Tag: judgment

Studies

Baptisms Part One

Ronel

Study notes by the elders compiled into one study

There is one true Lord and one true baptism as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:5. Yet that Scriptures speak of several baptisms that are all experiences we will have as we live out every word God spoke (Mat 4:4).  We begin with Paul’s words to the Hebrews speaking on these truths.

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.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: [partakes and continues only on milk] for he is a babe.

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.

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. [ God willing!]

In our study – “repentance from dead works” – we learned that it is crucial to first acknowledge that we are sinful human beings and all our best efforts in the flesh are all dead works in the sight of God. We also learned that our confession of this Truth will eventually grant us repentance from those dead works and that it is after this repentance that Faith toward God is given to us. Finally, we learned that this gift of the Spirit is to bring us to God, our Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, a fiery process until the end.

In this study, we will see the spiritual significance of baptisms and how we live and will be living by the Word of God. Understanding the doctrine of baptisms will equip us to go unto perfection in Christ Jesus.

Let us first recognize that the plural of the word – baptismS – is used above. The reason behind this is revealed to us in the sum of God’s Word. The first question we need to answer is:

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

As with all things in Scripture, there is a physical example given to us before we are given the spiritual meaning and fulfillment. We are caused first to live the earthy, carnal, natural type before it is given to us to fulfil the spiritual. The word translated ‘BAPTISMS’ in Heb 6:2 is the Greek word ‘Baptismos’– Strongs concordance # G909.

It appears four times in the New Testament and is usually translated as “washing” or “washings” as in the examples below:

  1. Mar 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash(G907 baptizo) they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing(G909 baptismos) of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.
  2. G907 – baptizo – Translated as baptize {76x} and wash {2x}
    b. G909- baptismos – Translated as washing {3x} and baptism {1x}
  3. Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing(G909 baptismos) of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
  4. Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, (G909 baptismos) and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
  5. Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, (G909 baptismos) and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of “eternal judgment”/age lasting condemnation.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

There are two kinds of baptisms, the first being the type and shadow, the example, and the second being the spiritual reality, in SPIRIT. In the first kind of baptism, several shadows are given to us throughout Scripture, including the baptism of the flood of Noah, the crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing of the river Jordan and, in the New Testament, the baptism by John the Baptist.

Just as Moses told the fathers to hearken to the One that should come after him:

Deu 15:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Likewise, the first baptizer introduced to us in the New Testament was quick to announce to all people the significance of his ministry and the purpose of his baptism. The ministry of John the Baptist, were and are for the sole purpose of directing us to the One that is coming AFTER, namely Christ Jesus and “His Christ”. This baptism is preparing the way for the true baptism of fire through Christ and “His Christ”.

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

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Thus, the ministry of John and his baptism was and is to prepare the way of Truth, to prepare the way of the fiery baptism to follow, the baptism into Christ into His death, because as He is so are we (1 John 4:17).

To prepare the path to the righteousness and LOVE of God, and the eventual revelation of Jesus Christ, the baptism of John and his ministry, and all physical water baptisms, was not in itself the way of Truth and righteousness of God.

Though John the Baptist is declared as the greatest prophet born of women by Jesus Christ.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Nevertheless, John confessed out of his own mouth that he did not know who Jesus Christ, the Truth, is! We are doing well to take heed to this most significant of confessions:

Joh 1:30 (MKJV) This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who has been before me, for He preceded me.

Joh 1:31 And I did not know Him {confession #1}, but that He be revealed to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him.

Joh 1:33 And I did not know Him {confession #2}, but He who sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, Upon Whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He is the One who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

HOW DO WE LIVE OUT OUR FIRST BAPTISM?

As we briefly mentioned in our study, “faith toward God”, our faith is initially placed in the wisdom of religious men of this world, and was and is not the faith of God’s sons.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom

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

The above verse is not written because we have always had the faith of Jesus Christ, but rather because we all first stand in a faith guided by man’s and our own wisdom. We first regard Jesus Christ/” another Jesus” after natural perception, from a human point of view, the flesh, established in Church denominations and the sects of men. Under this “Law”, we are “baptized” by ministers in the churches according to their doctrines, using the Bible. It is at this point whilst under the schoolmasters and guardians of the Law that the baptism of Moses (our baptism in Orthodoxy) are fulfilled in our lives, even as Christ and “His Christ” in the days of His and “our flesh” (yet carnal) was and is being baptized by “John”:

Mat 3:13 (MKJV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptised by him.

Mat 3:14 But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me?

Mat 3:15 And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.

John asked the Lord why this has to be so and again we ask why does this need to be so?

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

To the end purpose that all righteousness be fulfilled within us and because we live by every word of God, this is a necessary first baptism for us in accord with this godly principle:

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, [baptism] but that which is natural; [baptism] and afterward that which is spiritual.

Remember what John the Baptist himself and Paul told us earlier:

Mar 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me [the spiritual]; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

This baptism of John is the baptism that must be before the baptism of fire, it is the baptism of repentance from dead works, which leads to the Faith of Christ:

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

We are the “Jews” that is believing on Him but not abiding in Him in this season of our walk (John 8) and only know the baptism of John (repentance from dead works) only.

Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Act 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

We know the baptism of JOHN and this is being fulfilled in us, His elect sons, when we are being taught diligently the way of the Lord but we are yet carnal; we are yet carnal. We still have many idols of the heart that needs to be purged out. “Apollos” in us is teaching well and diligently. The baptism of John (repentance i.e. change of mind) prepares the way for our baptism of fire, this is the true washing of water by the Word and purging by fire through the …… Words that I speak to you …… John 6:63 through the Living Word and in the mouths of God’s elect which devours the enemy!

As an example, or type of us being baptized into MOSES, the LAW, the Old Covenant, and what Scripture calls “the wisdom and traditions of men”, is our water baptism in Orthodoxy.

1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1Co 10:2 And were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

This physical baptism by physical water is a type, example for us today:

1Co 10:6 Now [TODAY!] these things being baptised unto Moses] were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: [G5179- tupos- types, typical of us] and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

THE FIRST BAPTISM … OF MEN OR FROM HEAVEN?

