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People of The Living God |
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December 2023
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
IDENTIFICATION
Alfred King
One of the weapons of choice by our arch-enemy Satan is the weapon of judging. How often do we hear the words of Jesus, “judge not that ye be not judged”? And why is that scripture brought up? Because you may have stated that something a person was doing was wrong, therefore breaking a command of God. Many times it is used to support one’s distorted view of “grace,” as though God’s grace allows men to no longer treasure God’s law or feel obligated to observe it. Grace has often become a license for sin. Of course, no one wants to hear about their actions being sinful, so grace is the escape from conviction. It’s too bad that the Pharisees hadn’t read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount before they came to be baptized by John. If they had, they could have used this against John’s call to repentance when he called them a “generation of vipers” (Luke3:7). Neither the Pharisees nor John must have known about grace yet.
In ICor.15:22 the Apostle Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Take a moment and think about this statement. Paul is identifying or associating men with either Adam or Christ. The Apostle brings this point out in Rom5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” In considering these two verses of holy writ, we find that all men are identified either with Christ or with Adam. Adding one other verse from Paul, found in Gal. 2 and verse 20, we read, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Notice with whom Paul identifies; he places his identity in Jesus Christ.
From this we realize that when we were born into this world, we found ourselves identified with Adam but, when we were born again from above, our identity changed and is now found in Jesus Christ. Paul identified with Christ’s suffering being “crucified with Christ” or, in other words, he knew that walking with God meant he would suffer in this life. Suffering is part of a Christian’s life and Paul realized that he must crucify his carnal affections and lusts (Gal.5:24). It is in that crucifixion that he identified with Christ Jesus. This same principle, likewise, applies to every child of God.
Jesus identified with mankind when He took upon Himself humanity, came down from heaven as a man, lived as men do, suffered the same temptations, endured the same afflictions, and faced the same problems. It was in that identification that Jesus was able to be the perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sins and was the means by which He obtained eternal life for all who believe in Him, thereby becoming identified with Him. Identity then becomes a very important issue for every child of God.
Identifying With The World
There is nothing more natural than identifying with the world; we were born with that identity. But when one is born again, we no longer are to be identified with the world. Sadly, many Christians live just as the world does. We labor for the same things the world labors for, we enjoy the same pleasures the world enjoys, we worry about the same things the world does, we complain about the same things the world does, we dress like the world does, we tattoo our bodies and pierce our noses, our tongue, naval, and other places to fit in with the world, we take vacations to the same places the world does, we watch the same TV shows as the world does, read the same social media, contribute to the same Facebook, and talk most often like the world.
This brings up some very important questions, but let’s begin with some more obvious conditions within the church. Does allowing homosexuals to become members of our “Christian” churches, permitting drag queens to become deacons and teachers of our Bible classes identify more with Biblical Christianity or to the world? Does a “Christian” rock band with bright colored lights changing from blue to red to green to purple, etc. along with smoke machines, guitars, keyboards, and drums coupled with screaming voices so loud that the words are not discernable identify with the rock culture of the sixties, seventies and eighties or with Billy Graham’s altar calls while singing, “Just As I Am”?
Does using preferred pronouns used by people who are disillusioned concerning their gender and who want (and demand) that we agree with their stupidity, identify more with the lies and deception of Satan or with Christians who walk in truth (IIJohn4)? Who are these identified with? While these examples are the extreme: what about tattoos, body piercings, conversation, dress, entertainment, etc. as mentioned in the first paragraph of this section?
Identifying With Christ
Christians are identified with Christ in His death in that they take up their cross daily and follow Jesus Christ (Mark8:34).
Christians are identified with Christ in His resurrection in that they have been born again from above, no longer identifying with Adam nor the world, for they are adopted into the family of God and are now heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom.8:17).
Christians identify with Christ in His ascension because Jesus has “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:6).
When one identifies with Christ he recognizes he has been born again and is a new creation. He no longer identifies with Adam by living in sin or in harmony with the world. In his identity with Christ, his purposes and desires in this life are to be conformed to the likeness of the One who loved him and gave Himself for him. His affections are set upon things above and not on the things of this world. He no longer conforms to this world but strives to be transformed by the renewing of his mind and willingly presents his body as a living sacrifice (Rom.12:1-2). The more we identify with Christ, the more this will be the testimony of our lives.
