What is the Sequence of the Divine Nines in God's Heavens and Eternal Words?
The following ideas only scratch the surface.
but, any child's book on planets will confirm and distinguish that the major character qualities of the planets coincide beautifully with this system of teaching: the Divine Nines.
Jesus is the Sole author and revealer of Truth.
We believe He placed An Outline of His Truth in the Solar System before He created man.
1. Mercury - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Unlike all the other planets, Mercury, the first planet and closest to the sun, has no atmosphere or moons. Atmosphere is the picture of "spirit" and breath. Mercury is poor in spirit! The tiny Mercury - the smallest of the major planets - presents a picture of humility and desperation. It is barren and totally scarred by rugged craters. In addition, its orbit typifies repentance. This planet makes one complete turn each year. In one full orbit, the side of Mercury facing away from the sun becomes the side facing the sun. It makes an exact one-and-a-half rotation to end up facing the opposite direction. (This is not easily described, but easily shown!) No other planet can claim these distinctions, yet each of these are shown in the first Beatitude.
The first planet, unlike the others, is humble. The first planet Mercury, the tiny rock of a planet, demonstrates emptiness and poverty. The Greek word for poor in the first Beatitude is "ptoichos" and is literally used elsewhere for "beggar." It shows a man who is so destitute - empty - totally depraved - that though he cringes and cowers, yet he holds out his hand at the city gate to Jesus. As the Master walks by, fastening his ashamed gaze he cries: "Alms! Alms for the poor?!" The barren, cratered, atmosphere-less condition of Mercury depicts the beggar who truly has nothing. He must reverse His gaze, and look to Christ alone. "Look unto me and be ye saved..." was the verse by which C.H. Spurgeon claimed he was converted. In that verse it is not a fleeting glance but a prolonged stare that saves the soul. A.W. Tozer says that faith (by which men are saved) is the gaze of the soul upon God. God only saves the desperate man, the man who knows he has and is nothing!
The first planet, unlike the others, is humble. The first planet Mercury, the tiny rock of a planet, demonstrates emptiness and poverty. The Greek word for poor in the first Beatitude is "ptoichos" and is literally used elsewhere for "beggar." It shows a man who is so destitute - empty - totally depraved - that though he cringes and cowers, yet he holds out his hand at the city gate to Jesus. As the Master walks by, fastening his ashamed gaze he cries: "Alms! Alms for the poor?!" The barren, cratered, atmosphere-less condition of Mercury depicts the beggar who truly has nothing. He must reverse His gaze, and look to Christ alone. "Look unto me and be ye saved..." was the verse by which C.H. Spurgeon claimed he was converted. In that verse it is not a fleeting glance but a prolonged stare that saves the soul. A.W. Tozer says that faith (by which men are saved) is the gaze of the soul upon God. God only saves the desperate man, the man who knows he has and is nothing!
2. Venus - "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Until recently, no one knew what lay on Venus' surface. Nothing could be seen below its murky layer of thick clouds. Today, we know Venus is covered in molten lava, and is continuously pelted by sulfuric acid rain. Its atmospheric pressure would literally crush anyone who was so unfortunate as to step on its surface, compressing them to about the size of a basketball! Venus is also the most volcanic planet. This planet helps us recognize the cost of sin. It shows the weeping, sadness, and remorse that should characterize the soul of one who realizes his flawed, fallen state. Though emotions do not save, yet without them one has not realized properly what sin is - it caused the Son of God's death! The fiery surface of Venus could be said to be a picture of hell. There is a price which must be paid for violating God's commands. Thankfully, for believers in Christ, our debt has been paid by Him. However, we each must understand the enormous cost - and we must be willing to allow God to use suffering in our lives to refine us into what He desires.
The second planet, unlike the others, mourns. It is a great truth that the law is a schoolmaster. (Gal. 3:24) It leads the soul to consider Christ for it causes a realization that the soul is condemned but that God has made provisions for blessing and salvation. The law condemns and can save no man. The law, like wisdom, causes mourning - bitter weeping. "In much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow," the Preacher says (Eccl. 1:18). The emotional aspect of a true salvation is necessary, for how else will a man be comforted? The word "comfort" in the Greek is the very same word as used for the Comforter, the "paraklete" of God! God wants to seal a man with the Holy Ghost, but can He, will He, do this if a man has not come to terms with the horror and poison that sin is? That man who does not mourn over sin within him, and later sin around him, should never expect the Spirit of God to truly fill him and bring him peace.