So, the baptisms of John and the Old Testament types and shadows are for the purpose that we should depart from and not lust after evil things. This first baptisms (though it is hidden from many), prepares many for the ultimate conversion of the heart and does not itself convert the heart to God. It is a shadow of things to come. It nevertheless does have a great appearance of wisdom and conversion, but has no profit and no value against the indulgence of the flesh (Col 2:23) or said otherwise “idols of the heart”.

Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Mat 21:26 But if we shall say, of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

The latter baptism we deal with is from heaven, from the Father by Christ Jesus:

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread [baptism] from heaven.

Joh 6:38   For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

WHY MUST WE SUFFER JOHN’S BAPTISM TO BE SO NOW?

We all have our beginning being under the Law, into Moses. There are multitudes that only know of the baptism of Moses until this day. The Truth is hidden from their sight, and they do not know any truths while proclaiming they know Christ and God. Even baptized into John’s baptism, a type of hearing the Truth, we still are not DOERS of the Word. Christ IS not come yet.

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptised? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

While under John’s baptism, we have no conversion of the heart either. The root of sin is still intact. It is a grave error to think that this baptism converts our hearts. Though many physical sins of the flesh may be forsaken and although we know the way of the Lord, this does not separate our hearts from being “Jews that believe in Him but not abide in Him” those that are only outwardly clean and have an appearance of righteousness.

Our hearts are no different from anyone else’s in the world. It is the same as the gentile’s hearts (not God’s people). The heart is what truly matters, and our hearts is not yet being converted. During these seasons of our walk we think we are spiritual, and we truly believe that John’s baptism is a spiritual baptism, with “many signs and wonders” keeping us in DELUSION.

Mar 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

We may look outwardly clean and righteous to the men of this world and to our brothers in fellowship, but we are hypocrites, and our hearts are not right in the sight of God. Therefore, as babes in Christ, all our efforts and whom we should be seeking to please henceforth are God the Father, through the Living Word and “His Christ” (Joh 14:6).

Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

We do not have converted hearts and we behold many signs and wonders just like the unconverted Simon, the Sorcerer (see Act 8:9-25). The signs and miracles of hearing the Truth deceives us, we have the righteousness of the Pharisees at this point who sit in the “seat of Moses” and Christ says …. do as they say and do not do what they do, because they say and do not (Matt 23:2).

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptised, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. [… but…]

Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Our hearts are not being converted and our sins are the hidden, presumptuous sins within, full of idols of the heart, with innumerable, creeping secret evils and wicked thoughts towards our fellow men and many harsh things spoken against the Lord (not being able to obey the Truth from the heart). We do not know that we are still guilty of the great transgression of false doctrines of demons having dominion over us even as we are ignorant of these sins before our baptism of fire, of the Spirit. The man of sin, is sitting on his throne in God’s Temple, which TEMPLE we are.

Lev 5:17 If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous (prideful) sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

As in a court of law, the Judge, Jesus Christ, is not taking ignorance as a defense! For this reason, God calls this first typical baptisms a “carnal ordinance” not having the power to convert the hearts of men nor to cleanse our evil consciences, and calls it a “shadow of the good things”, the second baptism, that is to come. God therefore has NO PLEASURE in it. It does not make us perfect!

Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, [baptisms] and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Heb 10:1 For the law [and all its divers washings/ baptisms] having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

For this cause, Jesus Christ himself did not baptize anyone with physical water or convert anyone whilst He was in the clay:

Joh 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptised more disciples than John,

Joh 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptised not, but his disciples,

The disciples were still under the law (John’s baptism, baptism of repentance), until the Spirit (second baptism) was and is given to them and us at Pentecost (Act 2), the GIFT of Faith.

Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing [baptism from men, not heaven] of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

It was revealed to Paul and the apostles as they grew in understanding, to preach the GOSPEL not in wisdom of words but with POWER from the Holy Spirit and fire.

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

John the Baptist had already confessed that he did not know Jesus Christ and that he must decrease. He then directs us all to the true baptizer and converter of the heart, Jesus Christ, even as Paul did. WE HAVE TO MOVE ON UNTO MATURITY!

Joh 1:26 (MKJV) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.

Joh 1:27 He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION PART ONE:

The law of Moses with its ritual baptisms are for those still under the law of Moses in Orthodoxy cleaning the outside of the cup and the baptism of John make us feel so righteous but the Truth is it is not cleaning us from the inside and is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. We believe on Christ but faith has not come yet. These are shadows of the true baptism that is only in Christ and into His death.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

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

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

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

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

In Part Two we will cover the following additional points which together comprise the sum of the Word that is the truth regarding Baptisms.

  • The second baptism, baptized into Christ, into His death
  • Who is baptizing us?
  • What is being washed away?
  • Spirit and Fire
  • How is this baptism achieved?
  • More Lord willing

Click here to go on to Part 2 of this 2 part study

 

 

 

Articles

When Do We Drink of the Lord’s Cup of Wrath?

Pete

This post is based on a question and answer regarding this article entitled Drinking the Cup of God’s Wrath.  It is guaranteed by the Scriptures that all men will drink of the Lord’s cup. That is indeed the way by which all men shall be saved in the appointed times for each.  Drinking of the cup is the trials, the oppression, the persecution we must endure that is necessary to accomplish the Lord’s will in our lives, which is our sanctification and salvation from sin.  That is how the real baptism takes place that brings forth the new man from the death of the old man.

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

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with

Being made alive is to be risen in the Spirit of the Lord. This comes to the house of the Lord in this age but will come to all men in due time.  The most essential promise of a faithful God who cannot lie.

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

Here is the question and the follow-up answer that should edify and expand on this mystery of the kingdom of God.

QUESTION: So all will experience the cup of wrath whether they are seeking or not seeking Him? I am seeking Jesus. Are we not saved until the cup comes? And if it comes, is it at the moment of death or is it during our lifetime?

