The Open Scroll

What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'
Mark 13:37

The Midnight Cry

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Each breakthrough that has come in the “opening of the scroll” has its beginning in the discovery of a key that unlocks a treasure chest of insight. Some of the keys have been my blessing and privilege to discover directly from the Lord, and some have been my blessing and privilege to discover through others of the Lord’s blessed servants. The wonderful key that unlocked the unfolding of revelation insight in this study came via fellow watchman and student of the prophetic Word David Parker. Here is the key! The cry at midnight that announces the coming of the bridegroom in Matthew 25’s parable corresponds to another cry that went up at midnight, one just prior to the Exodus from Egypt.

This revelation came at a time when I was studying the Exodus as a cryptic resurrection scenario, a prophetic revelation along the lines of many similar scenarios I’ve noted on this site. I believe the Exodus is the foremost pattern of the Bride theft. It is the event at which Pesah (the Passover) was initiated, which is the wedding/Bride Theft Feast. It is the event which is the example and standard throughout the Bible for the display of the saving power of God. The Exodus also divides the week of millennia at the same point the Bride Theft will divide the Shemittah week. It has been known for some time that the sign that is the revealing of the lawless one will be understood by those who will be awake and watching for signs of the Bridegroom’s coming. And, it has been known that the Bride theft will be a sign to those who did not qualify for inclusion. What we learn from this study is that between these two signs comes another, one that will awaken the sleeping saints! It will too late for them to come to be accounted among the Bride, but as with every purpose of the Lord, it will be found to be perfect in timing and execution!

When I received an email about the midnight cry from David and began to read, i knew he had received this valuable insight from the Lord. Thank you Lord for passing it on to me! Hallelujah!!! I immediately delved into the scriptures and found the holy spirit leading me through a network of related passages. I praise the Lord and thank Him for shining greater light upon the truths that will become so critical to salvation in the near future! to begin, let’s compare these passages and note the common midnight cry.

In Matthew 25, the cry is that the bridegroom is coming and it directs the hearers to come out and meet him. Notice that the source of the cry is not identified but the meaning is clearly stated. The source of the cry is identified in Exodus, and from what can be seen by comparing the red text, the meaning of the cry is the same.

Following the cry, the people came out - they went out to meet and to worship the Bridegroom! Do you see it? What a wonderful revelation! Entrance is given into some much-needed insight.

Who are the Virgins?

The parable in Matthew 25 describing the kingdom of heaven is a veiled picture of certain events that will come to pass in the relatively near future. The Bridegroom is the King Y’shua, coming to take a Bride.^#1 The fact that the ten subjects of this parable are virgins and they all took lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom indicates that they are of the church which is the body of Christ. (There is coming a time when the church will accept those scriptures addressed to it, no longer passing them on to Israel.) The three divisions of the church are the Bride, and in the language of this parable; the wise virgins and the foolish virgins. A critical feature of the parable reveals the identity of the subjects: All ten virgins slept. The bride is not among them because she will not have fallen asleep. She alone will be awake when He comes.^#2 the Bridegroom comes first for His Bride, and only after she has already been stolen away out of her Father’s house will others be brought in.

The Midnight Cry is a Sign

Although the overwhelming majority of saints still believe no sign will be given before the Lord comes, what is this midnight cry but a sign, a signal, an announcement that will be correctly interpreted to mean that the Bridegroom is now coming? I have addressed the "knowability" issue at length in Will No One Know the Day? and I will emphasize once again that the sense of verse 13 is that you do not YET know the day nor the hour. The cry that arises from the plague will be a wake up call to the sleeping church. Over the years, I have found numerous events have been suggested to be such as a wake up call to the church and it may seem like I wrote the same kind of colorful metaphor, but I’m saying that it will be THE wakeup call to the sleeping church. The church will hear it and rise up to trim their lamps. Some lamps which have been burning so low as to hardly be noticeable in this dark world will yet burn brightly! The midnight cry will be a sign. And the Bride Theft will be a sign, the Sign of Jonah. Signs, miracles and wonders are coming, and oh, the praise that shall be brought forth!!!

