“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (NIV, Isaiah 53:5)

“Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies…” (NIV, Psalm 68:21)

God speaking of fighting on behalf of David, “I will crush his foes before him, and strike down his adversaries.” (NIV, Psalm 89:23)

David, speaking of his journey in God, “For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me…. I am shaken off like a locust. My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.” (NIV, Psalm 109:22 – 24)

And the famous passages from Psalm 51:2 – 3, David, after his sin with Bathsheba, prayed to be cleansed from transgressions and iniquities; and in that, he, one of the greatest “types,” of Christ, prefigured the coming of the Messiah who would put sin to death.

Foretelling the cleansing and healing of the line of David, and all of mankind, by “the promised grace to come” (1 Peter 1:10), through the Messiah; who put to death sin passed to him from his human ancestry, the “enmity in his own flesh,” (Romans 6:10, Ephesians 2:14-15, see an interlinear) before, it had the opportunity to conceive sin in him, fulfilling the law of God perfectly, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And in dying to sin, the long wilderness journey David typified and Christ pioneered (Hebrews 2:10), our forerunner (Hebrews 6:20), the “makings of generational sin,” were put to death by “wounding and piercing” the structures that bring sin to life (Romans 7) from generation to generation.

And those generational structures, rooted in wounds and brokenness (the entrenched tendency and expectancy to bear similar fruit as our generations), are made of agreements (judgments), lies, vows, curses, traumas, etc., passed from generation to generation; the practiced way of living sinfully. 

And that’s what Christ put to death in his generations, and, for all those who would be found in him.

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Wounding and piercing, spiritually speaking, describe part of the process of cleansing and healing wounds and brokenness from the fall; bringing to death transgressions and iniquities set to “…steal and kill and destroy…” (NIV, John 10:10, italicized is mine)

We tend to think of wounds and particularly brokenness in terms of the outcast, those who appear marginalized “less than,” but they apply every bit to the proud, lofty, influential, those who appear “more than,” and, to the content and complacent, unaware or unmoved by their wounds and brokenness.

Wounding and piercing and stripes (re: Isaiah 53) are not about inflicting injury and pain to purposely hurt or punish someone (the Messiah) as is generally ascribed to Calvary, but about bringing to death those things that would bring death to Christ, and to you and me.

The promised grace to come is about the wrath of God against sin, not a person, and not the Messiah.

It’s about putting sin to death – the makings of sin – and not the Messiah.

And Christ sacrificed everything – his life, future, rights, privileges, etc., “his blood,” (the most intimate and emotional expression that can be made about giving the entirety of your being) in being made perfect, redeeming mankind, the substitute for our sins.

They are about healing and restoration, not flogging, killing, or the piercing of the body with a spear.

Briefly, Isaiah conveys in words the picture of the Messiah being made whole, made one, with the law of God, through putting to death transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry; that “he,” the Messiah, puts to death; redeeming his life and generations, and all those in him, in the new covenant of the “grace to come.”

Christ’s greatest fight was his long journey being made perfect (Hebrews 5:7-10) before his ministry, fighting to redeem his generations from sin passed to him from his line, and all those who would come to him.

The Scripture clearly says Christ had “enmity” in his flesh, and was wounded and pierced in the bringing down of the barriers, “the structures, the makings of sin,” that kept his generations from fulfilling the law righteously, from the heart.

And in overcoming them, he became mankind’s living “flesh and blood,” substitute for sin!

Christ being the one and only to do it perfectly, fathered by God (Hebrews 5:7-10).

Again, wounding and piercing is bringing down the structures of sin in our lives, those structures in our lives opposed to the grace of God in dependence and intimacy with him.

It’s bringing down the structures men and women have constructed, through agreements, lies, vows, curses, traumas, etc., in reaction to wounding’s that repeat and spiral from generation to generation.

Wounding and piercing exposes wounds and brokenness to the light of God’s Word and the life of his Spirit.

It exposes the hidden and secret operations of sin in the lives of God sons and daughters, that which is dormant and ready to spring forth, and that which is active and hidden, to the grace of God in the revelation of Christ.

Wounding and piercing interrupts the law of increase inherent in sin from generation to generation, revealing the operation of “enmity” passed from generation, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, for cleansing and healing.

It is the spiritual terms used in the Old Covenant to describe the wrath of God against sin, the dismantling of the power of sin, exposing one’s wounds needing care and grace, removing the barriers between God’s grace and our flesh.

Wounding and piercing make room for renewal, the planting of the Word of God in areas formerly held by darkness – dismantling of the old to make way for the new, new wine in new wineskins.

I’ll speak a lot more on wounding and piercing in later posts, and their wide range of meanings in the Hebrew, and how they may apply to most any type of wounding, spiritual, physical, etc.

If you want to get a more complete understanding on how the phrase wounding and piercing is used in Isaiah 53 in reference to Christ, and how in the language of the kingdom of God, natural terms are used often to convey spiritual truths, and how this phrase and phrases like dying to sin, made alive to walk in newness of life, the sacrifice of his blood (life), learning obedience through suffering, the baptism he was baptized with, obedience unto death, the death of the cross, etc., convey the journey of Christ being made perfect before his ministry, in putting to death the enmity of his flesh, see my next post.

Again, they are not the same as flogging, killing, etc., what Christ experienced at Calvary.

That’s a big leap most everyone over the last 1700 years has made, since the time of the Creeds, pointing Isaiah 53:5 to Calvary, making the Bible a textbook of facts and figures, one the natural mind can understand, instead of the work of grace in healing the sores and injuries Isaiah witnessed earlier.

Even one commentator said Isaiah 53:5, wounding and piercing, could mean any number of things, but took it no further, not knowing what else it could mean.

Jumping ahead a few posts, Isaiah 53:4 – 6 captures Christ’s journey being made perfect; verse 7 begins with Calvary.

In the Hebrew, “death,” in verse 9 is plural according to some, capturing Christ’s atoning work – dying to sin to walk in newness of life, the life he displayed to Israel over three years, and, his death at Calvary, the demand for the sign of Jonah he gave them, confirming who he said he was.

John 12 speaks of Christ’s second glorification; and Peter, on the day of Pentecost, says the resurrected Christ, the one they killed, God raised from the dead. 

From our perspective, Jesus died two deaths; the first, to sin, being made perfect, becoming the resurrected one – life giver, our Savior, before his ministry, and then being rejected, he submitted to their demand to prove who he said he was, the sign of Jonah, dying for sin “exceedingly, over and above” (1 Corinthians 15:3, “for”) what was needed, having already been perfected, their Savior.

It is telling, Isaiah 53:4 is quoted in part in Matthew 8:17, the early part of the Galilean Ministry.

Because, and this is important, Isaiah 53:5 – 6 describes “how and why” he was able to carry our pains and suffering, it was through his perfection before ministry, not Calvary!

Christ’s outward appearance did not attract people, like a religious person, but one having gone through the long journey of being made new, the outward appearance of humility, little strength, dependent on God, one having been “touched” by God, and in that, he looked – liked one stricken and forsaken of God to the natural eyes.

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Greetings,

This post is Part 3 of my investigation into the timing and differences of Christ’s perfection, versus Calvary.

I recommend reading the preceding Parts in this series before diving into this post.

I also recommend reading the Fullness of Time series on Christ’s personal journey before his ministry.

Those of you who have questions about particular verses, like, Jesus fulfilling prophecy, having to die at Calvary, or, being lifted up to draw all unto him, etc., will have your questions answered in future posts.

Suffice it to say, prophecy is “future news revealed today,” not a “script.”

Jesus was not fulfilling “a script” at Calvary, i.e., “a determined and deliberate plan by God for his death for our salvation,” as commonly taught and thought.

On the contrary, Christ did everything possible to avoid being killed, short of taking up arms, which he could have done, been aided by the Father, and not sinned!

The downsize to that option, which Christ was not willing to let happen, and which God did not want to happen – some would be lost in the chaos of fighting, that would be saved, if he did not take up arms.

He did everything possible to convince Israel he was the Messiah and receive him.

Had they come to the realization, like Peter, by the revelation of the Father, he indeed was the Messiah, and accepted him, what we call the Millennium would have begun then and there.

Simply, Christ had the New Testament in his “blood” as he said, eternal life in flesh and blood, not needing to be killed at Calvary for us to be saved.

He had already paid the sacrifice for mankind’s sin in his journey, fathered by God, to perfection.

That’s what the promised grace to come is all about (1 Peter 1:10), a better covenant.

He was Salvation!

And the Scripture says that point blank (Matthews 26:28 and Hebrews 5:7-10).

But he submitted to their plan to kill him, really having no other viable choice, because it was not in his heart to fight and kill the people of God, to whom the oracles of God had come.

And in his submission to their plan, he gave them the sign of Jonah, hoping, some would come to forgiveness and repentance when they realize what they’ve done and missed.

Christ exposed Israel’s hardness of heart at Calvary, revealing their sin he had tried to access and heal for over three years.

