The outward adornment of our body is a reflection of the glory residing within. In accordance with this principle, we see described throughout the Scriptures two kinds of adornment — those God desires for His people to have, and those His people are to avoid. These adornments are seen in Scripture as the adornments of a Bride, and so they describe either the True Bride, or the False Bride.

In this writing, we will examine the adornments of jewelry, tattoos, and body piercings, and the relationship of these to bondage. We will conclude with what Father reveals as the adornments of the True Bride, and compare these to the adornments of the False Bride.

Jewelry, Body Piercings, Tattoos — and Bondage

Today it is fashionable for many people, especially the youth, to have excessive jewelry, tattoos, and body piercings, and to have rings or spikes applied to ears and various parts of the body. As we look at these various practices, we will see from Scripture that ear rings, tattoos, and piercings of the body, speak of spiritual idolatry, and lead to a form of bondage and spiritual slavery.

Yahushua has set each one of us free from all bondages, by the blood He shed when He died on the tree. He set us free, so that we may choose a new Master, and then repent [change our mind, and turn around]. His desire is that we would walk with Him, in His Way — and not walk alone in our own way. He invites us to follow Him, and become yoked to Him, so that we might avoid our own path, and walk with Him in His path — thus continuing in that freedom. His desire is that we not become entangled again in the ‘yoke’ of bondage that occurs when we walk outside of His path.

We might ask, “How can we be set free from past bondages?” Some may ask, “How can we avoid future bondages?”

Those who seek the life of Messiah, and who search the Scriptures with a willingness to repent, will be delivered from their past bondages, and will also avoid future bondages. Others may find the attractiveness offered by the world and its pleasures are too strong to resist. These will not be delivered, for they have been deceived into thinking that such ‘small things’ are insignificant, and that they have no bearing whatsoever on their relationship with their Heavenly Father, or on their daily walk with Messiah.

Our ability to remain free from bondage is dependent, however, upon our continued obedience to the Scriptures. As the Holy Spirit leads us, He guides our feet daily in His Way, revealing the Scriptures to us, little-by-little, at a pace that He knows we can handle. As we mature in Him, He expects us to learn to walk more and more in obedience to His Word. But He requires our cooperation, in that we must consider every word in the Scriptures as important, and as relevant today to our instruction in Righteousness (See 2Timothy 3:16).

Because jewelry, tattoos, and piercings of the body appear to be ‘small’ matters in the eyes of many, few are interested in heeding the Scriptures regarding them. We must remember, however, that Father is looking for Bride-Candidates for His Son, who is seen in Scripture as the Bridegroom. Bride-Candidates are Believers whose attractiveness and beauty is seen in being faithful in the little things. Applying the Scriptures to the small issues of life thus becomes one of the major features identifying the Bride-Candidates.

With this in mind, let us look at the adornments the True Bride will obtain, and those she will avoid. We will look first at earrings in Scripture.

Ear Rings and Jewelry in Scripture

What can we find in the Scriptures about earrings? There is much to be seen, but let’s look in particular to see whether there is a connection between earrings and idolatry, and their relationship. Let’s begin in Genesis 35:1-5:

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. (Genesis 35:1-5)

In the above passage, we see in verse 2, Jacob commanded his household to “put away the strange gods that were among them.” God had told Jacob to go to Beth-el, to the ‘house of God.’ Jacob was in process of “cleaning house” so-to-speak; he was setting everything in order and making his household fit for going to Beth-el — the ‘house of God.’

But notice in verse 4, the manner in which they put away the strange gods and to ‘be clean’ was to rid themselves of the household idols they possessed [which were in their hand], and to dispose of their earrings, as well as what might have been bracelets.

Jacob’s household had taken in these objects [small idols and earrings], which were objects of attachment, admiration, and undue affection. They removed from themselves these ‘strange gods,’ or in other words, the tokens of their idolatry. As a result of this cleansing, we see in verse 5, that the ‘terror of God’ was upon the cities round about them, telling us that Yahuweh blessed them with supernatural power and protection from their enemies.

