And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)
No one will be permitted to rule the nations with a rod of iron until the Morning Star, Christ, has been formed in him and is abiding in him. Christ and the Father will come to abide only in the individual who guards carefully and observes to practice that which Christ has spoken.
As we press forward in the rewards to the overcomer we can see the difference between the Divine pardon of the sinner, and the spiritual development of the saint.
The believer who is walking in the flesh is not having Christ formed and abiding in him. He is not being given the morning star. How, then, could he rule the nations of the earth?
Each believer in Christ will be raised from the dead. Then he will receive what he has practiced while living in the world.
When the Lord comes, each of us will enter a unique destiny. Great diversity will result. Some will shine as the stars forever. Others will be beaten with many lashes because of the evil they have practiced. In between these extremes will be found a variety of rewards and punishments, praises and rebukes. This is true of all whose names are in the Book of Life.
Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will suffer the maximum sentence of the judgment bar of Christ: eternal banishment from the face of their Creator.
Those who would rule with Christ must walk in righteousness because the scepter of Christ's Kingdom is the scepter of righteousness.
To walk with Christ in white (3:4).
We are learning to walk in white now. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. We are purifying our actions, our words, our motives and imaginations. We are coming out from the world and cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
As Christ is, so are we in the world. We are walking as He walked in the grace of His resurrection life.
The blood of Jesus has pardoned us from the guilt of our sin. Now the authority of the blood and the power of the Spirit are enabling us little by little to escape from the corruption that is in the world through lust. Meanwhile we are without condemnation because we are doing the Lord's will as He is revealing it to us.
It is not possible to have fellowship with Christ and continue to walk in unrighteousness, in uncleanness, in disobedience to the Father. Christ did not pardon us so we can continue in our sins. Christ pardoned us so we can learn to please God by our conduct.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:12)
Is there any greater error in Christianity than the teaching that as long as we live on the earth we must continue to sin?
Christ always walks in white-in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to the Father. Are we worthy to walk in white with Him (Revelation 3:4)? Are we conquering the world, Satan, and our lusts and self-will?
Christ is our elder Brother. He has the wisdom, the power, and the virtue to enable us to overcome the filth of the world. If we will ask Him, He will guide us into righteous behavior. If we would have fellowship with the God of Heaven we must walk in the light of His will.
Walking virtuously in the world is extraordinarily difficult at times. Apart from Christ, walking virtuously is not only difficult, it is impossible.
But the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is dwelling in the believer. There is enough power in the Spirit of God to enable us to conquer the world, Satan, and our flesh.
We can overcome. We can walk in white with Christ. Through Him it is possible.
Through the grace of Christ we can act, speak, and think in a righteous manner, even though we are dragging around our physical body that is dead in sin. The reward of our diligent efforts is the impartation of the Life that is in Christ. We receive that incorruptible Life now-in the world. When the Lord comes we will receive the gift of a Life-filled body that itself is righteous in nature. Then this present struggle will have been concluded.
To be clothed in white raiment (3:5).
The saint will be clothed in the Day of Christ by that which he has practiced in this life. Here is the perfect justice of God.
In the world, a hideous, self-centered, filthy personality can be concealed in a charming male or female body.
But at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what we have become during our days on the earth will be revealed completely. Nothing will remain hidden. The righteous will be seen to be righteous. The wicked will be seen to be wicked. The lukewarm will be seen to be lukewarm. The hypocrites will be seen to be hypocrites. It is the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
As our body is offered to God in the service of Christ it is brought down each day to the death of the cross. But the Life of Jesus lifts us up and flows out to God's elect. We are dying, but behold!-we are living in Christ.
The act of dying in Christ and being raised in Christ creates a counterpart before the Throne of God in Heaven. That which is sown in earth is raised in Heaven. That which is being raised is a house, a garment, an eternal weight of glory. It is our house in Heaven.
In the Day of Christ, our house will descend from Heaven and clothe our flesh-and-bone body that has been raised from the dead (II Corinthians 4:7-5:10).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #29
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)
It readily can be seen that the believer who has not had an iron obedience created in him, nor the love of Christ created in him, is not qualified to serve the Lord Jesus as a member of the royal priesthood.
We understand the rewards that Jesus will bring with Him are directly related to what we have become by means of the Divine redemption. What we become by means of the Divine redemption depends on the diligence with which we give ourselves to doing the Lord's will in the present world.
It also can be seen that the present emphasis on "faith" and "grace" is a perversion of Paul's doctrine, a perversion of the Divine intention in that it implies that the rewards described in the Scriptures will be given to people who have not undergone the transforming work of redemption.
The concept that the work of transforming our inward nature will take place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" is to ignore the context of the Scripture. I Corinthians 15:52 is speaking only of the body. The concept that God's people will be changed in moral personality at the Lord's coming is unscriptural. It is unreasonable. It will not happen, and those who teach such a "magical" approach to the new creation are leading themselves and their hearers to destruction.
It is time for the Lord's people to wake up. The Christian churches are walking in deception.
Authority over the nations is associated with the morning star.
To be given the morning star (2:28).
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the bright and morning Star. He is the Day Star who arises in the heart of the conqueror, announcing the great Day of the Lord-the day when Christ takes dominion over all the kingdoms of the world.
God loves the peoples of the earth. The love of God for people is in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ is formed and dwells in us, His exceedingly great love for people is born in us.
No man will be allowed to rule in the Kingdom of God in his own strength and self-will. Only God in Christ in us will rule the nations of the earth. Only Divine love can be trusted to wield the irresistible rod of iron, the iron of God's strength that is developed in us as we choose to do God's will.
As long as we are ruled by self we are unfit to rule the nations of the earth. It is only as our first personality, our self-will and pride, is brought down to the death of the cross, that Christ-the Day Star-can arise in our heart.
When Christ takes over the rulership of our heart, a love for the peoples of the earth is given to us. Then, and only then, are we brought to the place where we can govern people in the love in which God desires to have them governed.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
It readily can be seen that the believer who has not had an iron obedience created in him, nor the love of Christ created in him, is not qualified to serve the Lord Jesus as a member of the royal priesthood.
We understand the rewards that Jesus will bring with Him are directly related to what we have become by means of the Divine redemption. What we become by means of the Divine redemption depends on the diligence with which we give ourselves to doing the Lord's will in the present world.
It also can be seen that the present emphasis on "faith" and "grace" is a perversion of Paul's doctrine, a perversion of the Divine intention in that it implies that the rewards described in the Scriptures will be given to people who have not undergone the transforming work of redemption.
The concept that the work of transforming our inward nature will take place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" is to ignore the context of the Scripture. I Corinthians 15:52 is speaking only of the body. The concept that God's people will be changed in moral personality at the Lord's coming is unscriptural. It is unreasonable. It will not happen, and those who teach such a "magical" approach to the new creation are leading themselves and their hearers to destruction.
It is time for the Lord's people to wake up. The Christian churches are walking in deception.
Authority over the nations is associated with the morning star.
To be given the morning star (2:28).
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the bright and morning Star. He is the Day Star who arises in the heart of the conqueror, announcing the great Day of the Lord-the day when Christ takes dominion over all the kingdoms of the world.
God loves the peoples of the earth. The love of God for people is in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ is formed and dwells in us, His exceedingly great love for people is born in us.
No man will be allowed to rule in the Kingdom of God in his own strength and self-will. Only God in Christ in us will rule the nations of the earth. Only Divine love can be trusted to wield the irresistible rod of iron, the iron of God's strength that is developed in us as we choose to do God's will.
As long as we are ruled by self we are unfit to rule the nations of the earth. It is only as our first personality, our self-will and pride, is brought down to the death of the cross, that Christ-the Day Star-can arise in our heart.
When Christ takes over the rulership of our heart, a love for the peoples of the earth is given to us. Then, and only then, are we brought to the place where we can govern people in the love in which God desires to have them governed.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #28
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. (Matthew 20:23)
Also, we must be called and chosen for our rulership.
"For whom it is prepared of my Father"!
Ranks in the Kingdom of God are by Divine appointment, just as in any other kingdom. Not everyone is given the same number of talents or the same kind of talents. We can conquer only that which is set before us to conquer as an individual. We are exhorted to grasp that for which we as an individual have been grasped.
It is God's part to organize the Kingdom of God. It is our part to be obedient and faithful to the calling of God that is on our own life. We are to work out our own salvation.
We have been stressing that the rewards to the overcomer are not gifts that are given to us because we believe in the Lord Jesus. The rewards that we receive are, rather, the natural consequence of the work of redemption that has been wrought in us as we have carefully and diligently observed to do that which we have been commanded by the Lord and His Apostles.
Nowhere is this more true than in the case of ruling the nations of the earth. The rod of iron with which we shall rule is created in us as we choose to keep on doing the Lord's will under trying circumstances. No person is capable of ruling in God until the will to do God's will is as iron in him.
In addition, the love of Christ must be in us. We must be able to love people with the love of God. Such love is unknown to our adamic nature. It is wrought in us as Christ (the Morning Star) is formed in us.
He who would be a royal priest, working among human beings until they have Christ formed in them and are coming to know the Lord, must have an iron will and a broken heart. While the Kingdom of God shall enter the earth with Divine force, smashing all resistance to the will of Christ, the Lord will, as quickly as possible, begin to draw the peoples of the earth with cords of love. He will do this through us, for we shall inherit the nations along with Him and by Him.
As the Father loves the Lord Jesus, so Jesus loves us. As we come to maturity in Jesus we begin to feel the need to express that love to other people. Of the increase of the love of God in Jesus in us in other people there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7). The Kingdom of God exists when God in Christ rules in the human personality, and this is the manner in which the saints will govern the nations of the earth.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Also, we must be called and chosen for our rulership.
"For whom it is prepared of my Father"!
Ranks in the Kingdom of God are by Divine appointment, just as in any other kingdom. Not everyone is given the same number of talents or the same kind of talents. We can conquer only that which is set before us to conquer as an individual. We are exhorted to grasp that for which we as an individual have been grasped.
It is God's part to organize the Kingdom of God. It is our part to be obedient and faithful to the calling of God that is on our own life. We are to work out our own salvation.
We have been stressing that the rewards to the overcomer are not gifts that are given to us because we believe in the Lord Jesus. The rewards that we receive are, rather, the natural consequence of the work of redemption that has been wrought in us as we have carefully and diligently observed to do that which we have been commanded by the Lord and His Apostles.
Nowhere is this more true than in the case of ruling the nations of the earth. The rod of iron with which we shall rule is created in us as we choose to keep on doing the Lord's will under trying circumstances. No person is capable of ruling in God until the will to do God's will is as iron in him.
In addition, the love of Christ must be in us. We must be able to love people with the love of God. Such love is unknown to our adamic nature. It is wrought in us as Christ (the Morning Star) is formed in us.
He who would be a royal priest, working among human beings until they have Christ formed in them and are coming to know the Lord, must have an iron will and a broken heart. While the Kingdom of God shall enter the earth with Divine force, smashing all resistance to the will of Christ, the Lord will, as quickly as possible, begin to draw the peoples of the earth with cords of love. He will do this through us, for we shall inherit the nations along with Him and by Him.
As the Father loves the Lord Jesus, so Jesus loves us. As we come to maturity in Jesus we begin to feel the need to express that love to other people. Of the increase of the love of God in Jesus in us in other people there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7). The Kingdom of God exists when God in Christ rules in the human personality, and this is the manner in which the saints will govern the nations of the earth.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #27
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4:11)
How many people do you know who live in the Divine fire and announce the present will of God? Who know the mind and will of God? Who know God? Are they many or few?
So it is true that multitudes are called to inherit the Kingdom of God, but only a few walk in the ranks of the conquerors.
How small God's remnant actually is will no doubt come as a surprise in the hour of the Lord's appearing. The true saints appear to be relatively few in number.
What then of the multitudes of the saved; of those who call themselves by the name of Christ? God loves them. No doubt He will bring them into green pastures and lead them beside the still waters.
But the conquerors, those who inherit the fullness of the first resurrection, may prove to be a small remnant of believers.
Being chosen brings us to authority over the nations of the earth.
To be given power over the nations (2:26,27).
We are gaining the wisdom and power to rule with Christ in the present world so we may be able to rule with Christ throughout the ages to come.
Notice in the following passage that forsaking all this life has to offer, thus becoming a member of the Lord's chosen few, leads to authority over people.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye that have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27,28)
When we behold the Apostles of Christ in the Day of the Lord-Peter, James, Andrew, John, Philip, Bartholomew and so forth-they will be arrayed in royal robes. They will be seated in exalted majesty on the thrones of glory, administrating the affairs of the nation of Israel.
It is interesting that one of those exalted thrones was reserved for each of the twelve disciples, including Judas Iscariot. But Judas (who was one of the chosen-John 6:70) sold his divinely appointed monarchy for thirty pieces of silver. How many today are selling their fabulous inheritance for a few dollars?
We only can imagine what it will be like to judge the nation of Israel, or to govern any other nation. To sit as a king and judge is a dreadful responsibility.
But not all believers will be rulers of nations.
Among the multitude of believers there is a handful of saints who are being trained each moment of each day to rule in Christ. There is so much to learn! Obviously (and scripturally) it will be those whom God has carefully trained in obedience who will rule the nations of the earth.
It is neither scriptural nor reasonable to suppose we will rule nations on the basis of being pardoned by the Lord. If we would be princes of the realm we must submit ourselves to the King of the realm.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
How many people do you know who live in the Divine fire and announce the present will of God? Who know the mind and will of God? Who know God? Are they many or few?
So it is true that multitudes are called to inherit the Kingdom of God, but only a few walk in the ranks of the conquerors.
How small God's remnant actually is will no doubt come as a surprise in the hour of the Lord's appearing. The true saints appear to be relatively few in number.
What then of the multitudes of the saved; of those who call themselves by the name of Christ? God loves them. No doubt He will bring them into green pastures and lead them beside the still waters.
But the conquerors, those who inherit the fullness of the first resurrection, may prove to be a small remnant of believers.
Being chosen brings us to authority over the nations of the earth.
To be given power over the nations (2:26,27).
We are gaining the wisdom and power to rule with Christ in the present world so we may be able to rule with Christ throughout the ages to come.
Notice in the following passage that forsaking all this life has to offer, thus becoming a member of the Lord's chosen few, leads to authority over people.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye that have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27,28)
When we behold the Apostles of Christ in the Day of the Lord-Peter, James, Andrew, John, Philip, Bartholomew and so forth-they will be arrayed in royal robes. They will be seated in exalted majesty on the thrones of glory, administrating the affairs of the nation of Israel.
It is interesting that one of those exalted thrones was reserved for each of the twelve disciples, including Judas Iscariot. But Judas (who was one of the chosen-John 6:70) sold his divinely appointed monarchy for thirty pieces of silver. How many today are selling their fabulous inheritance for a few dollars?
We only can imagine what it will be like to judge the nation of Israel, or to govern any other nation. To sit as a king and judge is a dreadful responsibility.
But not all believers will be rulers of nations.
Among the multitude of believers there is a handful of saints who are being trained each moment of each day to rule in Christ. There is so much to learn! Obviously (and scripturally) it will be those whom God has carefully trained in obedience who will rule the nations of the earth.
