Table of Contents
The lesson explores the metaphor of a cooking pot representing a church or congregation of believers. It draws from Old Testament prophecies in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah about two contrasting types of figurative cooking pots – one belonging to God and one belonging to Satan.
The “pot” represents the church, the “meat” represents the people, the “fire” is the word of God, and the “wood” fueling the fire symbolizes leaders/pastors.
Satan’s corrupt “pot” is described as encrusted, with wicked leaders exploiting God’s people for profit rather than nourishing them spiritually. This was prophetically fulfilled by the religious leaders like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time.
In contrast, God’s holy “pot” was manifested through Jesus, whose church was the true place of spiritual preparation. The disciples were the “meat” being cooked by the fire of Jesus’ truthful teachings to be offered up to God.
The lesson emphasizes discerning which spiritual “pot” one belongs to by understanding scripture and the fulfillment of prophecies, not being misled by outward appearances. It encourages diligent study to be part of God’s purifying “pot” in preparation for the second coming.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Cooking Pot = A Church
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Cooking Pot
We will be covering an interesting topic that you may find surprising at first. But it will be an insightful one. This will be a continuation of concepts from the previous lesson, further exploring similar ideas that should help us discern truths about ourselves and our current state.
“Figurative cooking pot.” Let’s try to understand more about what this symbolizes as we continue our study.
How might a cooking pot differ from a bowl?
Cooking pots tend to be larger in size compared to bowls. So a cooking pot may represent a collection of people, like a church congregation – a grouping of individual members.
As we examine Scripture, we’ll hopefully understand why this metaphor is used and how it connects to previous parables, as the logic of creation provides context for properly grasping biblical parables.
As we progress through this lesson, the meaning should click together with the knowledge gained in our past sessions.
Reminder:
Cooking Pot = Church
Figurative Cooking Pot
Main Reference
The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”
“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”
I envision a boiling pot, tilting away from the north. Due to its tilt, it is poised to spill its contents. This imagery is intriguing. It represents what Jeremiah witnessed in a vision.
Is it crucial for us to grasp the significance of this? Considering it was a prophecy delivered by Jeremiah. The question then becomes: What exactly did Jeremiah see, and how can we comprehend its significance on a deeper level?
1. Physical Characteristics of Cooking Pot or Boiling pot
1. A pot is a large container.
2. A cooking pot’s role is to boil or cook meat placed inside it to make the meat edible and more nutritious. The process of cooking transforms raw food into a more digestible state – scientifically speaking, heat unlocks nutrients in food that our bodies cannot access when the food is raw. Some foods even require cooking in a specific way before we can absorb their nutrients.
Cooking takes practice, but it can be a labor of love – when you prepare a meal for someone and they enjoy it, it feels rewarding. It’s like offering a sacrifice of your time and effort, and their enjoyment warms your heart. Of course, not every meal turns out perfectly. But ideally, the recipient accepts their meal with joy and appreciation.
2. Spiritual Meaning of Cooking Pot
They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’
The people of Jerusalem say, “Haven’t our houses just been rebuilt? This city is like a cooking pot and we are the meat inside it.”
They had recently rebuilt their houses in Jerusalem after previous destruction. However, they felt trapped and helpless like meat about to be cooked inside the boiling pot of the city under siege.
Ezekiel uses this metaphor to depict the people’s sense of impending doom. Just as meat is cooked inside a pot, they felt they would soon be “cooked” or killed when the Babylonians attack and destroy the city.
Looking back at Jesus’ first coming, he described his faithful disciples as the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). If his followers live rightly, they have a preserving, flavoring influence on the world around them. However, the people of Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day felt they had no positive impact or power over their circumstances, instead facing impending doom and destruction inside the boiling pot of God’s judgment on the city.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus poses a question to his disciples, his followers, the congregation gathered to learn from him. In the parable, what does he call them? A city on a hill that cannot be hidden – a collection of people, a church. He uses metaphors like a cooking pot, a city, a church to describe the community of believers.
Let’s revisit Ezekiel 11:3 which asks, what is the meat inside the city? The meat refers to the people being “cooked” together like ingredients in a pot. Often a cooking pot contains water, which in this case represents the word of God. Fire is also needed to make the pot function properly. The fire likewise symbolizes the purifying, strengthening word of God. Jeremiah 5:14 also contains the last element to complete the cooking process.
Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:
“Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.
When you place a cooking pot on a fire, the wood (fuel) that is burning produces the fire. The wood represents the people who have the job of lighting the fire – the leaders like a pastor.
The pastor’s job is to prepare the people so that they can be offered up. It matters greatly who the people are being offered to and where this offering occurs. The people should be offered up to God.
Reminder:
Cooking Pot —–> City (Church, Matthew 5:13-16) : You
Meat ——> People
Fire ——> Word (Jeremiah 5:14)
Wood ——> People (Leader or Pastor)
3. Two Types of Cooking Pot
Satan’s Pot
3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
4 Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;
5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
Old Testament Prophecy
Another prophecy is being given here about a cooking pot, which means this prophecy must be fulfilled at the right time. The right time was the time of the first coming, so let’s understand this prophecy.
It says there is an encrusted pot. God said to put the pot on the fireplace, pour water in it, and put choice meat into the pot. But then the Lord says “woe to the city of bloodshed.” He calls it encrusted. An encrusted pot is full of rust, an old pot that’s falling apart.
What happens when you cook something in a rusted pot? The food gets corrupted inside. It ruins the meat, makes it inedible, unpresentable, undesirable – like it was cooked too long.
Though God said there will be an encrusted pot created that will exist and be called the city of bloodshed. Let’s examine another prophecy about this to really understand the meaning.
“Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel.
Should you not embrace justice,
2 you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people
and the flesh from their bones;
3 who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces;
who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,
“Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
This passage from Micah depicts a dire situation for God’s people. God condemns the leaders who are meant to guide the people, yet instead tear them apart. The imagery of cooking flesh in unauthorized pots illustrates how the leaders are exploiting the people for their own benefit, not caring for their wellbeing.
Verse 11 provides a clue about the identity of these leaders – they accept payment in exchange for their teachings, indicating greed and misuse of their authority. As the people suffer under this oppression, their cries reach the heavens.
As an Old Testament prophecy, Micah likely points to a first coming fulfillment involving corrupt leaders who severely exploit God’s people in his time. The message condemns abusive leadership over God’s flock, acting without divine approval for selfish gain rather than caring for the people.
Reminder:
1. Satan’s Pot —–> Encrusted Pot (Ezekiel 24:3-6)
2. Leaders, Rulers: People’s flesh ——-> Pot ————> Teach for a price (greed)
In Ezekiel 11:3, the city of Jerusalem is depicted as a cooking pot and the people as the meat within. Fire, representing God’s word, heats the pot to bring it to a boil. The wood fueling the fire symbolizes people, like trees.
There is another kind of pot – Satan’s pot – with encrusted edges that tear the people’s spiritual flesh. The leaders are not preparing the people properly to be offered to God. Instead, the leaders’ poor spiritual guidance allows Satan to devour people’s spirits.
The prophecy in Ezekiel foretold this situation hundreds of years before its fulfillment. So who is the reality of these leaders failing to prepare the people for God? Hopefully the answer was clear– this passage points to the religious leaders at the time of Christ, not properly guiding the people spiritually.
First Coming Fulfillment
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Hopefully things are starting to come together as we are reading. So, Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees. And he’s calling them crusted bowls, dirty old whitewashed tombs full of dead men inside them. The synagogues and places where they taught were not places of life, but places of death – the opposite. Let’s also look at a bonus verse that talks about this. Verse 15:
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
So when the Pharisees brought someone into their organization, into their synagogue, into their Church, who were they, ultimately offering them up to? They were offering them up to Satan, to be devoured. And the people did not know it.
Let’s map out this encrusted cooking pot:
1. Cooking Pot: which represents the churches and synagogues of that time.
2. The meat inside the synagogue – God’s people, the People of Israel – was being devoured.
3. What was the fire that the Pharisees were using to cook them? They were using falsehood, lies. That’s what they were cooking the people with – lies.
4. And the wood – the Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, teachers of the law – they were cooking the people in their organization and offering them not to God, though from their perspective and in their minds they were offering them up to God. But that was not the reality.