State And Standing
Scripture states that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb.11:6). It also teaches that without grace no man can walk with God or please Him. Grace is God’s divine influence in our lives, and it is the empowerment through the indwelling Holy Spirit to live a holy life in an unholy world. The power of the blood of Jesus is to fully and completely cleanse us, which makes it possible for us to come boldly into the presence of God; this is God’s grace. The blood of Jesus making us holy is our standing before God. One’s standing is how God looks at the believer: while he is not perfect, he is considered holy because of the power of the blood to totally and completely cleanse. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ and our faith in that blood, we are accounted as holy before a holy God. God looks at us through the blood of the Lamb that was slain for our transgressions. This is our standing before God which permits us to come into His presence.
This honor and privilege is the Good News of which scripture speaks. It is the Gospel. But our standing before God is not the same as our actual state. Our state is that we still sin and fall short; therefore we are still sinners although sinners saved by grace. One of the great errors of much of our teaching on grace is that the law is no longer essential to salvation. This false teaching is sending many souls down the broad way that leads to destruction. Jesus spoke of the narrow way instructing and warning us that walking with God is not always easy but will bring testing and trials and tells us that our faith will be challenged. What then is the purpose of the law since the law cannot save us?
While the law cannot save us, the law is essential to final salvation. One may be saved early in life but later depart from the narrow path and join those on the broad way. How does that happen? Is grace not sufficient to cover their transgressions? Yes, it is. But our will must be surrendered to God’s so that we can be conformed into Christ-likeness, and this is where the law comes in. The law, if seriously and fervently observed, will change us. It is the process that God has designed in order to bring our state up to our standing. Haggai speaks of those who have bags with holes, bags which lose their contents. The teaching that is so common today in many Christian circles is that one who is saved cannot lose his salvation. This is a lie, a doctrine of devils and is leading many to destruction. In John 10, Jesus clearly teaches that a branch which is connected to the vine can be cut off. It cannot be expressed any clearer. In Romans 11, Paul uses the same picture by warning Gentile believers that they can be cut off after being grafted in (Rom.11:21). It is possible for a person once saved to lose their salvation by identifying with the world and not with Christ. Identifying with Christ means we follow His teachings and live according to His words and commands.
What purpose, then, has the law if one is not saved by the law? It is to bring our state (our present imperfect condition) up to where we stand before God (that is our standing as previously mentioned).
God inspired Paul to inform and relay to us that God plans to have a glorious church without spot or wrinkle when Jesus comes again (Eph.5:27). It will be the bride of Christ purged and made ready to be presented to our Lord. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave the command to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matt.5:48). Many say that the word perfect here means mature and that is true. But when one is as mature as the Father, that’s perfection. It seems so impossible when we look at our carnal natures and the strongholds of our flesh, but the same faith that compelled Abraham onward will also compel every believer to press on “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Jesus Christ” (Phil.3:14). It is recorded in Hebrews11:10, “he looked for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Abraham was looking beyond Canaan to the heavenly. It was his faith in this vision that “against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations” (Rom.4:18), and that he “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith” (Rom.4:20). This is the faith that overcometh the world, that no longer identifies with Adam or the world and its gods, but identifies with Jesus Christ and will be His when He makes up His jewels (Mal.3:17)
NO OTHER GODS
Alda Scullin
Anyone who is a Christian knows the Ten Commandments which God, Himself, wrote on tables of stone and gave to Moses. The very first of these commandments is “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus20:3). Yet from the days of Adam until now many people have ignored this instruction from the Most High, believing that they can serve Him in their own way and He will overlook their infidelity.
God made man in His image. The normal person is a social being. Therefore he seeks the company of others. He also has a bent to worship. The world is full of things that lure the heart. Things that can be seen seem more real than the unseen glories of the spirit realm which cannot be seen by the natural eye. The possibilities of objects to worship are endless. The world is full of strange gods which are apparently unrecognizable as gods by many people. The “civilized” world, of course, is not fooled by the idols and mythical gods of so-called heathen. Men serve these gods out of fear. These must constantly be appeased by offerings and sacrifices to protect from the wrath and vengeance of the gods they serve. Heathen gods do not generate love in the hearts of their followers, nor do they offer rewards. Some men’s philosophies attempt to picture the only true and living God as a tyrant who is impossible to please; therefore, they have concocted a god to their own liking which they are pleased to call LOVE. The Almighty IS LOVE personified, but man’s idea of love is a weak, wishy-washy sentimentality which the love of God is not.
