A Cross the Scriptures, Instrument of Crucifixion, Witnessing to Jehovah Witnesses

[One Baptism]

A Cross the Scriptures, Instrument of Crucifixion, Witnessing to Jehovah Witnesses

Jesus, the “lamb of God” [Genesis 22:8; John 1:29,36; Revelation 5:6, etc] or “Passover” [1 Corinthians 5:7] died, even as the one True Sacrifice [Hebrews, etc], of which all of the shadow/typical/ensamples pointed to [Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5, 10:1, etc].

While that is the most important thing to consider above all, it is not the only thing to consider, since the Holy Spirit, even the “another Comforter” [John 14:16], yes, “the Spirit of Truth” [James 4:17], would lead us into all truth [John 15:26, 16:13].

A question has been asked,

What was the shape of the instrument by which Jesus was Crucified by the Romans?, in other words, was it in the shape of the T[au], t[ee], the 'x', 'y', or was it merely an single upright stake/pole/pallisade, or something else?

While this question is truly secondary to the original and greater reality of Jesus death, and the plan of redemption itself and what it means to God, the Heavenlies and us, there is no reason to consider this question to be invalid, or unworthy of consideration, nor ultimately unimportant, and if to be considered truly and most prayerfully, then what implications or even direct lessons can we learn from the answer to the question, out of/from the Word of God, for everything written is there for a purpose, even for our learning and instruction:

2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We could begin by citing all manner of facts from history, etc, but let us begin with the Word of God, and then verify through history, since the Bible is the criterion for Truth, and all evidence found cannot disagree with it, since it is written:

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalms 12:6 - The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Isaiah 8:20 - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Titus 1:2 - “... God, that cannot lie ...”

Hebrews 6:18 - “... impossible for God to lie ...”

Proverbs 8:7 - For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

1 Peter 2:22 - Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Isaiah 45:19 - I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Yet, it is not enough to simply turn to Scripture and point to one example, and turn from those pages, but we much of necessity “search the Scriptures” [John 5:39], and be like the Bereans, which were “more noble than those in Thessalonica” to see if these “things were so” [Acts 17:11], but we must go by the rules of the Bible itself, which is written unto us “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” [Isaiah 28:10,13], and moreso, must be found in the “mouth of two or three witnesses” so that every word “be established” [2 Corinthians 13:1, etc], and so being found in one place of the Prophets, it cannot be found to contradict another, for the spirits of the Prophets are “subject to the Prophets” [1 Corinthians 14:32], which are subject to the Law of God, even the Ten Commandments [Numbers 22:18; Deuteronomy 4:2; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14].

Let us put away any preconceived ideas, and simply take up the Word of God, even prayerfully, and ask God for the Truth of the matter, for if we are seeking Him, His Will, and His Truth, He will give it freely unto us imply for the asking [Luke 11:1-13].

We can know for certain that the Scriptures point us to Christ Jesus, for it is written:

John 5:39 - Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Luke 24:27 - And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

John 1:45 - Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Acts 28:23 - And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Acts 3:18 - But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Let us notice that Acts 3:18, speaks that “all of his [God's] prophets” foretold that “Christ should suffer”. This means we ought to be able to go to the Old Testament to see if it speaks of this suffering, and manner by which Jesus would die. We shall then also consider the New Testament texts, which are built upon the foundation of the Old Testament texts.

 

[One Baptism]

A Cross the Scriptures, Instrument of Crucifixion, Witnessing to Jehovah Witnesses...

Acts 3:18 - But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Let us notice that Acts 3:18, speaks that “all of his [God's] prophets” foretold that “Christ should suffer”. This means we ought to be able to go to the Old Testament to see if it speaks of this suffering, and manner by which Jesus would die. We shall then also consider the New Testament texts, which are built upon the foundation of the Old Testament texts.

Our first texts:

Deuteronomy 21:22 - And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

Deuteronomy 21:23 - His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

The Hebrew word for “tree” in Deuteronomy 21:22,23, is [Hebrew: H6086] “עֵץ” [transliterated] “ëtz”, meaning “[1] tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows; [A] tree, trees; wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax” [Strong's Concordance] which comes from the root word [Hebrew: H6095] “עצה”, [transliterated] “`atsah”, meaning “shut”. The translates Strong's H6086 in the following manner, taken from E-Sword KJC [King James Concordance]:

“Total Occurrences: 334:


wood, 107:


Gen 6:14, Gen 22:3, Gen 22:6-7 (2), Gen 22:9 (2), Exo 7:19, Exo 25:5, Exo 25:10, Exo 25:13, Exo 25:23, Exo 25:28, Exo 26:15, Exo 26:26, Exo 27:1, Exo 27:6, Exo 30:1, Exo 30:5, Exo 35:7, Exo 35:24, Exo 35:33, Exo 36:20, Exo 36:31, Exo 37:1, Exo 37:4, Exo 37:10, Exo 37:15, Exo 37:25, Exo 37:28, Exo 38:1, Lev 1:6-8 (3), Lev 1:12, Lev 1:17, Lev 3:5, Lev 6:12 (2), Lev 11:32, Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6, Lev 14:49, Lev 14:51-52 (2), Lev 15:12, Num 13:20, Num 19:6, Num 31:20, Num 35:18, Deu 4:28, Deu 10:1, Deu 10:3, Deu 19:5, Deu 28:36, Deu 28:64, Deu 29:11, Deu 29:17, Jos 9:21, Jos 9:23, Jos 9:27, Jdg 6:26, 1Sa 6:14, 2Sa 6:5, 2Sa 24:22, 1Ki 6:15, 1Ki 18:23 (2), 1Ki 18:33 (3), 1Ki 18:38, 2Ki 6:4, 2Ki 19:18, 1Ch 21:23, 1Ch 22:4, 1Ch 29:2 (2), 2Ch 2:16, Neh 8:4, Neh 10:34, Neh 13:31, Job 41:27, Pro 26:20-21 (2), Son 3:9 (2), Isa 10:15, Isa 30:33, Isa 45:19-20 (2), Isa 60:17, Jer 5:14, Jer 7:18, Jer 28:13, Jer 46:22, Lam 5:4, Lam 5:13, Eze 15:3, Eze 20:32, Eze 39:10 (2), Eze 41:16, Eze 41:22 (2), Hab 2:19, Hag 1:8, Zec 12:6

