Explanatory Notes - PART 2 - for Chapter 4 of "New Jerusalem, the Mother of us all!"

Explanatory Notes for Chapter 4
The Garden Bride (this is broken up into two posts, for length is too long for only one)

*15. There were new births happening in the upper room...
No, I am not forgetting about the folks speaking in tongues that day. However (and, though this notion may sound crazy because of our subject matter), this is not the book to speak on that topic – which would be very dominating, and would overshadow a lot of things that I'm trying to say herein. I ask for patience, then, as I dance around this very important subject, for I've an entire book planned up ahead which will deal with that topic exclusively, called: "To Speak in Tongues or Not Speak in Tongues, That is the Question!" in which I will cover all such necessary ground. In the meantime, please be satisfied that I am not against speaking in tongues. Surely, in order for somebody to do this could only take the Spirit of God unctioning them; and, it certainly has its place in God's Kingdom ... Well, I should say, rather, that this only works if the person in question hadn't been pre-trained to do so by another human. I'm sorry folks, and I don't mean to insult anybody, but if the words that proceed out of your mouth have been taught to you to say by a man, then that's not speaking in tongues by the unctioning of God's Spirit. It's merely rehearsed words, and God had nothing to do with it. How else can it be a witness to the unbeliever if God hadn't prompted somebody, who knew nothing of that language that they are speaking in, to speak out? ... But, again, more on this in my upcoming book.

*16. Quicken [make alive!] your mortal bodies...
For many years, I really believed this passage to indicate that our fleshly bodies will become immortal. That is, the meat and bone body that I carry around with me today. But, later on, I was to discover that Paul wasn't meaning that, at all. But, what else could he have meant, seeing as the passage was phrased that way? The Bible can be very archaic when viewed with a modern mind. As I've spoken on before in other books, this has led many folks to run away from the King James Bible Translation on over to more modern, updated Bibles – such as the New International Version – and end up in more trouble than if they had stuck with the KJV to begin with. After all, not understanding is better than misunderstanding. Because, if you don't understand, you still have room to learn. But, if you misunderstand, you may have a more difficult time coming on over to the truth (and, yes, I am expressing negativity toward the NIV Translation; which, again, I'll expound upon in my upcoming book on Bible Translations; i.e.: "The Bible is Not a Buffet") ... So, as far as what "body" Paul is referring to, AMG's Annotated Strong's Dictionary (which is great for nitty-gritty "word" study) is quick to point out that the Greek word used for body here is not the same as one would expect to see for a fleshly, meat and bone body – such as the Greek word Sarx expresses:
Sarx, G4561, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: Probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).
Restricting the meaning (mostly, that is) to the flesh body itself ... But, let's view the meaning to Paul's actual Greek word:
Body, Sōma, G4983, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: - bodily, body, slave.
Which gives us a wider range of definitions to work with; including, as it says, figurative meanings also (i.e. metaphorical). But, even so, how can this help us understand what Paul actually meant? Well, before pinpointing a specific definition, let's also view the root word from which this one derived:
Sōzō, G4982, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: To save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
So saying, "saving a body as a whole" could very well be our meaning – of which definition is a combination of both Soma and Sozo; that is, pointing a finger as to the saving of ourselves, as a whole, and not particularly to the flesh body itself; but us as individuals – the lump sum of us as an individual. This should help us to understand the entire thought of Paul's sentence: "Quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies." That is, bringing to life that which was, at one time, only a mortal Being; and, is now an eternal Being.