Thanks for your question. A very long paper could be written as your question get at the heart of the Lord’s process of how salvation comes to us. Your question was getting to the heart of what Jesus was speaking about here in Matthew 20. The sons of Zebedee nor their mother had any clue what they were asking yet Christ elaborated on the drinking of the cup, which represents dying to the flesh.

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The Lord makes it clear there is no free will involved.

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

We all will drink of this cup and this for good reason to serve the purposes of the Lord and bringing about His will, which is our sanctification (1 The 4:3). Flesh is not inheriting the kingdom of God PERIOD.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Nobody seeks after the true God. The real Jesus is not attractive to flesh and the carnal mind, there is natural enmity put there by the Lord on purpose. No the only way anyone gets to the the Lord is to be dragged there.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me drag him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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

Drinking of this cup is partaking in the Lord’s supper.  This is when we eat His flesh and drink His blood.  These are spiritual statements (Joh 6:63) and refer to our following the Lord and enduring persecution, afflictions and suffering in this age in these physical bodies that are used to burn out of us all our carnal and worldly ways.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Few are given in this age to understand these truths much less walk it out.  Almost all leave Christ as they are not made ready to pay the costs of being a disciple.

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

But back to your specific question input.  We are told point blank, nobody seeks after God.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

We are told point blank, nobody finds Jesus Christ. He finds us, we don’t choose Him.  We seek the other jesus in the delusion of our carnal mind.

Isa 65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Walking in darkness separated from the Lord is all His plan for our lives. His people must first go into Babylon and be deceived before they are dragged to the real Jesus Christ in the appointed time or in what the Scriptures also say “due time”. This is the plan for men’s lives and in the end it all works for good. The only way we call on the Lord is to first be brought to our wits end. This making the storms, putting us in darkness is all the wonderful works of the Lord to the children of men which is code words for His true Body, the Elect of God. The Lord is doing it all as our lives are simply the works of His hands (Isa 64:8).

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!

A day will come when we will hear the call to come out of her (Babylon) my people. And we will then come out because we will have been found by the Lord and our heart will be made willing to search for Him with our whole hearts.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

So getting back to your question, we all will experience this wrath. All will drink of the cup of the wrath of God, but it will come in the time appointed by the Lord. That cup is the true grace of God. Grace is what chastens, us, it is the scourging of our fleshly way of life, it is how we learn obedience by the things we suffer.

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

Grace and the scourging that goes with it comes to those the Lord loves. He loves all men but in this age, in this life, He loves His Elect who are the apple of His eye. That is who is being scourged now. That is the same thing as being judged and that is how we enter into the kingdom of God.

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?

Judgment is how we are redeemed from the bondage of the flesh and the ways of this world which is Egypt in type and shadow.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

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

This wrath, which is the judgments is how we learn the true righteousness of Jesus Christ in our appointed times. Best to be judged now and be learning this now.

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.

This grace of God is, was and will be appear to all men, but only the chosen few, the ELECT of God will understand what the Lord is doing and they will learn the truth and be remade by abiding in the fire of the truth which is the WORD.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

This is what grace does when we live thru, i.e. DO THE JUDGMENTS of God.

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.

Do you see that? This is what CAUSES us to obey the Lord, that is how the new man is raised up within us and the old man destroyed. By the fire of the Word!. Our God is a consuming fire!

Salvation means be delivered from our sins. It is getting the victory over sin, that is what salvation means. We get that victory over time, through the process of living thru the grace and drinking of the cup of God’s wrath against our carnal lusts. Like all words of Scripture, those words are is, was and will be. They are continuious and that process of being judged and gaining salvation will not end until we are given our new spiritual bodies. We are given the victory little by little. So anyone saying I am saved is wrong. They may can say, they are being saved but only those who endure to the end will be saved as we should never forget.

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

We must finish our race in this age to be saved and be in that first resurrection. Otherwise we will fall short and be a castaway and be judged in the lake of fire with the rest of mankind. Paul tells us to not take our salvation for granted in this age, we must strive to stay on the narrow road working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

If one is called, chosen and found faithful and that not of their own doing but of the Lord’s doing, who is working all things for the council of His will, then they will be saved in this age and will be in the first resurrection. But the key word here is faithful. NOBODY HAS ARRIVED.

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

So in conclusion, salvation is a process of being taught righteousness by living through the judgment of the Lord. All men are judged, but that day of judgment is the day or hour no one knows but only the Father. Far better to be judged now, to be saved now in down payment form and then be in that blessed and holy first resurrection. Then we will be used of the Lord.

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

In fact this brings out one of the mysterious ways of the Lord that orthodox Christianity and its false doctrines cannot comprehend.  The way to void being judged is to be judged now.  The only way to save your life is to lose it now.  In the same way this verse is often misapplied to claim contrary to hundreds of other verses that the people of God are not going to live thru the wrath of God.

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

But it is the SUM, not SOME of thy word that is true (Psa 119:160).  No prophecy of Scripture is of its own private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20). The Scriptures in total make in perfectly clear the only way we know Jesus Christ and enter into Him is by living thru the wrath that comes by drinking this cup. No Exceptions!

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

If we are found faithful and do endure to the end. We will make that first resurrection and then will be used of the Lord to judge all mankind and the angels in the lake of fire.

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?

I do not know where you are with your understanding of these issues so I hope you will ask more questions and go read the links I am giving you below.

Only the Elect of God, the Body of Christ, the Church, aka the Israel of God is judged in this age.  This is the suffering that has been appointed to all that believe on the real Jesus through the gift of faith.  This is the drinking of the cup and how the baptism with fire and water, both of which remake us and conform us into the Lord’s image.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

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

Everyone else is judged in the lake of fire which is the way that all men will be saved in the end. But the truth I hope you have received is that all men will be saved just as the Scriptures declare and it is not depending upon the will or any man.

1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
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; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The Lord has made us marred on purpose so He can remake us and conform us into His image by this process. Being made new is how we are saved.

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

It takes faith to believe these things and that all a gift. We will learn to wait on the Lord to deliver on His promises. He will because the Lord is faithful even when we, these marred vessels of clay are not.

