Category: Articles

Articles

A Young Man Flees Persecution

Peter

Keeping Our Linen Cloth

Peter and Rohnel, servants of God, to the elect of God who share our precious faith; grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have conducted several studies on the cost of following Jesus Christ. A recent comprehensive study on these costs can be found by clicking HERE. Many who start the walk are unable to bear the increasing costs and stop following Christ.  This means they stop obeying the Commandments when the cost is too high.  They slip back into their carnal reasoning about what is right versus wrong in the trials the Lord brings.

Ultimately, all things must be forsaken. “Disciples indeed” are those made willing to pay the price and continue to pay it every day as they grow in the grace and knowledge of God.  The rich young ruler who knew the truth had not the faith to follow Christ when given the opportunity to choose.

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 

To be saved in this age, we are continuing to the end and finishing our race.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Our journey is one of patience and is an ongoing war with many battles.  It is a fight not to be pulled off the course of faith that leads to the finish line.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Anything that weighs us down and distracts us from Christ needs to go from our lives. We learn patience in overcoming, and we are caused by the Lord to leave behind many things we once enjoyed and loved.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

Lord willing, we endure, persevere, and continue no matter the costs. It is all up to God, who determines all things, to drag us to Christ and enable us to continue all the way to the finish line. We of ourselves can do nothing.

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

This introduction brings us to the story and parable that is our focus in this short study. When Christ was being arrested and persecuted, which led to His crucifixion, the yet carnal disciples all forsook Christ and fled away. In Mark’s Gospel, we have the added detail of a man who had followed Christ and His disciples at a distance, observing, who encountered the same persecutors and likewise fled.

Mar 14:50  And they all forsook him, and fled. 

Mar 14:51  And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 

Mar 14:52  And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 

This story is a parable that reflects that many, in fact, most, fall away and do not continue with Christ.  When hard trials come, they lose their covering and flee naked.  Obeying the Commandments [Christ] comes with a price and many worldly troubles.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The linen cloth spoken of here that had covered the young man is also our burial cloth. It is the righteousness of the saints that comes by the faith of Jesus Christ that is given to us. By His faith, we are imputed as righteous, which covers our nakedness even before we are matured and overcome our sin. Those who strive to obey the Gospel are being baptized into Christ’s death. The Lord’s fleshly body was likewise laid to rest with a burial cloth.

Mat 27:59  And when Joseph had taken the body [of Christ], he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth

The burial cloth is the fine linen of the saints, symbolizing death to our carnal minds and sin. The result of walking by faith is our obeying the Lord and bearing fruit unto righteousness.  We do this in spite of enduring the hatred and rejection of the carnal world that is promised to be experienced. We are entering into the true Sabbath rest for the people of God. We no longer run in the same dissipations as the world, being dead to it, its lust and ways of thinking. Wearing the linen cloth is walking in Christ’s doctrine, the Commandments, which we only do by the Lord’s mercy and gifts and calling of God.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Our affection is now on the things above. We are dead, and our life is hid with Christ.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Being young in the true faith, when persecutors first arise, we flee Christ and drop the linen cloth and run away naked in spirit. We are not ready to bear the cost or take the heat that comes with standing for all of the Commandments.   The Living Christ, the Commandments, are thus forsaken, symbolized by dropping the linen cloth.  We do not abide in the spiritual fire that is the Living Christ.

Mat 13:20  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

Yet Christ comes again in the power of the Spirit and gives us the Promise when the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. The soil in due time is properly prepared for every man, and Christ comes again, the second time for salvation. We are thus able to bear the reproach and rejection of the world, pay the costs, and follow Christ.

1Pe 5:10  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. 

Carnal minds readily try to talk us out of laying it all down in obedience to Christ and trusting fully in God’s provision. A carnal Peter was rebuked as we all are in our time and reminded of what following Christ entails.

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Many follow Christ for a while, then begin making excuses for why they are unable to continue and desire to take a break. Even seemingly good reasons, like saying goodbye to those we once knew and are very fond of in the flesh, are carnal reasonings that have us dropping our linen cloth, leaving Christ’s Commandments, which is our covering.   We do not go back to bury the dead, meaning those of the world. We do not cease following Christ to bid them farewell. We follow the Lord here and now, paying the price and suffering the loss and rejection that come along with it. If we turn back after having begun well, we are not fit for the kingdom of God.

Luk 9:57  And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 

Luk 9:58  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 

Luk 9:59  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 

Luk 9:61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 

Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 

Our old life is completely lost to follow Christ. Nothing is standing in the way of following Him completely in faith, trusting in His promises and Commandments. Those marked to remain faithful in this age are separated from those who are not. The faithful to the end overcome the enemies of God, all of the world’s and our own carnal thoughts and reasonings about what is good.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

The Commandments become the divider, the instrument, the sword that separates us into a holy people set apart from everyone else. Few there be shall find the way.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 

Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 

Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 

When persecutors come to test our faith, the Lord uses our own house, our family, our loved ones, and our physical and spiritual brethren. We remain watchful for the Lord to come with these heavy trials so we are found obedient and do not flee when the going gets tough. Do we love Christ more than anything?  This is a trial and a test we are given many times.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Those who endure to the end are separated for the Lord’s purposes. Our salvation and anointing in this age come with great costs and sacrifice. If we are marked for salvation in this age, our initial reaction of fleeing and dropping our linen cloth as a young person in the faith when persecution comes is replaced with our standing in obedience and bearing the cost. We are dead to the world and willingly suffer the reproach, the loneliness, the loss of relationships we once valued.   The Commandments comfort and strengthen us not the things of the flesh.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The Lord is in charge, and anything we leave behind remains in His hands, and we need not reason in our minds about the future. We just obey the Lord today.

