THE PARABLE OF THE TEN MINAS
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parables of Jesus have always been a “prophetic fascination” to me; especially,
the ones dealing with money and finances.
A group of brothers with whom I have a weekly Bible study have been
going through the gospel of Luke of late (October, 2022). Lo and behold we came to Luke 18 and 19
wherein I found six parables and/or incidents in which Jesus encountered issues
related to monetary matters—it’s quite remarkable:
Luke
18:9-14 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke
18:18-30 – The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler and the Kingdom of God
Luke
18:35-43 – The Miracle of the Blind Beggar (begging, no doubt for sustenance
and money) who Receives His Sight (beggar)
Luke 19:
1-9 – Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
Luke
19:11-27 – The Parable of the Ten Minas
Luke
19:28-47 – Jesus comes to Jerusalem and throws out the Money Changers from the
Temple
I
did not notice these monetary and/or weight recordings in Luke 18-19 until I
came to the “parable of the 10 MINAS” (pronounced: MEE-NUHS).
I discovered that this MINA was not the same as the Hebrew “MENE” mentioned
in Daniel 5:25-28—but both the Hebrew MENE and the Greek MINA are related to
the “gerah”.[i]
The value of the Hebrew MENE is 1,000 gerah and the value of the Greek
MINA is 756.14 gerah[ii]; clearly seen as:
1 MENE (Hebrew) = 1,000 Gerah
1 MINA (Greek) = 756.14 Gerah
Before
we delve deeper into the parable of the MINA (capitalized to clearly connote
either the Greek or Hebrew number of Gerah), let’s get into the parable of the
10 MINAS; perhaps there is a more profound significance of these numeric
values. Could it be they are somehow
related to the Eternal Plan and Purpose of the Almighty—a sort of divine
revelation akin to what Paul said in Romans 16:25-26? We read in his doxology to the believers in
Rome:
Now to him who is able to strengthen
you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus
Christ, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY THAT WAS KEPT SECRET
for long ages but has now been
disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all
nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the
obedience of faith—”
Think
about it: A “mystery kept secret” – that’s
like a double mystery. First, it’s a
mystery and then it’s a mystery enshrouded in secrecy. Can’t get anymore mysterious than that! Yes, it has to do with the revelation of
Jesus Christ, but it also has to do with His Eternal Plan and Purpose in bringing
into the Holy City, New Jerusalem, people from the nations—from every tribe,
tongue, nation and people into His Elect into eternal relationship/fellowship
with Him as the Lamb and His Woman, the Lamb’s wife (Revelation 21:9):
“Come, I will show
you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” . . . and he carried me away in the Spirit
. . . and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God” (Rev. 21:9-10).
So
let’s see if we can unravel this parable—after all, expositors and commentators
have been deciphering this parable since Jesus spoke of it:
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
Before we get into the MINAS’ “numeric” values, I’ll admit
that most commentators see the parable refers to the first and second coming of
Christ. His “subjects” hated Him and
even sent a delegation after Him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king”
(Luke 19:14).
Notwithstanding, Jesus, the king in the parable, was “made
king” and then returned to his Father (i.e., “home”); however, prior to His
leaving He gave out 10 MINAS—one each per “servant.” He told them before he returned home to “Put
this money to work . . . until I come back.”
For when He returns He expected the initial investment will have earned
more.
The King singled out 3 of the 10 would-be investors in His
parable. So, there were 7 of the 10
mysteriously left out of the equation—therefore, let’s put these 7 aside and
see if there’s a reason why He chose just 3 of them out of the 10 and what
might be the relationship between the 7 and the 3 or is it possible that these
3 and 7 are related as factors?
THE RETURN OF THE KING - THE THREE - WHERE'S MY INVESTMENT?
LET’S
GET INTO THE VALUES OF THE GREEK MINA
The Greek MINA: 1 MINA (GREEK) = 756.14 GERAH[iii]
Let’s consider the “756” and “14”
in Scripture—the “756” has everything to do, initially, with King Solomon’s “Mystical
Sea of Cast Bronze” –
THE "756" AND "792" OF SOLOMON'S MYSTICAL SEA OF CAST BRONZE
The number set “756” is the
fractal/resemblance of the 756 inches of the circumference of Solomon’s
Mystical Sea of Caste Bronze. The
determination of the 756 inches is derived from the 252 inches of its diameter.
