"RETURN TO ORIGINS"

Gene 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

1Cor 15:47  The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven.

• Jesus came into Jerusalem to be recognized as Messiah and King that brought salvation.
• People cried Hosanna as He rode into the city.
• Hosanna means "Save us now, O King."
• They held palm leaves in honour of His entrance.
• In that entrance, Israel Rejected Jesus.
• The religious leaders tried to stop the praises of the people.
• Malachi prophesied that the Lord, whom they sought,  should suddenly come to His temple.

Zech 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
 

• And when Jesus went into the temple, He found only moneychangers rather than people serving Him as their King.
• It reminded him of Satan entering in and ravaging the land.
• He called them "thieves" and the temple a building turned into a "den".
• Serpents live in dens.
• And the old Serpent, the devil, is the thief come to destroy.

Here is what He should have seen.

• In Rev 7 we see that there will be a people who will not stop praising Hosanna's to Him.

Reve 7:9-10  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
 

• These people cried HOSANNA when they cried "SALVATION TO OUR GOD"
• Same thing.
• And they held palm leaves.
• This entrance might have failed in the first instance when Israel rejected Him, but it will be done again and not fail.
• And rather than money-changing in the temple,  He should have seen what will be in the future:

Reve 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

They should have served Him in the temple.
 

• Ages have past.
• The cross came and went.
• Jesus said the stones would cry out, and indeed they have and are.
• He said their house was to be left desolate.
• And the temple was destroyed in 70 AD.
• He raised up a New Temple.
• One stone would not be left unturned of the old temple, but there would be a new temple.
• Each christian born of Spirit is a lively stone.
• And guess what a lively stone can do?
• CRY OUT
• WORSHIP.

Since the dead-stoned temple of Jerusalem was removed, God set up a temple of Lively Stones.

And in Matthew 21, Jesus began giving parables,

• And each parable is leading up to and finally, by the end, the parables cover the entire plan of God with the Church.
• I thrilled to notice that each parable says a bit more than the previous one of the overall plan of God.

• Paul, in 1 Cor 15, said that Jesus Christ resurrected.
• He said that Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection and afterwards there will be the rest of the sons of God, church believers, who will resurrect at His second coming.

1 Cor 15:22-23  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Paul told us in  Phil. 3 that at this resurrection, we shall unite with Jesus and KNOW HIM.

Phil 3:10-11  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Phil 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
 

• This will bring a union.
• And we cannot miss that for all the world.

Then Paul, back in 2 Cor., said that after the resurrection, when we are united with Christ,...

1 Cor 15:24-28  Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
 

• The Son of God, made one with the Church, goes back into God, after being sent from God, and God is all in all.
• God was in the beginning alone.
• Then the eternals were created.
• Then Angels were created.
• Then the world, plants and animals and finally MAN.
• After God created man He created no more.
• In the Garden we see a pattern of what God would do.
• EVEN IF MAN SINNED, GOD'S WILL WOULD STILL BE DONE.
• Through a MAN, having a BRIDE, God would see mankind and God united.
• Man sinned, time passed.
• And God became a MAN.
• Jesus.
• Jesus died to have a church.
• Jesus resurrected to one day many many centuries later, return and collect His bride.
• And Paul said this would be followed by the Son giving up all authority to the Father and God would again be all in all.  God would be everything, with one thing added to Himself.
• YOU AND ME.

• That is why I was BURIED WITH JESUS IN WATER BAPTISM IN HIS NAME.
• I went down with Him into the dust, so to speak.
• And that occurred so I could come out with Him again.
• And in that grave of baptism I became a new creation, not from dust, but in Him, from Heaven.
• So, now I will not return to dust, but to Heaven!

Notice the parables, and how each successive parable gives more information than the previous one concerning the overall plan of God.

• It is notable that these were given the day He was rejected.
• For it involves the CHURCH, the NEW TEMPLE, since the Old Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed due to their rejection.