The gods of modern man are not as easily recognized as those of the heathen. Anything of this world that becomes the major concern in one’s life can come between that person and God and will become an idol. It can be a person loved or even a possession loved more than God. There are those who feel they are so superior in intelligence and wisdom that they idolize their own foolish thoughts. Man’s wisdom is foolishness in the eyes of God (ICor.3:18-20). In writing to the saints in Philippi, Paul spoke of those “whose god is their belly…who mind earthly things, and…who are the enemies of the cross of Christ!” (Phil.3:18,19).
Multitudes of people have sacrificed themselves and sometimes their families and friends on the altar of MONEY. ITimothy6:10 tells us “…the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The idols of the world that men choose cost them infinitely more than the price of truly serving the God of heaven.
No other god in the universe ever offered to pay for the result of man’s sins. No other god offers love or mercy to man. All other gods are hell-inspired. All such gods are for the purpose of destroying men’s souls. Only the God of heaven, who created the earth and its inhabitants, offers love and mercy to mortal beings. All other gods are tyrants. The true God made man a free moral being with the power of choice. The rewards to those who choose wisely are greater than the human mind can conceive, both now and in eternity (ICor.2:9).
The love of self or self-will is undoubtedly the greatest hurdle a man has to overcome when he begins his walk with God, therefore modern theology has supposedly come up with a way out of that predicament. I once attended an AGLOW meeting where a woman was asked to share a song the Lord had given her. The song was I LOVE MYSELF. She said the Lord had shown her that she could not love Him or others unless she loved herself first. It was hard for me to believe my own ears. Since it is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, I knew she did not receive that from God. Since that time, the SELF-ESTEEM doctrine has become very popular. To practice love of self can only lead to destruction, but since it appeals to the flesh, it is embraced by multitudes.
The carnal nature of man is at enmity with God. It cannot be converted. It must be put to death (Rom.8:6,7). We must deny self, not love it.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the way to spiritual life. His words are unacceptable to modern Christianity. The popular teaching is that His way, teachings, and commands are too antiquated and not compatible with the 21st century, therefore they can be ignored. Those who adhere to such a philosophy are being truthful when they sing “I LOVE MYSELF.” They do not know God or love Him. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep My words” (John14:23). Those who do NOT keep His words, do NOT love him (John14:24). John wrote that if they say they know Him and do not keep His commandments, they are liars, and the truth is not in them (IJohn2:4).
Instead of a love for truth, they deceive themselves. To such persons, God has promised that He, Himself, will send them strong delusion that they might believe a lie and be damned (IIThess.2:10-12).
The way of self-esteem is self-condemning. The only way out is to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Rom.8:1).
Self-esteem is simply a term designed to disguise selfishness, which does not bring peace or joy to a being. It is definitely an “other” god which excludes the God who is “THE way, THE truth and THE life.”
“Choose you this day whom you will serve.” There is still time to re-evaluate.
THE WAY WE SEE JESUS
Curtis Dickinson
When we sing “Glory in the highest” and “O come let us adore Him,” just what do we envision as the object of that adoration? If we are influenced by the general religious thought of the season (at Christmas time) our attention is on a child, a child only a few hours old, a helpless infant who has yet to hear a command, or face a temptation, or do any kind of deed. In celebrating his birthday, he is always presented as a child, and pictured as a child with his parents dominating the picture. No other great person is celebrated in this way. When birthdays of men such as Washington or Lincoln, or any other person of note, are celebrated, they are portrayed at the height of their careers. But when it comes to the birthday of Jesus, He is seen as an infant.
Granted, His birth was unique. It was foretold centuries before, even naming the town of His birth. He was conceived by a miracle in the womb of Mary, without any sexual contact with man. These facts certainly set His birth apart from all others, but it is customary, when celebrating someone’s birthday, to focus on the person, not on the details surrounding the birth.
In the book of Hebrews the author wrote: “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man…” (Heb.2:8,9).
“But we see Jesus.” What did the writer have in mind, in these words? He summarized it by writing that Jesus, by the grace of God, died for us, and has been crowned with glory and honor. This is what the apostles saw in Jesus.
Peter, who had been a close companion of Jesus in their daily activities for three and a half years, saw Him exalted to the right hand of God, sitting on David’s throne. (Acts 2:33-35) He exclaimed, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made that same Jesus…both Lord and Christ” (Acts2:36). Paul wrote that God had “set Jesus at His own right hand in heavenly places” (Eph.1:20; Col.3:1).