Isa 46:9  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 

Isa 46:10  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: 

Standing in faith has us believing that all things, even things that seem unloving to the flesh, are in the hands of the Lord. Those marked to be faithful to the end, accept these sufferings and keep looking forward, and do not turn back in unbelief. All aspects of our old life are being lost and left behind. We remember Lot’s wife and do not turn back, keeping our linen cloth, our faith in the Gospel, and remaining followers of Christ. We do not take the old life or anything from it into the new life.

Luk 17:31  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot’s wife. 

Our everlasting treasure is our knowledge of Jesus Christ, which we continue to grow into as we mature in the faith. We do mourn when we lose many things, but our mourning will turn into joy.

We do what God commands even if it gets us thrown into a lion’s den or a fiery furnace. We expect these trials and know they are what is perfecting us and remaking us.  They are necessary for the work of God to be completed in us.

Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

The fire does not harm the new man coming forth and we are trusting the Lord and learning to rejoice in what He is doing.

Rev 2:11  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. 

Articles

Shutting the Door to Christ

Peter

 

Knowing Not the Time of their Visitation

Peter and Rohnel, servants and apostles by the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God the Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ:   Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

The Scriptures are written for and are about Jesus Christ and His Christ, the firstfruits of salvation in this age. While all humanity is saved in the end, in this age, it is the chosen few, the elect, who are the firstfruits; they are Jesus Christ in the world.  All Scriptures are a parable spoken in dark sayings that only those given ears to hear and eyes to see can understand. The Scriptures begin with the Lord creating us as His firstfruits and making in us a heaven and an earth in which His light shall shine forth.

Gen 1:1  In the firstfruits [Strong H7225 ראשׁית, beginning] God created the heaven and the earth. 

Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 

Gen 1:3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 

Gen 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 

Few understand these spiritual words, yet those appointed to understand do so as they are marked by the Lord for salvation in this age. The manifestation of the sons of God comes about in the time of the end, which is now for this generation and continues until the end of the physical age.

Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 

Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 

We are fulfilling the prophecies of the end times written in the Prophets, the Gospels, the Epistles, and the book of Acts. All things are indeed ours to fulfill as Christ fulfilled the Scriptures, and so do we as His Christ in this world. As with Christ, events happen so that the Scriptures are fulfilled in our lives. We endure the same rejection and hatred from our own people as the Lord. The city that welcomes us with great joy, and then, as is appointed and declared from the beginning, turns against Christ. These brethren also fulfill the Scriptures and do not know the day of their visitation, the coming of Jesus Christ to them in this age for salvation.

Luk 19:41  And when Christ was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 

Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 

Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 

Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

To fulfill the Scriptures, we briefly sorrow as Christ over the rejection from the fallen brethren who know not the time of their visitation. They are not given to discern the signs of the time, nor recognize Jesus Christ in their midst, and, in time, turn against Christ. It is all written to be fulfilled by the Christ, the Lord’s anointed, whom He raises to do His greater works in this age. Our recent experience fulfilled many prophecies regarding Christ and His dealings with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, who are the chiefs and rulers of the house of Israel, to which we go through to find the lost sheep of Israel.  These chiefs took away the key, the Commandments, corrupting them by adding to and taking away, and thus are not entering in and hindering those who heed their counsel. They kill Christ in their hearts as they have done to the prophets before.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and of them they shall slay and persecute: 

Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 

Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

Luk 11:52  Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. 

Speaking truth in boldness and standing firmly on the Commandments, Christ, the Apostles, and all born again of the Spirit are rejected by our brethren in living by every Word.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 

1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 

1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

The Lord brings a trial and a heresy against the Commandments. The warnings of the watchmen who blow the trumpet [the rule and order the Lord sets over the flock] go unheeded, and the result is the division the Lord orchestrates. Thus, our warnings about the sin unto death and remaining separated from one the Lord has cut off are ignored, spoken evil about, and thus the Lord’s will in winnowing the flock is accomplished.  The Lord did it.

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 

In New Testament language, the Gospel we preached was heard yet not obeyed, as their foolish hearts are darkened by the Lord. The fallen of Israel worship the creation, meaning men, themselves, and not the creator [the Commandments], preferring to return to Sodom, which the angels of God previously delivered them from.

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 

2Co 4:4  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. 

We boast not against these branches whom the Lord has cut off, but fear, knowing we too can be cut off if we make the same error and do not continue in the Gospel we have heard and preach. We obey God and fulfill the remaining prophecies for the work of God to be finished. Those who reject Christ and refuse to come to the wedding feast when given the choice to choose today whom they shall serve are cut off, and Christ moves on from them. The call to come out and meet the bridegroom is rejected, and the foolish virgins who have no oil in their lamps, who had merely warmed themselves by the fire, doing no work, were not ready when Christ came.  The door is thus shut and not reopened in this age.

Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 

Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

Mat 25:13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 

The Lord rules with a rod of iron, and when judgment has come upon the house of God, after the Gospel has been preached, there is no more ignorance, and thus the separation of the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, is taking place quickly.   Many are called, and only a few are chosen to be saved in every generation, and we are witnessing this in our day of the Lord. The door to Christ is shut for those who refused the call and did not recognize the day of Jesus Christ.

Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 

Luk 13:25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 

Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 

Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 

Luk 13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 

The door is shut to those who cut off their Messiah, and the wicked one has now entered their city, and they are being swept away by a flood of lies.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Mat 24:38  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, 

Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Dan 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 

To fulfill the Scriptures, some who did not come when called to choose whom they serve and at what table they eat, return asking to be let in through the door that is now closed. It seems unloving to flesh, but the rejection of Christ and the Gospel once one has tasted of it is not forgiven in this age. It is the sin unto death. We are commanded not to pray for these brethren; we do not even wish them Godspeed. We move on as commanded.

1Jn 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 

1Jn 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 

Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath no forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 

John tells us what walking in love is all about, and the very next words remind us that loving God and all men includes doing things that some may seem offensive and harsh, as they judge by their flesh and emotions, not by the Commandments. Here is the Commandment again.

2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 

2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

Christ and His Christ do not open the door as Commanded; we do not even wish them Godspeed; we cut off all communication with those who spoke evil against the Commandment and/or against the Lord’s anointed in their day of visitation. Speaking evil is saying our words were lies and the Commandment was not true, thus attributing them to Satan. Anyone who did not hear the voice of the true shepherd and follows the voice of strangers instead is not of God; they are being identified in the times of the harvest, as the time of separation is now.

Joh 10:3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 

Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

Luk 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

Now is the harvest, and the sheep and goats are being divided by judgment that has fallen on the house of God in this generation.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

The ways of God in dividing a remnant and moving them onwards to salvation are the mysteries being revealed in the last days. Those who reject our Gospel and us who preach it, are separated from Christ.  When they seek to come back, they learn that repentance is not granted in this age for those who sinned the sin unto death. Those who fail are caused to fail of the grace of God, receiving it in vain and thus are not renewed to repentance in this age.

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he [Esau] would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

Those being saved, the elect, build their spiritual house on the Rock that is the Commandments and nothing else. Those not chosen build their house on a mixed multitude of shifting sand, esteeming flesh, respecting persons, and not loving God with all their heart, mind, and soul. When the flood of apostasy comes in the last days, to try the faith of Israel, they are swept away and taken away only to be restored in the age to come. This is the fall of Spiritual Babylon within every man not given to heed the call of the angels to come out of her.

Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 

Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Apostles receive their revelation, the Promise and baptism of Christ, directly from the Lord. All others receive their baptism of Christ through the laying on of hands by the Apostles and others who have in turn been raised in Christ. When preachers of the Gospel are sent out, they are Christ, and the day of visitation of Jesus Christ has come to all that the Lord puts in our path. Christ and His Christ first go into the synagogues of the spiritual Jews who profess His name, and there we preach the Gospel [Act 13:46]. Yet most Jews reject it, trusting instead in their knowledge and desiring to continue to reign and sit in the high seats they appointed themselves to take. We thus fulfill these Scriptures as Christ in the world.

Mat 23:2  Christ saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 

Mat 23:3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 

Mat 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Those who exalted themselves are abased, and when the Commandments and Christ are evil spoken about, the Lord brings his fury and destroys the leaders of Israel and all who follow their pernicious ways. Scriptures speak of this in many places, including here in Ezekiel speaking of Egypt, that is, really, Spiritual Jerusalem, likened unto Sodom and Egypt [Rev 11:8]. The dragon, the prince of the world, runs the show here as they remain bound to the law of sin and death in their members. The leaders of the house claim the river that fed the flock as their own and boast in themselves, bringing the wrath of God upon that house. The fowls of heaven, the carnal lies and reasonings of men, are set to devour them, as this is the great supper of God that is the same as being swept away by a flood of lies [fowls of heaven].

Eze 29:3  Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. 

Eze 29:4  But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales. 

Eze 29:5  And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. 

These cut off brethren marked for destruction are not the true shepherds, as they did not come through the door that is Christ. They are the deceivers, the false apostles, whom the Scriptures prophesy appear to us in the last days. They beguile many by their outward form of righteousness and swelling words of vanity.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

These are also known as false brethren, unawares, and are among the perils that the apostles of every generation face in preaching the Gospel and defending the ministry of the Gospel.

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

As the angels of the Lord, the Cherubims, the apostles by the will of God, we zealously guard the gate/door and entryway into the Holy City of New Jerusalem, where the tree of life grows and feeds the inhabitants.  Nothing unclean enters in as the watchmen and shepherds are commanded to guard the sheep and allow no dogs, wolves, sorcerers, or heretics whom the Lord has already rejected into the Holy City.

