BREAD IN THE BASKETS

 

CONT., page 3

 

BREAD IN THE BASKETS

Now that we have seen the clear testimony concerning the barley harvest in relation to the unleavened Passover Remnant, as well as the testimony concerning the wheat harvest in relation to leavened Pentecost Christianity, let us look at the two scriptures quoted in Matthew 16:6 and Mark 8:15 about the leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Herod, as well as the surrounding verses. These passages offer some very interesting insight. We will look at these and, once again, perform some gospel comparisons to see what marvelous and amazing truths the Holy Spirit has provided through their revealing and meaningful differences.

Yahshua's caution concerning the leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Herod was expressed just after He had fed the 4,000. Let me ask you a question. Do you think Yahshua did anything and the Holy Spirit had it recorded in the gospels, all for the sole purpose of historical accounting and practical understanding? Not at all. Indeed, there is a practical aspect and application of the Scriptures, but the truth of God involves more than just the practical. The truth of God is a TRINITY, even as God is a TRINITY. There are three expressions of God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Equally, truth has three expressions, and a single scripture passage can have three expressions of truth. There is the practical. But additionally, there can be from the same verses a governmental truth relating to the ways and order of Yahweh. And third, there can be a truth of prophetic meaning. Thus we see the trinity of truth - practical, governmental, and prophetic.

Generally, most Christians approach the Scriptures from the practical standpoint - what took place and how might it affect their daily lives. But there is another aspect from the Scriptures that is very important, and that is - the prophetic significance. Only Yahweh, who establishes all things from beginning to end, could provide this third aspect of truth!

Thus, when we compare the gospels, the testimonies concerning (1) the first Remnant as revealed in Matthew, (2) Christianity as revealed in Mark, (3) the second Remnant as revealed in Luke, and (4) the pure kingdom of heaven as revealed in John, provide tremendous prophetic truth. (See The Key To Their Understanding.) Let us now see how this works and what is brought forth as we compare these four gospel accounts concerning the feeding of these two multitudes.

In 1994 when I began seeing many of the truths I share in the writings on this web site, one question kept arising - What could be the prophetic significance of Yahshua feeding the two different multitudes? One can be very certain that what the Son of God did, and what was recorded in each of the four gospels regarding these events, goes far beyond the mere historical or practical. Yahshua performed these two feedings with clear and definite prophetic meaning. Let us see what that meaning was.

First, most importantly, let us note that Yahshua Himself ascribed specifically defined significance to these two feedings. Recorded in Matthew and Mark, He uniquely posed these two occasions as evidence relating specifically to the leaven of the false teachings and the examples of others. To His disciples He warned - beware of men's leaven. The disciples thought He was talking about mere bread (which again is where most people, including Christians, operate - the practical). Let us quote from Mark to see what Yahshua's instruction was relative to these two feedings.

And Jesus, aware of this (that they had no bread to eat), said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? (This is the state of Mark Christianity.) And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (Mark 8:17-21).

This scripture had been most puzzling to me over the years, because in context it did not make sense. One asks the question:

What does the leaven of false teachings have to do with the feeding of the two multitudes, particularly with Yahshua's emphasis on the specific number of baskets of bread they picked up?

Seemingly, absolutely nothing! Oh sure, there can be leaven in bread, but why the two multitude feedings, and why Yahshua's reference to the specific number of baskets left over? What were they supposed to see in those two sets of numbers? What do you see in those two sets of numbers, related specifically to the leaven of false teachings? Once again, the real truth of these accounts and Yahshua's questions shines brilliantly when comparing the gospels! We will therein find that the feedings of the two multitudes were very, very important truths, as obviously pointed out by Yahshua to His disciples. And the evidence as to their meaning and significance will be seen as we relate these separate gospel accounts to one another and therein carefully examine them (by the Spirit's enlightening work) according to what we have learned in The Key To Their Understanding. I pray we have the eyes to see and ears to hear.

Let us begin by considering the following summary of the feeding of the 5,000, followed by a summary of the feeding of the 4,000. In order to carefully compare these four different gospel accounts, read each item under all four gospels, then proceed to the next item in each gospel and do likewise, and so forth down through the list. These items are chronological, line by line; and where a blank space exists, an occurrence took place in one of the other gospels that did not take place in that gospel.