We might ask, “How was Jacob’s household in violation of the Scriptures? What was their disobedience?” To answer this, let’s consider what Yahuweh says in the first and second commandments:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:2-3)

Thou shalt not make <06213> [make, have, acquire] unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:2-6)

As we saw in Graven Images and Idols: the Scriptural Definition, we are told not to make, have, or even acquire any objects fashioned in the shape of any living thing, or even to bring these objects into a house or building — lest we come under the same curse the object is under.

We are just beginning to realise that certain objects can be ‘strange gods’ — strange ‘mighty ones’ — that is, any forbidden objects we have been told not to make, as well as any other kind of object for which we hold inordinate admiration or affection. These items need to be recognised for what they are, and should be ‘put away’ from us. As strange mighty ones, they have no power, but they can become ‘strongholds’ for demonic oppression.

Just as the altar of Baal and grove [‘asherah’ pole] belonging to Gideon’s father had to be cut down, and destroyed, before victory could occur, so it is also in our lives. Once we destroy those objects that are ‘strongholds’ for demonic oppression, we will find victory, and deliverance from that particular bondage.

So we see that in the example of Jacob’s household, they removed the forbidden objects, which had been demonic strongholds, and they obtained the victory.

Let us now notice something in Hosea 2:2:

Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; (Hosea 2:2)

In the above passage, we see that God is speaking of Hosea’s wife [who is symbolic God’s people] and pleading that she put away her ‘whoredoms’ and ‘adulteries.’ But notice in verse 13:

And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. (Hosea 2:13)

In this passage, it is clear what her custom was when she practiced her whoredoms and adulteries:

Could it be true, that these objects of jewelry were demonic strongholds that opened the door to entice her into whoredoms? Those experienced in the deliverance ministries would answer a definite “Yes!”

Many Believers today are in bondage to various demonic activities and practices, not understanding that their being in bondage may have begun with having forbidden objects, perhaps in the wearing of earrings and jewelry. One seemingly ‘innocent’ demonic stronghold becomes a foot-in-the-door for more demons, who in turn bring further deception, and further bondage (Mat 12:45; Luke 11:26). Let us remember that such objects were included among the ‘strange gods’ seen Jacob’s household, as we saw above in Genesis 35.

Let us now look at another aspect of the adornment of the body — the truth that our body is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Defiling the Temple

As we look at our body as the temple, let us begin with the warning given to all who claim to be Believers:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1Corinthians 6:19)

If any man defile [defile, corrupt, spoil, ruin, waste, or destroy] the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1Corinthians 3:17)

In the first passage above, in 1Corinthians 6:19, we are reminded that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and our bodies are not ‘our own’ to decorate, or to do with as we please.

In the second passage above, in 1Corinthians 3:17, notice that the word defile in the Greek text is defined to include the meanings of “corrupt, spoil, ruin, waste and destroy.” But what does it mean to defile the body? We find the answer in Torah, which instructs us of what to do, and what not to do:

Ye shall not make<05414> [“permit, make, yield to”] any cuttings in your flesh<01320> for the dead<05315>[Lit. “in the flesh of your body”], nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28)

In the above passage, we see that we are instructed not to permit or make cuttings [‘incisions, scratches’] in the flesh of our body. We can see the reason for this instruction in the following passage:

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them… 5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane<02490> [“pollute, defile”] the name of their God… (Leviticus 21:1a; 21:5-6a)

Notice in this above passage the instruction is given to priests. According to the apostles Peter and John, all Believers today under the New Covenant are now a kingdom of priests, even while living on the earth today, in our mortal flesh (1Peter 2:9; Rev 1:6, 5:10). Peter is telling us that the instructions pertaining to priests actually pertain to us today.

Thus we see in the above passage, that as Believer-priests, we are told not to make cuttings in the flesh of our body. We then see that for a priest to disobey this Word, is to remove the separation [holiness] of that priest, and to profane or defile the name of Yahuweh!

So we see that this defiling of Believers today clearly includes the piercing or marking of any part of our bodies. When we defile the body with tattoos or piercings, we show disregard for, and dishonor the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit,’ which is to be holy. That is, our bodies are to be ‘set apart’ as special for His use, to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, the temple of God’s presence.

