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

Studies

Angels of the Lord Camp Around the Saints

For Our Admonition Part 10

“Angels of the Lord Camp Around the Saints”

Key Verses: 2Ki 6:8-23

Being chosen as the true Israel of God and enduring the circumcision by the hand of God (Rom 2:29) ensures there are plenty of wars when our day of the Lord is at hand.  That is how the heathen nations within us (Luk 17:21) are subdued and brought into subjection to the Lord.  In this war, we lose many battles, especially the ones in the middle of our walk when we don’t remain vigilant to fight the good fight of faith.  The best news is that victory is ensured in Christ.  Whatever the Lord starts in us, He will finish exactly on schedule.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Our story today has Syria warring against Israel with Elisha, the King of Israel, and Elisha’s servant (presumably the spiritual leper Gehazi) in view.  This story like all the OT stories is written for our spiritual edification and admonition.  Here is the first part.

2Ki 6:8  Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 

2Ki 6:9  And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 

2Ki 6:10  And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 

2Ki 6:11  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 

2Ki 6:12  And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 

2Ki 6:13  And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 

2Ki 6:14  Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 

2Ki 6:15  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

2Ki 6:16  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 

2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

We all come to faith as spiritual Syrians.  Abraham, the father of faith and his sons were all Syrians (Chaldeans) first, before they were chosen as the Israel of God.

Deu 26:5  And thou (Israel) shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

The king of Syria is a representation of our first born old man who wants to claim the land (dominion) that has been promised to Israel, who are God’s elect.  The battle for dominion in the land is with our own flesh, inside the kingdom of God within us.

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

The physical history of flesh Israel reveals to us the spiritual experience that will follow for spiritual Israel which we are, as the Body of Christ.

The Hebrew word for Syria and Syrians [“aram” H758] comes from a root word “armon” that means to be elevated.  No flesh shall glory in the Lord’s presence which means the Syrians will be put into submission before the new man within us is raised up in glory. This requires us to trust in the Lord and His ways when we see the impossible ahead.

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

So long as we live in clay vessels we need to always be on guard against our flesh and the lusts therein.  They are always seeking to war with Israel to take back the spiritual land that Christ’s elect are being promised as our possession.

2Ki 6:8  Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 

The King of Syria, a representation of the old man, our man of sin, is warring against the Israel and Christ within us.  This king relies on his servants, the lies and false doctrines of the harlot (Rev 9:16) to guide him in his warring conquests.  Yet Christ in us, the man of God (Elisha), guides the King of Israel (you and me) on the schemes of our fleshly enemies and the wiles of their father, the devil’s, servants. With the warnings and admonitions of truth from Elisha, we, the king, are able to send armies (truth) and save the land and thwart the Syrian advances.  This is spiritual warfare played out daily in our lives illustrated here in a biblical history lesson.

2Ki 6:9  And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 

2Ki 6:10  And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 

This engagement and response against the Syrians is an ongoing battle not just once or twice.  We only enter into the Kingdom and eternal life thru many trials of faith and many tribulations (Act 14:22) with our own flesh.  This is how we grow, and our faith is proven.

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:

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Elisha, as type of Christ, and the elder and prophet, was obedient to the commands as a faithful watchman and warns us, the king of Israel, of the Syrian plans.

Eze 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Our old man is vexed (troubled) by the continued thwarting of his plans as the land remains under the dominion of Israel.

2Ki 6:11  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 

2Ki 6:12  And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 

The Syrian king discovers that Elisha knows all his secrets and what he speaks in his bed chamber.  This reinforces how the Lord exposes our hidden sins and wicked thoughts in our day of the Lord.  To be destroyed all things must be brought to the Light of Christ.

Mar 4:22  NKJV For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

The fleshly agenda of the Syrian king within us will be uncovered and the king of Israel is able to defend the land.

Luk 12:2  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

Luk 12:3  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Yet our old man does not go easily.  This old king hatches a plan with the objective of capturing Elisha.  This is the plan of the Pharisees in all of us who hate Christ and seek to kill Him.

2Ki 6:13  And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 

2Ki 6:14  Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 

Secular scholars like to say that Dothan was the home of Elisha.  While we have no way of knowing that for certain we can deduce some spiritual significance from the name Dothan and apply that to our walk and journey onto maturity in Christ.  The only other place Dothan is mentioned in the Scriptures is the story of Joseph (Gen 37) where his ten brothers attempted to slay him and eventually sold him into slavery in Egypt.  Dothan is also the city where this Syrian army encampment takes places and there is an attempt to capture Elisha and put him into bondage.  Most experts claim Dothan means two wells or two cisterns which does fit both stories where the city is mentioned.

Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Like Joseph’s ten brothers and our flesh, the Syrians, we are committing these two evils as a Pharisee seeking to serve two masters and drink out of the wells of the Spirit and the flesh.  We are both the sons hating and the son being hated at our appointed times.

Gen 37:17  And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

Gen 37:18  And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 

As Pharisees we don’t want the land healed, we want to remain in power and control and not submit to the righteousness of Christ.  Hence, we plot like the Syrians to capture Christ.

Mat 12:14  Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

As Jews that believe on Jesus Christ (Joh 8:31), the Syrians within us (old man), seek to kill Christ and silence the truth so they can remain occupiers of the land.

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

The king of Syrian wars against the ways of the Spirit and sends many horses, chariots and a huge host (army) to war against Israel and defeat it.  This is our battle against all that is in the world.  Horses symbolize the strength and power of the world and our flesh which is why Israel was commanded not to ride horses nor engage in any horse trading.

Deu 17:14  When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

Deu 17:16  But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

Deu 17:17  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Of course, with a bunch of heathen kings still living in the land, we are being caused to disobey all these commands first before we are caused to obey the Lord.  The example of Solomon was written for our admonition in taking many horses and many wives.

1Ki 4:26  And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

In the negative, chariots are lies and false doctrines that are pulled by the strength (the horses) of our carnal minds.  The two hundred million locusts (Rev 9:16) are described as these chariots which are lies (Isa 9:15) that darken the truth and blot out the Light that are saving us.

Rev 9:7  And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

Rev 9:9  And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

It is through the use of these horses and chariots that our old man, as the King of Syria, wages war against the Israel of God within us and without.  The deceitfulness of sin that lies in all of us creep in unawares in the cover of spiritual darkness.  Before we know it, we are surrounded and we, like this servant, wake up to see our predicament and have no confidence in the Lord to deliver us.  The lesson here is one of faith and how we stand on faith and know that this battle is the Lord’s.

Deu 20:4  For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

We now get to the part of the story that is most instructive to our growing in the faith.

2Ki 6:15  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

2Ki 6:16  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 

The Lord is working this waging war within us and only He brings victory.  Learning to trust in the Lord and His sovereignty is how we are given to rise up and overcome our enemies via our faith.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

We are at war with our own flesh which seem hopeless until our eyes are opened.  Our young faith is being tested often as those trials are what build us up in the Lord and move us onto maturity.  We are learning to trust in the Lord alone and His supernatural power but at first, we cannot see the power that Christ has over all things.

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (mind and our bodies)

As Christ’s chosen disciples, we already have this power (Christ in us) but we don’t believe at first when our city is surrounded by the enemy.

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The truth of the Word puts exponentially more enemies to flight when the two converge.  No lies, the enemies of the truth can stand in the presence of truth.  Thus the meanings of these war stories from the OT become clearer to us and the  important of believing.

Lev 26:8  And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

Deu 32:30  How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

When we are surrounded by our flesh (Syrians within) and it seems hopeless, the stronger are there to help the weaker in the faith.  This care should be cast upon Christ and we should seek help and prayer from the multitude of counselors.  Elisha, the mature man of God, prays to the Lord for the weak servant to see the spiritual truths and to see the true power of the Lord’s army.

2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

The fire that surrounds Elisha and all in the Christ is the Living Word (fire) that lives inside of us and is spoken when we speak truth.  The Lord’s horses and chariots are the truth, the doctrines on which we, the elect of God, ride and in which we stand.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Collectively this army is also known as the battle axe of the Lord through which all these heathen nations are destroyed.

Jer 51:20  Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

Jer 51:21  And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

Christ, through His Christ is our protector and our protection.  There is no other place to be saved (Act 4:12)!  Our seeing this truth comes via the process off maturing via the trials the Lord is working in our life with the Syrians and other heathen nations.  The Body are the saviours and deliverers who help one another and protect us from the enemy within and without.

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

 Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Most translations say this army was more [H7227] than the Syrians yet that being more or greater is only in power and strength not in quantity.  The sum of the Word makes clear that the people of God are a little flock who are few in number (Mat 22:14) but mighty in Spirit (Mat 28:18)

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The lesson of Gideon’s army (Jdg 7) is an OT proof also where a thirty-two thousand strong army was winnowed down to just three hundred by the Lord’s design to conquer the much larger Midianites.   The Lord is saving a few now, through whom all men shall be saved.

2Ki 6:18  And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 

2Ki 6:19  And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 

2Ki 6:20  And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 

2Ki 6:21  And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 

2Ki 6:22  And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 

2Ki 6:23  And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. 

