Articles

Called, Chosen and Made Faithful

The Progression of the Faithful

There is a time destined for every man that is known as their day of the Lord. This “day” is our unique designated time of reformation and remaking into a new vessel.  It is the formation and revelation of Jesus Christ within us when we see ourselves fulfilling the Scriptures.  What a blessing indeed!

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.  

The plan of God is for us [every man in their appointed time] to fulfill the prophecies written in the book. It is the ultimate blessing when we are given to live those sayings, as keeping them is completing the plan of God.  This is the same as the revelation of Jesus Christ within us.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 

When we begin to understand the Lord coming quickly upon us; the time is indeed “at hand” and life will never be the same.  Today as in every generation since Christ walked the physical earth, the Lord is separating those being matured in Christ from their brethren. Those so chosen and so blessed are bearing the reproach of Christ outside the camp of Israel.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

Our prior time being nurtured and taught by prophets, pastors, and teachers in the church, is a necessary experience to prepare us for what comes afterward. To come out of Babylon, we first need to go into Babylon and thus we all wait there until called out by our Lord.

What comes afterward is our day of the Lord, the third and final day of the Lord’s three-day plan to remake us. When the Lord separates us and we enter into the last phase of His plan, this distinction begins to be revealed in greater clarity.  It is a tiny audience that can receive what is written here, and only those prepared by the Lord. As babes, we are not ready for the truth of the sufferings and isolation yet to come, and that is why we are not given to know these details until we have been prepared to bear the experience.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 

 The work of God in our lives to remake and reshape us into Christ is a work that we are told we cannot believe even if it is declared unto us. Only the Lord can open our eyes to see it and only when we are ready.

Act 13:40  Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 

Act 13:41  Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 

What is spoken throughout the prophets is indeed ours to fulfill on our appointed day. In our day of the Lord, we are being given to understand the progression of moving from babes in Christ to mature sons of God.

The Called, Chosen, and Faithful

God’s three-day plan for all mankind is amazingly simple once we are given eyes to see His divine providence in all things. We are the temple in which God dwells. The Lord is continually working to rebuild His temple in three days which represents our experience being transformed into the image of God. The Lord’s disciples will remember this truth when Christ in them is raised from the dead.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body. 
Joh 2:22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they [you, me, those being made faithful in the day] believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 

We, too will be given great faith and believe the Scriptures in that day.  Seeing ourselves living these three days is the only sign that the Lord is giving those being saved in every generation.

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

Every man, like Christ, begins their journey by being called out of Egypt.   This prophecy applied to Christ and applies to those He chooses in their appointed times. We all start in Egypt, meaning the carnal-minded world, the seat of power, and the lust of the flesh.

Hos 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 

Our spiritual journey and progression of faith are these three days.  This includes our time being nurtured in fellowship with others who share our faith and passion for the Lord;  and also later when we separated from the camp of Israel.  Seeing ourselves experiencing these three days is the confirmation the Lord is giving us that we belong to Him.

All the Lord’s people come through the church age to find the truth and subsequently be led by the Lord into even greater understanding. Our time gathered in the camp of Israel represents the second of our three-day transformation.  From the many called, fewer are chosen out, and even far fewer are subsequently called to be faithful in this age.

It is a big revelation when we realize all our time in organized churches and fellowships was our time in Spiritual Babylon. We are taught many things there yet are still under the law for the carnally minded doing the same things as those still in the world. Yet the day Christ comes the second time to us is the day we are set free and can be matured in the faith of the saints.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

From the first generation to the last, all Christians track the same journey of being called, chosen, and made faithful in their day of the Lord. We live by every word God spoke and fulfill the Scriptures in our appointed times. The early church experiences become our experiences if we are part of the faithful remnant [the escaped remnant] the Lord is saving in this generation.  The Lord has not stopped coming to those He chooses to fulfill the Scriptures in them. When we read things like this passage, it is not history but rather active and living experiences we are fulfilling.

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled

The sacrifice of Christ in us, the newborn in the Spirit, is always taking place on the third day. It is how and when we are perfected like Christ.

Hos 6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 

Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day

Each stage of this progression, including our being under the guidance of the church “offices,” plays a big part in preparing us for what lies ahead. Nothing of the Lord is ever wasted. The three staged progression of called, chosen, and faithful is what makes us mature, which every man is experiencing in due time.   It is a three spiritual day process that we must live out to become the faithful remnant the Lord saves in every generation.

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

Whether we are moved onward from the second day is up to the Lord, who has appointed all things  To move us onward, a time comes when we are rejected by our people and become the isolated and scattered pilgrims being led and taught by the Spirit. We must be forsaken by our spiritual father and mother, the elders who raised us and taught us basic truths where we remain under the law.