Let’s now look more closely at the 1Corinthians 3:17 passage:

If any man defile [defile, corrupt, spoil, ruin, waste, or destroy] the temple [‘dwelling-place’ of God] [your body], him shall God destroy; for the temple [‘dwelling-place’ of God][your body] is holy [set-apart as special, for His use], which temple [‘dwelling-place’ of God] you are. (1Corinthians 3:17)

Notice the above passage says, “If any man defile [defile, corrupt, spoil, ruin, waste, or destroy] the temple [‘dwelling-place’ of God] [your body], him shall God destroy….”

From many deliverance ministry testimonies, it appears that many Believers today continue to have severe physical ailments related to having had pierced ears and other body piercings — such problems as hearing problems, complexion problems, reproductive organ problems, headaches, promiscuity, behavioral and emotional problems, as well as multitudes of other physical ailments.

Could these problems be part of a ’cause-and-effect’ result as stated in the above passage?

Yahuweh has clearly warned His people that there are consequences for violation of His Word. The curses and bondage are not intended for God’s people, but only for His enemies — defined as ‘those who do not obey His Word!’ God is clearly not amused when His precious children purposely damage their body, but He is in great sorrow for them, and weeps over them, for He knows they will be destroyed along with His enemies, just as He has said in His Word:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

Notice the above passage does not say, ‘the heathen’ are destroyed, but ‘My people’ are destroyed. Why? because they have forgotten the Law [Torah], to be a “DO-er” of the Law, as James tells us (James 1:23-25; James 4:11).

Let’s look briefly now at piercing of the flesh, and how it relates to ownership and servitude, and to bondage.

Piercings and Bondage

There is a passage of Scripture that speaks about piercing, and specifically the piercing of the ear. Let’s look at two separate passages that give us the same truth:

Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. 2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. (Exodus 21:1-6)

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. 16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise. (Deuteronomy 15:12-17)

In the above two passages, Yahuweh is instructing His people about how to deal with servants [literally ‘bond-slaves’]. The passages explain that when a servant loves his master and wants to continue in life-long service to his master, then his master shall bring him to the door or door post, and shall bore [‘pierce’] the servant’s ear with an awl, as a sign or token of permanent servitude. Both passages conclude with the truth that the servant, from that time on, shall serve his master forever.

These passages reveal a very important and relevant spiritual principle that is in force, even to this day — that ear piercing speaks of bondage and servitude to the one who pierces the ear. The body part pierced here is the ear, thus the bondage is that of the ‘hearing’ [hearkening, or hearing and obeying] the words of whichever master pierces the ear.

This same principle of bondage can be applied to the voluntary piercing of any body part. Any body parts that are pierced can result in bondage to a ‘master.’ Let us remember that in the spiritual realm, there are only two masters from which to choose: Yahuweh or satan.

Though it may seem fashionable for people to have their ears or other body parts pierced, the spiritual result is bondage in some form. The servitude that results usually brings a curse rather than a blessing, because the motive for the piercing is usually for selfish adornment purposes, and not for the purpose of serving the Beloved Master, as seen in the Exodus and Deuteronomy passages above, and is thus a disobedient act.

The servitude resulting from body piercing becomes a spiritual bondage to someone, perhaps to doctors or nurses, or even to a worldly spirit or demonic philosophy held by some other person who did the piercing. We also saw above that the piercing of Believers brings a defilement. The bondage that results from these defilements can eventually bring about behavioral or physical disorders, which are often rooted in curses. It appears likely that far more bondage occurs through the practice of body piercing than we realise, though we often consider such problems as ‘normal’ or even happenstance.

Though it may appear to be a small thing to have the ears or body part pierced, it is these small, seemingly insignificant things, the ‘little’ acts of disobedience that spoil our devotion and commitment to the Father. It is wonderful to know, however, that in the name of our Saviour Yahushua Messiah, we can confess to Him our acts of disobedience as sin, and we can then repent — we can turn around, and forsake doing them (See 1John 1:9).

