green thing and all the grass and fruit and leaves off the trees, etc. These locusts in Revelation don't eat anything green, no trees, no grass. Of course not! They eat men's brains! Uneducated, unlearned in the Word of God, unsealed brains (which are what is supposed to be in their foreheads)! And they consume any truth found growing and leave behind their poop!

[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Do you have the seal of God in your forehead? Then when the devastation comes and is coming, you'll be completely untouched, unharmed, uneaten alive!

Here's a "Picture", a physical enactment, the type set forth, so that we can "see" the spiritual. The Lord God visited Ezekiel. Did you know that? It's right in chapter one of his book. And before He departed He gave these instructions to Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 9:3
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon He was, to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

[4] And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Who cries out against and sighs for all the abominations going on, even against the abominator that makes desolate? God's elect, of course!

[5] And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

[6] Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Those that have the seal of God, His mark, will not be harmed. Those who have the seal of the Beast, his mark, will be destroyed. You already have one or the other!

Oh, and by the way. Notice that the judgment begins at the house of the Lord, His sanctuary (1 Peter 4:17). Preachers beware!

Next we will learn the length of time these locusts will have to swarm the earth. Christ said He would shortened the time of the reign of Satan, pretending to be Christ, else no flesh would be saved alive. Given enough time, the dragon and his locusts would consume everyone.

Don't worry, they won't! Christ will see to it!

We've all seen graphic Hollywood productions both on TV and in the movies depicting the atrocities and bloodshed of war. Worse yet, we've all seen, and even are seeing today, graphic media coverage of the wars of the 20th Century. Those who die in these flesh and blood conflicts lose their physical lives and terminate their tabernacle, their temporary dwelling in the flesh body. It is called the "first death" which happens to ALL human beings, whether violently or peaceably or quickly or slowly or painfully or painlessly. For flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50).

We have been instructed in the 6th chapter of Ephesians to put on the gospel armour to prepare to stand in battle against the fiery darts of the wicked one and his army. It is spiritual warfare and it is your worst nightmare!

Ephes. 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

And so we about to fully engage in the major battles of a war with consequences far more serious and far more lethal than those which merely inflict the "first death". We are about to engage in the greatest "spiritual warfare", the greatest tribulation, of all of humanity, which can cause the "second death", not of the flesh, but of the very "soul".

In this 9th chapter of the Book of Revelation we are seeing the Holy Spirit's advanced coverage of the major battles of this end time war. Think about how incredible that is! In other words we are reading and seeing future news coverage of future events! And of course since we can't see with flesh eyes a "soul" or "spirit" being cut in half with a "tradition of men" or blown up with a deadly "lie bomb" or slowly suffocated with "dragon gas", He has chosen to illustrate what is actually occurring by using common analogies familiar to man.

So in this 9th chapter we have been reading of Satan's army likened to a swarm of locusts which darken the sky and devour every living thing in their path. And their infliction of lies into the minds of men and women are like the sting of a scorpion, quick and venomous, drugging the nervous system (the mind) of its victims.

Do you remember on Pentecost Day in Acts chapter two when Peter stood up and explained what the Galileans were speaking of in the tongue, meaning language, that was understood by every dialect of every nationality present? He quoted from the Book of Joel concerning the last days, these days and those just ahead, when God would pour out His spirit on His sons and daughters and they would prophesy, meaning teach from the prophets, like Joel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, etc.

Well, the Book of Joel gives even greater detail about this locust army and we learn there that though it is Satan and his troops who come against us, God Himself is in complete control of this army and allows it, uses it, as a means of chastisement, of correction, whereby many of His children can be brought to salvation. You must understand the Book of Joel to understand the locust army. Read it today!

Let's pick it up with verse 5 in chapter 9 of Revelation concerning the locusts:

Rev. 9:5
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

The locust army is NOT PERMITTED to kill people. They do not have "first death" rights to kill flesh. Again, this is spiritual warfare and swarming locusts are not going to eat people.

Now LOOK! Did you notice there is something in tomorrow's newsreel that is very revealing (what a great title for this book)? Did you notice how long the locust army has to do its thing? Five Months!

