Are you ready to go fishing? If so, then you are going to need some worms, some Hebrew rimmah or some Greek skolex. But if you are looking for salvation, then you are going to need an entirely different worm, a tola’ or tole’ah Worm. Yup, you guessed it, Hebrew has several distinct words for the English equivalent.

The Rimmah / Skolex Worm [H7415 / G4663]

Job 7:5 – “My flesh is clothed with rimmah… my skin is broken, and become loathsome.”

Job 21:26 – “They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the rimmah shall cover them.”

Mark 9:44-48 – “Where their skolex dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”

The rimmah / skolex worm is the fishing kind of worm, also known as a maggot. This worm is a cause and sign of decay. This is the same worm that caused Herod to become sick, to be eaten by worms and die (Acts 12:23).

The Tolaʽ or Toleʽah Worm [H8439]

Isaiah 41:14 – “Do not fear, you tola’ Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you, declares Yahweh.”

Jonah 4:7 – “When dawn came up the next day, Yahweh appointed a tola’ that attacked the bush.”

The tola’ or tole’ah Worm is the female ‘Coccus Illicis’ worm, which the Hebrews used to make the red dye used in the coverings of the Tabernacle and the clothes of the priests. It is known as the crimson worm because of this color.

The Yeshua Tola’ or Tole’ah Worm

Job 25:6 – “How much less man, that is a rimmah and the son of man, which is a tola?”

Psalm 22 – “But I am a tola’ and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.”

Job 25:6 uses both Hebrew words for worm, calling man a rimmah and the son of man, Yeshua, a tola’. As Yeshua is being crucified, fully aware of Job’s quote, he then quotes from Psalm 22 (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).

Psalm 22 and Job 25:6 both prophecy about the Messiah, and this is why Yeshua applies the word tola’ to himself. The death of the tola’ worm takes place as follows:

• the tola’ worm, or crimson worm, climbs into a Hermes Oak tree,
• the tola’ worm attaches itself to the tree and forms a protective shell,
• the tola’ worm lays her eggs and hatches her children, who feed off her body to stay alive,
• the tola’ worm oozes a red stain for three days which stains the tree red, and which also permanently covers its children,
• the tola’ worm pulls its tail up to its head, forming the shape of a heart,
• the heart-shaped tola’ worm then turns into a snow-white wax and flakes off.

Isaiah 1:18 speaks of this saying – “Says Yahweh: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Application

1 Peter 2:24 – “Yeshua bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

Yeshua likened Himself with the Tola’ or Tole’ah Worm – a perfect picture of the Messiah.

• Like the Crimson Worm, Yeshua was also attached to a tree to die (1 Peter 2:24).
• He did so willingly and died to give birth to his family, the Bride of Yeshua (John 10:17-18).
• The beatings, tortures, and crucifixion turned his body red with the shed blood (Luke 18:33).
• Yeshua rose from the dead after three days just as the baby worms leave the shell after three days (Matthew 12:40).
• His shed blood covers our sins and turns them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

The Trees

Psalm 96:11-13 – “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.”

Scripture uses many Hebrew idioms that are symbolic of other things. The Sea and the Land are almost identical to the Heavens and the Earth – which often symbolize nations and their peoples. The Stars symbolize heavenly beings: angels and fallen angels. Trees frequently symbolize human beings. Understanding Hebrew idioms helps us to better understand the scriptures. Today we look at another usage of the “trees” idioms – the Green Tree is Yeshua Ha’Mashiach – but the Dry Tree is the wicked, unbelieving person.

The Green Tree

Luke 23:31 – “For if they do these things to the green^G5200 tree^G3586, what shall be done to the dry^G3584 tree?”

Most translations state this verse as: “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” The King James states it this way: “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

The Hebrew is very explicit, and the actions taken are done TO, not “in” or “when.” The key to proper interpretation of this verse is that the phrases “green tree” and “dry tree” are Hebrew idioms, and the actions taken against either of these trees can only be done to the tree, not in the tree or when the tree is in a particular condition. Here’s why:

• The Green Tree is a messianic title that applies to Yeshua – the only one who is righteous.
• The Green Tree is an idiom for a righteous person, i.e., a person who has salvation in Yeshua and who has been given his righteousness…
• The Dry Tree represents the wicked, unbelieving individual.

This is most clearly seen in Ezekiel 20:47 thru 21:7. In this passage, Ezekiel quotes Yahweh, who is speaking to the Negev forest – another name (Hebrew idiom) for Israel! Yahweh says: “I will light a fire in you; it will devour every tree in you, green and dry alike; a blazing, unquenchable flame that will scorch every face… I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you.” This is a prophecy about the people of Israel whose first part was achieved at the time of Yeshua’s crucifixion, and whose second part was completed at the Diaspora of the Jews when they were dispersed to all of the nations of the world.

Verses 21:6-7 tell Ezekiel to groan bitterly for what is coming. Yeshua, as he made his way to his crucifixion, tells those following him not to cry (groan bitterly) for himself, but for themselves and their children (Luke 23:27-28). He knows that the prophecy of Ezekiel 20:47 – 21:7 is in the process of being fulfilled.

Conclusions

1 Peter 2:24 – “Yeshua bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

Yeshua likened Himself with the Tôlâ or Tôlê âh Worm – a perfect picture of the Messiah. Like the Crimson Worm, Yeshua was also attached to a tree to die (1 Peter 2:24). He did so willingly and died to give birth to his family, the Bride of Yeshua (John 10:17-18). The beatings, tortures, and crucifixion turned his body red with the shed blood (Luke 18:33). Yeshua rose from the dead after three days just as the baby worms leave the shell after three days (Matthew 12:40). His shed blood covers our sins and turns them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). How awesome is our God to provide us with such an example, with so many coinkydinks! Awesome indeed.