Calvary was one last chance for the people of God to see and acknowledge their sin and Christ’s righteousness, before their practiced way of living would be removed at the hands of the Romans.

Israel used Rome to remove Christ from his homeland. They usurped his rights.

Their judgment against him, “the law of sowing and reaping, becoming what you judge,” circled back powerfully against them, when Rome removed them from their homeland and the kingdom of God went forward through the Gentiles.

Again, the prophecies of Old foretelling his rejection and killing, were a testimony of the condition of Israel’s heart.

God did everything “heavenly” and “humanely” possible to prepare Israel to receive their Messiah; laboring over four millenniums through types and shadows in the lives of individuals, Israel, and other kingdoms, to create the best possible atmosphere for Israel to receive and accept Christ.

Their “salvation” ministered in their midst for over three years, knocking on the door of their heart, freely offering himself in healing and salvation, having already paid the price for their sin in his personal journey of being made perfect, fathered by God, becoming their Lord and Savior.

The wrath of God was revealed against “sin” in Christ’s perfection, bringing to death those things bent on destroying Christ, and all those who would come to know him.

Creeds and traditions have so twisted the concept of salvation, missing what God accomplished in Christ; becoming our Savior before his ministry.

Creeds and traditions cast Christianity in the lot of those in ancient times who offered their firstborn in the “fire,” appeasing the false pagan gods they worshipped.

God rebuked Israel for following in their footsteps; and Christ rebuked those who were bent on killing calling them wretched, murders, and other things only the Lord could justly and rightly say.  

Introduction

This series unpacks more of Christ’s personal story, and the supremacy, timing, and differences of it, to what Christendom holds as his greatest story, Calvary.

When bread is full of yeast, it’s not possible to separate the yeast from the dough, instead, the bread must be thrown away and new dough baked without yeast.

The impact of creeds and traditions in commentaries and translations is almost overwhelming.

Critical verses about Christ in the New Testament must be reviewed one by one to see what’s been added or enhanced (frequently, but not always) by translators, to point the Scripture to Calvary.

Simply, Scriptures containing suffering, wounding, death, sacrifice, blood, etc., in relationship to Christ, invariably, because of creeds and traditions, have been pointed to Calvary; translators making the path clearer, frequently, by “soft” or “hard” additions and enhancements. 

This is not done maliciously or consciously to distort or produce a bad translation.

It’s the product of 1700 years of creeds and traditions elevating Calvary above Christ, having lost the story of Christ, his perfection, fathered by God so long ago.

Commentators and translators, like most, speaking of Christianity, have been brought up, taught, and schooled in the overarching principles of creeds and traditions, and, the importance in staying in the boundaries of what has been the beliefs of the Church for 1700 years.

There’s no latitude for “leaders” to deviate from what the Church holds as sacred and holy in its beliefs and its practiced way of communicating and distributing what it believes among those called of God.

In the absence of the revelation of Christ’s personal journey, and, one’s willingness to part with what’s been institutionalized, there’s no other course other than what’s been taught in the Church, if one is a Christian.

Again, simply, the position of creeds and traditions shift the importance and emphasis of Christ, as he relates to us as Savior, to the end of his ministry, Calvary.

While the Scriptures, properly interpreted, shift the emphasis of Christ to before his ministry, his perfection.

Because, out of who he became in being made perfect, everything else flows!

The natural man wants everything in a nice package, easily wrapped and handed to others with minimal instructions and difficulty.

Something that can be consumed by the masses; institutionalized as a commodity, a means of measuring one another by outward beliefs, professions, and work.

Instead of the challenge and adventure of seeking and waiting on God for revelation and understanding in the “revelation of Christ,” personally, uniquely, and individually (1 Peter 1:13).

Knowing one another by our good fruit, the measure of one’s intimacy, connection, and relationship with Christ.

That at the end of the day, it would truly be all about Jesus, deeply, richly, and intimately, and not the off – the – shelf Jesus; packaged and wrapped for quick consumption, requiring little of the consumer.

The Reformation, and Pentecost returned, removed some of the yeast.

And over the last 100 years, the yeast has continued to be separated little by little.

But, in Tabernacles, for the bride, the Church of Philadelphia, the bread will be baked anew without yeast to present one last picture of Christ in those who deeply love him; fulfilling the journey Christ pioneered almost two millenniums ago.

(In the Scriptures, the term yeast was used by Jesus to symbolize false teaching. See also the fourth parable of Matthew 13; the kneading of yeast in the Church during the age of Thyatira.)

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This post continues to build on Parts 1 and 2.

It expands the importance of understanding the difference between Christ’s perfection and Calvary and the critical impact on the Christian experience.

Tragically, the absence of teaching and understanding of the journey of Christ, in the era when it is most needed, is one of the reasons “fuel,” for the Great Apostasy in the end – times.

There’s a lot more to Jesus than the basics we’ve been taught.

Hopefully, those hungering for more of Christ will find their way to writings like mine and others.

Writings having a more complete story of Christ, what he pioneered, his personal fight for healing and restoration, the pattern he established for those who would follow in his footsteps.

The pioneering work that enabled him to offer Israel what he did during his ministry – healing, restoration, life!

This post continues to give the “back story” of Christ; the foundation for his ministry and Calvary, his journey in being made perfect.

This series establishes the Scriptural truth of the supremacy of Christ’s personal journey, over his ministry, and, over the events of Calvary.

Simply, according to the Scriptures, Christ’s perfection – made perfect, fathered by God, healed and restored, the sacrifice for mankind’s sin, redeeming what Adam lost and beyond – occurred before his ministry.

The Scripture is very clear on this, and no one, not in the age of Philadelphia, the feast of Tabernacles, should err.

His perfection ushered in the New Testament, because Jesus is the New Testament.

The heart “great weight and body of writings about Christ in the New Testament,” is about his dying to sin, alive in spirit, “his perfection,” raised to walk in new life, the journey he pioneered and patterned for those in him.

It did not begin at Calvary, but with Christ.

That’s why he was killed, they did not want the New Testament.

They rejected the New Testament in Christ, the perfected Son of God.

And all those Scriptures – phrases about Christ’s journey to perfection – we’ve commonly associated with Calvary:

• sacrifice for all; baptism unto death, resurrected to walk in new life; dying to sin, made alive in spirit; wounded and pierced; death of the cross; exalted/passed through the heavens; a name above every name; made perfect; glorified, etc.,
• refer to the events of his perfection journey before ministry, becoming the source of salvation, the Savior,
• whereas there are certain specific descriptions unique to Calvary, like shedding of blood, or, glorified “again,” or, dying “for” our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3), where the “for” in the Greek is not the regular “for,” but the one used to mean “over and above, exceedingly abundant,” denoting his action beyond what was necessary, having already paid the price for sin in his perfection,
• and certain words common to both his perfection and Calvary, like crucify, which is used a lot in the New Testament, outside the Gospels, to represent putting the old man to death, dying to sin, which Christ pioneered for you and me, or, phrases like “raised from the dead,” or “resurrection,” where the context determines if its about his perfection, or Calvary,
• and, certain words used only for Calvary for obvious reasons, like killed, flogged, insulted, spit on, etc., because the healing journey of putting the old man to death is the work of grace, to restore, God’s work, not, the work of man, which in his fallen state, outside the kingdom, despises the grace of God.  

 

(Note: There are a number of places where “shed” or “shedding” of blood have been added in translation to make it clear the Scripture refers to Calvary, when in fact, actually, the Scripture refers to his perfection.

I refer to my last post on what Jesus said about the New Testament in his blood; his meaning of his flesh and blood in the language of the Kingdom of God.)

The Scriptures clearly show Calvary displayed who Christ was – what he had “already” accomplished in becoming their Savior; confirming what he said about himself; testifying to the signs, wonders, miracles, he did, and to the Words he spoke.

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Creeds and traditions have shortchanged and robbed Christ of his personal journey and glory; making him more suitable to the way we live life, and what and how, we think of God.

Thankfully, the Lord works outside creeds and traditions in accomplishing his will in those who want him above all else.

Those who want to know Jesus intimately, adventurous enough to risk the cost of being separated unto Christ.

To have the hidden and secret things in their life exposed to the care of love of Christ.

Mercifully, the Lord does not think and act the way we do, no matter how long creeds and traditions have been in place, but desires to make himself known to those who cherish his Word and desire the deep things of God.

He wants the kindness and goodness of his Father to be known – the truth about the will of his Father in the events leading up to and including Calvary.

That, our heavenly Father was more than able of providing a sacrifice for sin, by his only begotten Son’s journey (by grace through faith) in being made perfect (Hebrews 5:7-10, Romans 6:10, etc.).

That in the dispensation of grace, the wrath of God is on sin, the powers of darkness, and not, on our wounds and brokenness, the fertile soil for sin.

That in the dispensation of grace, the promised grace to come, starting in Christ first, is to heal and restore those who turn to God.

That sin can be, and was, atoned for, by the sacrifice of Christ in being made perfect.

