The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2017 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 30

Rejecting the King Again

Each and every time they heard his name, or even thought of his name, they condemned themselves.

The Jews had captured the man who had given the blind their sight, the lame their feet, the dumb their tongues and the dead their lives. Those are pretty good signs that God was working with that man, for anyone who really wanted to see. Moreover that man’s name was —

Yahweh’s Salvation.

Since Aramaic or Hebrew is not our language, when we hear the name Yeshua or Jesus, we hear it as a name but not as a statement. That name is a statement.

We recall other Bible names that made a statement. Moses is ‘drawn out;’ he was pulled out of the Nile River as a baby. Abraham is father of a multitude; he was promised that, when he had no children at all. The name Yahweh itself means self existent one, the source and sustainer of life — “I AM!”

The name Yeshua is also a statement. That was a common name, the same as the successor to Moses who led Israel into the Promised Land, and the same as the first high priest back in the Promised Land after Judah’s captivity in Babylon. They were both rendered as ‘Joshua’ in the King James translation, when the ‘J’ originally had a ‘Y’ sound. So Yeshua, although a common name, was an auspicious one.

Particularly when accompanied by incomparable miracles from God.

Therefore each and every time the Jews heard or thought of his name, they condemned themselves —

Yahweh’s Salvation.

The chief priests did not do the dirty work of going out to capture Yeshua themselves. They sent their slaves and Roman soldiers to do that. Apparently those men enjoyed their dirty work.

Luke 22
63) The men who held Yeshua mocked him and beat him.
64) Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?”
65) They spoke many other things against him, insulting him.
66) As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council,…

Some of those who did the beating were Roman soldiers, who couldn’t have cared less whether Yeshua supposedly broke Jewish law. But they beat him, anyway.

Joh 18
12)  So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Yeshua and bound him,

The Greek word translated there as ‘detachment,’ and in the old King James as ‘band,’ is defined as a sizable Roman military group.

Mickelson’s Enhanced Strong’s Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments, G4686, a battalion of soldiers (ranging from a large squadron to an entire Roman military cohort, whether as a representative portion of a garrison or the whole of it; 150-500 soldiers).

In later centuries the Roman church, as part of the Roman Empire, made loud noises about the Jews being Christ killers. Guess what? The Romans were in it just as much as the Jews. This whole ignominious episode is a collusion not only between the Sadducees and Pharisees, but also between the Jews and Romans. The Jews said Yeshua broke their laws. The Romans? Well, apparently they just liked to beat up on people.

So after the Romans and Jews had beaten on this innocent man, they–

Joh 18
13)  …led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14)  Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.
15)  Simon Peter followed Yeshua, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Yeshua into the court of the high priest;

Annas knew John, so the people in charge let John, along with Peter, into Annas’ quarters. This is what those two disciples then heard and saw.

Joh 18
19) The high priest [Annas] therefore asked Yeshua about his disciples, and about his teaching.
20) Yeshua answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.
21) Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.”
22) When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Yeshua with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”
23) Yeshua answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

Again, Annas was not serving as high priest at this time and hadn’t for about fifteen years. When we heard former Attorney General John Ashcroft give a seminar about hymns, he was introduced as Attorney General Ashcroft, referring to his previous position. Also, former governors are often introduced as “Governor,” when they no longer hold the office. In the same way, after Annas was removed as high priest, he still had the respect of having held the position, even though his daughter’s husband Caiaphas was the current high priest.

Joh 18
24) Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Caiaphas’ house was the geographic center of this Passover plot. Earlier the conspirators had gathered there to plan their crime.

Matt 26
2) “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3) Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4) They took counsel together that they might take Yeshua by deceit, and kill him.

Once they had captured the miracle worker, they took him to Caiaphas’ house.

Matt 26
57) Those who had taken Yeshua led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58) But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59) Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Yeshua, that they might put him to death;
60) and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
61) and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”

Whatever the first false witnesses said was so outlandish that not even the scurrilous Jews could accept it. But what was so terrible about Yeshua saying that he could rebuild the temple in three days, even if referring to the building instead of just his own body? Why is that a crime?

Matt 26
62) The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
63) But Yeshua held his peace…

American law provides that no man can be forced to testify against himself. He can simply hold his peace, as Yeshua did. So Caiaphas quickly got to the point.

