The prophet's dictionary guide to the supernatural

about Antipas, His faithful martyr. 831. Mask—Symbolic of pretense, concealment, subterfuge, coverup, and impersonation. In many mystical ceremonies, masks were worn to impersonate the deity. To have them appear in visions or dreams signifies one of these is at work. When the Bible refers to the saint’s beholding the Lord with open face, it was with inference to this old religious practice. Mystical religions and ascetics cover their faces with masks usually crafted in the image of their gods to impress its appearance upon worshippers. Moses was forced to cover his face after being saturated with God’s glory because the people could not bear his reflection of God’s perfect and overwhelming light. Refer to 2 Corinthians 3:6–18, and see Hood. 832. Mashal—A) Government, an empire. A Hebrew word for what we would understand as a principality. B) Can qualify as an apostolic principality today. C) Important to the prophetic because it refers to the invisible principality of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1), in which His church became vital. See Micah 5:2; Jeremiah 51:27. 833. Maternal—A) That which pertains to motherhood. B) The work of a female parent. C) A mother in the Bible includes the meaning and application of the word matrix used by the prophet Isaiah concerning the coming of the Christ. Isaiah 49. 834. Matriarchal—A) Mother or female leadership in the home. B) Excessive domination by females. C) The power of womanhood. D) Negatively applied to any strong, competent, and confident female in the New Testament church. 835. Mazzaroth—Hebrew designation for the zodiac according to Job 9:9 and 38:32. The word literally applies to the bear constellation. Another variant of this word refers to the planets as the zodiac. The word may additionally mean “bear guard,” to imply a spiritual, angelic sentinel. 836. Media—A means of conveying or expressing thoughts, ideas, and information. Originally meant “middle land.” 837. Mediator—One who intervenes between conflicting parties to bring about accord, settle disputes, and reconcile differences to release and promote the transmission of goods, services, information, and provisions between them. 838. Medium of Prophecy—The means by which the word of the Lord is brought into human format and delivered to the earth.