(Revisited from 013010)

“Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?”
(Jeremiah 12:1)

INTRODUCTION:

I have felt some of the pain that our Messiah must have felt. Jeremiah felt it … those who followed the Messiah felt this pain, as well. I am going to paint you a picture so that you may better understand:

Imagine two people standing before you. Each of them has a message :

Man #1: Is well-dressed and very handsome. He is successful in all that he does and seems to have the world under his control. Everything he touches seemingly turns to gold.

Man #2: Is quite the opposite. He is not wealthy, and as far as looks, well, he is far from handsome. He has a small group of friends who all seem to be down on their luck, too. People walking by seem to ridicule him. In short, by the standards of this world he would not be considered successful.

Both of these men are preaching a spiritual message about how to live here on earth and about salvation. These two men have differing opinions about it, though, which man would you tend to be drawn to? Both man #1 and #2 claim to love and praise God sincerely, and they both claim to be blessed by God. They both have a message … which one would you tend to believe is truly being blessed? If you haven’t already guessed, man #2 represents Yeshua (Jesus) and those who followed Him. Scripture tells us in Isaiah 53:2-4:

… “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him … He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not … we considered him stricken by God.“

We also know from Scripture that He had no place to lay His head (He was homeless … but he had a message). We also know from Scripture that Satan controls the worldly wealth and used it to tempt our Messiah in the desert. In our society, though, the multitudes continue to flock to man #1 in their search to know God. The fact is, our flesh wants what the world has to offer. Only when the riches of the world are combined with a spiritual message, people suddenly desire spiritual things.

LET US SEE WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT WORLDLY WEALTH:

First of all, I want all my readers to know that I consider myself wealthy. Why do I think so? Because I have more than today’s food and clothing. THAT is all that He promises us. Anything beyond today’s food and clothing makes us wealthy according to God’s standards. The promise of many churches, though, is that we will be wealthy according to the world’s standards if we have enough faith. My point is, if the proof-test of being blessed by God is wealth, then why weren’t the disciples and all the followers of Yeshua we read about in the New Testament all wealthy according to the world’s standards? Some may have been at first, but once they began to follow the Messiah, they walked away from their businesses or gave up all they had. They were willing to give up everything to follow Him.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) my Lord, for whose sake I have LOST all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ….” (Philippians 3:8)

In fact, when we think about focusing on gaining worldly wealth in this life, the words of our Messiah come to mind:

“and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39)

As well as what He told the rich man to do to inherit the government (kingdom) of God:

‘Yeshua (Jesus) said to him (the rich man), “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ‘ (Matthew 19:21)

The truth is: when we focus on gaining spiritual wealth instead of earthly wealth, it is then that we lose THIS life so that we may gain Christ and find true life, eternally. Are you trying to hang on to both? Let us continue then …

Here is a challenge for the wealthy (those with more than today’s food and clothing): Pray this prayer with me, “Father, if my wealth is keeping me from knowing you more, take away my abundance and leave me with only what you feel is necessary for me. I do not want to be rich if it is keeping me from truly knowing you more intimately. I trust in you to supply my daily food and clothing like your disciples did.”

Go ahead and try it. What did you say? Hey, I totally understand how hard it is to pray and think this way. We have an example of a prayer about finances in Proverbs which states:

“give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is YHVH?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)

Did you catch that? The writer of Proverbs considers having only today’s daily bread as being the middle ground between poverty and riches! What else does Scripture say about those who preach that faith will necessarily bring worldly wealth or that having riches is the proof that He is pleased with your faith?

” who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:5-9)

- Read the physical description of His followers in 2 Corinthians: “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (vs 6:10)

‘Then Yeshua (Jesus) said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (He did NOT say it is impossible, just hard. But, how hard is it? …) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom (government) of God“. ‘ (Matthew 19:23)

Hmmmm … that is hard. Do I want more money? Yes (I cannot lie), of course I do. But it is my flesh that desires it and does NOT want to have to trust God every time I get hungry (but that is my flesh and I am working on it). You can have a homeless man who is just as much of a sin as the most wealthy if he desires it more than God. The fact is, it is when we have nothing that we truly trust God for every meal and need. That could be why those He sent off to preach the truth were told to take NOTHING with them: ‘These were his (Yeshua’s) instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff–no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.” ‘ (Mark 6:8)

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who RICHLY provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be RICH in GOOD DEEDS, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is TRULY LIFE.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver has corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days … You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.” (James 5:1-3 and 5)

Gulp … so how rich do you want to be? Do you want tomorrow’s food too? Is that too much? I don’t know. But when we see the abject poverty in third world countries, nearly all of us as Americans would be considered rich and fall into the above descriptions. We truly must take this to heart and make some hard decisions about what the future holds and where our treasures should be. Many think their litmus test of true faith is: “I study the Word when I have time and I go to church. Obviously, God is pleased with me because I am wealthy and prosperous.” This message is the opposite of what He seems to actually say in Scripture. (Oh, I know, I know. Just like obedience, there are some Scriptures that we can twist to satisfy our flesh but many of those passages are referring to ’spiritual wealth’).

‘You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.’ (Revelation 3:17-18)

What do you think: in this passage, is wealth a sign of being blessed by God? It seems that wealth is often what Satan uses to deceive people from truly turning to and knowing the God of Israel. Can you see it? “Hey, I claimed Jesus as my Savior, I go to church, I pray, and praise Him … and I have all that my flesh desires. Why would I want to change anything about my faith?” Many people do not grow spiritually or seek to be further sanctified by God (they continue to break His Laws) because they are lulled into complacency due to the belief that the material blessings prove they are ‘holy enough’ to gain salvation and please God the way they are. This is verified by the following verses:

“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

“Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed ‘and MEN praise you when you prosper’ he will join the generation of his fathers, who will NEVER see the light of life.” (Psalm 49:16-19)

Did you catch that? The wealthy who were praising God considered themselves as being blessed, never realizing that their wealth was actually keeping them from knowing the truth and seeing the light. I have to be honest with you, it is when I am the neediest that I seem to grow the most in my faith; It is when I struggle to get paid from those I have worked for that I search the hardest for His face and truth and what pleases Him.

SO, WHAT ARE HIS CHILDREN TOLD TO DO WITH WEALTH (the amount we have after eating and dressing for the day)?

Let’s see how the early church handled wealth:

“At the present time your plenty will supply what THEY need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what YOU need. Then there will be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:14)

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:44-45)

“There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:34-35)

For all of us who have more than today’s food and clothing, we need to take a step back and examine how we are using the wealth that we have. In addition, we must also realize that wealth is not a litmus test to determine who has been given favor by God. I have seen many wealthy self-proclaimed ‘Christians’ whose children were disobedient, whose marriages were failing, and who had little sleep due to worry, fear, and depression. I have also seen the opposite-those low and middle income ‘Christians’ (still wealthy in God’s eyes) whose children were respectful, whose marriages were a joy and blessing, and who had peaceful sleep with lives of joy, spiritual growth, praise, and peace. The fact is, the less one has, the greater the faith seems to be. Me? I would go to man #2 for advice about life (only after examining His walk of obedience and faith).

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08 / 06 / 11

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis within Scriptures are mine.)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

A common perception of life is: Ahhhh … there is some money in the bank, my house is ample, I have a nice network of friends, and my family is healthy and beautiful … therefore, God is happy with me and my spiritual life, and my salvation is secure.

Throughout history, there have been in each generation, people who hold to a similar such notion. However, God’s Word does NOT back up this perception. Take the following passage, for example. The nation had NOT been righteous or obedient to YHVH, yet they were seeking Him as if they had been. They were deceiving themselves, just as countless generations of people have been deceiving themselves:

“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God.” (Isaiah 58:2)

People today say, “Yes, we are sinners, but God sees only Jesus and His righteousness when He sees me. Anyway, Jesus did away with those Old Testament Laws.” Now, read the above passage again, which is addressed to people who disobey Him, and yet call out to Him as if He were pleased with their disobedient lifestyles.

