Three Passages

The Word of God is often referred to as a book in the Scriptures. We are going to look briefly at three of them. Anyone who has learned how to read can read a book, but whether or not he understands what he is reading is another thing. That really becomes obvious when it comes to the Bible. It is written in man’s language and while any educated person can understand the natural meaning, not all can understand the spiritual truths that are hidden in it. Our three passages of Scripture are found in Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation. And should we think of something else along the way we might throw that in, too.

First Passage

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

We are mainly interested in what is said here about the Book. Every one found in the Book shall be delivered. Within the Book are many epistles, and the Apostle Paul speaks of these epistles in his second letter to the Corinthians. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. II Corinthians 3:2-3. So, you see, the Kingdom of God Bible is made up of people who have become epistles. And when we know one another after the spirit and not after the flesh, we can read the Word written upon our hearts.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

There is going to be a great awakening among God’s people. Some will be awakened to everlasting life and some to shame. First, let’s determine who these are that are asleep in the dust of the earth. You will remember when one disciple told Jesus that he would follow Him but first he must bury his father that Jesus responded saying, “Follow Me; and let the dead bury the dead” (Matthew 8:22). Paul makes the same kind of statement when he refers to those who are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Those who are not alive to God are dead though they still have natural life. Thus, we understand that even all Christians have not yet come alive to God.

Man was formed of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). So when the Word speaks of those who “sleep in the dust of the earth,” it is speaking of those who are mired in their earthen nature and have no awareness of the Lord. But even of these there is going to be a great awakening. Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awaken. They will awaken because they hear the voice of the Lord. Jesus speaks of this in John 5:25: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The Word of God is shut up and sealed; that is, the spiritual understanding of His Word is not open to the natural man. Many shall run to and fro (or shall pass over or go through) meaning many shall search the Scriptures but not understand them. It will be like Jesus said concerning the Pharisees: Ye search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. John 5:39-40. They ran to and fro through the Scriptures searching them out, but they did not find Christ in them. To them the words were shut up and sealed. Knowledge kept increasing but not spiritual knowledge. They were ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth (II Timothy 3:7).

Second Passage

Isaiah 29:10 For the Lord has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has He covered.

“The Lord has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep” is the same as was said in Daniel, “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth.” The prophets, rulers, and seers were all in a deep sleep. Their spiritual insight was covered.

Isaiah 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he says, I cannot; for it is sealed.

These have the natural ability to read the book, but their eyes have been closed to spiritual understanding so they say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

Isaiah 29:12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he says, I am not learned.

This group cannot read because they are not educated. The group in verse 11 can read, but they cannot understand the spiritual truths in the Book.

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men.

This verse explains why the Book was sealed to the ones who were able to read. Spiritual perception and understanding is determined by the heart, not by the mind. Since their hearts had not come alive to God, they were unable to understand the spiritual truths concerning the Lord and His Kingdom. The Pharisees and scribes were a prime example this. In fact, Jesus refers to this passage when confronting them. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:5-9. This describes many Christians and churches in this day.

Third Passage

Revelation 5:2-3 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

No man can open the book; that is, no man can remove the seal so it can be understood. No man in heaven; that is, regardless of how spiritual a man is he cannot understand the Word of God with the natural abilities of a man. No matter how educated or how intellectual he is, he cannot uncover the truths of God’s Word. The book is sealed to his man abilities. No man on earth: again, the earthen nature of man is unable to loose the seals. No man under the earth means no one under the rule of man can read the Word with spiritual understanding. Then who can?

Revelation 5:4-5 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Only the Lord Himself can loose the seals and give to us understanding. The truths in God’s book must be revealed, and they are only revealed by the Lord. No man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, only the Son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal Him. Matthew 11:27. We must understand how this is done. So we are going to add another passage.

Another Passage

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples. There were many things He wanted to tell them about the mysteries of the Kingdom and of Himself, but they would not be able to understand them at this time. To them the Word was sealed.

John 16:13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.

We understand from John 14:6 that Jesus Christ is the Truth. He is also the Spirit of Truth. Now I need to explain that. First, let me explain what Truth is scripturally. The Lord is Truth! That does not mean He only speaks the truth, though He does. It means that He is Truth. Truth in this sense is divine. Man, on the other hand, is a lie. That doesn’t mean that he never speaks what is correct. It means that human nature in its fallen state is a lie. God is not a man, that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). Do you see the difference? Scripturally speaking, Truth is divine nature and the lie is man’s nature apart from God.

Now how is the Lord Jesus Christ both the Truth and the Spirit of Truth? As Jesus the Nazarene He was the Truth. After His resurrection and ascension He became Spirit. Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee…And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. John 17:1, 5. I’m going to put this as simply as I know how. In His human state, Jesus could tell the disciples things and their understanding depended upon their ability to receive what He was saying. Many aspects of their human nature hindered them from understanding His speech. But as the Spirit of Truth He could come forth in their lives and begin removing the things of their human nature that hindered them from understanding. Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Christ in you, or the Spirit of Truth in you, can begin a process of destroying unbelief. As the Spirit of Truth He can bring down all the things of self that hinder you from perceiving the things of Spirit.

When the Book is sealed to you it is because of the things in you, the things of your human nature. But when He the Spirit of Truth comes forth in you, then He will guide you into all the Truth. The Lord apart from you is limited, or maybe I should say you are limited when He is apart from you. Both are correct. If the seals are taken off the Book for you, it will be because the Lord is in you. If you are going to be led and guided by the Lord, it will be because He is in you. The reason so many Christians are immature and do not understand the spiritual truths of God’s Word is because they are trying to be led by the Lord apart from them. Remember, Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Let me ask you a question. When you think of the Lord Jesus Christ do you think of Him as Jesus the Nazarene, as He was in His human state? When you pray, do you pray to the Lord apart from you?

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