This installment is part of the work of updating Part 2 of The Sign for the Bride, one of the core studies on theopenscroll.com. You can find the study being updated here: When Will the Lawless One be Revealed? (The Sign for the Bride - Part 2).
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Open thou mine eyes
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. ~ Psalm 119:18
John's account of the supper in the upper room has more to reveal to those who are being prepared for that day when the one Judas models is revealed through baptism. The scale of deception cloaking the identity of the false claimant to the messianic throne has certainly not been neglected in this study of the sign but neither has it yet received the full amount of attention due.
The account features a signal that quietly underscores the critical matter of revealing in the midst of a great concealing. The breaking of bread signals the opening of the eyes for seeing what had been hidden. This meal in the upper room involves bread being dipped as the action of the sign that reveals. Jesus is breaking bread and distributing it. This symbolic action is perhaps most clearly illustrated for us in Luke 24.
30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
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35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. ~ Luke 24:30-31, 35
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35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. ~ Luke 24:30-31, 35
Consider what it is that had been concealed. What was revealed in the breaking of bread was the identity of the one who broke the bread, Y'shua. So it is in the upper room, where bread is broken and identities are being revealed! The dipping of bread that is symbolic of the baptism that reveals made the identity of the betrayer known; Judas. The breaking of bread reveals the identity of the one breaking the bread, Y'shua. Through the baptism and anointing revealing the identity of the lawless one, that man will be recognized by a certain target audience (numbering 144,000) as the counterfeit bread from heaven, and, in this, the true living bread from Heaven Himself will be recognized in the breaking of bread. (For other studies where the opening of the eyes is pictured in the breaking of bread, see here and here and here.)
The opening of the eyes to recognize a secret identity is a very selective matter with this kind of bread that may either be blessed or cursed as anti-bread. Read the 13th chapter of John and think about it in this light. With regard to both haMashiach and the impostor, the careful management of the concealing and revealing of identity is a mission critical operation. The reason for this awesome show of authority is established in Romans 11 where we learn how the shifting interplay between Jew and Gentile will eventually result in God showing mercy to all and reconciling the world - to His glory!
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! ~ Romans 11:33
The Bible contains several accounts of the Lord's declaring, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” That, too, represents a selective operation because not everyone has ears to hear that may be opened. The Lord exercises authority over who hears what and when with refined precision. Put another way, His firewalls are impenetrable and His encryption methodologies are flawless, His information security access protocols and the granularity of His sandbox management are models of perfection.
The deception and deluding influence described in 2 Thessalonians 2 is awaiting those who perish, who take pleasure in wickedness and are judged accordingly. What we see on exhibit in John 13 is the provision for those who will not perish. It's for those who receive the love of the truth and come to the salvation it represents, who will be of that small number who are not deceived in that season of crisis. This message should be seeming very familiar, but I'm not just repeating myself. Recall the distinctions made on the basis of knowing the times in passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Matthew 24:42-51. When you have received revelation insight into the timing it becomes very apparent that it goes beyond merely learning to parrot the dates offered herein. When you have truly accessed that treasure vault that is sealed off behind the timing, with the requisite level of security clearance gained only by earning the trust of the Keeper of Secrets, Y'shua, the deeper matters of salvation are accessible.
The following announcement was made during the meal, which conceals and reveals something for us today.
19 From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” ~ John 13:19-20
Why is that particular message right there in verse 20? He's talking about His disciples who would become His emissaries, apostles or “sent ones,” both in that day and in ours, and note well the very specific context. Why is it written, “Truly, Truly”? Did the Lord stutter? No. Truly; once for what was about to unfold later that same day and then once more for those who would come, perhaps even you and I. We have been told in advance for a good reason.
Earlier, Jesus had spoken privately with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, teaching them and us about our day and the nearly universal deception that would attend it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. ~ Matthew 24:24-25
Being properly informed in advance is required for our defense against this deception in the day of the false Christ's arising, “that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) Is this sinking in? The entire 24th chapter has an underlying theme of knowing the time (Will No One Know the Day?) that those who can read between the lines rightly may take comfort in, aware that it is not possible to mislead the elect. It's not only possible to mislead all others but we're assured that they will absolutely be deceived.
The extent of this deception is evident during the meal because some of the disciples were kept in the dark about what was happening.
28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. ~ John 13:28-29
How many of those in attendance were reclining at the table? How many weren't? The subtle implication is that some knew and some didn't. The Young's Literal Translation is worded like the NASB, and the Aramaic Bible in Plain English renders verse 28, “But no man among those reclining knew why he spoke to him.” In that situation, those reclining at the table represent those who will be misled, and those who would not have been reclining represent the elect, awake, sober and alert.
The setting of the upper room is prophetic. The room was both furnished and prepared in advance for a special purpose. An upper room is one that is high, exalted and heavenly. There was every necessary benefit provided for them, then, but it should be known how an upper room of sorts is being furnished and prepared for the coming day that is of a fit kind and scale.
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More to follow, Lord willing.
