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Faith, God

Why did God allow _____________

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This question is constantly being asked in one form or another. Why did God allow this? Why did God allow this tornado to kill all these people? Why did God allow my children to die? Why did God allow satan to attack my family? God is just, faithful, upright, and righteous! God is Sovereign! God is all powerful! God works all things after the counsel of his own will! “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.” (Deut 32:39-40)

Is it God’s fault that mankind disobeyed him? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:16-17) “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num 23:19) “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezek 18:4)

Is God unjust because mankind disobeyed him? Must God give account of himself to man? “Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isa 46:8-10) “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Rm 9:20)

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psa 100:3-5)

It is man that must give account to God. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Mt 12:36-37)

“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Gen 9:3-6)

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rm 5:18-21)

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Endtime, eschatology

The Church of Philadelphia

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Let us begin to examine what was spoken to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation concerning the seven Churches.

Revelation 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:9-11
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Notice carefully that the Apostle John has stated to the seven Churches that he is their brother, and companion in tribulation. There was tribulation taking place among the Churches. The Apostle John himself being placed on the isle of Patmos.

Revelation 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

What things which are??? This is a very important verse of scripture in regards to the book of Revelation. The only information provided in the book of Revelation that is things which are, is the information given to the seven Churches. This is very crucial to understand. Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote that pertained to things of his present time of which would be things which are, was that which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord.

Revelation 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Notice that everything spoken to the Church in Ephesus was things which are. Also they were instructed to repent, and do the first works of which they had fallen away from there first love. The first works is the first commandment, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut 6:4-5). The Church in Ephesus had left their first love.

The statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, is directly speaking to those literal seven churches in Asia. However, we must remember that there is only one Church the Body of Christ. So when we read the statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, we know that Jesus is speaking to those Churches which were at that present time. This doesn’t mean that we can’t benefit from what is said, but we shouldn’t conclude that there are seven Church ages from these writings nor should we conclude that the Body of Christ must be the Church of Philadelphia somehow today and not one of the other Churches like the Church of Smyrna which was highly commended by God. The Church is the Body of Christ and the Spirit was speaking to these seven Churches in particular at that present time which all made up the one Church the body of Christ.

Revelation 2:8-11
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Church in Smyrna had already been in tribulation and was told that they were rich!! Yet Jesus lets them know that more tribulation is coming and gives them hope!! “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This was speaking to the Church in Smyrna of things that are and continuing to let them know that some of them would be cast into prison and tried, that there would be a tribulation of ten days, and to be faithful unto the death.

This was spoken to a Church that was rich!! No one is teaching that we today are the Church of Smyrna and we will suffer tribulation unto the death? Yet we must not forget that the Church in Smyrna was part of the Bride of Christ. They were commended by Jesus Christ and yet some of them suffered tribulation unto the death.

Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalms 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

We tend to forget that there is nothing greater than laying down your life as a martyr for Jesus Christ and the Gospel’s sake.

Revelation 2:12-17
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again we see the Churches suffering tribulation even as the Apostle John wrote that he was their brother and companion in tribulation. Notice also that these have held fast the Lord’s name, and has not denied the faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was the Lord’s faithful martyr. For many who hold to the belief system that the Church of today is representative of the Church of Philadelphia and that one of the reasons they were going to be spared the tribulation to come was because they had not denied the Lord’s name fail to see that the Church of Pergamos also didn’t deny the Lord’s name. And we also just read about the Church of Smyrna being rich. Would a Church be rich that denied the Lord’s name?

Again there are two points that many are failing to see. 1) All seven Churches are the one Church the body of Christ. 2) To those committing error, Jesus gives to them the chance to repent of these errors they were committing.

It is also important to take notice that the rewards given to the seven Churches, if they overcome, will be given to all of the Churches. Not ‘you’ Church in Pergamos will receive a white stone, and in the stone a new name written and ‘you’ Church of Smyrna that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. None of the Bride of Christ will be hurt of the second death. These rewards for the seven Churches that were spoken then are also for you and I today, because all of us are the Church of the Living God.

However, we must not forget that the Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord were things for the time then present making them the things which are.

Revelation 2:18-29
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Because the words “great tribulation” were used here, does that suddenly make this a futuristic prophecy of the great tribulation spoken of in the book of Matthew 24? “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” The answer is no. The Lord said this would happen if they didn’t repent of their deeds. There were persecutions and tribulations at that current time and here in verse 22 it says “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Verse 23 continues and says, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” This specifically was saying that the rest of the seven Churches would know that it is God which searches the reins and hearts because it was just spoken to them prophetically. They would know when they saw this tribulation come upon those in the Church of Thyatira who were committing these offences if they did not repent of their deeds. Once again showing that this was things that were happening at the present time for that people even as the Apostle John was to write of the things which are, as well as the things which shall be hereafter.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:1-3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Verse 3 is speaking of the coming of the Lord, or the catching away of the saints. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess 5:2, 4) “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Mt 24:42-44)

Jesus has told the Church of Sardis, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” This tells us that if they were watching that day would not overtake them as a thief. Since we see a catching away of the saints spoken to the Church in Sardis this would not suddenly make the Church of Sardis the Church of Philadelphia, as the common teaching is that the Church of Philadelphia will be caught away by the Lord before the tribulation of the last days making the Church of Philadelphia the Bride of Christ alone. Verse 3 is a clear reference to the catching away of the saints being told to the Church of Sardis to remind them to watch for the coming of the Lord. And we must not forget that each of these seven churches were part of the Bride of Christ and as the Bride of Christ they were all being instructed by God so that they would be ready for his coming. Not just the Church of Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:4-6
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When we read that which was spoken to the Church of Philadelphia we should not conclude that this is a futuristic statement for the Bride of Christ. There are three main points of discussion here that I would like to concentrate on.

First and foremost is verse 3:9 spoken to the Church of Philadelphia is directly connected to the time frame of the Church of Smyrna from verse 2:9.

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev 2:9)

“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9)

This verse was spoken just after verse 8 which says “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” This without a doubt shows that this was speaking to the people for the time then present telling them that those people who were claiming to be jews and were not but are the synagogue of Satan would come and worship at their feet. Remember all the Churches were in tribulation and the Lord was warning them of more tribulation to come. After telling those of the Church of Philadelphia that those false jews would worship before their feet (this did not say they would be worshiping them) the Lord continues at verse 10 saying “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The second point I would like to discuss is to keep one from something, such as tribulation, doesn’t call for their removal from the Earth. For instance the children of Israel were kept from the ten plagues of Egypt.

John 17:14-16
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The words keep and kept from Jn 17:15 and Rev 3:10 are both from the same Greek word Strong’s number G5083. So when it says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”, this does not mean that they will be taken out of the world, but rather since they kept the word of his patience and didn’t deny his name they would not suffer the tribulation that Smyrna and possibly some of the other Churches would suffer. This doesn’t mean that Smyrna denied his name nor didn’t keep his word. Jesus told Smyrna “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)… Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer”. We must remember that God does things by election.

Romans 9:11
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

God is at liberty to do what he chooses to do. The Church at Smyrna was highly commended to be told by Jesus Christ that they were rich.

