Samson collapses the temple of the Philistines, and his subsequent death. 

Judges 16:22-31

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.” Judges 16:22

In the previous post on Judges 16:4-21, the work Samson was doing on this earth came to an end as he was betrayed by Delilah, arrested, afflicted, and held as a prisoner by the Gentile Philistines [which led to his death]. In the verses of this post, Samson’s hair begins to grow back, the source of his strength. Likewise, Jesus Christ, was betrayed by Judas with a kiss, arrested, afflicted, and imprisoned [leading up to His crucifixion on the Cross]. Even so, Christ’s strength returned in that His crucifixion would be the ultimate victory over sin, death, and all of His enemies.

Our Lord Jesus knew that the glory He had with His Father [from the beginning of time], would grow again as His work on this earth came to an end. “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:4-5

“Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!” When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the destroyer of our land, and the one who multiplied our dead.” Judges 16:23-24

Dagon, the god of the Philistines, is described in 1 Samuel 5 through 1 Samuel 7:4. The fall of Dagon is described in 1 Samuel 5:1-5. Dagon had the hands and face of a man but the tail of a fish, like a “merman” instead of a “mermaid” He was known as the father of other gods, and associated with human fertility, crop harvests, and with anointing kings and leaders. This is like the god of today that influences people of the world to serve the human animal, to serve the eco-system, and also establishes government leaders. The followers of Dagon, like the global culture of today, serve the creature human being instead of the creator God, “…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

The god of today is the entity that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, say, and do. This entity enlivens the image of the beast to live and speak through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. This entity only sees people as the product of evolution, it influences people to serve the eco-system, and establishes the leaders within this world.

Like the Philistines who rejoiced over Dagon for bringing Samson under their bondage, the Pharisees and their followers rejoiced when Jesus Christ was arrested and handed over to the Romans for crucifixion. Also, the god of today, and its global culture, rejoices at the extinction of Christianity, click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births from Revelation 12. Samson was accused by the Philistines of destroying their land, the same as Jesus being accused of destroying the culture of Judaism, and the same as Christianity being accused of being a destructive force within today’s atheistic global culture. As quoted below,

“Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” Luke 23:1-2 And again, “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” John 11:48 Jesus said that this world rejoices while His followers weep and lament, “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice…” John 16:20 In Revelation this is said, “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another…” Revelation 11:9-10 Click here for a post on the Faithful Witnesses”.

“So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.” Judges 16:25-27

As the hearts of the Philistines were elated at the imprisonment of Samson, they brought him out for all the people to see, more than 3,000. This was a time of mocking Samson and humiliating him during this time of duress. Samson was put between the pillars of their temple, and the people were entertained and elated to see him in bondage to them. This happened to Jesus Christ who also was mocked and humiliated by the Pharisees and Romans who were elated to see Him in bondage to them. Many people attended the crucifixion.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.”  Matthew 27:27-30

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. Matthew 27:39-44

Samson was blind after having his eyes bored out, so a boy was leading him by the hand, adding to Samson’s mockery and humiliation. Samson persuaded the boy to allow him to put his hands on the pillars of the temple, to lean on them. During the time of Christ’s mockery and humiliation, He had His hands on the pillars of Judaism, ready to collapse their whole temple. Jesus said, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down…Jesus said “…believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Matthew 24:2, John 4:21, 23-24

Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.” Judges 16:28-30

Samson was prepared to go to his death as he prayed for God to strengthen him so that with one blow, he could bring vengeance to the Philistines. Likewise, Jesus Christ knew He was going to His death when He prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…” John 17:1 Jesus knew that the one blow that would bring God’s vengeance against His enemies would be His death on the Cross. This is the place where He atoned for sin so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life and life in the Spirit.

Being 100% Jewish, from the Tribe of Judah, Jesus had His hands on the pillars of Judaism. He was ready to die along with the culture that He was about to collapse, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18

After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it was the beginning of new life in the Spirit and freedom from the laws of Judaism. Our Lord Jesus brought Salvation to the world as His Gospel reached global proportions. Our born-again experience is the Gospel written on our heart. Like Samson, who killed more in his death than in his life, Jesus Christ also won the victory over all of His enemies at His death and resurrection. Samson collapsed the temple of Philistines with all of the Lords of the Philistines there, with many other men and women. This is like Jesus who collapsed Judaism with all their leaders and followers with them.

If the Jewish people would have acknowledged Jesus as their Christ and Savior 2000 years ago, the State of Israel would not have ever existed. That’s because as Christians we do not have a nation on this earth to call our own, our country is the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. We see how the State of Israel is in constant turmoil, a complete shattering of the culture of Judaism. God gathered the Jewish people to the State of Israel in 1948 as the pace where He unleashes His judgement on them. This is for all the Jewish people of the world to see, and for all the world to see, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst.” Ezekiel 22:19-21

“And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years.” Judges 16:31

Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11