This immense laver built by King Solomon
is calculated based on the measurement of the Hebrew Sacred/Royal/Long Cubit as
found in Ezekiel 40:5; 43:13 in order for us to obtain both the 756-inch
circumference and the 252-inch diameter—so, let’s decipher the length in inches
of the Hebrew Sacred Cubit (sorry, if this is redundant to my readers—but a
refresher never did harm):
“The
length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of
which was a cubit and a handbreadth . . . These are the measurements of the altar
in long cubits, that cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth:” (Ezekiel 40:5)
To substantiate in inches (Latin)
the precise length of the Hebrew Sacred/Long/Royal Cubit (HSC) there are
numerous metrological lengths derived from sundry sources; one being the New
International Version (Spirit-filled edition of the Bible, p., 1050):
“The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40-48.”
This somewhat arbitrary
measurement of the rod/reed based on the 21 inches or the HSC would make the
rod/reed to be 6 * 21 inches = 126 inches or 10.5 feet; however, there is far
more information regarding the precise measurement of the HSC from antiquity
wherein the reading of Ezekiel 40:5 and Ezk. 43:13 can be read as follows (for
clarification):
The
length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits . . . each one
of these cubits is equal to a standard length cubit plus the measurement of an
adult palm; therefore, the measurement of the ‘long cubit’ is a standard cubit
+ an adult palm measurement – once you find out what this measurement is then
you multiply by 6 and you will find out what the length of the rod/reed is.
A cursory review of multiple
Bible translations will give us a plethora of various lengths of the “standard”
Hebrew Cubit. Most settle on the “standard
Hebrew cubit” to be 18 inches in length with an additional handbreadth or palm
to be 3 inches giving the HSC (long cubit) to be 21 inches in length;
therefore, 6 * 21 inches = 126 inches or 126 ÷ 12 inches = 10.5 Ft. Rod/Reed.[iv]
The famed Assyriologist, Julius
Oppert discovered the measurement of the “palm” in antiquity to be 3.6 inches.
DR. JULIUS OPPERT DETERMINED THE "PALM" TO BE 3.6 INCHES
Thus the “handbreadth” or “palm”
measured 3.6 inches. Furthermore, Dr. Oppert
discovered the length of the Royal Assyrian and Royal Persian Cubits to be
25.20 inches in length, to wit:
DR. OPPERT DETERMINED THE HEBREW CUBIT OF 25.20 IN. COMPORTS WITH THE PERSIAN AND ASSYRIAN ROYAL CUBITS
Once we understand the “cubit” measurement
is based upon the 3.6 inch palm then we can see that the “standard cubit” of
Dr. Oppert would have been (in order to achieve the measurement of 25.20 inches
to be that of the Assyrian/Persian Royal Cubit) that of 3.6 inches X 6 = 21.6
inches or 6 palms @ 3.6 inches with the 7th palm of 3.6 inches
moving from the “standard cubit” to the length of the “royal cubit” or 21.6
inches (6 palms) + 3.6 inches (7th palm) = 25.20 inches (or 7
palms). This “7” is the “divine number
set” in that the Almighty rested on the 7th day and connotes “completion”
in Scripture.
Therefore, the measuring rod found
in the “man’s hand” was 6 HSC or 25.20 inches X 6 =151.2 inches ÷ 12 inches (to
determine the number of feet) = 12.6 Feet.
This “126” is most significant as a fractal/resemblance of the rod/reed
found in both Revelation 11:1-3 and Revelation 21:15-17 (KJV):
"Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. [a]And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days [1,260 days], clothed in sackcloth."
And he who talked
with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its
wall. 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. Then he measured its wall: one
hundred and forty-four cubits, according to
the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Therefore, as far as the 12.6 Ft. (126) measuring reed/rod in
Ezekiel goes, its counterparts found in Revelation 11 and 21 must be very much
the same length. There is justification
to suggest that the “126” can be seen, as well, in the 1,260-day prophetic
witness of the Two Witnesses and of the 42 months of the trampling asunder of
the Holy City in that 42 prophetic months is equal to 30 days a prophetic month
X 42 months = 1,260 days and in both cases the “126” stands out.