The apostles saw Jesus as the King, already seated on His throne. Peter wrote that He “is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (IPeter3:22) In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he said that he prayed “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph.1:17-21).
These men who were chosen to be his witnesses, and who knew him best, saw Jesus as the King who had already been enthroned, not as one who would become king someday in the future. They saw him as having already “spoiled principalities and powers…triumphing over them …” (Col.2:15). They understood the “hope of his calling…and the exceeding greatness of his power.” They saw Jesus as the summation of God’s eternal plan. The glory they saw was not that surrounding a child in a manger. It was after He had learned obedience through the things He suffered, after He had lived in humble submission to the Father, after He had died a shameful death, and after He had been raised from the dead and glorified at God’s right hand – only then did they revel in His glory.
There may be good reason for the world to keep Jesus in the manger and focus on angels, shepherds, wise men, and the drama of the birth, rather than to see Him as an adult. To recognize Jesus as He is, rather than as an infant, means that God has designated Him as King, One with authority to rule over the present world. In man’s rebellious and sinful state, this is the last thing he wants. He doesn’t want anyone telling him what to do.
Rejection of Jesus as the Messiah was a foregone conclusion; hence. it was foretold in prophecy that he would be despised, rejected, and put to death. As scripture simply stated, “He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not” (John1:11). For the religious leaders to acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah would mean a total change in their lives. They would be forced to choose either to obey His commandments or to continue in their traditions in obvious rebellion.
The same dilemma is faced today by those who like to make a show of respect for Jesus at Christmas, but have no intention of taking seriously the claim that He is indeed King and Lord and that all authority belongs to Him. The world loves the joy and cheer, the record sales, the strains of sentimental songs. It’s the happiest time of the year, as long as the One being celebrated is not taken seriously.
Jesus came to settle the most important issue in the world: the issue of life or death – eternal life, or eternal death. It is amazing that so few people, even so few Christians, have any personal convictions on the meaning of this issue, or give any thought to it.
We see Jesus as the One who “went about doing good” (Acts10:38), as the One who “was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin” (Heb.4:15), as the One who “humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross” (Phil.2:8), “who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.12:2).
We see Jesus as the One who always did that which was pleasing to His Father in heaven (John8:29), as the One who denied Himself, who came not to be served but to serve, and who was meek and lowly in heart but has now been glorified in heaven and given all authority in heaven and earth.
Paul wrote that as we see the Lord’s glory “we are transformed into the same image from glory (His) to glory (ours)” (IICor.3:18), John’s letter says that “when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every one that has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure” (IJohn3:1,3).
God created man in His own image, and it is still His purpose to have every believer in that image. Not only should we be making every effort to be like Jesus, who is the express image of God, but this effort should be obvious to the world so that every believer is seen as different from the world. “Be not fashioned according to this world; but be transformed…) writes Paul (Rom.12:2).
Unfortunately, the world sees Christians clamoring for the same fashion, including immodest clothing, idolizing the same depraved celebrities, engaging in the same pursuit of carnal pleasure, and practicing the same greed. Like Demas of old, they love this present world system more than God and His purpose.
This is the broad way, and it leads to destruction, as its travelers are filled with fears, uncertainties, failures, and the dread of final defeat. They see nothing in Jesus but a helpless and harmless babe in a manger. They know nothing of the glory that transforms His believers, and fills us with peace, joy, and hope.
We see Jesus through the eyes of faith as He is now in His exalted position with the Father, reigning from the heavenly throne, “for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (ICor.15:25). This is not the way He appears to the world, as it struggles with its problems and cringes in fear of the threats of future chaos. But even now Jesus is in the process of delivering His people “from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God” (Rom.8:21).
As we see Jesus in His glory, we need to demonstrate the vast differences between the way of the world and the way of God, between greed and giving, between designer fashion and the image of God.
We do not come to the manger, to a helpless child, but to the throne of the King of kings. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need” (Heb.4:16).
LOVE NOT THE WORLD!
James Sanderson
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (IJohn2:15-17). These powerful verses, penned by the beloved apostle John, reveal God's unequivocal appraisal of this present world order.
The apostle presents three basic reasons that God's people are not to love the world. First, love for God and love for the world are completely incompatible. It would be similar to one pouring water into oil. They don't mix. These verses echo the same theme that Christ declared in His Sermon on the Mount, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt.6:24). If a man truly loves and serves God, there would be no room in his heart to love and serve the world. The two don't mix. James, in support of this same message, declared, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James4:4).
