Eighteen

Newsletter #230 - December 1997 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

It is important for watchmen to be observant. Observation of current events and phenomenon allow watchmen to know the season. Beginning at Passover 1996 and ending on September 16, 1997, at Jerusalem, we have had a phenomenon. 4 eclipses have occurred, and they have been evenly spaced at 6 month intervals. That is 3 six month intervals.

6 + 6 + 6 = 18. The number 18 is symbolic of bondage in biblical numerics. I believe the 3 consecutive 6 month was a sign for the elect to truly come out of bondage. Focus on God's Word and remember that signs are not worth a dime, unless you can affix the to the Word. How does 18 tie into the Word? Let's open our Bibles to Luke. We will pick it up with Christ's teaching.

Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

God is a consuming fire. This earth age is about division. It is about separating the wheat from the chaff. It is about separating the good from the evil. The evil also has the opportunity to change their lot. Why? Because they too are God's children. Each of His children have the opportunity to follow Him or Satan.

Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Christ was anxious to pay the price on the cross. He was anxious to suffer for each and every one of us to cover our sins with blood. That is love. Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Again, we see the purpose of this earth age. The wheat must be divided from the chaff.

Luke 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

In a religious sense, this has happened to many of you. Families are wonderful. Plant seeds within your family; however, if they don't take root, love them all the same.

Luke 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."

The division must occur, even amongst relatives. Love them and pray for them, but don't preach at them. I want you to think about the season Christ is referring to in this verse. Mark 13 should come to mind. Christ is talking about you and the generation of the fig tree.

Luke 12:54 And He said also to the people, "When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, 'There cometh a shower;' and so it is. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, 'There will be heat;' and it cometh to pass.

Many are able to discern the weather, but they don't realize God utilizes the heavens and weather phenomenon as signs to those watchmen that 3 x 6 = 18.

Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

There is a division taking place. Are you able to discern right from wrong? I hope you are able. If not, you may end up on the wrong side.

Luke 12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. 59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Be wiser than the serpent. Your part of God's plan is to be delivered up before the spurious messiah. The Holy Spirit will speak God's truth through you. If you don't use your head and you are in prison at that time, you will be of no service to God.

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Concentrate on the season. God's Word states "at that season". We are still talking about the generation will be delivered before antichrist. The Galatians spoke of here were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They got butchered. It was a calamity.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, "Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

People have a tendency to equate calamity with sin. Be smarter than that. We live in a dangerous world. Accidents happen, but they have nothing to do with sin.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

The Galatians that perished were not more sinful than the others. Christ said, "repent". Repentance places you with the good and separates you from the evil. Remember, this earth age is all about division.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Here we have the number of bondage, and this incident happened in Jerusalem. The 18 that perished must have been real sinners. God really must have wanted to get them. What did Christ have to say about them?

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Christ told them that the eighteen that perished were no bigger sinners than the others. God is a consuming fire. Those that don't repent and become part of the wheat, will perish with the chaff. The choice is yours.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

I hope your ears perk up, when you hear fig tree. Christ said, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree".

Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, 'Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, 'Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

In other words, let's give every one with free will every opportunity to produce fruit.

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.' "

This is the harvesting of the tares in Matthew 13. This age is about separation.

Luke 13:10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

The word "spirit" would be better translated "evil demon". This woman, symbolic of Christ's church, had been in bondage to this evil spirit for 18 years. Many today are in bondage to the ways of this world, such as usury, drugs and alcohol to name just a few. Satan will bind you, if you let him. Set yourself free from bondage. What will set you free? The truth of God's Word will set you free.

Luke 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." 13 And He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Christ freed the woman from bondage. Doing so on the sabbath "would light the priest's wick."

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, "There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."

The priest probably wished he could have healed the woman. Man doesn't have the power to heal. God does! Can you imagine this priest telling Jesus Christ that He can't heal on the sabbath? Jesus became our sabbath.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, "Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"

Who bound her? Satan bound her, and he can bind you, if you allow him to. Who freed the woman from bondage? Christ did, and He can free you as well. I believe the 3 six month intervals separating the 4 eclipses are a sign to the watchmen. A sign that there is no need for them to go into bondage to Satan. He gives us power over all our enemies (Luke 10:18-19); use it! Let's go to verse 25.

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open unto us;' and He shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are:'

Stay focused. Don't allow Satan to put you in bondage with false teachings, or you may find yourself standing outside the Master's house.

Luke 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, 'We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets.' 27 But He shall say, 'I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.'

Christ taught in their streets, but they weren't listening. You can hear it to this very day from the very pulpits that should be teaching truth. They have twisted the truth into teaching the rapture, the Easter bunny and the apple Eve ate in the Garden of Eden. These false teachings make those that accept this doctrine easy marks for Satan's bondage.

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

They key of David is the only key that will open the door to the kingdom of God in the season being discussed.

Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

The elect were chosen before the foundations of this earth age. They were the 1st, and they are a major factor in this, the last, generation. That is to say they will be a major factor, if they are not in bondage to Satan. Watchmen, observe God's signs. Pay attention. Most importantly, focus on the truth of the Living Word that sets you free from Satan's bondage.

In His service,
Arnold Murray