Figurative Breath represents the word of life or truth that gives spiritual life. Just as physical breath is vital for bodily life, spiritual “breath” or the word of God is vital for spiritual life. When Jesus spoke the words from God at his first coming, those who accepted his words received spiritual life or “breath.”

For the second coming, Jesus opens the sealed scroll and its words are passed down through the angel to John and then to God’s servants, giving them spiritual “breath” and life.

Figurative Death refers to the state of not having the spiritual “breath” or word of life from God. It represents spiritual separation from God, the source of life. Jesus warned against the spiritually “dead” influences that could snuff out one’s newfound spiritual life.

The main points are that receiving and sharing the revelatory word of truth from God gives spiritual “breath” and life, while lacking that word results in spiritual “death.” The lesson emphasizes the vital importance of taking in and delivering this spiritual “breath” of life.

 

Study Guide SCJ Bible Study

Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Breath and Death 

Well, did anyone experience any unusual occurrences over the past couple of days? Yes, some hands went up. We should not be surprised by peculiar events, not anymore.

After we’ve been studying the word, we know that Satan will always place obstacles in our path. Just anticipate them and let them roll off your shoulders, because with the word, we are able to overcome. 

I’m grateful that everyone could attend tonight as we learn about how many decisions we make. It’s tens of thousands of times, over 30,000 times per day.

Every step we take, whether we turn left to enter this room or right to enter that room, whether we eat our food quickly or slowly, what clothes we wear, whether we turn left or right in our car – there are numerous decisions we make. The more decisions we make in a day, the more fatigued we become. One of the challenges, especially since this class is in the evening when most people have finished working for the day and made numerous decisions, is attending an evening class that typically lasts around two hours.

So, I want to continue commending everyone for your efforts. God acknowledges your efforts, let me put it that way, and God rewards your efforts, so thank you immensely for everything you do. There are a few things we’ll discuss today to help us continue growing, as our collective responsibility is for all of us to grow together, like iron sharpening iron, so that one person sharpens another. Let’s become sharp with the Word of God today because we know that the word is a sword. It’s better for us to be a sharp sword that strikes with precision rather than a dull sword, which actually causes damage.

Today, we’ll examine breath and death for part one. In the next lesson, we’ll look at grave and resurrection. Sometimes, this lesson is taught in one session, but there’s so much content that I feel it’s better for us to thoroughly digest breath and death first before moving on to grave and resurrection. Now, let me clarify one thing about resurrection here.

There are two types of resurrection in the Bible. What we’re really discussing here will be spiritual resurrection in the next lesson, but there’s, of course, also physical resurrection, like Lazarus, Jesus, and even Eutychus, just to be clear on that point. So, the two parables we’ll be learning about today are breath and death.

Breath represents the word of life.

Death represents a state of not having the word of life.

So, figurative breath is the word of life, and figurative death is the state of not having the word of life – pretty straightforward. But today, we’re going to discuss why this is the case and look at some very deep parables and prophecies that discuss these things. Our hope for today is to be the living in God’s eyes, as God’s eyes are the only eyes that truly matter.

The only opinion that matters is that of God, to be the living in God’s eyes by receiving the breath of life at the second coming.

About the Test

I wanted to provide some details about the upcoming test, which is happening this month.

The test date will be tentative, but our planned time or date for the test is April 25th. April 25th is our scheduled date for our first parables test. We will ensure that you receive the remaining questions. Starting this Sunday, you will receive the rest of the questions.

Until then, please master the questions you’ve already received so that when you get the new questions, you can tackle them too. Please use this week to thoroughly understand the questions you’ve got. Here’s why this is really important.

As you’re studying for the test, you might be asking yourself, “Why do we have to take a test? Isn’t this just a Bible study? Isn’t this just a course? What’s the purpose of the test?”

Some of us might have thought that too, at times.

Here’s why testing ourselves is so crucial.