Remember in Mark 13:20 and Matthew 24:22 concerning this tribulation period that Jesus said He was going to shortened the length of time, otherwise no flesh would be saved?

Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Well, by taking the time to read the future's news events in the Book of the Uncovering, we have just learned the length of time Jesus has shortened the great tribulation to! Five months!

Even more remarkable is that the season of actual locusts is always from May to September. Five months! Let's see, that would be from Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles. Hmmmm! Did you know that Jesus Christ was born on the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles? (If not, read appendix 179 in the Companion Bible if you are blessed to have one.) Do you think His second advent will be in like manner?

Verse 6:

Rev. 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

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Sorry for the long side trip,                                                                          But, Yoooou needed to know about the scorpions!

If you are not sealed in your mind to the truth, yet, you ought to get to studying your Bible. All of it! The prophets and The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 

The following studies would be a good place to start:

Live Link to- Joel

Live Link to- Amos

Live Link to- Revelation

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Luke 24:17 "And He came unto them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

Jesus is asking His disciples here, "What are you so sad about, as you are walking here." They are grumbling over the fact that their leader was crucified in such an evil manner, and they simple do not see that Christ was walking with them. This was written for you and me, to see that we will be living in a time, also when it will look like nothing is going right, but when we know the Word, and prophesies, we should rejoice, for the Word is coming to pass exactly as it was written. Just as the evil things come over the world, so also we can rely of the promises the our Lord has given to each of His faithful servants. So even when bad or good events come to pass, we are to see them as fulfillment of God's promises to us. Jesus is asking these disciples, why are you sad, and He is thinking, you should be happy; I defeated Satan just for you.

Luke 24:18 "And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, "Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?"

Cleopas looked at Jesus and asked Him, are you a stranger around here? Didn't you see the things that have been going on in Jerusalem? You must had to have heard of the crucifixion, or the three hours of darkness, and all the other things that have been going on? Jesus was there alright, right in the middle of it all, but these two disciples still have their eyes closed to what is happening. He was the one they crucified.

Luke 24:19 "And He said unto them, "What things?" And they said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:"

This shows that our Lord does have a sense of humor. Here Jesus is making a point and giving a warning to us, but at the same time having a bit of fun with these two disciples. So these two disciples are explaining to Jesus all the events that had happened to Jesus, and Jesus allowed them to go through all the events of the day.

Luke 24:20 "And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him."

They were pouring their hearts out to the Lord.

Luke 24:21 "But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."

Here they even gave the clue that Christ would rise on the third day, and still they did not see that clue that was on the tip of their tongue. Their mouth was grinding away too fast for their mind to kick into gear. They didn't want to hear that there was a down side to Christ's ministry. They were expecting Jesus to come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and to redeem Israel and rule the world, yet to them, Jesus was murdered as a common criminal. Jesus told them that after He was crucified and raised from the dead, I'll be back a second time.

Again keep in mind that their eyes are "holden", until the right time, God will not allow these two disciples to see the truth. This lesson is not for their benefit, but for yours and my benefit. Many times teachers can stand before their group and pour there heart out, and yet the words seem to flow right over the listeners head. When you have done your best to bring out the truth, only to find out for their questions that they didn't understand anything of what you were teaching. That is what was happening here.

Luke 24:22 "Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;"

Now these two disciples are telling Jesus that they were shocked at the report that those women came back with from the sepulcher early this morning.

Luke 24:23 "And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive."

This should have stirred a remembrance with in their minds, but it didn't.

Luke 24:24 "And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said, but Him they saw not."

These disciples didn't believe the angels, they didn't believe the words that Jesus told them, and they even didn't believe it when they went to see for themselves. They just did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, even while He is walking right there with them. Even though their eyes were "holden" from who Jesus was, their own memory was closed also to all those things that they had heard directly from Jesus mouth. There is doubt in this story they are telling Jesus, as they said, "Him they saw not." "We have not seen Him yet."

Luke 24:25 "Then He said unto them. "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"

Then Jesus called them "O dullards", slow of mind to believe, without wisdom and fools. Jesus told them that they were quick to believe the glory of the Messiah, but not to the sufferings that the Christ must endure. The Jews cast out Jesus and refused to accept Him because they thought Jesus was not good enough for their world. Today many do just the reverse, they think that the world is not yet good enough for Him. Jesus even quoted Psalms 22 for them while He was on the cross so that they would know exactly what was taking place. Jesus is telling these disciples that they were slow in their mind to believe the scriptures that were written for them to understand, since they were witnessing those events taking place before their eyes.