Go ahead, I will wait.

“Yet they seek Me day by day (well, at least for an hour a week) and delight to know My ways (They buy book after book about ‘how to’, yet they do not study the Laws and the Prophets as Yeshua taught us to do), As a nation that has done righteousness (”Look at me, I am righteous through the blood of the Messiah’” Note: then why are they still sinning by repeatedly breaking the same Laws?) And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God (”We obey God … we love everyone-so we have obeyed all God wants us to”). They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God (”We have such a good time at church with all the functions and we feel so close to God”).” (Isaiah 58:2)

Yet, God is silent in their lives. Oh, they pray, but how does He answer them? “Sometimes what I ask comes to pass … sometimes it does not” (What, is prayer like Russian roulette?) God is clear about those who ‘act’ like and ’say’ they love Him, but do not because they do not obey His Laws:

“16 But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? 17 For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. 21 These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. 22 Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.”" (Psalm 50:16-17, 21-22)

He is also clear about those who pray to Him while ignoring His Laws:

“He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9)

Many people claim that they are part of the New Covenant, but claim though they may, their lives do not show that they are part of it. They tell of the stories of old, yet ignore His wrath, “Oh, that is not for me” they assume, as they continue to ignore His Laws … they have forgotten that YHVH said that “they are your life“. Instead, they say, “Oh, our loving Master simply would not tell me to ‘go away’ and send me to damnation for not practicing His Father’s Laws. He must be talking to someone else.” Then, they continue to disobey and ignore His Sabbath, feasts, and eat what HE says is detestable. They are wrong; it is VERY clear (they just need to desire to know the truth at all cost). The Son (who could say NOTHING on His own, but only what His Father told Him to say) is talking to those who are claiming His covenant promises, yet are living without His Laws (Law-LESS-ness):

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS (a life without the Law).‘” (Matthew 7:22-23)

Then the Master continues in vs 24 about those who hear His Words and practices them, thus are wise.

I WILL GIVE YOU JUST A FEW PASSAGES TO MEDIATE ON (Many people throughout history thought the same thing, “As long as we are worshiping and sacrificing to Him, our obedience to His laws doesn’t really matter”.)

“It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart’.” (Deuteronomy 29:19)

“But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.” (Jeremiah 16:12)

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)

Being repentant means to be sorry and to turn from that sin and set up your life to be in obedience, instead. Have you come to the place where you are truly repentant for transgressing His Laws?

“YHVH (The Lord) says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.‘ (Isaiah 29:13)

I write because I love each of you (NOT to boast, nor to mock, but to pull people from the raging fire who think their salvation is secure despite their lack of obedience). Unfortunately, many people honor YHVH by celebrating and worshiping Him on Sunday (a rule taught by man ; not in Scripture), yet disregard His command to honor the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath. They also worship Him on different man-made feast days (celebrations taught by man, but are not in Scripture) and they praise Him, yet do not celebrate and honor Him on the days He commands us to. They don’t even know His name OR the name of His Son (LORD and Jesus are NOT the names of the Father and Son;… they are names given by man- … NOT in the original Scriptures). All the while, they are also eating what HE calls detestable (but man teaches that it is clean and good to eat) … yet they come near with their mouths to honor Him, HE says.

Many people justify their disregard for His laws by saying, “Oh, He knows my heart and that I love Him“. This is half right… He DOES know each of our hearts, but as far as loving Him, He has been clear in the Torah, as well as the Apostolic writings about what loving Him looks like:

In the Torah:

“I command you today to love YHVH your God, (’what does loving YHVH look like?‘) to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that YHVH your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish (Never enter the Kingdom that is coming).” (Deuteronomy 30:16-18)

I would list more, but many feel that the Old Testament is done away with and not for us Gentiles. This is sad and could not be farther away from the truth. So, let us look at the New Testament and what it says loving God looks like (Remember: the NT must line up with the OT, or else it would be a false teaching)!

In the New Testament:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)

We know that Yeshua (Jesus) NEVER taught that the Law was done away with or not to be obeyed (Many use Paul’s misunderstood and hard to understand writings OVER those of the Master). We know that Yeshua could ONLY speak what the Father told Him to speak. We know that whatever is the Father’s is the Son’s … It is obvious that the Son commanded obedience to the Father.

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:6)

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” (1 John 5:2-3)

This was not something new… “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you,” (Deuteronomy 30:11)

IS YOUR DESIRE TO BE A PRIEST IN THE KINGDOM (GOVERNMENT) OF GOD?
(Then which priest do YOU think He will be coming for?):

“Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)

This is referring to Israel’s priests of old, yet many of the pastors and priests of today would fit this description very easily.

OR

“Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 In a dispute they shall take their stand to judge; they shall judge it according to My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts and sanctify My sabbaths.” (Ezekiel 44:23-24)

This is referring to those who have the Spirit of Truth and are rising up and acknowledging the Laws and practicing them … getting ready for His return! These devotions are teaching the difference between the holy and the profane.

It all has to do with our flesh. I am doing nothing more than what my Savior did, “Repent, less you perish in your sins” (Yeshua: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5))

Not many listened to His warning, either (back then, or even today). Satan convinced Adam to sin, he convinced Israel to sin, he convinced the priests of Israel to sin, he did the same to the multitudes today … did he convince YOU too? Oh, they all were still worshiping YHVH, yet it is all in vain.

Shalom Shalom!

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“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized.”
(Acts 9:18)

07 / 30 / 11

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis within Scriptures are mine.)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Baptism. It is an act of submission and obedience. It is a picture of death and life, of being washed and cleansed. It is a choice. Just like any other command of God, we can either choose to obey or disobey … we can either be sons of obedience (Romans 6:16, 6:26), or sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2, 5:6, and Colossians 3:6).
I would like to address a common tradition on this subject, first. I was raised with the traditional teaching that we must baptize our infants (in order to ‘impute’ the Holy Spirit, as if a human can apply water and the word to secure eternal salvation for that baby). It is a common belief that when we baptize an infant, they then received the Holy Spirit and became a member of God’s family (saved). This view, however, does not line up with Scripture and cannot be found ANYWHERE in His Holy Word (I challenge anyone to find ‘infant baptism’ in the Bible).
Baptism does not save, neither does obedience, but we do both out of a submitting heart that believes WHO He is and WHO we are in comparison to Him. Let us take a look at God’s teachings on this subject.

We are saved by faith alone in YHVHs Salvation (Yeshua).

Once we repent and our lives turn toward the One who Saves (Yeshua – YHVH’s salvation), our outward response is to be baptized in Him. So, baptism is an act of obedience which is an outward sign of an inward reality. Even our Master, whom we are to imitate, did so:

“Then Yeshua (Jesus) came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” (Matthew 3:13)

Why did Yeshua (Jesus) find it necessary to be baptized? His own words tell us in Matthew 3:15:

“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness…”

Notice He did not simply say, “it is proper for ME“, but He said “US“. We will now take a look at many passages about baptism. Please note that it was always done in response to a decision made by the person, himself. Being baptized is a choice a person makes upon repentance and a desire to obey God. They repent of their sins and then are baptized, as our Master says, “to fulfill all righteousness.”

“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” (Matthew 3:6)

This is NOT a ‘one time’ sin, but a lifestyle of sin. In other words, when someone realizes that the whole Torah (Law) is for their lives today and they turn toward it and look to the Messiah and how He obeyed it … one should be baptized. It is when we leave our sinful lifestyle and begin living for Him, we consider this a washing away of the old sinful lifestyle and the rising up to a new lifestyle of obedience and service to God. When someone realizes that God’s entire Word (including His Laws and Commandments) is the manual for their life, and that they must live according to it, they realize just how bad their former way of life has pained their Creator. Baptism is simply an act of cleansing.