Matt 26
63) The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Remember that Christ means Messiah, the prophet that Moses referred to, whom the Jews had awaited for centuries, and that they still look for today. When Caiaphas asked that question, Christ indicated that he had hit the nail on the head. “You said it!”

Matt 26
64) Yeshua said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65) Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66) What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
67) Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
68) saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

Those were probably Jews and not Romans doing the spitting and beating there. And in the midst of all that, Malchus’ ear was still being heard from.

Joh 18
25) Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
26) One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
27) Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

Then he who was born King of the Jews was sent from the religious rulers, the priests and rabbis, to the political rulers, the Roman appointed governors in Judea and Galilee, who were Pilate and Herod Antipas.

John 18
28) They led Yeshua therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

When the soldiers led the King of the Jews into the Praetorium or judgment hall of Pontius Pilate, Rome’s governor of Judea, the rabbis and chief priests would not go in, because their traditions said that would make them unclean for the Passover. Yeshua was led into the Praetorium. He was the Lamb without spot, and He was definitely not unclean. So much for Jewish traditions.

Since the Jews would not go into the Praetorium, Pilate graciously went out to them.

John 18
29) Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
30) They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.”
31) Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

Rome allowed the Jews to largely run their own affairs, as long as it didn’t conflict with Rome. In this case, that did not include putting someone to death, although a short time later the Jews were very quick to put Stephen to death. Here, though, the Jews had Rome carry out their death sentence.

John 18
32) that the word of Yeshua might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

Meaning that the Gentiles would kill him.

Pilate asked Yeshua, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

John 18
33) Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Yeshua, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
34) Yeshua answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”
35) Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”
36) Yeshua answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”
37) Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Yeshua answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

When Pilate repeated his question, “Are you a king then?” Yeshua affirmed that He was.

Remember that the wise men from the east were seeking “he who was born King of the Jews.” When asked if he was king of the Jews, Yeshua said “For this reason I have been born.”

The Jews were incensed that Yeshua claimed to be their king.

Luk 23
1) The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
2) They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

The Jews said Yeshua was perverting the nation, was forbidding taxes and was saying that he is the Messiah, a king. At least the Caiaphas gang got one out of three right. Yeshua was not perverting the nation but brought peace and health. And not only did he not forbid taxes to Caesar, he paid them, even if the coin smelled a little fishy. However, Yeshua did say that he was the Messiah, the King.

Luk 23
3) Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

When Yeshua affirmed what Pilate asked, Pilate was not upset but the Jews were.

Luk 23
4) Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5) But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

Over and over this point is emphasized at that Passover —

Will the Jews accept Yeshua as their king?

This is repeating what happened in Samuel’s time, when Israel rejected Yahweh as their king — “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them,” 1 Samuel 8:7.

Rome had divided the Holy Land into two governing districts, Galilee under Herod and Judea under Pilate, both under Tiberius the Roman emperor. Those were the Jews’ kings. Now another came along, who was born king of the Jews. Which would the Jews prefer?

Luk 23
6) But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
7) When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

This Herod was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, or Ingrate, who had killed Bethlehem’s boys and beautified the temple. Herod Antipas’ great claim to fame was that he had beheaded John the Baptizer, Yeshua’s cousin.

Matt 14
1) At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Yeshua,
2) and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
3) For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
4) For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
5) When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6) But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.
7) Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.
8) She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
9) The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,
10) and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
11) His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.
12) His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Yeshua.
13) Now when Yeshua heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart…

When Yeshua was in Galilee, he had called this Herod a fox.

Luke 13
31) On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32) He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.

And now Yeshua was on trial for his life, before the fox who had killed John.

Luk 23
8) Now when Herod saw Yeshua, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.

Herod Antipas wasn’t really concerned about the great spiritual matters of life. He was hoping to see Houdini.

Christ did not play Herod’s little game.

Luk 23
9) He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.
10) The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

Even though Herod hadn’t really wanted to kill John, he certainly seemed to enjoy persecuting this innocent man.

Luk 23
11) Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
12) Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

What a strange way to begin a friendship! Both Herod and Pilate got the type of friend each deserved. The Jews also got the type of rulers they deserved.

When Herod sent Yeshua back to Pilate, he dressed him up like a king. Herod did it for a joke. Nevertheless, this king was clothed in clothes fit for a king.