The Plague to Come that Causes the Cry

The first lesson from Matthew 25’s connection to Exodus 11 and 12 is rather startling. Just before the Bridegroom comes there will be an event patterned after the plague of the firstborn. This plague was the cause of the cry in Exodus and it is thus prophesied that the midnight cry announcing the Bridegroom Y’shua’s coming will result from a plague of like kind. We have our first confirming witness of such a plague occuring just prior to the coming of the Bridegroom for His Bride in the following passages.

We learn here that harm is in the wind. Wind represents spirit, and the spirit or spirits identified as "the four winds of the earth" (four is the number that signifies the earth) will be unleashed against the earth and its inhabitants. The harm being withheld awaits the sealing of the bond-servants for protection, identified in the context as numbering twelve thousand from each of the twelve listed tribes of Israel. We have witnesses in Acts 12, John 21, Haggai 2 and Genesis 45 that the Bridegroom coming for His Bride and the sealing of the 144k are related and basically concurrent events, so a plague that causes a cry to come forth signaling the coming of the Bridegroom must come just prior to that.

Just such a plague may be found in the previous chapter.

This great wind is a spirit that will cause great harm. This wind will shake the fig tree, a common symbol of Israel, and cause its unripe figs to be cast. In the pattern plague of the firstborn the wrath of God was directed towards Egypt but this time it will come upon Israel.

Can Egypt represent Israel?

Yes, even Jerusalem!

As it is written in the twelfth chapter of Luke, it should be noted that unto whom much is given, much is demanded.

Israel is My son, My firstborn

The plague was and will be a plague of the firstborn son. One of the keys to understanding the midnight cry is knowing the identity of the firstborn son.

Does this declaration have anything to do with the plague of the firstborn? Most definitely!!! Consider the context.

Israel being the firstborn son is not just remotely related to the plague but rather most directly - having to do with the very reason the firstborn were targeted! Before I address the identity of the firstborn son more particularly I want to bring your attention to the fact that there is a reference to the bridegroom in the context in which this revelation is sandwiched. Remember, Israel’s response to this midnight plague will be understood as the cry that announces the coming of the bridegroom.

So then, who exactly are the firstborn sons this latter day plague will come upon, all Israel, or some among them? Our first clue is the reason the Lord gave for the nature of this plague. The Lord wants his sons to serve him. This service the Lord desires depends upon another who holds the position of influence or authority to determine whether the sons are free to serve him. Those of Israel who hold that position of accountability are the rabbis, todays scribes and Pharisees, and will include the Levitical priesthood currently being established. This refinement of the identity of the firstborn sons can be seen from the following passage. These are the firstborn upon whom the plague will come.

Notice the reason pointing us directly to the plague of the firstborn. Why? Because some of those of us living in the days of the coming plague of the firstborn need to know what’s going on! We must understand that the Lord has sanctified the Levites for Himself for His purposes. Instead of merely sparing the firstborn of Israel by the blood of the Lamb, the Sovereign Lord sanctified them for himself. And He sovereignly exchanged them for the Levites. He will yet show His purposes in them as he did with Pharaoh, in the same manner, with the same result that His people will be set free to meet and worship Him with a great deliverance!

The targeting of this class will be so obvious that, as the typical plague was such "that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel," so will it be known again upon whom the wrath of God has come, and there will be those who will understand the distinction made.

The Lord Y’shua openly condemned this people as a class. He held them accountable for keeping the Lord’s people from coming out of their bondage to enter into the promised land - the kingdom of heaven.

So, the firstborn sons upon whom this plague will come are those held accountable for holding the Lord’s sons back from coming to worship Him. They are the class of people who hold the spiritual reins of Israel. They are the class of Rabbi’s and the coming Levitical priesthood to whom Israel looks for spiritual guidance and direction.

Let’s return to Exodus chapter 4 to consider how verses 24-26 of Exodus confirm the identity of the firstborn sons.