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3)

Can you see that baptism of the flesh is an outward sign of submission to God? By seeing our sins as utterly wicked before God, we are to die to our flesh (symbolized by submersing ourselves in the water that washes our flesh) and be raised as new creatures (being baptized with the Spirit that washes us INSIDE, by teaching us God’s ways).

“having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Yeshua (Jesus) were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ” (Romans 6:3-4)

Baptism, just like any other act of obedience to God does NOT save anyone. Our obedience is an act of faith. We believe God is God and we are His servants. If a child dies before accepting Christ, and thus could not make this choice to be baptized, it is YHVH Who decides the fate of all creation. That child simply may not have been created to rise up in the first resurrection as a priest, but in the second resurrection.

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.‘” (Mark 16:15-16)

I love this one. Can you see that we are saved by faith (justified), and then obedience such as baptism follows (which is sanctification). However, he who does not believe is condemned? He is condemned because of his disbelief in God (That person’s disobedience is the PROOF they do not believe in God) … they are NOT condemned because he or she did not get baptized.

Can an infant repent and accept Yeshua (Jesus) as His Savior? NO! We men cannot perform a ritual of baptism on an infant to impute the Holy Spirit or salvation into that baby. If you believe this traditional teaching, I urge you to go to the Bible and try to find Scripture to support this belief. You will not be able to. Notice, it says, “Whoever BELIEVES and is baptized,” or many times, “REPENT and be baptized,” … in both cases, it is a decision that one who has understanding makes (babies cannot make this choice, but that doctrine came out of a misunderstanding about two resurrections … one for the priests and the other for the rest of Israel.)!

“After this, Yeshua (Jesus) and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. (John 3:22-23)

This was not a line of baby carriages … but people who were repenting of their sins.

“Before the coming of Yeshua (Jesus), John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.” (Acts 13:24)

Notice, again: Repentance comes before practicing obedience. We die to self (symbolized in baptism) and are to rise up a new person (by the washing of God’s Spirit within!), then we live a lifestyle of obedience to His Laws (by the work of the Spirit writing them on our heart and teaching us). Can you see the combination? We put our flesh under HIS authority through the outward sign of baptism (cleaning the outside), and then we show the fruit of our salvation by our obedience to God through the work of His Spirit (cleaning the inside …where sin starts).

“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4)

We must realize that our lives are ‘under the bondage of sin’ and repent before we can be forgiven. Just like our forefathers in the desert, the act of faith was putting the blood on their doorposts … it was only subsequent to that faith that they were then baptized in the Red Sea … then there was the giving of the Law!

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

Notice, again, the flesh first, then the Spirit. In order to allow the Spirit full control, we must submit our flesh!

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?” (Notice that they heard the message about the Messiah, first. Then, upon realizing their errors and sinful lives before God they cried out, “What shall we do?”) “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom YHVH (the Lord) our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39)

(This passage shows that baptism is available to our children once they understand and are able to repent. However, a parent can NOT decide for their children or babies), as John 1:12-13 explains: “…to those who believed in His name, HE gave the right to become children of God; children born NOT of natural descent (being born Jewish or even of Christian parents), nor of human decision (A parent baptizing their child) or a husband’s will, BUT born of God.” It is only upon hearing the message and subsequent repentance that one is to be baptized: “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:40-41)

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Yeshua (Jesus) Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12)

Again, no babies, but all adults.

There are several examples of whole households being baptized. This, however, does not mean that one person believed and then that person decided that his or her whole household was to be baptized. Instead, these passages show the excitement of a single person realizing the errors of the teachings of their day, then proclaiming it to those he or she loves the most … the members of his or her own household. Thus, by hearing and believing, they too decide to be baptized, as well.

“One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house,’ And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16:14-15)

“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” (Acts 16:33)

“Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8)

Final thoughts:

There is no greater honor for a parent than to have your child come to you and say, “Daddy, I am a sinner and I am giving my life to God. I want to be baptized.”
Baptism is an act of obedience that points to the greater baptism … that done by the Spirit:

“who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3:20-22)

Repent from your sins … and be baptized and sin no more. Obedience is the fruit of the Spirit within a child of God … baptism is part of that obedience.

One last thought: Many people realize that infant baptism is not Biblical, but may still be in error regarding baptism in one respect. If you notice, I always put back the names of the Father (NOT ‘the LORD’) and the son (NOT ‘Jesus’). Consider what Yeshua commanded….

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Many baptisms go something like this, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” based upon the above Scripture. But what did Yeshua actually say? The word Name is singular. The common Name they all share is YHVH. YHVH the Father, YHVH’s Salvation (Yeshua), and YHVH’s Spirit all share the Name YHVH! Also, notice that after you baptize them in the name of YHVH, you are also commanded to teach them God’s Laws (observe everything that is commanded us). Hmmmm … Just something to think about.

My thought? We must believe in YHVH (and His plan of Salvation) and be baptized and practice His Laws to be saved … but, we will perish because we do not believe in Him (which our lack of obedience actually reveals). Let me know if you see it any other way (and use Scriptures, not teachings of men).

So, are we saved by baptism? No, but by not doing it we prove that we do not believe in Him.

Are we saved by obeying His Laws? No, but by not practicing them we prove that we do not believe in His Word.

Shalom Shalom!

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12 / 06 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine – NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

• I have always wondered why so many people think that Yahshua (Jesus) gave a new commandment to us that we must “love” … as if it had not existed prior to him. I have even been told that we no longer need to follow any of the Old Testament Laws today, but only need to follow Jesus’ command to love one another. Where did they get that, I wonder?
• Okay, okay … many of you may be thinking, “Kyle, just look at the verse you chose to open with”. Ohhhhhh … that is where they get it from … it is because Yahshua (Jesus) said it is a new command. But I thought that God commanded even in the Old Testament for us to love each other.…even before the Son of God appeared to us!

- “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHWH.” (Leviticus 19:18)
- “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am YHWH your God. “ (Leviticus 19:34)
- “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am YHWH your God.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)

• I don’t want to be disrespectful, but what is Yahshua (Jesus) talking about? How can this be a new commandment? Did He forget that He already commanded us to love each other back in our forefather’s time in the desert?
• HINT: Look at the last two verses regarding WHO they were commanded to love. The natural born Israelites were commanded to love the “Alien” that was living among them and to treat them as an equal. What was new when Yahshua was talking was that we Gentile believers were no longer “aliens” living among them, but equal to the natural born Hebrew believers. THAT is what Yahshua has accomplished! That was one of His purposes!

- Paul explains this to the Ephesians (non-Hebrews) in Ephesians 2:19 … “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” Recall from above that they were told to love the aliens among them. So, the notion of a Gentile believer being equal among them is NEW.
- “For He Himself is our peace, who made the two (Hebrew and Gentile) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (there were actual walls in the Temple built to keep the Gentiles separated), by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations (These are the dogma laws, or man-made laws that made it hard for not only the Gentiles to come near to God, but the common Hebrew, as well). His purpose was to create in Himself ONE new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14-16) Did you catch that? “HIS PURPOSE” was to create in Himself ONE man out of the two (Jew and Gentile). THAT is the part that was new, and therefore we both are told … LOVE one another.
- “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) (The body is Israel … made up of many parts of which our Messiah is the head!)
- “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, THEN you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29)
- “For there is NO difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.” (Romans 10:12)
- Yet to ALL who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born NOT of natural descent, NOR of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:11-13)

THE ONLY THING THAT IS NEW IS “WHO OUR BROTHERS ARE”:

• Now, when we read passages about “loving your brother” we must not think about it being a new command, but that our thought of “who” our brother is to include the Hebrew believers, as well as the Hebrew believer must include us, Gentile believers as their thought of family. Together, we make up Israel.
• “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) I am to carry not only the Gentile believer’s burden, but the Hebrew believer’s, as well. You know what? We should probably STOP referring to each other according to our physical identification, as well … such as being a Jew, Greek, or Italian believer. Once someone is part of the family of Israel, there is no longer a PHYSICAL identification … but a Spiritual one. I am no longer a Gentile and a Hebrew is no longer a Hebrew. These things are of the world and not of God. For it is written about the children of God:

- “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)
- “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

VERSES RELATED TO THOUGHT:

• “This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17) NOW we know that this is not replacing God’s Laws (as many think), but it is revealing that He (Yahshua / Jesus) commands both Jews and Gentiles within Israel to love each other as brothers (It is like a twin brother being taken at birth by mistake and being raised by someone else for 20 years. Then, one day, they meet and realize that they have been brothers all along. Now the brother who had been raised by their true parents has to share them with his new-found brother … who had been a brother all along.)
• “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10) Notice that we are to obey God’s Laws (do what is right … some translations say “do righteousness”) AND love our brothers.
• “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21) Now that it is clear what our Savior actually is speaking of, we know that this is NOT eliminating the Laws as given through Moses, but that He is bringing the Jew and Gentile together … and then commands them to love one another.
• “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8) What Law? Ohhhhhh … the law that Jews and Gentiles must love each other as brothers!
• John seems to hint that it really is not new, but has sort of been hidden and spoken of before. They (The Hebrews) KNEW that they were to love the aliens that were ALWAYS welcomed into Israel. But they always thought that being an “Israelite” was their right alone (recall the twin brother example. The one brother thought that he alone was an heir.). So John is clear in 1 John 2:7-9 … it is actually not so new. Those living at the time of Yahshua (Jesus) simply had never heard it: “Dear friends, I am NOT writing you a new command but an OLD one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
• “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
• “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9)

LAST THOUGHTS:

• So … who are our brothers? Anyone who believes in Yahshua (Jesus) as their Savior.
• Is the command to love each other replacing obedience to God’s Laws as given through Moses? Of course not.
• We are told that there is no Jew, Gentile, slave, free, male, or female within Israel. It also makes sense that the priests, who are the brothers of the High Priest, Yahshua (Jesus), are from every tribe, language, peoples and nations. These are all who hold firm to the testimony of Yahshua (Jesus) and obey the Law and teach it.

WHAT MIGHT THIS LOVE LOOK LIKE:

• Those of us who are attempting to obey God’s Laws as He gave them to His children MUST love those who have not come to that point in their walk with Him. We must show the same mercy that we received for so many years from the Lord.
• Those of us who are attempting to obey God’s Laws as He gave them to His children MUST love those who do the same, yet interpret and live out the commands differently from us, others, or the majority. (NOTE: We are all, most likely, incorrect in some points. Good thing we are not saved by our obedience!). Division comes when we do not love each other as He commanded and accuse each other for doing things differently.
• Yes … we must love one another … or it all means nothing.

11 / 29 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)
(NIV used)

Please understand that these devotions are simply my thoughts put on a piece of paper as I study during the week. I then share my thoughts with my friends … all of you! There is more to the life of a believer than “seeking and saving the lost”. Although this may be ONE of the missions of a child of God, it most certainly is NOT the only one. Remember, loving our neighbor is the second greatest commandment, but the first and greatest is loving God. Part of loving someone is knowing them.

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) In other words, we must know YHVH and His Salvation.

If it is in God’s Word, it is there for us to study. This devotion is the fourth part and the final devotion in the series on death. It is deep, and I (and others) have spent countless hours on it. It is an awesome study and is just that … a study. I was still studying it last week and did not feel it was ready yet, so there was no devotion last week. I believe that I am now ready to at least put some thoughts down in writing. Enjoy!

THERE SEEMS TO BE FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE (Maybe only three):

“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called LEAST in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for NOBLE PURPOSES and some for COMMON USE? (Romans 9:20-21)

The above two passages reveal the first two groups:

1.) The first group is those who hear the message and believe. Out of faith, they turn their ear to the Law and practice it and teach it to others.
- These are the priests, or the elect. They have been set aside as YHVH’s possession. They will be great in the kingdom of heaven and used for noble purposes.
2.) The second group is those who are the least in the kingdom, as well as being called for common use. Unlike the priests, they seem to turn a deaf ear OR do not know the Law fully yet to teach it to others.

The next two passages reveal the third and fourth groups:

“Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24)

“Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” (Romans 9:18)

3.) The third group is those who heard the message clearly and refused to believe and “sin no more”. They would not accept the Law out of faith. They clearly have heard the message in this life with unstopped eyes and ears … and refused it.
- “If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.” (Proverbs 28:9) and “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” (John 9:31)
- Matthew 10:14-15 is also clear about those who hear the message: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
4.) The fourth group is those who maybe heard the message but were blinded by God (not chosen to be priests of to be used for noble purposes). They never heard the message and therefore, could not choose to believe. As you will see, God is merciful and has a plan for those who have not heard or those He has blinded on purpose. Haven’t you ever thought about those born into a family of “Christ haters?” These children and their parents simply hate the God of Israel because of ignorance. Many Jews have been hardened by God in order for US to hear the message (Romans 11:25). So, group # 4 contain all of those and also the “guys on the island” who never heard.

AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, GOD IS SIMPLY GATHERING UP HIS ELECT / PRIESTS
(Those who believe and obey will be the greatest and most noblest in the Kingdom to come. That is all that God is gathering at this time.)

Recall last week’s devotion (part three) about the Priests. We have found that the earthly priests were to have NO earthly inheritance. They, alone, were set aside for God and were told that God was going to be their inheritance. What is greater than that?

“I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.” (Ezekiel 44:28)

“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

LET US LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE TIME-LINE OF WHAT IS TO COME:

1.) We have the great tribulation (To save space, since many know this part, we can read about it in Revelation 13-18). Here it speaks about the beast and the mark that the un-believers will receive who follow the beast; It speaks about the 144,000 from every tribe of Israel; It speaks about the plagues and the tribulation; It speaks about the distress so great that it had to be shortened for the sake of the elect. This is ALL before the 1,000 year reign.

2.) We find in Revelation 19:7-8 that the bride has made herself ready … “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” The bride is described as the city of Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2 and 9-10), yet we know that this stands for its inhabitants as Matthew 23:37 indicates. I believe that the inhabitants have made themselves ready – the priests or the elect – those chosen by God. Righteous acts are based upon following His righteous Laws (“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” … Romans 2:13). Those getting themselves ready are the priests. They follow the High Priest and He is their example. The High Priest loved and obeyed the Law perfectly … that is the goal of the priests. It is a Law for the wife (bride) to submit to her husband in everything (“Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:24)).
- Just like any hardship, the great tribulation made the bride even more ready: “I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14) Being white means to be clean and without sin. It is through the blood of the Lamb that the Spirit of the Lamb comes and teaches the bride (thus taking away her sins … making her white). The priests are saved by faith, but by practicing the Laws, their sins are being removed.
- “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.” (Joel 2:15-16) Did you notice the three Fall Feasts were alluded to twice … in order? Trumpets (blowing the trumpets which gathers the people), Day of Atonement (a fast day to consecrate the assembly), Tabernacles (assembling and bringing together the people) … WOW! The happy couple is preparing for the wedding!

3.) Recall that all the dead are still in the grave waiting to be called out (Some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt). We find in Revelation 19:20-21 the final destruction of the beast and the false prophet, as well as those who worshipped the beast and received the mark (vs 21) “The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,”.

4.) Who is left? Why, the greatest deceiver of all … Satan. He is immediately taken and put into the Abyss for a 1,000 years (“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” … Revelation 20:1-2). The 1,000 years that Satan is bound is the seventh “day” of history since “a day is like a thousand years,” (2 Peter 3:8). To God, this is the Sabbath! The Law states that when someone gets married, the groom is not to be enlisted to go to war for one year. Plus, with Satan bound, there is no more work for the Son of God and His Bride for this “day” (1,000 years).

