Holmes R: Majestic Ships
Robert I Holmes
Nov 28, 2002
13 Nov 2002
This message will seem to some like an attack on the church, but it is not.
Others may read this as cynical despondency about the church, but once again it
is not. I believe with all my heart that God loves his church, and will prepare
a bride without spot or wrinkle. As a result of this mandate, certain things
need to be removed, destroyed, taken out, shaken. To use the analogy of the wine
skin, not only must the old one be put away, but a goat must then be killed to
provide a new skin!
Our key text is from the prophet Isaiah, who wrote: "Look on Zion, the city of
our appointed festivals! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, an
immovable tent, whose stakes will never be pulled up, and none of whose ropes
will be broken. But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad
rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can
pass. For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king; he
will save us. Your rigging hangs loose; it cannot hold the mast firm in its
place, or keep the sail spread out" (Isa. 33:20-24).
The death of the majestic ships
There was, in recent history, an era of majestic ships: behemoths of the ocean
that carried 1400-2500 passengers across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Dunring the peak period of these ships, in their glory days, their masts began
to crack, and their rigging hang loose. One by one they were sunk.
1912. The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg at
full speed. 1503 people died. The ice tore through three of the sealed sections
of the hull, flooding and then sinking the giant. If one can attribute any one
factor to the vessels destruction it would be pride. The owner of the vessel is
famed to have declared "Why even God himself could not bring this vessel down".
But the unsinkable sank.
1914. The Empress of Ireland sank in the St Lawrence River, Quebec after being
rammed amidships by an Icebreaking Coal Ship. 1029 people died. If one can
attribute any single factor to the vessels destruction it would be presumption.
In uncertain waters, and in treacherous fog she changed course to avoid a
'visual sighting' of the collier changing direction.
1915. The Lusitania was blown up off the coast of Ireland by the German Uboat
U-20. 1195 people died. In a time of war, she was struck, after full warning
given by the German navy in the New York times on the day of her departure. If
one can attribute any single factor it would be internal issues. The single
torpedo struck her between the engine rooms, where the coal was stored, causing
a massive secondary explosion that ripped her in two.
1917. The Mount Blanc exploded in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia after being hit
on the starboard bow by the Imo, a freighter. 1635 people died and 25,000 were
injured on shore. It was the largest man made explosion in history, only out
done by Hiroshima. If one can attribute any single factor it would be lack of
wisdom. The ship was laden with TNT!
By 1957 the age of giant ships was over, with more people travelling the
Atlantic by air than sea. Shortly after, most of the fleet of the White Star and
Cunard Lines were broken up for scrap and recycled. "Come together you people,
and you shall be broken into pieces; give ear you far countries, and it shall be
broken into pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken into pieces;
counsel yourselves and it shall come to nothing" (Isa. 8:9 NKJV).
A changing of the guard
Mike Bickle wrote of an experience in Cairo, Egypt when the Lord told him "I
will change the expression of Christianity in one generation". The Lord did not
reveal to him exactly what this meant, but one of the impressions he had was
that the way we are doing church now was going to, and had to, change.
When I first heard this message, I wondered if God dealt with entire generations
like that. If he would put away one entire technology and replace it with
another, if he would put away one entire way of doing things and create another.
The answer, Biblically, is a resounding 'yes'!
After their rebellion, God told Moses that the entire generation with him would
perish in the wilderness. Because of the report of ten spies, believed and
accepted by all, God would set aside the present generation of leaders and raise
up a new one (Deut. 1:35). This was in the context of leadership - because the
spies themselves were "men of renown, leaders from each tribe". Only Caleb and
Joshua made it through, because of their faith-full report.
Jesus addressed himself to the religious leaders of his day, the scribes and
pharisees, telling them that the blood of all the prophets from Abel to
Zechariah would be held to the account "of this generation" (Matt. 23:35). He
told them that they had taken away the key of knowledge and stopped others
entering in, therefore they would be treated as one, and put away. He was
bringing in a new order, through the cross.
The end of Galleys with oars
Galley with oars: oniy (H590) shayit (H7885). A ship with oars, rowed by scourge
(or whip), a slave trader, (also) a fleet or navy of (such) ships. Galleys are
closely associated with the gathering of wealth, and the enslaving of the people
to serve a 'higher cause'.
King Solomon build a fleet of galleys at Ezion-geber, and the servants (slaves)
of Hiram and Solomon rowed to Ophir and brought from there several tonnes of
gold (1 Kings 9:26-28). The same fleet was sent to bring back wood and precious
stones to adorn the temple and palace.
The King of Tarshish had a fleet of galleys, which traded gold, silver, ivory,
apes and peacocks with Israel and "thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of
the earth in riches" (1 Kings 10:22).
In the last days, says Isaiah, 'ships' who enslave others to enrich man made
kingdoms will be set aside. Those who have traded the souls of men for earthy
gain in riches, buildings, wealth, prestige and trade will not be allowed to
pass.
Organisations that have tied people into to building programs more grandiose
than need could ever justify; scourged with withering guilt over tithing;
enormous cathedrals, crystal edifices, gold guilt furniture bought off the backs
of ordinary believers; art stolen in times of war; multi level church marketing;
cultish obeisance demanded by charismatic leaders. all of this will be set aside
and "shall not be allowed to pass".
The end of Majestic ships
Majestic Ships: addiyr (H117) tsiy (H6716). Wide, large, powerful ship. An
excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, mighty vessel (fixture). Majestic ships
are almost always associated with battle ships, war ships of vessels of
destruction.
Kittim (Cyprus) had a fleet of war ships were used as a weapon of destruction
against Asshur (the Assyrians) and Eber king of Syria (Num. 24:24). Kittim, then
part of Italy defeated Antiochus Ephiphanes in Egypt (c.f. Dan. 11:30).
God then used messengers (warriors or mercinaries) in war ships to go out and
terrify the 'proud Egyptian' and 'careless Ethiopian' (Ezek. 30:9).
In the last days, says Isaiah, 'ships' who have blood on their hands will not be
allowed to pass. Those who have gained reputation, standing, majesty, authority,
control by virtue of force or violence will be set aside.
Organisations that sent forth hordes of 'crusaders' pillaging, raping and
plundering the Middle ages; warriors singing "in God we trust" as they raise the
sword to kill; the violent slaying of Anabaptists, Lutherans, Calvanists and
others; the cycle of violence in Ireland of Protestant vs Catholic... all this
shall be set aside and "shall not be allowed to pass".
This then is the epitaph of the galley with oars and the majestic ships. "We
looked to see Zion restored, Jerusalem returning from the sky, and found God was
to us a place of great rivers. But in preparing the way for these, the river
swept to their destruction the slave galleys and ships of the mighty".
References
Alley, J. "Sinking denominations". Eagles Nest, Adelaide, October 2002 audio.
Bickle, M. "Growing in the Prophetic". Kingsway, 1998.
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