Simply, that God does not need to kill someone, or have someone killed, to forgive another, especially his only begotten Son.

When the light goes on, the events of Calvary become clearer along with the will of the Father and the choices Christ had before him, kill or be killed.

Christ was already their Savior, there was nothing left for him to do other than to submit to their demand to see the sign of Jonah – something an unbelieving heart can see with the natural eyes.

Christ had the New Testament in his blood, choosing to have it shed, not because they needed a Savior, he was already their Messiah, the source of healing and salvation.

But, that, some might find repentance and forgiveness when their unbelieving heart came face-to-face with his resurrection through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the ministry to follow.

Had Israel come to their Messiah, the Holy Spirit would’ve been poured out, and what we call the Millennium would have been ushered in at that time.

But, the heart of the Father and Christ’s was not to kill those he was sent to, but to submit to their rage hoping some would eventually come to salvation.

Had he requested angels to his rescue, he would not have sinned.

Because, as we all know, he was their Messiah, their Savior, an innocent man, and, most importantly, he said his father would not hesitate to send angels if he desired so!

And we know, God is not a party to sin, but righteous in everything he does!

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Does What You Believe Come from the Revelation of the Lord Upon His Word, or, from the Way of Life Passed down through the Generations?

Preface

When you approach Scripture with creeds and traditions in your back pocket as your guide, you bring another “person” into the conversation, an intermediary between you and Christ and the revelation of his Word.

As most of us know, Jesus does not violate our will, nor the agreements we make with other parties, whether they be human, or spiritual.

If we open the door of our heart to him, he will lead us through a long journey out of the captivity of agreements with the enemy, but he will not force his will upon us.

The battle for our heart, and I use that term broadly, is done through a lot of arenas, like teaching, or words of knowledge, or the revelation of his Word, in an atmosphere of wooing and drawing our heart to him in kindness and love.

Jesus desires our desires, passions, affections, be centered and toward him, because, that’s where our safety and our help comes from, in being known, and knowing him.

It’s not out of Christ’s selfishness he desires the “all of us,” but it’s for our own self – interest, safety, protection, and prosperity.

But Jesus never forces himself upon us.

That is something the enemy does – passing sin through the generations; increasing in depth and intensity from generation to generation.

There’s a lot that comes into play here, but suffice it to say, the Lord is looking for those who will be open to the moving of his Spirit, the revelation of his Word, upon which to birth the new things of God.

Christ is a gentleman.

He does not barge in to another’s circle of intimates if you know what I mean.

Christ exalts relationship above doctrine and all the half-truths we all believe to varying degrees, whether they be beliefs pertaining Scripture, or to other matters.

If it was all about doctrine, none of us would be saved.

The cleaning up of what we believe, and how we practice life, comes after the recognition of our deep need for the saving love and power of Christ in our lives.

When the time comes to birth a new move of God, to advance the kingdom of God into new territory for his sons and daughters, the Lord turns to those who are hungry for more of him.

Those who are hungry for more of Christ will be the ones he uses to advance the revelation of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And in that, the Lord will reveal more insight, a deeper understanding of his Word, i.e., “him,” in those areas he’s calling his sons and daughters to come.

The birthing of new moves of God is not an easy process, but a complicated moving of the Holy Spirit over generations to prepare hearts for the new things of God.

It took about 400 years from the beginning of the Reformation, the return of Passover, “being born again,” to usher in the return of Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the early 20^th century.

And the process of inspiring and cultivating hearts to receive the deeper things of God is happening today, as the body of Christ, those willing to move forward, continues the transition from Pentecost to Tabernacles, the age of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is Christ’s last opportunity to form a bride in the gospel era.

Every new move of God requires a stretching of hearts, a dismantling of beliefs; an embracing of the revelation of the Spirit of God in the revelation of Christ by grace (1 Peter 1:13).

Included is the process of removing the “intermediaries,” Christendom has erected over the centuries as a substitute for Christ, because of the absence of deep and intimate relationship with him.

Christ has slowly taken the Church through a progressive revelation of his Word and Spirit over the last 500 years, accelerating change as each new move breaks forth.

He’s diligently labored to put things in place to remove intermediaries in our lives, whether it be false teaching leading to the embrace of lies, or, deep wounds and brokenness which continue to produce bad fruit generation after generation.

He’s making ready, as much as possible, and as time permits, provisions for deep healing and restoration in the body of Christ, so desperately needed at this present time.

He searching for those who are hungry and thirsty for more of him.

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Showing up for spiritual warfare with creeds and traditions in your back pocket, is like stepping into the 21^st century with bows and arrows.

Today, the revelation of Christ far surpasses any other time in church history, and, is likely greater than the revelation bestowed upon the writers of the New Testament.

We are eyewitnesses of the things they wrote about, prophesied, and on the verge of partaking the deepest things Christ has ever offered to the Church.

Creeds and traditions will keep one in the archives of the ancients, and, possibly out of the deep mysteries of Christ, his journey, who he became, and what he has in this critical hour of transition in church history. 

You may feel creeds and traditions are not hindering you in pursuing the deep things of Christ, because God is doing deep things in your life.

But, why not have it all?

Why not see who Jesus really is – the greater treasures he has for those who know him more fully?

The power of creeds and traditions cannot be underestimated in their influence and direction over our lives, and the impact on our desires and aspirations.

Creeds and traditions have robbed us of Christ’s full humanity, given us a substitute Jesus, a substitute New Testament centered on events and not Christ, and a substitute relationship with beliefs instead of Jesus.

As I’ve said before, they’ve made Christ unapproachable, not understandable, something created by men, instead of conceived by the Holy Spirit.

In robbing Christ of his full humanity, we take bits and pieces of the Psalms and refer them to Christ, but apply most of the Davidic Psalms to David, when, much of David’s Psalms “prefigure” Christ’s journey.

A Quick, General, Overview: Natural Versus Spiritual

I need to give another insert here before we jump into the heart of this teaching.

It’s more insight on how to approach the Bible as a living document, and not as a textbook, or, as a recount of historical information.

I’ve talked at length about receiving revelation from the Lord to understand Scripture.

Because that’s what the Scripture teaches: to be led by the Spirit to spiritually discern; to be inspired and anointed to receive and discover the treasures and mysteries of Christ.

We know the natural man cannot receive the things of God; they must be revealed to you and me by the Lord to understand his Word and the moving of his Spirit.

Without the revelation of the Lord, the Bible is just like every other book – one to be read and studied through the tools of this world – the filters of the fallen nature.

If we approach the Word of God with all the tools and resources we have at “our” disposal – the great weight of creeds and traditions in Christendom – without the revelation of the Lord, we will fail to understand what Jesus is really trying to say. 

Hopefully, there comes a point for those in the faith a long time, having been well taught and studied in the Scriptures, where they entreat the Lord to give clarity and understanding for “troubling” themes and beliefs in the body – those in conflict with themselves –  where meanings and descriptions have been forced, or cannot be explained, or, at odds with like Scriptures.

And when one looks at the vast number of Scripture’s talking about Christ’s journey, different terms and phrases, and the different angles and perspectives each of them comes from and leads to, and, how they describe a process, a journey, it’s remarkable certain creeds and traditions have lasted so long.

There’s a power in “generational agreements,” with a plan and design by the enemy, to keep the deep truths of God’s Word hidden as long as possible from God’s sons and daughters.

In the vast network of these phrases (the various phrases I mentioned above describing Christ’s journey being made perfect), Calvary is not mentioned, nor killing, nor people and events, nor the emotion of those close to Christ who witnessed or were alive at the time of his murder, like Stephen in Acts seven, and Peter in Acts two.

In the absence of any hint of Calvary, what are all these diverse, unique, yet similar phrases referring to?

Though some commentators publicly express their thoughts some of these Scriptures could mean any number of things, e.g., Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 3:18, etc., creeds and traditions, and the intense press to conform, leave them no place to go.

Calvary is an historical event, the crucifixion of the Messiah by the hands of Rome.

But it is an event not needing a lot of explanation, nor constant repetition in the Scriptures, because Christ did not pioneer Calvary as the pattern for his sons and daughters to follow.

He pioneered healing and restoration; putting the enmity in his flesh to death in being made perfect, raised to walk in new life, for Israel to see and hear for over three years.

That’s the heart of the Gospel, to be made new, the extensive subject matter of the New Testament, a better covenant, healing and restoring men and women from sin, by the process Christ pioneered. 

Jesus said the New Testament was in his blood and he was shedding his blood for forgiveness of sins.

We know Jesus was not saying “literally” the New Testament was in the blood coursing through his body.

He made that clear in John 6 when he spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood – see Part 2 in this series.

But, he was the New Testament in flesh and blood “having apprehended eternal life,” blood being the most intimate expression he could give showing what it cost him in becoming our Savior.

And he was giving his “resurrection life” up in one last effort, hoping some would come to repentance and forgiveness, like those on the day of Pentecost.

