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Mark 13:37

Passing Through the Iron Gate - Part II

Home > Beyond the Veil > The Night of Seven Watches

In the past, I had often read this passage and wondered why these people who had been praying were so reluctant to believe Peter was at the door. If you assume that these people were gathered to pray for Peter, which is what we are told in the narrative (Acts 12:5) that the church was fervently doing, their response to the report of Peter's appearance at the door is very peculiar! At the first report of the servant girl they told her she was out of her mind. Now, doesn't that seem completely out of place? If you and I had been there, upon hearing the report I think we would have rushed out to greet Peter, praising God loudly for answering our prayers! But, this is not at all what they did. And when Rhoda persisted, insisting that Peter really was at the door, instead of even getting up to see for themselves, they say that it must be his angel. What? His ANGEL??? Really, what's up with that??? These people were more willing to believe that it was his angel than Peter himself! Tell me something's not really odd about this account. Then finally, because Peter kept on knocking, they opened the door and saw him. And they were astonished. Like as if they had never seen a person get out of prison before, or have their prayers answered! So, why is this account so incredibly bizarre? Because, my friends, there is an underlying story just begging to be told!

In Part I of this study I went through the account of Peter's jailbreak in Acts chapter 12 and described how Peter and the angel passing through the iron gate foreshadowed the Bride theft. The prophetic scenario actually extends beyond that to present us with a view of the Bride's participation in the commissioning of the 144k. We’ll pick up the record in Acts 12, where the Bride has just been escorted to heaven and become aware of that awesome reality. What happens next is a scene where the Bride in her glorified body presents herself as a witness to the 144k, who are then commissioned.

The following table is a cross-reference view of the symbolism.

When Peter goes to the house, he knocks at the outer entrance but never goes through. Why? Because the Bride will remain in the heavenly realm and not pass back into the realm where the 144k still are. Peter had just passed through an iron gate to get to where he is (Jerusalem - new!) and he would not be joining the 144k where they were. As we see in Genesis 45, they have both come to be before Y'shua in heaven, but the condition of the Bride is different from the 144k. One is a bodily arrival but not the other. And the 144k sons of Israel have not passed through the iron gate and may not come out to join Peter.

Those Peter visits are gathered at what is called the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark. Let me address the antitypical physical house first, then elaborate upon how the occupants of the house are identified.

It seems very likely to me that the location of the people praying will be the temple, God's house. A new temple will be the center of a lot of activity very shortly. I won't go into all of what's going on now, but sacrifice and offering will have been reestablished with an officiating priesthood now under authority of the lawless one.

One reason I'm convinced about the restoration of sacrifice and offering is the reference made in Acts 2, quoting from Joel. If you can't picture what might characterize animal sacrifice, the following verse might help.

Another reason is because it surely must begin before it can be terminated.

The day appointed for the Bride theft is the last day of Pesah. On that day, which will be a yom tov and a high holy day being the weekly Shabbat as well, the 144k will surely be in attendance like as were the 12 apostles on the Shavuot that is the subject of Acts 2. When you think about how significant an event this will be, it only makes sense that it would transpire at the site of the temple.

So, why is the temple referred to as the house of Mary? "Mary" means "their rebellion." Think about it. Who will be served in this temple? Will it be the true and genuine Messiah, or, the counterfeit? Who will set himself up "on a wing of the temple" and proclaim himself to be God in the midst of the seventieth week? This temple was foreshadowed by the one that stood in our Lord's day 2000 years ago. It was known as Herod's temple and Herod is a type of the lawless one! Those who serve the lawless one in his temple will be in rebellion against God. They are willing to receive the first messiah that comes along who acts like a king over the earth.

You might ask why the 144k would even attend the feast if such a tragic and abominable situation exists, and that would be a good question. I would answer by way of asking similar questions. Why would Jesus have gone to Herod's temple? There had been no ark in it for many a year. Since the altar's desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, no prophet had told them what to do to cleanse the altar and make their sacrifices acceptable once again. The priesthood were simply going through the motions of the Mosaic system of sacrifice to maintain the status quo. And why would the 12 apostles have been there waiting for the fulfillment of the promise the Lord made on his departure from the mount of Olives if the temple and its priesthood were in such a state? because the Lord has a plan, and it works. The house of Mary, though surely the house of their rebellion, is the scene of wondrous acts of mercy and grace, and judgment.

