The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #4416

My Hi-lite: The Mysteries of the Kingdom: the Period between the King's two advents, continued

 Jesus Christ told His disciples that He spoke in parables for two reasons (Mat. 13:11):

(1) To simplify and make easy to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to His disciples, those who discipline themselves in His Word.

(2) To hide the mysteries of the kingdom from those who do not seek Him and therefore do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear.

So if you are ready and have your eyes open and your ears to hear on and in place, then we are all set to learn one of the great mysteries of the "kingdom of heaven" which begins with a parable spoken from the mouth of the Lord. Hear ye! Hear ye!

Matthew 13:24
Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

[25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Tares: A noxious plant, of the grass family, supposed to mean the darnel. It grows among the wheat everywhere in Palestine, and bears a great resemblance to it while growing - so closely that, before they head out, the two plants can hardly be distinguished. The grains are found, 2 or 3 together, in 12 small husks, scattered on a rather long head. The Arabs do not separate the darnel from the wheat, unless by means of a fan or sieve, after threshing (Mat. 13:25-30). If left to mingle with the bread, it occasions dizziness, and often acts as an emetic. ("Smith's Bible Dictionary", A. J. Holman Company, pg. 301.)

[26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

That is why it is written: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Mat. 7:20)."

The bearded darnel (Lolium temulentum) is a poisonous grass, almost indistinguishable from wheat while the two are only in blade, but which can be separated without difficulty when they come into ear (cp. mat. 13:29, 20). ("Davis Bible Dictionary", Baker Book House, pg. 759.)

[27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Notice what happens next as Jesus sends the multitude away and goes into the house. Only those eager-to-hear-and-hungry-to-know-His-Word disciples, His family, follow Him "into the house" and ASK HIM to "explain the parable of the tares of the field"! The multitudes were dismissed and they went away probably saying something like, "Wasn't that a lovely sermon today?"

Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

Jesus Christ has just sent the multitude away and has entered into the house where His disciples, those hungry "students" who seek to know and understand Him, have come to ask Him to please EXPLAIN the Parable of the Tares. Take notice that even they did not quite understand the Parable of the Tares.

 
Matthew 13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

Here then is Christ's explanation of the parable of the tares:

Matthew 13:37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

[38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

This doesn't seem all that difficult, does it?

Then why is it this has been hidden from so many... even from the beginning?

It is because most preachers try to spiritualize and "spin it" away instead of understanding  that there is NO SYMBOLOGY in the explanation of the parable! In other words, "the world" is not representative of something else!  It means that "the world" is just that, "the world".

It means that "children" are "children" and "the devil" that sowed the "sperma" is "the devil", Satan himself.

Let's finish Christ's explanation and then we will go to the beginning and read about the "seed" (sperma) that was sown.

Matthew 13:40
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Matthew 13:41
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Let's go to the beginning of this earth age where one of the "greatest cover-ups" of all time took place... in the fig grove of the garden of Eden. Of course God has allowed the cover-up to take place for it is part of the "stupor", the spirit of slumber, that has fallen over the eyes of our people.

However, if you will open your ears and "hear His voice" and seek His wisdom instead of holding fast to the traditions (traditional lies) of men, then you can be His disciple (student of the Word) and He will unlock the things that have been hidden for so long, the mysteries of the kingdom of God!

Just go to Him, to the Word of God, and ASK for wisdom and knowledge and He will give it to you. James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

A Christian should know that one of Satan's most effective and subtle tools in covering up the truth of God's Word is to take that which is expressed figuratively and cause people to take it literally, and vice versa. And since it is of such extreme importance to understand what happened in the beginning of any book in order to place that which follows in proper context, you can be certain that Satan has worked real hard on the first few chapters of God's Word to make sure it is misunderstood thereby throwing people off track, by covering up his own tracks from the very start.

In other words (and never forget this):

If you do not know what really happened in the first few chapters of Genesis and especially in garden of Eden you will never truly understand the rest of God's Word.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words", so let us "see" a visual of the typical "fairy tale" Satan would have the "little children" believe happened in the garden:

The narrative at the bottom of the picture reads:

"Adam and Eve were told by God not to eat apples from a certain tree in the garden. An evil serpent tempted Eve and she and Adam both ate the forbidden fruit. Because they disobeyed God, they were forced to leave the Garden of Eden."

Keep in mind that what you are about to read and hear may be so completely different than this illustrated "tradition" handed down by the churches for many generations that it might "set you on your heels", which is a figure of speech meaning it might astound you. So do not say we didn't warn you!Of course, if you are willing to believe fairy tales like the one in this picture then perhaps you can believe some reality which actually makes much more sense than such nonsense.

First of all, would it surprise you to know that the word "apple" is not even mentioned anywhere in the Book of Genesis? Check it out for yourself. You see, Satan wants you to believe that the "forbidden fruit" Adam and Eve partook of was literal fruit just like an apple. This is a prime example of taking that which is used figuratively to be the literal thing (or place or person) that it used symbolically to graphically depict something else.