Now, and this is important, with the passing of the centuries after the apostles died, and the institutionalization of creeds, the Scriptures about death and dying to sin, sacrifice, blood, etc., in relationship to Christ, were generally taken literally.

And, as a consequence, what were descriptions of the process of his journey to perfection became descriptions of Calvary.

Making Calvary the center of everything, losing the knowledge of Christ’s journey.

Even without the revelation of the Lord, pointing the journey of perfection to Calvary does not make sense, naturally, or literally.

In the vast majority of phrases about Christ in the New Testament, outside of the Gospels (which are the accounts of his ministry, not his perfection), the absence of the “emotion” of Calvary, the “events” of Calvary, the “people” of Calvary, and, the “absence” of specifically mentioning his killing (like Stephen in Acts seven), should cause wonder about the true meaning of these verses.

When Jesus talked about Calvary, he said he would be killed, flogged, insulted, spit upon, Luke 18.

These terms do not apply to the perfection journey for obvious reasons.

God is not a pagan, he does not endorse the killing, flogging, insulting, and spitting on people, especially his only begotten Son, for salvation.

These are the actions of men, and not God.

God likened those who killed Christ as wretched, murderers.

Because their Savior, whom God had labored to prepare for them in types and shadows since the time of Adam, was standing before them, ready to usher them into the Millennium, yet, after all that, they rejected him.

He has a better way, it’s called grace through faith, a better covenant, one that heals and restores, not kills and brutalizes.

The wrath of God is against sin, not against people, during the time of grace, which Christ ushered in.

Dying to sin, raised from the dead (mortality taking on immortality, the “resurrection” Christ walked in), sacrificing his blood (which he described as life and Spirit), crucifying the flesh, wounded and pierced, and similar phrases, are descriptions of being made holy, healed and restored, not being killed.

I have a section coming in a future post on David.

And how he describes the hand of God in his life in the Psalms in making him into the man who would become King – the greatest “type” of Christ’s journey to perfection.

The many phrases I’ve been sharing apply “literally” to spiritual truths, and “literally” to natural truths as circumstances and context determine.

One example: Raised from the dead applies to being raised from the dead after physical death, as well as, being raised from mortality, from the fall, to immortality, “in this life;” experiencing the resurrection power of God in an area of life, or, for Christ, who completed the journey, eternal life this side of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15 is mostly speaking about walking in resurrection life this side of heaven, the life Christ pioneered for you and me.

When Jesus was perfected, he entered eternal life, glory, which was shown on the Mount, and would never die from natural causes, restoring what Adam lost.

Raised from the dead generally applies to putting the old man to death, sin in our members, to walk in new life.

Christ experienced this, because, before his perfection, he would have died a natural death like everybody else if he had not been fathered by God, healed and restored from generational transgressions and iniquities he inherited from his human ancestry.

Death to sin happens as we put sin to death through the breaking of agreements with the enemy, along with other measures of healing the Lord brings our way.

As areas of sin are put to death, new life – resurrection life – begins to spring forth in areas formally held in darkness.

And for those who complete the journey, like Christ, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, the latter three not being perfected, but “types” prefiguring the perfection to come, Christ will raise from the dead to walk in resurrection life here in earth.

Please think this not strange.

That’s the promise to the Church of Philadelphia, the feast of Tabernacles, the bride of Christ in the making today.

If there were those in the Old Covenant who never tasted the sting of death, and, those in the NT who experienced the same, like Peter, or Paul, then most certainly, resurrection life, and, the out – translation of the bride, will come to pass as promised!

*** SECTION I ***

The Great Harm to the Church by the Loss of Christ’s Personal Journey

The understanding of the perfection of Christ, raised from mortality to immortality, “resurrection life,” restoring what Adam lost this side of heaven, which Christ “displayed publicly,” when he raised the dead to life – WAS TO BE THE NEW NORMAL FOR THOSE IN CHRIST.

In other words, Christ pioneered eternal life this side of heaven for those made complete in him, that, in the absence of someone killing them or some accident, they would not die, but enter heaven like Enoch, Moses, Elijah, Christ, and others (likely Peter and Paul from their own testimonies).

(I, like others, believe Moses did not die but was translated; they could not find his body, Satan argued about it, and, Moses was seen with Elijah on the Mount.)

The New Covenant was given to restore what Adam lost, eternal life this side of heaven, for those fathered by God; who complete the journey in Christ, the feast of Tabernacles, the final leg of the journey and the longest part.

Jesus demonstrated what resurrection life was like, not only to set captives free, but to cultivate desire for the deep things of God, and, the willingness to be a part of a brand – new story that restores mankind.

And with the great benefits of resurrection life, comes the personal cost of being willing to be made new, to enter into the long journey of healing and restoration, becoming a vessel healed from the inside out for the master’s use.

David, anointed to be king, but not yet King, slew Goliath and captured the heart of the nation of Israel.

And yet, he had to endure over a decade and a half of fleeing for his life; a “type” of “dying to sin to walk in newness of life,” (foretelling the journey Christ would pioneer perfectly), to be made ready to possess the Ark of the Covenant, the presence of God.

Christ’s ministry gave them a witness of what was available in God, provided, they be baptized with the baptism he was baptized with (Matthew 20:23, Romans 6).

And that baptism was dying to sin, to walk in newness of life, the journey of being made perfect by the things which he suffered, learning obedience, fathered by God.

The eternal one walking among them, having been perfected, offered eternal life to those who would come into covenant with him, and, undergo the baptism he was baptized with – being cleansed, healed, and restored by the Holy Spirit.

Christ was the first to fulfill Psalm 16 perfectly, before his presentation to John at the river Jordan.

And his substitution for what we could not do – cleanse and heal ourselves – released grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the operation of our faith, for us to apprehend what Christ apprehended us for.

The New Covenant is a covenant of believers who apprehend eternal life, mortality taking on immortality, this side of heaven.

Just because we don’t see it happening all around us does not mean it is not true.

The bride in the end – times will enter eternal life and be raptured before the onset of the Tribulation.

She will fulfill, by the power of the Holy Spirit, fathered by God, the feast of Tabernacles, in Christ.

That’s the heart of the New Covenant, restoring what Adam lost, “life,” which Jesus apprehended and fulfilled perfectly.

And in his perfection, i.e., the sacrifice of his life (“his blood, as he said, the most intimate expression possible of his sacrifice”), he became the substitute for mankind, releasing grace for us to be made like unto him.

The release of grace was not for us to continue to live in sin, unhealed and unrestored, but to enter what he entered, healing and restoration, “partakers of the divine nature,” putting the old man to death, raised to walk in new life.

And yes, Christ had an old man to put to death, the generational transgressions and iniquities he inherited from his human ancestry; that’s what Isaiah 53:5 is all about, the wounding and piercing of the old man in healing and restoration.

And the loss of this understanding has in many ways critically weakened Christendom, making the cross of Christ to little effect in many lives.

And I speak of the cross of putting the old man to death, the cross of being healed and restored, the long journey of Tabernacles, the baptism of Christ.

Every relationship requires giving and receiving, and the relationship with Christ is no different.

With him, it’s giving him our lives, and, in return, receiving his care and love to heal and restore our wounds and brokenness; to advance his kingdom in us first, and then, for us to be of service in advancing his kingdom in others.

The loss of this basic understanding of Scripture, Christ’s personal journey to perfection, “the sacrifice of his life in being made perfect,” has robbed literally untold millions from a deeper relationship with Christ over the centuries.

Many millions have entered the feast of Passover, being born again, and, many millions have entered the feast of Pentecost, being baptized by the Holy Spirit, but not many have entered the feast of Tabernacles, cleansed, healed, and restored, a bride made ready for the bridegroom.

That’s what the church age of Philadelphia is all about, the age you and I are living in!

Paul and Peter apprehended what Christ apprehended them for, noting their time of departure was approaching, like Elijah of old.

The New Covenant gives God’s sons and daughters “the way” to enter eternal life now, through the “open door,” of Tabernacles (Revelation 3:7-13).

The New Covenant is the means through which men and women in Christ enter the journey of Christ, healing and restoration of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

It’s the baptism Christ pioneered for you and me.

It’s the promised grace to come, redeeming and restoring what Adam lost, and, additionally, completing the journey he and Eve failed to complete.

Since Christ completed his healing and restoration journey perfectly, without sin, becoming the substitute for mankind, entering “resurrection life,” he would have lived forever, just like Adam and Eve before the fall, had he not been killed.

He gave up everything being perfected before his ministry, then, gave up his just right to live forever, at Calvary; having already died to sin, rather than kill those intent on killing him, that some might come to repentance and forgiveness when they see what they’ve done, who they killed.

Christ had access to the heavenly realm as he “willed” after his perfection, as revealed and displayed to the three on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Those who enter resurrection life this side of heaven, the likes of Enoch, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, and likely John, though they had access to the heavenly realm, because of sin, their bodies continued to deteriorate with age, unlike Christ, who would have lived forever in his body like Adam before the fall, because he never sinned.

