Sister,
I don't know what your thoughts are on the end time body of Christ (church) and there being a false image and representation of the body of Christ? But while reading your post, sister Rose posted in daily bible studies,
Good morning sister, I love you....I am going to need some coffee for this...lol I haven't given a lot of thought on this false image, other than just reading Rev 13:15-16. There is so much to gather on these events that are not too far ahead of us to start up, I am open to listening to what you or others may have gathered from the scriptures on it...lol
One thing for sure, there is much more in the bible than I had thought on these things so I am leaving myself opened to any verses that speak things I have not seen or understood in times past. I am like GPR on this, the verses override any old teachings I may have had. lol
Mal 3:3
(3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
This has brought to mind scripture and verses where the Lord cleanses His temple first,
Malachi 3:3 is an end time prophecy and the tribe of Levi who God chooses to come into the Millennium to serve The Lord as the Feast of Tabernacles will be instituted for the 1000 yrs, until Rev 20:7-10 is fulfilled. I have not studied into this very much, as it seems you have, but the Lord does compare Israel to gold and to silver in the purification process. To work out the impurities in both houses of Israel. lol
Eze 9:6 Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.
You are on fire with the verses...sister! lol I am not sure I am giving you all need, because I don't know everything on this, the best I can offer is maybe more verses that speak on the same thing...or at least I think they are...:-)
Ezk 9:6 is another End time verse scene concerning the mark which I am assuming is the mark that seals them, from God before they are taken and placed in their rooms.
Where it is spoken of these being marked in Ezk 9:3-4 where the man clothed in linen is told to go through the city of Jerusalem, it coincides to those being marked in Rev 7:3 and Rev 9:4 during the End times, who are described with the angel of God, to put a "MARK" on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done who are in the city of Jerusalem.
We can take these verses and make some spiritual analogies in them, but the focus of the physical event that is taking place must not be pushed to the side, because God intended these verses to help us understand in the Latter days these events taking place that will be taking place just prior to his parting the clouds and coming down.
the angels of God do God's work and deal with us as long as we are physical because the physical flesh will die in the presence of the Lord as told to us in the books about Moses.
The man in white linen is an angel who comes and seals those lamenting in Jerusalem which the Lord identifies as the tribes there in Rev 7 and as Levi in Ezk 9 so my opinion is they are one and the same being spoken about. But this is my opinion from reading these...lol
Dan 12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who [was] above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that [it shall be] for a time, times, and half [a time]; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these [things] shall be finished.
I personally take all these things Daniel spoke about in the literal realm for now, though they have metaphors and symbols attached to them in some ways. The 3 1/2 yrs spoken of in Daniel 12:7 is coinciding to the times time and a half time in Dan 7:25 concerning the Beast opposing the Saints, which also coincides to the 1260 days spoken of the Beast in the temple wing spoken about in the N.T.
I have wondered what the power of the holy people is that has to be completely shattered before all is finished. do you have any insight on this?
Could this image also represent the 'false image' of the body of Christ (church)
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Zep 1:3 "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.
I hate calling this image 'false' as I feel more that this image of people joined together calling themselves the body of Christ are but only in 'err', having missed the mark in their understanding which have lead to them becoming 'stumbling blocks' for others in what they lead and teach others with...[/size]
Isaiah brings both houses of Israel into the equation so it is meant for the Christian too as you bring this out. I can only give an opinion on these verses and what they are referring to, it seems evident that it concerns God's people who have not been upright, both Christian and Jew, and Jesus is the Rock that will become a snare for them in the last days to make them stumble and fall not to be recovered, but those who are upright will be placed in his sanctuary that protects them during this time of trouble called the last Days. lol
These are my thoughts on all of this as I have tried to provide as many verses as possible to show which is why I have come to these conclusions. lol
In Christ's love