The Two Rods (2)
Yesterday I discussed the rebellion of all mankind against God which we see exemplified in Ezekiel 7:11 as a “rod of wickedness.” We first meet the second of the two rods in Numbers 17. The events of this chapter occur just after the disastrous rebellion led by Korah. Korah himself was a Levite who contended with Moses and Aaron for the priesthood. Remember that Moses and Aaron were brothers and also sons of Levi, but God called Aaron’s family alone to the priesthood.
In Aaron’s family we see an example of election, of being chosen by God. Korah and the 250 leaders who joined him rebelled against God’s delegated authority and, in essence, against God himself. In Biblical typology Korah and the 250 leaders represent all who call themselves Christian who believe that all Christians, by virtue of their confession of faith or “proper” baptism or membership in the “true” church, comprise the Bride of Christ (the Melchizedek priesthood) and believe that they will rule and reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God.
When Korah rebels Moses rebukes him and the sons of Levi who joined him for vainly aspiring to an office to which God did not call them. He tells them that the next day God himself will show them who are his, who is holy, and who he has chosen (Numbers 16:5). On the morrow God performs two miraculous judgments. First, he opens the ground which swallows the families of the rebellious men alive, and then closes the ground upon them. Next he consumes with fire the 250 leaders who dared to offer bronze censers of incense before him. This is similar to God’s judgment upon Aaron’s two firstborn who persumptuously made the same kind of offering earlier. These judgments portray God’s separation of faithful from unfaithful believers. These types prophetically portray Paul’s teaching wherein he says, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15) “for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29) Many are called, but few are chosen.
Now, prophetically, we have moved to the time we live in today. It has now been a number of years during which the Church has rejected the call of the Overcomers to separate from Mystery Babylon, which is adulterous religion, leave its dependence upon the Beast, and begin to dwell outside the camp. (Please visit the links to the right for more information on this) But, the harlot Babylon continues to cozy up with the Beast, lately in the guise of the “Tea Party” movement, and by sending her children to be educated in the Beast’s schools. Revelation tells us that God, working through the Beast, will ultimately destroy the harlot for her adultery. See Revelation 17-18. This destruction is akin to the destruction of Korah and his cohorts. This has not yet happened. These things occur in the opening years of the Day of the LORD.
Immediately after this great judgment upon Babylon, in Revelation 19:1-9, God exalts his true Bride. She and she alone of all Christians remains invited to and participates in the marriage supper of the Lamb. This corresponds to the second rod as will see next.