Who is this coming?

A glimpse of things yet to come.
Journal entry from June 29 through July 6, 2011  

While reading Song of Songs, I was struck by the imagery of chapter 3, verses 6 through 11. The verses were simply pregnant with the future arrival of King Jesus. As I read this passage, more and more Scripture came to mind. Jotting them down, I began to see a bigger scene of the Kingly arrival of Jesus for/or following His marriage to His Bride, the Church. Each piece of Scripture further defined Him. I ran from Revelation to Exodus to Matthew to John and James to Psalms; I compared it to the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic using a Lexicon. I felt like His betrothed, His lover where earlier in chapter 3 she is searching for Him. Looking everywhere until she finds Him, holds Him and won't let go. Do you see Him? Do you see Him coming in all His pageantry and promise?

Here is the entire piece of Scripture - Song of Songs 3:6-11 (NIV):

Who is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

Look! It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Now, look at this Scripture again with all of the relating pieces. 

Who is this coming up from the desert

Who is coming up from the uncultivated, seasonal grasslands; Isaiah 40:6-8 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever." Matthew 6: 29-30 "Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these (lilies of the field). If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

I also see desert as being the wasteland that the tribe of Israel wandered through for 40 years when they left Egypt, which Egypt is a synonym for slavery, bondage to this world and the death it brings. Hosea 11:1 "Out of Egypt I have called my son." The wasteland is also the result of God removing His hedge and wall of protection from His garden/vineyard to be trampled since it is useless where only wild grapes and wild grass grow there. Isaiah 5 
 

Like a column of smoke

Exodus 13:21-22 "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night a pillar of fire to give them light."

perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?

 
Matthew 2:11"Then they (Magi) opened their treasure and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Gold = King; incense/frankincense = priest; myrrh = royal burial, king and priest

(My entry entitled, "The Fragrance of Christ" November 2010)

Exodus 25:6 "...spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,..."

(My entry entitled, "I Love the Old Testament" February 2011)

Exodus 30:7-9 "Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning... he must burn incense again when he lights the lamps... so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come..."

Exodus 30:34-38 "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take the fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha and galbanum - and pure frankincense all in equal amounts and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer... grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the testimony in the Tent of the Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord..."

Verse 3:6 in the English Standard Version
What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?

Look! It's Solomon's carriage

Solomon = the son of David, heir to the throne of David = Messianic title Son of David who is the true heir to the throne of David. Matthew 20:30 "... Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Solomon also means 'Peace' so it could also be read as "Prince of Peace".

(My entry entitled, "Blind Faith" December 2010)

John 18:37 "Jesus answered, 'You are right saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'"

Some commentators say this procession is the Bride going to meet her husband and they gave good explanations for it. But, the Jewish wedding is the groom going to get his bride, with his groom's men accompanying him blowing horns announcing his arrival, "The bridegroom comes!" During the year of betrothal, the husband-to-be builds an addition onto his father's home and when it's complete and his father gives permission, the husband-to-be (the bridegroom) goes with his party to get his bride to bring her back to the place he prepared for her and himself to live. The marriage is consummated at that time. The word carriage translated into couch or bed or chariot. If it was a couch or bed, why would the bride be bringing a bed that her husband made to meet her husband when Jewish tradition is the husband going to claim his bride? It didn't make sense to me so that is why I believe this portion of Scripture depicts the husband - Solomon - going to claim his bride or is of him following his marriage to his bride.

John 14:2-3 "In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." 

escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

Sixty = more than you can count on one hand; kings had fifty+ men run in front of the carriage to signify that the carriage was of a king (1 Kings 1:5)
Sword = Word of God, truth

Hebrew 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Matthew 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Ephesians 6:17 "... and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."

All of Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's scheme. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Revelation 19:14-15 "The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations."

The warriors are experts in spiritual warfare, who have matured into the image of Christ by the Word of God, the truth of God. Looking inwardly, they battled the things that weren't of God with the Truth of God and stood the testing of their faith proven true.

Jesus needs only to speak truth when He returns. The sword that comes from His mouth in Revelation, I believe is the truth of God He speaks. Truth, God's truth, is more powerful than any weapon and will destroy anyone not found to be in God's truth and not covered by Jesus' righteousness.

Hebrews 12:1-13 "Therefore, we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Psalm 91 seems to describe what these warriors and the armies of heaven will face during the second coming of Jesus. Verse 5 also mentions "the terrors at night" which means the imminent threat of attack of an enemy of war.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress
my God, in whom I trust."
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your
shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling -
even the Lord, who is my refuge -
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My Salvation." 

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

King Solomon, Son of David, heir to the throne of David, made for himself a chariot made out of wood, the same wood used to make the temple. 1 Kings 5:6, "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me." To make the chariot himself, Son of David must have been a carpenter. Mark 6:3 "Isn't this the carpenter?" Matthew 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son?"

