Tetragrammaton - Who is He?

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"The LORD (YHWH) God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek at least two centuries before Jesus was born, the Greek word Kurios was used for the divine tetragrammaton YHWH (Yahweh). When Kurious was translated to English the word Lord was used.

I have been pondering on the following New Testament scripture in light of the above:

1 Corin. 12:3	"No one can say Jesus is Lord (YHWH) except by the Holy Spirit."
Romans 10:9-13	"If with your mouth you confess Jesus is Lord (YHWH) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. . . . For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord (YHWH) shall be saved."
Philippians 2:11	"and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (YHWH), to the glory of God the Father."
1 Corin. 15:3-7	"For I passed on to you in the first place what I had myself received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then to more than five hundred brothers at once ... then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles ..."
Romans 1:3-4	"Concerning His Son, Who was born of David's seed by natural descent, Who was declared Son of God with power by the Spirit of Holiness when he was raised from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (YHWH), through whom we have received grace."

My conclusion is that the “Elohim” (plural word meaning mighty ones) of Genesis 1:1 consists of God the Father and His Son, YHWH (Yahweh - LORD God). I am NOT saying Jesus is God the Father, but that the tetragrammaton YHWH  is Jesus, the SON OF GOD.

"...for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him." But not in all is there this knowledge." (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)

What Happens When We Die?

"Lazarus, our friend, has found REPOSE, but I am going that I should be awakening him out of SLEEP." The disciples, then, said to Him, "Lord, if he has repose, he shall be saved." Now Jesus had made a declaration concerning his DEATH, yet they suppose that He is saying it concerning the REPOSE OF SLEEP." Jesus, then, said to them with boldness then, "Lazarus DIED." (John 11:11-14)

When Lazarus died, he is said by Jesus to have gone to sleep - not to heaven.

"Now Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, lets out the spirit." And lo! the curtain of the temple is rent in two from above to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks are rent, and the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the REPOSING SAINTS were ROUSED, and, coming out of the tombs AFTER HIS ROUSING, they entered into the holy city and are disclosed to many." (Matthew 27:50-53)

Jesus died and was put to repose in the tomb - asleep as was Lazarus. After His body was awakened, MANY BODIES of those who had died and were reposing (sleeping) came out of the tombs.

"And, answering, Jesus said to them, "The sons of this eon are marrying and are taking out in marriage." Yet those deemed worthy to happen upon that eon and the resurrection from among the dead are neither marrying nor taking out in marriage. For neither can they still be dying, for they are equal to messengers, and are the sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." Now that the DEAD ARE ROUSING, even Moses divulges at the thorn bush, as he is terming the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." Now God is He, not of the dead, but of the living, for ALL, TO HIM, ARE LIVING." (Luke 20:34-38)

Although everyone who has died are asleep, resting in peace, to God they are living while sleeping because He intends to rouse them from their sleep sometime in the future.

Trust and Faith

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." 

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Have faith in God" ... "Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed..." (Mark 11:22...Hebrews 1:1)

We are to TRUST in the Lord and have FAITH in what He SAYS.

It is sad to see our world filled with those who are trusting in politicians and having faith in what they say - whether liberal or conservatives. NONE OF THEM have the power to do what they say. So, I simply TRUST in the one being who can be trusted, and I have FAITH that He will do what He says.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:20-22)

Scriptures About Hell - Not What You Think

The Hebrew word Sheol, and the Greek words Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus (each translated “hell” or “hades” in most English versions of the Bible) do not refer to a place of eternal conscious torment called hell.

What about Luke 16:19-31 - the rich man and Lazarus? 

That is a parable spoken by Jesus in a series of parables beginning in Luke 14:7. Jesus was addressing the Sopherim (Scribes), Pharisees and Sadducees - religious leaders of the Jewish people similar to modern day Christian pastors, evangelists, and teachers. Jesus told His disciples that He spoke to them in parables because these religious leaders had not been “granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven”. 

The “Kingdom” He was referring to is the Kingdom of Israel that God has promised to reestablished by the Messiah on the earth. These religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. So, Jesus spoke to them in parables about what would happen to Israel because of their rejection. 