5.) NOTE: We are told that Satan will be released for a short time after the 1,000 years. If you have been following God’s appointments, the 1,000 year reign is the Feast of Tabernacles. After that Feast, we have the Eighth Day Assembly (The LAST appointment). And it is here that Satan is loosened to deceive once more. THIS time, just like the earthly example, God’s priests will be ready to rule (teaching in love). These who rise after the 1,000 years will hear both the messages (from Satan and the priests) “He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” (Revelation 20:3)

6.) While Satan is out of the picture, the priests / elect are left. Those who were beheaded for Yeshua (Jesus) and His Word, those who were alive (the 144,000) and did not receive the mark, and finally those who obeyed the Laws of God out of faith, – all the above are the priests / elect. These (group # 1) take part in the FIRST resurrection (Note that they “came to life” from their sleep / death. They were not already with Him.): “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4) Those who rose in the FIRST resurrection will have no part in the second death. “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

7.) Okay … now what about the rest of the dead (groups # 2, 3, and 4)? “(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)” (Revelation 20:5)

Let us stop here for a moment to meditate. The Son of God (High Priest) is with His priests. He is teaching them unhindered in a world much like that of the Garden of Eden. This is a blessed time for the priests who have been hand-picked, or chosen by God to be used for noble purposes and are great in the kingdom: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’” (Revelation 20:9) (Give the happy couple some time together, will ya?) … ahhhh. This 1,000 year reign is God’s literal rest. It now gives more meaning to the words for those who disobey. They are told that they will NEVER enter His rest: “And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?” (Hebrews 3:18) It is this 1,000 year rest that is being spoken of.

8.) Okay … the honeymoon is over. Time to start working together as a team (The Husband and His wife are now one). Time to loosen Satan “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison” (Revelation 20:7) and put the final chapter to rest. Satan is loosened to deceive the nations. “and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth–Gog and Magog–to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.” (Revelation 20:8) Who are the nations being spoken of since there is no-one left but Yeshua (Jesus) and His priests? The rest of the dead have now come to life after the 1,000 year reign when Satan was loosened again. I believe that this is speaking of only those who did not hear clearly before they died or were intentionally blinded by God for not being made to be a priest.

9.) We find Satan (who is a spirit) and possibly his fallen angels (who are spirits) being defeated.

- Satan and his angels are NOT flesh and blood, and therefore will be the only ones spoken of as being eternally in torment. “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They (the beast, false prophet and Satan) will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10). This is based upon Revelation 19:20 … “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”

10.) Okay, Satan and his army are eternally out of the way. It is time for judgment for groups # 2,3, and 4!

11.) Those who have risen after the 1,000 year reign have now heard both sides (the truth by the priests and the deception by Satan). (NOTE: death and Hades simply mean: grave or resting place. Sea could actually mean those who died in the sea and were never buried in the ground … OR … there are other places in God’s Word that use “sea” to mean the entire body of soil). The second resurrection was for group # 4 and now it is time to see who gets to experience the second death or receive eternal life. Recall that group # 4 is those who never heard the message and have now have heard it. They have a chance to accept or deny … such as the thief on the cross. It was simply faith at the last moment: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened (Note: The first set of books are the Torah, or Laws as given to Moses. The next book is the book of life.). Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (Since we just had a group being judged for the first time, it mentions another group, “Then,” as if the rest of those in the graves were simply thrown into the lake of fire. Those are the ones who heard clearly and refused in the life they had) . The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15) This day of judgment for groups # 2,3, and 4 is also spoken of in:

- Daniel 12:2 … “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
- John 5:28-29. … “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out–those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”

LAST THOUGHTS:

This, of course, is simply an outline, but it does reveal a couple things:

- Who will be with the Yeshua (Jesus) for a 1,000 years.
- There are at least TWO resurrections. The first is pretty clear that it is the priests (those who taught and practiced the Law out of faith). What is confusing is the order of the second resurrection.

• It seems to be clear that group # 3 do not get a “second” chance.
• It is clear that group # 4, who never had a chance in life to accept the truth or deny it, have their FIRST opportunity to hear clearly. They are given that chance by God “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4).
• It is NOT clear about group # 2. It depends totally on their hearts when they heard the message of faith and repentance. Did they really understand that the Law determines what sin is, and that it is this Law (That Yeshua (Jesus) gave to Moses and the Prophets) that is to be obeyed out of faith? Did they hear clearly? If they did and they rejected, then the lake of fire is their destination. If they were blinded by God, then they will hear for the first time at the second resurrection.

This was simply a study to know my Father and His plan. I pray that you enjoyed it.

There are just so many other passages that speak of these times; it is amazing!

- Zechariah 14:16-17 is speaking about the time AFTER the 1,000 years. We see that there are people still refusing to obey God, so this is before all wickedness is totally eliminated, yet after the attack on Jerusalem. Therefore, it is before the final judgment. “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, YHVH Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHVH Almighty, they will have no rain.” By sending no rain to those who do not obey, God is still trying to reach out and let them know who is King.

- Isaiah 30:18-21 is also speaking about AFTER the 1,000 years (and maybe after evil is eliminated). The priests, like they were commanded, teach all righteousness: “Yet YHVH longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For YHVH is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

- We know (but do not understand fully) that the 144,000 come to accept the truth since they are sealed (Revelation 6:12). This is after the seven seals were broken, but notice that the 6th seal (Revelation 7:2-3) is speaking of the same events of Matthew 24:29-30 … “Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”). So, the 144,000 are part of the first resurrection. Are these 144,000 to ensure that there is always a remnant of the natural children? Just a thought, since we know that the priests are taken from ALL nations (Revelation 5:9-10) in the end.

- Revelation 21:8 … “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” We have come to know that such people are NOT children of God. In other words, we know that “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

- Let us not forget the role of priests. They administer the Law / truth. Therefore, “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations–’He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:26-29) I believe that this is after the 1,000 year reign and when Satan is released for a short time.

- The sad note: There will be many who heard the message to repent of their sins, yet continued in their sins. They do not practice obedience to the Laws of God out of faith in this life. Many do not realize that 99% of the time (if not all) when “wicked” or “evildoer” is mentioned in His Word, it is speaking about “transgressors of the Law”. Read Malachi 4:1-4. It is speaking about the day all evildoers are thrown into the lake of fire (Note what YHVH actually tells us to remember! This is a time yet to come!): “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says YHVH Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says YHVH Almighty. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.” The evildoer becoming stubble from the flames is in line with Matthew 7:23 … “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Those who perish will become totally consumed! Ashes is what they are called under the soles of the feet of those who love God.

• The word for evildoers is anomía; gen. anomías, from ánomos, lawless. Lawlessness. In most cases in the NT it means not the absence of the Law, but the violation of Law, i.e., transgression or lawlessness. In the NT, it places stress, not in a subjective law that we ourselves create for our convenience, but chiefly in a divinely instituted Law.

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.” IF you want to be a priest and be part of the first resurrection … start studying!

This is part of a series titled, Death and the End Times:

Death and the End Times: Part 1

Death and the End Times: Part 2

Death and the End Times: Part 3

Death and the End Times: Part 4

11 / 15 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

I am pondering how to continue this series on death and the end times. Should I just jump into what “seems” to be truth and who rises when (the first resurrection, the second resurrection, etc…)? Or is there another study which should be done that will lead up to the conclusion for better understanding? I have decided that I am going to “add” a study because the more proof from God’s Word that we have, the easier it is to challenge long-held beliefs. God’s Word will continue to “rock our world” until our flesh submits to truth.

GOD CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS … WHEN HE WANTS … TO WHOM HE WANTS.

The end times and WHO will rise up for the 1,000 year reign, I believe, have everything to do with the kingdom of priests. It appears that God is has been building up the kingdom of priests all this time. The rest? They will rise up AFTER the 1,000 year reign. Two key passages that I have often grappled with before this study, are:

- Matthew 5:19 … “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” After studying about the job of the priests, I know that the latter group mentioned in this verse is speaking about them. The priests were ALWAYS the greatest in the earthly example of God’s kingdom. We will find out that some are rising up for the 1,000 year reign and some “believers” are rising up after the 1,000 year reign. It seems as though God is looking for “a few good men” for this 1,000 year reign.
- John 12:40 … “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn–and I would heal them.” I always thought: That’s not fair! Who can blame them for not understanding the truth since they were intentionally blinded by God? In “death part 4” we will see that God IS fair and just … not wanting anyone to perish!!