 

5,000 Fed

 

Matthew 14:13-21

Mark 6:31-44

 • Yahshua and disciples withdrew to a lonely place  • Yahshua and disciples withdrew to a lonely place
 • Multitudes followed Him  • Multitudes followed Him
 •  •
 • 5,000 fed with five loaves and two fish  • 5,000 fed with five loaves and two fish
 • 12 baskets left over  • 12 baskets left over

 

Luke 9:10-17

John 6:1-14

 • Yahshua and disciples withdrew privately to Bethsaida  • Yahshua and disciples went to other side of Sea of Galilee
 • Multitudes followed Him  • Multitudes followed Him
 •  • Passover was at hand
 • 5,000 fed with five loaves and two fish  • 5,000 fed with "five barley loaves" and two fish provided by a "lad"
 • 12 baskets left over  • 12 baskets left over

 

These four accounts are very similar, with exception to some added information provided in John (which we will see is very important). Let us now examine the feeding of the 4,000, found only in Matthew and Mark. Read these carefully, for there is a very unique difference in these two. Once again, follow the same suggestion to compare each entry.

 

4,000 Fed

 

Matthew 15:29-16:13

Mark 7:31-8:27

 • After going through Tyre and Sidon, Yahshua went to the Sea of Galilee  • After going through Tyre and Sidon, Yahshua went to the Sea of Galilee
 •  • Yahshua spat and healed the deaf man who had the speech impediment
 • A multitude followed Him and were with them "three days"  • A multitude followed Him and were with them "three days"
 • 4,000 fed with seven loaves and few small fish  • 4,000 fed with seven loaves and few small fish
 • Seven baskets left over  • Seven baskets left over
 • Yahshua got in boat and went to Magadan  • Yahshua entered a boat with His disciples and went to district of Dalmanutha
 • Phar. and Sad. tested Him, seeking a sign  • Phar. argued with Him, seeking a sign
 • The disciples joined Him  •
 • Yahshua warned disciples about the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees  • Yahshua warned disciples about the leaven of Pharisees and Herod
 •  • They went to Bethsaida
 •  • Yahshua spat and performed the two-measure healing of a blind man
 • They departed to Caesarea Philippi  • They departed to Caesarea Philippi

 

Let us note a few things about these two feedings. First, we find that the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle of Yahshua recorded in all four gospels. This assigns a great significance to this miracle. Second, remember that the feeding of the 4,000 is only recorded in Matthew and Mark, the gospels relating to the first Remnant and Christianity. The warning about leaven occurred just after the feeding of the 4,000. Let us now address the question - What is the prophetic significance of the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000?

First we will examine the prophetic representation of these two feedings as evidenced or revealed in the meaning of the specific numbers associated with each of these events. The application and significance of this numeric testimony is affirmed in that Yahshua Himself cited the specific number of baskets left over following these two feedings in reference to the issue of leaven - "How many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?"

In the feeding of the 5,000, we find the following numeric testimony - five loaves, two fish, for 5,000, with twelve baskets left over. What does this heavily numeric account give evidence to? We find repeatedly in the Scriptures that five is the number of the Remnant, and that twelve is likewise their number. Five is the number of grace - the Remnant being the first of mankind to enter into resurrected born-from-above bodies according to God's grace. Likewise, 5,000 is simply another testimony of the number five, only elevated to the heavenly realm of the thousands. Twelve is the number of governmental perfection. The Remnant will reign with Yahshua for 1,000 years in the Millennial reign. Two likewise represents the Remnant here, in that they are the two witnesses of the work and ways of Yahweh. Thus, the five loaves and two fish that were multiplied to feed the 5,000, with twelve baskets left over, consistently represent in numeric testimony the provision of the kingdom to the two-part Remnant.

What about the feeding of the 4,000? Once again we will examine the numeric testimonies. Here we find a set of numbers uniquely different from the first feeding; yet as with the first feeding, categorically they all bear a similar testimony - seven loaves, fed the 4,000, after three days, with seven baskets left over. First, we repeatedly see throughout the Scriptures that seven is the number of Christianity. Three is clearly the number of the church, particularly Christianity with its three 1,000 year portions of allotted time. We find here that the multitude had been with Yahshua "three days," and at the end of that time the people were without food and would have "faint(ed) on the way" if sent away without provision. This is a clear testimony to the three-part church that receives the kingdom for three "days," or 3,000 years, while still in earthly bodies. If the church did not receive the provision of the perfect kingdom at the end of their "three days," or 3,000 years, they too would surely "faint." Thus, the seven loaves that fed the 4,000 after three days with seven baskets left over, clearly and consistently represent the church, in particular Christianity. Four is the number of the world, and the 4,000 characterize the state of the kingdom-receiving church - it is worldly, yet at the same time is different from the world (as also testified to by the uniqueness of the number four - three alike, one different [see Bullinger's Number in Scriptures for this distinction]).