The rich man represents the apostate religious leaders of Israel, as did the prodigal son in Chapter 15. Because of their apostasy the nation of Israel would be scattered among the nations and suffer much torment.  Historical examples include the Christian and Muslim Crusades, the Pogroms of Russia and the Holocaust of Germany.  And the worst suffering is still future, the suffering under the final world leader - referred to as a wild beast (the Antichrist) in Revelation. Jesus told the apostate leaders that they would not understand even if one came back from the dead to tell them, which Jesus did, and was again rejected as shown in the book of Acts. 

Attributing this parable to a literal hell where unsaved people are tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit of truth and it will not be pardoned in this age or in the Kingdom age. 

What about Revelation 14:11 - the fate of those who worship the wild beast? 

Revelation is wholly concerned with the final seven years of this age. During the last 3 ½ years the world will embrace a world leader who will be a false Messiah - the wild beast (Antichrist). During that time the world will undergo the most severe tribulation ever to come upon the earth, so much so that Jesus said “except those days were discounted, no flesh at all would be saved.” (Matthew 24:22)

All those who follow the false Messiah will be tormented during this period and be killed either during their torment, or at the return of Jesus. The “smoke” (remembrance) of this torment will not be forgotten in the ages to follow. 

Again, to say this is describing a literal hell where individuals are supernaturally kept alive by God to be tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit of truth and will not be forgiven in this age or in the ages to come.

What about Matthew 25:46 - the fate of the goat nations after Jesus returns? 

When Jesus returns to establish the kingdom of Israel on the earth He will divide the nations of that era into two groups, one group are those nations who helped the faithful people of Israel during the Tribulation and the other group are those nations who did not. The nations who helped would continue as a nation during the kingdom Age, but those nations who did not would experience “chastening” during that age. The relevant Greek phrase properly translated into English is “chastening eonian”, not “eternal punishment”. 

Again, attributing the chastening of those goat nations to a teaching of a literal hell where individuals are tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit, and will not be pardoned in the age or in the ages to come. 

What about 2 Peter 3:7-9 - the day of destruction of irreverent men? 

Peter is reminding his Jewish readers that this earth and the heavens above are to be destroyed by fire, which will finally put an end to all “irreverent men”. Almost six-thousand years of these irreverent men have passed without that fiery destruction. Yet God is not procrastinating, for "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years". 

He tells them that God is "patient" with “irreverent men”, and He is “not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance”. 

To “perish” means to die and stay dead. Even “irreverent humans” will be made alive after the earth and heavens are destroyed at the end of the one thousand-year age (the Millennium) which follows the present age. God will raise the dead (there will not perish/stay dead), judge them and create a new place for them to live - “a new heaven and a new earth" where all will be righteous, none will be "irreverent".  

Again, attributing a literal hell where individuals are tormented forever and ever to the word “perish” is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and will not be pardoned in the age or in the ages to come. 

Building upon the sure "foundation" of Christ Jesus with the false teaching is blasphemy against the holy spirit inspired truth. Such blasphemy will not be forgiven me or anyone else - it will be burnt up. Yet in the grace of God, even those who blaspheme will still be saved, only the teaching of these irreverent humans will NOT be forgiven in this age or the next - its will be reduced to ash in the fire.

"For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

"Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the holy spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Humanity, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall NOT be pardoned him, neither in this age nor in that which is impending." (Matthew 12:32) 

Inescapable Truths About Blasphemy and Adding to Scripture

Two Inescapable Truths about Blasphemy and Adding to Scripture 

Truth #1. Blasphemy of the holy spirit will not be pardoned in this age or the next. 

Truth #2. If you add to what God has said in the book of Revelation, God will add to you the plagues found in therein. 

"Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the holy spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Humanity, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall NOT be pardoned him, neither in this age nor in that which is impending." (Matthew 12:32) 

"I am testifying to everyone who is hearing the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If ever anyone may be appending to them, God shall be appending to him the calamities written in this scroll." And if ever anyone should be eliminating from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God shall be eliminating his part from the log of life, and out of the holy city, that is written in this scroll." He Who is testifying these things is saying, 'Yea, I am coming swiftly.'"Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints! Amen!" (Revelation 22:18-21) 

As bad as that sounds, this blasphemy and adding or subtracting from Scripture does NOT result in eternal conscious torment in hell as many would have you believe. 

As for Truth #1: It is the Holy Spirit within us that enlightens us as to the truth found in scripture. When that truth is denied, it is blasphemy and shall not be pardoned in this present evil age, or in the thousand year age that follows this one. Here are three of those truths that is denied by many:

"...there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

"...there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and humans, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

As for Truth #2: Revelation is a prophecy about the events in this world that will leading up to the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. If a person is alive during that time, adding to what is written will result in the calamities therein coming up them, and eliminating from the words found therein will result in that person not having access to the log of life and the holy city talked about in the book of Revelation. They will remain in the second death until death is abolished.

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them." And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." And He Who is sitting on the throne said, "Lo! New am I making all!And He is saying, "Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." And He said to me, "I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Origin and the Consummation. To him who is thirsting I shall be giving of the spring of the water of life gratuitously." He who is conquering shall be enjoying this allotment, and I shall be a God to him and he shall be a son to Me." Yet the timid, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and paramours, and enchanters, and idolaters, and all the false-their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death...And he shows me a river of water of life, resplendent as crystal, issuing out of the throne of God and the Lambkin." In the center of its square, and on either side of the river, is the log of life, producing twelve fruits, rendering its fruit in accord with each month. And the leaves of the log are for the cure of the nations." And there shall be no more any doom, and the throne of God and of the Lambkin shall be in it. And His slaves shall be offering divine service to Him." And they shall be seeing His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads."And night shall be no more, and they have no need of lamplight and sunlight, for the Lord God shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning for the eons of the eons." (Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5)

No Human is Truly Lost!

“The Earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24:1).

This verse declares that all the people who have ever lived on this planet are the LORDS!

We should not fall into the trap of thinking that Christians are the only ones who are HIS.

Consider the term “lost" - it is a declaration of ownership. When “Christians” refer to the lost, they should realize that they are acknowledging God’s ownership!

Humans may be made to feel lost - but none of us are ever truly lost. For now we are sinners, all of us, and fall short of the glory of God - but the free gift of God is eternal life.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD...And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day." (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 6:39)

Open Your Mind

 "Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:45-47)

The only way to "understand the Scriptures" is for Jesus to open your mind.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)

When Jesus opens your mind you will see the plan of God for humanity was for the Messiah to "suffer and rise from the the dead".

And you will see the Devine result of His suffering, death, and His resurrection - to provide the way for humanity to "inherit the kingdom of God":

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. " (1 Corinthians 15:49-57)

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The word "forgiveness" means complete forgiveness, a release from the consequences of sin - humanity will be released from death, the penalty for sin, and transformed from death into the immortal image of Christ. The word "repentance" means change and reformation - your mind will be changed to understand that the reformation of humanity into the immortal and sinless image of Christ is what is to be "preached in His name to all nations".

Some Things People Do Are Incomprehensible To Me

"For the ration of sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is eternal life, in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"Trustworthy is the saying, and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)

Why good people do some evil things is sometimes so incomprehensible to me that I find myself in need of some explanation from God - I find it only in the Bible, His word.

Following is the confession of the Apostle Paul, who considered himself the "foremost" sinner, yet God used him to pen thirteen of the New Testament books of the Bible.

"For I know that there dwells in me nothing good, that is, in my flesh. For to will is present with me, but not to do good. For the good that I desire, I do not do; but the evil that I do not want, this I practice. Now if what I do not want, I do this, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwelling in me. So, I find the principle in my desiring to do good, that evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin being in my members. O wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? Grace! Thanks be then to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation to those in Christ Jesus." (Romans 7:18-8:1)

When I see an incomprehensible evil thing happen, I just give it to God and entrust those involved to His grace and mercy.

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant." (Romans 5:20)

"For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" (Romans 11:32-33)

Revival - Do we Need to Pray for One?