The second planet, unlike the others, mourns. It is a great truth that the law is a schoolmaster. (Gal. 3:24) It leads the soul to consider Christ for it causes a realization that the soul is condemned but that God has made provisions for blessing and salvation. The law condemns and can save no man. The law, like wisdom, causes mourning - bitter weeping. "In much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow," the Preacher says (Eccl. 1:18). The emotional aspect of a true salvation is necessary, for how else will a man be comforted? The word "comfort" in the Greek is the very same word as used for the Comforter, the "paraklete" of God! God wants to seal a man with the Holy Ghost, but can He, will He, do this if a man has not come to terms with the horror and poison that sin is? That man who does not mourn over sin within him, and later sin around him, should never expect the Spirit of God to truly fill him and bring him peace.
3. Earth - "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth." Our home planet is the third planet from the sun. It is the only planet in the universe created for life. It is truly meek. Meekness is often described as being like a doormat - and Earth functions as a doormat quite literally. Men walk all over it and it revives again and again. This happens nowhere else in our solar system, or in the known universe! Our planet is a gem of priceless value among an almost inconceivably vast array of uninhabitable stars and galaxies. Its very existence proclaims purpose and meekness. Humans were given dominion over the Earth by God (Gen. 1:26-28). No matter what we seem to do to our planet, it meekly and cyclically provides us with food, water, resources, and protection. The ecosystems of Earth continue to function despite the odds.
The third planet, unlike the others, is meek. The principle of meekness and the importance of obedience are as clearly seen in the third Beatitude and third planet as any truth can be seen. The third point of the Lord's Prayer requests, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven." Earth demonstrates the principle of meekness - strength exercised in service to another. Earth shows the correct response to human authority, just as we should have the correct response to God's authority and His Law. It might be noted that pagans literally think that the earth is a living being because of the amazing, even miraculous meekness which God has invested in the ecosystems of this third planet, our earth! Such is the quality of the planet God has created for us.
The third planet, unlike the others, is meek. The principle of meekness and the importance of obedience are as clearly seen in the third Beatitude and third planet as any truth can be seen. The third point of the Lord's Prayer requests, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven." Earth demonstrates the principle of meekness - strength exercised in service to another. Earth shows the correct response to human authority, just as we should have the correct response to God's authority and His Law. It might be noted that pagans literally think that the earth is a living being because of the amazing, even miraculous meekness which God has invested in the ecosystems of this third planet, our earth! Such is the quality of the planet God has created for us.
4. Mars - "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Mars, the fourth planet, is like the fourth Beatitude, in that both focus on food and water. For years, in Western culture and legend, Mars has been seen as a possible place where life could exist. Speculation that life flourished on Mars was fed in the late nineteenth century by since-disproved observations of "canals" on the Martian surface. Today, we know that no life exists on Mars, and in fact Mars is a giant desert. Yet today, characteristics are being found consistent only with the idea that water once flowed freely across its surface. Dry rivers, lake beds, erosion, and sediment deposits point to an apparently quite wet past for this planet. These are unique features nowhere else found in our solar system as we know it. Where did the water go? Was it ever there, or was Mars originally created to look "dry"? In either case, Jesus clearly intended Mars to show thirst! Interestingly, one of the canyons through which water apparently passed, the Valles Marinaris, is the longest and widest chasm in the solar system. It would stretch from one side of the United States to the other. As a matter of fact, secular TV shows have, almost incredibly, labelled the fourth planet the "planet with a mouth" because of this vast long canyon. The canyon appears like a mouth desperate for food and water. Beyond this, there are two depressions off-kilter just above the "mouth" increasing the perception of a screwed up face dying for drink and famished when one zooms in on the landscape using the NASA website.