It is neither scriptural nor reasonable to suppose we will rule nations on the basis of being pardoned by the Lord. If we would be princes of the realm we must submit ourselves to the King of the realm.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #26
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)
To eat of the hidden manna (2:17).
The hidden manna is the supernatural strength given to God's warriors who are performing His will. When we are at the end of our strength, the strength of the Lord takes over. Our food is to do His will, to finish the tasks He has given to us.
Those who have not set themselves to do their Lord's will do not experience that hidden strength. They know only the wisdom and strength of flesh and blood.
They have received the Divine pardon but they are not pressing forward in Christ. They are not sharing in the heavenly resources that make it possible for us to attain the first resurrection from among the dead. Their efforts are limited to that which is possible for human beings to accomplish, even though through Christ they have been given the authority to be children of God.
The daily manna from Heaven is given to the Lord's warriors.
To be given a white stone in which is inscribed a new name (2:17).
Our understanding is that the white stone is a voting pebble. It signifies that the believer has passed from the ranks of those who have been called to those who have been chosen.
Multitudes are "called" to enter the Kingdom of God. But only a "few" respond to that call by forsaking all to follow Christ. Only those few are given confirmation by the Lord that they will receive the fullness of the inheritance.
It may be difficult for us to understand that God works His greatest works with a minority, not a majority of people. This is contrary to the way of the world.
The rights of people are being emphasized today. Governments respond to pressure from the masses. World approval is sought. Revolution is in order. Antichrist has persuaded humans that "the voice of the people is the voice of God."
But it is not at all true that the voice of the people is the voice of God. That often is the opposite of the truth.
The will of God is revealed and performed through individuals, not through masses of people. Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Paul, and Martin Luther, stood nearly alone when their messages were brought forth.
The Scriptures are a record of a handful of people, a remnant, bearing the true witness of God before a hostile, rebellious church and world. The reaction of Israel and the world is to reject and slay the prophets of the Lord. It is the same today in the Christian churches.
Today, perhaps as never before, the peoples of the earth are under great pressure to conform to public opinion. In a wicked age, the pressure to conform to group opinion works to Satan's advantage. The television adds to this emphasis on the will, the opinion, of the masses of people.
God seeks men and women whose hearts are perfect toward Him; who will stand resolutely in His Presence and speak His Word-not only the written Word of the Scriptures but also the Word that is issuing now from the mouth of God. Every true saint of Christ is called to stand in the Divine fire and announce the present will of the God of Heaven.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
To eat of the hidden manna (2:17).
The hidden manna is the supernatural strength given to God's warriors who are performing His will. When we are at the end of our strength, the strength of the Lord takes over. Our food is to do His will, to finish the tasks He has given to us.
Those who have not set themselves to do their Lord's will do not experience that hidden strength. They know only the wisdom and strength of flesh and blood.
They have received the Divine pardon but they are not pressing forward in Christ. They are not sharing in the heavenly resources that make it possible for us to attain the first resurrection from among the dead. Their efforts are limited to that which is possible for human beings to accomplish, even though through Christ they have been given the authority to be children of God.
The daily manna from Heaven is given to the Lord's warriors.
To be given a white stone in which is inscribed a new name (2:17).
Our understanding is that the white stone is a voting pebble. It signifies that the believer has passed from the ranks of those who have been called to those who have been chosen.
Multitudes are "called" to enter the Kingdom of God. But only a "few" respond to that call by forsaking all to follow Christ. Only those few are given confirmation by the Lord that they will receive the fullness of the inheritance.
It may be difficult for us to understand that God works His greatest works with a minority, not a majority of people. This is contrary to the way of the world.
The rights of people are being emphasized today. Governments respond to pressure from the masses. World approval is sought. Revolution is in order. Antichrist has persuaded humans that "the voice of the people is the voice of God."
But it is not at all true that the voice of the people is the voice of God. That often is the opposite of the truth.
The will of God is revealed and performed through individuals, not through masses of people. Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Paul, and Martin Luther, stood nearly alone when their messages were brought forth.
The Scriptures are a record of a handful of people, a remnant, bearing the true witness of God before a hostile, rebellious church and world. The reaction of Israel and the world is to reject and slay the prophets of the Lord. It is the same today in the Christian churches.
Today, perhaps as never before, the peoples of the earth are under great pressure to conform to public opinion. In a wicked age, the pressure to conform to group opinion works to Satan's advantage. The television adds to this emphasis on the will, the opinion, of the masses of people.
God seeks men and women whose hearts are perfect toward Him; who will stand resolutely in His Presence and speak His Word-not only the written Word of the Scriptures but also the Word that is issuing now from the mouth of God. Every true saint of Christ is called to stand in the Divine fire and announce the present will of the God of Heaven.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Monday, October 26, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #25
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7,8)
Christian grace never changes the fundamental law of behavior and consequences, of sowing and reaping. Rather, Christian grace changes how we behave, what we sow. Until Christian people come to understand grace alters what we sow, not what we reap, the churches will continue in immorality, covetousness, and drunkenness.
It is true that God suspends the consequences of our sins while Jesus is transforming us. Jesus died in order to make such suspension possible. But to pervert the Divine waiver into an abrogation of the basic Kingdom law of sowing and reaping is to turn the grace of God into an excuse for sin and rebellion.
It always has been true, in all of the Divine covenants, that when a sinner turned from his wicked ways and began practicing righteousness, his wickedness was not mentioned to him (Ezekiel 18:22). That is the way God behaves toward people. Divine mercy is not limited to the new covenant.
The unique aspect of the new covenant is that God's Spirit writes the law of God in our minds and hearts so we do God's will by nature. If we continue in the work of destroying Satan from our personality, the blood of Jesus keeps on forgiving us. It is an eternal redemption. God will cast our sins away from us, washing us whiter than the snow.
But to pervert transforming grace into an eternal amnesty in which God no longer judges the conduct of human beings, forgiving them on the basis of a profession of belief in Jesus, is to entirely miss God's intention.
The Jews missed God's intention by emphasizing the tithing of herbs and neglecting judgment, mercy, and faith. The Christians are missing God's intention by emphasizing the gift of God's grace and ignoring judgment, mercy and faith. Both the Jews and the Christians miss God because their hearts are far from God. Such will continue in deception unless God in His mercy opens their eyes to the truth.
Our God is a consuming Fire. No person can dwell in the Divine Presence when there is unrighteousness in his personality. The grace of God in Christ does not enable an individual who has sin in his heart to dwell with God. But it does give the sinner access to God in prayer, and suspends the judgment of him until the Lord Jesus has had an opportunity to lead him in paths of righteousness.
God's holy fire is a blessing to the upright. But to those who have darkness in them it is an eternal torment, whether or not they name the name of the Lord Jesus.
The saint who is conquering and driving out the works and attitudes that cannot exist in the Divine fire is strengthened by food that is given only to those who are doing the Lord's will.
To be continued.
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Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Christian grace never changes the fundamental law of behavior and consequences, of sowing and reaping. Rather, Christian grace changes how we behave, what we sow. Until Christian people come to understand grace alters what we sow, not what we reap, the churches will continue in immorality, covetousness, and drunkenness.
It is true that God suspends the consequences of our sins while Jesus is transforming us. Jesus died in order to make such suspension possible. But to pervert the Divine waiver into an abrogation of the basic Kingdom law of sowing and reaping is to turn the grace of God into an excuse for sin and rebellion.
It always has been true, in all of the Divine covenants, that when a sinner turned from his wicked ways and began practicing righteousness, his wickedness was not mentioned to him (Ezekiel 18:22). That is the way God behaves toward people. Divine mercy is not limited to the new covenant.
The unique aspect of the new covenant is that God's Spirit writes the law of God in our minds and hearts so we do God's will by nature. If we continue in the work of destroying Satan from our personality, the blood of Jesus keeps on forgiving us. It is an eternal redemption. God will cast our sins away from us, washing us whiter than the snow.
But to pervert transforming grace into an eternal amnesty in which God no longer judges the conduct of human beings, forgiving them on the basis of a profession of belief in Jesus, is to entirely miss God's intention.
The Jews missed God's intention by emphasizing the tithing of herbs and neglecting judgment, mercy, and faith. The Christians are missing God's intention by emphasizing the gift of God's grace and ignoring judgment, mercy and faith. Both the Jews and the Christians miss God because their hearts are far from God. Such will continue in deception unless God in His mercy opens their eyes to the truth.
Our God is a consuming Fire. No person can dwell in the Divine Presence when there is unrighteousness in his personality. The grace of God in Christ does not enable an individual who has sin in his heart to dwell with God. But it does give the sinner access to God in prayer, and suspends the judgment of him until the Lord Jesus has had an opportunity to lead him in paths of righteousness.
God's holy fire is a blessing to the upright. But to those who have darkness in them it is an eternal torment, whether or not they name the name of the Lord Jesus.
The saint who is conquering and driving out the works and attitudes that cannot exist in the Divine fire is strengthened by food that is given only to those who are doing the Lord's will.
To be continued.
We extend permission to make as many copies of this essay as you need, in both paper and electronic formats. Please include the following statement of copyright:
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #24
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. (I Timothy 6:12)
In the Scriptures we have both the Divine pardon through Jesus' blood and also the running of the race, the fighting of the conflict of the ages, the overcoming of every power that would prevent our gaining complete union with Jesus. Our present essay on judgment and rewards is emphasizing the running of the race for the prize, while not minimizing the marvelous glory of the grand Divine pardon.
The true concept of redemption is that we are pardoned in order to run the Christian race. We are forgiven that we may fight the good fight of faith, that we may gain total victory over sin.
It is not God's intention that we continue as forgiven sinners. He has "created [us] in Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
Believing that Jesus of Nazareth is Christ, the Messiah, is not all there is to being a Christian. Receiving Christ gives us the authority to be a child of God. Now we must turn our attention to maturing into a son of God.
The belief that the Judgment Seat of Christ includes nothing but glory and praise for the Christian has arisen because the Divine pardon has been emphasized to the exclusion of running the race. Cross-carrying obedience to the Master often is viewed as a desirable but not critically important act- at least not critically important in the sense of seriously affecting the welfare of the believer when he or she stands before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Do the Scriptures support such lighthearted confidence? Have we paid attention to the Scripture that emphasizes the unconditional Divine pardon and then ignored the numerous passages that emphasize the running of the race, the stern, totally demanding requirements of Christian discipleship?
The Scriptures stand eternally as written. It is the victorious saint, the conqueror in Christ, who will not be hurt by the second death, which is the Lake of Fire. Christians who allow themselves to be overcome by Satan, by the world, or by their own lusts and self-will, are carrying about in their personalities various works and attitudes that will not be able to survive the Presence of the Lord.
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? 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; (Isaiah 33:14,15)
Such passages as the above have been removed from Christian thinking, as though faith in the Lord Jesus somehow supersedes them. This is a terribly destructive error. To change such Old Testament passages would be to alter what God Is-and that never shall happen!
To be continued.
We extend permission to make as many copies of this essay as you need, in both paper and electronic formats. Please include the following statement of copyright:
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
In the Scriptures we have both the Divine pardon through Jesus' blood and also the running of the race, the fighting of the conflict of the ages, the overcoming of every power that would prevent our gaining complete union with Jesus. Our present essay on judgment and rewards is emphasizing the running of the race for the prize, while not minimizing the marvelous glory of the grand Divine pardon.
The true concept of redemption is that we are pardoned in order to run the Christian race. We are forgiven that we may fight the good fight of faith, that we may gain total victory over sin.
It is not God's intention that we continue as forgiven sinners. He has "created [us] in Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
Believing that Jesus of Nazareth is Christ, the Messiah, is not all there is to being a Christian. Receiving Christ gives us the authority to be a child of God. Now we must turn our attention to maturing into a son of God.
The belief that the Judgment Seat of Christ includes nothing but glory and praise for the Christian has arisen because the Divine pardon has been emphasized to the exclusion of running the race. Cross-carrying obedience to the Master often is viewed as a desirable but not critically important act- at least not critically important in the sense of seriously affecting the welfare of the believer when he or she stands before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Do the Scriptures support such lighthearted confidence? Have we paid attention to the Scripture that emphasizes the unconditional Divine pardon and then ignored the numerous passages that emphasize the running of the race, the stern, totally demanding requirements of Christian discipleship?
The Scriptures stand eternally as written. It is the victorious saint, the conqueror in Christ, who will not be hurt by the second death, which is the Lake of Fire. Christians who allow themselves to be overcome by Satan, by the world, or by their own lusts and self-will, are carrying about in their personalities various works and attitudes that will not be able to survive the Presence of the Lord.
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? 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; (Isaiah 33:14,15)
Such passages as the above have been removed from Christian thinking, as though faith in the Lord Jesus somehow supersedes them. This is a terribly destructive error. To change such Old Testament passages would be to alter what God Is-and that never shall happen!
To be continued.
We extend permission to make as many copies of this essay as you need, in both paper and electronic formats. Please include the following statement of copyright:
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #23
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
The concept of the Judgment Seat of Christ being an awards ceremony is totally unscriptural. No passage of Scripture presents the Day of Judgment as an awards ceremony. In addition, the Greek term beema, that is translated judgment seat, is used consistently in the New Testament to mean a court where accused criminals are brought for judgment. There is no basis for regarding the Judgment Seat of Christ as an awards ceremony.
It is true that Paul spoke of running a race. It is true that those who run well will receive a crown. The eternal Word of God cannot be changed: every person will receive from the Lord's hand what he has practiced in the flesh, whether his behavior has been good or whether it has been wicked.
But the concept of the Judgment Seat of Christ being an awards ceremony in which no believer faces punishment, although held by numerous Christians, is unscriptural. The fear of God is missing from the Christian churches as a direct result of this concept. The Christians lie, steal, behave treacherously, practice immorality, and pursue their self-centered, self-willed ways in the world.
Do the Gospels and the writings of the Apostles teach us we have no need to fear the Judgment Seat of Christ? Is it actually true that no matter how we behave we will not be punished provided we have made a profession of belief in Jesus? Is this what the Scriptures teach concerning judgment and rewards?
Indeed it is not, and this monstrous deception has destroyed the moral character of the Christian churches. It is time for us to repent.
The current concept of the Christian redemption is that of the grand Divine pardon. The emphasis on the grand pardon has given rise to the belief that the Judgment Seat of Christ must be a presentation of rewards, followed by some sort of mild reproof directed toward those "believers" who have lived a worldly, self-serving life-a mild reproof followed by the drying of all tears and repeated assurances that all is forgiven.
This is incorrect, but it is believed widely in our day.
It is true and scriptural that the Christian redemption is a grand pardon. Christ is crucified and Barabbas, the criminal representing each of us, is set free.
The grand pardon concept of salvation has held out the hope of eternal life to many dying sinners. The pardon is available today, just as it has been since Christ died for our sins and rose again as proof we have been justified in the sight of God the Father.