*17. An application which points an obvious finger toward the Inward-Man...
Pais, Child, G3816, from Strong's Greek Dictionary: Perhaps from G3817; a boy (as often beaten with impunity), or (by analogy) a girl, and (generally) a child; specifically a slave or servant (especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God): - child, maid (-en), (man) servant, son, young man.
One may think, by the expression holy child Jesus, that it specifically refers to the baby Jesus in the manger, who eventually grew-up to handle difficult matters, and was then victorious over them. But, that's not what's happening here. And, again, this isn't specifically pinpointing Jesus the historical man (as I'll point out in just a moment). Of course, the main reason for one wanting to believe this refers to Jesus in the manger is because the very definition of child "mostly" implies a youngster, and not somebody's son or daughter who could be of an adult age. Even though it's true that Jesus is referred to as God's Son throughout the Biblical text, He's hardly referred to as a child, or God's Child (except in an extremely few, rare cases) – unless, of course, it's in reference to Him being God's adult Son. However, Albert Barnes tries to make sense of this in his Bible Notes (1847-85, public domain) by trying to bring the thought back around to actually meaning the man Jesus:
The word “child” is commonly applied to infants, or to sons and daughters in very early life. The word which is used here, pais, is different from what is commonly applied to the Lord Jesus: huios. The latter [huios] expresses sonship without respect to age. The word which is here used [pais] also sometimes expresses sonship with out any regard to age...
He then ends the thought with this:
...the word “son” would have been a more happy translation [i.e. in the King James Version].
He then gives a scriptural example of pais being used for Jesus in another place:
Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son [pais] Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Now, what may or may not surprise the reader is that I actually halfway agree with what Albert Barnes indicates ... halfway? ... He's absolutely correct in saying that, in Acts 4:27, the man Jesus was being indicated; yet, He was being indicated indirectly. But, he fails to mention that, in verse 30, when it says thy holy child Jesus once again, that it's not referencing Jesus the man, at all (even indirectly); yet, he does correctly recognize the workings of the apostles in the latter verse, but without contributing the holy child Jesus (again, in verse 30) to being those men's Inward-Man and not Jesus Himself ... What? ... Yes, I am declaring that verse 27 was only referenced in that strange manner (i.e. thy holy child Jesus) so that it could set up verse 30 for the reader, in showing how that verse 27 didn't literally mean Jesus the man, but was referencing what was inside of Jesus the man, because I believe Him to have had an Inward-Man* – the first one in history to obtain one; and that, as Him being our example, we too will share in that same experience; for, that's how we actually enter into the Second Heaven, because the Inward-Man is the Creature of the Second Heaven, just as the Outward-Man was the Creature of the First Heaven:
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming [Just like He, we shall be born again, too!].**
So, what this means is that just like Jesus, through what God had given Him on the inside to handle His ministry whilst He was here on earth, the apostles also obtained an Inward-Man, too (on the Day of Pentecost) to do signs, wonders, and miracles ... But, let's see how this is referenced in our quoted scriptures:
Acts 4:26-30
The kings of the earth [not just the Romans; but, and more to the point, the Jewish, religious leadership] stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord [i.e. Jesus], and against his Christ [i.e. His anointing of the Inward-Man]. For of a truth against [again, against this anointing] thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed [i.e. they were against what God the Father had planted within Him for that ministerial purpose – against that born-again Inward-Man, of which birth we witness at His baptism by John – Matthew 3:16-17], both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel [i.e. those Jewish, religious leaders], were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done [i.e. to crucify Him]. And now, Lord [just like it was against Jesus, it's now against the apostles, and what they have to do], behold their threatenings [those same men are now against them that was against Jesus not too long before]: and grant unto thy servants [the apostles and disciples of God], that with all boldness they may speak thy word [from God, but issuing forth from their mouths], By stretching forth thine hand to heal [from God, but issuing forth from their own hands]; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name*** of thy holy child Jesus [i.e. through their Inward-Man, the true child of God within them – who not only works in the name/nature of Jesus (2nd Peter 1:4), but of whom also has the name of Jesus (Ephesians 3:14-15)].