The fourth planet, unlike the others, is hungry and thirsty. To us, the parallel of the "thirsty" fourth Beatitude with the "thirsty" desert planet demonstrates that the Creator has a keen sense of humor! But it also demonstrates the thirsting desire of the needy soul for God's righteousness. This is the point of the fourth Beatitude (and the fourth planet). Mars demonstrates the passion we should have for God's Word, our food. We were designed to be in fellowship with God, and only His righteousness, as presented in His Word and made possible by Christ, can restore that joy and fellowship. The prophet of old said, "Thy words were found and I did eat them, and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." (Jer. 15:16) Job similarly said, "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food!" (Job 23:12)
Lets stop on this point to simply make a couple of observations pointing out the system in other Divine Nines sequences:
In the Lord's prayer, the fourth point is, "Give us this day our daily bread."
In the fourth parable in Matthew 13 we have a story about leaven in bread.
In the fourth sign miracle in John we have the feeding of the five thousand.
In the fourth beatitude ("makarios:" blessed are they) in the Book of the Revelations we have the blessing of those who come to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The fourth planet, unlike the others, is hungry and thirsty. To us, the parallel of the "thirsty" fourth Beatitude with the "thirsty" desert planet demonstrates that the Creator has a keen sense of humor! But it also demonstrates the thirsting desire of the needy soul for God's righteousness. This is the point of the fourth Beatitude (and the fourth planet). Mars demonstrates the passion we should have for God's Word, our food. We were designed to be in fellowship with God, and only His righteousness, as presented in His Word and made possible by Christ, can restore that joy and fellowship. The prophet of old said, "Thy words were found and I did eat them, and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." (Jer. 15:16) Job similarly said, "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food!" (Job 23:12)
Lets stop on this point to simply make a couple of observations pointing out the system in other Divine Nines sequences:
In the Lord's prayer, the fourth point is, "Give us this day our daily bread."
In the fourth parable in Matthew 13 we have a story about leaven in bread.
In the fourth sign miracle in John we have the feeding of the five thousand.
In the fourth beatitude ("makarios:" blessed are they) in the Book of the Revelations we have the blessing of those who come to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
5. Jupiter - "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." This fifth planet of our solar system is also the largest - by a long shot! Jupiter has more mass than all the other planets put together! This is the most obvious - the chief and unique - quality of the fifth planet. This "big-hearted" planet has enough gravity that, as almost any astronomer will tell us, it functions as "cosmic vacuum cleaner" for the inner solar system. Jupiter absorbs asteroids into itself that would otherwise threaten to demolish life on Earth. In 1994, an example of this activity was seen when the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was caught by Jupiter's gravity and plunged into its atmosphere. Some of the impact spots were larger than the size of Earth (see the rust-colored spots in the picture)! If this comet had hit our planet, we would have been obliterated. Jupiter "takes the hit" for us. What a picture of mercy! We believe this recent occurrence demonstrates God's mercy in sending Jesus Christ to take our place on the cross many years ago, becoming sin for us as the Bible says, that we might live. His mercy and forgiveness is never-ending - "deeper than the deepest sea" as the song goes - just as Jupiter is huge, by far the largest planet.
The fifth planet, unlike the others, is merciful. The mercy of God is demonstrated by Jupiter, as is our need to show forgiveness as He has forgiven us. What is interesting and very enlightening is that at the end of the Lord's (or Disciple's) Prayer, only one thing is repeated and emphasized. It is this largest principle of God: mercy. Forgive or you will not be forgiven! (Matt. 6:14-15) Why? The character of God is what his children should emulate. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting!" (Psalm 103:17) It is HUGE and is our only hope for eternal salvation, as stated in Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." "God's mercies are new every morning!" is the hope of the book of Lamentations. (Lam. 3:22-23) The fifth point in the Lord's prayer is also about mercy: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us." We are to "forgive seventy times seven;" nothing was ever tabulated like that in the Holy Scriptures, and these words are from Jesus Christ Himself! Jesus loves this fifth principle of mercy and so Jesus created the fifth planet from the sun, on purpose, to be huge!