tree, 88

Gen 1:11-12 (2), Gen 1:29 (2), Gen 2:9 (3), Gen 2:16-17 (2), Gen 3:1, Gen 3:3, Gen 3:6 (2), Gen 3:11-12 (2), Gen 3:17, Gen 3:22, Gen 3:24, Gen 18:4, Gen 18:8, Gen 40:19, Exo 9:25, Exo 10:5, Exo 15:25, Lev 27:30, Deu 12:2, Deu 19:5, Deu 20:19, Deu 21:22-23 (2), Deu 22:6, Jos 8:29 (2), Jdg 9:10-11 (2), 1Ki 4:33, 1Ki 6:23, 1Ki 6:31-34 (4), 1Ki 14:23, 2Ki 3:19, 2Ki 16:4, 2Ki 17:10, 2Ch 3:5, 2Ch 28:4, Est 2:23, Job 14:7, Job 19:10, Job 24:20, Psa 1:3, Pro 3:18, Pro 11:30, Pro 13:12, Pro 15:4, Son 2:3 (3), Isa 40:20, Isa 44:19 (2), Isa 44:23, Isa 56:3, Isa 57:5, Isa 65:22, Jer 2:20, Jer 3:6, Jer 3:13, Jer 10:3, Jer 11:19, Jer 17:8, Eze 6:13, Eze 15:2 (2), Eze 15:6, Eze 17:24 (4), Eze 20:47 (2), Eze 21:10, Eze 31:8, Eze 34:27, Eze 36:30, Joe 2:22, Hag 2:19

trees, 79

Gen 3:2, Gen 3:8, Gen 23:17, Exo 10:15 (2), Lev 19:23, Lev 23:40 (2), Lev 26:4, Deu 16:20-21 (2), Deu 20:19-20 (3), Deu 28:42, Jos 10:26-27 (3), Jdg 9:8-15 (8), Jdg 9:48, 2Sa 5:11, 1Ki 4:33, 1Ki 10:10-12 (7), 2Ki 3:25, 1Ch 16:33, 1Ch 22:4, 2Ch 9:10-11 (2), Ezr 3:7, Neh 8:15, Neh 9:25, Neh 10:35, Neh 10:37, Psa 74:5, Psa 96:12, Psa 104:16, Psa 105:33, Psa 148:9, Ecc 2:5-6 (2), Son 2:3, Son 4:14, Isa 7:2, Isa 10:19, Isa 44:14, Isa 55:12, Jer 7:20, Eze 15:2 (2), Eze 15:6, Eze 17:24, Eze 20:28, Eze 31:4-5 (2), Eze 31:8-9 (3), Eze 31:14-16 (3), Eze 31:18 (2), Eze 47:7, Joe 1:12 (2), Joe 1:19

timber, 23

Exo 31:5, Lev 14:45, 1Ki 5:6, 1Ki 5:8 (2), 1Ki 5:18, 1Ki 6:10, 1Ki 15:22, 2Ki 12:12, 2Ki 22:6, 1Ch 14:1, 1Ch 22:14-15 (2), 2Ch 2:8-10 (3), 2Ch 2:14, 2Ch 16:6, 2Ch 34:11, Neh 2:8, Eze 26:12, Hab 2:11, Zec 5:4

stick, 9

2Ki 6:6, Lam 4:8, Eze 37:16-17 (4), Eze 37:19 (3)

gallows, 8

Est 5:14 (2), Est 6:4, Est 7:9-10 (2), Est 8:7, Est 9:13, Est 9:25

sticks, 5

Num 15:32-33 (2), 1Ki 17:10, 1Ki 17:12, Eze 37:20

carpenters, 3

2Ki 12:11 (2), 1Ch 14:1

staff, 3

2Sa 21:19, 2Sa 23:7, 1Ch 20:5

stock, 2

Jer 2:27, Jer 10:8

stocks, 2

Jer 3:8-9 (2), Hos 4:12

carpenter, 1

Isa 44:12-13 (2)

helve, 1

Deu 19:5

pine, 1

Neh 8:15

planks, 1

Eze 41:25

stalks, 1

Jos 2:6”

 

[One Baptism]

The “tree”, as a whole itself, is made up of “sticks” [Hebrew: H6086, same as the word “tree” in Deuteronomy 21:22,23], see Numbers 15:32,33:

Numbers 15:32 - And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

Numbers 15:33 - And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

These “sticks”, or the various parts of the whole “Tree”, in Scripture, are known as the:

[1] Root: [Deuteronomy 29:18; Judges 5:14; 1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 19:30; 2 Chronicles 7:20; Job 5:3, 8:17, 14:8, 18:16, 19:28, 28:9, 29:29, 30:4, 31:12; Psalms 52:5, 80:9; Proverbs 12:3,12; Isaiah 5:24, 11:1,10, 14:29,30, 27:6, 37:31, 40:24, 53:2; Jeremiah 1:10, 12:2, 17:8; Ezekiel 17:6,7,9, 31:7; Daniel 4:15,23,26, 7:6, 11:7; Hosea 9:16, 14:5; Amos 2:9; Malachi 4:1; Matthew 3:10, 13:6,21,29; Mark 4:6,17, 11:20; Luke 3:9, 8:13, 17:6; Romans 11:16,17,18, 15:12; 1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 12:15; Jude 1:12; Revelation 5:5, 22:16].