Again, the holy child Jesus is not merely referencing the man Jesus Himself – for, it goes much deeper than just that – but, it's referencing what had been planted – first, within the man Jesus – and, then, on the inside of the apostles next. Granted, all this ultimately comes from God (and, without God's direct involvement, nothing could actually work), but God had set things up to be done through the hands and mouths of His people (Acts 2:43b). This is the exact reason why the apostles were given power after that the Holy Ghost had come upon them (Acts 1:8). If that's not the case, then why was it necessary to wait upon the complete submersion of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost for them to do these "greater" Works (St. John 14:12)? That is, if God doesn't use men and women as instruments, from whom people hear the Gospel (Romans 10:14c-15), and from whom people receive healing? Why does He educate us over time if we don't slowly grow unto the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13), from child to adult (1st Corinthians 13:11)? Why does He give us of His Holy Spirit if we aren't to put it into practice? Why did the apostles have to wait until they received power from the Holy Ghost if it had absolutely nothing to do with their own participation (i.e. them being the instruments of distribution – through their own holy child Jesus)? ... What I'm really trying to get at here is that these strangely referenced scriptures (i.e. thy holy child Jesus) was purposely expressed this way (despite Albert Barnes' wishes for them to had been expressed another way) so that we can see there to be a deeper meaning here than just saying that Jesus was directly doing these things from His habitation in "Heaven;" but, that Jesus, through the participating bodies of His people, were doing these things for Him, but only after they received an Inward-Man to do so. For, without the Inward-Man (the true Son of God within us), we cannot do these "greater" Works (again, see St. John 14:12). Therefore, we can't ignore the fact that, as Jesus told His disciples that greater Works they will do, that they couldn't do these until after the Holy Ghost had "fully" come upon them, when they had received power (Acts 1:8 – i.e., again, with the planting of the Inward-Man within them). The holy child Jesus, therefore, certainly denotes the New Creature (again, whose name, like his Father, is Jesus – Ephesians 3:14-15), with whom (with this born-again Creature within them) the apostles were able to perform many miracles.
*I believe Him to have had an Inward-Man...
I had spent no less than nine pages, in my previous book "In the Beginning," in an Explanatory Note for chapter 10, entitled: "The start of a New Testament World...", explaining why I believe Jesus had not only obtained an Inward-Man (a born-again experience), but of how He was the first to do so; so, I will not say again here, but I will reference my readers to read those pages in my aforementioned book.
**Afterward they that are Christ's at his coming [Just like He, we shall be born again, too!]...
It may seem both very strange and absolutely wrong for me to have used this scripture to help prove my point concerning Jesus first receiving an Inward-Man, and then, afterward, God's children doing the same. But, I make no apologies. Not only, but (and, I will admit!) that I prematurely threw this in, because the full thrust of why I even used such doctrine at this time will not be covered within the pages of this book, but will come at a later time in some upcoming books in this Teaching Series. But, basically (and, I'll just throw this quickly upon the floor without any deep explanations), I'm seeing the referenced term, from this quoted scripture, which says "at his coming," as a personal experience for any particular individual, rather than a one-time, futuristic world event, which many End Time teachers allude to. In other words, instead of referencing Jesus' futuristic return to this earth, I'm seeing this speak of Jesus coming into our hearts by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (St. John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." i.e. "I, Jesus, will come to you through the Comforter!"). Again, instead of being a one-time futuristic event, here, I'm seeing this verse happening to individual saints when it's their turn to be born again ... I promise to get into this deeper in the future.
***By the name...
That is, by the divine NATURE of Jesus (2nd Peter 1:4) ... Another thing that I had previously covered in my already published books was that the name of Jesus was not in how we can write down or pronounce it, but it's in living the true Christian lifestyle. Anybody can say that they are working in the name of Jesus, but this can only be proved by their Fruits (Matthew 7:15-20) or proper Works (James 2:14-26) – the which they display in front of others without them ever having to open their mouths. In other words, working in His name is actually working in His nature! This is another reason why I say that, in our quoted verse from Acts 4:30, when it says "that signs and wonders may be done by the name [nature] of thy holy child Jesus," that I'm specifically referring to the apostle's born-again selves, rather than the specific man Jesus; because, without that divine nature working within us, we are in danger of becoming nothing more than a worker of iniquity, and being nothing more than a vessel unto dishonor – whom, by the way (i.e. workers of iniquity), can also perform signs, wonders and miracles (Matthew 7:22-23), but are dead within themselves whilst doing so, being filled with dead-men's bones (Matthew 23:27-28).