Although no reason is given why Moses was to be put to death it is plainly Zipporah’s actions which moved the Lord to spare his life. She performed a priestly service, making intercession for the guilty by atonement with innocent blood. ^#3

When Zipporah threw her son’s foreskin at Moses’ feet, the innocent blood consecrated him and made atonement for him, and his life was spared. Why was he guilty? Perhaps in particular because he had not circumcised his son, but perhaps not because that neglect was honoring Jethro’s request; a man who can be seen to continually look out for Moses’ wellbeing as an agent for God. In this instance of directing Moses not to circumcise this son, a necessary sacrifice was thus provided as a source of innocent blood. Rather than Zipporah’s priestly intercession addressing Moses’ guilt of committing a specific sin, I believe it was required that he should be ceremonially cleansed in order to perform the priestly intercession for Israel for which he was being sent as their deliverer. (Genesis 17:14 ) This theme of the passage is the performance of the priestly service of atonement with innocent blood. As the context shows, this relates to the plague of the firstborn, giving us our first indication of the why the Levitical priesthood will be targeted.

As we will see confirmed later in this article by other perhaps even more obvious means, the Levitical priesthood will at the time of the plague be performing, or rather more accurately, attempting to perform such a ritual. The current attempts to reestablish Temple worship according to the laws of Moses will bear some fruit, though not the anticipated fruit. (Haggai 1) The time when animal sacrifice on the temple mount will be restored is coming, and is not far off. The "restored" Levitical priesthood will certainly not be ceremonially clean and neither could such a sacrifice be acceptable. The sins of all involved will remain, and will be brought to judgment.

There is a related theme that looks to the Passover. (Exodus 13:12-13, 14:21-23) It is another aspect of Moses’ preparation qualifying him for his appointed mission, and another picture of the identity of the firstborn son. In this theme, the blood of the innocent circumcised son represents the blood of the Paschal lamb, and ultimately, the sacrificed Lamb Y’shua, the Bridegroom. The son’s foreskin thrown at Moses’ feet symbolizes the application of the sacrificed lamb’s blood to the lintel and doorposts of a dwelling. The destroyer angel comes to put the firstborn of a household to death, but seeing the blood, passes over, sparing the firstborn. The destroyer angel was sent to the lodging place to put Moses to death, but seeing the blood, passed over. Moses is the firstborn son. Seeing Moses as a representation of the firstborn son we have another view of those upon whom the plague of the firstborn will come. Who are a "Moses" people, who have most identified themselves with Moses? Hasn’t Moses been revered by the zealous class of rabbis to the point of worship - even unto this day? They look more to him than to the one Moses looked to, honoring the letter of the law above the spirit. Remember, the Levitical priesthood are the firstborn sons and Moses was every bit as much of a Levite as his brother Aaron. And, he most assuredly was being sent on a priestly mission of intercession.

When the Sixth Seal is Broken

Having already addressed the wind as the plague of the firstborn, I will now touch on the signs in heaven and signs in the earth that will be evidenced at the same time with a focus on the plague. We know this will happen just prior to the Bridegroom’s coming, which marks the close of this era. The passage to follow from Acts chapter two concerns the Shavuot marking the dramatic beginning of this era. By revelation from the Lord, Peter addressed the last days of this same era, quoting what had been given through the prophet Joel and giving us a prophetic fore view into the near future. Notice the common description of these signs in the sun and moon.

This is not merely "like" the breaking of the scroll’s sixth seal - this IS it! The phrase in bold text refers to animal sacrifice. Picture this scene in your mind. According to the "law of Moses" the animals are brought to the temple and killed. During certain Feast days their blood washes into the Kidron valley like a flowing river. There is a great fire burning at the altar, where some of each animal’s flesh is burned, producing billows of smoke. Are you seeing it now? And who do you suppose will be sacrificing the animals at the end of the age? The firstborn sons! What they will be doing when judgment breaks out upon them is serving in the temple, performing all the rituals including sacrificing animals!