PARABLE I

Matt 21:28-31  But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
 

• JEWS and GENTILES were the two sons.
• This parable goes back before Jesus' time, and shows that the Jews announced to all the world they would do the will of God.
• Working in the vineyard is doing God's will.
• Notice a vineyard is pointed out here.
• God has a harvest He is coming to collect one day.
• We need to get involved in the vineyard.
• The kingdom of God.

• But the ones who claimed all this religious experience did not accept Jesus when He came.
• The ones who claimed nothing, came into the Kingdom and were saved when He came.
• The second brother is the lower people of the world.
• And that includes gentiles.

So we see the thought of God's plan and some missing it in PARABLE I.
 

PARABLE II.

Matt 21:33-43  Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him]. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
 

• This parable mentions the vineyard too.
• The same issue is dealt with.
• But this goes beyond just saying that one people will replace another people in the VINEYARD... kingdom.
• It goes back in time before Jesus came.
• But it says that as the Master sent servants to check the vineyard, God sent prophets to check Israel.
• And they persecuted the prophets.
• And then the Master sent the Son so they would surely revere Him.
• But when the SON came, they killed him.
• It explains how they rejected Jesus whereas the previous one simply told they rejected Him.
• More detail.
• And it says the vineyard is given to others -- gentiles -- and they will give the fruits the Master wants.
• There is a harvest day coming.
• RESURRECTION DAY will be the harvest.
• In the meantime, the religious setup of Israel and teh temple in Jerusalme wuld be destroyed.
• That occurred in AD 70.

PARABLE III

Matt 22:2-11  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them]. But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
 

• This parable goes beyond the beginning point to the point of destruction when the temple system is destroyed..
• You could say the HARVEST is referred to this time, but it is called a WEDDING.
• WHEN THE OLD BRIDE IS DESTROYED A WEDDING .OCCURS and the new bride is confirmed. 
• This parable notes more details about the goal, whereas the others spoke about the means to the goal.
• THE BRIDE AND GROOM WILL BE UNITED.
• Many were called.
• Israel was called to this wedding but rejected the invitation, as the other parables said they Rejected Jesus.
• So, the rest of the world were invited.
• And we see some more of what was not in the other parables.
• We read that their rejection cost them the city destruction.
• God's people are not only Jews, but now saved Gentiles.
• All the world is invited since the religious Israelites rejected Jesus.
• And then we go to the wedding.
• We go further than any other parable so far.
• WE SEE HOW SOME COME WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT.
• When the King saw the man without a wedding garment we read...

Matt 22:12-14  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
 

• We must realize the wedding invitation is ours, but you must go in the right way.
• A garment speaks of the robes of righteousness.
• We must exert faith in Christ.
• Many will come and say Lord Lord we cast out devils in your name and did many wonderful works, and He will say I NEVER KNEW YOU.  DEPART FROM ME.
• Jesus said these people did not do what the WORD said to do.

Matt 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
 

• The miracles mean nothing.
• IT IS THE WORD.
• Did you obey the WORD when you HEARD IT?

• Paul said that at the end when death is defeated, in our future, the Son would give up all to the Father and God would be all in all.
• As if the reverse occurs.
• God was alone, came as a man, took a Bride, the bride united at the wedding, and then Bride and Son -- all -- return to God, and God is all in all.
• We are absorbed into God.
• We who were foreknown to have made a choice to serve God, were only in the mind of God in the beginning, but have since become a reality (Ro. 8:29).
• And we "return" to Him only in the sense that we were in His foreknowledge, but will return as realities, united to Him.