Beloved, here is where we must remember another important spiritual principle. According to the Scriptures, it is in our actions of confessing to Him our sin, and then repenting of that sin, that we find forgiveness, the breaking of curses, and healing (2Chron 7:14; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 36:3; Luke 17:14; Luke 17:3,4; Acts 5:31; Acts 8:22; Acts 26:18; 1John 1:7-9). It is only the Blood Sacrifice of Yahushua that makes our forgiveness possible, but it is by our actions of repentance [our words or deeds, as necessary] that applies His Blood Sacrifice to us in a personal way.

The Piercing Serpent

Satan, the ‘prince of the power of the air’ (Eph.2:2), is the one that seeks to destroy men’s lives through various types of bondages or slavery. It is a sobering thought, that the only example of ear piercing in the Bible is an example of permanent servitude. Permanent servitude to ‘the god of this world’ [satan] results in certain bondage.

Notice that satan is described prophetically as the ‘piercing serpent’ and the ‘crooked serpent’ in the following passage:

In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent…. (Isaiah 27:1)

Satan is the ultimate deceiver, and he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). His mission is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan, as the ‘piercing serpent,’ is the one who deceives people into thinking that piercing is a needed and necessary practice. Satan is not concerned over the damaging effects that piercing has on a person’s body. As the ‘piercing serpent,’ satan intends to repeatedly pierce a person’s body. He does this by dispatching to that person a craving for piercing, through a demonic piercing spirit, until destruction eventually occurs.

Great are the sorrows of not knowing God’s Word! Yahuweh says in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” That is, they are destroyed because of ignorance of God’s Word, and a lack of taking heed to the instructions and warnings of His Word. Notice it is not the ‘heathen’ who are destroyed — but Yahuweh says it is My People! Many of His people do not know Him, nor do they know His Word! If we are Born-Again, we come to know Him by simply walking in obedience to His Word!

Let us now look at another common and popular adornment — applying tattoos to the body.

Tattoos

Let us revisit another part of the passage we saw above in Leviticus 19:28:

Ye shall not make<05414> [“permit, make, yield to”] any cuttings in your flesh<01320> for the dead<05315>[Lit. “in the flesh of your body”], nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28)

This little verse is tucked away in Leviticus chapter 19, among the instructions that tell us, “Do not eat blood” and “Do not prostitute your daughter.” Can anyone in all honesty, think that these warnings and instructions are unimportant? If any of Father’s instructions are important, then even the least of His instructions are important, including this ‘little’ statement found in Leviticus 19:28!

Again, many Believers today who are caught up in the things of the world, think of such ‘small things’ as tattoos [printing marks on the body] as having no bearing whatsoever on their relationship with Father. Father tells us, however, that as Believers, even our friendship with the world is spiritual adultery — which will cause us to become an enemy of Yahuweh! (Romans 8:7; James 4:4; 1John 2:15-17). In this light, it would be well to consider that painting the face with make-up, and colouring the body with tanning colour, are likewise forms of printing marks on the body.

Obedience and Disobedience: Consequences

Father’s plan is for His enemies to destroy themselves by their own disobedience to His Word (Prov 10:29; Isaiah 1:28). Father does not wish for His own children to be destroyed along with his enemies [those who are disobedient to Him], and so He is very serious when He reminds us of the following passages:

If his [Messiah’s] children [Born-Again Believers!] forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (Psalms 89:30-32)

The above passage is a prophetic picture of Messiah and His children, and reminds us that as long as we are alive on this earth, Messiah will do whatever it takes to discipline His children, to convince them to repent. If they continue to refuse to obey, drastic matters may be called for:

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1Corinthians 5:5)

The verse above reminds us that Father may be forced to use extreme measures on His children while they are still alive on this earth, with the hope that they might repent, so that their spirit may ultimately be saved.

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel. (Psalms 125:5)

The above passage reveals what will happen to those Believers who, while they were alive on the earth, turned away from the Way of Yahuweh, and walked in their own ways, and did not repent, so they will be seen among the workers of iniquity.

In the next passage, we see the warning given to those today considered Believers, but are considered Foolish Virgins:

How long, ye simple [“foolish, gullible, seduced; deceived”] ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools [“foolish ones”] hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:22-33)

The above passage is a warning to all Believers, not to scorn Father’s Word, nor to mock His counsel, but to yield to His Word, and to His reproof and discipline, to the point of obedience — which results in safety and quietness in the midst of evil.