However, there is another basic concept set forth in the New Testament writings. It is the concept of the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth and our entrance into that Kingdom. The Gospel of the Kingdom includes the great Divine pardon-the unconditional pardon of the repentant sinner, but also the idea of freeing the sinner from the person and works of Satan, and bringing him into eternal union with God through Christ.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The concept of the Judgment Seat of Christ being an awards ceremony is totally unscriptural. No passage of Scripture presents the Day of Judgment as an awards ceremony. In addition, the Greek term beema, that is translated judgment seat, is used consistently in the New Testament to mean a court where accused criminals are brought for judgment. There is no basis for regarding the Judgment Seat of Christ as an awards ceremony.
It is true that Paul spoke of running a race. It is true that those who run well will receive a crown. The eternal Word of God cannot be changed: every person will receive from the Lord's hand what he has practiced in the flesh, whether his behavior has been good or whether it has been wicked.
But the concept of the Judgment Seat of Christ being an awards ceremony in which no believer faces punishment, although held by numerous Christians, is unscriptural. The fear of God is missing from the Christian churches as a direct result of this concept. The Christians lie, steal, behave treacherously, practice immorality, and pursue their self-centered, self-willed ways in the world.
Do the Gospels and the writings of the Apostles teach us we have no need to fear the Judgment Seat of Christ? Is it actually true that no matter how we behave we will not be punished provided we have made a profession of belief in Jesus? Is this what the Scriptures teach concerning judgment and rewards?
Indeed it is not, and this monstrous deception has destroyed the moral character of the Christian churches. It is time for us to repent.
The current concept of the Christian redemption is that of the grand Divine pardon. The emphasis on the grand pardon has given rise to the belief that the Judgment Seat of Christ must be a presentation of rewards, followed by some sort of mild reproof directed toward those "believers" who have lived a worldly, self-serving life-a mild reproof followed by the drying of all tears and repeated assurances that all is forgiven.
This is incorrect, but it is believed widely in our day.
It is true and scriptural that the Christian redemption is a grand pardon. Christ is crucified and Barabbas, the criminal representing each of us, is set free.
The grand pardon concept of salvation has held out the hope of eternal life to many dying sinners. The pardon is available today, just as it has been since Christ died for our sins and rose again as proof we have been justified in the sight of God the Father.
However, there is another basic concept set forth in the New Testament writings. It is the concept of the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth and our entrance into that Kingdom. The Gospel of the Kingdom includes the great Divine pardon-the unconditional pardon of the repentant sinner, but also the idea of freeing the sinner from the person and works of Satan, and bringing him into eternal union with God through Christ.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Friday, October 23, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #22
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:25)
Paul warned us that we shall receive that which we have practiced in our flesh. The wicked and lazy servant did in fact receive that which he had done. He was lazy and overcautious. He buried the Lord's money. He did not devote his time and efforts to the building of the Kingdom. He was thrust out of the Kingdom of God because he did not find the Kingdom to be of sufficient worth to compel his attention and diligence.
It is taught commonly that all who profess Christ will be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord, and will spend eternity in Paradise with the Lord. But Christ and His Apostles did not teach this.
The writer's opinion is that the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians and the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians are speaking only of those persons whom Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude would judge to be true and faithful disciples of Jesus. It is our point of view that being "in Christ" means vastly more than the token acceptance of Christ that is today's standard of salvation.
The true saints are entering life now. They are being judged now. They already have been received of Christ. When the Lord returns they will be caught up to meet Him and immediately will be filled with exceedingly great glory. Their judgment has been accomplished, their iniquity has been pardoned.
If Christ were to return now, and the careless believers were to be raised from the dead and caught up to meet Him in the air, they would find themselves in a furnace of Divine fire and judgment. They would be unimaginably worse off than they are now. Our God is a consuming Fire.
The dead will be summoned from their graves by the voice of the Lord Jesus. Then each of us will receive that which he has practiced while alive in the flesh.
The resurrection from the dead will include people from all ages of history. Some of these have been in Paradise with Jesus for thousands of years. But in the hour when Jesus comes and their dead bodies come forth from the grave, they will be rewarded according to how they conducted themselves when alive on the earth.
The concept of Christian people being raised from the dead and then judged, and that judgment actually having far-reaching effects, including vastly different rewards and severe penalties, is not always presented clearly.
When the writer was a young Christian he was taught that the Judgment Seat of Christ will prove to be, for the believers, some kind of sports banquet in which a few heroes receive trophies and everyone else receives a certificate for participating.
There is nothing to worry about, no "terror of the Lord" to cause us to tremble (II Corinthians 5:11). No believer will be rebuked sternly at the Judgment Seat of Christ, much less be carried into outer darkness. All believers will receive approximately the same reward.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Paul warned us that we shall receive that which we have practiced in our flesh. The wicked and lazy servant did in fact receive that which he had done. He was lazy and overcautious. He buried the Lord's money. He did not devote his time and efforts to the building of the Kingdom. He was thrust out of the Kingdom of God because he did not find the Kingdom to be of sufficient worth to compel his attention and diligence.
It is taught commonly that all who profess Christ will be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord, and will spend eternity in Paradise with the Lord. But Christ and His Apostles did not teach this.
The writer's opinion is that the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians and the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians are speaking only of those persons whom Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude would judge to be true and faithful disciples of Jesus. It is our point of view that being "in Christ" means vastly more than the token acceptance of Christ that is today's standard of salvation.
The true saints are entering life now. They are being judged now. They already have been received of Christ. When the Lord returns they will be caught up to meet Him and immediately will be filled with exceedingly great glory. Their judgment has been accomplished, their iniquity has been pardoned.
If Christ were to return now, and the careless believers were to be raised from the dead and caught up to meet Him in the air, they would find themselves in a furnace of Divine fire and judgment. They would be unimaginably worse off than they are now. Our God is a consuming Fire.
The dead will be summoned from their graves by the voice of the Lord Jesus. Then each of us will receive that which he has practiced while alive in the flesh.
The resurrection from the dead will include people from all ages of history. Some of these have been in Paradise with Jesus for thousands of years. But in the hour when Jesus comes and their dead bodies come forth from the grave, they will be rewarded according to how they conducted themselves when alive on the earth.
The concept of Christian people being raised from the dead and then judged, and that judgment actually having far-reaching effects, including vastly different rewards and severe penalties, is not always presented clearly.
When the writer was a young Christian he was taught that the Judgment Seat of Christ will prove to be, for the believers, some kind of sports banquet in which a few heroes receive trophies and everyone else receives a certificate for participating.
There is nothing to worry about, no "terror of the Lord" to cause us to tremble (II Corinthians 5:11). No believer will be rebuked sternly at the Judgment Seat of Christ, much less be carried into outer darkness. All believers will receive approximately the same reward.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #21
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?(I Peter 4:18)
What can we say about the prospect of being saved "as by fire"? It is not the most desirable destiny. And Lot was a righteous man! If Lot was saved with difficulty, what then of the end of the ungodly?
So it is with us. Christ desires that we press forward until there is nothing remaining in our personality that can be harmed by the fire of God. The crown of life will clothe us with an authority greater than the authority of the second death.
Otherwise, we will face an uncertain future when we are raised from the dead.
Consider this:
But that [speaking of neglectful Christians] which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)
The believers to whom the Book of Hebrews was written were not babes in Christ. They were experienced Christians who had accepted joyfully the confiscation of their properties by the Roman government because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:32-34).
The Book of Hebrews was a solemn warning to them (and us) that if they should neglect their salvation, not pressing into the rest of God, not bearing the fruit of the Spirit, they would be in danger of Divine fire.
What did Jesus say to the Christian whose sin consisted of not using the gift that God had entrusted to him? "You wicked and lazy slave. Why did you waste my money? Depart from me and go into outer darkness!"
According to the Scripture, this can happen to the careless Christian.
The parable of the talents is found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. This judgment will take place when "the son of man cometh." It has to do with the Lord's "own servants."
It seems reasonable, as we study the parable of the talents, that the "outer darkness" may be the same as the "lashes" that will be given to those who did not do the Lord's will.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many lashes. (Luke 12:47)
When the trumpet of the Lord sounds there will be those who do not possess enough "oil," enough resurrection life. Notice that the parable of the talents follows in context with the parable of the ten virgins. There will be believers who, although they are working in the same field with another Christian, or sleeping in the same bed, will not be taken to meet the Lord when He appears. They will be left on the earth.
When the Lord returns with His saints, these careless servants will stand before Him. The wicked, lazy believers will be sent away into outer darkness.
These parables are not speaking of the peoples of the world. They are speaking of "virgins," of the Lord's servants.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:28-30)
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
What can we say about the prospect of being saved "as by fire"? It is not the most desirable destiny. And Lot was a righteous man! If Lot was saved with difficulty, what then of the end of the ungodly?
So it is with us. Christ desires that we press forward until there is nothing remaining in our personality that can be harmed by the fire of God. The crown of life will clothe us with an authority greater than the authority of the second death.
Otherwise, we will face an uncertain future when we are raised from the dead.
Consider this:
But that [speaking of neglectful Christians] which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)
The believers to whom the Book of Hebrews was written were not babes in Christ. They were experienced Christians who had accepted joyfully the confiscation of their properties by the Roman government because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:32-34).
The Book of Hebrews was a solemn warning to them (and us) that if they should neglect their salvation, not pressing into the rest of God, not bearing the fruit of the Spirit, they would be in danger of Divine fire.
What did Jesus say to the Christian whose sin consisted of not using the gift that God had entrusted to him? "You wicked and lazy slave. Why did you waste my money? Depart from me and go into outer darkness!"
According to the Scripture, this can happen to the careless Christian.
The parable of the talents is found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. This judgment will take place when "the son of man cometh." It has to do with the Lord's "own servants."
It seems reasonable, as we study the parable of the talents, that the "outer darkness" may be the same as the "lashes" that will be given to those who did not do the Lord's will.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many lashes. (Luke 12:47)
When the trumpet of the Lord sounds there will be those who do not possess enough "oil," enough resurrection life. Notice that the parable of the talents follows in context with the parable of the ten virgins. There will be believers who, although they are working in the same field with another Christian, or sleeping in the same bed, will not be taken to meet the Lord when He appears. They will be left on the earth.
When the Lord returns with His saints, these careless servants will stand before Him. The wicked, lazy believers will be sent away into outer darkness.
These parables are not speaking of the peoples of the world. They are speaking of "virgins," of the Lord's servants.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:28-30)
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Judgment and Rewards, #20
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)
Little by little the attitudes and actions that yet are subject to the wrath of God, that can be harmed by God's fire, are driven from our personality. It is possible to gain total victory over all such areas of our life as the Holy Spirit gives us the necessary wisdom and power.
When the Spirit of God testifies that the sin has been judged and removed from us, the second death cannot harm us. It no longer possesses authority over us. If we were placed in the Lake of Fire we would emerge unharmed as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace of Nebuchadnezzar.
If there is nothing in us that is subject to Divine condemnation, how then can the Divine fire hurt us?
To be saved "as by fire" means God has burned up that part of our personality and behavior that is displeasing to Him. The remainder of us, especially our spirit, is saved in the Day of Christ (I Corinthians 3:15; 5:5).
Lot is our scriptural example of what it means to be saved as by fire.
Lot was wealthy (Genesis 13:5,6). He had a wife, two daughters, and two sons-in-law.
Lot's life and possessions were not consecrated to God. Unlike his uncle, Abraham, Lot was not ruling with God. Lot chose to dwell in Sodom, in the midst of fleshly lust, in the city of material abundance and luxury. He was abiding in death, in the suburbs of Hell.
Then the "eternal fire" of God fell on the works of Satan in Sodom (Jude 7). Lot was pulled to safety by the prayers of Abraham. But Lot's sheep were destroyed; his goats were destroyed; his camels were destroyed; his sons-in-law were destroyed; his wife was destroyed.
Lot was left with his two daughters. Instead of waiting for the opportunity to acquire husbands from the tribes that surrounded them, these two girls (whom the Scripture does not name) coerced their father to drink wine and then committed incest with him. No doubt incest was practiced commonly in Sodom and Gomorrah. The result of the incest was Moab and Ammon.
The Scripture terms Lot a "righteous" man. Yet, the fire left him only two daughters-girls who had learned in Sodom how to make their father drunk and then commit incest with them. The result was the people of Moab and Ammon, who "met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them" (Nehemiah 13:2).
Lot and his daughters were saved as by fire. But God burned up their home, their possessions, their fruitfulness. God demonstrated His displeasure with the children of Lot by rejecting them. The Egyptian and the Edomite could become a part of Israel after the third generation, but not the children of Lot.
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter the congregation of the Lord for ever: (Deuteronomy 23:3)
Ruth, the Moabitess, was a divinely blessed exception.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Little by little the attitudes and actions that yet are subject to the wrath of God, that can be harmed by God's fire, are driven from our personality. It is possible to gain total victory over all such areas of our life as the Holy Spirit gives us the necessary wisdom and power.
When the Spirit of God testifies that the sin has been judged and removed from us, the second death cannot harm us. It no longer possesses authority over us. If we were placed in the Lake of Fire we would emerge unharmed as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace of Nebuchadnezzar.
If there is nothing in us that is subject to Divine condemnation, how then can the Divine fire hurt us?
To be saved "as by fire" means God has burned up that part of our personality and behavior that is displeasing to Him. The remainder of us, especially our spirit, is saved in the Day of Christ (I Corinthians 3:15; 5:5).
Lot is our scriptural example of what it means to be saved as by fire.
Lot was wealthy (Genesis 13:5,6). He had a wife, two daughters, and two sons-in-law.
Lot's life and possessions were not consecrated to God. Unlike his uncle, Abraham, Lot was not ruling with God. Lot chose to dwell in Sodom, in the midst of fleshly lust, in the city of material abundance and luxury. He was abiding in death, in the suburbs of Hell.
Then the "eternal fire" of God fell on the works of Satan in Sodom (Jude 7). Lot was pulled to safety by the prayers of Abraham. But Lot's sheep were destroyed; his goats were destroyed; his camels were destroyed; his sons-in-law were destroyed; his wife was destroyed.
Lot was left with his two daughters. Instead of waiting for the opportunity to acquire husbands from the tribes that surrounded them, these two girls (whom the Scripture does not name) coerced their father to drink wine and then committed incest with him. No doubt incest was practiced commonly in Sodom and Gomorrah. The result of the incest was Moab and Ammon.
The Scripture terms Lot a "righteous" man. Yet, the fire left him only two daughters-girls who had learned in Sodom how to make their father drunk and then commit incest with them. The result was the people of Moab and Ammon, who "met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them" (Nehemiah 13:2).
Lot and his daughters were saved as by fire. But God burned up their home, their possessions, their fruitfulness. God demonstrated His displeasure with the children of Lot by rejecting them. The Egyptian and the Edomite could become a part of Israel after the third generation, but not the children of Lot.
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter the congregation of the Lord for ever: (Deuteronomy 23:3)
Ruth, the Moabitess, was a divinely blessed exception.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #19
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2;10)
To be given a crown of life.
We are to begin walking in victory today, as the Lord leads. The power by which we rule is the "crown of life." It is the authority and power of resurrection life that enable us to live and overcome the evil that is in our environment. Paul was seeking such power (Philippians 3:10).
