Let’s first look at the mysterious events surrounding the birth of twin sons to Judah and Tamar’s and the amazing prophetic story they tell.  As you may recall, Judah and Tamar conceive twins when Judah is unaware that the woman he is having sex with is his dead sons’ wife.  Judah is unknowingly “raising seed” for his dead sons.  Let’s cut to the birth.  Recall that Judah is given the birthright of Kingship by his father, Jacob.

Genesis 49:  9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  11Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:  12His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

You can see the messianic prophecies that apply to Yeshua’s redemptive work as “Shiloh” throughout this birthright promise.  There is even an hint of overturning that will occur in the Kingship birthright.  But let’s look closer at the birth of Judah’s sons and see the mysterious redemptive work of the “Arm of YHWH” with the scarlet thread.  We can see the Elijah/Elisha pattern even here.  One passes their identity onto the other.

Genesis 38:  25When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.  26And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.  27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.  28And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.  30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Zarah wants to be firstborn and breaches first (first fruits) but cannot complete the birth without Pharez being born first.  The scarlet thread is wrapped around the wrist of Zarah-the “Arm of YHWH”, Yeshua, who appears first.  This is the same scarlet thread that is dipped into the blood of the first bird of Leviticus 14.  This is also the same scarlet thread that is cast into the midst of the burning heifer in Numbers 19.  We will get into these in more detail later.  The message of Pharez and Zarah is that those who desire to be firstborn can only do so through the birth (redemption) of their twin.  Pharez (the one whose arm only came out first) breaches second (Yeshua) in order to redeem the firstborn Zarah (Adam). Kingship is given to the second born!   Yeshua is the second Adam.  Notice the scarlet thread identifies the arm of the redeemer and whose twin it will redeem.

Matt 1:1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;  3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Yeshua's line is traced via the second born, Pharez, the one whose arm did not come out first, the twin of the one with the scarlet thread tied around its wrist.  Pharez became the vicarious firstborn even though his brother’s arm came out first.  Zarah (Yeshua) needed to return to the womb (Mikva) so that his brother could be born first.  Then Zarah (Yeshua) could come again!

You also see this same prophetic pattern in the story of Cain, Abel, and Seth.  If it wasn't for the acceptable offering of Abel he would not have been slain and provided the way for Seth to raise up a righteous line (seed) for Abel.  Notice Cain "rising up to slay".

Genesis 4: 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him…25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.  26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Notice Seth is taking on the image and serving in the image, the role, in the place, or in the "room" of Abel.  He is raising up seed for his brother, Abel.

The Overturn of the Multiplicity of Seed:

Multiplicity of seed is promised to the seed of Joseph.  They are to be as fishes in the earth.  Notice again the hints of overturning in the giving of the birthright of multiplicity, the crossing of the hands.  Are you seeing a pattern?  The second born always delivers on the birthright, just as the second Adam delivers on the birthright for the first Adam.

Genesis 48:  11And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.  12And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.  13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.  14And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.  15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,  16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.  17And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.  18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.  19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.  20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Once again the first born, Manasseh, is put aside for the second born, Ephraim! Notice YHWH had this in mind from the start and after the Exodus from Egypt and Israel's sin with the false image (the golden calf) it almost appears that this promise of multiplicity is in jeopardy…but not really.  Israel has just committed the worst crime possible.  They have accepted the image of fallen idols instead of the Image of YHWH, Yeshua.  YHWH is talking about destroying the whole nation and starting over again, this time with Moses’ seed.

