“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (NIV, 2 Timothy 2:15, italicized mine)
Preface
It is amazing what God does to catch our attention.
It is more remarkable to see the extent he goes to create desire for him.
Like the desire between a loving husband and wife.
Where confidence and trust in love is the bond of the relationship.
How gracious and endearing is God’s tireless pursuit of men and women.
Who is like him?
There is none.
It is not what we do, but who we become, that matters most to him.
If you are going to be with someone for all eternity, you are far more interested in who they become, than their accomplishments.
Feats of service and accomplishments come and go, but when the eternal knocks on the door, who we have become is who we will be forever.
Thankfully, the Lord leaves no stone unturned in his pursuit of you and me.
However, his pursuit is never the problem; the problems, difficulties, and challenges lie in our responses.
We all struggle at times “believing and receiving” the unfathomable love and care of God for our lives.
The power of “unbelief” comes at us in every conceivable form doubting the good news of the Gospel – the very purpose for which Christ came – to transform our lives.
It shows how far humanity has fallen from grace through faith, intimacy with their creator, and the strength and power of sin in its tenacious grip, on the saved and unsaved alike.
How often have we seen those in dark pits, the hardest circumstances, the most difficult straits, whether saved or unsaved, give wonderful testimonies of the saving power of Christ, while those who have attended church for decades barely know him.
We know darkness is growing in the last days, and we also know the Bible warns of a great falling away as well.
It is not good to get too comfortable with the relationship you “believe” you have with the Lord – because the Lord is on the move, and if you are flowing with him, great, but if not, seek him while the opportunity still exists (Ephesians 5:14-17).
It is nothing but God’s steadfast labor of love over millenniums that has kept at bay the power of the lower nature, worldly appetites and desires, and the schemes of the enemy from consuming humanity into total darkness, becoming even worse than the fallen angels, if that were possible.
Even in the darkness of the Tribulation, humanity will have enough of God’s light and grace to cry out to God in repentance.
Note:
Contrary to creeds and traditions, the Holy Spirit does not withdraw from the earth (humanity) in the years of the Tribulation.
The Scripture normally associated with this teaching refers to the rapture of the bride before the Tribulation.
Christians who neglect to pursue intimacy with Christ before the Tribulation (who miss the out-translation) will have time to pursue limited intimacy with him during the first half of the Tribulation.
They will be saved if they do not take the mark of the beast.
No, God is not absent during the Tribulation, but affords opportunities for humanity to repent, e.g., Rev. 16:9-11.
Because the judgments are measured, giving people one last chance – please remember there are people who make it through the Tribulation who will be taught the ways of Christ on the other side.
How could saints overcome not taking the mark, and how could the two witnesses “witness” in signs and wonders if God is not present in the Tribulation?
***
God has displayed his majestic and holy beauty for millenniums, and yet the battle rages in the here and now, six millenniums after Adam and Eve, and two millenniums after Christ.
And the heat of the battle will intensify as we approach the Tribulation.
But those found in Christ, hidden under the shadow of his wings, having their hope in Christ (bound to the Lord in intimacy), will “‘run and not grow weary…walk and not be faint.’” (NIV, Isaiah 40:31)
Though the power of darkness attempts to thwart God at every turn, Jesus will bring to pass the promises of God for a bride in the last of the last days.
The beauty of God in Christ will be displayed once again on a profound scale in the days ahead bringing many into the fold before the enemy unleashes his fury in the Tribulation.
God’s continual pursuit of people shows how hard it is to break through the walls of sin so easily taking generations captive.
Life itself is a testimony of how desperately people need God’s continual love, care, cleansing and healing in relationship with him.
This is what the Gospel is all about, what God jealously and passionately desires to do in our lives.
But humanity, having become so used to living in darkness, not knowing the scale of God’s offer, his beauty and wonder, and the power of his Word and majesty, has become dull of mind, blind of heart, and deaf of Spirit.
A repentant heart (NIV, Psalm 51:17), in the presence of the Holy Spirit is an offering God will not reject.
For if it bears the fruit of forgiveness, Christ promises renewal. (Matthew 11:28-30)
For as the Scripture says, “‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (NIV, 1 Peter 5:5, italicized mine)
Jesus desires to come to every human and make his abode in them; for every man and woman needs the intimate love and care only Christ can give.
As Paul clearly reminds us in the book of Romans:
“‘There is no one righteous not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.’” (NIV, Romans 3:10 – 11)
God has had a plan in motion since the fall to bring people into relationship with him, it accelerated in the coming of Christ, and will accelerate even more so as we go deeper into the last of the last days.
Jesus is doing everything possible to win hearts to the glorious Gospel of his grace while the day is still light.
He knows his children are going to need a deep and intimate relationship with him to make it through the dark days to come.
He also knows he needs to equip and prepare as many as possible because the hour is late, the work is great, and the newly saved in the days ahead will need spiritual fathers to help prepare them for what is coming.
Warnings Mixed with Grace and Compassion
God knew the power sin would have on humanity, the corruption and decay it would bring upon humanity, warning Adam and Eve in advance not to eat from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
He knew to have true love, we need to have free will, the will to choose.
Hearts are not created perfect (mature, complete, fully tested), but created to be made perfect in relationships.
Only in relationships can the heart learn to love and choose righteously.
God knew it would take a long journey to redeem people after the fall; a more elaborate and complex journey than the one Adam and Eve were on.
God knew it would have to be a love and war story, for Adam and Eve opened the door of spiritual warfare upon their lives and their descendants.
It started out in love but now it would include war with the enemy of our soul.
To draw people to the beauty of redemption in the one who would come, it would have to be a story of love and war – veiled and unveiled, with signs, types and shadows, romance, danger, action, life, and death, in symbolism, revelation and discovery.
Because of the power of sin, God knew in advance it would be with extreme difficulty, pain and heartache, blessing, and loss, for everybody and Christ, to usher forth a plan of redemption.
That Christ would have to pioneer an entirely new covenant to wound and pierce the stronghold of sin over humanity in demonstration and power, and that it would need to start with God’s people first:
“‘to proclaim good news to the poor…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’” (NIV, Luke 4:18 – 19)
Even Peter, who knew Christ as much as someone can know another after three years, and the first one we know of to experience the training circle of Christ after Calvary (John 21:18-19), said, later in life:
“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (NIV, 1 Peter 4:17)
“‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’” (NIV, 1 Peter 4:18)
Contrary to teaching in Christendom, John 21:18-19 is not about a future martyrdom for Peter; I have covered this subject thoroughly in earlier posts.
But a coming time when the Lord will do a deep work of cleansing and healing in Peter – the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), to be changed from glory to glory, the final journey (NIV 2 Cor. 3:18, 7:1, etc.).
The Wonder of the Gospel of Christ
It is unfathomable men and women could have created such an elaborate and complex story encompassing thousands of moving parts, spanning multiple millenniums, and authored over 1500 years, having one central theme through every conceivable thing people can experience or do.
And that is even before I mention all the prophecies and symbolism throughout the Bible beginning with the days of creation going forward and how the future is repeatedly foretold – even as prophecies from both the Old and New Testament are happening in our lifetimes.
It is beyond mankind’s creative ability to devise the intricacies and knowledge of spiritual warfare, vivid experiences and pictures and contrasts of good and evil, Angels and Demons, and their interactions with humanity, let alone the hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled and coming to fulfillment.
If humanity had evolved, there would be no debate about God, because there would be no imprint of a spiritual realm in our being.
The subject of God would be nonexistent because evolution would be self – evident in language, history, and ancestry, leaving an indisputable trail.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is authoritative (demonstrated in personal encounters with Christ, changed and healed lives, etc.) and, supported by documentation and testimony through the millenniums.
It meets every test of trustworthiness for life itself.
Evolution lacks authority (observable demonstration at a complete scale), historical documentation (where are the writings of the ancients they evolved, surely, someone must have asked the question about mankind’s beginning), and testimony.
If the argument is early man was superstitious, believing in something he cannot see, how did that come about, was it the “God vacuum” inside gnawing at his conscience, where did man’s spirit come from?
Of course, evolution makes no sense to those in relationship with Christ, who know the Scriptures to be true, that in-kind produces in-kind, just like the Bible teaches, the design of all creation; where there is design, there is a designer.
Just because scientists have replicated forms of simple life (as I have heard it said) it proves nothing, other than it was done out of design, not over hundreds of millions of years of circular reasoning.
Jesus believed in creation, the first man and woman, angels, demons, the plan of redemption, what man must do to be saved, and the afterlife.
It was not something Jesus wrestled with.
When Jesus becomes real in one’s life, by the wonderful grace and mercy of God, one begins to enter a new realm, a realm more real than the physical, where a whole new world opens through the Scriptures in relationship with Christ.
The Lord has spoken to people across this globe for millenniums, appearing personally, more recently revealing himself (it appears to be more frequent) to people from all walks of life and religion (as far as we know).
The only thing keeping us from the next major phase of his plan, i.e., the Millennium, is his grace to see as many people saved before the end-times.
In Ezekiel God takes note of Israel’s thoughts brushing aside his warnings.
God said to Ezekiel:
“Therefore say to them, ‘“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.”’” (NIV, Ezekiel 12:28)
Today, many believe things will continue like always for now, if the Bible be true, that others in the future will face the hardships of the end-times.
The problem with this is it conflicts with Scripture – the present ongoing fulfillment of prophecy in the age of Philadelphia, which is not like other prophecies fulfilled over multiple back-to-back generations.
The Bible is beyond anything man could devise or plan – it is wondrously other worldly in its patterns, themes, design, and outcome.
A compilation of writings over about 1500 years (or longer), sewn together into an indestructible design having one central plan and theme to make people into the likeness of Christ, all within a set time and journey.
All it takes is one encounter with Christ to change the direction of your life.
No matter how old I get, it amazes me how intricate and surprising the Word can be, how it comes alive personally where we live, how it searches out by the Holy Spirit the deep things of our life, and yet, how panoramic it is, reaching over millenniums in a hand breadth.
It is amazing how God has something knew for each generation revealing old truths in new ways in unceasing waves of new and insightful revelation.
Invariably, when we think we have mastered something, the Lord comes along and takes us deeper, to something even more life giving.
There is no end to what God has in store for those who love him.
No matter how much time I spend in the Bible, God always has something new just around the corner to reveal or for me to discover.
Again, it is amazing how a book – a love letter – written for all people groups and generations spanning almost 3500 years or more (from Moses till the present time) recording six millenniums of history, continues to go to the deep issues of the heart in God’s relationship with humanity.
Truly, God is past finding out.
Important
We live in the time of the greatest revelation of the Word of God because the hour is late, the journey is challenging, having tremendous rewards and risks.
God has something special, incredibly special, in the days ahead for those who seek him.
The Gospel era is not going to end on a thud, just as the days of Noah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Josiah, Christ, and others did not end on a thud.
Someday, the true Millennials under the reign of Christ will look back (just like we look back at Israel) and wonder how so many failed to realize the day of their visitation in the promises of Philadelphia missing the deep waters of Christ.
If Christendom and mankind expects a sign to drop from Heaven saying, “You are closing in on the end-times, take heed, earnestly seek the “coming” of the Lord for your personal life – so the Lord can clean you up, to be equipped and prepared,” it’s not going to happen.
More than ever, every Christian needs the “coming” of the Lord to them so they can begin the long journey of being made one in growing intimacy with Christ.
The seasons of the return of the new-birth and Pentecost are over (the 1500s to mid-20th century).
This is the season of the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ in healing and restoration (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), being made one with Christ, the prayer of Christ, and the fulfillment of Tabernacles in the New Testament in the age of Philadelphia.
We have six millenniums of Bible history in our rearview mirror, stretching back to Adam and Eve.
We have the greatest paradigm shift in human history – the coming of Christ – two millenniums ago in our rearview mirror.
And since then, Christendom has traveled through five church ages, leaving two ages presently in development – Philadelphia or Laodicea.
And there are no church ages after these two run their course.
Philadelphia comes to maturity in the high note of Christianity before Laodicea.
Laodicea comes to maturity shortly after, tragically, in the first part of the Tribulation.
One, Philadelphia, leads to great intimacy with Christ, the other, Laodicea, leads to great challenges and trials in the first half of the Tribulation.
Let us make sure we are either in or heading toward Philadelphia.
Today, we have more revelation, more resources, more opportunities – the greatest promises God has ever made to humanity in Philadelphia.
And, not coincidently, the world is offering the greatest promises it has ever offered to humanity.
It is no wonder God saved the best for last for the body of Christ in Philadelphia because the temptations of the world are greater than they have ever been.
God has reserved the unimaginable for this time in history for those who lay their lives at Christ’s feet.
Jesus told the Jews they would only receive one sign, the sign of Jonah.
And though today we are light years ahead of the Jews in knowing “about” Christ, I wonder how far we have really come in “knowing and being known” of Christ?
We live in an unprecedented time, some seeking encounter and intimacy with Christ, while others seek all the world has to offer.
It is impossible to have both.
About 15 years ago the Lord allowed me to be shaken so my focus would turn back on him; he knew if I continued my present trajectory, I would miss the promises of God for my life.
I am so thankful, eternally thankful, the Lord intervened, not allowing me to end my life in ruin by missing intimacy and journey with Christ, the greatest honor and privilege Christ can ever offer men and women.
The promises of Philadelphia are not for Heaven, but for here, this side of the great divide – this is where God heals and restores our body, soul, and spirit.
Yes, there is restoration when we cross the great divide.
Important
But the Scriptures clearly show here – this side of Heaven – the Spirit performs the deepest work in our hearts and minds – what we have become in Christ, is who we will be for all eternity.
This side of Heaven is where God forms the likeness of Christ in our heart and mind, made intimate and one with Christ and the Father (Hebrews 8-10, Romans 6, 2 Cor. 3:18).
That is why there is the seeking, pursuing, apprehending, asking, knocking, waiting, enduring, and waring in Scripture, because this is where the mystery of Christ – transformation, healing, and restoration take place – that which he has designed for this side of Heaven.
The Lord does not need to give us a sign about the last days, it is everywhere in his Word, as it says in Ecclesiastes, the Lord “has also set eternity in the human heart.” (NIV, Ecclesiastes 3:11)
When you consider the resource Christ has made available over the last five decades in various ministries from counseling to inner healing, the depth of revelation he has given on agreements, journey, fathering, etc.; it is a wonder we are not farther along as a body of believers.
But the Lord knows it takes much gently wooing and loving labor to move us along the path he pioneered to be prepared and equipped, advancing the Gospel in our lives, and when the time is right, in the lives of others.
The Lord told only Noah to build an ark.
When the Angels went into Sodom only Abraham knew in advance; and only Lot and his family, and any others he knew, were to flee the city.
Only Rahab and her household were saved from the destruction of Jericho.
God used Gideon to spark a victory over Israel’s oppressors, the Midianites.
Only few knew the greatest person who ever lived, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the promised Messiah during his ministry.
The Apostle Peter in his second letter says in so many words, we can be certain the Scripture will happen just like it says, it is as certain as the sun rising in the morning,
“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (NIV, 2 Peter 1:19-21)
The book of Revelation is one of the longest and most detailed books in the New Testament, encompassing over three millenniums of history starting with the second century A.D. through the church ages, the Tribulation, the Millennium, and on to the New Heaven and New Earth.
The book of Revelation covers more calendar time of history than any other book in the Bible.
And yet, there are many who are unfamiliar with the writing of Revelation other than it is a book of judgements, few, if any, attempt to understand.
And yet it is one of the most detailed and chronologically long writings in the Bible.
No matter where you are in your Christian, or non-Christian journey, it is not too late to seek Christ with all your heart.
You are living in the time of the greatest opportunities and promises God has ever offered in a season of time – the opportunity and promise of growing intimacy and union with Christ.
It was not until the completion of the Ark the flood came – giving men and women decades to seek the Lord and come to repentance.
The Hebrews had four generations in Goshen before presented with God’s opportunities and promises for a new life in a new land.
God gave Ahab and Jezebel ample time to repent before his Spirit led Elijah and the prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel.
God told Jeremiah the southern kingdom would go into captivity for 70 years.
God told Daniel about seventy sevens – 490 years – would pass before the promised grace would come in the Messiah, giving Israel ample time to take note of their history – their lives – in preparation for the coming King.
Likewise, God has given those after Christ the calendar of the church ages and much understanding of the writings of Revelation, so we, in the last of the last days, can identify our present Scriptural “geographic” location through the Lord’s labor in his body.
In other words, we know our approximate “geographic location” in Scripture’s calendar because Scripture identifies the distinctly different labors of the Lord in different seasons of time.
And the labor he is presently doing is the labor of Philadelphia.
He has prepared a special season in the last days through the open door of Philadelphia to apprehend a place in him few have entered or known.
We are in the season of the foolish and wise, those who have and have not oil; the season of the pearl formed in some, while others leave their treasure buried in the ground.
The season of some receiving Christ’s new name and the Father’s (Philadelphia), while others do not answer the knock on their door (Laodicea); the season where some are in the womb being formed in journey with Christ, while others maintain the status quo (Revelation 12), etc.
Be not afraid, whatever place you are in, Jesus has a plan just for you, to accomplish his desires in you.
Introduction
There are deep places in Christ yet to be discovered and revealed (made known by the Lord), for those seeking intimacy with Christ.
Some so revelatory and insightful there are those who would scoff if they knew what God has planned up ahead for those who love him.
Many things the Lord is going to do are a secret until he is ready to reveal it.
The return of the new birth in the 1500s, world evangelism in the 1800s, Pentecost at the beginning of the 20th century, tent evangelism and healing in the early 20th century, the latter rain revival along with TV evangelism in the mid 20the century are moves of God that came at their appointed time.
Just like the Jesus people and charismatic movements in the sixties and early seventies, the inner healing movement in the eighties, and others, like, Promise Keepers, Morningstar, IHOP, Bethel, Wild at Heart, Elijah House, etc., and Tabernacles in this hour.
He hides the details of his plans from the enemy not only to protect his work, but to surprise his children, nurturing and cultivating desire and passion for him in the process.
He protects us from too much revelation too soon for good and wellbeing.
There was a scoffer of what God was going to do in the OT (2 Kings Chapter 7), who met a premature death because he dismissed the power of God to change circumstances in a moment of time.
He died an early death and missed the blessings of God.
Tragically, there are those who scoff at the Scriptures, harboring beliefs opposed to the power of God to intervene and change outcomes, especially when it comes to our wounds and brokenness – the very purpose for which Christ came.
Scripture is clear, there are surprises for the saved and unsaved in the years to come – that is why we need to keep our eyes on Jesus – if we follow him, he will certainly lead us through what is coming.
Of grave concern now is the growing “lukewarm” condition of hearts Scripture warns about in the last days.
Today, contrary to the exhortations and teaching of Scripture, most are content with their new-birth and Pentecostal experiences believing there is nothing left to seek, pursue, and apprehend in Christ.
Tragically, many believe all they must do is wait for “the rapture” to whisk them away.
Today, there are prominent ministers preaching this message; no wonder the Scripture says a great falling away is coming, because reality will eventually catch up and bypass present teaching.
Note:
1 Thessalonians 4 is not about the rapture, but a deep place in the Spirit with Christ in the last days during the end-time revival.
Notice they are not caught “up to God and to his throne” (NIV, Rev. 12:5, italicized mine), which is a picture of the rapture of the bride after the end-time revival.
The “dead in Christ” and “fallen asleep” (1 Thess. 4:14-16, italicized mine), means those who are saved, alive, but not walking in resurrection life.
Jesus is going to circle back and revive many before the last great revival (Matthew 25, the sleeping virgins).
See Romans 8:10-11 and Ephesians 5:14 for examples of dead and sleepy Christians – after all, Jesus said the virgins fell asleep, and Paul uses fallen asleep in several places for sleepy Christians as well.
“Asleep” and “dead” are often used in the New Testament for mortality and lacking intimacy with God and Christ; context and 1 Cor. 2:13 determines natural or spiritual meaning.
***
The Sardis age of the new-birth and Pentecostalism has long passed.
God’s labor today is in Tabernacles, the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), – the age of Philadelphia.
Many do not know their present “equipping and preparation” is not sufficient to enter Tabernacles; without first beginning to seek a measure of healing and restoration.
The journey toward Tabernacles begins first with some measure of healing and restoration in preparation for encounter with Christ.
Those who stay outside the training circle of Christ, i.e., the deep work of the Spirit of grace (the “coming, appearing, judging, revealing” of the Lord for deep healing and restoration), will be unprepared for what is coming in the days ahead.
We must seek Jesus first before we can go through the open door of Philadelphia.
Just like some level of heart repentance is necessary to enter the new-birth, and some level of effort and prayer is necessary for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so to some level of pursuit of Christ is necessary for Tabernacles (Philadelphia).
The Scripture warns of a great falling away in the last of the last days; pictured in the foolish virgins, the parable of the net in Matthew 13, the age of Laodicea, the stars of Revelation 12, the the warning of Hebrews 4:1, those used in gifts who did not seek intimacy with Christ, etc., and of course, Paul’s teaching in 2 Thessalonians.
Some of these apply to “falling aways” at other times as well.
Falling away is not only going down from where you were, but also not going up to where you need to be for safety.
If you do not begin climbing the mountain of God before the flood of evil comes, you will be at significant risk.
It will be tragic to see some who have walked with God for years get passed by the unsaved who dive with all their hearts into the deep waters of Christ when the Lord pours out his Spirit in the days ahead.
I earnestly pray and hope those who read my posts eagerly seek the Lord now for the deep waters of the Spirit in Philadelphia while the day is still light.
Do not wait for the big revival to come, else you will be the one seeking help instead of helping to raise others.
You might be thinking, I know about the falling away, but does the Scripture really promise a great ingathering – a revival like the Jesus/Charismatic Movement, or other great revivals, before the Tribulation?
The answer is most certainly yes.
Every major transition in God’s dealing with humanity has some form of visitation by the Lord first.
The end-time revival is intimated in the parable of the net (Matthew 13); directly inferred in the catching away in the air of 1 Thessalonians 4 (this chapter is about revival, not rapture); inferred in Revelation 3:9; and directly inferred in Revelation 12:5, 13:3, and 17:11 (the wound to the Beast is from God’s revival just before the Tribulation).