Which brings me to my final point concerning that which was written to the Church in Philadelphia concerning their present state with the Lord. Both the church in Smyrna and Philadelphia are promised a crown. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10) And the Church of Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11) Again this showing God calling things according to election. One Church suffering persecution and tribulation while another one is not. This is taking place presently all over the world. There is persecution and tribulation taking place in many nations all over the world while some nations, such as America, is not. There may be some tribulation on the rise but not facing death for owning a Bible or risking their life just to go to Church or claim that Jesus is the Christ and the savior of the world.

The main reason that the teaching of the Church of Philadelphia by many teachers has come to represent the Bride of Christ for the time of the catching away of the saints is because these teachers believe in a pre-tribulation point of view of the catching away of the saints. This Church is then used as a means to support this view. But as I have shown in this lesson there are many problems with this view point and the Church of Philadelphia should never have been taken as a futuristic event, but rather like the other 7 churches this was what the Apostle John was to write concerning things that are in his present time even as the scripture says, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Rev 1:19)

Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Endtime, eschatology

C & C: The Church of Philadelphia

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Connections and Comparisons is an ongoing weekly series that deals with many scriptures in the Bible, some of which are not commonly addressed. The purpose of this series is to examine the scriptures at hand comparing what is said and looking at the connections within.

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Let us begin to examine what was spoken to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation concerning the seven Churches.

Revelation 1:4
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:9-11
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Notice carefully that the Apostle John has stated to the seven Churches that he is their brother, and companion in tribulation. There was tribulation taking place among the Churches. The Apostle John himself being placed on the isle of Patmos.

Revelation 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

What things which are??? This is a very important verse of scripture in regards to the book of Revelation. The only information provided in the book of Revelation that is things which are, is the information given to the seven Churches. This is very crucial to understand. Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote that pertained to things of his present time of which would be things which are, was that which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord.

Revelation 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Notice that everything spoken to the Church in Ephesus was things which are. Also they were instructed to repent, and do the first works of which they had fallen away from there first love. The first works is the first commandment, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut 6:4-5). The Church in Ephesus had left their first love.

The statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, is directly speaking to those literal seven churches in Asia. However, we must remember that there is only one Church the Body of Christ. So when we read the statement, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, we know that Jesus is speaking to those Churches which were at that present time. This doesn’t mean that we can’t benefit from what is said, but we shouldn’t conclude that there are seven Church ages from these writings nor should we conclude that the Body of Christ must be the Church of Philadelphia somehow today and not one of the other Churches like the Church of Smyrna which was highly commended by God. The Church is the Body of Christ and the Spirit was speaking to these seven Churches in particular at that present time which all made up the one Church the body of Christ.

Revelation 2:8-11
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Church in Smyrna had already been in tribulation and was told that they were rich!! Yet Jesus lets them know that more tribulation is coming and gives them hope!! “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This was speaking to the Church in Smyrna of things that are and continuing to let them know that some of them would be cast into prison and tried, that there would be a tribulation of ten days, and to be faithful unto the death.

This was spoken to a Church that was rich!! No one is teaching that we today are the Church of Smyrna and we will suffer tribulation unto the death? Yet we must not forget that the Church in Smyrna was part of the Bride of Christ. They were commended by Jesus Christ and yet some of them suffered tribulation unto the death.

Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalms 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

We tend to forget that there is nothing greater than laying down your life as a martyr for Jesus Christ and the Gospel’s sake.

Revelation 2:12-17
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again we see the Churches suffering tribulation even as the Apostle John wrote that he was their brother and companion in tribulation. Notice also that these have held fast the Lord’s name, and has not denied the faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was the Lord’s faithful martyr. For many who hold to the belief system that the Church of today is representative of the Church of Philadelphia and that one of the reasons they were going to be spared the tribulation to come was because they had not denied the Lord’s name fail to see that the Church of Pergamos also didn’t deny the Lord’s name. And we also just read about the Church of Smyrna being rich. Would a Church be rich that denied the Lord’s name?

Again there are two points that many are failing to see. 1) All seven Churches are the one Church the body of Christ. 2) To those committing error, Jesus gives to them the chance to repent of these errors they were committing.

It is also important to take notice that the rewards given to the seven Churches, if they overcome, will be given to all of the Churches. Not ‘you’ Church in Pergamos will receive a white stone, and in the stone a new name written and ‘you’ Church of Smyrna that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. None of the Bride of Christ will be hurt of the second death. These rewards for the seven Churches that were spoken then are also for you and I today, because all of us are the Church of the Living God.

However, we must not forget that the Apostle John was to write the things which he has seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. That which he wrote to the seven Churches concerning their present state with the Lord were things for the time then present making them the things which are.

Revelation 2:18-29
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Because the words “great tribulation” were used here, does that suddenly make this a futuristic prophecy of the great tribulation spoken of in the book of Matthew 24? “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” The answer is no. The Lord said this would happen if they didn’t repent of their deeds. There were persecutions and tribulations at that current time and here in verse 22 it says “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Verse 23 continues and says, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” This specifically was saying that the rest of the seven Churches would know that it is God which searches the reins and hearts because it was just spoken to them prophetically. They would know when they saw this tribulation come upon those in the Church of Thyatira who were committing these offences if they did not repent of their deeds. Once again showing that this was things that were happening at the present time for that people even as the Apostle John was to write of the things which are, as well as the things which shall be hereafter.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:1-3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Verse 3 is speaking of the coming of the Lord, or the catching away of the saints. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess 5:2, 4) “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Mt 24:42-44)

Jesus has told the Church of Sardis, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” This tells us that if they were watching that day would not overtake them as a thief. Since we see a catching away of the saints spoken to the Church in Sardis this would not suddenly make the Church of Sardis the Church of Philadelphia, as the common teaching is that the Church of Philadelphia will be caught away by the Lord before the tribulation of the last days making the Church of Philadelphia the Bride of Christ alone. Verse 3 is a clear reference to the catching away of the saints being told to the Church of Sardis to remind them to watch for the coming of the Lord. And we must not forget that each of these seven churches were part of the Bride of Christ and as the Bride of Christ they were all being instructed by God so that they would be ready for his coming. Not just the Church of Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:4-6
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When we read that which was spoken to the Church of Philadelphia we should not conclude that this is a futuristic statement for the Bride of Christ. There are three main points of discussion here that I would like to concentrate on.

First and foremost is verse 3:9 spoken to the Church of Philadelphia is directly connected to the time frame of the Church of Smyrna from verse 2:9.

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Rev 2:9)

“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9)

This verse was spoken just after verse 8 which says “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” This without a doubt shows that this was speaking to the people for the time then present telling them that those people who were claiming to be jews and were not but are the synagogue of Satan would come and worship at their feet. Remember all the Churches were in tribulation and the Lord was warning them of more tribulation to come. After telling those of the Church of Philadelphia that those false jews would worship before their feet (this did not say they would be worshiping them) the Lord continues at verse 10 saying “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The second point I would like to discuss is to keep one from something, such as tribulation, doesn’t call for their removal from the Earth. For instance the children of Israel were kept from the ten plagues of Egypt.

John 17:14-16
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The words keep and kept from Jn 17:15 and Rev 3:10 are both from the same Greek word Strong’s number G5083. So when it says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”, this does not mean that they will be taken out of the world, but rather since they kept the word of his patience and didn’t deny his name they would not suffer the tribulation that Smyrna and possibly some of the other Churches would suffer. This doesn’t mean that Smyrna denied his name nor didn’t keep his word. Jesus told Smyrna “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)… Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer”. We must remember that God does things by election.