Even the bride in the end – times, those who complete the feast of Tabernacles, the age of Philadelphia, because of sin, will eventually die if not for the out – translation of the saints at the end of the Gospel age.

Simply, there is healing needed not available this side of the Millennium, until Christ rules, the enemy is locked up, and the knowledge of God fills the earth.

There’s a tremendous ongoing battle with darkness in the fallen world we live, wearing at unhealed areas of our life, and, even though one enters resurrection life “eternal life,” fulfilling the feast of Tabernacles, physical death will eventually come without the out – translation.

The rapture is necessary for the bride, not only because the Antichrist system will rise again to strike her down, if possible, but because she will eventually succumb to death unless raptured.

To sum this up, like Adam and Eve, if they had not sinned, Christ, having been perfectly healed and restored, without sinning, apprehended resurrection life; would have lived forever transiting between heaven earth just like the angels in heaven, had he not been killed.

When Jesus said he came from heaven it should now be clear what he was referring to.

He gave some obvious hints to us on these matters by his transfiguration and the teaching on the resurrection, saying those who enter resurrection life are like the angels of heaven.

And he did not mean resurrection after physical death!

His raising of Lazarus was not only because he loved Lazarus, but to give everybody an object lesson – a living object lesson – of who he was (Christ), and what he was walking in.

Remember, you can only give out what you receive, in – kind can only produce in – kind, a resurrected life can only produce “give,” resurrection life to others, Christ being the only one who had the authority to give it perfectly, even after days of decay!

And simply, those who apprehend resurrection life in the New Covenant, being made alive in spirit, completing the journey of Tabernacles, the bride in the end – times, are candidates for rapture, if something does not happen to them to cut their life short, like martyrdom.

Being taken straight way to heaven should not be strange, if you’re a Christian and believe the Scriptures.

End Time Apostasy

2 Thessalonians 2:3, Revelation 3:9, Revelation 3:16, Revelation 12:4, etc.

When we think of the apostasy in the last days we generally think of the outward display of sin and lawlessness in society as instigating the Great Falling Away.

Scriptures like, “‘Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.’” (NIV, Matthew 24:12)

And, “…There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (NIV, 2 Timothy 3:1 – 5)

These Scriptures are speaking first and foremost to what resides inside the heart of those called by his name.

Scripture is written to Christians, not non-Christians.

These are warnings to Christians of what happens inside the heart of men and women, who, for whatever reason, fail to receive the care and love of Christ in their inner man: dying to sin to walk in newness of life.

The end times are going to be some of the darkest days on earth, and Christians who fail to heed the Gospel and seek the Lord while he may be found, crying out to the Lord for healing and restoration, to truly be made new, not just born again, not just spirit filled, but renewed deeply in the inner man.

A perfect storm is forming in Christendom:

• the rise of the Antichrist kingdom and culture; the age of the humanist “influential,” seemingly in every area of life, pointing to the power within to change one’s identity and destiny, a life truly without God,
• the absence of teaching on Christ’s personal journey, his perfection, the pioneering pattern he established for God’s sons and daughters to be made new,
• the stranglehold of creeds and traditions that continue through commentaries and translations to point the vast majority of Scriptures pertaining to Christ’s perfection – dying to sin, raised to walk in newness of life, to Calvary instead of his personal journey,
• the lack of teaching in Christianity about the feasts; the age of Philadelphia and the feast of Tabernacles, and, the absence of seeking healing and restoration, “to be fathered by God,”
• the constant onslaught and distraction for the love and cares of this world, seemingly permeating every corner and aspect of Christian and non-Christian life alike,
• the emphasis in Christian teaching of the power to change one’s life through decisions, the creep of humanism suffocating the cross of Christ, rather than deep intimacy, connection, and union with Christ through the wilderness journey with him, and,
• Christians forsaking the signs of the times; the deep things of the Word and Spirit; the provision of deep grace God has made available in numerous parachurch ministries for decades.

 

God is providing a deep work of grace today in Christendom, yet relatively few are seeking healing and restoration.

Christians who neglect to be found hidden in the cleft of the rock, under the shadow of his wing, “dependent and intimate with Christ,” in the provisions of the current Church age, will find it increasingly difficult to maintain spiritual life in the time of famine and leanness in the body of Christ.

Only those who have learned to survive in the wilderness with Christ will prosper in the coming times of leanness.

The Lord provisions each church age with the revelation of his Word and Spirit, in “grace,” to apprehend what they were apprehended for, in that era.

The grace and revelation of his Word and Spirit in ages past are insufficient for the increased level of darkness now, and coming.

That does not mean someone will necessarily be lost.

But it does mean, if a person, for whatever reason, neglects to be “made ready” by Christ in the provisions he has labored to established in the current Church age, then they will be unprepared for the challenges and difficulties of darkness.

Important

Each church age has a certain amount of grace extended to accomplish what God desires in that era; preparing those who receive his grace to rise above the flood waters of darkness in that era, and, for the new things of God to come.

The grace being released today by the Lord, personally by him, and through ministries in the body of Christ, is to complete the third and final feast of the Old Covenant fulfilled in the New, Tabernacles, (the age of Philadelphia), the bride.

It is the time of fulfillment of all things promised in the Gospel age in the body of Christ – healing and restoration of wounds and brokenness, making ready a people group for deep intimacy, connection, and union with Christ.

It is the promised grace to come, in fullness, in the Gospel age, in the closing hours of the Church.

One last effort by Christ to have a bride who will represent him to a lost and dying world when the waves of revival once again wash ashore the sands of humanity as in times past.

Revival, which is another way of saying “life,” for those wanting God, and, increased separation and darkness, for those intent on opposing the grace of God, will certainly come, though it appears to linger, before the closing of the door of this age, and the opening of the door to the next.

****

Tragically, the coming apostasy, like all apostasy’s, springs forth out of the fertile ground of unhealed wounds and brokenness.

Christ’s gentle knock at the door of the heart, the abundance of grace and care, is refused. (Revelation 3:20)

It is unhealed wounds and brokenness, rooted in unrepentant and unforgiven transgressions and iniquities, that fuel apostasy in the heart of God’s sons and daughters.

And in the age of Laodicea, where God’s sons and daughters do what is right in their own eyes (like in the time of the Judges), which is present among us today, will form one of the greatest apostasies in the Gospel age.

Sadly, without Christ’s resurrection life, Christians will find themselves overwhelmed in the last days, ill-equipped and ill-prepared to deal with the coming flood of darkness.

And, for those alive at the time of the Tribulation, a flood of evil beyond human comprehension like in the days of the Babylonians, Persians, and Grecians will spring forth unimpeded upon mankind (Revelation 13:3).

****

Some say we become what we behold.

In the absence of the teaching of Christ’s personal journey – the wilderness journey of being made perfect – a patchwork of discordant beliefs have been sewn together in man’s attempt to describe Christ.

He’s pictured as passive, sometimes, and aggressive at others.

But the picture of Christ fighting darkness for his own healing and restoration is deceptively absent.

All we’ve been told about him comes from his ministry.

And we’ve been told the Scriptures about Christ outside of the Gospels point to Calvary.

So, how did he become who he came to be?

And how do we become who we were designed and ordained to be?

There’s a general sense in Christendom we’re on our own, orphaned, fatherless, having an all-powerful Savior, but one who is passive in our salvation, and certainly in our healing and restoration.

We’re left pretty much dependent on our own decisions and devices on who and what we become.

And it’s that sense of passivity “fatherlessness and orphaned,” that overshadows Christianity – an image of a lukewarm Christ, someone neither cold nor hot; here, but not really here; present, but not really present.

Get the picture.

The absence of teaching the fiery baptism Christ undertook in being made perfect, becoming our Savior, fighting for his life, and the plan of God, has allowed a sleepiness, “dullness,” over the lives of God’s sons and daughters, keeping them from spiritual warfare and the “deep” of God.

No wonder there’s the Great Apostasy in the last days.

****

The Lord has ways of reaching those who are cold, those who’ve had the fire of God in their life, but have become bitter and withdrawn from pursuing God.

And those who are hot, zealous for the things of God, pursuing and directing others to God, but operating out of unhealed wounds, a self – will zealousness.

The hot, having bypassed the need for healing and restoration, rely on their own strength, leading, and guidance.

But the lukewarm, those who have a knowledge of God, but deny the power of the resurrection life, content, complacent, satisfied with knowing “about” Jesus (born again), and knowing his “presence” (baptized in the Holy Spirit), but, tragically, lacking the most critical component of any relationship – “not knowing, or being known of him.”

It’s great to know “about,” Jesus, and it’s even better to know “his presence,” but, to make it through the fires of the last days, we need to “know and be known of him.”

And that can only come about through deep intimacy and connection with Christ in the wilderness journey he’s designed to purify and cleanse our lowly bodies into his glorious body.

Without coming into the safety of the deep grace of God, the Most Holy Place, Tabernacles, the growth of sin in God’s sons and daughters in the end times will outpace the grace of those living on old and stale manna.