Note:
1 Thessalonians 4 is not about the rapture of the Church as commonly taught, but the coming together of the bride in the last days as a body ministry – it is not the rapture because we are not caught up to God and his throne, like the bride after the revival in Revelation 12:5.
1 Thessalonians is not a resurrection from physical death but a resurrection to spiritual life from spiritual death – the promise of the Gospel of resurrection life this side of Heaven. See Romans 6, 8:10-11.
Though “saved,” the body is dead (mortal), until we are transformed (in intimate journey with Christ from glory to glory), like the early apostles, and who knows how many others apprehended resurrection life this side of Heaven, the promise of the New Testament.
Some believe, as I do, the references by Paul and Peter about their soon “home-coming” does not mean Jesus was letting them know when they were going to physically die, but when they would be translated, like Moses and Elijah.
The living creatures of the OT at the time of Ezekiel – the time of the southern Kingdom’s captivity, are a type – foretelling – resurrection life in Christ in the NT.
Being caught away unto the Lord, unlike being “snatched up to God and to his throne,” (NIV, Rev. 12:5, italicized mine) is an expression of entering resurrection life this side of the great divide, which God will do in those who complete Philadelphia in the last of the last days.
Contrary to common teaching, Rev. 12 is not about Christ or Israel, but the bride (Philadelphia, baby in the womb) and those outside the bride (Laodicea, woman) in the end-times. The wound to the Beast is the result of revival – not a Hollywood gunshot!
Notice Satan now has access to the heavenlies, and it is not until the rapture of the bride he and “his” are thrown out of Heaven taking up residence in people they have been preparing as their host, Revelation 12.
***
The many called but few chosen (because appetites and affections lie elsewhere other than seeking Christ), is not Christ’s doing, but the lack of teaching in Christendom about the deep things of God – the new birth and Pentecost are just the beginning, there is more, much more in Christ to apprehend.
The heart of the Gospel of Christ is Tabernacles – the adventure and journey of growing intimacy and union with him by putting the old man to death by the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness.
A journey initiated and led by Christ in the path he pioneered two millenniums earlier.
We have been instructed as men (and I believe rightly so), by the Wild at Heart ministry, we have an adventure to live, a battle to fight, and a woman to rescue.
These words are not only true in the natural, but in the Spirit, and for women – they have an adventure to live, a battle to fight, and the lost to rescue just like men.
We see the many prophecies of the coming Messiah in the OT.
And we see in the NT the many “comings” of Christ (i.e., appearing, revealing, judging, taking), in reference to his children in the here and now.
Most of the “comings” of Christ in the NT refer to Christ’s coming to encounter you and me, to take us into the deep waters of the Spirit in Tabernacles, beyond the new-birth and Pentecost, to equip and prepare a bride – a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a woman to rescue.
And much of that long journey involves deep healing and restoration.
What Jesus told Peter in John 21:18-19 is what he wants to say to everybody, but few are prepared when the time “comes” to be taken into the deep things of God, as we see with the foolish virgins.
Important
Christ redeemed what the first Adam lost and more, finishing the race perfectly.
But what about Eve’s part of the restoration story, i.e., those in the body of Christ who complete (in Christ) the journey he pioneered?
Eve played a critical role in creating the fall, and just like Christ (the second Adam, 1 Cor. 15:45), she – those in the body of Christ seeking to complete the race Christ pioneered – must play a critical role in restoration.
The body of Christ must come to completion as a testimony against Satan’s legal claim to Heaven; and when those in Philadelphia come to completion by the power of the Holy Spirit in Christ, Satan’s right to the heavenlies will be destroyed once and for all (Revelation 12:7-13).
This is the charge of Christ in the season of Philadelphia: to bring to completion those who pursue him – to “make” a bride – forming you and me into his likeness by the cross of grace through faith.
This is the journey of intimacy Christ is offering to his children in the season we know as Philadelphia – to be made like unto him, “conformed to the image of his Son,” as Paul describes in Romans 8:29 (NIV, italicized mine).
***
Every story needs a supporting cast of those who contribute to the story.
And in the story of redemption of Christ our Savior, we see a supporting cast beginning with Abel through the patriarchs, the prophets, kings, judges, etc., of the Old Testament.
Likewise, in the New Testament we see the supporting cast with the disciples, Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalena, John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Mary, and Paul all the way up to the 21st century with the likes of those God is using today to deepen and advance the Kingdom of God.
And the final piece to bring the Gospel story to a close is the making of the bride from those who seek Christ for the adventure and journey of being made like unto him as he prayed to his Father before his crucifixion.
The bride does not come about by osmosis, but by a deliberate plan of God in Christ to make his children into his likeness.
The Gospel is an intricate design and plan by God through journey and process to change Christians (transform) into the likeness of Christ by putting the old man to death and raising the new man to walk in newness of life (NIV, Romans 6).
And that takes journey: the suffering of putting to death by the power of the Holy Spirit sinful desires and appetites we have come to love.
To be cleansed, healed, and restored (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 5:10, etc.), in growing intimacy and union with Christ, coming to completion, the mystery of Christ, fathered by God.
Going on to Completion
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” (NIV, Hebrews 4:1)
“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
And God permitting, we will do so.” (NIV, Hebrews 6:1 – 3)
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV, Ephesians 4:11 – 13)
“I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (NIV, Philippians 3:10 – 12)
Note:
Obviously, Paul is not talking about becoming like Christ in being killed, but becoming like Christ in his death to sin (what the Scripture calls the enmity in his flesh, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear), raised to walk in newness of life (NIV, Romans 6:10), made perfect, fathered by God, becoming our Savior (NIV, Hebrews 5:7 – 10), before his ministry, his first glorification (John 12:28).
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (NIV, Philippians 3:20 – 21)
Note:
This passage is not referring to the Rapture, nor to when we die and go to Heaven.
But the transforming power of Christ here on earth to “baptize us with his baptism” (Romans Chapter 6), to put sin to death by the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness.
This is not referring to legal righteousness, but righteousness by the transforming power of God to experientially put sin to death and raise us to walk in new life – the resurrection life of Christ in you and me this side of Heaven.
We cannot truly know Christ, and he truly know us, without being healed and restored by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to change our mortal bodies into his holy body (Romans 8:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 25:12).
This is the deep work of the Spirit of grace offered and promised in Tabernacles, reserved by God for the last days in the age of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7 – 13, 1 Peter 1:13, etc.):
- to journey by the transforming power of God from the Outer Court and Holy Place, to the Most Holy Place – a deep place in the Spirit for healing and restoration, or, from another perspective (symbolism),
- to journey from the barley and wheat harvests (the new birth (Passover), and Pentecost, symbolically speaking), to the harvest of the summer fruit, nuts, and olives – the final and best harvest (Tabernacles), becoming the most flavorful and precious fruit for the Lord.
“‘See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.’” (NIV, Revelation 3:8 – 11)
Note:
The open-door is the way to Tabernacles, i.e., being made one with Christ in the journey he pioneered.
God reserved the best promises for the last of the last days to make a corporate body of believers into the likeness of Christ, a bride for his Son.
Those who endure the long journey of putting sin to death – being healed and restored – will minister in the end times and escape (Revelation 12:5), the trials of the Tribulation that will engulf the whole of humanity.
Jesus “comes” to take us into Tabernacles through the open door in the long journey of encountering him for cleansing, healing, and restoration.
And when his last day bride has gone as far as she can go in her journey of completion, he will use her to minister in the revival(s) to come; and take her to be with him before the Antichrist system can destroy her.
Note:
In relationship with God, we will always be in a place where there is more to know, discovered, revealed, and apprehended – the created will always be dependent upon the creator for life.
We will never outgrow our need for God in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Coming to completion, the bride, being made one with Christ (John 17:21), as he prayed, for this side of the great divide, i.e., the mystery of Christ (NIV, Colossians 1:27), or, as Paul says in Philippians, “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (NIV, 3:12, italicized mine), and “to know the power of his resurrection” (NIV, 3:10, italicized mine), means we are walking in resurrection life (Romans 8:10-11).
Resurrection life, having passed from mortality to immortality in this life – is like Adam and Eve before the fall, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and of course Christ at his perfection, and Peter and Paul by their own words.
Yes, resurrection life is available this side of Heaven – the purpose for which Christ came: to heal and restore humanity to the level of life and intimacy of Christ before his physical death.
The battle is for resurrection life this side of Heaven (the promise of Philadelphia); the Rapture is for those who come to completion (however it is determined by God), the measure of Christ as it says in Ephesians.
Adam and Eve would have lived forever if they had not sinned.
Christ would have lived forever if not killed at Calvary.
Coming to completion is the triumph over physical death, being made one with Christ (Romans 8:10-11, 8:29, Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 3:21, etc.).
After completion, the journey continues in the mystery of Christ (the revelation of God in Christ), which is beyond the scope of the New Testament writings, revealed on the other side of the great divide.
The New Testament brings us through the three feasts of the Christian pilgrimage into union with Christ, from mortality to immortality (Romans Chapter 6, 8:10-11).
After, our story and journey will deepen as God reveals in the Millennium and New Heaven and New Earth.
Completion – “conformed to the image of his Son” – brings us to triumph over sin – victory over death, our greatest enemy (NIV, Romans 8:29, italicized mine).
(BTW, for you who have not been following my series, Philippians 3:10 is not speaking of Calvary (like so many other scriptures), but Christ’s “death” to sin, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10.)
The Trap of Complacency and Hopelessness
One of the more severe challenges facing Christians is not deteriorating world events, humanism, spiritual warfare, etc., (because we are entering another “fullness of time”), but a clever enemy who has labored for centuries behind the scenes through creeds and traditions:
- to chip away our foundation in Christ; making salvation an event that happened two thousand years ago; a Savior who is distant and far away, leaving us as orphans, fatherless, having to deal with our wounds without help from the Lord, cutting off the body from intimacy with Jesus,
- to breed complacency in the body of Christ, believing the new birth/Pentecost is as far as we go; we must learn to live with our wounds (sinful nature), confident yesteryear’s victories will get us through the challenges to come,
- to teach the belief “the best we can expect is the new birth,” to make Heaven by the skin of our teeth (breeding hopelessness); ever hoping our wounds receive healing when we cross the great divide,
- to hide the work of darkness in agreements, lies, vows, expectancies, etc.; indirectly aiding spirits of shame and condemnation, among others, neglecting to point God’s sons and daughters to seek intimacy with Christ.
Thus, creeds and traditions target the very heart of the Gospel, intimacy with Christ, to be renewed body, soul, and spirit in relationship with him; to no longer live as orphans but as full Sons and Daughters, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in intimacy with Christ, living and leading productive and effective lives.
Creeds and traditions are presented to you and me as the foundation of our faith, strength, and connection to Christ through Christ’s death at Calvary, focusing on events and not intimacy in relationship.
The problem is the enemy has cleverly woven his thoughts in quite a number of beliefs we are told to believe, making sure the most important teaching – to earnestly seek intimacy with Christ – is not taught at all.
Jesus warned the Church of the enemy’s coming work in the parables of the enemy planting weeds in his field, the birds who nest in the mustard tree and the tree itself, and the doctrines of the enemy kneaded like yeast in dough (Matthew Chapter 13).
Only the King’s discernment (NIV, Matthew 22:11 – 14), can see those “wearing wedding” clothes, and those who are not.
Important
The Lord knows those who desire intimacy with him, and how to break the imprisonment of creeds and traditions which keep some from the deeper work of the Spirit he desires to do in their lives.
The enemy does not care how he takes God’s sons and daughters out, pushing and manipulating anywhere he can find a foothold.
Some, predisposed toward shame and condemnation, he targets for greater shame and condemnation under the mantle of hopelessness; others having a proclivity toward self-sufficiency, independence, etc., he pushes toward greater self-achievements and complacency, believing all is well and quiet.
He will do whatever it takes to capsize our ship before we can make it through the open door of Philadelphia – our Noah’s Ark in the last of the last days.
Yes, intimacy and union with Christ is our Noah’s Ark – being knit and bonded to Christ is the only way to escape what is coming to pass.
***
Once you include yeast in dough it becomes inseparable and unidentifiable.
Christ likened yeast hidden in dough to the traditions of men (NIV, Matthew 13:33, 16:12, Galatians 5:9) or, like Peter said,
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (NIV, 1 Peter 1:18 – 19)
Important
The hardest thing to wrestle with in our journey toward Christ is not world events, the signs of the times, wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, Israel, because we are instructed not to focus on those things, but to keep our eyes on Christ.
It is not spiritual warfare, because Jesus gives us the power and path to victory in warfare through him.
It is not evolution and humanism, or the Spirit of antichrist spirit (which denies the healing and transforming power of Christ), because once you have tasted the goodness of God you realize evolution, humanism, etc., are not life but death.
It is not the overall decay of humanity, politically, socially, culturally, etc., because Jesus can overcome those barriers when the lost find life in Christ.
The hardest thing to wrestle with as a Christian living in the last days are centuries of Christian creeds and traditions keeping God’s sons and daughters camped, chained to past moves of God, denied fresh manna when they should be seeking encounter with Christ in Tabernacles (age of Philadelphia), crossing the Jordan into the promised land of the deep work of the Spirit of grace.
Israel missed Christ because they held to their traditions.
Many are blocked today from going on to completion, the promise of Philadelphia, because of creeds and traditions.
There is only one path to receiving wedding clothes for the wedding banquet of the Lord; it is through the open door of Philadelphia to apprehend Christ – the path he pioneered in being made complete (Romans 6:10;).
The traditions of men put Christ on the Roman cross after he had already died to sin, made complete, raised to walk in resurrection life; the Messiah in flesh and blood who offered healing and salvation to Israel for over three years (NIV, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10).
His blood sacrifice to the Father was “being made complete – putting to death generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him by his human ancestry” by the Father, before his ministry.
But creeds and traditions point everything and anything having to do with Christ’s blood to Calvary, and not his intimate and personal sacrifice to the Father in being perfected.
Blood is the only way to justly describe the journey of Christ in putting transgressions and iniquities to death in being made perfect.
Jesus even told us what he meant by his blood (John 6:53-63, Matthew 26:28).
And yet creeds and traditions point to his killing as if God needed to kill his son to forgive us plus needing the help of lawless men.
There are many additions and rephrasing in translations to make sure blood is associated with Calvary (and that Calvary is the focus of certain suffering Scriptures) because of the power of creeds and traditions.
In stark contrast to the creeds and certain teaching, Christ offers you and me the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness – the suffering of putting sin to death, what he pioneered, not the suffering of being put to death – two entirely different paths and outcomes.
The traditions of men in creeds, statements of faith, and all the other means Christianity uses to institutionalize and disseminate doctrines serve to undermine the heart of the Gospel in seeking intimacy and union with Christ.
They attempt to serve “Christ” like a cafeteria serves food, instead of exhorting, like Scripture, the journey he pioneered in being made complete.
Once people begin the journey of healing in Tabernacles, the sufferings of the cross of grace through faith in dependence upon God, a paradigm shift occurs not only in relationship with Christ, but in the understanding of Scripture.
Important
Until one goes through the open door of Philadelphia, experiencing the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), beginning to be made conformable to his death in a deep way (NIV, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7 – 10), one remains outside Christ’s training circle.
Christ has specifically reserved his training circle for the bride in the making in the last of the last days.
This is not something we can do through our own volition, or strength, it takes Christ to bring you and me through the open door of Philadelphia.
Our part is to seek him for a deeper relationship, he will make the rest happen in our lives.
What underlies creeds and traditions is the fear God will not come through for you and me – the common person – that it takes someone trained and schooled in theology to keep us on the straight and narrow.
But it was untrained and unschooled men Christ chose as his disciples.
And it was a highly trained and schooled man of tradition who fell to the ground when the light of God flashed about him.
Important
Creeds and traditions keep many of God’s sons and daughters in an orphan state, fatherless, dependent upon others to be their source for finding Christ – missing the revelation of Christ promised for all of God’s sons and daughters.
Creeds and traditions indirectly project the wounds of an orphan heart toward God, making him distant, far off, uncaring, and unconcerned.
They thwart individual responsibility “our privilege and honor,” to pursue and seek intimacy with Christ in “encounter,” in the adventure and journey of being made like unto him, the greatest gift God could ever offer you and me.
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is an expression of God’s heart of love for his children, so we can be healed and restored to full sonship lost so long ago by the first man and woman in the Garden.
There is little teaching today of the depth, breath, and scope of the Christian pilgrimage we are “called” to seek, and little, if any, teaching of the feasts, harvests, and Tabernacle, and how they represent our Christian pilgrimage.
The Old Testament harvests, feasts, Tabernacle/Temple, and the many types, of Christ, pictured in the Old Testament saints (including women like Abigail, who persuaded David against committing murder), point forward to the New Testament salvation journey pioneered by Christ.
And what Christ pioneered, we are to follow.
There is only one path to salvation and that is through Christ; there is no other path than the one Jesus cleared for us in being made complete (John 14:6, Hebrews 5:7-10).
Creeds and traditions point to salvation as an event.
Whereas the Scripture clearly points you and me to Christ in intimacy and journey with him (Romans 8:10 – 11, 8:23, 8:29 – 30; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 7:1; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:20 – 24, 5:26 – 27; Philippians 2:12 – 13, 3:12 – 21, etc.).
Critical to this understanding is 1 Corinthians 2:13 and 1 John 5:7 – 8, the understanding of the new language of the New Testament.
Many of the references to Christ’s death (outside of those speaking of him being killed at Calvary) are not about Calvary, but the death he died in putting sin to death, raised to walk in resurrection life, (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7 – 10), becoming our Savior, before his ministry.
Simply, in accord with the Scripture, Christ was glorified twice (John 12): first, after putting sin to death before his ministry, and second, after being killed at Calvary.
Very Important
Isaiah 53:4-9, Matthew 26:28, John 12:28, Acts 2:30-32 and 13:26-41 (see an interlinear), 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Peter 2:24 (see an interlinear), and Revelation 5:9 speak of both Christ’s death to sin (his journey to perfection, becoming our atonement, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10, his first glorification), and being slain at Calvary (a totally separate event, his resurrection the second glorification).
When we understand Jesus is more than we have been told (so much more!), his personal story comes alive along with the unmatched gallantry of his life from a young man to his killing.
Note:
If the New Testament were all about Calvary as the place of atonement, as taught, much of the writing in the New Testament letters would not be needed, and most of the book of Hebrews (which is the testimony of Christ’s pioneering journey) would not be needed.
But the New Testament is not primarily about Calvary, but first about Christ’s pioneering journey, and our journey in him, which requires much explaining and descriptions.
Jesus is our Savior, before, during, and after Calvary!
Jesus did not become our Savior at Calvary – he became our Savior at his completion which had nothing to do with Calvary and everything to do with putting sin to death before his ministry.
The Bible could not be any clearer once the two events become separated and not erroneously combined.
Similarly, the stream of prophecies of his coming are a distinct and separate stream of prophecies unconnected with his killing:
- the first stream has to do with the coming of Christ,
- the second stream has to do with what men and women choose to do with God’s good news.
The Devil did not test an unperfected Christ for 40 days, he tempted a “perfected” Christ as the final “testing” for his ministry.
When Jesus said, “‘they do not know what they are doing’” it was not because his death would bring salvation, but because they were putting to death the means of their salvation. (NIV, Luke 23:34, bold and italicized mine)
Whereas creeds teach Christ came specifically and purposely to be killed, to be put to death by crucifixion, to atone for our sins and take our punishment, the Scriptures clearly teach otherwise.
He took the punishment for our sins in being made perfect, becoming our Savior – where the wounding and piercing of the hostility in his flesh brought death to generational sins and resurrection life (Romans 6:10, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear, Hebrews 5:7-10).
Yes, he did bear our sins on his body on the cross at Calvary, but that was not to forgive our sins – he had already forgiven sins multiple times.
He did not need to be killed to forgive sins – but his killing, which he chose, acted like a poultice, exposing their unrepentant sins on his body, hoping some would come to forgiveness (Matthew 26:28).
Developed some 1500 years ago or more, it is tragic what creeds have done to our understanding of Scripture and all the “adjustments” to translations translators have made to conform to the creeds.
Important
Creeds shift salvation to an event (Calvary) made possible by the actions of lawless men, teaching they were part of God’s plan to birth salvation at Calvary.
In stark contrast, the Scripture clearly teaches salvation was birthed in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, made perfect by his Father (NIV, Hebrews 5:7-10, Romans 6:10).
At his first glorification (perfection, before his ministry) Jesus Christ became our Savior; he did not need to be killed to become our Savior.
Why would he say the things he said to those who were plotting to kill him, if killing him was the means to their salvation (forgiveness)?
He submitted to Calvary so they would come to forgiveness (repentance), Matthew 26:28, not so they could be forgiven.
Mankind is not offered salvation by killing the Messiah, but by the Messiah killing the cause of the loss of salvation – sin; becoming the atonement for sin by being the only man to be completed, perfectly, without sinning – standing in for everybody else who would come to him (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10).
Killing Christ did not kill sin, but Christ putting transgressions and iniquities to death by the cross of grace through faith, his first glorification, did (Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10).
This is what is offered to mankind: to die to sin like Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans Chapter 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear; Ephesians 4:20-24, etc.), to be not only legally saved, but experientially saved in intimacy and union with Christ.
Finally, when one understands many uses of words like blood in the New Testament (in many cases) have to do with the depth and entirety of Christ’s sacrifice, not the liquid running through his body, things start to fall in place and finally make spiritual sense (1 Cor. 2:13, John 6:53-63, 1 John 5:7-10).
Very Important
Christ obeyed his Heavenly Father’s “preferred will” not to take up arms and take the Kingdom by force.
The Jews did not obey God’s “perfect will” to receive Christ (Matthew 21:37), choosing the stream of prophecies of his rejection, and not the perfect stream of prophecies of his coming which would have brought in an early Millennium.
What Jesus permitted at Calvary is heroic beyond measure, to say the least, something we cannot even relate to or fathom.
But it does not diminish his gallantry and heroism in the long journey of being made complete by putting sin to death passed to him through his human ancestry (Romans 6:10, 8:3, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear, Hebrews 2:17), changed from mortality to immortality (1 Cor. 15:45-49, Hebrews 5:7-10, 7:16), the New Covenant in flesh and blood (Matthew 26:28), presented to Israel over three years.
