"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of theLord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Is.2:19)
We saw an earlier instance where the verse 11, from Isaiah Ch.2 being repeated in v.16. These are not left in the narrative by any accident but the Spirit warns us to heed the Law from Zion is indeed from God the Father as the word going forth from Jerusalem is from the Son. So Jerusalem and Zion as alienated to the nation of Israel for pride and violence is a lie perpetuated by the Synagogue of Satan. How often Bible scholar by approaching the passage literally weaken the force of the Spirit's thrust? God's Will is clear and his Holiness shall not be treated glibly with doctrine's of man. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son having completed on earth must leave the sinner of Zion to their own devices till the terror of the Lord strike them and they turn to Him. In that day a fountain shall be opened for their cleansing. Let the sinner beware is the focus here.
God gave them a glory of 'his back parts' so setting Moses in the cleft (Ex.33:21-23)was one such hint. In Re.6 :12-17 we have the wrath of the Lamb is mentioned here specifically.
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God./But let the righteous be g"lad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. ( Ps. 68:1-3)
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(Is.33:14) Jesus warns the church, "and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."(Re.2:9)
The Spirit by repeating the verse 11 is setting the authority of his Son. The Lamb slain as an emblem was a sign of the everlasting covenant in the divine Will of God. The Throne of god and of the Lamb now inaugurated is a proof that the ministry of reconciliation fulfilled the terms of the covenant so the Law has a body and God is all in all. This is only one part.
"And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low." This haughtiness of men caused the law of sin abound. This law along with Satan the father of lies has to be done with as the Son conquered death. This was epitomized by the prayers of saints."And golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." This was in safekeeping of the Father. This explains why we have in this chapter the same verse repeated in v.17 from two stand points of the Father-Son relationship.
Opening of seven seals presents us the four riders of which the first rider ("and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer,"-Re.6:2) we meet again in Ch.19. The armies that followed the Word of god fulfills what the Lord God promised the Son."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:1-2).Wars pandemics, famines are all perpetuated by the haughtiness of men, so the the son of perdition, the beast shall appear again and again. At these are marked by one characteristic:"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." (Re.13:5-6).Even so the beast and the false prophet are consigned to the lake of fire. (Re.19:20). Thereafter hell and death which only tells that law of sin has been done with.
"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."
In continuation with the passage of Is.2:1-4 which is when the last enemy death has been finally put down, there shall be no more death. The emblem of the slain Lamb reveals the Lamb having a throne, a body which is called New Jerusalem. The word forever settled in the heaven is the Law, superseding all other laws.
In the last days we have the Law going forth from Zion 'and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." What does it mean where god is all in all? The answer is given in this clause, "and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." It is the glory of the body which is New Jerusalem.John annotates the passage of Isaiah, "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof./And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:"(Re.21:22-24)
One peculiar feature is that the key verse is repeated again word for word in v.17. The Spirit is referring to the Lamb who was prevailed to open the book bound with sven seals. "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."(Re.5:5-8) Here the 24 elders worship him. " the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." They were memorial of the body prepared before for the Son and they carried the prayers. Do the prayers of saints go unanswered? Oh no!
"For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
In the last days there comes a point when wars shall cease. The psalmist says of death,"O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them."(Ps.9:6) Death is the last enemy which has been finally put down, and it is of life, "I am the Life" aspect that Prophet Isaiah here speaks about.
"But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment." Ps.9:7).
In the light of this we need look at the Throne of God and of the Lamb as the focus here.(Re.22:1)
After death has been overcome the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world (Re.13:8)is replaced by the word of the Lord. Jerusalem is no longer if the old but the body of the Lamb himself. God all in all. In short the passage from Isaiah quoted above has to be set alongside this verse, "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28). There is no more schism of the Father Son entities where, the Father signifying divine Will and the Son as the fulfillment of his eternal Mind have been forever reconciled. Thus the Ministry of Jesus Christ has thus concluded.
Zion mentioned as the stone (Is.28:16) has become a mountain and it resonates the King's dream as interpreted by Daniel to which we shall come in another post. Similarly the stone refers to this event, "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."(Re.18:21)
I have read some of the teachings of some preachers of sinless perfection or complete sanctification.
Some of what they say is truly appalling. Here are some of these false teachings.
1) If one reaches sinless perfection and then sins they will lose their salvation. (This is senseless. If one is perfectly sinless, then they would be unable to sin, so why would a preacher say that one who has reached this state can sin?)
2) They say that the blood of Jesus is within us and therefore keeps us from sinning. (I do not find this teaching in the Scriptures). The cleansing blood of Jesus is a forensic action. It is done from the outside (from God) into us (the receiver). We do not have ownership of the blood of Jesus. It is always His. When we come to belief in the gospel and put our faith in Jesus, Our sins are removed and we are cleansed because He shed His blood for us once and for all.
3) They say that our sinful nature was removed from us when one reaches sinless perfection. (This is true in the resurrection, but not so as long as we are in this "body of sin". We are told to put to death the sinful nature by walking int he Spirit but Paul clearly teaches that this is an ongoing slaying of sin in our life by the power the Holy Spirit supplies. We are to put to death the sinful nature in us by walking by the Spirit. Does anyone ever completely walk by the in the Spirit 24/7? If someone has reached sinless perfection are they now unable to sin, as some say, because the old man is obliterated by the blood of Jesus? If so, temptation would not cause a struggle within them because the sinful nature is dead. Yet, they do speak of temptation being a challenge they must fight against (which is true of any believer, not just the select "elite" who believe they are in a sinless state.)