Now let’s notice the original warnings Yahuweh has given to His people, as promises of good consequences of obedience, and of bad consequences of disobedience:

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (Deuteronomy 28:15)

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 bondage’] of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. (Deuteronomy 28:45-48)

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed [things] from among you. (Joshua 7:11-12)

Beloved, the above-mentioned consequences of obedience and disobedience are spiritual ‘principles’ that are still in force today, for Believers and non-Believers alike. When we disobey even the smallest of God’s instructions, we will reap the consequences, as seen in the above passages in Deuteronomy 28:14, 45-48 and Joshua 7:11-12, unless we repent. As we saw in the Hosea 4:6 verse above, it is ‘God’s people’ who are destroyed for lack of knowledge of His Word, for they do not understand that God’s enemies will be destroyed by their own disobedience.

Beware of Deception

Many Believers will ask, why have we not heard these things from our Pastor or Preacher? Perhaps the reason is that many spiritual Leaders today are teaching that the ‘Old Testament’ laws are no longer valid. Beloved, let’s notice the following:

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many [‘Believers’ according to context] walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:18-19)

In the above passage, the apostle Paul tells us not to follow the bad examples of other ‘Believers’ whose end result is destruction, if they do not repent. Instead, Paul tells them to be followers of Himself, and the other apostles.

Since the apostle Paul is to be an example for us in all things, let’s see what Paul’s example is:

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing [a ‘DO-er’ of] all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (Acts 24:14)

In the above passage, the apostle Paul tells us he ‘believes’ [is a ‘DO-er’ of] all things which are written in the law and in the prophets — that is, in the ‘Old Testament’ writings — which includes all the Scripture passages mentioned above!

Many Pastors and Preachers today have learned a great deal of man-made doctrines [error] mixed with truths they learned in Bible School or Seminary. Many spiritual Leaders today are honest, and want to give out and teach only the Truth. But just as it was in the apostle Paul’s day, there are many today who teach truths that are mixed [unknowingly] with ‘doctrines of men,’ and disguised as truth:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2Peter 2:1)

Notice in the above passage that the prophets and teachers of today will bring destruction upon themselves. Now assuming these men are Believers, what should that tell us? And if the [spiritually] Blind Leaders lead the Blind people, they will both fall into the ditch (Matt 15:14; Luke 6:39).

Because many theologians today do not understand the apostle Paul’s teachings, they twist Paul’s words to say something different. The Pastors, Preachers, and other spiritual Leaders who follow these theologians, simply repeat the errors of the theologians. Notice what the apostle Peter tells us about those who claim to teach the words of the apostle Paul:

As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [‘twist; pervert’], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2Peter 3:16)

Again we see in the above passage, that those who teach a twisted or perverted version of Paul’s letters, do so unto their own destruction. Now we must assume these teachers are ‘Believers,’ so what should that tell us? Some [spiritually] Blind Leaders are Believers headed for destruction! Thus we must study the Word of Yahuweh for ourselves, to verify those things that are taught!

We have presented all the above Scripture passages, to say this: that even the slightest disobedience to the ‘small matters’ of piercing the body, and of marking the body with tattoos, will bring consequences. Let this be a warning to all Believers not to disregard Yahuweh’s written instructions in the Bible, as there are always consequences for disobedience.

Let us look now at a most important item. We have been disobedient — how can we now be restored?

Restoring the Temple

When we first become a Believer, God sets us free from the bondage of sin, and of the world. But if we become disobedient, and become entangled again in the yoke of bondage, can Father set us free again?

How can we ‘undo’ the bondage and curses that come from disobedience to God’s Word?

We are all guilty of not knowing God’s Word well enough; thus we are all reaping the various consequences of many forms of disobedience. However, God loves all of His children. He will again set free those who are repentant, and who become obedient to Him!

The most important action we can take to ‘undo’ some of the consequences of disobedience can be seen in the following passage:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not [‘are not doing’] the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light [we are ‘doing the truth’], we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:5-9)

If we have walked in darkness by not ‘doing’ the Truth, there is a remedy, as we see in the above passage. We need only to confess to God, that we have sinned; and then we repent — we turn around, and walk in a different direction, and in a different path or ‘Way.’ We are called to walk in the path of doing Righteousness, as we learn how to become obedient to [become a ‘DO-er’ of] all of Father’s Word (Isaiah 26:9-10).