Each victory in Christ makes possible new victories and gives us added strength in all areas of the struggle. Jesus leads His army from conquest to conquest until the saints gain the upper hand in this life. Those who learn to rule now will be given the authority and power to govern all things in the ages to come.
The crown of life is that incorruptible, indestructible, eternal life in which Christ lives and rules. It is being created in the believer in whom Christ is being formed.
Those who will be issued the crown of life are the believers who are being trained in humility. They are becoming obedient to the Father, even when such obedience costs dearly and requires great patience-to the limits of their endurance (James 1:12).
Gaining the crown of life in every part of our personality brings to us an authority that is higher than the authority of the Lake of Fire.
To not be hurt of the second death (2:11).
The second death is the Lake of Fire. The saints who are living in victory in Christ have been given the assurance in writing that they cannot be hurt by the second death. The inference is that the believer who allows himself to be overcome by Satan and the world continues to be in danger of being harmed by the Lake of Fire.
The Christian who is gaining the crown of life is acquiring authority over the authority of the second death. The maturing of the life of victory in Christ, such that the first resurrection is attained, brings complete dominion over the power of the second death.
... on such the second death hath no power [authority], . . . . (Revelation 20:6).
The Lake of Fire is the area of spiritual torment into which will be cast Satan, his angels, sin, pride, and rebellion against the Father's will.
As long as the Christian has in him any part of Satan's personality or works there is a segment of his personality over which the second death possesses Divine authority and power (Revelation 21:8).
The crown of life provides us with authority and power mightier than the power of Satan. Through the power of resurrection life we can overcome the areas of our personality that still reflect the person and works of Satan (I John 3:8).
Abiding faithfully in the prison in which we are bound results in the destruction of our adamic nature. The destruction of our adamic nature enables God to release us from the various bondages that enslave us, because the bondages of sin and rebellion find lodging in our adamic nature. As soon as the natural man is crucified it becomes possible to destroy the sinful nature (Romans 6:6).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
To be given a crown of life.
We are to begin walking in victory today, as the Lord leads. The power by which we rule is the "crown of life." It is the authority and power of resurrection life that enable us to live and overcome the evil that is in our environment. Paul was seeking such power (Philippians 3:10).
Each victory in Christ makes possible new victories and gives us added strength in all areas of the struggle. Jesus leads His army from conquest to conquest until the saints gain the upper hand in this life. Those who learn to rule now will be given the authority and power to govern all things in the ages to come.
The crown of life is that incorruptible, indestructible, eternal life in which Christ lives and rules. It is being created in the believer in whom Christ is being formed.
Those who will be issued the crown of life are the believers who are being trained in humility. They are becoming obedient to the Father, even when such obedience costs dearly and requires great patience-to the limits of their endurance (James 1:12).
Gaining the crown of life in every part of our personality brings to us an authority that is higher than the authority of the Lake of Fire.
To not be hurt of the second death (2:11).
The second death is the Lake of Fire. The saints who are living in victory in Christ have been given the assurance in writing that they cannot be hurt by the second death. The inference is that the believer who allows himself to be overcome by Satan and the world continues to be in danger of being harmed by the Lake of Fire.
The Christian who is gaining the crown of life is acquiring authority over the authority of the second death. The maturing of the life of victory in Christ, such that the first resurrection is attained, brings complete dominion over the power of the second death.
... on such the second death hath no power [authority], . . . . (Revelation 20:6).
The Lake of Fire is the area of spiritual torment into which will be cast Satan, his angels, sin, pride, and rebellion against the Father's will.
As long as the Christian has in him any part of Satan's personality or works there is a segment of his personality over which the second death possesses Divine authority and power (Revelation 21:8).
The crown of life provides us with authority and power mightier than the power of Satan. Through the power of resurrection life we can overcome the areas of our personality that still reflect the person and works of Satan (I John 3:8).
Abiding faithfully in the prison in which we are bound results in the destruction of our adamic nature. The destruction of our adamic nature enables God to release us from the various bondages that enslave us, because the bondages of sin and rebellion find lodging in our adamic nature. As soon as the natural man is crucified it becomes possible to destroy the sinful nature (Romans 6:6).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #18
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. (Genesis 3:24)
The last view of Paradise enjoyed by Adam and Eve was that of the tree of life. The first view of Paradise that we enjoy, as we commence the program of restoration, is that of the tree of life. As we determine to repossess, through the grace of Christ, all that was lost in Eden, we come first to the tree of life.
The body and blood of Christ are our true life. But if we are not walking in victory we are not partaking each day of the Life of Christ. If we live in the Spirit of God, walking in victorious faith in Christ, eternal life is being built up in us. It is that eternal life that will be the "oil in our lamp" in the Day of Christ.
It is only the victorious, dedicated saint who is feeding continually on the eternal Life that Christ Is, passing from grace to grace and from glory to glory until he stands complete in all the will of God.
God never will permit any individual to partake of the tree of life until that person is gaining victory over sin and rebellion through means of the eternal life that already has been given to him.
Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden in the hope one day they would be redeemed. Had they partaken of immortality while still in sin they would have been hurled down to Tartarus where the fallen angels are. God in His everlasting mercy has placed us in mortal bodies in the hope one day all of the sin and rebellion will be cast from us. Then we can be given immortality in the body. Then we can eat of the tree of life without measure. We do not want immortality while we still are in rebellion against God's perfect will, for then we never could be redeemed.
As we follow the Lord diligently, taking up our cross, presenting our body a living sacrifice, the Holy Spirit teaches us how to gain victory over the sin and self-seeking that are in us. God brings judgment on the sin in us and casts it from us. Deliverance from sin is our reward for faithfully following the Lord. The glory and authority described in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation accrue to us naturally as, through the Lord Jesus, we are cleansed from the image of Satan and begin to take on the image of God.
We are not required to conquer sin and self-will in our own strength. Our task is to do, through the Holy Spirit, the things that the Apostles have written in the Scriptures. God's task (and delight) is to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, to conform us to His image, and to bring us into total union with Himself through Christ.
Feeding on the tree of life leads to the crown of life. The crown of life brings us to final victory over Satan and over the authority of the second death.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The last view of Paradise enjoyed by Adam and Eve was that of the tree of life. The first view of Paradise that we enjoy, as we commence the program of restoration, is that of the tree of life. As we determine to repossess, through the grace of Christ, all that was lost in Eden, we come first to the tree of life.
The body and blood of Christ are our true life. But if we are not walking in victory we are not partaking each day of the Life of Christ. If we live in the Spirit of God, walking in victorious faith in Christ, eternal life is being built up in us. It is that eternal life that will be the "oil in our lamp" in the Day of Christ.
It is only the victorious, dedicated saint who is feeding continually on the eternal Life that Christ Is, passing from grace to grace and from glory to glory until he stands complete in all the will of God.
God never will permit any individual to partake of the tree of life until that person is gaining victory over sin and rebellion through means of the eternal life that already has been given to him.
Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden in the hope one day they would be redeemed. Had they partaken of immortality while still in sin they would have been hurled down to Tartarus where the fallen angels are. God in His everlasting mercy has placed us in mortal bodies in the hope one day all of the sin and rebellion will be cast from us. Then we can be given immortality in the body. Then we can eat of the tree of life without measure. We do not want immortality while we still are in rebellion against God's perfect will, for then we never could be redeemed.
As we follow the Lord diligently, taking up our cross, presenting our body a living sacrifice, the Holy Spirit teaches us how to gain victory over the sin and self-seeking that are in us. God brings judgment on the sin in us and casts it from us. Deliverance from sin is our reward for faithfully following the Lord. The glory and authority described in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation accrue to us naturally as, through the Lord Jesus, we are cleansed from the image of Satan and begin to take on the image of God.
We are not required to conquer sin and self-will in our own strength. Our task is to do, through the Holy Spirit, the things that the Apostles have written in the Scriptures. God's task (and delight) is to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, to conform us to His image, and to bring us into total union with Himself through Christ.
Feeding on the tree of life leads to the crown of life. The crown of life brings us to final victory over Satan and over the authority of the second death.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #17
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:26,27)
If we do not apply ourselves each day to the challenges and blessings of the Spirit of God, choosing rather to occupy ourselves with the challenges and blessings of life in this present world, then it is possible we will attain privileges in the world. However, at the coming of the Lord we will not be prepared for a position of leadership in the Kingdom of God. Only those who have been made new creatures in Christ are qualified to rule in the Kingdom of God.
Let us consider the rewards to the overcomer set forth in the Book of Revelation. We will view them as present opportunities for growth in resurrection life, and present opportunities for attaining full union with the Father through Christ.
To eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life. He has spoken to us and we have passed from death to life. Now we are learning to live by eating His flesh and drinking His blood.
Each Christian either is living the ordinary flesh-and-blood, day-to-day life of the animal, deriving his strength solely from the eating of plants and animals; or else he is walking in Christ and learning to lay hold on eternal life, as Paul urged Timothy. He is living to himself in his flesh and soul, or he is feeding on the Life of Christ, and Christ in him is being built up and strengthened.
But many foes are contesting with us each day, attempting to prevent us from giving our attention to the Life that is in Christ. Satan, the spirit of the world, people, our own fleshly lusts, self-centeredness, self-seeking, and our desire for self-aggrandizement-all are pushing against us as we seek the Life of Christ.
If we overcome, that is, if through the Spirit of God we are successful in conquering the enemies that are determined to turn us away from cross-carrying obedience to Christ, we gain access to the tree of life. It is daily warfare, as every saint knows well.
If we do not overcome, if we do not successfully resist the forces of corruption and death, then we do not grow in Christ's eternal Life. Rather, eternal death is making inroads into our body, our soul, and our spirit.
When we are not walking and living in the Spirit of God we become increasingly feeble. Soon we are not living in Christ at all. The absence of Divine Life may be accompanied by bodily weakness, or even sickness and premature death (I Corinthians 11:30). (This is not to imply that all Christians who are sickly are walking in the flesh.)
All true believers pass from death to life at the moment of receiving Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. But some do not continue to eat of the tree of life. They live according to the dictates of their flesh and carnal minds. They do not put to death the deeds of their body. They are overcome by the lusts of their flesh and the enticements of the world.
They are sowing to the flesh. They will reap corruption, not eternal life, in the Day of the Lord.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
If we do not apply ourselves each day to the challenges and blessings of the Spirit of God, choosing rather to occupy ourselves with the challenges and blessings of life in this present world, then it is possible we will attain privileges in the world. However, at the coming of the Lord we will not be prepared for a position of leadership in the Kingdom of God. Only those who have been made new creatures in Christ are qualified to rule in the Kingdom of God.
Let us consider the rewards to the overcomer set forth in the Book of Revelation. We will view them as present opportunities for growth in resurrection life, and present opportunities for attaining full union with the Father through Christ.
To eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life. He has spoken to us and we have passed from death to life. Now we are learning to live by eating His flesh and drinking His blood.
Each Christian either is living the ordinary flesh-and-blood, day-to-day life of the animal, deriving his strength solely from the eating of plants and animals; or else he is walking in Christ and learning to lay hold on eternal life, as Paul urged Timothy. He is living to himself in his flesh and soul, or he is feeding on the Life of Christ, and Christ in him is being built up and strengthened.
But many foes are contesting with us each day, attempting to prevent us from giving our attention to the Life that is in Christ. Satan, the spirit of the world, people, our own fleshly lusts, self-centeredness, self-seeking, and our desire for self-aggrandizement-all are pushing against us as we seek the Life of Christ.
If we overcome, that is, if through the Spirit of God we are successful in conquering the enemies that are determined to turn us away from cross-carrying obedience to Christ, we gain access to the tree of life. It is daily warfare, as every saint knows well.
If we do not overcome, if we do not successfully resist the forces of corruption and death, then we do not grow in Christ's eternal Life. Rather, eternal death is making inroads into our body, our soul, and our spirit.
When we are not walking and living in the Spirit of God we become increasingly feeble. Soon we are not living in Christ at all. The absence of Divine Life may be accompanied by bodily weakness, or even sickness and premature death (I Corinthians 11:30). (This is not to imply that all Christians who are sickly are walking in the flesh.)
All true believers pass from death to life at the moment of receiving Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. But some do not continue to eat of the tree of life. They live according to the dictates of their flesh and carnal minds. They do not put to death the deeds of their body. They are overcome by the lusts of their flesh and the enticements of the world.
They are sowing to the flesh. They will reap corruption, not eternal life, in the Day of the Lord.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #16 - Being saved
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:5,6)
Being "saved" does not mean we will not be rewarded according to our behavior. If it did, Paul would not have warned the saints in Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus that the unclean and covetous cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21)
One individual had a dream in which he witnessed the saints being handed radiantly beautiful white robes but he was given a diaper.
Some of us will receive a glorious inheritance. Others of us will be saved as by fire. We are determining our reward, or punishment, by our behavior today.
The Christian believer will be clothed with his own conduct. We shall reap what we have sown. We shall be rewarded in terms of our works (Revelation 2:23; 22:12).
To attain the first resurrection from the dead is to attain the throne of Christ. It is to become, through Christ, the firstfruits of the image of God, the firstfruits of eternal man.
We think the "out-resurrection" (first resurrection) to which the Apostle Paul was addressing himself (Philippians 3:11) is the state in which the believer arrives at a full maturing in resurrection life now (although not in the body). He follows the Spirit of God into total victory over sin and self-will now. The result is that at the last trumpet he will be raised to the side of Christ, there to work with the Lord in establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Such a "crown of life" is well worth fighting for.
Christ has held out to us rewards for pursuing the overcoming Christian life. These are the development of the life and authority that will be revealed to us in full weight and glory at the coming of the Lord from Heaven.
The rewards to the overcomer are not prizes that will be handed to every believer on the basis of God's mercy, or grace. Rather, they are areas of spiritual authority, power, and responsibility that belong by inheritance to redeemed man. They accrue to us as we obey the Holy Spirit. Some are given to us now and others will be assigned to us at the coming of the Lord. Our task in the world is to mature to the level where we can receive them.
The rewards to the overcomer are not given to us because we keep on believing that Jesus is the Christ. They are the product of specific training; the consequence of specific behavior; the effect of specific cause.
The training period is now. If we apply ourselves each day to the challenges and blessings of the Spirit of God we will be able to enter the authorities, powers, responsibilities, and opportunities for service that belong by inheritance to those who have been conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Being "saved" does not mean we will not be rewarded according to our behavior. If it did, Paul would not have warned the saints in Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus that the unclean and covetous cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21)
One individual had a dream in which he witnessed the saints being handed radiantly beautiful white robes but he was given a diaper.
Some of us will receive a glorious inheritance. Others of us will be saved as by fire. We are determining our reward, or punishment, by our behavior today.
The Christian believer will be clothed with his own conduct. We shall reap what we have sown. We shall be rewarded in terms of our works (Revelation 2:23; 22:12).
To attain the first resurrection from the dead is to attain the throne of Christ. It is to become, through Christ, the firstfruits of the image of God, the firstfruits of eternal man.
We think the "out-resurrection" (first resurrection) to which the Apostle Paul was addressing himself (Philippians 3:11) is the state in which the believer arrives at a full maturing in resurrection life now (although not in the body). He follows the Spirit of God into total victory over sin and self-will now. The result is that at the last trumpet he will be raised to the side of Christ, there to work with the Lord in establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Such a "crown of life" is well worth fighting for.
