In part one, we examined the prophetic testimony and even hopeful fulfillments regarding dates and events within my own life and family. This was done in order to gain further understanding in hopes of receiving the much needed kingdom fulfillments. Several questions were also asked arising from Yahshua turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), which of course is the focus of this writing. For your benefit, let us repeat those questions.
What does this prophetic account mean for us today? Why did the wine run out and there was no wine? Why did Yahshua say that it was not His time? Why did Mary say, “Whatever He says to you, do it”? What is the significance of six waterpots, why were they stone, and what is the significance of the two or three measures? What is the meaning of saving the good wine until the last? What is the significance of this being Yahshua’s first miracle? And most importantly, what is the prophetic significance of the water being turned into wine?
We will begin answering these by considering this matter of the good wine being saved until the last. In part one we began examining the account regarding Esther. Continuing in that, we find that when she went before King Ahasuerus and received his favor, she asked for a banquet with him and Haman. The Hebrew word for “banquet” used here is literally “drink,” so that the emphasis is on the wine. This was obvious in the king’s banquet in Esther 1, evidenced in the descriptive passage: “Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty” (vs. 7).
At Esther’s requested wine banquet, the account actually states that “as they drank their wine,” the king asked as to what was her petition, adding that he would give her up to half the kingdom (5:6). What was her request at this most opportune moment? Clearly, prophecy was ruling, for even though she could have exposed Haman at that very moment, strangely, very strangely, she asked for yet another wine banquet. This he granted.
In Esther 7:2, we read that “on the second day also [the second banquet] as they drank their wine,” the king again asked regarding her petition. Then, at this second wine banquet, she exposed the ill consequences of Haman’s plans. We read that, “The king arose in his anger from drinking wine,” and in the end had Haman hung on his own fifty-cubit gallows that he had prepared for the purpose of hanging Mordecai.
The emphasis on the wine in those two banquets is quite evident. And let us ask here a question that demands an answer: Of those two wine banquets, which one was the better—the former or the latter? Are lights coming on in your head right now? Unquestionably, the latter wine banquet was better. It was the “good” wine banquet, saved until the last. Haman was exposed, and the serpent—Haman—turned into a rod—Mordecai.
There is no question that this highly unique account directly relates to the wedding at Cana where the headwaiter exclaimed after tasting the latter wine: “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” “That which has been is that which will be.” That which took place at the two wine banquets in Esther, clearly evidences the two wines at the wedding feast at Cana. But more importantly, both of these speak to the former and latter wines of the two Remnant.
What happened to the wine in Cana? It ran out. They did not have enough. They came up short. And what happened to the wine in the first Remnant? It too ran out. They did not have enough, they came up short, and the breach began. So then, was the wine of the first Remnant the good wine? Or in like question, was Haman Satan exposed in the first Remnant? Absolutely not, as he has ruled and taken men, even kingdom men, to death for 2,000 years. So, the wine banquet we have to have, even the best wine that is saved until the last, is that which is before us at this very time—the wedding feast that begins the public ministry of Elijah where the serpent turns into the rod and the preacher of righteousness prepares the way for Immanuel.
When Mary pointed out to Yahshua that the wine was gone and there was need for more, He said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” What could this mean? Prophetically, it means two things today. First, is it actually time for the good wine to be served? No, it is not. It is a thousand years too early. But, for the sake of the elect, Yahweh has to cut time short to two days and perform His work at the beginning of the third day. Thus in like testimony, King Ahasuerus held his banquet in the third year of his reign (Esther 1:3), and Esther went before the king on the “third day” (5:1).
This matter opportunes yet another revealing question. Why was it that the stone waterpots held two or three measures? Surely this is relevant, or it would not be mentioned in this account. We will once again let the Scriptures answer this.
We read that these waterpots were for the purpose of performing purification. Do you know of any other vessel in the Scriptures that was specifically for the purpose of performing purification and was an equal two or three measures? Of course you do, and this is where the light of the Bride really shines. In 1 Kings 7:26, we read that the laver/sea in Solomon’s temple that was used for purification contained 2,000 baths. Yet in 2 Chronicles 4:5, the same account says that the laver/sea contained 3,000 baths. So, in John 2:6 the vessels for purification held two or three measures of water, and in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles the vessel for purification held two or three measures of water—2,000 or 3,000. Once again, “That which has been is that which will be.”
Therefore, the first meaning in it not being His hour is evidenced in the riddle of the volumes of the vessels used for purification—would there be three parts, or would they be cut short to two? Obviously they are cut short to two.
And before leaving this, in Tabernacles Pentecost, 2005, page 5, we noted that the water that came from under the eastern gate and flowed ever so deeper, has its origins in the temple at the precise location of the 2,000-or-3,000-measure sea in Solomon’s temple. Now ask yourself the hard question: Why was the eastern gate closed, the gate through which it is prophesied that Yahshua will come (Ezekiel 43:1-4)? Once again, when Yahweh begins the work that comes from those same waters of purification, He has to come before the time for the Messiah’s return. Those purifying waters must flow early, even as He fills the vessels early.