Psa 27:10  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD take me up. 

Our time in active churches and fellowships is when we are fed milk and grow, being prepared for greater things that come later.

Psa 22:9  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 

Psa 22:10  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 

Elijah, Paul, and the Patriarchs experienced the isolation and rejection of the Gentiles and their spiritual people in Israel. This experience is ours, as our all things written;  if we are part of the remnant, the Lord is saving in this generation.

Rom 11:4  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. 

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

The early church we read about in the Scriptures is not an example of a “mature church” and the end state of where we end up in the Body of Christ. We need to see the early church as an IMMATURE church, still needing structure to teach and prepare them for what lies ahead. Several examples in our Bibles cite this immaturity, which is the destiny of every church generation. For instance, Paul was still bowing to the law (taking the Nazarite Vow), Timothy did the same in cutting his hair, and Peter feared offending the Jews if he ate with the Gentiles. We, like them, are going through the same experiences and need to be first raised as babies and toddlers, eventually becoming teenagers in the faith awaiting the day the Lord ordained for us.

 The ReGathering of Spiritual Israel to the Lord

Those made faithful in every age are taken from Israel and delivered from the tutors and governors where they have been held. All the prophets speak of how the Lord causes us to enter into His true rest. Here is a sampling from the major prophets that is our experience to fulfill.

Eze 34:12  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 

Eze 34:13  And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 

Eze 34:14  I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 

Eze 34:15  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 

Living out this separation is the Lording bringing us His reward, that is, obtaining the mind of Christ.

Isa 40:10  Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isa 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

It is the fulfillment of the new covenant. The process requires we be scattered and regathered after we have suffered outside the camp.

Jer 31:10  “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ 

Jer 32:37  Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 

The Lord has not cast away His people. The escaped remnant is the first to be led by the Spirit of the Lord into the way of righteousness.

Isa 10:20  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 

We earnestly seek our final resting place in our day of the Lord, knowing the Lord is faithful. We sojourn outside the camp awaiting the regathering.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

Surviving alone requires a level of maturity not found in babes and young ones in the faith. Thus the purpose of our Day 2 in preparing us for the Day of the Lord, Day 3, becomes evident.

Destined to be Rejected

To fulfill the Scriptures, we are destined to be rejected by our brethren, like our Lord, Paul, John, and all those who walked before us. Israel rejected Christ, and this, too, is our experience. We should embrace it boldly, standing firm in the faith.  The Apostles were not exempted. Notwithstanding all the good Paul did in establishing churches and filling church offices,  ALL later forsook Paul.

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 

The same happened with the Apostle John, who was exiled to Patmos for His testimony of the truth by His own people. You, me, and everyone is exiled by our own people on an island that is spiritually called Patmos. This is because we defended the Word and testified of the Gospel but were rejected. Thus the Lord creates events that cause us to enter into the Lord’s day, the day of the Lord.  Then we begin to understand what the Lord has been doing.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

Thus our Day 2 experience segues into our Day 3, where the plan of God is being completed.  All the Apostle’s last letters are written to Israel’s scattered tribes, pilgrims, and strangers. The church was indeed scattered throughout the world by the time the New Testament was completed. Thus again fulfilling Scripture.

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 

This scattering is the beginning of our inward transformation. It is His means to begin our third day, the day of the Lord for His “little ones”. We are now firmly in the hands of the living God. The prophet Zechariah tells us that this means enduring our day of the Lord. Clay in the Potter’s hands, being molded and reshaped by the fire that is the Lord.

Zec 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 

Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. 

The Lord quotes this prophecy from Zechariah as events and experiences we, like Him, are destined to experience to fulfill the Scriptures.

Mat 26:31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 

The second sacrificed goat is Christ’s Christ, who is sent out into the wilderness and henceforth led by the Spirit of Christ (the fit man).

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 

Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness

The goat in the wilderness is a shadow of our experiences as a living sacrifice in our Day 3.

Our becoming the Lord’s priests by these experiences is further confirmation of our separation and isolation from our brethren Israel. Our inheritance is not with Israel, but instead, we partake of offerings made by the consuming fire that is the Lord in our day of the Lord.

Deu 18:1  The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 

Deu 18:2  Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. 

The New Testament confirmation of this truth is in Hebrews. We are destined to suffer for the Lord’s sake outside the camp of Israel as we have no continuing city yet seek the one to come.  It is worth repeating often the amazing blessing we are receiving as we sojourn by faith.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

Our journey has many seasons, and those offices and church gatherings do not apply to all of them. When He comes unto us for salvation (the second time), we need no man to teach or lead us. We are henceforth led by the Spirit of God, who us teaching us everything.

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.