Now, of course, Paul was not talking about a test like we’re going to be taking here. But he’s saying, examine yourself.

The goal is actually self-reflection. You’re taking the test, not for your instructor. You’re taking the test, not for your evangelist.

You’re taking your test to see how you’re doing. The test is like a reflection. How much of the content have you retained within yourself?

What does it take to be good soil? Remember Luke 8:15. The noble soil, or the seed that falls on good soil, is one that falls on a noble and good heart.

That heart hears the word, retains the word, and by persevering, produces a crop.

A test is a great way to check and make sure the word is remaining in you. And the word flows out from you, like Luke 6:45 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

It’s also an opportunity for us to really study more. Because when we’re preparing for the test, we’re studying the word. We’re reading the verses once again.

Okay, this says, for example, Hosea 11:1 talks about God prophesying that his son will come out of Egypt. And that is fulfilled in Matthew 2:13-15. And so now you’re reading both of these passages.

And then you might continue reading the rest of Hosea 11 or Matthew 2. And now you’re in the word just because you are taking time to study.

So it’s a great tool for studying the word and examining ourselves. And if you think about it, how do you know the difference between two houses, according to Jesus? How do you find out about which one is which?

If you look at those two houses, can you tell which follows the word and which follows their own thoughts just by looking at them?

Two people holding a Bible.

How do you know which is speaking the truth and which is not?

How do you know for sure?

Oh, you have to do what?

You have to test the spirits. Does that take effort?

You have to know enough to know where to look when you’re listening. And here’s the point I was making about the houses. The houses look the same.

Two houses that are identical. You don’t know which is built on the rock, which is the foundation underground, so you can’t see the foundation. And you don’t know which is built on the sand until…

Until it is tested and the winds blow and the waves crash.

Then you will know which house is which because the house built on the sand falls down and crumbles.

That’s right. So let’s be those that are built on the rock, and the rock is the foundation, which is the word, right? The figurative rock.

So that is why we take tests, just to make sure that the word is within us. And it’s a great tool to do that.

Figurative Breath

Main Reference

Jesus is speaking here, and pay attention to the terminology He used. He said, “Do not be amazed at this. For a time is coming.” This statement triggers an understanding that we are reading a prophecy.

What did Jesus say? There is a time when those who do good will rise, and they will receive eternal life. But those who do evil will rise to be condemned.

We certainly don’t want to be those who will rise to be condemned. We want to be those who will rise to receive eternal life.

So let’s understand this main reference through the different lessons today. What gives life? And how are we able to understand life on a deeper level?

One thing I want to cover here is how life spreads. At the time of Jesus’ first coming, when He was born, if you lived in a different country, could you have known that the Messiah had come?

You’re telling me that those who lived in Europe, Africa, or East Asia didn’t know that the Christ had come? No one else knew except those who were living in Israel. So how did others come to know that the Christ had come? What needed to happen?

The prophecies had to be fulfilled, but then how did they come to know the story? How did they come to know in the first place? They had to meet people who knew the story. They had to meet those who had received life themselves and could then deliver that same life to someone else.

One of my favorite stories about this is the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. The Ethiopian eunuch was a smart and diligent man who had made the long journey from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship. Though he was the leader of the finances of Ethiopia, meaning he was very intelligent, and though he was also very zealous, having made such a journey, he was still reading the book of Isaiah and could not understand it. Sadly, he was leaving to go back to Ethiopia when he encountered Philip, which means he had spent all that time in Jerusalem and still did not understand Isaiah, despite likely meeting with priests and teachers of the law.

However, the Spirit of God noticed his heart and prompted Philip to go to that chariot and wait there. Philip then ran up to the chariot and asked if the man understood what he was reading. At that point, the Ethiopian eunuch received life because he received the understanding of the word he did not understand. When he understood the word, he encountered Jesus for the first time, the reality of the scriptures, and it gave him life.