The grace of past moves of God will be insufficient to face the coming darkness.

Again, to survive the coming flood waters of darkness in one’s life and in the culture at large, one must partake of the deep grace being offered by Christ today.

****

The house built on sand is okay as long as the sun is shining and storms are absent.

But when the storm comes, and it will someday, it will give way to the currents, winds, and debris of the storm.

The different church ages are not happenstance and coincidence, but specifically ordained and designed by God to “grace” those found in those time periods with provisions to keep them above the flood waters in his care and embrace.

If one forsakes the grace of the “church age” they find themselves, they will be ill-equipped and unprepared to face the adversaries of darkness in that particular season of church history.

The absence of the knowledge of Christ’s personal journey was not critical in seasons past, because the “grace” bestowed in the seasons of Passover and Pentecost were sufficient for the spiritual warfare of their day.

But that will not be the case in the days ahead.

Only the journey in the wilderness with Christ, cleansed and healed as much as time permits, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, will carry one through the coming storms of spiritual warfare.

Now, this is not something you can do on your own through your own initiatives, that would be humanism, right?

Christianity is a work of grace by the Lord, and must be initiated by him.

He is the one who chooses and invites those who are seeking him into the journey and experience of Tabernacles.

Tabernacles is beyond Passover and Pentecost, requiring the personal leading and guidance of Christ for those who do not want to settle for the loaves and fishes, but want Jesus and all he has to offer.

Unlike the first two feasts, Passover and Pentecost, Tabernacles is uniquely designed and fashioned to mature God’s sons and daughters through the wilderness journey, being fathered by God.

It’s designed to heal the orphan heart, the sense of fatherlessness, establishing deep intimacy, connection, and eventually union with Christ.

It’s what every human being was designed and ordained to apprehend and become in Christ.

So, if you’re not on this journey, what’s keeping you back from seeking the Lord, asking him to make you into his likeness, his bride?

Tabernacles is uniquely designed for those who want to go further in Christ, who know there’s more to Christ than advertised, who want the journey he pioneered.

The knowledge of Christ’s personal journey has never been more critical to be prepared for the deep waves of God’s Holy Spirit to come.

We see plainly in Scripture those who are not made ready, the foolish virgins, the lukewarm, the stars falling from the heavens, the “great falling away”, those eating and drinking with the drunken, etc., have insufficient grace to rise above the flood of darkness.

Noah prepared for decades to rise above the coming floodwaters.

Abraham and Sarah waited decades to have Isaac.

Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Joshua, David, and Christ prepared for years to fulfill the plan of God in their lives.

It was that way in the Old, and it is that way in the New.

And Tabernacles, the deep and mysterious journey of being cleansed and healed, a bride made ready, is no exception, but the final chapter of a long story started by Adam and Eve, fulfilled by Christ, patterned for you and me.

It’s the final chapter of the Gospel age.

A Little More Detail

A leader is needed for every cause and vision.

If Jesus “modelled” Christianity, his primary mission and vision to be killed, what does that say about God’s love for him, personally, and, what does that say about the story he’s modelling and inviting others into?

And what does that say about Christ’s own teaching, “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand?”

But, if the story he’s inviting his sons and daughters is focused around his personal journey, his fight for healing and restoration, as the Scriptures declare, the endgame is being made new, resurrection life, a story to fight for.

Christianity is not a commodity.

It’s not something easily achieved and wrought.

It’s not something you go down to the Tuesday or Sunday village market and buy.

It’s not something you set aside for “time” every so often, and be nourished and transformed from glory to glory.

It’s a life, a stream of living water, a dwelling place, a relationship, a vibrant connection with God.

It says of Sodom in the book of Ezekiel:

‘“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.’”’ (NIV, Ezekiel 16:49 – 50)

Without going into a lot of detail, they were full of the pleasures and temptations of this life, becoming “hardened” to the things of God.

A place where inspiration and cultivation of spiritual sensitivity, kindness, care, and true love, were not possible.

They had reached the point of no return, spiritually speaking, where their hearts had become like iron, un-convertible, destined for eternal separation from God.

And it’s not by coincidence the last world kingdom, before and during the Tribulation, is noted as one of iron and clay in the book of Daniel, the great beast of Revelation.

In fact, the book of Revelation refers symbolically to Sodom during the Tribulation (Revelation 11:8).

The spirits that drove Sodom to such depths of darkness are alive and active today in raising a culture of “overfed” (on the cares of this life), and “uncaring” (for the poor, the mass of humanities wounds and brokenness kept from the saving power of Christ) world citizenry.

We live in a culture bent on inventing and promoting increasing darkness and disdain for all things Christ.

It is the time of the Judges all over again, where most do what is right in their own eyes, having lost the sensibility of spiritual truth in Christ.

There’s a growing hatred for God, and, sadly, a growing complacency in the hearts of those who’ve been born again and spirit filled.

Hopefully, as in times past, the Lord will intervene before all is lost, separating the wheat from the chaff in individual lives, in those who, though caught in Satan’s web, desire the deep things of God.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV, Ephesians 6:12)

No amount of preparation in the natural will provide security for the depth and breathe of darkness to descend upon this earth in the closing days of the Gospel, and certainly in the opening days of the Great Tribulation.

If Christians think they can hide from the face of evil, they will find that impossible.

In the darkness of time to come, spiritual forces of darkness in the heavenly realms will know where Christians are hiding and will “anoint” those who are persecuting Christians to find them.

No human being is able in their own strength to confront a lion, a bear, and a leopard, all in the same arena and all determined to have their way (Revelation 13:3).

David was endued with power from on high to defend his sheep from the lion and the bear.

But that power will not be available in those days to overcome the overwhelming power being brought down against those left behind.

These are serious days indeed.

Let’s take advantage today of every opportunity the Lord has labored to provide, being made ready for the great work of God in us, advancing the kingdom in our lives, and in the lives of others.

*** SECTION II ***

“Dying to Sin, Made Alive in Spirit”, or, the “Great Apostasy”

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” (NIV, Proverbs 29:18)

“‘…Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”’ (NIV, Habakkuk 2:2 – 3)

In order to understand the makings of the Great Apostasy, it is necessary to revisit Christ’s forgotten story, buried under creeds and traditions, to see why Christians forsake the deep things of God in the darkness of the latter times.

Absent the knowledge of Christ’s healing and restoration journey, the Christian pilgrimage eventually loses its beauty after the Pentecostal experience.

All kinds of “Christian substitutions” vie for the attention of those who have tasted the Spirit of God, yet, for whatever reason, have not been initiated and invited into the deep things of Tabernacles.

Just like the Jewish planting and harvesting season of old, celebrated by the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and after the long hot summer, Tabernacles, the Christian pilgrimage is not complete without the planting and harvesting of the Word of God, celebrated by being born again (Passover), baptized in the Spirit (Pentecost), and made one in intimacy and union with Christ (Tabernacles).

After the wheat harvest and celebration of Pentecost, the Jewish nation looked forward to the harvest of nuts, fruits, olives, etc., and the celebration of Tabernacles.

In the spiritual kingdom of God, absent the knowledge of Tabernacles, Pentecostal Christians have nothing to look forward to other than the smattering of revivals here and there, hoping, to maintain enough spiritual strength to make it in Christ, until the time of their days have run their course.

But the Church today, has moved beyond the time of the Reformation and Pentecost return, and, is in the beginning stages, maybe even the midst, of the spiritual feast of Tabernacles many do not even know exists.

And if one misses Tabernacles, they’ll miss the bride in the time of the “bride.”

Philadelphia is the last opportunity and Church age to have the fullness of Christ.

Missing Tabernacles would be like Noah failing to heed God’s instructions to prepare an ark for the saving of his family.

Christ’s personal journey, the subject of much of the New and Old Testament, is the foundation of our “instruction’s” to prepare for initiation and journey in the deep things of God. 

We have a greater testimony than any of the saints of old, the testimony of Christ, the one who pioneered dying to sin to walk in newness of life – four millenniums testified of his coming – and we’re two millenniums hence.

We of all people groups, have the greatest light ever available to mankind!

That’s why, in part, Philadelphia has the greatest reward for those who heed the call to seek Christ, to be made new by him, versus Laodicea, who are thrust into the Great Tribulation.

Or, missing Tabernacles would be like Moses, Samuel, David, and others forsaking the deep wilderness times of training, presenting themselves to lead and rule, only to find they’ve been rejected from receiving the “blessing” God had waiting for them.

Or, like Christ, forsaking two decades of training “fathering,” having God terminate Christ’s calling, baptism, testing, and mission to Israel.

Because he’s ill-equipped and unprepared; leaving mankind without a savior, until God comes up with another plan.

Tabernacles is not an option, but a necessity, and without it, many will succumb to the continual creep of sleepiness in their lives, when they should be seeking God for healing and restoration.

The journey of being made perfect, dying to sin, to walk in newness of life, becoming the source (our substitute) of salvation for mankind, required much of Christ, everything, and, it requires much of those who want the deep things of God, to be healed and restored.

