29. The Earth Power : By Grace

THE OVER-EARTH POWER
is the true meaning of the Greek noun
ta epigeia.

Although the word epigeia appears many times, the addition of the definite article ta limits its meaning, even as ’the book’ does to just ’book’. It is used twice only. The first time by Christ Himself in John’s gospel ch.3 verse 12. The second time as a warning by Paul to the Philippians in ch.3 verse 19.

JOHN 3:12
When The Christ was explaining to Nicodemus, the Pharisee and Member of The Sanhedrin, a number of fundamental activities of God, He relates His question regarding 'earthly things' to a previous time when Nicodemus was again present before Him.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. Since I have told you earthly things (ta epigeia), and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? [John 3:11]

The Scripture below describes the occasion when Christ first told Nicodemus about earthly things.

The Jew's Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and found in The Temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. [John 2:19]

God has said that His Word will never pass away. At this time when we are so limited in our knowledge of God's ways, it would be very difficult if not impossible to demonstrate from the scriptures, the principles of the electro-magnetic spectrum within which we all dwell. The scriptures seem to assume that man being familiar with his living environment does not need to be told how for example, seed germinates and grows. The statement is simple: 'A sower went forth to sow.....some fell into good ground and brought forth fruit..........' But as you will acknowledge the scriptures are very concerned with demonstrating good and evil. God seeks our maturity in discerning between them (HEB 5:14). Within this context, a careful study of ta epigeia has much to tell us, because the meaning of the phrase is not obvious. An examination of the of the six contextual applications of epigeios as an adjective and as a noun will show. that ta epigeia relates to:

An abstract condition of our earthly environment which interacts with living beings.

How does the God breathed Word demonstrate this ? The connection between ta epigeia and the earth is direct, geia is the Greek word for Earth. What we are considering is given a particular descriptive title in the words ta epigeia, literally something which relates to the earth, but not just one of many, but singularly ta....THE one.

The electro-magnetic spectrum has many facets. The earth has a magnetic field, and there are magnetic fields generated by man in many of his electo-mechanical devices. There is a gravity field of the earth of which man is at present only beginning to grasp the fundamentals in order to replicate for his own use. The power of gravity has always been experienced, the power of magnetism was recognised long ago through the lodestone.

Records of the manifestations of the many earth related affects which orthodox science refuses to recognise are increasing. The significance of the research into Ley Lines, Dowsing and Standing Stones illustrates but a few. Many are aware of this, do not need to demonstrate them. You may be enlightened by the contents of the books written by the New Zealand author Bruce Cathie, on the subject of Earth Harmonics. It seeks to explain the function of an Earth Grid or Field as the source of these effects.

The name of the 'effect' that is the centre of this study is the noun ta epigeia, not just epigeia or epigeios or epigeiOn, but ta epigeia [an adjective used as a noun], with the addition of the definite article ta. In the other uses, the adjective relates to living beings.

It is very important to note that in John 3:12, 'ta epigeia' was told by Christ to more than one person and therefore was not within the context at that time

"since I have told you(pl.) 'ta epigeia' and ye(singular) believed not".

This contrasts with His previous statement in verse 3:7 where He says to Nicodemus:

"Marvel not because I told thee(sing.): It behoves you to be born from above."

To be 'born from above' is a heavenly thing, therefore it cannot be the subject of 'ta epigeia'. Also, it was told only to Nicodemus as compared with 'ta epigeia' being told to more than one person, a group.

Concerning epigeia,........ Epi, the prefix to geia, J.H.Thayer states that in composition 'epi denotes

'continuance, rest, influence upon or over any person or thing'.

From this we can appreciate that the primary meaning in composition is as follows:
If an influence is at rest it is a potential. Continuance is the quality of being perpetual.
This potential is acting upon or over the earth and could be said therefore to be earth bound.
Continuance, rest, influence, upon or over the earth is therefore:
An over-earth perpetual-potential.

This phrase could describe the magnetic and the gravity fields of the earth, or an additional field about which the scriptures are seeking to inform us. Further, this potential is given considerable importance by the addition of the definite article ta epigeia

THE over-earth perpetual potential.

(The word 'over' is used because it defines the meaning of the Greek prefix ‘epi’ which is set before the Greek word ’geia’ . According to many Thesaurus references: ’its primary signification is upon’.)

To be precise regarding Christ's statement in John 2:19, from the point of view of the Pharisees, Christ had said to them 'Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up'. If Christ's words to Nicodemus.... "Since I have told you (the) earthly things [ta epigeia] and you did not believe", relate to this particular statement in verse 19, we must consider precisely what they did not believe. Was it that the temple could be built again, or was it that Christ could do it in three days ? The incredulity expressed by the Pharisees clearly indicates that it was the latter. With our understanding of present day building methods, this feat is not so startling to us but to the people at that time it must have been a statement causing much ridicule. The fact that a distorted version was used when accusing Christ before Pilate, indicates that the physical aspect of this statement was the only understanding in peoples minds. The Pharisees did not believe that Christ could do this deed in three days, but Christ said: Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up. A statement with a dual meaning.