The second part of our story follows and begins with the Lord’s army coming together as one to hold each other up in time of war (Exo 17:12) and great trials.  It is standing together in the Name of the Lord that our enemies are being defeated.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The servant of Elisha (us in our time of unbelief) is strengthened and comforted by the Lord’s small and powerful army that facilitates us winning the battles with our flesh (the Syrians).   The land is subdued and overcome by judgment that brings new light into the picture.  Yet before we can see spiritually we must come to see that we are blind.  The Word that brings judgment at first brings blindness and then only after a while do we realize we were blind as we begin to follow the Lord (Elisha back to Samaria).

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

We have an OT witness to the same.  Those gathered against Christ and His Christ (the Syrians within, the Pharisees within) will be blinded and lose all strength and  direction of their old way of life.

Zec 12:3  And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Zec 12:4  In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

The fire of the Word of truth destroy our former mindset and reveal our blindness even as God’s people.  It is humbling to be blind and dependent upon others to lead us safely.  But that is how an elevated prideful Syrian is brought low in the appointed time.

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Once blinded, the Syrians within us, readily follow Elisha (Mat 9:27, Mar 8:23) where he leads them back to Israel and then reopens their eyes, so they can see.  The last lesson in this story is learning to love our enemies and walking by the  law of faith.  Our enemies are doing exactly what the Lord has made them to do and for that we should be thankful as even they are for our sakes (2Co 4:15).

When our Syrian captives are brought back to the congregation of Israel, our first instinct as the king in training is to smite them or kill them.  This is how the carnal mind works but that is not the Spirit of Christ.

Luk 9:56  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Elisha is obedient to the commands of God and teaches the king to be obedient and not do what the whole world does to their enemies.  Loving our enemies, spiritually speaking is for us to feed Christ (the sheep) and give them drink as Elisha persuades the King of Israel to do.  Paul and the Lord tell us to spiritually feed all those He puts in our path.

Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

We can read on in Kings and see that the peace with the Syrians here was only temporary.  The war with our flesh is a lifelong affair that consume our entire age or aion in these clay bodies.  A different leader, king Benhadad, brings the Syrians right back into Israel after a season of peace and ends up conquering and controlling the land.  Little by little we get the victory, overcome and possess the land in the Kingdom of God within us.  Yet no matter where we are in that process, we are to never stop striving to walk the straight and narrow way.

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.

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Sincere questions and comments are always welcome.  You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com and I would be  pleased to respond and help any way I can.

Your brother in Christ,  Pete

Articles

Leaving The “Eternal Judgment” vs The Day of Judgment

“The “Eternal Judgment” vs The Day of Judgement”

Studies by teachers combined into one study by Ronel.

What are the milk doctrines?

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

These six milk doctrines are simply the beginning of our walk and not the end nor the result of the end of our walk. However, it is an extremely vital step in us to “beginning” and “progressing” towards the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. We are taught these doctrines in the orthodox churches of the world, all denominations.

We are told to go beyond the milk doctrines:

We are to begin to mature to the point where we are, as Paul was, in that we press towards the mark of the prize of the High Calling in Christ Jesus. There is a reason we must do this, and it is to obtain the righteousness of Christ, because anyone living on milk and not starting to digest solid food will quickly die.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

(NIV) Heb 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

(NIV) Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

We leave and move past those things which result in spiritual death but are the beginning of life to those who mature past them. The focus of today’s study specifically is moving past the doctrine of “eternal judgment” and maturing into the life which is Jesus Christ. As always, let’s leave the Scriptures to teach us and not go above that which is written on the subject. Let us also study to show ourselves approved, a workman not needing to be ashamed.

 1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [ to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Define “Eternal Judgment”, first, look at the word “eternal”:

ETERNAL – IS IT REALLY ETERNAL? Our modern English word eternal means WITHOUT a beginning and WITHOUT an end. In the Holy Scriptures, the Greek word is aionios and the corresponding Hebrew word is olam. The root for aionios is the noun aion. The English equivalent of the Greek word aion is eon or age. It is defined as a PERIOD OF TIME. A period of time has a BEGINNING, when the age began, a MIDDLE or DURING the age, as seen many times in the scriptures, and there is an END of the time or age, where the age is ended. Examples of this:

The New King James states it correctly: 1Co 2:7 (NKJV) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

New King James version: Tit 2:12 (NKJV) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

1Co 10:11 (NKJV) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

To conclude: “Aionian” judgment means AGE-LASTING, pertaining to a period of time; when will judgment begin if it is “eternal”? When will judgment end if it is “eternal”?

