In Revelation 3:15, the church as the called out ones (note: gr. ekklēsịa) of Laodicea receives the advice to be either cold or hot.
Revelation 3:15:
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
In this context, the LORD has revealed that it is required for us as God’s people to move forward boldly in our identity as sons of God in Christ Jesus, much as the sons of Israel did when they went with their father Israel from Canaan to Egypt (cf. Exodus 1:1-5).
Exodus 1:1-5:
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.
The Change of Place from Canaan to Egypt
The change of place of the sons of Israel with their father Jacob from Canaan to Egypt does not mean that we go into captivity out of the promise. On the contrary, it is the call to every saint among the people of God to take his position in the army of the LORD, to go forward in the prophetic measure established by the Heavenly Father in the peace and freedom of the Holy Spirit that comes with the order of God, and to establish His kingship in our environment with the identity given to us by God (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:33a i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 3:17).
1 Corinthians 14:33a:
33a For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – …
2 Corinthians 3:17:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
This change of location is a call from God to understand the spiritual warfare according to Ephesians 6:12 and to enter into a deeper realm of the governmental presence of God in Christ Jesus with the power of our promise. This is evident from the fact that Joseph was previously clothed by his father with a coat of many colors and while he was already in Egypt (cf. Genesis 37:3).
Ephesians 6:12:
12 For our struggle (note: fight) 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.
Genesis 37:3:
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate (note: multicolored) robe for him.
This multicolored robe was already an indication of the coming grace of the Heavenly Father, which He had transferred to His Son Jesus Christ, and He was therefore able to take on the form of a servant, ultimately to be exalted so that every knee must bow before Him (cf. Philippians 2:6-11 i.c.w. Genesis 41:39-44; Genesis 42:6).
Philippians 2:6-11:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Genesis 41:39-44:
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”
Genesis 42:6:
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
Understanding to walk in the LORD’s spiritual army called Israel, it requires an understanding of each individual saint of their God-given identity in their positions in the LORD’s army. The army of the LORD is composed of the twelve tribes of Israel, which are in units linked to the four winds (note: east – Judah, south – Reuben, west – Ephraim, north – Dan) and the presence of God, in which the Spirit of God dwells (cf. Numbers 2:3a.10a.18a.25a i.c.w. Ezekiel 37:9).
Numbers 2:3a.10a.18a.25a:
3a On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. …
10a On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. …
18a On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. …
25a On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. …
10a On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. …
18a On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. …
25a On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. …
Ezekiel 37:9:
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath (note: spirit); prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ”
This is the spiritual movement that moves forward in high worship (note: Judah) as well as in the knowledge of the Son of God (note: Reuben) and walks in the fruit of the Spirit (note: Ephraim) as well as in the righteousness of God (note: Dan).
The Royal Alignment and the Eye of God
It is necessary for us to move forward in the Heavenly Father with the knowledge of being a person with a name. This knowledge includes spiritual influence or being a person of good reputation, which is indicated by the Hebrew word ‘šēm’ for ‘name’, among other things.
This implies the royal alignment of the saints in the spiritual army of the LORD, who live in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus as King of kings at the center of His government (cf. Ephesians 2:6 i.c.w. Colossians 3:1-3).
Ephesians 2:6:
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
Colossians 3:1-3:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
On the basis of the departure of Jacob with his sons and their families from Canaan to Egypt, it clearly shows that each individual in the people of God carries an important position, since it was the number of 70 souls. This number of 70 souls, is a call for us at this time to go with the prophetic anointing as well as with the visionary faith into the center of God’s ‘pupil’ (note: symbol of God's plan). It is God’s eye that the LORD equates with Israel in His Word (cf. Zechariah 2:8).
Zechariah 2:8:
8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye – …”
The movement of Jacob with his sons and their families and the stay of Joseph in Egypt result in the number ‘70’, which also activates the revelatory light of God’s eye, since His body is full of light and there is no darkness in it (cf. Luke 11:34a i.c.w. 1 John 1:5)
Luke 11:34a:
34a Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy (note: generous), your whole body also is full of light. …
1 John 1:5:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
This movement of the gathering of ‘70’ in Egypt is the so-called interaction of fatherhood and sonship. This results from Jacob (note: fatherhood) in Canaan and Joseph (note: sonship) in Egypt. Here Jacob with his family forms the iris and Joseph, the pupil of the eye of God. From this eye results the view of the one new man, which comprises the messianic body. This one acts sovereignly through the spirit of wisdom and revelation and releases revelatory knowledge (cf. Ephesians 1:17-20 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 2:14).