Romans 9:11
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

God is at liberty to do what he chooses to do. The Church at Smyrna was highly commended to be told by Jesus Christ that they were rich.

Which brings me to my final point concerning that which was written to the Church in Philadelphia concerning their present state with the Lord. Both the church in Smyrna and Philadelphia are promised a crown. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10) And the Church of Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11) Again this showing God calling things according to election. One Church suffering persecution and tribulation while another one is not. This is taking place presently all over the world. There is persecution and tribulation taking place in many nations all over the world while some nations, such as America, is not. There may be some tribulation on the rise but not facing death for owning a Bible or risking their life just to go to Church or claim that Jesus is the Christ and the savior of the world.

The main reason that the teaching of the Church of Philadelphia by many teachers has come to represent the Bride of Christ for the time of the catching away of the saints is because these teachers believe in a pre-tribulation point of view of the catching away of the saints. This Church is then used as a means to support this view. But as I have shown in this lesson there are many problems with this view point and the Church of Philadelphia should never have been taken as a futuristic event, but rather like the other 7 churches this was what the Apostle John was to write concerning things that are in his present time even as the scripture says, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Rev 1:19)

Revelation 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Holiness, Holy

God’s Commandment to Holiness!

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Revelation 4:8-11
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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Our God is a Holy God!

I love to feel the Spirit of God as it starts moving over me; it’s a feeling that starts at the top of my head and it goes to the sole of my feet. There’s no better feeling in the whole wide world than to feel the Spirit of God, I love to feel like I feel when I’m feeling what I feel right now!

I Thessalonians 4:7-8
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto Holiness.

What is holiness? The state or quality of being holy.

What is Holy? Having spiritual and moral worth, separated unto God – pure, sinless, undefiled, sanctified.

Jesus has called us out of sin unto His Holiness-by shedding His precious, sinless blood; through Holiness to the Lord.

Leviticus 10:8-10
8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

There is a difference between a Child of God- and a sinner.

Leviticus 11:44
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

For I am the Lord your God, ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves (separate) and ye shall be holy, for I am Holy (sanctified) made holy, freed from sin, consecrated (separated unto God).

Leviticus 20:26
26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

Severed means to be separated from something. Saints we are to be holy, pure, sinless, undefiled, sanctified, separated unto God—

Jesus has called us out of sin unto His Holiness, by shedding his precious, sinless blood through His own death and raising again from the dead, that we might have eternal life through Him; having given us His wonderful gift of everlasting life. The gift of the Holy Ghost, The Holy Ghost of God: Makes us Holy! Saints, the Holy Ghost is Everlasting Life!

If we choose uncleanness, the works of the flesh, then we despise, God’s Holiness; God’s Holy Ghost! The scriptures say is the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, that same spirit will quicken give life to your mortal body.

I Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Holy – pure, sinless, sanctified, separated unto God. God can and will destroy a Holy Ghost filled person who deliberately defiles, makes unclean through the works of the flesh, his or her body which is God’s temple.

Saints, there is no such thing as once saved always saved. Or once in grace always in grace. God wrote your name in the Lambs Book of Life and He has the power to Blot it Out again! There is no such thing as eternal security!

I Peter 1:13-19
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind; as a person puts on clothes to cover their nakedness so Clothe Your Mind in Holiness!

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which may be used for edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. The day of the Rapture.

God has commanded us to be holy! You are a purchased possession, you are not your own, you have been bought with a price, the price of Jesus’ own blood, therefore worship God in your body and spirit which are God’s, not in your spirit only, but worship God in body and spirit.

Romans 12:1-2
1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Your body is a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove, what is good and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

God’s will for us is to be Holy!

I Timothy 2:8
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

II Timothy 1:7-9
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

II Corinthians 6:16-18
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Holy: Having spiritual and moral worth; separate unto God, pure, sinless, undefiled, sanctified.

Are you Holy? Do you desire to be Holy?

Jesus said, Be Ye Holy for I am Holy. And be ye perfect-For without Holiness no man shall see God!

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Jesus, love, Uncategorized

Love Wins!!!!!

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Matthew 27:1-11
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Love is coming into a world damned to eternal judgment in a devil’s hell and being set free from that penalty of death by a substitution. The lamb of God, the Son of God, without sin God imputing the sins of the world on him that we might live through him by the shedding of his precious blood. Love wins!!!!!

Matthew 27:12-25
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

There is no greater love than God taking upon him the seed of Abraham, in the likeness of men, to condemn sin in the flesh upon his cross. Calling all sinners of which all mankind had been born into to be born again by a spiritual rebirth that would set you free from the penalty of death by becoming sin by the imputation of God that he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Love wins!!!!!

Matthew 27:26-54
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” (Is 50:6-7) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Heb 12:2-3) Love wins!!!!!

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Lk 23:34-38) Love wins!!!!!

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Isaiah 53:4-12
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 1:10-13
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus, God manifested in the flesh, became the sacrificial lamb of God to take away the sin of the world and through his death, burial, and resurrection gave us the opportunity to be set free from the law of sin and death by a spiritual rebirth. Love wins!!!!!

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God, Godhead

The Mystery of the Godhead

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Deuteronomy 6:4
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

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I. Introduction

There is one God! Our God is a Spirit and he is one. In regards to that which is created the Spirit is known as our Father by title. In regards to the Son of God the Spirit of God became incarnate to redeem mankind back unto himself and he is still one and the selfsame Spirit!

This lesson is designed in a manner that will walk the Trinitarian believer through several topics concerning the Godhead while concentrating mainly upon the Son. The reason for this concentrated effort upon the Son is because this is where the mystery of the Godhead lies.

The Catholic Encyclopedia states “For nowhere in the Old Testament do we find any clear indication of a Third Person. Mention is often made of the Spirit of the Lord, but there is nothing to show that the Spirit was viewed as distinct from Jahweh Himself. The term is always employed to signify God considered in His working, whether in the universe or in the soul of man.” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm – Article: The Blessed Trinity – Heading: Proof of doctrine from Scripture – Subheading Old Testament

II. The Image of God

In the beginning “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26a). What is God’s image according to the scriptures? There are four scriptures that identifies this for us.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:14-15)

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:10)

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:3)

So we learn that the image of God is the body of the man Jesus Christ. He is the expressed visible image of the invisible God. This also reveals to us that when God was creating mankind he had the incarnation in mind and thus said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. The likeness of his own image of which was not yet brought forth but was certainly in view.

III. There is only one body of God the body of Christ

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:4) There are not three bodies of God nor are there three persons of God. Whether we define them as spirit bodies or not there is only one body of God the body of Christ.

Many times when we think of the body of Christ we think of the body of the man Christ Jesus only and do not think about his dual nature. Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time. As Jesus told us in John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.” “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

We must not forget that the one Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9)

Thus the one body of Christ is the one body of God. God doesn’t have three bodies because our God is one. And the scriptures teaches us that there is but one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

This is the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. The mystery of God manifested in the flesh. The one Spirit of God incarnate in the one body of God, the body of Christ.

Many times when we think of the body of Christ, we only think of the spiritual body of Christ that the born again believer becomes a part of. The body of Christ that has many members of which makes up this one body. But we must not forget the dual nature of Christ and the mystery of godliness.