4) They say that they no longer have a sinful nature because of this complete sanctification. (Yet their bodies are still againg and deteriorating towards death.
"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him./And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
The High Priest Joshua represents the High Priest of our Profession. Joshua, God our deliverance is a Hebrew variant of the name Jesus. (He.3:1). Satan is resisting the man as he did with Michael over the body of Moses.(Jude.v.9). Jesus did no sin and knew no evil so Ministry of reconciliation here as a substitutional symbol.
"is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" refers to the great tribulation and the 144,000 representing the 12 tribes so martyrdom does not distinguish between the Jews and the Gentiles.
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel./And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment./And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments." (vv. 3-5) Here are two verse for meditation:
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."(Is.61:10)
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."(Is.61:3)
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)
Up Down
This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2
Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)
Across
St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.
Time of the Gentiles
This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.
The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
We see similar references to God's creation of man such as in Psalm 139 and it seems clear that there is nothing wrong with God's design at least in how it was originally intended. Therefore even with the fallen nature due to Adam's sin that we all inherit even unregenerate man is responsible for his actions which are contrary to a nature in which "God has set eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man originally was made in the image of God; now it may be argued that we bear some resemblance to what we were originally but now we are also in the image of man; that is of the physical appearance of our parents.
Another thing we must consider is how the great prophets all responded in the presence of God. We can examine Isaiah 6:5 as well as the Prophet Ezekiel and Daniel and John in Revelation 1. Even John recognized he wasn't worthy to open the seals and wept ( Revelation 5:4). Keep in mind that this was the Disciple closest to our Lord when He was physically on earth but he realized that only Christ was worthy. We therefore have value because of Him; it is His righteousness that gives us that.
That is why I prefer to view His righteousness as coming from the inside out; not as some cloak over us. There is indeed His perfection in a believer but also the vesiges of who we were even if in actuality not who we still are in light of the promised glorification. Again; only a TRUE believer can claim these promises; or more accurately can have Christ claim to be His own.
I get the sense that some who claim never to sin again think that they can be in God's presence without being flat on their faces. Going boldly into His presence still involves humility and is expressed by an intimate communication and fellowship between BOTH parties.
I am sure to start a fire on this one; praying these conversations can be edifying.
1 John 1:8 states "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Such a passage should be enough to convince someone of the fact that there will always be the potential to sin. The first thing we should point out here is that even without any outer manifestations of sin man has a sin nature. I believe it is scriptural to say that at the point of salvation we are as Galatians 2:20 states "crucified with Christ". If we are truly saved we can theoretically continue after the time of our salvation to live without sinning but the pattern of living in sin is still deep in our minds. That nature therefore must meet resistance and a believer is therefore sensing that he is "grieving the Spirit" ( Eph. 4:30-31). These verses show one is sealed indeed until redemption (by death or rapture); but that we can still do things displeasing to God.
Another thing is the use of the word perfect. Matthew 5:48 shows how Christ commanded on the Sermon of the Mount to be perfect. This was in reference to agape love; that is loving your enemies as well as your friends; in other words the opposite of hypocrisy of the Pharisees in particular. I would agree that we are called to live out our lives in total submission to the Spirit which we all fail on but we are starting to be progressively sanctified as believers. We must be cautious also not to assume our legalism is attaining any righteousness; however. Loving our brother is stated in 1 John as an imperative as well; if we show disdain because of any sin in their lives in the flesh we are sinning ourselves.
Furthermore; we have the verse in Genesis where it states that Noah was "perfect in his generations." ( Gen. 6:9). This does refer to he being the only true worshipper of God (and probably his family) as opposed to those who missed the boat; but in context it likely is not biologically corrupted as the offspring of the Nephilim which was likely everyone else who missed the ark.
This amazingly started on a previous post where Paul was said to not be saved or atleast "not yet"
Paul said he was saved. If he didn't make it we're in trouble!
Paul said he was a master builder, and he helped lay the foundation which we are to build on.
Paul said a crown was laid up in heaven for him. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
We have faults in our walk down here on earth tho we thrive for perfection.
Our thriving is evident we are not perfect. Another way we know we're not is that we die.
God requirements is perfection. If you ever sinned it's already to late if you feel you can come from under the atonement of the LORD.
We're left "Naked" without "CHRIST RIGHTEOUSNESS"
The Idea that you and I can be wrong about any matter suggests that we are not perfect.
How could this same corrupted person that struggle "WITHIN" judge anything to correct it to a degree he or she cannot reach? ( God's Holiness that we cannot fully comprehend)
Ignorance is no excuse!!
Only given an earnest of the Spirit can we fully comprehend the Holiness of God? No!
Day decreed for the Son has two divisions: unto this day and that day. "This is your hour" concerning Israel has similarly two divisions namely the power of darkness referred to the first part and "a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" shall be marked by the appearance of the Son of man. " Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen"(Re.1:7) It opens the eyes of all left behind. This passage refers to the same hour, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,/Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters./And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,"(Re.14:5-7) The name Babylon Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt are interchangeable.