2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

Studies

Judging Righteous Judgment

Pete

Judging Righteous Judgment

Making judgments is essential for the people of God.  The Scriptures command us to be vigilant and diligent to guard our way.  That means making judgments constantly as we must strive to stay on the narrow way and separate from the world and all things unclean.

Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The Elect of God otherwise known as the Body of Christ will in fact be the judges of all mankind and will usher in salvation to all men in the appointed times.

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?

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Lest we forget, judgment is the process by which all men are saved.  There is no other way.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

The promise given to Abraham, a type of God’s Elect, is that we and our households would do justice and judgment.

Gen 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (i.e. Salvation)

So knowing these truths combined with a God-given zeal for the House of the Lord, we should run towards these judgments knowing they hasten the formation of Christ in us.  The day of the Lord for each of us is a wonderful day for the new man but a terrible day for the old man.  Such is the conundrum that the carnal world and orthodox Christianity cannot see.

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?

It is those of us who follow the Lord in the “regeneration”, the process of being born again by the Spirit of God, and washed in the water of the Word; that will sit on the throne of His glory judging Israel.

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

This statement of the Lord, of course, applies both inwardly and outwardly in an “is, was and will be” manner.  Inwardly the Christ in us replaces the beast sitting on the Lord’s throne and brings salvation to the nations within us.

Psa 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

Judging Israel applies to those in the Body right now who are sitting in down payment form judging the twelve tribes of Israel right now.  We are the lake of fire to one another and it is by abiding with and in Christ, in the Word, that we are judged now.

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

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

The Elect of God are in training for their future roles to be the saviors of all men which will be preceded by their reigning with Christ during the Millennium.  Those given this role will have lost their carnal mindedness (been beheaded) now in this life in the clay.

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 only way we learn to do anything including becoming the judges of the world is by experience.  This is why we are given these trials and caused to fall down so we can learn true righteousness through this judgment process.

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?

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

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

We best be becoming of full age now, getting lots of experience judging and being judged as that is how we become the mature man (Heb 5:14) learning how to discern good and evil (Gen 3:22).

This is the upward call of God also called the prize by Paul (Php 3:14) that hopefully we have been given the zeal to run and finish the race so we may attain to the first resurrection.

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

Babylonian Ditches on Both Sides

There are Babylonian ditches on both sides of the narrow way.  Most of us have been in both places and either not judging or making judgments after the flesh.  The sleazy grace mentality that says the Lord did it all for us on the cross and all we need to do is say a ten second sinners prayer for salvation encourages lasciviousness and causes us to wrest away the judgment of God and stay worldly.

Exo 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Generalizing Babylonian lies, there is another ditch on the other side of the way.  This ditch is one I would define as legalistic, condemning, blaming others with a mindset that always denies the Lord and makes man responsible for his own salvation and accountable for his own behavior.  Of course, that is a lie as the Lord truly is the Potter and we merely are the clay and everything we do is His work in us (Isa 64:8).

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The insidiousness of all these false doctrines and both generalized ditches is that there is always some truth connected.  Yet the leaven or lies renders the doctrines spiritual poison and points to another “jesus”.  It is indeed a very narrow road with error and ditches on both sides of the road.  The people of God do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit.  And if we do so, we are commanded to be judging ALL THINGS.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Yet the people of the Lord who are to judge all things, judge them spiritually.  That is what righteous judgment is all about.  It is based on the WORD and not the ways of this world.

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

We judge all things but not according to the flesh and the ways of the world.  When we are carnal we will judge after the flesh.

Joh 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Joh 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

This parable of Christ says He judges no one but then tells us how He judges.  This tells those with ears to hear that Christ, us, His Body, are to only judge according to the Scriptures.  We are not judged of any man because it is the WORD, the plumb line that is the measuring stick of judgment.  This is “the way” by which Christ in us arises.

Amo 7:5 Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

Amo 7:6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

Amo 7:7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

Amo 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

Amo 7:9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

How we judge that determines whether or not we are on the narrow way.  Our judgments must be according to the WORD.

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 of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Judging Without Vs Within

Those without the Body of Christ we are not to be judging.  The reason for this is those outside the faith do not have spiritual ears to hear the Word now.  It is the Word that shall judge all men, but only in the last day of the carnal age for every man.  That day is today for the very few but for the rest of mankind that will come in the Lake of Fire at the Second Resurrection.  It is our speaking the Words of fire that brings judgment (Jer 5:14) but if someone cannot hear, they cannot now be judged.

Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

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.

We are commanded not to keep company with spiritual fornicators and not even share a spiritual meal with them (1 Cor 5:9-11).  The reasons are many fold.  First, we can easily be corrupted by keeping bad spiritual company (1 Cor 15:33) and allowing even a little leaven into our spiritual house.

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Secondly, we are working against the Lord in trying to impart Truths on one who has not been prepared to hear.

1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

Pro 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

If the Lord has not opened one’s ears to hear we will know it quite readily.  His sheep do hear His voice that we speak.

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

We are not to judge those people; we are to turn them over to the Lord who will use His instruments including Satan to destroy their flesh in due time.  We are to judge OURSELVES and those within THE BODY OF CHRIST ONLY.

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.

This is why we are told to put out those that bring heresy and openly live in sin.  We should not need to speculate over the Lord’s sovereignty and hopefully will believe taking such a seemingly harsh act is actually the manifestation of what loving our neighbor actually entails.  Let the Lord have vengeance, only He can destroy the flesh and humble His little ones to return to their first love.

This is very difficult, a narrow road indeed especially when involving our physical families and loved ones.  It can seem so unloving to the natural man to not get engaged in the affairs of the world.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Ezr 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

How do we obey the commands and take seriously our doctrines and purge out the leaven from our midst and stay on the narrow road? How do we be that ambassador for Christ yet be a watchman over the house of Israel? We are first and foremost to be examining ourselves and making sure we are walking in the faith and clinging to sound doctrine.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

 1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

God’s chosen people, His Elect, will be making judgments and meditating on the Word of God constantly and making the necessary judgments to strive to stay on the narrow road and avoid the spiritual diseases that plague Babylonians.