Now, look at the second word “judgment” i.e. “eternal judgment”:  It is the Greek word G2917, “krima”

G2917

κριμα

krima

Total KJV Occurrences:28

judgment, 12

damnation, 7

condemnation, 5

avenged, 1

condemned, 1

judgments, 1

law, 1

Let’s read several verses to see the meaning of this word:

Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Rom 3:8 And not [ rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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

1Ti 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

1Co 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Luk 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

We are first banished, confined or imprisoned in chains in a realm that is known as “death” (age lasting condemnation/damnation), banished in trespasses and sins, even as all in Adam (flesh) are first held in death. This is the necessary first step before the true judgment of God/Day of Judgment begins in our lives, according to this Word and principle;

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

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.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

This is all one and the same thing in the Spirit, as being in darkness, abode of “hell”, in disobedience committing sins as it is written:

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries!

1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Peter reminds us for whom and where this darkness and blindness is in the Spirit.

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh [you and I in our time and season!] in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, [when we all had doctrine of ‘freewill’ in our hearts] they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

So being chained in darkness, in death, banished in a spiritual realm called “hell”, walking after the flesh is the pre-requisite for all judgment of God. It is also at that time, while we were dead in trespasses and sin that the gospel is first preached to us, and the Word of God is preached while we dwelt under the shadow of death that is our old ministers and pastors under the Law in the orthodox Christian churches.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The fruitless works of darkness:

Being in death produces the fruits and works of death.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

o eternal judgment, one of the milk doctrines, is really “age abiding damnation and or condemnation” which has a beginning and an end and everything in-between! If we are His, the Lord and “His Christ” come to save us from this condition so that true judgment can begin, righteous judgment in our Day of Judgment.

It must be known from early on that ALL God’s ways are judgment, bringing His creation into a process of time, an age in which we are continuously under judgment. Our Day of the Lord!

Let us now ask who is the Judge in this Day!

There is only one Judge who is bringing all judgment and verdicts through one Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

All that the Father of spirits does is through the only begotten son, one Lord Jesus Christ/Living Word and “His Christ”;

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.

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Is that authority and judgment independent of the Father? Is being “given” a position, an office of judgment suggestive of doing what one wants, judging out of one’s own ideas, principles, and own witness? The Lord answers us:

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; [why is it just?] because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

True judgment begins in our Day of the Lord, where is this place of judgment:

Age lasting judgment takes place wherein the Judge comes, which is within God’s people now in these bodies of clay.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The Son has been committed all judgment, and when He comes to the realm of our time, in this earthen body of clay of our minds and hearts, then judgment is said to begin. The Lord comes into the darkness of our fleshly hearts in great Light, for a period of time. From when He begins until judgment is finished in us, is what is scripturally known as “age-lasting judgment.” Since the flesh cannot abide ‘forever’, the judgment is for an appointed period of time.

Order of Judgement:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; [the Head] afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [His Body].

The rest of uncalled mankind and the great multitude gathering unto Christ in the flesh will be judged at a later judgment day called the great white throne judgment. The flesh, imprisoned in a very dark place called hell, or Greek ‘Hades’, in Hebrew ‘Sheol’, are all fallen into the deep pit to be redeemed and judged at a later time, which in the mind of Christ. The masses all sleep the sleep of ‘Death’.

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

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, THE COMING OF THE JUDGE:

Jesus Christ has been committed all judgment. So at His appointed time, He comes within his chosen, His firstfruits to do only one thing …

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

The Lord brings a sword and fire to carry out judgment.

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

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

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

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Judgment by Christ with his glittering sword and consuming fire begins in His elect, now!

 1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come [the age 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?

How is Christ’s judgments accomplished in us?

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

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, [WHY?] that we should not be condemned with the world.

1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1Co 4:4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

You and I have been sleeping before judgment comes upon us.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

When the judgment of the Lord does come, we are awakened from our sleep in “hell”, place of disobedience, by being given a good chastening, a reprimand, a reprove, a rebuking, an affliction – just about anything in the hand of the Lord to wake us up out of this deep sleep of death. Chastening is a major part of this righteous Judgment of the Lord, but our flesh does not like this at all. To qualify as sons and daughters of God, chastening and scourging are a necessity that we may be partakers of all that is in God through the appointed Judge, Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:5-8 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, [unto the end!] God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, [all, me] then are ye bastards, and not sons. [But not all men are being chastened, judged of the Lord in this age.]

Being exercised with chastening of the Lord is what produces the fruit of righteousness in us. It produces this fruit because we must first know what is being judged within us, what defilements are being scourged, burnt by fire and destroyed by the sword.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mar 7:22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Once judgment begins, we therefore are chastened and we begin to live godlier lives in this age, not just in the future sometime, but now TODAY.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12 teaching [G3811, paideuō: chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [Greek in this present age]

It is PUNISHMENT to the flesh, an age-lasting punishment because our flesh is being destroyed by the sword and burnt with the Fire that is God Himself throughout the time/age we are being judged.

