Money, coins, notes and bank cards
Money, economics, bank cards, coins etc are frequently used themes in both the Bible and biblical dreams. The Lord knows that “money speaks” to our fallen nature. We value it and what it can do.
Money in the Bible represents something of value, particularly goodness / righteousness. Money is used symbolically in the Bible because it gives value to the thing being exchanged. Coins or notes / bank cards etc. are exchanged for a thing the buyer values.
It brings a purchase, a multiplication and action, like work. It is these three things that the biblical dream designer, the Holy Spirit speaks about:
Purchase – Isaiah 55 (see below)
Increase – Matthew 25:13-40
Work – of which there are two kinds: the nasty works are our self righteous deeds, often done so others see and know how good we appear. The valuable ones (in God’s eyes) are those acts of kindness to our neighbour that we do when no-one is looking.
Quite a few of Jesus’ parables have to do with things of value, including money. But it must be remembered, whether in the Bible or in biblical dreams, money, even when we use it to buy, is just a symbol.
Money itself is not good or evil. It is the love of money that is idolatry. However, the fear of lack of money, or what it can buy is also idolatry – including talking up shortages.
In Haggai 1:6 we read where God tells those who want to live in wickedness apart from Him, that they are suffering because of it (judgment while in this mortal body). He uses the picture of them putting their wages in a bag full of holes because they hadn’t done what He said.
True Christians, who want to do what is right, trust God for His provision, whether the crops fail, or the banks fail, or whatever. God never fails to provide. Matthew 6:25 – 34. This was written because people who don’t trust God worry about food, clothing and the provision of goods.
That’s why many who claim to be Christians today mistakenly talk about “the mark of the Beast” which they think will be imposed onto or under people’s skin as a government mark that allows the bearer to buy or sell. Whether chips are implanted in the flesh or not, however, has nothing to do with the “the mark of the Beast” in Revelation 13:16 and 17. And it is nothing to be afraid of. Nor should talk of such things be spread around.
This kind of “world ending” talk engenders fear, and that very fact tells you it isn’t God’s truth. Jesus says you can judge people and their doctrine by their fruit (lives / consequences). Nothing done to the body can affect one’s standing with our Lord God in Jesus Christ. He makes that plain in Matthew 5:29-30. It is one’s soul (mind, will and emotions) that must be guarded. Anyone who is “in Christ” is already “sealed / marked” by the Holy Spirit. Only our own persistent unfaithfulness can “unseal” us.
The mark of the beast was a symbol of one’s way of life back in the first century AD. The forehead is the symbol of ones executive thoughts carried out by the right hand which is also, obviously a symbol of one’s behaviour or “fruit”. It referred to those who had aligned themselves with their Roman rulers in ancient (not modern) Israel.
Those who keep repeating the nonsense of “the mark of the Beast” as something for today, are actually putting themselves in the liar’s territory and taking such a mark themselves, forsaking the truth of God’s salvation, protection and provision.
The “Mark of the Beast” – Revelation explains, might temporarily free the bearer from the economic sanctions that the first century Hebrew Christians suffered. But those who accepted that mark – the ones who had crucified Christ and also rejected the apostles’ message, Revelation tells us, are Babylon.
When Babylon falls in Revelation 18 it is Jesus’ prophecy of an actual event that was soon to take place. The prophesied event, which He also spoke of in Matthew 23:38 and Luke 19:41-44 came to pass. We read of Babylon’s identity in a number of places in Revelation (and it’s not a modern nation or entity). For example, “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the land (of ancient Israel – see Matthew 23:34, 35).” The only city to slay God’s prophets was Jerusalem, over which Jesus wept (Matthew 23: 37) at the end of His prophecy of the final war, destroying that magnificent temple and closing the Old Covenant (OC) Age in 70AD.