This “126” as the 12.6 Rod/Reed in both Ezekiel and Revelation
can readily relate to the 3 ½ years of Jesus’ ministry on the earth or His own
1,260-days of ministry—viz., this “126” is the very TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST to
which we are called to bear both then and now in the latter days:
“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants . . . to his servant John, who testifies to everything—that
is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 1:1-2)
“I, John, your brother and companion in the
suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the
island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
(Rev. 1:9)
“. . . those who keep God’s commands and hold fast
their testimony about Jesus.” (Rev. 12:17b – NIV)
According to John’s Gospel there
appears to be at least 4 Passovers and 3 other “Feast Days” in which Jesus
participated:
1. John 2:13,
23 - First Passover
2. John 5:1 – Second Passover by implication
3. John 6:4 - Third Passover
4. John
11:55 through John 19:14 - Fourth Passover
5. John 1:29, 35 - 1 Day of Atonement
6. John 7:2 - 1 Day of the Feast of Tabernacles
7. John 10:22 - 1 Feast of Dedication in which Jesus participated for a total of 7 Feast Days.
Jesus was about 30 years of age
(Luke 3:23) when He began His ministry; therefore, if indeed He commenced His
ministry at the baptism of John the Baptist (John 1:29-35—Tishrei 10), and
encountered His first Passover six months later in John 2:13, 23 (Nisan 14),
and His second Passover in John 5:1; then 1 ½ years would have elapsed in His
earthly ministry with the third Passover in John 6:4 bringing us to 2 ½ years
of His earthly ministry. And finally,
His final Passover/Crucifixion from John 11:55 through John 19:14 bringing us
to 3 ½ years of His earthly ministry or 1,260 days, 42 months. This is the TESTIMONY OF JESUS.
All this to say that the
Measuring Rod/Reed’s 12.6 Ft. is a fractal of the 3 ½ years of 1,260 days of
the earthly ministry of Jesus or the Testimony of Jesus—it is the very
measurement of Christ.
We who bear the Testimony of
Jesus Christ are measured, owned, by Jesus Christ and none other! We are not here to “compare ourselves with
ourselves” (2 Cor. 10:12) but to align with the Testimony of Jesus Christ;
therefore, the Hebrew Sacred Cubit’s measurement is 2.1 feet (7 * 3 = 21 in the
context of the Parable of the 10 MINA separated as 7 and 3) or 25.20 inches.
Consequently, in reference to Solomon’s
Mystical Sea of Cast Bronze we understand that the 10 Cubits (2 Chronicles 4:2)
of its diameter are calculated as follows:
10 HSC *
25.20 Inches = 252 Inches
God is the master Geometer and
profoundly calculates the Laver’s circumference as 30 HSC or:
30 HSC *
25.20 Inches = 756 Inches
But this cannot be because the
formula, at a minimum, in configuring the circumference of a circle is: C = Pi * D or C = πd – therefore:
Pi =
3.142857 X 252 Inches = 792 Inches
Therefore, the circumference of Solomon’s
Laver should have been 792 inches and not 756 inches because 30 HSC = 25.20 *
30 = 756; however, the diameter is equal to 252 inches (10 HSC * 25.20 inches =
252 inches) X 3.142857 = 792 inches (the actual circumference).
Thus: 792 v. 756—which is accurate? Answer:
BOTH! The one (792) answers to
the “Heavenly New Jerusalem” wherein 12,000 Furlongs X 660 Ft. (1 furlong) =
7,920,000 Linear Feet (Rev. 21:16) or “792” whereas the other (756) answer to
the “Earthly Holy City” is found in Ezekiel chapters 40-48.
The “756” can be found in that earthly
“Altar unto the Lord at the border (Giza) of Egypt” found in Isaiah 19:19-20a
and substantiated by Jeremiah’s statement found in Jeremiah 32:20:
“In that
day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument[v]
to the LORD at its border. It will be a
sign and a witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt . . . You have
shown signs[vi]
and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all
mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.”
THE SQUARING OF THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA @ BASE EDGE OF 756 FT.
