Tag: Love

Articles

Guarding Against Deception

Pete

Deceptions in the Last Days

The love of many is waxing cold in the world as everything seems to be turned upside down.  The love of God and even the mention of His name and His commandments are hard to find.  And where Christ is preached, most are offended in these darkening times, as foretold.  Those precious few in the faith need to remain vigilant and endure the many deceptions and evils we confront daily.

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

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

The Lord is separating the sheep from the goats in this day of the Lord.  Today is that day if we belong to the Lord and have the living Word, the sayings and commands of Jesus Christ working its work in us.  We best heed all apostasy warnings lest we, too, fall away.

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

An expanding deception is the perversion of the meaning and intents of the word Love.  The relentless promotion of unnatural relationships between men and women impacts all nations.  The so-called gay lobby has successfully promoted the lie that not accepting their abominable behaviors is akin to hate, and by agreeing with their views, one would be deemed to be siding with “love.” Those so deceived have it entirely backward and flip-flopped as prophesied.

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

My purpose in this article is not to get entangled with those in the world nor contest what the Lord is doing, as He is ultimately responsible for everything we witness.

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 

Rather, the Lord quickened me to write a follow-up to my last post, “Heeding the Lord’s Commandments in Faith.” The goal is to expose a related perversion of love, a growing apostasy that has ensnared brethren who previously stood firm in the faith.  Godly love shares some attributes with the love that those in the world know, but it is distinctly different in one key component.  What sets it apart is that love must be tied to doing the Lord’s commandments and sayings.  Any action contrary to what the Lord has commanded of us is not love in the eyes of Christ.  May these words the Lord gave me, sharpen our senses to be on guard.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 

The further we walk with the Lord, the more the warnings and admonishments about falling away and deception take on a more significant meaning.  When you experience it firsthand, then it becomes a louder wake-up call to stay vigilant.

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

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

Many are fallen into apostasy, going beyond what is written in their doctrine and selectively adding to or taking away from the Scriptures. If not corrected, such departure removes one from the Book of Life and entrance into the Holy City in this age.  Be forewarned.

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

The commandments are the power of the Gospel; apart from them, we have no part with the Lord, instead building our spiritual house on sand.  Do not be deceived.

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

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

We need to be circumspect in testing the spirits and trying the doctrines others bring to us.  As the Scriptures show us, carnal minds (Satan) are good at speaking half-truths and making spiritual writings or talks that, on the surface, appear godly to the undisciplined.  The Word of God is pure, and no lie is found in what is spoken to be the Truth.

1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 

The spirit of Satan is the spirit of man’s carnal mind which is opposed to the commandments of the Lord.  The father of all lies is a proud and lying spirit that sways many with their smooth words and a forked tongue.  A recurring experience is seeing brethren forget and now dismiss the Lord’s commandments and replace them with a mantra of “let us just love everyone” and accept everything.   Such a doctrine is not the way of Christ and most certainly is not what the Scriptures, the sum of them, teach us as doctrine.  Following these seductive lies keeps one from having eternal life and entering into the Holy City that is Jerusalem above.

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

Rebellious children are brethren (Israel) who have been ensnared by the lie and have no desire or ear to hear about the Lord’s commandments [The Law of the Lord].  A smooth sounding “feel good” gospel is their spiritual bread full of leaven, which leads away from the true Gospel.  All flesh wants to hear the wide and tolerant easy road versus the narrow path defined in the Scriptures.

Isa 30:8  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Isa 30:9  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits

In our day of the Lord (the latter times), we experience more brethren departing the faith and giving way to lies, such as the perverted concept of love in the world.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 

We continue to pay a high price to walk with the Lord in terms of what we lose in this carnally-minded world.  It is such a blessing to be called and chosen to receive the blessing of the Lord.   We continue only as the Lord disciplines us to guard our gates and protect our crowns from the prevalent liars, thieves, and antichrists.    The last days are upon us now, and many antichrists IS COME disguised as angels of light.  We need to be on guard, try the spirits, and test the doctrines espoused by those who claim to be the Lord’s people.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

The Apostle John gives us many warnings and encourages the true church [The Elect Lady] explicitly to stay focused on loving the Lord [which is obeying the Lord’s commandments] and beware the many deceivers out there who would bring in false doctrines to lead us astray.  In this powerful Scripture from 2 John,  the Apostle defines godly love for us and starkly reminds us of a specific commandment we need to be exercising in faith to keep the prize of salvation.