The fact that The Christ did not seek to correct the people's understanding of the statement with regard to the deeper Spiritual meaning, that it was His body to which he referred [John 2:21], does not diminish the fact that the physical meaning carried considerable weight.

ta epigeia relates to 'power', but clearly, after further consideration it could better be defined as 'a world wide source of the power'. Consider the relationship between the magnetic field of the earth and the power needed to move a compass needle. The field is the source of the power needed to move the needle. If the ancient Chinese had not recognised this peculiar property of lodestone, they would not have been prompted to seek an explanation for the lodestone's motivation. It is important to distinguish between the 'source of a power' and the 'mechanism' by which a living being can transform it to his own use. The purpose of an electric generator will not be discovered until the shaft is turned and an appropriate device is connected across the ends of the copper coil. A dormant generator can continue to exist but knowledge and wisdom must be applied in order that it may be used for good or evil. Since God, if he chose, could use such an item, how much more could he use a 'perpetual-potential, over-earth power source' of His own creation.

The adjective conditions the noun to which it is attached. Due to the wide variety of nouns that can be conditioned by any one adjective, we cannot say that the adjective is defined by the noun. But in the scripture it does indicate to us in what circumstances the adjective can be used.

Thayer's interpretation, as good as it is, is not specific, there are a multitude of perpetual potentials upon or over the earth. We must expect the context of the use of the adjective (epigeia) alone and the noun (ta epigeia) to indicate the full meaning. The references for each use of the word are as follows:

The nouns which the adjective qualifies:

1. In 1Cor 15:40 the adjective is used to describe types of bodies related to the earth, bodies-epigeia. This term is contrasted with types of bodies related to the heaven, bodies-epourania. The statement goes on to contrast their glory
We are told that there are bodies which are described as being perpetual-potential over-earth bodies. These have one glory. There are bodies which are described as perpetual potential heaven-bound. These, another glory. Jude verse 6 illustrates the limitations of the latter.

2. In 2Cor 5:1 the adjective is used to describe the noun 'house' which is already related to the word tabernacle. Our epigeios-house of the tabernacle. The fundamental meaning of 'tabernacle' is 'centre of operations'. Our 'perpetual-potential, over-earth' dwelling place is a centre of operations. The phrase in question is here describing our living body. The verse refers to our body's possible destruction, it cannot therefore be describing our spirit.

3. In Phil 2:10 the genetive plural adjective relates to the noun 'knee', the Greek interlinear supplying another noun to complete the sense: every knee of epouraniOn [beings] and of epigeiOn [beings] and of katachthoniOn [beings]. Again, the adjective is used to differentiate between categories of living beings, now including 'under-earth [beings]'. With regards to the earth, it probably includes other than human beings. Every knee of perpetual-potential, over-earth [beings] should bend.

4. In James 3:15 the adjective is used to describe wisdom which is not from above. It is used in conjunction with the other adjectives. [i] epigeios, [ii] psuchikE.........destitute of the Spirit of God, [iii] daimoniOdEs....... pertaining to demons. Three things, ingredients of this earthly wisdom. There is no doubt that in this context the adjective 'epigeios' is used in a derogatory manner to describe a certain wisdom pertaining to demons being destitute of the Spirit of God. This is a perpetual-potential, over-earth wisdom. It does not come down from above.
We are seeking the meaning of a phrase in the abstract, if we therefore take as an example such as the adjective 'round', we all know that a sentence including it cannot make sense without having or assuming the noun, proper noun or pronoun to which it refers. Should the adjective be used as A noun, such as the abstract 'a round', that which is sung by a choir, we have no need of another noun. Should we then add the definite article it becomes particular, 'THE round' such as the winning round in a competition.
Having made these points of English grammar, I can now propose a suitable solution to the phrase 'ta epigeia' and attempt to draw a parallel with the grammatical example of the word 'round'. I have already used the word field in the sense of 'electric field' to illuminate the combined adjectives 'continuance, rest, influence' upon or over any person or thing. The thing in this case being the earth. The Perpetual-potential therefore becomes the field. Thus:

adjective: round [plate] epigeios 'over-earth field'
noun: a round [plate] epigeia an 'over-earth field'
gen.pl.adjve: of round [plates] epigeiOn of 'over-earth field'
nom.noun: THE round [plate] ta epigeia THE 'over-earth field'

THE OVER-EARTH FIELD
in the sense of the magnetic field, gravity field or any electric field.