 

I hear people say that the world needs a great “revival” and believers should pray for one. However, I find NO evidence in the Bible that believers are to unite to pray for revival.

What believers ARE to do is to pray in “private” and “by yourself”  for the soon coming of the kingdom of God .

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly…when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private…like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven...” (Matthew 6:7-13)

After praying that prayer, believers are simply to wait for King Jesus to come knowing that Jesus is the Savior of the world and trusting Him to do so. While waiting we are to mind our own business and treat others as we would like for them to treat us.

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with the expectation of that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, doing good deeds. These things share with others.” (Titus 2:11-15)

“God Himself has taught you to love one another…Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands…Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live... the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So, encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-18)

Only when King Jesus comes will there be a “spiritual awakening/revival.” Sometime after He comes, all humanity will be transformed from life in a perishable, mortal body into new, nonperishable, immortal, spiritual body. When finished, ALL humanity will have entered and seen the kingdom now in the heavens – the glorious kingdom of God.

“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Christianity long ago abandoned their commission as ambassadors of Christ on this Earth in favor of a self proclaimed commission to divide humanity into two groups – a few who join their churches group and go to heaven, and the multitude who will be eternally separated from God and tortured in hell.

In my experience church “revivals” promote that division, ignoring the unity of the true good news (gospel) that all of us, the just and the unjust, the good and the evil, are destined to become one new humanity born again into the image of Christ Jesus. This unified humanity is the guaranteed result of the blood Jesus shed on the cross to atone for, and take away the sin of the world. Paul tells us that…

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation…God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross…the secret that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the nations the glorious riches of this secret, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:15-28)

Again, institutional Christianity does not need “revival,” it needs to repent and believe the good news that Jesus has saved the world and will transform us into His image - and tell people about this good news. The teaching of the salvation of all will set people free from religious division. Jesus told the Jews…

““If you cling to my teaching, you are really learners. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Paul told all nations that..

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

It is also my experience that presenting the truth to the institutional churches brings reproach, just as it did for Paul. He taught it anyway!

“This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Grow in Grace

"...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18)

When I look around I do not see many growing toward those with which we disagree - whether in the political or religious arena. And I rarely encounter any growth in the "knowledge" of our Lord.  

When is the last time you learned something new about God's plan and purpose as revealed in the Scripture?

I attended a denominational church for more than 60 years and cannot remember anything new in its teaching during that time - just the same old traditions passed down in its statement of faith. Much of which I consider to be what Jesus said about traditions of men...

“You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition...you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” Mark 7:9-13)

At the end of each year I ask myself whether I have grown in grace and in knowledge of our Lord.  Those areas in which I have grown always show God to be more loving, merciful and gracious than I originally thought and I try not to forget that...

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:1-6)

My New Year's resolution is to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and not forget what I learn.

The Final Solutions

"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (II Timothy 4:4)

The Final Solutions of Sinful Humanity:

One: Hitler’s final solution was to eliminate the Jewish people who he believed were corrupting the world. 

Two: The final solution of institutional Christianity and Islam is to offer salvation from hell for sinners if they repent of their sin and join their religion. If anyone refuses they will die, and then be tortured in a lake of fire they call hell - forever in the Christian religion and until their sins are paid for in the religion of Islam.

The Final Solution of the God of the Bible:

God’s final solution is to ransom, save, redeem, and reconcile all sinners to Himself through the incarnation, death, entombment, and resurrection of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ.

My anger towards institutional religion's final solution seems well founded to me. HOWEVER, I think that most members of those religions who are involved in spreading the final solution of of hell for unrepentant sinners are just doing what they have been taught by those they consider “wise men”. 

Therefore, I do not blame them although the Bible teaches they will be ashamed at the the Great White Throne when they learn they were deceived. 

"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods." (Isaiah 42:17) 

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes:12:14)

"Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy  2:1)

Each human who has ever lived will stand on the Dias before the Great White Throne of God to give account for the things done in our mortal bodies. During the account all humans will rejoice when mistaken beliefs are burnt up as wood, hay and straw. 