Ze.13:8-9 refers to one third a remnant. The command number Three refers to the Son. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." This is incomplete without mentioning thsi: "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour."(Re.8:1)*
"And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."(Re.16"19)
* Half an hour refers to the left behind church stepping into the breach.Re.7:3-8, 14) the remnant
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)
Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)
This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.
This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." ( Luke 22:53) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.
"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)
Such losses. I will pray for you and your children, your grands, and their parents. Thanks for sharing with us this painfulness. Know that many will be praying for your requests here.
Hi Jeremy, Jesus has revealed Himself in Scripture. Reading and taking in the Scriptures into your being is the best way to get to know Jesus in Truth and Spirit. Don't expect an "appearance" of Jesus to prove to You who He is. He does not do this very often and does not give such an appearance just because someone seeks it. He does in His infinite wisdom do such things, but most often to people who are not seeking such and experience. We have the Holy Spirit in us, the Comforter, as Jesus said. He brings us to the Scriptures to instruct us on the truth about God, Jesus, and Himself, as well as the truth about ourselves.
Jeremy, I will pray for you, as requested. I know that God will lead you in the right path to grow in knowledge of our Father and Jesus Christ.
As long as we live in this world, we have corruption in us in actuality, which is why we will always need Jesus as our Savior and Advocate (Mediator, High Priest) He intercedes for us. Why would He intercede for us if we are completely pure and righteous?
It is true that His Blood judicially brings forgiveness and cleansing to us when He shed it once and for all. But in time, His Blood continues to act in us in the same way whenever we sin and confess our sins to Him., whether known sins or unknown sins. David called on God to search him and show any wicked way in himself. He knew he did not know all of his sins and the corruption of his propensities and faults and weaknesses.
To determine that these are not sins is unbiblical. But those who advocate for sinless perfection redefine sin in order to claim to not sin anymore. They do not fathom the vast perfection of God compared to His corrupted creation (which needs to made incorruptible in the life to come). God is completely without corruption of any kind. No human can honestly say that or , as you said, we can enter heaven in this present flesh and blood body or even have no need to be changed in the resurrection. Also, those who advocate sinless perfection have a narrow and simple view of sin ignoring the total scope of what it means to sin or be sinful. Falling short of the glory of God is ANYTHING that is corrupted be it life, health, thinking, choices, actions, motives, and failures to do what we should do.
Jesus is said to have no guile in Him, which means that He never had any wrong motives, no selfish thoughts, no emotions fueled by sin, no misspoken words, no lack of goodness. He was and is always PERFECT in EVERY way.
Although some who advocate sinless perfection will say they do not claim to be as perfect and sinless as Jesus and that they are perfect like Adam and Eve before they sinned, the fact that we have sinned at all does not make us like this state even after we are saved
We are perfect because we are "in Christ Jesus" by His saving work. We are never perfect due to avoiding sin actions. Our whole being is corrupted by sin. It tempts us in our sinful nature and then this nature produces sin in us. ( James 1:13-15)
And every good thing we do is but filthy rags before God, who alone is perfectly holy and righteous. Every good thing we do is tainted by our sinful nature. But even so, we do not give up on fighting against the sinful nature within and also desire and work at obeying God. But this is not done in our own strength, but in the power that Jesus had to live a perfect life and that raised Him from the dead that we have at our avail through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Our holiness comes from Jesus' righteousness PERIOD. We on our own do not have the righteousness of God that is acceptable to Him. We receive this righteousness from Jesus' and believe what is said in Scriptures that His life, death, and resurrection cleanses us from all iniquity so that we can stand before the Father without sin, but it is always Jesus' sin-free and incorruptible character that merits us this place of right standing before God.
While it is true that positionally we are sin-free in Christ, in moment to moment living we are not. As some say, we have faults, shortcomings, weaknesses, errors in our thinking and judgment and actions that are somewhat automatic. This is the corruption in us which God never has. He alone is perfect and pure and righteous and holy ALWAYS. Though some do not see these propensities as sin, I do, because of what is said about the heart of man being deceitfully wicked above all things and desperately so, and without cure (by man) to paraphrase Jer. 17:9. No one can truly know how wicked our own heart is, only God knows. So, anyone who says that they are sinless and do not sin are deceived, as Jeremiah says.
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
This quote from St Paul shall explain what he means by the word of reconciliation. St Paul explains his ministry is from God,"all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" so no passage stands alone but it casts its spiritual analogue so it is the fulness of Christ that we look into it. The revelation that the Spirit had set him apart as he confesses,"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."(Gal.1:16; Ac.13:2). He was called to be a good soldier for Christ. So his ministry of reconciliation is in lock step with Jesus Christ's ministry of reconciling the other sheep, "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" into one fold fits with one another.( John 10:16)
Elisha's life presents us with the world of the Spirit which requires eye of faith than the normal faculty of vision. "Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?/And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ( 2Ki. 6:15-17). Ministry of reconciliation is about fighting by the rules.(2 Ti.2:5) These rules are meant to make every believer fighting fit. So when Jesus told his disciples," and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."( Luke 22:36) we can put his word in proper perspective. The sword was meant as his badge of office. This is the word of reconciliation, comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
5 The bridegroom tarried, and they ALL slumbered and slept.
6 And at MIDNIGHT (at the turn from the sixth to the seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium) there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. - Sad, very sad. -
9 ... go ye rather to them that sell oil, and buy for yourselves. (Only lamp is not suffice for salvation. Wake up)
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Get ready, otherwise you will scream loud: Lord, Lord, open to us.
