S32; The Shepherd’s Rod, Volume 1

The 144,000 of Revelation 7 — Call For Reformation
By V.T. Houteff; February 20, 2018 on Tuesday;

Esau & Jacob

   "And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: And the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.  And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus?  "And she went to enquire of the LORD.  And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.  When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.  And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob." Gen.  25:21-26.

   Inspiration says that Rebekah had no children and Isaac entreated the Lord and the LORD was entreated of him and the LORD gave her twins.  If this be the case certainly it was not an accident.  The LORD was in it.  But if she only asked for a child, why did He give her twins?  We do not suppose the Lord gave her twins to cause a lot of trouble in the family as it did.  Why did they struggle within the mother?  Why one red and hairy, and the other white and smooth?  And why one take hold of the heel of the other?  All these questions come to our minds.  Whatever the reason, it was divinely designed, for He gave her the children.  Certainly no one would think GOD did this without a purpose in view.  GOD HIM-self told the mother it is an object lesson, for HE said to her 'Two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels and the one people shall be stronger than the other people." It is true that the result was two nations on the stage of action; Edom and Israel, but where is the lesson?

   Whatever the lesson, it must be to GOD's people.  It cannot be for the Old Testament time, for they never profited by it in any way.

We read in Gal. 4:22-25, that Isaac typified the New Testament church, and Ishmael the Old.  "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  Which things are an allegory: For these are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children."
Paul writes here that Ishmael represents Israel after the flesh. Agar represents the Church that was organized at Mount Sinai at the time when Moses selected the seventy elders. See Patriarchs and Prophets, page 382. The Sanhedrin was composed of seventy men, therefore, the number “70” represents a church organization. Thus Paul says, “For this Agar is Mount Sinai [woman–symbol of the church] which is in Arabia.” This same organization, after they wandered Forty Years in the Wilderness, crossed the Jordan and established themselves in Jerusalem. “For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” Agar, then, symbolized the church before the cross; Jerusalem, of old. {SR1: 53.1}

Again we read beginning with the 26th verse: “But Jerusalem which is above [New Jerusalem in heaven now. Rev. 21.] is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not [Sarah]; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For the desolate hath many more children [desolate–for Sarah stepped aside and gave her husband to Agar] than she which hath an husband [Agar]. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh [Ishmael] persecuted him that was born after the Spirit [Isaac], even so it is now.” Gal. 4:26-29. (For ancient Israel in the days of the apostles persecuted the Christians.) Here Inspiration says Sarah represents Jerusalem which is above, in heaven now (Rev. 21), and she is the mother of us all. Paul, in writing to the New Testament church (Gentiles) says, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Paul means that Isaac represents the children of the New Testament, and Sarah is the symbol of the church. {SR1: 53.2}

Coming back to our subject, “Esau and Jacob,” whatever the lesson of these twins, it cannot apply to the Old Testament church, for if Isaac is the father of them, and represents the New Testament church, then the lesson must apply to the church represented by him. If the father was Sixty Years(not yet reached number 70) of age at the time Esau and Jacob were born, the lesson can not be for the early part of the church. The symbol must be for a later period. {SR1: 54.1} Thanks my LORD JESUS & Thanks Prophet E.G.White the 3^rd massage of 3^rd Angel Rev.14:9 & Prophet V.T.Houteff the 4^th massage of 4^th Angel Rev.18:1 !

Symbol 147; 258; 369; 138; 1+8+3+1=13=1+3= 4; 47+38=85=8+5=13=1+3= 4; 25+69=94=9+4=13=1+3= 4; 444=12=3 is GOD the FATHER & GOD the SON & GOD the HOLY SPIRIT;