But why was Jesus able to point this out about the Pharisees and Sadducees? What was different about Jesus at the time of the first coming that set him apart from the other encrusted cooking pots?
Reminder:
Cooking Pot: Synagogues
Meat: People of Israel
Fire: Falsehood and lies
Wood: Pharasees, Sadducees, Scribes and Teachers of the law
God’s Pot
Old Testament Prophecy
Zachariah 14:20-21
20 On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.
As God prophesied the coming judgment that would take place in Israel, He also prophesied the future redemption of Israel. As we continue studying, we need to clearly identify who God is referring to when He speaks of both the good and bad events that will occur in the promised location.
At the time of the first coming, verse 20 begins with the famous words “on that day,” indicating this is a prophecy.
So what does God say will happen on that day? His pots will become holy and sacred for people to use, and good things will happen with these pots. So who is the fulfillment, the reality behind these holy and sacred “pots”? Who appeared that was like this pot? Jesus.
First Coming Fulfillment
For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
Jesus said, “I gave them the words you gave me, and they accepted those words. The words were embraced and prepared to be offered to God by the One God sent – the One promised by God to fulfill these things.”
In discussing prophecy, it’s crucial to understand something. Often, we might connect a scriptural verse with a current event or something we hear in the news. However, it’s essential to recognize that the fulfillment of a single prophecy is not enough to reveal the truth.
It’s not about mere coincidences or chance. The truth is unveiled when every prophecy is fulfilled.
Let me illustrate. Many prophecies had to be fulfilled by Jesus. He had to be born in Bethlehem to a virgin mother (Isaiah 7:14), escape to Egypt, return after the threat passed (Hosea 11:1), begin His ministry in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2), preach the gospel of heaven (Isaiah 61:1-2), enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) and more, according to those prophecies.
According to these prophecies, if someone claims to be the Messiah because they were born in Bethlehem but cannot affirm being born of a virgin, they cannot be the Messiah. Or if someone says they are the Messiah because they teach in Galilee but were not born in Bethlehem, then they also cannot be the Messiah. Every prophecy must align; there are no mere coincidences.
Therefore, do not be misled into thinking that a single news event could signify the fulfillment of Scripture when it does not correspond with all other prophecies meant to converge at that time. Remember, all prophecies must be completed as per the Scriptures.
A key point is that though the prophecies were spoken over long periods of time, from Moses to Jesus which was about 1500 years, there were prophecies about Jesus that popped up over millennia. But when fulfilled, they happened quickly – boom, boom, boom – in a generation, in a lifetime. So fulfillment does not take place spread out along a timeline, but rather happens quickly back to back.
So at the time of Jesus’ first coming, people realized things were happening quickly as Jesus was fulfilling one prophecy after another. That’s why the disciples were willing to sacrifice everything – they realized the gravity of the one standing before them.
Let’s break this down:
1. The cooking pot was Jesus’ church that he prepared– the delicious meal to be offered up to God. You could say it was the true church that appeared at that time.
2. The meat was initially the 12 disciples. They were the ones being cooked and prepared to be offered to God.
3. The fire that cooked them was Jesus’ word of truth, as it says in John 17:17 to ‘sanctify them by the truth.’ Jesus gave them the words of God, as it also says in John 17:8.
4. And the wood was Jesus himself as the true pastor.
That’s how the holy pot God prophesied in Zechariah 14:20-21 was fulfilled – through Jesus. So by understanding the logic of prophecy and fulfillment, we can apply it to Jesus.
Why are we talking about something in the past? As it says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, these things were written down as examples and warnings for us who come in the future, for us to take note and be aware. This needs to be us, who are ready and prepared.
Will there be cooking pots of both kinds in our time? Yes.
So now the question is – which pot am I being cooked in? That’s what you should ask yourself today.
What needs to be at the place that is cooking me in order for me to know for sure where I truly am?
What did Jesus give the disciples? Prophecy and fulfillment – that’s what he gave them. Not just miracles or moral teachings, but he taught them who he was according to Scripture, and who they were according to Scripture.
The disciples knew who they were – we are the ones who walk with the Promised One, who become clean pots, living stones.