Addressing animal sacrifice directly, the following passage from the tenth chapter of Hebrews and its surrounding context will be read and understood at that time of the breaking of the sixth seal. It is a revelation appointed for that very time! Also, the corresponding fortieth Psalm will be understood in a new light! If the holy spirit is opening your eyes and ears, read and compare these scriptures.

The reference to the scroll speaks of that scroll (Revelation 5) and portion thereof made known at the breaking of the sixth seal. This passage in Hebrews points to Psalm 40, where we find some awesome insight!

My ears you have opened? Hallelujah! At the breaking of the sixth seal, ears are opened - ears that had not hitherto heard and understood the truth behind the burnt offering and sin offering! The firstfruit company of the latter day Israelites is the 144k of Revelation seven. They will begin to have hearing ears! What we see in Psalm 40 is the opening of their ears that prepares their hearts to accept Y’shua as their Messiah and sacrificed Lamb. (Romans 10:17, 11:15. Note: Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21, and Joel 2:32 lock together)

And where is the plague of the firstborn set forth in Hebrews 10?

And so, the firstborn of His people will have vengeance executed upon them, and many in the world will tremble in fear. But, out of this will come much good! As it says in Hebrews 10:9: "He takes away the first in order to establish the second". The unclean servants of that which the Lord has no pleasure in, and that service they performed will be taken away to establish the servants upon whose hearts the law will be written and their service!

You see, the Lord has it all planned out perfectly. The people, places... everything and everyone will be sovereignly set in perfect array for the greatest salvation to be wrought. The plague to come - it’s part of an elaborate setup. A trap. The Lord is arranging this to humble those who put their trust in the Mosaic law, that which is merely the shadow of what has come through the perfect sacrifice - Y’shua. AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE Lord WILL BE SAVED! (Acts 2:21) Hallelujah!

In verse seven of the fortieth Psalm, the one speaking is The One who was found worthy to open the scroll of the book. And what does he say? Behold, I come! And what is the meaning of the midnight cry? "Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Hallelujah!!! it is a fact that at the opening of each of the first four seals, the four living creatures each in their order simply said "Come." At the opening of the fifth seal, we read of the martyred saints and their plea: "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Their cry too is "COME"! Come in judgment! And when does the Lord come to begin this avenging judgment? Apparently, at the breaking of the sixth seal, when he says as inferred from Hebrews 10 and Psalm 40, "Behold, I come"!

The balance of Revelation chapter six that remains to be addressed reads as follows.

It will be a fearsome day then as it was in Egypt so long ago. The church, both Body and Bride, will witness these events. Shortly after the midnight cry when 144k of Israel have been sealed, the four winds are released to blow upon the earth and its inhabitants - and what is referred to as the great tribulation will begin.

Now, the passage from Peter’s address in Acts two must be traced back into Joel to discover the treasure that awaits.

Why is Mount Zion and the city of Jerusalem specified as being where there would be survivors, those who escape? Because that is where the plague of the firstborn will be focused. Where will the animal sacrifice be performed by the firstborn if not in Jerusalem on Mount Zion? Do you see it? And, notice that the conjunction "for" connects these survivors with the deliverance of those who call on the name of the Lord! Y’shua!!! Mashiach! Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai!!! There will be those even among the firstborn son who will have the Lamb’s innocent blood on the lintel and doorposts of their lodging place - and these will be spared. Of those who escape the destruction at the breaking of the sixth seal, those whom the Lord has called who survive the plague of the firstborn may be seen in Revelation 7:7 where we note among those who are sealed this number, "from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand."

A View of the Plague from Gethsemane

As I have written at length, Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives was the site of numerous events that give those with a hearing ear insight into matters such as the threefold separation of the church and the time leading up to the first instance of separation. The account given in Matthew 26 is a montage of prophetic images, among them the plague of the firstborn. The ten virgins are in view, while the firstborn sons are prominently seen playing the role of antagonist in the arrest and trial sequence. Here is the focal verse in this picture.