He was so thrilled to finally understand that he asked to be baptized right away. Then he went home rejoicing and began to evangelize in Ethiopia, which is amazing. There are some in Ethiopia who can trace their faith belief all the way back to the Ethiopian eunuch, 2000 years later.

So how does life spread? It spreads through interactions with those who already have life.

As we go through this course, the lecture time is actually a small part of the course, and if I’m honest, it’s not as important as the other parts of the course. What matters much more than just the lecture? The other meetings, where you have a chance to speak, ask questions, and wrestle with the content to ensure you understand.

You can’t really do that during a lecture, right? A lecture is pretty one-way, with me speaking. You may have an opportunity to speak or ask a question, but it’s very small. You don’t get a chance to speak much during the lecture. But you get a chance to speak during your one-on-one meetings and during the small group time.

It’s really important. And you can really tell a difference by this point with those who regularly attend meetings and those who do not. It’s very clear. You’re picking up things quicker if you attend meetings because you’re meeting with your evangelist and asking your questions. There’s a big difference for those who do the meetings and those who do not. Those who don’t attend meetings end up struggling quite a bit because they don’t have that two-way interaction and connection. So I’m really encouraging you, please attend the meetings.

So what did the writer of Hebrews say here? Do not give up meeting together.

As some of you are in the habit of doing, do not give up meeting together.

There may be a few reasons why someone would stop attending meetings. Maybe something happened in their life, or a family situation came up. Maybe they’re not an extroverted person, and meetings make them feel uncomfortable or nervous.

Perhaps they received persecution and now they’re having doubts. There are many reasons why one might give up meeting together. But the writer of Hebrews is saying, don’t do this.

Instead, we need to encourage one another. We need to encourage each other. Why? So that when we see the day approaching, we can overcome.

Now, this passage is very old, around 2000 years old. How much closer is the day now than it was when these words were written? Much closer. So how much more encouragement do we need today? A lot of encouragement. We need a lot of encouragement. So let’s be encouraged.

Let’s meet together. Let’s stay for small group discussions. So that we can digest the lesson right away. I promise you, small group time is really important for understanding and perception. Come to small group discussions. Attend your one-on-one meetings.

Ask your questions. Really dive deep into the word. I promise you it helps a lot.

Figurative breath, one encounters life when one meets someone who has also encountered life. One sent by the Spirit of God to come and help them.

1. Physical Characteristics of Breath

When we think about breath, a few important things should come to mind.

1. Breath is a symbol or source of life. You can live several weeks without food. You can live a few days without water. However, you can only live for minutes without breath. Without breath, life ends. It is absolutely vital for survival. Breath is what keeps you alive. Without it, we die.

And it is not a pleasant death to be asphyxiated, which means to be deprived of breath, to go for a long period without receiving air. In such a situation, you can only survive for minutes.

2. Life is only possible for minutes without breath.

If God makes our physical breath this important for life, then how much more will spiritual breath be important for the life of our inner being? It is super important, very important for life.

So, we should think about it in dual terms: breath for the body and breath for the spirit. When you look at certain cultures, some prioritize breathing as a meditation practice, a concentration practice, or even as preparation for physical exertion. For instance, have you ever played a sport or lifted weights in the gym? Coaches often remind you to breathe, asking, “Why did you stop breathing?” People tend to hold their breath, which makes physical exertion even harder. Breath is critical for how the body functions.

God designed it this way for a reason. It’s not an accident. So, let’s now look at spiritual breath by first examining its source and then exploring an example from Scripture.

2. Spiritual (True) Meaning of Breath

First and foremost, let us consider where the process of breathing takes place. Can we pinpoint the location where we breathe?

The mouth, correct? What other components exist in this area of our body? It contains our teeth and our tongue.

Indeed. Breathing typically occurs through the mouth, although it is more beneficial for our health to breathe through our noses.

Precisely. However, the process of breathing involves air entering through the mouth, traveling into our lungs, circulating through our blood, and then exhaling carbon dioxide.