Exo 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Deu 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments,and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

 “Doing what is right in his sight” includes keeping leaven out of our spiritual house.  The narrow way requires that we make many judgments and admonish one another.  Unless we are willing to speak up, be honest with ourselves first and also be willing to go to brothers and sisters as faithful watchman we are not trusting fully in the Lord.  We are here to watch over the flock of God and must learn to be obedient to those commands now.  Otherwise, how can the Lord use us in the ages to come if we don’t move on to maturity now?  Here is how the body is to operate and to heal itself as we are the sum of our parts in the Body of Christ.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

There is a reason we have Matthew 18 and Leviticus 13-14 and many other Scriptures.

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

A witness from the Old Testament would include the processes of dealing with leprosy in Leviticus.

Lev 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

The Lord does not want us chopping off literal body parts, but in order to keep our walk clean and the entire Body of Christ pure, we are given commands that require us to put our trust in Him and the work He will do in the heart of His creation.  We must be willing to chop off those unhealthy parts and cast them out less the entire body be impacted.

Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Preaching the Word to one another, the only ones with ears to hear and the focus of Christ’s ministry, brings rebuke and reproof to our sins and ungodly ways.  This is a good thing!

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

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:

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Not being faithful watchmen is a recipe for disaster and spiritual stagnation as Paul continues the instruction to Timothy.  This is speaking of what will happen within the Body of Christ.

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

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Thankfully the Lord is faithful to make His Elect watchmen who have a responsibility to oversee the flock and to warn, rebuke and discipline when we are led astray or living in error.  If we fail to warn and fail to blow the trumpet we will bear stripes for such disobedience.

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.

God’s Elect will be on this narrow road which will include blowing the trumpet, warning the people but how we do this is essential.

Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

We need to walk softly and carry a big stick!  But that stick is the WORD and that is what does the work.  We just need to bring these Truths to others and stand and let the Lord give the increase.  There is no place in the kingdom of God for harshness.  We must learn to be meek and gentle in Spirit but strong in the Words of fire that we speak.  I have failed miserably in trying to do right by being harsh, seemingly mean and looking down upon others and being an accuser of my brethren who ultimately is all men.

Judging men by the spirit means to recognize that no man is responsible for the behavior, that the Lord is indeed working ALL THINGS for the counsel of His will. Very few are given the faith to believe this truth and thus judge like Christ judged.

Joh 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh

We stop judging men after the flesh and do it by the spirit of Truth, when we properly apply the sovereignty of God and learn to not even think above what is written.  If we are truly God’s people, we better be making judgments. The whole of Matthew seven tells us how to judge.  We will reap what we sow and that applies to judgment as well.

 Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

When we judge in the flesh we will be judged in the flesh.  It comes back to us.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

If we truly love the Lord, we will want the same measure of Truth to be meted out to us in judgment.  There is no darkness that shall not be revealed and brought to the light (Luk 8:17).  So with this mindset, it is a good thing when we are judged and we should be thankful for a brother or sister to point out leaven in our doctrine or sin in our walk.

The pride of man and the deceitfulness of sin that lies in our hearts is an easy snare and cause of stumbling until we learn to judge righteously. Before we go showing others the mote in their eyes, we had best learn to examine ourselves first and make sure we are not castaways (1 Co 9:27).  We can’t help anyone spiritually if we ourselves have poor spiritual eyesight.

 Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye (by making spiritual judgments, trying spirits).

We must learn to let God judge those without. Before we judge within the Body we must first judge ourselves.  If we cannot learn to judge and do it righteously in this age, we will have NO PART in being God’s judges during the Millennium Reign or at the Great White Throne Judgment. This is just how important it is that we learn to judge righteous judgment.  We must know when to judge and how to judge using the Scriptures as our plumb line.  The whole purpose of the Lord having an Elect is to make ready the remnant of His people through which all men shall enter into the city.

 Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

 Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

 Many times we are too hasty to judge things and do not wait on the Lord.  Another criterion of judging is to wait on the Lord to work His work in others and give the trees time to bear fruit.

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 We will always know things by the fruit on the trees (Mat 7:16-20).

Loving our brothers includes pulling specks out of their eyes, judging all things, and judging righteous judgment. The doctrine that says judge nobody or nothing is not love. It is actually the spirit of a harlot church aka Spiritual Babylon that has NO JUDGMENT in it.

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers (hating the doctrines of Christ).

But the Lord is faithful even when we are not.  A day will come when He will restore judgment to the House of Israel.  Today is that day of salvation for the Elect of God.

Isa 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

The judgment of God by HIS WORD is what sanctifies us. It is how we are redeemed, it is what causes the death of the old man by the sword and fire of God.

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

Loving you neighbor as yourself is our commandment.  The mercy of the Lord is living thru the trials that bring forth salvation in due time.  Mercy will rejoice and triumph over judgment and we must trust in those promises and become obedient to the perfect law of liberty.

Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Bringing this judgment by the words we speak is how the mercy of the Lord is made manifest in our lives and how we give spiritual food, clothing and housing to our brethren who need it to sustain themselves. These are the greater works that bring salvation. Our faith without doing the works of judgment within the house of God are dead.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

All of us who have come through the door of “The Christ” are a shepherd of the sheep.

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Those who will be abiding in everlasting burnings will be God’s Elect who abide in the fire of the Word judging righteous judgment.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

This calling comes with a duty to be the watchman on the wall and admonish and edify one another through the speaking of the Word and sharing of communion.  We must not neglect or take lightly such a high calling.  We need one another to be saved.  It is the only way we will learn to judge and be judged now.  Hence we are reminded of the importance of being connected.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

 

Articles

Feeding On The Mountain of the Lord

Pete

Joh 21:15  … He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock …

Doctrine is what we eat spiritually speaking.  Doctrine’s importance cannot be overemphasized in our walk!  It is gigantic in its importance and anyone claiming otherwise has a false view and does not understand the ways of God and vastly overestimates how few, “few chosen” really means.

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.