A “root” is that part of the “tree” which is generally “in the earth” [Daniel 4:15,23], and “beneath” [Job 18:16; Amos 2:9] or “under” [Ezekiel 17:6] the soil, or “spreadeth out … by the river” [Jeremiah 17:8], often “wrapped about the heap … the place of stones” [Job 8:17].

Any “tree” which was “cut down”, by “the axe” which is “laid unto the root of the trees” [Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9] or “plucked up by the roots” [Psalms 52:5; Daniel 7:8; Jude 1:12], it is “twice dead” [Jude 1:12], having no hope, it is even as the “second death” [Revelation 2:10, 20:6,14, 21:8].

[2] Stock [Stump, Shoot, Shaft, Stalk, Stem]: [Genesis 41:5,22; Exodus 37:17; Leviticus 25:47; Joshua 2:6; 1 Samuel 5:4; Job 14:8; Isaiah 11:1, 40:24, 44:19; Jeremiah 2:27, 3:9, 10:8; Ezekiel 31:14; Daniel 4:15,23,26, Hosea 4:12, 8:7; Acts 13:26; Philippians 3:5].

As it is written, if a “tree” but cut down, yet not to the root, but to even to the Stump with roots left intact in the earth, it still has hope, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” [Job 14:7].

King Nebuchadnezzar [II] of [Neo] Babylon, was “purge[d]” [pruned; John 15:2] in such a way [Daniel 4:15,23,26], and was delivered from destruction, and shall be in the Kingdom of Heaven [Daniel 4:1-3,36,37].

[3] Branch[es] [Bough, Rod]: [Genesis 30:37,38,39,41, 40:10,12, 49:22; Exodus 4:2,4,17,20, 7:9,10,12,15,17,29,20, 8:5,16,17, 9:23, 10:13, 14:16, 17:5,9, 21:20, 25:31,32,33,35,36, 37:17,18,19,21,22; Leviticus 23:40, 27:32; Numbers 13:23, 17:2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10, 20:8,9,11; Deuteronomy 24:20; Judges 9:48,49; 1 Samuel 14:27,43; 2 Samuel 7:14, 18:9; Nehemiah 8:15; Job 8:6, 9:34, 14:7,9, 15:30,32, 18:16, 21:9, 29:19; Psalms 2:9, 23:4, 74:2, 80:10,11,15, 89:32, 104:12, 110:2, 125:3; Proverbs 10:13, 11:28, 13:24, 14:3, 22:8,15, 23:13,14, 26:3, 29:15; Song of Songs [Solomon] 7:8; Isaiah 4:2, 9:4,14, 10:5,15,24,26,33, 11:1,4, 14:19,29, 16:8, 17:6,9, 18:5, 19:15, 25:5, 27:10,11, 28:27, 30:31, 60:21; Jeremiah 1:11, 10:16, 11:16, 23:5, 33:15, 48:17, 51:19; Lamentations 3:1; Ezekiel 7:10,11, 8:17, 15:2, 17:3,6,7,8,22,23, 19:10,11,12,14, 20:37, 21:10,13, 31:3,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14, 36:8; Daniel 4:12,14,21, 11:7; Hosea 11:6, 14:6; Joel 1:7; Micah 5;1, 6:9, 7:14; Nahum 2:2; Zechariah 3:8, 4;12, 6:12; Malachi 4:1; Matthew 13:32, 21:8, 24:32; Mark 4:32, 11:8, 13:28; Luke 13:19; John 12:13, 15:2,4,5,6; Romans 11:16,17,18,19,21,24; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 2:27, 11:1, 12:5, 19:15; see also “barked” [Joel 1:7]; see also “beam” [Genesis 19:8 [roof]; 1 Kings 6:6,9,36, 7:2,3,12; 2 Kings 6:2,5; 2 Chronicles 3:7; Nehemiah 2:8, 3:3,6; Psalms 104:3; Song of Songs [Solomon] 1:7]]

[4] Leaf[ves]: [Genesis 3:7, 8:11; Leviticus 26:36; 1 King 6:34; Job 13:25; Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 1:30, 6:13, 34:4, 64:6; Jeremiah 8:13, 17:8, 36:23; Ezekiel 17:9, 41:24, 47:12; Daniel 4:12,14,21; Matthew 21:19, 24:32; Mark 11:13, 13:28; Revelation 22:2]

[5] Knop [Bud[s, ded]]: [Genesis 40:10; Exodus 25:31,33,34,35,36, 37:17,19,20,21,22; Numbers 17:8; 1 Kings 6:18, 7:24; Job 14:9, 38:27; Psalms 132:17; Song of Songs [Solomon] 6:11, 7:12; Isaiah 18:5, 27:6, 55:10, 61:11; Ezekiel 7:10, 16:7, 29:21; Hosea 8:7; Hebrews 9:4; see also “lintel” [Amos 9:1; Zephaniah 2:14]]

[6] Flower [Blossom]: [Exodus 25:31,33,34, 37:17,19,20; Leviticus 15:24,33; Numbers 8:4, 17:5; 1 Samuel 2:33; 1 Kings 6:18,29,32,35, 7:26,49; 2 Chronicles 4:5,21; Song of Songs [Solomon] 2:12, 5:13; Job 14:2, 15:33; Psalms 103:15; Isaiah 5:24, 18:5, 27:6, 28:1,4, 35:1,2, 40:6,7,8; Nahum 1:4; Habakkuk 3:17; 1 Corinthians 7:36; James 1:10,11; 1 Peter 1:24]