In 70AD the nation, apostate ancient Israel, was called by some very colourful and condemning names. She was called variously, “the ethnos”, “Babylon”, “Sodom”, “the harlot”, etc. But now she would fall. She was finished as a theocracy – the faithful in the young eccleisa were vindicated and saved from the wrath of God. The Kingdom of God was established when the Bridegroom suddenly “arrived” and the “door was closed”.
Then the reality which had been celebrated by the shadow / type, The Feast of Tabernacles was able to be enjoyed in a much wider sense – available to everyone in the world. It was a symbol for God indwelling human beings who choose to love and obey Him – those who had waited for and appreciated the justice of Babylon’s fall. For those who know their Jewish festivals, Tabernacles couldn’t come until the Day of Atonement / Judgment of the Land of Israel was complete.
But how many preachers say we have a “tabernacle relationship” with Christ now and yet, at the same time, they’re waiting for the return of the Lord from the “holy of holies” Day of Atonement?
The entire book of Revelation is not about the end of the world – but “the time of the end” of the Old Covenant. The Day of Atonement was complete when the judgment thrones were set up to begin with the “House of God”, i.e., ancient apostate Israel. When we see the Bible as Jesus did – in 2 ages – the OC age that He lived in on earth. He called that “this age” and then “the age to come” – after 70AD. We are now in that “age to come” – not in the last days that the Bible mentions. Those are over. We are in the Kingdom Age when the ecclesia of Christ rules. Believers therefore are the in the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Economic sanctions have been used against true followers of Christ throughout these last 2000 years, In European history it was the Roman Church that did this. Such sanctions are still used as coercion for social, economic and political reasons. But the accompanying terror preached about a one world government is nothing more than verbal agreement with Satan.
Those who truly love the Lord learn to use their mouths prophetically for healing, victory and not fear. The believer’s life is not to proclaim the end of the world, since God does not. We proclaim its healing and inheritance for the contrite in heart.
This super-abundant life in Christ has always been the major Bible theme. The righteousness Jesus offers is freely available. You cannot “pay” for it with money or your own self-effort of good works. But if we approach Him with true humility, broken and contrite over our own sin, we can identify with His death and rise in newness of life abundantly and great power over sin and evil. We can have Adam’s lost dominion in the earth restored to ourselves to learn about.
In Isaiah 55 we read about an offer to buy the staples, milk, wine and bread at no cost:
“You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live.”
The money represents trust or faith in God here. Milk is a symbol of learning the basics about justice and righteousness. Wine is a symbol of Jesus’ power given to overcome evil; and bread is the symbol of Jesus Christ who we take into our hearts as Lord to get that power of victory over evil.
Money can also be an idol which causes humans to be selfish and so they are cut off from the goodness of God. This can happen, even to poor people who become miserly. Matthew 6 tells us God will provide all we need if we trust Him. Again, it’s always about trusting in the goodness of God. Matthew 6:25 to 34.
Poverty or lack of money is symbolic of sinfulness, as is nakedness and dirty clothes; We see Jesus address those in this condition, using gold as a symbol of the righteousness He has for us as a free gift. We “buy” it by acknowledging our poverty (sinfulness).
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Revelation 3:18
See also entry under “The Letter C – Change”, meaning receiving money, coins etc after a transaction.
Mums and Bubs
There are a number of references to mothers giving birth to both males and females in the Bible. Even though most of them were real people, many of the mothers are also symbolic of other entities.
In 1 Kings 13 we read about two new mothers who gave birth around the same time and lived together because they were prostitutes. The baby of one died in the night, so she switched the babies and took her companions living baby. They came into the court of King Solomon who was world-renown for his wisdom. After hearing the story he called for a sword to divide the child equally between the two women. The liar agreed, while the true mother said, “Don’t harm him, give him to this other woman.” With which, Solomon pronounced the kind hearted woman the mother.
