The Baptism in the Name of Jesus and The Gift of the Holy Ghost

THE BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS

AND THE GIFT OF THE HOLYGHOST

April 28, 2017

It has become customary that I do a follow up after my saying that receiving the HOLY GHOST has never saved any one whereas the baptizing in the NAME of JESUS does.

Proof of that is where Peter said on the Day of Pentecost: “unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

Now the Baptizing in the Name of JESUS is Salvation to the Soul, and the HOLY GHOST Baptism Makes us part of the BODY of CHRIST and adds the Gift to enable the Saint to minister wherein GOD has called him.

Now when the sinner is Baptized in the Name of Jesus said Paul:  “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9b   And Said he: “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6  

Paul named the gifts of the Spirit where he wrote: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”  Ephesians 4:11

Now the emphasis was on: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

 

Now the process whereby the LORD saves us by, baptizing us in the Name of JESUS, has never changed.  However the terminology has changed.   Some say the LORD saved me while others say I’m redeemed, etc.   The Baptism in the name of JESUS is salvation to the soul and it always precedes the Baptism of the HOLY GHOST, thus Peter said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and (in addition)  ye shall receive the gift of the Holy GHOST.”

Perhaps you’ve noticed that the Baptizing in the NAME of JESUS doesn’t jump out at the reader as do some Scriptures and it is often over looked.  However it is still to the salvation of the soul.  Now did you understand that when Peter said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins?  If so you understood it correctly.

Now the Apostle Paul set the record straight when he said: “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   

Yea, FATHER GOD sent JESUS to save sinners, and the HOLY GHOST to baptize His saints making them one body in CHRIST while adding to them the gift or gifts needed to carry out the mission for which they were sent.  Both JESUS CHRIST and the HOLY GHOST are subject to the Heavenly FATHER. They were both sent by Him and both are comforters to the CHURCH according to the scriptures. (John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 12:13)

And the HOLY GHOST is subject to JESUS for He sent Him as comforter in His stead. 

Now as saith the Scripture, JESUS came into the world to save sinners and He arrived via the virgin birth.  In alliance with that the Angel told Joseph and his bride, the virgin Mary: “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

And as we know, GOD reckoned the work of CHRIST to be in force from the foundation of the world.  In line of that the Apostle Peter said: “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in the prophets did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”  1 Peter 1:11

And said Luke in the 8th chapter of Acts: “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: [16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Then the third and last recording of an Apostle laying on of  hands for the purpose of  a disciple to receive the HOLY GHOST is where the  writer said:    “And it came to pass, that, while Apollo’s was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.   And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.   Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.    When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.   And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.   And all the men were about twelve.   And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 19:1-8  

Now if some or someone should assume that John baptized any one that wasn’t saved consider where it was said: “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…Luke 3:6-8a 

When JESUS told His Apostles: “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.” John 14:17

That prophecy became a reality on the Day of Pentecost for then they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST and as never before they could preach CHRIST and Him Crucified, Buried, then Arose on the third day, Amen!

May the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be blessed forever, AMEN!  

 

THE FIRST RESURRECTION

November 10, 2003

We commence this study where the Apostle John said:

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:5-6

In verse five (5) he said:” This is the first resurrection.” It was from whence came our title.   Now it is a must that you know that none of the things John saw was visible to the natural eye, nor the natural man.  It is liken to explaining to a blind person, for when he or she understand, they respond with, “I see”.   Paul’s hope for some was: “That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”  Ephesians 1:18

Yea, what John called: “The dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan was just other names for the original, or the sin of Adam.

After the fall said Moses: “Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image” Genesis 5:3

And therefore we are of Adams posterity. “And through Adam all die.” even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

And we were born with the original sin residing within, but it was dead said Paul.  And we were not accountable for sin until the law came and revived it as said the Apostle:

“Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.   For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.   And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.   For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”  Romans 7:8-11

It was the original sin and the sin that it had generated Paul called the body of sin. And, said he, it was destroyed when we, the redeemed, were crucified with Christ on his cross. Romans 6:6

Since our soul was slain by sin and eternal death was pronounced against us, our only hope was through the process of being crucified with CHRIST, buried with Him and raised with Him. This is the exact process Paul said that GOD put us through in saving us.   Notice the final step in that process was the resurrection of the Soul, for it was dead, and when we were raised with CHRIST we were made alive forever more.

For: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:5

Yea, since JESUS CHRIST was the first to be resurrected from the dead and we had part in His Resurrection, then  we be they that has had part in the first resurrection :  To paraphrase, we are among those that are blessed and holy that hath had part in the first resurrection: and on such the second death hath no power.  Revelation 20:6

Now the Apostle Peter taught that we had part in the first resurrection.