That “Altar unto the Lord at the
GIZA (border) of Egypt” is in point of fact a “sign . . . in the land of Egypt”
or a “monument in the land of Egypt” which can now (today) be viewed but shall
persist into the prophetic future bringing the peoples of the earth together in
unity with Israel:
“In that
day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the
Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and
Assyrians will worship together. In that
day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the
earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them,
saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my
inheritance.’” (Isaiah 19:23-25)
The only MONUMENT at the Giza of
Egypt of any wonderment is the Great Pyramid of Giza (GPG) whose base edge as
determined by the famed metrologist, Sir William Flinders Petrie, was determined
to be 756 Ft.[vii]
When the base edge of the GPG is
subjected to the HSC of 2.1 Ft. we discover the following:
756 Feet ÷
2.1 Feet = 360 HSC
360 HSC X
4 Base Edges of the GPG = 1,440 HSC
Not only is the “360” a reflection of the 360° of the circle,
without beginning or ending as per the Eternal God but the “144” demonstrates
the “144” of the Wall of the New Jerusalem found in Revelation 21:17:
“The angel measured the wall
using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits . . ..”
When calculating the 756 Feet X 4 base edges of the GPG we
find that its perimeter in feet is 3,024 or “324” – which comports to that of
the wall of the New Jerusalem wherein 144 HSC * 2.1 Ft. = 302.4 Ft. Therefore, it is not a quantum leap to suggest
that the GPG and the New Jerusalem are interrelated in some way.
May I suggest that they are connected to the “. . . angels ascending
and descending upon the Son of Man” as found in John 1:49-51:
“Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi,
you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’ Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I
saw you under the fig tree. You will see
greater things than that.’ He then
added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the son of Man.’”
Herein is a marvelous declaration and understanding of the Son
of Man—our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the
Son of God from heaven’s glory bringing God to man upon the earth and He is the
King of Israel bringing the earth to God in heaven—and He is through
incarnation and glorification the glorified Son of Man who unites both heaven
(792) and earth (756) together as Jacob’s Ladder whereupon the angels are ascending
and descending upon the Son of Man—GREATER THINGS!
I know, that’s a mouth full and not easy to follow—but follow
we must because only the Son of Man can reconcile and/or sync Ezekiel 40-48,
the Holy City upon the earth with the Holy City, New Jerusalem descending from
the heavens to the earth – only then can 756 be combined with 792—DISTINCTION,
YES – SEPARATION, NO. There is but one
Holy City—it is multi-dimensional bearing a heavenly and earthly
expression.
The “difference” between the 756 and the 792 is “36” or “306”
which is a fractal/resemblance of the Eternal God without beginning or ending
of 360° of the circle.
This, then, is the “756” of the 756.14 Gerah found in the
Greek MINA given to the 10 servants.
THE “18” IS THE COMPOSITE EARTHLY & HEAVENLY
REFLECTIONS OF THE HOLY CITY
THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM
To substantiate the multi-dimensional aspects of the Holy
City, thereby highlighting the “18” held by the 3 servants at the conclusion of
their investments, we must view the New Jerusalem through mathematical eyes in
that the 12,000 furlongs X 12 (the 12 edges of a cube) are equal to 12 * 12,000
furlongs = 144,000 linear furlongs X 660 feet per furlong = 95,040,000 Linear
Feet[viii]
÷ 5,280 Ft. (one mile) = 18,000 Linear Statute Miles (Rev. 21:16). So, this is the “18” of the heavenly view of
the New Jerusalem.
The “earthly reflection of the Holy City” is found in Ezekiel
48:30-35 (excerpts):
“These will be the exits of the
city: Beginning on the north side, which
is 4,500 cubits long, the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of
Israel. The three gates on the north
side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi . . .
on the east side, which is 4,500 cubits . . . On the south side, which measures
4,500 cubits . . . On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits . . . The distance
all around will be 18,000 cubits . . . And the name of the city from that time
on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”
These two sets of 18—the heavenly
New Jerusalem’s 18,000 miles and the earthly Holy City and its 18,000 cubits
combined (18 +18) are equal to “36” reflective of the 360° of a circle, the
Eternal God, without beginning or ending and must be viewed as
multi-dimensional aspects of the singularity of the Holy City, New
Jerusalem.