This is also what is happening today, for many Christians are too slow for their minds to believe the events going on around them, that the Prophets warned them about thousand of years ago.

Luke 24:26 "Ought not Christ to have suffered those things, and to enter into His glory?"

Jesus is telling these disciples that this was the whole point of His coming to earth in the first place. He come into the world to suffer and be offered as the perfect sacrifice for one and all time. That is how Jesus entered into His glory. He paid the price for those that would believe on His name in repentance; and then follow the instructions that were given to us. It was written that those events had to come to pass before His glory would come.

Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself."

Get this now, for Jesus is telling you and me that we are to apply what is written in the word. Beginning with Moses's teachings, and continuing with all the prophets. Jesus left not one of the prophets out in His teaching and instructing of the disciples. Jesus Christ stressed that all the scriptures be known concerning Him. That includes the book of Genesis, the laws of Moses, the teaching of David through the Psalms, the end time prophecies of Ezekiel, and the Book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is concerning Jesus return at His second advent, and we are to be prepared for it just as Jesus expected these slow minded disciples that walked with Jesus for three years, yet don't know who He is on this road to Emmaus. In Genesis 3:15 God gave us the first record of Jesus crucifixion.

Genesis 3:15 "And I [God] will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy [Satan's] seed [the Kenites] and her Seed [Jesus Christ]; It [Christ] shall bruise thy [Satan's] head, and thou [Satan and the Kenites] shalt bruise His [Christ's] heel."

This took place at the cross, and it is recorded through out the Old Testament that Jesus would be crucified exactly as the event took place. The promise of two advents have prophesied many times in the Old Testament, and the detail were given by God so that we would not be ignorant, as these disciples were, when the events prophesied took place before our eyes. The prophets told us that Jesus was coming as savior, to be born of a virgin, live the life of the humble servant, ride the colt of ass into Jerusalem to be tried and crucified. When that event took place Jesus own disciples were taken by surprise, and scattered. They didn't believe their eyes, or the Words that Jesus told them. We are facing another time that Jesus told us to prepare for, and most Christians today are running for their pillows and putting their kerchiefs over their eyes, for they just don't want the truth.

There were over twenty five times mentioned in the Old Testament where God warned us of Christ, that "Thou shalt surely die" is given. The foot notes of the Companion Bible lists each of them. Just as warning and detail of Jesus first coming are listed and many, so are the details of Jesus second coming. Daniel 9:24 warned us that at the second coming we are to be aware that not only the True Prince Jesus Christ, but the false prince, Satan is coming as the Antichrist, and our generation shall see him. Why would you not want to prepare yourself for that great abomination of desolation, for it shall happen and you will either be standing against it, or be taking part in it. There will be no middle of the road in that day. If you can't make your mind up to prepare for that time, God will cut you lose and let Satan have you. If you carry the name "Christian", you should know at least who you are following, or you will be confused and follow the wrong christ. There are two, one is the True Jesus Christ; and the other a fake, Satan in his role as the Antichrist.

Say what you want about these two disciples, but their eyes were "Holden" blinded by Divine intervention, not to recognize Jesus. This is given for our benefit today in these end times. These disciples had been walking with Jesus for some time, talking and discussing things, and still they didn't know who He was. This is as it shall be with many Christians today that refuse to prepare themselves for the time we live in. There are no excuses for chasing off after false teachers and false doctrines with our Heavenly Father gave us such a detailed list of events that are going on now, and in the near future. We saw that Jesus entire life came to pass exactly as it was written, and that should strengthen our faith to study and prepare for His second coming.

Luke 24:28 "And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further."

As the disciples came into the village of Emmaus, Jesus pretended like He was a traveler going on to another location. The disciples didn't know or recognize him, to them He was just a traveler. So what did they do when Jesus tested them here.

Luke 24:29 "But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us:" for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to tarry with them."