2Jn 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 

2Jn 1:5  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flesh is naturally opposed to obeying the Lord [Gal 5:17] and resists the law of the Lord at every turn.  Jesus Christ, The WORD, is inseparable from His commandments.  Denying Jesus Christ is come in one’s flesh is denying that His commandments are alive and working righteousness by His divine power within us.   Those not staying the course will stray from the commandments, while those being saved in their day of the Lord will be pressing into those same commandments.

The Lord is surely creating these experiences as part of the all things He is working in the lives of every man.  Christ brings division in one realm as He winnows down His little flock in this age who are promised the kingdom of God.  In this age, there will be few given to endure to the end on the narrow way of salvation.  This feat is impossible with man, but with God, it is possible.  We should always pray for wisdom and discernment and keep our hearts on the commandments of the Lord.  Those commands include requirements to take action and do things contrary to what the carnally-minded world thinks about the meaning of love.  But we are not here to please the world or men, but only the Lord and the Scriptures say this.

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

Jas 4:4  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

The mark of a true disciple [“disciples indeed”] is the one keeping His commandments.  Staying our minds on those commands is how we are making our calling and election sure in the day of temptations.  If we want the Lord to come the Lord will put a spirit of obedience within us that will make the commandments, the true love of God, the focus of our walk.  Nothing else matters without this true love and this is how we know who belongs to the Lord and who does not.

Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 

It is so important that the Scriptures give us many warnings not to be deceived about who enters and who does not enter the kingdom of God.  We best remember the warnings to obey the Lord’s commandments, including not partaking in the apostasy of others.

Further Witness of the command to separate:

The fable of false love, which calls for accepting everyone and just going along to get along, is an insidious lie that steals one’s reward [the mind of Christ] in this age.  Twice rejected, we as Christ need to move on to be obedient to the Lord.

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

It is not “love” or “godly” to hang around and argue and contend over the most fundamental truths.  Instead, godly love is our obedience to the commandments to not engage with those the Lord has deceived.  We are to separate.

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 

Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

When we are given to love God more than flesh feelings and emotions, we have the steadfastness to stand firm even amid great opposition.  We won’t give an inch and waver not in exercising our love [obedience] for God.  Separating even from brethren bringing false doctrines and polluted gospels is not just wise to do; it is a commandment of the Lord.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Entering the kingdom of God is impossible by the will or strength of man.  It is all God’s work in the brethren; remember, it comes by us being caused to pay a high price.  This includes losing relationships and engaging contact we once valued with brethren we have walked with for years.

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

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

When this happens in our walk, Lord willing, we are obeying the commandments and not being trapped by the insidious lies of another gospel.  We yearn for reconciliation and repentance to our fallen brethren and know whether now or in the age to come; we will be reunited and be ONE in the faith.

The True Christ, the Commands is Not Attractive

The Babylonian or orthodox definition of love is attractive to flesh and draws people towards it.  Yet the true Christ and His Word are contrariwise NOT ATTRACTIVE to the flesh, and one is only drawn to Christ by the power of God.

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

The commandments of the Lord [The Word,  Christ] are not esteemed by the carnally minded.  There is nothing about Jesus Christ, the WORD that flesh desires, and His Words were never intended to profit our flesh.

Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

When we heed His Word and begin to do them (obey the commands), we enter into newness of life and start reaping the promises of salvation.