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

The Fate of the Fallen

Those deceived by the hand of the Lord, not marked for salvation in this age, think they are doing God a service by killing us in spirit and cutting off the Messiah from their city. Yet they are the blind leading the blind who have not known the Father nor the Son, and thus fulfill many prophecies in our lives, including this one.

Joh 16:2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 

Joh 16:3  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

Rather than Christ, the Jews in the city chose Barabbas, a murderer and a man who previously stirred up sedition against the Lord’s anointed and was rightly put into prison and excluded from the city. They were given a choice, and they chose Barabbas, proving they know not the Lord who had visited them.

Luk 23:18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 

Luk 23:19  Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. 

Joh 18:40  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. 

We sorrow for our fallen brethren; we tried to save them as Paul wrote about in Romans 10 and 11. Yet the will of God has been made manifest, and thus we move on, dying to our fleshly emotions and knowing no man in the flesh anymore. Many have observed these things from afar, following what the Lord is doing in His flock and reading what the Lord has given us to post on this website. Some of them following us are rising from their graves and awakening from their sleep.

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 

Mat 27:51  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; 

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 

Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 

Mat 27:54  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. 

Our spiritual clothing, meaning our writings and doctrine that we taught them and preached, are parted from us, and they have cast lots for them, thus fulfilling even more Scriptures.

Joh 19:23  Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 

Joh 19:24  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. 

They broke none of Christ’s doctrine, as the legs of the crucified Christ were not broken. The doctrine of Christ is only heard and is not obeyed.

Joh 19:32  Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 

Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 

A day comes when those who were cut off look upon him who was pierced.  While they seek repentance in tears, it is not granted, for the door remains shut in this age. All these things, the killing of Christ and His Christ in spirit in every generation is about fulfilling the Scriptures.

Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 

Joh 19:36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 

Joh 19:37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. 

False apostles and deceivers are cut off from the true Israel of God. They are not to be found in the true city of God, Heavenly Jerusalem, also known as New Jerusalem. They remain in Spiritual Jerusalem, which is Babylon, and the cage for every evil bird [carnal thoughts and reasonings].

Rev 2:2  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: 

Rev 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. 

It is obedience to the Commandments to deny and separate from those who commit the sin unto death, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, that immediately shuts the door.  We are not letting anyone aligned with them back into our spiritual house.  This is the Commandment of the Lord, and the door remains shut as we love God more than we love men.  Saying otherwise is another gospel.

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

With lessons learned, as the appointed shepherds, we carefully guard the gates of who comes into the Heavenly Jerusalem that the Lord is building, the true everlasting city of God. Anyone coming to our fellowships must be let in by the Apostles, who oversee the flock as shepherds and are diligent watchmen. We are careful as commanded to whom we cast our pearls of truth and the meat of this Gospel. We do not give our holy things to those the Lord has cut off who are the heretics, antichrists, deceivers, false apostles, and deceitful workers the Lord raises to try our faith.  Time is short, and we do not waste any time in disobedience with those whom the Lord has cut off. Our ministry is to go only to the lost house of Israel, and they are those who hear and receive the words of Christ we preach.

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

As the Lord’s witnesses, we have the power to shut heaven and to make it rain or not in the Spirit. We are given this power by the Lord and are commanded to use it in obedience to the Commandments. By retaining their sin, we shut the rain off in this age.

Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 

We know the fallen did not choose of their own free will to do the evil they have done. All was appointed and declared from the beginning. Thus, we have asked our heavenly Father to forgive their sin as we cannot forgive it ourselves in obedience. Our Father hears us, and the fallen cut off brethren are saved in the age to come.

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

We have not yet attained, and we press onward for the high calling of God, striving to finish our race. We follow Christ, the Commandments, our eyes always looking to them, and we groan, waiting for the fullness of the adoption as the Sons of God.

 

 

Articles

Go and Preach the Gospel

Rohnel

Destroying the Wisdom of the Wise

Rohnel and Peter, the servants of Jesus Christ, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Php 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Psa 16:7  I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 

Keep My Commandments and Live  

Jer 7:23  But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light [Commandments]: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

Go and Preach the Gospel

As Christ’s chosen people, we are being blessed with the innumerable blessings of preaching the Gospel. The time of the end [our carnal age] IS come as we heard and are hearing the Gospel being preached to us. Christ commands us to preach the Gospel. The Kingdom of God is the Gospel, which is Christ in us, the Hope of Glory.

Mrk 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach  the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach  deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luk 9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

After the Comforter IS come to us, we immediately preach the Gospel. We are young and being reborn. Paul writes this to Timothy, which is a parable telling us that, although just being born, we immediately preach the Gospel:

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 

Here is the witness Paul leaves us as he immediately preaches the Son of God, that is to say, Paul immediately preaches the true Gospel, which is Christ’s Commandments.

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

Act 9:19  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 

Act 9:20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

The mystery of the true Gospel of Christ Jesus is being revealed. The Scriptures are being opened before our eyes as the Lord sifts His people in the time of harvest and brings the remnant out and onward to maturity in the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is the end of the age of the natural man within us.