For it is by the one Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ that one receives that gives them access into the one body of Christ of which we are many members.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

Hear the words of Jesus as he prayed in his humanity to the eternal Spirit.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

In verse 21 Jesus says, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” This request that Jesus has prayed to the eternal Spirit is that all of those who believe on him through the words of his disciples, that they all may be one even as he and the Father are one. “As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee… that they also may be one in us”.

How is the Father and Jesus one? They are one in Spirit and in body.

In verse 23 Jesus explains how we can be one in the Father as well as in himself. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one”. One as being members of the body of Christ by receiving the Spirit of Christ. That we may be one even as he is one. One in body and one in Spirit.

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” (Ephesians 5:30)

IV. What is the Word (Logos)

  1. logos, log’-os; from G3004; something said (including the thought); by impl. a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extens. a computation; spec. (with the art. in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)

The logos is something said (including the thought) and also the reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive of what was said.

V. Are the terms ‘Word’ and ‘Son’ interchangeable terms

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

How was this Word with God? What is this Word that was with God and was God?

Some people teach that this Word was with God as a second divine person of a Triune Godhead, in which He is known as God the Son. Is this what the Apostle John was trying to relay to us? Was the Apostle John trying to relay to us a Hellenistic concept of the Word? Or was the Apostle John following after the concept of Jewish tradition?

The Catholic encyclopedia states that for the Apostle John, “the Word is for him the Word of God, and thereby he holds with Jewish tradition…. He perfects the idea and transforms it by showing that this creative Word which was from all eternity was in God and was God, took flesh and dwelt among men.” see: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09328a.htm

Take notice that the early Catholic church recognized, “that this creative Word which was from all eternity was in God” How was this Word with God? What is the definition of this Word?

The logos is something said (including the thought) and also the reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive of what was said. Thus the Word that was with God and was God is (the thought, plan, and mind of God.) This is how the Word was in God as the early Catholic church recognized that the Apostle John was implying.

However, the early Catholic church then drew the conclusion that this Word was the eternally begotten Son of God or what they have called God the Son. Is this what the Apostle John was trying to relay to us? That our one God was three distinct divine persons of one substance? That somehow God the Son is eternally being begotten? Which is a contradiction of words? Is the terms Word and Son interchangeable terms? The answer to these questions is no. This is not what the Apostle John was trying to relay to us.

So what was the Apostle John trying to relay to us? The nutshell answer is exactly what the Apostle John told us. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

We must remember that God is a Spirit. (John 4:24) The eternal Spirit of God is the Word that was with God and was God; as the thought, plan, and mind of God. Not as three divine persons that somehow make up one God. The Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) is this eternal Spirit of God. This Word that was with God and was God is the thought, plan, and mind of God that was with God.

The eternal Spirit of God, or the Father, beget His only son to redeem mankind from their fallen state of sin. This action of conception took place through the Word; the thought, plan, and mind of God, by His eternal Spirit which is the Holy Ghost. (Luke 1:30-35)

So the Word and the Son are not interchangeable terms. The Word is eternal as the thought, plan, and mind of God. The eternal Spirit of God has an eternal purpose in Christ. (Ephesians 3:11)

This plan of God was set forth as creation by the eternal spirit of God, which is the Word of God, when God spoke the world into existence. This same Word, which is the thought, plan, and mind of God, was made flesh some 4,000 years later when the eternal Spirit of God hovered over the virgin Mary and she conceived child of the Holy Ghost.

This conception was when the son of God was begotten as the scripture says, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:7b) Thus the Word is eternal, but the son of God was begotten upon the conception of the virgin Mary by the eternal Spirit of God through the Word of God. The thought, plan, and mind of God in action.

In Hebrews 1:5-10 we see prophecies from the Psalms fulfilled in Jesus Christ. But focusing on verse 5 it reads, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

Notice carefully the future tense “I will be” and “he shall be” in this scripture verse. It reads, “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” This lets us know again that there was not an eternal sonship, but rather the Son was begotten at a certain point in time, which was at the conception of the virgin Mary.

VI. Cosmogony

By this term is understood an account of how the universe (cosmos) came into being (gonia — gegona = I have become). It differs from cosmology, or the science of the universe, in this: that the latter aims at understanding the actual composition and governing laws of the universe as it now exists; while the former answers the question as to how it first came to be.

The Catholic Encylopedia online in the article entitled “The Blessed Trinity” (see weblink: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm) we read:

The Socinian writers of the seventeenth century (e.g. Sand, “Nucleus historiae ecclesiastic”, Amsterdam, 1668) asserted that the language of the early Fathers in many passages of their works shows that they agreed not with Athanasius, but with Arius. Petavius, who was at that period engaged on his great theological work, was convinced by their arguments, and allowed that at least some of these Fathers had fallen into grave errors.

It is further to be remembered that accurate terminology in regard to the relations between the Three Persons was the fruit of the controversies which sprang up in the fourth century. The writers of an earlier period were not concerned with Arianism, and employed expressions which in the light of subsequent errors are seen to be not merely inaccurate, but dangerous.

It should further be remembered that throughout this period theologians, when treating of the relation of the Divine Persons to each other, invariably regard them in connection with the cosmogony. Only later, in the Nicene epoch, did they learn to prescind from the question of creation and deal with the threefold Personality exclusively from the point of view of the Divine life of the Godhead. When that stage was reached expressions such as these became impossible. – Article: Blessed Trinity, Heading: Proof of the doctrine from tradition, Subheading: Later Controversy (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm)

Notice carefully here that the Catholic Church is stating that the writings of the Church Fathers prior to the Trinitarian Doctrine which received final approbation in the fourth century DID NOT AGREE with the doctrine of which received this final approbation. Not only did the prior writings of the Church Fathers not agree with the Trinitarian Doctrine that received final approbation in the fourth century, but now we see several profound statements being made. 1) “It should further be remembered that throughout this period theologians, when treating of the relation of the Divine Persons to each other, invariably regard them in connection with the cosmogony.” 2) “Only later, in the Nicene epoch, did they learn to prescind from the question of creation and deal with the threefold Personality exclusively from the point of view of the Divine life of the Godhead.” 3) “When that stage was reached expressions such as these became impossible.”

1) Cosmogony, being the study of the origin and development of the universe, was a crucial part of understanding what the Apostle John meant when he spoke to us in John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Remember that the Word (Logos) is something said (including the thought) and also the reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive of what was said. This is why cosmogony was such an important part of understanding what the Apostle John meant in regards to the Word.

2) Notice again that it was “Only later, in the Nicene epoch, did they learn to prescind from the question of creation and deal with the threefold Personality exclusively from the point of view of the Divine life of the Godhead.” Why did they learn to prescind from this question? They answer that for us in the next sentence.

3) “When that stage was reached expressions such as these became impossible.” They became impossible because you were either banished, excommunicated, or possibly put to death for teaching heresy!

VII. How did the Son create the worlds then?

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossian 1:16-17)

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” (Revelation 3:14)

Here we read an interesting verse. This verse makes the statement, “These things saith… the beginning of the creation of God” How was Jesus the beginning of the creation of God?

Notice the keywords ‘the beginning.’ This again goes back to understanding what the Word is and what is meant by the Word.

The answer is found in many scripture passages. Let me give a summary of these verses with what we have learned up to this point.