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

As we mature, we more readily move beyond our sadness when brothers and sisters are swept away in apostasy.  We are also commanded to try to snatch them back from strange fire.  Yet if our words regarding the commandments are not received, we are commanded to move on as we saw above.  If we deny the Lord, He also denies us until repentance is granted. As our Lord is, so are we as His Christ in the world.  We are commanded to do the same as our Master does when the commandments are rejected.

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

We learn that it is impossible to wake brethren to errors unless the Lord has mercy and opens their eyes to see it.  All we can do is preach the Gospel boldly; the rest is up to the Lord.

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

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

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

Let those who have been given ears to hear, hear these Truths and remain vigilant in the walk of faith.

Grace and peace to the Saints.

Pete & Ronel

peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Studies

Exposing the Millennium Reign – Part 4

Pete

Exposing the Millennium Reign – Part 4

 “Reigning With Christ – God’s Plan for All”

The entire multi-part series can be found here:Click Here

The real reign with Christ spoken about in the Scriptures is the one that has every man ruling and reigning in His kingdom within us having dominion over sin and the lusts of our flesh.  This is our focus and our prayer that this rulership, our being risen to reign with Him in righteousness comes.

Mat 6:10 Your kingdom [and our ruling and reigning with Him] come. Your will be done on earth [G1093 – the land within] as it is in heaven

Lord willing, this gigantic plank of false doctrine regarding an outward Millennium Reign on the physical earth/world is completely removed from our spiritual eyes.  The entire lie comes from the father of lies and our bowing to Satan who promises us this outward rulership if we only serve him.

Luk 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world [kosmos] in a moment of time. 

Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 

Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 

Just think of the huge false doctrines that have fallen away as we have come out of the lies and deceptions of Spiritual Babylon.

  • No longer denying the Second Death, knowing this spiritual experience, which is the lake of fire [the cross] and the only way we will be saved

 

  • No longer denying the “resurrection of damnation” [Joh 5:29, Dan 12] as belonging to those lesser Gentiles. Now we see this as the only way to get to salvation. Day 3 is only found by living through this Day 2 experience!

 

  • We clearly see there is no spiritual event called the “second resurrection” in the Scriptures — it does not exist. There is only ONE blessed and holy FIRST resurrection that comes to all men in the two harvests of men.  It is not a pattern of sound words to refer to the second harvest as the second resurrection.

 

  • We have also been delivered of our exaltation of the Elect and our being given more respect from the Lord than other men and deserving of greater rewards and lesser punishments.

 

  • The significance of the flesh profiting itself NOTHING [Joh 6:63] has taken on expanded comprehension. Now our focus can be returned to its proper place and we know the road is narrower and few there be shall find it.

 

  • We continue to learn to not think above what is written [1Co 4:6], having learned a big lesson by this experience. We now know there are many things not written; including the details on how the physical earth comes to an end and how humanity and living flesh will cease to exist.

The flock has lost some who walk no more with Christ not being able to bear the loss of carnal profit and carrying our cross to the second death.  This winnowing and sifting will continue as it is a precious few who will be given to lay down their lives and endure the walk of faith all the way to the end.  The pursuit of the fishes and loaves i.e –  the knowledge needs to be turned into our pursuit of love [obedience].  There are few who will be given to move on and finish the race.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

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

While more studies could be done to expand upon all the connected errors propping up the Millennium Reign doctrine,  it is time to move on and turn our eyes inwardly to the kingdom of God and where He is at work.

We Walk by Faith Not by Sight

We will continue to comfort one another with the promises of the Lord and the comfort given to us in the Scriptures.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

There are many details about the next age the Lord has not provided to us.  He has not revealed all things to us and we know that the Lord [the truth, the way] will not be found in what the Scriptures do not reveal.  We must be wise to not follow after such deception and the wanton spirit within our flesh that wants to know everything.  Let’s stick to what is revealed in His Word.

Mat 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 

Mat 24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 

The good fight of faith means we walk not on what we see [physically or spiritually revealed to us in the Scriptures]; but by faith. The very essence of faith is believing in what one cannot see.