The plague of the firstborn sons in Exodus was supernatural in execution, which to say men were not involved as agents for the Lord. The evidence I see here in this shadowy fore view suggests that men will be involved as the Lord’s agents in the coming plague. I don’t mean to say that the actions of men account for everything that will take place at that time, but based upon what I see both here and in the next prophetic scenario to be addressed, men will be involved as the Lord’s agents of execution. As it has been through much of history, the Lord often uses men to execute his judgments in the earth. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and driving out of the Jews in 70-72 AD was through the agency of Rome. Of course, history bears testimony of many supernatural occurrences accompanying the works of the men involved. Earlier, it had been Babylon, and before that Assyria in similar instances. A particularly relevant example of this execution of God’s wrath through the agency of men upon a particular subset of Jews must be addressed in this article, and this seems the appropriate place.

As I have noted in The Story of Christmas that Should be Told, the young sons of Bethlehem and its vicinity whom Herod had slain (Matthew 2:16-18) were targeted due to the sin of the adults in their particular community. Because much is demanded of those who have received much, and the community had received much and failed to return what was appropriate, judgment was poured out upon them. Very fitting judgment of such a nature that compares to that of the plague of the firstborn was visited upon them. The son of God had been born in the midst of the community of Bethlehem. A great blessing particular to them came through their having been given a special opportunity to honor Him. Due to their negligence regarding the entrance of the son of God into this life, the sons of those in the accountable community were cause to depart out of this life. The punishment fit the crime, if you will. In similar fashion, the firstborn sons of Egypt were taken in response to Pharaoh’s refusal to let God’s firstborn son go. The main point I came here to make is that the agents of God’s wrath were men sent by Herod. And so it seems will be the case in the upcoming plague of the firstborn. On a closing note, I find it intriguing that just as the midnight cry will go up from those grieving over the sorrowful loss incurred in the plague, such a cry is the highly conspicuous result of the genocide visited upon the Bethlehemites.

So here is the view from Gethsemane. First, I must point out that the positioning of the telling of the parable of the ten virgins in chapter 25 shortly preceding this account in Matthew 26 is surely intentional. This is an example of the Lord stating certain truths just before an application of these same truths. ^#4 He speaks the parable of the ten virgins which is then followed up with an example prophetically acted out in the garden.

So, from one accounting of time this takes place in the evening some time after the Pesah meal. Does this sound familiar? The ten virgins from Matthew 25’s parable are pictured as Y’shua’s disciples. The Bride is typified in the Lord himself, who does not sleep and is willing to accept the "drinking of the cup" which is martyrdom. The wise virgins are typified in Peter and the two sons of Zebedee while the other disciples represent the foolish virgins.

None of the virgins can remain awake, you see.

The firstborn are very conspicuous, seen in verses 26:3-5, 14-16, 47, 51, 57-68.

Those firstborn sons performing the animal sacrifices aren’t in view here - or are they? Ahhh. They’ve selected the Lamb and now they’re trying to seize it and slay it.

They will be seeking to kill the Bride as they did the Bridegroom - and for the same reason - envy. (Matthew 27:18, Romans 11:14-15)

Now we come to the heart of the prophecy. The firstborn son is smitten, and there will be survivors whom the Lord shall call.

There are many inferences we might make from these verses. Two diverse factions of the firstborn son class are shown as one person in two states. Striking the slave of the high priest is the plague of the firstborn son. The healing of the ear of the slave of the high priest is as I noted earlier from Psalm 40:6 - "My ears You have opened"! The part of the slave of the high priest that was struck is an obvious symbol of the ability to hear. Because the right side is the side of blessing, the side where the righteous are gathered, this reveals something about the difference in nature brought to everyone’s attention between those who are struck and those who survive and are called by the Lord. One does not hear righteousness, but the other does. From the gospel of John’s account of Gethsemane we learn that the servant of the high priest was named Malchus. His name means King, or, Kingdom. When we consider the upcoming "view from Jerusalem," the significance of his name should become clear.

From the following verse, we can note something else of the character of those who are struck. Their trust is in the arm of the flesh rather than in the Lord, and in the lawless one with whom they well be aligned.

Comparing that with the following verse, you are given a reason men are agents of this plague of the firstborn.

