shawn
03-25-2008, 03:29 AM
Since there have been a couple of topics here discussed about Benjamin and the "beloved disciple," I would like to suggest there is a connection between Benjamin and John (assuming that he is the beloved disciple) and the church in Philadelphia. I am assuming Joseph as a type for Jesus as well. I really don't know the meaning of all this...but here is some observations I hope someone here finds interesting enough for continued study:
The first thing Joseph said to Benjamin was:
(Gen 43:29 KJV) And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
"God is gracious" is the meaning of John's name. Benjamin's name means "son of the right hand." Jesus places upon John in Revelation his right hand....as though he was blessing a son:
(Rev 1:17 KJV) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Assuming the disciple "whom Jesus loved" is John.....it is interesting to note the tribe of Benjamin's blessing from Moses:
(Deu 33:12 KJV) And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Benjamin is the "beloved of the Lord"......John is the disciple "whom Jesus loved." Benjamin dwelled in safety in the Lord....between his shoulders. The disciple whom Jesus loved also leaned against the bosom (a place between his shoulders) of Jesus....a place of safety:
(John 13:23 KJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
The church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) also is protected from the hour or day of temptation:
(Rev 3:10 KJV) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
"Keep" meaning "to guard against loss or injury."
The church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) is "loved"...as Benjamin (the "beloved of the Lord") and the disciple (John) are loved:
(Rev 3:9 KJV) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
And continuing the "beloved" theme....Jesus tells the chuch in Philadelphia that he has the "key of David"...."David" means "beloved" or "favorite."
Joseph and Benjamin were brothers of the same mother, Rachel. Jesus, in a sense, made the disciple whom he loved his brother at the cross....by making his mother the mother of John:
John 19: 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
The address to the church in Philadelphia also carries a hint of this. John takes Jesus's mother into his own home.....he kept his mother.....the church in Philadelphia also keeps Jesus' word:
(Rev 3:8 KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
And Jerusalem from above is mentioned as well.....Jerusalem from above is the "mother of us all" (Galations 4:26.)
(Rev 3:12 KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
The church in Philadelphia had "little strength".....Benjamin also was "little"....the youngest...Saul was of Benjamin....the smallest tribe.
(1 Sam 9:21 KJV) And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
The tribe of Benjamin was "little:"
(Psa 68:27 KJV) There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Paul whose name means "little" was from the tribe of Benjamin.
John described himself as the "servant" of Jesus Christ:
(Rev 1:1 KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
The man who had the silver cup of Joseph (who was Benjamin) in his possession would become the "servant" of Joseph:
(Gen 44:17 KJV) And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
One can almost see that the silver cup of Joseph could be the "Revelation" of Jesus Christ (which was given to him from God) in which Christ uses to show the things which come to pass.....Joseph used the silver cup to "divine:"
(Gen 44:5 KJV) Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
The silver cup was found in the "mouth" of Benjamin's sack.....Revelation was shown to John by a "messenger"....angel. John was used as a mouthpiece for the Lord Jesus Christ to the seven churches. Joseph set his "eyes" on Benjamin.....perhaps a spiritual meaning would be that he set his knowledge on him....Christ imparts knowledge of the holy to his servants:
(Gen 44:21 KJV) And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
Also, Joseph seems to be indicating Benjamin is his mouth:
(Gen 45:12 KJV) And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
In fact, the stone of Benjamin is the Jasper stone......"Jasper" or "yashpeh" means "he has a mouth." Jewish sources say that Benjamin withheld the information that the ruler of Egypt was Joseph their brother...in other words....he did not open his mouth....perhaps this is true but it could possibly mean in addition that Benjamin was the one favored by Joseph to tell his father, Jacob, all of his words... which revived the spirit of Jacob:
(Gen 45:27 KJV) And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
It is mentioned to the church in Philadelphia that Jesus would write his new name on those who overcome....perhaps this new name is in relation to Joseph's new name given to him by Pharoah:
(Gen 41:45 KJV) And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Although the meaning of the name "Zaphnathpaaneah" is uncertain, most contend that it means "revealer of secrets".....or "revealer of hidden things"......in other words, the overcomer in the church in Philadelphia would have the honor of interpreting the scriptures....to reveal the hidden secrets in the Word of God...to be a mouth for Christ?