These words of Christ do not speak to who goes to heaven or who goes to hell as Babylon will teach, they speak to how precious few will be God’s Elect in this age and will come to understand and teach true doctrine.  It is of paramount importance to know and follow and teach sound doctrine because this is what will save ourselves and those who hear us.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Who, how and when shall we be taught true doctrine and come to know the truth about the Lord?  This post will attempt to answer this question.  Doctrine is extremely important as without it NOBODY can be saved.  I hope some will be given the ability to hear this message and begin to understand the profound truths of the Scriptures and be able to separate the lies we all learn first in Babylon.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word of God is a two edged sword.  Nearly all that call themselves Christians have heard this statement yet extremely few actually understand the profound mystery of this sword, what being two edged really means and the way the Lord works with His real church, which is the Elect.  The sword has many functions spiritually speaking.  A very key one is that it is what brings judgement to us in the appointed time, so it is a very good thing in that regard.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment (speak the truth to those given ears to hear) to the Gentiles.

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

I have updated this now even longer post to give a second witness to most points, bringing forth treasures out of the old and the new just as the the Elect are commanded.

Mat 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

So when we are given to hear the word, then the sword of God brings judgment upon us.  Here is what happens, the old man is destroyed.

Eze 11:10Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Mat_10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

The sword of the Lord is also used to deceive us.  You see darkness and the light are the same to Him and He is the word of God.

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.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The sword of the Lord guards the way to the tree of life.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep (guard)  the way of the tree of life (Christ)

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.

Every way means both flesh and spirit, light and darkness, truth and apostasy.  The sword is used by God to perform His ordained works in our lives in the appointed times. ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Of course it is all Christ, both the sword and the tree of life.  Our carnal mind devoid of the Spirit given to the precious few cannot understand these mysteries given only to His Elect.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Exo_4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

God’s Elect are His messengers (angels) and the very same cherubim’s who speak His word.  To most those words will remain utter darkness as they cannot understand as it has not been given to them to understand.

Joh 12:39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

Joh 12:40  He (THE LORD) hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Yet to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see they are the light unto this dark world.  Absolutely amazing when you are given to see the sovereign hand of the Lord in both blinding the multitudes and restoring sight to the blind.

Pro 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

the Lord even makes the unhearing ears and the unseeing eyes …

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Whether it is light or darkness, the word of God, which is Christ is both darkness and light.  It just depends on which side of the cloud one is viewing it from.  If outside the veil of flesh, the truth of Christ and His bread, His true doctrine  is utter darkness.  This is things like the salvation of all, God’s absolute sovereignty, his non trinity relationship between Christ and God etc.  These things are the true light that save us as we grow in the knowledge of the Lord. But those not yet dragged to Christ and thru the veil that is His flesh, these truths will be utter darkness.  Such is the example we are given between those in the world and the true Israel of God.

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.

Until we are dragged thru this veil into His flesh, the Body, we won’t be able to see the light of the world.

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, HIS FLESH;

And guess who is the flesh of Jesus Christ????

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

The body of Christ is this veil, it is the cloud one must be dragged to in order for one to see and eat the bread of life and drink the living waters.  The cloud of the Lord’s witnesses today and in each generation since Jesus have been this darkness or light as the case may be.  The words we speak and the espousing of the true doctrines of Christ will quickly get us labelled as having devils just as our Lord was falsely accussed.  It is just the necessary reproach and enmity God has ordained be between those given the gift and those not given.

Few Chosen To Be Given The Truth

One either has ears to hear and eyes to see or they do not, and that all by the sovereign hand of the Lord.  Nothing infuriates our pride and self-righteous nature than to be told there are a few who have something we do not.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

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

They killed Christ for speaking the truth and they will do the same for His chosen few who speak the same truth. That is the way of the Lord whose ways are not our ways nor are His thoughts like ours.  The Lord is not in the fairness business.   This is an oft repeated truism of God’s Elect being given the truth and the rest of the world, even the professing church is everywhere in the Scriptures.

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Notice who does it, it is God who purposefully puts them to sleep and blinds them and makes them deaf so they cannot hear His words.  No free will involved!

Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

The doctrines they eat, their spiritual table is a snare and a trap.  This is our spiritual prison, our beliefs, the very doctrines we hold to as the truth that keep us bound in our apostasy until the Lord sets us free in our day of judgment.  The real Christ is a stumbling block we all will first reject as we believe lies like free will and eternal torment.

Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

As Christ said, when what we think is light is actually darkness, how great is that darkness.

Mat 6:23   If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

It is strong delusion and that seems like an understatement.  This is the Lord’s plan and why His entire word is a parable hidden in types and shadows such that carnal minds and ears cannot discern the truth.

Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

People hear and see physically, sure they do, but very few are chosen to be given understanding.

Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Drawn From The Breasts 

We see this mystery of the Lord purposefully blinding the multitudes and giving sight only to His chosen Elect throughout the Scriptures.  Isaiah speaks to the word being used first as a snare, spoken in a stammering tongue we will not understand (without ears to hear).  This is where we all must first go and spend our appointed 70 years in spirit in prison in Babylon.

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Note, HE MAKES us to understand doctrine, that is what it says above.  This is the same thing as Him Making us to lie down in His green pastures just as Psalm 23 says, we don’t choose.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters

This is how we are all dragged to the real Christ in due time.  He makes us to understand it, He gives it to us.

Isa 28:10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

But the truth is the SUM OF THY WORD, it is not a line here or a line there cobbled together to create one’s own doctrine.  That is what Babylon has done and is likened to seven woman who make their own bread as Isaiah 4:1 declares.  No prophecy of Scripture is of its own private explanation, the truth is only found in the sum of the word.  Such a simple concept yet so few can grasp it.

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

We all must first get deceived and drink strong drink before we will ever know the truth (Deut 29:6).  At first the Lord speaks to us being yet carnal in stammering lips and a language we do not not understand and neither did any of His disciples.  How plain can it be as we are shown in Luke.

Luk 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

When we can’t hear the words of Christ in Spirit, we continue in our own dead works to serve the Lord and cannot yet enter into the true rest that remains for the people of God.

Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

And this is how the Lord uses His word to first cause us to be deceived and be taken captive in Babylon where we will spend our appointed and symbolic 70 years thinking we serve the Lord but not having a clue as to His true doctrines and what the gospel is really all about.  We all fall backwards into perdition when first coming to Christ.

Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Those that see will first be blind and know they are blind when their eyes are opened.  That is what the parables speak of about blindness but few can receive it other than an outward history lesson.  We won’t see until we are first blind as bats yet we will claim we do see.  This is where we will be then and yet we all fall victim and live by this experience.

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.

The Lord puts His words in the mouth of His Elect and it is those very words that are also a fire and a light and a sword among other things.  That sword is the judgment of our old man which must be done away with for salvation to come.   This is indeed one of the great mysteries those without ears to hear cannot grasp in any fullness.  The instrument for bringing judgment is Christ, being His body and the word spoken from the mouth of the Lord.

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

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The Last Days

We must be given ears to hear and the faith to believe before our day of judgment begins.  The last days for each of us do not commence until that time.  But when we do hear, the new man in us will receive the words spoken by Christ and those words will bring the sword upon our old man and the process of salvation will quickly come to pass.

Joh 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

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.

God is working with His Elect now in preparing them to fulfill His purposes IN CHRIST which is that we shall judge the world in righteousness.  The way we are prepared to become the judges of the world is to first be judged ourselves and it is a marvelous thing to know this and have it combined with faith.

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?

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 Losing Your Life is Being Killed by the Sword

Luk 17:33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

To be born again, the first man Adam in us must die for the second man Adam (Christ in Us) to come forward.  The old man that knows Jesus in the flesh must decrease so Christ in us can be increased.

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

The parable of the walk to Emmaus shows us this mystery.  It is not until we walk with “Christ” and eat bread with Him (His Body), sharing truths and edifying one another thru fellowship that we will see Him in the flesh (the way Babylon knows Him) no longer.  When we do this,  we eat the true bread of life and over time progress on to the meat of the word.

Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

God’s Elect will be given over time the mind of Christ.  This comes only as we lose our life and spiritually speaking are decapitated and lose the head of our old man.  I know this is repulsive to our carnal minds but is an appropriate application of Romans 1:20 which tells us it is the outward physical things that are spiritual types and shadows of how it works in the spirit.

Having The Mind of Christ

Being beheaded spiritually by the sword that is the word of God that destroys the old man and false prophet within us all is a prerequisite for being given the mind of Christ and being in the first resurrection where we will  rule and reign on this physical earth.

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.

Those who have been beheaded and truly born again in the spirit will no longer think like the world thinks, we will truly be different and separated.  Within the body of Christ there will be no divisions, we will think alike having the mind of Christ.

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

There are not 40,000 denominations in real Christianity there is indeed only ONE TRUE DENOMINATION and that is the church that Christ build. Man and his efforts of serving God are all vanity.

Psa 127:1  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Those infected with Babylon doctrines have spiritual leprosy which comes about from its false belief on confusing tolerance of doctrinal differences with loving one another.  The carnal mind will be easily snared by this lie and see tolerating other’s false doctrines is somehow likened to being loving.  It is no such thing, that just perpetuates strong delusion and adds more plagues to our apostasy.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues (false doctrines)

Oneness with the Lord means there is no variation, there is no turning, there is no allowance for false doctrines.  For a deeper look at the importance of sound doctrine please see this post Take Heed Of False Doctrines.

Rom_15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co_13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Php_1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

That is even what the vision of the whirling wheels is all about, speaking and telling us in type and shadow what God’s Elect do as the Body of Christ in this world.

Eze 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Eze 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

Eze 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

Eze 1:7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.

Eze 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

Eze 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

The doctrines of Christ are the foundations on which the BODY is built.  They are likened to HIS BONES and that is why we are told not one of His bones was broken.  Not one of His doctrines will be corrupted IN CHRIST, it will remain pure and undefiled.  The words of Scripture that are spirit foretell of this great mystery.

Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

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

Inheriting the Mountain

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me drag him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Christ is the mountain on which the Elect will dwell.

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Mat 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Our inheritance is being dragged to this mountain which is Christ which is His Elect also know by very many names including The Church, The Body of Christ, the Bride, The Christ, the saints, the brethren, the election, His witnesses, the tree of life, etc. etc.  Those so chosen will be dragged out of this world and onto the mountain that is Christ.  There we shall be fed the true living bread and learn to eat strong meat which all related to the true doctrines of Jesus Christ rather than the lies of Babylon.

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

The Lord has scattered His little flock but then regathers them from all nations of the world.  We are brought into our own land, our inheritance and there we feed on the mountain and drink the living waters which also flow from us and give drink to others (feed thy sheep)

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

The Lord puts elders and teachers into His body to feed the flock of God and it is indeed a bountiful feast to those prepared to hear it and take it to heart.

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

And this is how we grow, mature and cease from our own works in due time.  This is the true sabbath rest that remains for the people of God.  The Lord is indeed our shepherd and He is His Body.

Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, (and cease from their own carnal works) saith the Lord GOD.

On this mountain, God’s Elect shall dwell in the consuming fire with a sword always abiding upon our spiritual house which house is the temple of God.

Isa_65:9  And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

Jdg_1:8  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

This is how and where we all shall lose our life to gain it.  This is not eternal torment, this is the way salvation comes to us all in our times appointed!!!!!

Isa_66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

Salvation Comes On The Mountain

Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

This is what working out our own salvation with fear and trembling takes place, on the mountain that is Christ dwelling in His Body.

Praise the Lord, all men shall be saved eventually.  All men will have their inward cities and kingdoms that are in rebellion against the doctrines of Christ burn with fire and cut off by the sword of the Lord.

Jesus told us that the kingdom of God is within us and comes not with visible observation.  Yet that is where salvation comes, within, it is the destruction of the old man and emergence of the new man, the Lord from heaven that is in fact salvation.  This battle and war is all within us and takes place in our hearts and minds.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

All those stories and examples in the OT were there to show us this truth and were written only for God’s Elect who would come many years later (1 Peter 1:10-12, 1 Cor 10:11, etc).  Maybe now the log of eternal torment will begin sliding away from your spiritual eyes?  Here is some good news for the man within.

