"Not A Walking Stick, But A Reed"

 

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitude concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee (Matthew 11:7-10).”  In this Scripture, it is very noticeable that a reed played an outstanding part of identification. It pointed out the authority with the message in the days of John, the Baptist; and, of course, his signs in eating were Locust and Wild Honey.

 

Another outstanding sign of the acceptable year of the Lord was not a ‘walking stick’, but a reed—and Jesus carried two. This was quite different from the others and; of course, the prophets had named the two reeds carried by Jesus for they were carried for a sign of authority and meat of that season.  Let us quote the Scripture Zechariah 11:7, “And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves: the one I called Beauty and the other I called Bands and I fed the flock.” During the ministry of Christ, he carried these two staves and then at the close of His ministry on earth He demonstrated them as a sign in the following manner.  “And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel (Zechariah 11:10, 14).” There is no question in the Scriptures, but that every anointed leader was given a reed, sometimes called staves or rods, and every anointed King that sat on a throne carried a scepter. Isaiah 7:14-15 states that Jesus ate butter and honey for a sign, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  Butter and honey shall he eat that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”

 

Now why would one think it strange or out of order, or think it not to be Scriptural for the anointed, the true prophet of our day to have a sign of his authority or meat of his season? For Jesus, Himself, clearly points out a special servant, an anointed, to give meat at the end. Matthew 24:45-46, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”  And the prophet Amos in chapter eight and James in Acts of the Apostles, the fifteenth chapter reveals the reconstruction of the house as it was in the days of old. And he was to be a Gentile and his fellow helpers to be Gentiles. In the light of these Scriptures, the true authority would be compelled to carry a sign and to be identified also by a meat as every anointed leader since the days of the Garden of Eden was compelled to identify Him by certain foods that they ate.

 

Perhaps, no one has seriously considered the real depths of the eleventh chapter of Revelation and the first three verses. The reason for overlooking the great mystery of this Scripture is due to the fact that they were not aware of the knowledge of the Beloved Disciple, John, who was to return in spirit and power in the 20th century for the reconstruction of the temple (Church) and to give meat in due season, waiting for the Lord to return. As referred to in Matthew the twenty-fourth chapter and in the last chapter of St. John and in the first chapter of the book of Revelation, let us quote the latter part of the tenth chapter of Revelation and the first part of the first chapter of Revelation. “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and I ate it up: and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings (Revelation 10:10-11).”  “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of god, and the altar and them that worship therein (Revelation 11:1).”

 

In the light of these Scriptures, there are two outstanding things to identify the rule and authority of our day. They are honey and a reed, like unto a rod--not a walking stick together, but a reed. This reed contains the pattern of the framework of The Church of God. If John had called this a ‘walking stick’, then most every preacher in the world would have been carrying a walking stick, but the mystery of this reed was sealed up under the name ‘walking stick’ and for that reason, only the man in the spirit and power of John could ever explore and fulfill this prophecy. As it was written--the vision on tables of stone in Fields of The Wood, “A bird of the air shall carry the voice.” The name, the 20th Century Reed, as appears on the front, is titled, “Glory.” It has 70 and 2 buds. It has a circle with its seven buds. It has its two sets of Twelve Apostles (Jew and Gentile). The reed’s length is 2-1/2 joints. It is 42 inches from the top of the tip to the end. It bears the name of St. John II. It was cut from the reeds of Manila, formed in Germany, purchased in Atlanta, Georgia by Brother Holcombe and given to Bishop Kent by Apostle Sardonyx; presented in a ceremony on the twenty-ninth day of October, fulfilling Revelation 11:1 which is a fulfillment of Ezekiel 3:1-4, “Moreover he said unto me, Son of Man, eat that thou findest: eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause they belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then I did eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And, he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.”

 

The Reed Age is a mark that will change the age as well as the sun and the moon and the five planets that are to be in parallel on February 4-5. Giving a 2 day’s sun eclipse over Palestine. This will be the first time of such a thing since the fourth day of creation when God put them in the sky for signs.  Astrologers do not know what to do with this 20th Century event in the heavens, but we do. For we are known of all his works from the beginning of the world.

 

My meat as a servant is Honey, yet it makes me sick every bite that I take. But it is a sign unto me and I must eat it. My message in preaching is sweet, my consequences are bitter and Honey is my sign.

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* Article Written By:  The Late Grady R. Kent, St. John II, Chief Bishop of The Church of God, 1957-1964. This sermon was taken from The Vision Speaks, Volume 4 : Number 7 : December 1961.

All grammatical and typographical errors have been corrected except for direct quotations from the Author. Thought content of said article has not been changed.