Next and equally significant, as noted earlier, is the highly revealing fact that the feeding of the 4,000 is not in the uniquely different second Remnant book of Luke, or in the even more different kingdom of heaven book of John. Rather, it is appropriately recorded only in the birthing place of the church - the first Remnant book of Matthew - and in Christianity's gospel of Mark. Christianity dies (is put to sleep), in order that the second Remnant bride may be taken out. Christians will not be present in resurrected bodies with the second Remnant in the pure kingdom of heaven at the first resurrection. Thus, the absence of the feeding of the 4,000 in Luke and John is a striking addition to the testimony that the feeding of the 4,000 relates entirely to this thus far 2,000 year period of the church, represented by Matthew and Mark. Christians will eventually receive Yahweh's provision of the heavenly kingdom at their resurrection, but not until after the great white throne judgment and their own Pentecost Sunday "Sabbath" (as they call it), following the true seventh day sabbath, the Millennial reign.

In clear contrast, the feeding of the 5,000 is uniquely in all four gospels. Equally, the Remnant will be present in all four "periods" - they are the Matthew first Remnant, they are in Christianity with the Mark church (as the bride was in Adam), they are the Luke second Remnant, and they will enter the John pure kingdom of heaven as Yahweh's first fruits.

Let us now consider a third testimony to the specific representations of these two feedings. Recall the two harvests or resurrections we see from the Scriptures. First is the Remnant's "first resurrection" Passover barley harvest. That is followed by Christianity's Pentecost white throne judgment wheat harvest. And may we also add here parenthetically that the third and final resurrection will be that of the nation's, or the remainder of mankind's Tabernacles grape harvest. (Much more could be said here.) So let me ask you - At the feeding of the 5,000, and its clear numeric as well as gospel-confirming representation of the Remnant, what kind of bread do you suppose the "lad" had with him? If it was wheat, then throw out the whole account as being a testimony of the Remnant, for wheat would not be identified with the Remnant. But, if it was barley, then Yahweh is adding one more consistent testimony as to what we are seeing here. Why would the Holy Spirit bother to record what kind of bread the "lad" had if it was not important? The "lad" (the small Remnant "lad") had five barley loaves with which Yahshua fed the 5,000, and twelve baskets of barley loaves were remaining. This is the barley that gives testimony to the barley harvest "first resurrection" of the Remnant. And, this added information is of course uniquely revealed in the kingdom of heaven book of John, where the Remnant will reign with Christ and be His perfect government (12).

And for the very skeptical, not only does the kingdom book of John specifically point out what kind of bread the "lad" had, it also identifies this feeding specifically with Passover - the first resurrection feast of the unleavened Remnant. But someone may argue (once again like the disciples, thinking only in the practical) - "Of course the boy would have had barley bread; that was the harvest at Passover." But the fact is, the Scriptures go far beyond mere agricultural accounting. They are a Divine message to man, complete and revealing in every detail, and include the third element of truth - prophetic meaning.

Thus, all the facts related to the feeding of the 5,000 - the numeric testimonies, the gospel keys, the barley bread, and Passover - point to and confirm one truth - this particular feeding is a clear prophetic picture of the Remnant receiving the pure kingdom of God and reigning with Yahshua. For Yahweh to record these facts, in relation to these divine events, in each of these four unique and often conflicting gospels, by the authorship of the Holy Spirit, makes the recording of even the least of the details exceptionally relevant! Examine creation from the tiny atom to the vast expanse of the solar system, and one will see that Yahweh is a God of profound harmonious details - even concerning a "lad" with five barley loaves and two fish, listening to Yahshua at Passover, and seeing 5,000 fed, with twelve baskets of barley loaves left over, as recorded in all four gospels! May He open our eyes to see His truth.

Now for more. Let's have a little agriculture review and bread baking lesson here. You already know that the first harvest was the barley harvest, which coincided with Passover. Then in fifty days came the wheat harvest, which coincided with Pentecost. When the "lad" provided his barley bread to Yahshua to feed the 5,000, would it have been leavened or unleavened bread? Unquestionably, it was unleavened bread, for two reasons. First, it was Passover and Mama would not have had any leaven in the house. Second, barley bread is never leavened. Barley contains little or no gluten and will not rise, as does gluten-rich wheat bread. So, the feeding of the prophetic Remnant 5,000 at Passover was appropriately with unleavened bread. There was NO leaven in that Passover feeding. This has tremendous significance, as you will see.

What about the 4,000; what kind of bread did they eat? The Scriptures did not overtly record the answer to this, as in the feeding of the 5,000. But, let's think for a minute. After feeding the 5,000 unleavened barley bread at Passover, Yahshua and His disciples then completed the following journey: they went across the Sea of Galilee, went through villages, cities, and the countryside healing many (Mark 6:56), then traveled somewhere around 75 miles up to Tyre and then Sidon, and then traveled at least 60 miles back to the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. How long did it take for them to complete that journey? Let me suggest somewhere around fifty days.