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: [Greek aonios, age-lasting punishment] but the righteous into life eternal.

“Into everlasting punishment” is into the Fire that burns throughout all the ages.

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart From me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, [Greek aionios, age-lasting fire] prepared for the devil and his angels:

Who is and what is that Fire that will judge and chasten us throughout the ages?

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

This is the age-lasting punishment to our flesh and ungodly ways …

The outcome of Christ’s judgment within us:

Psa 98:9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

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.

The Lord has an end goal in His judgments of our ungodly ways. He has been commissioned by the Father to bring us to Him, all ONE in Him, to the realm of life and righteousness. This is the age-lasting purpose of Christ, and it is through these judgments that we are being saved from this ungodly world within our hearts, and be redeemed from darkness and death that is our flesh. It is through age-lasting Judgment, the chastening fire of God, that we are being saved from sin that dwells within our flesh Also the water of His Word is washing us to be a chaste virgin without spot or wrinkle.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The outcome of all judgments of all time:

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.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

We are learning to discern between spiritual good and evil. It is through this age-lasting judgment we ourselves, are being delivered and is being delivered from our great enemy sin, that dwells within us, that we can live fully in the Spirit, as the prince of this world with all its false doctrines and deceptive ways of living Godly lives is and will be cast out of our hearts as the Judge, Jesus Christ, is coming and increasing in us. Once evil spirits such as hypocrisy are being cast out of us day by day, and our old man is perishing in the process, those few that are being overcome of the Holy Spirit of God are being ordained as judges of the second group of men, of those that are currently still being reserved in the darkness of “hell” where we once were dwelling and dwells from time to time. We do not judge without but within ourselves and within the Body of Christ and in the ages to come we will judge the masses that are in deep sleep now.

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. [that Old Man of sin within us all].

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

There is an age to come during which all those that are not being judged at this time will be judged by Christ through his Body, the elect of all ages, so that righteousness will rule everyone.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The Reward of being judged now:

Apart from reigning and ruling with Christ, we receive a new family, those who do the will of God, the true sons of God. It is such a wonderful thing for brothers to dwell together in unity. We dwell in UNITY because we all have the same mind of Christ (Psa 133:1).

Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or 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.

What is our reward in this life for losing our old life?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Christ is a strong man to protect us.

Isa 32:18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Luk 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

The new world of righteousness and Truth to come is now here in down payment earnest form in our hearts if Christ the Judge is being revealed in us. Knowing that there is an age to come, and if we are judged to be faithful, we shall reign and be judges with Christ and it should be a great inspiration for all walking this road.

Conclusion:

The outcome of all God’s judgments through the Lord Jesus Christ is for us to come to learn righteousness and in doing so we bring honor to the Son and to the Father. It is not just the firstfruits that will be bestowed this honor of knowing and doing righteousness, but all men in due time.

But it is through this judgment that God will make a way even to all our lost ones, uncalled or still walking after the flesh, in the age to come through us. God will bring everyone home, to Himself!

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

All will be brought home through age-lasting Judgment by the Fire of God’s Word, which is the means He has devised to fetch His banished, His dead sons, those poor with no goods and spiritual substance, the Lord’s prisoners in the flesh.

 Ezr 7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Our King, Jesus Christ, is not slack nor does He has any fault in Him. He will bring us all unto Himself, not willing that any should perish, but all should be created new through His chastening fire of age-lasting judgment which we live now!

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.

As God’s elect are given mercy through God’s judgments, in due time when judgment is committed to us, we will be returning the favor so to speak, and do likewise unto our neighbors and have mercy in judgment, bringing others into the righteousness and mind of the Father. Mercy in judgment makes the heart glad over merciless judgment. Age-lasting Judgment by God’s consuming Fire however produces righteousness that triumphs over merciless judgment. For this cause, the apostle James admonishes us to:

Jas 2:12 (NKJV) So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.

Suffering and Judgment in this age:

We, as Christ did, learn obedience by the things which we are suffering. Suffering with Christ is indicative of judgment being on the House of God in US. We learn by experience of both suffering and judgment from Christ who went through it first in the same flesh we have. Out flesh suffers the same as Christ’s flesh but in down payment form.

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Heb 5:8 and 9 tells us that we learn obedience through suffering, and when we suffer we learn obedience, our faith being tested as gold tried in the fire. It is the Father THROUGH Christ doing these things IN US.

1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

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?

We should not be suffering as evil doers – murderers, thieves or busybodies in other men’s matters, but we need to be suffering as Christians. That judgment on us as “Christ likes,” which is what Christian means (Christ- like), results in obedience.