At the conclusion of the accounting, all humanity will joyfully bow and acclaim that Christ Jesus is LORD (Yahweh), which will give glory to God the Father. 

Those who were not part of the “former resurrection” will die the second death in the lake of fire which will be an instantaneous, painless second death. They will die having faith, as I do now, that they will be made alive and transformed into a spiritual body that is immortal and capable of entering and seeing the Kingdom of God (The New Heaven and New Earth). That second death will seem to them to occur instantaneously, just as the “former resurrection will seem to those believers  now sleeping in death to have happened instantaneously.

The Bible makes it clear to me that God is in the process of making a new immortal humanity in the image of Christ Jesus. Their eternal citizenship will be in the New Heaven and New Earth, also known as the Kingdom of God.

The Law and the Prophets Ended With John the Baptist

 "Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion.” (Matthew 5:17)

The Old Testament contains the Law and the Prophets. Whatever the Law and the Prophets said was completed when Jesus came to Earth.

“The Law and the Prophets continued until John came; from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.” (Luke 16:16)

John the Baptist was the final Prophet to Israel. The message found in the Law and the Prophets ended with John the Baptist. Jesus presented the good news message of the Kingdom of God – and all humanity started forcing their way into it. By force is meant they were opposed by the Jewish leaders who refused to believe that their God was also the God of all other nations (gentiles). The last Prophet was Paul, who was given the secrets of the Kingdom of God, one of which is that the God of the Jews in also the God of the Gentiles.

“Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also, unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith. Do we then by means of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing.” (Romans3:29-31)

Another secret revealed to Paul was that both the Jews and the Gentiles will be acquitted (pardoned), not by obedience to the Law and the Prophets, but based on their “faith” that the requirements of the Law were completed by Christ Jesus, and therefore ALL humanity will bow before Him, and affirm He is Lord, and enter and see the Kingdom of God.

“He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Himself the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross. It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other,  in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee shall bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld, and that every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:7-11)

If you want to know what God is doing today, better read the Scripture written through the Apostle Paul. The era of the Law and Prophets is completed, and now we need to start focusing on the Kingdom of God. When that good news is presented everyone will force themselves through the doctrines of religious men and into the Kingdom of God.

What are we to Pursue?

 "...pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are calling upon the Lord from a clean heart." (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

Righteousness: Pursue things that are right for yourself and those around you.

Faith: Expect things God has promised to come to pass even if you cannot see how they could happen.

Love: Do for others what they cannot do for themselves, and do it without requiring anything in return.

Peace: Attempt to get along with others, and get away from those you cannot.

There will be Universal Reconciliation

 Jesus had this to say about the predominant views of the influential rabbis….

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9)

And the Apostle Paul had this to say about the teachings of those Rabbis…

“These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility…” (Colossians 2:22)

The truth about the reconciliation of all sinners to God was given the Apostle Paul by Christ Jesus, the Son of God…

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence.” (Colossians 1:3-21)

The members of the early churches had an excuse for following the doctrines of men. Few of them, if any, had a complete copy of the Scriptures. Today humanity has no such excuse. The bible clearly teaches that God through Christ Jesus will "RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross".

More Tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah

"And those not be receiving you, and refuse to hear your words, come outside of that house or city or town, and shake off the dust from your feet. Truly, I am saying to you, it will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judging than for the people of that city." (Matthew 10:14-15)

The judgment will not be "tolerable' for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, but it will be "MORE tolerable" than for the people who hear about and reject the good news about Jesus. 

When the grace of God in saving humanity is revealed to unbelievers at the judgment of the Great White Throne, the shame will be greater for those who heard the gospel of Christ Jesus and rejected it than for those who never heard about him. 

YET, all at the Great White Throne will bow and acclaim that Jesus is Lord. Yes, they will have missed out on the thousand year reign; but will have slept through it, unaware it is was going on. Then they will be cast into the second death, to awake to eternal life in the Kingdom of God - to them instantaneous - such is the glory of the grace of God!