Who is the Son of God? The Word made flesh (John 1:14), not beforehand (Psalms 2:7b, Hebrews 1:5). So God made the worlds by his Son as the Word that would become flesh, not as a second individual in the Godhead, but rather as the Word that was God. (John 1:1) God calls things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:17) even as he speaks of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) God created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9) as the Word of God (John 1:1-3) that would be made flesh (John 1:14) when the fulness of the time was come (Galatians 4:4).

The Word made flesh would reveal to us the name of God as Jesus. I and my Father are one. (John 10:30) By inheritance have I obtained a more excellent name than the angels. (Hebrews 1:4) I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not. (John 5:43a) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things… (John 14:26a) And I have declared unto them thy name. (John 17:26a) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

Jesus Christ is the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

VIII. Conversation in the Godhead?

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalms 110:1)

There are not any conversations in the Godhead recorded in the Bible but rather prophecy recorded that was spoken by the Prophet. Just like the case with the Lord speaking to Cyrus.

“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;” (Isaiah 45:1)

Was this a literal conversation between God and Cyrus? The answer is no. The Lord spoke it through the Prophet Isaiah two hundred years before Cyrus was born and it was recorded so that it might be an undeniable evidence of the exactness of God’s foreknowledge. It was recorded and fulfilled in it’s proper time just like the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They were not conversations taking place in the Godhead between a God the Son and a God the Father, but rather they were prophecies recorded afore time so that it might be an undeniable evidence of the exactness of God’s foreknowledge.

If we try to force Psalms 110:1 to be a conversation between a God the Father and a God the Son, then we must also force the words spoken in prophecy from the Prophet Isaiah in regards to Cyrus to also be a conversation that took place between God and Cyrus which would then force a pre-existent birth of Cyrus. Pre-existent birth is not a Biblical doctrine.

This is exactly what is taking place with claiming recorded prophecy of the Messiah to come was conversations taking place with a God the Father and a God the Son which then forces a pre- existence of Christ as a second individual in the Godhead. Just like pre-existent birth is not a Biblical doctrine, the Trinity is also not a Biblical doctrine.

IX. Who is Jesus Christ

For this understanding we will let the Word of God declare to us who the Son of man Jesus Christ is.

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 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.” (John 1:1,14)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Comforter.

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Truth.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the indwelling Spirit of God.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is God with us.

“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:” (Revelation 1:11a)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega.

“I am he that liveth, and was dead;” (Revelation 1:18a)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is He that liveth and was dead.

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature

The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the birth of Christ.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Let us sum up who Jesus Christ really is according to the Bible.

  1. Jesus Christ is the Son of God!
  2. Jesus Christ is the Word of God
  3. Jesus Christ is the Comforter
  4. Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Truth
  5. Jesus Christ is the Indwelling Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost)
  6. Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, God with us
  7. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega
  8. Jesus Christ is the First and the Last
  9. Jesus Christ is He that liveth and was dead
  10. Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily
  11. Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God
  12. Jesus Christ is Wonderful
  13. Jesus Christ is the Counsellor
  14. Jesus Christ is the Mighty God
  15. Jesus Christ is the Everlasting Father
  16. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace

X. The Son would be known as the Everlasting Father?

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:8-10)

Remember how the Father and Jesus are one? They are one in Spirit and in body. The flesh of Jesus is the body of God and the Spirit of Jesus is the Father. Therefore the Son would be known as the Mighty God as well as the Everlasting Father.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

XI. The Mystery of the Godhead

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

The mystery of godliness is God was manifest in the flesh. Jesus was to be called the mighty God and the everlasting Father. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. This is the mystery of God manifest in the flesh. It was the Everlasting Father that was manifest in the flesh as the Son of God.

This is the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3)

It is important to recognize the wording of this mystery. It is the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. This is the mystery of God manifest in the flesh. This mystery is God the Father, who is a Spirit, manifested himself in the flesh as the Son of God to redeem mankind back unto himself.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Thus God manifested himself in various roles or offices to us. However, this is not limited to three offices as many people immediately assume. God is a Spirit. This is not a title. This is God. I am human. That is not my title. Here are some of the roles or offices that God has manifested himself to us as: Prophet (Acts 3:20-24), Apostle (Hebrews 3:1), Teacher (See Gospels) Son of God (Isaiah 9:6), Father (Isaiah 9:6, Malachi 2:10), Prince (Isaiah 9:6), Lamb (John 1:29), King (John 18:37), Savior (Matthew 1:21), Redeemer (Titus 2:13-14), Near-kinsmen (Matthew 1:17, Luke 3:23-38), and Mediator. (Hebrews 12:24)

Our God is a Spirit and he is one. In regards to that which is created the Spirit is known as our Father by title. In regards to the Son of God the Spirit of God became incarnate to redeem mankind back unto himself and he is still one and the selfsame Spirit!

XII. The Dual nature of Christ

“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)

“And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” (Romans 5:16)

We must not forget that Jesus had a dual nature. He was both fully man and fully God at the same time. As to the human nature of Christ he hungered, thirsted, was fatigued, suffered pain and death. Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15b) As to the Deity of Christ he was omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere present).

We must ask ourselves when we read the words that Jesus spoke as to whether it was the humanity in him speaking or the divine. For example: when Jesus prayed He prayed in His humanity to the Eternal Spirit.

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

What many Trinitarian believers do not realize is this. God the Son was not praying to God the Father. If God the Son had to pray then by definition He would not be God. For as God He would not need help from anyone or anything. Thus even if you were a Trinitarian in belief, you must realize that Jesus was praying in his humanity to the eternal Spirit of God, which is God the Father.

When Jesus said the Father was greater than He, this was pertaining to humanity. Otherwise you would be forced to believe in both a God the Son and God the Father in which case you would have subordinated the Son to the Father in which case Trinitarians do not teach.

When Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of the coming of the Son of man no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only, this was according to the flesh. As to the Divinity of the Father dwelling inside of Him, He knew the day and the hour.

Thus the mystery is revealed to us that Jesus Christ had a dual nature. He was the Almighty God and He was a man at the same time.

XIII. Is this not the teaching of Patripassian

Patripassianism. Name given to modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or Sabellianism. It came from Latin words meaning “the Father suffered.” Some historians use it to describe modalism because Tertullian accused the modalists, of believing that the Father suffered and died. However, the modalists apparently denied Tertullian’s accusation. The word therefore represents a misinterpretation of modalism by trinitarians, for modalism did not teach that the Father is the Son, but that the Father is in the Son. The flesh was not the Father, but the Father was in
the flesh. Thus, modalism did not teach that the Father physically suffered or died.

The modalists are sometimes called Patripassians, from Latin words meaning “the Father suffered.” This label stems from Tertullian’s attempt to ridicule modalism as follows: If Jesus is the Father incarnate, then the Father was crucified and the Father died. How ridiculous
to imagine that the Father could die!

What made his argument so powerful in his day was an important tenet of Greek philosophy, particularly emphasized in Neo-Platonism: God is impassible, or incapable of emotional feeling and suffering. God is so lofty that He cannot fully interact with this world; thus the God who interacts with us cannot be the supreme God.

The most common objection made to modalistic monarchianism was that it was Patripassian; that is, it implied that the Father suffered and died. Tertullian was the first to so accuse the modalists. He interpreted modalism to mean that the Father is the same as the Son. But this would mean that the Father died, a clear impossibility. In this way, Tertullian sought to ridicule
and refute modalism.