Dan 12:4  “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Many Scriptures confirm that the true Gospel is a mystery until the time of the Lord’s spiritual harvest in our Day of the Lord. Only a few in this age and in every age since Christ understand this mystery being revealed to them. Here are a few witnesses below about the secret that was kept secret from us, but now is being made manifest:

Mrk 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph 3:4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ

Col 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Spiritual Gentiles, those whom the Father through Christ IS chosen in this age and every age since Christ, are fellow heirs with the true spiritual Jews who are circumcised in heart. Spiritual Gentiles have the Commandments of Christ in their hearts and minds. This is part of the mystery being revealed.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Spiritual Jews and spiritual Gentiles now grow in Grace and Knowledge of God, the Father, through Christ, being one, being knit together in love. Love is the Commandments.

Col 2:2  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;

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 3:18  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

As the children of God, we are being quickened by the Power of His Commandments. From now on, Grace is upon us as we die to death, the second death on the tree with Christ. The tree is the cross [Acts 13:29]. This is our new way of life, and the only way to partake of the blessed and holy resurrection.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:   

We are entering into a New Covenant with the Lord via the law of faith [the Law of Liberty], which is the faith of Christ, that is being worked in us by the fiery trials [grace] that are bringing about death to death within us, which is the second death.

Heb 8:10  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:

Heb 8:11  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.

Php 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

This is the true Gospel of Christ that is being preached unto all the inward nations and cities, as well as the outward nations, that is to say, preached to those who have Christ’s Name in their foreheads. Christ’s Name is His Commandments, the Words of Spirit and Life. The preaching of the Gospel divides the city. Christ comes to bring division when the Gospel is preached, heard, and understood.

Joh 7:43  So there was a division among the people because of him. 

Joh 7:44  And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. 

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Luk 12:50  But I have a baptism to be baptized with [lake of fire] and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Luk 12:51  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Luk 12:52  For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The Gospel and the sons of God preaching it separate us from brethren who can only walk so far with us. This is by the Lord’s design. Joseph is an Old Testament type and shadow of this separation.

Deu 33:16  And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. 

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.

Being told we have to eat His flesh and drink His blood by dying on the cross with the Lord is not desirable to flesh and hence many walk no more with Christ and His Christ. Unless God, the Father, gives us the understanding to eat His flesh and drink His blood, we are not able to receive Christ.

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Joh 6:52  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Carrying our cross results in the loss of many people and things we once knew. There is a remnant coming out of the chosen, and they are those who are being made faithful in this age. The greatest blessing is to be made like Christ. We do not fully comprehend what it means, but we see Him as He is, the further Christ causes us to walk with Him. All our lovers are now forsaken. Who are our lovers? Our lovers are the idols of our hearts; it is none other than mystery Babylon where we trade a great trade, making us rich and increased with goods, not knowing we are poor, wretched, blind, and miserable. Our great spiritual riches do not save us in the Day of the Lord. Only His Commandments change the inside of the cup.

Luk 18:25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a [spiritually] rich man [with knowledge that does not profit] to enter into the kingdom of God.

Luk 18:26  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Luk 18:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Luk 18:28  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

Luk 18:29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left [spiritual] house, or [spiritual] parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

Luk 18:30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

The way to live Christ is to die daily with Him. Hence, we are in the fiery furnace of Christ’s Commandments, knowing it is the end of our faith, saving our souls in the great Day of the Lord. Sons of God are the slain lambs of God, shadowed in the Book of Revelation. Think within and discern spiritually.

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him [dead to death Heb 2:14], we shall also live with him: 

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

We joy knowing that our sins are forgiven and the Lord showed mercy to us and is showing mercy to us every day by opening our ears and our eyes to hear and see. This is abiding in age-abiding life that is also called life eternal [John 17:3].

Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

We grieve, yet we rejoice as we take hold of the Promise of age-abiding life that has been given to us. We live all these experiences as Paul writes about. We live this spiritually.

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 

2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 

2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 

2Co 6:8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 

2Co 6:9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 

2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 

Knowing what the second death means and that the new man, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory, is the result of going through the Lake of Fire brings great clarity to what the Lord and the Apostles meant when they said, ” Go and preach the Gospel”. The second death is the Lake of Fire [LOF], and the new man is not hurt by it.

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized [with the fire in LOF] shall be saved; but he that believeth not [no LOF for me or you] shall be damned.

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

We have the Baptism of John, where we are given the water of the Word, the Commandments, and the true knowledge of God, that washes us and causes us to seek repentance. Paul and all of Christ’s disciples in every age are now being sent to preach the Gospel after the Comforter comes to them.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

We receive the Baptism of John and give birth to the man-child in us. The man-child is the mind of Christ. The Commandments of Christ is the mind of Christ. One greater than John, the Lord from heaven, IS come and now quickens our Spirits and opens up the revelation of His Word. The Comforter coming to us is the revelation of Christ Jesus, which was a mystery but is now made known to the sons of God in this age and in every age since Christ.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 

Rom 16:26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 

Christ’s second coming spiritually is the Lake of Fire coming, which is the event that henceforth saves and raises us with Christ.

