Zechariah 5:5-11 A Woman Called Wickedness

Zechariah Zone 5:5-11
A Woman Called Wickedness

Apparitions of Mary

Rev 2:1-7 KJV  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;  (2)  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:  (3)  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  (4)  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  (5)  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  (6)  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  (7)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 17:1-7 KJV  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:  (2)  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.  (3)  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  (4)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:  (5)  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  (6)  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.  (7)  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

Whore of Babylon wearing the papal tiara from a woodcut in Luther Bible

Rev 17:8-18 KJV  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  (9)  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  (10)  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.  (11)  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.  (12)  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  (13)  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.  (14)  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  (15)  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.  (16)  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  (17)  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  (18)  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 17:10 KJV  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

Well friends we have arrived at a very interesting passage indeed. That being the latter half of Zechariah 5. This woman we just read about has many nations riding underneath her. Here at the ministry we tend to categorize the ones we are aware of as the following. One last thing we should add. That being all the empires listed had leaders or kings that at 1 time were also considered gods. 

1.  Egypt The whole of the nation were contained in Egypt 430 years
2. Assyria Scattered the tribes of the northern kingdom
3. Babylon Destroyed Jerusalem and took nation captive 70 years
4. Media- Persia (Iran) interestingly enough released Jews 
5. Greece ruled Jerusalem 159 years until the Maccabee revolt 167-164bC
6. Rome controlled Jerusalem 376 years having destroyed it in 70 AD 
7. Speculation at this point- some say the UN 
8. However reading the passage of Revelation 17 all the way through it becomes apparent that there is an eighth who is 1 of the 7. That is most important to remember here. That the 8th is not of the 7th as we have heard too many people preach before. We see then that this narrows things down a bit. To 1 of the first 5. Folks right now Media Persia or Iran and Iraq look prime right now. Remember there were Persian sympathizers among the Medes inside Iraq in Daniel’ s day just like today. 

Remember this beast has a woman riding it.

Keeping all this in mind let’s start our journey into Zechariah 5:5-11.

Zec 5:5-11 KJV  Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.  (6)  And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.  (7)  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  (8)  And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.  (9)  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  (10)  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Zec 5:5-6 KJV  Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forthH3318.  (6)  And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.

The first thing we should mention here is that this is still the 1st vision Zechariah is experiencing. 

H3318

יָצָא
yâtsâ'
yaw-tsaw'
A primitive root; to go (causatively bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximate: -    X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart (-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to [and fro], utter.
Total KJV occurrences: 1068

The angel tells Zechariah that this is something that’s going forth or to say appearing all over the earth. Keep this in mind as we develop more studies on apparitions of a “thing” called Mary.

Zec 5:6 KJV  And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephahH374 that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblanceH5869through allH3605the earth.

H374

אֵפָה     אֵיפָה
'êyphâh    'êphâh
ay-faw', ay-faw'
Of Egyptian derivation; an ephah or measure for grain; hence a measure in general: - ephah, (divers) measure (-s).

Total KJV occurrences: 40

H5869

עַיִן
‛ayin
ah'-yin
Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape): - affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye ([-brow], [-d], -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow [from the margin], X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open (-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you (-rselves).

Total KJV occurrences: 883

H3605

כּוֹל    כֹּל
kôl    kôl
kole, kole
From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense): - (in) all (manner, [ye]), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, [no-] thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso (-ever).

Total KJV occurrences: 5406

We find that a bushel is the general equivalent to measurement of the ephah. This verse is very intriguing. Note the reference to the words “their resemblance”. We will come back to this as we progress through this passage. The last word we highlighted in verse 6 is the one above. We have studied it in other journeys here on the site. We just want to be sure and stress the extreme sense of something that is appearing all over the earth. We have been studying the apparitions of Mary along side of Zechariah somewhat. However this passage will tell us much about the apparitions. We believe we will be able to present this with enough clarity that most folks would agree. 