Obedience is something that comes from suffering. It is a direct spiritual result. How can that be? We read it earlier. It is obeying Christ, being obedient to what Christ would have us do.

 (KJV) Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

(BBE) But solid food is for men of full growth, even for those whose senses are trained by use to see what is good and what is evil.

(GNB) Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

(LITV) But solid food is for those full grown, having exercised the faculties through habit, for distinction of both good and bad.

It is through the very act of SIN, the very act of committing SIN that we learn to be obedient. We learn what is right from wrong because through the sins we commit we learn what NOT to do any longer; thus, we learn obedience because we are judged with a big spanking from the Father. As parents, do we not discipline our children for doing what’s wrong? Do our children not learn what is wrong from doing it and being JUDGED of it? In essence, the Lord takes away our full bottle of milk in His own timing and starts to give us solid spiritual food.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

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

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The words here translated as ‘chastening’ should say ‘teaches’ or ‘teaching’, and when we are loved by our Father we are shown the error of our ways, we are shown judgment which Lord willing is NOW on our house, the House of God. Christ was made sin and that flesh that Christ was made into had to be judged and done away with.

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.

Suffering and Judgment = Acknowledgment and Obedience:

We suffer because we are being judged, and this all builds up to us ultimately acknowledging our sovereign Father as our Head and saying, “Nevertheless, Thy will be done” as is what Christ prayed to God the Father when His flesh did not want to be judged. After all, when we are disciplining our physical children it simply results in our children acknowledging that what we told them they need to be doing and that they must do otherwise it will result in certain actions on our part if they do not obey and do as we say. Ultimately, we do it or should be doing it because we LOVE them, and how much more do we believe that our Father loves us when we are going through the sufferings He has prepared for us? That is exactly what we are told why we are being taught obedience through the things we suffer:

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [ us], and we gave [ them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [ us] after their own pleasure; but he for [ our] profit, that [ we] might be partakers of his holiness.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

If Christ Himself had to endure judgment on His flesh, how much more do we need to endure judgment on our flesh which is sin in and of itself but also how much more will we have to endure judgment because of the very sins we are committing. We are by nature children of wrath, and that is why we go past the milk doctrines of Christ and move on towards maturity. The more sin we commit, the more there is to be judged.

When sin no longer has dominion over us, then it is not something that we need to concentrate on. Indeed, it is VERY important to consider and repent of immediately, but it is NOT our master anymore. Our old masters demand our full attention “or else”, but when we have those masters no longer, we give attention to our new master, our new Head, Jesus Christ.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Christ came to do the Will of His Father and fulfilled that Will by “learning obedience by the things He suffered”. We, too, must be willing servants to only do His will and not our own. We are being made ready to pick up our cross and follow Christ to death and that on a daily basis. God wants His whole sacrifice, His true tithe paid in full daily.

We have seen in the Word that as children we will be living on the milk of the Word of God as we start off on our spiritual walk with the Lord. However, we are moving past those things which we all have been taught week after week in the orthodox Christian churches that we all have come from and is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 6, specifically the milk doctrine of “eternal judgment”, which is really “age lasting damnation and or condemnation”, one of the six milk doctrines, a period of disobedience and spiritual death.

True Judgment, age abiding judgment, is a process continuing for the rest of our earthly lives if He is working with us now, and resulting in us learning obedience because of the things we suffer from that judgment. We have periods of eternal judgement i.e. “age lasting damnation” even in our Day of Judgment in other words periods of disobedience because the Lord burns out our sins little by little and not everything at once. We are always being judged in these clay vessels, we never arrive in this life.

If we endure these teachings, we are considered sons. Take comfort in knowing that we all have to endure these same judgments at the appointed time of our Father and His judgments are just. So “Mystery Babylon, the mother of Harlots”, is being judged within us daily! This is Good News!

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (judgment)

(ASV) Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

(ASV) Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.

(ASV) Rev 18:21 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.

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.

“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee” is a witness that the key to harmony is only possible with the true witness of Christ’s life within us.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Articles

The Doctrine of Resurrection from the Dead

These notes compiled from the teachings of the church elders

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of Resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

What is resurrection?

Resurrection is being raised from death and given life.

Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Joh 11:17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

What is death?

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally (G4561) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh (G4561) are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Death is primarily a spiritual state when we have a carnal mind/disobedience and are doing the evil works of the flesh. There is also a physical state of death that God uses to teach us what spiritual death is about. The shadow and reality.

Joh 11:11  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Joh 11:12  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Joh 11:13  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Joh 11:14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Christ calls death sleep because it is not a permanent state. He knows that Lazarus would be raised, so to Christ, Lazarus was just sleeping for a period of time.