Calvary and Christ’s journey to perfection were never intended to be compared, and certainly not to be combined into one, i.e., Calvary, by creeds.
Because his perfection before ministry started the New Covenant making his ministry possible.
Calvary was a rejection of the New Covenant by Israel, a continuation of grace peacefully by Christ, giving more time for unrepentant hearts.
Though Israel rejected their Savior, God gave them individually another 40 years before the ax was laid to the root of Israel’s tree and cut down.
***
I pray more in the body of Christ will understand the new birth and Pentecost are not the end of the journey, but the beginning.
That there is more, much more, to apprehend in Christ beyond where many are living today.
There is a deep place in the Spirit God desires to take his children, not only for their healing and restoration and intimacy with Christ, but for their protection.
There is no better protection than to be growing in intimacy and union with Christ in the care and love of Christ and our heavenly Father.
The Heart of this Series
The Promised Grace to Come, Not the Promised Killing to Come
The heart of this series is to awaken our need to seek a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ in this season, the hour of his visitation.
The Lord is doing a new work today in those who seek him unlike anything he has previously done in the body of Christ – we are not in the season of the new birth and Pentecost anymore, but in the season of the final Christian pilgrimage, Tabernacles, the age of Philadelphia.
The opportunities and promises of Philadelphia are unlike anything the Lord has done to date in the Gospel era, because the hour is late, the need for mature sons and daughters is great, and, the need to reach in love and care those who are growing in darkness before it is too late.
Jesus is taking those who seek him beyond knowing “about,” him, or knowing his “presence,” to “knowing,” him.
He is making himself available today, to the saved and unsaved, like he has never done before, because this is not only the age of his greatest work, but the age of transitioning his greatest work into the Millennium.
True grit, determined wills, and faith alone (apart from intimacy with Christ) will be insufficient to resist the coming waves of darkness.
We need Jesus personally and intimately like never before.
I pray my writings stir hearts for a deeper relationship with Jesus; that he be seen like he has never been seen before.
It is a journey, it takes time, it takes seeking, and it takes ministry from the body of Christ.
Above all, it takes the leading of Christ in cleansing and healing.
One of his last prayers was to make his children one with him and the Father (NIV, John 17:21), which means it’s not something automatic with the new birth, but comes about through seeking and journey, transformed by the Holy Spirit from glory to glory (NIV, 2 Corinthians 3:18).
More Detail About Christ
This series demonstrates Scripturally Christ was the New Testament in flesh and blood, our Savior, King, Lord, Prophet, and High Priest, at his completion, before he began his ministry.
(Romans 6:10; Ephesians 1:19 – 22, 2:14-16 (see an interlinear); Philippians 2:9 – 11; Hebrews 5:7 – 10, etc.)
Christ was the fullness of the Word made flesh before he began his ministry, the “exact representation of his being” (NIV, Hebrews 1:3, speaking of his heavenly Father), our atoning sacrifice in flesh and blood when he began his ministry.
Calvary did nothing to add to Christ’s atoning sacrifice in being made perfect (NIV, Hebrews 5:7 – 10), which occurred before his ministry.
Christ did not need to die at Calvary to atone for our sins, he had already put sin to death (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10), in his perfection; Calvary was the rejection of the perfect Son of God, not the place of atonement.
His perfection was his first glorification, becoming our Savior (John 12:28).
Important – New Language
The many phrases of suffering, sacrifice, blood, atonement, death, etc., (see 1 Corinthians 2:13 re: NT language), in reference to Christ in the NT letters is not about Calvary, but about Christ’s pioneering journey in being made perfect, putting to death generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry.
When Jesus talked about those in darkness burying those who died in darkness (NIV, Luke 9:60), eating his flesh and drinking his blood to describe finding life in God through him (NIV, John 6:53-63), tares as sin, yeast as false doctrine, carrying your cross, etc., it was obvious he was ushering in a new language for the New Covenant.
That what transpired at Calvary was not the inauguration of the New Covenant, but the rejection of the New Covenant in Christ.
Calvary was the only option Christ had left for some to come to repentance by showing them the sins in their heart on the marks of his body – it was his last sign (1 Peter 2:24, first part of passage is about Calvary, second part about his journey to perfection before his ministry, see an interlinear).
It was his death to sin (without sinning), raised to walk in resurrection life (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 4:15, 5:7 – 10, 7:16, etc.), that healed and saved men and women in Israel, and you and me today, and not his death at Calvary – which he said was murder (Matthew 21:38 – 39, 22:6 – 7, 23:32, 23:37), and Stephen (Acts 7:52) as well.
I do not like using the word “murder,” but that is what the Scripture says.
And it was the sin of humanity, Jew, and Gentile, that put Christ on the cross, as Paul clearly says in Romans, “‘There is no one righteous, not even one’” speaking of all of humanity outside of the saving love of God in Christ. (NIV, Romans 3:10, italicized mine)
Creeds and traditions have inundated the understanding of Scripture, making Calvary the place of atonement, pointing the great weight and body of Scriptures in the New Testament letters referring to death, blood, suffering, sacrifice, etc., to Calvary, when they should be pointing to Christ, the New Testament in flesh and blood, having already atoned for sin in his perfection.
It is grievous to see how creeds, just like Christ prophesied of yeast in dough, has convoluted the revelation of Christ’s pioneering journey, the understanding of Christ (he was not “modeling”), salvation, his perfection, and Calvary.
Yes, Jesus talked about giving his flesh for the world, he would be killed, he would suffer many things, but only after he had already told his disciples he was going to be killed, doing everything possible to avoid being killed, even wanting another year to see if the fig tree would produce fruit in repentance.
He made it clear to Israel and to us today he was the Messiah in flesh and blood before Calvary, saying, the New Testament was in his blood (NIV, Matthew 26:28).
He obviously was talking about him, his life, his person, not the liquid running through his veins (John 6:53-63).
Creeds and traditions have made salvation an event to the suffering of many today, contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture, instead of a journey.
If Christ had been received, we would all be living in the Millennium and not having to undo centuries of creeds and traditions teaching Calvary as the centerpiece of Christianity, and not the person of Christ.
Simply, Jesus did not need to be killed to save, heal, raise the dead, or calm the storms.
As if God’s only way of bringing salvation was to purposely have his Son killed, a practice he said he hated.
When it came to Calvary, God’s “preferred will,” (not a command) was for Christ not to take up arms.
And if Christ did fight, God would send angels to join him.
You do not call those who are doing your will wretches, hypocrites, children of hell, blind guides, whited sepulchers, snakes, vipers, condemned to hell, and murderers.
Christ took the punishment for our sins – the wounding and piercing of generational structures of sin passed to him through his human ancestry, bringing them to death by the cross of grace through faith in tears (Hebrews 5:7), and repentance, by the power of the Spirit over the journey of being made perfect.
And in that, putting sin to death, he was saved from death – the death of mortality that comes to every person born in the flesh, Christ being raised to resurrection life, his first glorification (John 12:28), before his ministry.
Very Important
Revealing the Righteousness of God to Cleanse, Heal, and Restore
What was the purpose of the coming of the Messiah?
Christ came to reveal the righteousness of God by grace through faith.
He was presented as God’s living sacrifice to the nation of Israel to heal and restore their wounds and brokenness, to begin preparing them to be made one with their heavenly Father.
They, the nation of Israel, to whom the promises of the Word of God came, were to accept Christ – the revealed righteousness of God – and begin the journey of growing intimacy and union with God in Christ to advance the Kingdom of God in them first, and then to the Gentiles.
And how did Christ reveal the righteousness of God by grace through faith?
First, he revealed the righteousness of God by destroying the barrier of sin passed to him from his human ancestry – removing the structures of transgressions and iniquities inherited by him by grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness, without sinning, being made complete, becoming our Lord, King, Prophet, High Priest, and Savior, fulfilling the law perfectly in his flesh.
This is the righteousness of God revealed in Romans 6:10, Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 5:7 – 10, and 1 Peter 2:24 and 3:18 – the cross of grace through faith in putting sin to death to walk in newness of life!
Note:
Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, and 1 Peter 2:24 & 3:18 are not literal depictions of Calvary, but figurative expressions of what it is like for the fleshly nature to be put to death by the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness.
I have covered these Scriptures in detail in earlier posts in this series.
Secondly, he revealed the righteousness of God during his ministry in teaching, preaching, through the manifestation of the Spirit of God in signs, wonders, and miracles, and in revealing certain sins of those around him in hope of bringing them to repentance.
Thirdly, he revealed the righteousness of God in his physical death in hope some would come to repentance and forgiveness once they witnessed their sins on his body.
And, of course, the righteousness of God was revealed in his second glorification.
This is what Jesus was talking about, revealing the righteousness of God any way he could, when he talked about why he came into the world.
If they would not let him heal them of their sins, then the only remaining course was to expose their sins by letting them do to him what was in their heart.
One way or the other, their wounds needed to be healed by repentance or exposed in hope of repentance for them to find eternal life.
If they would not be obedient to him in the flesh, maybe, some, would be obedient to the Spirit after they have had time to think about what they have done when the truth of God is brought to them again by others bearing the sufferings of Christ.
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The terms firstborn, first fruit, pioneer, forerunner, are in reference to Christ’s journey as the second Adam before his ministry concerning his perfection.
He fulfilled the will of God to the uttermost by fulfilling the law in his flesh without sin, in his journey to completion.
God did what he promised to do – write his Word on the tables of mankind’s heart and mind, beginning with Christ first, perfectly, without sin.
If one misses this, then they miss the heart of the New Testament beginning with Christ: how God presented Christ as a “living,” sacrifice – not to be killed – but to put sin to death once and for all by the cross of grace through faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ put sin to death for him and his generations, without sinning, fulfilling the law perfectly “becoming,” our Savior (Hebrews 5:7 – 10).
Creeds and traditions have all but destroyed the knowledge of Christ’s pioneering journey (being made perfect), substituting his “journey,” for the “event,” of Calvary, making salvation an “event,” instead of a “journey beginning with the new birth.”
This series is not about taking anything away from Calvary other than it was not the beginning of the New Testament as commonly taught, nor the place of the atonement – Christ’s sacrificial offering of his life in being made perfect.
His atonement for our sins occurred before his ministry in his journey to completion (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10, etc.).
Our Lord was the New Testament in flesh and blood at his perfection – he did not need the help of lawless men and Roman soldiers to become our Savior – he only needed God to “father” him into completion.
Christ’s pioneering journey has been hidden behind the veil of Calvary since the time of the creeds.
At the core of Christ’s completion is the knowledge his mother was not sinless, her ancestral sins passed to Christ just like all humans – the Scripture makes that clear (Hebrews 2:17; Romans 8:3)
And for Christ to become our Savior, he had to put the enmity in his flesh inherited from his human ancestry to death (NIV, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10), which Scripture says he did perfectly.
This series honors Christ for years of journey in being made perfect, the suffering of putting generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry to death, raised to walk in resurrection life before his ministry.
The promised grace to come (NIV, 1 Peter 1:10 – 12), is exactly what it is, the promised grace to put sin to death once and for all by the sacrifice of Christ’s life, i.e., his blood, in being made perfect.
Scripture uses the word “blood” (John 6:53-63), to describe the atoning sacrifice of Christ because it is the most intimate expression possible to describe the extent and totality of Christ giving his life to the will of the Father in being made complete (NIV, Hebrews 5:7 – 10), before his ministry.
He is the only one to put generational sin to death completely, perfectly, without sinning, made conformable to the image and likeness of the Father, becoming our substitute and Savior (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 1:3, 5:7-10).
Jesus purposely used the word blood to describe life (John 6:53-63), the New Testament in him (Matthew 26:28), and John, in 1 John 5:7-8, just for that purpose – to teach the new language of the New Covenant, 1 Corinthians 2:13.
To say this again, because we have been instructed so strongly the other way for centuries, Calvary was the rejection of the New Testament in Christ, not the beginning of the New Testament.
When John the Baptist saw him, he knew he was the Savior of the world, formed and fashioned by the hand of God through years of wilderness journey putting his human ancestral sins to death, raised to resurrection life (John 1:29; Hebrews 7:16).
We are called into the same journey Christ pioneered.
It is easy to understand why Christ’s pioneering journey has been hidden for centuries because the enemy fears men and women going beyond the new birth into the deep work of the Spirit of grace into healing and restoration.
Christian men and women in the journey of healing and restoration present the greatest threat to the kingdom of darkness.
Conversely, the major reason for the great falling away prophesied for the last days is because people are not seeking the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), in healing and restoration.
We are approaching another crossroads in the history of humanity like the days of Noah, Moses, Joshua, and Christ.
Days where major transition occurs, a paradigm shift; the one approaching will be the greatest ever to occur (in terms of its physical manifestation upon mankind), the shift to the Millennium by way of the Tribulation.
Unless Christ remove the veil over his pioneering journey, the knowledge of “becoming, made complete in Christ in the age of Philadelphia,” will have come and gone with few having sought to enter the open door into Tabernacles.
This series shows Jesus was fully Jesus in every sense of the word in authority, power, and relationship with the Father before he began his ministry.
Jesus, fathered by God, became everything humanity would need from their Savior and High Priest of the faith for salvation and healing before Calvary.
Calvary did nothing to enhance the plan of salvation, change the nature of Christ, or change his relationship with the Father.
Christ used Calvary (instead of taking the Kingdom by force), to continue to extend grace in the face of their rejection; publicly exposing the sins of their unrepentance on the marks of his body.
It was also a picture of what he had already done in the Spirit – putting sins to death by the cross of grace through faith – giving a picture in the flesh of what he had done in the Spirit for their sins marked on his body.
He had already died to sin once for all, his first glorification (John 12:28), now they were killing him again, bringing on themselves the judgment for killing him.
Jesus plainly said there would be no more excuse for their sin, after seeing the work of the Father through him for over 3 years. (NIV, John 15:22-25)
His resurrection from physical death confirmed and testified of everything he said about himself, them, and, 40 years later brought an end to the nation of Israel.
Just like the Hebrews of Old, the nation of Israel died in the wilderness, leaving only a remnant to cross over Jordan into the promises of the New Testament.
Calvary was not the start of the New Testament, or the start of the New Testament conditioned on Christ dying at Calvary, but the rejection of the New Testament by Israel.
At Calvary, Christ purchased the right to continue to extend grace to mankind – the right to pursue unrepentant men and women for salvation by willingly being slain, not taking up arms (Revelation 5:9, Matthew 26:28), so he could continue to offer grace to the unrepentant and save some.
First and foremost, though, purchasing mankind with his blood (NIV, Revelation 5:9 “‘with your blood you purchased for God’” italicized mine), refers to his atoning sacrifice in being made complete, his first glorification (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10), which occurred before his ministry.
(See separate section on blood below for what it means.)
Thus, Revelation 5:9 encompasses not only his perfection before ministry (his first glorification), but Calvary as well (his second glorification/resurrection) – the first one a journey, the other one an event, just like other verses discussed below.
There are Scripture passages where both glorifications – his journey to perfection, raised from mortality to immortality (resurrection life), and his resurrection after Calvary, are referred to in the same passage.
His completion – putting generational transgressions and iniquities to death by the cross of grace through faith, Romans 6:10, etc., – became our substitute for sin, something we could never do, being born into sin from both parents.
Christ’s willingness to be killed at Calvary, instead of taking the Kingdom by force, which he could have righteously done, costing untold thousands of lives, gave him the right to continue to extend grace to humanity in the face of rejection.
Though, salvation would come at a higher price for humanity after Calvary, than it was before Calvary, with Christ physically present.
The road to salvation is now more fraught with challenges and hardship than if Israel had received Christ.
There is coming a day when he will take the Kingdom by force.
Remember, those coming through the Tribulation will need a journey themselves to come to the fullness of salvation when Christ rules the earth in the Millennium.
Christ’s sacrificial atonement in the giving of the entirety of his life to the Father in being made perfect, dying to sin, raised to walk in resurrection life, becoming our Savior, had nothing to do with Calvary, ministry, or the 40 days of testing.
But everything to do with years of being formed and fashioned by God before his water baptism and ministry.
(Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:10; 6:10; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 2:14 – 16, see an interlinear; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 5:7 – 10, 7:16, and Chapters 9 and 10; 1 Peter 2:24, etc.)
From the beginning, it was God’s desire Israel receive their Messiah (NIV, Matthew 21:37), and his preferred will (Matthew 26:36-42), if rejected, as the prophets foretold, to not take the Kingdom by force.
God’s preferred will was to give the unrepentant in Israel more time.
The last thing God wanted, and Christ as well, was to force the New Covenant upon people, staining the Gospel with the blood of those Christ had just ministered to.
The Scripture (not the creeds) clearly bears this out: it was never God’s will, design, or plan, to kill Christ at Calvary either as the start of the New Covenant, or as a necessary part of transitioning the New Covenant from Israel to the Gentiles.
Important
Christ took the punishment/suffering for our sins in being made perfect – where sin begins in the heart and mind.
Calvary showed the fruit of their sins on the marks of his body, sins he had already put to death in being made perfect (1 Peter 2:24, second part, see an interlinear).
Calvary showed Israel who they had become so they would come to repentance and forgiveness.
God knew Christ would be rejected, but just as he knows there is a great falling away in our generations, he gives every chance for people then and now to receive the promised grace to come in Christ (1 Peter 1:10 – 12).
Everything Jesus did in his ministry was out of who he had become, not in anticipation of who he would become at Calvary!
His victory over Satan over 40 days in the wilderness was not out of who he would become at Calvary, but who he had become in being made complete, becoming our Savior.
The giving of the entirety of Christ’s life to the Father in being made complete is the truest sense of a sacrificial blood sacrifice, becoming one with the Father, so, when you saw Christ, you saw the Father.
Important
The wounding and piercing of Christ foretold in Isaiah 53 was not the killing of Christ at Calvary, but the killing of generational transgressions and iniquities passed to Christ from his human ancestry.
Isaiah knew by the Spirit the Messiah would suffer a “death,” to the works of the flesh in being made perfect, becoming a living, breathing, “blood sacrifice,” God always desired from humanity after the fall.
Speaking figuratively of Israel, Isaiah (chapter 1), says their inner man is injured, afflicted, wounded, broken, having bruises, welts, and sores.
The same Hebrew word used for “wounds” (NIV, Isaiah 53:5), is in Psalm 38:5 (#2250) by David, and David was not beaten and killed.
That same Hebrew word is in Isaiah 1:6 figuratively and spiritually.
The Hebrew word for “stricken” (NIV, 53:4), is in Isaiah 1:5 (#5221).
These are just a few examples of the many uses of like kind words in the Psalms having nothing to do with killing but everything to do with the process of being humbled under the mighty hand of God in putting sin to death.
And it is fitting David uses these words in the Psalms because he is one of the greatest types, of Christ – putting sin to death – figuratively speaking; fleeing from Saul in the wilderness (a type of the flesh), David a type of the Spirit – foretelling Christ’s journey to put sin to death once and for all.
Isaiah 53:1 – 6 describes Christ’s journey to perfection, and 53:7 – 9 the events of Calvary.
Some hold “death” in Isaiah 53:9 in the Hebrew is plural, which some depict as relating to the intensity of Calvary’s cruelty in killing.
But, instead, it is likely a veiled revelation of the two glorifications of Christ (John 12:28).
His first glorification coming at his completion before ministry, entering immortality, resurrection life, having put to death the enmity in his flesh; his second glorification coming with his resurrection after Calvary.
Even Peter on the day of Pentecost referred to the two glorifications of Christ, which I have shown before.
Psalm 16, contrary to common teaching, is not about the resurrection of Christ after Calvary, but the resurrection of Christ to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:10, etc.), at his completion before ministry.
Present preaching and teaching about Calvary attributes many of the milestones in Christ’s personal life as occurring at the time of his murder (Acts 7:52), – glorifying the killing of Christ as God’s design for Christ from the beginning.
Whereas the Scripture attributes Christ’s major milestone – his perfection (atonement for his generations sins, ours), his name, his authority, and the New Covenant in him at his completion (Hebrews 5:7 – 10), before his ministry.
Note:
Christ was seated in heavenly places with his Father before Calvary, having all authority – healing, saving, signs, miracles, wonders, and a name above all names, becoming –
“the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (NIV, Hebrews 1:3, italicized mine)
The English of Hebrews 1:3 makes it sound like it occurs at the end of his ministry, after Calvary, but that is not how the Greek reads nor implies as Christ had a name above every name when he started his ministry, not at the end.
And he had all authority on earth and in Heaven at the beginning of his ministry, not just at the end.
Christ was at the right hand of his Father, seated in heavenly places, in his ministry.
When he was asked to show them the Father, Jesus said, in so many words, you are looking at him through me.
In other words, he was the manifest presence of God on earth in his ministry (NIV, Colossians 1:19), offering salvation, healing, etc., having put sins to death – i.e., “provided purification for sins” (NIV, Hebrews 1:3, italicized mine) – in his perfection (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10), which occurred before his ministry.
His ministry was a demonstration of his saving power, he was the Savior, Messiah, in flesh and blood, the Messiah of Isaiah 9:6 before Calvary, not after Calvary.
Those phrases speak of Christ’s relationship with his Father being the representation of his Father in signs, wonders, and miracles over three years of ministry having authority over life, death, and creation itself including the elements.
Seated in heavenly places refers to his place of authority, position, union with the Father, and not a literal, physical, geographic seat per se.
Jesus was everything he is and will always be at his completion, which occurred clearly by the Scriptures before his ministry.
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Note:
I suggest reading Matthew 21:33 to 22:14; 23:13-39 and Acts 7:52; Acts 2:23 in the Greek are two separate thoughts: God foreknew and predestined Christ – speaking of the design, plan, and prophecy of his coming, and lawless men put him to death – speaking of what men did to God’s offer of life.
By rejecting Christ, the Jewish nation came into “agreement” with Satan and his host; the voice of the Messiah would no longer be heard in Israel – they were cutting off access to salvation forever by killing Christ.
But God turned the tables on the enemy and through his preferred will Christ continued to extend grace offering his physical life (at Calvary) after he had already offered his life in being made perfect, becoming their Savior.