Ok, so the people in the house Peter/Bride visits are the 144k. Their identity is known conclusively from similar accounts like Genesis 45, Haggai 2 and John 21, because these are the people the Bride will interact with upon their having gone to be with the Bridegroom. By observing how they are identified here, our prophetic vocabulary is increased. There are three names associated with the house, being the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark. The name "Mary," as I previously noted, means "their rebellion." "John" means "Jehovah is gracious" and "Mark" means "a defense." I have shown how the house referred to the location of the temple, but on another level this represents people. A house is a people, a temple is a people - the house of Mary is a people. They are rebels. They are not interested in getting with the program most people are interested in. The many women named Mary in the Bible are usually very wonderful, God-loving and obedient people. They obey God, but the world sees them as being rebels because they will refuse to get with the antichrist program. Do you truly love God? You are a rebel.

Because the name "Mary" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Miriam" and because the day on which these things in Acts 12 take place happens to be the last day of Pesah, those who are familiar with the Feast are directed into the Torah for more insight. Let me quote from The Jewish Holidays, A Guide and Commentary, by Michael Strassfeld. p.27: "The seventh day, according to tradition, marks the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. Some people, particularly Hasidim, follow the custom of pouring water on the floor and singing and dancing to commemorate the crossing of the sea." The events in view in Acts 12 are founded upon the crossing of the Red sea. Moses, whose name means "drawing out" is the deliverer, a type of Y'shua. This Pharaoh is no longer the good Pharaoh of Joseph's time who represented the heavenly Father, but another who represents the dragon and his Beast. The symbolism of Egypt has also changed from that of heaven to that of the earthly realm in which we are presently enslaved and the kingdom of the Beast. Israel compares to Peter, and the crossing of the "Red" Sea compares to passing through the iron gate. After crossing, remember, Peter appears at the outer entrance and bears testimony to the house of Miriam. Now, consider the Torah account, and keep in mind that the last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26)

Compare verses 9-12 above with Peter's statement as he had just passed through the iron gate and walked the length of one street.

The words of Moses' and the Israelites song seem appropriate for Peter, don't they? Read and consider verse 13 above and verses 16-18. This exciting prophecy speaks so loudly in my ear of the day on which the Lord will take his Bride unto himself.

Notice verse 20 now, how that Miriam the prophetess picks up the refrain. Miriam is Aaron's sister. Who does Aaron represent in this prophetic view? As Moses' (Y'shua's) mouthpiece and the priest who will minister before the Lord in the Temple, the one who will have access to the throne room, he represents the Bride. The 144k are Miriam, the sister of the Bride. Miriam took a tambourine in her hand and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. And so the 144k will lead her flock.

Another view of Mary representing the 144k where the Bride is represented by Martha is the account of Lazarus (national Israel) being raised from the dead in John 11.

Returning once again to Acts 12:12, this Mary was the mother of John also called Mark. Again, John means "Jehovah is a gracious giver" and Mark means "a defense." Make note that the man associated with Y'shua when he received grace by way of being anointed with the spirit was named John (the immerser, the Baptist). When the 144k accept Y'shua as their Messiah, they receive the anointing of the spirit like the 12 apostles did in the temple on this age's first Shavuot. The label "John also called Mark" describes the anointing, which is their sealing.

This spirit has a lot to do with grace. (See also the following: Gal 6:18, phil 4:23, 2 Tim 4:22, Phile 1:25, Heb 10:29)

This spirit of grace is their defense (Mark) as well, a seal. See Revelation 7:1-4 and 9:4. Given what we know about the event, to identify the place where Peter went after he passed through the iron gate as the house of Mary, the mother of John also called Mark seems very appropriate for the 144k in the temple, wouldn't you agree?

Let me address the identity of the servant girl, Rhoda, who plays an important role and whose name means, "a rose." She represents the Lord, since He is the one who opens the "door" and hosts this special introduction. A rose is a widely recognized messianic symbol.

Often, a brief look at what Satan is up to speaks volumes about the truth he tries to distort. The Rosicrucians, the order of the Rose Cross are all about preparing the world to receive the antichrist messiah. Because of their request to respect the copyright, I can't quote here from the excerpt from the Introductory Monograph of the Confraternity of the Rose Cross but one of their respected writers, H. Spencer Lewis, evidently stated that the relationship between Judas and Jesus was necessary because of the need for a catalyst to bring about necessary change and transformation. It may be noted that there is truth in that statement, but their perspective is inverted. They will herald Judas' arrival. But enough about that.