PARABLE IV

Matt 22:15-21  Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
 

• The issue of the events AFTER THE WEDDING ARE THEN SPOKEN OF.
• A different parable.
• Acted out this time by Jesus.
• They give Jesus a PENNY.
• Jesus asks them whose image is on the penny.
• They said CAESAR'S.
• And He said what has CAESAR'S IMAGE on it goes back to CAESAR.
• But what has God's image on it goes back to God.
• We were made in God's image.
• And we will go back to God.
• After the old covenant is confurmed gone, Jesus and the Bride are one.
• The bride was taken from Jesus' side on the cross, married 2000 years ago, and reunites with Him at the resurrection in very body.
• But Jesus came from God.
• So now, reunited with the Bride, Jesus goes back to God after the last enemy is destroyed.
• All Goes back to God and God is all in all.

PARABLE VI.

Matt 22:23-32  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
 

• Jesus is then confronted about the RESURRECTION.
• And this picture given in reply to the sadducees explains more about the resurrection not explained before.
• And wonderfully enough, it involves a MARRIAGE ASPECT.
• They ask Jesus if a man dies, and his brother marries his wife, and this occurs seven times, whose wife will she be when all seven are resurrected?
• Jesus pulls in TWO aspects of the resurrection together.
• He says that they do not marry in heaven.
• Their concept was all wrong.
• THERE WAS  A WEDDING.
• THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION, too.
• BUT NOT A RESURRECTION LIKE THESE THOUGHT.
• THE RESURRECTION IS THE FINAL ASPECT OF THE MARRIED  THE LORD AND HIS CHURCH.

• God is the God of Abraham.
• And God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.
• In other words, "You think it is a resurrection of people unconscious and dead."
• "No."
• "The resurrection is a resurrection of people who are alive in the SPIRIT."
• Abraham is going to resurrect.
• But Abraham is not dead.
• He is in the presence of the Lord right now.
• ONLY THOSE IN THE LORD'S PRESENCE WILL RISE IN IMMORTAL FLESH.
• They are not dead as in the sense that they await resurrection to find out whose wife is who's?
• They are alive now and conscious
• If their marriages to each other was an issue it would have been be settled before the resurrection, for they are all in the Lord's presence and are conscious now.

POINT VII.

Not a parable, but a truth we need to keep in mind.

Matt 22:34-39  But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, [which was] a lawyer, asked [him a question], tempting him, and saying, Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
If we do not get along down here... WE ARE NOT GOING IN THE RESURRECTION.

• And those who were in the church following HIm had better remain faithful, or they will not make it to the resurrection, and will also go down.

POINT VIII.

Finally, Jesus speaks about David's son being David's Lord, and in one last point, wraps up the scenario with the issue of God absorbing all into Himself and it s explanation.

Matt 22:41-46  While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The Son] of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any [man] from that day forth ask him any more [questions].

This explains that the SON sent By God, is actually GOD HIMSELF in one aspect and MAN in the other.

• The reason the Son will give up all rule to the Father and God will be all in all, is because the SON is not a second person, or a third.
• The SON is GOD.
• Somehow, when it is all said and done, it will be that from the beginning to the end, when God was alone until God is all in all, it might appear that God is alone forever once again.
• All started with God alone, and all sorts of things came forth from God.
• And it will reverse.
• As much as Adam was made from dust and shall therefore return to dust...
• As much as that which has God's image will return to God...
• The Lord Jesus came From God ...
• The Church came from Jesus....(like Adam's rib came from Adam)
• And Jesus and the church reunite at the resurrection...
• And then Jesus, reunited with us, goes back to God...
• And Jesus wraps this up by saying, though He was David's son, a man, yet He was called LORD by David.
• He was GOD.
• So if you have eyes to see, and ears to hear, we were in God's mind at the beginning when He was all alone.
• And we came forth from a thought into an existence...
• And we will return to God again, and in a sense reunite with Him.
• And God will so become one with us, that He will ABSORB us and He will be all in all.
• HE WILL BE COMPLETE, but not alone!

Look at this:

Reve 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

HEAVEN AND EARTH RETURN TO NOTHING.

At this point we are before GENESIS 1:1

All is returning to its origin.

What was before GEN 1:1?

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.