The apparitions of a “thing” called Mary were not a prevalent issue during the time frame of most commentaries we reference. This is a prophetic scripture dealing with the end time activity predicted all throughout the Bible. This is a prophecy which apparently was meant for a day and time that these apparitions would be a prevalent matter. There are not even that many references given for us concerning this passage. We do see the connections made to the book of Revelation chapter 17. Remember you do not have to agree with what we see going on here. However we will stand on the word we are given.

Zec 5:7-8 KJV  And, behold, there was lifted up a talentH3603of leadH5777: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  (8)  And he said, This is wickednessH7564. And he castH7993it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 

H3603

כִּכָר
kikâr
kik-kawr'
From H3769; a circle, that is, (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large (round) coin): - loaf, morsel, piece, plain, talent.

Total KJV occurrences: 68

H5777

עֹפֶרֶת    עוֹפֶרֶת
‛ôphereth    ‛ôphereth
o-feh'-reth, o-feh'-reth
Feminine participle active of H6080; lead (from its dusty color): - lead.

Total KJV occurrences: 9

H7564

רִשְׁעָה
rish‛âh
rish-aw'
Feminine of H7562; wrong (especially moral): - fault, wickedly (-ness).
Total KJV occurrences: 15

The following reference comes from Nelson’s New International Bible Dictionary. NNIBD

Talent—The heaviest unit of weight in the Hebrew system. The talent was used to weigh gold (2Sa_12:30), silver (1Ki_20:39), iron (1Ch_29:7), bronze (Exo_38:29), and many other commodities. The common talent weighed about 3000 shekels or the full weight that a man could carry (2Ki_5:23). In Rev_16:21 giant heavenly hailstones are described as heavy as a talent.

Lead was used as a purifying agent for gold and silver. Perhaps we have some kind of connection here. The Greek and Roman talents were round. This could be a hint of something to come in itself. This would make a proper covering to a round basket. The lead may just be another way of saying this entity is wicked and corrosive at the same time.

The next thing we would like to mention here is the fact that this entity is not treated with kid gloves. As our word study will imply. 

Zec 5:7-8 KJV  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  (8)  And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

After all our word study we find ourselves exploring the real subject of this verse. That being the woman called wickedness. Perhaps no other OT prophet tells us as much about this woman as Jeremiah. We should just go ahead and say Jeremiah is warning us again about an issue that was facing the Israelites then and the world now. That issue is goddess worship. 

In our introduction to the book of Zechariah we mentioned 2 chapters of Jeremiah that tell us about this goddess worship. They are chapters 7 and 44. 

Jer 7:1-7 KJV  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  (2)  Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.  (3)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.  (4)  Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.  (5)  For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;  (6)  If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:  (7)  Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Jer 7:8-12 KJV  Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.  (9)  Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;  (10)  And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?  (11)  Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.  (12)  But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

Mat 21:1-13 KJV  And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,  (2)  Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.  (3)  And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.  (4)  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,  (5)  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  (6)  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,  (7)  And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.  (8)  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  (9)  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  (10)  And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  (11)  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.  (12)  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  (13)  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Jer 7:13-23 KJV  And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;  (14)  Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.  (15)  And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.  (16)  Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.  (17)  Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?  (18)  The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.  (19)  Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?  (20)  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.  (21)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.  (22)  For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:  (23)  But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Jer 7:18-19 KJV  The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.  (19)  Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

Deu 32:35-43 KJV  To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.  (36)  For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.  (37)  And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,  (38)  Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.  (39)  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.  (40)  For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.  (41)  If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.  (42)  I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.  (43)  Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Psa 16:1-11 KJV  Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.  (2)  O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;  (3)  But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.  (4)  Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.  (5)  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.  (6)  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.  (7)  I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.  (8)  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  (9)  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  (10)  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  (11)  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Isa 57:6 KJV  Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

Eze 20:27-29 KJV  Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.  (28)  For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.  (29)  Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

Jer 7:24-34 KJV  But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.  (25)  Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:  (26)  Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.  (27)  Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.  (28)  But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.  (29)  Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.  (30)  For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.  (31)  And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.  (32)  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.  (33)  And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.  (34)  Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

Well friends did God the Father ever send some wrath upon Jerusalem. It appears that no small portion of this was attributed to their worship of false gods and goddesses. It’s the latter we are focused upon for now. One of our verses that we posted here on the title page is Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 which is repeated later in chapter 3.