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

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 

Let’s look again at these verses that warn us to be content and not be wanton in seeking riches including the spiritual kind.  We are to flee such lusts and idols that ensnare carnal minds in huge error as we have witnessed ourselves.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

What are we to focus on and pursue if not spiritual riches as we wait on the Lord?  Paul answers.  It is all about love, which is our obedience [1Jo 5:3].

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things [wantonness, seeking to be rich, chasing knowledge, etc]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

To those given much [knowledge, riches], much more will be expected [Luk 12:48].  All riches are given by the Lord to the edifying and benefit of the Body of Christ that will be manifest in good works in service to the Lord.

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, [WALK BY FAITH] who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

The sign of our maturity is the growing fruit of righteousness [obedience, charity, agape] which shall never fail us.  Predictions of false prophets within and without ourselves will fail, our learning new mysteries [tongues] about the Lord will fail as our focus is turned back to the Lord and the love of God.

1Co 13:8  Charity [obedience] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

The love of God is better than wine says the love book of Solomon, which is a type for our relationship with Jesus Christ our husband.

Son 1:2  Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [obedience] is better than wine [knowledge]. 

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

If we study the Epistles and writings to the early church, we will  see an absence [lack] of focus on future mysteries and outward events, but instead a constant focus on the battle for truth and obedience within us. This is the struggle of flesh and Spirit we all battle and where our focus must always remain as only the queen of Babylon within us [Rev 18:7] thinks she needs nothing and has already arrived.

The Lord’s True Plan for Reigning on the Earth

Being raised up with Christ and occupying a new Temple in which He dwells takes a three-day process with some little seasons to be enduring in the transition between the days.   There is simplicity and order to all that the Lord is working in His plan for the salvation of every man.  God’s plan and order never change.  First spiritual death, then spiritual life.  First the flesh than the spirit. First the reign of death [flesh] then the reign of righteousness as we must live both experiences as His Two Witnesses.

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

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 

1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Bringing the complexity of the signified times and seasons of our Lord back to the simplicity that is Christ, both reigns beginning with the reign of death and damnation [Day 2] and the reign of eternal life and righteousness [Day3] are crucially important and are lived out in the specified order.

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that [Christ] shall rise to reign over the Gentiles [rest of the dead within us]; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Death reigns on our earth when we hear the law but have not the power and overcoming to rule over sin.  Hearing the gospel and the commands of Christ revives sin in us, the result being spiritual death reaping the wages of sin.

Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 

Rom 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 

 

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

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

It is only when the Lord comes the second time, with power and fire, that the rest of the dead within us [the Gentiles] are raised to life as death is destroyed in the lake of fire.

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is 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. 

His coming to us with power on high, at Pentecost, brings the Spirit of life that is setting us free the law of sin and death, little by little, as we abide in the fire carrying our cross by faith, crying out for deliverance.

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

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death….

The reign of death is transformed into a reign of righteousness by the process as the heavens and earth within us continue to be purified.

Dominion and Rulership Comes by Death

We die daily to death in the lake of fire as our carnal mind is destroyed and we dispossess the land of all things that defile.  This is reigning in righteousness and we grow into it as we mature in the faith thru great tribulations.

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead [to death] is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion [rulership] over him. 

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

This fulfilling the plan of God was given way back in the beginning.

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him [sin]. 

 The Lord’s plan was set from the beginning of time and He has never wavered or changed.  God made lights in the inward heavens, to rule over the times and divide light from darkness in His process of remaking each and every man.

Gen 1:16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 

Gen 1:17  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 

The Lord is the Lord of heaven and the earth and in the process of remaking us [“Qal” ongoing tense like Aorist in Greek], that is being accomplished by His three-day process in rebuilding the temple of God which temple we are [1Co 3:16].  Gaining dominion is gaining rulership and that dominion is over our own personal earth, air [heaven] and over everything that lives within us.  The plan was stated and has not changed from the very beginning.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth

This transition into the reign of righteousness, for the signified thousand years; signifies the third day, also known as the last day or the day of the Lord in which all men are perfected in Gods plan.  The number three signifying the process [the three days] of how we are perfected by the hand of the Lord.

