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Part 1: THE SURNAME SKENE IS PROPHETIC
Chapter 1: In the New Testament the Greek Word for Tabernacle is the Surname "Skene"
My Maiden Name "Skeens" is a variation of our Scottish Surname Skene from which all Skeens trace our ancestry and what a joy to know that the New Testament which was originally written in Greek used the analogy of a “skene,” the Greek word for a tent or tabernacle, to describe the “true tabernacle” which the Lord pitched (Hebrews 8:2). In addition to the author of Hebrews, Luke also used the Greek word skene for the tabernacle with its tent, a type of the true tabernacle, that the Israelites carried with them through the wilderness (Acts 7:44).
What a joy to know that "Skene - Skeens" refers to the habitation, tent or tabernacle of God - because in the Bible, names were often indicative of a person’s character or nature.
For example, Jacob whose name means supplanter was rightly named because by nature Jacob was indeed a supplanter.
Genesis 27:36 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? (KJV)
Needless to say, there are many other Scriptures that speak of the relationship between an individual and his or her name. And, so it was with my Scottish Forebears whose surname "Skene" means "Tent of Witness" as well as "Tent of God". The spiritual aspect of my Forebears last name is a true reflection of their love for the Lord and the Lord’s love for them. And, it was certainly a reflection of my beloved brother's walk with the Lord.
Anyone who studies the original languages of both the Old and New Testament are probably familiar with "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance". Strong's Concordance is easy to understand and is considered to be the most comprehensive and informative concordance available for studying the original languages of the Bible. Each "Strong's Number" makes the connection between the English word used in the King James Bible with information about the meaning and context of the original word used in both the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.
And, it is for that reason, for the purposes of this chapter that I have incorporated what is referred to as "Strong's Numbers" into the text of the Scriptures I reference in this particular chapter when "Skene" not Tabernacle, Tent or Dwelt was the word used by the authors of the New Testament when they wrote the Books of the New Testament.
For example, according to Strong's G4633 the Greek word for tabernacle in Hebrews 8:2 and Acts 7:44 is Skene. Therefore I put [G4633] next to the word tabernacle in Hebrews 8:2 and Acts 7:44 to indicate that Skene was the original word used by the New Testament writers. In other words, whenever you see [G4633] next to the English word Tabernacle, Tent or Dwelt if you read the same Scripture in it's original text you would read the same Scripture using the Greek word "Skene" - not the English words Tabernacle, Tent or Dwelt.
Hebrews 8:2 1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, [G4633] which the Lord pitched, and not man. (KJV)
Acts 7:44 44 Our
fathers had the tabernacle [G4633]
of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that
he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. (KJV) Again, according to Greek Strong's Number 4633 the Transliteration for the word Tabernacle is the Greek word Skene - my maiden name. Furthermore, skene is also the Greek word for "dwelt" in John 1:14.
This word skene (tent) is the very word used in the New Testament to refer to the tabernacle of God used by Israel in their early worship of God.
The writer of the book of Hebrews calls it “the true tent [skene] that the Lord set up” (Hebrews 8:2).
John 1:14 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (KJV)
The Greek word for "dwelt" in John 1:14 is [G4636 "skenoo"] to tent or encamp - to reside as God did in the Tabernacle of old. And, G4636 is from G4633 skene meaning "Tabernacle"
In Hebrew, “sukkah” and “miskan” are respectively used to translate “booth” and “tabernacle,” both meaning temporary dwellings. It is interesting to note that these two words are both translated to Greek in the Septuagint with a derivative from the root “skene.” “Skene” is the Greek word used for a tabernacle, in the Apostolic writings.
The primary meaning of the Greek word "Skene" was used by the Greeks when referring to a tent, a dwelling place or a Tabernacle - as God did in the Tabernacle of old. So, when the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, it makes sense that the translators chose to use skene, the word so often used for drama, as the word for God’s tent.
Because the word "Dwelt" also means "Tent" or "Tabernacle" some translations use the word "Tabernacle" instead of the word "Dwelt" that the KJV uses. For example, the Amplified Bible:
John 1:14 14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from His father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. [Isaiah 40:5] (Amplified)
In the Greek New Testament therefore, the word translated “tabernacle” is skene — “the tent” (Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:2, 5, and chapter 9). Hence, when the glory of God descended to the earth to take up residence in the midst of Israel as described in Exodus 40:34-38, it could be said that God “pitched His tent” among men.