If we want to produce the fruits of repentance [the “actions” of obedience to His Word], we can begin by confessing our sins to God, by agreeing with Him that we have disobeyed His Word. We can then acknowledge the Blood that was shed [for our cleansing] by His Son, our Saviour Yahushua Messiah (1John 1:5-10). We can then begin to do our best to remove from our bodies all the ‘defilements,’ as Jacob’s household did in Genesis 35; and we can seek to restore ‘the temple of God’ [our body] to being set-apart only for Yahuweh.

We must remember that Father is merciful, and full of compassion, for He is the prophetic ‘Father’ of the Prodigal Son seen in Luke 15:20-22. The son became sorrowful and repented, leaving the defilements to return to his father. Notice that even while the son was still far off, the father ran to embrace his son, and received his son with compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance!

So too will our Heavenly Father do to you as you return to Him, my friend!

There is one more step, however, necessary for our restoration to our New Master. Anyone who wants to follow the New Master, and is serious about avoiding the old Master [satan], must [in a figure] return to the door post, to have a the New Master bore his ear through with an awl.

The Posts of God’s Doors

We have seen that boring or piercing signifies servitude or bondage to a master. We might ask, “What is the significance of the doorpost, as the symbol of the place of piercing?” It is noteworthy to notice Proverbs 8:33-34:

Hear [hearken: “hear and obey”] instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth [hearken: “hear and obey“] me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:33-34)

In the above passage, we see that there is a Blessing for the one who puts his spiritual ear to the posts of God’s doors. This is a beautiful picture of one who volunteers to serve Yahuweh in permanent servitude, by seeking to hearken to [hear and obey] the Heavenly Father, watching and waiting at the Father’s doorpost daily for His instruction. It thus becomes clear, how Yahushua intends to bring that Blessing to His people, by making this invitation to them:

Take my yoke [the ‘bondage’ of the marriage covenant] upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)

In the above passage, we see Messiah as the Bridegroom, inviting His would-be followers from among the Believers [those He had previously ‘set free’ from the bondage of sin], to become His Bride. Those who respond to His invitation are those who are willing to return to a ‘new’ yoke of bondage, the bond(age) of love.

But what is the significance of the door posts, as the location of this symbolic transaction?

It is significant that the blood of the Lamb was placed on the door posts at the first Passover (Ex 12:7). The door posts speak of our forgiveness, redemption, salvation and deliverance by the blood of the prophetic sacrificial Lamb of Passover, Yahushua Messiah.

The door posts also mark the location of the door. It is only as we enter through the door posts [through Messiah’s sacrificial Blood], and through the door [Messiah’s life], that we may enter in to the presence of God.

It is also significant that the commandments of God were written on the door posts (Deut 6:9); and that the door post is where the set-free bondslave makes his new commitment to serve the Master ‘for ever’ (Exodus 21:6). The boring of the ear shows symbolically that the new servitude of the bondslave is the commitment to listen to, hearken to, and obey, every Word of the Master.

The piercing of the ear at the door post thus portrays those of us today, who love our Master, and have chosen to serve Him forever — and who choose to give our spiritual ears to hear His Words of redemption by His Blood, and then give ourselves to ‘hearken to’ [hear and obey] all of His Commandments. And so we see that not only are we sons, by faith in Yahushua Messiah, but we are also servants [lit. Hebrew, ‘bond-slaves’] of the Master.

But we might ask, are we to be sons of Yahuweh, or servants?

Sons — or Servants?