“Death part 3” is on just this topic: God is calling His priests first (those who practice and teach His Law out of faith) and God can choose whomever He wants to be a priest. As far as “not being fair” to those blinded or those never able to hear the truth unhindered? They DO get a chance to hear and decide whether to accept or not … during the “Eighth Day Assembly” (After the 1,000 year reign). But this is for “death part 4”!

THE EXAMPLES GIVEN FOR PRIESTS ARE THOSE WHO SERVE GOD AND TEACH HIS PEOPLE.

God’s example on earth: “‘Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”(Exodus 19:5-6) A priest cannot teach what he, himself, does not do.

The complete fulfillment in the kingdom to come: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6). We are ONLY freed from bondage to a sin when we no longer desire to transgress that Law. Therefore, when we are freed from our bondage to a sin, we are able to obey the law that called what we were doing a sin. Being a priest in the kingdom to come is NOT a “for Jews only” position. I am not spiritualizing or minimizing our Jewish brothers. We know that Aaron (the high priest) was a typology of the Son of God. It was only Aaron’s offspring who could follow in his footsteps as a priest. The same is true with Yeshua (Jesus) being the high priests and HIS offspring! The priests are those who practice and teach obedience out of faith. They are the “kingdom of Priests” that God is gathering at this time. “And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

The above passages in Revelation were speaking about those who will serve with Yeshua (Jesus). Think about it. The Priests were NEVER given any inheritance. Instead, God said, “I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.” (Ezekiel 44:28) and “Know that YHVH has set apart the godly for himself; YHVH will hear when I call to him.” (Psalm 4:3). Why? The priests are the greatest and were set apart to serve God. The priests are the elect and who better to be the bride of the Son of God than His priests? For it was and is the priest’s job to deliver the truth about the Law and how to live it out … that is righteousness! His bride will be those who made themselves ready (shed their sins … this was NOT done in her own strength, but she allowed the Spirit to dress her. Therefore, “fine linen” was given to her! But she had to accept the fine linen, or righteous living.). “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” (Revelation 19:7)

It seems, again, that many who think that “faith without obeying the Law” is salvation … have missed the mark. It is clear that God is preparing His bride, the priests, to be part of the first resurrection (the 1,000 year reign, or Sabbath): “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be PRIESTS of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

Here is a thought: The Law of God commands that when a couple gets married, the Husband is to be given the year off from the military service to spend with His bride. Can you see the same situation here between the marriage of the Lamb and His bride? The groom has been in battle for all this time and now, at the marriage of the Lamb to His bride, it is the Sabbath (With the Lord a day is like a thousand years … and it is the seventh day … a Sabbath). He no longer has to fight against Satan, for he is bound up at this time and it is pure rest with the one the Groom loves, his bride. Ahhhh.

BUT IS THIS FAIR?

At first glance, it appears NOT to be fair to those who were never given the message or who were blinded simply by God’s choice. In “death part 4” we will see that God IS just and fair and that they will be given a chance to hear the truth and either deny it or accept it … in the end.

I will tell you who I am afraid for, though. It is those who clearly have understood the truth about salvation and the life of obedience to God’s Laws out of faith in His Son. They have denied the power of the Spirit of God. They heard the truth. Yeshua (Jesus) speaks of such people: “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24) Did you notice that Yeshua (Jesus) is telling those who actually heard the message and rejected the truth that there were cities destroyed for their wickedness who had never heard what THEY heard and saw. Repent and turn from your sins and believe in God. Woe to those who have heard the message and rejected obedience to God through faith. It will be better for the Muslim in the end who had never heard the truth than for those who have heard and denied the sanctifying power of the Spirit.

Who are we to question the Creator as to who will be who in His Kingdom? HE decides who will be priests, as well as who will be blinded to the truth, as well as who will be made for common use:

- “One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?’ But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath–prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory — even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:18-24)
- “Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:10) IF these people’s heart were not made calloused and their ears dull and their eyes closed … they would have turned and been healed.

LAST THOUGHTS:

In conclusion, it appears that God is building up His house of priests for eternity. Who are we to question who will be a priest or who will be used for common purposes? For it is only God who calls and it is only the priest who will answer this call at this time: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44). Once called and proven, you will be chosen. It is all about overcoming this world and its lies (from its father of liars … the devil). “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings–and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14)

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25) This does not seem to be fair to those who have been hardened! But don’t worry, out of ALL the tribes, languages, peoples, and nations … not one of His priests were forgotten or lost! Even out of those who were blinded … God received unto Himself those who were priests. “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. “ (John 6:39)

At this time: it is just something to think about (I, too, am still searching)

This is part of a series titled, Death and the End Times:

Death and the End Times: Part 1

Death and the End Times: Part 2

Death and the End Times: Part 3

Death and the End Times: Part 4

11 / 08 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

This study on death and what happens with our soul seems to hit a nerve. I received numerous responses both for and against this thought. I do NOT know the full truth because I have not died yet to find out (smile). But God has given us passages about this subject and, therefore, we are to study it. Let us not forget that the Scriptures, (I am speaking of the original Scriptures, not what we have come to know as truth from various English translations NIV, NASB, KJV and the like.) are infallible (the translations are NOT infallible). Today we have the technology to see what words and definitions the translators of these fine attempts to translate had to choose from.

We must remember that the New Testament (as we have named it) is nothing new. We do not need the New Testament to prove that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Son of God or His purpose (Since Paul and many others reasoned from Scriptures, the Old Testament, that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Messiah). Instead of how us Westerners have come to know the New Testament, instead, it is an awesome complement of what was already written. Why do I mention this? Because the teaching that has been handed down to us about death doesn’t seem to line up with Scripture. Most people believe that the body (flesh) remains in the grave, while the soul is either in heaven or hell (or even a holding tank). I’m trying to find Scripture basis for this belief, but generally find conflicting verses.

LET US EXAMINE SOME MORE SCRIPTURES:

Before you begin, it might be helpful to re-read “death part 1” and the Scriptures used (I’ll give you just a couple obvious ones to remind you):

- “… so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep.” (Job 14:12)
- “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2) (Daniel is speaking about the end times here. IF our souls are already with Him for eternity, what is the point of our bodies rising to everlasting life? Could Daniel have known that our souls sleep in the dust … our bodies return to dust … and our souls will awake when the Trumpet sounds? Some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. This does not seem to be speaking about our bodies rising to one or the other, for they cannot inherit the kingdom of God … they are flesh. 1 Corinthians 15:50 is clear about this: “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”)

Could it be that those writing the “New Testament” knew that when they died it was when God removed His Breath? Could they have understood that the first death means to sleep until judgment? It seems as though Martha knew this when speaking about Lazarus! “Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the last resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:23) God decided to give Lazarus back His Breath in THIS life … thus proving that HE was God who gives the Breath of life! Lazarus was not risen in His glorified state … just in his flesh again. Today? He is still sleeping since the Breath of God had been removed from him again. He is not in eternal life yet. Both his body and soul are in the grave. His body is dust, but his soul is sleeping (not my words, re-read the above Scriptures). It is okay to be this way. We are still saved by faith and still be watched over and will be with Him … HIS timing, not ours; HIS ways, not ours.