Ezekiel 17:24 – “Then all the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, bring down the tall tree and raise up the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree bear fruit. I, Yahweh, have spoken; and I will do it.”

Matthew 13:23 – “The person who hears the message and understands it will surely bear fruit.”

Yeshua, the Green Tree, was “dried up.” Crucified, died, buried. And the dry tree, every individual who has been given salvation and who has been given his righteousness, is now bearing fruit to the glory of Yahweh and Yeshua (Matthew 13:23, Mark 4:20, John 15:2-8, Romans 7:4).

Website: https://raptureparty.net/

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Even though we may never fully understand the ‘concept of Grace,’ as the years go by, I begin to grasp this Graciousness of God bit by bit. Example: looking at the lives of our lost family members and seeing how God has given them long life despite their severe health problems, all the while knowing that this is His Love and Grace on display by giving them more time and chance to come to Him for Salvation.

Another example is by looking through our family photo albums of nearly a 30-year span of time and being able to see God’s Providential Hand throughout it all. Even during times when we were further away from Him than we should have been, the Mercy, Grace, and Love of Jesus can be detected in every snapshot.

As I grow in the Lord, I begin to see His Supreme Grace in my life through His Immense Patience all during these years of my Sanctification Process. Truth be told, it is embarrassing to realize how long it has taken for me to remove certain things that needed to be taken out of my life for so long. Grasping this makes me realize how so very grateful I am for a Savior who is not only Loving, Faithful, and Patient but is also so Full of Grace and Truth!

From gotquestions.org: “What is the relationship between grace and truth?”

There is a strong possibility that John is referencing the Hebrew terms hesed (“mercy” or “lovingkindness”) and emet (“truth” or “faithfulness”), found together in Exodus 34:6: “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.’” Note that the attributes of God in the Old Testament are applied to Christ in the New. At the beginning of his gospel, John is making a subtle statement regarding the divinity of Jesus. The rest of John’s gospel will expound on that truth.

It is important for grace and truth to work in tandem. An emphasis on grace alone can dissipate into a shallow and sentimental foundation where justice or truth is discarded. However, a focus only on truth can devolve into a cold, hardened dogma. Jesus’ character demonstrates the perfect balance of both grace and truth. He is “full” of both.

Grace and truth meld together in the gospel message to form a key distinction of Christianity over other religions. In all other religions, grace and truth are never balanced. Instead, the deity being worshiped either dispenses justice at the expense of grace or dispenses grace at the expense of justice and truth. Christianity is unique in that God delivers grace through His justice and truth.

The truth is, everyone has fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and deserves God’s justice. However, God’s justice is satisfied, and His truth upheld, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. That act delivers God’s grace to those who will accept it by faith.

In this way, Christianity stands alone as an ontological faith—one that is fully dependent on a person—Jesus Christ—who perfectly balances and embodies both grace and truth in His very being. – Source

Growing up with a family member who was merciless, harsh, cruel, and ‘sociopathic’ in nature makes it even harder to wrap my mind around this concept, especially in comprehending the subject of ‘Free Grace.’ Although I sit under a pastor that teaches Free Grace and follow one on YouTube who also teaches Free Grace, it is still sometimes hard to fully grasp.

The understanding is that God is ‘way beyond gracious’ to us in so many ‘thousands of ways’; but not surprisingly my mind tends to be hardwired to the stricter/sterner (Justice) side of God. The main attribute that may help someone like me in understanding the balance of these two sides of Grace and Truth is in the Holiness of God. Almighty God is, of course, Love, Justice, and Truth, but His main attribute is Holiness.

Revelation 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

In Heaven and around the Throne of God, as we read in scripture, there are Angelic Beings and Creatures that cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” to Him day and night. Holiness embodies all the essence and attributes of His Spirit. Furthermore, we read that the Fruit of the Spirit is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

Therefore, the Holiness of God is the perfect combination of Love (Grace) and Justice (Truth), even though we may have a hard time fully understanding that, because we are neither Perfect or Holy as He is. Albeit, by His Spirit, we can ‘begin to grasp’ this concept of His Holiness through Him giving us the ‘mind of Christ.’

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Just the fact that we are still here to live another day is by His Grace. Jesus holds all things together; He sustains our very existence on this planet. He allows us our next breath out of His Great Mercy, even when we do not deserve it. The Love that God has for us is beyond all mortal capacity or comprehension.

People foolishly think they know about love more than God, simply by their asking the ignorant question such as, “If God is Love, then why does He allow this, that, or the other to happen in our World?” If they really knew Who, What, When, Where, and Why they were asking, they would NOT ask such presumptuous questions!

We need to realize that we are too small in every way possible to even begin to comprehend or understand the Vastness and Greatness of an All Knowing and an Almighty God! One Who not only owns all of the cattle on a thousand hills, but Who owns every single thing and every single facet in all of the entire Universe!

Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

It seems the emphasis in this piece is on the fact that we truly do not know everything and that we do not have the capacity to fully comprehend all that God is. All of this is true, but what is also true is that the Word of God tells us that the “Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.” Therefore, those who know, love, believe, and have a healthy fear/respect for God and His Word will have a measure of Wisdom and Discernment in their lives.

This is very much needed in our Age of Apostasy, because without the Fear of the Lord and His Word, we will fall prey to all of the Lies of the World, the Devil, and the Flesh! Furthermore, we are to Study and show ourselves approved unto God. Consequently, this means that we are to stick close in following Jesus Christ, Who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and to Obey His Commandments so we will not be Lost and without His Grace and Truth to cover us! Thank You Lord, Hallelujah!

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Until next time… Maranatha!

JESUS = THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE!

Jesus Will Come!