The 4 Carpenters (not a Brother/Sister band)
He is Israel's King and Messiah, rejected in her past, the First and the Last, but accepted, He is her glorious future...!!!
O04/26/22
(Zechariah 1:18,19,21- King James) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
(19) And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
(20) And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
(21) Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
…”to cast out the horns of the Gentiles,”
That is exactly what the 4 “Carpenters” will do to the “heathen” (Gentiles) when HE returns:
(Haggai 2:22 KJ) And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
(Daniel 2:44 KJ) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Notice what the prophets are writing here (no,…not on the studio walls)…., that God the Son Himself, a.k.a., Four Carpenters, are coming to “fray” (Zech 1:21) i.e., bring terror to the 4 kingdoms that will scatter Israel in the latter times.
…”and their riders shall come down,” (Hag 2:22).
That is, Gentile kingdoms are going to fly over Israel and God is going to have them destroy each other in the air to where they all fall out of the sky.
“Horns” are kingdoms in the Scriptures.
That is exactly what Jesus Christ will do in the last 7 years for ‘believing’ Israel, and what Israel wanted the Messiah to do to the Romans when He came the first time, i.e., to cast them out (Zech 1:21 KJ). But Israel in their unbelief crucified their Messiah and did not ‘spiritually’ receive Jesus Christ and ‘believe’ on Him when He came. And after He rose from the dead and right before He ascended to His Father, His disciples asked Him:
(Acts 1:6 KJ) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
The Lord Jesus did not restore the Davidic kingdom to Israel then, but He (the 4 Carpenters) will restore it to Israel…and He will destroy those 4 Gentile kingdoms (horns) when He returns.
There are 4 “horns” (i.e., kingdoms) which “have scattered” (past tense) Judah, Israel and Jerusalem in (Zech 1:19 KJ), and there are 4 kingdoms that “shall stand up” (future tense) out of the nation, (i.e., out of Alexander the Great's Grecian kingdom) in (Dan 8:22 KJ). This happened after Alexander's death, i.e., 4 kingdoms stood up, and it will happen again in the latter days:
(Daniel 8:22,23 KJ) Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
(23) And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
….”and in the latter time of their kingdom,”….. i.e., the 4 kingdoms have a kingdom in the “latter time” etc…
God's prophetic Word says many things about future events as though they had already taken place. God, who stands outside of time is telling us all that the things that He says will happen in the future are sure to happen, i.e., 4 kingdoms (horns) will stand up and scatter Israel.
Alexander's Empire was ultimately taken over by his four generals after he died. And in “the latter time of their Kingdom” i.e., the time future to us and very soon from now, the ‘man of sin’ will rise up among them, i.e., among the 4 kingdoms that were ruled by Alexander's 4 generals after He died. They were:
Lysimachus
Cassander
Ptolemy
Seleucus.
The “he goat” below is Alexander the Great. The “four notable ones” are his 4 generals that divided up his Grecian empire after he died:
(Daniel 8:8,9 KJ) Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
(9) And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
The “little horn” above is the soon coming ‘man of sin,’ the ‘anti-Christ’:
(2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 KJ) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
…..There will be a third TEMPLE
….soon
The last 17 books of the Old Testament are known as the “writing prophets.” There are many other prophets in the Scriptures, such as Elijah and Elisha for e.g., who didn't write a book in the Bible. But starting in Isaiah and finishing with Malachi we have 17 authors who all write about ‘major’ prophetic events. The first 5 (Isaiah-Daniel) are called the “Majors” because of the amount of words/chapters within them etc. The last twelve (Hosea-Malachi), unfortunately, were tagged with the appelation“Minors.” But don't believe it for one second….the Minors are really Majors. And that is a major understatement.
The first 5 “writing prophets,” [Isaiah-Daniel], along with the last 12 [Hosea-Malachi] are herein called WP. The first 5 WP write about major themes, i.e., very important issues that Israel must grasp, learn and understand in order to finally and fully ‘occupy’ their eternal kingdom that God promised to them. These issues deal with extremely important matters that must be realized, believed and understood by Israel, such as: The Messiah, The Day of The LORD, The Believing Remnant, The New Covenant, Israel's Timeline, The Kingdom etc. and etc.
The WP (Hosea- Malachi) are ‘minor’ only in the amount of words/chapters within them, as compared to the first 5 WP. However, their content is every bit as MAJOR as the MAJORS. The last 12 WP (Writing Prophets), - [Hosea - Malachi], expand on those major themes that the Majors [Isaiah-Daniel] deal with.
Whereas the first 9 [Hosea-Zephaniah] of the last 12 WP deal with Israel being taken into captivity (Israel - 722 B.C. / Judah - 605 B.C.) and how to get through it etc, and are known as ‘pre-exile’ books, the last 3 WP [Haggai-Malachi] deal with some very important people and events coming to Israel ‘after’ their captivity and are thus ‘post-exile’ books. That is, [Haggai- Malachi] write about what is future to happen to Israel ‘post-captivity’ and future to them, i.e., future to (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi). One of those ‘future’ people coming to Israel will be, the:
MESSIAH
…..and the Major WP speak about the one coming who will prepare the Messiah‘s (Anointed One) way before Him, and the so-called ‘Minors,’ (herein called the L12M, or, the (Last 12 Majors - Hosea-Malachi), expound further on the one who will prepare the way of the Messiah…..i.e., John the Baptist:
The major writing prophets Isaiah:
(Isaiah 40:3 KJ) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The L12M writing prophet (literally the last one)….Malachi:
(Malachi 3:1 KJ) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
So the first five Majors occify on the major themes concerning Israel and what she will need to occupy her kingdom that God has given her.... And the L12M (Last 12 Majors) flesh them out…. i.e., add meat to those major doctrines (teachings).