THE “14” OF THE GREEK MINA’S
756.14
But what of the “14” separated
from the 756.14 gerah? The “14”
demonstrates KINGSHIP. Matthew
introduces Jesus as the King, the Messiah of Israel:
“Thus
there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from
David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah . . .
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham”
(Matthew 1:17 and Matthew 1:1).
These three generations add to “42”
wherein 14 + 14 + 14 = 42. Again, this “42”
is representative of the 42 months found in Revelation 11 and 13 and is the
very Testimony of Jesus Whose earthly ministry is reflected in the 1,260 days
or 42 months.
Indeed, in the parable of the
MINA to the original audience we read that they
“. . . did not want me to be KING over them”—Luke 19:27.
Therefore, using the Greek MINA
we can understand the Plan and Purpose of the Almighty in the building up of
the earthly and heavenly New Jerusalem—and how the King (14) plans to administrate
His Kingdom (756) by initiating and separating out His measuring system (7 * 3
= 21). Here’s what we can perceive of
these 10 MINAS:
(1) The Kingdom of God did not appear at once as the
disciples contemplated—it appears as an investment – OVER TIME – MINAS are
being invested by His servants (each one of us).
(2) What are these MINAS producing? Yes, the Lord wants a return on His
investment—the investment is calibrated at several levels. We must look at these MINAS, as most do, as
investing into the Kingdom of God. Are
these “investments”—these MINAS the souls of men whereby some believers who “Put
this money to work…until I come back” would include both the souls of men and
the various “deeds” or “works” of believers adjudged at the Bema or Judgment Seat
of Christ “Until I come back”?
(3)
He starts out with 10 MINAS then separates out “Three
Mina Investors” and keeps Seven (7) off to the side for some reason—He now
focuses on the 3 MINA Investors. Here’s
what happens to the three investors:
·
Investor 1 – Produces 10 more Mina
·
Investor 2 – Produces 5 more Mina
·
Investor 3 – Produces 0 Mina
Therefore, the total Mina
involved are calculated in this manner:
1 + 10 =
11
1 + 5 = 6
1 + 0 = 1
Therefore: 11 + 6 + 1 = 18 Mina
It can clearly be seen, then,
that “18” is the summation of the 3 Mina Investors. Therefore, it is not a major conjecture to
consider this “18” does have a precise fractal resemblance to the cardinal
number of the New Jerusalem which is “18” – we, therefore can view these “18 MINAS”
beyond individual investment/investors to the cooperative investment goal of
all brethren foreseen in the Golden City:
The New Jerusalem.
What Jesus is after is not only
to reveal one’s personal investment in souls, deeds, the exercise of gifts
given, etc., but His Ultimate Intension of the very New Jerusalem, His Bride,
the Woman of Revelation 21. Brethren,
what God has given you is designed for us all to invest in His eternal plan and
purpose – the full manifestation of the Kingdom of God: THE NEW JERUSALEM!
But by what measure or standard
or strategy is our investment, our MINAS, increased? How can we get an increase on our investment,
our MINAS, our gifts God has given to us—in what way can we measure their
success? I would venture to go out on a
limb and say that the “7” MINAS are likewise given to individuals—they are not
mentioned just for miscellaneous observation—they have a purpose for being
there in the first place. Why? Because they may, most likely they do, have a
relationship with the three MINA examples within the parable.
IS “18” FROM THE 3 INVESTORS
RELATED TO THE “7” OUTLINERS?
I would propose these “7”
outliners are initially given as a “factor” in relationship to the 18 Minas
ultimately produced by the three investors and constitute a clue for us in that
they are God’s perfect number of “7” – for after His full six-day creation He
rested on the Seventh Day – and there are, after all, seven days in a complete
week and 7 major feast days on the Hebrew Calendar.
This “7” then is related to the “18”
– for is it not God in Christ Who is building the New Jerusalem? Absolutely!
So let’s see what these factors of “7” and “18” produce when we multiply
them:
7 * 18 =
126
“126”
The “126” is the basic fractal or
resemblance of the following:
- 1,260-Days found in Revelation…..