Ecc 1:9-10 KJV  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.  (10)  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Ecc 3:15-17 KJV  That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.  (16)  And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.  (17)  I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

We tend to look at things like this. That which was to Israel in the OT is what will be for Israel and the world in the NT. Please do not confuse what we are saying here with replacement theology. We are not putting the church in place of Israel. One of Israel’s big problems was obviously goddess worship and the city burned to the ground. 

When we look at what Israel was doing with their version of the queen of heaven and what happened to them it’s easy enough to see. The world is being consumed with apparitions of a “thing” called Mary as we are studying parallel with Zechariah right now. Guess what? GOD the Father has a lot of heat stored up for the entire world in the book of Revelation. People are already crawling on their knees for these “things”. We believe if these folks are told to walk on their knees through broken glass or nails they will probably do it. Do you think it would be that way for Jesus?

This is not the only place Jeremiah tells us about this “queen of heaven”. That being in chapter 44. 

Jer 44:1-6 KJV  The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,  (2)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,  (3)  Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.  (4)  Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.  (5)  But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.  (6)  Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.

Many fled to Egypt to escape God’s wrath which He accomplished through Babylon. His word commanded that when He handed the Israelites over they were to do their time so to speak. In a passage from Deuteronomy 28 concerning punishments for disobeying God we start seeing history unfold not only for Israel but the world as well. 

Deu 28:36-37 KJV  The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.  (37)  And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

Deu 28:45-52 KJV  Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:  (46)  And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.  (47)  Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;  (48)  Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.  (49)  The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;  (50)  A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:  (51)  And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.  (52)  And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Jer 44:7-10 KJV  Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;  (8)  In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?  (9)  Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?  (10)  They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

One of the things we explored in Psalm 78 with regard to our “acharon” journeys was remembrance. God stressed the importance of remembering the things done wrong past and present. This goes for our world today as well. More importantly remember what He does about these situations. Jerusalem has been destroyed not once but twice by the Babylonians and the Romans. 

Jer 44:11-23 KJV  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.  (12)  And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.  (13)  For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:  (14)  So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.  (15)  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,  (16)  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.  (17)  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.  (18)  But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.  (19)  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?  (20)  Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,  (21)  The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?  (22)  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.  (23)  Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

Jer 44:24-30 KJV  Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:  (25)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.  (26)  Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.  (27)  Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.  (28)  Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.  (29)  And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:  (30)  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Here in the book of Jeremiah is the only time we hear the phrase “queen of heaven”. We just covered all those passages. Now let’s step back into Zechariah for a few. 

Zec 5:7-8 KJV  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  (8)  And he said, This is wickedness. And he castH7993 it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

Our last word study from this passage has to do with the way in which this wicked woman is treated. 

H7993

שָׁלַךְ
shâlak
shaw-lak'
A primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively): - adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.

Total KJV occurrences: 125

God is not treating “her” with kid gloves here. She is thrown into this basket with a great degree of force. 

Zec 5:9-11 KJV  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two womenH802,and the windH7307was in their wings; for they had wings like the wingsH3671of a storkH2624: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  (10)  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

There are some good word studies here in verse 9. Starting with the fact that we wish to leave no room for error in what this verse says with regard to these 2 women.

H802

נָשִׁים    אִשָּׁה
'ishshâh    nâshı̂ym
ish-shaw', naw-sheem'
The first form is the feminine of H376 or H582; the second form is an irregular plural; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H582).: - [adulter]ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
Total KJV occurrences: 780

This is the same word God used for the creation of the woman.

Gen 2:22 KJV+  And(H853) the rib,H6763 whichH834 the LORDH3068 GodH430 had takenH3947 fromH4480 man,H120 madeH1129 he a woman,H802 and broughtH935 her untoH413 the man.H120

H7307
רוּחַ
rûach
roo'-akh
From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

Total KJV occurrences: 378

This is the same breath or Spirit of God in Genesis 1:2.