What is the second meaning in this matter of it not being His time? We will have to be brief and to the point here. In the Remnant Bride Radio program on May 18, 2009, I presented that it is most significant that the wedding at Cana was not Yahshua’s wedding. The important question then arises: Relevant to today, then whose is it? The fact is that it is the wedding of the Elijah to the Bride. This we have been discussing, especially in light of the evidence of my own wedding date of June 6.
When talking about a wedding, of course the consummating union of two into one flesh will be evidenced. Therefore, the types we will refer to now will reflect that union. In simple, Yahweh has designed the natural to prophesy the spiritual, and what is more significant spiritually than the consummation of the one-flesh covenant?
As addressed in that subject radio program, Yahshua was the Rod that brought forth the shemen (Hebrew for “oil”) to the first Remnant. But that Rod left, and the office turned into the serpent, Satan. In natural terms, the Rod became flaccid. What must now take place? The second Bride must come on the scene, a wedding take place, and in the natural sense the serpent responsively turn back into the rod—be aroused, become erect. When this takes place, the second Remnant Bride can receive the shemen, the oil that brings forth fruitfulness. Referring to Esther once again, the Bride must touch the head of the golden rod (A Lesson From Intercession, page 4.
The former rain came from Yahshua’s presence, but the latter rain must come before He returns. The former rain came because of the Rod, Yahshua. The latter rain comes because of the rod, Elijah. Therefore, the wedding at Cana must be the wedding of Elijah with the Bride, and consummation take place.
What does this legal wedding allow? Through consummation, it affords fruitfulness. It provides headship. It affords responsibility. And it affords holding all things in common. There is so very much more that could be written concerning this, so it is urged that you listen to the above radio program. But the point here is that this legal change, this marriage, is critical in order for the Bride to be established.
Therefore, we find another truth regarding what it means that it was not yet Yahshua’s time. His marriage to the Bride will not come for another three and a half years when the Bride ascends alive and is joined to Yahshua Himself. The wedding at Cana attested that it was not His time, the time of His own wedding. Again, listen to the program to understand why or how these two weddings can and must take place.
And might we note here as well, the first Remnant did not have a wedding. How could they? Yahshua came before the time for a wedding, and then departed to heaven. In Deuteronomy 22:28-29, we read that it is not unlawful for a man to lay with an unwed virgin. But if he does, he must marry her and cannot divorce her.
“If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days.”
This is indeed what Yahshua did with the first Remnant, and He paid the Pentecost of silver as well. And the good thing is that He is obligated to fulfill His role as a husband to her, which impacts the second Remnant—insuring that Yahweh will complete what He began. He cannot and will not divorce the Bride.
Regarding this matter of the serpent turning back into a rod, the conclusion of Yahshua’s forty days and nights in the wilderness is quite encouraging. Even as Haman Satan needs to be defeated, and the office he has occupied go to a man, Yahshua testified of this very thing when He defeated Satan at the end of the wilderness count. I do hope, and trust, that what He walked out and secured, will soon be fulfilled—the much needed establishment of authority over Satan. The fact that He overcame Satan at the end of the forty days prior to turning the water into wine, is indeed hopeful for us at this time.
Let us now further consider this matter concerning Satan, as well as the wedding of Elijah and the Bride. This will take the remainder of part two to address this. Also, this is not easy material, requiring that you read it several times in order to fully grasp it. In fact, you need to do the same with this entire writing. You cannot expect to understand or learn these things with just one reading.
One uniqueness of Yahweh is that what He does is remarkably simple in pattern. As it is written, He does nothing new under the sun. This makes it much easier to understand Him and His repetitive ways. However, as simple as His ways are, it is His application of them that is confusing. For example—when He flips something. Trinities are sometimes 1 – 1 – 3, sometimes 1 – 3 – 1, and sometimes 3 – 1 – 1. The difficulty is in knowing which one He will use and when. As you will now see, this is the very thing that is evidenced in the miracle of turning the water into wine, as well as the Rod turning into the serpent, making understanding quite difficult.
In Exodus 4, we read of the three signs that cause belief. In the blog posting, “The Signs That Cause Belief,” we note that the wedding of the Bride to Immanuel will indeed cause all mankind to believe. However, we see something most unusual regarding the three-and-a-half-year ministry period that He has already fulfilled, and it cries out for understanding—Yahweh flipped the order of these signs!
In Exodus 4, the first sign is to turn the rod into a serpent, then turn the serpent back into the rod. The second sign is the hand that goes into the bosom and comes out leprous, then goes into the bosom again to come out restored. With the fulfillment of these two signs, Yahweh said that men will believe. But if they do not, then the third sign is to be performed—water is to be poured out, and it will become blood. These are the three signs that cause belief—one, two, and three. However, when Yahshua came to this earth, these three signs were reversed—three, two, and one!