Figures of speech are so overlooked in God's Word that I'm sure if we were to read in the New Testament that the apostle Paul "got into hot water" that there would be churches teaching that in order to be in good standing among their members you would have to "get into hot water" yourself. That would be Satan's literal interpretation akin to what he has done with the serpent of Genesis! Of course there would be division and disagreement among the denominations and "scholars" as to what temperature actually constitutes "hot" as opposed to just "warm" and how much hot water a person should actually get into, i.e. should one step into hot water just up to his knees or waist or should one become totally immersed in hot water. And if you looked up the word "water" in any Greek dictionary it would certainly mean H2O, like rain. Yet the phrase he "got into hot water" has absolutely nothing to do with water! It is a figure of speech which means he "got into trouble"!

Maybe this hot water scenario sounds a bit ridiculous to you but you should just see some of the ludicrous things churches teach and have their people do because of their ignorance of His Word. Do you not think Satan would be laughing his fool head off at watching Christians getting into pools of "hot water"? Well guess what? He is laughing his fool head off at Christians who think Eve was deceived by a snake who talked her into eating an apple from a fruit tree!
Good grief Charlie Brown!

You see, the word "serpent" is simply one of the symbolic names of Satan that describes him according to his low-life character. He is also called the dragon, the little horn, the vile person, the son of perdition, the antichrist, the Devil, Satan, Lucifer, the morning star (Isa. 14), etc. Spiritually speaking, he is a "snake" alright! He is a sneaky, no-good, low-down, yellow-bellied, lying, conniving "serpent"! Rev. 20:2 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." In fact, Satan is the original "Spinmeister", the father of lies and cover-ups! But you know what? He is also the most beautiful and charismatic individual you will ever encounter, a charming one indeed! You can read all about this highly intelligent glistening one, "perfect in beauty", in the 28th chapter of Ezekiel.

Ok, then what about the fruit and the trees? They are symbolic, remember? Trees are used throughout the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, to symbolize people.God's elect are called "Cedars of Lebanon" because the roots of the cedar go as deep as the tree is tall and therefore those trees cannot be easily shaken or uprooted.
Jesus Christ is symbolized by the "Tree of Life" and the Vine, the branches of which bring forth good fruit.
And Satan is symbolized by the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" and he and his branches bring forth corrupt and evil fruit which we are NOT to EAT.

And so depending on what kind of "tree" you are determines what kind of fruit you produce.

Remember again the words of Jesus Christ:

Luke 6:43
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

[44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Here is what your Father says:

Hosea 14:8
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

[9] Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

So let's go to Genesis and see what happened in the garden.

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

That old serpent has perpetuated a lie, a tradition, about the "snake" and the "apple" long enough. Do not let him have the victory any more! Again, it is his diabolical plan to deceive a Biblically ignorant people, "because it ministers to the acceptance of his lie, the hiding of God's truth, the jeers of the infidel, the opposition of the critics, and the stumbling of the weak in faith." (Companion Bible, appendix 19, last paragraph.)

And you know what? This original "spinmeister" is exceptional unlike any other in that he has been able to convince just about the entire Christian world that "he did not have sex with that woman"! However, those who are in the know have his "number" and know better than to believe his lies and cover-ups.

By the way, the apostle Paul also refers to this "serpent" in the garden in 2 Cor. 11:3 where he explains that Eve lost her virginity to the serpent and likens it to losing one's spiritual virginity in these last days:

2 Cor. 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiledEve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

serpent = ophis  of'-is Strong's #3789
Probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan:—serpent.

beguiled, exapatao, ex-ap-at-ah'-o, Greek 1818; from Greek 1537 (ek) and Greek 538 (apatao); to seduce wholly :- beguile, deceive.

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (All the trees/people in the garden, but not Satan)

touch = naw-gah'  Strong's #5060
A primitive root; properly to touch, that is, laythehandupon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication to reach (figuratively to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.):—beat, (X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

[5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

... she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

But why in the world did they now "know they were naked"? You will find it is because of the SHAME they have brought upon themselves, for disobeying God, yes, but in a much more perverted way than biting bad apples.

"And they sewed FIG LEAVES together, and made themselves aprons." Do you suppose these were itty bitty little aprons that they sewed together to cover their mouths because they just ate a bad apple? How stupid the traditions of men! Learn to think for yourself and stick to God's Word, not the traditions of men.

[8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Let us now see what judgment was made by our Father:

Genesis 3:14
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

seed, zera`, zeh'-rah, Hebrew 2233; from Hebrew 2232 (zara`); seed; figurative fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity :- × carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing-time.

Again, God is talking about progeny, children, the same thing Christ was talking about in Mat. 13!

Matthew 13:38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Now, notice the sentence of "sorrow" (travail) related to child birth that Eve receives because of what she has done.

Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Note: Much of today's study is excerpted from the study titled "Parable of the Fig Tree", which is available in its entirety on this site. Log unto Parable of the Fig Tree