Secondly, man is not to love the world because all the things in the world, designed to attract the flesh, the eyes, and man's pride, are “not of the Father.” God designed and created the physical world with all of its diverse life forms; however, He was not the architect of this present world order. This present evil world is the brainchild of Satan himself. The Bible tells us that “the whole world lies in wickedness” (IJohn5:19). The Greek text actually says “the wicked one” (Berry's Interlinear, pg 617). The Apostle Paul writes, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (IICor.4:4). In his Epistle to the Ephesians, he also writes, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph.2:2).
Finally, man is not to love the world because it is doomed to pass away. This present world order is transitory. Life is fleeting. Paul reminds us, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (ITim.6:7). Moreover, Christ Himself admonished His followers, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John6:27). It is quite sad that many labor feverishly for the things that this world has to offer but, in the end, face eternity spiritually bankrupt.
Not Of The World
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John17:15-16). According to Jesus Christ, God's people are “not of the world.” What does it mean to be “not of the world”? First of all, it means that true believers do not belong to this world. Their affinity is with God and His heavenly kingdom. They are not in agreement with the immoral values and conduct of the world. They maintain biblical standards of right and wrong. They reject the secular, materialistic worldview so prevalent in today's society. Christians are called to shine as beacons of light “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation” (Phil.2:15).
Due to the pervasive influence of the world about them, many Christians today have abandoned a biblical worldview and, instead, have accepted a worldview that aligns more closely with the world's ever-changing moral code and loose way of life. In many areas of their lives, they have compromised their stand for God. Research reveals “that only seventeen percent of Christians who consider their faith important and attend church regularly actually have a biblical worldview” (Barna Research, May, 2017, Barna.com).
Conformity To The World
This present world order is the complete antithesis of God's nature and all that He stands for. It is easy to forget the stark reality: the world is a deceptive foe, not a faithful friend. The world is not out to foster or support the believer's devotion to the things of God. Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John15:19). Jesus Christ died on the Cross not only to save us from our sin but also “that he might deliver us from this present evil world” (Gal.1:4). For this reason, it is imperative that Christians keep themselves “undefiled before God” and “unspotted from the world” (James1:27).
The Apostle Paul mentions various “fellowlabourers” who accompanied him on his missionary trips. One in particular stands out: Demas (Philemon24, Col4:14). In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle writes, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (IITim.4:10). In His parable of the sower, Jesus explained that the seed that fell among thorns “are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke8:14).
With the advent of social media, conformity to the world has become much more prevalent and a greater issue in the church. The Word of God offers this admonition, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom.12:2). The primary concern for the Christian should be conformity to the “image of his Son” (Rom.8:29).
Many Christians, unfortunately, seek the world's approval. Anyone who seeks the approval of the world has placed the world on the throne of his heart. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal1:10b). The Bible tells us that some of the rulers of the Jews secretly believed on Christ; however, they refused to openly confess Him because “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John12:42-43). The Apostle Paul boldly declared, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal.6:14). Anyone who has been crucified is dead. In other words, the Apostle Paul was dead to any desire for the things of this world. The world had lost its attraction.
Victory Over The World
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God” (ICor.2:12a). As one can see, the world is a formidable foe bent on leading men from the path of righteousness down the broad way that leads to perdition. Nevertheless, the Bible declares, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (IJohn4:4). Furthermore, Jesus Christ Himself declared, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John16:33).
Although the Lord has called His people to a life of victory over the world, He is actually using the world as a separating agent. Man has been subjected to the vanities of this world in hope (Rom.8:20). Now “hope that is seen is not hope” (Rom.8:24). Hope for what? In hope that man will make the right choice: the choice to love and serve God rather than embrace the vanities of this world's systems. As Jesus walked in victory over this world order, God has called every believer to follow that same path. The victory is ours through Jesus Christ who defeated all enemies at the Cross including the world. The Apostle John declared, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (IJohn5:4-5).
ALTERNATIVE TO THE RAPTURE
(Part 4)
Warren Berry
In part three of this study, I ended by stating that God will come forth in wrath. This is not a new thought, for those who teach a pre-tribulation rapture also see this truth. God’s wrath will be demonstrated through what is commonly called, “The Great Tribulation.” However, a great danger lies with a misconception of this truth: pre-tribulation rapturists believe they will not be here during that time. They believe they will be taken up to heaven before the tribulation begins.