Do you realize who you are? Are you here by accident or coincidence?
God has a plan for you and is revealing it day by day.
I pray you are paying attention, fully tuned in and focused on this word. Because how can you be cooked and prepared if you are not even in the cooking pot?
We must have discernment, and the place where God cooks will give prophecy and fulfillment, the deeper things of God.
Reminder:
Cooking Pot: Jesus’ Church
Meat: 12 Disciples
Fire: Word of Truth (John 17:8)
Wood: True Pastor (Jesus)
Here are two additional verses that will help frame our understanding of what we should expect in our time. Let’s examine these passages and see how they relate to us:
In the Book of Luke 24, we read the story of those who walked to Emmaus and what happened to them—how Jesus revealed himself to them.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
Let’s describe the scene here. We have two followers of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus. They are discussing among themselves the recent events that have taken place. This is Luke chapter 24, so it’s the end of the Gospel of Luke. By this point, Jesus has been crucified and risen again. However, the followers don’t fully realize that yet.
As they walk along, Jesus appears but conceals his identity from them. The followers assume he is just an ordinary traveler on the road. They do not recognize who he actually is yet.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
Verse 19 shows Jesus’s sense of humor. “What things?” – as if he doesn’t already know. He’s testing them now. He kept them from recognizing him so that he could see what was really in their hearts. A temporary secret that he’s keeping to see what’s inside. He asks them to explain “what things?” And they reply, confused, “Are you just a traveler here?” He must seem like a random person to not know all the things that have happened in Israel.
So what happens? He says, “What did our chief priests and leaders do?” They say, “They sentenced him to death and crucified him, even though he was a prophet powerful in word and deed, a righteous man.” The established leaders of that time rejected the one who was sent.
Then they said something key that shows their mindset. What did they say in verse 21? “We had hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Interesting. These aren’t uninformed men. They know the prophecies. The prophecies talk about the Redemption of Israel. So they thought, “Okay, finally the Redemption has come!” But then Jesus is crucified.
So what are they thinking? “Wow, that deflated my hopes. I thought he was the one.”
Let’s see how Jesus replies. We’ll finish by reading what else they say about Jesus.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
These two disciples thought Jesus would redeem Israel. But Jesus responded, “How foolish you are, and slow to believe what the prophets have foretold! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” Jesus was referring to the prophecies that the Christ would suffer and die. The disciples should have realized this, but they were downcast because they did not understand the scriptures.
Immediately after rebuking them, Jesus began to teach the disciples from the scriptures. In verse 27 it states, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Jesus prepared and instructed them, helping them understand what the scriptures said about him and his mission.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus kept critical information about who he was to himself until the disciples understood the scriptures. Then he revealed himself to them and allowed himself to be known. This was an act of grace.
Imagine if Jesus had just shown up unexpectedly. The disciples would have been shocked because their understanding was not ready yet. So even though they would have been glad to see Jesus, they still would have been confused. Jesus did them a favor by gradually increasing their knowledge. So when they saw the fulfillment of prophecy, they completely understood and were filled with deep excitement – not just at what they saw but also at what they now grasped.
This class is fashioned the same way.
I’m sure you have many questions – “What about this?” “What does this mean?” “I read this over here – what’s that about?” Be patient. We will get to everything in due time, first seeking to understand scripture and prophecy. Then these matters will be revealed when the timing is right and understanding will click for you – it will not be confusing.
Can we be patient and take this slowly but surely? We want to fully master the scriptures, not consume undercooked meat. Let’s allow the Word to season and bread us thoroughly so we are cooked to perfection, ready to be feasted upon. God desires His people to be like a well-prepared cut of meat, cooked and ready to serve.
Let’s allow the Word to complete its full work in us.
Memorization
They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’
Review with the Evangelist
Review
Isn’t it wonderful to enjoy a delicious meal? Have you ever considered the idea that a cooking pot can represent a church? It might be surprising, but there’s a profound connection. God is logical; He often uses physical objects to illustrate spiritual truths, as we’ve seen in Romans 1:20.