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

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

The kingdom of Jesus Christ and His Christ has never been and never will be about ruling the physical kosmos [Joh 18:36, Joh 6:15, Luk 17:21].  The words of Scripture, which are all spirit, tell us the earth represents our bodies, emotions, and actions … our entire life experience which is also known as the promised land that is given to Israel [Elect, Spiritual Jews] to possess.  We possess that land and learn to rule over it only through judgment that comes when Christ brings the fire to our earth.

Deu 4:1  Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 

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 promised land], the inhabitants of the world [kosmos] will learn righteousness. 

The entire history of flesh Israel and all failed and immature kings is there to show us our Day 2 experience and the reign of death and our flesh and the futility we experience in overcoming sin and being obedient.  A divided kingdom is a double-minded man who deceives himself and is ensnared in death having made a covenant with death.  This is all part of the Lord’s plan to bring us to our wits end where we cry out for a savior.

Isa 3:4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them [first before the kingdom is established in righteousness with a true king] 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

When we are in the flesh before Christ comes in the Spirit with power, our ruling was all in vain and there was never any lasting righteousness or overcoming.  Which is why Christ comes to us the second time [Day three] to bring the fire that saves us and establishes true righteousness on the earth.  We look towards and focus on this.

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

The true reign with Christ is the result of our coming through the Lake of Fire and dying to death which is the Second Death.  When death is dead within us, we have power in the Spirit and are reigning over and possess the land in holiness.  This is salvation and the plan of God for every man in the appointed times for each.

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

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.

Being like Christ will have us ruling like Christ and being the servant of all and lording over no man.  The outcome we should seek is the exact opposite focus the false doctrine of an outward Millennium Reign brought to those that believed it.  Reigning with Christ is serving the dead within us and without us, preaching the gospel and teaching all the commandments of the Lord.

Mar 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 

Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

We can praise the Lord for His mercy in bringing us out of our deceptions and turning us back to the message of the gospel.

The following study continued on in exposing error from the false Millennium Reign doctrine.  That study can be found here:  The “Is, Was and Is to Come” Coming of the Lord and I believe you will be greatly edified.

 

Articles

Observing Days, Times and Years

Pete

The keeping of days and years is a gigantic custom and tradition of the world.  It is only by looking behind ourselves once we have come out of day keeping that we can truly appreciate just how wide and deep is that bondage that has captured the whole world.  We start out in bondage but are delivered as we mature in the faith.

Gal 4:3 Even so, we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

The Lord made all things, even the lights and celestial objects in the physical heavens for the purposes cited early on in Genesis.

Gen 1:14  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 

Yet the keeping of days, times and seasons is for the world.  The world’s [spiritual Gentiles] attraction of day and timekeeping was given to them to worship awaiting the appearance of Christ to them.

Deu 4:19  NLT And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The LORD your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth. 

The little flock that is the Israel of God is commanded to not partake of these days and worship any of the world’s gods which include days, months, times and seasons.

Deu 7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Exo 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

Exo 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

The Lord changes not and His commandments include our separation from all the things the world loves as the Lord is separating a people unto Himself.

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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

It is seemingly little matters like keeping of days that truly separate the people of God from those still in the world.  Paul rebukes the Galatians sharply for their acceptance of false gospels and their broadening of the narrow way commanded.

Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 

Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 

As ambassadors for Christ, we are strangers in a foreign land.  Yet ambassadors cannot do their job if they become entangled in the affairs of the land they have been sent to minister.   We are not winning people to Christ by partaking of the world’s traditions and customs.

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.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Anyone keeping days, months, times and years is either 1) not in the faith and of the world or 2) they are weak in the faith and need time and admonitions to grow and mature.  The absolute sovereignty of God is solid established doctrine so we know everyone is exactly where the Lord has placed them so we are not to condemn anyone for their disobedience in this regard or any work of the Lord.  We all have kept days, months, times and seasons and it is only by the mercy we received that we are able to now correct others in mercy, patience, and long-suffering.