Luk 23
13) Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14) and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.
15) Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.
16) I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

Then the Romans continued Herod’s mocking of this “king:”

John 19
1) So Pilate then took Yeshua, and flogged him.
2) The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment.
3) They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
4) Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
5) Yeshua therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”
6) When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7) The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
8) When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid.

Pilate was in a pickle.

He knew it was wrong to execute this man, said to be King of the Jews, possibly the Son of God. He knew the jealous Jews just wanted Yeshua out of the way. But as Roman governor, it was his job to keep those jealous Jews placated.

Pilate kept trying to pry himself out of his pickle.

Matt 27
15) Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.
16) They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17) When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Yeshua, who is called Christ?”
18) For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

That was quite a question. Who goes free and who dies? The robber who took people’s stuff or the prophet who gave people health and life?

Matt 27
19) While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

Pilate’s wife had received a warning directly from God about “that righteous man.” Then she passed that warning on to Pilate. Pilate’s pickle got pricklier.

Matt 27
20) Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Yeshua.

The multitude now faced their conflict – true church or true religion?

Earlier the multitudes had shouted “Hosanna!” as Yeshua entered the city. What did the multitudes shout now?

Matt 27
21) But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
22) Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Yeshua, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
23) But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

Three times Pilate asked them to release Yeshua.

Luke 23
20) Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Yeshua,
21) but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22) He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

In the Bible, three is the number of finality. The world was repopulated through the three sons of Noah — Shem, Ham and Japheth; God’s nation began with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; three kings reigned over united Israel, Saul, David and Solomon; and Peter denied Christ three times. So three times Pilate asked the Jews if he should release Yeshua. Three times the crowd refused.

Luke 23
23) But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

The multitudes had faced a conflict — true church or true religion. And when the multitudes faced the choice of organized religion or real religion, organized religion won. The chief priests, Annas and Caiaphas, prevailed. After all, they were the true church.

Pilate and the Roman soldiers also faced their conflict. What they were being asked to do was wrong. Would they stand up for what was right or would they just go along with the Roman policy of keeping things under control? After all, right was whatever Rome said. Rome was right because Rome was Rome.

Pilate tried to slip out of his pickle. He went through a symbolic routine to excuse doing what he knew was wrong. When Pilate and the soldiers had to choose between the true church, the Roman government; or true religion, the righteous Son of God; Rome won. Religious symbolism, after all, is just for show. Pilate only got his hands wet. He then knowingly and willfully executed an innocent man, to protect Rome from a disturbance. Once again, the true church won out over true religion.

Matt 27
24) So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”
25) All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”

“May his blood be on us and on our children,” the Jews said.

As Christ had replied to Pilate, “So you say.”

Matt 27
26) Then he released to them Barabbas, but Yeshua he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

As Peter told them a couple of months later —

Acts 3
13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Yeshua, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
14) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Barabbas had quite a resumé. He was much more than a small time robber.

Luke 23
17) Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
18) But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—
19) one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

Bar Abba lived. Yeshua died. Barabbas, without the ‘s’ Greek grammatical ending, is Bar Abba, like Simon Bar Jonah (Matt. 16:17), which was Simon son of Jonah. The name Bar Abba means Son of the Father. This sinner of sinners lived and the savior of sinners died. The wicked son of the Father was saved by the sinless Son of the Father.

Bar Abba is me.

And you.

And them.

In Samuel’s time, Israel had demanded a human king instead of Yahweh God himself. Now the Jews re-emphasized who their king was.

John 19
12) At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
13) When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Yeshua out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement,” but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”
14) Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
15) They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Forty years later, the Jews would severely regret having Caesar for their king when he tore down the temple, destroyed Jerusalem and butchered hundreds of thousands of Jews.

Luke 23
24) Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.
25) He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Yeshua up to their will.
26) When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Yeshua.
27) A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
28) But Yeshua, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29) For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’
30) Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’

To placate the Jews, Pilate and the Romans crucified a man they knew to be righteous, but Pilate did get in one last word.

John 19
16) So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Yeshua and led him away.
17) He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called “The Place of a Skull,” which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha,”
18) where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Yeshua in the middle.
19) Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, “Yeshua OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
20) Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Yeshua was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.
21) The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘he said, I am King of the Jews.’”
22) Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

Greek was the language of world trade. Latin was the language of the Roman empire. Hebrew was the language of Israel. In whichever language they chose, the people read Yeshua, KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke 23
32) There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
33) When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
35) The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
36) The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
37) and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38) An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39) One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
40) But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42) He said to Yeshua, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43) Yeshua said to him, “Assuredly I tell you today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
45) The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46) Yeshua, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
47) When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
48) All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.

