~~ Birth of John ~~

This is Saturday, May 1, 2004. I rose early this morning at 3a.m. To pray and work on this message. God started giving me this message last night as I was up studying the Word. May His great blessings be upon this message and use it to bless his sheep.

Much more took place at the birth of John the Baptist than has been realized. This is not just the miraculous birth of a child to parents of old age. The events around this birth changed the entire course of this whole world. The very method of getting to God, salvation, eternal life, and the course of the world changed with the birth of John.

Nothing about this conception or birth was normal. It was all supernatural. It was the very heart of God’s dealings with mankind. It changed forever the way of life on earth. It changed forever the spiritual condition of mankind.

Da 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

The ‘feet’ of the great ‘image’ was part of potters’ clay and part of iron. So, what is this? The potters’ clay is of course human life. But what about the iron? The image had a head of gold. What is that? In the vision Nebuchadnezzar only typed this thing. The real and first ‘head’ of mankind was Adam. This then was the head of gold. This first kingdom extended from Adam to Noah. This was the head of gold. Noah is the second head over mankind. He is the kingdom of silver. Then after Noah came up the third kingdom with four heads. This was the three sons of Noah along with Abraham. From the three sons of Noah, the entire earth was populated and brought up the various languages and different races of people. But Abraham started a new group, which was the Hebrews. This then is those four heads of the third kingdom of mankind on earth.

Then came up the last kingdom to rule the entire earth before the kingdom of Jesus subdues them all and rules forever. This was Moses. Yes the fourth kingdom to rule the earth was LAW. The power and strength of this fourth kingdom was of course the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments have full power over the earth. Even to this day, that law has people bound in chains and locked up. This is the ten horns or the ten toes on this great image.

So what is this image? It is mankind of course. The image is your outer man. It is your human flesh. It is the carnal mind. This is what must be destroyed.

Da 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

See the fourth kingdom was the iron. It is strong, unyielding and bruises. IT must be obeyed fully or it will destroy you. The law changed everything. It did away with freedom and brought mankind into bondage, death. The law demands death and punishment for every transgression. No one could keep the law so all were in bondage and bruised and broken by this law.

Under the law, women were not even permitted into the sanctuary to worship. They were forbidden to even teach the word of God. They were counted as sub-servant members of the human race. They were ruled over by their husbands. Most of the men had no mercy on them. Mercy is not a part of law. This is why the law is iron. It ‘rules’ with an ‘iron’ fist, so to speak.

Da 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

A stone cut out of the mountain... what is the mountain? It is the kingdom of mankind. One member of the human race is set to brake in pieces the kingdom of humanity from the first head, Adam on down through the iron and bring in another kingdom which shall rule the entire earth forever. This kingdom will never have an end.

The first head of Adam ended with a great flood of water. Then came up the bear kingdom of Noah. This kingdom destroyed that first kingdom with the flood. Then came up the four heads of Shem, Ham, Japheth and Abraham. After them came up Moses with law. This fourth kingdom runs to the very end of time. But they are all seven broken by this one stone which came and broke them down.

Da 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Why partly strong and partly broken? The strength of the law was made weak by the human flesh. It could never bring salvation. What the law could not do in that it was ‘weak’ through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the LIKENESS or IMAGE of SINFUL FLESH, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

This sinful flesh then is the great IMAGE, which must be destroyed. The first-man Adam is the man of sin. Our outer man is the image, which we must all destroy or perish eternally.

But man could not accomplish this. They were too weak by the flesh. They could not overcome the law. They were bound by the law and could not get free. So this great IMAGE ruled over all man from Adam until....

Da 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold;

Zacharias, the father of John was an OT Priest. He and his wife were old and had no child. As he was administering his role of the priesthood, an angel came and told him they were to have a son.

Lu 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Lu 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Zacharias was to be dumb until the birth of John. Why? Zacharias was an OT Priest. From the very time the birth of John was announced by the angel, Gabriel, God cut off the OT Priesthood. So, this being dumb by Zacharias is showing the silencing of the OT Law iron kingdom.

The law and the prophets were UNTIL John. So from the moment the birth of John was announced, God cut off that law and prophets, including the OT Priesthood. They went into darkness and silence. But the iron and the clay were MIXED?