The first thing Joseph said to Benjamin was:
(Gen 43:29 KJV) And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
"God is gracious" is the meaning of John's name. Benjamin's name means "son of the right hand." Jesus places upon John in Revelation his right hand....as though he was blessing a son:
(Rev 1:17 KJV) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Assuming the disciple "whom Jesus loved" is John.....it is interesting to note the tribe of Benjamin's blessing from Moses:
(Deu 33:12 KJV) And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Benjamin is the "beloved of the Lord"......John is the disciple "whom Jesus loved." Benjamin dwelled in safety in the Lord....between his shoulders. The disciple whom Jesus loved also leaned against the bosom (a place between his shoulders) of Jesus....a place of safety:
(John 13:23 KJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
The church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) also is protected from the hour or day of temptation:
(Rev 3:10 KJV) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
"Keep" meaning "to guard against loss or injury."
The church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) is "loved"...as Benjamin (the "beloved of the Lord") and the disciple (John) are loved:
(Rev 3:9 KJV) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
And continuing the "beloved" theme....Jesus tells the chuch in Philadelphia that he has the "key of David"...."David" means "beloved" or "favorite."
Joseph and Benjamin were brothers of the same mother, Rachel. Jesus, in a sense, made the disciple whom he loved his brother at the cross....by making his mother the mother of John:
John 19: 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
The address to the church in Philadelphia also carries a hint of this. John takes Jesus's mother into his own home.....he kept his mother.....the church in Philadelphia also keeps Jesus' word:
(Rev 3:8 KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
And Jerusalem from above is mentioned as well.....Jerusalem from above is the "mother of us all" (Galations 4:26.)
(Rev 3:12 KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
The church in Philadelphia had "little strength".....Benjamin also was "little"....the youngest...Saul was of Benjamin....the smallest tribe.
(1 Sam 9:21 KJV) And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
The tribe of Benjamin was "little:"
(Psa 68:27 KJV) There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Paul whose name means "little" was from the tribe of Benjamin.
John described himself as the "servant" of Jesus Christ:
(Rev 1:1 KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
The man who had the silver cup of Joseph (who was Benjamin) in his possession would become the "servant" of Joseph:
(Gen 44:17 KJV) And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
One can almost see that the silver cup of Joseph could be the "Revelation" of Jesus Christ (which was given to him from God) in which Christ uses to show the things which come to pass.....Joseph used the silver cup to "divine:"
(Gen 44:5 KJV) Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
The silver cup was found in the "mouth" of Benjamin's sack.....Revelation was shown to John by a "messenger"....angel. John was used as a mouthpiece for the Lord Jesus Christ to the seven churches. Joseph set his "eyes" on Benjamin.....perhaps a spiritual meaning would be that he set his knowledge on him....Christ imparts knowledge of the holy to his servants:
(Gen 44:21 KJV) And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
Also, Joseph seems to be indicating Benjamin is his mouth:
(Gen 45:12 KJV) And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
In fact, the stone of Benjamin is the Jasper stone......"Jasper" or "yashpeh" means "he has a mouth." Jewish sources say that Benjamin withheld the information that the ruler of Egypt was Joseph their brother...in other words....he did not open his mouth....perhaps this is true but it could possibly mean in addition that Benjamin was the one favored by Joseph to tell his father, Jacob, all of his words... which revived the spirit of Jacob:
(Gen 45:27 KJV) And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
It is mentioned to the church in Philadelphia that Jesus would write his new name on those who overcome....perhaps this new name is in relation to Joseph's new name given to him by Pharoah:
(Gen 41:45 KJV) And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Although the meaning of the name "Zaphnathpaaneah" is uncertain, most contend that it means "revealer of secrets".....or "revealer of hidden things"......in other words, the overcomer in the church in Philadelphia would have the honor of interpreting the scriptures....to reveal the hidden secrets in the Word of God...to be a mouth for Christ?