Oh no, you won't have any more chances, the perdition is for ever and ever.
Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4) Obliquely the Spirit reveals how we ought to interpret the order of Aaron. God has willed his Son as the High Priest of our profession. (He.3:1) Similitude explains the like begets the like.
Principle of Reconciliation is the basis by which the Book of the Revelation sets the work God has set as His core will:'that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." So the word of reconciliation is presented in the inaugural vision of Re.1. The same we see in the Word of God arrayed leading an army in Ch.19.13-15 " And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God./And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean./And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death.
This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death. In short the Revelation is about the fulfillment of the word of reconciliation.
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."(Re.20:14)
2 Co.5:17-19 "Ministry of Reconciliation" (1 of 2)
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"
This ministry that St Paul refers here would have hit a blank wall but for 'the word of reconciliation.' "To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" so the word used in the context explains what it means by the Word became flesh. The work Jesus finished on earth is only one part of his ministry. The worlds of the Spirit and of the body are to be reconciled as well. So his promise to return after preparing a place for us means he has to fulfill why God was in him and gave him the ministry of reconciliation. The word of God is a sign where heaven and earth are by him consist. The cloud of witnesses and us are set on a single measurement in the Son.
The Spirit gives us a concrete image to explains his ministry of reconciliation. It also has to do with the holy city of God.
The angel who guided him was his fellow servant "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." and he reveals himself,"for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." (Re.21:17;22:9)
We have already seen three principles which are ultimately the basis for the works of the Son. Principle of Association works on the basis of believers who have heard his doctrine and believed that he came from God.( Luke 10:16; Matt.10:40). The second principle is of Similitude so heaven is compared to earth to which parables are classic examples. Thus when Jesus Christ delivers the doctrine of Father, Evangelist Matthew gives him a seat the rock symbolized Zion (Matt.5:1)Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4)
5 And the Devil, taking JESUS up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the Devil said unto JESUS, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto he Devil, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy GOD, and Him only shalt thou serve.
************THE LAST DECADE - 2020-2030 - COUNTDOWN************
february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.
So the last enemy to be conquered is death and it comes under the curse and law of sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." When Jesus died on the cross this curse'Thou shalt bruise his heel' cast it shadow upon the Son who did no sin and knew no sin." (Ge.3:15,14) St Paul writes referring to it, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."(Gal.3:13)
Everlasting gospel is consequential in setting the cloud of witnesses similar as the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world into one fold. Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God ( John 1:29) delivered whoever was under the curse of death. By the same token he shall deliver the witnesses in the world of the Spirit "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." His work shall conclude only "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." That God may all in all is life everlasting to which we did no labor. So this saying holds true in the context of the world of the Spirit. "One soweth, and another reapeth./ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."( John 4:37-38)
Christ in us is our relationship that does not change in both worlds.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."(v.3)
Towards the end of his earthly ministry Jesus in his prayer to his Father refers to ' thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Whosoever consequently abides in him having no confidence in his flesh has faith and also kept the word." the latter part constitute the works which are impossible without the Savior Lord.( John 15:3) Now Jesus speaks he has finished the work, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."(17:4,6)
From the key verse we know that preparing a place in heaven constitutes as work so as he glorified his Father on earth he has certain unfinished work. Even there we are part of his works so 'that where I am, there ye may be also."
Heaven and earth are part of the everlasting covenant. So everlasting gospel must be seen and understood as pendent to this covenant which is part of the divine Will of the Father and shall not change. The Law is eternal forever settled in heaven,(Ps.119:89) and as such heaven must be set in terms of the Law of the Spirit.
Jesus refers to the sheepfold in John 10:1 and here we are examining what possible works he might do so the nature of heaven may be placed under correct context as fulfillment of the Abstract in seven days. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)
Law of sin applies to the world of the Spirit and the son of perdition, collectively applied to children of wrath or disobedience. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8) Death is the work of Satan. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of theLord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Is.2:19)
We saw an earlier instance where the verse 11, from Isaiah Ch.2 being repeated in v.16. These are not left in the narrative by any accident but the Spirit warns us to heed the Law from Zion is indeed from God the Father as the word going forth from Jerusalem is from the Son. So Jerusalem and Zion as alienated to the nation of Israel for pride and violence is a lie perpetuated by the Synagogue of Satan. How often Bible scholar by approaching the passage literally weaken the force of the Spirit's thrust? God's Will is clear and his Holiness shall not be treated glibly with doctrine's of man. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son having completed on earth must leave the sinner of Zion to their own devices till the terror of the Lord strike them and they turn to Him. In that day a fountain shall be opened for their cleansing. Let the sinner beware is the focus here.