He wrote: "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.”  1 Peter 1:3. 

King David testified on behalf of the Resurrection of His soul, where, He sang:

“I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.   O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.   O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.   Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.   For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:1-5

Now what JESUS said should have put to  rest the doctrine that the Redeemed will be Resurrected, bodily, and reign a thousand years with CHRIST  for said He: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44  

And He said:  “This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:39-40  By saying that ,did you notice that JESUS taught first that the soul would be resurrected then, at the end of the world He would resurrect the body?

May we bless and obey the FATHER and GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST Always. Amen! 

 

OUR REIGN WITH CHRIST

In his letter to Timothy, Paul informed him and us on the conditions whereby we reign with CHRIST.   He wrote: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:12

Paul’s take on our Reign with CHRIST is conditional in that: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”

Peter explained the way we are to suffer: “Forasmuch then as CHRIST suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.”  I Peter 4:1

Therefore, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”

However, “If we deny him, he also will deny us of our reigning with CHRIST our LORD.

Again Peter explained: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

Now the type of suffering that assures our Reign with CHRIST is self denial; and that is accomplished when the flesh is kept at bay and CHRIST is in the forefront.   JESUS instructed us on how that is accomplished.  He encouraged: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16  

Our conversation plays a major part in whether we Reign with CHRIST or not.  Peter told his peers and us: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

1 Peter 2:12

Furthermore Peter said: “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Colossians 3:9-1

And finally brethren, Paul said: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Amen!

Philippians 3:20 

 

THE SON OF PERDITION

October 21, 2008

When Paul was at the Church at Thessalonica, he touched on a subject that some or someone wished to know a more detailed account.  He responded with: "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand."  2 Thessalonians 2:1

Yea, seeing the Apostle said; that “The day of Christ is at hand."  He indicated that time was of the essence, and by that the responsibility fell on man.   Furthermore, from what he said as he continued made me believe that he taught of the Salvation of the soul as did David where he said: To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation”:” Psalm 95:7-8

I suppose  when  PAUL  was with them he told them that before their children could be saved, they must first become accountable for sin.  He said: "That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."  

I believe the phrase, "a falling away," is in alliance with the fall of Adam.  Paul gave us an account on his own personal falling away.  In doing so he reveals what is typical for the rest of us.  In our day we tend to say, in truth, that a child has to be lost before he can be saved.  Therefore, I believe that to be the essence of what Paul has written in his response to the Thessalonians.

He wrote: "We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him(.We were gathered unto him  when he saved us.) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”  2 Thessalonians 2:3

That man of sin is the Devil

I realize that some assume that Paul was referring to church members forsaking to assemble themselves as some had.  But nay, when the Lord saved us He gathered us unto Himself into what Paul, and others, calls the Body of Christ.

In the following Paul described his situation after the Word of God had entered his heart.  He wrote: "Now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."   Then he described the struggling that takes place in the heart of a sinner while he is being badgered by the Devil.  He wrote: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

Ah, but those that do not receive the Truth.  "For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  

Then he said that after the Devil takes over a sinner’s life, through manipulation, that he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."  2 Thessalonians 2:4 

Don’t you see the Devil in control of those out there in the world? As children of GOD  Our body is the temple of God and when we were lost the Devil was enthroned on the throne of God’s temple, which is to say our body. As  children of God, Paul warns us: "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 

1 Corinthians 3:17

When the Lord bound the Devil, and cast him out of our heart into our flesh, Jesus took up his abode in our heart, and at that very second we begin our reign with Christ.  Amen!  

Only Jesus can overthrow that man of sin, whom He called the strong man, and himself the stronger of the two.  Here’s what He said: "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."  Mark 3:27

For those who would like more proof that the devil is the man of sin, Paul wrote: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Romans 6:6 and Ephesians 4:22 then Colossians 3:9 

JESUS challenge some of the Jews that would not many days hence would Crucify Him with: “Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matthew 23:32-33   By JESUS saying that His reference was that they were the seed of the serpent that should bruise His heel.  

In closing, Judas was called both “the son of perdition and a devil.”   Jesus said to His Apostles: “Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil?"  John 6:70

In his prayer to the Father, JESUS reminded Him: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12

May the LORD be blessed forever, Amen!

 

Then Cometh The End

THEN COMETH THE END

 

August 30, 2011

Our title came from where the great Apostle Paul said: “Then cometh the end, when he (JESUS CHRIST)  shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.   The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.   For he hath put all things under his feet.   But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 1 Corinthians 15:24-27

When cometh the end:  "All things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:28

When cometh the end; said Paul:  “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.   Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 

When cometh the end; said Paul:  “To you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that Know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

When cometh the end; said JESUS; “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29

When cometh the end; said JESUS;“ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.”

