Peter's Vision of the Gentile Age

When Cometh That Thief in the Night - Directory
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Some time ago, the Lord led me to became keenly aware of the association between the theme of resurrection and the number three. (see Resurrection and theThird Day) While investigating various occurrences of threes in the biblical text (see side bar), I was blessed with the realization that there was a remarkable cryptic resurrection scenario in the 10th chapter of Acts. This passage is extremely important, relating to us through the Apostle Peter's vision and a very detailed historical narrative the beginning of a transition away from the wholly "Jewish" or hebrew composition and character of the church.

What clued me in to the hidden resurrection scenario in Acts 10 was the "three times" the subject of the vision was repeated.

This vision of Peter's and the events that followed it are of the same kind as the convicting revelation Peter brought forth at the beginning of the Pentecost church age that is chronicled in Acts chapter 2. Both relate to us critical details of the commencement of, and to discerning students, prophesy critical details of the conclusion of this present era. The three times the "Clean Gentiles" are taken up in the vessel is a picture of the three harvests of the Gentiles. How blessed we are to be included in the Lord's marvelous plan of redemption! What grace has been poured forth upon the Jew and Gentile alike! What a privilege we have to be the recipients of such grace, to have these blessings flow out from the depths of the Lord's treasure chest of knowledge!

If you would, please read Acts 10 in its entirety before you continue.

Ready? Let's get right into it!

Peter understood that the creatures he saw in the sheet represented the Gentiles and that God was making them clean. The way the Gentile church is represented in the vision is very odd, isn't it? How curious! Why these particular creatures and why in a sheet? And, too, we might ask why they were let down from heaven and then taken back up? And why three times??? My friend, there is nothing trivial or irrelevant in the bible.

These categories of creatures appear together just like they do here in another context in the Bible. They compare to the animal kingdom that was purged from the earth in the Noahic flood. Thus, the creatures seen in the sheet that represent the Gentiles are the very kinds who grieved the Lord that he had made them. These same categories appear in Romans 1:23, which you may want to investigate further for purposes of comparison after completing this study.

Peter would have recognized the creatures he saw in the vision as the epitome of uncleanness. In striking contrast, the symbolism of the vessel in which they were seen is at the opposite end of the "cleanness" scale. They are, in fact, polar opposites!

Searching out the meaning of the thing like a large sheet and of its being let down from heaven by its four corners leads us into some other very exciting truths. The thing in which the animals were seen is the word "skeuos" in the Greek. According to Strong's, it means; "a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus." Even a cursory glance at the other occurrences of this word uncovers a theme which begs to be imported into the context of Peter's vision in Acts 10, but, it seems necessary to first explore more fully the other lessons learned from this vessel to establish it as having been made for honor.

The Greek word for "sheet" in Peter's vision is "othone." According to Strong's, it is "a linen cloth, i.e. (espec.) a sail." this word is used only twice in the Bible, each time in the context of this vision given to Peter. Both the "linen cloth" and the "sail" meanings are very significant.

Each kind of cloth bears important symbolism in the Bible. There is much said in the law about what can be worn; when, how and by whom.

Linen cloth was used extensively in the tabernacle and required for the priestly service of the tabernacle. It symbolizes consecration and holiness, and an eternal spiritual and heavenly body given as a reward for righteous acts.

In Revelation, the symbolism is given thusly.

Some very interesting allusion is made in the linen cloth being let down by its four corners. This makes reference to the four corners of the earth, from whence those from every nation have come into the church. This feature of the context points also to two symbols that must have been very familiar to Peter. One is the holy altar upon which sacrifice was offered UP to God.

The tassels correspond with the horns. Continuing in the same rich vein, the other symbol speaks volumes! Consider the command given in Numbers 15.

Observe that this was twice said to serve as a remembrance, to remind one of all the Lord's commands. This must surely have come to Peter's mind during the vision! The purpose for the reminder is for the one reminded to walk in holiness, being consecrated to God through obedience. What results, then, are righteous acts. This is what the linen itself signifies, so the emphasis on holiness and consecration is further amplified. Regarding this garment which is traditionally four-cornered, notice that the tassels are said to be there to look at. What will be seen is the blue cord - blue being the color of the sky and a widely recognized symbol of heaven. In the vision, Peter saw this remarkable vessel being let down from and being drawn back up into the - what? The sky - heaven!