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

The dead know nothing of life as long as they are dead. The physically dead do not know physical life, and the spiritually dead do not know spiritual life. It is important to understand that when a person physically dies, they are “asleep” with no awareness of anything until they are awakened (resurrected).

What is life aionios?

We have seen that an “aion” is an age or any period of time and “aionios” is the adjective form meaning “pertaining to an age”.

Thus, “life aionios” means life in this present age. The present age discussed in Scripture is our life in these physical bodies of flesh. So, what does it mean to have “life” in this current age of flesh?

Joh 17:3 And this is eternal (aionios) life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Knowing Jesus Christ and His Christ is to have life in this age. When you know Jesus Christ, you keep His commandments.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

So, when we are resurrected to life we go from doing the works of the flesh to obeying His commandments and bearing the fruit of the Spirit TODAY.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Resurrection in the NT:

We’re going to look at the explanations of resurrection in the NT. In order to understand what is being said, we must first realize that Christ’s Body is the people that He calls to be obedient to His commandments in this life.

Therefore, everything that Christ went through when He was here on earth, His “Bride” is going through as well.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Paul Explains Resurrection:

Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

The word baptism in the Greek language means “to wash”, and this is done with the Word of God.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

It is by being washed by the WORD that we are killed that we may live. The Word of God is also a sword that kills us.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Before we can be resurrected, we first have to die spiritually. As we saw earlier we are already dead spiritually because we have carnal minds. If we are already dead how do we die again? When we are dead spiritually and carnally minded, we still have a way of life which the Scriptures call “walking”. We have to cease this old way of life, die to it, that we may be resurrected to a new life with a renewed mindset.

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 (lived this way) 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.

Leaving this old way of living life is how we are dying. This is the life we must leave that we may gain new life, to know Jesus Christ, obey Him, and bear the fruits of the Spirit.

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (aionios).

Joh 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

Joh 11:26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal (aionios) life.

The correlation between the Body of Christ and Christ himself continues.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Rom 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Rom 6:7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Rom 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

So just like Christ was crucified physically, so we are being crucified spiritually. Just as He was raised from the dead, so are we being raised from the dead. The whole purpose of this process is to set us FREE from sin, and to give us new life that we may be obedient.

Rom 6:9 We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Once we “die” to our old way of life and repent, we are now heading in a new direction. Resurrection changes us from a natural person to a spiritual person, thus being able to understand spiritual things.

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1Co 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

When we die, and are resurrected there is a COMPLETION in one sense and just a BEGINNING in another.

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

When we are being resurrected “is, was and will be” (a process), Christ is now dwelling in us and we have His mind, this has been accomplished. Yet this is just the beginning of us being given life. We are now a new born baby (John 3:3).

Once we are born again, then we can see the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God?

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

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:

As we saw earlier in Gal 2:20, after being resurrected Christ lives within us. Being born again is another way of saying we are BEING resurrected. This is how we have HOPE that we will glorify the Father by being obedient, because Christ is going to do it through us. As we mature Christ increases and we decrease, so we are being resurrected.

This is a complete change in focus from our old way of thinking. This life is no longer to be spent thinking primarily about the RESURRECTION TO COME IN THE FUTURE, THE SHADOW, but rather to focus on OBDIENCE NOW (THE REALITY). We are now to live our lives to God. We hope for our CONTINUED resurrection and for the resurrection of all mankind, but we focus on what God is doing NOW TODAY.

Rom 6:10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

Rom 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.

Rom 6:13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

After being given life we now have a new purpose, GLORIFYING the Father and Christ through OBEDIENCE.

Here is the contrast between life and death.

Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification

When the Lord IS COME to raise us to life and we begin to lament the loss of our old life, it is important to remember the FRUITS that our old life produced.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Rom 6:20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

Rom 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.

Israel complained as the Lord was leading them out of bondage and toward the promised land, just what we do for a season.

Num 11:4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

Num 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

Here is what God is causing us to remember.

Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Resurrection is a wonderful way of explaining what Christ does to us because it reveals so clearly that we have nothing to do with the process. A dead person knows and does nothing. They have no part in their being brought back to life. This is true for us spiritually as well. Christ raises whom He chooses, when He chooses.

Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

All of mankind will be raised from the dead and given life, but there is an order in which they will be raised from the dead. Christ first, then His Body, and then the rest are raised. This will be done in our own lives as Christ makes us spiritually minded, and it happens outwardly as Christ will make all of mankind spiritually minded. God uses those that He raises first to teach the rest of mankind the Truth and raise them to life as well at the appointed time.

