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?