Matthew 13:49

But Paul doesn’t stop there, he added: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

When cometh the end; I suppose our best testimony is: “HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE.”

When cometh the end; said Peter; “The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7

When cometh the end; Daniel prophesied that the saints: “shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel   12:1-3

When cometh the end; said Paul: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.   O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.   But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

When cometh the end; said Paul: “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

When cometh the end; Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  1 John 3:2  

When cometh the end; Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  

Psalm 16:11

May God Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be blessed forever.

Amen!

 

 

Important Things You Shold Know for Your Study

IMPORTANT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

YOUR AUTHORIZED KING JAMES BIBLE

(This is a tutorial)

December 23, 2014

The Apostle encouraged the Redeemed: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Timothy. 2:15-16 

Then said another, indicative of the Apostle Paul: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Hebrews 6:1-2

Yea, the Holy Scripture is all about our LORD JESUS CHRIST. He said of Himself: “I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”  Hebrews 10:7

Jesus said to the Jew because of their unbelief:  “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

John 5:39  

(And Yea, I say, lay hold on the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible and don’t let go; other than, a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and a Webster Dictionary, these are the only books you’ll ever need to study the Holy Writ.)

Beware therefore of those whom translate the Scripture in order to simplify it, so that the natural man can understand it.  I suppose they mean well but the great Apostle said: “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7

Paul was in total agreement with Isaiah that asked:

[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.  Isaiah 28:9-13    

THE NEW TESTAMENT

A BIT OF HELP WHILE STUDYING THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS

Yea, in pursuit of the truth concerning the beloved Israel, it has taken us to The Book of Revelation, a book of Numbers, and Metaphors and not a book of prophecy. My reasoning came from where John said in the opening of the Book of Revelation: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” Revelation 1:1 

I take where John said “shortly come to pass” to mean that we should not to look to The Book of Revelation for latter day prophecy.

You might feel the same way after reading what JESUS had to say about prophecy.

Matthew said : “Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

[2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew 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.” Matthew 24:11-35

(Therefore I say do not, I repeat, do not count on The Book of Revelation nor Matthew twenty four (24) for latter day prophecy.)

Another thing, The HOLY SCRIPTURE was written according to good grammar and it is to be read and interpreted in the tense wherein it is written lest we make it say something that GOD did not intend that it say. 

Yet another key to understanding The Revelation is to realize and accept that the Authorized King James Bible was written in a language of God’s making, and that includes the Metaphoric and the Numerical system.  The following is a skeleton commentary on that system. 

Numerical system

Yea, the Biblical six: is a symbol of things natural attributed to where God created the natural man on day six of the creation.

The Seven: well, it has for its basis that GOD created the Heavens and the earth after which He rested from all His labor on day seven, and thereby He established it as a day of rest, and called it the Sabbath. 

The seventh day man has entered into God’s rest for salvation.  Accordingly The  LORD GOD said: “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Hebrews 4:3

In addition it is  symbol for things pertaining to the super natural.

The ten: represents the Ten Commandments, the law or the Decalogue

The twelve: is the symbol for the beloved Israel

AH, then there is where: “A” thousand and “the” thousand: differs in that it is not normally reckoned at face value.  The men  of the Bible use it as a symbol wherein the total often varies.  You’ll find this to be true in both the Old and New Testaments.   

For instance where the LORD GOD told the beloved Israel: “I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”  Psalm 50:9-10

In that declaration the LORD GOD used a 1000 to indicate the total was ever changing because one of the beasts would die or be eaten by a predator and yet another was added to the fold through birth.

Then there is where the scripture saith of Elias of how he maketh intercession to God against Israel:

[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.    Romans 11:3-4 

Through the use of the seven the LORD GOD indicated that His subject pertained to the super natural. And when He added three zeros making it read seven thousand (7000) that told the reader that the total was fluid in that it was constantly increasing and decreasing due to the fact that He called one to His ministry while others departed going to their long home.

That also explained where John taught that by adding three zeros (000) to the twelve (12) that was an indication that he spoke of the beloved Israel of GOD.  And that some would be added through salvation and others would fly away to their heavenly home.

Then getting to the nitty gritty or where the rubber meets the road the Apostle, whom was most likely the great Apostle Paul, taught the recent arrivals of Mount Sion: “Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,”

Hebrews 12:22

Then through the use of the symbolic thousand John said: “I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1

Notice the Apostle used the word innumerable when describing the unfathomable number of the citizens of Mount Sion, while John said that he saw the Lamb standing on Mount Sion with a hundred and forty four thousand.