Later historians, taking Tertullian’s argument as truth, have labelled the modalist doctrine as Patripassianism. However, Praxeas explained that while Jesus was the Father incarnate, Jesus died only as to His humanity, as the Son. Sabellius evidently answered the charge of Patripassianism in a similar way.

The whole issue can easily be resolved by realizing that modalism did not teach, as Tertullian assumed, that the Father is the Son, but rather that the Father is in the Son. As Commodian said, “The Father went into the Son, one God everywhere.” Similarly, Sabellius explained that the Logos was not the Son but was clothed by the Son. Other modalists in response to the charge explained that the Son suffered, while the Father sympathized or “suffered with.” By this they meant the Son, the man Jesus, suffered and died. The Father, the Spirit of God within Jesus,
could not have suffered or died in any physical sense but yet He must have been affected by or have participated in the suffering of the flesh. Accordingly, Zephyrinus said, “I know only one God, Christ Jesus, and apart from Him no other who was born or could suffer. . . . It was not the Father who died but the Son.”

From these statements, it seems clear that the modalists held that the Father was not flesh but was clothed or manifested in the flesh. The flesh died but the eternal Spirit did not. Therefore, Patripassianism is a misleading and inaccurate term to use for modalistic monarchianism. — Dr. David K. Bernard

XIV. Why do the Apostles use Father and Son in there salutations?

The first thing to take notice of is that there is no scripture in the Bible using the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as three distinct individuals. Many people claim the scripture “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14), as a Trinitarian text.

This scripture is speaking of our fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. It is through the grace and love of God, who robed himself in flesh as Christ, that we receive the atonement. And through the baptism of the Holy Ghost we have our communion with God. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13) the body of Christ.

Take a closer look at what the Apostle John writes “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3 ) Why did the Apostle John leave out the Holy Ghost? And why do the other salutations continuously leave out the Holy Ghost?

The answer is because our God is not a trinity of persons. Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the mystery of God manifest in the flesh. We become one with God in body and Spirit when we are born again of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5) When we receive the baptism of the Spirit we are baptized into the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

XV. Summary

The Lord knowing his eternal purpose in Christ brought forth this plan through his Word of whom he is and when he created man he created him in the image of Jesus Christ the last Adam. Thus God in the counsel of his own will said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” as he was thinking of the Christ that was to be brought forth when the fulness of the time was come of whom man would be made in the image of.

Thus the manifold wisdom of God was brought forth that the Almighty God would take upon himself the seed of Abraham upon the conception of the virgin Mary to redeem mankind back unto himself and upon his death as the scriptures says in Ephesians 2:15-16 “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, having slain the enmity thereby”. And in so doing destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And upon his resurrection took back the keys of hell and of death.

Thus the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ was fulfilled which eternal purpose was in the Word of God as the eternal purpose he purposed in Christ to redeem mankind back unto himself when the fulness of the time was come which allowed restoration of sonship to his chosen vessels which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.

And so the eternal Word of God, which is the thought, plan, and mind of God will continue to be brought forth as we await the catching away of the saints, the coming of the great day of God Almighty wherein his Word will ride in victoriously conquering those who opposed him, and then he will rule and reign for 1000 years upon the Earth. Which Word of God will eternally unfold as there is no end as the scriptures has said in Ephesians 3:21 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

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Faith, God

We All Know…….

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We all know that it requires “faith” to receive the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We all know…but do you know? Do you know that it takes faith to keep the Holy Ghost?
Beware lest there be found in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from God.

Hebrews 3:12
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Galatians 3:1
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

The definition of bewitched—is to deceive you; to put you under a spell.
In Galatians verse two it reads;

Galatians 3:2
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 3:3-14
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Those who believe are justified
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 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:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

How can we go back; turn back to the world; that is to turn back to the things of the flesh and still serve God?

Galatians 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Saints be not deceived—God is not mocked!!!!

Hebrews 4:1-2
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Let us forever fear !!!! Lest we fall short and loose the Promise! Loose the Promise of the Holy Ghost through lack of faith!

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Doctrine, Elect, Grace

Who is The Elect of God?

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Let us for begin our study with the definitions of the words “Elect” and “Election.”

ELECT
e-lekt’:
That is, “chosen,” “selected.”

Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/elect.html

ELECTION
e-lek’-shun (ekloge, “choice,” “selection”):
The word is absent from the Old Testament, where the related Hebrew verb (bachar) is frequent. In the New Testament it occurs 6 times (Romans 9:11; 11:5,7,28; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Peter 1:10). In all these places it appears to denote an act of Divine selection taking effect upon human objects so as to bring them into special and saving relations with God:

Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/election.html

So, we see by definition, that to be the elect, you have to be chosen by God.

Many Christians today believe that the Elect of God are the natural Jews. On the opposite side the rest of the Christians believe the elect is the Church. However, we see that by definition, to be the Elect, you must be chosen by God.

Elect According to Foreknowledge

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According to the Old Testament, was Noah chosen by God? Yes. So by definition Noah was part of the Elect. Was the nation of Israel chosen by God? Yes it was. So then, we know that the people of God, or the Elect was also the Nation of Israel, because they were chosen by God. What about the people of the New Testament today, better known as the Church? Are they chosen by God? Yes. So then the Church is also the Elect.

With this establishment of the understanding of who the Elect is, we now can see, the question is not who is the Elect of God, as if it is either the Church or the Old Testament Jew, but rather, when the New Testament speaks of the Elect or the Election, to which dispensational time period was in reference?

For educational purposes, before we begin examining the New Testament references to the Elect or to the Election, I would first like to show through the scriptures, why the Elect of God changed and the New Covenant that came due to this change.

Scripture teaches us, that the nation of Israel was disobedient to God over and over again. So, God turned to a people that was not a people. That being the Gentiles. Let’s read it in scripture.

Deuteronomy 32:16-21
16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Here we see that the Children of Israel were froward, or (perverse; deceitful; false—King James Dictionary.) They began sacrificing and worshiping other gods, and this God hated and moved by jealousy for His people became angry and let it be known that He would move them also to jealousy with those who were not a people, and provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. This being a reference to the Gentile people, or those who are not of Israel.

Isaiah 42:1-8 {The prophet Isaiah is speaking of Jesus Christ that was to come}
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

This prophecy has foretold that Jesus Christ will come and will bring in a New Covenant and will become a light unto the Gentiles.

Luke 2:25-33
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

Here again we see that Jesus Christ will be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and also will be the glory of the people of Israel.

Romans 10:19-21
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Apostle Paul now speaking poses the question, Did not Israel know? However he later explains to us in Romans chapter 11 that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

So what we have learned up to this point, is that the Elect of God, the people of Israel, disobeyed God, so to provoke Israel to anger by jealousy, he turned to another people, that being the Gentiles. We have learned that this light to the Gentiles, came through Jesus Christ who was commissioned to bring forth a new covenant. At this time, I would also like to show some scriptures that speak of the Covenant that was to come.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

What a beautiful promise the Lord has given!! I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Isaiah 28:9-13
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

In this prophecy we learn that the promise of the Spirit that was to come by stammering lips and another tongue, which is the rest in the New Testament, that it became unto the natural Jew a snare and this was because of their disobedience, which provoked the Lord to anger, and would be the fulfilling of the Lord’s turning away unto another people who were not a people.