[7] Fruit: [Genesis 1:11,12,29, 3:2,3,6, 4:3, 30:2, 43:11; Exodus 10:15, 21:22, 22:29, 23:10; Leviticus 19:23,24,25, 23:39, 25:3,15,,16,19,21,22, 26:4,20, 27:30; Numbers 13:20,26,27; Deuteronomy 1:25, 7:13, 11:17, 22:9, 26:2, 28:4,11,18,33,40,42,51,53, 30:9, 33:14; Joshua 5:12; Judges 9:11; 2 Samuel 9:10, 16:1,2; 2 Kings 8:6, 19:19,29,30; Nehemiah 9:25,36, 10:35,37; Job 31:39; Psalms 1:3, 21:10, 72:16, 92:14, 104:13, 105:35, 107:37, 127:3, 132:11; Proverbs 1:31, 8:19, 10:16, 11:30, 12:12,14, 13:2, 18:20,21, 27:18, 31:16,31; Ecclesiastes 2:5; Song of Songs [Solomon] 2:3, 4:13,16, 6:11, 7:13, 8:11,12; Isaiah 3:10, 4:2, 10:12, 13:18, 14:29, 16:9, 27:6,9, 28:4, 33:9, 37:30,31, 40:10,12, 48:32, 57:19, 65:21; Jeremiah 2:7, 6:19, 7:20, 11:16,19, 12:2, 17:8,10, 21:14, 29:5,28, 32:19; Lamentations 2:20, 4:9; Ezekiel 17:8,9,23, 19:12,14, 25:4, 34:27, 36:8,11,30, 47:12; Daniel 4:12,14,21; Hosea 9:16, 10:1,13, 14:8; Joel 2:22; Amos 2:9, 6:12, 7:14, 8:1,2, 9:14; Micah 6:7, 7:1,13; Habakkuk 3:17; Haggai 1:10; Zechariah 8:12; Malachi 1:12, 3:11; Matthew 3:8,10, 7:16,17,18,19,20, 12:33, 13:8,23,26, 21:19,34,41,43, 26:29; Mark 4:7,8,20,28,29, 11:14, 12:2, 14:25; Luke 1:42, 3:8,9, 6:43,44, 8:8,14,15, 12:17,18, 13:6,7,9, 20:10, 22:18; John 4:36, 12:24, 15:2,4,5,8,16; Acts 2:30; Romans 1:13, 6:21,22, 7:4,5, 15:28; 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11,22, 4:17; Colossians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 12:11, 13:15; James 3:17,18, 5:7,18; Jude 1:12; Revelation 18:14, 22:2; see also “firstfruit” [Exodus 23:16,19, 34:22,26; Leviticus 2:12,14, 23:10,17,20; Numbers 18:12, 28:26; Deuteronomy 18:4, 26:10; 2 Kings 4:42; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:35,37, 12:44, 13:31; Proverbs 3:9; Jeremiah 2:3; Ezekiel 20:40, 44:30, 48:14; Romans 8:23, 11:16, 16:5; 1 Corinthians 15:20,23, 16:15; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4]]

[8] Seed: [Genesis 1:11,12,29, 3:15, 4:25, 7:3, 9:9, 12:7, 13:15,16, 15:3,5,13,18, 16:10, 17:7,8,9,10, 12,19, 19:32,34, 21:12,13, 22:17,18, 24:7,60, 26:3,4,24, 28:4,13,14, 32:12, 35:12, 38:8,9, 46:6,7, 47:19,23,24, 48:4,11,19; Exodus 16:31, 28:43, 30:21, 32:13, 33:1; Leviticus 11:37,38, 12:2, 15:16,17,18,32, 18:21, 19:19, 20:2,3,4, 21:15,17,21, 22:3,4, 26:16, 27:16,30; Numbers 5:28, 11:7, 14:24, 16:40, 18:19, 20:5, 24:7, 25:13; Deuteronomy 4:37, 10:15, 11:9,10, 14:22, 22:9, 28:38,46,59, 30:6,19, 31:21, 34:4; Joshua 24:3; Ruth 4:12; 1 Samuel 2:20, 8:15, 20:42, 24:21; 2 Samuel 4:8, 7:12, 22:51; 1 Kings 2:33, 11:14,39, 18:32; 2 Kings 5:27, 11:1, 17:20, 25:25; 1 Chronicles 16:13, 17:11; 2 Chronicles 20:7, 22:10; Ezra 2:59, 9:2; Nehemiah 7:61, 9:2,8; Esther 6:13, 9:27,28,31, 10:3; Job 5:25, 21:8, 39:12; Psalms 18:50, 21:10, 22:23,30, 25:13, 37:25,26,28, 69:36, 89:4,29,36, 102:28, 105:6, 106:27, 112:2, 126:6; Proverbs 11:21; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Isaiah 1:4, 5:10, 6:13, 14:20, 17:11, 23:3, 30:23, 41:8, 43:5, 44:3, 45:19,25, 48:19, 53:10, 54:3, 55:10, 57:3,4, 59:21, 61:9. 65:9,23, 66:22; Jeremiah 2:21, 7:15, 22:28,30, 23:8, 29:32, 30:10, 31:27,36,37, 33:22,26, 35:7,9, 36:31, 41:1, 46:27, 49:10; Ezekiel 17:5,13, 20:5, 43:19, 44:22; Daniel 1:3, 2:43, 9:1; Joel 1:17; Amos 9:13; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 8:12; Malachi 2:3,15; Matthew 13:4,19,20,22,23,24,27,31,32,37,38, 17:20, 22:24; Mark 4:26,27,31, 12:19,20,21,22; Luke 1:55, 8:5,11, 13:19, 17:6, 20:28; John 7:42, 8:33,37; Acts 3:25, 7:5,6, 13:23; Romans 1:3, 4:13,16,18, 9:7,8,29, 11:1; 1 Corinthians 15:38; 2 Corinthians 9:10, 11:22; Galatians 3:16,19,29; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 2:16, 11:11,18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9; Revelation 12:17]

Further, it is written, any “tree” can only bring forth after its “kind” [Genesis 1:11,12]:

Matthew 7:17 - Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18 - A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 7:19 - Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 12:33 - Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Luke 6:43 - For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

 

[One Baptism]

Paul the Apostle, in the New Testament quotes Deuteronomy 21:22,23, in regards to the “tree” that Jesus was hung upon, when he writes:

Galatians 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Peter does the same, recorded by Luke, in reference:

Acts 5:30 - - The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 10:39 - And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Other examples, of others in the Old Testament “hanged on a tree” are found in Genesis 40:19; Joshua 8:29; Esther 2:23.