So, what was our lesson’s title? ‘Secrets of Heaven: The Figurative Cooking Pot.’ And what does a cooking pot symbolize spiritually? It represents the church or a collective group of believers, as described in Ezekiel 24:3-6 and Romans 12:1. We’ve learned that there are two types of spiritual forces at war, haven’t we?
There’s God’s cooking pot and Satan’s cooking pot. Being ‘cooked’ in God’s pot transforms us into God’s likeness, leading us toward heaven. Conversely, being ‘cooked’ in Satan’s pot molds us into Satan’s image, resulting in curses.
We’ve also learned that ‘wood’ symbolizes a pastor. Wood requires fire, or the word of God, to burn or to cook. So, the pastor ignites like wood with the word, like fire, to ‘cook’ within the pot – which is the church – to preach to the ‘meat,’ or the believers.
This brings us to consider ourselves, the church. What if our pot has rust? That rust will seep into the meat – into us. Would we cook with a rusty pot? The food, like our spiritual nourishment, would be tainted by a dirty vessel.
As believers, we must discern which type of ‘cooking pot’ we belong to. Is it clean or encrusted with rust? We can’t judge the quality of a cooking pot simply by looking at people’s faces, the beauty of a building, or the praise and worship offered. Our standard for discernment must be the scriptures – the revealed word and explanation of parables. Without personal study and understanding of scripture, we won’t be able to discern if we are learning from God’s true word. John 1:1 tells us that God’s word should be our standard so that we can achieve our hope.
Our aspiration in this class is to belong to the correct ‘cooking pot’ and be presented to God at the second coming.
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Table of Contents: Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Cooking Pot
Introduction
- This lesson builds on the previous lesson about the figurative censer, exploring how the metaphor of a “cooking pot” reveals truths about the spiritual state of individuals and the church.
Review: Figurative Censer
- Recap of the censer as a symbol for an individual: the censer itself represents the person, the incense represents the prayers of the saints, and the smoke represents those prayers rising up to God.
- Encourages readers to pray scripturally, using verses as a guide for their prayers.
Figurative Cooking Pot: Main Reference – Jeremiah 1:13
1. Physical Characteristics of a Cooking Pot
- Cooking pots are large containers used to boil or cook meat, making it edible and nutritious.
- The cooking process transforms raw food, unlocking nutrients that are otherwise inaccessible.
- Cooking as an act of love and sacrifice, similar to how pastors prepare spiritual food for their congregations.
2. Spiritual Meaning of Cooking Pot
- Ezekiel 11:3: Introduces the metaphor of the city as a cooking pot and the people within it as the meat, illustrating a sense of impending doom and judgment.
- Matthew 5:13-16: Jesus uses metaphors like “city on a hill” and “salt of the earth” to describe the church as a collective body, similar to the cooking pot imagery.
- Jeremiah 5:14: Introduces the element of fire, representing God’s word, as essential for the cooking process. The wood fueling the fire symbolizes people, particularly leaders like pastors, who are responsible for igniting and maintaining the fire.
Reminder: Key Symbols
- Cooking Pot: City (Church)
- Meat: People
- Fire: Word of God
- Wood: People (Leaders/Pastors)
3. Two Types of Cooking Pots
A. Satan’s Pot
- Ezekiel 24:3-6: Prophesies the existence of an encrusted pot, symbolizing a corrupt and destructive force that will harm God’s people.
- Micah 3:1-3,11: Condemns corrupt leaders who exploit and abuse the people they are meant to guide, comparing them to those who cook flesh in unauthorized pots for personal gain.
- Matthew 23:25-28, 15: Identifies the Pharisees and Sadducees as the fulfillment of the prophecy, highlighting their hypocrisy, greed, and false teachings that led people astray.
Reminder: Key Symbols
- Satan’s Pot: Encrusted Pot
- Leaders, Rulers: People’s Flesh ——-> Pot ————> Teach for a price (greed)
B. God’s Pot
- Zechariah 14:20-21: Prophesies the future redemption of Israel, where God’s pots will be holy and used for good purposes, signifying a time of restoration and purity.
- John 17:8: Jesus fulfills this prophecy by embodying the “holy pot,” offering the true words of God and preparing his disciples to be offered to God.
- Importance of Prophecy Fulfillment: Emphasizes the need to consider the fulfillment of all prophecies, not just isolated verses, to understand the truth.