Days, Months, Times and Seasons are Everywhere

Partaking of worldly times keeps us focused on the world and our hearts and minds, not on the treasures in heaven and the cross that we are now carrying daily to our death with Christ.

Luk 9:22  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Consider just how vast the designation of special days has become in the world today.

Religious holy days:  Nothing holy about any of them be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim or otherwise.  They all represent flesh and not those called of the true living God.

Patriotic Days:  Each country has its own growing set of days.  Shunning them will make people hate you instantly and speak all manner of evil about you.

Special Days: Men and clever marketers have invented numerous days to honor and bring recognition to certain people, groups of people, roles and sexes. This list is endless …Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s day, Arbor Day, Flag day,  Earth Day, Ground Hog Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Civil Rights Day, Emancipation Day, National Day of Prayer,  Grandparents Day, Boss’s Day, ….. with no end ….

Birthdays: This is a big one and one of the harder ones to give up as it is so ingrained into every society. Yet the scriptures are clear and the only examples of birthdays we have resulted in death.

Anniversaries: Marking anniversaries has waxed far beyond just wedding days to include all kinds of markings of annual remembrances.

Standing in the Truth Brings Persecution

The world hates Christ.  You can be sure when one makes a stand on days and times, persecution will come from those we interact with in the world including our families.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

People will naturally begin to separate from you when you make a stand for Christ on days.  This is a good thing as the church truly is the “Ekklesia” or the called out ones.

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Luk 6:23  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

People will naturally want to know why you do not keep their days and despise their traditions.  You can be sure that when that stand is made against the keeping of days and times,  most will reject and hate (seek to kill you spiritually) for having the audacity to not keep their worldly traditions and to call yourself the son of God. We will then be in very good company in following our Lord.

Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath [did not keep their precious days], but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

When I made a firm stand on all days, months, times and seasons, it marked the beginning of my abiding in true fiery trials.  I lost nearly all my relationships with physical family over their vehement opposition to any cessation of keeping days and times.  Yet it’s a small price to pay to be Lord willing be found worthy of His Name.  We must count the costs of following Him and know it will cost us our old way of life.

Luk 9:25  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Luk 9:26  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Being rejected of men and your own household is truly a trial of our faith, but one we must be made able to endure if we are to move on to maturity and be prepared for even greater fiery trials in the Lake of Fire.  Not conforming with the world starts with our rejection of the world’s customs on keeping of days, months, times and years.

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

Judging Others and Bearing the Weak

While day keeping is wrong for the people of God, how we deal with others is also part of the narrow way and what the Lord is teaching us in raising us up as Kings and Priests.  Being separated from the world also means we do not judge the world and those in it.  That is for a time and age to come in the future when the world will begin to hear the word of the Lord and are given faith (Joh 12:47).   Those in the faith are not to judge those in the world, our focus is to be on those within the fellowship of faith.

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. 

Those within include all in the faith and yet there are different measures of faith and varying degrees of maturity.  All first struggle in understanding God’s requirements of not keeping days and in discovering practical ways of being obedient while not coming across as a clanging gong (1Co 13:1) or ramming our spiritual meat down those not yet prepared to receive it.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

It is the mature in the faith who learn mercy and longsuffering by tolerating the weak in the faith who still keep days and times.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

The weak are not allowed to bring in disputes about established doctrines but we need to trust the Lord and let Him work His work in our brothers and sisters that He has already ordained.

Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

We should always be ready to answer and teach the truth of the mature and more excellent way of the Lord.  Yet we are learning patience in waiting for others to be brought along by the Lord.

When we understand that the love of God is our obedience and that is what AGAPE or LOVE truly means, then we begin to understand that our obedience on days, times, months and years is actually loving our families that reject Christ at this stage.  Our stand for the truth will be a witness to them in due time.  Our disobedience only serves to keep them in darkness to the Lord’s truth and make it harder for them to see the separation the Lord requires of His people from the world’s ways.  Bottom line we are in this world but not to be of it.