Christ has held out to us rewards for pursuing the overcoming Christian life. These are the development of the life and authority that will be revealed to us in full weight and glory at the coming of the Lord from Heaven.
The rewards to the overcomer are not prizes that will be handed to every believer on the basis of God's mercy, or grace. Rather, they are areas of spiritual authority, power, and responsibility that belong by inheritance to redeemed man. They accrue to us as we obey the Holy Spirit. Some are given to us now and others will be assigned to us at the coming of the Lord. Our task in the world is to mature to the level where we can receive them.
The rewards to the overcomer are not given to us because we keep on believing that Jesus is the Christ. They are the product of specific training; the consequence of specific behavior; the effect of specific cause.
The training period is now. If we apply ourselves each day to the challenges and blessings of the Spirit of God we will be able to enter the authorities, powers, responsibilities, and opportunities for service that belong by inheritance to those who have been conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Friday, October 16, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #15
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:14,15)
Is it worth the supreme effort necessary for achieving victory over fleshly lusts and to lay aside our life and follow Christ wherever He goes?
This is an extraordinarily important question. It is not merely academic or an issue to be debated by mystical saints. The answer to this question has to do with our status at the coming of Christ; with the quality of our resurrection; with our destiny throughout eternity.
How important is it that we, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, develop the spiritual strength necessary to conquer Satan, the enticements of the world, the lusts of our flesh, and our self-seeking and self-will?
Will we all inherit approximately the same glory? Or is it true that the rewards of the saints will range from an exaltation so sublime that it is beyond our comprehension, to a resurrection that is barren of glory, such as in the case of the righteous Lot being yanked out of Sodom?
Will some be "great" in the Kingdom of God, while others are "least"?
Would you enjoy being least in the Kingdom of God, least in the approval of God, Christ, the elect angels, and the saints?
Is it true that each of us indeed will receive both the "good" we have practiced in our flesh and also the "evil" we have practiced in our flesh? Is that taking place in our life even now?
What does it mean to receive the good we have done and the evil we have done (II Corinthians 5:10)?
What kind of "gold, silver, precious stones" can be built on the foundation of Christ? What will it mean to be saved "yet so as by fire" (I Corinthians 3:12-15)?
To His faithful servants, Christ will exclaim, "Well done! Well done!"
Will Christ say to the "believer" who has led a sinful, disobedient, self-seeking, self-centered life, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?
Will the careless, spiritually lazy Christian be rebuked for his sin, his disobedience, and his self-seeking? If so, just how much of a sting will there be in that rebuke?
We ought to settle such questions now and not wait until it is too late to adjust our life to the scriptural answers.
The Scriptures state all men will die and then will be raised again. Each person will be raised to stand before Christ and be judged in terms of what he has done in this life; how he has conducted himself. Then he will be rewarded or punished according to the judgment of Christ.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:2,3)
It is our flesh and bones that "sleep in the dust of the earth." The resurrection from the dead is the awakening of our mortal body from its sleep in the dust of the earth.
To be resurrected is to be faced with the prospect either of everlasting life or else shame and everlasting contempt. What we will experience depends on our behavior during our days on earth. This is what Christ, Paul, and the others have taught us.
To be continued.
We extend permission to make as many copies of this essay as you need, in both paper and electronic formats. Please include the following statement of copyright:
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Is it worth the supreme effort necessary for achieving victory over fleshly lusts and to lay aside our life and follow Christ wherever He goes?
This is an extraordinarily important question. It is not merely academic or an issue to be debated by mystical saints. The answer to this question has to do with our status at the coming of Christ; with the quality of our resurrection; with our destiny throughout eternity.
How important is it that we, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, develop the spiritual strength necessary to conquer Satan, the enticements of the world, the lusts of our flesh, and our self-seeking and self-will?
Will we all inherit approximately the same glory? Or is it true that the rewards of the saints will range from an exaltation so sublime that it is beyond our comprehension, to a resurrection that is barren of glory, such as in the case of the righteous Lot being yanked out of Sodom?
Will some be "great" in the Kingdom of God, while others are "least"?
Would you enjoy being least in the Kingdom of God, least in the approval of God, Christ, the elect angels, and the saints?
Is it true that each of us indeed will receive both the "good" we have practiced in our flesh and also the "evil" we have practiced in our flesh? Is that taking place in our life even now?
What does it mean to receive the good we have done and the evil we have done (II Corinthians 5:10)?
What kind of "gold, silver, precious stones" can be built on the foundation of Christ? What will it mean to be saved "yet so as by fire" (I Corinthians 3:12-15)?
To His faithful servants, Christ will exclaim, "Well done! Well done!"
Will Christ say to the "believer" who has led a sinful, disobedient, self-seeking, self-centered life, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?
Will the careless, spiritually lazy Christian be rebuked for his sin, his disobedience, and his self-seeking? If so, just how much of a sting will there be in that rebuke?
We ought to settle such questions now and not wait until it is too late to adjust our life to the scriptural answers.
The Scriptures state all men will die and then will be raised again. Each person will be raised to stand before Christ and be judged in terms of what he has done in this life; how he has conducted himself. Then he will be rewarded or punished according to the judgment of Christ.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:2,3)
It is our flesh and bones that "sleep in the dust of the earth." The resurrection from the dead is the awakening of our mortal body from its sleep in the dust of the earth.
To be resurrected is to be faced with the prospect either of everlasting life or else shame and everlasting contempt. What we will experience depends on our behavior during our days on earth. This is what Christ, Paul, and the others have taught us.
To be continued.
We extend permission to make as many copies of this essay as you need, in both paper and electronic formats. Please include the following statement of copyright:
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Judgment #14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)
Going to Heaven when one dies is not listed as a reward to the overcomer, in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, although Revelation does present the blood-washed as being in Heaven. Also, eating of the tree of life that is in the midst of Paradise necessitates being in Paradise at that point, it would seem. Yet, it is evident that the emphasis is not on "making Heaven our eternal home."
A beautiful home in Heaven is not mentioned as being a reward to the conqueror. Rather, the rewards have to do with the attaining of eternal life and power in the Presence of Christ and the Father.
All of us desire to go to Paradise when we die. The present world is a valley of pain and dread. According to the visions of the saints, Paradise is a garden of delight and peace.
But to lose our body and pass into the spirit realm certainly is not an attainment of life or authority. Eternal life is not perpetual consciousness in the spirit realm. Eternal life is a kind of life, a quality of life. Demons possess no eternal life but they are perpetually conscious in the spirit realm.
Satan is a spiritual creature, a cherub. He introduced sin into the spirit realm. Eternal death resulted. Eternal death is a spiritual condition, not a physical condition. To go to Heaven, to pass into the realm of spirits, is not to attain eternal life. It is Christ who is eternal Life, who is the Tree of Life.
When we are full of Christ we are full of eternal Life whether we are on the earth or in Heaven.
It is important that we understand what it means to overcome, because the inference in the items listed in the second and third chapters of Revelation is that if we are not pursuing the life of victory in Christ we are not inheriting these rewards or any of the other rewards mentioned by the Lord Jesus and His Apostles.
The writer has preached the overcoming life for many years. Sometimes people ask, "What will happen to Christians who do not lead an overcoming life? Will they be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord in triumph when He appears? Will they be Divine kings and priests, crowned with glory and honor, even though they did not live as saints in this present world?"
The basic question is: Just how important is it that we pursue the life of victory in Christ? Will there actually be a great difference in destiny between the Christian who devotes his whole attention to pleasing the Lord and the Christian who trusts in his or her affirmation of the truth that Jesus is Savior and Lord and proceeds to live in the flesh?
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Going to Heaven when one dies is not listed as a reward to the overcomer, in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, although Revelation does present the blood-washed as being in Heaven. Also, eating of the tree of life that is in the midst of Paradise necessitates being in Paradise at that point, it would seem. Yet, it is evident that the emphasis is not on "making Heaven our eternal home."
A beautiful home in Heaven is not mentioned as being a reward to the conqueror. Rather, the rewards have to do with the attaining of eternal life and power in the Presence of Christ and the Father.
All of us desire to go to Paradise when we die. The present world is a valley of pain and dread. According to the visions of the saints, Paradise is a garden of delight and peace.
But to lose our body and pass into the spirit realm certainly is not an attainment of life or authority. Eternal life is not perpetual consciousness in the spirit realm. Eternal life is a kind of life, a quality of life. Demons possess no eternal life but they are perpetually conscious in the spirit realm.
Satan is a spiritual creature, a cherub. He introduced sin into the spirit realm. Eternal death resulted. Eternal death is a spiritual condition, not a physical condition. To go to Heaven, to pass into the realm of spirits, is not to attain eternal life. It is Christ who is eternal Life, who is the Tree of Life.
When we are full of Christ we are full of eternal Life whether we are on the earth or in Heaven.
It is important that we understand what it means to overcome, because the inference in the items listed in the second and third chapters of Revelation is that if we are not pursuing the life of victory in Christ we are not inheriting these rewards or any of the other rewards mentioned by the Lord Jesus and His Apostles.
The writer has preached the overcoming life for many years. Sometimes people ask, "What will happen to Christians who do not lead an overcoming life? Will they be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord in triumph when He appears? Will they be Divine kings and priests, crowned with glory and honor, even though they did not live as saints in this present world?"
The basic question is: Just how important is it that we pursue the life of victory in Christ? Will there actually be a great difference in destiny between the Christian who devotes his whole attention to pleasing the Lord and the Christian who trusts in his or her affirmation of the truth that Jesus is Savior and Lord and proceeds to live in the flesh?
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #13
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)
We can think of the Kingdom of God in terms of the rewards that are named in the New Testament. The concept of judgment is related to rewards because we will be rewarded in terms of God's evaluation of our behavior.
". . . that every one may receive the things done in his body, . . . ."
". . . to give every man according as his work shall be."
Also, the concept of the resurrection from the dead is involved, because what we have attained of the Kingdom of God during our life on earth will be given to us at the time of the resurrection from the dead.
Many rewards for serving Christ faithfully are mentioned in the New Testament. One set of rewards is found in the Book of Revelation. They are the rewards that are attained, or arrived at, by the overcomer.
The rewards given to the overcomer, as we understand them, are increments of resurrection life until we attain the fullness of life; the fullness of reconciliation to God through Christ; the fullness of freedom from Satan; the fullness of boldness in the Day of Judgment; the fullness of the spiritual counterpart of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), that is, to be filled with all the fullness of God.
To attain resurrection life fully is to arrive at the first resurrection from among the dead, the resurrection in which all judgment has been accomplished and the perfection of the Divine Life and Glory can be revealed in us. It is the fullness of the indwelling of the Father in Christ in us through the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The first resurrection of the dead will take place at the coming of the Lord from Heaven.
The following list includes some of the rewards to the overcomer that are set forth in the Book of Revelation:
To eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God (2:7).
To be given the crown of life (2:10).
To not be hurt of the second death (2:11).
To eat of the hidden manna (2:17).
To be given a white stone on which is inscribed a new name (2:17).
To be given power over the nations (2:26,27).
To be given the morning star (2:28).
To walk with Christ in white (3:4).
To be clothed in white raiment (3:5).
To not have one's name blotted out of the Book of Life (3:5).
To have one's name confessed before the Father and His angels (3:5).
To be kept from the hour of temptation (3:10).
To become a pillar in the Temple of God (3:12).
To have inscribed on one's self the name of God; the name of the city of God; the new name of Christ (3:12).
To sit with Christ in His throne (3:21).
To inherit all things (21:7).
To have God be one's God, and to be God's son (21:7).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)
We can think of the Kingdom of God in terms of the rewards that are named in the New Testament. The concept of judgment is related to rewards because we will be rewarded in terms of God's evaluation of our behavior.
". . . that every one may receive the things done in his body, . . . ."
". . . to give every man according as his work shall be."
Also, the concept of the resurrection from the dead is involved, because what we have attained of the Kingdom of God during our life on earth will be given to us at the time of the resurrection from the dead.
Many rewards for serving Christ faithfully are mentioned in the New Testament. One set of rewards is found in the Book of Revelation. They are the rewards that are attained, or arrived at, by the overcomer.
The rewards given to the overcomer, as we understand them, are increments of resurrection life until we attain the fullness of life; the fullness of reconciliation to God through Christ; the fullness of freedom from Satan; the fullness of boldness in the Day of Judgment; the fullness of the spiritual counterpart of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), that is, to be filled with all the fullness of God.
To attain resurrection life fully is to arrive at the first resurrection from among the dead, the resurrection in which all judgment has been accomplished and the perfection of the Divine Life and Glory can be revealed in us. It is the fullness of the indwelling of the Father in Christ in us through the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The first resurrection of the dead will take place at the coming of the Lord from Heaven.
The following list includes some of the rewards to the overcomer that are set forth in the Book of Revelation:
To eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God (2:7).
To be given the crown of life (2:10).
To not be hurt of the second death (2:11).
To eat of the hidden manna (2:17).
To be given a white stone on which is inscribed a new name (2:17).
To be given power over the nations (2:26,27).
To be given the morning star (2:28).
To walk with Christ in white (3:4).
To be clothed in white raiment (3:5).
To not have one's name blotted out of the Book of Life (3:5).
To have one's name confessed before the Father and His angels (3:5).
To be kept from the hour of temptation (3:10).
To become a pillar in the Temple of God (3:12).
To have inscribed on one's self the name of God; the name of the city of God; the new name of Christ (3:12).
To sit with Christ in His throne (3:21).
To inherit all things (21:7).
To have God be one's God, and to be God's son (21:7).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #12
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5).
Since each individual must settle his own account with Christ we cannot describe the ultimate destiny of any particular believer. But the text of the New Testament certainly does not support the assured, light, presumptuous attitude that prevails in Christian circles. The churches are blind and naked and need to seek the Lord.
Receiving Jesus and believing in His name gives us the right, the authority, to be a child of God. We then are to stand on that authority and press into the Kingdom of God.
One area of ignorance has to do with the concept of "going to Heaven." We are not saved to "go to Heaven." Salvation has to do with deliverance from the person and works of Satan, being created in the image of God, and coming into union with God through Christ. When we make going to Heaven our goal, and perceive the blood of Jesus as our ticket to Heaven, we cannot understand the Christian redemption.
Heaven is a place. The Kingdom of God is Christ. Paul was not striving to gain Heaven; he was striving to gain Christ.
For example, the covetous individual may escape Hell when he dies, if Christ is willing to forgive him and save him from the Divine wrath. But his covetous character will prevent him from entering the joy of his Lord. The covetous individual cannot possibly enter the Kingdom of God because there is no covetousness in the Kingdom of God. His covetousness must be removed at some point because covetousness will never enter the Kingdom of God, never enter that which is of the Lord Jesus.
The Kingdom of God is the doing of God's will in the earth as it is in Heaven; and covetousness is not God's will, either in Heaven or on the earth.
Paul was saved from wrath by the blood of Christ, by the gift of God's grace. Yet we find throughout Paul's writings an intense striving, the running of a race for which Paul prepared himself like an Olympic contender seeking a gold medal.
