THE MOVEMENT OF THE GOSPEL

We thank the Lord for the grace He has given us to be partakers of His glorious gospel.  This gospel is Light and Light travels in The Way.  We will be looking at the progression of the gospel from time and how it traveled over the course from the Jews, to the gentiles and how it would return back to the Jews after the close of this dispensation of grace.

1 And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

—1 Samuel 6:1, 7-8

Before we continue, we have to ask ourselves the following questions.

1. What is the gospel?
2. Was it reflected in Old Testament typology?
3. How did the gospel move?
4. How did it get to us?
5. And where will the gospel go from us?

An understanding of Bible numerology is necessary for the explanations that will be given in this article. From our text, we see the ark of the Lord in the land of the Philistines for seven months. We must look at previous events that led to that. This was due to the sins of the Priest Eli and his two sons who were also priests (1Samuel 2:12, 17, 22 1Samuel 2:12, 17, 2212 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord .
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord .
22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. ; 4:21-22 1Samuel 4:21-2221 And she named the child I–chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. ).

What Is The Ark Of The Lord?

10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

—Exodus 25:10-11, 18-22

Contrary to the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Litany of Mary that she is the Ark of the Covenant, the above scriptures say otherwise and point to Jesus Christ as the Ark of the Covenant (Also we see Mary called The Queen of Heaven / Queen assumed into Heaven; this was spoken against in the scriptures Jeremiah 7:18Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. ). We see the ark being made of wood which signifies his humanity. It is then overlaid with gold which signifies his divinity.

Concerning the mercy seat, let us consider Paul the Apostle teachings on it

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

—Hebrews 9:5, 8

While the first tabernacle stood, the way into the holies of holies was not made manifest. This is consistent with Genesis 3:24 Genesis 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. where cherubims are placed to guard the way of the tree of life. But then, THE WAY would come and make it manifest.  That THE WAY is Jesus Christ  (Malachi 3:1 Malachi 3:1Behold, 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. , John 14:6 John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ).

Concerning the meeting place of God and Moses, today we have only one meeting place where God would meet all men, which is in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ). That meeting place is where God put His name (Deuteronomy 16:2 Deuteronomy 16:2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there. , John 5:43 John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. ). There is no other place than in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:10 Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: ). Jesus Christ is THE DOOR (John 10:7, 9 John 10:7, 97 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ).

All these prove that the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament only shadowed the real Ark of the Covenant which is The Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we must first receive Christ The Word, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ before we can meet Christ The Man.

We should note that the ark of covenant was probably taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and was not present in the second temple built by Zerubbabel (Haggai 2), but in the millennial temple (Ezekiel 40, 41, 42, 43), the Ark of the Covenant will be present. Yes, his name is The Lord Jesus Christ. Form our text, the gospel left Israel and went to a gentile nation. This is consistent as once the Jews rejected Messiah and the gospel, the Gentiles received it (Romans 11:25 Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in., Acts 13:46-48 Acts 13:46-4846 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. ). We see it with the gentiles for seven months and then later returned to Israel with two milch kine (cattle).

The Significance Of The Feeding Of The Multitudes

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

—Mark 6:38-44

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

—Mark 8:5-9

Unfortunately, many believers think that the multitudes were fed only once by Jesus. There is significance in the two feedings of the multitudes and it takes only the eye salve of the Spirit to see it. From the natural man’s thinking, how can five loaves be used to feed 5000 and twelve baskets remain while seven loaves were used to feed 4000 and seven baskets remain. This is definitely contrary to arithmetic, but spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ).

The word of God is typified as food (Jeremiah 15:16 Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. ). In God’s dealings, He deals with Israel first (Acts 13:46 Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles., Exodus 4:22 Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord , Israel is my son, even my firstborn: ). Jesus Christ was first manifest to Israel, before the Gentiles, so the first feeding of the multitudes pertains to Israel. Five loaves of bread and twelve baskets remaining: five is the number of grace and this grace is to Israel (Zechariah 12:10 Zechariah 12:10 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. ). Also, consider the fivefold name of Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. . Did not David take five stones in the battle against Goliath? Twelve is the number of perfect government. There were twelve tribes of Israel and twelve Apostles of The Lord. There were also twelve foundational powers (Exodus 28:17-20 Exodus 28:17-20 17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. ).

The second feeding of the multitudes pertains to the Gentiles. Seven loaves of bread and seven baskets remaining: the number seven signifies completion (Revelation 3:14 Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; ). Also, it is a number associated with the Gentiles. When the children of Israel wanted to enter into the first gentile land (Jericho), we see the number seven is repeated and emphasized; seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days (Joshua 6). Note that contained in Joshua 6 is the mystery of the rapture. Also, Samson who had a Gentile ministry had seven locks of hair. Also in Deuteronomy 7, we see seven Gentile Nations.

Why should remnants be gathered? Some speculate that God does not like a waste. Well, that is good but have you not read of the famine of hearing the word of God (Amos 8:11 Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God , that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord : )? Thus there was a need to store against the famine.

Putting The Pieces

The seven months that the ark of the Lord (which signifies the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ) was with the Philistines signifies that after Israel has rejected the gospel, the Gentiles will receive it and there will be seven dispensations or ages that the gospel will be with the Gentiles.

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

—Proverb 9:1

In Revelations 2 and 3, we see seven churches mentioned, those churches mentioned (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) typed future Gentile churches that will come within the space of 2000 years. We also see these churches each having an angel (messenger). Each messenger would take from each of those seven baskets left from the feeding of the 4000 and feed the church in his own age. Today, we are in the last age; the Laodicea Church and once the seventh basket gets exhausted, the end for the Gentile dispensation comes (The Rapture). Now the church ages were preached by God’s vindicated messenger to this age, the Prophet William Marrion Branham, and this is the order of the seven messengers of the seven churches: Paul, Irenaeus, Martin, Columba, Luther, Wesley, and Branham.

This gospel being preached today is the glorious gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. , 1 Timothy 1:11 1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. ). Indeed, Christ, the wisdom of God has built his church by seven messengers. You can watch the today church and compare its characteristics with the Laodicea church (Revelation 3:14-20 Revelation 3:14-20 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ). You will see an exact fit and match of characteristics.

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

—Acts 15:14-16

After 2000 years, the gospel must return to Israel (Hosea 6:2 Hosea 6:2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.). Once the fullness of the gentiles come in (Romans 11:25 Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.), the gospel returns to Israel. The two milch kine signifies the two witnesses by which the gospel returns to Israel (two is the number of “witness” in divine numerics) and even as the two milch kine were killed, the two witnesses would be killed. They are Moses and Elijah (Revelation 11:3-7 Revelation 11:3-73 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.). They are coming to preach what will seal the 144,000 (Revelation 7:1-8 Revelation 7:1-8 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. ). To seal them, they must first hear the word of God and these two witnesses will make use of the twelve baskets left from the feeding of the 5000, one basket for each tribe of Israel to be sealed. These 144,000 will then preach the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6-9 Revelation 14:6-9 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ).

Today we are in the last church age and  there is only one meeting place which is in Christ Jesus . Have you repented of your sins and unbelief? As many of you that have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27 Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.). Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ).

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

—Acts 2:38