EBible Fellowship Sunday Bible Study – 29-Nov-2009

JUDAS IS LIKE THE CORPORATE CHURCH

by Guy Berry

www.ebiblefellowship.com

I would like to go over a study that was actually done by Anthony Hernandez a month or two back comparing Judas with Satan and the unsaved in the end-time corporate church.  I would also like to look at Psalm 55 to incorporate that study into a few verses of Psalm 55.  Let us just read Psalm 55 so that we will have these verses in mind, especially verses 12 to 15 in this Psalm.  These are the verses that I would like to particularly look at.  Psalm 55:1-23: 

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and JEHOVAH shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Cast thy burden upon JEHOVAH, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. 

This Psalm was written by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We are to see Christ in the words that David speaks.  We are to particularly see the rebellion against David that comes from within, from his own people. 

We see here in Psalm 55:9: 

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 

When we read about a city in the Bible, this often represents a body of believers. 

In Matthew 5:14, Christ says to His disciples: 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

We read a lot in Isaiah about “the city” and how God would use Cyrus, that heathen king, to build His city.  In this, Cyrus was a figure of Christ in that he was used to destroy the Babylonians.  Cyrus was a king of the Medes and Persians. 

Here in Psalm 55:9, David is speaking about: 

…violence and strife in the city. 

When we read about violence in the Bible, this is actually speaking about the violence that the people who are supposed to be God’s own people have done to His Law. 

The entire book of Zephaniah is speaking about the judgment that is coming, but it also speaks about how it is going to come on Judah and Jerusalem, God’s own people.  In Zephaniah 3:1-4, we read: 

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in JEHOVAH; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. 

This is the violence that David was speaking of in Psalm 55:9: 

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife [or contention] in the city. 

This is speaking of rebellion against the Word of God among His people. 

In Psalm 55:10, we read: 

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 

This mischief and sorrow is again speaking of rebellion against God coming from those who should be His people. 

He goes on to say in Psalm 55:11: 

Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 

He is again speaking of His own people.  We will see that this language prefigures the New Testament church, but here He is speaking of the Israelites. 

And in Psalm 55:12-13, we read where David says: 

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 

I have looked at this Psalm in the past and always tried to understand who this was.  It seems obvious that this is speaking of Judas, because he was among those disciples, those twelve disciples who were a representation of God’s church.  It occurred to me that maybe this was speaking about the true believers because they are the ones who really crucified Christ. 

I also thought that maybe this could be speaking of God the Father: 

For it was not an enemy that reproached me…it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 

It was actually God the Father who purposed to crucify Christ, but I believe from the context of this whole Psalm that this has to be talking about Judas and it has to be speaking about the rebellion against Christ and against His truth from those who are supposed to be His people. 

It says again in Psalm 55:13: 

But it was thou, a man mine equal… 

In the literal translation, which you might have a note from in your Bible, it actually says, “a man according to my rank.” 

Then He goes on to say: 

…my guide… 

This word “guide” is also used in Zechariah 12:5-6, which says: 

And the governors… 

That is the same word that was translated as “guide.” 

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in JEHOVAH of hosts their God. In that day will I make the governors… 

Again, He repeats this word. 

…the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 

I believe that “the governors of Judah” here is speaking of the elect and how in the final judgment they will inherit Jerusalem forever.  A governor is a leader, like a prince in Israel. 

But He says here in Psalm 55:13-14 where He has to be speaking of Judas: 

But it was thou, a man mine equal… 

Or “a man according to my rank.” 

…my guide… 

Or “one of My governors, teachers, prophets, or priests in Israel.” 

…and mine acquaintance. 

Or “friend.” 

We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 

This is referring to God’s people.  Even the hypocrites among them “took sweet counsel together.”  This “sweet counsel” is the Word of God.  They went to worship every Sabbath in company with Christ, which is really what this is speaking about. 

Then in Psalm 55:15, we read: 

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 

This word “quick” means “alive.”  I believe that this is anticipating that five-month period that is going to begin on May 21, 2011 and is going to end on October 21, 2011 when judgment will be most severe upon those who are still alive at the end. 

