By Kathy L McFarland
(TY200 – Lesson 7)
Mark 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
The Mysteries of Trees – Branch
John 15:1–8 (KJV 1900)
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ represents the vine in Scripture. (v. 1)
a. True
b. False
2. The Father LORD God represents the husbandman in Scripture. (v. 1)
a. True
b. False
3. Christ’s disciples represent the branches in Scripture that produce much fruit. (v. 2)
a. True
b. False
4. What type of vine is Christ?
a. Grape
b. Wine
c. True
d. Beautiful
5. What happens to the branches that do not fruit?
a. They are purged
b. They are plucked
c. They are set afire
d. They are taken away
6. Who takes the branches away?
a. The Vine (Jesus Christ)
b. The Husbandman (LORD God)
c. The Branch (Christian)
d. All the above
7. What happens to the branches that bear fruit?
a. It is taken away
b. It is purged
c. It is picked
d. None of the above
8. What does purge mean?
a. To clean
b. To prune
c. To remove unproductive wood
d. All the above
9. What type of fruit does the branch bear if it is not attached to the Vine of Christ?
a. A little fruit
b. Many fruits
c. No fruits
d. None of the above
10. What does “abide” mean in verse 4?
a. Stay
b. Continue to exist
c. Remain
d. All the above
11. What happens if the branch and the vine remain together?
a. A little fruit
b. Many fruits
c. No fruits
d. None of the above
12. What happens to a Christian’s branch of works if removed from Christ’s vine?
a. The branch is cast forth as a branch
b. The branch is withered
c. Men gather them up and burn them
d. All the above
13. Check out verse 7! It is a unique, singular idea that is often overlooked. If Christians remain with Christ as they create their branches, how will Christ remain with them?
a. Actual presence
b. Present within their hearts
c. Through His Word of God
d. Through angels
14. Can great and many fruits grow from a Christian branch without knowing the Word of God?
a. No.
b. No.
c. No.
d. All the above
15. What is Jesus talking about when He says ask for anything and it will be done?
a. All things in a Christian life
b. Lottery wins, rich rewards, new house, new clothes, etc.
c. Victory, Victory, Victory in personal projects
d. Works of God from a strong branch abiding in Christ
16. What makes you a disciple of Christ?
a. When the LORD God is glorified as you abide in Christ
b. When great fruits come from strong Christian branches
c. When you go to church every Sunday
d. When you post on the Internet great Christian memes without direction from the
Lord
Teachings from Kathy L McFarland
Let us think upon the vine that grows from trees, with runners that connect other foundations, trees, and locations. Jesus Christ is that Vine, and He is continually making connections for His ministry. As branches, we mature Christians pick up signals from the Vine, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit within us, and begin to grow our branches strong from the Vine of Christ. When it is a new work, especially, we might start a few branches as we determine the direction that the LORD God would have us move.
I was brought to Facebook a few years ago. I did not know why. Immediately, I saw the brilliant ministries of many, and the confused ministries of some.
I begin praying. I started several branches. One branch connected to the other growing ministries. One branch was starting to grow toward the false ministries and try to shut them down. One branch was growing toward helping in the cause of the hungry, orphans and widows. One branch was making friendships on Messenger so I could know people in depth. One branch was giving small Bible Lessons to
mature Christians.
Immediately, many of the branches were taken away by the LORD God. The Holy Spirit within me kept saying to me “STAY IN YOUR LANE.” This was spoken by my close family and friends in my personal life, friends in Facebook, and whispered strongly to me every time I prayed. Soon, a very strong branch began producing fruits when I moved to teaching detailed, deep Bible Studies to mature Christians on Facebook. Any unneeded “stuff” that gathers on that strong branch with many fruits will be purged; the “stuff” will be removed by the LORD God, so the full growth of the fruit can happen. I am in my lane and They are in Their lanes as we work together in the Mysteries of the Trees.
The same type of experience in the growth of branches and fruit is happening to many Facebook ministries today. The vine of Christ is running in the midst of all of His true ministries. It is evident that many of these ministries have strong branches and fruit growing. It is also very evident that many strong ministries are joined together by that vine, as each of us stay in our own lane, and do what we do best. Those blessed by the Lord to receive His Mysteries of His Tree should see an increase of fruits growing from their branches, as these teachings are applied to their ministry.
What exciting times we live in! How honored I am to be a part of the big ministry effort in Facebook! Stay in your lanes and apply the new teachings of God to bring forth stronger branches and many fruits!