Literally, the first sign that He performed was to turn water into blood, into wine. The second sign that He performed to cause belief was all the miracles that were performed by His hands and by the hands of others—the works of man’s hands were restored. Then finally, at the close of His time on this earth, the office of the Rod was indeed cast down to the earth and became a serpent, Satan. Again—three, two, and one.
Obviously, this is quite significant and revealing, and again, cries out for understanding. Why would He reverse/flip these signs that cause belief? What is it about Yahweh and His ways that necessitates this? And, what is its future impact, especially for us today? These are important questions.
First, what are some of the things we learn from Yahshua’s works here? To begin with, it is recognized that turning water into blood is synonymous with turning water into wine. Also, it is noted that the latter two signs were fulfillments in the truest forms. However, the miracle at Cana was moreso a type, rather than in the order of a fulfillment, but even so indicated the rightful placement of the final fulfillment. This identical truth is profoundly evidenced at the burning bush. Regarding these three signs, equally, the first two were performed there at the bush, and the third was merely spoken, to be performed later. What we need come June 6 and thereafter is the true fulfillment of that third sign that becomes first.
Why then did Yahweh flip these three signs and cause the first to be moreso a type? Also, how does this mesh with the Elijah work? Frankly, failing to understand these obviously significant matters deeply troubled and weighed upon me heavily for two days, and I did not see the answers until the third day. It is far easier to see the occasion, the reality of these facts and events and even seeming conflicts, than to discern why they took place, as well as what they mean, particularly for us today. Clearly, this flip had to be significant. None of these events could have taken place apart from an important legal purpose in harmony with and revealing the ways of Yahweh. But what did they mean?
To begin answering this, first let us note that any female work, any created work, is a mirror image of the male work, the creator work (Marriage, Music, and the Curse of 1920). So let us ask, was Yahshua’s coming as the sacrifice for sin a female work or a male work? As addressed in Kissing, Lips, and Attesting Glory, page 5, clearly, His coming as Yahshua was as a female work (Leviticus 4:32, 5:6). Therefore, by this very nature, He came as the created. This is obvious in that God came in the body of a man, birthed by a woman. Though He was God, He still came as the created. This then explains why His works, the signs that cause belief, were reversed—they were a female mirror image of the original male pattern in Exodus 4.
Understanding this, yet another important question must be asked: Considering this male/female mirror flip, what then is the outcome for, or the impact upon, the remaining ministry period that prepares the way for Immanuel? This question is raised particularly because we have been saying that two things should hopefully take place come June 6, 2009—the wedding of the Elijah to the Bride, and the serpent turn back into the rod. This was one of the issues that so greatly troubled me, for these two are at opposite ends of the three signs that cause belief! So, how could they now be fulfilled simultaneously?
It is important to note that there are two things going on at the same time in the concluding three and a half years of the covenant with the many. In order to gain our much needed answer, here is yet another question: Who does the covenant with the many pertain to? The answer: To the Messiah. Daniel 9:27 clearly states in literal translation, “And He [Messiah the Prince] will prevail in the covenant with the many for a period of seven years.” Therefore, on the one hand it can be said that the entire seven years of that covenant pertain to the Messiah. However, John the Baptist attests that the preceding three and a half years belong to Elijah. So as we have noted, though Elijah occupies that office, it in truth is the office of the Messiah (the anointed).
Therefore, two works are actually going on simultaneously during this time—the covenant in which Messiah prevails, as well as the Elijah work. As a result, on the one hand the masculine “creator” work of Immanuel must begin. But also, the female “created” work of the Elijah must take place. In truth, the two works become one. So how do two simultaneous works affect this time period?
As with Yahshua’s coming as a man, the signs that cause belief pursuant to the man Elijah will equally be a mirror image—with the wedding first and the Rod last. But relative to Messiah as Immanuel, in this “creator” fulfillment the first work must effect the reversal of that which took place when He left—the serpent must turn back into a rod. So we now see that both of these sets of events can and must legally occur simultaneously at the outset of this period.
This, of course, will mean that the outcome at the end of this three and a half years will be both testimonies as well. First, there will be the transfer of Yahshua’s office, even as took place at the end of His “created” period. However, this time it will rightfully go back to Him! Elijah decreases, and Immanuel increases. But also, Immanuel’s own wedding to the Bride takes place. Therefore, this three and a half year period starts with a wedding (Elijah’s), and ends at a wedding (Immanuel’s). It starts with the transfer of the office of the Rod to Elijah, and ends with the transfer of that office rightfully to Immanuel.
Concerning the Bride at this time, it is critical that we receive the third sign of the consummation of the wedding, as well as the serpent turning back into the rod. Without these two signs, people will not believe. More will be written about these matters in part four, especially regarding what it means for the water to turn into wine. It is a wonderful testimony. Part three will be a parenthetical examination of the role and place of the woman, the created.
But for now, I want to give thanks to Yahweh for Him opening our eyes to see these wonderful truths—His ways—things that eyes have never before seen. And I trust you will join with me in that heartfelt expression of gratefulness to Yahweh.