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

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

When we go along with the world, we lead people astray from the truth of God’s word.  We are teaching them by example that it is okay to serve our God in the same way the world serves its gods.  That is not “love” the way God defines it and neither is it loving our neighbor.

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [We love by obeying God]

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Practical Lessons

The fact we are in this world means we will be continually exposed to these customs and traditions.  This will be especially true for gatherings with our physical families and also in our places of work.  One simply cannot totally escape this exposure, it’s pervasive in our world and society.  We learn the narrow way by making mistakes and then adjusting our approach to stand firm for Christ.

Telling your family you beliefs:  It will take time for your family and relatives that you have contact with to stop communicating with you over days the way the world does.  The happy birthday’s wishes, the cards, the gifts for Christmas and salutations and phone calls for all the other holidays will continue until they learn you are standing firm.  The sooner you make that stand and stick to it, the sooner you will bear the reproach of Christ and also begin to teach them you no longer live by the world’s customs.  You can then start counting it all joy to suffer for His sake.  Your family will not understand at first and will think evil of you for not acknowledging the birthdays, the holidays, the anniversaries that are so precious to the carnally minded.  It is particularly difficult where one spouse believes and the other does not and even more when children are in the house.

Family gatherings over the holidays or around a significant birthday:  These can be tricky yet in some cases, our appearance may be mandated and could give the appearance we are partaking in a holiday or a birthday party.  For example, some visit families around the big holidays because that is the only chance they have to see family.  A narrow way might be for example coming over on Thanksgiving break but not partaking of the big meal which is the biggest part of the worldly custom.  In another example, one may need to go to a gathering of a family where a birthday celebration could be part of the broader overall plan.  If the visit could not be avoided, then one should bear no gifts and leave the gathering temporarily when the festivities of the cake/gifts and the song occur.  We are not under the law and our careful treading is not for our sakes but for the sake of our unbelieving family to not create a stumbling block for them to come to Christ in the future.  The longer we stand on truth the less likely it becomes we will find ourselves in a tricky spot again.

Office birthday parties:  I was not in truth when I worked in office buildings with lots of people.  But nearly half the days there was always a card for someone being circulated or a meeting to have cake and sing the song.  What do you do?  We would have to tell our workers that we do not partake of birthdays and to please do not ask us to sign the cards or come to these ceremonies.  It’s called making a stand and it could cost us our friendships in the world.  Lord willing anyone’s job would not be imperiled yet we can hold nothing back in seeking to obey God.

Any that still struggle with these issues should seek counsel from a more mature brother and sister in navigating the narrow way.  All in Christ have been there and has had to learn to deal with day keeping and our avoidance of it.  We are all here to be helpers of your joy in obeying the Lord.

Articles

God is Faithful to His Covenants

Pete

God’s promises coming to pass, do not depend on the whims of his creation.  God is in control and has designed His plan with all foreknowledge.  We truly limit God and deny His power when we believe that man has the ability to thwart God’s plan and purposes.  This is silly.  God is the potter and all men are mere pieces of clay.  This is the common denominator of all the false teaching out there, it denies the power of God and of the Cross.  The focus of this post will be on the Covenant promises of God after we first review HIS character.

Numbers 23:9  God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Let God be true and every man be a liar!  Our God is faithful.  He is faithful even when His creation is not faithful.  God never changes.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore!  His mercy endures forever.  God is good.  His anger is but for a short time.  His love never fails.  Nothing is impossible for God.  Jesus has won the victory over even death.   It is deceived men who continue to deny God’s power in their teachings and limit God and thereby exalt themselves.  All what is in this paragraph is clearly told us in the Scriptures.  But many do not believe.

God is a just God who will punish the wicked and is angry with the wicked every day,  but this does not change who God is as a loving Father.  His punishments are always just and given in love and with mercy.  This is His nature and He changes not.  This is why we are told to love our enemies and do good to those that hate us.  That is because that is what God does to His enemies and expects His children to be just like Him.  There is not a different standard for us and God.  Consider what the Lord Jesus had to say of such things from Luke 6.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

So you see my friends,  God’s punishments in the end are for the good of all.  David came to see and understand this and my hope is you will to when the veil of an eternal hell and a God that stays angry for ever is lifted from your eyes.  Then you will truly believe.