Romans 11:16–24 (KJV 1900)
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
17. How do we know the status of the lump if the firstfruits planted within are holy?
a. The lump it is planted in is holy if the firstfruits are holy
b. The lump does not need to be holy for the firstfruits to be planted.
c. The lump can be holy and the firstfruits evil, still creating a holy fruit
d. The lump’s nature of holy or carnel does not make a difference
18. (True or False) If the firstfruit is holy, then the lump is holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
a. True
b. False
19. What should branches taken from a wild olive tree and grafted to a cultivated olive tree, whose root identifies its nature? (Written Answer)
20. (True or False) The branches grafted into a great natural tree should not boast, because it is the roots of that cultivated tree that make it holy.
a. True
b. False
Teachings by Kathy L McFarland
SPOILERS! The olive tree represents the covenant nation of Israel. The wild olive tree
represents the Gentiles. When the Gentiles are grafted into the natural olive tree, they have become Christians through their faith in the salvation and walk with Christ. Though many Jews have fallen away because they were unable to keep the law and made blind and deaf by the LORD God for a while, there still are spiritually enlightened Jews of the covenant with the LORD God.
We, as Christians are grafted into that tree. Christians are warned not to get proud and haughty, lest the same pruning happen to us as did the disobedient Jews. And it is important to note that the original olive tree is still holy, with firstfruits, lump, roots, tree, and that holiness transfers to Christians anointed with the spiritual enlightenment of the olive tree.
The remnant of law-abiding Jews, still under the covenant with the LORD God, are holy. It is their roots that make grafted Christians’ holy, not the other way around. Christians should never be lording it over the Jews, for it is the obedient Jewish olive tree that shared their holiness with us.
21. Let us think upon the natural branches of the olive tree, and the addition of the grafting of Christian branches. Why were the Christian branches initially broken off from the wild olive tree?
a. To add spiritual enlightenment to the natural olive tree
b. To add holiness to the natural olive tree
c. To remove the Christian from unrighteousness and add to the natural olive tree
to obtain holiness
d. None of the above
22. Christians stand by:
a. Law
b. Obedience
c. Faith
d. Worship
23. What attitude should Christians hold by being grafted into the natural Olive Tree?
a. Pride
b. Highminded
c. Fearful
d. None of the above
24. (True or False) The disobedient Jews had their natural branches broken off the Olive
Tree.
a. True
b. False
25. (True or False) The obedient Jews are represented by the natural Olive Tree.
a. True
b. False
26. (True or False) The Gentiles who accepted Christ as Savior were grafted from the Wild
Olive Tree.
a. True
b. False
27. (True or False) When the Christians were grafted into the natural Olive Tree, the
remnant of obedient Jews were made Holy.
a. True
b. False
28. (True or False) When the Christians were grafted into the natural Olive Tree, the
remnant of obedient Jews made the Christians Holy through their roots.
a. True
b. False
Matthew 24:29–33 (KJV 1900)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
29. What time is spoken about by the Lord in Matthew 24:29?
a. After the Tribulation
b. After the Rapture
c. Before the Rapture
d. After the Judgement Seat of Christ
30. What will happen to the sun when Tribulation ends?
a. It will fall from the heavens
b. It will be shaken
c. It will not give light
d. It will be darkened
31. What will happen to the moon when Tribulation ends?
a. It will fall from the sky
b. It will shine brightly and magnify miracles of the Lord
c. It will not give light
d. It will be darkened
32. What will happen to the stars when Tribulation ends?
a. They will fall from the sky
b. They will twinkle with God’s glory
c. They will not give light
d. They will be darkened
33. What drama is occurring in Heaven as Tribulation ends and the sun, moon, and stars are stopped?
a. Lucifer is being thrown from Heaven
b. The powers in the Heavens shall be shaken
c. All the angels will surround the LORD God to protect Him
d. Rapture of those on earth will occur
34. What happens immediately after the powers in the Heaven are shaken?
a. The sign of the Son of man will be seen in heaven
b. Rapture!