Toward what was Paul pressing? To gain entrance into Heaven? To acquire a mansion in Heaven? Did Paul, or Peter, or John, ever once state they were striving to make Heaven their eternal home?
Is Heaven a real place? Absolutely. Will we escape Hell when we die? Yes, if we receive and love the Lord Jesus Christ and walk according to His will. But in the attaining of the Kingdom of God there is much diversity. Each believer attains a different destiny according to his diligence in laying hold on that to which he has been called by the Lord.
The Gospel of Christ is not the gospel of going to Heaven but the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to orient ourselves toward the Kingdom of God. We are born into the Kingdom of God, as well as into heavenly citizenship, when we are "born again." But now we are to grow to maturity in the Kingdom of God.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Since each individual must settle his own account with Christ we cannot describe the ultimate destiny of any particular believer. But the text of the New Testament certainly does not support the assured, light, presumptuous attitude that prevails in Christian circles. The churches are blind and naked and need to seek the Lord.
Receiving Jesus and believing in His name gives us the right, the authority, to be a child of God. We then are to stand on that authority and press into the Kingdom of God.
One area of ignorance has to do with the concept of "going to Heaven." We are not saved to "go to Heaven." Salvation has to do with deliverance from the person and works of Satan, being created in the image of God, and coming into union with God through Christ. When we make going to Heaven our goal, and perceive the blood of Jesus as our ticket to Heaven, we cannot understand the Christian redemption.
Heaven is a place. The Kingdom of God is Christ. Paul was not striving to gain Heaven; he was striving to gain Christ.
For example, the covetous individual may escape Hell when he dies, if Christ is willing to forgive him and save him from the Divine wrath. But his covetous character will prevent him from entering the joy of his Lord. The covetous individual cannot possibly enter the Kingdom of God because there is no covetousness in the Kingdom of God. His covetousness must be removed at some point because covetousness will never enter the Kingdom of God, never enter that which is of the Lord Jesus.
The Kingdom of God is the doing of God's will in the earth as it is in Heaven; and covetousness is not God's will, either in Heaven or on the earth.
Paul was saved from wrath by the blood of Christ, by the gift of God's grace. Yet we find throughout Paul's writings an intense striving, the running of a race for which Paul prepared himself like an Olympic contender seeking a gold medal.
Toward what was Paul pressing? To gain entrance into Heaven? To acquire a mansion in Heaven? Did Paul, or Peter, or John, ever once state they were striving to make Heaven their eternal home?
Is Heaven a real place? Absolutely. Will we escape Hell when we die? Yes, if we receive and love the Lord Jesus Christ and walk according to His will. But in the attaining of the Kingdom of God there is much diversity. Each believer attains a different destiny according to his diligence in laying hold on that to which he has been called by the Lord.
The Gospel of Christ is not the gospel of going to Heaven but the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to orient ourselves toward the Kingdom of God. We are born into the Kingdom of God, as well as into heavenly citizenship, when we are "born again." But now we are to grow to maturity in the Kingdom of God.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Monday, October 12, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #11
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)
It is time now for all persons everywhere to repent, especially the Christian people, because Jesus is coming soon. In fact, the Judge now is at the door of our hearts. If we will allow Him entrance into our heart He will purify us so we can offer an offering in the righteousness, love, and holiness that the Lord requires.
Christ eventually will be made the Center of every creature and every thing in the universe. In the present hour He must become central in His Church. God will insure that Christ is made the Center of attention in His Church, but it will require the flames of Divine judgment to bring this about. Man is at the center of the churches of today.
You and I can walk with God in the present hour. We can overcome the world. We can, through Christ, become a hundredfold conqueror. Let's do it.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)
The Scriptures teach that saved people are rewarded according to their works.
We leave the world and enter the family of God by believing in Christ and being baptized in water. By faith in the atonement made on the cross of Calvary we receive forgiveness of our sins. But we are rewarded in the Kingdom of God according to our behavior in the present world.
It is one matter to have our sins forgiven. It is another matter to lay hold on the eternal life that is in Christ and to enter the fullness of the Kingdom of God-now, and when the Lord appears.
When addressing believers who had experienced the forgiveness of their sins the Apostle warns them concerning the relationship between their behavior and their entering the Kingdom of God.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9,10)
Paul is speaking to saved, Christian people-the saints in Corinth and Ephesus. He is informing them that a person, Christian or not, who behaves in a sinful manner cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
It is difficult for us to understand the above passage because we have been taught that the Lord Jesus "did it all" and our main task now is to wait to die and go to Heaven.
But there is a difference between having our sins forgiven, on the one hand, and becoming a new creation through Christ, on the other. The Kingdom of God comprises victorious saints who live in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The believer who continues in worldliness, in the lusts of his flesh, and in his own self-will, is not living in the Kingdom of God. He is walking in darkness.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
It is time now for all persons everywhere to repent, especially the Christian people, because Jesus is coming soon. In fact, the Judge now is at the door of our hearts. If we will allow Him entrance into our heart He will purify us so we can offer an offering in the righteousness, love, and holiness that the Lord requires.
Christ eventually will be made the Center of every creature and every thing in the universe. In the present hour He must become central in His Church. God will insure that Christ is made the Center of attention in His Church, but it will require the flames of Divine judgment to bring this about. Man is at the center of the churches of today.
You and I can walk with God in the present hour. We can overcome the world. We can, through Christ, become a hundredfold conqueror. Let's do it.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)
The Scriptures teach that saved people are rewarded according to their works.
We leave the world and enter the family of God by believing in Christ and being baptized in water. By faith in the atonement made on the cross of Calvary we receive forgiveness of our sins. But we are rewarded in the Kingdom of God according to our behavior in the present world.
It is one matter to have our sins forgiven. It is another matter to lay hold on the eternal life that is in Christ and to enter the fullness of the Kingdom of God-now, and when the Lord appears.
When addressing believers who had experienced the forgiveness of their sins the Apostle warns them concerning the relationship between their behavior and their entering the Kingdom of God.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9,10)
Paul is speaking to saved, Christian people-the saints in Corinth and Ephesus. He is informing them that a person, Christian or not, who behaves in a sinful manner cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
It is difficult for us to understand the above passage because we have been taught that the Lord Jesus "did it all" and our main task now is to wait to die and go to Heaven.
But there is a difference between having our sins forgiven, on the one hand, and becoming a new creation through Christ, on the other. The Kingdom of God comprises victorious saints who live in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The believer who continues in worldliness, in the lusts of his flesh, and in his own self-will, is not living in the Kingdom of God. He is walking in darkness.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #10
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (Isaiah 42:3)
God does not break the "bruised reed" or quench the "smoking flax." Rather, He sends judgment and grace until the weak are led forth in victory.
No kingdom is made up solely of kings. How can there be kings if there are no subjects? The Kingdom of God is an actual kingdom.
Perhaps you will agree with us that the Divine redemption is not limited to producing only the kings and the tormented. There are regions of life between the high thrones and the depths of the Lake of Fire. The Scriptures do not teach that there is but one level of attainment in the Kingdom of God.
One day you and I will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will be rewarded according to what we have done in our bodies, according to the good and evil we have practiced. Jesus is coming soon. His reward is with Him to give to every person the wages he has earned.
What is your choice? Thirtyfold? Sixtyfold? A hundredfold?
Will Jesus address you as a friend and faithful servant, or will you be met with a frown and expressions of disappointment or even anger in that Day?
Is your conduct leading you toward praise and blessings or is it bringing you to rebuke and punishment?
Are you in danger of being led away into outer darkness?
The Holy Spirit seems to be speaking to us that the issues we are presenting are far more serious than we have realized. A spirit of lightness and unwarranted optimism has pervaded the Christian churches.
The spirit of lightness and assurance concerning the things of the Kingdom of God is not in line with such apostolic expressions as "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"; "the righteous scarcely be saved"; "how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"; "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."
If we are correct in our understanding, the churches of Christ around the world are facing a severe chastening. Much blood will be spilled. Christian people will become aware that Gospel preaching over the past several years has not been acceptable to God as to the witness that has been borne. The call to repentance is too weak. The goodness of God is being emphasized but the severity of God is being concealed.
The believers will not be "raptured" out of this chastening, because the chastening is for their salvation. Were Christ to return now, it seems likely that a mere handful of believers would be prepared to dwell in the fire of His Presence.
The churches are not ready for Christ's return. The world is not ready for Christ's return.
First must come unprecedented glory and unprecedented tribulation. Much will be accomplished by the glory and also by the suffering. Best of all, the Bride of the Lamb will be separated from the worldly churches and will be purified, thus being made ready for Her Lord.
The Scriptures are true.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
God does not break the "bruised reed" or quench the "smoking flax." Rather, He sends judgment and grace until the weak are led forth in victory.
No kingdom is made up solely of kings. How can there be kings if there are no subjects? The Kingdom of God is an actual kingdom.
Perhaps you will agree with us that the Divine redemption is not limited to producing only the kings and the tormented. There are regions of life between the high thrones and the depths of the Lake of Fire. The Scriptures do not teach that there is but one level of attainment in the Kingdom of God.
One day you and I will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will be rewarded according to what we have done in our bodies, according to the good and evil we have practiced. Jesus is coming soon. His reward is with Him to give to every person the wages he has earned.
What is your choice? Thirtyfold? Sixtyfold? A hundredfold?
Will Jesus address you as a friend and faithful servant, or will you be met with a frown and expressions of disappointment or even anger in that Day?
Is your conduct leading you toward praise and blessings or is it bringing you to rebuke and punishment?
Are you in danger of being led away into outer darkness?
The Holy Spirit seems to be speaking to us that the issues we are presenting are far more serious than we have realized. A spirit of lightness and unwarranted optimism has pervaded the Christian churches.
The spirit of lightness and assurance concerning the things of the Kingdom of God is not in line with such apostolic expressions as "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"; "the righteous scarcely be saved"; "how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"; "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."
If we are correct in our understanding, the churches of Christ around the world are facing a severe chastening. Much blood will be spilled. Christian people will become aware that Gospel preaching over the past several years has not been acceptable to God as to the witness that has been borne. The call to repentance is too weak. The goodness of God is being emphasized but the severity of God is being concealed.
The believers will not be "raptured" out of this chastening, because the chastening is for their salvation. Were Christ to return now, it seems likely that a mere handful of believers would be prepared to dwell in the fire of His Presence.
The churches are not ready for Christ's return. The world is not ready for Christ's return.
First must come unprecedented glory and unprecedented tribulation. Much will be accomplished by the glory and also by the suffering. Best of all, the Bride of the Lamb will be separated from the worldly churches and will be purified, thus being made ready for Her Lord.
The Scriptures are true.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #9
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (II Peter 2:12)
Among the hundredfold are Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul.
Among the lost are beings of such wickedness we scarcely can believe any of them actually are human. They are "natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed." They are "wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 13).
Perhaps there are relatively few individuals who are hundredfold conquerors (although all persons are welcome to the ranks of the overcomers), and relatively few individuals who are lost-doomed for eternity.
It may be true that most people will be assigned a destiny somewhere between these two extremes.
Traditional Gospel preaching holds out the choice of supreme rulership or eternal torment; the hundredfold or the lost; Abraham or Nero.
Seen in this light, all of the saved receive approximately the same reward. Paul's "halo" may shine a trifle more brightly than those of the careless "Christians" who live worldly lives. But there is nothing to be concerned about because Paul and the worldly believers are judged and recompensed only on the basis of their doctrinal position.
Do you believe this to be true-that we all will receive approximately the same reward regardless of our consecration to Christ?
Does the Scripture teach that all will receive approximately the same reward in the Kingdom of God?
How much of a difference was there between the salvation of Abraham and the salvation of Lot? Was there any significant difference in their inheritance?- their fruitfulness?
The Scriptures speak of those who will shine as the stars forever.
There are hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold.
There are some who have no reward but are saved as by fire. What does it mean to be saved "as by fire" (I Corinthians 3:15)? Is that the same thing as being delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I Corinthians 5:5)?
There are those who will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" There are others of the Lord's servants who will hear, "Depart from me, you wicked, lazy slave! You wasted my goods!"
There are those who are greatest in the Kingdom of God. There are some who are least in the Kingdom of God.
Some persons will be beaten with many lashes; others will be beaten with few lashes.
The Father has designated at least two persons to stand on either side of Christ in His Kingdom.
The work of assisting the immature "sisters of the Bride" is described in the last chapter of the Song of Solomon.
There are the Lord's "firstfruits," of the fourteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
There were David's "mighty men," and then the remainder of Israel.
Paul, toward the close of his life, was pressing toward a "mark."
Then we have the Book of Revelation's marvelous rewards of life and authority that are the consequences of the life of victory in Christ (Chapters Two and Three).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Among the hundredfold are Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul.
Among the lost are beings of such wickedness we scarcely can believe any of them actually are human. They are "natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed." They are "wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 13).
Perhaps there are relatively few individuals who are hundredfold conquerors (although all persons are welcome to the ranks of the overcomers), and relatively few individuals who are lost-doomed for eternity.
It may be true that most people will be assigned a destiny somewhere between these two extremes.
Traditional Gospel preaching holds out the choice of supreme rulership or eternal torment; the hundredfold or the lost; Abraham or Nero.
Seen in this light, all of the saved receive approximately the same reward. Paul's "halo" may shine a trifle more brightly than those of the careless "Christians" who live worldly lives. But there is nothing to be concerned about because Paul and the worldly believers are judged and recompensed only on the basis of their doctrinal position.
Do you believe this to be true-that we all will receive approximately the same reward regardless of our consecration to Christ?
Does the Scripture teach that all will receive approximately the same reward in the Kingdom of God?
How much of a difference was there between the salvation of Abraham and the salvation of Lot? Was there any significant difference in their inheritance?- their fruitfulness?
The Scriptures speak of those who will shine as the stars forever.
There are hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold.
There are some who have no reward but are saved as by fire. What does it mean to be saved "as by fire" (I Corinthians 3:15)? Is that the same thing as being delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I Corinthians 5:5)?
There are those who will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" There are others of the Lord's servants who will hear, "Depart from me, you wicked, lazy slave! You wasted my goods!"
There are those who are greatest in the Kingdom of God. There are some who are least in the Kingdom of God.
Some persons will be beaten with many lashes; others will be beaten with few lashes.
The Father has designated at least two persons to stand on either side of Christ in His Kingdom.
The work of assisting the immature "sisters of the Bride" is described in the last chapter of the Song of Solomon.
There are the Lord's "firstfruits," of the fourteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
There were David's "mighty men," and then the remainder of Israel.
Paul, toward the close of his life, was pressing toward a "mark."
Then we have the Book of Revelation's marvelous rewards of life and authority that are the consequences of the life of victory in Christ (Chapters Two and Three).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Friday, October 09, 2009
Overcomer
The current article that I have serialized covers the core message I am called to spread. The overcomer mentioned in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation is a very important message that is spreading.
If you feel that this message is for you - God calling out to you - please read Romans 8.
Those that are called to be overcomers are called to live IN Christ. We are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him daily.