*18. A Creature (i.e. created Being) named Jesus...
It shouldn't be surprising that this newly born child of God has obtained the name Jesus; for, as a lot of folks aren't aware, Jesus is not just the name of God's Son who had walked this earth at one time, but afterward, the Father actually made this name the "surname" of all those who are born again. It is now the heavenly, family name:
Philippians 2:9
Wherefore God [the Father] also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name.
Ephesians 3:14-15
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

*19. The Body of Christ...
As we will be seeing in my Teaching Series hereon-out, there's more than just one meaning to the phrase "Body of Christ." And, no, I'm not talking about a single Church of believers. Or, I should say, a single denomination of believers (of which topic I went over in my book "The Church and the Five-Fold Ministry: Should we put our trust in man?"). Of course, it could reference all the children of God, throughout time, collectively – and, I have no problem with that interpretation; or, even all the contemporaneous believers the earth over at a single space in time. But, I'm also speaking of the Inward-Man Body with this reference, too. Again, it depends on scripture context at a given time of what it may be speaking of when we study them ... If this, indeed, is Christ in you, and it is a Body (i.e. a Container that holds God's Spirit – 1st Corinthians 3:16), then this too can certainly be referenced as the Body of Christ; though individually, as opposed to universally.

*20. That Mind of Christ is a SHE...
As strange as that statement may sound, there's scripture to back this notion; and, certainly, is a new direction that I'll be heading toward in this book – a very important direction.
Jeremiah 31:22
How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing IN the earth, A woman shall compass [lead] a man.
Compass, Sâbab, H5437, from Strong's Hebrew Dictionary: A primitive root; to revolve, surround or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively: - bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).
Sâbab, indeed, is a very curious word; and, of which has much debate about its correct translation:
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (public domain, first published in 1905): A woman shall compass a man. -- The verse is obscure, and has received very different interpretations.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (published in 1810-1826; public domain): A woman shall compass a man - This place has given much trouble to Biblical critics.
Poor Man's Commentary by Robert Hawker: I do not presume to decide upon this passage, but I venture to propose my views of it to the Reader. I do not object to the comment of those who suppose the return of the people from Babylon might be implied in it. But I cannot but think an infinitely higher object was intended from what is here said. A woman compassing a man, cannot have the smallest connection with the mere event of the people’s returning from Babylon. Surely an eye to the incarnation of Jesus, is here plainly set forth.
Not every commentator nor Bible scholar can agree as to what this passage exactly means. Certainly, some take a very literal and historical approach to it, whilst others choose to examine it from an allegorical point of view. Of course, and from the themes of my books, one can see that I would also choose an allegorical approach. But, even so, no translation yet, as I've seen, agrees with my own interpretation. That is, by saying the passage actually means: "A woman shall lead a man" – insinuating that a woman will somehow become the headship to a man ... As the Bible implies (though some do not like to hear it), the man is always the head of the household; such an approach, therefore, toward the scriptures (i.e. a woman leading the way) is totally unacceptable for those who hold such positions in this present world. I would suspect that such an idea might have led some translators to choose another word other than "lead" – even though, and as we've seen, it certainly is a part of the Hebrew word's vast array of definitions ... At Biblehub.com we see a variety of choice interpretations:
(No copyright infringement intended) New International Version: the woman will return to the man; New Living Translation: Israel will embrace her God; English Standard Version: a woman encircles a man; Berean Study Bible: a woman will surround a man; New American Standard Bible: A woman will encompass a man; Christian Standard Bible: a female will shelter a man; Contemporary English Version: I will make sure that someday things will be different, as different as a woman protecting a man; Holman Christian Standard Bible: a female will shelter a man; International Standard Version: a woman will protect a man; JPS Tanakh 1917: A woman shall court a man; Jubilee Bible 2000: A woman shall compass the man; King James 2000 Bible: A woman shall protect a man; Brenton Septuagint Translation: for the Lord has created safety for a new plantation: men shall go about in safety; Etc.
As I continue my allegorical approach to this subject, it'll certainly be seen that this woman, this "Daughter," is no human female, at all. Again, she's the Mind of Christ within us. And, as we continue to learn about her, it'll make more sense of why she becomes the man's headship. For, again, as this female is no mere human, neither is the male! ... With those thoughts, let's reexamine our verse:
Jeremiah 31:22
How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing IN the earth, A woman shall compass [lead] a man.
The backsliding daughter in this particular instance isn't the Mind of Christ. She has never, nor shall she ever backslide. In an upcoming Explanatory Note for chapter 8, called: "Who, like her Mother, is a Garden," I will be going over whom this (or, rather these) daughters are in better detail; wherein I'll explain that in some passages of the Bible, the Daughter of Jerusalem is another name for the Old Israeli nation as a whole ... For instance:
Lamentations 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
But, as we're also going to see, the term Daughter of Jerusalem eventually becomes synonymous (during the New Covenant) with New Jerusalem; which, being a spiritual city (instead of being a natural city as before) will cause this New Daughter to become spiritual, too – who is now without folly as the natural example was before her. This scripture, therefore (i.e. Jeremiah 31:22), is a prophesy of a new kind of Jerusalem (along with her born-again Daughters), who'll not only be perfect (mature and complete), but will also become the head of the New Man; for, she sits on top of him, and does his thinking for him ... Again, this passage insinuates that, unlike how Old Israel is making some very bad decisions (which had led to their destruction – for, they were thinking only with the Mind of Man), Jerusalem one day (i.e. New Jerusalem occupants!) will be thinking with Godly Thoughts instead, and will finally begin making the right decisions; yet, not that Old Nation as it was before, but a new kind of Israelite; i.e. a spiritual Jew (Romans 2:28-29) ... Again, we'll see all this come together as I continue to build my case.

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