This was customary to invite a traveler in when the night came, and they must have enjoyed being with Him at this time. Every thing that Jesus taught them there, is in His Word, and we can enjoy the same teaching in our homes. We are to study chapter by chapter and verse by verse, to get the flow of the Word.

Luke 24:30 "And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them."

Jesus Christ in His resurrected body, sat at meat with them. He took bread and blessed it and gave it to them. Jesus is in his transformed body and that body is eating the food that keep our flesh bodies healthy. It was customary that only the head of the household could break the bread, and pass it to be eaten. Jesus took over and took the head seat at that dinner. Notice that Jesus is serving His disciples again here. When Jesus broke that bread the last time it was at the last supper with all the disciples, this should come to mind also to these two disciples.

Luke 22:19 "And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me."

Jesus went out from that supper in the late evening, and was betrayed by Judas, taken to trial, and the next day put to death on the cross. His body was broken for our sins, He took the stripes so that we could be healed. This should have brought back their memory. Those words by the Savior, should have them square between the eyes. Jesus took the head table spot and brake the bread, for He was the bread of life.

Luke 24:31 "And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight."

Think of the excitement that came over these two disciples the moment that their spiritual eyes were opened, and they realized that Jesus the Messiah was sitting right there at the table with them. This word "vanished" is the Greek word, "aphantos", it means that as they were looking at Jesus, He "became invisible" to them. Instantly Jesus disappeared from their sight.

Jesus is in His transformed body, and has just risen from the dead. Was Jesus still there, or was He gone? This is the point that Jesus is making to us even today. Jesus gave the disciples instructions to wait in Jerusalem and stay there until He comes to meet them. These two drifted away from Jerusalem, Jesus met them and in time demonstrated that He was the Christ. They got the message, what were they doing in Emmaus? out of Jerusalem. They were to wait in Jerusalem for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, and though Jesus was invisible, He was still with them. Even though you cannot see Jesus today, when you need Him, He will be near to you. God has given each of us an angel that has access to God at any moment when it is needed. He will never leave you nor forsake you in your time of need.

Luke 24:32 "And they said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?"

All of a sudden all the words that Jesus spoke to them became a Bible lesson that they would not forget. Next time you read those promises that God gives you in His Word, apply them directly to you, think of it as Jesus talking and promising that promise just for you. Make it more than just words.

Luke 24:33 "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,"

These two returned to Jerusalem and met all the other believers that had gathered together.

Luke 24:34 "Saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." 

Those followers in Jerusalem told these two disciples that Jesus had appeared to Peter. They were excited.

Luke 24:35 "And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread."

Then these two disciples of Jesus told the others what had happened on their way to Emmaus, and how Jesus sat at the table with them, prayed and broke the bread, and then became invisible right before their eyes. They now know absolutely that Jesus was alive and risen from the dead. The most important thing for us today, is that we absorb what this is saying for us today. That even though you can't see Jesus, He is there still there with you every moment of the day.

Luke 24:36 "And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, "Peace be with you."

Now as they were all standing together discussing their sightings of Jesus with one another, Jesus appeared there right in their group, and said to them. "Peace be with you." Now every last one of them have seen Jesus and witnessed that Jesus is truly alive. Jesus never came through a door, but in His incorruptible spiritual body came right into the room with the door shut. Jesus appeared in the center of their group, He had been there all the time. This is teaching the lesson of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

Luke 24:37 "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit."

Think of it, after all the Peter told them, and the two that came from Emmaus, these followers were still frightened with Jesus came into their midst. We people in our flesh bodies have such a hard time visualizing or understanding the Divine influence of our own Father, or the Son and His Spirit.

Luke 24:38 "And He said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?"

Jesus asked them, "Why are you troubled in your mind and thoughts?" They should be happy but instead there were shook up. It was written that Jesus body would not see corruption, decay, and this is proof, for Jesus is in His incorruptible body. You can trust what is written in His Word.

Luke 24:39 "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have."

This is true, for the "spirit" is only the intellect of the soul, but the soul has another body, an heavenly body that has form, and Jesus is calling attention to "My hands and My feet, touch Me and see for yourself". Jesus body has form and He is real, but in that other dimension.