I also recommend you read this book. It is long, but explains a lot. We are called to be the dwelling place of God.
It is time to go beyond Passover, beyond Pentecost, to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Yours in Christ,
RBT
If you feel that this message is for you - God calling out to you - please read Romans 8.
Those that are called to be overcomers are called to live IN Christ. We are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him daily.
I also recommend you read this book. It is long, but explains a lot. We are called to be the dwelling place of God.
It is time to go beyond Passover, beyond Pentecost, to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Yours in Christ,
RBT
Judgment and Rewards, #8
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
Every human being, Christian and non-Christian:
A. Will die physically (unless he still is alive physically when Jesus returns and at that time is a victorious saint with "oil in his lamp").
B. Will be "awakened" when he hears the voice of Christ.
C. Will stand before Christ and be made manifest as to his behavior in the world.
D. Will be recompensed by Christ according to that which the light of Divine judgment reveals concerning his actions while alive on the earth.
Let us consider the recompenses that result from the judgment of the human being, particularly the judgment of the Christian.
At the top of the scale are the hundredfold Christians. They are the Lord's "firstfruits." They will be raised to a state of glory incomprehensible to us on earth.
At the bottom of the scale are the lost. This is a fate as dreadful as the recompense of the hundredfold is glorious.
There has been much discussion of the possibility that a person who has received Christ can ever be lost. Such a discussion may be a fruitless theological debate. Is it true that those who enter it know they are not going to make an effort to overcome sin, and are attempting to assure themselves that they never can be lost?
The overcomer is not attempting to find how close to Hell he can walk and still not topple into the flames. He is seeking God continually to determine how he better can serve Christ.
Those who argue that all Christians will be saved, even if it is only as by fire and with no reward, should consider what it means to be saved as by fire with no reward, no fruit. They are assuming that there is little difference in eternal destiny between the hundredfold overcomer and the believer who has to be plucked from the flames.
The teachers who assure the backsliders that all will be saved if they once have professed Christ should explain to their students the difference in the consequences that flow from the victorious Christian life as distinguished from those that flow from the defeated, weak, indecisive "Christian" life.
It is the difference between the fruit of Abraham and the fruit of Lot. There is a truly awesome difference between the outcome of the victorious, conquering life in Christ and the outcome of a careless, lazy, disobedient life "in Christ" (if we can call it that—Matthew 25:30).
Someone who is trusting that he will be saved regardless of how he behaves might walk so close to Hell that he falls in—as Lot's wife did, so to speak. Then his teachers will explain to him, as they stand around the edge of the flames and look down at him (being careful not to get too close), "You never were saved in the first place." Those words will be little comfort.
To be lost is to lose hope for eternity. The Creator never again will agree to hear our voice or see our face. He has banished us forever from His holy Presence. He considers us to be unworthy of any further attempts to restore us. He will not deliver or heal us. We are doomed. We are lost!
Our torment never will cease. A billion years from now we still will be abiding in the flames that give no light. Our fellowship will be with Satan, the fallen angels, the demons, Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the utterly depraved, horribly wicked, hideous people of all ages, such as Nero and Hitler. They will be our companions in the Lake of Fire.
Such will be tormented in the flames for eternity.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Every human being, Christian and non-Christian:
A. Will die physically (unless he still is alive physically when Jesus returns and at that time is a victorious saint with "oil in his lamp").
B. Will be "awakened" when he hears the voice of Christ.
C. Will stand before Christ and be made manifest as to his behavior in the world.
D. Will be recompensed by Christ according to that which the light of Divine judgment reveals concerning his actions while alive on the earth.
Let us consider the recompenses that result from the judgment of the human being, particularly the judgment of the Christian.
At the top of the scale are the hundredfold Christians. They are the Lord's "firstfruits." They will be raised to a state of glory incomprehensible to us on earth.
At the bottom of the scale are the lost. This is a fate as dreadful as the recompense of the hundredfold is glorious.
There has been much discussion of the possibility that a person who has received Christ can ever be lost. Such a discussion may be a fruitless theological debate. Is it true that those who enter it know they are not going to make an effort to overcome sin, and are attempting to assure themselves that they never can be lost?
The overcomer is not attempting to find how close to Hell he can walk and still not topple into the flames. He is seeking God continually to determine how he better can serve Christ.
Those who argue that all Christians will be saved, even if it is only as by fire and with no reward, should consider what it means to be saved as by fire with no reward, no fruit. They are assuming that there is little difference in eternal destiny between the hundredfold overcomer and the believer who has to be plucked from the flames.
The teachers who assure the backsliders that all will be saved if they once have professed Christ should explain to their students the difference in the consequences that flow from the victorious Christian life as distinguished from those that flow from the defeated, weak, indecisive "Christian" life.
It is the difference between the fruit of Abraham and the fruit of Lot. There is a truly awesome difference between the outcome of the victorious, conquering life in Christ and the outcome of a careless, lazy, disobedient life "in Christ" (if we can call it that—Matthew 25:30).
Someone who is trusting that he will be saved regardless of how he behaves might walk so close to Hell that he falls in—as Lot's wife did, so to speak. Then his teachers will explain to him, as they stand around the edge of the flames and look down at him (being careful not to get too close), "You never were saved in the first place." Those words will be little comfort.
To be lost is to lose hope for eternity. The Creator never again will agree to hear our voice or see our face. He has banished us forever from His holy Presence. He considers us to be unworthy of any further attempts to restore us. He will not deliver or heal us. We are doomed. We are lost!
Our torment never will cease. A billion years from now we still will be abiding in the flames that give no light. Our fellowship will be with Satan, the fallen angels, the demons, Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the utterly depraved, horribly wicked, hideous people of all ages, such as Nero and Hitler. They will be our companions in the Lake of Fire.
Such will be tormented in the flames for eternity.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #7
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26,27)
Of whom is the above passage speaking? It is speaking of those who at one time had been sanctified through the blood of Christ and who since that time have continued to sin willfully.
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
All the Apostles of Christ agree with this point of view.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (II Peter 2:20)
The human being who rejects Christ initially, who will not receive the benefits of Calvary, will face an angry God in the Day of Judgment.
There is no question whatever about that.
The misunderstanding arises concerning those persons who have joyfully received the Divine pardon. Do their actions in the world after they have received Christ seriously affect their eternal destinies?
"No," responds the fundamentalist of today. "The Christian shall not reap what he sows because Christ has borne his judgment on the cross."
"Yes," thunder Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, the writers of Hebrews, James, and Jude.
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that human beings are judged and recompensed according to their deeds. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary does not alter the fundamental Kingdom law of sowing and reaping, except that God will forgive our sins when we confess them and truly repent of them in Christ's name. This concept is altogether different from the current belief that if we profess faith in Christ we will not reap what we sow.
To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7)
The difference between those who have heard the Gospel of Christ and those who have not is that those who have heard will be judged with greater strictness.
If people hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and do not obey its freely given pardon, and also its requirements of discipleship under Christ, they will be judged more severely than those who never heard and yet practice iniquity (Luke 12:47,48).
Greater opportunity (the Gospel of God always is an opportunity) brings greater responsibility. To whom much has been given in the way of Gospel light, much shall be required.
The Christian salvation does not release us from the common obligation of mankind to please God by our conduct. Rather, the Christian salvation forgives us and then sends us on our way rejoicing, now possessing the wisdom and power to overcome the evil in the world.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Of whom is the above passage speaking? It is speaking of those who at one time had been sanctified through the blood of Christ and who since that time have continued to sin willfully.
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
All the Apostles of Christ agree with this point of view.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (II Peter 2:20)
The human being who rejects Christ initially, who will not receive the benefits of Calvary, will face an angry God in the Day of Judgment.
There is no question whatever about that.
The misunderstanding arises concerning those persons who have joyfully received the Divine pardon. Do their actions in the world after they have received Christ seriously affect their eternal destinies?
"No," responds the fundamentalist of today. "The Christian shall not reap what he sows because Christ has borne his judgment on the cross."
"Yes," thunder Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, the writers of Hebrews, James, and Jude.
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that human beings are judged and recompensed according to their deeds. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary does not alter the fundamental Kingdom law of sowing and reaping, except that God will forgive our sins when we confess them and truly repent of them in Christ's name. This concept is altogether different from the current belief that if we profess faith in Christ we will not reap what we sow.
To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:7)
The difference between those who have heard the Gospel of Christ and those who have not is that those who have heard will be judged with greater strictness.
If people hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and do not obey its freely given pardon, and also its requirements of discipleship under Christ, they will be judged more severely than those who never heard and yet practice iniquity (Luke 12:47,48).
Greater opportunity (the Gospel of God always is an opportunity) brings greater responsibility. To whom much has been given in the way of Gospel light, much shall be required.
The Christian salvation does not release us from the common obligation of mankind to please God by our conduct. Rather, the Christian salvation forgives us and then sends us on our way rejoicing, now possessing the wisdom and power to overcome the evil in the world.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #6
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (I John 3:14,15)
The "believer" who is practicing the sins of the flesh is not abiding in eternal life nor is eternal life abiding in him. He is abiding in eternal death, in the life of Hell. He is living close to the fire of God's wrath.
He is not being forgiven because he is not confessing and forsaking his sins. Walking in the lusts of the flesh is not the true Christian life, neither is it the way of eternal life. Any person who claims to be abiding in Christ and is continuing in sin is a liar.
The truth of Christ is not in him.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (I John 2:4)
Such an individual is dwelling in eternal death while he or she yet is alive physically on the earth professing to be a saint of God.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. (I Timothy 5:6)
The true saint acts, speaks, and thinks in a godly, holy manner. He or she is making progress in godliness every day.
Any teaching that is contrary to this is delusion and death. The churches of God, as has been true throughout the Christian Era, are in rebellion against God and are trusting in the teaching and preaching of false apostles. We have made the Word of God of no effect by our traditions.
The day of reckoning is here for the Christian churches.
What is the relationship of our "accepting" Christ to the judgment and recompense that follow the awakening of our physical body from its sleep in the dust of the ground?
Does our assent to the truth of the atonement and resurrection affect the judgment and the recompense to such an extent that they no longer are to be regarded as significant determinants of our destiny? The hastiest review of the writings of the Apostles will reveal they hardly taught that!
Well then, what relationship does the atoning blood of Christ have to the judging and recompensing of the believer in Christ?
He who places his trust in the atoning blood of Christ comes under the protection of the God of Heaven. He is pardoned by the Father. His sins are cast behind God's back.
He will continue to be protected and pardoned throughout his lifetime on the earth provided he chooses each day to walk prayerfully in God's will. He cannot go forth sinning willfully and continue to be protected and pardoned by the Lord.
It is at this point that the author departs from the current tradition. The current tradition holds that the individual who professes belief in Christ will continue to be protected and pardoned whether or not he chooses to walk in God's will each day. This is how "grace" is being defined by many. We are teaching that this is incorrect.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The "believer" who is practicing the sins of the flesh is not abiding in eternal life nor is eternal life abiding in him. He is abiding in eternal death, in the life of Hell. He is living close to the fire of God's wrath.
He is not being forgiven because he is not confessing and forsaking his sins. Walking in the lusts of the flesh is not the true Christian life, neither is it the way of eternal life. Any person who claims to be abiding in Christ and is continuing in sin is a liar.
The truth of Christ is not in him.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (I John 2:4)
Such an individual is dwelling in eternal death while he or she yet is alive physically on the earth professing to be a saint of God.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. (I Timothy 5:6)
The true saint acts, speaks, and thinks in a godly, holy manner. He or she is making progress in godliness every day.
Any teaching that is contrary to this is delusion and death. The churches of God, as has been true throughout the Christian Era, are in rebellion against God and are trusting in the teaching and preaching of false apostles. We have made the Word of God of no effect by our traditions.
The day of reckoning is here for the Christian churches.
What is the relationship of our "accepting" Christ to the judgment and recompense that follow the awakening of our physical body from its sleep in the dust of the ground?
Does our assent to the truth of the atonement and resurrection affect the judgment and the recompense to such an extent that they no longer are to be regarded as significant determinants of our destiny? The hastiest review of the writings of the Apostles will reveal they hardly taught that!
Well then, what relationship does the atoning blood of Christ have to the judging and recompensing of the believer in Christ?
He who places his trust in the atoning blood of Christ comes under the protection of the God of Heaven. He is pardoned by the Father. His sins are cast behind God's back.
He will continue to be protected and pardoned throughout his lifetime on the earth provided he chooses each day to walk prayerfully in God's will. He cannot go forth sinning willfully and continue to be protected and pardoned by the Lord.
It is at this point that the author departs from the current tradition. The current tradition holds that the individual who professes belief in Christ will continue to be protected and pardoned whether or not he chooses to walk in God's will each day. This is how "grace" is being defined by many. We are teaching that this is incorrect.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #5
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)
It appears in many instances, "saved" people possess little of the eternal Life that Christ is. The portion of resurrection life they do have is constantly in danger of being choked out by the cares of the world.
The eternal life they possess cannot come under condemnation, because it is the substance and life force of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The remainder of their untransformed personality still is subject to Divine judgment. It is "covered" because of the work of redemption that has begun in them. However, it is only the part of them that has "heard" Christ that has passed from death to life and therefore is no longer subject to judgment. It is the new creation that enters the Kingdom of God and is the Kingdom of God.
To believe on Christ means infinitely more than to profess faith in His atonement and resurrection, and then to wait to die and go to Heaven. To believe on Christ, in the redeeming sense, is to count oneself as dead and to live in and by Christ.
The individual who is crucified with Christ and in whom Christ is living is being judged now. He will suffer in the world so he may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God. If he runs the race according to the rules he finally will attain the first resurrection from among the dead.
The believer who arrives at the "mark" has been made perfect in love. He shall have boldness in the Day of Judgment. He has been baptized in the Divine Fire. He has been judged and purified. He has passed from death to life before his sleeping body is awakened in the Day of the Lord.
This is what Jesus meant when He spoke of those who believe on Him. He was not and is not referring to the average "Christian" of today who is walking in the corruption and death of the flesh and is waiting to be removed from the dealings of the Lord by means of a "rapture." Christ is referring to the spiritual man or woman who is walking in the Spirit of God.
Sometimes the true saints are few in number—just a remnant of Israel.
Christ gave the laws of the Kingdom of God to us. All of the Apostles repeated them in their epistles. These laws are to be kept. Christ by His virtue enables us to keep the laws of the Kingdom, and forgives us when we confess our sins and repent of them. We keep on walking in the light of God's Presence. We are strictly obedient to Christ.
The concept of walking in Christ is totally different from the current understanding that Divine grace is the overlooking of our sins in the world—a viewpoint that has succeeded in destroying the testimony of the Christian Church in our time.
If Christ is dwelling in us we are abiding in eternal life. If eternal life is abiding in us the results can be witnessed by the unsaved and by the saved.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
It appears in many instances, "saved" people possess little of the eternal Life that Christ is. The portion of resurrection life they do have is constantly in danger of being choked out by the cares of the world.