Now, since it is written, in many places in Scripture, that any “tree”, including the “tree”, as Paul writes and cites, upon which Jesus was hung, is not simply made up of a “root”, nor a “stump”, nor a “seed”, nor a “flower”, nor a “fruit”, nor a “knop”, nor a “leaf[ves]”, but incorporating them all, then so also includes, the “branches” which come off of the “stump” [trunk], and for the cross this is known commonly as the 'transverse' or 'transom' “patibulum”, which Jesus carried, further reading, may be done here, for the historical uses of it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_of_Jesus'_crucifixion .

Let us remember, that Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” [John 5:39]

Jesus hands were “stretched out”, on this “tree”, even to the “right hand” and to the “left”:

Psalms 88:9 - Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

Romans 10:21 - But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Matthew 27:38 - Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

For it is written of Jesus:

Psalms 22:12 - Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

Psalms 22:13 - They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

Psalms 22:14 - I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Psalms 22:15 - My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psalms 22:16 - For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Psalms 22:17 - I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

Psalms 22:18 - They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

And further:

Matthew 27:37 - And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

For Jesus “hands” were “pierced” by the “nails” [plural], one nail in the right hand, the other in the left, while the accusation, His title, above:

John 20:25 - The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Jesus opened his arms wide, as “far as the east is from the west” in His love, to deliver and save:

Psalms 103:10 - He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Psalms 10:3:11 - For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalms 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

For the Scriptures declare that He would deliver by His “mighty hand” and “out stretched arm”.

The Scriptures declare that though there was the “tree of life” in the Garden of Eden on earth [Genesis 2:9, 3:22,24], but also seen in Heaven [Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 2:7, 22:2,14]. Yet, the Scriptures speak of other “tree of life”:

Wisdom is a Tree of Life:

Proverbs 3:18 - She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The Fruit of Righteouness, is a Tree of Life:

Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Hope, when it comes, is a Tree of Life:

Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Whom is our Blessed Hope?

Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

A Wholesome Tongue is a Tree of Life:

Proverbs 15:4 - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Wherein is a Wholesome Tongue, but He that speaks the Word?

2 Samuel 23:2 - The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

1 Timothy 6:3 - If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Yet, even of these, they speak of Jesus the Christ, crucified upon the cross.

 

[One Baptism]

The True Tree of Life, is Jesus Christ:

John 1:4 - In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Matthew 7:17 - Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18 - A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Luke 6:43 - For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Luke 6:44 - For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Luke 23:31 - For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Acts 5:30 - The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 10:39 - And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Acts 13:29 - And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

Galatians 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

What is the Fruit of the Tree?

Song of Solomon - As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Genesis 1:11 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

[1] James 3:18 - And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Hebrews 12:11 - Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Amos 6:12 - Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

Philippians 1:11 - Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

[2] Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

[3] Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

[4-10] Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

[11] James 3:11 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

[12] Matthew 3:8 - Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

1 Corinthians 15:23 - But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

The Seed is Christ:

Galatians 3:16 - Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Planted in the soil of the Heart, that it may grow up into a tree after its kind, bearing much fruit to all:

Matthew 13:19 - When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Where was the Tree of Life planted? In the Garden, even the Heart of man, which God created to be a Garden... where God was to walk, as the Garden outwardly, so the one inwardly [see also Song of Songs [Solomon, etc]] ...

Genesis 2:10 - And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

John 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

[Just as there were 4 in Eden, the number 4 being of meaning 'universal', springing up from within, from Christ, going out unto all the earth from us... bringing life to others in His name.]

Proverbs 11:25 - The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Isaiah 58:11 - And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Jeremiah 31:12 - Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Isn't it interesting that when Man sinned, thorns and thistles grew?

And as the sin of mankind increases, the whole creation groans and travails, and the other creatures become more diseased and sick? See Hosea 4 and Romans 8:22, etc

That Tree of Life:

Deuteronomy 21:23 - His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.

Acts 5:30 - The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 10:39 - And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

1 Corinthians 2:2 - For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 6:14 - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

[One Baptism]

Let us consider a Scriptural Example of the Shape -

Jesus himself said, speaking in another manner:

John 15:1 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

And since Jesus is “the vine”, it climbs up and supported by wood, and stretches out its tendrils along the trellises.

Notice:

Source - http://www.northwest-wine.com/trellis-gdc-350p.jpg

Source - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ph-6e7DPwD8/UidSIgE32mI/AAAAAAAAMdA/XIhSSb2jd6o/s640/grape+trellis.jpg

Source - https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.4CpHlPR3L9ijJFPtBTecSg&pid=15.1&P=0

 

[One Baptism]

These are not the only examples we may see in Scripture, but let us look further, even in Type:

The Sanctuary, the Pattern/Type given by God, reveals the Cross itself, let us take a look:

[It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Hebrews 9:23

The "earthly" tabernacle, "the tupos", the type or plan, being "patterned" after the "heavenly":

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Acts 7:44

And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount. Exodus 26:30

… they, tabernacle in the wilderness, and that which went with it, were merely the "patterns of things in the heavens", which could not truly be "purified" with those typological sacrifices ...