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Your DAUGHTERS shall prophesy. What? This is unheard of isn’t it? No of course not. Had not Hannah, the mother of Samuel given out some very beautiful prophecy? Sure she did, even prophesying of Jesus, his birth and death. Had not Huldah prophesied to King Josiah how things would wind up with him and his kingdom? Of course she did. So what is this? The daughters under that iron law bondage could not even speak. BUT there have always been a few who were free, under grace. If I have found GRACE in thy sight.... Hannah.

But Joel is speaking of a time when all daughters shall be able to prophesy. How can this be? The stone cut out of the mountain without hands brake down that iron kingdom. Glory to God. He brake the other kingdoms also. All of them from Adam to Jesus were broken and blown away. Blown away? How?

Da 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the WIND carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Jer 51:1 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying WIND.

Ac 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty WIND, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

So this mighty wind which came on the day of Pentecost is the wind which blew them (those OT Kingdoms of mankind and law) away. They were to be no more. This mighty WIND destroyed them all. It set up a kingdom, which shall never have an end.

But the IRON AND THE CLAY WERE MIXED.

The two shall grow together until the end. At the end of the world the angels shall come and separate them. Then the iron and the clay shall never be together again. All those kingdoms of gold, silver, brass and iron shall be blown away forever.

Only the clay is not destroyed. This clay is broken and re-made into the image of Christ, who is the IMAGE of God.

But... first he came in the image of sinful man.

Why? Man had fallen. Man had disobeyed God and broken fellowship with God. Only a perfectly obedient MAN could reconcile this broken fellowship. Man broke this fellowship; so only man could fix it. God himself COULD NOT DO THIS. God could not undo what man had done. Only another man could do this. Only another man could please God enough to get God to again fellowship man. God is NOT the one who broke the fellowship; so God could not be the one to reconcile it. It took another man, a kinsman redeemer to reconcile us back to God.

This is why to say Jesus was God is to say we can never be reconciled back to God. God is not the one who broke fellowship; so God cannot be the one to fix it. Man broke it; so man has to be the one to undo the harm which broke the fellowship. This could only be accomplished by one man perfectly obeying the Law and bringing us from under that law which had been added, or placed over man because of his sin.

Once God had locked us down under law, only perfect obedience to the law could set us free. God himself was NOT under that law. Man was. So it took a member of the man kingdom obeying, in order to set us free from the law. By the law shall no one be justified or saved. There had to be another way.

Lu 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

So, Zacharias, representing the OT Law, could not speak during the time John was forming in the womb of Elizabeth. Why?

Lu 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

A woman was highly favoured by the Lord. Unheard of? Yes, under the law. But under grace, we are all one = the same, or equal. Under grace the daughters shall prophesy. Who can stop them? The law.

Lu 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Lu 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

A woman found favour with God. She brought forth a Son who was to be given a kingdom, which shall never end. So then, this Son must be the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands. His kingdom then has to be the one, which brake all the other kingdoms and set up a kingdom to rule the earth forever. Glory!

But, the iron and the clay were mixed.

Lu 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord.

Notice something peculiar here-- Mary entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. She did not salute Zacharias. Why? Zacharias was the OT Priest. Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, could not go to the OT Priest. She had to go to a daughter of grace. This daughter of grace was carrying the forerunner of the Lord. Jesus came to John right here for the first time!

Are these just ‘mindless’ embryos? Or course not! They are already the sons that they are. How do I know?

Lu 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

The Holy Ghost was not yet given? So what? This is the forerunner. There is always a small first fruits. These are the first fruits. These are receiving the Holy Ghost before the big outpouring. The big outpouring to all flesh is what was not yet given. A few people have always had the Holy Ghost, even in the OT. Those are the few who found GRACE. Grace and the Holy Ghost are synonymous. You can’t have one without the other. Under the Law no one has the Holy Ghost.

John, a tiny baby in the womb of his mother, was filled with the Holy Ghost. He danced and spoke in tongues. How do I know? The Babe leaped in her womb. Some false teachers claim that John was actually dead up until this time. Not so. There is no Scripture backing up such a lie. John was dancing in the spirit. The Book of Acts teaches that when the Holy Ghost fills a person, the speak in tongues. This is how I know.

See when Mary spoke, both John and Elizabeth were filled with the Holy Ghost. The daughters of God were prophesying.

So what did Elizabeth do when she was filled with the Holy Ghost? She immediately went to prophesying.