While the story is about his wisdom, it is also about two birthing women. The lying mother doesn’t care for anyone but her own gratification. The true mother gives up / sacrifices her right to the child that he might live. So too with the ekklēsia. The Pharisees of the intertestamental period had only their own position and vain glory in their minds and actions. The true ekklēsia, called “the remnant” served God and others with a sincere heart and did only good and not harm to God’s children. This latter mother “Israel” is the one depicted in Revelation 12.
Besides giving birth to babies, a mother is a nurturer and provider until the child has grown to independence. Does the church ever let many people go and be parents themselves in the spiritual way – without an uncomfortable set of controls by the grandmother?
And does the Bible really teach that a mother symbolises the ekklēsia – that which today we call “church”?
Galatians 4: 21-3 explains it does when we think of the true ekklesia. Paul tells of two women, one as the true ekklēsia and one as the church under slavery. One is the mother who, despite age and infertility, had to come to trust God and bear Isaac, child of faith. And then long before the child of faith was born, her servant girl, bore the natural child Ishmael who was later sent away when the real heir was celebrated. Although it was a messed up domestic situation, God turns it for good by making a line to the Messiah in Israel. And He also creates a picture book for us of what He wants from us: just that we trust / have faith in Him completely and not in keeping ceremonial laws.
See also returning back to mother in Jeremiah 33:31:15,16.
Incidentally, I love the Solomon story because both women are described as prostitutes. Yet Solomon has mercy on the one with the pure heart. So it is with us. We all begin life in a fallen state and only the pure in heart will have the “new life” that a baby in dreams represents.
It is only the pure in heart, who decide in favour of righteousness that God recognises as His ekklesia. If we practice religion in the Old Covenant way, we are in the shadows and are holding people back from the wonderful 24/7 liberty in Christ. It’s time to turn away from such bondage and really walk with the real Jesus!
While the story is about his wisdom, it is also about two birthing women. The liar doesn’t care for anyone but herself; the true mother gives up the child that he might live. So too with the ekklēsia. The Pharisees of the intertestamental period had only their own position and vain glory in their minds and actions. The true ekklēsia, called “the remnant” served God and others with a sincere heart and did only good and not harm to God’s children. So it is today with the church. Across the western world churches faced a recent test to see if they would “let my people go”, trust the Holy Spirit with them – or try to keep control of them denominationally. Many gave way to worldly protocols and stratagems to keep their bricks and mortar supported. That God was sovereign and testing His people with global events should not surprise us. That many didn’t even know they failed is the sad part. More is yet to come because we are promised refining fire. The Lord is looking for those who trust only Him and not the bricks and mortar systems. That trust or faith is not faith until it has been tested as the true ekklēsia.
But how does a mother symbolise the ekklēsia? Galatians 4: 21-31[1] explains two women, one as the true ekklēsia and one as the church under slavery. One is the mother who, despite age and infertility, had to come to trust God and bear Isaac, child of faith. And her servant girl who bore the natural child Ishmael was sent away. Although it was a messed up domestic situation, God turns it for good by making a line to the Messiah in Israel.
I used to feel sorry for Hagar on account of the type she represented – rejected woman, until I realised there is much more to her wonderful natural story than I bothered to observe across the Bible. She knew God had heard her cry for help; she was honoured with an angelic visit, she represented the Old Covenant which pointed to Messiah, that is Jesus our Saviour. She was honoured with promises to her regarding Ishmael as a great people which has already been fulfilled.
But in retelling her story of rejection, Paul points out to the Galatians that the Old Covenant has been superseded by the New. They should leave it in the dust and take on the New Covenant symbolised by new wine. A much more powerful covenant for us. The Galatians were leaving biblical family (ekklēsia) practice and opting for obeying ceremonial laws. Yet this is just what the churchianity we have inherited does, even insisting the people pay tithes to a clerical class of others. This isn’t the gospel, but the Old Covenant law, – the very thing such folk should avoid, and allow people the generosity of their liberty in Christ. then people will be true givers.