The Lord is teaching us and quickening our spirits through everything He is doing in our lives. He is speaking thru events and experiences, not just the written word. The Lord is not limited to the words in the Bible as, indeed, all the things Christ did would fulfill more books than the world can hold.

We are thankful for our experiences with prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors. All have served to further our advancement in the Lord’s kingdom. All mankind comes through these experiences to fulfill the Scriptures and complete the plan of God. We are merely doing it sooner than most; it is all the Lord’s doing and none of ourselves.

No man knows what tomorrow brings explicitly. Yet we do know and trust in the plan of God to save every man by rebuilding His temple within them over the three progressive days described in the Scriptures.

May these words edify and bless those the Lord has prepared to hear them.

 

Pete

 

 

Articles

The Wonderful Day of the Lord

The Wonderful Day of the Lord

There is a day spoken about in Scriptures much more than any other day.  This day is so central to salvation and the message of the gospel a refresher is always needed.  This little flock has been washed with water, we have been prepared for true baptism of Christ which will be and is destroying all carnal mindedness within us and ushering in true and lasting righteousness.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

The great day of the Lord is what comes afterward and what truly converts us into doers and not just hearers of the Word.  It takes fire and the second coming of Christ which begins this great day in our heavens and our earth.

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:

It is only through a fiery furnace that our new man Christ in us is emerging as the overcomer.  Our carnal and sinful ways are being burned up through this “day” which is our day of judgment otherwise known as the lake of fire which is the Second Death and wherein death (carnality) will be destroyed and along with it, the works of the devil (Heb 2:14-15).

There is much more to come than what we learned from the church in the wilderness from which we have now come out of [Rev 12:17].  Our baptism of fire has come and is coming, and we need to be prepared and reminded that our enduring this is how we obtain the greatest prize of all, knowing the Lord and having His mind.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Lord’s Day is not a Sunday or a Saturday or any outward day, it is a spiritual term referencing the age or process by which all men are transformed in the image and glory of Jesus Christ.  This study is intended to show just how pervasive this “day” is spoken about in our bibles via many different symbols and terms.  The day of the Lord for every man is the same day as “judgment day” that is making all things new through the consuming work of the fiery word of God burning up the wood hay and stubble [our carnal works] within the hearts (earth) and minds (heavens) of His people.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Isa 2:12  For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

Like all words, the term “the day of the Lord” is part of the two-edged sword (Heb 4:12) meaning there is both a positive and a negative application; depending on whether the old man or new man is in view.

To the carnal mind, the Scriptures with these seeming discrepancies of good and evil veil the truth and have led to all the orthodox denominations and speculative theories about the truth regarding judgment and the day of the Lord. The truth is hidden behind the letter of the words and only revealed to the precious few GIVEN the understanding and keys to the kingdom (Mat 13:11).

There is a wide range in the language used to describe the day of the Lord and its other synonyms.  We are told, on one hand, the Lord’s coming will be a great light (Isa 9:2) and very bright (2Th 2:8) yet, on the other hand, this day is also said to be very dark.

Amo 5:20  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

The carnal mind has a tough time seeing the Lord as both light and darkness, yet He is all those things and is working all those things (Rom 8:28, Isa 45:7) for the greater good of His people.  To the new man given eyes to see and ears to hear, Christ who is His Word is light. But to the other side, the old man, the carnal mind, those same words, and same Christ is sheer darkness.  Yet it is all the same Word it is all part of the Lord’s work in His people.

Exo 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Example of Babylonian Delusion

Here is a comparative table that is taken from a “Christian website” that sees the two sides of the same sword as being truly different days for different people.  This is the way most Christians see it with only those evil people over there experiencing the wrath of God. They don’t know the thing they deny is what will save them [i.e. the Lake of Fire and Second Death]

The Day of Christ is distinct from the Day of the Lord as daylight is to dark. The first is a time of great anticipation, joy, blessing, and reward. The second is a time of terror, wrath, dread, and woe. A stark contrast exists between these two days. The chart below outlines the differences.

Day of Christ Day of the Lord
For the Church (the Body of Christ) For rejectors of Christ
A day of blessing and reward A day of judgment
A heavenly hope An earthly despair
Eagerly anticipated Feared and dreaded

The truth is these days are one in the same exact day! The day of Christ is the day of the Lord, there is no difference.  Our judgment is the blessing and the same event also a blessing and rewarding us.

Isa 1:27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

All of God’s people come out of Babylon [Rev 18:4 – Come out of her my people] which includes outward orthodoxy but also spiritual Babylon within our hearts.  We learn wrongly in Babylon that the day of the Lord and us dying in the lake of fire is only for those evil people out there. Such carnal thinking and filtering of Scriptures by the letter vs the spirit has us avoiding the very thing we must embrace and hasten unto if we want to be like Christ.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The day is a Great Day!