Deu_13:15  Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

Deu_13:16And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.

1Sa_30:3So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Which is an older version of this same truth:

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.

Nobody is escaping this process, it only awaits the times appointed for each.

Jer_25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

Eternal damnation and hell fire is a lie, an invention of carnal men and apostate Christianity.  If only the Lord will pull that log out of their eyes then they could begin as new born babes to drink the MILK of the gospel, the salvation of all men in due time.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

His Two Witnesses

What those believers is such blasphemous doctrine as eternal hell fire do not perceive is that they are yet carnal and that all the Scriptures are about what takes place within us.  The two edged swords that is Christ is the two edges sword that is His Christ.  As His witnesses we are the two witnesses that first speak falsely on His behalf and then are killed and risen again and only then are we seated in the heavens with Christ.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

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

At first we fall backwards and are deceived by fleshly carnal doctrines and our witness for Christ will fail.  But we are Christ, He is the first and the last and a resurrection in down payment form is coming in this age if one is God’s Elect.

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

But when Christ’s comes to us and our day to believe comes, we arise from the dead and then our judgment and the earthquakes of all the carnal nations and lust within us begins in earnest.  The second half of our witness is after we are resurrected from the dead and have the spirit of God living within us.  Our inward and outward enemies will all bow in due time.

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Rev 11:13  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Rev 11:14  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

And it is here that we enter into Christ and know Him and His Father being of the family of God and seated with Him in heaven which is our hearts and minds.  Now the Lord will rule us with a rod of iron and the Elect will rejoice as the angels in heaven.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 11:16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Rev 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

As we saw above, it is on the mountain that is Christ that all of these lightening, voices and thunderings, earthquakes and great hail take place.  It is a marvelous thing.

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

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

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

Being saved will cost us everything if one really knows what salvation means and can be moved beyond the strong delusion of eternal torment.  This sword is the tool the Lord uses to make war in our heavens and that is exactly what must take place BEFORE salvation comes.   These are not a history lesson or an outward prophecy, they are words you, me and all men shall live by in the appointed times.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

We know this sword has come to our house when we are shown are wickedness and learn that we are the abomination that is causing desolation defiling the temple of God.  This is the sign that our day of the Lord has arrived and Christ has come to make war in our heavens and destroy the beast and false prophet within us all.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (our day of judgment and being dragged to the truth) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We must fall away first and then be shown who and what we truly are:  Beast and chief of sinners etc.

2Th 2:4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

We must be shown we are the false prophet, the antichrist, a self righteous beast speaking like a dragon

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

We will never receive this until our day appointed arrives.  It is all in the Lord’s hands.

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

But that day will come and the wicked wretched man that we all are in the flesh will be revealed to us and then the Lord will begin to consume and destroy that wicked beast within us all with the sword and fire that is His word.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

And the lies we all beleived and were held in deception, including what we honestly believed were true miracles and deliverances will be shown for what they were, an event to keep us bound in darkness during our appointed time in Babylon.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

In type and shadow, this is what happened to David, who is a type of Christ and a type and shadow of all of God’s Elect.  A prophet of the Lord will come to us and speak the word that will shine light on our darkness. David like all of us looked past his own sins and so easily saw the sin in others and was offended by those sins.  But his hypocrisy as our own will one day be shown to us in stunning clarity.  David wanted the life of the man that took the ewe from the man who had but one, and that man was David and is you and me  and all men who are brute self righteous beasts.

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2Sa 12:8  And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

2Sa 12:9  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

We all despise the Lord while claiming to serve Him.  We live by every word, even these.

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

The sword divides.  It is what separates us from our old way of life and the new way of life.  It is the means by which the old man is crucified and the beast and false prophet that represents all of us is finally destroyed.   But the sword is not abiding on anyone that thinks they are righteous and have not been shown clearly who they are in the flesh and what really they are made of.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Such ones are the ones Christ does not come for in this age.  They need no repentance, don’t need a physician and are pros at pointing out other people’s sins but can’t see their own.  Until the logs of false doctrines are pulled from their eyes they have no business trying to pull specks out of others.  Yet all of us will be guilty of doing it as we live by every word.  Those that do not know or believe they are truly a beast will have no need for repentance.

Luk 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Which is why Christ said, the end does not come unless and until you see it.

Mat 24:15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

One can’t see until they are healed of their blindness and that only by the Lord’s mercy.  One will not understand until then and will be ever learning and never able to come to knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

When you begin to see these things, then you begin to be humbled and that is what must occur for salvation to come.  Blessed is the poor in spirit for they shall see God.  But if you are given mercy and are shown these truths in the spirit, then salvation has come unto you and the Lord will make a relatively quick work to destroy that beast and kill that old man within you and eliminate the false witness and false prophet we all are at first.  Here is a wonderful event that will usher in salvation for all men when it comes.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

This indeed is what true grace is, it is what chastens us and is how the sons of God are scourged by a loving Father.

Eph 2:8  For by (chastening) grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

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

It is this sword that our father uses.  The rod of Aaron in type and shadow brings this judgment upon our sinful ways of the flesh.  It is what causes us to obey the Lord in due time.

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.

Contrary to the false love believed by most and taught in the Babylon churches, the Lord’s ways calls for a heavy dose of discipline to teach us righteousness.

Pro 13:24  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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.

Those that have been shown mercy will know the trials are the blessing and what is needed for us to be remade into the image of Christ.  This is a process that requires us to learn patience.  I am a blessed man and have been shown such mercy by others and have come thru the door and it is my purpose to show others this same mercy.  I pray you hear if you were led to read this very long post.

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door (The Christ) is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

This is the works of God and the greater works Jesus said His Christ would be doing.

May these words be an encouragement and spiritual food to a precious lamb who the Lord is dragging to Himself.  Sincere questions or comments are welcome.  Please feel free to email me at (note a new email address)

peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

In love,

Your brother in Christ,  Pete

For a related post on doctrines showing how many of the OT stories are all about doctrine also see this link:

http://truthinscripture.com/2014/03/19/tolerance-of-false-doctrines/