The gravity and magnetic fields are also of the earth. Can they also be termed 'ta epigeia' or do they differ in some way from the field which manifests dowsing etc ? . Is this the reason why 'ta epigeia' has the definite article ? After all it is attention to 'THE over-earth field' which causes Paul to weep and causes James to describe it as the source of falsity to the truth. Would Paul weep because we use the earth’s magnetic field to find our way about using a compass ?

We must therefore look in greater detail at the way that Christ uses the term 'ta epigeia' in John’s gospel, chapter 3, verse 12. Consider the following points:

1. In Christ's statement to Nicodemus, why should it be necessary to find a solution to its meaning outside the immediate context ? When looking for solutions to problems generated by statements in Scripture, look:

first within their context,
secondly within the document containing the problem,
thirdly within the Testament and
finally within the whole scripture.
I am very hesitant to go outside this context. If it required a solution only found within the habits of contemporary living, then I would search for those elsewhere.

2. What are the reasons for seeking an understanding of this problem by claiming that when Christ made this statement to Nicodemus He was referring to His previous statement to the Jews outside the temple ?

Fact 1. The verb is in the 2nd aorist and correctly translated as 'told'. Because this indicates that the statement was made earlier, it is most likely to be found in the Gospel of John prior to John 3:12.
Fact 2. The case of the pronoun 'you', is dative plural, thus indicating that there was more than one person present when Nicodemus was told about 'ta epigeia'.
Fact 3. Examination of all the conversations in which Christ was involved prior to John 3:12 reveals only one that fits the facts. This was His statement at The Temple before the Pharisees [John 2:18]. This statement would not be found in the Old Testament, because Christ was speaking personally: "I told you 'ta epigeia' ".

After Examining all the statements and conversations of Christ, which are recorded in John's Gospel prior to John 3:12, we can concluded that the one outside the temple was the only one to fit the facts because:

[1:38] Christ spoke to two disciples, [1:42] to one disciple, [1:43] to one disciple, [1:47-51] to one disciple, [2.4] to His mother, [2:7] to the servants, [2:16] to those that sold doves, [2:19] and to the Jews at the temple.
Since the plural pronoun is used [humin], the circumstances referred to, could only be one of the following:

two disciples.…..Nicodemus was not a disciple at that time.
the servants.…....Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrian, would hardly be a servant.
the dove sellers...Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrian would hardly be a dove seller.
the Jews......….....Nicodemus, being a Jew himself, could well have been amongst the Jews outside the temple.
3. Some might raise the argument that, since the condition 'ta epigeia' seems to have strong evil associations, Christ Himself, by means of it, would not raise the temple. However, it is evident that this 'perpetual potential' is a condition within which we dwell ('Our house of this tabernacle', our 'bodies', 'our knees'). It is a condition directly associated with the earth itself and is fundamental to our earthly existence in this tabernacle. This strongly suggests that the condition is part of the fundamental structure of the God-created earth. Even though it could be wrongly used, this could not prevent its use by a righteous God. If God Himself chose not to use it, this would have to be a self imposed limitation.
When referring to the action of Bar-Jesus before Sergius Paulus in Acts 13-6, Paul calls Bar-Jesus 'a perverter of the straight ways of the Lord'. The KJV interprets him as 'sorcerer'. This word in the Greek is 'magos' and is also used to describe the wise men who visited The Christ about two years after His birth. Are we to say therefore, that these wise men used an evil power to follow His star, discover where The Christ would be born, acknowledge that He is King of the Jews, worship Him and give Him gifts which illustrated His deity, His atoning death and His kingship ? Of course not ! These wise men used the power they had for a good purpose, Bar-Jesus used the same power for an evil purpose.
There is another example of the use of 'ta epigeia' to manifest 'magic arts' (mageuOn). This is described in Acts 8:9. A certain man, by name Simon, when using the power was described by the people of Samaria as 'This one is the power of God which is great'. An obvious counterfeit of the gifts of The Spirit of God. The character of the user, Simon, is given by Peter: 'the heart of thee is not right before God.....for in a gall of bitterness and a bond of unrighteousness I see thee to be' even though Simon was baptised. This is a warning to all those Christians who seek to apply Godly powers demonstrated in the churches of the period and recorded in the book of Acts of The Apostles, but now, because of the change of God's Administration to that of pure Grace, are NOT available. This Over-Earth power is available now, but has no Godly legality as Paul explains whilst weeping. See Philippians 3:18.

4. Why should we believe that Jesus Christ's statement, 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up', was understood by the Jews as the Jerusalem temple of 69/70ad?
As with the story of Lazarus and the rich man [Luke 16:19], Christ when speaking to the Jews, related it to their erroneous understanding. So in this statement also, He refers to the erroneous understanding of Nicodemus by saying to him 'If I have told you earthly things, and ye believed not....." referring to Himself, but knowing that those unbelieving Jews that listened to Him believed that His statement referred only to the Jerusalem Temple.