The day of the Lord is a GREAT DAY because it is the day during which we are being saved as we live through and embrace the chastening and scourging our Lord is pouring out.  It is a great day because the Lord is being exalted within our hearts and minds, Christ is being raised within us!

Zep 1:14  The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Zec 12:9  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

The enemies of the Lord within us, our old man, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan and all his lying demons are being destroyed in this great and terrible day of the Lord. What a wonderful work of God to His people beginning with the Elect in this age.  So much for the false rapture theory and it’s look-alike lies that have its believers taking themselves completely out of the Book of Life by denying the day of the Lord is for them.  All that we knew is being turned dark and destroyed with the brightness of the Lord’s coming. Our old ways are being replaced with His ways and His righteousness.

Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Isa 26:9  …. for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The Day of the Lord is the best thing that happens to us. It is the day, the time during which we come to know the Lord having His mind and being made partakers of His holiness.  His Word won’t fail to perform!

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also [when He lives within us]

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

We are living this day out when we are drinking the wine of gospel which is the blessing to the new man and the wrath to the old.

Mar 14:24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Seeing the two-edged sword with spiritual eyes, the inconsistencies about judgment are being cleared up.  “The day” is a great day but it is also a terrible day for the old man and our carnal mind.

Heb 10:31  (NLT)  It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Psa 66:3  Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee [this is salvation, all enemies under His feet]

This great day of the Lord is even known as the day of evil because the coming of Christ shines light (truth) onto all the hidden evil within us.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked [the marred vessel – Jer 18:4] for the day of evil.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness [evil] shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee …

It’s also known as the day of vengeance!

A jealous God is saving us for His namesake (Eze 36:22-23) not our own.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Such destruction is the fate of every man that comes in that same day also known as His day of vengeance.

2Th 1:8  (NKJV) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 12:19  (NKJV) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.

Vengeance against the old man is what Christ has come to proclaim and is the entire premise of the glorious gospel.

Isa 61:2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

It is a day of troubles and many tribulations

The day of the Lord signals the transition from the present evil age into the age of judgment when men are remade in the lake of fire.  It is only through much trouble any man shall enter into the kingdom (Act 14:22).

Eze 7:6  An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.

Eze 7:7  The morning is come [Christ has come] unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near ….

Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This Day is the Wonderful Works of the Lord

It is only through faith we can “fear not” the things the Lord is doing in our lives.  This will be the greatest trial men will face in these clay bodies.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Trusting in His promises we are looking forward and asking Him to Come more and more in our life in that day knowing the process is what is savings us.

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

So, while all orthodox Christianity teaches the day of the Lord (aka the Lake of Fire) is to be avoided and something happening only to those sinners over there but not to us, the truth is the Day of the Lord is a wonderful time for the new man.  It is our enduring the process that God requires to call the light out of the darkness and bring forth the new man, the Lord from our heavens.  They are one and the same known as the wonderful works of the Lord to His children.

Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! [repeated 4x in Psa 107 alone]

The storm and trials the Lord puts upon us may not feel at times to be wonderful when viewed from a body of flesh.  Yet to the spiritual man and he who is overcoming they are becoming known as marvelous works as we look behind and see our salvation.

Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Mat 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Gathering Together Awaiting our Day of the Lord

The time of the coming of the Lord inwardly in the hearts and minds of His people is known only to the Father.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

An outward day is coming when this world and its evil nations will cease to exist.  Yet that day is already appearing within us as the fire is being turned up as this gospel is preached and believed in every nation within us.

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

Mat 24:14  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.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand [the day of the Lord and the end of all things]

The Lord has us in a Living Body of Christ to help one another through what lies ahead.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

2Th 2:2  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. 

The day of Jesus Christ which is the Day of the Lord does have an end.  He that began the work in us will and is finishing it.

Php 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Paul and others and we ourselves are too frequently admonish one another to stay the course, to finish the race in order to receive the prize.

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

2Pe 1:10  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

2Pe 1:11  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we grow and mature, doom and gloom to the old man is being changed into rejoicing as the new man increases and the Lord is revealed within us.

Joh 16:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

The Lord’s plan is to prosper us by giving us His mind and manifesting His glory within (Jer 29:11).  If we are given faith to believe in Him, we shall be saved by this hope (Rom 8:24).  This is the hope that is, was and will be saving us as we abide in it during our “dreadful” day of the Lord.

Rom 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom 5:2  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God [to be revealed]

Rom 5:3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Rom 5:4  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Rom 5:5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Knowing these truths and God’s purpose and methods in the “day of the Lord” and having faith in them, is how we are able to endure what is coming upon our earth, trusting in what the Lord is doing.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Our abiding through our day of the Lord is the greatest blessing as we are able to endure paying the high pricing of being chosen in Christ.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love [1Jo 5:3] his appearing.