1Co 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1Co 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

The FAITHFUL are being used by Christ to judge the rest of humanity when the appointed time comes.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Everyone who is not resurrected spiritually in this life will be raised with a spiritual body from the dead when the time comes to be judged so they may be given a spiritual mind.

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The “lake of fire” is what Christ uses to destroy our carnal minds. And just as we all must be experiencing the destruction of our flesh inwardly, so too must we see this accomplished outwardly. This climactic event will bring all flesh to an end. At that time, there will be a general resurrection of every person that has ever lived. All who have ever lived, except for those who are in that blessed and holy… first resurrection, will be brought up to face a judgment called the great White throne judgment. All those that were raised spiritually during this life will be raised with a spiritual body to assist in judging those that are still carnally minded.

Now what happens at any judgment?

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

That is right; “when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord…” So, the lake of fire is God’s chastening of all of mankind along with the chastening of Satan and His angels WITHIN AND WITHOUT.

We cannot know for sure in this life that we are the elect and will be a part of the first resurrection, yet we are to STRIVE to be faithful to Christ.

Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Php 3:11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Php 3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Being a part of the first resurrection is more than just being born again and having a spiritual mind. The Lord must also give us the ability to remain faithful during our lives.

Mat 24:10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Mat 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Rev 17:14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

The people in the Old Testament were not raised from the dead spiritually during their lives because they were still carnally minded. They experienced physical events that were designed by Christ to later explain His Truths to those whom He has chosen.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

These things in the Old Testament are also called a “shadow” of things to come. A shadow is created when an object is obstructing light. The shadow is not the object itself, but rather a rough outline of its shape. When the Old Testament was written, Christ already ordained for the true resurrection to take place in the future, so that true event cast a shadow in the Words of the Old Testament. The people in the Old Testament lived in the darkness of that shadow, not able to see the Light (Christ) or understand what was to come.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Here is the shadow of being created a natural body. Those in the first resurrection experience the reality when we are born in bodies of flesh like Christ himself.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The only time you see dry human bones is when someone has died. When we are carnally minded, we are just like the Pharisees who were carnally minded and spiritually dead.

Mat 23:27 (NKJV) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

Eze 37:2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

Eze 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

The Lord raises dead, carnally minded men through allowing us to HEAR His Word.

Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

When we are dead (carnally minded), we do not know God. We are dry bones, dry means without water, which is the Word of God (Eph 5:26).

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath (ach- H7307- spirit) to enter into you, and ye shall live:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Life is to know God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3). You know God and Christ by hearing the Words of Christ.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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

We must have FAITH in Christ in order to really know him. Here is the prophecy of the Spirit being given on Pentecost (Acts 2:2).

Eze 37:7  So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

Eze 37:8  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

Eze 37:9  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

Eze 37:10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Breathing upon the dead in Ezekiel is the same thing as the Holy Ghost (Spirit) filling the followers of Christ on Pentecost in Acts 2.

Who is Israel?

Rom 2:28 (YLT) For he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

Rom 2:29 but a Jew is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, of which the praise is not of men, but of God.

Eph 2:22 (ESV) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Php 3:3 (ESV) For we are the [real] circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

The true Israel, the true circumcision, the true Jews, they are the chosen ones of God.

Eze 36:23  And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

Eze 36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Paul discusses the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Rom 6:17 (ESV) But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. God also gives his people fruit.

Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Eze 36:29 I will also save you from all your unclean nesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

Eze 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Prophecies of Christ’s Resurrection

Hos 6:2 (ESV) After two days he will revive us; on the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Psa 16:10 (ESV) For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psa 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Here is the fulfillment in the NT:

1Co 15:3 (ESV) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Luk 18:31 (ESV) And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.

Luk 18:32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.

Luk 18:33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

Act 2:25-33 (MKJV) For David speaks concerning Him, “I foresaw the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, that I should not be moved. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad; and also My flesh shall rest in hope, 27 because You will not leave My soul in Hades (grave), nor will You allow Your holy One to see corruption. 28 You revealed to Me the ways of life. You will fill Me with joy with Your countenance.” 29 Men, brothers, it is permitted to say to you with plainness as to the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit upon his throne, 31 seeing this beforehand, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor would His flesh see corruption, 32 God raised up this Jesus, of which we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you now see and hear.

We are given victory over death.

Hos 13:14 (ESV) Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

1Co 15:53-57 (ESV) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 10 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What happens when we’re raised to life?

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Summary:

We are moving away from the shadow, the resurrection being “out there” to the resurrection being today, the reality if Christ is working with us in this age. As He increases more and more and we decrease more and more every day, we “see” Him more clearly.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Being resurrected today, is coming out of “death”, the state of disobedience to His Word, to sit with Him in the heavens ruling the nations within with a rod of iron and without at the appointed times.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.