Generational Blessings: The close connection between my maiden name and Tabernacles is both Generational and Prophetic. And, as such year after year the Lord has opened the door for me to go to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles - as there is a Kingdom purpose - the same Kingdom purpose that the Lord called some of my spirit led forefathers to walk in. Later in the Book I have included a chapter about my pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Grover’s last name of Skeens is a reflection of his Witness unto the Lord: Given that Acts 1:8 reveals that we are to be a witness unto the Lord and as the Apostle Paul compared our bodies, our earthly house, to a skene, a tent or tabernacle (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4), one can say that my beloved brother Grover as well as our Scottish Forebears last name of Skeens is a reflection of their witness unto the Lord. Just as the Israelites picked up the “tent of witness” and took it wherever they went, like our Scottish Forebears Grover was always a witness unto the Lord wherever he went. In addition to the following I have included a chapter regarding Grover's most incredible walk with the Lord.
The Greek word skene, meaning tent, reminds us of the Old Testament tabernacle that could be dismantled and carried along wherever the Israelites sojourned and after reaching each new destination, they would “pitch the tent” once again. The tent was a reminder to the Israelites that the presence of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob traveled with them as they traveled. In this sense, when our Scottish Forebears traveled back and forth between their home in Aberdeen, Scotland, or to wherever they went – one could say that they picked up their tent and upon reaching their destination, they pitched their tent. Whether they were picking up their tent or pitching their tent, they knew that the presence of God was always with them. That’s why they were always aware of God’s presence in their lives, just as the Israelites were. my Forebears as well as their spiritual offspring were/are truly a witness unto Jesus.
Acts 7:44 speaks of the “Tent of Witness” or depending on the translation, the “Tabernacle of Witness”. Just as the tent of witness was the visible witness or proof of God’s presence with the Israelites, their witness unto the LORD was proof of God’s presence with them. Needless to say, our Scottish Forebears were indeed a “Tent of Witness” as they took their witness unto the LORD from house to house, for they understood that the worship of the LORD was not confined to a church building or just one place.
The tent of witness was evidence of God’s relationship to the Israelites and so it was with Grover, my beloved brother, and our Scottish forebears. The “Tent of Witness,” when using the Greek word “skene” for tent, can also be understood as the “Skene of Witness”. Just as the Israelites had their “tent of witness” – they had their “tent (Skene) of witness”.
Whether they were picking up their skene (tent) and traveling or pitching their skene (tent), God was their guide throughout their life’s journey. As Psalm 48:14 reveals, the Lord was their guide even unto death when they folded up their skene (tent). And, just as Job 29:4 reveals that the blessing of God was upon Job’s tent, so it was with our Scottish Forebears. God’s Timing: I have travelled to Jerusalem on multiple occasions to celebrate the "Feast of Tabernacles" and in preparation for my first pilgrimage in 2009 the Lord quickened me to Psalm 48, which reveals that the Lord would be our Tour Guide and that this would be a trip of a lifetime. And, in addition to being our tour guide, Psalm 48:14 also reveals that the Lord will be our guide even unto death.
And, this particular Scripture is very meaningful to me because on my first pilgrimage to Jerusalem just seven months before Grover my beloved brother died he went with me to Jerusalem.
Psalm 48:14 – For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
As Matthew Henry stated in his commentary on verse 14 of Psalm 48: “Let us triumph in God, and in the assurances we have of His everlasting lovingkindness. Tell this to the generation following; transmit this truth as a sacred deposit to your posterity, That this God, who has now done such great things for us, is our God forever and ever; He is constant and unchangeable in His love to us and care for us.
If God be our God, He is ours forever, not only through all the ages of time, but to eternity; for it is the everlasting blessedness of glorified saints that God Himself will be with them and will be their God. If He be our God, He will be our guide, our faithful constant guide, to show us our way and to lead us in it; He will be so, even unto death, which will be the period of our way, and will bring us to our rest.
He will lead and keep us even to the last.
He will be our guide above death …
He will so guide us as to set us above the reach of death, so that it shall not be able to do us any real hurt.
He will be our guide beyond death …
He will conduct us safely to a happiness on the other side death, to a life in which there shall be no more death.
If we take the Lord for our God, He will conduct and convey us safely to death, through death, and beyond death, down to death and up again to glory.”
And, so it was with Grover and our Scottish Forebears, the Lord was their guide even unto death when they folded up their skene (tent) and went home to be with the Lord!
And, so it will be with us. |