- John 17:17: Highlights Jesus’ use of truth to sanctify his disciples, emphasizing the importance of God’s word as the purifying fire.
Reminder: Key Symbols
- God’s Pot: Jesus’ Church
- Meat: 12 Disciples
- Fire: Word of Truth
- Wood: True Pastor (Jesus)
Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus
- Two disciples, disheartened by Jesus’ crucifixion, encounter him on the road to Emmaus but fail to recognize him.
- Jesus reveals his identity gradually, first rebuking them for their lack of understanding of the scriptures and then explaining the prophecies about his suffering and glory.
- This gradual revelation emphasizes the importance of studying scripture and understanding prophecy for spiritual growth and discernment.
Conclusion and Application
- The lesson concludes by reiterating the importance of discerning which “cooking pot” we belong to – God’s or Satan’s.
- Encourages readers to prioritize scripture and prophecy as the ultimate standard for discerning truth and avoiding spiritual deception.
- The goal is to be prepared and “cooked” in God’s pot, ready to be presented to him at the second coming.
A Study Guide
Secrets of Heaven: The Figurative Cooking Pot Study Guide
Glossary of Key Terms:
- Figurative Cooking Pot: A metaphor representing the church or a collective group of believers. There are two types: God’s pot and Satan’s pot.
- God’s Pot: Symbolizes the true church where believers are nourished and transformed by God’s word, leading them toward salvation.
- Satan’s Pot: Represents false churches or religious institutions that corrupt believers with false teachings and lead them toward spiritual destruction.
- Meat: Represents the people within the church, the individuals being “cooked” or spiritually shaped.
- Fire: Symbolizes the word of God, the purifying and strengthening element that brings transformation.
- Wood: Represents pastors or religious leaders who have the responsibility to “ignite” the fire of God’s word and cook the “meat” within the church.
- Encrusted Pot: A metaphor for a corrupted church with leaders who exploit and mislead the people for their own gain, represented by the rusty edges of the pot that damage the “meat.”
- Prophecy and Fulfillment: A key element for discerning the true church. True churches will accurately teach and demonstrate how prophecies in scripture have been and will be fulfilled.
- Redemption of Israel: Refers to prophecies about the future salvation and restoration of Israel, which were believed to be fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus.
Short Answer Quiz:
- How does the size of a cooking pot relate to its symbolic meaning?
- What are the key differences between a figurative cooking pot and a censer as discussed in the source material?
- What does the “meat” inside the cooking pot symbolize?
- What is the significance of the “encrusted pot” in the context of Satan’s pot?
- According to the source material, how do the leaders in Micah 3:1-3,11 contribute to the imagery of an encrusted cooking pot?
- How does Matthew 23:25-28 relate to the concept of an encrusted pot?
- According to the source material, what was the “fire” used in God’s Pot at the time of the first coming?
- Why is it crucial to consider prophecy and fulfillment when evaluating a church?
- How does the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) illustrate the importance of understanding scripture?
- What are the two main types of cooking pots discussed in the lesson, and what distinguishes them from each other?
Short Answer Quiz Answer Key:
- A cooking pot is larger than a bowl, symbolizing a collection of people, like a church congregation, rather than an individual.
- A cooking pot represents a church, containing multiple people being “cooked” by the word of God. A censer represents an individual whose prayers, like incense, rise up to God.
- The “meat” symbolizes the people within the church, the individuals being spiritually shaped and prepared by the “cooking” process.
- The “encrusted pot” represents a corrupted church where the “meat” is damaged and tainted by the rust, symbolizing false teachings and corrupt leadership that harm the people.
- The leaders in Micah exploit and mistreat the people, tearing them apart spiritually and physically, just as meat is torn apart in a pot. This illustrates their corrupt leadership and misuse of authority.
- Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, comparing them to whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside but are filled with decay inside. This connects to the encrusted pot, where the outer appearance might deceive, but the inside is corrupted and harmful.
- The fire in God’s pot was the word of truth spoken by Jesus. It was this truth that cooked and prepared the disciples to be offered to God.
- Prophecy and fulfillment provide a framework for understanding God’s plan and identifying true versus false churches. True churches will accurately teach how prophecies have been and will be fulfilled.