Finally, the New Testament (Christ) brought phrases like “blood sacrifice” to the heart – the giving of the entirety of one’s life in being made one with the Father, beginning with him first.
That “killing and sacrifice” are not synonymous but are opposed to each other when it comes to the New Testament being founded in Christ’s completion.
The many vivid descriptions in the NT letters of Christ being made perfect, pictured in putting sin to death in Scriptures, like Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, 1 Peter 2:24 (the latter part of the verse), and 3:18, and elsewhere, are not pictures of Christ at Calvary, as if he was an animal to be sacrificed like those under the Old Covenant.
But pictures of the enmity in his flesh being crucified by the cross of grace through faith in dependence upon God as our pioneering Savior, taking the punishment of being made perfect no one else could ever do.
The cross of grace through faith is a terror to the lower nature passed down from generation to generation, of which Christ, as the Scripture clearly teaches, was no exception.
Christ fulfilled all three feasts of the Old Testament, and the symbolism of all three courts of the Tabernacle/Temple being made complete, one with the Father.
The death of the testator is not the killing of Christ at Calvary, but the killing of the nature of sin passed down to Christ through his human ancestry under a brand new and better covenant.
The making of the one new man in Ephesians Chapter 2 is not the making of Jew and Gentile as one.
But the making of the new creation by the destruction of the enmity in Christ’s flesh – destroying the barrier between his flesh and the law – fulfilling the law perfectly (see Ephesians 2:14-16 in an interlinear).
This is what God always desired from humanity but could never have until he sent the promised graced to come in Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:10 – 12).
Another Look at the Word Blood in the New Testament
I am planning to have a lot more about “blood” in the next post, new understanding, at least to me.
Blood is the one and only word that can truly connect the depth of sacrifice across covenants, the Old Covenant foretelling in “type” the New to come.
The heart sacrifice of the Old in giving one’s prized possession (e.g., animal) is a “type” foretelling the heart sacrifice in the New in giving one’s life.
Under the Old, the heart was asked to relinquish to God its prized possession for sacrifice.
God provided the grace for this to happen.
Under the New Covenant, the “heart” is asked to relinquish its greatest and most prized possession – itself – for sacrifice.
Only by sacrificing itself to God, can it truly find life in Christ in the Spirit.
God provided the grace (1 Peter 1:10-12) for this to happen beginning with Christ’s heart (life) first, made one with the Father, by putting to death generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry (Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10, etc.).
Christ the “firstborn” (Colossians 1:15), “firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:20), “pioneer” (Hebrews 2:10), “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45), “forerunner” (Hebrews 6:20), and “perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2) of the New Covenant, becoming our Savior (Hebrews 5:7-10). NIV
And God provides the grace for this to happen in the hearts (lives) of those grafted into Christ (John 15:1-8, 1 Peter 1:13).
No other word captures the depth and entirety of the sacrifice of the heart (life) under the grace provided in both Covenants better than “blood.” (Matthew 26:28, John 6:53-63, 1 Cor. 2:13, 1 John 5:7-9, Rev. 5:9)
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The use of the phrase “a life sacrifice once and for all,” is vague and general, a phrase covering any number of broad concepts, subject to much interpretation, opening the door to many types of sacrifices.
Whereas the phrase “a blood sacrifice once for all,” is by its very nature the most intimate expression possible.
The phrase “a blood sacrifice,” means I gave you everything there is to give, body, soul, and spirit, heart, mind, and will, leaving nothing to sacrifice.
Jesus apprehended everything there was to apprehend by grace through faith in the promises of God; then offering what he apprehended completely to you and me, which we could never obtain on your own.
The phrase a “blood sacrifice,” connects the concept of the Old Testament sacrifice of offering what was necessary for life (the best from their flocks) in obedience to God in learning to trust him.
He was not interested in killing animals for the sake of killing them, as Isaiah says, but in cultivating dependence upon him to teach them to trust him.
The killing of humans as a sacrifice is anathema to God.
The use of the phrase blood sacrifice connected the concept of “life” – the giving of everything to God – not the killing of a person.
The Jew knowing sin transferred through the generations (as God said it would) would connect the concept of Christ’s “blood” to cleansing bloodlines, not to killing a person.
Those who were close to Christ came to understand through Christ the language of the New Covenant.
That when Jesus talked about his “blood” as a sacrifice, he was not only referring to cleansing bloodlines (their life) from sin (to heal them of their sins) but, was also describing the new intimacy of offering one’s life completely.
Blood is the only word truly showing the extent and depth of sacrifice it takes to put sin to death under the New Covenant by giving of oneself entirely to God by grace through faith in utter dependence upon him.
The Jews at the time of Christ knew the heart of the sacrificial system was repentance and forgiveness pictured in the shedding of the blood of animals, forgiven and legally cleansed from sin.
The New Covenant is not a degradation from the Old Covenant! It does not go from the need to kill an animal to killing a person, but to killing sin directly and experientially.
It is a step up the ladder by transforming grace and truth to put to death the fleshly nature so we can walk in newness of life, beginning with Christ first.
Killing someone does not put sin to death; but killing sin by grace through faith in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit does (NIV, Matthew 15:13; Romans 6:10, 2 Cor. 3:18, Hebrews 5:7-10).
Christendom calls the killing of Christ a sacrifice – a contradiction in terms as used in both the Old and New Testaments.
He did willingly lay down his physical life rather than take the Kingdom by force; not because it was a free will offering motivated as an offering to please God – a true sacrifice – but because he had a gun pointed to his head.
God was not pleased Israel killed Christ – Jesus told them there would be no more excuse for sin.
You do not hold a gun to someone’s head and plan their destruction and call that a free will sacrificial atoning sacrifice, neither Scripture nor common sense works that way – in the Old or New Testament.
Another contradiction of calling Calvary the sacrificial atonement of Christ is what Jesus said of the sign of Jonah, versus a free will sacrifice.
And Christ’s oration of the woes to those who were planning his murder versus a free will sacrifice.
And the parable where the owner of the land says the tenants will respect his son.
Another contradiction is Hebrews says the New Covenant is better.
How can it be better if the person who is the source of the New Covenant (having entered resurrection life, being made perfect (NIV, Hebrews 5:7-10)), is required to be killed – the one who pioneered and authored the Covenant – who offered it for over 3 years, the one God desired them to receive (Matthew 21:37)!
Obviously, the creeds must be wrong and the Bible right.
Is not the enemy sin, and the power of sin, and its ability to keep people sinning and in a sinful state?
If the New Covenant changes that, so people can be healed and restored, does it take the killing of the author, especially if the author’s commission by his Father was to put sin to death, becoming the testator of a New Covenant by his death to sin, raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10)?
Did not Christ walk in new life (Romans 6:10) – in signs, wonders, and miracles – over 3 years, trying to persuade Israel to receive him, he even hoped for a fourth year – that does not look like he was going out of his way to be killed, just the opposite.
Forgiveness of sins existed before Christ came.
But Christ’s forgiveness would be transformative, changing the nature of humanity, that was what was at stake, i.e., the killing of sin and the formation of a new nature in wholeness and holiness.
Christ did everything to avoid Calvary; he certainly did not think his killing was a better covenant; he made it quite clear what he thought of those who were planning his death in his parable of the landowner, wedding banquet, and woes!
We know the Father did not command Christ to die at Calvary, but made known his “preferred will,” that Christ continue his mission of peace, but would come to his aid if he decided to take the Kingdom by force.
You do not harshly rebuke those planning your killing and in the same breath say it is God’s ordained and predestined will.
Remember what Jesus said about a kingdom divided against itself.
Another contradiction is combining the separate prophecies of Christ’s coming, and his rejection, into one stream; when they are two separate streams: one planned by God, and one by the enemy through unrepentant men.
Finally, the prophets “seeing” into the future the rejection of the Messiah does not mean God predestined and foreordained Christ’s killing, but rather, this is what will happen if unrepentant men do not come to repentance.
Just like the Great Falling Away is not something ordained by God but something that will happen if God’s children do not seek Christ.
OBSTACLES CHRISITIANS FACE to ENTERING TABERNACLES (PHILADELPHIA CHURCH AGE) the JOURNEY CHRIST PIONEERED for Himself and Us
I.
Contrary to Creeds and Traditions, It Is Not What You “Believe” about Jesus, but Whether You “Know” Him (Matthew 7:23, 25:12)
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (NIV, 1 Peter 1:18 – 19)
Note:
Christ was the perfect lamb offered to God in being made one with him (John 1:29, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10).
His triumph over generational sin (passed to him from his human ancestry, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear) without sinning, putting it to death, made complete, made him the perfect blood sacrifice to God.
Finally, someone who could give him (the Father) their whole life and not sin – that person would stand in for everybody else – he would use Christ to begin a new lineage of life based on putting sin to death – transformation and sanctification.
And he would offer it to Israel first, they were to be the head of nations.
Being made perfect from generational transgressions and iniquities while never sinning is salvation, the return of eternal life in flesh and blood, what Adam and Eve lost, what God always desired, but could never have until Christ.
The old man – the lower nature passed to all human beings, including Christ – being put to death – which Christ did perfectly without sin – is the death of the “testator” God was looking for all along.
You do not need to physically die to be raised from the dead, you can be raised from the dead (mortality) by putting sin to death, walking in new resurrection life – which Christ did perfectly (Hebrews 5:7-10, 7:16, Romans 8:10-11, 1 Corinthians 15, Ephesians 5:14, Philippians 3:11 – Paul is speaking of resurrection life here on earth, not when he gets to Heaven).
Christ was the completeness of God manifested in the flesh – Calvary was the rejection of who Christ was, not the making of who Christ would become.
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There are major obstacles Christendom erected in creeds in the fourth and fifth centuries Christians must overcome (at some level) to grasp the knowledge of the deep work of the Spirit God is offering in Tabernacles (Philadelphia).
Because holding steadfast to the creeds lends to “camping,” a state of complacency; seeing salvation as an event, and not a journey; neglecting to stir hearts to seek a deeper relationship with Christ, so critical as times get darker.
Creeds and traditions do not call God’s sons and daughters to be “known” by Christ as the Scripture does – to go beyond the new birth and Pentecost into the deep things of Christ in encounter.
Tragically, creeds and traditions have become the interpretation of the Bible, a higher authority – just like Jesus warned in the parable of the yeast.
Important
It is not what you “believe” about Jesus, contrary to creeds, traditions, statements of faith, church doctrines, etc., but whether you “know” him intimately, and he you.
The age of knowing “about” Jesus solely in the new birth and Pentecost (Sardis age), has passed.
We are in Philadelphia, the age where Jesus desires to encounter you and me in ongoing intimacy in growing union.
And transformation by the Spirit of God in healing and restoration – putting sin to death by the cross of grace through faith – is the only way intimacy can come about.
This is the journey of being made one with Christ promised in the Scripture – the “coming” “appearing” “revealing” “taking” and “judging” point to the time in our journey where Jesus brings you and me through the open door of Philadelphia, into the deep work of the Spirit of grace in being made one with him.
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It is the journey he pioneered for cleansing and healing from wounds and brokenness and the sins that feed upon them.
It is not creeds and traditions we are to seek with our whole heart and fall in love with, but Jesus.
You do not need a set of beliefs created by others to “know” and be “known” by your spouse, or those you deeply love.
Jesus said, “‘No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’” (NIV, Matthew 11:27)
You must have an intimate relationship with someone to know them, and for them to know you.
Our salvation relationship is not with printed words handed down for memorization, but with the person of Christ.
Believing church doctrines does not translate into intimacy and transformation, but changed from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ does (NIV, 2 Corinthians 3:18).
Until Christ encounters you and me in our orphan state, we remain orphans, though children of God.
But to make us Fathers, we need to be fathered in journey with Christ, just as he was fathered by his Heavenly Father (Hebrews 5:7-10).
Only Christ can cleanse and heal our wounds and brokenness – to free you and me from the captivity and prison of sin – to change us from orphans to young men and fathers – and that can only be accomplished in encounter with him.
And Philadelphia is the age he has reserved – the best for last – specifically for that purpose.
Experiencing only the new birth and Pentecost is not going on to completion.
They start the pilgrimage (God designed them to create desire for a deeper relationship with him, e.g., Philippians 3:12) but creeds and traditions, a powerful force in Christendom, smother attempts to pursue the deep promises of God in Christ.
The deeper relationship, going on to completion, is the heart and theme of the New Testament, something Old Testaments saints could not fully apprehend.
It underlies the foundation of the NT in Christ, the promised grace to come.
And coming to completion is the greatest opportunity and promise of this age, i.e., Philadelphia.
Important
The purpose of creeds was to create a universal standard for measuring whether someone was a Christian (whether born again or not); there would be one accepted doctrine of thought and belief about God, Christ, and salvation.
Creeds are man’s attempt to codify a central “belief system” for understanding Scripture, having the effect through the centuries of interpreting Scripture in the light of creeds, creating a private interpretation of Scripture.
Creeds were designed to tell us the meaning of Scripture, replacing and discouraging individual pursuit of revelation, discovery, and intimacy with Christ.
***
What started out as a good intention became a barrier.
Because Scripture became dependent on schooled men, creating an “authority” for accessing Christ and the things of the Spirit, contrary to the teachings of Christ and Scripture.
Each member of the body of Christ is responsible for pursuing the Lord, it cannot be transferred to others.
Which is why five virgins are called foolish in Matthew 25, because they want what others sought Christ for.
When the creeds were written in the fourth and fifth centuries, the pioneering journey of Christ of putting the enmity in his flesh to death (NIV, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10), by the cross of grace through faith had long been lost.
The Church was in the latter time of the “mustard seed,” the ending of the Pergamum Church age, and the beginning of the long dark season of “yeast kneaded through dough,” (NIV, Matthew 13:33), i.e., the beginning of the dark age of Thyatira.
Note:
Galatians, Thyatira, and the parable of the yeast in dough all speak “symbolically” of the fourth church age – the darkest period and deepest decline of the body of Christ.
Tragically, creeds and traditions create a system to judge people by what they confess, instead of who they become, just like the Jews of old.
The Jews pointed to father Abraham, not realizing what father Abraham foretold was standing before them in the man Christ Jesus.
Today, some in Christendom point to the Church fathers of the fourth and fifth century, etc., as the pillars of Christian doctrine and understanding, robbing many of the knowledge we are to pursue Christ for the deep work of the Spirit of grace in being made intimate and one with him.
Creeds become prominent when intimacy becomes scarce.
Important
This is the tragedy of creeds: instead of steering men and women to seek to encounter Christ beyond the new birth and Pentecost, they replace encounter with a surface level understanding of what to believe.
And this becomes fertile ground for becoming comfortable in what one thinks they know, instead of who they know, and who knows them.
We must seek encounter with the Lord to have intimacy with God and unveiling of the mystery of Christ.
There is no other avenue or path to the discovery and unveiling of God’s Word except through intimacy with Christ.
Absent intimacy with Christ, men, and women, are left to their own devices – their own scrambling to understand the Scriptures, becoming dependent upon others.
***
A relationship is not something bottled for display in creeds and traditions, but something only known through personal contact and experience.
The attempt to communicate Christianity to a larger audience who did not have access to Scripture was noble.
But the effort to standardize and institutionalize Christianity stripped the Scripture of Christ’s pioneering journey: to encounter Christ, to become fathers instead of remaining orphans, changing the theme of the NT from “life” to “death.”
Death is the hallmark of the teaching about Calvary – that the atoning work of Christ occurred at Calvary – instead of what the Scripture teaches – the atoning work of Christ occurred in his perfection, before his ministry, presenting “life” to Israel over 3 years (Romans 5:10).
It is the death of his Son to sin – to put sin to death, raised to walk in new life, which brings life – not the killing of Christ, but the killing of sin!
This is the theme of the entire New Testament – Christ died (to sins), raised to walk in new life, his first glorification, becoming our kinsman-redeemer (Romans 6:10; NIV, Hebrews 5:7-10, 1 Peter 3:18).
His second glorification came after Calvary, his resurrection (John 12).
Important
How often do ministers preach the need to pursue intimacy with Christ?
How many are heralding the cry for adventure and intimacy with Jesus, to seek him with all our hearts in pursuit of encounter with him?
Why are ministers not crying out to their congregations the hour is late, the day well spent, now more than ever we need to seek encounter with the Lord?
Why are ministers not crying out to their congregations to seek healing and restoration, as Paul admonishes in 2 Corinthians 7:1?
Why are ministers not crying out to their congregations the warning in Hebrews, if we let the promises of God go unfulfilled in our lives (NIV, Hebrews 4:1), we will be like Israel of old who die in the wilderness?
Why are ministers not warning their congregations of the Great Falling Away (2 Thessalonians 2:3), in the last days, about being lukewarm?
How do the warnings of Zechariah 10:3 apply to our generations?
What power lies behind creeds and traditions, where people are instructed in the teachings of the Church fathers, but not instructed to earnestly seek encounter with Christ?
One final thought.
Jesus gave his life in being made perfect (a living, breathing, “blood” sacrifice, i.e., the entirety of his life) – transformed from a body destined to die (mortal) to resurrection life (immortality, e.g., Hebrews 7:16), fulfilling Psalm 16 in the flesh before his ministry.
This is the heart of the Gospel – not only cleansing and healing from sin but the restoration of what Adam and Eve lost in the Garden – the return of eternal life – which Christ apprehended in the flesh by putting to death the enmity in his flesh!
God presented the perfect Christ as a “living breathing blood sacrifice” in the flesh to Israel for over three years not so people could be legally forgiven of sins (God forgave sins in the Old Testament), but so people could be made righteous – cleansed, healed and restored from sin and its power.
That is the promise of the New Covenant – a rich and vibrant life with Christ this side of Heaven – putting the old man to death to walk in new life – resurrection life: a new creation in wholeness and holiness.
Creeds and traditions give no recognition to the deep work of the Spirit of grace in apprehending the promises of God in the here and now; to truly be made a new creation this side of the great divide.
II.
Another Obstacle Is the Teaching All Christians Go in the Rapture before the Tribulation
1 Thess. 4:13 – 18 is the Basis for This Teaching
If Christians believe a “rapture” (men and women entering Heaven directly body, soul, and spirit, like Enoch, Moses, and Elijah), will occur before the Tribulation, and the Scripture bears witness to this (with qualifications), then how much more is it possible for God to put sin to death in our lives – heal and restore you and me to new life this side of Heaven – before the rapture?
If God has the power to initiate a global rapture of his children from earth to Heaven, then he most certainly has the power to put sin to death in our lives by grace through faith in repentance as the Scripture promises.
If we hope for rapture, how much more should we hope to be made new from the inside out now, like Scripture exhorts.
If God can defeat the sting of death by taking us directly to Heaven, then he can most certainly defeat the sting of sin which leads to death, transforming our mortal bodies to resurrection life now.
This is what Christ pioneered for himself and those who earnestly seek a deeper walk with him, particularly in this season of time, the age of Philadelphia.
The greatest miracle of the Scripture – the mystery of Christ – having the greatest impact, outside the story of Christ, is God’s promise to put sin to death in our lives so we can live, move, and have our being in the Spirit of God.
This is what Abraham looked for, and what the prophets desired to understand (Hebrews 11:10; 1 Peter 1:10-12).
Important
The enemy has had a field day with the body of Christ: working behind the scenes through “holes” in understanding created by creeds and traditions; knowing the “journey of preparation” necessary for rapture is hidden from mainstream Christianity.
The enemy is not alarmed with the preaching of the rapture, because he has hidden (buried), the “journey of preparation” under Calvary, making Calvary the focus instead of journey in growing intimacy and union with Christ.
The journey of “‘new wine in new wineskins,’” (NIV, Mark 2:22, italicized mine), the cross of grace through faith in utter dependence upon God, the baptism of Christ, to be “crucified with Christ,” (NIV, Galatians 2:20), to die daily (NIV, 1 Cor. 15:31), to suffer the sufferings of Christ (NIV, Romans 8:17), to put away sin to walk in new life (NIV, Romans 6:10), offering our lives a living sacrifice in being made new, etc., have been replaced in Christendom with the event of Calvary.
The enemy has hidden the open door of Philadelphia behind a wall of creeds and traditions – cleverly mixing yeast in the Word of God – teaching there is no need to prepare to enter Philadelphia, and thus, no preparation is needed to be raptured, a false doctrine clearly from some other place than the Bible.
What if Noah had not prepared the Ark; Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before confronting Pharoah; Joshua 40 years in the wilderness before crossing the Jordan; Samuel learning to discern God’s voice before being judge of Israel?
David spent 15 years in the wilderness before becoming King; John the Baptist years in the wilderness preparing for Christ, and Christ years in the wilderness learning obedience, putting sin to death (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10).
Paul spent time in the wilderness getting revelation from the Lord; and Peter was told another would come along side him and lead him differently than he had known (John 21:18-19).
***
Many today are instructed to avoid sin (which is good), to seek and fulfill one’s destiny, calling, talents, gifts, etc.
But how many are urged to earnestly seek intimacy with Christ, to journey with him through the valley of death (death to sin, Psalm 23), to seek the wilderness journey where there are limitations and boundaries placed upon our lives (Psalm 16), to be cleansed (2 Corinthians 7:1), healed and restored (Romans 6 & 8:10-11, 2 Cor. 13:9-11, 1 Peter 5:10), filled with the fullness of Christ (Philippians 3:21)?
We cannot shortcut the journey to the mountaintop of catching away (rapture).
The catching away in Christ occurs for those who have been transformed by the deep work of the Spirit, who have fallen in love with him and he with them (Song of Songs).
Modern Christendom points God’s sons and daughters directly to the banquet, instead of the long journey of preparation, where through intimacy and encounter with Christ “wedding garments,” are made for those seeking union with him.
Our garments are made, spiritually speaking, as our wounds are cleansed, healed, and restored.
We cannot bypass healing and restoration and expect to become a bride.
There is design in our journey, just like most everything in the Kingdom of God; God designed specific stages of growth and levels of interaction with him that cannot be sidestepped, bypassed, or leapfrogged if you want intimacy.
Modern Christians are instructed to look for the wedding feast but not the journey of buying the clothes required to enter the feast.
We have been instructed to multi-task, shortcut, streamline, be everywhere, but nowhere (phones, internet, etc.); we see the outcome of that way of life in the foolish virgins of Matthew 25 – disaster.