God gave them a glory of 'his back parts' so setting Moses in the cleft (Ex.33:21-23)was one such hint. In Re.6 :12-17 we have the wrath of the Lamb is mentioned here specifically.
"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God./But let the righteous be g"lad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. ( Ps. 68:1-3)
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(Is.33:14) Jesus warns the church, "and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."(Re.2:9)
The Spirit by repeating the verse 11 is setting the authority of his Son. The Lamb slain as an emblem was a sign of the everlasting covenant in the divine Will of God. The Throne of god and of the Lamb now inaugurated is a proof that the ministry of reconciliation fulfilled the terms of the covenant so the Law has a body and God is all in all. This is only one part.
"And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low." This haughtiness of men caused the law of sin abound. This law along with Satan the father of lies has to be done with as the Son conquered death. This was epitomized by the prayers of saints."And golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." This was in safekeeping of the Father. This explains why we have in this chapter the same verse repeated in v.17 from two stand points of the Father-Son relationship.
Opening of seven seals presents us the four riders of which the first rider ("and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer,"-Re.6:2) we meet again in Ch.19. The armies that followed the Word of god fulfills what the Lord God promised the Son."The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."(Ps.110:1-2).Wars pandemics, famines are all perpetuated by the haughtiness of men, so the the son of perdition, the beast shall appear again and again. At these are marked by one characteristic:"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." (Re.13:5-6).Even so the beast and the false prophet are consigned to the lake of fire. (Re.19:20). Thereafter hell and death which only tells that law of sin has been done with.
"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."
In continuation with the passage of Is.2:1-4 which is when the last enemy death has been finally put down, there shall be no more death. The emblem of the slain Lamb reveals the Lamb having a throne, a body which is called New Jerusalem. The word forever settled in the heaven is the Law, superseding all other laws.
In the last days we have the Law going forth from Zion 'and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." What does it mean where god is all in all? The answer is given in this clause, "and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." It is the glory of the body which is New Jerusalem.John annotates the passage of Isaiah, "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof./And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:"(Re.21:22-24)
One peculiar feature is that the key verse is repeated again word for word in v.17. The Spirit is referring to the Lamb who was prevailed to open the book bound with sven seals. "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."(Re.5:5-8) Here the 24 elders worship him. " the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." They were memorial of the body prepared before for the Son and they carried the prayers. Do the prayers of saints go unanswered? Oh no!
"For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
In the last days there comes a point when wars shall cease. The psalmist says of death,"O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them."(Ps.9:6) Death is the last enemy which has been finally put down, and it is of life, "I am the Life" aspect that Prophet Isaiah here speaks about.
"But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment." Ps.9:7).
In the light of this we need look at the Throne of God and of the Lamb as the focus here.(Re.22:1)
After death has been overcome the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world (Re.13:8)is replaced by the word of the Lord. Jerusalem is no longer if the old but the body of the Lamb himself. God all in all. In short the passage from Isaiah quoted above has to be set alongside this verse, "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28). There is no more schism of the Father Son entities where, the Father signifying divine Will and the Son as the fulfillment of his eternal Mind have been forever reconciled. Thus the Ministry of Jesus Christ has thus concluded.
Zion mentioned as the stone (Is.28:16) has become a mountain and it resonates the King's dream as interpreted by Daniel to which we shall come in another post. Similarly the stone refers to this event, "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."(Re.18:21)
I will get back to you later. The workers are here to do more work on our home repairs. I hope your day goes very well.
I have read some of the teachings of some preachers of sinless perfection or complete sanctification.
Some of what they say is truly appalling. Here are some of these false teachings.
1) If one reaches sinless perfection and then sins they will lose their salvation. (This is senseless. If one is perfectly sinless, then they would be unable to sin, so why would a preacher say that one who has reached this state can sin?)
2) They say that the blood of Jesus is within us and therefore keeps us from sinning. (I do not find this teaching in the Scriptures). The cleansing blood of Jesus is a forensic action. It is done from the outside (from God) into us (the receiver). We do not have ownership of the blood of Jesus. It is always His. When we come to belief in the gospel and put our faith in Jesus, Our sins are removed and we are cleansed because He shed His blood for us once and for all.
3) They say that our sinful nature was removed from us when one reaches sinless perfection. (This is true in the resurrection, but not so as long as we are in this "body of sin". We are told to put to death the sinful nature by walking int he Spirit but Paul clearly teaches that this is an ongoing slaying of sin in our life by the power the Holy Spirit supplies. We are to put to death the sinful nature in us by walking by the Spirit. Does anyone ever completely walk by the in the Spirit 24/7? If someone has reached sinless perfection are they now unable to sin, as some say, because the old man is obliterated by the blood of Jesus? If so, temptation would not cause a struggle within them because the sinful nature is dead. Yet, they do speak of temptation being a challenge they must fight against (which is true of any believer, not just the select "elite" who believe they are in a sinless state.)
4) They say that they no longer have a sinful nature because of this complete sanctification. (Yet their bodies are still againg and deteriorating towards death.
Here we shall look at Ze.3:1-3
"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him./And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
The High Priest Joshua represents the High Priest of our Profession. Joshua, God our deliverance is a Hebrew variant of the name Jesus. (He.3:1). Satan is resisting the man as he did with Michael over the body of Moses.(Jude.v.9). Jesus did no sin and knew no evil so Ministry of reconciliation here as a substitutional symbol.