Now, the former testified that the number of the citizens of Mount Sion were innumerable while  the other took the route that only GOD knows and said the number of the citizens in Mount Sion was unfathomable and he gave the symbolic number as a hundred and forty four thousand.

 

THE METAPHOR

As touching on the Metaphors of the Scripture, the LORD GOD designed them to be revealed to the well read and those who are able to recall the analysis that is found somewhere between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.

Now Webster defines the Metaphor as:

1: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money);  broadly: figurative language, compare SIMILE
2: an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor: SYMBOL
–metaphoric \*me-t*-*f*r-ik, -*f*r-\  or metaphorical \-i-k*l\  adjective 
–metaphorically \-i-k(*-)l*\  adverb

Yea, the metaphor might be more prevalent in our every day speech than one might have imagined.  Just this morning a former warden used two metaphors when speaking of the two escapees from a New York prison, he said: When they are sentenced, they will throw away the key.” Then he said, “We have scratched our heads” while searching for a solution to prevent further escapes.  Yea, provided we are familiar with such jargon, the figurative speech of the Warden should have triggered the mind with an analysis.

Therefore the Biblical metaphor differs not from that of Webster’s description.

Many are the metaphors in the Holy Scriptures. Some are in the form of prophecy while others are of the finished works of JESUS while freeing us from the curse of the Law, the opening of the seals for one.

Hopefully when considering the figurative speech brought on by the metaphor it will bring to mind an analogy that suggests a likeness to the illustration.

All seven of the seals in chapter 6 of The Revelation are figurative speech whose analysis is found in the New Testament.  A good example of the Biblical Metaphor is where the Apostle John said:  “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder,”

(Revelation 6:1a)

The noise of thunder is the figurative speech.  This triggers the mind to the analysis where Jesus said:  [28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

[29] The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.  John 12:28-29

Yet another metaphor:
“And I beheld until he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”  Revelation 6:12   Here is the analysis:  In his prophecy, he portrayed JESUS CHRIST and His Church as the Sun and the Moon.  Depending on who was viewing the two great lights, determined what they saw.   Although it was high noon when JESUS CHRIST walked among Israel on the streets of Jerusalem, only a few recognized Him as being their Messiah.

 

I suppose it was they that said: “away with Him, crucify Him,” that John compared their view to as one looking through sackcloth of hair, which is to say, burlap or mohair.

 

The following is a recap on what we have learned on how to interpret the book of The Revelation.  Beginning where:  John gave the symbolic number of The Church as a hundred a forty four thousand.  Also there is where The LORD GOD labeled her ministers as seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal. 

Then where Paul through the use of two olive trees explained to the Gentiles how the LORD GOD removed Israel’s unbelievers and replaced them with the redeemed Gentiles.

Then there is The Metaphor. The Holy Scripture affords several. The composition of the Metaphor is a statement composed of figurative speech and its analogy.

The Metaphor is designed to be a revelation to those that have done exhaustive study. 

 

THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament differs from the New Testament in that it accommodates the Doctrine that “JESUS CHRIST was slain before the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 13:8, here is the way it reads: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Although what Isaiah wrote is prophesy, at the same time it is history.  Some of what Isaiah said was revealed at the cross.  And all that is written in the past tense was history accommodating the doctrine that JESUS CHRIST WAS SLAIN before the world was. And due to His sacrificial death from the foundation of the world, salvation was available beginning from Adam to Calvary.

Isaiah began:

[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
[2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
[3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[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.
Isaiah 53:1-9 

Because GOD counted Him slain before the world was, Paul told Titus:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Titus 2:11

Then there is where the ALMIGHTY said: “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3

(In the below article is a good example of a metaphor)

JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LAMB SLAIN

FROMTHE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

Now the work of the Cross that Jesus did as the LAMB of GOD was in full force for the Salvation of the souls of men before the first sin was committed and for that reason not one of the New Testament writers said that He brought a better Salvation; however one did say:  “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 

John the Revelator said that JESUS was: “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8  The essence of what he said was that GOD reckoned JESUS to have been slain before the first sin had been committed.

 

Now the Law of Justification said: “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22 and also in Romans 5:9, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

And it read: “A testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Hebrews 9:17

Now that presented no problem in the least for our all sufficient GOD and Paul agreed, he said: “Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  Romans 4:17

The Almighty said of His own ability: “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.” Isaiah 48:3

Yea, at His own discursion and in due time the GOD of Heaven declared CHRIST JESUS to have been slain before the foundation of the world.

