FIREWALL

The FIREWALL

The Carpenter's Son

This message is mainly about the wall of New Jerusalem. Please pardon the length of the message - although much of it is old news to many readers, not everyone has the same background. It is intended as a very brief overview of the purpose for the next major step in our God's awesome plan.

Yeshua (Jesus) was the son of a carpenter according to the flesh. He said, "I will build my church." The wall is a prophetic picture from His great building project. It parallels the seed (harvest) view and the birthing view. The Revelation makes it clear that God wants His workers to understand what is about to happen.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his bondslaves things which must shortly come to pass...

The Wall

The wall is the first part to be described of the city known as the Bride of the Lamb in the Revelation:

Rev 21:12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Rev 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
Rev 21:16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
Rev 21:17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Rev 21:18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Rev 21:19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
Rev 21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
Rev 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

This scripture passage tells us several things about the wall:

The wall has 12 gates with 12 angels associated with the names of the tribes of Israel.
Each side wall has three associated tribes (implied by Moses' placement of the tribes around the tabernacle which is a prophetic pattern of the city.). Hence 4 walls x 3 tribes x 12000 furlongs = 144,000. Please bear with me-units are not important for the purpose of this study.
New Jerusalem measures 12000x12000x12000 cubic furlongs. The total length of the edges of the walls is therefore 144000 furlongs.
The wall has 12 foundations associated with the 12 apostles who are prophesied to judge the 12 tribes of Israel in Matt 19:28. (12 apostles plus 12 angels = 24 elders that are associated with the wall.)
Each side of the wall measures 12000 wide x 12000 high x 144 deep = 144,000 x 144,000. Note that the gates are associated with both angels and tribes of men and the wall measure is both of men and angels.
There are probably many ways to calculate the measurements which have spiritual meaning, but the key thing here is that the wall with gates is associated with the numbers 12, 24, 144, 12000, 144,000, 144,000x144,000, and also with the names of the tribes of Israel.
(The description of the jewels associated with the foundations of the wall parallel the description of Satan in Ezekiel 28:13 except that the wall has 12 jewels rather than his nine jewels.)

The wall of the Bride of the Lamb is a prophetic picture of the 144,000 who are sealed in Revelation 7:1-8.

The 144,000

The fifth seal opens the great tribulation (by dividing the previous martyrs from the "little time" martyrs) and the sixth seal ends it with the dramatic signs Jesus said would signal His return. The results are then described in Revelation 7 in the following order: First the 144,000 who are sealed before anything happens to the earth or sea or trees. Then appear the great multitude who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb during the great tribulation. Rev 14 indicates that the 144,000 are the firstfruits (first harvest) to God and the Lamb and are sealed in the forehead with the Father's name. Note that the 144,000 are drawn from all history since there has always been a faithful remnant to God and He does not exclude them from firstfruit status. They are sealed before the earth is harmed since some of them are still in physical bodies. Since the resurrection does not occur until the end of the great tribulation (see Rev 11:11) many of them do not have physical bodies at that time. Thus the first presentation of the 144,000 does not indicate a location, while the later presentation shows them all standing on Mt Zion (a symbol for the government center of New Jerusalem) with the Lamb. They have pure hearts, hands and mouths. They also have Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness, which Satan definitely does not have. Joseph and his son Manassas are both listed as tribes of the 144,000, thus Joseph also equals Ephraim here. This means that the two sticks of Ephraim and Judah have been rejoined as prophesied by Ezekiel 37:16-28 and 1 Kings 17:12 The name of the tribe of Dan is not listed among the 12 tribes of Israel in the 144,000 because of it's association with the serpent (Satan), hence filling the prophetic role of Judas/"son of perdition" (you can substitute "test" for "judge" if it helps your understanding here):

Gen 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

12000 virgin males from each of 12 tribes of Israel are specified to complete the 144,000 group. Does that mean women or married people or gentiles cannot be sealed and protected for the tribulation? Does being physically descended from Jacob's son Dan exclude someone from being sealed? Since the Revelation is primarily focused on the separation of Babylon and the Bride of the Lamb and what happens to them thereafter, it is clear that the virgin "undefiled" status is spiritual not physical and refers to intimacy with Babylon. Likewise the "maleness" of the 144,000 and the manchild refers not to physical gender but to the leadership role they are called to fulfill. This being a very important group to God and "heaven based" rather than "earth based", it is drawn from spiritual Israel rather than flesh Israel (see Romans 9:6-8, Gal 6:15-16, Eph 2:11-3:6). Some prophecy students believe that the numbers are symbolic rather than actual counts but I don't know that for sure. I don't want to include the details here but my research indicates that the blessing of Jacob's right hand upon Ephraim -"a multitude of nations" also translates to "the fulness of the Gentiles", a new testament term for non Jewish believers. Note also that the Jewish people currently living in the country called "Israel" are actually from the "House of Judah" rather than the "House of Israel" due to the dividing of Israel under Solomon's son and cannot currently be called "Israelites" in OT terms. This information may help clarify what Paul meant by "all Israel" in Romans 11:26.

