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In the parables of the bible the mind of a human being is presented as wood. Jesus was carpenter, woodworker who is a whittler of minds. The knife is His word and the arm He is using is believer, member of His body.

2 Kings 6:4-6 ...When they come to the Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was cutting down a tree, the axe head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said,”Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” The man of God asked,” Where did it fall?”He showed him the place. He cut down a stick (Finnish translation: “carved a piece of wood”),threw it in there, and made the iron float. He said “Take it.” So he put out his hand and took it.

Some times combination of pastoral care (counselling) and the word of God can restore one' s existence back from a backslided mental state into the peace and fire of Lord.

In the beginning (of one's new life in Jesus as well as of the existence of whole universe) there was the Word of God and the Word was Jesus Christ. So if you reject the word of the Bible you reject Christ. If you are lukewarm towards the word you are lukewarm towards Jesus.

Blood = Soul Soul is mind will and emotions. So the spiritual blood is our thoughts and emotions which circulate in our spiritual body. The whole business of renewal of a Christians mind is drinking Christ's blood and eating His flesh through His word.

Christ's love is poured into us after we have received the Word. First it is comparable to a seed or one talent. It will increase after we get soaked with the knowledge of Him by more exposure to the word.

At the holy communion when believers come together to edify each other some do not recognise the body of Christ: the essence of His existence (mindset of Christ) and His messengers. The result of impure milk is stomach pain (distressed mind). Some have even been made shipwrecked regarding their faith because of the contaminated blood they were drinking.

The river of Nile become blood and foul when Moses stuck the water with his staff. The running of daily life was not any more drinkable but was troublesome, sorrowful and foul. Instead of joy and peace there was distress, pain and bitterness. He who drinks the water (blood) of this world is always thirsty (never satisfied).

Rev. 8:10-11 LITV And a great burning star LIKE a LAMP, fell out of the heaven. And it fell into the third part of the rivers, and into the springs of waters. And the name of the star is said to be wormwood. And the third part of the waters become changed into wormwood. And many men died from the waters, because they were bitter.

Isa 14:12,11 (Prophesy of Isaiah from the king of Babylon depicting unfaithful Israel, the apostate backslided church and probably the devil himself.) “How you have fallen from heaven, shining star, son of the dawn. How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! Maggots are spread out under you and worms cover you.” MENE,MENE,TEKEL, UPHARSIN) Jude 11-13 Jude calls them who went the way of Cain and the error of Balaam “wandering stars” who not follow the orders of God.

Ps. 119:105 Your word (= Christ) is a LAMP to my feet and light for my path. Prov. 6:23 For the commandment (word of God) is a LAMP

So because of apostasy (falling away from the correct faith) God's word presented will be poisonous mix of truth and falsehoods. Christians who follow these teachings and doctrines find their path and daily life bitter and distressed instead of it being blessed.

Wormwood is the plant whose roots secrete substances that inhibit the growth of surrounding plants. It is: Christians indoctrinated with heresy will reject proper teaching and deem it false. Even though it is a plant it will grow to be a tree inside of the adherents mind. ( Compare Matt. 13:32) Pure wormwood oil is poisonous.

The tree of life represents the mindset and flesh of Christ. It's fruits are peace, love and joy. Unfortunately the path into it is very difficult. The cherubim guard the way to the tree of life.

One's name is proud: “what are you to teach me anything. I am an old Christian and I know these things better than you.” The other one is self-promotion: “Listen to me, I will to explain to you the correct and accepted interpretation. (I know God better than you)” It is: one is slow to hear and quick to speak and get angry if his opinions are challenged. (James 1:19)

No wonder that God is constantly in business to humble us to get us through.”Where should you be stricken any more...the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint.”

Of course there are various wants of human flesh which distract the way to the truth. The denominational spirit and it's servants guard the fixed mindset.

Matt. 23:13 “But woe to you,scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven from men; for you do not enter, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Spirit of stupor causes “eyes to see not and ears to hear not” and their table (bible study lessons) become snare and a trap.(Rom.11:7,8)

The two-edged sword on the road of renewal of mind is God's word. One edge will kill my old being and bring Jesus instead if we accept His word. On the other hand: the other edge will cut us off from the unity with Christ if we reject His word.

Christians will advance the road step by step. The Lamb of God will brake the seven seals of the Bible one after another until we reach the full day of His presence and understanding. When you have received the word you have received Jesus.

Four seals and horsemen in Rev.6 represent evolution and stages in a Christian’s mindset.

For the new Christian Jesus is the Lion of Judah who calls him by the white horse to save the unbelieving world into His kingdom. Sooner or later the colour of the horse will change to be a red one. Doctrinal disagreements start to occupy the rider's mind and there is no longer peace in dealings with the other Christians. The “slaughtered Calf” should be the basis of our salvation not the denomination (interpreted to be “Noah’s ark of salvation”) where one belongs.

And when the Lamb broke the third seal the third creature in the centre of God's throne with a face as a man invited one to ride a black horse.

The rider had a pair of scales in his hand. He starts to see unbalanced teachings and mindsets with his dealings of other Christians. “Behold the kindness and severity of God” (Rom.11:22) Positive teaching without salt leads to lukewarm condition and churches will dry. Too much success and money talking is not balance with the central message of Bible.

On a personal level one recognises continually believers who are stuck in their positions. Reasons are usually pride, self-promotion and fear. If you try to help them you will face a stonewall. It is no wonder that the colour of the horse is black. To proceed on the road you need to pay something like piece of you pride that “I know these things better”. However any help is useless if the motives are not love and pity and do not happen under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Christ is appointed for the FALL and rise...and for a sign to be OPPOSED (Luke 2:34)

To the one we are the SAVOUR of DEATH unto DEATH...(2 Cor.2:16)

When Pilate sought to release Jesus the Jews “cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him (John 19:15) The character of God is depicted as a flying eagle (with good eyesight). It said to the one “Come” and reflect the qualities of Christ to the point where you are the rider of (ashen,) blue-black horse and you “have the name Death and Hades was following” with you.

In one sense all Christians who are alive ride with this horse being the choice of life or death for unbelievers and Pharisees. However the better we know the nature of Christ the better we can have the same savour than He had. Paul did teach two full years the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ before his death in Rome.(Acts 28:30,31 Finnish translation)

And this is life eternal,that they may know Thee ,the only true God...(John 17:3) If we have life then we too reflect life and for those who oppose it, it is the reflection of death. 2Thess.2:10-12 ...Because they received not the love of truth...God shall send them a strong delusion, that they might believe what is false... God does not lie or send a lie, but those who do not receive the truth it (the truth) is a lie and a delusion.

I like to connect the break of the forth seal in one's life with the collapse of the walls of Jericho. When you look after the best interest of your brother rather than of yourself that freedom from self-promotion to seek of one's own glory brings to you joy with it. Abraham reached that point when he was a hundred years old. Isaac (gladness) did born and Ishmael (jealousy) was expelled. Unfortunately the more you own the glory of Christ the more you will be hated and terrified of the ones resisting it.

Before I received Jesus as my saviour I did believe in evolution after reading many books supporting the case. So this mindset was so strong that it took a couple of years and much studying to get rid of this theistic world view. Now the tree of creationism has completely substituted my previous ideas and understanding. So the forming of the tree of life in our head needs an open mind and consideration of different Bible interpretations to change our previous ideas.

Erno Miettinen

Unless stated otherwise the verses in this bible are referenced from a public domain bible.