Consider briefly what will happen to many, if not most of these people, if their teaching is wrong. Will they be strong enough in God to remain faithful as tribulation such as the world has never seen falls upon the earth? This is where a real danger lies. Most who believe they will escape by being taken to heaven in a rapture are making no preparation for any alternative. And from my observations over the years, most of them are more carnal than spiritual and more worldly than godly. Yet, as was presented in the previous part of this series, God is going to receive to Himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, a church who is to be the bride of Christ. She must make herself ready. Here lies a real problem for believers today. Where are Christians that can truly say they are a part of a glorious church?
This is why God has said He will bring about conditions on the earth that will separate the wheat from the tares and the sheep from the goats. As the time nears for Christ’s return, God has determined to bring about conditions that will prepare His people. It will be a time of great testing and purifying, likened to when gold and silver are refined through tremendous heat. It will be a time of purging and cleaning up His people, readying them for Christ’s return.
But, let us not think that we cannot be a part of what God will do at that time; rather let us set ourselves today to draw closer to God in every way we can. What we are doing today is preparing us for how we will endure in the future. God will always sustain and strengthen His people for whatever they must face in the future. The question is: How is God going to bring His people to a state where they become a holy people, a people free from the self-nature? Knowing the answer to this question prepares us for what is ahead.
The Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, Peter quotes from the prophet Joel in which he states that what occurred that day in Jerusalem was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. While it was truly a fulfillment of the portion Peter quoted, it was not a fulfillment of all of that which Joel was shown. That day of Pentecost was the introduction of the Holy Spirit into the hearts and lives of believers. This outpouring changed those who received Him in ways never seen before. The power of the Holy Spirit brought about a revolution that is unmatched in human history. It was the beginning of the New Covenant where the power and glory of God would turn the world upside down.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples empowered them to take the Gospel throughout the known world and, because of that outpouring, Christianity still exists today as millions have found the blessings of the New Covenant. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit and He would lead, guide, and teach believers everything necessary to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus.
However, we don’t have to look too far in history to see that the god of this world labored to dilute the Holy Spirit’s power and influence by counterfeiting the genuine. He successfully brought in heresies and false religion to pollute and profane the genuine and, consequently, the Holy Spirit was grieved and withdrew His power, knowledge, and wisdom, and the results are seen today in a weak and malnourished church. Most church members today are more earthly-minded than heavenly-minded, and we wonder where the power is. This has to change and this is the reason why God will bring about the Great Tribulation. It will bring about a real awakening and stirring among all the virgins. When tribulation comes, we must have oil in our vessels to keep the lamp burning brightly even in the darkest times.
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as foretold by Joel will come the fire to purge and the power to endure, and it will empower those who are in fellowship with God. Let’s examine the text in Joel so we can gain a better understanding of the text.
In Joel the first chapter, God speaks through His prophet that His vineyard has been destroyed by every type of insect. God’s vine was laid bare. There was no fruit, and He instructed those who were concerned and burdened over this condition to fast, pray, rend their garments, and clothe themselves with sackcloth and weep. The situation was desperate.
The second chapter begins with a call to blow the trumpet, sound an alarm and let the people of the land tremble. He states that this day is a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. It was to be a day when “darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isa.60:2). As the prophet continues in chapter two, he speaks of a great army that destroys everything before them and leaves behind them a desolation. Then again he calls for rending of the people’s hearts, of repentance, and a call for returning to God. He gives hope in that he says, “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him (Joel2:13-14a).
As chapter two comes to a close, the prophet speaks of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The first outpouring fell on the Day of Pentecost upon the hundred and twenty gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. That was the beginning of the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. But it was just the beginning. That was the rain of the first month. The latter rain is yet to come, and it will be greater even than the first. Attempting to insert a pre-tribulation rapture into this picture distorts the whole prophecy and overtly dilutes the message and deceives multitudes, leaving them unprepared for what’s coming.