When Peter saw in the vision that the unclean animals were in the vessel of linen cloth, the contrast between them could hardly have been more pronounced! The very idea of doing as he was instructed to do (rise, kill and eat) was obviously offensive, and by reason of the enormous contrast between the CLEAN and UNCLEAN, this vision must have made quite an impression upon Peter.

Now, the word translated as sheet (othone) has a connection to the Bride theft resurrection as well. It has another meaning in addition to that of linen cloth which indicates a possible use - as a sail. A sail catches the wind. (symbolic of spirit) Are your thoughts racing to Revelation 7? (Remember the blue cord in the tassel. On a windy day, wouldn't the tassels with the blue cord blow around and draw our attention?)

Compare Acts 10:11 closely.

Here are the next verses that follow in Revelation, where we now find a connection between a Gentile church age resurrection and the sealing of the 144k sons of Israel.

When the vessel with the Gentile church is taken up into heaven the first time, it is a picture of the Bride Theft resurrection that corresponds to the sealing of the 144k. As the Lord has shown us, the sealing of the 144k triggers the Bride Theft because "their acceptance" means "life from the dead." The sealing of the 144k also triggers the release of the four winds of the earth, held back by the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth until, as we are told, that very occasion has passed. Imagine how these beings at what is called the four corners of the earth hold back the winds. It must be with something able to catch wind, like a sail! Things in the natural realm are patterned after the spiritual, my friend, so much of what you see in the world is fashioned after something spiritual. The resurrection pictured as the unclean animals / Gentiles in the device used to catch wind that is taken up from the earth by its four corners happens at the very same time wind that had been held back at the four corners of the earth is released. Coincidence? Hmmmmm.

Does it bother you to see the Gentile characterized as the un-cleanest of animals? It is true that when cleansed by the blood of the Lamb they become clean, but the church of dominant Gentile composition is still pictured as unclean animals that are cleansed. They do not become transformed into clean animals, but are unclean animals made clean. I'd like to offer some further relevant commentary about this church as I expound a bit upon other passages where those animals are mentioned symbolically in the Bible.

The four footed beasts or cattle symbolize fleshy carnal people descended from Adam. There is no good thing in the flesh. The reptiles, the wholly unclean creatures that creep across the ground point towards the devil as cursed and deceiving. The birds of the air are likewise symbolic.

The appearance of the birds in Peter's vision offers a striking commentary about the status of the church similar to what is revealed through the very enlightening parables of Matthew 13.

These parables in Matthew 13 are a remarkable set of teachings about the kingdom of heaven. The birds of the air first appear in the parable of the sower and the kinds of ground the seed is sown into. We are told outright that the birds represent the evil one. Compare the following verses.

Each of the parables are like riddles whose solution is found when you understand their relevant time periods and symbolism.

Consider another "birds of the air" parable in Matthew 13.

The man of the parable who planted the smallest seed is The Sower, Y'shua. This mustard tree has birds of the air coming to perch in its branches. The symbolic meaning has already been established for us quite plainly, remember? The mustard tree is the church. The mustard seed's growth into a tree is inappropriate for an herb type plant which, if you study the mustard plant, proliferates in number without ever becoming tree-like. This is then a picture of a perverted and corrupted tree, ahem - church, somehow appearing as more than it should be, even though planted by the Lord himself. The church and the birds of the air are connected here and in Peter's vision - AND in the book of Daniel's fourth chapter's account of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Here is an excerpt of Nebuchadnezzar's description of a vision he had that was later interpreted through Daniel.

In verses 20-22, Daniel reveals that Nebuchadnezzar is the tree. Nebuchadnezzar was King of Babylon and, representing Babylon, is therefore a picture of the Babylon church, just as it is in Matthew 13 and in Acts 10. The generous Babylon tree whose "dominion extends to distant parts of the earth" (Daniel 4:22) and that has the birds-of-the-air / evil one's thieving demons nesting in its branches is clearly the mother Roman Catholic church with her daughter Protestantism. This is the whole lump which has been leavened (sin / hypocrisy) according to Matthew 13:33, which continues the Matthew 13 trend of revealing the nature of this church age.

A woman is a popular symbol of a church. Dough is also a symbol of the church. (remember Shavuot - the two leavened loaves made from one lump - baked with fire?) And so we see that the church has been known to be as she is now from the beginning. It is all in the plan of the sovereign Lord. But yet, from out of her shall a remnant be saved with a greater salvation! Herein is the continuing great mercy of God. What an awesome plan!

And so, we see that the Lord had in mind the character of the church at the beginning, middle and end of its appointed age. And, in accordance with his promise, he is revealing all things in their appointed time!