Let’s look at a few testimonies of Scripture that picture our relationship, as Yahuweh sees it, both as sons of Yahuweh, and as servants of Yahuweh:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. (Psalm 36:1)

In the above passage, we see King David, who often referred to himself as the servant of Yahuweh;

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (Galatians 4:1)

In the above passage, we see further explanation of the discipline and training as a servant that comes to the child, prior to his recognition as a son after he becomes more mature;

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (John 13:13)

In the above passage, Messiah acknowledges that He is a lord or master, one who is in charge of servants and slaves;

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Rom 6:22)

In the above passage, the apostle Paul tells us we were once slaves to sin, and produced the fruit of sin, which is death; but that we have now been set free, and have become servants [‘bond-slaves’] to Yahuweh, in order to produce a different kind of fruit. Here Paul acknowledges the exchange of masters, and assumes all those who now follow Yahuweh are His servants, His bond-slaves.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1)

In the above passage, the apostle James calls himself a servant [‘bond-slave’] of the Master, Yahushua Messiah;

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

In the above passage, we see a well-known promise that applies to us as ‘Believers’ today. Notice this promise is given only to those who are servants [‘bond-slaves’] of Yahuweh;

He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. (Proverbs 29:21)

In the above passage, we see that the training as a servant comes before recognition as a son; notice also that it is the faithful servant who at length becomes the adopted son. We might also say that this is a servant-son parable of those who follow Messiah!

This is the Blessing that comes as a result of hearkening to [‘hearing and obeying’] the Master—in which the bond-slave eventually becomes a son!

And so again we ask, are we servants, or sons? Are we undergoing the discipline of servants, and of bond-slaves, in preparation for becoming mature sons?

If we are servants, whose servants are we? Have we allowed some other ‘master’ to bore our ear, or to pierce our skin, or mark it with tattoos?

If so, let us repent, and walk in a new direction. Let us return to our Father, and forsake all other masters. Let us put our ear to His door post. Let us begin to listen to, and hearken to His Word!

It is only as we begin to serve Him, by listening to and obeying His Word as servants, that we begin to receive the abundance of blessings promised to those who become His sons.

Let’s now look at some further Scripture examples of earrings and other adornments.

The Adornment of the False Bride

The Scriptures give us many examples, both positive and negative, that reveal basic principles by which we should live. One of these basic principles can be seen in the Bride’s adornment. These various adornments can be seen in two groups: those of the False Bride, as an example of what we might avoid; and those of the True Bride, as examples we should embrace. As we look at these, we will begin with the adornments of the False Bride.

The adornments of the False Bride can be seen throughout the Scriptures. Let’s look at a few examples of these:

The Attire of a Harlot:

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (Proverbs 7:6-10)

In the above passage, we see the prophetic woman with the “attire of an harlot.” What does this tell us? Was this woman a harlot? From the rest of the story in the Proverbs passage, we see it is by her attire or adornment that communicates to others that she is a harlot.

This passage in Proverbs is a prophetic picture of many Believers today, whose attire is more reflective of the Strange Woman — the False Bride, the prophetic Harlot — than of the True Bride.

Aaron and the Golden Calf:

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not [know not] what is become of him. 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 32:1-4)

In the above passage, we see that men and women took their golden earrings, from which were fashioned into a golden calf, and made to be an idol — for they were told, “These are your gods [‘mighty ones’] which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” These earrings are here identified with the idol of the golden calf, which was made to be a ‘substitute’ for the one true God that brought them out of Egypt.

Gideon and the Ishmaelites:

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. [For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.] (Judges 8:24)

In the above passage, we see that “they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.” What does this tell us?

We recall that Isaac was the son of promise, and that Ishmael was the son of the flesh — of man’s own effort to achieve God’s promise (Romans 9:7-8; Galatians 4:29-30). And so the Ishmaelites are prophetic of those today who live in the fleshly realm [carnal, sensual, not subject to obedience to the Law], instead of in the spirit realm. This is a warning for us to avoid the lust of the flesh, and instead walk according to the Spirit, as we are encouraged to do in (Romans 8:4-8,13; Galatians 5:16-17; 6:8).

And so we see from this example that there is a wearing of earrings that is fleshly, and sensual, a characteristic of the Strange Woman, the False Bride.

Isaiah and the Daughters of Zion:

Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. 25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. (Isaiah 3:16-26)

In the above passage, Isaiah is speaking not only of the near-future of his own day, but also the coming time of Jacob’s trouble. Here we see the Believers [here called ‘daughters of Zion’] are arrayed in various adornments of clothing, and of earrings and other jewels. As Daughters of Zion, these are claiming to be ‘Bride-Candidates’ — but are walking in pride and haughtiness. These hold to their own ideas of beauty and adornment, rather than the beauty and adornment that Yahuweh desires. The beauty and adornment of the False Bride are worldly and self-centered.