The Latter Rain Is Absolutely Essential
The rapture theory promotes the idea that the latter rain is unnecessary. This idea is tremendously dangerous in that it leaves us to our own strength and abilities and destines us to be unprepared for what is coming. The truth is that believers living in the latter days will be here on this earth during The Great Tribulation. Being here necessitates the latter rain. This latter rain is a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit without measure to those who have oil burning in their lamps. Not only will God spare them but He will empower them to be overcomers. They will overcome every evil and will triumph over all the powers of darkness. When Jesus came He defeated every enemy. He destroyed the works of the devil, every evil spirit, and every evil force. He overcame sickness and disease, and even death itself. He rose after three days from the tomb and today sits at the right hand of God exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The latter rain, also referred to as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is to be poured out upon all people. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel2:28-29) God promises that before Jesus returns He will pour out His Spirit upon ALL FLESH. All nations and races will experience this outpouring, but it will have different effects on those who receive it. Some will respond wisely and will surrender their wills to the will of God, while others will consider it as proof that God is satisfied with their lives as they are. This deception is evident even today as so many believe because they are wealthy or healthy or have some emotions when they are in church that God approves of their lives. Those are things to be thankful for, but they are not proof regardless of what so many TV evangelists claim. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing deceiving millions with their false teachings, leaving them vulnerable and unprepared for the days ahead.
The book of Revelation explains much of what this article presents but is too often misunderstood. In Revelation nine, we have the account of a time when the pit is to be opened and from that pit (hell) first smoke comes forth which blinds and suffocates and then locusts (evil spirits) with a sting as a scorpion in their tails. Scripture states that false prophets are the tail (Isa.9:15).
Two things we see happening today as evil increases in our land. 1) Churches are losing members and Christianity is decreasing. 2) The blind are leading the blind as people (even Christians) are condoning things that even sinners did not accept just fifty or sixty years ago. The foul language of our political leaders is no longer held in their personal conversations only but, today, they unashamedly use profanity in Congress and openly to our new associates. The decency and dignity of our past leaders are long past. And Hollywood is a cesspool of filth, a “habitation of devils and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” God has given our politicians over to a reprobate mind, and our universities where once godliness echoed through their halls and godly principles were paramount, today have professors who themselves are filled with vile affections, loose morals, and ungodly principles and who promote those same ideologies to their students.
The question then arises: Is the pit being opened today? If so: How far has it opened? If it is just a crack today, what does the future hold when it is opened completely?
I must take a break here to address another very dangerous and misinterpretation of scripture. That misrepresentation is that Satan is not bound today. This is not true. It is a false doctrine. Jesus clearly defeated Satan and spoiled his house. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col2:15). Jesus stated that He bound the strong man and spoiled his house (Matt.12:29). Too many Christians take Revelation 20 above what Jesus plainly declared. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil and He gave unto His church power over all the power of the enemy (Luke10:19). This truth is vital for the church in the final days.
Jesus commanded His disciples to follow Him. He gave them the same power He possessed and they went forth healing, casting out devils, and even raising the dead. The sending of the Holy Spirit is the enabling power by which these miracles can be accomplished. It is not in man himself. Realizing this truth then leads us to see that God still has a work to be done through His church.
In Matthew 25, the foolish virgins went to purchase oil so their lamps would burn. While they were gone, the Bridegroom came and those that were ready went in with Him and the door was shut. The foolish virgins came back but were not allowed to enter. It is true that this can represent heaven, but following the other parables regarding the marriage feast (which is what the Parable of the Ten Virgins relates to), we find that this marriage takes place on earth. In Matthew 22, at the marriage feast there was a man without a wedding garment. Did the rapture allow someone without a wedding garment to be raptured? Was this man then cast out of heaven? Of course, the answer is obviously, “No”. The wedding feast must then take place on earth.
As The Great Tribulation comes and grows more and more intense, God’s people will be protected. There will be a gathering into a place of refuge where God will protect them.
In part five of this study, we will discuss the purpose of the gathering and the necessity of a place of refuge for God’s people.
THE 144,000
Rev. 7:1-8
Randall Walton
The Book of Revelation remains the greatest source of confusion in the entire Bible. A contender for the title is most likely the Book of Daniel, but Revelation undoubtedly is the winner. This is not to say that this Apocalypse is faulty or uninspired; not so; it is a magnificent work of the Almighty given to John by a heavenly messenger whose artful duty was to proclaim a divine message by the use of signs and/or symbols. (Read verse 1 of chapter 1.)
The fact that God sign-ified this Book to John should immediately alert the reader, or the scholar, that the heavenly message can not be taken at face value, i.e.; interpretation is absolutely essential in order for the understanding to be fruitful.
Bible teachers, preachers, theological masters, et al, have alike avoided the introduction to this cryptic work (chapter 1, verse 1) and have attempted to unravel this God-authored tome by the use of interpolation, speculation, and interpretation. Let it be known that any explanation of the Book of Revelation which is contrary to the PLAIN STATEMENTS of Jesus Christ and the apostles is in gross error. It doesn’t matter how scholarly and loaded with degrees a person may be – if his deductions of the meanings of the signs in Revelation contradict the PLAIN TEACHINGS of Jesus and the other Scripture writers, his work is without value, and may even be destructive.