Exodus 32:9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:  10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.  11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?  12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.  14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Remember Moses is prophetic of Yeshua the Messiah, the one who cleanses the garments of Aaron's seed (the Ruach Hakodesh).  It is only by Moses' (Yeshua's) intercession for Israel that their lives are saved and the promises to Ephraim of multiplicity remain.  But, we need to see that YHWH completes His judgment upon Israel for their sin of the golden calf.  Their seed is discarded.  YHWH did start over again, not with Moses, but with the one that Moses is prophetic of, Yeshua.  YHWH knew Israel needed to conform to His image in order for them to truly be saved and truly have great multiplicity and life.  Only Yeshua’s flesh could do this for them.  YHWH fulfilled his promise to the Fathers and to Moses (prophetic of Yeshua).  YHWH would indeed consume them by judgment and provide deliverance for their flesh and multiplicity through Moses (prophetic of Yeshua).  YHWH made them a great nation and a multitude of nations through the redemptive work of Yehsua's seed and flesh.  If we are not in Yeshua we will not live.  All those who truly live are grafted into Yeshua.  If you are not grafted in, you are not alive.  Only Yeshua’s flesh can enter the Holy Place.  No other flesh can do so and live. 

Revelation 7: 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Great multitudes are delivered by the Lamb.  Those who do not stand with Yeshua will be “consumed” just as YHWH promised to Moses in Exodus 32 for taking a false image instead of the true image of YHWH, Yeshua.

Zech 14:12, 12And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

The Overturn of the Priesthood:

Let’s take a look at whose throne we hope to stand before.

Hebrews 4:  14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

This throne is unapproachable without the overturning of the birthright of the priesthood.  The firstborn were originally supposed to serve as the priest for the family. But the firstborn are exchanged with the tribe of Levi after the Exodus.

Numbers 3:6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.  7And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.  8And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.  9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.  10And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.  11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;  13Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

Remember to look at the Chiastic structure at the beginning of this book to see the divine design in these sections and the clear message YHWH is trying to give His redeemed people.

Originally the firstborn were serving as priests, then the Levites are chosen in the place of the firstborn as priests.  In Ezekiel’s temple you again see a new order of the priesthood.  The Levites are still there, but you see only a certain group of priests that are allowed into the Most Holy Place, the Levites are not.

Notice the comments in Ezekiel regarding the restoration of the service of the Levites.  Do you see the appeal to “…behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears…”?  This is the same appeal of Elijah and the same appeal of Yeshua.  This is also the appeal to the 7 assemblies in the book of Revelation.  Those with eyes to see and ears to hear have a special call regarding the “House” and the “Sanctuary” and the rebellious house of Israel.

Ezekiel 44: 5And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.  6And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,  

It is because of the abominations that the Levites allowed to occur at the sanctuary that result in their banishment from the Most Holy Place to the outer court.  They descend a rank, but still serve in the sanctuary.  If they descend then who ascends to serve in the Most Holy Place?  It is not the keepers the people have set there by their own choice.

Ezekiel 44:  7In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.  8And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.  9Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.  

The Levites are not allowed into the Most Holy Place because they led the people astray from YHWH.

Ezekiel 44:  10And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.  11Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.  12Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.  13And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.  14But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

Notice who is allowed into the Most Holy Place, the Sons of Zadok.  We see a great deal of insight if we look into their history with King David.

Ezekiel 44: 15But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:  16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table,

YHWH’s sanctuary is in the Most Holy Place and this is where His table resides.

C Ezekiel 44:16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.  

In Ezekiel’s temple only the sons of Zadok can enter the Most Holy Place where the Table of YHWH is located. This is the same priesthood that John the Baptist, Elijah and the 144,000 serve.  They teach the people how to be holy and how to offer holy things, and how to approach the holy sanctuary thereby keeping the name of YHWH holy.  They offer the Bread of YHWH, Yeshua.

So the Levites are overturned from the Most Holy Place by the Sons of Zadok.  Zadok was the High Priest that supported David’s right to rule when the nation doubted that he should continue as king.  We could view these “Sons of Zadok” the same as we view the “Sons of the Prophets”, they are far off in distance or time from their fathers.  These are the end-time High Priests that support the right of Yeshua as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  It is these Sons of Zadok that oppose the Wicked Prince, the Anti-Messiah and the Beast.  Yeshua overturns the birthright of Kingship, Multiplicity, and the Priesthood.  He returns to overthrow the Wicked Prince.

Ezekiel 21: 24Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.  25And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,  26Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.  27I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.