That was a mixed multitude. First they cried “Hosanna!” Next they shouted “Crucify him!” And when the Romans did crucify him, then the multitudes beat their chests in regret.

For about four hundred years, Israel was ruled directly by their spiritual King, Yahweh. In Samuel’s time, they rejected that king. After that, they had tall Saul, especially in his own eyes; then David, the best; and Solomon, the wisest except when it came to women.

When the kingdom split, Israel/Samaria had nineteen kings, all bad. Judah also had nineteen kings and awful Athaliah. Seven kings, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Amaziah, Jotham, Uzziah, Hezekiah and Josiah were customarily obedient. Joash was, then wasn’t. Manasseh wasn’t, then was. And all the others were just routinely rotten.

Both kingdoms were destroyed and much of their populations deported. Judah returned after seventy years, rebuilt the temple, but was never again ruled by the house of David. When the king, now of the family of David, came again to his people, they rejected him again.

John 1
9) The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10) He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11) He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

To protect their kingly positions, King Saul tried to kill David, King Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, and Emperor Augustus Caesar killed his competitors. But this King did none of that. And at His crucifixion, Jews and Romans ridiculed Christ because he did not save himself.

Luk 23
35) The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
36) The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
37) and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

39) One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

The religious rulers, the Roman soldiers and even the condemned criminals all challenged Yeshua to save himself.

But he did not live and die to save himself. He lived and died to save them, and you and me.

This King is perfectly unlike any other king and that difference is shown by one statement of His.

When the Jews mocked their King and condemned him to death, and when the Romans killed Him, who was also their King, not only did He not try to kill them, but this is what He asked God for them.

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

What a King!

What a King!

What a King!

The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2017 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 29

The King Comes to Zion

The king rode in on a donkey.

Joh 12:14-18
(14)  Yeshua, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
(15)  Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.(16)  His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
(17)  The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
(18)  For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.

A whole multitude of people, including the Lazarus lookers, watched the king ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Kings didn’t normally ride on donkeys. A donkey is, after all, just a donkey. Donkeys were pack animals. Abraham hauled the wood for his offering on his donkey.

Gen 22
(3)  Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him.
(4)  On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off.
(5)  Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will worship, and come back to you.
(6)  Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.

Balaam rode on his donkey, which had an automatic braking system.

Num 22
21)  Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22)  God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23)  The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24)  Then Yahweh’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25)  The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26)  Yahweh’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27)  The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28)  Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29)  Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
30)  The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
31)  Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

That’s what donkeys did. Well, they didn’t usually talk to their riders, but they just hauled people and stuff around. And in that example with Balaam, it’s obvious there was more than one donkey involved.

Kings rode on horses or mules. King David had a mule and when he had Solomon ride on his mule it showed that Solomon was the next king.

1Ki 1
(33)  The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
(34)  Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon!
(35)  Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.

So when Solomon rode King David’s mule, that showed that Solomon was to be king. Again, it was a mule, not a donkey.

When kings formally enter a city, they don’t donkey around. It’s usually a very showy affair.

For example, Julius Caesar rode a four-horse chariot for his “triumph” entry into Rome. A ‘triumph’ was “a ritual procession that was the highest honour bestowed upon a victorious general in the ancient Roman Republic.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/triumph-ancient-Roman-honour

When Julius returned to Rome after a successful military campaign in Spain, he was granted a “triumph” parade.

Caesar’s triumph in Rome surpasses all others. It is spread over four days, variously depicting his victories in Gaul, Egypt, Asia Minor (accompanied by the triumphal slogan Veni, vidi, vici) and Africa. Each day’s procession begins with distinguished prisoners from the campaigns. Vercingetorix the Gaul is one of these. Immediately after his appearance he is taken aside and strangled, having now served his purpose.

Next comes Caesar at the head of his legions (singing cheeky songs about their bald general as they march), followed by the booty of the campaigns, wagon loads of gold. Each soldier is to have a share, according to rank. There is even a hand-out for every spectator lining the route.