… but, says the Holy Scriptures, the Heavenly Sanctuary, the True Tabernacle, "which the Lord pitched and not man", "the heavenly things themselves", could and must be "purified" with "better sacrifices" than the typological/shadowy ones ...

According to all that I shew thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make [it]. Exodus 25:9

And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. Exodus 25:40

And this work of the candlestick [was of] beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, [was] beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick. Numbers 8:4

All [this, said David], the LORD made me understand in writing by [his] hand upon me, [even] all the works of this pattern. 1 Chronicles 28:19

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Ephesians 1:20

Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; Hebrews 8:1

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. Hebrews 8:2

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 8:5

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands..." Hebrews 9:11;p

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 9:24

Tupos = type, pattern. Strong's G5179 - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5179&t=

See Romans 5:14, Adam was the "figure" of Him who was to come.

See 1 Corinthians 10:6,11 "ensample" is the tupos, of that which we are to learn from, the "pattern".

Skia = shadow, not the substance. Strong's G4639 - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4639&t=

See Colossians 2:17, shadow of the types, see Hebrews 10:1

See Hebrews 8:5, earthly priests and High Priests, but a type pointing to Christ Jesus own Priesthood and High Priesthood

See Hebrews 10:1, shadow of the types, see Colossians 2:17

AntiTupos = antitype, reality which is greater than the type/shadow. Strong's G499 - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G499&t=

See Hebrews 9:24:

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"

see also 1 Peter 3:21.

The pattern of the Sanctuary, the very places of the Sanctuary itself, demonstrate the pattern of Jesus suffering and sacrifice.

Beginning at the outer court, we have the Altar of Burnt Offering. Moving from there, we come to the Laver of Blood/Water. From thence in the outer court, we move through the veil into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary, and immediately to our right hand is the Table of Shew Bread, and to our left is then the 7 Branch Golden Candlestick, and ahead of us is the Altar of Incense. Moving past these, through the second veil, into the Most Holy Place, we come to the Ark of the Covenant and the Law of God therein. These are in the Pattern of the Cross itself. In each place, Christ Jesus received a wound.

[1] Altar of Burnt Offering – Jesus was pierced in the Feet, by a nail.

[2] Laver of Blood Water – Jesus was pierced in His Side, by a spear, out then came blood and water.

[3] Table of Shew Bread – Jesus was pierced in the Right Hand, by a nail.

[4] 7 Branch Golden Candlestick – Jesus was pierced in the Left Hand, by a nail.

[5] Altar of Incense – Jesus died of a Broken Heart, wounded by the sin of mankind.

[6] Ark of the Covenant – Jesus was pierced in the Head, by the Crown of Thorns He wore.

Image Source: http://www.lightministries.com/SDA/6a8b2bf0.jpg

Image Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6wnmN6pkj0/UidgjgxrVKI/AAAAAAAAAFE/9FDBEBXSFTw/s1600/Sanctuary.jpg

There is much, much more in this Pattern given of God, yes, even the whole plan of Salvation/Redemption, and for that, I will recommend presently for further study, Ivor Myers Blueprint, and more later if needed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPTtslMKZVg

 

[One Baptism]

Let us now turn quickly to Prophecy, and see the Pattern again:

Isaiah 28:16,17.

Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:17 - Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Can any not see Christ Jesus in vs 16 [compare to Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:8, etc], but what more in vs 17!

Judgment also will I lay to the line... What is a line?, it is a measuring tool upon the horizontal... as far as the east is from the west; eternal in either direction, relationship of man to man, straight

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and righteousness to the plummet... What is a plummet?, it is a measuring tool upon the vertical, binding Heaven and earth together [Genesis 1:1, vav, aleph, tav]; from highest to lowest, relationship of man to God, straight

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And both together...

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The Justice and Righteousness of God, the very Love of God, meet there, forever demonstrated before all the universe... the truest standard of measurement, the perfect 'meter' - God' love, God is love....

 

[One Baptism]

There is more, much more, let us look and see, even in the very lives of the Patriarchs themselves:

Moses and Joshua, Aaron and Hur; Exodus 17.

Exodus 17:9 - And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

Exodus 17:10 - So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Exodus 17:11 - And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Exodus 17:12 - But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Exodus 17:13 - And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

[A.] Moses, representing Jesus as deliverer, goes atop a hill, where all may see him [Exodus 17:9].

Jesus was taken to the hill of the Skull, Golgotha [Mark 15:22; John 19:17], where all may see him [Isaiah 45:22; John 12:32].

[B.] Moses, representing Jesus as deliverer, has two persons beside him, one on the Right, the other on the Left [Exodus 17:12].

Jesus, was crucified between two persons, one of the Right hand, the other on the left [Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33; John 19:18].

[C.] Moses, representing Jesus as deliverer, was victorious for his people, so long as his hands remained outstretched and steady, until the going down of the sun [Exodus 17:12].

Jesus, whose arms and hands were each outstretched, with a “nail” [“as a nail in a sure place”; Isaiah 22:23,25] in each hand, whose “bones were out of joint”, even “as far as the east is from the west”, that they could not move, were steady, yes even till the going down of the sun [the “ninth hour”; approx 3 PM] on the preparation day, just before the 7th Day Sabbath of the Lord God and feast sabbath began together, his victory assured, memorialized forever. Just as Joshua was victorious, this Joshua was too, over the real enemies of God, delivering the people with “mighty hand” and “outstretched arm”.

Such a great sacrifice that God has made, for us, to deliver us from the power of sin, satan and self.

 

[One Baptism]

Samson; Judges 16. - https://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jdg&c=16&t=

[A.] Just as Samson, representing Jesus as deliverer, was born specially, by promise from God, to a woman which could not bare, and he was to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and to be dedicated to the Lord from birth to death, and to be deliverer of the people [Judges 13].