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin [spiritually] unto salvation. 

The coming of Christ the second time to open our eyes to see and ears to hear brings the fire that is, was, and will be, saving us from now on.

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

The Gospel is the fire of God’s Living Word, operating within us. It is Christ in us, the Hope of Glory, performing His Work in us. Such is how our minds are being renewed day by day, and we put on the mind of Christ. The natural man, the first Adam, is being destroyed in order for us to become like the wind, that is to say, to be born again. The Gospel, Christ the Lord from heaven that we preach, is tidings of great joy.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Nah 1:15  Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

The preaching of the cross, that is to say, the preaching to die daily with Christ, is the preaching of the true Gospel. There are many false gospels in the world.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 

Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

It is dying to self, dying to our carnal minds, abiding in the Lake of Fire that is the judgment necessary to destroy the man of sin within us and raise up Christ in his stead. Preachers of the Gospel are the angels of the Lord who receive the rain ordained for them, who now faithfully preach the Commandments, the Good News. Life through the second death [dying daily] is the heart of the Good News that the angels bring. The angels pull people out of the strange fire that is spiritual Babylon within, preaching life through the second death message, which torments and ultimately kills the first Adam within, that is to say, the carnal reasoning of accusing and excusing within ourselves [Jude 1:21-23].

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 

2Co 6:16  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. 

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them [Babylon], and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

We are beyond blessed in this age when we hear His Voice, His Commandments, from heaven and follow Him to death on the cross, which is the second death, which is the Lake of Fire.

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

We are drinking from the cup of the wrath of God on the first Adam and die to death. This is the everlasting Gospel. Now hearing the Gospel of Life through death, we hunker down, knowing what has already come upon our earth as we abide in the Lake of Fire in this age.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath 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;

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

1Pe 4:5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

1Pe 4:6  For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are (spiritually) dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

It is a lonely road, and few travel on it. The Gospel we preach is the same unchangeable Gospel that always brings much contention from carnal men [the lies within] and the outwardly religious.

1Th 2:1  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

1Th 2:2  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

1Th 2:3  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1Th 2:5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

1Th 2:6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

The Apostles’ authority to preach the Gospel is always challenged and rejected by the chief priests of Jerusalem, who reject those who speak truth in love and, in turn, persecute those who bring the Gospel.

Luk 20:1  And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 

3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

Like our Lord, Christ Jesus, sons of God are being rejected even by those who are near and dear. The natural man within every man cannot receive the things of the Spirit. The Psalmist writing in Ps 41 is a shadow of what the sons of God are experiencing to this day, being rejected by all men [by the lies within] and by carnal men without.

Psa 41:9  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 

Psa 41:10  But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 

Mar 10:33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

Mar 10:34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Those who have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear reject the true message of the Gospel of Christ that is being preached to them. Christ experiences it in His day:

Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Mat 23:38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Heb 4:2  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. 

Sons of God no longer walk by sight and no longer know any man after the flesh. They are about doing the Lord’s work and striving to obey all of His Commandments and to preach the Gospel of Life through death to our inward nations and to all who receive us without.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

2Co 4:4  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.

2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

We pray that we stay faithful to preach the Gospel to every living creature under the sun, within ourselves and those without. Like our Lord, children of God are being sent; you, the reader, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, are being sent.

Luk 4:43  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 

Luk 4:44  And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. 

Mar 16:20  And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Go to the www.truthinscripture.com website and to the heading: Commandments. Do not forget to know and do the Commandments of Christ Jesus. It is life aionios.

Receive ye the Gospel, receive ye the Holy Spirit.

Articles

Abstaining from Meat Offered to Idols

Peter

Being a Faithful Witness of the Lord

We thank you, Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, for our many trials, which provide us opportunities to exercise our faith and learn to discern good from evil. May our eyes be opened to see and remain watchful for the snares of the world’s idols that are everywhere in these last days.

We are commanded to abstain from idols and not to eat meat that is offered in sacrifice to them. These are spiritual terms we come to understand so we may walk perfectly before our Lord. Our abstaining from such activity was the key instruction in the Apostle’s letter to the Gentiles on how to conduct themselves in the faith.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

Before addressing the specific Scriptures that gave rise to the questions regarding idols and eating meat offered unto them, let us lay the foundation for what an idol and meat represent and what is meant by the meat being sacrificed or offered unto an idol.

What is Meat?

Meat is knowledge and what we believe, be it positive or negative. In the negative sense, as in this discussion, meat offered unto idols is knowledge apart from the Commandments. The Commandments are the knowledge of God, the meat of Jesus Christ that keeps us from destruction and brings salvation.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Eating the meat of the world’s knowledge can be many things, any interest or topic, but by default, it is all carnal dialogue and conversation with the Lord’s Commandments absent. This dialogue is knowledge that, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. The mature in the faith are taking heed of our eating worldly meat, especially when in the presence of others, our brethren, whom we care for and always seek to edify and show by example how we are to walk.

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

As the people of God, we love our brothers and seek their welfare ahead of our own. A weaker brother could see us partaking of the knowledge of idols, and it is a poor witness for Christ to those young in the faith seeking to come out and be separate.