5. An alternative solution to the meaning of 'ta epigeia' is proposed by relating it to Christ's statement to Nicodemus (John 3:7): 'being generated from above', suggesting that the phrase 'ei ta epigeia eipon humin' ('since I told you earthly things'), was referring to it. As pointed out in Fact 2 of Item 2 above, the 'you' in this phrase is a second person plural pronoun. Since only Nicodemus was present when this statement was made, it therefore could not apply to the phrase 'being generated from above'.

Numerical value of ta epigeia is:
ta epi geia
[300+1] 5 + 80 + 10 3 + 5 + 10 + 1
= [301] 95 + 19 = 114.

[ta 7 x 43] epi 5 x 19. geia 1 x 19. epigeia 6 x 19

The number 19 points to The Perfection of Divine Order connected with judgement. The number 6 is that of MAN destitute of God. This indicates unregenerate MAN’s attempt to relate to God’s Divine Order.

Conclusion

We have drawn attention to the Greek noun ta epigeia, which to many students may seem to be out of balance with its application in the Scripture. We had been drawn to consider its meaning because of the following evidence:
1. The Over-earth Power was used by the 'Wise Men', the MAGI, who followed the star of Christ in order to find Him and worship Him. They used the power with Spiritual legality, because their worship was not refused. By this power they had recognised that He was The King of The Jews. They showed their deep respect for Him in the character of the gifts they brought, recognising the features of Christ's Life; gold [crusos] representing His Kingship, frankincense [libanos] representing the putting forth of The Gospel, myrrh [smurna] for His protection after His death.

2. The Over-earth Power was used for a considerable time by a certain man, a Sorcerer named Simon. He was in the city of Samaria astonishing the nation, saying: 'This man is The Power of God, being called Great'. This Power was truly Great, being of God, but misused against the Work of The Spirit of God. The use of this power was not condemned by the Apostle, Philip. Rather it was ignored by him until much later when Simon himself came to believe the Gospel and was baptised. His mistake followed, when he offered Philip money for the power of the laying on of hands. For this he was condemned by Philip, but sought forgiveness of God. Concerning The Over-earth Power that Simon used, it is important to note that, at that time, in that Kingdom Administration of God, its use was ignored, not condemned by Philip. Simon did not withstand The Truth after he had seen the work of The Holy Spirit amongst those who believed.

3. The magi, Barjesus, manifested very convincing miracles by the use of The Over-earth Power, in order to divert Sergius Paulus away from The Truth. This power was not that which blessed the Christians of the time, but was used by Barjesus to withstand and counterfeit The power of The Holy Spirit. The name, Barjesus was itself an insult, meaning 'son of Jesus'. Several words are used to describe him and his actions:
The seriousness of the activity of Elymas is clear from this study of the meaning of the Greek Scripture words used to describe him and his actions. He was a man, acting on behalf of The Devil as a false prophet, by using the Over-earth Power to ensnare others by withstanding The Truth of The Lord.

4. The undoubted evidence of spirit activity amongst such groups as the Pentecostal Churches, the Charismatic Movement and those taking part in the so called 'Toronto Blessing'. By our understanding of the principles underlying this present Administration of God's Grace, we cannot accept the present availability of The Spiritual Gifts, introduced for the purpose of establishing the Kingdom of God in Israel. These gifts were limited to the period of The Acts of The Apostles, being terminated when the Jews were Spiritually blinded, losing their Spiritual understanding because they would not wholeheartedly receive their King and His Kingdom........For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I [their God] should heal them.

5. The Apostle Paul's experience of those who opposed him using The Over-earth Power, is illustrated by his warning to the Philippian church in the following words:

Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of The Cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things [ta epigeia..The earth-bound Power].

Would Paul have wept over unbelievers who exercised this Over-earth Power? In the light of paragraph 2 above, I think not. So the question arises: Why would believers so need to use The Over-earth Power illegally? They were anxious to continue, what appeared to be, the use of The Holy Spirit's Gifts, not caring from whence they were gifted.
A little time before this letter to the Philippian church was written, in 62ad God had halted the giving of the gifts of The Spirit. They were no longer available to new believers, being directly associated with the building up of The Kingdom of God in Israel which action of God was posponed in 62ad. [Acts 28:27. See also By Grace 27] It is evident from the words used by Paul to describe Elymas the Magi, that the Over-earth Power could be used to counterfeit the gifts of The Spirit. For this to be done by Christians, was a very serious sin against the work of The Holy Spirit, so great a sin in fact, to cause Paul to weep and describe their end as 'destruction'.

It is a sad fact that despite being presented with this evidence concerning the misguided seeking of The Holy Spirit’s gifts, during this present Administration of God’s Grace, Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians persist in their delusion.