"is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" refers to the great tribulation and the 144,000 representing the 12 tribes so martyrdom does not distinguish between the Jews and the Gentiles.
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel./And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment./And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments." (vv. 3-5) Here are two verse for meditation:
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."(Is.61:10)
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."(Is.61:3)
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)
Up Down
This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2
Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)
Across
St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.
Time of the Gentiles
This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.
The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
We see similar references to God's creation of man such as in Psalm 139 and it seems clear that there is nothing wrong with God's design at least in how it was originally intended. Therefore even with the fallen nature due to Adam's sin that we all inherit even unregenerate man is responsible for his actions which are contrary to a nature in which "God has set eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man originally was made in the image of God; now it may be argued that we bear some resemblance to what we were originally but now we are also in the image of man; that is of the physical appearance of our parents.
Another thing we must consider is how the great prophets all responded in the presence of God. We can examine Isaiah 6:5 as well as the Prophet Ezekiel and Daniel and John in Revelation 1. Even John recognized he wasn't worthy to open the seals and wept ( Revelation 5:4). Keep in mind that this was the Disciple closest to our Lord when He was physically on earth but he realized that only Christ was worthy. We therefore have value because of Him; it is His righteousness that gives us that.
That is why I prefer to view His righteousness as coming from the inside out; not as some cloak over us. There is indeed His perfection in a believer but also the vesiges of who we were even if in actuality not who we still are in light of the promised glorification. Again; only a TRUE believer can claim these promises; or more accurately can have Christ claim to be His own.
I get the sense that some who claim never to sin again think that they can be in God's presence without being flat on their faces. Going boldly into His presence still involves humility and is expressed by an intimate communication and fellowship between BOTH parties.
I am sure to start a fire on this one; praying these conversations can be edifying.
Such a passage should be enough to convince someone of the fact that there will always be the potential to sin. The first thing we should point out here is that even without any outer manifestations of sin man has a sin nature. I believe it is scriptural to say that at the point of salvation we are as Galatians 2:20 states "crucified with Christ". If we are truly saved we can theoretically continue after the time of our salvation to live without sinning but the pattern of living in sin is still deep in our minds. That nature therefore must meet resistance and a believer is therefore sensing that he is "grieving the Spirit" ( Eph. 4:30-31). These verses show one is sealed indeed until redemption (by death or rapture); but that we can still do things displeasing to God.
Another thing is the use of the word perfect. Matthew 5:48 shows how Christ commanded on the Sermon of the Mount to be perfect. This was in reference to agape love; that is loving your enemies as well as your friends; in other words the opposite of hypocrisy of the Pharisees in particular. I would agree that we are called to live out our lives in total submission to the Spirit which we all fail on but we are starting to be progressively sanctified as believers. We must be cautious also not to assume our legalism is attaining any righteousness; however. Loving our brother is stated in 1 John as an imperative as well; if we show disdain because of any sin in their lives in the flesh we are sinning ourselves.
Furthermore; we have the verse in Genesis where it states that Noah was "perfect in his generations." ( Gen. 6:9). This does refer to he being the only true worshipper of God (and probably his family) as opposed to those who missed the boat; but in context it likely is not biologically corrupted as the offspring of the Nephilim which was likely everyone else who missed the ark.
We can do the right thing with the wrong heart and we fall short of perfection.
TO BE PERFECT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE BLAMELESS.
1 Corinthians 8:9-12 is another scenario to consider.
We often think of the things we do wrong as sin.
What about the things we don't do right or good? Consider James 4:17.
Here's our goal.
Galatians 5:25-26
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Let's see if we are perfect in this using Galatians 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
Here's a list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21.
( Most of these we can claim on the surface but God judges the heart.)
Are we PERFECTLY blameless in not doing any of these in our hearts?
THOSE ARE A LIST OF THINGS A CHRISTIAN SHOULDN'T BE DOING. ( If we are doing these we are sinning.)
Christians are known "BY" there Love for one another and should be barring fruit.
John 13:34-35.
1 John 4:20-21.
Matthew 7:15-16.
Let's use Galatians 5:22-23 to see what we should be doing. "PERFECTLY since our focus is on the ability to be perfect in these natural bodies.
love,
joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
gentleness,
goodness,
faith,
Meekness,
temperance.
IF YOU ARE NOT DOING THESE PERFECTLY "FOREVER ON! YOU ARE NOT PERFECT OR BLAMELESS.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17.
God bless.
This amazingly started on a previous post where Paul was said to not be saved or atleast "not yet"
Paul said he was saved. If he didn't make it we're in trouble!
Paul said he was a master builder, and he helped lay the foundation which we are to build on.
Paul said a crown was laid up in heaven for him. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
We have faults in our walk down here on earth tho we thrive for perfection.
Our thriving is evident we are not perfect. Another way we know we're not is that we die.
God requirements is perfection. If you ever sinned it's already to late if you feel you can come from under the atonement of the LORD.
We're left "Naked" without "CHRIST RIGHTEOUSNESS"
The Idea that you and I can be wrong about any matter suggests that we are not perfect.