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

What is an idol?

An idol is anything in our thoughtlife [heavens] or on our earth [our walk] that we esteem highly. It is our thoughts, our beliefs that drive our meditations and our deeds.  We make an image of these idols, elevating them above the Commandments, and thus we worship them rather than God. We are forbidden to serve any other god or bow down to them, but only the Lord. We sacrifice and bow to an idol when we obey the idol rather than the Commandments.

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

Perhaps the most famous idol is the golden calf made by Israel during their journey to the Promised Land. While Moses was away, they quickly turned aside from the Commandments, making an idol from their treasures, and worshipped it, despite being commanded not to do so. So it is today, as men make idols of many things that are highly esteemed in the world.

Exo 32:8  They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’

We are admonished to take heed to abstain from idols throughout the Scriptures lest we fail to learn the lesson of Israel in the flesh and die in the wilderness. There is no life found in any idol; only Christ gives life. Anything but the Commandments is falsehood, and the pursuit of riches and knowledge allure men into this state of spiritual death.

Jer 51:17  Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 

After entering the Promised Land, the snare of idols remains, and if one does not take heed, we are easily turned back to idols rather than obeying the Commandments.

Jdg 2:17  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 

The spirit of Satan is the spirit of the carnal mind that tempts us through the lusts that live in our flesh to make many idols and seek our own glory, bowing down to Satan, versus obeying the Commandments. The temptations of Christ are our temptations that the faithful turn away from, so we do not worship any other god.

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  

1Jn 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

Those in the faith are commanded to flee from idolatry and be circumspect in how and what they eat. Creating and worshipping idols satisfies and keeps alive our fleshly desires. We keep the Commandments and do not provoke the Lord to jealousy. We eat the Commandments that are the Body of Christ and drink of His Blood by laying down our lives for each other.

1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

Those in Christ are free, as the Truth has been given to us and now lives in us, and thus we have liberty to eat of the knowledge of idols. Eating meat sacrificed to idols is engaging in conversation, activity, and communion about worldly and carnal things that are not of Christ. Those in the faith are able to eat this knowledge, taking the spoils as the Gospel has been revealed unto us, and another man’s false god does not sway us. We, however, ask no questions.

1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 

Not every man has our knowledge of God; the mystery of the Gospel is hidden from their eyes. The Lord’s people sacrifice and bow only to the one true God by striving to obey the Commandments, which include being separated from the gods of this world. As a new creation, we eat differently than the world, thus the Commandment is to purge out the old food from our feasts and replace it with Christ. When we come together to break bread and eat at the Lord’s table in our assemblies, we are not doing it with those who are fornicators, or covetous, all of which is idolatry. This leaven entering in defiles the Lord’s table and corrupts us; and the Commandment is to separate from them.

1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 

1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

Some young in faith, now with knowledge of idols and the Commandments, continue to eat the meat that is offered to an idol and thus remain weak and defiled. Their growth in Christ, in the Commandments, is stunted when they continue to consume meat that is offered unto idols.

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 

The mature man of Christ has put to death the lusts of the flesh and any desires that exalt themselves against the Commandments. No place is given for an idol to take root or remain in our hearts and minds. We eat the meat of someone else’s idols but are circumspect not to be overtaken by any.

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any

Col 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

Paul’s primary point of 1Cor 10 is to remind us of the destruction that came upon ancient Israel when they strayed from the Commandments and went back a whoring after idols they created from their own carnal reasoning. Those being saved keep their minds on the Lord and separate from fellowship with devils that are the lies, doctrines and beliefs contrary to the Commandments. We keep the table and food of the Lord pure and undefiled and diligently guard our gates.

1Co 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 

1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 

Having been set free from the law of ordinances and now being justified by the faith of Christ living in us, we are free to go to worldly feasts and markets, but know it is not expedient to do so. We are cautious and on guard. We minimise our interactions and avoid further entanglement by asking no questions about the meat being offered and the idol to which it is offered. We ask no questions for their sake and instead follow the example of Christ and obey the Commandments. We are considered strange for not engaging in these worldly dissipations, but that is our appointment as the Lord’s witnesses.

1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 

1Co 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 

1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 

1Co 10:26  For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. 

1Co 10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

When faith is come, we are the Lord’s witnesses and the light unto the world. Our interactions with everyone the Lord puts in our path are an opportunity and a test for us to be a witness for Christ, a witness to His Commandments.

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 

It is within the precious few saints that the power of Christ dwells, and the greater works are being performed now and in the age to come. We die for others as Christ died for us, meaning we put the welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters above our own.

When it is made known to us that the meat being offered is sacrificed to an idol, we refrain from partaking, and we do not eat of it. We instead witness for Christ and do not bring the one true God down to the level of the world’s idols. Knowing the knowledge and conversation is offered unto an idol, if we then eat of it, we are sinning against the Lord and potentially harming a weaker brother who sees us. We refrain from eating this meat and exit the conversation, the gathering, or whatever the circumstance is of the meat being offered. God’s people do not partake of open idolatry.

1Co 10:28  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: 

1Co 10:29  Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? 