The fifth planet, unlike the others, is merciful. The mercy of God is demonstrated by Jupiter, as is our need to show forgiveness as He has forgiven us. What is interesting and very enlightening is that at the end of the Lord's (or Disciple's) Prayer, only one thing is repeated and emphasized. It is this largest principle of God: mercy. Forgive or you will not be forgiven! (Matt. 6:14-15) Why? The character of God is what his children should emulate. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting!" (Psalm 103:17) It is HUGE and is our only hope for eternal salvation, as stated in Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." "God's mercies are new every morning!" is the hope of the book of Lamentations. (Lam. 3:22-23) The fifth point in the Lord's prayer is also about mercy: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us." We are to "forgive seventy times seven;" nothing was ever tabulated like that in the Holy Scriptures, and these words are from Jesus Christ Himself! Jesus loves this fifth principle of mercy and so Jesus created the fifth planet from the sun, on purpose, to be huge!
6. Saturn - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Saturn is the sixth planet and is often said to be the “icon” of the planets. It is a picture of majesty and purity. Saturn’s pristine, breathtaking rings are one of the most recognizable things to be seen among the planets in our solar system. Just over a half-mile at their greatest width, the rings orbit the gas giant in crisp harmony. If one looks straight across at the sixth planet's rings, the rings actually disappear. They are too thin to be seen straight-on - it's like looking at the side of a piece of paper. Also on Saturn is a “landmark” in the planets unlike anything else in the solar system. At its north pole spins a hexagonal storm: a six-sided geometric wind pattern unlike any other discovered. Thus, there is a marker confirming that Saturn is in its proper position as the sixth planet. This fact is significant because the sixth numeric principle involves the revealing of things - most importantly about God Himself - that otherwise would not be known. Furthermore, the existence of rings around a central sphere, added to the rotational tilt of Saturn’s axis, form the appearance of a unique shape if an observer were to look downwards on the plane of the solar system. That shape is an eye. Saturn shows that purity and precision of heart allows us to see things we otherwise could not – including the great glory of God.
The sixth planet, unlike the others, is pure and pristine. Saturn shows the need for purity in heart, and the fact that we can be absolutely sure of God's truth. Again, beyond the fact that an eye is almost humorously depicted by Jesus in creating this remarkable (and we might add Evolution-busting!) planet, it has the idea of purity literally surrounding it! The rings of Saturn remain aligned with one another, never deviating from their crisp, thin orbit. They demonstrate the sixth point of the Lord's Prayer: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Now what is interesting is that we normally think of the heart of a man as invisible, yet what a man loves he speaks of and serves. It is true that the heart of a man can be deceitful, but that is exactly why a pure man has concentric rings, standards by which all things in his life are set apart, holy. Holiness is a uniqueness that is quite visible and utterly different, like a halo around the head. A holy man serves God in purity, and, though often despised, it is this one who will be respected and turned to when others become desperate to see and know God.
The sixth planet, unlike the others, is pure and pristine. Saturn shows the need for purity in heart, and the fact that we can be absolutely sure of God's truth. Again, beyond the fact that an eye is almost humorously depicted by Jesus in creating this remarkable (and we might add Evolution-busting!) planet, it has the idea of purity literally surrounding it! The rings of Saturn remain aligned with one another, never deviating from their crisp, thin orbit. They demonstrate the sixth point of the Lord's Prayer: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Now what is interesting is that we normally think of the heart of a man as invisible, yet what a man loves he speaks of and serves. It is true that the heart of a man can be deceitful, but that is exactly why a pure man has concentric rings, standards by which all things in his life are set apart, holy. Holiness is a uniqueness that is quite visible and utterly different, like a halo around the head. A holy man serves God in purity, and, though often despised, it is this one who will be respected and turned to when others become desperate to see and know God.