There were three feasts in Jerusalem the people attended each year - Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. With Yahshua and His disciples having returned back to the Sea of Galilee, let's think about the timing of this. Passover had occurred in the weeks just before when there had been a great multitude traveling and, most importantly, available to stop and hear Yahshua's teachings. Also, with any delay, these feast-journeying travelers would have become very hungry. This was when Yahshua fed these 5,000 travelers.

From Mark 8:1 we know that the shortly following feeding of the 4,000 equally occurred, as stated - "In those days again, when there was a great multitude." What days would "those days again" have been when a "great multitude" would have been traveling? Considering the occasion of the Passover feast that had just previously occurred, Yahshua's journey up to Tyre and Sidon, His return to Galilee, and now another "great multitude" traveling, it is entirely conclusive that "those days again" were the prescribed feast days when the people would have been returning to Jerusalem, now for Pentecost, and a multitude of 4,000 would have been traveling. And with any delays, these sojourners would equally have needed to be fed.

Now let us ask the question - If the people were eating barley bread at Passover fifty days beforehand, what kind of bread do you suppose they were traveling with and eating on Pentecost? Certainly they were traveling with the more desirable, specific feast-appropriate, and freshly harvested leavened wheat bread. On this Pentecost feast, it is not only very plausible but wholly conclusive that at the feeding of the 4,000, Yahshua multiplied seven leavened wheat loaves, with seven baskets of leavened wheat bread left over.

Furthermore, when Yahshua made reference to the two feedings of the multitudes and warned about the leaven, we unquestionably know that there was absolutely no leaven at the Passover feeding of the 5,000 with the barley bread. That is a certain fact. So then we ask the most revealing question:

Where then was the leaven about which Christ warned?

The leaven was not among the Remnant-representing 5,000 during Passover where unleavened barley bread was eaten with twelve baskets left over. So, the leaven Christ warned of had to have been in the just completed feeding of the church Pentecost 4,000 where seven baskets of leavened wheat bread would have been left over. Thus, when Christ gave His warning about leaven, and referenced the separate feedings of the two multitudes, any reference to leaven that He addressed there would have applied to only one feast - the feast where the leaven was present. Leaven was in no way present in the feeding of the 5,000 on Passover. The leaven Yahshua referred to was limited to the feast where Christ had just fed the 4,000 - the feast of Pentecost, the feast of leavened bread.

Let us now draw together all that we have learned thus far. Having warned about the leaven of men, we now see the great significance of Yahshua then asking specifically how many baskets of bread were left over at each feast related feeding. What is the complete answer to His question? Twelve of unleavened bread and seven of leavened bread.

So where's the leaven? In the seven!

So what do we hear Yahshua clearly saying to us? "Beware of the leaven of the seven-basket wheat Pentecost Matthew and Mark church," or more specifically for us now - "Beware of the leaven of Christianity."

This is not a surprising warning when Christianity is divided into 22,000 denominations and sects, all over the issue of theology. Is it not obvious that there must be error working here for there to be so many divisive ideas? Even as leaven separates dough into many smaller parts, so the leaven of men and Satan has separated the church. Unfortunately, everyone would agree with this but no one would admit that they are the one that is leavened. As in the days of the judges when there was no king/King in the land, everyone is right in his own eyes.

Before continuing, I want to ask you another question. Immediately after Yahshua fed the Remnant 5,000 the unleavened barley bread, it is recorded in Christianity's book of Mark that the disciples "had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened" (6:52). And again only in Mark, regarding the leaven He then directly asked His disciples - "Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?" (Mark 8:17). This question is posed to those of Mark Christianity - "Do you not yet see and understand? Do you have a hardened heart?" So let me ask you - Where are you right now? Are you in Christianity's boat on the sea of death with a dull and hard heart to His will to feed with unleavened Passover barley bread a last-days Remnant? Have you "not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves?" If you remain in that sea-bound boat of Christianity, you too would perish with them. "Do you have a hardened heart?"

With this sobering question before you, let us also briefly recall from The Sandals And The Staff that once again present only in the Mark account, and decidedly absent in the Matthew account (as well as in Luke), are the not only one (as seen in our comparison here) but two incidents of Yahshua spitting. We have seen in that writing that where Yahshua spat is very, very important. In it we see clear testimony of the failure of Christianity to bring forth godly offspring in their deceased Brother's name, necessitating that Yahshua spit in their face. This occurrence in Mark once again provides consistent evidence that the feeding of the 4,000 represents Christianity, in whose face Yahshua spits.