We are free to eat the meat even knowing it is sacrificed to idols, but do not do it when it has been expressly revealed that it is offered unto an idol that is a false god. Why? Because when it is made known that the meat is offered to an idol, we become partakers of their idolatry. We make a stand and witness for Christ. Our partaking of this meat offered unto idols is sin and harms weaker brothers who have a weak conscience by virtue of their youth.

Rather than partake of this meat, we flee from evil and the open practice of idolatry. We do not eat in deference to others to be a witness for Christ and not create any obstacle that can delay or hinder a brother from coming to the knowledge of the Truth. Those with the Promise know there is but one true God, so the idols of men and the world are nothing to us, and thus we are not harmed by hearing of this conversation. We take every opportunity to set the example and give no reason for a brother to sin.

Christ tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Whatever we do, eating meat or not eating meat, we do it all for the glory of God to be revealed in ourselves and others. By not eating, we are doing it for the glory of God, not to delay the weaker brother from coming to the knowledge of the truth and obeying God. We are setting an example by our behaviour. If we engage in the same dissipations and gobble down the world’s meat that is contrary to the Commandments, we become a stumbling block for our brother. Instead, we bring glory to God and refrain from eating the meat of their carnal reasonings. We seek the spiritual profit, the salvation, of our brothers and eat not. We seek the profit of others that we may save some of them who see and hear our conversation.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 

1Co 10:33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Those in the faith of Christ are now a living sacrifice for Christ. The life we live is no longer our own, as we have been redeemed to Christ. We lay down our lives and do what we need to do to bring forth the glory of God in all men. This includes not partaking of eating meat sacrificed to idols, where it is made known by those who eat. By openly partaking of this meat, we give a poor witness, so we do not eat of it so as not to cause our brother to stumble.

1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

We provide some high-level examples of situations in which we are not to eat meat offered to idols. We are keeping it brief, consistent with the Commandment not to ask questions or stir up lust for the sake of our brethren. Seek the Lord when you have these questions or ask a brother in private for counsel.

One day, we may find ourselves unexpectedly at a celebration of a special day the world holds in high esteem. The Lord’s people do not partake of this meat by excusing themselves and not participating in the rituals of their sacrifice. We do not attend pagan festivals to be a better witness for Christ. Called out from the world, we refrain from eating of this knowledge and its conversation.

Attending church services where the truth is not found is eating meat sacrificed unto the idol of a false Jesus.  We come out of orthodox churches completely, as our participation creates an obstacle for others to draw near to the Living Gospel and begin to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

If a weaker brother tempts us by rationalising sin in the moment, we do not partake of it but rebuke them and stand for Christ. One may tempt us by saying, “I know we should not do this, but let’s do it anyway.” In such an example, the lusts of the flesh, disobedience are exalted to an idol above the keeping of Christ’s Commandments. We do not participate in this conversation, but we stand for Christ as faithful witnesses. A typical example by which many stumble is the Commandment not to gossip and speak evil of another man.

Another example is holding onto a false doctrine despite knowing the truth. An example of a false doctrine being idolised is when the idol of man’s definition of love conflicts with Godly love. It is painful and difficult to separate from brethren when commanded, despite the clear Commandments regarding antichrists and false brethren. To the natural man, this seems unloving, but to those in the faith, it is the Power of God separating the wheat from the tares and the sheep from the goats, and is confirmation that we are in the Lord’s hands. We please Christ rather than men, and this is done by obeying the Commands and not bowing down to an idol.

Lastly, there are a variety of worldly interests that, if not kept in subjection, can become idols. Pursuing these things distracts us from our focus on Christ. We do not squander our precious time but redeem it wisely.

Final Exhortations

Idolatry is everywhere, so we never fully escape it. We learn to walk the narrow road, navigating around it and not becoming snared in its deception and allure to our flesh.  We are free to eat the meat that the world makes into idols, but are watchful and careful to avoid making them into idols ourselves. The Lord’s people are separated from these idols, and we lose our desire to touch the unclean.

2Co 6:16  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. 

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

When we come together as a Body to eat of the things of the Lord, our table cannot be mixed. We cannot eat at the Lord’s table at the same time we are eating at the table of devils, which is the table of idols. If we do not obey these Commandments, we become sick, weak, and fall asleep to the Commandments. We watch what we eat carefully and also guard our assemblies, so they do not become a feast where the meat of idols is mixed into our breaking of the Lord’s Bread and the meat of the Gospel.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

The Lord is long-suffering and patient with us to grow into maturity and put away all of these idols. The Lord does not tolerate the strong from teaching and seducing others to commit such fornication that is idolatry. Obey the Commandments, casting out the Jezebel Spirit within and without ourselves, keeping oneself pure.

Rev 2:20  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. 

May these words encourage us to be vigilant like Gideon’s army and always be watching and ready for the enemy to appear. Those who become the army of God do not bow down on their knees to any idols. Soldiers for Christ do not mindlessly take things in; they remain alert and ready for the temptations that are promised to come.

Jdg 7:5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 

Jdg 7:6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 

We thank the Lord for raising the questions that led to this article. May all be edified and learn to be alert and discern the situation, choosing good over the evil of the world.