Ephesians 1:17-20:
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, …
2 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
It is the function of the pupil of the eye to see images. That which we look at with our eye (note: inwardly) and draw closer to us with our gaze, we begin to grasp, so that it becomes reality. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the right vision, that is, the plan of God, and not to hold on to contrary impressions that arise as thoughts (note: images) due to feelings and challenging circumstances but to take them captive in obedience in Christ Jesus (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Therefore, it is necessary for us to appropriate the three attributes that the LORD instructed the called-out saints in Laodicea to acquire through John by investing our time for Him and fellowship in His Word. Through this investment we receive the refined gold (note: richness of faith; cf. Romans 10:17), the white garments (note: righteousness => righteous acts of faith; cf. James 2:17) and the eye salve (note: prophetic anointing/sight according to Hebrews 11:1).
Revelation 3:18:
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
The Element of Water and the Two Qualities of Cold and Heat
It is of importance that we recognize the influence of the Kingdom of the LORD in the respective heavenly places in order to be led by the Holy Spirit into the respective truth that is present there and to be instructed in it. This is revelatory truth.
As mentioned at the beginning, Jesus’ advice to those called out in Laodicea is to be cold or hot.
If we relate these two characteristics (note: cold and hot) to the element of water and to the person of Jacob, this reveals an important spiritual principle to be applied or observed in personal life.
The element of water is related to the heavenly governmental realm of God because before the throne of God is the sea of glass (cf. Revelation 4:6a).
Revelation 4:6a:
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …
Jacob understood the realm of warm as well as cold water, making use of them to implement God’s plan.
During his birth, he and his twin brother Esau were in the warm amniotic fluid of his mother Rebekah, out of which he acted, holding fast to the promise of the firstborn, even though he was the second to emerge from the womb (cf. Genesis 25:21.24-26a).
Zechariah 2:8:
8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye – …”
The movement of Jacob with his sons and their families and the stay of Joseph in Egypt result in the number ‘70’, which also activates the revelatory light of God’s eye, since His body is full of light and there is no darkness in it (cf. Luke 11:34a i.c.w. 1 John 1:5)
Luke 11:34a:
34a Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy (note: generous), your whole body also is full of light. …
1 John 1:5:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
This movement of the gathering of ‘70’ in Egypt is the so-called interaction of fatherhood and sonship. This results from Jacob (note: fatherhood) in Canaan and Joseph (note: sonship) in Egypt. Here Jacob with his family forms the iris and Joseph, the pupil of the eye of God. From this eye results the view of the one new man, which comprises the messianic body. This one acts sovereignly through the spirit of wisdom and revelation and releases revelatory knowledge (cf. Ephesians 1:17-20 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 2:14).
Ephesians 1:17-20:
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, …
2 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
It is the function of the pupil of the eye to see images. That which we look at with our eye (note: inwardly) and draw closer to us with our gaze, we begin to grasp, so that it becomes reality. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the right vision, that is, the plan of God, and not to hold on to contrary impressions that arise as thoughts (note: images) due to feelings and challenging circumstances but to take them captive in obedience in Christ Jesus (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Therefore, it is necessary for us to appropriate the three attributes that the LORD instructed the called-out saints in Laodicea to acquire through John by investing our time for Him and fellowship in His Word. Through this investment we receive the refined gold (note: richness of faith; cf. Romans 10:17), the white garments (note: righteousness => righteous acts of faith; cf. James 2:17) and the eye salve (note: prophetic anointing/sight according to Hebrews 11:1).
Revelation 3:18:
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
The Element of Water and the Two Qualities of Cold and Heat
It is of importance that we recognize the influence of the Kingdom of the LORD in the respective heavenly places in order to be led by the Holy Spirit into the respective truth that is present there and to be instructed in it. This is revelatory truth.
As mentioned at the beginning, Jesus’ advice to those called out in Laodicea is to be cold or hot.
If we relate these two characteristics (note: cold and hot) to the element of water and to the person of Jacob, this reveals an important spiritual principle to be applied or observed in personal life.
The element of water is related to the heavenly governmental realm of God because before the throne of God is the sea of glass (cf. Revelation 4:6a).
Revelation 4:6a:
6a Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. …
Jacob understood the realm of warm as well as cold water, making use of them to implement God’s plan.