I believe that the whole point of God’s salvation and judgment plan is that those in the church today are the most wicked in the history of mankind.  Their rebellion is worse than ever because God is opening up His Bible.  He is really opening up the truth of how salvation works, that it is entirely by the faith of Christ, that it is entirely by the work of God.  He is also opening up His judgment and showing us that He is perfectly righteous and merciful in His judgment in that unsaved man is simply going to cease to exist and not be tormented forever in a place called “hell.” 

But here where it says in Psalm 55:15: 

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down [alive] into hell… 

I believe that this is particularly speaking of those at the end who are going to be alive when Christ comes, raptures His people, and then judges this earth for 153 days. 

Turn to Numbers 16.  This is the account of Dathan, Korah, and Abiram when they rebelled against Moses in the wilderness.  This is again the same picture of the people of God, those Israelites whom He brought out of Egypt and particularly blessed.  He gave to them His laws and showed them all of those miracles as He drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea.  He had sustained them for forty years in the wilderness.  Their shoes did not wear out, miraculously.  He fed them with “manna…from heaven” and “water out of the rock.”  They saw all of this, and yet they rebelled against Moses.  So in Numbers 16:1-5, we read:

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and JEHOVAH is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of JEHOVAH? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow JEHOVAH will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 

Then Moses tells Korah in Numbers 16:6: 

This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 

At this point, there was going to be a separation, and we see this separation again today.  It is the same separation.  The true believers are separated from those in the corporate churches.  They understand that they are to get out of it, that God is not using it anymore.  He is not blessing it.  He has taken His Spirit out of the corporate body and He is not using the church to save sinners.  Our fellowship is directly with the Lord now. 

Then in Numbers 16:23-33, we read: 

And JEHOVAH spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men… 

He is telling them to get away from them, to depart from them:  

…and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that JEHOVAH hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then JEHOVAH hath not sent me. But if JEHOVAH make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick [alive] into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked JEHOVAH. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

So here we read again in Psalm 55:15: 

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick [alive] into hell…   

Now turn to Revelation 19.  This is also speaking of that final judgment at the end.  Revelation 19:20 says: 

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. 

This is referring to Satan and all of those who had been deceived by him, all those who claimed to be the people of God.  It continues: 

These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

I believe that this is really what we are to see here in Psalm 55:15: 

Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 

Let us look at Judas a little bit.  Judas was one of the twelve disciples and looked just like the other eleven.  There was no outward rebellion that anyone could see.  He had no resistance to what Christ was teaching.  He seemed to be one of them. 

Turn to John 12.  In John 12:3-6, we read: 

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 

Is this not amazing how God worked this out?  This one man who is referred to as “the son of perdition” is the one man among those disciples whom God worked out to be the treasurer for the twelve.  He held the money and he is referred to here as “a thief.” 

Let us turn to John 10.  I believe that Mr. Camping has been speaking about what the thief represents in the Bible.  In John 10:1, we read where Christ is speaking about a shepherd: 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 

Now look at John 10:8-10: 

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy… 

He destroys life.  This is what a thief does, a false teacher.  He robs one of life in that he does not bring truth. 

John 10:10 continues: 

…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

Look at Isaiah 10.  In Isaiah 10, Isaiah is speaking in this same vein.  He is speaking of the judgment that is going to be brought on Israel for their rebellion, for their false teachings and their works gospels.  So Isaiah 10:1-2 says: 

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 

Or look at Hosea 6.  The book of Hosea is also speaking about the rebellion of Israel.  Hosea 6:9 says: 

And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. 

This is again what we have been speaking of, which is violence to the Law in that they are bringing false gospels.  They are murdering.  They are robbing anyone of life who comes to them for truth.  And we are reading that Judas was a thief, that God called him a thief, and yet he traveled with the twelve.  He is right in there with them. 

If you turn to Mark 3:14-16, we read: 

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 

This is a picture of the whole church. 

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 

This is speaking of salvation. 

And Simon he surnamed Peter; 

He goes on to name the other disciples.  Then in Mark 3:19-20, He names Judas: 

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. And the multitude cometh together again… 

So Judas went out with the twelve in that commission.  We read about this in Matthew 10 and how He sent them out. 