Important
Today much of the body of Christ is looking across the valley to the mountain top of the rapture, neglecting to undertake the journey through the valley of death required to reach the summit.
Without going through the valley of death (putting to death sin in our life, determined for this age for those who want intimacy with him), we cannot have deep intimacy with him, the foolish virgins as an example.
Remember, Satan fell as an angel in Heaven.
There is a certain minimum journey in each age to have intimacy with Christ, because in Heaven there are various levels of intimacy with the Lord (for example, the Song of Songs mentions the bride, queens, concubines, and virgins as symbolic of places of relationship).
Revelation also shows various levels of intimacy with the Lord.
There is no such thing as a “zip line,” to go from one summit to another; we must go through the valley of death to put sin to death to be raised to walk in new life, to ascend the mountain on the other side of the valley.
Laodiceans are another picture of the foolish virgins failing to “hear” the cry of the Spirit in the last days to prepare – to buy gold in the valley of death.
Instead, the Laodiceans will have to buy gold in the valley of the Tribulation to make Heaven their home.
Very Important
Again, books and preachers teach the Rapture is an event, and not the “result” of a journey; making it a “resurrection,” not realizing it is not a resurrection, but a catching away of those who are “living in resurrection life!”
You do not marry someone you do not know (Matthew 25:12, Revelation 3:14-22).
Christ does not rapture someone into his arms if they are not in rapturous love with him, having courted, disciplined, healed, and restored them.
Resurrection “life” comes after a person has died to sin, the rapture is not a resurrection, but the result for those “living in resurrection life.”
Again, this is key, the rapture is the catching away of those who are walking in resurrection life, not the catching away of those who have yet to enter the pioneering journey of Christ, i.e., to be made complete.
If we believe God is going to make us a new creation “in” Heaven – that, that is where healing and restoration occurs (which is not Scriptural), then, why can’t he do it now, this side of Heaven, where we need it most (which is Scriptural)?
As John Eldredge teaches, there is “a way” things work.
We cannot have the result without the process: the journey of being made one in intimacy and union with Christ through God’s training circle.
Salvation is a Journey, Not an Event
Our salvation in Christ is a journey, not an event (Philippians 2:12).
The Bible is not just one verse, but an expression of God’s heart and love for you and me over the course of our life, not just one point in time.
You cannot look at one Scripture about salvation and conclude it sums up the plan of God for being made into the likeness of Christ.
The Rapture is the result of coming to completion in the journey of being made like Christ; it is not an event that happens throughout Christendom uniformly regardless of where one is in their individual journey.
It is the result of growing in intimacy and union with Christ in the journey he pioneered for being made one with him during a season of time (Philadelphia) he’s reserved specifically for that purpose for those who seek him.
The history of the Bible is one of journey.
Of the seven church ages Philadelphia is the high watermark, the greatest promises for those who seek intimacy and union with Christ.
It is not that those who enter the deep work of the Spirit of grace are better than others, but they sought a deeper relationship with Christ beyond the new birth and Pentecost – the deep work of healing in growing intimacy and union.
It is to those of Philadelphia the promise is made to escape what is coming to pass upon the earth (Revelation 3:10).
After Adam’s fall, it took God over four thousand years in labor with people to make ready everything for the greatest of his creation: the man Christ Jesus who would become the Savior of the world (Hebrews 5:7-10).
And his plan is to do another creative wonder this time at the end of the Gospel era, in the last of the last days: the end-time bride and her ministry.
God labored for over 4 millenniums to have his perfect Son, and Christ has been laboring for almost 2 millenniums to have his bride.
There are likely “brides” from other church ages (and from the Old Testament for sure, the likes of Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and likely many of the prophets, and others we do not know about), but Philadelphia has a specific calling to be chosen for the deep work of God as the final work of the Lord in the Gospel era.
Why Tribulation?
Why must there be a horrific natural and spiritual war, men, women, angels, and creation must endure for over seven years on the earth?
We must remember Adam and Eve ceded authority over this creation to their fallen offspring under the dominion of fallen angels when they turned from God.
Ever since, humanity has been at war with themselves, angels at war with angels, and humanity at war with angels of light and angels of darkness.
Creation is in a state of war, not peace.
Our Christian “peace” does not release you and me from our steadfastness to resist evil and fight the war of faith by grace in healing and restoration for ourselves, and for others.
Adam and Eve’s sin affected everything, creating strife and evil in the heavens and earth, between righteous and unrighteous, whether people, or fallen or holy angels.
Satan has legal and experiential claim to earth because of mankind’s intimate relationship with him – and in this time of history it is growing once again more intimate with each passing year.
Fallen angels and certain men and women in darkness having been scheming for 6 millenniums to take control of the earth, even though they have tried through various world kingdoms and failed.
It takes the warfare of the Tribulation to free humanity from the power of darkness of the fallen angels and those they control, who serve their purposes of embracing, promoting, and spreading evil, like the Harlot, 10 Kings, false prophets, etc.
It takes a fight (spiritual warfare, not physical warfare) to get back what humanity lost, whether in one’s salvation journey, or the end-times; humanity has always been and will always be in a fight for life against darkness, until righteousness reigns supreme in Christ’s millennial rule.
Important
Many have been taught to see the Tribulation as a one-way event: the release of judgments upon fallen humanity, but there is more to it, that’s only part of the story, because Satan through humanity fights to the end.
On one side of the end-time battle is Christ, angels of light, the bride ministry here on earth, living creatures, two witnesses, Tribulation saints, and others who resist the Antichrist system.
On the other side of the battle is Satan and his kingdom, spiritual wickedness in high places – prince spirits like the lion, leopard, and bear, rulers, authorities, and powers of the demonic in the world system, false prophets, 10 Kings, those who comprise the Harlot (influentials), and mankind in general who resist repentance.
God could zap evil in a second, but this is our Heaven and Earth.
We must spiritually fight for our own restoration by the power of the Holy Spirit as led and guided by the Lord – seeking him to come and fight on our behalf.
One way of fighting is seeking healing, prepared, and equipped by the Lord for what is coming; advancing the Kingdom of God in our lives and in the lives of others God sends our way.
The fight against the enemy now is about restoration, the preparation of the bride, a weapon the Lord can use in the end-times to help rescue and heal.
We know from Scripture the bride before the Tribulation wins her fight, and the saints in the Tribulation who refuse the mark of the beast win their fight.
But everyone else in the Tribulation, except for the 144,000 and others unnamed, lose their opportunity for restoration (except those who make it through to give their life to Christ in the Millennium).
The Tribulation is seasoned spiritual warriors fighting seasoned spiritual warriors, proving Christ is true, trustworthy, powerful: that men and women by grace through faith in Christ can prevail against spiritual darkness.
The Tribulation will usher the bride (now in Heaven, seen as the living creatures) and the saints in the Tribulation to a level of warfare (living creatures: seals, Tribulation saints: plagues), cementing their future positions with Christ as joint rulers in the Millennium.
The training, equipping, and preparation we receive now is not just for this life, but for what is coming, whether in Heaven or on earth.
It takes the Tribulation to rid the earthly-spiritual realm of the rulers, authorities, powers, and wickedness deeply woven in men and women’s hearts and lives.
We must remember the Tribulation is not a one-way fight against evil, evil is fighting back by killing saints and later those who helped bring it to power (the Harlot, i.e., the influential).
Darkness does everything possible in the Tribulation to harden men and women’s hearts in unrepentance – to lock them in darkness forever.
God desires people to repent during this period, to enter the Millennium in a repentant state; the enemy wants nothing of that, working throughout to destroy anyone who is a threat, making it as hard as possible for anyone to be saved in the Tribulation or on the other side.
The Fight over Likeness
From the beginning, the plan of God was to make men and women into his likeness over journey, and it has not changed.
Adam and Eve fell in their journey to be made like God, turning toward Satan (they were created complete for their stage of development, but the human heart takes a long journey to be made complete as God desires).
Please remember, the heart was created to be made perfect through relationship with God.
God usurped Satan’s plan quickly by killing an animal and clothing them with a garment, giving them another chance to journey through repentance and forgiveness, though they could never come to completion like God originally designed – that would take the coming of Christ.
Fast-forward 4000 years and Christ came to make repentance and forgiveness experientially effective by grace through faith, not only forgiving sins, but by putting them to death, the first to start the new creation of God in him – restoring what Adam and Eve lost, finishing the race perfectly, without sin, in new life (resurrection life) this side of Heaven.
This is what Christ offered to Israel – the new creation, healing, and restoration, bringing an end to sin by putting it to death, to walk in resurrection life.
Fast-forward two thousand years, Christ, in the age of Philadelphia brings his bride to maturity and fullness (2 Cor. 3:18; Ephesians 4:13, 5:26-27; Philippians 3:10-12, 3:21; Revelation 3:7-13, 12:5), bringing to completion his pioneering journey for them.
Those who come to maturity in the end-times will be a “safe place” of care for the untold thousands who come to salvation on the eve of the Tribulation.
Satan is bringing many into his likeness, making successive generations more like him right up to the Tribulation.
Many will turn to darkness in the end-times; had not the Holy Spirit built a hedge, the bride and Christians at large would all be killed (2 Thessalonians 2:7; Revelation 12).
Note:
Despite the Dragon waiting to devour the bride (Revelation 12, the child in the womb (Philadelphia/Tabernacles) of the Church (woman)), the child will birth and mature in journey with Christ being made one with him.
Revelation 12 is about a century of concurrent ages, i.e., Philadelphia and Laodicea coming to fullness.
Those who come to fullness in Philadelphia/Tabernacles are eventually raptured after the last great revival on the eve of the Tribulation; those who do not come to maturity, Laodicea, flee from the Dragon into the wilderness of the Tribulation, giving their lives to be saved, or taking the mark of the beast (Rev. 13).
***
Many in the end-times will come to Christ, go deeper in their relationship with Christ, or go deeper in their relationship with darkness.
It will be harder and harder to stay indifferent in the years to come.
Those who go deeper in darkness will have their day of “dark Pentecost” with the outpouring of darkness – the casting out of Satan and his host – at the beginning of the Tribulation, possessing men and women like never before.
The first half of the Tribulation will be a time of life and death decision-making – to take the mark of the beast or not.
Those who take the mark will enter the final phase of their journey of being made into the likeness of darkness; ushering upon themselves the last phase of God’s measured judgments – the Trumpets and the Plagues – destroying those who destroy the temple of God (the body, soul, and spirit, 2 Corinthians 5).
The last half of the Tribulation will be evil’s “dark Tabernacle.”
Unlike God’s Tabernacle, where people are brought into intimacy and union with Christ (resurrection life), evil’s dark Tabernacle will bring people into intimacy and union with darkness, eternal death.
Satan will also have his bride (those intimate with him) in the false prophets.
Satan’s queens are the 10 Kings, and his concubines, those who comprise the Harlot – the influential, i.e., those who promoted and multiplied Satan’s kingdom of darkness in the lives of men and women.
Christ’s bride, and the saints martyred in the Tribulation (his queens), will rule and reign with him in the Millennium.
It is not a coincidence the time of the seals is also the time where the mark of the beast is “sealing people;” the enemy sealing them in the “doom” of eternal darkness.
Those who take the mark of the beast will remain fatherless, orphans forever – it is dreadful even to consider such things.
What a terror the Tribulation will be globally, there will be no escaping it, because for a brief time the enemy will have free reign on the earth.
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended in limited measure.
(If Israel had received Christ the Holy Spirit would have come in greater measurer.)
After the rapture of the bride (Revelation 3:10, 12:5), Satan and his host are cast out of Heaven (Revelation 12), creating an outpouring of darkness upon humanity; God removing the bride as the last barrier to the fullness of evil on earth, 2 Thessalonians 2:7.
It is not a coincidence the “trumpets” announce another phase of judgments.
As God’s trumpets (the criers of Matthew 25) announce to the virgins the last call for union with Christ in Philadelphia (Tabernacles), so to God’s judgment trumpets (Rev. 8) announce the beginning of union with the king of darkness, Satan.
Christ will receive glory through his bride, Tribulation saints, 144,000, and two witnesses, or he will receive glory from those who rejected him through the exposure of their thoughts, words, and deeds.
The Tribulation will bring full disclosure of everything hidden and secreted away in sin and darkness.
Just as the Lord is preparing a bride today, in the age of Philadelphia (Tabernacles), the enemy is also preparing a bride and will seal her to him forever in the Tribulation.
Those who embrace the power of humanism – to become one’s own god, savior – are targets for the enemy for intimacy with him, preparing them for the “supernatural of darkness” (Rev. 13:13-14).
The Tribulation Will:
- purify those who seek purity: the saints (Laodiceans) who find themselves stranded in the Tribulation, having no other option than giving their life as a sacrifice in pursuit of Christ, or taking the mark of the beast,
- reveal and expose darkness for those who seek darkness,
- reveal the hidden and secret things of the heart for Christian and non-Christian alike,
- begin the earth’s journey of being cleansed from evil for one thousand years.
Outline
The Rapture Is the Result of a Journey, Not an Event
The Rapture is Alluded to in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Revelation 3:10, and Revealed in Revelation 12:5
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 Is Not the Rapture, but the Joining Together of the Bride (those who come to fullness) in the End-Times (See “Introduction” Above))
I created this outline as an overview for a session I am teaching.
If you follow the outline and references you should be able to glean from the flow of the material the Rapture is the result of a journey, and not an event.
The Rapture is the result of a specific work of God in those who seek him, like Moses, Enoch, and Elijah, and not a universal event for everyone who has experienced the new birth.
The Scripture teaches those who come to completion in the age of Philadelphia will be the target of the first revealing of the Antichrist.
The enemy seeks to kill (Revelation 12:4), those who come to completion (Romans 8:10-11, 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49; 2 Cor. 3:18; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 3:7-13), because they are used by God in the end time revival (the wounding of the Beast, Rev. 13:3 & 17:11).
Those who come to completion are caught away scarcely escaping the Dragon just before the Tribulation begins. (Revelation 3:10 & 12:5).
The “son” of Revelation 12:5 is not Christ (another teaching required), but the bride. (The pregnant woman of Revelation 12 has nothing to do with the story of Mary and Christ, nor Israel and Christ, but represents the last day Laodiceans.)
Revelation 12 is a snapshot of the concurrent ages of Philadelphia and Laodicea, encompassing the last century of the Gospel era, starting in the early part of the last half of the 20th century.
The woman of Revelation 12 are Christians outside the bride (Laodicea), who flee into the wilderness of the Tribulation giving their lives to escape the beast.
Those who come to completion, i.e., the bride fashioned and formed in Philadelphia (Romans 8:10-11, 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49; 2 Cor. 3:18; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:26 – 27; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 3:7 – 13, etc.), are seen, after the Rapture, ministering as the “living creatures,” from Heaven during the Tribulation.
Background
- Only the books of Matthew, Luke and Acts have more chapters in the New Testament than Revelation.
- Revelation completes the history of humanity in this creation.
- Genesis to Malachi covers the acts of creation and the history of humanity from Adam and Eve to the beginning of the silent years before Christ.
- Based on the generations in the Old Testament, scholars estimate the time from Adam and Eve to Christ to be about four millenniums, about four thousand years.
- If we “assume” each day of creation spanned about one thousand years, then Adam and Eve were likely created about six thousand years after the beginning of creation, likely near the end of the sixth day; then God’s “seventh day of rest” would likely coincide with the first millennium of mankind, Adam’s life span.
- If that is the case, we are presently about six thousand years from the creation of Adam and Eve, or twelve thousand years from the beginning of the acts of creation, Christ’s rule would then span the 13th millennium from the start of the acts of creation.
- It is important to note, each act of creation foretells and prefigures in theme and progression the seven periods of mankind’s time on earth; some call them seven dispensations, from Adam and Eve to Christ’s millennial rule; truths hidden in creation (Matt 13:35).
- And it is not a coincidence the seven parables of Christ in Matt. 13 and Paul’s first seven letters to the Churches prefigure and foretell in theme and progression the seven church ages of Revelation, with 1 Thess. symbolic of the Church on the eve of the Tribulation, and 2 Thess. in the Tribulation.
- For example, in terms of symbolism prefiguring and foretelling the future, there is none greater than the creation of the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day, foretelling the coming of the Messiah four millenniums after Adam.
- The moon is symbolic of the Old Testament having no light, “life,” of itself, except as revealed by the sun, i.e., the New Testament.
- The sun is symbolic of Christ, the New Testament in flesh and blood (Malachi pointing out “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing” NIV, 4:2, italicized mine; Christ’s “face shone like the sun” NIV, Matthew 17:2, italicized mine, and see also Revelation 1:16).
- The stars are symbolic of the saints from the Old Testament given eternal life by the coming of the Messiah (at his perfection, Christ passed through the heavens, mortality becoming immortality, Hebrews 4:14, 7:16). See also Daniel 12:3, Matthew 13:43.
- In symbolism, re: the moon and the sun, the Old Testament is the New Testament “concealed” and the New Testament is the Old Testament “revealed.”
Journey
The overarching theme of Scripture is journey; therefore, it is likely creation was not a literal “day.” Artistry takes time.
If we know anything about the Lord God, he is an artist; artists do not rush their masterpiece, but make sure everything is complete before they display their work – the Lord is no different.
The majesty of God is not doing everything quickly, or, instantaneous, which he can do – making something from nothing; the majesty of God is doing things over time for those involved in the process to assimilate, receive, and conform to the moving of his Spirit.
And this would apply to the angels who watched over the balcony of Heaven as God displayed his creative power in making our universe; they were included in the process as future ministers of God to the earth and humanity.
Thus, it is likely creation was a process of time over a six-thousand-year period before Adam and Eve, in conformance with the story humanity was brought into, and the day of rest (likely a millennium) coincided with mankind’s first millennium.
God knew before creating Adam and Eve they would fall, so he embedded in the creation story the journey of redemption by Christ on the fourth day (end of the fourth, beginning of the fifth), knowing it would take four millenniums from Adam and Eve to prepare hearts for Christ and another two millenniums to complete the Gospel era for a corporate bride.
Believers know God can do anything instantaneously, but he limits those to rare occasions, suffering long with turning the human heart to him.
Please remember, the human heart was not created perfect, but was created to be made perfect.
Christ not only finished the race Adam and Eve failed to complete – perfectly, but he also redeemed mankind in the process, atoning for sin in being made complete – through the long journey of putting sin to death – i.e., suffering the wounding and piercing of wounds and brokenness for his generations by the cross of grace through faith.
Wounds and the sins that feed upon them must be wounded, opened, so cleansing and healing can flow, physically, and spiritually (Isaiah 1:5-7, 53:4-6).
Remember, Christ was made in our likeness; though conceived in grace – grace trumping the predisposition to sin – he inherited his generations fallen nature, which he had to put to death by the cross of grace through faith for mankind to be saved; his greatest fear was not physical death, but spiritual death by sinning (James 1, Hebrews 5:7).
In his perfection he became the author of life, so those who receive him may have life, body, soul, and spirit, in journey with him in what he pioneered. (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 2:10, 5:7-10, 7:16, etc.)
- The completion of the bride in the last days (plus any brides from earlier church ages including the Old Testament), before the Tribulation fulfills the joining of spiritual Adam (Christ), and spiritual Eve (the bride), restoring in the Gospel age what Adam and Eve lost six millenniums earlier.
- The New Testament has three witnesses to the seven church ages: Revelation, Ephesus to Laodicea, Paul’s nine letter to the Churches, and Christ’s seven parables of Matthew 13.
They follow similar themes, progression, and outcomes, excepting the “net,” which is a picture of the end-time revival, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians, which are pictures of the Church on the cusp of the Tribulation and the first half.
(Note: the symbolism of Paul’s and Christ’s letters do not take away from their primary purpose – letters to churches.)
- All three witnesses of the seven church ages (the first five we see in our rearview mirror, with the last two occurring before our eyes), show similar progressions and themes over the two-millennial Gospel era.
- Another example, “Romans, Ephesus, and the Sower sowing seed” speak of the beginning church and Christian journey after Acts; “Galatians, Thyatira, and the yeast mixed in dough” show the Church and Christian journey at its worse, enveloped in creeds and sin, whereas “Philippians, Philadelphia, and the pearl” its high point, the bride – the theme and progression is amazing!
- Where Acts ends, the seven church ages begin.
- The present concurrent ages of Philadelphia/Laodicea come to different endings – Philadelphia, the Rapture of the bride; Laodicea, the end of the first half of the Great Tribulation.
- In terms of human history, the book of Revelation covers the greatest recorded time span of God’s relationship with people; a time span of over three millenniums, thus the importance of understanding Revelation.
- The Bible not only shows where we have been since the dawn of creation, but where we are presently in the 21st century, (Philadelphia and Laodicea).
- Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation cover almost two thousand years of history with Chapter 12 covering the last hundred years of church history, and we are beyond the midpoint of that.
- The greatest concentration of elapsed time in detail is the time right before the Tribulation (Chapter 12), the Tribulation (numerous chapters), and the New Heaven and New Earth of Chapters 21 and 22.
- Chapters 6 through 11, part of twelve, and 13 through 19 are Tribulation specific.
- Outside of the Gospels, the 14 Chapters in Revelation covering the Tribulation are the greatest concentration of detail on a subject in the New Testament.
- Chapter 12 in Revelation is one of the most important Chapters, it is the glue that brings everything together – the binding of Revelation; a side-by-side picture of Philadelphia and Laodicea.
- Chapter 12 shows the out-translation just before the Tribulation.
Why Does the Bible Have So Much Detail About the Tribulation?
With Scripture showing the Rapture before the Tribulation, why all the detail about the Tribulation?
In other words, if the New Testament is written to the Church, which it is, and if all Christians go in the Rapture before the Tribulation as some teach (which the Scripture does not teach), then why is so much of Revelation devoted to the Tribulation if everyone in the Church has been Raptured to Heaven beforehand?
Why do we need detail about the Tribulation if there are no Christians in the Tribulation (some are teaching there are revivals in the Tribulation led by the two witnesses for example, the Scripture does not teach this).