If you don’t know the story of Christ, i.e., believing Calvary as the center of the New Testament, you’ll have no vision for your future, no foundation for your journey.

Because, eventually, the waters of Pentecost will dry up, and unless you journey toward the oasis of Tabernacles, you’ll run out of spiritual water.

The foolish virgins do not have enough oil for their lamps to pursue Christ in the darkness of the hour he makes himself available.

The surrounding darkness, and the darkness within from unhealed wounds and brokenness, eventually catch up with all of us, and unless Christ come and intervene on our behalf, which he will do if called upon, many will find the darkness to dark to overcome.

There is only one open door out of the darkness into the light, and that is through the open door of Philadelphia, Christ, the door to resurrection life!

****

According to the Scriptures we cannot “choose” to come out of sin of our own volition, without the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is critically important to understand.

We cannot save ourselves, else there’d be no need for Jesus Christ.

And this means, the endless teaching of making decisions for Christ, to grow in relationship, cannot produce the good fruit of transformation “without” repentance and forgiveness accomplished in the heart of the believer by the Spirit of God.

There seems to be an ever – increasing barrage in Christian programing of “making decisions” for this or that, in the absence of Christ being in those decisions by the power of the Holy Spirit through a contrite heart, an inner hunger for forgiveness and repentance.

In other words, many times, Christian programming takes aim at the bad fruit in our lives, leaving the underlying wounds and brokenness, and the power of agreements, beliefs, lies, and vows, intact.

The absence of knowing Christ’s journey – dying to generational transgressions and iniquities through “wounding and piercing,” (i.e., cleansing and healing of the inner man by the revelation of Jesus Christ in grace, 1 Peter 1:13) – leaves Christians today contending superficially with the forces of spiritual darkness.

Simply, once lust is conceived, as it says in James, sin is birthed; it cannot be aborted by man’s effort.

Once Adam and Eve fell, they could not undo the effect of their actions.

Their lives now rested in the hands of their Creator more than ever; the decisions and actions he would take to rescue them.

We cannot cleanse ourselves by our own efforts, no matter how noble the motives, and just decide to be like Christ.

It takes the revelation of Christ by grace through faith to heal and restore our wounds and brokenness by the power of God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The endless teaching about making decisions for Christ, as if making a decision reaches down deep in the inner man, breaking the power of sin, renouncing agreements and whatnot, cleansing and healing wounds and brokenness, borders on the Spirit of the age, humanism – anything contrary to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And this is why the understanding of Christ’s personal journey is so critically important today.

Because, without this understanding, one will interpret the Scriptures as having within ourselves the power to change into the likeness of Christ, through our decision-making ability, and not, by the power of God in the revelation of Christ by grace through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Only the Lord knows the layers upon layers of wounds and brokenness, and how they’re connected, the presence of darkness, and the best way to bring healing that will remain and prosper.

Only the Lord knows the complexity and timing of healing and restoring areas, which ones to do first, etc., redeeming and expanding healing to coincide with spiritual growth, that, areas redeemed are not only cleansed and healed, but filled with the knowledge and Spirit of God.

Being changed from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ is a long journey, requiring a lot of things to come together at the right time, with the right resources, and with the right people.

It’s not something that can be accomplished superficially through decision-making.

It’s a wilderness journey initiated and led by the Lord.

There’s no substitute for apprehending Christ.

It’s the work of grace through faith in the revelation of Christ by the conviction and power of God that brings change in our life.

And for transformation and sanctification to be effective, it must go deep within our inner man, to the foundations of what we believe and how we practice life.

And it requires the wounding and piercing of deeply rooted transgressions and iniquities for the cleansing work of Christ to make new, with not only new wine, a changed nature, but new wineskins, a changed nature in action.

Revisiting the Journey of Christ Again

The Scriptures do not teach Jesus was inherently perfect at birth, only needing time to grow and mature, before he was driven into the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy, and, into the mission field of Israel.

If this were the case, much, if not most, of the Old Testament could be deleted.

There would be no need for the hundreds of “types” in the Old Testament who foretold and prefigured the promised grace to come – the journey of the Lord Jesus Christ, being made perfect.

There would have been no need for the likes of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (who alone was a type of Christ in over 50 ways), Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, and David – especially David, one of the greatest “types,” of Christ.

David details his journey of healing and restoration – a “type,” of the Messiah to come, in the Psalms for all to see.

I’ve already taught much on this, but for the sake of new readers:

• Christ was “…born of a woman…” ((NIV, Galatians 4:4), Romans 1:3)); having enmity in his flesh (see any interlinear for Ephesians 2:14 – 15); a human just like you and me (Hebrews 2:17), tempted just like you and me (Hebrews 4:15),
• he was born with generational transgressions and iniquities passed to him from his human ancestry, just like every man and woman born of the human race (Isaiah 53:5, Ephesians 2:14 – 15 see an interlinear, and all the other scriptures about his humanity and temptation), however,
• unlike every man and woman since Adam and Eve, Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), receiving the renewal of “grace” at conception, being born into grace and not sin, placing him in the position of Adam before the fall, the last Adam (John 1:17, Romans 4:16, 5:15 – 20, 1 Corinthians 15:45 – 49, 1 Peter 1:10 – 11).

Important

Thus, Christ entered life, unlike you and me, with the grace to choose righteousness over iniquity without the driven – ness of sin that’s ingrained with the fall; though the enmity in his flesh was at the door of his heart desiring entrance.

And this is the dilemma and mystery of the Gospel; Christ being the first to partake of the mystery of the New Covenant, i.e., being born into grace, the male seed coming from his heavenly father, and yet, transgressions and iniquities passed to him through his human ancestry.

This set the stage for the work of grace, fathered by God, to overcome and redeem the wounds and brokenness of generational sins passed to Christ.

Christ pioneers and patterns the new work grace, the first to receive healing and restoration “the firstborn and first fruit of the New Covenant.”

He completed the journey sinless, the author of faith, becoming the sin substitute for you and me by his own blood (his life)!

The struggle between grace (fulfilling the law of God from the heart) and the enmity in his flesh, is what Paul describes in Ephesians Chapter 2; that commentators and translators wrestle with because creeds deny Christ had enmity in his flesh, contrary to Scripture.

You have to read the literal Greek (any interlinear, see Biblehub.com on the net) or a translation close to the original to get the full picture.

Simply, the grace of God in Christ put to death the enmity in Christ’s flesh, removing the barrier, generational transgressions and iniquities, left unhealed, would eventually ensnare Christ.

Christ fulfilled the law of God in his flesh, making one new man out of the two – the law, which is spiritual, and his flesh, redeeming what Adam lost in Garden. (Romans 6, Ephesians 2:14– 16, see an interlinear, Hebrews 2:10, 5:7 – 10, Isaiah 53:5, this verse concludes in the literal Hebrew with us and he, etc.)

It is possible to have enmity in your flesh, as it says of Christ in Ephesians, and yet, not yield to it and sin, as it says in James Chapter 1.

The New Covenant is truly a new and better covenant, one enacted through healing and restoration, the promised grace to come, and not the slaying of animals, and most certainly, not the slaying of human beings, like the pagans,

Redemption

Contrary to what we’ve all been taught, our salvation did not come by the brutalization and killing of Christ at Calvary.

But by the healing and restoration of Christ, dying to sin, made alive in spirit.

He redeemed fallen man’s wounds and brokenness, breaking the power of generational transgressions and iniquities in his human ancestry, by sacrificing his life “blood,” in being made perfect.

This is the atoning work of the “cross of Christ,” the loss of all things to become a servant, and, the denial of all rights and privileges in ministering the love and care of God, though found equal to God in his perfection.

It was healing and restoration redeeming you and me, the wrath of God against sin, not the brutalization and killing of Christ’s body.

Remember the New Covenant is a better covenant, that God was not pleased with sacrifices.

The will of God was not for Christ to be killed, but accepted.

His persecutors left him no choice but to submit or to take up arms and kill them, something he chose not to do in prayer with his father.

And in his submission to be killed, he exceedingly, abundantly, over and above, having already atoned for sin in his perfection (Hebrews 5:7 – 10), offered himself physically, the sign of Jonah, that some might find repentance and forgiveness when they realize what they’ve done and who they’ve killed.

(1 Corinthians 15:3, the Greek word for “for,” is not the normal for, but exceedingly, abundantly, over and above.)

We’ve been taught the promised grace to come (1 Peter 1:10) is all about us, because that’s what we’ve been taught about Calvary.

But the promised grace to come is about Christ first, the wrath of God revealed against sin, manifested through the healing and restoration of Christ, putting sin to death, not Christ, in making him perfect, the source of our salvation.

Jesus did not just save us from our sins, but he redeemed mankind’s fall, becoming the only perfect man, doing the will of God from the heart, healed and restored into the fullness and likeness of God, body, soul, and spirit.

It is “that Jesus” who was presented to Israel, and who they rejected (see Acts 2).