As entertainment there are re-enactments of naval battles, a fight to the death between prisoners of war and criminals, an encounter between giraffes and lions. The final event of the triumph is a feast in the streets at 22,000 tables, after which Caesar is escorted to his house by elephants.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa44

That was Julius Caesar entering Rome, but he who was born King of the Jews rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Luke 19
28) Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29) It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,
30) saying, “Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.
31) If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’”

As John brought out, that fulfilled this prophecy in Zechariah.

Zec 9
9)  Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This wasn’t just a donkey; it was the foal of a donkey, and being just a foal, had never been ridden.

When an altar was built to Yahweh, it was to be built of uncut stones, free from people pollution.

Exo 20
25) If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.

When Yahweh came down on Mt. Sinai, no one was to touch that mountain, and no one was to touch anyone who did touch that mountain, to avoid people pollution.

Exo 19
12) You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
13) No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”

When Yeshua rode into Jerusalem, and the multitudes hailed him as King of the Jews, he rode on the virgin foal of a donkey that had never been ridden.

It had also never been taught to be ridden.

When the Philistines sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel, in Samuel’s time, the Ark cart was pulled not by trained oxen but by two milk cows that had never been taught to pull. Their calves were shut up at home, those mama cows were bursting to be with their young, yet in spite of their moos and moans, they kept on walking straight back to Israel.

Christ’s donkey foal was similar to those Philistine cows. It acted in a most unusual way.

Watching an equestrian ride an animal makes it appear effortless. In reality, horses, donkeys and mules do not naturally want to be ridden. In fact, before an animal can be taught to be ridden, it must first be taught just to stand still when held by a rope.

No, they don’t want to hold still, either.

All of that, to be still when held, to stay still when mounted, and to not buck when ridden has to be carefully taught to each and every animal. And generally the first time that such an animal is mounted, he does something violent to try to unmount the mounter.

But Yeshua, the King of the Jews, rode the foal of a donkey that had never been polluted by a human bottom. Like those Philistine milk cows, that young donkey behaved in a very unnatural manner. He didn’t buck, and in spite of being surrounded by hordes of scary, screaming people, he went right down the road where he was supposed to go.

Luk 19
32) Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.
33) As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34) They said, “The Lord needs it.”
35) They brought it to Yeshua. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Yeshua on them.
36) As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way.
37) As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,
38) saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”

Usually if you flap a piece of cloth in front of an equine, even a trained one, he will flap right back. But that crowd put their wraps on that young donkey, and threw them down in front of him, and he didn’t put up a flap at all.

When this multitude saw and heard about Lazarus, then they knew that this was the real deal. They knew that God used Yeshua to do and say great things and the whole multitude, a big boisterous crowd, yelled, “Blessed is the King.” He who was born King of the Jews was received as King of the Jews.

Mat 21
8) A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.
9) The multitudes who went before him, and who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
10) When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
11) The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Yeshua, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Luk 19
39) Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40) He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.”

What an auspicious occasion, leading up to the pivotal event in all human history. All the city of Jerusalem was stirred up and rang out with praise for the One who would give his life for them, although they didn’t know it. And when that humble Lamb meekly went to his own sacrifice, if the crowd hadn’t said “Hosanna!” — then God the Father would have had the rocks shout it out.

Christ gave that crowd a warning.

Luk 19
41) When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it,
42) saying, “If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.
43) For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
44) and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”

That visitation was to come forty years later. Israel had forty years in the wilderness, Nineveh had forty days to repent, and Judea had forty years to accept their king or to meet their fate for refusing him.

After his final entry into Jerusalem, Christ drove the religious merchants out of the temple.

Luk 19
45) He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
46) saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!”
47) He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.
48) They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.

Of course, that temple trade was the basis of Annas’ and Caiaphas’ wealth. So their zeal against Christ wasn’t wholly selfless.

When the chief priests’ men went to capture Yeshua, they expected a battle.

John 18
1) When Yeshua had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.
2) Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Yeshua often met there with his disciples.
3) Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

They came with weapons because they thought he was going to fight back. And Peter did fight back.

John 18
4) Yeshua therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went forth, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”
5) They answered him, “Yeshua of Nazareth.” Yeshua said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
6) When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7) Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Yeshua of Nazareth.”
8) Yeshua answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,”
9) that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.”
10) Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11) Yeshua therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?”

Augustus got his kingdom by the sword but Yeshua got his kingdom by the spirit, not the sword. So he stuck Malchus’ ear back on.

