Bible Study Seattle

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

Who is this referring to? Christians? Spouses? Children?

It is popular to take this as referring to Spouses. That way we can ignore all those pesky submission verses and have nice, equitable marriages.
I think the verse is referring to Christians in general or it’s possible it is not part of the original scripture. How can two people submit to each other? Think of ballroom dancers. Could they both follow? No. They could take turns submitting. Imagine the man starts by leading. He then signals to his wife midstep that he will follow and she should lead. This might be possible with extremely good dancers, but it seems grossly impractical. Friends do take turns submitting to one another. Some might say a husband will even submit momentarily to a wife’s desires, but I would call that love. The writer could have meant to love one another, but love isn’t always submissive, it is as often proactive. Believers are to submit to Jesus. They are to love one another. That’s why I have a problem with this verse no matter who it applies to. It flies in the face of all other scriptures that denote headship/submission. God is the head of Jesus, who is the head of man, who is the head of woman, who is the head of her children, etc. It really gets hairy if we assume the verse applies to families. Imagine a father submitting to his daughter equally as she submits to him. What a parenting disaster that would be!

Names are significant in the bible in what they mean and who gives them.
“So the man gave names to all the livestock.” Genesis 2:20
Adam got to name all the animals.

“Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” Genesis 3:20
Adam got to name his wife!

“Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth.” Genesis 4:25
Adam named his son. To Abram:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
Here, God promises Abram to make his name great. With Ishmael:
“The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” Genesis 16:11
Here God steps in and tells Hagar what his name will be. She reports this to Abram, who then follows the angel’s directions.
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5
God changes Abram’s name! This is significant, as it will happen to all Christians.
“God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.” Genesis 17:15
Gad also changes Sarai’s name. Sarah is the only woman in the entire bible whose age at death is given (127).
When Lot is living in Sodom with his two daughters, notice what happens:
“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.” Genesis 19:30-38

Here the mothers name the children. The Moabites and Ammonites were terrible enemies of Israel.

Jacob’s 12 sons were all named by their mothers.

The most interesting part about names is when they are changed by God. Here’s what awaits Israel:

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Isaiah 62:1-3

To the faithful Christians:

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
The white stone represents purity, but it probably also refers to the original polished white limestone facing of the great pyramid, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone at the top.
“The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.” Revelation 3:12
Here we have the bride of Jesus taking his name. This is why women take their husband’s last name when the marry. It is symbolic of the ultimate marriage to come!

Guilt is a useful thing when we do something wrong. But some feel guilt when they have done nothing wrong. Particularly this is the case for women. Why? Why is it that women universally feel guilt much more than men? Is it because women fall short of their husband’s expectations? Or is it because they fall short of their mother’s expectations? I believe it is the later. Has guilt has been passed down from mother to daughter through the centuries in a way vastly different from fathers and sons? The guilt Eve felt after the fall must have been different from the guilt Adam felt. Paul says:
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning…” 2 Corinthians 11:3

“And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” 1 Timothy 2:14

Since Eve was deceived, the guilt she felt must have been overwhelming, as being broadsided by something she didn’t see coming. Adam, on the other hand, knew what he was doing, so his guilt wouldn’t have been a surprise.

Imagine when Eve is alive again, and she gives her testimony about exactly what happened in the garden! A lot will make sense then!

Purple is also prominent in the Tabernacle and Temple and the high priests’ garments.  Purple is a mixture of blue and red.  It is the color of royalty.  So, to become heavenly royalty, one must have faith and sacrifice.  To become heavenly, but not royalty, one must have faith.  Sacrifice is hard. 

Scarlet is another prominent color. It is the color of blood, and represents sacrifice. The color was obtained from a female worm like insect who died after laying her eggs. Interesting that red was obtained by death!
The way into the holy and most holy contained scarlet – sacrifice is required for promotion in God’s kingdom.

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim skillfully worked shall you make them.” Exodus 26:1

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; in skilled work shall it be made, with cherubim.” Exodus 26:31

“And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.” Exodus 26:36

“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.” Exodus 27:16

The high priest wore loads of scarlet:
“And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.” Exodus 28:6, etc.

Blue is very prevalent in both the Tabernacle and Temple. 

Blue curtains:  “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim skilfully worked shall you make them.”  Exodus 26:1

Blue loops:       “And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain in the first set; and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outmost curtain in the second set.”   Exodus 26:4

Blue veil:           “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen.”    Exodus 26:31

Blue door:         “And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.”  Exodus 26:36

Blue gate:           “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.”  Exodus 27:16

Blue garments:  “And of the blue and purple and scarlet stuff they made finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Exodus 39:1

The high priest wore blue all over. 

Blue coverings:      “When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it; then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put upon it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the continual bread also shall be on it; then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied: and they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it upon the carrying frame. And over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles;and they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of goatskin, and put them on the carrying frame.”  Numbers 4:5-12

Blue tassels:     “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.”  Numbers 15:37

Blue veil in the Temple:   “And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim on it.”  2 Chronicles 3:14

Blue represents faithfulness:  “Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”  Psalms 36:5   The skies are blue.

Solomon’s Temple was a precursor to the greater temple in heaven.  “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  Hebrews 8:5

In between Solomon’s two coronations (1 Chronicles 23 & 29), elaborate preparations were made.  This foreshadows the 370 year preparation for the heavenly temple.  The Levites and priests were given instructions for building the temple and worship.  288 Levitical musicians are appointed for the worship.  288,000 commanders were appointed for military duty.   Notice this is twice the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 & 14.  Perhaps 144,000 on earth and 144,000 in heaven?   After Solomon’s second coronation (greater than the first), the temple is built.  Does this suggest that the temple won’t be complete until the 11th year (out of 40) of Solomon’s reign?  Will the heavenly temple be completed at the same time as the earthly temple?  Or will the heavenly temple be completely before the general resurrection of man (the second born)?  Time will tell.

“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.  Hallelujah!” 

Everything that has breath?  Even animals?  Yes.  Trees?  Maybe.  Could the animals be conscious of their creator?  Evidently that will be the case.  Animals have morality too and will have their own judgment.  Genesis 9:5:  “For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it and of man; of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.”  This shows that animals will be accountable if they kill people.

The bible is so full of answers! Yet, “…now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
There is a lapping of ages between the gospel age and the millennial age. Some have thought this to be a period of 40 years, but I think it’s 370 years (the days of Noah). This transition is shown many ways. One is the fact that David reigned 7.5 years in Hebron before fully assuming leadership of Israel the remaining 32.5 years. This would only be 250 out of 1000 years, but it’s a long time. Another is the sequence in 1 Chronicles 22-29. Here we have the transition from the Tabernacle to the Temple. This represents the wayfaring of Christians to their permeanent condition in heaven. Notice how Solomon was made king twice! “When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.” 1 Chronicles 23:1

Later, “And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest.

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. And the Lord gave Solomon great repute in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.” 1 Chronicles 29:22-25

Why twice? It will be the same with the second coming of Jesus. He will first come secretly as king. Then temple construction is started in heaven. Then he is installed a second time more grandly in front of all the people.

Thus it will be! Most Christians will miss the first second coming of Jesus! But they will not miss the second second coming of Jesus!