Notice the Word said that as soon as Elizabeth heard the SALUTATION of Mary, she was filled with the Holy Ghost and told Mary of the greatness of the child in Mary’s womb. Mary had not even mentioned to Elizabeth that she was pregnant. God told this to Elizabeth and she prophesied that this babe inside Mary was her Lord. This is powerful stuff!

Lu 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 1:51 He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Here Mary is also prophesying. Why are these two women speaking and Zacharias is silent? You may say because he doubted the words of the angel. But there is much more to it than this. You must receive the revelation of the Word; not just see the story part of what took place in those people’s lives. Those things were to reveal spiritual matters. Remember Zacharias was and OT Priest. God is cutting the OT off here with the birth of these two sons. The law and the prophets were UNTIL John.

God has exalted them of low degree. Who was this? The women of course. God exalted women-- not just Mary and Elizabeth--but all daughters of God who come into grace and receive the Holy Ghost.

Lu 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Notice that Mary abode with Elizabeth right up to the time of the birth of John and left. Jesus could not be there at the time of the birth of John. See the prophecy of the angel fulfilled here...Many shall rejoice at the birth of John.

Lu 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 1:60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 1:61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. L1:62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 1:63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. The iron and the clay were mixed. Even though John was to bring in grace, he was born under that law. Babylon is a mixture. Those OT cousins wanted to give John an OT name. They wanted to name him after his father. His father was Adam. But Elizabeth did not stand for this. She knew he had to have a NT name. He was not to follow his first father, who had sinned. (Adam).

John is a NT Name. They said to Elizabeth, None of thy kindred are called by this name. Why? John was a NT name and Zacharias was an OT name. Elizabeth’s kindred are the NT Grace People. See it goes to the spiritual here. So then they made signs to Zacharias to see how he would have the babe called. They made ‘signs’. The OT adulterous generation seeks a sign. Since Zacharias was still speechless under the OT, they made signs to him.

Here a marvelous thing happens (spiritually). Zacharias comes into the NT. He gave John a NT name. When he said, His name is John, they all marveled.

Lu 1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

The OT could only write; it could not speak. As soon as Zacharias wrote, His name is John, his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed. His TONGUE was loosed?

His tongue was loosed for he was filled with the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost comes into a person, the Holy Ghost speaks in tongues. Also the person prophesies. So here Zacharias came into the NT, was filled with the Holy Ghost, his tongue was loosed and he prophesied. The prophecy of Joel 2 was fulfilled right here.

Part of the prophesy of Zacharias: Lu 1:72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

To give mercy which was promised to our fathers. The PROMISE is unto you and to your children (Christians) and to all who are afar off (people still under law.) So the filling of the Holy Ghost is the promise which was promised. ... And to remember his holy covenant. Which covenant? The one given to Abraham, not Moses.

Abraham had grace. Moses gave us law. So this promise was to bring us into the grace covenant. This was begun with the birth of John.

Lu 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

John was a prophet of the Highest to prepare the ways of the Lord; to give knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins. This is the Pentecostal message preached by Peter and Paul. So here that OT Priest changed and came into the NT and was preaching the remission of sins. There is only one way given by which we may have our sins remitted. This is repentance from sins, and baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Zacharias had to remain speechless until the day John was named, while the two daughters of God spoke and rejoiced in God three months there with him. They were in the NT. They could speak and prophesy and bring forth the Son of God.

John was to give light to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death = the law. He did this by pointing them to the Light, Jesus.

Lu 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Mt 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mt 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Jesus was that stone. He smote the image of sinful man, which he was born into. He never at any time lived after his flesh or carnal mind. He mortified the deeds of the body so he could live eternally and give life to all who would also come and drink of his water of life freely. Come buy without price and without money. Yes, Jesus smote the image of sinful man and became a mountain or kingdom of love to fill the whole earth.

But until his resurrection, that iron and clay were mixed. He was born under law, as was John. Yet they both gave us grace. They both brought in this great kingdom to rule forever. So then why, if he destroyed that law kingdom there at Calvary, is the iron and clay still mixed?

Because they healed that wounded head of law. The church took up that law and became the seven heads all in one. They took up all the idols from the past and picked right back up that law. They refused to walk in grace or freedom. The shepherds desire to rule over the sheep. They desire the money of the tithe of the OT. Thus they became OT type priests, receiving tithes and ruling over the people of God. So they are still trying to mix the iron (law) with the clay. The two will grow together until the end of the world, when Jesus will separate the two and blow the chaff away forever. Then His kingdom will fill the whole earth and will never have an end.