Luk 22
50)  A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51)  But Yeshua answered, Let me at least do this and he touched his ear, and healed him.

Malchus was a servant of the high priest Caiaphas, who was ordered by the high priest to do his dirty work. In doing that work, Malchus suddenly had his ear cut off.

Then he had it put back on.

Wonder what he thought about all that?

The Robe is a 1942 historical novel about the Crucifixion of Christ, one of the best-selling books of the 1940s, later made into a famous movie. It’s a made up story about a soldier who won Christ’s robe – The Robe. Somebody might write a similar book about Malchus and call it The Ear.

Luk 22
52)  Yeshua said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
53)  When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Notice that the chief priests, the Sadducees, and the elders, the Pharisees, were the power of darkness. Appropriately, they operated at night. The Jewish religious leaders captured Yeshua at night because the Hosanna multitudes were not out in the darkness. Then, as morning broke, the religious forces led the Messiah first to the high priest emeritus, old man Annas.

John 18
12) So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Yeshua and bound him,
13) and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14) Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

Suddenly we have a tremendous conflict for all the multitude that had shouted Hosanna.

What conflict?

The True Church had arrested the True Prophet.

Although most people there did not know Yeshua was the Messiah, many did view him as a prophet through whom God worked. ‘There’s Lazarus standing right over there!’ But we also have to appreciate how the people viewed the chief priests and the synagogue rulers.

They were the True Church.

The rich young man discussed in Matthew, Mark and Luke was a religious ruler.

Luk 18
18)  A certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He was most likely a synagogue ruler, part of the ministry of the true church, rich, perhaps because of his position. And when Christ said that the rich young ruler would hardly be in the Kingdom of God, the disciples were astonished.

Mar 10
23)  Yeshua looked around, and said to his disciples, How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
24)  The disciples were amazed at his words. But Yeshua answered again, Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
25)  It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.
26)  They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, Then who can be saved?

How could a minister of the true church, graduate of God’s Bible college, and blessed ‘by God’ with great wealth not be in the Kingdom?

As already covered in another chapter, the religious authorities stood in the place of God for the people. God himself had set up the priesthood, even though the current high priests were Roman hirelings. Everyone regularly went to the synagogue, under the control of the Pharisees. The priests and the Pharisees were looked at as the channel to God.

But —

That religious authority had attacked the one who had the real fruits of God, as the blind man had said.

Joh 9
31) We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.
32) Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.
33) If this man were not from God, he could do nothing,…

In all those five centuries that the Jews had been back in the Promised Land, this was the first prophet to do miracles. Moreover, no one had ever done miracles like these.

Joh 9
33) Yeshua answered them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Again, this was an incredible conflict for the multitudes. The True Church had arrested the True Prophet!

Those who had never healed anyone, never raised the dead back to life, never done any miracle at all but who were the established religious authorities had attacked the one — the only one — who had ever done all those. What were the people to think? Should they go by fruits or should they go by the authority of the established religion?

Others have faced a similar conflict, with this thinking.

“Long ago I proved that this was the true church.”

“How did you prove that?”

“Because the true church obeys the commandments of God.”

“When the true church tells to you to break the commandments of God, then what do you do?”

“I break them.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the true church.”

Over the centuries, many in the Roman Catholic Church repeatedly faced that dilemma, when their true church tortured and murdered many good Christians.

Not only did the Jews face a great conflict when the True Church opposed the True Prophet, the Roman soldiers also faced a quandary.

Rome was the soldiers’ political authority but Rome was also their religious authority. Rome purposely combined politics and religion. Religion was just a political tool. If a religion did not support the government, then the government would try to destroy that religion.

For the soldiers, Rome, the emperor and his government and religious trappings, was the true church. Yet here was Yeshua taken captive like a criminal, and nobody could say what he had done wrong. Everyone had heard how he had healed the blind, made the lame walk and raised the dead. Those soldiers had probably even heard about Malchus’ ear. You’d have to be deaf not to hear about that.

So what were the soldiers to do? Should they go by the established religious authority that everybody went by and that they had always gone by, or go by incredibly good, never before seen fruits that had to be from God?

All the multitude who hailed the king when he rode in on a donkey and all the soldiers sent to take this king suddenly had to choose —

What do you do when the True Church goes against true fruits, when established religion goes against true religion?