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  John's note: Reader, take a few moments and think about this "OTHER DIMENSION" which I believe is right here with us; but, we with our flesh eyes can't see into it, unless the person on the other side, in this case Jesus, allows themselves to be visible. Now, take this thought one step further as I have for several years now! Are our loved ones who have passed away right here with us, but, in that other dimension that we can't see into with our flesh eyes. I believe they have orders from God not to allow us to see them. Not to allow us to be influenced by their historical account of their "lives in this flesh age" and "death in the flesh" and what it means throughout eternity, Although I think they would like to!. I believe that dimension is right here all the time, but, not within our physical grasp. I believe God wants us to find Him on our own, using our free will to search the Scriptures for Him, and request His offer of saving grace through His son, Jesus Christ.

See the following conversation in Luke 16-31 which, along with the 24th chapter and of course Matthew 27:53 and of course John 20:19  are in part happenings I have used to form the above opinion. 

Matthew 27:53
And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many

John 20:19-23
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Luke 16:24 "And he cried and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' "

Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

Luke 16:26 "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.' "

Luke 16:27 "Then he said, `I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:"

Luke 16:28 "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' "

Luke 16:29 "Abraham saith unto him, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' "

Luke 16:30 "And he said, `Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.' "

Luke 16:31 "And he said unto him, `If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.' "

For further study see Live Link to-  GULF between LAZARUS & the RICH MAN

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Now back to our study of Luke chapter 24, sorry for the side trip.

Luke 24:40 "And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet."

We know from another Gospel that Thomas had to touch those nail print hands and the spear scar in His side before He would believe that Jesus was truly the Christ.

Luke 24:41 "And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto, "Have ye here any meat?"

Jesus is trying to make them believe and see that this is not just some spirit speaking to them, but another person in a body that has form. Sure that body can enter into that other dimension, but Jesus is showing them that He is risen from the dead. Sure they say Jesus being crucified on the cross, they witnessed Joseph taking Jesus off the cross, dressing him, and putting Jesus in that tomb. Yet here Jesus is standing before them and asking for food. Though eating is not for that incorruptible body, by eating Jesus will demonstrate that He truly is in body form.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they went through the wilderness for forty years, and during that forty years they ate manna, "angels" food. Jesus is showing them that the incorruptible body can eat people food, just as people can eat angel food.

  John's comment and questions: I wonder if my daughter, who passed away in 2004, still craves chocolate? I sure do miss her and am looking forward to the day we are reunited! In April of 2015 (my wife passed away on March 11, 2015) I now wonder how happy a ocassion she and our daughter's reunion was?

Luke 24:42 "And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb."

The disciples brought Jesus fish [the sign of a Christian] and honeycomb, the food of a prophet to eat. Jesus is trying to prove that He is not a spook, something unknown in spirit form, and that is why you should not call Him a Ghost. Sure the translators have used "Holy Ghost", but in the Greek it is "Spirit".

Luke 24:43 "And He took it, and did eat before them."

Jesus ate the fish, the symbol of our following of Him; and the honeycomb, the prophets food. When Jesus ate the food, their minds should now be at rest.

Luke 24:44 "And He said unto them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me." "

Jesus is telling these disciples to remember those things that I told you, and to keep them secure until these prophecies are fulfilled. The example was Jesus, Moses and Elijah appearing together in transformed bodies on mount transfiguration. All three of them were bright and shining as they stood there, and Jesus told them to keep this to themselves until after the resurrection takes place. Jesus is letting them know before the fact that this is what would take place, and they could see exactly what the resurrected, incorruptible body was. However they are still having a lot of trouble accepting that fact. So Jesus is reminding them that even when Jesus was with them in the flesh, He told them that all things prophesied had to be fulfilled. There is nothing new about what is happening here, as Jesus discussed it many times with them.

Luke 24:45 "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand Scriptures."

All things that are written in the Scriptures shall come to pass just as they are written by the Prophets. That applies to Christ's first coming, just as it applies to His second advent. When you start messing around with the Scriptures, and throwing out this passage and that, and saying this is not necessary because of the rapture, you are starting to skate on very thin ice. You are taking your own personal defenses away, and leaving yourself wide open for Satan's lies, and deceptions that we shall see shortly. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the truth, but you have to ask and seek the truth. The Holy Spirit will open your mind to knowing the understanding, the knowledge and wisdom of Almighty God written to you personally through His prophets. He expects you to take the time to read it, and be prepared for those thing that shall come to pass as they are written.