- Revelation is about disclosure: the mystery of Christ – revealed righteousness, and the revealing of the mystery of unrighteousness and eternal separation; no matter what place a person is in, whether foolish, lukewarm, bride, or, an unbeliever – no matter one’s station in life or spiritual condition, they will either be out-translated or find themselves in the Tribulation.
- Disclosure Scriptures – Luke 8:17, 12:2 – 3, Mark 4:22, Matthew 10:26 – those things that are hidden and concealed will be revealed, Hebrews 4:12 – 13, 12:26 – 27, Daniel 2:22; some to everlasting righteousness, and some to everlasting separation from God, Revelation 22:11.
- Scriptures on hidden/mysteries pertaining to the revelation of Christ whether in the Tribulation or not, Matthew 13:35, Acts 2:16, Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Ephesians 3:3 – 10 (the translation of verse 6 does not conform to the Greek, the mystery is Christ in us, not the Jews and Gentiles being made one), Colossians 1:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 1 Timothy 3:9, 3:16, 1 Peter 1:13.
- The mystery of God is said to be completed in the seventh Trumpet, Revelation 10:7.
- Advance warning: Noah warned his generations, Lot and his family were warned, Pharaoh was warned, the Canaanites were warned (they saw the advancing Hebrew nation), the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel were warned, Nineveh was warned (and harkened), and Jerusalem was warned by Christ.
- The intensity, pervasiveness, and depth of detail in Revelation about the Tribulation shows believers in no uncertain terms what is coming – a time of great distress, like the days of Noah, Sodom, Jericho, Canaan, Nineveh, Babylon, Jerusalem, etc., with no Church age after Philadelphia/Laodicea.
- It testifies, confirms, and expands upon the prophecies of the Prophets, Christ, Paul, Peter, Jude, etc., giving great trustworthiness to Scripture; a complete and comprehensive picture of what is to come contrary to everything the world wants humanity to believe about his future.
- It shows the part the bride plays in the Tribulation and the saints killed in the Tribulation. The living creatures (the Raptured bride), play a part in the Tribulation as well as the martyred saints in the release of the plagues.
- The seals, trumpets, and plagues, show the measured judgments of God to allow for repentance (Revelation 9:20 – 21 and 16:9 – 11).
- As our generations continue to search “for God” in the desires, passions, and pleasures of this life, spiraling away from God into deeper sins and darkness, God will usher forth an outpouring of his Holy Spirit in revival; the Tribulation bearing witness to rejection of Christ in revival; God will receive glory either by grace through faith in repentance, or by disclosure of unrepentant sin made manifest for all to see.
- The Tribulation is the last harvest of what men and women have done in agreement with sin, the harvest of the fruit of the works of the flesh.
- The Tribulation signals the finality of the Gospel era.
- The Tribulation removes the “gray” between the righteous and unrighteous for the last time for those of Laodicea and the world.
- Christ’s millennial reign cannot begin with the architects of darkness sitting on the throne of this world; the detail of the Tribulation shows the lot and fate of Satan and his host, and people who fought with their whole being to promote and establish an antichrist culture and society.
- To make it clear to Christian and anyone else who has a Bible what lies on the horizon.
- To make it clear this intervention by God into the affairs of humanity will be order magnitude different and greater than any time in history.
- To pull back the veil of darkness and righteousness like never before.
- Detail of the Tribulation shows the connection between the Rapture of the bride and the casting out of Satan.
- The events leading up to the Tribulation, and the events of the Tribulation, reveal in depth the handiwork of God by the Holy Spirit, and the handiwork of Satan through the works of the flesh.
- The Tribulation in detail reveals people’s true colors when restraints are removed from those who have given themselves over to darkness.
- The Tribulation shows what it takes to destroy the antichrist kingdom and for unrepentant sinners to accept Christ at his return.
- Great moves of God reveal people’s hearts whether in revival, captivity, or destruction, one way or the other.
- The Tribulation brings to the surface, exposing deeply hidden and secret sins; how people react in famine, under distress, and that their agreements, lies, and practiced way of living no longer works for them; where sin is blatant, pulled from the shadows into the open so people can see what and who they’ve become.
- The revelation of Christ will either cause people to cry out to God for mercy, or cause people to run from God in shame and condemnation, accusation, and blame.
- The detail of the Tribulation not only shows what it takes to cleanse the earth from sin and darkness, but what humanity has allowed to come to fruition over two millenniums after rejecting Christ.
- The details of the Tribulation are not only a testimony of what it takes to rid the earth of sin, but a warning to future generations under Christ the cost of cleansing the earth and their freedom.
- The Tribulation brings out into the open “making known,” the spiritual warfare men and women having been fighting, or agreeing with, for millenniums.
A final thought.
Imagine being told something is coming you have never seen before, you did not believe was possible, violating the order of nature you have come to know and expect.
There are times the Lord’s warnings are at odds with what we know and understand about the natural order of things, or even what we “believe” God is going to do in the future.
Noah warned his generation a flood was coming, yet no one had ever seen rain or for that matter a flood. It was foreign to them.
Jesus warned about the destruction of the walls of the Temple and Jerusalem as well, which was foreign to Israel, expecting the soon coming of their warrior Messiah.
The same spirits are working today in the hearts and minds of Christians and non-Christians, seeding thoughts like, who can subjugate and destroy this mighty world system men and women have created? (NIV, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
Those who lived at the time of Noah had never seen rain.
Those alive in Christ’s day had never seen destruction believing the soon coming Messiah would vindicate them against Rome.
People today have never seen, much less imagined, many of the judgments Revelation depicts, let alone the unfettered and wanton chaos of evil it describes (in detail) unleashed globally on humanity everywhere – including America.
Many today (like past generations), believe such things will never happen, despite Scripture’s warnings.
Let us not be like those who fall asleep but seize the opportunity to respond to the call of the Spirit, seeking Christ with all our heart (Ephesians 5:14-17).
Today is the day to seek Christ; do not wait until things get worse but submit to God’s care and love in discipline and training now while the day is still light.
The book of Revelation (and the Bible) has proven accurate and trustworthy over the last two millenniums (six millenniums for the Bible), foretelling the church ages, the return of Israel, the rise of the seventh world Kingdom, the moving of God’s Spirit in revivals; if it’s been accurate so for, you can count on its accuracy over the decades to come.
What is at Stake, The Way is Narrow
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV, Isaiah 40:29 – 31)
“‘For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.’” (NIV, Matthew 24:27 – 28)
“‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.’” (NIV, Isaiah 41:10 – 12)
“‘If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?’” (NIV, Jeremiah 12:5)
“‘He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.’” (NIV, Daniel 7:25)
“‘There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.’” (NIV, Daniel 12:1)
“‘It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.’” (NIV, Daniel 12:7)
“‘Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.’” (NIV, Daniel 12:10)
“‘Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of the most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.’” (NIV, Matthew 24:12 – 13)
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 10)
Note:
The books of Romans through 2 Thessalonians, Paul’s nine letters to the churches, like Christ’s seven letters in Revelation, and like Christ’s seven parables in Matthew 13, picture the Church ages of the two millennial Gospel dispensation.
Whereas Philippians and Colossians are symbolic of the last of the last days, leading up and into the end-times, like Philadelphia and Laodicea, 1 Thessalonians is a picture of the end-times on the threshold of the Tribulation, and 2 Thessalonians reaches into the first half of the Tribulation.
***
“So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say ‘“I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.”’
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.”’” (NIV, Revelation 3:16 – 20)
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red Dragon with seven heads and 10 horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The Dragon stood in front of a woman who is about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.” (NIV, Revelation 12:3 – 4)
“The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” (NIV, Revelation 12:6)
“When the Dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.” (NIV, Revelation 12:13 – 14)
“The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them.” (NIV, Revelation 13:5 – 7)
“so that the image could speak and cause all who refuse to worship the image to be killed.” (NIV, Revelation 13:15)
“Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’”
“I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’”
“And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” (NIV, Revelation 7:13 – 14)
Note:
Out of the serpent’s reach intimates the woman, Laodicea, who miss the rapture (i.e., the out-translation of the bride, Philadelphia), will have time to come to terms with their shallow relationship with Christ to deepen it in the fires of persecution, difficulties, and grave challenges, before they must give their life to be saved or take the mark of the Beast.
They will have time to develop a deeper walk with Christ, not the one they would have had, had they sought Christ for the deep work of the Spirit in Philadelphia, but, nonetheless, to deepen their relationship with Christ in their season of persecution, becoming more like Christ “‘to buy from me gold refined in the fire’” (NIV, Revelation 3:18).
***
These and other verses in the Old and New Testament make it clear there is coming a time like no other, those who are not prepared – who have not earnestly sought intimacy and union with Christ, will not enter the promise land of union with Christ.
Instead, they will suddenly find themselves fleeing from the enemy of their soul when Satan is cast out of Heaven at the beginning of the Tribulation, setting his sights on conquering those who did not escape.
Some prominent ministers today teach all Christians go in the rapture, we just need to bide our time, continue to serve Christ the way we always have, and Jesus will rescue us from the fires of the Tribulation before they begin.
But those who are pursuing a deep relationship with Christ, (and there are many), earnestly seeking him for healing and restoration, know this teaching is not true to the Scriptures.
The Lord is searching for those who desire intimacy with him.
This is not about some people being better than others, far from it.
But about those who desire Christ above all others, who want the deep things of the Spirit, who pursue Christ seeking the open door of Philadelphia: the preparation and training circle of the Lord in growing intimacy and union.
Important
The New Testament is filled with the call to pursue the coming of the Lord for our lives – for him to come to us individually and make his dwelling in us – a journey in life far beyond the new birth into the richness and treasures of Christ.
He promised to come to us, but first he must cultivate desire in our heart.
This requires willingness on our part, a willingness to seek him, so we can be prepared to receive the deep work he desires to do once he comes to us.
Else, when he comes, we will not answer the door, or recognize his knock, or we open the door and he comes in, only to find as he cleans our house, we leave it empty.
Because we neglected necessary preparation, leaving empty rooms for the enemy to reinhabit.
The disciples were already followers of Christ, having experienced the new birth when Jesus said they were orphans, needing to be fathered, he and the Father would come to them.
He was not talking to unbelievers, but believers, Christians!
He was telling them the new birth is not the end of the journey but the beginning; to fulfill the plan of God in their lives they to need cleansing, washing by the Word, i.e., healing and restoration, fathering.
The new birth to being made one with Christ (Tabernacles, his prayer in John 17), requires a long journey of healing and restoration, the journey he pioneered, the subject of John chapters 14 through 16 and many other passages in the NT.
The Lord is preparing a bride for deep intimacy and union with him today from people around the world.
He will use the bride in the end-times to usher forth a global revival which will see a harvest of millions – so much, the world Antichrist system will stumble like a drunk (stunned – which the Scripture describes as wounded), for a season.
And after the revival subsides, the enemy will take aim at the bride, but Jesus will catch his bride away in just the nick of time (Revelation 12:5).
Those outside the bride, who have not come to completion Christ desired for their lives, who did not seek the deep work of the Spirit in Philadelphia, will find themselves fleeing from the face of the serpent (Revelation 12:6).
There is a lot at stake; the continual drumbeat all will go in the rapture is setting many up for a great shaking and falling, not having discerned the Lord’s call and heart to earnestly seek him for healing and restoration in the day of his visitation.
Like so many things taught, the rapture is not an “event,” but the catching away of those at a critical time who have come to completion – who have been living a life in raptured love for Christ.
A Journey in Stark Contrasts
Here are a few examples of those who pursued God, earnestly seeking him, and those who did not.
The Scripture warns Christians not to let the promises of God for them – whatever the Lord is offering to the body of Christ at that time – fall to the ground and become like the Hebrews who died in the wilderness.
Today God is offering the greatest opportunities and promises to the body of Christ in Philadelphia – he has provided all the resources necessary for those promises to happen.
- Noah and his family versus those who perished in the flood, though, as Peter intimates, some repented (before drowning), and were saved (1 Peter 3:19 – 20) (Christ would not have gone to them to proclaim a sentence of death, but life (the Great White Throne judgment of those outside salvation is later). Noah was also a preacher – he not only prepared the Ark but warned what was coming.)
- Lot and his two daughters versus his wife whose heart had become inseparable from the desires of the world, longing for what she was fleeing from, not able to let go of the world and its desires and passions.
- Joseph, who went through the trials of this life, elevated to vice regent over Egypt, versus his brothers who rejected the trial of “humility” in kindness and love to their own flesh and blood, starving from famine in the land of Israel, while Joseph prospered.
- Joshua and Caleb who enter the land flowing with milk and honey versus the generation of Israel who saw the works of God yet died in the wilderness because of unbelief.
- David who takes the throne after training and fathering by God in the wilderness for 15 years, versus Saul, a type of the old nature, who forsakes fathering in suffering, dying in battle so David can take the throne.
- Elijah, fed by the God of miracles in a time of famine, versus the people of Israel who suffer having no hope of a better day; the four hundred prophets of Baal who are put to death.
- Hezekiah and his generation, living in overtime grace, versus Josiah and his generation, though they witness the greatest Passover Israel has ever known, Israel’s sin had become so deep, pervasive, and widespread, they are sent into Babylonian captivity for 70 years.
- Daniel, who wins the favor of the king of Babylon, because of his intimacy with God, versus, his three companions, who are thrown into the fiery furnace (at a later event); though saved, they are a “type” of Christians who are not raptured: having to endure the persecution of the Tribulation, having to give their lives to be saved; Daniel, a “type” of the bride.
- Christ, and his disciples, forewarned of the wrath to come against Jerusalem, versus the inhabitants of Jerusalem at the hands of Rome 40 years after Christ – dying in the wilderness just like their ancestors having rejected the saving power of Christ and the offer of an early Millennium.
- And now we approach another fullness of time, where Christ is looking for those who seek him, taking them deeper in him (e.g., Matthew 24:40-41), while others linger back, not seeking,
- the “foolish” versus the “wise” who will be made into brides, Matthew 25
- those who are “left” versus those who are “taken” who will be made into brides, Matthew 24
- those who “multiply their talents” and enter the joy of the Lord, to be made into brides, versus those who “hide their talents,” Matthew 25
- those who have the “heart of the Philippians,” earnestly seeking intimacy and union with Christ, resurrection life, being made into war horses (NIV, Zechariah 10:3), versus those who have the “heart of the Colossians,” who must be reminded of the image of the invisible God, Christ Jesus, the firstborn, because they will be facing the image of the beast in the Tribulation,
- those who have gone through the open door of Philadelphia, into the deep work of the Spirit of grace in the journey of being made one with Christ, versus those who have the heart of Laodicea, lukewarm, having to face the Tribulation to deepen their relationship with Christ,
- those who have the heart of the Pearl of Great Price, being refined by the suffering of healing and restoration, versus those who let their treasure lie hidden in a field, and,
- those who are in the womb of transformation, being made one with Christ through the long journey of healing and restoration, while the larger church, the woman of Revelation 12, having forsaken intimacy and union with Christ is thrust into the fires of the Tribulation.
History is replete with those who pursued more of Christ, at the forefront of revival, or entered, versus, those who let the oil run dry in their lamps, having not the light nor life to pursue the deeper things of Christ.
Very Important
I know what it is like to have the oil run out, to be outside looking in, feeling like it is too late, it can be a horrible and self-condemning feeling.
But that’s not how Jesus ever feels toward us.
He is here to cleanse, heal, and restore, not condemn! There is not a condemning bone in his body, so to speak.
He trains and disciplines but does not condemn.
It is not too late to seek the Lord for the deep things of God, the promises of Philadelphia, just the opposite, now is the perfect time before the Lord unleashes revival, to be trained and made intimate with him in advance, so you advance and help others advance.
The Lord is getting ready to unleash a revival where more will come into the deep things of God – where oil will flow again for the dry and weary soul, where life and light will be restored, so get ready, because the Lord is getting ready to move again for those who’ll respond to his offer for more of him.
The coming revival will not be the end-time revival most are looking for, because we are not ready for that yet – we need another revival to prepare more for what is coming after.
Not Everyone Is in the Bride, Not Everyone Raptured
Here are some more contrasts between those who pursue deeper intimacy with Christ and those who do not.
- There is a difference between sons of God, those who have received the new-birth (fulfilling the feast of Passover in the NT), and sonship, those seeking intimacy and union with Christ, Romans 8:10 – 11, 8:23, 8:29 – 30,
- There is a difference between those who only travel as far as the “Passover” in their pilgrimage, not seeking the teaching rain of Pentecost, or the deeper work of Tabernacles in healing and restoration,
- There is a difference between those who make a sacrifice in the Outer Court, versus, those who sacrifice their life in ministry, symbolic of the Holy Place, or, greater still, those who sacrifice their life in being made one with Christ in healing and restoration, symbolic of the Holy of Holies,
- There is a difference between the harvest of barley and wheat – commodities – grains (symbolic of the new-birth and baptism of the Holy Spirit), versus, the more precious and sought summer harvest of fruits, nuts, and olives (symbolic of Tabernacles – the transformation of grain Christianity into fruit bearing Christianity in intimate union with Christ),
- There is a difference between those who go through the open-door of Philadelphia, versus those who are lukewarm in Laodicea,
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God and those who “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (NIV, Ephesians 4:13),
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God, and those who are changed from glory to glory into the likeness of their Savior (NIV, 2 Corinthians 3:18),
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God, and the bride of Revelation 19:7, which says of her “his bride has made herself ready” (NIV),
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God, and those of Philippians Chapters 2 and 3, who “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” and “to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” and “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (NIV, 2:12, 3:10-11, and 3:12)
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God, and those of Philadelphia who press onward through the open door of healing and restoration to receive Christ’s new name, his Father’s new name, and the name of the New Jerusalem,
- There is a difference between those who are sons of God, and those who are being formed in the womb of the church, Revelation 12,
- There are differences between those who are sons of God and those who partake of the divine nature (NIV, 2 Peter 1:4), entering the deep work of the Spirit of grace (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13),
- There are differences between those who are children, young men, and fathers, as John describes in 1 John,
- There are differences between those who stay in the rudimentary principles of Christ, and those who move beyond into deeper waters (Hebrews Chapter 6, Romans Chapter 6, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:21 – 24, etc.), and,
- There is a difference between the living creatures of Revelation and those who come out of the Tribulation in white robes, the former is the bride, the latter has rulership, but lacks intimacy with him – his new name, his Father’s name, and the name of New Jerusalem.
The Way Is Narrow
Much of what is taught today across Christendom is designed for the great mass of Christianity.
And much of present teaching is about the basic tenets of Church beliefs.
Twenty first century Christianity has become a movement of central themes.
For the most part, you must search (hopefully, by the Holy Spirit) outside the visible Church to hear and be taught the deeper message the Lord is laboring to bring many into in preparation for what’s coming.
Parachurch ministries outside mainline Christendom are not exempt from the pressure to conform to centuries old teachings and beliefs.
God sees the heavy weight of centuries old teachings and practices on his children and the barrier creeds have created between him and those who desire a more intimate walk with him.
He knows he must intervene with the deeper message of healing and restoration, or many will be crushed in the coming days under the weight of unhealed wounds and brokenness.
So, he works behind the scenes, in pockets here and there, a work hidden from the eyes of the public and Christendom at large; to do a deeper work in those who want more than advertised in Christendom.
A more visible separation is coming in the body of Christ in the years ahead as the Lord deepens and finishes the work in those who desire intimacy and union with him.
It will not be readily apparent until the end-times, when the Lord unleashes the final last day revival.
Until then, there is much work to be done in preparing as many as possible for what is coming.
We see the concept of separation in the body of Christ in the deep work of the Spirit in the feasts (NT fulfillment), Israel’s agricultural cycle (three harvests, the last being the most precious), the Tabernacle/Temple (three courts, the last being intimate with God), and in the contrast of Philadelphia and Laodicea, existing side by side today.
As noted before, regarding the feasts, the barley and wheat harvests were harvests of commodities, grains, necessary for day-to-day living.
They were the staples of life, necessary for life, but not the most cherished.
In contrast, the summer harvest of fruits, olives, and nuts was a special harvest of unique flavors, fragrances, texture, oils, etc.; those things having a uniqueness, specialty, and delicacy all their own, showing a greater glory of God than grains.
For example, we see this in the twenty-four elders, the living creatures, those dressed in white robes (queens), the bride in fine linen, versus the concubines and virgins without number.
Even in the New Heaven and Earth there is a distinction between those who are more intimate with the Lord and those who are not.
The feasts correspond to our Christian pilgrimage, the barley a type of the new birth – Passover, wheat a type of Pentecost – the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the summer fruit harvest a type of Tabernacles – the journey toward intimacy and union with the Lord.
We see the same pattern of distinction and intimacy in the Tabernacle/Temple.
The Outer Court is where everyone offers a sacrifice, a type of the new birth – Passover.
The Holy Place is where the priests ministered with the Table of Showbread (the Word), candlesticks and incense (prayer), a type of the journey beyond the new – birth, i.e., Pentecost.
And the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies, is where only the High Priest would minister signifying the deepest intimacy with God possible – where deep transformation and sanctification would occur (in the NT counterpart).
Christ completely and perfectly fulfilled the feasts and courts through the journey he pioneered for himself, and, for us to follow.
Christ’s long journey of being made one with the Father fulfilled the feast of Tabernacles becoming our atonement and dwelling for the Father, being made one with him, becoming our Redeemer (NIV, Hebrews 1:3-9, 5:7-10).
The age of the Reformation and return of Pentecost (1500s to mid-20th century), have come and gone.
The last feast, Tabernacles, made one in intimacy and union with Christ in journey, as he prayed (John 17), has been in transition since the latter part of the 20th century and will come to fullness in the next revival.
Now more than ever is the time to pursue Christ for the deep things of his Spirit, earnestly seeking individual encounter with him for healing and restoration through the open door of Philadelphia.
It is no longer safe to stay behind hidden in the great mass of Christianity.
Christ deals with us uniquely and individually, drawing his children toward a deeper relationship with him today.
He is searching for those who will allow him to make them new from the inside out.
Living life like generations past is not going to work in the years ahead; for many, it is not working now, it was not for me.
The Lord is calling his children to go to those who buy and sell to fill their lamps with oil.
We do not want to be lacking in the hour when time is short and there is much to do. We want to seek and be filled with him now.
Time, one of the most important possessions we have, must be set aside for him if we want the deep things of God.