Jesus, a holy child, was born of the virgin Mary, by Holy Ghost, to be dedicated to the Lord forever [Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27,30], and to be the Saviour and deliverer of all people, who would accept the sacrifice [Matthew 1:21; Acts 13:23; Romans 11:26, etc].

[B.] Just as Samson, representing Jesus as deliverer, was attempted to be taken many times by his enemies, but could not be until betrayed by a woman [harlot] he loved, for silver [Judges 16:5,18; even as the type of Christ, Joseph was sold/betrayed by Juda for silver [Genesis 37:27,28]], into the hands of his enemies as a slave, even though he had “shewed [her] all his heart” [Judges 16:18].

Jesus, also could not be taken, until his appropriate time [Daniel 9:24-27, in the Year AD 31, in the First Month, Aviv/Nisan, on the 14th Day of the Month, being the 6th Day of the week [aka Friday, preparation day], dying at the 9th hour [roughly 3 PM, the time of the evening Sacrifice], to enter into the 7th Day the Sabbath rest of Creation/Redemption] betrayed by a woman [the harlot Church, physical Israel, even at the hands of Judas], for silver [Zechariah 11:12,13; Matthew 26:15, 27:3], into the hands of the enemy, for the price of a slave [Matthew 27:9].

[C.] Just as Samson, representing Jesus as deliverer, carried “the bar” of the “gate” [the place of judgment], even the great weight, across his “shoulders”, up to the top of a “hill” [Judges 16:3].

Jesus, also carried the cross [John 19:17], after a manner [Simon of Cyrene, being an example for us, to take up that Cross and bear it for Jesus; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23], up to the hill of Golgotha [Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17], the place of the Skull, bearing the weight of the not merely the cross, but the sins of the whole world [Isaiah 63:9], the government and judgment should be upon his shoulders [Isaiah 9:6, 22:22].

[D.] Just as Samson, representing Jesus as deliverer, was blinded [Judges 16:21], that he could not see, and was ill-treated and mocked of his enemies [Judges 16:25], the LORD being departing from him [Judges 16:20].

Jesus, also was blind-folded [Luke 22:64], that he could not see, and was ill-treated and mocked of his enemies [Job 12:4; Matthew 27:29,31; Mark 15:20; Luke 23:11,36], apparently forsaken of God [Psalms 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34].

[E.] Just as Samson, representing Jesus as deliverer, then in the last moments of his life, was taken out, placed between two pillars [Judges 16:25] and leaned upon them with his hands outstretched, to the right and to the left [Judges 16:29], east and west, praying [Judges 16:28], and dying with the enemies [Judges 16:30], destroyed the Temple [Judges 16:30], slaying his enemies more in his death, than in his life.

Jesus, also then was placed between two persons, one of the Right hand, the other on the left [Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33; John 19:18]. Jesus said that He would destroy the Temple [John 2:19], by which he slays in/by his death the enmity between God and mankind [Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 2;16, etc], forever magnifying the Law of God, making it honourable [Isaiah 42:21], demonstrating its eternality. His hands and arms outstretched, with a “nail” [“as a nail in a sure place”; Isaiah 22:23,25] in each hand, whose “bones were out of joint”, even “as far as the east is from the west” to save and deliver, even unto a gainsaying people.

 

[One Baptism]

There are many historical evidences which reveal that Jesus died not merely upon a 'stake', but truly a stake with a cross beam, for even the sources which the Watch Tower and Tract society uses, demonstrates this.

For example, the Watch Tower and Tract Society, cites Justus Lipsius' work “De Cruce Liber Primus” and cite* merely one small section of the work, pointing to a possible type of crucifixion that was historically known, this being the Crux Simplex, Page 19, seen here - http://brooklyn.org.pl/00000003.gif or here - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Justus_Lipsius_Crux_Simplex_1629.jpg , which is also seen in a more modern rendition, in the WTS material “What does the Bible really Teach?”, Page 52 [to which I had been given a copy of from a Jehovah's Witness, whom I knew briefly,and fully read], and also may be seen here - http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A86....bh_E.pdf/RK=0/RS=7JHiaeOMDV.o0LIgpcgGRpvWd0c- .

Yet Justus Lipsius work cites many types of crucifixions, that were historically known and used, not simply the one pointed out by the WTS, and he also does not point to the Crux Simplex as the one Jesus was crucified upon, but rather to another, being one with a cross beam, as may be seen here [Begin on Scanned Pages 1157-1234] - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1172/mode/2up

- Specifically see Pages [*the links work, but sometimes give a "Metadata File Not found!", just retry, may take a few times, not sure why this error occurs*, here is the link to overview source, just in case - https://archive.org/details/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog ]:

Page 1174 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1173/mode/1up
Page 1176 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1175/mode/1up
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Page 1179 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1178/mode/1up
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Page 1203 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1202/mode/1up
Page 1216 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1215/mode/1up
Page 1218 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1217/mode/1up
Page 1220 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1219/mode/1up
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Page 1223 - https://archive.org/stream/operaomniapostr00lipsgoog#page/n1222/mode/1up

* “... the Watchtower's 1985 Kingdom Interlinear Translation, of which the above woodcut is shown as an illustration:

"`Cross'" is only a later meaning of crux. A single stake for impalement of a criminal was called in Latin crux simplex. One such instrument of torture is illustrated by Justus Lipsius (1547-1606) in his book De cruce libri tres, Antwerp, 1629, p. 19, which we here present. ... Crux simplex illustrated."” - http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060094
[and for more on that work, see here] - http://jesusisyhwh.blogspot.com/2008/03/justus-lipsius-de-cruce-liber-tres.html

Looking at the Scriptural evidences again, we can see that the very word “tree” in Deuteronomy 21:22,23, as cited before, and requoted in the New Testament by Luke, Paul [Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29; Galatians 3:13, etc], and Peter [1 Peter 2:24], does indeed refer to “tree”, as we find the same word used in Genesis 1:11. This is the first time that this word is used, and the first use, in Scripture, generally defines the meaning. In the word secondary uses, it also can mean that “wood”, or “sticks”, etc which come from the “tree”, and we can know also, from the very fact that in the beginning, there was no items separate from trees like lumber, for there was no need, in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, anything which came from the “tree” is simply derivative of it. The last use in the Scripture of the Greek equivalent, also refers to a literal “tree”, even the “tree of life”, again found in the Garden. This is one of the principles of Scripture. First and Last usages, even the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending...