We are so blessed to have been awakened to righteousness. Let’s take hold the admonishments of the Apostles and the Lord to pray, stay awake and remain sober knowing these Truths.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

Luk 21:36  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

We can say what John said to end the Book, Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Questions and comments are always welcome.  You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Articles

The Acceptable Year of the Lord

“The Acceptable Year of the Lord”

Preaching the gospel is the same as preaching the acceptable year of the Lord.  Coming to understand this will help us know how we are to henceforth live our lives and what to expect as we finish the race set before us.  When Christ comes speaking the gospel to us, the acceptable year of the Lord has begun within us.

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 

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 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord

Luk 4:20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 

Luk 4:21  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 

The acceptable year of the Lord is the year of the Lord’s favor upon men and is the greatest blessing any man receives.  That favor towards man, of course, is the true grace of God which is what transforms us and remakes us into His image by the chastening and scourging of our old man and beastly way of life.  The grace of God is not a substitution of his death for ours, nor is it forgiveness where no suffering or consequences are experienced.  True grace is the fire, the wrath of God poured out against our flesh and old man’s way of life.  It is what is teaching us righteousness (Tit 2:12).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (accepts). 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

We see the acceptable year of the Lord is also known as the day of vengeance that brings about our new man (the man of His righteousness) that is established by faith.

Isa 61:1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 

Isa 61:2  To proclaim the acceptable [H7522]  year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 

The acceptable year of the Lord could also be called the year of favor if we look at the uses of the Hebrew word for favor and acceptable.

H7522, râtsôn

Total KJV Occurrences: 60

favour, 16

Deu_33:23, Psa_5:12, Psa_30:5, Psa_30:7, Psa_44:3, Psa_89:17, Psa_106:4, Pro_8:35, Pro_11:27, Pro_12:2, Pro_14:9, Pro_14:35, Pro_16:15, Pro_18:22, Pro_19:12, Isa_60:10

will, 12

Lev_1:3, Lev_19:5, Lev_22:19, Lev_22:29, Deu_33:16, Psa_40:8, Psa_143:10, Dan_8:4, Dan_11:3, Dan_11:16, Dan_11:36, Mal_2:13

acceptable, 9

Lev_22:20, Deu_33:24, Psa_19:14, Psa_69:13, Pro_10:32, Isa_49:8, Isa_58:5, Isa_61:2, Jer_6:20

delight, 5

Pro_11:1, Pro_11:20, Pro_12:22, Pro_15:8, Pro_16:13

pleasure, 5

Ezr_10:11, Neh_9:37, Est_1:8, Psa_51:18, Psa_103:21

accepted, 4

Exo_28:38, Lev_22:21, Lev_23:11, Isa_56:7

desire, 3

2Ch_15:15, Psa_145:16, Psa_145:19

good, 2

Deu_33:16, Mal_2:13

acceptance, 1

Isa_60:7

 

God’s favor towards us is His righteous judgments.  Knowing we are in the lake of fire that is killing death within us (the carnal mind) is the one sign we have been received of our heavenly Father and are in the process of being accepted as we are being transformed into the image of Christ.

Psa 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour [H7522 – acceptance, receiving us] is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 

The restoration of Israel (God’s Elect now and all men in the end) is accomplished in this “acceptable” year and time the Lord has ordained when He comes to rule in our lives (establishing the earth).

Isa 49:8  Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 

Isa 49:9  That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

It is in this acceptable year of the Lord that we are made to give an account and we are judged and our spiritual progression is advanced from the initial down payment onward towards a mature man of God who is “doing righteousness”.

Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

The acceptable year of the Lord is no more a literal year than any other word of Scripture, none of which are literal and all of which are Spirit (Joh 6:63) and spoken in similitudes and parables (Hos 12:10, Mar 4:11).  Outwardly the acceptable year defines the three harvests of the Lord by which all men are being saved (1Co 15:22-24) in the order ordained.  Yet this acceptable year of the Lord is also a living event that all men beginning with the Elect will live out inwardly.  This year of the Lord is what is converting us and making us acceptable to the Lord.  It the blessing of the new man coming forth a progressive process that mature us.

Deu 16:16  Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: 

Deu 16:17  Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

The acceptable year of the Lord is the same as the three days during which He is rebuilding the Temple of God we have destroyed and profaned.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 

The working of the Lord within us for these three days is the one sign given that the Lord is with us and we are now being conformed into His image and righteousness.