The Agents of Wrath

Now, we have some fascinating insight into the agents of God’s wrath. Those who came with Y’shua and brought a sword did so in obedience to his direction. Y’shua shows us that he prearranged and foreordained this whole matter with the integrity of prophetic revelation in mind.

He knew quite well that what was being done looked every bit as much to the future as it did to the past. Just as the integrity of Isaiah 53 was maintained, in like manner will this prophetic fore view from Gethsemane be fulfilled in its time. The number of swords represents division, the very meaning of the place where they were,^#5 as well as what would be accomplished by use of the sword. (Exodus 11:7) In Matthew’s account, the agent of wrath is identified simply as "one of them," one of "those who were around Him" who had taken swords. Now, perhaps they were of the angelic host, one or more from among the twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53) he could have called upon, but I believe these will not be called upon to intervene and spare the Bride their Bridegroom’s fate. He intends that they too should enter into His glory! Many of the very last days Bride will be martyrs, in the same way the Bride has been martyred from Stephen unto this very day. Remember, this view of the plague of the firstborn from Gethsemane has on its prophetic stage the Bride and the wise and foolish virgins. From the gospel of John’s account, we learn that it was Peter who wielded the sword. So, the agent of the Lord’s wrath upon the firstborn son is of the church - Christian. Well meaning. Noble. Carnal. As you may note from the passage in Luke 22 above that though it is known to them there is no true need of these things in the Lord’s service, they are as transgressors, carrying their money belts, bags, sandals and swords. When the tide of Antichrist washes over the Bride, the well meaning carnal virgins will take action, still not understanding the Lords intent. And the Lord’s purposes will be fulfilled.

A View of the Plague from Jerusalem

I have puzzled over the precise prophetic identity of James in the amazing Passing Through the Iron Gate scenario for years and I believe something more may now be known. That scenario features Herod as the lawless one and Peter as the Bride. Peter’s release from prison, passing through the iron gate and entering into the city of Jerusalem is a picture of the Bride Theft. Every detail of the record is meaningful and the role of James is certainly no less meaningful. There is a sense in which his role in this prophecy cost his life! Notice that the timing specified for James’ murder matches that of the plague of the firstborn.

James the brother of John is a picture of the firstborn son, killed with a sword. As in the view from Gethsemane, men are the agents of its execution. If I’m interpreting this correctly, a rather different facet of the plague is being presented.

What can we learn about James? James is the Greek form of the name Jacob, the name commonly used in reference to Israel after the flesh - Jews by heritage. Since it is declared that James is among those "who belonged to the church," we might infer they are what we call "Messianic" Jews, Hebrew or Jewish Christians. Now, if James represents some which are accounted as the firstborn sons who are Messianic believers, this is really a very different facet of the plague in view. Another difference we must note is that these firstborn sons are Jewish Christians slain at the command of the lawless one (Herod), where in the view from Gethsemane, they are Jews in collusion with the lawless one (Judas) who are struck by carnal Christians. Can such disparate accounts both be true. Yes. Are they? We will see soon enough.

One thing I have learned since my ears have been opening is that many truths are rejected because they are more complex than people are willing to accept. We do not want to be simple minded students who are continually confused but convinced we’re right nonetheless. We will never understand what the Lord is doing if we refuse to allow Him to refine our thinking.

I write this not to disarm your skepticism and cause you to blindly accept every word I write, but to help you overcome your dullness of hearing. I only know what I know because I too am slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