The description of the carriage is similar to the materials used to make the Tabernacle, where God dwelt with Israel for 40 years in the desert, and the Temple Solomon built for the worship of God. Exodus 25:3-4 "These are the offerings you (Moses) are to receive from them (Israelites): gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn..." Exodus 26:1 "Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman." Exodus 26:19 "... and make forty silver bases to go under them - two bases for each frame..." Exodus 26:29 "Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold." Exodus 26:32 "Hang it with gold hooks on four posts or acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases." Of the Temple's inner sanctuary, Solomon had it, 1 Kings 6:20 "He overlaid the inside with pure gold and he also overlaid the altar of cedar."

The daughters of Jerusalem = women, maidens. 
 

Come out, you daughters of Zion,

This section of Scripture, from the daughters of Jerusalem lovingly inlaying the interior of the carriage with purple - royal - upholstery to the company accompanying the King calling out the daughters of Zion, reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins which follows a discourse where Jesus is explaining end times. Matthew 25:1-13 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

But while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said, 'Open the door for us!'

But he replied, 'I tell you the truth. I don't know you.'

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or hour." 

and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him

Jesus' earthly Mother, Mary, is a bit of an enigma. In some denominations of Christianity, we have placed Mary very low on the scale of importance. In one denomination, she is placed too high given the same seats as Jesus Christ and God Himself. Mary, at a tender teenage year, some say age 16, believed completely God's Word of prophecy to her concerning her role with Messiah. (Luke 1:26-38) During that conversation with God's messenger, the angel describes Mary as, (Luke 1:28) highly favored. She, out of all woman from Eve to the last woman to breathe her last breath, was selected by God Himself to bare, deliver, raise and love His Son, Jesus the Anointed One of God. Amazing, really, when you think about that designation by God of Mary. Yet, Mary also was human and made human mistakes and she too would have her inner thoughts, her life, her choices, pierced by God's truths. Luke 2:34-35 "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 'The child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'" Mary doubted who Jesus was at some time during His ministry as we see her with her sons going to try to take Jesus home because she and her sons, Jesus' brothers (His earthly family) thought He had lost His mind. Matthew 12:46-50 "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to the disciples, He said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'" Then again, we see how special of a woman she is in Jesus' eyes that while He was dying on the cross, He remembers to take care of Mary His earthly mother. John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.'

I often think what Jesus' family life must have been like. In verse 50 of Matthew 12, Jesus says 'whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven' is His family. Is that statement revealing that His earthly family wasn't doing the will of God, at that time? Perhaps Jesus' family life was similar to many of our lives where siblings fight and are jealous. Maybe they thought he was looney, tried to convinced their collective mother (Mary) that Jesus was out of his mind, a lost cause, let him go. Had they abandoned their mother because she couldn't let Jesus go? Is that why Jesus asked John to care for Mary as if she was his own mother? Did John do that role until Mary passed or until James and Jude, Jesus' brothers, realized who Jesus truly was and is? Did His brothers then care for Mary their mother as they were supposed to care for her?

And yet, Mary is highly favored with God. Chosen to bare His Son. Chosen to raise His Son. And now, it seems, she will have the esteemed honor, in the role of mother, to crown Jesus King on the day of His wedding. What an amazing tribute and honor bestowed upon Mary. 

on the day of his wedding
the day his heart rejoiced

Jesus knew the promises of His wedding day through only the Old Testament Scriptures; He knew those promises so well He was able to look passed the humiliation and injustice of the cross in order to focus on God's truths and promises to Him. One day, I will have to find and add some of those Old Testament Scripture indicating the promise of Messiah's wedding day. Perhaps Song of Songs was one such piece. However, Revelation 19:6-9 is so very exciting to me; to the point of bringing anticipation goose bumps.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like a roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him glory!
For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

To me, Song of Songs 3:6-11 reads similarly to Revelation 19:6-9, 11-16.

Song of Songs 3:6-11

Who is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

Look! It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Revelation 6-9, 11-16

(6-9)
Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him glory!
For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

(11-16)
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! (22:12) And, "Yes, I am coming soon." (22:20)

We are not to know the day or the hour that Jesus will be coming back but, He did tell us how to recognize when it was getting close to His true triumphal return. And we are to live in constant expectation that He will return at any moment so that we don't become complacent and stray from what God has called us to be and do.

Do you see who is coming? Do you see Him returning soon?

During this journaling period, as typical with God when He begins to speak through His Word to me, I hear supporting and relating Scripture and stories everywhere I turn. In church last Sunday, because of the 4th of July, we sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Amazing how it related... yes, I see Him coming soon!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.