"As in Adam all die, thus also, in Christ all shall be made alive...death is abolished...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22,27-28)

Loose the Four Messengers - The Bad News

 

“And the sixth messenger trumpets. And I hear one voice out of the horns of the golden altar which is before God…

The One voice is…

…saying to the sixth messenger who has the trumpet, "Loose the four messengers who are bound at the great river Euphrates. "And loosed were the four messengers, made ready for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they should be killing a third of humanity…

Wow, think about that!

The Current World Population Clock as I write this post today says there are 7.942 billion people in the world. A third of them would be 2.647 billion people.

So, who kills them, and how?

…And the number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred millions-I hear their number. And thus, I perceived the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having cuirasses fiery and amethystine and sulphurous; and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths is issuing fire and fumes and sulphur. By these three calamities were killed a third of humanity: by the fire and the fumes and the sulphur which is issuing out of their mouths.”

Again, if the Bible is true, there are four messengers currently bound at the Euphrates River who will lead a cavalry of two hundred million troops in red, blue, and yellow armor riding on horses with the sole purpose of killing a third of humanity by fire, fumes, and sulphur. (Revelation 9:13-18)

If this is not true, then none of the Bible can be trusted! So, look out humanity, here they come - the bad news!

And the good news? Here He comes!

"He Who is testifying these things is saying, 'Yea, I am coming swiftly.'" "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints! Amen! (Revelation 22:20-21)

Spiritual Gifts

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Are these gifts still active within the Body of Christ today? 

I was raised in a church who taught that only the spiritual gifts of pastor-teachers and evangelists remain today, however I do not think that any of these spiritual "gifts" found in the first century church remain active today in the Body of Christ because we have the COMPLETED word of God in our Bible. We just need to read it or have someone read it to us.

"I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and am filling up in my flesh, in His stead, the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the church,  of which I became a dispenser, in accord with the administration of God, which is granted to me for you, TO COMPLETE the word of God - the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory." (Colossians 1:24-27)

The word of God was completed when Christ Jesus finished revealing to Paul the secrets which had been previously "concealed" from humanity. We can read it for ourselves, unlike those of the first century church. So, in my view, the gifts present in the first century church are no longer active. We should share our thoughts about what we find in the Bible with others and compare thoughts without fighting over them. 

Discussing those differences would be good, but that ceased to happen in the institutional church long ago. The pastor, teachers and evangelists of those institutions are now considered the source of truth. 

The last time I voiced my differences within that church my long-time friend and pastor suggested that I start my own church. He told me he would not allow my views to be heard because it was his job as pastor to protect the members from opinions he deemed false. I simply told him there is only one church, and Christ is its head.

"For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body." (Ephesians 5:23)

"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Colossians 1:18)

As for the spiritual gift of tongues among those of the charismatic institutional churches, I do not think that gift is active today. I have never spoke in a different language that I had not previously learned so I cannot know what it would be like. Yet I do not personally believe that those who have are using the spiritual gift that Paul was referring to. Not that such speaking in tongues is demonic, just not the "gift" present and needed in the early Church. Just my thoughts, I am not intending to argue about it. 

Although I have never experienced speaking in tongues, I have been so overwhelmed by the knowledge of the truth in reading the Scripture, or simply been so overwhelmed with the presence of God while observing a sunrise or sunset, that I was speechless, and totally humbled before my Creator.

The only gifts of the spirit that are important to mew are "faith, hope and love". 

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing...And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13)

My thoughts have been confirmed over the years when members of the Church who hold themselves out as evangelists or pastor/teachers disagree on the meaning of Scripture. How am I to know which one has the Spiritual gift of teaching?

“Studying to show myself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

His Mercy is Everlasting

  “To you the command is given, you peoples, nations, and populations of all languages, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:4-6)

Millions of people across the world get up on Sunday and go worship a god who they believe will everlastingly torture most people in a lake of fire.

And there are a few who stay home worshipping the LORD whose "mercy is everlasting" and whose "faithfulness is to all generations".

"Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with jubilation;

Come before Him with rejoicing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

And His courtyards with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting

And His faithfulness is to all generations." (Psalm 100)