Back to the minutia. :) James is identified as being the brother of John. "James the brother of John" is killed with the sword and thus there is an intimation that John therefore remains. Keep that in mind for a moment. James as the symbol of those visited by the plague represents that particular subset of all Israel (the firstborn son) who are the most particularly the firstborn son; the class of the priesthood and the rabbis. Right? John consistently represents the 144k. ^#6 These are specifically identified in Revelation seven as numbering twelve thousand from each of twelve tribes of Israel so they are as brothers to James - James as Jacob - all Israel. Therefore, of the 144k John people, those in view here are specifically those of same subclass as James, the priesthood and rabbinical faction. Now, putting this all together, what I’m trying to say if somewhat awkwardly is that James the brother of John being put to death with a sword is the same dual faceted Malchus picture from Gethsemane! It will be as we learn from such scriptures as Acts 2, Joel 2, Hebrews 10, Psalm 40 and Haggai 2. Attention will be brought to bear upon the separation at hand. Two distinctly separate priesthood classes are in view. That which ministers in and leads Israel after the letter of the law of Moses will be known to be rejected by HaShem through His judgment poured out upon them. The Levitical/Rabbinical will be struck, and what will appear is a Melchizedek class of priest/kings! Remember, the servant of the high priest healed by Y’shua was named Malchus. His name means King, or, Kingdom. On a higher level, he can be seen in the Gethsemane scenario as the servant of The High Priest Y’shua appointed to represent both the Levitical and Melchizedek orders of Priests. Each order has its purpose. Those firstborn sons of the Melchizedek order will be Kings and Priests of a higher order than the Levitical/Rabbinical firstborn - an eternal order. Melchizedek means "king of righteousness" and it is this priesthood that I believe will be begun to be brought forth as pictured when Malchus (King) has his right ear (the hearing of righteousness) touched by Y’shua and he is made whole. "He takes away the first in order to establish the second" - Hebrews 10:9 The book of Hebrews addresses the Melchizedek order at some length. Although there is one High Priest of this order, there will be many of this same order who will minister as His servants. Praise the Lord!

Now, if the firstborn are involved in attempting to restore the sacrifice and worship on the Temple mount, we might well wonder why Messianic Jews might be involved. Wouldn’t they know better than to participate in such a thing? Well, I do believe they will know well enough to follow their Lord’s direction. Y’shua has a plan - and I’ll bet my life it will be found to exceed all our expectations! In some circles, it has been known for some time that many Rabbi’s believe on the Lord Y’shua and intend to keep their faith a secret until they know the time is right to reveal it. ^#7 That time will come, and they will know it, my friend.

The last feature of this fore view I’d like to address is the matter of Herod noticing that having James killed with the sword pleased the Jews. Even though the James people will have been serving in the services that gives honor to the lawless one and the very class most revered by the Jews, these people will be betrayed by Herod and by the Jews. Their death will please the same Jews Acts 12:11 speaks of. They will hate the Bride. And they will hate those who stand up for them, who also will be willing even to die for the truth of the identities of the Messiah and anti Messiah. These Jews will be very pleased when this subset of the firstborn son are slain because they will feel the furious sting of betrayal from their own. Forgive them Lord, for they will not know what they will do.

How the Midnight Cry Fits Into the Bigger Picture

The "Bigger Picture" comes into view as events in proper sequence become known more fully and their relationships, causes and effects are considered. The archetypical plague of the firstborn occurred at midnight on the 15th of Abib, or, Nisan. We have no reason to expect what is typified to be fulfilled on other than an anniversary of that day. Adding the midnight cry / plague of the firstborn to a table listing of related events, we have the following view.

Event	Date
Pesah Lamb selected	Nisan 10
The lawless one is revealed by a baptism	Nisan 13
Pesah Lamb is slain, prepared and the blood is applied to lintel and doorposts	Nisan 14
Roasted Lamb is eaten in haste while girded	Nisan 15
Plague of the Firstborn at Midnight	Nisan 15
The cry due to the plague signals the Bridegroom’s coming	Nisan 15
Sealing of 144k and Bride Theft	Nisan 21
The Bridegroom comes and the wise virgins are admitted to the wedding feast	Shavuot

Footnotes

1) Articles about the Bride:
The Bridegroom and the Bride
The Bride Theft
The Remnant Bride by Joseph Herrin
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2) The Parable of the Ten Virgins. One prophetic type bearing testimony of the awake bride and sleeping virgins is Mark 14:32-41. In this account, our Lord’s deliberate separation of the characters on the prophetic stage exhibits the three divisions of the church. As it was the Lord alone who remained alert and praying, so it will be with the Bride. Peter James and John slept, a picture of the wise virgins. The other disciples slept, representing the foolish virgins. In the number of virgins presented, why are there ten? Perhaps there is insight in considering the Bride Theft scenario in Acts 12, where two of the twelve apostles are separated from the others, leaving ten behind. As you may recall, Herod had James killed with the sword and Peter thrown in prison. Perhaps it is to show when they are divided, both divisions are still accounted as the church, signified by the number five.