The “tree of life” in the Beginning, the “tree of life” in the ending, and the “tree” of “Life” in the center, the Cross of Jesus and Him Crucified, spreading its saving shadow and cover, from the heat and fiery fury of the wrath of God to come.

Even The Ten Commandments of God dealing with the Vertical and Horizontal relationships, God to Man or Man to God, and the other Man to Man. In transgression of His Holy Law, mankind not only became separated from God, they also became disunified from one another.

 

[One Baptism]

Some have said:

As for death resulting from being nailed up, the most popular thought is that the Messiah would die of suffocation/asphyxiation... However, the Scripture says nothing about Christ dying of "suffocation/asphyxiation", but rather it expresses He died of a great sorrow of heart, and separation, because of our sin, from the Father and Holy Spirit.

Therefore, without in any way saying that any given scientific articles about crucifixion in general is bad, but that the apriori that Christ must have died in that manner is incorrect, and thus, while the science is fine in its specific demonstration, it fails to address the Scriptures in what they themselves portray. We are not dealing in "popular" belief, but rather - Truth.

Matthew 27:45 - Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mark 15:33 - And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:34 - And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This is citing Psalms 22, to which Jesus directed us:

Psalm 22:1 - [[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?

Psalm 22:2 - O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Psalm 22:24 - For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. etc.

Therefore, all the science which declares a man may indeed suffocate in such a manner being upraised, accurate in its details as may be as demonstrated, is not the Scriptural account at all. Notice where the weight of the sin of the world, already begun to come upon Christ Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Isaiah 53:4 - Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Matthew 26:38 - Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Mark 14:34 - And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

Luke 22:44 - And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Notice please, that Jesus was not suffocating, and dying for lack of breath, for He cries out loud so the whole country side could hear him, even after many hours [3rd hour to 9th hour, about 9 AM to 3 PM, time of the morning and evening sacrifices] upon the Cross, and spoke clearly many times during the events.

This would not be possible if dying for breath and suffocation, and I am sure the same science which has been so kindly demonstrated would reveal this clearly if sought after more deeply:

Psalm 22:1 - [[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?

Psalm 22:2 - O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

Psalm 22:24 - For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Matthew 27:45 - Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:47 - Some of them that stood there, when they heard [that], said, This [man] calleth for Elias.

Matthew 27:50 - Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mark 15:33 - And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:34 - And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mark 15:35 - And some of them that stood by, when they heard [it], said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

Mark 15:37 - And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:46 - And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

John 19:26 - When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

John 19:27 - Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own [home].

John 19:28 - After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 19:29 - Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth.

John 19:30 - When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Yet, some may digress and attempt to shift the topic to a "pagan" idea:

Yet, we would still need to ascertain what the actual shape of the instrument of torture and death that Christ Jesus was "hanged" upon whether paganism used such a symbol or not.

If any [like the Jehovah's Witnesses] choose not to be associated with such a symbol as the Cross, then this is their choice, but they should know that by simply assaulting this symbol [the Cross], they have left untouched many others which exist in the Watch Tower and Tract Society materials [Divine Plan of the Ages, New Creation, etc] and buildings, like the Winged Sun-disk of Thebes, Pyramids, the W-Fingered Hand, Keys, etc. Also, the "stake" or "pole" used by the WaTch Tower, is also used in pagan and occult ways, for it is the phallic symbol, the male generative principle, such as the Obelisk, Needle, Pyramid, Tower, May-Pole, Yule-log, Totem, and so on. The argument therefore of paganism, is used for both, not merely one.

Yet, none of that would matter so much to us, since even an idol is "nothing" as Paul says, but rather what ought to interest us, is what are the Doctrines that are taught, and are they in harmony with Scripture/Christ Jesus, and that is what is important to us.

Further, the Bible Society itself, along with Mr. Russell were associated with the symbol of the 'cross and crown', a verified symbol of the secret orders and other such things [which include even people of the occult, like citing Johannes Greber]:

Source - http://www.jwfacts.com/images/wt_cov...ts_templar.gif

We can see the "Cross" there, and elsewhere, even amidst the Word "WATCH TOWER" itself, since it caries two "T[aus]" in it.

Therefore, when such is brought up, ask them to please remain focused upon the topic of the subject, and not to become side-tracked with other things.

 

[One Baptism]

If we are called "fools" for so believing, then let us be "fools" after this manner alone:

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And prayerfully and hopefully, all may see the love of God that He has for you, and so also I, and desire you to have the Truth, even as it is written.

If people say, "What does it matter?" after all of that...

Jesus said:

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 17:19 - And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

For Error cannot ever sanctify.

Jesus Himself, also went about correcting error and misunderstanding, and I follow after Him.

Matthew 22:29 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Mark 12:24 - And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Mark 12:27 - "... ye therefore do greatly err." etc.

Jesus is very concerned about right answers:

Luke 7:43 - Simon answered and said, suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Luke 10:26-28 - [26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? [27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. [28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Luke 20:21 - And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If any more come to find more such examples in the Scriptures, in the pattern, let me know!