Compare Rhoda's role with that of Joseph's in Genesis 44-45. It was Rhoda who was told she was out of her mind by the ones who heard her report. It was Joseph, symbolic of Y'shua, the rose of Sharon, who prompted the strange response described in Genesis 45:3. It was Rhoda who was insistent about the identity of the Bride-type Peter at the door, and Joseph who was insistent about the Bride-type Benjamin knowing his identity. For further insight into the relevance of the rose (crocus) to this most significant turning point in Israel's history with her Messiah, consider Isaiah 35.

Now, I mentioned earlier how curious it seems that the people in the house had gathered and were praying but yet were so reluctant to accept the report that Peter would be at the door. The puzzle is resolved when you understand the prophetic implication, that the 144k will be gathered and praying, but not for Peter to be released. As I have noted in another view of this event, they will be praying for discernment because the lawless one will have just previously (Nisan 13) been revealed to the Bride and they will be forced to make a decision about the identity of the messiah. I believe their hearts will be very convicted and they will want very badly to know whether their past rejection of Y'shua as the Messiah of Israel is really the reason for Israel's past and present distress. This is the issue that, once resolved, forms the basis of their future testimony. And then, on the 15th, the plague of the firstborn and the midnight cry causes a complete upset, which you will want to read but probably not just yet.

I believe a great number of these people are presently being prepared in Torah knowledge, in zeal, and in their commitment to the land and the restoration of the people of the land. Even after all they will be put through, they will be genuinely shocked when they find themselves in the presence of the glorified Bride. Their reaction to the report and to his appearance speaks to me of the Bride's glorified bodies and the white robes they will surely be wearing. The Bride's appearance will be stunning! Look closely at the response from those in the house to the servant girl's report.

The Bride will appear to the 144k like the angels. Of course, the Lord's appearance factors in as well as the setting being that of heaven, but the focus in Acts 12 is upon the Bride. It will be a "mount of transfiguration" kind of experience. Compare the above view of their reaction in Acts with that of Genesis account.

In colloquial English, they were "dumbfounded" - struck dumb with astonishment.

Further insight into the witness of the Bride's glorified condition can be seen in the following verse.

Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet before he described how the Lord brought him out of prison. This expression is used a few other times in Acts to indicate that the one signaling had something important to say and those around him should be quiet and pay attention. So what, right? Okay, here's what. The Greek word for "hand" (cheir) is found four other times in Acts 12 and lends insight into verse 17. This word is easier to track in the KJV because it is consistently translated more literally as "hand." Look at verses 1,7 and 11. This word speaks of a person's abilities and the limits thereof. My point is that it will be more than just the radiant appearance that will testify to the reality of the situation, the scope of ability of the glorified bodies will bear witness as well.

Having given extensive documentation of the typology, here's the simple commission the 144k are given.

Compare this to the commission given the 144k-type in Genesis.

Although the correlation is pretty obvious, let's make that very important "name" connection. Those commissioned to "tell" are identified in Acts as James and the brothers, and in Genesis as Joseph's father, Jacob. "James" is merely the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Jacob." Same name - same people!

According to Acts 12:17, after Peter testified standing before the outer entrance of Mary’s house, he left for another place. Where did he go? I do not yet know what place it is where the Bride will then go, where I can point to it in the Bible and offer a descriptive view of it, but there is another testimony from one who also went to another place, who was found pleasing to the Lord, whom the Lord took without seeing death.

Bear in mind this place "Peter" can and will go is a supernatural place, a heavenly place; real, but not of this natural or temporal realm. I believe such a place as described in the book of Enoch is where the immortal heavenly bodied people symbolized by Peter will go.

The testimony of the book of Enoch has been sorely neglected. He was, I believe, a type of all who will be found pleasing to God at the times of resurrections and be clothed upon with immortality without first dying a physical death.

The book of Jude plainly references Enoch. Once you become familiar with the book of Enoch you realize that the book of Jude (and a not insignificant portion of the rest of the Bible) assumes familiarity with it as a basis for understanding its content.

In closing this testimony of what seems to me to be a truly amazing revelation insight, we see this particular mission of the Bride will have been accomplished. Elijah's mantle will have been passed to Elisha. For His Glory!

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