7. Uranus - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." The planet on its side is a most mysterious quandary in the Evolutionary view of the solar system's formation. Uranus is a great Evolution debunker, and seems to be designed in the sequence of the Beatitudes exactly for this reason... Jesus made it that way on purpose. Uranus shows forth the seventh Beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Uranus' quiet, almost invisible rings and its moons are each lined up with this planet's sideways rotation, as if the planet was intended that way, at rest! It is lying down. While Evolution has no answer for how such a planet could have formed, we believe Jesus Christ created Uranus in this supine, resting position to demonstrate the peace that God's children have and bring to others. The planet's conditions, too, are unlike all the other gas giants in that they are calm and peaceful. No storms or winds whirl about this blue-green world. Uranus sits like a polished, shiny pearl on the cosmic string of its vast orbit. And, Uranus' axis points outward to Neptune and Pluto, and inward to the other planets, as if reaching out to each and inviting them to share its peaceful rest. Uranus is a picture of the "Sabbath" principle - the rest and peace God gives to those who obey Him, typified by the seventh day which Jesus initiated in Genesis 2. Uranus shows not only the principle of godly rest, but that we should be willing to bring others into this rest. (Heb. 4:9-12)
The seventh planet, unlike the others, is at peace. Uranus shows the rest and calmness available to believers, and our duty to lead others to Christ. Uranus is truly a "child of God." Its rotation, unlike all the other planets, is sideways and inexplicable apart from its birthing by God Himself. True peacemaking requires creation evangelism - spreading the message that Jesus Christ is the Creator, Saviour, and coming Judge. God made it all and so can bring peace to all who place their faith in Him. Becoming a peacemaker - a soul-winner and a fisher of men - is the quest. Jesus wants us to learn how to help others be reconciled and at peace with God, and gives us clear evidence from nature as well as the Holy Bible that this reconciliation is fully possible.
The seventh planet, unlike the others, is at peace. Uranus shows the rest and calmness available to believers, and our duty to lead others to Christ. Uranus is truly a "child of God." Its rotation, unlike all the other planets, is sideways and inexplicable apart from its birthing by God Himself. True peacemaking requires creation evangelism - spreading the message that Jesus Christ is the Creator, Saviour, and coming Judge. God made it all and so can bring peace to all who place their faith in Him. Becoming a peacemaker - a soul-winner and a fisher of men - is the quest. Jesus wants us to learn how to help others be reconciled and at peace with God, and gives us clear evidence from nature as well as the Holy Bible that this reconciliation is fully possible.
8. Neptune - "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Neptune's turbulence stands in stark contrast to Uranus' peacefulness. As Voyager 2 approached Neptune, scientists conjectured that this planet would be dead and calm due to the lack of heat in the far reaches of the solar system. Not only were they wrong, they found the exact opposite! Even though it is much further from the Sun than Uranus, and thus theoretically should have a far lower temperature, Neptune produces the most powerful weather in the solar system. In fact, the fastest winds ever observed blow here on the eighth planet, frequently at speeds of up to 2000 kilometers per hour (1200 miles per hour)! That is faster than the speed of sound! A man could never stand on Neptune, even as men cannot stand before pure righteousness and so persecute those filled with the Spirit, (the Wind!) of God. Neptune demonstrates the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the storms and persecution of life.
The eighth planet, unlike the others, is persecuted. There are three stages to Christian growth. We have passed the first stage, with its seven points. Now Neptune as the eighth planet from the sun begins a new stage - a new beginning. (The full understanding of this truth will not be addressed here but its basis can be found in Matt. 10:41-42 and I John 2:12-14.) We should be "blown away!" The wind of Neptune symbolizes the power of God's Spirit. The fact that we face difficulty, in places we least expect it, but weather it through the power and Spirit (the "ruach," Wind) of God, shows whose kingdom we belong to. The Holy Ghost is a real and dynamic force (as well as a Person) moving men and having written words (in 66 holy books!) in such a way as to bring glory to God. Righteousness is never easy to stand for, yet the Holy Ghost enables God's children to do so. The truth usually is quite painful. The saying, "You can't handle the truth" is always true. It takes the Spirit of God to cause eternal truth to be received and applied. Men try to hide from truth and love darkness rather than light for their deeds are evil. (John 3:19)