The 144,000 follow the Lamb wherever He goes, most specifically to the cross by laying down their lives, but also to the throne of God to rule and judge as they are certainly overcomers.

The overcomers

An overcomer is one who has conquered not only the world, but also the Devil and even his own flesh. He has 100% faith in God and 0% in anything else.

The promise Christ gives to those who overcome in Rev 2:27 is to rule the nations with a rod of iron.
The promise to sit with Christ on the throne of God is given to the overcomers in Rev 3:21.
The promise to be protected during the testing of the great tribulation is given to the overcomers in Rev 3:10.
Likewise the overcomers have the promise of the seal of the names written on them in Rev 3:12.

These promises are the same things seen in the birth of the "manchild".

The Manchild

The event which precipitates the great tribulation is the birth of the manchild as described in Rev 12. Even though the dragon wishes to devour an adolescent son (greek "teknon"), it is a mature son (grk "huios") which is born and taken (harpazo in Greek=caught away or caught up) to the throne of God. This precipitates war in Heaven because the authority granted to the manchild to rule the nations with a rod of iron replaces the authority of the dragon in Heaven and he is cast from Heaven to Earth (his place was not found anymore in heaven). This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation on Earth which produces the multitude who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. The newborn manchild is protected from Satan and the testing of the great tribulation because he has already been tested and (ap)proved by God. The woman (New Jerusalem) and the remnant of the seed are persecuted by Satan who still has authority on Earth for 3 and 1/2 years. This remnant is also part of the manchild but is still alive physically and hence resides both in Heaven and on Earth. Although harpazo can mean physical transportation as when it was used of Philip's supernatural removal from the desert in Acts 8:39, here it is used in the sense of those times when the prophets and apostles were caught up to heaven in the Spirit (2 Cor 12:2). It means there is a sealing and commissioning event happening which includes the long awaited double anointing (former and later rains) of the bondslaves/handmaidens of the Lord.

Conjunction

The Manchild, the overcomers, and the 144,000 are all different views of the same group which has been prepared by God to be the initial harvest into Christlikeness in order to help lead the rest of God's children into that perfect image of God. God wants all people to be overcomers but few are currently willing to pay the price therefore many will need leading from the manchild and pushing by the great tribulation to achieve Christlikeness. After the 1000 years the overcomers reign with Christ, the entire Bride (New Jerusalem) will have achieved holiness and that ministry of "ruling" will no longer be needed (see Rev 20:4-6). The reason that it is useful to know that this group is also viewed as the Wall of New Jerusalem is because Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah and Esther are not simply ancient history, but are prophecies about the end times exodus from Babylon and the return to rebuild Jerusalem. The wall must be first built to protect those who will restore Jerusalem according to Nehemiah. But those still in Babylon must also be protected from Satan for a while according to Esther.

Two Witnesses

The scriptures say that Elijah will be sent to restore all things before the return of the Lord Jesus. The two witnesses of Revelation 11 have this "Elijah" mission. They have the double portion of the Spirit as passed from Elijah to Elisha with the mantle. What is the relationship of the witnesses to the 144,000 and the rest of the temple? Note that the ministry of the two witnesses corresponds to the measurement (judgment) of the temple/church and lasts for the 42 months (3 and 1/2 years) of the great tribulation. They are thus empowered at the same time as the manchild is elevated to the throne of Jesus! This ministry is for the purpose of redemption not destruction although there is much destruction by necessity, hence they are faithful witnesses (of the Kingdom gospel)! The two witnesses are the two olive branches of Zechariah 4:1-14 and represent the two sticks of Ezekiel 37:16-28/1 Kings 17:12-14. The witnesses are clearly overcomers and part of the 144,000/manchild. They represent the portion that is still alive at the time of the great tribulation. Are they two individuals only or all of the living sealed ones as many believe? I am trying to be as brief as possible in this message, but the answer requires some background to explain.

John 1:19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
John 1:20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
John 1:21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

In addition to the prophesies about the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament, there are prophecies about the return of Elijah and the coming of the Prophet: (I think some bible translators capitalized the "Prophet" because they assumed that it was another reference to the Messiah/Christ although the Jews knew it was a separate person. I will use the capitalization to uniquely identify that prophecy.)