By plain statements, we mean those passages in the word that require no interpretation in order to be understood. A good example of a plain statement is John3:16. It says what it means and means what it says. We may define certain words in the text such as: loved, world, begotten, believes, perish, and eternal life, but they do not require interpretation, i.e., they are not symbolic, nor cryptic. We can take them at face value.
Signs, Symbols, Types
Of all the authors who have ever written symbolic messages, God is the greatest of all! He is the Master of the universe. Knowing the deceitfulness of the human heart, He has deliberately wrapped His messages in a cloak of mystery and secrecy to confuse and dismay the dishonest and presumptuous. He has even promised to send strong delusion to those who do not love the truth (IIThess.2:10-12).
God has implemented both animate and inanimate objects as signs and symbols in His sacred writings:
colors: white, red, black, green, scarlet, purple.
metals: gold, brass, silver, iron.
stones: jasper, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, topaz, etc.
celestial bodies: Sun, moon, stars.
elements: wind, seas, water, mountains, sand.
numbers: one through twelve, plus.
others: keys, gates, walls, highways, cities, linen, silk.
people: men, women, kings, priests, tribes.
animals: dragons, serpents, lions, lambs, horses, beasts.
These, as well as others, are liberally embroidered into the fabric of the divine writ. Only a fool would claim to know the full meaning of all the symbolic language of the Book of Revelation. Even if a person understood the meaning of every symbol that is used, it would be next to impossible to decipher the combination of the signs and the use of grammar in which they are used. For example, John saw “a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth…” (Rev.12:1,2). In the natural world, this is an utter impossibility. The message is true because it is God-authored, but what is the message?
The same reasoning must be applied to the rest of the Revelation. God knows the meaning of it all; and if He through the Holy Spirit grants an understanding to any person, such understanding will be corroborated and substantiated in the PLAIN WORDS of Jesus and the apostles. Any claimed understanding of this Book which does not agree with the PLAIN WORDS is to be rejected!
Revelation 7:1-8
The topic set forth here is the sealing in the forehead of 144,000 Israelites. It is almost humorous to hear Bible expositors refer to these “servants of our God” as Jews who are converted during the great tribulation. Not only does the word Jew not appear, only one tribe of Israel was actually Jewish – Judah. Benjamin was counted in with Judah only because it was located in Judea.
The number 144,000 is highly symbolic. It does not indicate a literal, exact number of people. It is made up of the following: 12X12X1,000. The number 1,000 is, of course, 10X10X10.
In order to identify or describe those who are called the “servants of our God” (verse 3) we need to understand the symbolism of the numbers 10 and 12. Twelve signifies divine or perfect government: the twelve tribes, twelve gates into New Jerusalem, twelve legions of angels, and twelve apostles. The measurements of New Jerusalem are in twelves.
The number 10 is the number of completion or fullness. The numerical system is based on the first ten numbers. Ten then is a cycle of completion or all-inclusiveness. The Ten Virgins, the ten plagues (in Egypt), the Ten Commandments, etc.
When these numbers are multiplied by themselves, or taken to the third power as in the case of number ten, there is an amplification or magnification of the importance or value of that number. It can thus be said that the number 144,000 represents all of the people who are completely, totally surrendered to the perfect government of God. It is they alone who are eligible to receive the mark or seal of God in their foreheads. It is they who have succumbed to the first and second great commandments as stated by Jesus in Matthew22:35-40. It is correct to refer to them as “the servants of God.”
As for the reference to Israel and the twelve tribes, Bro. Paul makes it very plain concerning true Israelites and Jews.
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter…” (Rom.2:28,29).
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek” (Rom.10:12).
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Rom.9:6b).
“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God” (Rom.9:8).
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal.3:26-29).
“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God” (Gal.6:16).
The Israel of God is made up of the servants of God. They are the twelve times twelve people, those who are in complete submission to the King of Israel, even the Lord Jesus Christ. They live and walk in obedience to His divine government; their thoughts are upon God and things heavenly, for they are sealed in their foreheads with His seal of identification.
There is a great message in this parable if you will have it. It portrays the importance of being a number twelve person; that is, one who is totally devoted to the government of God: His word, His law, and His divine will!
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).