The eternal life they possess cannot come under condemnation, because it is the substance and life force of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The remainder of their untransformed personality still is subject to Divine judgment. It is "covered" because of the work of redemption that has begun in them. However, it is only the part of them that has "heard" Christ that has passed from death to life and therefore is no longer subject to judgment. It is the new creation that enters the Kingdom of God and is the Kingdom of God.
To believe on Christ means infinitely more than to profess faith in His atonement and resurrection, and then to wait to die and go to Heaven. To believe on Christ, in the redeeming sense, is to count oneself as dead and to live in and by Christ.
The individual who is crucified with Christ and in whom Christ is living is being judged now. He will suffer in the world so he may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God. If he runs the race according to the rules he finally will attain the first resurrection from among the dead.
The believer who arrives at the "mark" has been made perfect in love. He shall have boldness in the Day of Judgment. He has been baptized in the Divine Fire. He has been judged and purified. He has passed from death to life before his sleeping body is awakened in the Day of the Lord.
This is what Jesus meant when He spoke of those who believe on Him. He was not and is not referring to the average "Christian" of today who is walking in the corruption and death of the flesh and is waiting to be removed from the dealings of the Lord by means of a "rapture." Christ is referring to the spiritual man or woman who is walking in the Spirit of God.
Sometimes the true saints are few in number—just a remnant of Israel.
Christ gave the laws of the Kingdom of God to us. All of the Apostles repeated them in their epistles. These laws are to be kept. Christ by His virtue enables us to keep the laws of the Kingdom, and forgives us when we confess our sins and repent of them. We keep on walking in the light of God's Presence. We are strictly obedient to Christ.
The concept of walking in Christ is totally different from the current understanding that Divine grace is the overlooking of our sins in the world—a viewpoint that has succeeded in destroying the testimony of the Christian Church in our time.
If Christ is dwelling in us we are abiding in eternal life. If eternal life is abiding in us the results can be witnessed by the unsaved and by the saved.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Monday, October 05, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #4
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
Our flesh-and-blood striving cannot create that which God has ordained we will become. As we receive Christ each day, He enters us. He, in us, overcomes the power of sin and death. Little by little, life replaces the death that is in us.
We are being judged now (I Peter 4:17) if we are going through the process of life replacing death. It is entirely possible to be set completely free from sin and death by the filling of our personality with the Life of Christ. This is the spiritual dimension of the first resurrection from the dead—Paul's "mark."
The Christian who is willing to follow Christ all the way through the process of judgment and life can attain a hundredfold experience. If he does he will receive the crown of life in the Day of the Lord. Christ has come to him and has enabled him to go through judgment and preparation for reward (and sometimes to gain some of the reward itself) in this life. Thus, Paul was seeking to arrive at the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11).
To "know Christ" is to share His righteousness, His resurrection power, and His sufferings.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)
Christ calls to our spirit, and if we "hear" Him we will live.
This takes place when first we are "saved."
But it takes place also every day of our pilgrimage. We struggle so hard with stubborn areas of death in our personality! Christ beholds our determination to please Him, and also the confusion, rebellion, and pain we are experiencing concerning some part of our body, soul, or spirit He has not touched as yet.
Then He speaks! The voice of the Lord calls to the deep of our personality just as it called to Lazarus after four days in the tomb. We respond to the voice of Christ. The troublesome area is healed. We now possess more "life" in our personality. Has that ever happened to you? Has Christ ever "touched" you like that?
Each of us Christians is dragging around a "body of death." Christ notices our determination to walk in white with Him in spite of the claims of our body, which is dead because of its sinful tendencies.
When Christ returns, our dead body will hear the voice of the Son of God. Our whole body will awaken. Then, if Christ so decrees, our spirit, soul, and body will be filled completely with eternal life. Our whole personality will have the greatest desire to perform the will of God.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (John 5:26)
Christ is filled with the Life of God. He issues a portion of Divine Life to whomever He will. When eternal Life enters us we are able to overcome sin, the world, the lusts of our flesh, sickness, Satan, and our own pride and self-will. Eternal Life is more powerful than all.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Our flesh-and-blood striving cannot create that which God has ordained we will become. As we receive Christ each day, He enters us. He, in us, overcomes the power of sin and death. Little by little, life replaces the death that is in us.
We are being judged now (I Peter 4:17) if we are going through the process of life replacing death. It is entirely possible to be set completely free from sin and death by the filling of our personality with the Life of Christ. This is the spiritual dimension of the first resurrection from the dead—Paul's "mark."
The Christian who is willing to follow Christ all the way through the process of judgment and life can attain a hundredfold experience. If he does he will receive the crown of life in the Day of the Lord. Christ has come to him and has enabled him to go through judgment and preparation for reward (and sometimes to gain some of the reward itself) in this life. Thus, Paul was seeking to arrive at the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11).
To "know Christ" is to share His righteousness, His resurrection power, and His sufferings.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)
Christ calls to our spirit, and if we "hear" Him we will live.
This takes place when first we are "saved."
But it takes place also every day of our pilgrimage. We struggle so hard with stubborn areas of death in our personality! Christ beholds our determination to please Him, and also the confusion, rebellion, and pain we are experiencing concerning some part of our body, soul, or spirit He has not touched as yet.
Then He speaks! The voice of the Lord calls to the deep of our personality just as it called to Lazarus after four days in the tomb. We respond to the voice of Christ. The troublesome area is healed. We now possess more "life" in our personality. Has that ever happened to you? Has Christ ever "touched" you like that?
Each of us Christians is dragging around a "body of death." Christ notices our determination to walk in white with Him in spite of the claims of our body, which is dead because of its sinful tendencies.
When Christ returns, our dead body will hear the voice of the Son of God. Our whole body will awaken. Then, if Christ so decrees, our spirit, soul, and body will be filled completely with eternal life. Our whole personality will have the greatest desire to perform the will of God.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (John 5:26)
Christ is filled with the Life of God. He issues a portion of Divine Life to whomever He will. When eternal Life enters us we are able to overcome sin, the world, the lusts of our flesh, sickness, Satan, and our own pride and self-will. Eternal Life is more powerful than all.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Following Him daily
Let us learn to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him daily.
By the way, it is very hard to actually follow Christ. I have been attempting to do everything He asks of me for over 6 years.
We all need to get down on our knees daily and ask Him to change our hearts so that we may follow Him.
-RBT
Judgment and Rewards, #3
Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (I John 3:9)
Christ is not speaking here of some kind of magic formula or incantation. There is no doctrine to which we can adhere and be excluded from the Kingdom laws of sowing and reaping, of judgment and recompense.
Rather, Christ is stating if we will come to Him, He shall breathe into us the Life of God so we will not be abiding in death but in life.
Can you understand what Christ is saying? He is not speaking of dying and going to Paradise. He is referring to the Divine transformation now of what we are and what we do. His atoning blood keeps us without condemnation while that Kingdom transformation, the "new creation," is taking place.
Another important factor is that the initial gift of eternal life is not a once-for-all-time happening that never can be altered. As we stated previously, salvation is always now, always dynamic, always growing and developing. One cannot hear Jesus' Word and believe in God yesterday and have eternal life today. Hearing Jesus' Word and believing in God is always now, and the moment we cease hearing Jesus' Word and believing in God we come under judgment, and the forces of death begin to make headway against the Life of God that is abiding in us.
Let us take another look at John 5:24:
"Heareth my word" means hearing the voice of Jesus through the Holy Spirit at all times.
"Believeth on him that sent me" means placing all of our trust and hope in God in every aspect of daily living.
"Everlasting life" means the incorruptible Life of Jesus is beginning to replace our soulish bodily life. We are coming to experience the power of His resurrection. In this power and fellowship with God we shall live from now through eternity.
"Shall not come unto condemnation" means we ourselves, our spirit and soul, shall not abide under the wrath of God. It does not signify we will not be judged and chastened concerning every element of our body, soul, and spirit that is not perfectly in God's will and pleasing to Him. As many as Jesus loves He rebukes and chastens. We Christians, along with everyone else, will be given the fruit of our behavior when the Lord returns. To deny this fact is to lead ourselves and our followers to destruction. Numerous believers are being led astray in our time.
"Is passed from death to life" indicates that at one time we were separate from the Life and Presence of God but through receiving Jesus we now have been restored to the Life and Presence of God, no longer being cut off from Him.
Eternal life is not perpetual existence in the spirit realm. The demons exist perpetually in the spirit realm. But no demon can inherit the eternal Life that is in God and is God.
Eternal Life is the substance and force of Christ in us. The Divine Life of Christ transforms what we are.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Christ is not speaking here of some kind of magic formula or incantation. There is no doctrine to which we can adhere and be excluded from the Kingdom laws of sowing and reaping, of judgment and recompense.
Rather, Christ is stating if we will come to Him, He shall breathe into us the Life of God so we will not be abiding in death but in life.
Can you understand what Christ is saying? He is not speaking of dying and going to Paradise. He is referring to the Divine transformation now of what we are and what we do. His atoning blood keeps us without condemnation while that Kingdom transformation, the "new creation," is taking place.
Another important factor is that the initial gift of eternal life is not a once-for-all-time happening that never can be altered. As we stated previously, salvation is always now, always dynamic, always growing and developing. One cannot hear Jesus' Word and believe in God yesterday and have eternal life today. Hearing Jesus' Word and believing in God is always now, and the moment we cease hearing Jesus' Word and believing in God we come under judgment, and the forces of death begin to make headway against the Life of God that is abiding in us.
Let us take another look at John 5:24:
"Heareth my word" means hearing the voice of Jesus through the Holy Spirit at all times.
"Believeth on him that sent me" means placing all of our trust and hope in God in every aspect of daily living.
"Everlasting life" means the incorruptible Life of Jesus is beginning to replace our soulish bodily life. We are coming to experience the power of His resurrection. In this power and fellowship with God we shall live from now through eternity.
"Shall not come unto condemnation" means we ourselves, our spirit and soul, shall not abide under the wrath of God. It does not signify we will not be judged and chastened concerning every element of our body, soul, and spirit that is not perfectly in God's will and pleasing to Him. As many as Jesus loves He rebukes and chastens. We Christians, along with everyone else, will be given the fruit of our behavior when the Lord returns. To deny this fact is to lead ourselves and our followers to destruction. Numerous believers are being led astray in our time.
"Is passed from death to life" indicates that at one time we were separate from the Life and Presence of God but through receiving Jesus we now have been restored to the Life and Presence of God, no longer being cut off from Him.
Eternal life is not perpetual existence in the spirit realm. The demons exist perpetually in the spirit realm. But no demon can inherit the eternal Life that is in God and is God.
Eternal Life is the substance and force of Christ in us. The Divine Life of Christ transforms what we are.
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Judgment and Rewards, #2
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
We misunderstand this verse because:
We perceive "heareth my word" to mean someone has explained to us theological facts concerning Christ's atoning death and bodily resurrection.
We perceive "believeth on him that sent me" to mean we believe there is a God.
We perceive "everlasting life" to mean we go to Heaven when we die.
We perceive "shall not come unto condemnation" to mean God will ignore our behavior because He sees us only as clothed with Christ's righteousness.
We perceive "is passed from death to life" to mean once we give mental assent and make a correct theological statement concerning Christ we have from that point been "saved to go to Heaven when we die."
We assume the Lord Jesus is giving us a formula to which we can subscribe. It seems to follow that no matter how we live we will go to Heaven when we die. We view the "life" of which He is speaking as meaning that when we die we will go to live in Paradise in joy and peace forever. We will escape all trouble and go to live in Heaven by making a profession of belief in Christ.
But Christ is not giving us a theological formula in John 5:24, nor is the life He is presenting that of going to Paradise to live in joy and peace forever.
Christ is not giving us information that we can believe and have Divine judgment waived as a result. We are not free to do as we will, being certain we will meet with God's approval when we die. We are not dealing here with a profession of belief in doctrinal truth.
Jesus Himself is the Resurrection. Jesus Himself is the Life.
Jesus has come to a spiritually dead mankind in order to bring the incorruptible Divine Life that Christ, the Tree of Life, actually is.
What Jesus is saying is:
"I am eternal, incorruptible, resurrection Life, the Life from God that casts out sin and death, healing that which has been destroyed by the devil.
"I am presenting to you the power that God has provided to free you from the bondage of corruption. If you can `hear' the Word of Life in your spiritual being, and will place your trust in the Father, you now have passed from death to life. You will not be judged guilty. Your sentence is freedom from sin and death because you have believed on Him whom God has sent."
This does not mean because we have accepted what Christ has said as being true we will go to Paradise when we die.
It means right now if we can "hear" the Word of eternal life and believe in God we will receive into our personality the life substance and force of the Tree of Life. It always is now. Salvation is not an assent to truth that we gave at some point in time past. The life Substance is Christ. It never shall be found guilty of breaking the moral law of God. The Divine Life keeps the law of God by its nature. No condemnation rests on the individual who is walking in the Spirit of life. When we are walking in the Holy Spirit we do not fulfill the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
We misunderstand this verse because:
We perceive "heareth my word" to mean someone has explained to us theological facts concerning Christ's atoning death and bodily resurrection.
We perceive "believeth on him that sent me" to mean we believe there is a God.
We perceive "everlasting life" to mean we go to Heaven when we die.
We perceive "shall not come unto condemnation" to mean God will ignore our behavior because He sees us only as clothed with Christ's righteousness.
We perceive "is passed from death to life" to mean once we give mental assent and make a correct theological statement concerning Christ we have from that point been "saved to go to Heaven when we die."
We assume the Lord Jesus is giving us a formula to which we can subscribe. It seems to follow that no matter how we live we will go to Heaven when we die. We view the "life" of which He is speaking as meaning that when we die we will go to live in Paradise in joy and peace forever. We will escape all trouble and go to live in Heaven by making a profession of belief in Christ.
But Christ is not giving us a theological formula in John 5:24, nor is the life He is presenting that of going to Paradise to live in joy and peace forever.
Christ is not giving us information that we can believe and have Divine judgment waived as a result. We are not free to do as we will, being certain we will meet with God's approval when we die. We are not dealing here with a profession of belief in doctrinal truth.
Jesus Himself is the Resurrection. Jesus Himself is the Life.
Jesus has come to a spiritually dead mankind in order to bring the incorruptible Divine Life that Christ, the Tree of Life, actually is.
What Jesus is saying is:
"I am eternal, incorruptible, resurrection Life, the Life from God that casts out sin and death, healing that which has been destroyed by the devil.
"I am presenting to you the power that God has provided to free you from the bondage of corruption. If you can `hear' the Word of Life in your spiritual being, and will place your trust in the Father, you now have passed from death to life. You will not be judged guilty. Your sentence is freedom from sin and death because you have believed on Him whom God has sent."
This does not mean because we have accepted what Christ has said as being true we will go to Paradise when we die.
It means right now if we can "hear" the Word of eternal life and believe in God we will receive into our personality the life substance and force of the Tree of Life. It always is now. Salvation is not an assent to truth that we gave at some point in time past. The life Substance is Christ. It never shall be found guilty of breaking the moral law of God. The Divine Life keeps the law of God by its nature. No condemnation rests on the individual who is walking in the Spirit of life. When we are walking in the Holy Spirit we do not fulfill the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16).
To be continued.
Copyright © 1997-2009 by Trumpet Ministries Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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