Deu 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
Deu 18:16 "according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.'
Deu 18:17 "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good.
Deu 18:18 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
Deu 18:19 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Mal 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

Jesus said that John the Baptist did fulfill the prophecy concerning Elijah for those who could receive it:

Mat 11:13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Mat 17:10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
Mat 17:11 Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
Mat 17:12 "But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands."
Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

John did not lie in telling the priests and Levites that he was not Elijah because for them he was not at that time since they could not receive it. The same confusion about prophetic identity applied to Christ Jesus according to the gospels:

Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
Mark 6:15 Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets."

The bottom line is that the coming of the Messiah and the return of Elijah are in two parts - a first and a second coming. The second coming of Elijah and Christ have not been fulfilled yet. Neither has the coming of the Prophet like Moses been fulfilled yet. Hence many people say that the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah and there is a kind of truth in that as long as you remember that John the Baptist was a "coming" of Elijah according to Jesus. That means that the two witnesses are not a resurrection or physical return but a manifestation of the spirit and works of Moses and Elijah representing the Law and the Prophets. Jesus indicated these were the only witnesses He would provide in a parable (Luke 16:31 And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.). They are also two individuals selected from the 144,000 and prepared to be the spokespersons for God during the Great Tribulation. John, Jesus, and the apostles all accepted that interpretation of the prophecies! Other scripture passages also confirm this but are omitted for brevity with this exception:

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.
Acts 3:21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Acts 3:22 For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
Acts 3:23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'

God's Purpose

Judgment always begins at the house of the Lord. This is the commission of the 144,000. Satan was God's original quality control agent (aka "the accuser of the brethren"). He has been given access to man from the garden of Eden to prove (test) him. The book of Job explains exactly how Satan currently operates and specifically how God uses him to judge and scourge His sons. God limited the scope of Satan's affliction of Job but Satan showed no mercy within those limits! When the manchild is elevated to the throne of Christ, the place (purpose) of Satan in Heaven no longer exists and he is cast out. This means that the measurement (judgment) function of the Church now passes to the 144,000 who have been sealed as perfected in Christ. Things happen very quickly after that point! According to the prophets, God has often used other nations to judge His people, but He was not happy with the fact that they showed no mercy or limits when dealing with His people so He had to then judge those nations very harshly. The replacement of Satan with the manchild/144,000 changes the equations of judgment dramatically. Because they have the love and mercy and forgiveness of the Father and have been through deep chastening themselves, they can respond precisely to God's voice and purpose in chastening His house. This enables God to accomplish more purification in 3 and 1/2 years than throughout all history preceding the great tribulation. Hence there is "a great multitude, which no man could number" which come out of the great tribulation washed in the blood and made white. There are too many for a man to count! Satan does NOT win here!

The FIREWALL

The gates of a city in bible times referred to the place of judgment and decision for the city as well as the access controls for the walls of the city.
Zechariah says this about the wall of the New Jerusalem:

Zec 2:1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Zec 2:2 So I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length."
Zec 2:3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,
Zec 2:4 who said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying: 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
Zec 2:5 'For I,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"

If your first mental image of the wall of fire is of something like a moat filled with burning oil, then you need to read the description of the wall of New Jerusalem again as that image is misleading.
Nehemiah says this about the stones of the wall:

Neh 4:2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish; stones that are burned?"

Ezekiel prophesied about the separating of Satan from the stones containing the fire of God:

Ezek 28:14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
Ezek 28:15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
Ezek 28:16 "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.

The term "firewall" is very appropriate because it is a modern word used to describe a gateway which protects a network of computers linked together. God's enemy is building a linked network of demonically controlled people (a virus infected "botnet" in modern terms) within the nominal church who actually oppose the rule of Christ. God's Firewall will allow Him to build a completely pure safe zone for separating His people as described here:

Rev 21:27 And there will in no wise enter into it any thing that
        defiles, neither whatever works abomination, or makes
        a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of
        life.

Practical addendum

We cannot seal ourselves! We can never make ourselves more righteous by our own efforts. Only God can perfect that work. But we can say yes to any changes that He desires to make in us now. We can ask Him to search and purify our hearts. Since He has provided ALL resources needed to become like Christ Jesus (John 1:12) there will be no excuse for being left out. We must not sleep as the hour approaches.

Isa 66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
Isa 66:9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God.
Isa 66:10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;

The Lord bless you in Christ Jesus in you,
Kermit Kiser -- infire@seedofthewoman.com