There are today many adornments from which to choose, and the above examples give us a clearer picture of the adornments we are to avoid. It is very interesting to note that so many examples in Scripture reveal a very negative connection with jewelry, and especially with earrings. Those who desire to follow the Word of God and seek to please Father would do well to consider that jewelry, and especially earrings, are items to carefully regard as avoiding.

Many Believers are still attached to the world, and have adopted its values and its adornments. Scripture, however, directs us to give these up, and instead take on the adornments of the True Bride.

The Adornment of the True Bride

One last thought to remember is that God does have adornments for His people. The adornments that God desires are described throughout Scripture. Lets look at some of these:

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; … And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. (Genesis 24:22, 30)

In the above passage, we see Rebekah, who is prophetic of the true Bride of Messiah. We also see Abraham’s servant, who is prophetic of the Holy Spirit. Here we see that Abraham’s servant offers the earring and bracelets to Rebekah, as an invitation to servitude [betrothal] to a new husband, who is Abraham’s son Isaac, who is prophetic of our Saviour/Bridegroom Yahushua.

These earrings and bracelets offered to the Bride speak of the God-given spiritual adornments for the true Bride.

Just as Esther was given everything necessary for her preparation to enter in to the presence of the king, so will we be given everything necessary [all our spiritual adornments] for us to enter in to be with our King (Esther 2:9).

The God-Given Adornments of the Bride

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1Peter 3:1-6)

In the above passage, God is revealing the adornments of the Bride, by using the ‘wife’ as an earthly example. Here we see the adorning of the spiritual man [the hidden man] by the putting on of “a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

The adornment of a meek and quiet spirit is not exclusive to women only. Men who desire to be among the Bride-Company need such an ornament as well. All Bride-Candidates, male and female, need the proper adornment for the hidden man of the heart, including the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

We see additional instructions in the Proverbs, describing adornments given to those who are obedient:

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (Proverbs 31:25)

In the above passages, we see first in the Proverbs 1:8-9 passage, that the ornament of grace comes as a result of hearing and obeying the Law [Torah], which is Father’s instruction in His Ways. The ‘chains about your neck’ is a picture of the adornment that results from being ‘yoked’ to Yahushua. Those who are yoked to Yahushua are those who exhibit the ornament of being ‘meek and lowly of heart,’ in that they abide with Him, walking with Him in obedience to Father’s Words (Matthew 11:29-30; John 15:4-10; 1John 2:6).

In the Proverbs 31 passage above, we see “strength and honor are her clothing” as another adornment of the virtuous woman [the True Bride].

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. (1Timothy 2:9-10)

In the above passage, we see that women [the picture-in-the-natural of Bride-Candidates!] are to adorn themselves in this manner:

This list shows some characteristics that will mark those who are among the Bride-Candidates, for it is the Bride-Candidates who desire to walk in obedience to even the smallest, seemingly unimportant commandment of Scripture. And so the Bride-Candidates consider each of the eight items in the above list not as minor issues, but as necessary practices to follow.

Conclusion

It is the Bride-Candidates who have sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit to abandon the ways of the world, along with its values and its adornments.

It is the Bride-Candidates who are repenting and removing all the strange gods which were in their possession, and all their earrings which were in their ears. The Bride-Candidates are those who remove all the graven images and cursed objects from themselves, from their bodies, and from their homes, and in doing so, are no longer giving legal permission for the demonic realm to torment them.

It is the Bride-Candidates who will thus see the terror of God upon the demonic enemies round about them, and as a result, the demonic enemies will no longer be able to deceive them, nor pursue after them.

It is the Bride-Candidate who develops a ‘tender-heart’ to do whatever it takes to follow her Bridegroom. The Bride wants to please her Bridegroom, and therefore will seek to adorn herself with the adornments that He has plainly and clearly revealed as pleasing to Him.

The Lamb’s wife (Rev 19:7) is making herself ready!