Gen 1:2 KJV+  And the earthH776 wasH1961 without form,H8414 and void;H922 and darknessH2822 was uponH5921 the faceH6440 of the deep.H8415 And the SpiritH7307 of GodH430 movedH7363 uponH5921 the faceH6440 of the waters.H4325

H3671

כָּנָף
kânâph
kaw-nawf'
From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle: -  + bird, border, corner, end, feather [-ed], X flying, + (one an-) other, overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part, wing ([-ed]).
Total KJV occurrences: 109

H2624

חֲסִידָה
chăsı̂ydâh
khas-ee-daw'
Feminine of H2623; the kind (maternal) bird, that is, a stork: -  X feather, stork.
Total KJV occurrences: 6

A reference source we use a lot here on e sword is the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. We found this reference given with regard to the stork.

the stork: The stork is a species of the ardea or heron genus, about the size of a goose in its body, but when erect, about three or four feet high; its general colour is white; extremity of the wings, and small part of the head, black; legs, very long, red, and naked a great way up; the toes four, long and connected, with flat nails like those of a man; beak long, jagged, red, and somewhat compressed; the upper and under chaps both of a length, with a furrow from the nostrils. It feeds on serpents, frogs, and insects, on which account it might be deemed unclean; lays four eggs, and sits thirty days; migrates about August, and returns in spring; and is remarkable for its love to its parents, whom it never forsakes, but feeds and cherishes when old; whence it had the name chaseedah, which denotes kindness or piety, and stork, from the Greek στοργη, natural affection.

This is exactly what the root word implies.

H2623

חָסִיד
châsı̂yd
khaw-seed'
From H2616; properly kind, that is, (religiously) pious (a saint): - godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, [un-] godly.
Total KJV occurrences: 32

Now let’s give some consideration to who these 2 women are. Through our word studies we discover that the description of these 2 women is a very positive one. This is very different from the woman they carry off to Shinar. 

A little something to take notice of here for a few moments that pertains to apparitions of a “thing” called Mary. There are 3 women decribed here. The first is very wicked as we read. The other 2 are from what we can decipher from word study are considered very pious and motherly. 

In the NT Jesus was son to a woman named Mary. There was also Mary which He delivered from 7 demons. These 2 might just be what we are dealing with in Zechariah 5:9. We have been exploring apparitions of a “thing” called Mary. In many circles this “thing” has become a co redemptory. This should tell any one caught up in all this and there are millions if not billions that they or we are dealing with a different god here than the 1 in the Bible. As we stated any time we hear Jesus “and” anything at all we are dealing with a different god with a little g. 

Some commentaries lead us to the passages concerning the 2 women described in Ezekiel 23.

Eze 23:1-8 KJV  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,  (2)  Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:  (3)  And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.  (4)  And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.  (5)  And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,  (6)  Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.  (7)  Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.  (8)  Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.

Well this cannot be because as we stated word study proves that the 2 women carrying the woman called wickedness off to Shinar or Babylon are opposite from being wicked. These 2 women from Ezekiel sound more like the one being carried off in the basket. Amen!!?

Zec 5:10-11 KJV  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To buildH1129 it an houseH1004 in the land of ShinarH8152: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own baseH4369.

H1129

בָּנָה
bânâh
baw-naw'
A primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively): - (begin to) build (-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), X surely.
Total KJV occurrences: 376

This word is found with a variety of objects that people would build. This is the word used when Noah and Abraham built altars to the Lord. 

Gen_8:20  And NoahH5146 buildedH1129 an altarH4196 unto the LORD;H3068 and tookH3947 of everyH4480 H3605 cleanH2889 beast,H929 and of everyH4480 H3605 cleanH2889 fowl,H5775 and offeredH5927 burnt offeringsH5930 on the altar.H4196 

Gen_12:7  And the LORDH3068 appearedH7200 untoH413 Abram,H87 and said,H559 Unto thy seedH2233 will I giveH5414 (H853) thisH2063 land:H776 and thereH8033 buildedH1129 he an altarH4196 unto the LORD,H3068 who appearedH7200 untoH413 him. 