The Father led Christ to put the old nature to death, the nature he inherited through his human ancestry – apprehending resurrection life, as the Father healed and restored Christ from inherited transgressions and iniquities.

Left unhealed, transgressions and iniquities, the enmity in Christ’s flesh, would eventually grow and capture him in a moment of weakness.

But God was not about to let that happen, ushering Christ at a young age into the journey and adventure of being healed and restored, becoming our Lord and Savior.

In order for Christ to redeem mankind, he had to redeem what caused man and woman to be separated from God in the first place, by redeeming what they lost.

And in that redemption, Christ had to not only overcome sin, but to reverse the curse, by putting to death those things that bring death.

And they can only be put to death by being exposed in grace – being made vulnerable to the Holy Spirit for cleansing and healing.

And to be cleansed and healed, they need to be not only exposed, but wounded and pierced, for forgiveness and repentance, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to cleanse and heal wounds and brokenness.

In Christ’s perfection journey he stood in the stead of you and me, repenting on behalf of sinful man for sins, and in that repentance, Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, fathered by God, put sin to death.

God cleansed and healed those areas in Christ by uprooting generational agreements, lies, vows, curses, etc., writing the Word of God in those areas formally held in darkness.

And Christ went through this process of putting sin to death, standing in the stead of mankind, having hostility in his flesh but not yielding to it, overcoming and redeeming all the territory mankind had loss through the generations from Adam.

And in that, Christ died for our sins, was wounded and pierced, sacrificing his blood “his life” (John 6:53 – 63), to be the only one by grace through faith to overcome and redeem sin without sinning, our Savior and substitute.

This is what he pioneered and what the Scripture teaches as his journey to perfection, the pattern established for you and me to follow in fulfillment of the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles in the New Covenant.

****

Another way of saying it would be like this:

The teaching Jesus comes to earth to die for our sins at Calvary is not what the Scripture teaches.

Jesus was made perfect, and in that perfection, he became our Savior. (Hebrews 5:7 – 10, etc.)

“In being made perfect” Christ died to sin, resurrected to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18 (b), etc.)

Thus, in dying to sin he overcame the enmity in his flesh, making his flesh one with the law of God, removing the wall of partition erected at the fall and every generation since. (Ephesians 2:14 – 15, see any interlinear, etc.)

And in destroying the wall of partition between the “body, soul, and spirit,” and the “law of God,” making one new man out of the two, he redeemed mankind from generational sins. (Isaiah 53:5)

And the process of dying to sin, being made alive in spirit, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to cleanse and heal Christ’s wounds and brokenness, and the journey we share with him, is described throughout the Scripture in numerous ways, such as:

• picking up your cross and following him,
• being baptized with the baptism he was baptized (Romans 6),
• “…one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.” This refers to Christ’s perfection journey, made perfect without sinning, redeeming mankind from the curse. The “one” does not refer to a literal one, but a life of righteous actions no one else has accomplished. (NIV, Romans 5:18),
• “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (NIV, 1 Corinthians 15:20 – 22),
• “…but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption…. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death….” (NIV, Hebrews 9:12-14)

 

“so Christ was sanctified once to take away the sins of many… And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.” (NIV, Hebrews 9:28 – 10:14),

• Isaiah, anointed by the Holy Spirit, saw sores, wounds, and injuries in fallen man, and, knowing the journey of David in the wilderness through the Psalms – the wounding and crushing he endured in being prepared to receive the Ark of the Covenant and rulership – pointed to a day when the Messiah would suffer “wounding and piercing” in putting away sin (Isaiah 53).

 

These references, and the numerous references throughout the New Testament outside the Gospels and the event of Calvary, portray from different vantage points and authors the long wilderness journey of Christ being made perfect, the pioneer and author of the faith.

The Gospels capture the Ministry of Christ, and ultimately his rejection and killing, but the back story, the making of the man Christ Jesus, who he became, fathered by God, is the heart, depth, and breath of the New Testament beginning with the book of Romans.

Just like any good author, God placed the excitement and the wonder of Christ, the New Testament in him, and the signs, wonders, and miracles of his ministry, as the opening scenes of the New Covenant.

And like any good author, God fills in the details on how all this came about with the rest of the story in the New Testament letters expanding upon and revealing the deeper truths foretold and prefigured in the types and shadows of the Old Covenant.

A few comments before moving on.

If you haven’t done so, I recommend reading Part 2, in this series, the section on blood, and how Christ used that term along with the New Testament writers not to refer to the literal blood flowing in his body, but his life, as Jesus described in John 6.

Jesus knew man’s driven – ness to make idols out of most anything, that’s one reason why (I believe) he used the term “blood” to usher them out of the Old and into the New, not to create another object to be worshiped.

The term “his blood,” used many times in the New Testament letters refers to the most intimate and emotional expression that can be made to describe the giving of oneself, totally, completely, and unreservedly.

It is not used to create an idol, which the Apostle John warns about, nor to literally refer to the blood cells flowing through Christ’s body as having some magical or mystical powers.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives life, the fountain of life for all of this creation.

Only those in Christ, can partake of the fountain of life, the fullness of God in him.

I’m planning to cover a lot more on this later, the emotional content of Scripture’s, and the context in which their given, but here’s a thought for now.

Regarding the Scripture of Christ offering himself unblemished to God, and the rush to point this to Calvary, like all the Scriptures that mention his sacrifice, blood, and atonement:

Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary was not unblemished, his body bore the marks of sin – it was not a free will offering in the sense the Scripture “thinks of a free will offering” of his life on behalf of others, i.e., the free will offering of oneself to another without being forced or threatened.

Christ had that kind of relationship with his Father, but not with those who sought his life.

No, Christ was forced to decide whether to take up arms and fight, or submit to their murderous plans to kill him, giving them one last opportunity to find salvation through a sign they would recognize, the sign of Jonah.

The offering of himself unblemished to God fits all the other descriptions of Christ dying to sin, being made alive in spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body, raised to walk in newness of God.

Offering himself unblemished to God captures the heart of Christ, the heart in pursuit of God, his journey of healing and restoration, made perfect, through suffering (not killing and flogging).

This Scripture captures the essence of the journey of the heart, the transformation of the heart (speaking of the total man, body, soul, and spirit) by the promised grace to come, making the last Adam new, the pioneer, forerunner, perfecter of a better covenant.

Christ redeemed mankind’s sin personally, intimately, in a life-and-death struggle in overcoming and putting to death sin by grace through faith, fathered by God.

He did this through the suffering of hardship and discomfort, becoming the one and only perfectly and completely healed and restored man.

And in that journey, he became our substitute, completing the journey without sin, offering the totality of his life “his blood,” establishing a new and better covenant, one that changes men and women from the inside out, Christ being the firstborn, first fruit, of the new work of God.

Key Understanding

Calvary is not about Christ offering himself unblemished to God, as it says in Hebrews, but about being rejected and killed, BECAUSE he had already offered himself unblemished to God, being made perfect, displaying his death to sin, resurrection to life, in signs, wonders, miracles, for over three years.

Jesus did not die at Calvary while some mysterious, magical, event occurred transferring our sins to him through the brutalization in the hands of his captors.

That is not how sin is brought to death and healing and restoration comes.

That is how people are killed, but not how sin is dealt a deathblow.

Sin is dealt a deathblow by the Holy Spirit by “wounding and piercing” the area in the inner man where sin resides (through conviction, uprooting (through repentance and forgiveness), and cleansing), planting new seed in the soil of the heart, the Word of life.

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Finally, Calvary was the rejection of Christ; rejection of the one who was made perfect, the one who displayed the magnificence and power of resurrection life for over three years.

The one who accomplished the “at-one-ment,” fulfilling the feast of Tabernacles perfectly before his ministry; becoming our Savior, the substitute for our sins, evidenced by signs, wonders, and miracles for over three years.

He was raised from the dead, mortality taking on immortality at his perfection, passing through the heavens “resurrection life,” having authority and power to open the door of heaven, as revealed on the Mount to the three.

The atoning work of his blood, (his life), was accomplished in being made perfect, the sacrifice of his life to the Father without sin.

Christ being the only one to usher in the promised grace to come, fully healed and restored, the last Adam made perfect, the Word made flesh, the fullness, radiance and expression of God revealed perfectly in flesh and blood.

He is the only one to destroy the barrier between the law, which is spiritual, and the flesh, making one new man out of the two, the only one to please the heart of God completely and perfectly, never sinning.

Christ endured the hardship and discomfort of the rigors of being healed, restored, trained, and mentored by the Father in becoming our High Priest, giving up all, like Samuel in the days old, for service to God. 

Tragically, unwilling to repent of their sins, Christ drew the poison of their sins out for public view, on the holiness of his body, publicly exposing what they would not give him to access to heal, in one last effort to convict them of their sin, and find forgiveness when they realize who they rejected, and what they did to their King and Savior.

In the next post I’ll get into the detail of Scripture.

Blessings, more to come, 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.™