How could this same corrupted person that struggle "WITHIN" judge anything to correct it to a degree he or she cannot reach? ( God's Holiness that we cannot fully comprehend)
Ignorance is no excuse!!
Only given an earnest of the Spirit can we fully comprehend the Holiness of God? No!
Romans 3:23-25 is where we stand.
God bless.
Day decreed for the Son has two divisions: unto this day and that day. "This is your hour" concerning Israel has similarly two divisions namely the power of darkness referred to the first part and "a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" shall be marked by the appearance of the Son of man. " Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen"(Re.1:7) It opens the eyes of all left behind. This passage refers to the same hour, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,/Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters./And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,"(Re.14:5-7) The name Babylon Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt are interchangeable.
Ze.13:8-9 refers to one third a remnant. The command number Three refers to the Son. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." This is incomplete without mentioning thsi: "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour."(Re.8:1)*
"And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."(Re.16"19)
* Half an hour refers to the left behind church stepping into the breach.Re.7:3-8, 14) the remnant
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)
Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)
This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.
This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." ( Luke 22:53) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.
"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)
Such losses. I will pray for you and your children, your grands, and their parents. Thanks for sharing with us this painfulness. Know that many will be praying for your requests here.
Jeremy, I will pray for you, as requested. I know that God will lead you in the right path to grow in knowledge of our Father and Jesus Christ.
Part 2
As long as we live in this world, we have corruption in us in actuality, which is why we will always need Jesus as our Savior and Advocate (Mediator, High Priest) He intercedes for us. Why would He intercede for us if we are completely pure and righteous?
It is true that His Blood judicially brings forgiveness and cleansing to us when He shed it once and for all. But in time, His Blood continues to act in us in the same way whenever we sin and confess our sins to Him., whether known sins or unknown sins. David called on God to search him and show any wicked way in himself. He knew he did not know all of his sins and the corruption of his propensities and faults and weaknesses.
To determine that these are not sins is unbiblical. But those who advocate for sinless perfection redefine sin in order to claim to not sin anymore. They do not fathom the vast perfection of God compared to His corrupted creation (which needs to made incorruptible in the life to come). God is completely without corruption of any kind. No human can honestly say that or , as you said, we can enter heaven in this present flesh and blood body or even have no need to be changed in the resurrection. Also, those who advocate sinless perfection have a narrow and simple view of sin ignoring the total scope of what it means to sin or be sinful. Falling short of the glory of God is ANYTHING that is corrupted be it life, health, thinking, choices, actions, motives, and failures to do what we should do.
Jesus is said to have no guile in Him, which means that He never had any wrong motives, no selfish thoughts, no emotions fueled by sin, no misspoken words, no lack of goodness. He was and is always PERFECT in EVERY way.
Although some who advocate sinless perfection will say they do not claim to be as perfect and sinless as Jesus and that they are perfect like Adam and Eve before they sinned, the fact that we have sinned at all does not make us like this state even after we are saved
We are perfect because we are "in Christ Jesus" by His saving work. We are never perfect due to avoiding sin actions. Our whole being is corrupted by sin. It tempts us in our sinful nature and then this nature produces sin in us. ( James 1:13-15)
And every good thing we do is but filthy rags before God, who alone is perfectly holy and righteous. Every good thing we do is tainted by our sinful nature. But even so, we do not give up on fighting against the sinful nature within and also desire and work at obeying God. But this is not done in our own strength, but in the power that Jesus had to live a perfect life and that raised Him from the dead that we have at our avail through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Our holiness comes from Jesus' righteousness PERIOD. We on our own do not have the righteousness of God that is acceptable to Him. We receive this righteousness from Jesus' and believe what is said in Scriptures that His life, death, and resurrection cleanses us from all iniquity so that we can stand before the Father without sin, but it is always Jesus' sin-free and incorruptible character that merits us this place of right standing before God.
While it is true that positionally we are sin-free in Christ, in moment to moment living we are not. As some say, we have faults, shortcomings, weaknesses, errors in our thinking and judgment and actions that are somewhat automatic. This is the corruption in us which God never has. He alone is perfect and pure and righteous and holy ALWAYS. Though some do not see these propensities as sin, I do, because of what is said about the heart of man being deceitfully wicked above all things and desperately so, and without cure (by man) to paraphrase Jer. 17:9. No one can truly know how wicked our own heart is, only God knows. So, anyone who says that they are sinless and do not sin are deceived, as Jeremiah says.
I guess I need to go to part 2.
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
This quote from St Paul shall explain what he means by the word of reconciliation. St Paul explains his ministry is from God,"all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" so no passage stands alone but it casts its spiritual analogue so it is the fulness of Christ that we look into it. The revelation that the Spirit had set him apart as he confesses,"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."(Gal.1:16; Ac.13:2). He was called to be a good soldier for Christ. So his ministry of reconciliation is in lock step with Jesus Christ's ministry of reconciling the other sheep, "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" into one fold fits with one another.( John 10:16)
Elisha's life presents us with the world of the Spirit which requires eye of faith than the normal faculty of vision. "Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?/And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ( 2Ki. 6:15-17). Ministry of reconciliation is about fighting by the rules.(2 Ti.2:5) These rules are meant to make every believer fighting fit. So when Jesus told his disciples," and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."( Luke 22:36) we can put his word in proper perspective. The sword was meant as his badge of office. This is the word of reconciliation, comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
Are we perfect in our "practical" sanctification or walk NO!