In the wake of that, many were the testimonial stories of redemption left by the saints of old, among whom was Moses.  He said: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2

And David said: “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3 

Another Psalmist said this: “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” Psalm 18:46

It would be foolish to believe that GOD didn’t save the Gentiles from the beginning of time since Paul told Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”  Titus 2:11

Yea, The HOLY SPIRIT move the Prophets, Isaiah and David, to record the suffering and the shed BLOOD of JESUS as history, while the remaining work He should do, they recorded it in the form of history rather than prophecy.  Isaiah wrote: “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  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.  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.  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.  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.  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. 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.” Isaiah 53:1-10

David penned Psalm 22 as though he was present at Calvary during the crucifixion.   He recorded the struggle and agonistic cries as JESUS suffered and died.   He began the Psalm where the SON of GOD cried out:

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.  Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.  They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.  But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.  Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.  Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have in closed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” Psalm 22:1-18

Now, what those men had written in the form of history told us that GOD counted the death of CHRIST and the shedding of the BLOOD of CHRIST was slain from the foundation of the world, as said John in Revelation 13:8.

On that basis Salvation was available for repenting sinners from the foundation of the world.

Amen

 

 

 

 

God Loves Sinners but Hates the Workers of Iniquity

GOD LOVES SINNERS BUT HE HATES THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY

 

While my wife and I lived in Ohio, Brother Wade Partin from Middlesboro Kentucky preached a revival at the Church where we were members.  In one of his messages he preached that God hates sinners.   I believe that he got his text from where the psalmist said to God: “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”  Psalms 5:5   I am convinced that Bro. Partin (the preacher’s preacher) was aware that the Apostle John had written: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:10 

The word sinners and workers of iniquity fall into the same category in that both are transgressors of the law.  And the sin of iniquity can and is committed by both saint and sinner.

In the case of the Christian when he or she commits iniquity they receive chastening from the Lord.  Jesus said: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”  Revelation 3:19

Hebrews warned Christians not to fall into the sin iniquity for the penalty can mean disaster.   He wrote: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”  Hebrews 10:26-27

Though Christians often commit the unthinkable they are not subject to be abandoned by God.  Paul assured us of that.  He said: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.” Romans 8:38 &39

But Jude warns the sinner: “Keep your selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Jude 1:21  The essence of Jude’s warning is that God offers sinners salvation though repentance through the Law, by the Holy Ghost.

Ah, but saith God: “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh.”  Genesis 6:3

Jude’s warning goes out to sinners telling them not to exhaust God’s love for them by spurning His offer to be saved, neither wear out His patience and mercy by blaspheming the Holy Ghost.  The penalty for either or both is that they will hear Jesus say: “I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Luke 13:27 

A classic example of a Christian committing the sin of iniquity is where King David took Bathsheba and laid with her.  She conceived then David had her husband killed to cover up what he had done, but not from the LORD.  God sent His prophet Nathan with this Parable:  “The poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.  And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.”  2 Samuel 12:3-7

The Lord told Nathan to tell David; “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.” 2 Samuel 12:10

David repented by saying: I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  2 Samuel 12:13  

Remember David pronounced judgment against the supposed offender.  He said: “He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”  In return the Lord told David: “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me.

The sword that never departed from David’s house was four-fold as he had judged the assumed offender.  It begun with Amnon, David’s son raping his half - sister Tama, she was David’s daughter and the sister of Absalom.  Then Absalom killed Amnon.  Absalom raped his father’s wives as the public watched to the fulfillment of what was prophesied. And another time as Absalom rode on a mule, through a brush the mule went through a thicket like terrain past under an oak tree and Absalom got caught by his hair then the mule pulled out from under him.  One told Joab what had befallen Absalom and he shot three darts through Absalom’s heart.  Following that David Cried out: ‘O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!  Absalom’.

David might well have prayed this prayer after he had committed the atrocities against Uriah. This is a prayer of a man that had committed iniquity:  “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.  I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Psalms 32:5

 

A GREAT BIG P.S.

In one of those revival services Brother Wade preached, that a God ordained Spirit filled service, you are subject to hear Old David strumming on his harp and you will hear Rachel weeping for her children.

I believe that he was referring to the music and the songs from the Church Hymnal.  For they dispense with the daily thoughts of the congregation and make them be seated in Heavenly places. 

And I believe that you hear Rachel weeping for her children when the Church has concern for their lost and you hear with tears one say, “Pray for my children.”  Amen!

May the Good LORD bless you all, Amen and Amen!