Psalm 19:9-12

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

These judgments are given in love.  To warn us and to turn us away from wickedness.  But the mercy never ends, even after we die.  I believe God can raise people died and buried in the ground from the dead and give them eternal life.  Do you?  That is exactly what our Father did with the Lord Jesus Christ, who has forever won the victory over death for ALL MEN for ALL NATIONS, ALL FAMILIES.  Yet incredibly many that profess to know the Scriptures do not even beleive it.  One day we shall see all of God’s covenantal promises fulfilled.  All tongues will be confessing that Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God.  The great Apostle Paul spoke against the scoffers and mockers of God’s power and the full breadth of richness of this marvelous gospel.

1 COR 15:16 – For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

But Christ is risen!  The dead do rise!  Believe this wonder and walk by faith.

I want to end this post with a mini review of the covenant promises of our faithful God.  They all will come to pass and be fulfilled.

Isaiah 46:11 Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Promises to the Fathers of Faith

Genesis 12:3  I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed

The father of all faith is Abraham.  What this covenants say is that through faith,  God is going to bless all the families of the earth.  Jesus was this blessing and His sacrifice has indeed fulfilled this promise that God swore, and HE cannot lie.  The lamb that was shed from the foundation of the whole world has come and HE has taken away the sin of the world.  But very few believe that God is faithful to His promises, very few.

John 1:29  Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Gen 18:17 – And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 22:16 – By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Thank you Abraham for your obedience.  But really thank you Jesus.  The same promise given to Abraham was repeated and given to his son Isaac.  Those in faith will receive this blessing and ultimately all will come to faith and will confess Jesus as Lord.

GEN 26:4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed

After Jacob wrestled with God in unbelief and his eyes opened,  the same blessing came upon him.  God gave this promise to Jacob in a dream and upon awakening he could now see spiritually (Gen 28:16).  Here was the promise.

Genesis 28:14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed.

The Scriptures foretell of these promises throughout.  I believe them and there is no confusion any more on what the word “ALL” means in these promises.  God is God and His power and wisdom have no boundaries.  I pray all will stand firm on the promises of God and come into the covenant of faith, knowing of this blessed hope for all humanity.  It will change your life when you see it.  If you believe not that God can raise dead people, physically and spiritually and breathe new life into them,  you believe not the gospel and not in Christ and are still in your sins.

Christ has risen and rules and reigns today from the heavens.  Through Adam we all came into sin but through Christ,  all will come into eternal life in the order and sequence that God ordains.

1 COR 15:22-26  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Death will be destroyed for ALL in the very end.  Believe it.  God spoke it.  We can all look forward to this glorious day when all knees shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  God is good and His mercies endure forever!  Hallelujah.

Carnal man will not believe these promises and the absolute power of God.  Such a man will believe that God’s purposes can be circumvented by God’s creation.  It is really ridiculous when one comes to see the depth of the deception in the church today.  Many of you continue to call God a liar in your unbelief.  It is you who do not believe that need to repent and turn your heart to God and trust what He has promised.  Only in His mercy can you come to Him.

ISA 46:10  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure

God’s get His will done.  All that pleases Him is done.  He delights in mercy and loves to turn enemies into friends.    His pleasure, all of it gets done regardless of what the piece of clay thinks.  I am so glad that God has saved us all rather than leaving it to us to do it.

I am going to believe God and His promises knowing that all that was spoken will come to pass.  It will not depend on the will of man in any way shape or form.  In the end, God has the complete and total victory over sin. His grace wins out.  Praises to the King.  I leave you with a excerpt from a Pslam.

Psalm 66:3-5

“How awesome are Your works!  AMEN – tis all the work of the POTTER
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
 ALL  the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name