Judas was also physically washed by Christ.  In John 13, we read about when Christ washed their feet.  We read in John 13:2-4: 

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 

We go on to read that He washed their feet, which was simply a picture of the washing that we need in salvation.  This was when Peter asked Christ to wash his whole body, but Christ told him that he only needed to have his feet washed.  We walk on our feet.  This is again a spiritual picture. 

Then in John 13:10-11, we read: 

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 

And then in John 13:15, we read: 

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

Christ is our example.  As He washed the disciples’ feet, we are to go out into the world with those tracts, or in whatever way we can, and work to further the Gospel into the world.  We are being used of God really to wash the feet of His disciples, those who will be saved. 

Judas also ate bread with Christ.  In John 13:23-24, we read: 

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 

This would have been John. 

Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 

He was telling them that one of them was going to betray Him. 

Then we read in John 13:26: 

Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 

He had indicated to them that it was Judas who was going to betray Him. 

So Judas was right in there with the other disciples eating with Christ, and to eat is a picture of partaking of the Gospel, partaking of Christ’s body. 

In Psalm 41, we read a similar verse to what we are reading in Psalm 55.  Psalm 41:9 says: 

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 

There are also verses in the Gospels that tell us how Judas identifies with Satan. 

In John 6:70, we read: 

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve… 

He did this for His purpose.  He purposely chose Judas. 

…and one of you is a devil? 

He just flat-out calls him a devil.  We already read at one point that Satan entered into Judas at the time of the last supper.  As I mentioned earlier, Christ called him “the son of perdition.”  And the end-time church, those who are in the corporate church in the end-time, are actually identified with Satan. 

In John 8:44, Christ said to those Pharisees: 

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth… 

Again we see this issue of murdering.  Satan was a murderer because he takes life.  But here, God is speaking to the leaders of the corporate church of that day. 

We are all familiar with 2 Corinthians where it speaks of false apostles.  Let us read this.  It says in 2 Corinthians 11:13:   

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

He is again speaking of those who have crept into the church who are false teachers.  They are unsaved people. 

Then 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 says: 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

We are all familiar with the parable of the wheat and the tares, which is again speaking of how Satan creeps in and sows tares among those who are in that physical body, that church. 

In some of those verses that we have just read, Judas is referred to as a traitor or a betrayer.  This same word is found in Acts 7.  In Acts 7:51-52, we read where Stephen says: 

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 

Judas is called a traitor or a betrayer and this is that same word.  Again, this is looking right at the corporate church who are actually the betrayers and traitors. 

In Mark 14, we read of Judas that it would have been better had he never have been born.  Mark 14 is speaking of the judgment that is going to come and how terrible it is going to be for those who are alive when Christ comes who are in the church but who do not really know the Lord and who resist the truth of the Gospel when it is brought to them. 

In Mark 14:21, Christ is speaking of Judas: 

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

We know that Judas repented after they had taken Christ.  He understood what he had done, but he is a picture of the corporate church.  If he had been a picture of an individual, there would have been the possibility of salvation in his repentance.  However, Judas is a picture of the corporate church.  There came a point in time in the history of mankind when there was no more mercy and they would not be able to repent and be saved from their wicked deeds. 

We will have to stop here, but there are more parallels that we could look at, parallels between Judas and the unsaved in the church in the end-times.  As God is really opening up His Word to us, we are seeing these things and we are learning more and more about His judgment plan and about His salvation plan. 

Marvelously for man, today is still the day of salvation.  His mercy is still here.  We can do nothing but go to Him.  There is nowhere else that we can go.  All we can do is to go to Him with nothing but a plea for His mercy. 

Shall we pray.  Heavenly Father, we ask that it could be that our words have glorified You, that we have brought forth truth from the Scriptures.  If we have erred, we understand that in Your mercy we, in our imperfections and errors, cannot hurt Your elect.  We cannot impede Your plan of salvation because You will save those whom You have elected to salvation from before the foundations of the world.  In this time of thanksgiving, we do thank You for all of the blessings that You have heaped on us.  Especially in this country, we are rich and that is only from You.  We cannot take any credit for our wherewithal.  We simply ask that each one of us might have a heart to serve You with what You have given to us.  Like those whom You gave the talents to, may we simply use them to gain, to bring in more.  May it all be to Your glory.  We pray this in Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

(There was no question/answer session pertaining to this study.)