The oil is fuel for the lamp. The reason for the lamp with fuel is the light it gives. No fuel - no light. A lamp burns more oil when it gives more light. When you sleep, you don’t need the light so you trim the lamp to burn as little fuel as possible without going out. When you arise in the night and need the light, you trim the lamp to let the light shine. This kingdom of heaven lesson teaches us that requirement for entrance to be given into the marriage feast is a lamp that is lit. (This compares to having a robe that is white. As all virgins (Christians) have robes and lamps, only those with white unspotted robes have lamps with oil enough to stay lit.) The parable teaches that the wise took oil in flasks but the foolish took their lamps but no flasks. The foolish live in a daytime mind set with no preparation for enduring a night season. They are deceived and are going to be disappointed in their expectations because they are willing to accept the leading of those who tell them they do not need to prepare. The oil has to be purchased from the dealers, it’s not free. You have to go find the dealers and purchase the oil. The foolish are unwilling to pay the price for fuel and to accept the burden of carrying the flask. They are willing to let others purchase the fuel and carry the flask, in the back of their minds expecting to receive from them to meet their need in a time of crisis. (which seems to them a remote possibility) It’s not enough to merely be in the company of those with plenty of oil, you must have your own. Neither is there any value in waiting to see what will happen before taking action. It matters whether the command to stay alert and watch is obeyed. The oil which is fuel for the lamp is oil from beaten or pressed olives. The cost of this fuel is for the olives to allow themselves to be crushed, beaten and pressed until no longer recognizable as the olives they were. This is the processing which occurs when they continue to abide in the rich root of the olive tree into which their branch grew or was grafted, recognizing that the One who disciplines those whom He loves has a greater purpose in mind for them.

The need to purchase oil is a comparable figure of speech to the need to purchase food in the account of the woman at the well, but more precisely it is the condition of sleeping that compares to the lack of food. While the Lord is with the Bride-type woman at the well, the other disciples cannot be present because they had not previously purchased food. The food signifies doing the will of the one who sent Y’shua and finishing his work, purchased at the price of one’s very self. This equates to staying awake and watching as at Gethsemane. All but the Bride had to go purchase food - so all the virgins sleep. See? They are disqualified when first the Bridegroom comes. Having enough oil is the means of qualification at the further separation of the church that comes at Shavuot. These five wise virgins are seen in the following wedding passage in verses 14 and 15.

In yet another view, they are Boaz's maids with whom Ruth had been prior to Boaz's winnowing the barley at the threshing floor. That night he separates the barley people out, taking the Bride this kinsman has redeemed for Himself!

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3) When Zipporah declared that her husband was a bridegroom of blood to her she acknowledged her dependance upon him. If Moses were spared, she would be spared. She was under his protection or covering. She was covered (atonement means covering) by his blood. She has been considered a woman like unto Rebecca, Rachel and Sarah in character. She had an understanding of circumcision and of covering.
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4) Another example of the Lord’s first speaking a truth then, without letting on what He’s doing, presenting a live-action illustration is addressed at length in Keys to Developing a Hearing Ear - Part II
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5) Gethsemane Articles:
The Mount of Olives
Separation in the Olive Press Place
Your Final Exam
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6) John Chapter 21
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7) A few years ago, while visiting Israel Barbara Richmond was led by the Lord to a very special meeting with a Rabbi. The Lord had directed this Rabbi to her specifically. Barbara learned that several of the Rabbis had come to accept Y’shua as their Messiah. They kept this secret amongst themselves and planned on keeping this secret until such time as the Lord directs them to make a public profession. Read more here...
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