The Lord will determine what that looks like on an individual basis.
Remember, he is gentle, caring, patient, and will lead us in making the most of what is available to him considering everything in our life.
Our responsibility is to seek while the day is still light.
Jesus said “‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’” (NIV, Matthew 22:14, italicized mine)
“‘For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.’” (NIV, Matthew 7:13, italicized mine)
We have been schooled at church to apply Scripture with a broad brush.
That was needful when we were children, and as young men.
But to become a father, and to help father others, the orphan part of us needs fathering, and fathering requires “one on one” connection and ministry.
This cannot be done in the flesh, through striving; it takes the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us into a place of discipline and submission so we can “hear” the Lord’s heart and desire for our life.
This is the journey of Philadelphia, Tabernacles, fathering into intimacy and union with Christ through healing and restoration.
Where does one begin in the journey of seeking encounter with the Lord?
Important
It begins when we come to the place in our heart where we cry out to the Lord for change, e.g.,
“Lord, unless I have you, I’m going to wither and die on the vine, I cannot continue to live my life this way.”
“Lord, make a way where I see no way, where I begin to experience deep transformation in healing and restoration.”
“Help me say ‘yes’ to you; prepare me for what you want to do in me and my life; I want the remaining days of my life to be filled with you above all others.”
“Help me to hear you; give me revelation and understanding on how to pursue you, prepare me for encounter with you as promised in your Word.”
“Lord, help me cultivate desire and passion, hunger and thirst, for you and your Word; where I will not be satisfied with the loaves and fishes but only you.”
***
The Lord desires to bring you and me to a place where he can father us uniquely and individually in the deep things of his Word and Spirit.
There is a cutting, separating, from the ways we have grown accustomed, when the Lord ushers us into the deep work of his Spirit (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Please remember, the Scripture is not wishy-washy, milk toast, with a lot of intangibles, but is tangible and real.
Many of the “coming, appearing, revealing, etc.,” in Scripture are promises of encounter with Christ personally and intimately in the long journey of being made one with him.
Most have nothing to do with his second coming at the end of the Tribulation, but the “coming” to his children to prepare a bride (from all ages).
It is the journey of suffering the sufferings of Christ in healing and restoration – cleansing and healing our wounds and brokenness and the sins that feed upon them.
When we were born again most believed we received all there is to “experience” in God.
Little did we know it is a long journey; Jesus is not after a superficial relationship, but one filled with intimacy – the sharing of the deep secrets of the heart – to know and be known.
Which can only come about through the unveiling of his nature in the secret and hidden areas of our life (Romans 2:16).
He wants to know us intimately now, before we get to Heaven, because then it is too late for deep transformation.
The Gospel of healing and restoration is for here, not Heaven.
Jesus died to sin (Romans 6:10), not so we could be forgiven, but so we could be cleansed, healed, and restored from sin and its effects – to be experientially forgiven and healed – to receive “cleansing forgiveness,” not just “legal.”
This is why we’re exhorted in Scripture to earnestly seek the Lord (e.g., 1 Cor. 1:7, Galatians 5:5, Philippians 3:20); as we do, we will experience greater confidence and trust in him through his care and love as he heals the deep and wounded areas of our life.
Please remember, we are the sheep of his pasture, he gave his life so we could experience the gentleness and care only the good shepherd can give his sheep.
Christ’s gentleness in fathering and healing heals our orphan heart from the lies of the enemy about God.
Through Christ, the Father demonstrates his goodness and kindness toward you and me, by cleansing and healing us from the lies of our flesh and sin, bringing us into intimacy with him through Christ.
God’s promise to us:
“‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’” declares the LORD, “‘and will bring you back from captivity.’” (NIV, Jeremiah 29:12 – 14)
“‘As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of covenant.’” (NIV, Ezekiel 20:36 – 37)
David describes the rod and staff of the Lord as comfort in the valley of the shadow of death.
The deep work of the Spirit of grace in the revelation of Christ (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13), cleansing, healing, and restoration, is the journey through the valley of the shadow of death in the “judgment seat of Christ” (NIV, 2 Corinthians 5:10).
It is a judgment against the enemy to bring cleansing, healing and restoration to you and me!
The judgment of God for Christians is in this life – to cleanse, heal, and restore us from our sinful nature and wounds (1 Peter 4:17, 5:10).
It is greater grace deepening our relationship with Christ, our salvation, purposed to make us more whole and holy in the likeness of Christ our Savior.
The Great White Throne judgment is for the unsaved.
Malachi, the last prophet some four hundred years before Christ, not only had certain privileged revelations of the coming Messiah, but foretold Christ’s ministry:
“‘On the day when I act,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.’” (NIV, Malachi 4:17-18)
The Song of Solomon says there are virgins without number, and then queens and concubines, but there is only one Solomon loves with all his heart, and she, he.
The Song of Solomon is a love letter between Christ and his bride.
And so, it is with us.
We start out life as spiritual orphans, not knowing if God exists, and if he does, is he good.
But over time, as we journey deeper in the feasts of the Lord, from the new birth to Tabernacles, the Lord begins to cleanse and heal our wounds and brokenness, lifting the weight of sin and its devastation, bringing you and me into growing intimacy and union with him and the Father.
Nothing in this world compares with growing intimacy and union with Christ.
To miss this is to miss life.
And God has made a way through this special season of time, Philadelphia, Tabernacles, a labor of love, to be made one with him.
We have present before us the offer of a lifetime – to grow in intimacy in encounter with Christ.
No other church age has the offer we have today in Philadelphia.
What will be widely known and offered in great fullness in the Millennium, is offered today on the threshold of the Millennium to every Christian.
The question before all of us: Will we seek the Lord for his “open door” promise of intimacy in the last days?
III.
Another Barrier Christians Face are Leaders Using World Events to Speculate about the “Timing” of the End Times
It is not world events that initiate the “heart” of the end-times, but the bride coming to maturity (the child of Revelation 12).
The last of the last days global revival (resulting in the wounding of the beast for a short season) will not begin until the bride comes to completion.
The first showing of the Antichrist system (the Dragon of Revelation 12), is formed and in place before the bride comes to maturity.
Thus, watching world events for the timing of the end times is fruitless.
That is why Jesus said keep your eyes – your life focus – on him (Hebrews 12:2).
In terms of the Church, the end-times or last of the last days are in the process of fulfillment “now,” as the Lord labors to prepare a bride in the age of Philadelphia.
Revivals just do not happen, but spring forth out of people God has prepared in advance to carry the weight of his Spirit in revival.
Responsibility for What We Teach Others
James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (NIV)
“‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.
Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.
If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’” (NIV, Ezekiel 33:2 – 6)
In the next verses of Ezekiel, there is a comparable warning to those the Lord has called to speak to another about their sins and they refuse.
We live in a particularly challenging time; if we have a heart to teach others, and lead others into discovering the truth of the Word, let us make sure we seek the Lord for revelation, confident our teaching conforms to the heart of Christ in this critical time in history.
Important
We are not living in the “spiritual seasons of our parents or grandparents,” but in an entirely new spiritual arena, where, if we are not receiving revelation and insight from the Lord, it will be easy to lead others astray.
Yesteryears Christianity is not going to be sufficient in the challenges, trials, and spiritual battles to come.
A person could be a renown Bible teacher, but if they are not receiving revelation, relying upon the teaching of the past, they will miss the moving of God’s Spirit for themselves and others.
God is laboring today in new ways; old manna will not be sufficient for what is coming.
We need fresh manna from Heaven, not what was fresh decades and centuries ago.
The Bible is a living document, shedding new insight and revelation upon those who seek and inquire of the Lord, contrary to creeds and traditions.
Fresh manna for today is encountering Christ in the journey he pioneered (the deep work of the Spirit in healing and restoration), seeking to be made intimate and one with him (Tabernacles), unknown just a few decades ago.
World Events
Many still struggle with understanding the new language of the New Testament – the many uses of the words blood, sacrifice, death, crucify, etc. (John 6:53-63, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 John 5:7-9)
One of the fruits of not understanding the language of the New Testament is looking at end time prophecies through the lens of world events – using the World to explain and understand Scripture.
One of the principles of hermeneutics is Scripture interprets Scripture – and we need revelation and insight from the Lord to do that properly.
World events give insight on seasons, but not the mystery of God’s labor in the Church.
The Bible is not a textbook; we cannot understand Scripture without God’s light on his Word.
It is not world events determining God’s calendar, but God’s labor in the body of Christ, if we miss this, we will be susceptible to misreading the times and the moving of God’s Spirit.
Without Christ as the center of our focus – including the end-times – we are open game for the enemy.
Important
God designed the end-times to be understood (revealed) through the lens of what he is doing in the Church to prepare his children for the end-times, not only for them, but to advance the Kingdom of God.
And his labor in the body of Christ is focused now (Philadelphia) on preparing a bride to be joined to him, as many as will respond to his call.
Focusing attention on world events steals our attention away from Christ and toward the working of sin, instead of the working of grace by the Spirit.
World events and Israel are not the center of God’s kingdom in the last days, but Christ, and Christ’s labor in preparing a bride.
Only intimate relationship with Christ will reveal God’s plan for your life, and his plans for the body of Christ.
If we learn anything from the past and the New Testament, without intimacy with Christ a person’s life falls short of the mark.
Much of yesteryear’s commentaries will give you yesteryear’s perspectives, out of touch with what God is doing now in the 21st century.
Christ is making himself available to his children like never before (see the promises to Philadelphia), paving the way for intimacy and revelation unlike past generations.
And yet there will be a falling away, unlike any in recent history.
Because people have not been instructed to seek the Lord for the deep things of the Spirit, missing the open door of Philadelphia.
Very Important
World events do not determine when the Tribulation begins, when the rapture occurs, when revival comes, and, most importantly, the preparatory work God must be complete before revival, the rapture, and the Great Tribulation.
God has a plan in motion today to bring many in the body of Christ to fullness, as it says in Ephesians (a bride (the Philadelphia church age)), pictured in Philippians, pearl of great price, 1 Thessalonians 4, Revelation 12, Romans 8, and elsewhere.
We know world events do not determine the timing of the end-times because in Rev. 12 the Dragon is crowned (the first revealing of the Antichrist system), yet the baby in the womb (the bride in the making), is still being formed.
Jesus did say to watch for certain signs, but when you look closely at those signs, they are not definitive of the last days, because they were never meant to be definitive, but to rouse his children from sleep in all church ages.
There are definitive signs of the last days, and they pertain to the body of Christ:
- like the eagle and the carcass, Luke 17:37,
- the sun, moon, and stars of Revelation 12:1,
- pregnant woman of Revelation 12,
- Christ’s discourse on Noah,
- the shaking of heavenly bodies noted in Luke 21 and Hebrews 12,
- the call to shake sleep and seek the “coming, revealing, appearing, judging, taking, etc.” of the Lord to be cleansed and healed in preparation for intimacy and union with Christ,
- and the descriptions in Philadelphia and Laodicea, among others.
Of course, Israel coming back as a nation, the proliferation of nations, and the growth and spread of greater and greater darkness – the Spirit of the age – is a sign of the latter times.
Darkness came to fullness in Noah’s day before the Ark was built.
It came to fullness in Abraham and Lot’s time, in Sodom, before Lot and his wife had the awareness to leave.
It came to fullness in the land of the Canaanites before the Hebrews were ready to enter.
It came to fullness in the kingdoms of the Assyrians and Babylonians before the northern and southern kingdoms were ready, and it came to power in Rome over Jerusalem before Christ came on the scene.
And the Scripture teaches the Antichrist kingdom will come to its first phase of power before the Tribulation, before the bride is ready (Revelation 12:3).
Suffice it to say it is God’s work in the body of Christ determining the end-times, not the enemy’s work in establishing the seventh Antichrist kingdom.
Only when the open door of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7 – 8), is closed by Christ (Matthew 25:10), then, and only then, will end-time events be set in motion in earnest.
Thankfully, the open door is still open: there is still time to begin one’s healing and restoration journey in seeking encounter with the Lord.
We are not in the Reformation or Pentecostal seasons of the Church anymore, but in the last stage of the Christian journey – the journey of being made one with Christ through healing and restoration in encounter with him.
There are many Scriptures about earnestly seeking encounter with Christ, and many more Scriptures about “encountering the Lord,” i.e., being “taken” “coming of the Lord” “judgment seat of Christ” (NIV, 2 Corinthians 5:10), “his appearing” “his revealing,” etc.
A half century ago most of these verses were pointed to Christ’s second physical coming, nor was inner healing available, showing how far we have traveled in the Philadelphia church age.
It has not been world events, but God’s labor over centuries which has brought the Church to the place it is today, where some are seeking the deep work of the Spirit of grace in healing and restoration in preparation for the last of the last days.
God’s labor today is not about world events, but foremost the making of his children into the likeness of Christ.
The battle ground is the human heart and mind, and the care and time it takes to effect healing.
When Jesus determines the bride has gone as far as she can go in being made like him, then everything else comes into play, but not before that.
The dark ages drained whatever life the Church had for over a millennium.
It has taken five hundred years of Reformation and 20th century Pentecost to lay the foundation of Tabernacles, the deep work of the Spirit in healing and restoration.
We know from Scripture the work of the Lord in the last days will accelerate; one generation will witness from beginning to end the age of Philadelphia.
The Lord said if we do not fall on the rock (the Lord Jesus) and be broken (so the structures of sin in our life can be put to death), then the rock will fall on us.
In Daniel chapter 2 it describes a rock cut out smashing the statue of gold, silver, bronze, and iron, i.e., structures of sin imprisoning humanity, revealed in the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Rome, and Antichrist systems.
Today, in one-way, spiritual warfare is intense, and yet, in another way, so well-hidden many Christians do not know what to believe, how to study, how to search the Scriptures, and importantly, how to receive revelation from the Lord.
Because many have not begun their healing and restoration journey.
Instead, many are being comforted by all manner of false teachings, like everybody is in the bride, all go in the rapture, not aware they are missing the journey Christ pioneered to be made into his likeness.
Without the cross of Christ, the journey of healing by grace through faith, we cannot have intimacy with him, because without the cross we cannot be made into his likeness nor bear his image in the depth he truly desires for his bride.
We know enough from history and our own stories that the Lord does not force his will on anybody.
Be Careful Not to Enter Revival Ill-Equipped and Unprepared
Revival opens-up many of the hidden and secret things in one’s life, and if unprepared, it may not go well.
It is best to receive as much healing as possible in advance of revival, learning the ways of the Spirit, before major revival comes, equipped not only to weather the change, but to help others.
The older you are in the Lord, the more one should seek equipping and preparation through healing and restoration.
In the time of the Kings, the southern kingdom had the greatest revival it ever had under Josiah, yet, what followed was the Babylonian captivity because hearts were prisoners to sin.
Israel had the greatest revival it ever had under Christ, and yet 40 years later destruction occurred; we will never know in this life what might have been, had they harkened to the preaching of John the Baptist.
The Hebrews coming out of Egypt had the witness of God like few, yet all of them, except Caleb and Joshua, died in the wilderness never to enter the promised land.
It is tragic to know today, in the time of the greatest resources the Christian church has ever had, coupled with the greatest promises God has ever offered (Philadelphia), we have a falling away in the body of Christ.
The Bible gives many clues to the falling away in the last of the last days.
Those who stay camped in old moves of God will find it increasingly difficult to survive outside God’s training circle.
The training circle of the old will be insufficient to battle the assaults in the new arena without deeper experience, training, and equipping by God.
Falling Away
The falling away is more than it appears; it is not just falling from one position to a lower position, but not moving into God’s next phase when he makes it available.
In Hebrews 4 Israel of old fell in the wilderness because of their disobedience; the disobedience of not moving by faith into the promise God made available to them. I recommend reading chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews.
We are in the age of Philadelphia, having the greatest promises of the Scripture, yet many have not sought Christ for healing and restoration.
I believe God is circling back for another opportunity to capture many for his Kingdom into the deep move of his Spirit in being made one with him.
It is likely the next move of God will be an order magnitude increase in intensive healing as many seek encounter with the Lord (1 Peter 1:13), preparing them for the end-time revival to come later.
For older men and women, the present is critical – because it is a journey, and if the journey begins too late, they will miss what God has for them.
And while God offers the greatest promises in Scripture, to be made one with Christ in the age of Philadelphia, the enemy offers the greatest promises to humanity, to be made with him in the cares and pleasures of this life.
This is not surprising, as Jesus warns the last church age about being lukewarm.
The temptations of the world come to all; none are safe unless hidden in the cleft of the rock with Christ, under the shadow of his wing, connected intimately with him.
The enemy is working overtime to keep “the deep truths of the faith” (NIV, 1 Timothy 3:9), in the revelation of Christ by grace hidden (NIV, 1 Peter 1:13).
To keep people in unbelief of God’s promise to heal and restore his children by grace through faith.
Tragically, those who miss the coming “preparatory” revival, not heeding the call of the Spirit to seek a deeper relationship with Christ, will find themselves outside of the bride, and thrust into the Tribulation if they are alive at that time.
Some believe we are living in overtime grace, God delaying his labor in the bride and the end-times, giving his people more time to choose (2 Thess. 2:7).
Knowing Paul’s letters to the churches also symbolize the church ages of Revelation, like Christ’s parables of Matthew 13, and knowing 1 & 2 Thessalonians symbolize the Church in the end-times and in the first half of the Tribulation, it should not be surprising Paul says at the end of 1 Thessalonians:
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (NIV, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 – 24)
A few thoughts about these verses:
- Do not be surprised in the days ahead to hear more and more prophetic words spoken over the Church by all kinds of people; for safety, prophetic words are to be tested, plus there’s safety in a multitude of counselors, but the greatest safety is to have an intimate relationship with Christ so you can be led by him first and foremost.
- The Scripture of the coming of the Lord is misleading in the English because the preferred Greek is not “at” the coming of the Lord, but “in” the coming of the Lord.
Either way, the context of this passage is the coming of the Lord to transform you and me – to cleanse and heal our wounds, leading you and me to put sin to death by the cross of grace through faith, it is not about his 2nd physical coming, or the catching away in the air of 1 Thess. 4, – an entirely different subject.
The “coming” of the Lord is encountering Christ in his training circle, the journey he pioneered (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10), cleansed and healed, our loins girded with truth (Romans 8:10 – 11, Ephesians 5:26 – 27, 6:14).
When we are born-again, we learn how to put on the “helmet of salvation” and the “breastplate of righteousness.” (NIV, Ephesians 6:14-17)
But only through encountering Jesus (like Christ told Peter, John 21:18 – 19, and other passages in Scripture of the “coming, appearing, revealing, judging,” of the Lord), can we go through the open door of Philadelphia into God’s training circle having our loins girded with truth.
Foolish Virgins
In the past we believed the “oil” represented how much of God you had in your life evidenced by your gifts, ministries, preaching, and anointing.
But with the advent of “inner healing” and “fathering” over the last number of decades, with the revelation of Christ’s pioneering journey, we now understand the “oil” in the story of the virgins is more about measures of healing received.
It is now apparent the wise virgins had greater measures of healing sufficient to weather the darkness the foolish did not.
Without oil we cannot see in the dark, and others cannot see us.
Without oil, darkness has its way with us, stopping us in our tracks, and stopping others from seeing who we are, restricting intimacy with Christ.
In the Kingdom of God, two cannot properly become one unless their natures are cleansed, healed, and restored, which requires transformation.
If we cannot properly see who others are, because of their unhealed wounds and brokenness, and they cannot see who we are, because of our unhealed wounds, then being “known and knowing” are compromised.
This is about wounds that hide who we really are, wounds that are still wounding us and others, wounds still rooted in sinful judgments, beliefs, and living.
Healing and restoration by the Spirit of God is the only means to being known and knowing.
If we do not seek the Lord for cleansing and healing the lower nature passed down through our generations (NIV, 2 Corinthians 7:1), then we cannot properly be known and know, a tragic outcome (Matthew 25:12).
Important
There is a measure of healing we must receive before we can go through the open door of Philadelphia (Matthew 25:1-13 & Rev. 3:7-8).
Another revival of healing is just around the corner to circle back and bring more into the fold before the end-times and global revival come – it will be “like” a John the Baptist revival before the coming of Christ.
See Mark 6:13, Luke 10:34, and James 5:14 for references to healing oil.
A Few Scriptures About the Falling Away
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” (NIV, 2 Thessalonians 2:3)
The English word “rebellion” used for the Greek means to revolt, defection from truth, falling away, etc.
“The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (NIV, 1 Timothy 4:1)
“‘Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.’” (NIV, Matthew 24:12 – 13)
The falling away is more than backsliding, it also entails not seeking to apprehend the promises of God “leaving unfulfilled promises on the table,” as noted in the following verse:
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.” (NIV, Hebrews 4:1 – 2)
In other words, do not fall short of receiving God’s open promises, letting them slip through your fingers; but seek Christ for greater grace and faith in obedience to the Scriptures.
The Greek word for “still stands” means I leave behind, desert, abandon, forsake, I leave remaining, reserve.
Tyndale’s The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament translates still stands as “being left open,” (TYNDALE), which is interesting, because Philadelphia refers to the open door.
Second Thessalonians says of the unsaved and saved (those who fall completely away in the Tribulation), “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (NIV, 2 Thessalonians 2:10)
We know from Ephesians we are to have the belt of truth around our waist.
And we know from John 21:18, unlike the helmet of salvation and breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth can only come from encounter with Christ.
Elijah, a type of Christ and the bride, was known as the one who had “a leather belt around his waist.” (NIV, 2 Kings 1:8)
There are many scriptures talking about the truth that was in Christ (John 1:14; Ephesians 4:20-24, etc.).
In its simplest term, truth is having God’s nature formed in you and me.
That is God’s promise for those who seek him in the age of Philadelphia – the promise of transformation by grace through faith in healing and restoration – if God can heal and restore you in one area, he can do it in many.
An antichrist spirit is a spirit that denies the healing power of Christ to change you and me from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18); the purpose for which Christ came.
Pictured in Christ’s letter to Laodicea is the outcome for those who do not seek the promises of God in healing and restoration.
When Jesus said he is “‘the way and the truth and the life’” (NIV, John 14:6), he was giving a cord not easily broken – but you must have all three.