c. Judgment
d. The wrath of God is unleashed
35. What will all the tribes on earth do when they see the sign of Christ in the heaven?
a. They will praise the LORD God
b. They will sing their songs of joy
c. They will mourn
d. They will quietly celebrate Shabbat Shalom
36. What is inferred by verse 30, when the tribes react to the sign of Christ in the heaven?
a. The tribes recognize the Lord Jesus Christ fully for the first time
b. The tribes realize that they will soon be cast into Hell
c. The tribes see how influential their own walk in the law was to Christian faith
d. All the above
37. What do the tribes on earth see after the sign of Christ is seen in the Heavens?
a. The Son of Man coming down from Heavens to the Earth
b. The Son of Man descending from the clouds in the sky to the Earth
c. The power and great glory of the Son of Man coming to Earth for all to see
d. All the above
38. How will the Lord Jesus Christ come from the clouds to the Earth?
a. With quiet humbleness
b. With joyful noise to the LORD God
c. With an orchestra and choir of angels making holy in His arrival
d. With power and great glory
39. Who will be gathered together after Tribulation?
a. The faithful alive on Earth
b. The followers of the law on Earth
c. The elect from Heaven
d. The elect from Earth
40. What shall gather those in Heaven together?
a. Four winds
b. Trumpeters
c. Angels
d. All the above
Teachings from Kathy L McFarland
Ok, my precious students. End Times things are always overwhelming and sometimes confusing. But I want you to take a breath and realize one thing. This dramatic entrance of our Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by the elect in Heaven, will arrive at the sound of trumpets after Tribulation.
The fig tree has been chosen to signal the coming of these events by our Lord. Will the faithful Church of Christ be present for the Tribulation? Or the three and a half years of it? Or the full of it? We will study that much later.
Right now, we must focus upon the fig tree that will be a key component for His people to see that Tribulation is soon at hand. What does the fig tree represent? We will discover that later in our full examination of the trees. But, right now, let’s look at what evidence we can gain by studying the branch of the fig tree from this verse.
Matthew 24:32–33 (KJV 1900)
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
41. What do you know about a branch when it is yet tender and puts forth leaves?
a. It is Spring
b. It is Summer
c. It is Autumn
d. It is Winter
42. Our Lord is sure that we will recognize the time “it” is near and at our doors. What is the “it” mean is at hand?
a. Tribulation
b. Rapture
c. Judgement
d. Graves opening
Teachings from Kathy L McFarland
When we keep it simple and study exactly what the Word of God tells us, sometimes we can at least gain a sense of the difficult passages. I suggest to you that if Christ is speaking of the other events in End Times, they will be easily recognizable and not require our knowing to survive. The only time that we would need to discern is the Time of Tribulation. Therefore, just as we predict summer by the coming of the tender branch and leaves, so we can predict the Time of Tribulation as Christ’s End Times.
So, before Tribulation comes, it will be like the Fig Tree with tender branches and growing leaves as it does in the Summer. We will study it in detail with the other trees in the future. But when the fig tree is at its summer growth stage, the Tribulation will happen. It’s not during the winter growth stage where everything is hibernated and not growing, nor in the spring when the tree begins anew. Right in the middle of the growth stage to prepare for fruits, Tribulation will arrive.
Let’s put it in simple terms! I pray that me, and my house, and my students, and my friends, and my family, that are committed to following Jesus Christ, will be working, and trying to produce Holy Spirit works right to the time of Tribulation. Everyone say Amen because that is what we are doing right now!
Facebook ministry, local churches, and dedicated institutions are working hard, every day, to grow the fruits. The signs seem ominously close that Tribulation might be at hand; so, we work harder and harder to produce the fruits that bring glory to the Father in Heaven.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Great care must be taken that typological concepts are only defined by the Word of God. It is best if you find a righteous, mature, truthful, scholarly, Holy Spirit-filled Bible Teacher to confirm your ideas to assign meaning to symbols. So far in this study, we have been extremely blessed that the Lord Jesus Christ tells us exactly what the meanings are. As our studies progress, we will be required to combine several Scriptures to fully understand the symbology and typology. If you do not proceed with caution, you can do terrible wrongs in your
interpretation and go as far as to change God’s Word.
Here is an example. Christ told us Himself that Christians were branches. And we can depend upon that definition throughout the New Testament when the Word speaks of works. But in the Old Testament, Daniel identifies branches in an interpretation of dreams as “three days.” (Genesis 40:12) Now a skilled scholar that is blessed with the Mysteries of the LORD God would more than likely be able to connect Old Testament and New Testament symbols, sometimes. But unskilled
readers of the Word of God could easily become confused.
My goal as your Bible Teacher is to show you the Mysteries of God through His Word, so you can grow your ministry for more fruits, and perfect your Christian Walk. Perhaps some of you are interested in studying in detail the hidden Word of God. That should be put aside for a later date as you begin to start learning new things of God. First, let me and the Word of God lead you until you have received what He wills.