Those who try to mix the law and grace will have an end. That old harlot church will be destroyed forever. Then righteousness will reign forever.

Inside Jesus and John were the iron and clay mixed. They both were born under the law and had to obey it. John was killed under that law. So was Jesus. We have a LAW, and by our LAW he ought to die.

But at the resurrection of Jesus, he dropped this sinful image and was given the glorious image of God = eternal life = immortality. Now the iron and clay were no longer mixed. Jesus was free. He came to give us the same freedom. Come to Jesus and drink. Obey the NT commandments and be set free. If you cling to that law, the iron will destroy you.

Each of us, who will have eternal life, must also smite this outer image of sinful man; we must refuse to live after the flesh, or carnal mind. We must mortify the deeds of the body. We must come out of the iron, or law, and come to serve God purely by faith or grace. We must not look to any of the works of law for salvation or thinking it will help keep us in God. Unless you brake that image of sinful man, and destroy the sinful desires, and walk in righteousness and love, you will be blown away by the Wind of the Holy Ghost, which you have refused to accept.

We must smite this image in the feet and do away with the entire headship of man out of our lives and live unto God, having Him as our only head. The only way this is possible is to obey the Acts 2: 38 message. You must receive the Wind of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and let it renew you in the Word of God. If not, this same wind will blow you away into destruction.

Choose you this day whom you will serve. Either choose Grace and obey the NT commandments and live, or choose law, the OT Commandments along with its idols and be destroyed. The iron and the clay cannot mix. Law and Grace cannot mix. Freedom and bondage cannot mix. Light and darkness cannot mix.

By: Jo Smith--

he book of Revelation is a prophetical book; therefore it had to have been written by a Prophet.

Luke 16:16--The LAW and the PROPHETS were UNTIL JOHN: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luke 7:28---For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

See, this is showing that prophets did not come into the era of the kingdom of God; the very least of us, are greater than the greatest prophet.

There were no prophets, receiving the Word of God, since John the Baptist. Paul, and the other N.T. writters only wrote epistles; not prophet books. Revelation is the only prophet book in the N.T. Scriptures; therefore, it had to have been written by a prophet; of which John the Baptist was the last one.

John 1:6---There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

v7--The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the LIGHT, that all men through him might believe.

v8---He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Rev.1:1--The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants (prophets)--things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his SERVANT JOHN:

v2--Who bare RECORD of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Now, bearing witness and bearing record means the same thing. So, John the Baptist is the one whom God sent to bare record, witness of Jesus, the Light.

Another thing, after the resurrection, Jesus opened the understanding of all his disciples, including John, the disciple. Jesus taught these men himself.

But, notice, that the John who wrote Revelation was taught by an angel. The angel of the Lord brought this Revelation to John the Baptist; for this is the way the prophets received the Word: God gave the Word to angels (whom He called gods)---then the angels delivered the Word to prophets. N.T. people do not receive the Word this way.

We are taught by the Holy Ghost. He will lead you and guide you into all truth. John the disciple was taught by Jesus; not an angel. John the Baptist was the one who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus; he is the one who bare record of Jesus. He was the last O.T. prophet.

Jo

Jesus was A PROPHET, THE ONE GOD SPOKE TO MOSES ABOUT.

But Jesus was a different type prophet than those in the OT.  Jesus did something no one else had done nor can do.

He receive the total revelation from God, because God put his words into the mouth of Jesus.

Jesus ended those OT prophets and began the NT prophets.

He was both and yet neither.  I know it may sound crazy, but see, Jesus gave us the pure Word of God in a way that no one else ever has or ever will.

It was from the very mouth of God, as God himself taught Jesus.

In Heb one, we have the answer:  God said, in times PAST, HE SPOKE TO MEN BY THE PROPHETS,  BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS HE SPEAKS BY HIS SON.

We are still in those last days, which began with Jesus.

We still must believe ,  accept , and speak what Jesus said, for it is what God said.

He did not do the job of an OT prophet;  nor did he do the job of a NT prophet, being so much more.

He spoke the very words of God, giving us the secrets and truth which had been hidden behind the vale, before.

Does this make sense to you?  I hope so.  I see it, but may not be explaining it so you can see it.

I appreciate your continued labor here with me, for the kingdom of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Jo