He will open your understanding to the Scriptures, for He will give you eyes to see and ears to hear, but you must ask Him for the truth. If His Spirit has already opened your mind to the truth, thank Him for that understanding.

Luke 24:46 "And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"

Jesus is telling these followers that every thing that was written had to happen, just as Christ had to suffer and die on the cross, and rise from the dead on the third day.

Luke 24:47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

The Nations are the Ethnos. When Jesus came out of the tomb, the price had been paid and completed for the remission of sins of all those that would by faith believe on His name. Salvation now is open to Israel (the Christian nations of western Europe and the Americas) and Gentile (the Races) alike, every where on the face to the earth. All people now can obtain eternal salvation by repentance for remission of sin, in the name of Jesus. This does not take away in any way the mission of the elect of Israel, that they are to accomplish those things written that are required of them, when they have eyes to see and ears to hear with understanding. Jesus is telling them that the door to salvation is now open to anyone that will repent and believe on Him. (the elects job is to plant those seeds of truth, then seat back and allow the Holy Spirit to germinate them and make them grow) 

Luke 24:48 "And ye are witnesses of these things."

These followers of Jesus, the disciples, the women, and all the others, are witnesses of those things that have happened. They saw Jesus on the cross, they saw him die and raise from the dead. They saw Jesus vanish and reappear, eat the food and hear what He said after He rose from the dead. Jesus has risen from the dead, and defeated death so the price is paid for you and me to preach this message (plant seeds) to the people of the world.

Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with the power from on high."

The promise that Jesus gave was that He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus is telling His followers to wait there in the city of Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes, and you are endued or given the power for God through the Holy Spirit. This time of the coming of the Holy Spirit is written of in Act 2:1, and now they know the Holy Spirit, is not a Ghost, but the Spirit of God, came upon them and they flowed into the streets speaking in that tongue which everyone heard in the very language of their neighborhood back home. There was nothing unknown about what was spoken, it was clear as a bell. It was Pentecost, and people were in Jerusalem from all over the world they were there, from every language in the world and the words flowed from these Christian's mouths in their own home language, so that they could understand. This is what amazed those people, It was that which was told of by Joel the Prophet a long time ago, and recorded in Joel 2:28-30.

Joel 2:28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. 

Live Link to- Joel

Luke 24:50 "And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them."

Bethany is on the west slope of the mount of Olives. Jesus lifted His hands and gave them His blessing. Jesus had opened salvation to them and to all mankind, and the forgiveness of sins. He had also promised to send the comforter to them, to guide and comfort them in their lives. Jesus truly did bless each of them and each of us.

Luke 24:51 "And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."

While He was talking to this band of His followers, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father. They were able to see Jesus ascend because He was in His transformed body. There was a difference and a reason for this transformed body, because He wanted us to see that the things prophesied had come to pass.  People would not have been able to believe that Jesus defeated death, unless they could have witnessed it for themselves.

Luke 24:52 "And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:"

God had touched them, and they returned to Jerusalem in great joy. They would remain there until Pentecost, as Jesus instructed, and the coming of the Holy spirit. That time is recorded in the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter two. The church grew from that moment of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and has touched millions of hearts down through the centuries of time.

Luke 24:53 "And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."

They stayed in the temple, and praised God, and waited on the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us power over all of our enemies. Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Sure we have power over Satan and his kids, over those fallen angels that shall come to this earth and all the fiery darts that they send our way. But Jesus went on to say.

Luke 10:20 "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

Thank God because you can see and understand these things that are written in His Word, so that your name could be recorded in His book of life. 

The point is that we take time to read and understand his word because we care about God, and are sensitive to following the path He has set for us.

   John's additional note: When you read my previous notes, from this Luke 24 study,  please be aware I am not in any way comparing my departed love ones to Jesus Christ, our Lord; I am only using what i can see in this chapter, of His resurrected body, and comparing it to the resurrected bodies my departed loved ones are now surely living in. 

                                   

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