- The disciples on the road to Emmaus were initially disheartened because they didn’t understand the prophecies about Jesus’ suffering. When Jesus explained the scriptures, their eyes were opened, and they understood the true meaning of his death and resurrection. This emphasizes the importance of studying scripture for spiritual understanding.
- The two types are God’s pot and Satan’s pot. God’s pot nourishes and transforms believers with truth, leading them to salvation. Satan’s pot uses falsehood and corrupt leadership to mislead and damage believers spiritually.
Additional Questions:
1. What is the true meaning of the figurative cooking pot, meat, fire and wood?
– Pot = A church (Ezekiel 11:3)
– Meat = People
– Fire = Word (Jeremiah 5:14)
– Wood = People / Pastor
2. How many type of pots are there and what happens when we’re cooked in them?
– God’s pot (Holy po) —-> transforms into God’s image
– Satan’s pot (encrusted pot) —–> transforms in Satan’s image
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This lesson primarily focuses on interpreting biblical metaphors and prophecy, not on a chronological sequence of historical events. Therefore, a traditional timeline is not applicable. Instead, the source highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the time of Jesus, using the metaphor of a “cooking pot” to represent different spiritual states.
Key Time Periods:
- Old Testament Period: Prophecies are given about God’s judgment on Jerusalem and the future redemption of Israel. Key prophets mentioned include Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Zechariah.
- Time of Jesus (First Coming): Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, acting as the “true cooking pot” preparing his disciples to be offered to God. This is contrasted with the “encrusted pot” of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who misinterpret and misuse scripture.
- Present Day: The source urges listeners to examine their own spiritual state and discern whether they are being “cooked” in God’s pot or Satan’s pot, emphasizing the importance of understanding scripture and prophecy.
Cast of Characters
Prophets:
- Jeremiah: Receives a vision of a boiling pot tilting from the north, symbolizing God’s judgment. (Jeremiah 1:13)
- Ezekiel: Describes Jerusalem as a cooking pot and the people as the meat, facing impending doom. Also, prophesies about a future encrusted pot symbolizing corrupt leadership. (Ezekiel 11:3, 24:3-6)
- Micah: Condemns leaders who exploit the people, using the imagery of cooking flesh in unauthorized pots. (Micah 3:1-3,11)
- Zechariah: Prophesies about a future time when all pots in Jerusalem will be holy to the Lord, foreshadowing the establishment of a true church. (Zechariah 14:20-21)
Religious Leaders at the Time of Jesus:
- Pharisees: Hypocritical leaders who focus on outward appearances and misuse their authority, depicted as the encrusted pot. (Matthew 23:25-28, 15)
- Sadducees: Another group of religious leaders at the time of Jesus, criticized alongside the Pharisees for their corrupt practices.
- Scribes and Teachers of the Law: Also mentioned as contributing to the corrupt leadership that exploits God’s people.
Jesus and His Disciples:
- Jesus: The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, acting as the “true cooking pot” preparing his disciples for God through his teachings and sacrifice. (John 17:8, Matthew 5:13-16)
- Twelve Disciples: The initial “meat” being prepared in Jesus’ “cooking pot,” learning from him and being transformed through his teachings.
- Cleopas: One of the two disciples walking to Emmaus who initially fail to recognize Jesus and are rebuked for their slowness to believe prophecy. (Luke 24:13-35)
The students:
- “You”: The lesson directly addresses the students, urging them to examine their own spiritual state and make sure they are being “cooked” in the right kind of pot. The speaker encourages them to learn from scripture and prophecy to avoid being misled.
Overview
Overview: Figurative Cooking Pot and Biblical Prophecy
Central Metaphor: The “cooking pot” serves as a recurring metaphor throughout the lesson, symbolizing different entities depending on the context.
Two Types of Cooking Pots:
- Satan’s Pot: This represents corrupted religious institutions and leaders who exploit and mislead God’s people for personal gain.
- Characteristics: Described as “encrusted” (Ezekiel 24:3-6), signifying decay and contamination. The leaders “tear the skin” and “eat the flesh” of the people (Micah 3:1-3).