The eighth planet, unlike the others, is persecuted. There are three stages to Christian growth. We have passed the first stage, with its seven points. Now Neptune as the eighth planet from the sun begins a new stage - a new beginning. (The full understanding of this truth will not be addressed here but its basis can be found in Matt. 10:41-42 and I John 2:12-14.) We should be "blown away!" The wind of Neptune symbolizes the power of God's Spirit. The fact that we face difficulty, in places we least expect it, but weather it through the power and Spirit (the "ruach," Wind) of God, shows whose kingdom we belong to. The Holy Ghost is a real and dynamic force (as well as a Person) moving men and having written words (in 66 holy books!) in such a way as to bring glory to God. Righteousness is never easy to stand for, yet the Holy Ghost enables God's children to do so. The truth usually is quite painful. The saying, "You can't handle the truth" is always true. It takes the Spirit of God to cause eternal truth to be received and applied. Men try to hide from truth and love darkness rather than light for their deeds are evil. (John 3:19)
9. Pluto - "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." There is an important question we must ask here: "Is Pluto a planet?!" Not according to the scientists at the International Astronomical Union who renamed it a "dwarf planet" in 2006. However, we believe Pluto was intended by Jesus Christ to be part of the nine major bodies in the solar system. It is, of course, in the ninth sequential position from the sun and revolves like the other planets around the sun. If for no other reason, Pluto is far brighter than any other similar objects, and therefore was discovered almost 80 years before any of the rest. It is literally "glorious!" Pluto is the largest "Trans-Neptunian Object." While Eris, an object almost twice as far away from the sun, had previously been thought to be larger than Pluto, it was recently shown that the calculations were off and Eris is indeed a bit smaller. Also, Pluto has been described as a "bi-planet" because its moon Charon is almost as large as it is - and taking these two objects together would make Pluto/Charon far larger than Eris. Finally, Pluto appears to be made up of a different material than the other objects: it seems to be primarily ice and is very shiny, while the others are a mix of dull rock, metal and gas. Pluto shows the "glory" or shining of God. Pluto demonstrates that often those who are the brightest and most unique in being examples of Christ's character will be the very ones who are had in ill reproach by the world. Pluto has been "falsely" so called a non-planet - reviled by those who do not understand it, just as the prophets of God are often reviled for the name of Christ.
The ninth planet, unlike the others, is reviled by men. Nine is the number of finality, and this point depicts the third stage. More on these three stages in the Bible study (see below)! The fact is that those who truly shine for Christ and are mature in their victory over sin and self, are the ones who often are most rejected, for they cannot help but be prophetic in their words and ways. The prophets - similar to Pluto's unique character - were also on a very different trajectory, seemingly out of touch, and too "holy." They were always killed from Abel to Zacharias as Jesus taught, because they seemed too glorious, yet too holy and "self-righteous!" The fact that these nine Beatitudes are a sequence is made most clear by this one Beatitude alone, for it identifies those who are most like the prophets. This stage is advanced and very painful. It is so because it is the fullness of the blessing by which men gain "great reward" in heaven. This life is fleeting. God expects all of us, His dear children, to covet to prophesy. By fulfilling the final Beatitude and being shaped through the Divine Nines sequence into the character of Christ, we become "neither barren nor unfruitful" (II Pet. 1:8), earning persecution and inheritance which is literally out of this world and for all time, into eternity. (I Pet. 1:3-4)
The ninth planet, unlike the others, is reviled by men. Nine is the number of finality, and this point depicts the third stage. More on these three stages in the Bible study (see below)! The fact is that those who truly shine for Christ and are mature in their victory over sin and self, are the ones who often are most rejected, for they cannot help but be prophetic in their words and ways. The prophets - similar to Pluto's unique character - were also on a very different trajectory, seemingly out of touch, and too "holy." They were always killed from Abel to Zacharias as Jesus taught, because they seemed too glorious, yet too holy and "self-righteous!" The fact that these nine Beatitudes are a sequence is made most clear by this one Beatitude alone, for it identifies those who are most like the prophets. This stage is advanced and very painful. It is so because it is the fullness of the blessing by which men gain "great reward" in heaven. This life is fleeting. God expects all of us, His dear children, to covet to prophesy. By fulfilling the final Beatitude and being shaped through the Divine Nines sequence into the character of Christ, we become "neither barren nor unfruitful" (II Pet. 1:8), earning persecution and inheritance which is literally out of this world and for all time, into eternity. (I Pet. 1:3-4)