Joel 2:28-29
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Here again we see that the prophet Joel also speaks of the promise of the Spirit that was to come.

Luke 22:20
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

In this scripture we learn from Jesus that He has come to establish a New covenant or a New Testament in the shedding of His blood.

Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This was the fulfilling of what the prophet Isaiah has told us, with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Acts 2:14-16
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

This not only fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, but also the prophet Joel, and the prophet Jeremiah.

Hebrews 8:7-13
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

What we have now learned is that this promise of the Spirit that was to come, and the fulfilling of the law by Jesus Christ the righteous, was accomplished through the New Covenant, which was, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And that I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more, and this New Covenant was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost with the out pouring of the Holy Ghost which was prophesied by the prophet Joel as well as several other prophets in the Old Testament.

So now that we understand through the scriptures why the Elect of God changed as well as understanding the New Covenant that came due to this change, it is also important to understand that when the Elect of God, was the physical nation of Israel or the Jewish people, this was only a type and a shadow of that which was to come in the Spiritual. Which are the members of the body of Christ, not one that is circumcised of the flesh outwardly, but one that is inwardly circumcised of the heart. This is the Elect of God in the New Covenant.

Romans 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Galatians 3:7-14
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 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:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So with the changing of the Law, came a changing of the Elect of God. Now to be the Elect of God, one must partake of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and by the receiving of His Spirit, we through faith, now circumcised of the heart, become the seed of Abraham, and the Sons of God.

At this time we are going to talk about every scripture in the New Testament that refers to the Elect or to the Election of God, and discuss, to which dispensational time period was in reference, so we can conclude whether or not the New Testament scripture was in reference to the natural Jew or whether or not it was in reference to the Church.

Romans 8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

The first thing to take note of here is that after we see God’s elect mentioned. It tells us that it is God that justifies. This is one of the clues we need.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

From the context of this passage of scriptures, if we substituted the Natural Jew in for God’s Elect, it would not make any sense. Why? Because the entire passage is speaking of God’s Elect who give His son Jesus to make intercession for us, so then who shall separate us from the love of Christ? He then tells us through example nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The natural Jew rejected Jesus, so again the context of these scriptures tell us that he is referring to those that Live after Christ Jesus our Lord, and that would be the Church, because the natural Jew does not live after Christ, they do not believe their Messiah has come yet.

The other clue was, it is God that justifies.

Galatians 3:11-13
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 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:

Since we are told that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God but rather by faith, we know that it could not have been referring to the physical Jew because they were under the Law.

In our first example we see the Elect of God was referring to the Church.

Colossians 3:1-17
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

In this example, we again see the context of this entire passage was addressing people who were followers of Christ. Starting by telling us, if you be risen with Christ seek that which is above because you are dead and your life is hid in Christ. He then continues and tells us to mortify our members since we put on the new man where Christ is all and in all. We are then told to put on therefore as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, etc. finishing with doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The natural Jew rejected Christ as their Messiah and under the Law there is no mercy, but it is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

In our Second example we see that the Elect of God is also referring to the Church.

Titus 1:1-3
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

In this example again the context of the Elect being the Natural Jew does not fit, because the natural Jew rejected Jesus as their Messiah. These scriptures speak of the Truth of Jesus being our hope of eternal life, which God promised to us and is now manifested through preaching, which was given unto the Apostles. Paul being one of them.

In our Third example we again see that the Elect of God is in reference to the Church, those who are looking for eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 1:1-5
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Here again, we see that the context of these scriptures would not fit if applied to the natural Jew. The Letter was by an Apostle addressing those that were scattered and he called them the Elect through sanctification of the Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the New Testament Covenant given unto the Church.

In our Fourth example we again see that the Elect of God is in reference to the Church because it speaks of the plan of Salvation given to us by the New Testament Covenant.

2 John 1:1-3
1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

In our Fifth example we again see that the Elect of God is referring to the Church. We can gather that information because it states that “I love the truth” and “also all they that have known the truth.” For the Truth’s sake, which dwells in us and will be in us for ever. That would be the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us and will be with us for ever. Also notice the phrase Grace be with you, mercy, and peace.

Ephesians 2:14
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

So Jesus Christ is our peace and Jesus Christ is the truth and it is Jesus Christ the Comforter that dwells within us.

Matthew 24:24-44
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Before we answer who the elect would be in reference to, the first thing we need to ask ourselves is what event is the Lord describing to us? Is this the catching away of the Saints or what the Church refers to as the Rapture? Some people have said that this is in reference to the 144,000 Jews that have been sealed from the book of Revelation.

However, take notice from verses 30 and 31. We are told Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This describes Jesus Christ coming in the clouds with His angels and a great sound of a trumpet to gather together His elect. If this elect is not the church, then the question would be, How many times is Jesus coming in the clouds to gather together His Elect? But if you continue reading we are given a parable of a fig tree. This parable describes that the people who see the signs that were spoken throughout the entire chapter of Matthew 24, will be the generation in which all things are fulfilled. We are then told what event this is in reference to.

The parable describes that no man, nor the angels of heaven, but only the Father knows of this day and hour. This day is then described as being an evil day such as the days of Noah and that life went on as normal until Noah got into the Ark. Then an illustration is given to us as, two shall be in the field, and one shall be taken, and the other left. And then finally in verse 43 we are told in no uncertain terms, that this day is referring to the rapture, and it reads, But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

The Lord coming as a thief in the night is taught throughout scripture and is in reference to the Calling away of the Saints or what is more commonly called the Rapture.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-5
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Revelation 16:15
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

In our Sixth example we see again that the Church is the Elect that is in reference. We know this because it is speaking of the gathering away of the Church, in which the Lord will come as a thief in the night to all them that are in darkness.

At this time let’s also look at the other Gospel accounts of the same event.

Mark 13:22-37
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

This example is very much like the previous example, depicting the same event. That event being the rapture of the Church, the Church being referred to as the Elect.

Luke 17:33-37; Luke 18:1-8
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

As we read in Matthew we again read of the illustration of two being in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. However more descriptively than we read from Matthew 24:28, we read from Luke 17:37 that the Disciples asked Jesus a question. The question was, Where, Lord? Jesus answered this question as Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

We then are given to us a parable by the Lord in chapter 18 concerning an unrighteous judge.

18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Here we see again by verse eight that Jesus is referring to the Son of man coming again to the earth and had previously been speaking of the catching away of the saints, so this was a parable about the Lord Avenging His elect. We are told they cry out day and night to Him. So the Elect of God again would be the Church that cries out to Him, since the Natural Jew does not even believe that Jesus is the Messiah and also we have linked together these three Gospel accounts as pertaining unto the Rapture of the Church.

At this time we will now be examining the scriptures in the New Testament that refer to the Election of God.

Romans 9:6-12
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth😉
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

In our first example of the Election of God, we see that it tells us, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works. That the children of the promise are counted for the seed not the children of the flesh. This again identifies that the Church is the Election of God in reference and not the natural Jew as the children of the promise are counted for the seed and that seed is Christ.

Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:16-18
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-6
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

Here again we see the Election of God is also in reference to the Church. We see this because it was addressed to one of the Churches, it spoke of grace, peace, the works of faith, and their patience of hope. This hope being eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can also see from verse five that the Election of God is in reference to the Church because Paul refers to “our gospel”, which we know is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as concluding the verse with the Holy Ghost which was poured out on the day of Pentecost.