Gen_12:8  And he removedH6275 from thenceH4480 H8033 unto a mountainH2022 on the eastH4480 H6924 of Bethel,H1008 and pitchedH5186 his tent,H168 having BethelH1008 on the west,H4480 H3220 and HaiH5857 on the east:H4480 H6924 and thereH8033 he buildedH1129 an altarH4196 unto the LORD,H3068 and calledH7121 upon the nameH8034 of the LORD.H3068 

H1004

בַּיִת
bayith
bah'-yith
Probably from H1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.): - court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings. home[born], [winter]house (-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within (-out).
Total KJV occurrences: 2053

We find this word used just as it says in this case widespread and frequent.

Gen_6:14  MakeH6213 thee an arkH8392 of gopherH1613 wood;H6086 roomsH7064 shalt thou makeH6213 (H853) in the ark,H8392 and shalt pitchH3722 it withinH4480 H1004 and withoutH4480 H2351 with pitch.H3724 

Gen_7:1  And the LORDH3068 saidH559 unto Noah,H5146 ComeH935 thouH859 and allH3605 thy houseH1004 intoH413 the ark;H8392 forH3588 thee have I seenH7200 righteousH6662 beforeH6440 me in thisH2088 generation.H1755 

Gen_12:17  And the LORDH3068 plaguedH5060 (H853) PharaohH6547 and his houseH1004 with greatH1419 plaguesH5061 because ofH5921 H1697 SaraiH8297 Abram'sH87 wife.H802 

Zec 5:10-11 KJV  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To buildH1129 it an houseH1004 in the land of ShinarH8152: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own baseH4369.

H8152

שִׁנְעָר
shin‛âr
shin-awr'
Probably of foreign derivation; Shinar, a plain in Babylon: - Shinar.

Total KJV occurrences: 8

Shinar is one word in the Bible we can honestly say one thing about. That is nothing good is associated with this word in any of its 8 occurrences in scripture. 

As we have mentioned in the apparitions journeys mother and son worship and all other false religions we might add started in Babel. This as it is referred to in Nimrod’s history. Actually Nimrod’s wife and son started mother and son worship at least after the flood that is. 

We have noted that many of the images of Semaramis and Tammuz are almost identical to shrines and images of Mary and Jesus

Again the history of this area goes all the way back to Genesis 10. 

Gen 10:8-12 KJV  And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.  (9)  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.  (10)  And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.  (11)  Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,  (12)  And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

Gen 11:1-9 KJV  And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.  (2)  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  (3)  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  (4)  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  (5)  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  (6)  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  (7)  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  (8)  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.  (9)  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Gen 14:1-2 KJV  And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;  (2)  That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

Isa 11:10-12 KJV  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.  (11)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.  (12)  And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Dan 1:1-2 KJV  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.  (2)  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Then we finally arrive here at Zechariah 5.

Zec 5:10-11 KJV  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

These are not all 8 verses but hopefully enough to note there is nothing good about this place in scripture. There is not going to be anything good about this place except for 1 instance. That being the day the Holy Spirit came in the form of fiery tongues.

Act 2:1-11 KJV  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2)  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (5)  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  (6)  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  (7)  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  (8)  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  (9)  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  (10)  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  (11)  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

How many of these nations heard the good news and forgot. What’s even worse is to hear it, to have it and then lose it. That’s basically where America is or going for sure. This was basically the whole of the world at this time however many nations did absorb the gospel. The Christians that did absorb it absorbed it in big ways. Tens of thousands to the point of death at the hands of the Romans. Even Paul himself admits to his bias against the gospel.

Act 2:12-21 KJV  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  (13)  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.  (14)  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  (15)  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.  (16)  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  (17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  (18)  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  (19)  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:  (20)  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:  (21)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Here we see the area referred to as many learned in school. The region called Mesopotamia. The “cradle of civilization” some of us might have heard at 1 time.

Some call it the fertile crescent. 

So friends we can safely say that the world known as it was at that time heard the gospel. It did spread like wild fire. It also was ignored or for some reason overshadowed by something in many places. Jesus’ parable of the sower addresses the subject. Without opening that passage up it tells us many reasons why the word does not take hold. 