Before continuing, we must also parenthetically address the contradiction as to when the disciples joined Yahshua after the 4,000 were fed. Once again there exists the riddle afforded by one of those insightful contradictions, to which this series of writings is devoted. You will note in Matthew 15:39 that Yahshua got into the boat, crossed the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, and went to Magadan. Then Matthew 16:5 states - "And the disciples came to the other side ...." So in reading this account, we would conclude that Yahshua crossed the Sea of Galilee to Magadan, then His disciples joined Him later. Taken on its own merit, this is different from Mark 8:10 which clearly states - "He entered the boat with His disciples," and they crossed over together to Dalmanutha. What can this riddle mean? Let me suggest this.

When the Matthew first Remnant died, they did not receive the kingdom as expected, but had to wait, being separated by that sea of death, until they could be reunited with Yahshua (and the second Remnant) in the air at their "Magadan" (meaning tower, like the towering mount of transfiguration). While on the other hand, Mark Christianity continues a relationship or presence with Yahshua for 2,000 years (though appropriately it is a relationship on the sea of death), and this takes the church to Dalmanutha. Significantly, what does Dalmanutha mean? No one actually knows. Dalmanutha is a totally obscure and forgotten word or even area to us today. Its meaning and identity has been totally cut off from us. And what will happen to the "two parts" church? It too "will be cut off and perish" (Zechariah 13:8), even as was Dalmanutha. Oh these insightful contradictions following both feedings. To one without understanding, they are nothing more than pesky conflicting details that must be ignored or forcibly resolved. How can men answer them, when they lack understanding of what Yahweh is doing, and what He will do? Yet in these repeated contradictions are the words of truth regarding Yahshua's ways and plans. Let us now return to our subject at hand.

In conclusion up to this point and as Yahshua invoked with His question, we ask - What is to be gained or learned concerning His warning of the leaven following the feeding of the 4,000 in Matthew and Mark? The same thing He taught about the kingdom of God. The 2,000 year church period is the leavened two-loaf period of the kingdom. And the warning Yahshua invoked still stands - "Beware of the leaven of Christianity." With its 22,000 different denominations and sects, the leaven of men and Satan is profuse - it is "all leavened." What is some of that leaven?

First and foremost is the leaven that Christians will reign with Yahshua in the Millennial reign - that their friendship and adultery with this world, their inability to overcome Satan, their violent means, their corruption of the kingdom, their impotence to bring forth godly offspring in Yahshua's name, will not cause their lampstand to be taken from them as warned in Revelation 2:5. That lampstand will be taken from them. Another leaven is the teaching of an eternal burning and punishment of the unbelieving. The "leaven of Herod" (who was half Jew and half Edomite, was the remodeler of the temple in the time of Yahshua, and was also the governing ruler) is the leaven that the nation today called Israel is the fulfillment of the birthright promises to Joseph and Israel. The people in the falsely named land Israel are at best, like Herod, half Jew and half Edomite (the Edomites were conquered by the Jews in 126 BC and entirely incorporated into Judaism at that time), and can in no wise fulfill the promises to remolded Israel, that is - America. The Herodine leaven is profuse in our days regarding the falsely named nation called Israel. Another leaven is the teaching of a grace that removes all traces of personal and corporate accountability, removing works from faith as clearly linked in James, and failing to recognize that many of the foreshadowing sacrifices were only for sins "unintentionally" committed. And finally, though in no wise the last, is the leaven that Sunday is the sabbath. The seventh day is the sabbath, the Millennial rest. But Christianity will have their Sabbath on the day following - their first day of the week "Sabbath" rest. Their sabbath cannot be the preceding Millennial seventh day rest; but according to their practice and teachings, they will rest on the day following the true sabbath. These are only a small part of their leaven.

Let me provide you a little humorous realization that came to me one day that will characterize the degree of the leaven in the church. I visited a health-food store in Tacoma, Washington, and was browsing through the New Age oriented material and books that dominated their bookshelves. As I drove away, I saw the store's dumpster and pondered on how full that dumpster would be when Yahshua returned. Then a dawning came upon me that caused me to chuckle out loud. While the dumpster at the health-food store would undoubtedly be full when Yahshua returns, how many more times fuller will the dumpsters be at Christian bookstores? Most of what they sell is leavened error, useful only for the garbage heap. There is one thing about leaven - once it gets started, it indeed leavens the whole lump, evidenced by its numerous divisions!

And this is not all of the testimony we find concerning leaven per these two feedings. Much more is in store, as you will find in the next section.

 

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