Thus, breath originates from this region, the mouth. Interestingly, God intentionally compares speaking to breathing, as we shall explore momentarily.

Breath and the spoken word are indeed closely intertwined (related).

ONE – The spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life. So when Jesus was speaking to people, they were receiving life from his words. They were receiving the spirit from his words, and the spirit and the word are always together. They cannot be separated. In fact, they are one and the same.

This is why Jesus said in John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” From the moment Jesus met them and spoke to them, he had been cleansing them. By speaking to them, he was cleansing them. They were already being cleansed by the words he had spoken to them. They were receiving life, receiving breath, and their spirits were being quickened, coming to life. This is how Jesus had been operating from the beginning.

This is important in John 6 because Jesus had just finished talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Many heard those words and said, “What is this guy talking about? What kind of nonsense is this?” and they walked away from him. But those who heard these words and decided, “You know what, I want to hear more. What does he mean by what he is saying?” they would come and inquire. Jesus would then provide the explanation, and they would understand, saying, “Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Yeah, that makes sense.” And now they were excited because they had come to a deeper understanding.

God also compares himself to the word.

TWO – In John 1:1-4, the Word is compared to God, life, and light.

So when one receives the Word, they are receiving God’s life, they are receiving God’s light. They are receiving Jesus’s life and Jesus’s light; they are receiving all of these things together. This shows how critically important the Word is to life.

But now, let’s look at breath and the Word discussed together. Are we ready? Let’s look at the book of Ezekiel.

It’s so good, especially when we understand how it comes to be. And we will look at this passage in more detail in the next lesson, but I want to give us some teasers today.

THREE – I can’t wait for us to go over this in more detail in the next lesson, but here are the key points I wanted us to grasp. Let’s pay attention to these points.

First of all, what is Ezekiel called here? How did God address him? What did God call Ezekiel in this vision? Son of man. Ah, he said, “Son of man.”

Do we remember how prophecies work? Is the prophet talking about himself or someone else? Jesus.

So, though Ezekiel was seeing this vision, someone else later lived it out. Wow, very cool, such a small detail, easy to miss, but very important, because who is the Son of man? Jesus. Are we understanding?

Revelation is very similar. In fact, Revelation is very similar, that’s how prophecies work. So Ezekiel saw these things in a vision, he was speaking in a vision, so when he woke up, he didn’t actually do this, but he saw it in a vision. Someone else actually did this, but spiritually. Ready to see?

Show me, show me what this happened. Before that though, let’s go back to the main point in verse 7.

“So I prophesied, as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound. The bones came together, bone to bone. I looked and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them.” Still some work to do.

Then what happened? “Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to it, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life. So, how did the breath enter the people? What did the Son of Man have to do? He had to speak. He spoke.

And then the breath entered them, and they came to life. But this is a prophecy, which means parables are being used. This is why we’re mastering the language of heaven, so these things are no longer looked at on a surface level, but we’re understanding it deeper. Let’s see the reality of this.

3. Breath at the First Coming and the Second Coming

ONE – When those who are alive or those who are spiritually dead hear His voice, what will happen to them?

He will rise again.

As Jesus was speaking to the people, they were hearing His words. He was speaking to people who could still walk around, blink, eat food, sleep, and wake up. He was not speaking to physically dead people in this passage but to those who were physically alive.

However, they were like dry bones, spiritually dead for a long time. Their spirits were lifeless.

So, when someone heard the words of Jesus, their spirits came to life. When they heard and accepted (the key term here is “accepted” because many heard, but only a few accepted), those who accepted received the breath of life from Jesus. They received the words that He had received from the Father above, as stated in John 17:8, “For I have given them the words that You gave Me, and they have received them and truly understood that I came from You.”

Therefore, Jesus was giving the breath of life to those who were listening and accepting His words. Let us be like them, receiving the words from above and receiving life.

TWO –  This is very important.