Map showing the extent of Mesopotamia. Shown are Washukanni, Nineveh, Hatra, Assur, Nuzi, Palmyra, Mari, Sippar, Babylon, Kish, Nippur, Isin, Lagash, Uruk, Charax Spasinu and Ur, from north to south.

The following reference comes from Albert Barnes’ Notes On the Bible

Mesopotamia - This name, which is Greek, signifies between the rivers; that is, the region lying between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. In Hebrew it was called Aram-Naharaim; that is, Aram, or Syria, of the two rivers. It was also called Padan Aram, the plain of Syria. In this region were situated some important places mentioned in the Bible: “Ur of the Chaldees, the birthplace of Abraham Gen_11:27-28; Haran, where Terah stopped on his journey and died Gen_11:31-32; Charchemish 2Ch_35:20; Hena 2Ki_19:13; Sepharvaim 2Ki_17:24. This region, known as Mesopotamia, extended between the two rivers from their sources to Babylon on the south. It had on the north Armenia, on the west Syria, on the east Persia, and on the south Babylonia. It was an extensive, level, and fertile country. The language spoken here was probably the Syriac, with perhaps a mixture of the Chaldee.

Luk 8:1-3 KJV  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,  (2)  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,  (3)  And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Contrary to popular belief this is not the woman who bathed Jesus with her tears. A person has a right to believe what they wish but on this one we agree with the commentaries. She also was not the lady who was about to be stoned for adultery. 

Just for those of the mindset she also did not run off to France with Jesus and start a family. Sorry if that bursts anyone’s bubble. 

Mary Magdalene appears by name exact name 11 times in 11 verses throughout all 4 gospels. She was witness to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus. 

Mat 27:54-56 KJV  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.  (55)  And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:  (56)  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 

Mat 27:57-61 KJV  When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:  (58)  He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  (59)  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  (60)  And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.  (61)  And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Mat 28:1-10 KJV  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  (2)  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  (3)  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  (4)  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  (5)  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  (6)  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  (7)  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.  (8)  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  (9)  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.  (10)  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Now for a little bit about Mary mother of Jesus. Not the mother of god or the queen of heaven. The scripture tells us that Jesus had at least 3 brothers and we believe 1 sister. We have read there may have been 2 sisters.

Mar 6:1-5 KJV  And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  (2)  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  (3)  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.  (4)  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  (5)  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Mar 6:3 KJV  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brotherG80of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sistersG79 here with us? And they were offended at him.

Mat 13:55 KJV  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Mat 1:18 KJV  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

You see folks this is where things get messed up. Let’s look at the word studies involved here.

G80

ἀδελφός
adelphos
ad-el-fos'
From G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like [H1]): - brother.
Total KJV occurrences: 346

G79

ἀδελφή
adelphē
ad-el-fay'
Feminine of G80; a sister (natural or ecclesiastical): - sister.
Total KJV occurrences: 24

Here at our ministry we believe that after the birth of Jesus there was obviously no commands for Mary to remain celibate. However millions around the world would go bananas at the suggestion Mary did not go to heaven alive and she sure was not a virgin. So every time we see a reference made to this particular Mary we are dealing with the mother of Jesus. 

We saw no where in scripture where Joseph was told to deny himself of Mary in a sexual nature. This of course after the birth of Jesus. There are some very important places where the mother of Jesus Mary is not if you say these were not Jesus’ siblings. 

Zec 5:9-11 KJV  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  (10)  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  (11)  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Now with regard to apparitions of Mary and Mary being elevated to something she is not.

Mat 12:43-50 KJV  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.  (44)  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.  (45)  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.  (46)  While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.  (47)  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.  (48)  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?  (49)  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!  (50)  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Luk 8:19-22 KJV  Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.  (20)  And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.  (21)  And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.  (22)  Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Luk 11:24-28 KJV  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.  (25)  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.  (26)  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  (27)  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  (28)  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Joh 5:43 KJV  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Mat 28:16-20 KJV  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  (17)  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

As always thanks for sharing a word
God Bless