The way being the journey in Christ “washing with water through the word” (NIV, Ephesians 5:26); the truth being in God’s training circle – having the truth of God written deeply in our inner man or woman; and the life being our “blood sacrifice” to God, i.e., the giving of the entirety of our lives to seek God.
IV.
Another Obstacle Is the Shallow Teaching on Grace through Faith, Missing the Understanding Grace Deepens as We Journey toward Completion
- We know from the Gospels Jesus said to pick up your cross and we know he was not speaking about picking up your cross and being physically crucified.
- We know from John 21:18 – 19 Jesus was referring to a life of being led by the Holy Spirit in putting sin to death, the heart of the New Testament. We know this because the primary use of the word death in New Testament writings is death to sin, being made a new creation, not about being killed.
- We know the latter type of thinking, that Jesus was saying Peter would be killed someday, comes from creeds and traditions which focus on Calvary, instead of Christ’s journey of being made perfect, putting sin to death, not being put to death (Romans 6:10, see 2 Cor. 4:10-12 and what Paul said about dying to sin, the death of the lower nature).
- We know the New Testament birthed a new language, i.e., 1 Cor. 2:13, John 6:53 – 63, 1 John 5:8, etc. And in the new language words such as death, blood, sacrifice, sufferings, cross, judgment, wounding, piercing, crucifixion, etc., have spiritual applications as well as natural, determined by the context.
We know that, because of the many definitions Jesus gave to the new language, like: “‘Let the dead bury their own dead’” “‘unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood’” “‘The words…are full of the Spirit and life.’” (NIV, Luke 9:60, John 6:53, 6:63, italicized mine)
And many more phrases and words Christ used to stretch men and women’s understanding from the natural realm to the Kingdom of God.
A person cannot properly understand the New Testament unless they receive revelation from the Lord on how the great landscape of God’s words and promises fit together spiritually as well as naturally.
The heart of the Gospel is not martyrdom, for Christ, or us, but the making of the new creation – the journey Christ pioneered in putting generational sins to death by the cross of grace through faith, becoming our Savior.
- We know in Ephesians 2:8 salvation is by grace through faith in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- And we know from the New Testament salvation by grace through faith is not just the new birth, but a journey of being made a new creation from the inside out, healed and restored in intimate union with Christ (John 17).
We know salvation is a journey, and not a one-time experience, e.g.,
- Romans Chapter 6, we are to seek the baptism of Christ (the journey of putting sin to death), so we can walk in newness of life,
- Romans 8:10 – 11, a work of the Spirit beyond the new birth,
- and verses such as Romans 8:23, 8:29, 12:2; 1 Corinthians 3:13, 4:5, 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:10 – 12, 5:10, 7:1, 13:9-11; Galatians 4:19, 5:24; Ephesians 4:20 – 24, 5:26 – 27; Philippians 1:6, 2:12, 3:12, 3:21, etc,
- we know Christian and non-Christians have areas sold to sin in agreements, lies, vows, bitterroot expectancies, etc., passed through the generations in the form of transgressions and iniquities.
- We know from Scripture and experience the only power greater than sin is the power of grace through faith in Christ. And we know the cross of grace through faith brings us into repentance and forgiveness.
- Putting all this together we know the cross Christ asks us to bear is the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness in dependence upon God for healing and restoration, to be made whole, and holy in him.
Besides being a way of life, the cross of grace through faith is:
a specific season of healing and restoration set aside by Christ (a time of the deep work of the Spirit), where the works of the flesh in agreements, lies, etc., are revealed by the Spirit and healed in repentance and forgiveness in dependence upon God.
It is the valley in the shadow of death (death to sin), Psalm 23, where “The boundary lines for me have fallen in pleasant places” the resurrection Psalm to walk in new life! (NIV, Psalm 16:6, italicized mine)
This is where the deep work of the Spirit begins through the open door of Philadelphia, where our strength to live by the works of the flesh is put to death in journey with Christ, where his strength to live by grace through faith becomes ours.
This is the journey of being made one with Christ, the bride, in the last of the last days.
This is the cross we are to bear; it is the same cross Christ bore in being made perfect before his ministry (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7 – 10).
- Scripture is filled with descriptions of the cross of grace through faith Christ bore for his generations, being made complete, becoming our Savior (NIV, Hebrews 5:7-10) – his journey of being made perfect before his ministry, e.g.,
- Isaiah 53:4-6, refers to his journey, 53:7-9 refers to Calvary; please remember John 12 refers to two glorifications, one, his perfection before ministry – his death to sin, becoming our atonement, and then after Calvary, his resurrection; also, Isaiah 53:9 many argue “death” is plural in the Hebrew
- Romans 6:10, death to generational sin
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 – 23, same (Note: 1 Cor. 15:3 is about Christ’s journey to perfection; verse 4 about Calvary; we know this because 15:20-23 is about his journey to perfection – fallen asleep and dead refer to mortality – not to being killed (e.g., Ro. 8:10-11, Ephesians 5:14, etc.)
- Galatians 3:13, this refers symbolically to his journey to perfection, the subject of the chapter (vs. 3), Paul and others never talked about Christ as if he was an animal to be slaughtered for sin
- Ephesians 2:14 – 16, same, see an interlinear (commentators do not know what to do with enmity in Christ’s flesh, because the creeds teach Christ was born perfect, not made perfect, contrary to Scripture)
- Philippians 2:8, death to rights and privileges by the cross of grace through faith – please remember, the cross of grace through faith is a terror to the enmity in the flesh we are all born with
- Colossians 2:14, death to the enmity in his flesh
- Hebrews 5:7 – 10, death to sin (this bullet list of verses refers to what he inherited from his human ancestry, what he had to put to death, becoming our Savior)
- 1 Peter 2:24, this verse speaks both of Calvary (1st half) and Christ’s perfection (2nd half), see the Greek for second half, Christ had already atoned for sin before he was killed
- 1 Peter 3:18, same (commentators don’t know what to do with this verse because raised from the dead the way it is described does not fit a resurrection; that’s because it is talking about resurrection from mortality to immortality while still living, resurrection life, after putting sin to death (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:16)
- We know Christ’s perfection came before he entered ministry because he was fully complete, having his exalted name, seated in heavenly places with his father (positionally/experientially); having all authority: raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons, changing the weather, granting salvation, etc.
- We know the Scriptures just mentioned refer to the cross of grace through faith because the context is about putting sin to death, not putting Christ to death.
See the distinct difference when the writers of the New Testament speak of Christ’s physical death in Acts 2:23, 2:36, 3:13, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 7:52, 10:39, 13:28, 1 Corinthians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Revelation 5:9.
Note: Revelation 5:9 is another Scripture (like Isaiah 53:4-6 & 7-9, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, John 12:28 (2 glorifications), Acts 2:30-32, Matthew 26:28, Acts 13:26-41 (see an interlinear), and others noted in 1 Cor. 15 where both Calvary and his perfection are mentioned).
- Looking at this another way, the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness is the suffering of losing the sins and cravings of the world we have come to love (our practiced way of living), gaining transforming experiential righteousness from Christ.
The cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness is the suffering of the old nature being put to death from the “wounding and piercing” of our wounds by the Holy Spirit in cleansing and healing.
It is the spiritual counterpart to the natural: like when a doctor “opens” wounds for cleansing, healing, and restoration.
Greater grace is given when the Lord begins the journey of cleansing and healing our lives, to comfort and care for us as we go through the process of cleansing and healing of deep wounds and sins.
- This is the journey of those who enter the open door of Philadelphia, Tabernacles, pictured in the “womb” of the visible Church in Rev. 12.
The womb symbolizes the spiritual work of God where the old man is put to death while the new creation is formed and fashioned.
A place of protection, privacy, safety, and care.
A symbolic picture of Christ formed and birthed in God’s sons and daughters in the in the visible church, “‘new wine into new wineskins.’” (NIV, Mark 2:22, italicized mine).
- Means of healing:
- some comes by teaching, the processing of the Word washing over our mind and heart, as we receive truth it breaks the lies of low hanging bad fruit, planting seeds of truth where lies once flourished; see the Greek for 1 Peter 1:13 and note, e.g., 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Romans 12:2,
- some comes by inner healing, uprooting the plants the enemy planted in our lives, Matthew 15:13,
- some comes by binding the strongman, a process, journey, of healing and restoring areas under his dominion one by one, breaking his power over a long series of healing and restoration sessions to eventually plunder his possessions in you and me (this is not about demon possession),
- and there are many instances where the Lord comes and heals an area where you have no idea what he healed or did, but you know you are different.
Biblical Concept of the Cross of Grace through Faith
Because of the fall, we know we are prone (predisposed) to turn to the works of the flesh (sin) in temptation.
We know the inborn nature “to sin” passes from generation to generation.
Scripture says the sinful nature passes from generation to generation; we know from experience some sins increase in depth, intensity, and breath from generation to generation.
From the get-go, humanity makes judgments, believe lies, and practices a way of living outside grace, faith, and the love of God.
We call it the works of the flesh: the flesh warring against the Spirit; we use technical terms to name the authority of sin over us with words like agreements, judgments, foundational lies, vows, traumas, curses, etc.
When the cross of Christ is prayed in healing, many use phrases like “the blood of Jesus,” against sin, because he took both the sin and the punishment it brings, invoking Christ as the substitute and power over sin and its effects.
There is nothing wrong claiming the blood of Christ in healing because Jesus said in Matthew 26:28 the New Covenant is in his blood: “‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (NIV, Matthew 26:28)
Important
Of course, Jesus did not mean the New Covenant was in the liquid flowing through his body called blood (I have a lot more on “blood” coming in the next post).
He had already told his disciples when he talked about flesh and blood, he was speaking about life and Spirit, that HE, Christ, Messiah, the anointed one, was the New Testament in flesh and blood, not the flesh of his body or the blood flowing through his blood vessels.
He was fully human as the Scripture clearly teaches, having a body just like you and me, but without the effects of yielding to sin and its temptations.
As I’ve described in this series, the New Testament birthed a new language and understanding – there must be a new language and understanding to go with a New Covenant (just like there was with the Old) – taking God’s sons and daughters from the natural into the Spirit as led by the Spirit (John 6:53-63, 1 Corinthians 2:13, Ephesians 5:26-27, I John 5:7-9, etc.).
Further, we know Christ was not saying I must be killed so people can be forgiven, because Jesus forgave sin in his ministry, offering healing and even the new birth, for many became believers of Christ experiencing the new birth before Calvary.
Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached repentance from sins in their ministry – not dependent on some future time.
His mention of forgiveness (Matthew 26:28) was right on target – unless their hardened unrepentant hearts be pierced by their words and deeds (the killing of an innocent man), they will not repent and come to forgiveness.
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This is a deeper truth about Calvary than commonly taught.
Calvary was not the place of atonement – God did not need lawless men and Rome to create an atoning sacrifice.
Christ is our atonement – putting sin to death to walk in resurrection life, fathered by God, being made complete, becoming our Savior (Romans 5:10, 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10, etc.), his first glorification (John 12:28), before his ministry.
At Calvary Christ chose to continue grace by not taking the Kingdom by force, presenting the Gospel through his disciples after his second glorification, giving a second chance to some who would have been killed if he had taken up arms.
He paid a price at Calvary he was not required to pay (it was the Father’s preferred will for Christ, not a command), extending grace; giving mankind another chance after his second glorification (John 12:28).
Again, in many instances blood in the New Testament refers to “sacrifice;” the most intimate expression possible describing the entirety of one’s sacrifice in doing the will of God from the heart – something God always desired but was never able to receive except from Christ.
The term “blood” connects the animal sacrifice of the Old with the “heart sacrifice” of the New – marrying the release of grace and truth in the New not with the killing of animals, or the killing of people (Christ), but with the killing of the sins of the lower nature.
Blood describes the NT sacrifice of the heart in being willing to die to sin to walk in new life; denoting the entirety of our lives given to God in being made new, body, soul, and spirit – that everything was given that could be given, leaving nothing left on the table.
See the section on Blood above in this post (and much more to come in the next post).
Some translations add “shed” or “shedding” to certain blood passages in the NT when it is not inferred by the context and not in the Greek; this is done to conform the passage to Calvary, missing the point of the passage, Christ’s perfection.
Jesus made it clear his use of the word blood was the most intimate expression one could make to denote the sacrifice of the entirety of his life to the plan of God in being made perfect; not something to be taken literal, except, of course, in the case of him being killed.
And so, the many appearances of blood in the New Testament – most – are not about Christ’s death at Calvary like an OT animal sacrifice as we have all been taught through the creeds, but the most intimate expression possible to describe Christ’s journey to being made perfect – the giving of everything that can be given in putting sin to death, becoming our atoning sacrifice (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 5:7-10, Isaiah 53:4-6, etc.).
Even in the Old Testament blood represented a person’s life, e.g., see Ezekiel 33.
For example, when Paul spoke of dying daily, he was not literally physically dying, but dying to the lusts and cravings of the lower nature, sacrificing all things for the Gospel and mystery of Christ – to be made like Christ – through the giving of his life – a blood sacrifice, spiritually speaking.
Important
Christ gave the most important thing he could give to God: the entirety of himself in doing the will of God by destroying the barrier “the enmity in his flesh,” (putting to death generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry), fulfilling the law perfectly in his flesh, without sinning (Matt. 5:17).
He is the promised grace to come in the Messiah ((Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 53:4-6 (his first glorification) (Isaiah 53:7-9, his second glorification after Calvary), Romans 6:10, Ephesians 2:14-16 see an interlinear, Hebrews 5:7-10, 1 Peter 1:10-12)).
Much of the book of Hebrews is about the sacrifice of Christ’s life (the totality of his life, being made complete, NIV, Hebrews 5:7-10, 7:16) to the Father, likened to a blood offering; inaugurating a new & better covenant, NIV, Hebrews 9:23.
The new and better covenant was not the killing of a human being, like the offering of the firstborn by evil Kings in the Old Testament, which God abhorred, but doing the will of God from the heart, to fulfill the law without sinning, Hebrews chapters 8, 9 and 10.
When Jesus talked about the offering of his blood, John 6:53-63, Matthew 26:28, he was talking about the life of God in him; that when they saw him, they saw the Father; because he had been made one with the Father, offering the entirety of his life to God in being made perfect.
(John 6:51 is after he already knew they were planning his death.)
Jesus used the term blood to describe the giving of his life completely to the Father for cleansing, healing, and restoration; because our lives depended on his complete blood (life) sacrifice, otherwise, without his perfection, there would be no salvation for humanity.
It is the “life of Christ” that saves you and me (Romans 5:10).
In Romans 5:10, Paul says we are justified (reconciled) by Christ’s death, meaning, Christ’s death to sin in being made perfect (Romans 6:10, Ephesians 2:14-16, Hebrews 5:7-10, Isaiah 53:4-6), bringing grace so we can begin life in him.
Having put sin to death Christ was raised incorruptible, from mortality to immortality “resurrection life” (Romans 6:10, 1 Corinthians 15, Hebrews 7:16, etc.), providing the means for you and me to enter the journey he pioneered (Romans Chapter 6, 8:10-11, John 21:18-19, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.).
His resurrection (life) allows us to apprehend what we were saved for – to go beyond legal justification to experiential glorification (Romans 8:30).
His sacrifice in being made perfect brought him into union with God, and it is his union with God, his life, the new Tree of Life planted in the garden of men, which brings life to us as we are grafted into him and remain.
Critical Understanding
What does the cross of grace through faith look like?
The fleshly nature fears with dread the cross of grace through faith the same way humanity fears an actual crucifixion.
The fleshly nature sees the cross of grace through faith as crucifixion, and rightly so.
One is in the spiritual realm, the other in the natural realm; both bringing death by way of crucifixion – one denying life to sin, the other to a human being.
God used the Roman cross of crucifixion to spiritually describe (picture) what the crucifixion of the flesh man (the sinful nature) looks like in the Spirit.
The lower nature (the works of the flesh in making judgments, believing lies, and practicing a way of life in vows and bitter expectancies) – is terrified of the cross of grace through faith, just like the natural man is terrified of a crucifixion.
Important
Our sinful nature is terrified of being exposed, revealed, restrained, and sacrificed in putting away the desires, passions, and cravings of the flesh and world we have come to love and embrace.
Nailing the sinful nature to the cross of grace through faith restrains and strips men and women of their ability to hide and secret themselves, exposed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the revelation of Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
The lower nature is terrified of losing its dominion over you and me; to be subdued and put to death, for a new creation to rise and made one with Christ.
Christ faced that fear (Hebrews 2:15), thoroughly and completely putting sin to death, sacrificing the entirety of his life to the will of God in being made perfect, becoming our substitute for what we could never do apart from him.
Christ demonstrated grace trumps sin; the grace of God through faith is more than sufficient to put sin to death, introducing the journey of grace through faith to you and me.
Further Description of the Cross of Grace through Faith
Jesus “nailed” (NIV, Colossians 2:14) the enmity from his human ancestry (Ephesians 2:14 – 16, see an interlinear, i.e., the cravings and lusts of the flesh), to the cross of grace through faith in utter dependence upon God, denying them the practiced way of living of his generations.
Where lusts and cravings of the flesh sought to be fulfilled (being born in the likeness of sinful man, Romans 8:3, Hebrews 2:17, 4:15), i.e., the works of the flesh in agreements, lies, etc., Christ turned to his Father, seeking, relying, upon his Father by grace through faith to provide “provision” for the wounds and sinful cravings he inherited.
He sought his Father for provision, not his own devices, steadfast turning to “life” every time “death” reared its ugly head from generational sins passed to him.
Christ learned to patiently endure the wounding of wounds, how to receive the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13), by grace through faith; denying “life” to the enmity in his flesh as his Father cleansed and healed his wounds.
And in that process (journey), the mystery of Godliness, the power of the Holy Spirit transformed Christ’s nature into wholeness and holiness, writing his Word in his heart and mind (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).
Christ was formed and fashioned over years into the “exact representation” of his Father (NIV, Hebrews 1:1-9, bold and italicized mine), partaking of the divine nature, the “Word became flesh” (NIV, John 1:14, bold and italicized mine), Christ the firstborn, first fruit, pioneer, forerunner, and perfecter of the new creation.
Christ learned from the beginning how to seek, encounter, and receive fulfillment from his Father, when cravings and lusts sought to drive him in the ways of his generations.
The key to putting the lusts of the flesh to death was the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit as Christ endured by “grace through faith” the suffering of being made perfect: a living sacrifice; refusing every temptation to sin, standing in the gap for his generations and humanity.
Where Christ’s flesh sought to blame and judge, the cravings of the mortal nature, he turned to his Father and found provision (by grace through faith) to deny blame and accusation’s desire to bring him into agreement, apprehending forgiveness through the care and comfort of his Father.
For your notes, Romans 3:22 and 3:26, and Galatians 2:16 and 3:22, in the Greek are the faith “of” Christ, not faith “in” Christ.
He learned how to endure and apprehend care from his Father for his wounds – the wounds from generational sins passed to him from his human ancestry.
He grew in confidence and trust (NIV, Luke 2:40, 2:52), knowing grace through faith in obedience to God would always prevail over anything coming his way; the law of the Spirit would cleanse every sinful wound passed to him from his human ancestry, and prevail over temptations from without.
Christ in repentance and forgiveness allowed his Father to cleanse the enmity in him from his generations by the power of the Holy Spirit, destroying every barrier in his flesh, fulfilling the law of God perfectly in his flesh (NIV, Ephesians 2:14-16, see an interlinear; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:7-10).
The cross is the place in the Spirit where our wounded sinful nature is revealed for cleansing and healing.
This is where the Holy Spirit leads us into inner healing by grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness (Psalm 16, 18, 23).
Important
The cross of Christ is that place in the Spirit where limitations and restraints lead us away from the works of the flesh to justify, medicate, or hide our wound; where our wound is wounded (Isaiah 53:4 – 6) so we (Christ our pioneer) can be led to healing (transformation) and not reinforce generational sins.
The cross is that place in the Spirit where the grace of God guides us in revealing our predisposition to sin, guiding us toward grace through faith in healing in utter dependence upon God.
Jesus nailed his cravings to the cross of grace through faith (denying them the life they sought to live), and in doing so, he nailed the charges from the law against those in him to the cross of grace through faith as well.
Our responsibility is not simply to confess Christ as Savior, but to earnestly seek him to receive the promise of experiential cleansing and healing he pioneered for us, otherwise we will have the new birth without the promise of the new birth for cleansing and healing.
Christ fervently petitioned God for healing and restoration, fearing the thought of ever falling from grace into the works of the flesh (Hebrews 2:15, 5:7 – 10).
He threw himself into God’s rescue plan, choosing God’s escape of grace through faith as a way of life, dipping himself into grace and truth destroying sinful cravings (Ephesians 4:20 – 24, see an interlinear).
He put sin to death by the power of the Holy Spirit through repentance and forgiveness (Romans 6:10), cleansed from generational sins (Isaiah 53:4 – 6), he “disarmed the powers and authorities” (NIV, Colossians 2:15) of darkness over his generations.
Important
Putting these key passages together, Romans 6:10, 7:10-12, 8:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 2:14 – 16, see an interlinear; Colossians 2:14 – 15; Hebrews 4:15, 5:7 – 10, 7:16; 1 Peter 2:24, second half, see an interlinear; and Matthew 5:17, we get the following:
- Christ destroyed the barrier between his flesh and the law; triumphing over the enmity passed to him from his human ancestry by the cross of grace through faith in repentance and forgiveness,
- and in his triumph, he nailed the charges of the law against his flesh (by putting sin to death) to the cross of grace through faith, fulfilling the law in his flesh, raised to walk in new life, without sin,
- and in the journey of denying the cravings and lusts of his flesh, receiving cleansing and healing by his Father, transformation from mortality to immortality occurred (resurrection life), the new creation, made one with his Father, becoming our Savior.
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Blessings, Drake
(HEI) Taken from The Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old Testament: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and English Standard Version by Thom Blair, General Editor, Copyright © 2014, page 1561, Isaiah 53:5. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. (Interlinear used by permission from Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible copyright © 2004 by Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™
(TYNDALE) The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament by Translators Robert K. Brown and Philip W. Comfort, Editor: J. D. Douglas. Copyright © 1990. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