Revelation 1:1-3 summarizes the entire book of Revelation. It talks about how the revelation is delivered, where it starts, and where it goes. Of course, we’ve discussed the actual verses that describe it as well, such as Revelation 5, 6, 8, and 10.

However, these three verses essentially summarize those particular parts of those chapters. Let’s break down step by step the verses we just read. At the very beginning, as all things begin, it starts with God.

So whose revelation is it? It is the revelation of Jesus. It is actually Jesus’s revelation.

Why is it Jesus’s revelation? What does the word “revelation” generally mean? Generally, it means to make something open, to show something that was once hidden.

So who is the one who opens this revelation? Jesus. He is the one who opens it, as the Lamb opens the first of the seven seals, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh. Then the book is fully opened, as described in Revelation 6 and the first verse of Revelation 8. This is why it is called Jesus’s revelation.

Now, why was Jesus the only one who could open this book? Why could no one else open it? Do you remember? I’m testing our understanding and knowledge.

Why was Jesus the only one who could open it?

Well, he certainly is holy enough to open it. But heaven is holy too, right? Why couldn’t the angels open it? What separated Jesus from the angels? What happened to Jesus?

Because he was slain. That’s what made him the only one worthy to open the book and look inside.

Wow.

What does it mean that the Lamb had triumphed?

So, why is it Jesus’s revelation? Firstly, because He was the only one who could open it or was allowed to open it. 

And because He was slain, that’s what gave Him the right. This is why the first coming had to happen. This is why Jesus had to die on the cross – not just to bear our sin but also to bring this whole thing to an end. Jesus is the only one who can do this. Here’s something we must keep in mind throughout this course:

It is Jesus who opens the scroll. It is Jesus who fulfills. It is Him doing the work, not any person or organization. It is Jesus who does it.

But just as God works through Jesus, Jesus also has to work through people. This is why it didn’t just stop with Jesus opening the scroll but continued to the angel.

And it didn’t stop at the angel either. As stated in Revelation 1, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw – the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” So there it is again, the word and testimony.

That word and testimony must then be delivered to the servants who must hear this word and realize that things are taking place now. These servants will be the peoples, nations, languages, and kings mentioned in Revelation 10.

Revelation 10:11 states they will need to come out, cross over from death to life, and gather on the mountain.

One doesn’t receive the word just for themselves; they must deliver that word to others. It has been the same process, and it is the same process today. Fascinating.

So if this is happening in Revelation, and we talk about the importance of knowing Mount Zion or finding Mount Zion, then what does that mean about the instructors and evangelists? What does that mean we are? What does it mean we know? What does it mean we’re sharing with you? What does it mean is happening? These questions are rhetorical, but I really want you to think about these things.

Now is not the time to sit back and let everything happen. Now is the time to pick up your tools and get to work because you want to be a part of what’s happening here.

Jesus didn’t just give the word to the disciples for them to enjoy it like a delicious meal. He gave them that word so they could get to work, and so those they taught could also get to work, and so on.

The same needs to happen today. Don’t be someone who only consumes good teachings but does nothing. This word is not just for you but for many peoples, nations, languages, and kings as well.

What is God’s ultimate desire, as we talked about? 1 Timothy 2:3-4 states it is for all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, but not just that – to gather together in unity, which seems impossible today with so many different denominations, ideas, and doctrines.

How many denominations exist today? Any guesses? Whatever you’re thinking, double or triple it. There are around 30,000 different ways people are explaining the Bible today. Why is it like that? Isn’t that frustrating?

Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 1:10, which states, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Oh no! God wants us to be united, but things need to take place for that to be possible.

Let’s be united. Let’s stop the arguing, bickering, and disagreements. But let’s not come together based on personal understandings; let’s come together based on the word and what is being fulfilled, because fulfillment ends arguments.

There is no question about who the virgin and the child are because they appeared by God’s grace. We know there is no question about that. So let’s make sure we understand the word so that we can recognize fulfillment and gather, with no more divisions. It’s very exhausting.