Are we perfect POSITIONALLY? Yes, we're hidden in Christ. We're clothed with his righteousness.
We can't clothed ourselves! Those are filthy rags that the scripture has much to say about.
If we were perfect in this body of death then we can take this "flesh and blood" and inherit God's kingdom without change.
God bless.
5 The bridegroom tarried, and they ALL slumbered and slept.
6 And at MIDNIGHT (at the turn from the sixth to the seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium) there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. - Sad, very sad. -
9 ... go ye rather to them that sell oil, and buy for yourselves. (Only lamp is not suffice for salvation. Wake up)
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Get ready, otherwise you will scream loud: Lord, Lord, open to us.
Oh no, you won't have any more chances, the perdition is for ever and ever.
I certainly will. I mostly participate on weekends due to my work schedule.
I will get back to you soon.
God bless
Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4) Obliquely the Spirit reveals how we ought to interpret the order of Aaron. God has willed his Son as the High Priest of our profession. (He.3:1) Similitude explains the like begets the like.
Principle of Reconciliation is the basis by which the Book of the Revelation sets the work God has set as His core will:'that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." So the word of reconciliation is presented in the inaugural vision of Re.1. The same we see in the Word of God arrayed leading an army in Ch.19.13-15 " And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God./And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean./And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death.
This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death. In short the Revelation is about the fulfillment of the word of reconciliation.
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."(Re.20:14)
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"
This ministry that St Paul refers here would have hit a blank wall but for 'the word of reconciliation.' "To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" so the word used in the context explains what it means by the Word became flesh. The work Jesus finished on earth is only one part of his ministry. The worlds of the Spirit and of the body are to be reconciled as well. So his promise to return after preparing a place for us means he has to fulfill why God was in him and gave him the ministry of reconciliation. The word of God is a sign where heaven and earth are by him consist. The cloud of witnesses and us are set on a single measurement in the Son.
The Spirit gives us a concrete image to explains his ministry of reconciliation. It also has to do with the holy city of God.
The angel who guided him was his fellow servant "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." and he reveals himself,"for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." (Re.21:17;22:9)
We have already seen three principles which are ultimately the basis for the works of the Son. Principle of Association works on the basis of believers who have heard his doctrine and believed that he came from God.( Luke 10:16; Matt.10:40). The second principle is of Similitude so heaven is compared to earth to which parables are classic examples. Thus when Jesus Christ delivers the doctrine of Father, Evangelist Matthew gives him a seat the rock symbolized Zion (Matt.5:1)Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4)
5 And the Devil, taking JESUS up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the Devil said unto JESUS, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto he Devil, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy GOD, and Him only shalt thou serve.
************THE LAST DECADE - 2020-2030 - COUNTDOWN************
february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.
february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.
the begining of the last week - daniel 9:27 - is within of this current last decade.
but first will be ELECTED the LAST Pope - THE NEXT -
Be careful and get ready
be focused for the last week of years of the Devil's world, and LITERAL fulfillment of Revelation 11:15-18
So the last enemy to be conquered is death and it comes under the curse and law of sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." When Jesus died on the cross this curse'Thou shalt bruise his heel' cast it shadow upon the Son who did no sin and knew no sin." (Ge.3:15,14) St Paul writes referring to it, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."(Gal.3:13)
Everlasting gospel is consequential in setting the cloud of witnesses similar as the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world into one fold. Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God ( John 1:29) delivered whoever was under the curse of death. By the same token he shall deliver the witnesses in the world of the Spirit "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." His work shall conclude only "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." That God may all in all is life everlasting to which we did no labor. So this saying holds true in the context of the world of the Spirit. "One soweth, and another reapeth./ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."( John 4:37-38)
Christ in us is our relationship that does not change in both worlds.
Thanks for your feedback. If you have anything specific to ask from the Bible I shall only be happy to clarify it. Greetings,
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."(v.3)
Towards the end of his earthly ministry Jesus in his prayer to his Father refers to ' thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Whosoever consequently abides in him having no confidence in his flesh has faith and also kept the word." the latter part constitute the works which are impossible without the Savior Lord.( John 15:3) Now Jesus speaks he has finished the work, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."(17:4,6)
From the key verse we know that preparing a place in heaven constitutes as work so as he glorified his Father on earth he has certain unfinished work. Even there we are part of his works so 'that where I am, there ye may be also."
Heaven and earth are part of the everlasting covenant. So everlasting gospel must be seen and understood as pendent to this covenant which is part of the divine Will of the Father and shall not change. The Law is eternal forever settled in heaven,(Ps.119:89) and as such heaven must be set in terms of the Law of the Spirit.
Jesus refers to the sheepfold in John 10:1 and here we are examining what possible works he might do so the nature of heaven may be placed under correct context as fulfillment of the Abstract in seven days. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)
Law of sin applies to the world of the Spirit and the son of perdition, collectively applied to children of wrath or disobedience. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8) Death is the work of Satan. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."