True Sayings Series
The Key of Knowledge    Part 3 of 3
By C. Eldon McNabb

Early on, I established the fact that there is a Key of Knowledge. You might say that God wrote the Bible in code. Consequently, the depth of it can be understood only if we know the code. We showed that this Key is not about God’s plan of the redemption, but rather about gaining access to the "deep things of God." I have noted various examples of various figures, shadows and allegories which may be understood by use of this Key. Some of those things may require a little more consideration than others, but, at the very least, they are worthy of your consideration. Please go with me, now, to more of God’s wonderful truth.

The precept of "the twelve" was carried over into the New Testament era by Jesus himself. When that precept is reapplied at this end of the grace age, it will actually expand the number to twenty-four, as in the days of King David. In Gal. 4:22-26, we are told, "It is written, that Abraham had two sons." Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat twelve sons. Ishmael also begat twelve sons. God named both Isaac and Ishmael, and later, God told Abraham, "As for Ishmael, I have blessed him, twelve princes shall he beget." (Gen. 16:11 and 17:20) Their names are given in the twenty-fifth chapter of Genesis. These twenty-four "sons of Abraham" are a shadow of twenty-four apostles in the New Testament era. The men who have served in those offices shall sit round about the throne of our Lord Jesus Christ, as His the four and twenty elders, when he sits upon the throne of His glory. (See the promise which Jesus made to His twelve in Matt. 19:27,28)

The Apostle Peter believed that there were actually more than twelve apostles in his day. Accordingly, he, and the rest of the Twelve, confidently fulfilled their obligation to keep those offices filled with gifted Apostles. He quoted two prophecies, in the Psalms, to show that they were required to appoint a man to take the place of Judas. One of those Psalms says, "Let another take his office." (Acts 1:16-26; Psalm 69:25; Psalm 109:8) (This is one of those cases where your Bible may have been altered.) There are about twenty Apostles mentioned in the New Testament, including Paul, Barnabas, and James, the Lords brother. (Gal. 1:19) None of those three were ever counted among The Twelve.

In Rom. 2:10-11, Paul assured us that God is going to give those same gifts to a group of Gentiles, and refill those offices in the Church. It is necessary for that to be done, because the Bride the Lamb’s Wife must have those gifts operating, if she is to make herself ready. Jesus, the last Adam, must be able to say of His bride what the first Adam said of his: "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." He will be able to say that, because she will be made after the pattern of things in the heavens. She will be in the image of God, the same as that "Jerusalem which is above, the mother of us all."

You know the manner in which Jesus told us to pray. His words are repeated around the world millions of times each day. "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The throne upon which Jesus shall sit will be a copy of the one on which His Father sits in heaven. It would seem as if God caused the use of this prayer to be very popular, so that we would always be aware of that fact.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Prov. 25:2) God hid all of these things, but we can now say that the Key of Knowledge has helped us to understand them, at least somewhat. I would also like for us to note how that Jesus used other things, besides parables, by which to foretell His works. John told us of miracles which Jesus performed, which He also used as allegories, to convey to us the knowledge of His plans. Let us consider the miracle of the loaves and fishes in John 6: especially verses 12,13,39. In verse twelve He said, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." They did as he commanded and "filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves." With that miracle, Jesus showed that He was going to raise the Church up again at the last day. It looks as if the whole idea of Church, the way Jesus set it up, has been lost. But, in verse thirty-nine Jesus said, "I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." In another miracle, in Matt. 15:33-37, in which He caused them to take up seven baskets full of fragments, Jesus showed that He will also restore "the seven" to the Church. He will build the Church again just before His return. As it is written, "When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in his glory." (Psa. 102:16)

This theme is variously repeated throughout the Holy Scriptures, and is especially clear in the allegory of Solomon’s Temple. In the Old Testament, the Temple was built by Solomon, destroyed by Babylon, and was built again by Zerubbabel and Joshua the son of Josedech. Likewise the New Testament Temple was built by "a greater than Solomon:" Jesus of Nazareth. It has long since been destroyed by "Mystery, Babylon the Great," and must be built again by men of God’s choosing.

It is to the glory of God that He has hidden all of these things, revealed them to those early disciples, and hidden them again for so great a length of time. Paul and his fellow Apostles and Prophets received glory and honor by searching out the revelation of the mystery in their day. The same thing must occur with the Apostles and Prophets in this day, as the appearing of our Lord and King draws near. God did it that way, so that His children could confidently follow the leadership of the men which He raises up to lead them. (Prov. 25:2; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Cor 2:6-7)

Some have, understandably, decided that we will never be able to know the meaning of all the Bible. Well, if we continue without the use of the Key of Knowledge, that will surely be true. The fact remains that God has promised us that we will be able to comprehend it all, and He will make it happen. Paul certainly believed that when he said, "Unto me is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:8-11)

In A Nutshell Jesus Christ the same in Moses’ day, in Paul’s day, and today. It is impossible to come to the Knowledge of the Son of God, unless we first truly comprehend that God is unchanging. Solomon said it so well, and gave us a description of the Key of Knowledge in a nutshell. He said, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." (Eccl. 3:14,15) Therefore, we have confidence that we can always recognize His handiwork, because it will have upon it the mark of His method of operation.

Jesus gave The Key of Knowledge to His disciples, and God has given it to us. Now we can begin to "know the things that are freely given us of God." Let us use the Key of Knowledge, with thankfulness, as we begin to see what God really intends to do, in the near future.

Jesus is coming soon, and the details of His itinerary are there for us to know. However, at the present time, almost all Christians are as Israel was in the days of the first coming of the Messiah. They were expecting a King, but it was the Lamb of God which came. Today, multitudes of Christians have set their hope on the rapture. But this time, the King really is coming, to execute judgment upon all, and to wrest the control of this world from the hand of the Prince of this world. Let us prepare our hearts to receive the King of Glory.

Let us shake ourselves to spiritual alertness, and begin to feast upon "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," that we may indeed earn the approval of God. Then shall we be as the children of Issachar "which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." (1 Chron. 12:32)

Jesus said, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." The friendship of Jesus and the Grace of God be with you. Amen.