- 12.6 Ft. Rod of Ezekiel 40:5 and Revelation 11 and 21
- 3 ½ Days of the Week
- 3 ½ Years of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
- 42 Months of Jesus Ministry and of the Trampling Asunder of the Holy City and Persecution (Rev. 13)
- Time, Times, and Half a Time of both Daniel 7:25; 12:7 and Revelation 12:14.
HOW ARE GOD’S PEOPLE THEN
MEASURED?
Again, the “126” is the very
Testimony of Jesus—it is His Standard, His Measurement—He measures us, in this
manner: The Temple, the Altar, and the Worshippers
at the Altar. What He measures He owns. We should never “compare ourselves with
ourselves” – we are enjoined to be measured in this manner:
“So
Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the WHOLE MEASURE
of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13)
“. .. so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the MEASURE of all the
fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19).
Here in Ephesians 4:11-13 and Ephesians
3:17-19 we, the Body of Christ, are being matured unto the WHOLE MEASURE of the
fullness of Christ . . . we are experiencing the full capacity—it’s width,
length, height, and depth—of the love of Christ which is beyond measurement,
surpassing all knowledge wherein His Body is FILLED TO THE MEASURE of the very
fullness of God! We are measured by the
measurement of Christ Himself and none other – for we are being prepared by the
“126” (the 12.6 Ft. Rod/Reed) for His New Jerusalem, His very Bride:
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. (KJV – Rev. 21:15-17).
MEASURE THE TEMPLE, THE ALTAR, AND THE WORSHIPPERS AT THE ALTAR WITH THE 12.6 FT. MEASURING ROD/REED
Yes,
this Holy City is accomplished via the “measure of a man” – an “angelic man” –
a “Heavenly Man” – the very “Glorified Man” bringing many sons to glory –
transforming them into the GOLDEN CITY, New Jerusalem. It has “fullness of capacity” – length,
breadth, and height – all equal in measurement to 12,000 furlongs or 12,000 *
660 Ft. = 7,920,000 or “792” but at “full capacity/volume is equal to:
12,000 * 12,000 * 12,000 or
simplified @ 12 * 12 * 12 = 1,728
And this 1,728 is wrought by the “Measure
of a Man” – Who holds the GOLDEN REED (Rod) in His hand: For it is the “measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ!”
Thus do we “see” the “18” MINAS
are His Perfect Man wrought via the “126” – the man with the GOLDEN
MEASURING REED in His Hand—HIMSELF? The
rod/reed has become GOLDEN—utterly transformative . . . He has transformed the “worshipers
at the altar” through His cross, His suffering in and through them unto the New
Jerusalem!
Again Ezekiel 40:5 tells us
clearly that the Holy City seen by Ezekiel is measured by the length of this
measuring rod of 12.6 Ft.
“The
length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was SIX LONG CUBITS (aka, the measurement
of one long cubit is that of a Hebrew Sacred Cubit) . . . each of which was a “standard
cubit” (21.6 inches) + a handbreadth (or + 3.6 inches of a man’s palm” (Ezk.
40:5).
Therefore: 6 palms or 3.6 inches * 6 palms = 21.6 inches
(one “standard cubit”) + 3.6 inches (or the 7th palm of a man’s
hand) = 25.20 inches = 1 LONG CUBIT or 1 Hebrew Sacred Cubit.
Calculating 6 such 25.20 inches we
must configure as follows: 25.20 inches
÷ 12 inches (to determine feet) = 2.1 feet (Long Cubit) * 6 = 12.6 Feet – THIS is
the measurement of the Reed or Rod used by Ezekiel to measure the Holy City and
I believe this is the very measurement of the “12.6 Ft.” in which John was
enjoined to measure the Temple, Altar and those worshippers at the altar and
this, likewise, was the “measuring rod” held in the “Angel’s Hand.”
Remember, “The angel who talked
with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city” – the New Jerusalem –
measuring God’s ultimate manifestation . . . listen up: “The angel measured the wall using human
measurement” (Rev. 21:17); that is, of a “man’s palm” – a human measurement. But what kind of human have we here? I would declare this “human measurement” which
measured the wall of the New Jerusalem @ 144 cubits with the “measuring rod of
gold” was the “human measurement” of the HAND which was pierced for our
salvation—He alone can measure us by His standard, His hand, His palm, His “12.6”
– His 6 (man’s number) long cubits of 2.1ft. * 6 (human measurement) = 12.6 Ft.