- First Coming Fulfillment: Jesus identifies the Pharisees and Sadducees as embodying this corrupt system (Matthew 23:25-28). Their teachings are likened to “lies” (fire) that “cook” the people (meat) in a pot (synagogues) fueled by the corrupt leaders themselves (wood).
- God’s Pot: This symbolizes a true church, guided by God’s Word and led by a true pastor who nourishes and prepares believers for God.
- Characteristics: Described as “holy” and “sacred” (Zechariah 14:20-21).
- First Coming Fulfillment: Jesus, through his teachings (fire) based on truth and scripture, prepared his disciples (meat) to be offered to God. Jesus himself serves as the “wood” – the true pastor fueling the fire.
Prophecy and Fulfillment: The lesson emphasizes the importance of understanding biblical prophecy and its fulfillment.
- Key Point: Prophecies are not fulfilled through isolated events or coincidences. True fulfillment involves the convergence of multiple prophecies, aligning perfectly with scriptural accounts.
- Example: Jesus’ life, ministry, and death fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating his legitimacy as the Messiah.
Lessons for Today: The lesson draws parallels between the past and present, urging believers to discern the “cooking pot” they belong to.
- Questions to Consider:“Which pot am I being cooked in?”
- “Does my church prioritize prophecy and its fulfillment?”
- “Am I being fed the truth of scripture, preparing me for God?”
Key Quotes:
- “This city is like a cooking pot and we are the meat inside it.” (Ezekiel 11:3)
- “Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away!” (Ezekiel 24:6)
- “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” (Matthew 23:27)
- “On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.” (Zechariah 14:20)
- “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)
Call to Action: The lesson encourages believers to actively engage with scripture, seeking understanding and discernment to ensure they are being “cooked” in God’s pot, prepared for His purpose.
Q&A
Q&A: Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Cooking Pot
1. What does the cooking pot symbolize in the Bible?
The cooking pot is a metaphor used in the Bible to represent a church or a gathering of believers. This symbolism can be seen in verses like Ezekiel 11:3 and Matthew 5:13-16, where the city or the collective body of followers is likened to a pot.
2. What are the components of the figurative cooking pot?
The cooking pot analogy has several components:
- Cooking Pot: The church or gathering of believers.
- Meat: The people within the church, being spiritually nurtured.
- Fire: The Word of God, providing purification and guidance.
- Wood: The pastor or spiritual leader, fueled by the Word of God to teach and guide.
3. What are the two types of cooking pots described in the lesson?
The lesson describes two contrasting cooking pots:
- God’s Pot: A clean pot where the Word of God is used to purify and prepare people to be offered to God.
- Satan’s Pot: An encrusted, rusty pot, symbolizing churches or groups where false teachings and corrupt leadership lead people astray, spiritually harming them.
4. How is the encrusted pot described in the Bible?
The encrusted pot is described in Ezekiel 24:3-6 as a pot encrusted with rust and filled with bloodshed. It symbolizes a church or group where the leaders are corrupt and exploit the people for their own gain rather than caring for their spiritual well-being.
5. Who were the leaders that represented the encrusted pot at the time of Jesus’ first coming?
The Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and teachers of the law during Jesus’ time are depicted as the leaders associated with the encrusted pot. They were accused of hypocrisy, greed, and leading people away from God’s truth.
6. How was Jesus an example of God’s pot?
Jesus, through his true teachings, pure example, and sacrifice, represents God’s pot. He used the Word of God (fire) to prepare his disciples (meat) to be offered to God. He himself acted as the wood, the true pastor fueled by the Word of God.
7. How can we discern which type of cooking pot we are in?
We can determine the nature of the “cooking pot” we are in by examining the teachings and practices of the church or group. A true church will emphasize the Word of God, prophecy, and fulfillment as the basis for understanding God’s plan. If a church prioritizes other things over sound biblical teaching, it may be an indication of an “encrusted pot.”
8. Why is it important to understand the concept of the figurative cooking pot?
Understanding the different types of “cooking pots” helps us discern true churches from those that may lead us astray. It emphasizes the importance of studying scripture, recognizing true leadership, and ensuring that we are being spiritually nourished in a way that aligns with God’s Word.