During his birth, he and his twin brother Esau were in the warm amniotic fluid of his mother Rebekah, out of which he acted, holding fast to the promise of the firstborn, even though he was the second to emerge from the womb (cf. Genesis 25:21.24-26a).
Genesis 25:21.24-26a:
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. …
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.
26a After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. …
Rebekah in this case represents the realm of God’s glory and Jacob represents the realm of God's sonship in Christ Jesus, with his older brother Esau, representing the realm of the accuser of the brethren who appears before the face and before the throne of God day and night (cf. Revelation 12:10b i.c.w. Zechariah 3:1-2a).
Revelation 12:10b:
… 10b For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Zechariah 3:1-2a:
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
Revelation 12:10b:
… 10b For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Zechariah 3:1-2a:
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
2a The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! …
It is said that God loved Jacob but hated Esau because Esau despised the position of blessing and his right of the firstborn (cf. Genesis 25:29-34 i.c.w. Romans 9:13).
Genesis 25:29-34:
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
It is said that God loved Jacob but hated Esau because Esau despised the position of blessing and his right of the firstborn (cf. Genesis 25:29-34 i.c.w. Romans 9:13).
Genesis 25:29-34:
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Romans 9:13:
13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
The realm of the warm water carries the knowledge of the God-given promise and blessing in Christ Jesus, as well as the resulting faith to hold fast to the promise in spite of adverse circumstances. As a result, the glory of God intervenes at the right time and leads to the promised blessing of the Father (cf. Genesis 27:5a.6-10).
Genesis 27:5a.6-10:
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. …
6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’
8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.
10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”
Jacob understood the spiritual principle to take the kingdom of heaven by force in order to hold on to the promise of the firstborn, and by walking in it through the blessing of his father Isaac (cf. Matthew 11:12).
Matthew 11:12:
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
Jacob, being afflicted in his soul by his elder brother, and desiring to overcome the affliction, decided to go to the brook Jabbok. Here he took advantage of the area of cold water by positioning himself in it and even sending his entire family with his servants and his livestock over to the other side.
Romans 9:13:
13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
The realm of the warm water carries the knowledge of the God-given promise and blessing in Christ Jesus, as well as the resulting faith to hold fast to the promise in spite of adverse circumstances. As a result, the glory of God intervenes at the right time and leads to the promised blessing of the Father (cf. Genesis 27:5a.6-10).
Genesis 27:5a.6-10:
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. …
6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’
8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.
10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”
Jacob understood the spiritual principle to take the kingdom of heaven by force in order to hold on to the promise of the firstborn, and by walking in it through the blessing of his father Isaac (cf. Matthew 11:12).
Matthew 11:12:
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
Jacob, being afflicted in his soul by his elder brother, and desiring to overcome the affliction, decided to go to the brook Jabbok. Here he took advantage of the area of cold water by positioning himself in it and even sending his entire family with his servants and his livestock over to the other side.
After doing this, he began to fight with the angel of God overnight to receive the blessing of the supernatural, which came to pass. Through this supernatural touch, Jacob’s entire course of movement changed, as well as his identity, being called Israel from that day on and continuing on his way with a limp (note: as in heaven, so on earth). Jacob walked with the power of the new day or the new time set by God (note: the dawn broke).
Furthermore, he received supernatural revelation regarding the arrangement of the generations in order to meet Esau’s opposition or affliction and break it in wisdom. Jacob accomplished this in the way of uniting with the order established by God in the generations, thus sending blessings into the future. As a result, resistance and affliction was transformed into love and acceptance (cf. Genesis 32:23-30 i.c.w. Genesis 33:1-4.10-11).
Genesis 32:23-30:
23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Genesis 33:1-4.10-11:
1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.
2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.
3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. …
10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.
11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
Thus, the realm of cold water is a dimension of God’s governmental rule to break resistance on the path with Christ Jesus by supernatural understanding of time as well as the understanding of the alignment of generations and the importance to release blessing in order to bring about positive change within the impossible (cf. Luke 18:27).
Luke 18:27:
Genesis 32:23-30:
23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Genesis 33:1-4.10-11:
1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.
2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.
3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. …
10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.
11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.
Thus, the realm of cold water is a dimension of God’s governmental rule to break resistance on the path with Christ Jesus by supernatural understanding of time as well as the understanding of the alignment of generations and the importance to release blessing in order to bring about positive change within the impossible (cf. Luke 18:27).
Luke 18:27:
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