It’s really not all that complicated
when you see that the ascended Glorified Son of Man alone can transform
you and me into His Holy City, the New Jerusalem—that’s what He’s always
seeking to build—to conform us to His Image, His Bride, His New Jerusalem!
“The
first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the
earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man . . . (1
Cor. 15:47-49 – Berean Study Bible).
Brethren—let us not settle for anything else. The Parable of the 10 Minas is a marvelous investment to produce an eternal weight of glory: God (7) and the New Jerusalem (18) expresses the very fullness, the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ – all accomplished by Christ Himself (7 * 18 = 126) – REJOICE – GOD IS DOING HIS ETERNAL WORK! The 7 (God) is, as well, viewed as the 3 (the Triune God). Let us unite together to accomplish His Plan and Purpose of the Ages—nothing else will suffice! Let’s cooperate with the King: PUT THIS MONEY TO WORK!
For additional study regarding "Biblical Numerics" please read SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS AND ON THE EARTH--MAN'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED AND HE IS MEASURED -
[i] A gerah Hebrew "גרה" is an ancient Hebrew unit of weight and currency, equivalent to one-twentieth of a shekel, a shekel being 180 barleycorns or 60 carob divided by 20 = 3 carob. This is 0.568 grams. A gerah is in Aramaic a ma'ah "מעה". It was originally a fifth of a Denarius/zuz, as seen in Exodus, then became a sixth of a denar/Zuz, such as the Yehud coins which came in two denominations, approximately .58 gram as a ma'ah and approximately .29 gram as a half ma'ah, and which is about the weight of a Zuz/Denarius based on a 14 gram Shekel. The Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim, in the Mishnah, debates if a kalbon, which was added when annually giving a half shekel to the Temple, was a "ma'ah" or a "chatzi ma'ah". (Source: DEFINITIONS @ https://www.definitions.net/definition/gerah - Retrieved on 10.28.2022)
[ii] Conversion chart: https://hextobinary.com/unit/weight/from/minagreek/to/gerah
[iii] The mina was the standard unit of weight and currency in the ancient Greek world. This mina coin was worth 100 drachmas or 756.14 gerah. The standard wage for a laborer in the ancient world was one drachma per day, so this coin was worth around a quarter to a third of a standard low to middle class income – the equivalent of around $8,000-$10,000 today. (Sourced on 10.30.2022 @ https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/telkedesh/field-seasons/2010-2/ )
[iv] Please see: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+40%3A5&version=CSB and compare other translations which vary in “cubit length” with the majority of the translations being 21 inches is the HSC measurement.
[v] See various translations of this “oth” as “pillar” – “memorial stone” – “monument” – “sign” @ https://biblehub.com/parallel/isaiah/19-19.htm
[vi] Strong's Hebrew: 226. אוֹת (oth) -- a sign - Bible Hub
Probably from 'uwth (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.
[vii] Sir William Flinders Petrie’s base measurements were taken over the course of several years and are the most meticulous undertaking by anyone both past and even present; they are summarized as follows:
|
Length of Base (Linear) |
Great Pyramid of Giza |
Measurement Given in Feet |
|
West: |
755.76 |
Feet |
|
North: |
755.41 |
Feet |
|
East: |
755.87 |
Feet |
|
South: |
756.08 |
Feet |
Petrie’s conclusion, therefore, determined that the original intent of the builders of the Great Pyramid of Giza after scores of earthquakes and settling of the GPG was 756 Feet. See Also: https://brainly.com/question/4599388
[viii] http://islamtk.weebly.com/distance-from-the-sun.html
- It is of interest to this author that Islamic scholars calculate the distance
of the earth to our sun at 95,040,000 miles—the same as the full measurement in
feet of the 12-edged cube of the New Jerusalem or 12,000 furlongs X 12 edges of
any cube = 144,000 linear furlongs X 660 Ft. per furlong = 95,040,000 Linear
Feet – thus a fractal is precisely realized in miles of the distance of the earth
to the sun. The New Jerusalem has no
need of the sun in that the Lamb is her Light (Revelation 21:23).