There are four portraits of the Messiah that are given in the WP that give advance notice to Israel of who the Messiah will be; they are describing 4 characteristics/aspects of the Messiah, those 4 “carpenters,” (i.e., one who builds)..:
KING
SERVANT
MAN
GOD
The four gospels, that which the post-exile WP [Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi] prepare Israel for etc ., each deal primarily with one of these 4 portrait characteristics of the Messiah:
Matthew answers to the fact that Jesus Christ would descend from KING David (Matthew 1:1,6; 21:5 KJ) and who Himself would be KING.
Mark answers to the SERVANT the Messiah would be (Mark 10:44,45 KJ).
Luke answers to the MAN the Messiah would be as His genealogy in the book of Luke shows Him descending into humanity from the man Adam (Luke 3:23-38 KJ).
John shows that Jesus Christ is GOD (John 1 KJ).
Note, also, that these 4 characteristics of the Messiah are contained and reflected in the four faces each of the 4 living creatures before God's throne in heaven have:
(Ezekiel 1:10 KJ) As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Lion - King - Matthew
Ox - Servant - Mark
Man - Man - Luke
Eagle - Deity - John
Note, also, that the face of the Servant is in three forms:
Ox (Ezekiel 1:10)
Cherub (Ezekiel 10:14)
Calf (Rev 4:7)
….Ever wonder why God cursed the ‘cherub’ satan above all ‘‘cattle,” (Gen 3:14)?
….but I digress.
The WP (writing prophets) gave 4 ‘BEHOLDS’ to Israel hundreds of years in advance about those 4 portraits Matthew (King), Mark (Servant), Luke (Man), and John (God) would identify the Messiah with in their descriptions of Him:
Zechariah described the ‘King’ that the gospel of Matthew would describe the Messiah as being:
(Zechariah 9:9 KJ) 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.
Isaiah described the ‘Servant’ that the gospel of Mark would describe the Messiah as being:
(Isaiah 42:1 KJ) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Zechariah described the ‘MAN’ that the gospel of Luke would describe the Messiah as being:
(Zechariah 6:12 KJ) And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Isaiah described that the Messiah would be GOD, just as the gospel of John does:
(Isaiah 40:9 KJ) O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
(Hosea 12:10 KJ) I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Thus God forewarned His people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob about His judgment against them for refusing to be reformed by His chastisements/Divine discipline etc., (Lev 26:23 KJ). And, that the consequences should they not turn back to God and away from idolatry, would take them out of their land of Israel and into captivity by Gentile nations. God sent prophets and ‘similitudes,’ i.e., comparisons using ‘like’ or ‘as,’….even having some of those prophets become similitudes themselves…e.g., (Isaiah,Ezekiel, Hosea)…i.e, living examples of what God was showing Israel about their fallen condition before Him. God had, for example, the prophet Hosea marry a woman of whoredoms to demonstrate Israel's spiritual adultery against Him, i.e., God.
Jesus Christ is the Word and He is the beginning and the end:
(Hosea 1:2 KJ) The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
(John 1:1 KJ) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(Revelation 22:13 KJ) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
…"the beginning of the Word of the LORD by Hosea.”….That is, starting with Hosea, the first of the L12M, God has some things He wants Israel to know about their future, including the 400 years that God will be silent towards Israel. For example, the Lord Jesus will:
(Hosea 5:15 KJ) I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
What offense?
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(Zechariah 12:10 KJ) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
God even tells Israel ‘when’ He (Jesus Christ/4 Carpenters ) will return and “revive” them:
KING
SERVANT
MAN
GOD
(Hosea 6:2 KJ) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
A “day” is as a thousand years to God:
(2 Peter 3:8 KJ) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Can ye see it nah?……the MINORS ain’t Minors yall!
Carpenters build things. But unbelieving carpenters tear God's building down. They rejected the Cornerstone, those 4 Carpenters, i.e., JESUS CHRIST….. and when they did that, the edifice that they built on sands of lies fell…..and great was the fall of it:
(Matthew 21:42-44 KJ) 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?
(43) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
(44) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
(Matthew 7:26,27 KJ) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
(27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
In conclusion, believe on the 4 Carpenters, I.e., Jesus Christ, and his Death, Burial and Resurrection for your salvation…….and be not like the false builders and unbelievers whose sand and ‘self’ - built constructs (i.e., false religious systems) will be eternally damned, along with all those who refused to believe in God's Son:
(Mark 6:3 KJ) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
But don't you be offended at Jesus Christ, the KING/SERVANT/MAN/GOD:
HE is the Holy and Eternal and Almighty Word of God, who selflessly was slaughtered on the cross to pay for all of our sins….and who was buried and who rose again and who now liveth forever and ever, and who is only Righteous and Holy and Just and Perfect! Amen and Amen!
….Yes Indeed! Jesus Christ is the Carpenter all right…….x4!!!!
(Revelation 22:21 KJ) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.