2 Peter 1:1-11
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In this example of the Election of God, we again see that the Election is in reference to the Church. We gather this information from the words spoken. Obtained like precious faith, through righteousness of our Saviour Jesus Christ, grace and peace be multiplied unto you, and from verse four which speaks of the exceeding great and precious promises that have been given to us, and that by these exceeding great and precious promises we can be partakers of the divine nature of Christ. We are then given the illustration of how if we add to our faith the things Peter has mentioned we will not only never fall, but we also will be fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are told to make our calling and our Election sure. So we can see again this would be in reference to the Church.

At this time, I would like to turn our focus to where the confusion really comes from concerning who is the Elect or Election of God. Or better stated, who is the Elect or the Election of God in reference to. That in itself is the main part of the confusion. Failing to realize that anyone chosen by God is the Elect, regardless of which dispensation they are from. This will cause a person to choose one group of people as the Elect and state it as if the others are not the Elect, instead of recognizing that by definition anyone chosen is the Elect.

Romans 10:1-5
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Apostle Paul has told us that Israel has a zeal of God, but that they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and went about to establish their own righteousness. In so doing they did not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every that believes.

Romans 11:1-14
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Listen now to the comparison that is being made of the 7,000 men that God had reserved unto himself of the people of Israel..

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

The first thing we should take note of in this example is that Paul is speaking of Israel, the natural Jew. Secondly, there is a remnant to be saved by the Election of Grace. Here Paul already has given the answer. The natural Jew will be saved by the Election of Grace. He then expounds on it in verse six. If it be by grace then it is no more of works. Also in verse seven Apostle Paul asks, what then? Israel has not obtained what they have sought for but the Election has obtained it and the rest were blinded. That is exactly what happened as he continues on in verses nine and ten explaining that this was that which was spoken by the Prophet David in Psalms 69:21-28.

However the Election in reference is the natural Jew that is not blinded and has been Elected to be saved by Grace, which is why in verses thirteen and fourteen Apostle Paul tells us, that he is magnifying his office of being an Apostle of the Gentiles, in hopes to provoke to emulation those which are natural Jews so that some of them might be saved, by giving their hearts to Jesus Christ and becoming part of the Church. Again this lets us know that the Election of Grace is referring to the Church.

Romans 11:25-33
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

We now have learned from Apostle Paul that blindness in part is happened until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. What is the fulness of the Gentiles? This will be the end of the Church age in which the Church is raptured out to meet the Lord in the air.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Here at Romans 11:28 this Election of Grace is in reference to the Nation of Israel in which the Lord will fulfill a Covenant unto them and when He will take away their sins. We are told that this will happen at Mount Sion where the Deliverer shall come and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. This will take place after the fulness of the Gentiles has come in during the Battle of Armageddon.

Zechariah 12:9-11
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem,

So what we have learned from this teaching is that the Elect of God is anyone that is chosen by God and those that are chosen by God, are always saved by Grace. No man shall be justified by the law, but it is God that justifies.

This Justification of Grace is also known as the Election of Grace and came by faith in the Seed that was to come, being Jesus Christ, or through the Seed that has come, being Jesus Christ, and it is our obedience of faith that we are freely justified by God.

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Christianity, Wisdom

The Path of Wisdom

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Luke 12:4-5
4  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Proverbs 1:1-8
1  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4  To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6  To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 1:20-33
20  Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21  She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22  How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33  But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 2:1-11
1  My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9  Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10  When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 3:9-26
9  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20  By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21  My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23  Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Proverbs 4:5-27
5  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9  She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10  Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12  When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16  For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Proverbs 8:12-36
12  I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21  That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22  The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27  When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29  When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30  Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31  Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

James 1:5-8
5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Psalms 34:11-16
11  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Job 27:4-23
4  My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5  God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7  Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8  For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9  Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10  Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
11  I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12  Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13  This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
14  If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15  Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
16  Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17  He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18  He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19  The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20  Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21  The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22  For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23  Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Job 28:1-28
1  Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
2  Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
3  He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4  The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5  As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6  The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
7  There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
8  The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9  He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10  He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11  He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14  The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16  It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19  The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20  Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22  Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23  God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24  For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25  To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26  When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27  Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

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Hell, Know Your Enemy

Come and Look into Hell

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Luke 16:23-31
19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

As you noticed in verse 23, the word torment is in plural form.  Torments.  One of these added torments other than the unquenchable fire that was and is burning him was the fact that he could see into paradise.  He also had his right mind, knowing who he was, where he was, and who Abraham and Lazarus were.

Have you ever wondered after the Lord returns if maybe the people in the lake of fire will be able to see into heaven.  I believe that you can scripturaly show that this will be the case.

Revelation 14:9-12
9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Off and on for years I had wondered about verses 10 and 11, which says, “he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”.  I noticed that it says in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb for ever and ever.  I speculated just as it was with the rich man, that this was again going to be the case.

Since that time, I have found many passages of scriptures that goes along this line of thinking.  Come and Look into Hell!

Isaiah 34:8-17
8  For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
9  And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

This is the forming of the Lake of Fire.  Notice it takes place on the day of the Lord’s vengeance and it is for the controversy of Zion.

10  It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

We now see this place of burning pitch where the dust has turned into brimstone will not be quenched night nor day, and then we hear what we read about in Revelation.  The smoke of this place shall go up for ever.  Whereas in Revelation it said, the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.  Notice it also says that none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

11  But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

Strong’s Concordance:

cormorant:  6893. qa’ath, kaw-ath’; from H6958; prob. the pelican (from vomiting):–cormorant.

bittern:  7090. qippowd, kip-pode’; or  qippod, kip-pode’; from H7088; a species of bird, perh. the bittern (from its contracted form):–bittern.

owl:  3244. yanshuwph, yan-shoof’; or  yanshowph, yan-shofe’; appar. from H5398; an unclean (aquatic) bird; prob. the heron (perh. from its blowing cry, or because the night-heron is meant [comp. H5399]):–(great) owl.

raven:  6158. ‘oreb, o-rabe’; or  ‘owreb, o-rabe’; from H6150; a raven (from its dusky hue):–raven.

Notice these are all birds….

12  They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
13  And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
14  The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
15  There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
16  Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
17  And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

Revelation 18:1-3
18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

The unclean birds and the dragons.  Demons.

Isaiah 66:15-24
15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

Again in the day of the Lord’s vengeance.

16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19  And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20  And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
21  And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22  For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

The answer lies here. We, the saints, are going to be the Lord’s Kings and Priests. All will come to God’s Holy Mountain to worship and keep the feasts.  Notice closely verses 23-24 again.  All flesh will come to worship before Him and then they shall go forth and look upon those that have transgressed against the Lord God Almighty.  The place they look upon is described as a place where their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and this will be for an abhorring unto all flesh.  Another words, Come and Look into Hell.  Come and see those who have not kept the Teaching of the Lord.

Revelation 5:8-13
8  And when he had taken the book, 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.
9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Matthew 13:41-43
41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Revelation 14:18-20
18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Recall just a few verses before this….

Revelation 14:9-12
9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

These events, the Treading of the Winepress and being cast into the Lake of Fire, are kinda going hand in hand.  Almost simultaneously.  This is why the angel has power over fire.  To the Winepress and then to the Lake of Fire, or the Furnace of fire.

Come and Look into Hell!!!

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