Figurative Death

1. Physical Characteristics of Death 

1. There is no breath. Very simply, this indicates death.

The breath is gone, or the person is no longer breathing. The Bible mentions two kinds of death.

2. Physical death, which is the cessation of bodily functions and the departure of life from the physical body.

3. Spiritual death, which is the separation of the spirit from God, the source of eternal life.

So there is physical death, the death of the body. And there is spiritual death, the death of the spirit. An excellent example of physical death is Lazarus, as mentioned in John 11:1-44. He died physically.

However, spiritual death had occurred to everyone else, as stated in Romans 3:23 and Ephesians 2:1. They needed to be resurrected spiritually, which we’ll discuss in detail in the next lesson.

In summary, death means that there is no breath, no life in the physical body or the spiritual realm.

2. Spiritual (True) Meaning of Death

Let’s examine an excellent example from Jesus’s explanation. However, before we proceed, let’s refer to a passage from the Old Testament.

The soul that sins is the soul that dies, or becomes separated from God, who is life.

Please, and one of our home blessings will be to read and meditate on the passage from Ezekiel 18.

It is very good and provides a lot of valuable advice, especially about responsibility. Ezekiel 18 is very important. So, the living soul belongs to God, and did you catch that other important point mentioned in passing? 

That the soul belongs to God, and the reference to the Son, is not an accident in the book of Ezekiel. It is very significant. Okay, so the soul that sins is the soul that dies. Let’s see Jesus talk about this in the book of Matthew.

Well, okay, so Jesus is present with his early disciples, those who followed him.

One of them asked if he could go home and bury his father. 

But Jesus said no. Why did Jesus say this? If we were at the time of his first coming, how would we have reacted to Jesus denying this request?

This man is my father. What do you mean? This man raised me. You tell me no?

And what did Jesus say? “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.” Can someone who is physically dead bury someone else who is physically dead? No, of course not. So, one of the “dead” here is spiritual, and the other is physical.

Jesus said, “Let the dead” – those who do not have my words of life – “let them bury their own physically dead.” So there’s physical death, and there’s spiritual death. But Jesus told him no for a reason.

This was towards the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and he was speaking the words of life to people. But what would happen to a spiritual infant if that infant made a long journey to visit people who didn’t have the word? That spiritual infant would also die spiritually. That’s why Jesus said this: “First become mature. First become strong. I’m worried that you will not survive this encounter.”

A hard thing to say from Jesus’s perspective, most likely, and a hard thing to hear. But what we need to hear is the truth. We don’t need to be tickled, right? No one wants tickling ears. We get plenty of that all the time, every day. We need to hear the truth. And this statement is even true today for those who are learning the open word – it is very easy for that word to be snuffed out by anything we encounter.

We’re often surrounded by those who haven’t heard this word yet, focused only on things of the world, finances, jobs, relationships. Most of your friends are probably like this – after a meeting with some of them, you might be exhausted because all they talk about is this worldly stuff. You don’t even realize Mount Zion’s yet. You’re just focused on bickering about some verses that seem contradictory when, if understood properly, they don’t contradict. Jesus wished they could know this truth.

It’s exhausting. This is what Jesus was trying to help the disciple avoid, because Jesus had just given this person the breath of life. But if they left, they would receive spiritual death again.

So Jesus said, “Stay. Follow me so that you can remain living spiritually. And let the dead bury their own dead physically. You can pay your father a visit later. First, I’m only here for a short time. Stay while I am here, then go.”

Let’s have that same mindset here. When we come to class, let’s be washed spiritually. That’s why we always feel better after bathing in the word.

So, figurative death means a state of not having the word of life, the life-giving truth.

As Jesus spoke to people, their spirits came to life. And of course, Jesus also raised people from physical death. We’ll talk about those things in the next lesson in more detail.

Memorization

Read Ezekiel 18. 

Let’s Us Discern