Mat 12:38  Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 
Mat 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 
Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth

Our change of heart via the spiritual circumcision done without hands (Col 2:11) is the same acceptance process (our consecration) by which the Lord that brings forth the new man.

Eze 43:27  And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. 

It is there in the body of Christ, in His Holy Mountain where we will be accepted and where all of this righteous work will be performed in us.   The Lord’s people are separated by the gospel and to the Lord, the savor of death to death (our carnal mind) is sweet and is what makes us acceptable in His sight.

Eze 20:41  I will accept you with your sweet savour [of death], when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 

Dying to death on the cross is how we are being conformed into the image of the Son and is what makes us acceptable to the Lord. It is His desires and is what He is getting in working all things according to the counsel of His will and commanding us to “follow Him” to death.  This is why our death (death to death, the second death) is so very precious to the Lord.

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

Ecc 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. 

A new testament witness explaining the Lord’s view of our death is this.

Col 1:20  And, having made peace [with you and me] through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 

Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 

Those being accepted by the Lord are those bringing judgment to the Gentiles within themselves meaning the rest of the dead.  Those the Lord accepts are one and the same those in whom He delights when this judgment is brought.

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth [H7521 – Accepts]; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 

Pro 3:12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth [H7521 – Accepts]

The Lord “taking pleasure” is also one and the same as the Lord “accepting us” as Psalm 149 confirms.

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure [H7521 – accepts] in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 

Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand; 

Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [within first] and punishments upon the people; 

Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron [rule and reign over the inward nations]; 

Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. 

Being accepted by God means we have been chosen and received as His son.  The very fact we are enduring fiery trials in our lake of fire and dying to death having our carnal mind destroyed is very good news. It is the Gospel!  Embracing the gospel is embracing the work of God’s chastening grace that is scourging our man of sin and burning up our entire old way of life in making all things new.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 

2Ti 1:10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

Right now is the acceptable year of the Lord!  We are admonished not to squander it or receive the grace of God in vain.

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped [succored] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 

The trials in the church are only just beginning and we must remain on guard and watchful lest we are led astray and not learn the lessons we have witnessed with our own eyes of late.  The victory is certain, the baptism of fire, the cross, the lake of fire being the only way wherein righteousness will be established on a new heaven and a new earth within us.  I admonish myself and everyone to take hold of these precious promises we have been given and diligently pursue peace and holiness in the Lord.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

2Pe 3:14  Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 

Our carnal mind will cause us to be complacent and let our guard down and our enemies are always right there to tempt us to fall from walking the narrow road carrying our cross.

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 grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

We should have every expectation of fiery trials daily as we need to go through the lake of fire now to die to death which is the second death.

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 (Agape  – our obedience) unfeigned, 

The Lord is seated now in our heavens and we are to be putting on the new man and no longer live in the life we once had when abiding in darkness.  Today is the acceptable year of the Lord.  Lord willing let’s bring forth fruit confirming the Word working in us to bring salvation.

Mar 16:19  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 

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

Eph 5:9  For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; 

Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

I hope we all can grow to fully embrace the suffering and afflictions to which we have been appointed for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Phi 1:29).   Our flesh will grow tired but the power of the Spirit working mightily in us will keep us going with the help of the Lord’s ministering angels in this Body.  Believe this gospel and know we have been already accepted by the Lord and our redemption draws nigh.  Now is the time!  Today is the day!

Luk 21:28  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 

Heb 3:13  but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

Heb 3:14  For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 

Questions and comments always welcome.  You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

 

Articles

Drinking of the Cup of God’s Wrath

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee had no clue what she was asking as all of us will have no clue when we first seek to enter the kingdom of God. We don’t enter the kingdom by saying a 10 second sinners prayer or joining a church. We enter into the kingdom thru the temple that is Jesus Christ. We enter the kingdom only thru much tribulation and great suffering. We follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

All men will ultimately follow Christ and be baptized with the baptism of Jesus Christ. This is not speaking about being dunked in water in a Babylonian church. It is speaking about enduring the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature. The marred vessel of clay, conceived in sin that we all are, will be destroyed before the new man can come forth from the darkness. This is the purpose of Baptism, to cleanse us of all that defiles and make us into the image of God. This happens for us thru the righteous judgment of God. While we think of baptism with water as it washes us, it also purifies and that comes by fire.

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:

The series of baptism’s that God works in our lives are all really all ONE BAPTISM. That is the baptism into Christ’s death and the destruction of our old man. Virtually the entire orthodox church believes at some level that salvation is avoiding having God’s wrath poured out upon us. Whether it be by rapture or by being protected by God, the doctrines of Babylon keep the multitudes in spiritual darkness not knowing the wonderful works of God to the children of men.

Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

As this Psalm shows us that can see and hear, along with all the prophets, the way of salvation is thru judgment. We are not saved, which really means delivered from sin, until we come thru the judgment of God and endure God’s wrath against our old man. This amazingly is the story repeated in every Book of the Bible yet nobody except for a few God has opened their eyes can see it. But it is very good news when you do see it!!! The way of salvation and entering into the temple that is Christ is by living thru the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature.

We always want to put off the judgment of God on someone else, the guy down the street, that bad guy over there. But it needs to come to us and all men in order for us to be delivered and for God to fulfill the promise of Jesus Christ. Here are some reasons why that is the case.

All men sin

Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

There are none who do good

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The soul that sins shall die

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die

We all will think we saved ourselves by making a choice for Christ. Yet the fact is we have sinned and continue to do so while we are in the vessels of clay. The purposes of marred vessels of clay, created in dishonor was for them to be destroyed and for us to be remade in God’s appointed times.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

God is the potter who is working all things in our lives, even evil things. It is to His glory He does it this way as Romans 9 makes very clear to those who have ears to hear.

Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

So getting back to baptism and bringing in the title of this post, drinking of the cup of God’s wrath, we need to know that there is no sin that will not bear a just recompense from God. This does not change the fact, God is working it, He is causing all things to happen because He is. But this is the mystery and God’s way that the carnal mind cannot comprehend. We learn thru judgment. The old man dies by bearing the wrath of God. It only awaits God’s timing. He has a time appointed for all. God’s Elect rightfully teach of Universal Salvation, the very milk of the gospel and are often accused by carnal babes of promoting sin. Absolutely not. God forbid. This verse is as true as the verses that speak about the salvation of all men.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

ALL UNGODLINESS will bear the wrath of God. Even the ungodliness of God’s Elect, even atheists and Muslims, even carnal babes that are walking in strong delusion. There is no exception. I have continued to beat home the theme of judgment in my discussion comments in the past few months. If God will only open ears to hear these truths that reveal His character and His purposes in creating us marred in sinful bodies ON PURPOSE.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Which is saying the same things told many places including:

Gen 2:25  And they were both naked (sinful), the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

When are given to understand God’s ways and purposes by the revelation of Christ in us, then the true nature of God can be grasped and we will be able to come out of Babylon. So let’s look at judgment and how that is associated with enduring the wrath of God against our old man.

It is such a wonderful blessing to be chosen to be judged now. It’s right there if you can see it or hear the spiritual words.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

We are blessed when all that “bad stuff” from the book of Revelation happens in our lives. This is the only way Christ will be formed in His Elect. Escaping the wrath of God is a false teaching of Babylon.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Many have been brought to some understanding of the spiritual, yet a few of these Babylonian lies such as this one being discussed and especially eternal punishment and the delusion that they have any free will, keep the light of the truth totally shut off and they grope around in spiritual darkness still bound in the bonds of Babylon. We shall all drink of the cup of God’s wrath against our old man. It only matters when that day has been appointed by the Father. All has been written and will happen in the order and sequence God has declared it to happen.

Here the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. You and me and all men shall certainly drink of this cup.

Jer 25:28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

And how does the Lord bring this about? How do we drink of the cup that Christ drank? We drink it because the Lord has called a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Jer 25:29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

God’s Elect are the earth, and it is in the earth that heaven resides. And all of these things pertain to the kingdom of God that is within us.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We need to learn to apply the Scriptures inwardly first. We will live them all whether we know it now or not.

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

When our day of judgment arrives, then and only then will we learn righteousness and come to know the true Christ. This judgment first begins at the house of God, His very Elect and it comes upon “their” earth.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

All that which defiles and all the nations that are within will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. When are ears now hear the truth, our judgment begins in earnest and all our fleshly works and carnal doctrines will be destroyed by the fire, the hail, the destroying winds that are all references to the word of God.

Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The passages of Jeremiah 25, written as all the Scriptures in parables/proverbs to hide the meaning from carnal men tell of this wonderful work to the chosen children of men. This is the good news and the mystery of how Christ is formed in His Elect.

Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Jer 25:32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

The slaying of the beast and the false prophet within, will be accomplished. The words of Christ once heard with spiritual ears will not return void.

Jer 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

Neither will the old man, the old Pete be lamented, it will be as dung and mean nothing to us anymore. Oh it will hurt and it is a process by which God strips us and lays bare all the idols of our heart and removes them from us. But to those that hear the words of Christ, this is good news and we will learn to count it all as joy.

Jer 25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

Jer 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

Jer 25:36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

There will be no rest but only great torment when this judgment first begins and we like JOB do not understand what is going on. These are the spiritual earthquakes sent by God to bring salvation to His chosen ones. God will turn loose the lion that is the devil to come wreak havoc on our old man and carnal way of life.

Jer 25:37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Jer 25:38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

Lest we still don’t believe that Satan is a servant of the Lord and does only what God tells him to do let’s look at this dialog.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Yet a time will come when we will understand what God is doing. I have been blessed to come to that place of understanding and oh what joy. There is not a man alive that will not in due time drink of the cup of God’s wrath against their old man. This will begin suddenly and at a time when we think we are in need of no repentance and are not in need of a physician. But we know not at this time, how blind, naked and wretched we truly our. The beast that is sitting exalted on God’s throne will be thrown down and cast out by the fiery words of truth. This is how we will overcome and gain victory over our inward beast, the man of sin, the son of perdition that is within us all.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 14 describes God’s Elect who have been dragged out of Babylon and the world.

Rev 14:1 And 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.

The three angels (God’s messenger’s, His Elect) will bring the true gospel to us and we will hear it and this will be the process by which salvation comes.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

All of us have received the mark of the beast in our forehead and in our hands. We have all worshiped the beast and the image of the beast thinking it was God. These are all words we shall live and experience and woe unto us if we take them out of God’s book and claim they do not apply to us personally.

Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

The wine of God’s wrath are the false doctrines we all first believe from our Babylonian captivity. But when our day of judgment begins, the spiritual earthquakes and the shaking intensify. Whereas the doctrines of Babylon will cite Rev 14:11 as one of their eternal torment proofs, those with ears to hear know that this verse and whole chapter speaks about the good news, the judgment of God, that which is sweeter than honey against our old carnal man. The purposes of God’s fire and the brimstone, which is a purifying agent, is all for good. It is to circumcise our hearts and that is how we are actually converted on God’s timeline, not ours. The carnal translators wrote forever and ever whereas this should simply read eons of the eons, another words, the amount of time ordained by the Lord.

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Living through all of this judgment and bearing the wrath of God against our old man is the patience of God’s Elect. This verse makes no sense to the carnal mind and can only be understood if we know what God is doing in pouring out His wrath upon us.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

We saw earlier from Jeremiah how the Lord promised to bring a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. A sword is nothing more but the WORD OF GOD, burning in our hearts and that is how the old man will be first lead into captivity in Babylon and then killed (the old man) by that same sword. It is two edged and again we see that living these things is the patience of the saints who are God’s very Elect.

Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The Sum of HIS Word is truth

Many will jump to this verse from Paul’s letter and create a doctrine around it that says we will not endure God’s wrath. That is not what this verse says.

1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

This chapter Paul is speaking about mankind, ALL MEN, and all this verse tells us is that all men will be saved, the very opposite of how it is used by the wolves that teach the lies of Babylon. We are appointed to salvation and the rest of God’s word makes clear that the way of salvation, being delivered from the dominion of sin in our lives, comes by living thru the wrath of God against our old man and carnal nature. Paul made that clear right here to the Ephesians, writing to the Elect saying they all were children of wrath, even as (all men) the others.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The sum of thy word is truth just as Psalm 119:160 declares. The whole counsel of God is truth and we must never forget this verse.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of its own (private) interpretation.

Knowing the way of salvation is thru much tribulation and affliction is very comforting. It is how we can give thanks to God for all things, even the painful trials and suffering that we must endure. We can do this because we know why it is being done and where it is going to take. It is going to take us to salvation if we endure all the way to the end. It is going to lead to the prize, which is to be in the first resurrection and to rule and reign with Christ during the 1,000 symbolic years on this earth.

Knowing these things we can say come quickly Lord Jesus. Our flesh will want this judgment to be over quickly and it will seem much too long but is indeed just for a little while, relatively speaking.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The new heavens and new earth is come to God’s Elect who have been thru their day of judgment and have been the first to die, all by the hand of God. The second death that will come to the multitudes shall not harm us as we will have already been killed and had our day of judgment, enduring God’s wrath already against our old man.

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.

Paul said the same things here. If we are judged NOW, we won’t be judged (condemned) with the world later in the lake of fire.

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

I am not ashamed of this gospel that very few have ears to hear or the faith to believe. I am rejoicing in the suffering knowing its purposes and why His judgment has come to me and to all of God’s Elect now.

1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The judgment of God comes by eating His word, the little book that God’s Elect, His angels, give to us when we are given ears to hear. As Peter said, it begins at the house of God which is the same things the “angel” said to John.

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.

When the rock that is Christ falls upon us, our old man and worldly ways will be ground to powder. The only offering acceptable to the Lord is one that is finely ground, so it can be burned in the fire of His word.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

I pray this will edify the few that the Lord may lead here to be fed. You can email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Your brother in Christ who is standing in the furnace and praying he will be found faithful to his calling,

Pete