I have been asked about those who have appeared after death (i.e. Lazarus, the transfiguration, those rising from the grave when Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified). They simply were called by God and received back His Breath … for a time (”Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28-29).
- Lazarus was simply awoken from his sleep, spent the rest of his time on earth, then went back to sleep. (Yeshua (Jesus) even described his death as “sleep” and then had to tell them plainly … he is dead is what I am saying (John 11:11 says “After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’” They did not understand, for they thought the Master meant sleep or nap. Verses 13-14 are clear: “Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead,’”)
- Those rising from the grave when our Savior gave up His Breath? This is the same type of situation as described as Lazarus because Yeshua (Jesus) is the firstfruit to rise to eternal life (“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. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)) It is clear. NO one can be raised from the dead for eternity until Christ was (Notice that Paul says “those who have fallen asleep”). Notice the last part when addressing the fact that through Adam all die, but through Christ all will be made alive … in his own turn! Christ FIRST, then when HE returns those who belong to Him. That is our hope and faith. Until then, anyone rising on earth, as Lazarus, simply received the Breath of life again (That is God’s choice!).
- The transfiguration, I believe, may have been similar to John’s vision of Revelation. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of what is coming. What John saw in Revelation hadn’t even happened yet, but God allowed him to see the future. Again, how could Moses and Elijah be in Heaven and glorified if the Son was not yet glorified? It is impossible. If they were, then THEY were the First-fruit and not God’s Son.

WE ARE MUCH LIKE A BUNCH OF CELL PHONES!

I look at it this way (using an analogy) … Our lives are like cell phones. Someone might be a blackberry, another may be a Motorola “Q”, someone might be a flip top (crazy), another a razor (slim in appearance). These outward appearances are NOT what make up the phones. What we are looking at is simply the case for what is inside. Some phones have different talents, as do our earthly bodies. Some can do more functions than others or perform greater tasks. Have you ever broken your phone? No problem! Simply take the chip out and put it into another case. It is the chip that houses all our information (who our friends are and the settings we chose, etc…). However, the case and chip inside are absolutely useless without a charged battery. Every night, the phone sleeps until turned on in the morning. If we (the owners) decide not to turn on that phone, it remains dormant. God decides to wake us up each morning, as well. Take away the battery, or God’s Breath, we return to what we actually are … nothing but dust. Lazarus? God decided to turn him on again and use him one more time.

SOME PASSAGES THAT STILL ARE QUESTIONABLE:

The book of Hebrews was written to the Jews. They, like Martha in the above passage, knew Scriptures. They knew the deep things that we, thousands of years removed, can only ponder. Let us look at Hebrews 12:22-2 :

- “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

The question is: Does this passage prove that the soul separates from the body at death? It simply says that there are spirits of righteous men with God. Let us look deeper. The passage starts out by saying, “But YOU have come to …”. Well, obviously the listeners have not come to this place being spoken of yet. They were still on earth, so the writer is speaking of what is to come and it is THEIRS through the Messiah. If we look at the verses that led up to this, the writer is speaking of Esau selling his inheritance for a single meal. Then afterward, with tears and anguish, he desired to get it back but did not receive it. The writer of Hebrews is telling them that if Esau thought about what was to come, he would NOT have sold it for satisfying his flesh for the moment. NOW, the writer is speaking to the Jews about what is to come and is warning them, with the same. Do NOT sell your inheritance (then describes it) to satisfy your flesh for the moment.

- “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?” (Hebrews 12:25).

Numerous times in the Old Testament we read of people on their death beds described as: “their soul was departing …” Further study, though, reveals that the word for soul is nephesh, which means “breath”. This makes sense, “as they were breathing their last breath …”

Another thought. IF our soul is with the Lord when we die, then who are they that are rising up to eternal life?

- (Remember as you read, Yeshua (Jesus) has not returned yet at the last trumpet call. Plus, it speaks about what those who have died are doing and what will then happen to their souls): “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
- “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16) They were worried about those who had died before Yeshua (Jesus) came because they and “missed” the Messiah! Read it again. WHEN He returns, those who are alive will NOT come before those who have fallen asleep.
- John 5:28-29 (see above)
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (see above)

THERE IS NOTHIING WRONG WITH SLEEPING UNTIL HE RETURNS:

I am not here to upset anyone. I want to know the truth, as I’m sure you do, too. I do not worship the body that Yeshua (Jesus) was living in while here. I worship the Spirit that was within that body. Same here with this tidbit about death. Let us not look at our bodies as what life was all about, but what we did while IN the covering called a body. Just like when Yeshua (Jesus) walked the earth and He disturbed many doctrines and teachings, the same is true today. Allow me to give you one more passage before we study about the thousand year reign and the mysterious “Eighth Day Assembly”: 1 Samuel 28:13-15 is speaking of Saul disturbing Samuel from his sleep (death): “The king said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. What do you see?’ The woman said, ‘I see a spirit coming up out of the ground.’ ‘What does he look like?’ he asked. ‘An old man wearing a robe is coming up,’ she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’” How cranky do you get when you are awakened from your sound sleep? Now we know why Samuel was so upset for being disturbed!

This is part of a series titled, Death and the End Times:

Death and the End Times: Part 1

Death and the End Times: Part 2

Death and the End Times: Part 3

Death and the End Times: Part 4

11 / 01 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

I cannot explain the depth of this study. I have been doing these studies and learning new and exciting truths of our Master for many years, and I have to tell you, this study on death and end times is one of the most exciting thus far.

Recall the study on the Breath of God giving life … to both the wicked and righteous. This study picks up where that one left off. It is ONLY when God removes His Breath (which is the same word used when speaking about His Spirit), that we die … but what happens when we die?

QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE BREATH IS REMOVED? (In other words … the rest of the story)

I have heard different thoughts concerning death:

- The moment we die, we are either in hell or heaven (or some place in between).
- The moment we die, our flesh remains in the grave, but our soul is with Jesus.
- I have never heard, though, anyone at a funeral speaking of the deceased as “today, he is in hell”. (Seems like everyone will be in heaven, eh? Just a thought. Don’t ever ask me to do a eulogy … I might be too honest. )
Allow me to give you some passages that give us a clue about once we die:

- “And YHVH said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your fathers,” (Deuteronomy 31:16)
- “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers,” (2 Samuel 7:12)
- “Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.” (1 Kings 2:10)
- “Look on me and answer, YHVH my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;” (Psalms 13:3)
I could fill up pages with passages like the above. The fact is, I could not find any passages in the Old Testament that spoke of anyone who had died being anyplace BUT the grave … resting … waiting … simply sleeping until awoken. It seems as though it is God’s Breath, or Spirit, that is within a person (both the wicked and righteous) that keeps him or her alive. It seems that when a “spirit” is spoken about as leaving a body, it is God’s Spirit being taken back or removed. Could it be that man and his soul remain in the grave until judgment day OR until God calls Him out by giving the man Breath again (such as Lazarus or those rising from the grave when Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified, etc…)? Allow me to give you some passages that seem to speak about this. They seem to say that man does NOT rise when he dies, but waits in the grave until “spoken to” (Remember: we want truth and His word IS that truth):

- “… so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep.” (Job 14:12) (Till the heavens are no more man does NOT rise. That is judgment day.)
- (Regarding the end days) “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2) (It sure looks as though the believers and non-believers alike will sleep in the dust of the earth until a certain day in the end. By these passages alone, it seems that no one rises and is “with Jesus” until the end. So where are they? IF believers are immediately with the Lord, then there would be no one rising to “everlasting life” in the end. This is NOT speaking only about the bodies left behind, because it is written: “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, “ (1 Corinthians 15:50). Our bodies are NOT who we are … it is our souls. Our earthly bodies will not be with the Master. Our souls, those who are deemed saved in the end, will be wrapped with a new wrapping. One that is incorruptible.)
- “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) (How can Yeshua (Jesus) be the first fruit IF there were others like King David, Moses and the rest who believed in the Promise of the Messiah and whose spirits were rising before His did? Let me ask you, when does a farmer receive the fruit of his labors? Think of it this way: Although the fields have produce in them, it is not accounted for until the harvest time … in the end.)
- (Speaking of a time to come, before the 1,000 year reign:) “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) (This was written AFTER Jesus went to be with His Father and is speaking of a time that is yet to come. Since the dead in Christ are still in their graves, God is fair … They will be “first in line” to rise!)
- “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out–those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:28-29) (Remember Yeshua (Jesus) calling Lazarus out from the grave? The same seems to be true here. We are sleeping in the grave until we hear His voice tell us to rise. Even Lazarus is still in his grave waiting. He simply rose in his flesh when he received the Breath of God … again.)
LOOK AT DEATH LIKE THIS:

There are passages that seem to indicate that being apart from the body is being with the Messiah upon death (as if it were the next moment). Let me explain what I believe they are speaking about:

- When you go to sleep soundly and wake up 8 hours later … what is your last memory? It is when you put your head down to sleep, of course, and the things that you were thinking of.
- If you ask anyone who has had a seizure (I have two family members that have had many, so I know), they will tell you that it was as if the time in the seizure never happened. This is why they are so confused when they wake up. They are in a different position or place from when they went into the seizure.
- How about when you are having surgery and they put you under? There was one time when I went in for surgery and when I woke up I asked those who were looking over me, “How much longer until the operation?” (AS far as I was concerned, no time had passed)

So, too, with the following passages. Remember that it was already clear that we sleep in the dust and “rise” when Yeshua (Jesus) comes again. So, when there are passages that “seem” to say differently, we must take the time to find out their thoughts. They do NOT actually say that they would be immediately with Him, but could be saying that to be dead, meant life the next waking moment was their “next stop”. Until then, they would neither think, praise, ponder, nothing … just sleeping in the dust.

- “I would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” (2 Corinthians 5:8-9) (Yes, I can see how that this could be understood as being immediately, but based on the other Scriptures and Paul knowing the Scriptures, that he was speaking about his next waking moment as being with the Lord. Also, Paul knew that until he left his body of flesh, he was not with the Lord. In the grave, he is still with the body!)
- “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:23-24) (Again, we must use Scripture to define scripture. It says that they sleep until awoken … so it could be that Paul knew this.)
- “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60) (Two possibilities: First thought is that Stephen must have known about sleeping until the last day and, like Paul, spoke in this manner regarding his next waking moment. The second possibility is concerning the fact that there is no “my” in the original Greek text. So Stephen could have been simply saying, “Lord Jesus, receive YOUR Spirit”, or “take your Breath back”. For He then fell asleep. He knew that if God took back His breath, the pain would be over that Stephen was experiencing.)
LAST THOUGHTS:

I don’t want to burst any bubbles, but all those funerals that mentioned “Aunt Sue” being with Jesus today and rejoicing, well, it seems that she may actually be resting and still has to stand before God. She is simply farther ahead in the line.

We have read that flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). We know these bodies are only temporary coverings for our souls (who we are). This is only a study and NOT all-conclusive. It is just … “Something to think about!”

This is part of a series titled, Death and the End Times:

Death and the End Times: Part 1

Death and the End Times: Part 2

Death and the End Times: Part 3

Death and the End Times: Part 4

10 / 20 / 07
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

• Some questions we must ponder:
- Are we to obey the Son over the Father?
- If the Father gave us a command and then someone who said that he is His son, gave us a contradicting command … wouldn’t that son be acting in rebellion to His Father?
- Our Savior NEVER put Himself above or over the Father. Why then do so many today put the Son over the Father, as if the Son overrules the Father?

• When we say that we no longer have to obey God the Father’s Laws (as given through His servant Moses) because His Son gave us a new law, isn’t that what we are doing … putting the Son over the Father? This is a false doctrine. So let us examine what “Christ’s law” truly is.
• Our faith in the atoning sacrifice of the blood of the Son is what saves us. The Father sent His Son out of love for us. The Son willingly accepted the task at hand out of the same love. Let us NOT use the blood of the Son of God as an excuse to sin and disobey the Father. The Son obeyed His Father and IF we are truly disciples of the Son, we MUST do the same: “Whoever claims to live in Him MUST walk as Jesus did.” … 1 John 2:6!
• How can we truly say that Jesus taught a new command that is a contrary to the teaching of His Father’s Laws? “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Let us also not forget that it is the Father, not the Son, who is going to reward us for our obedience. “… Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4) So the fact remains:
- The blood of the Son saves us.
- The Spirit of the Son sanctifies us (2 Thesalonians 2:13)… or in other words, helps us to obey the Father. It is the Spirit who is teaching us the Laws of the Father … THAT is sanctification. THAT is how HE (for it is HIS power within us) is taking our sins away (as He writes the Father’s Laws on our heart and we begin to obey).

• So what is the “Law of Christ”?

- Well, we can see that it is separate from His Father’s Laws (the Laws of Moses), for Paul plainly says that he is “… NOT free from God’s Law but am under Christ’s Law.” (1 Corinthians 9:21) So why are so many saying that they are free from the Law of Moses, when Paul says that he, himself, is not?
- We can also see that replacing His Father’s law is NOT what our Master taught, as well: “Do NOT think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have NOT come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will BY ANY MEANS disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18) He says “do NOT” think that the Law is done away with … so why are many thinking that way? Is everything accomplished? His death and resurrection are, but how about His return? Is there still a heaven and earth? So, we see that eliminating the Law of Moses and the Prophets is NOT what Christ taught.

• So what is this “Christ’s Law” that we are under?

• Christ’s Law is NOT (and never will be) in opposition to His Father’s Laws!! If it were, then we would have no moral code to live by. This is the relativism that our worldly society teaches us. This is NOT Biblical. IF anything, Christ enhances the Laws and brings clarification to them (Showing us the ultimate example of HOW to live them out which is the definition of fulfilling them) God’s Word makes this clear: “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.” (1 John 2:7) The message we have heard? Friends, He was talking to those who had heard Moses and the Prophets! “Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:8-9) A new command to love your brother? Is this really a new command? No, wait, I mean yes, I mean … is it really new? Yes, to the people He was speaking to … it was. For the Gentiles coming in to the family of Israel through faith in HIM were NOW considered equal brothers with the Jews. To the Jews (the audience to whom He was speaking), THIS was new … but was it, I mean, it was … we find in the past, the Gentiles saved by faith were considered saved, but simply “aliens among them”.
• So, when we are told to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) we can see this being applied. Friends, God has always commanded us to carry each other’s burdens, but they, the Jews, were not doing so to those of “different nationalities”. We, the Gentiles are now their brothers … equals inside of Israel. By whose command? The Son’s!! For HE broke down those man-made walls of hostility (“For HE himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:14-16). This is NOT talking about God’s Laws given through Moses being hostile! It was speaking of the dogma laws of man that kept the Gentiles and Jews separated; These man-made laws were “hostile” and NOT of God!

NOTE: Since the Jewish and the Gentile believers were now equal, They were being told to carry each other’s burdens and to love each other as brothers. To do so … they would be fulfilling Christ’s Law! If we say that by Christ “fulfilling” the Law of Moses, we no longer have to obey them … then if I carry someone’s burden (thus fulfilling the law of Christ), I don’t have to do that again, either. So we can plainly see that fulfilling something does NOT mean to eliminate it. We simply lived out that Law to the fullest meaning it was intended!! We must do it again, though, because of our faith!! Christ’s Law? That the Jewish and Gentile believers were now one man … a new man out of two separate people . We are to love each other and to carry each other’s burdens. Is this new? Not really, but even to us today … it is new, for we have been using it to disobey His Father. But is has always been there waiting for the right time to be revealed to those being saved.

• Just something to think about the next time we feel like saying, “We no longer have to obey God the Father’s Laws … for we now have Christ, His Son.” Is that what the Son would say?

2 Corinthians 6:15b

11 / 18 / 06

(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHT:

“So, How ya been?”

“Fine.”

“How’s the family?”

“Oh, good, thank you.”

“How about that game yesterday, huh? I can’t believe they won.”

“Yea, it was great.”

(Long pause … as they both reach for other things to talk about)

You can sure tell when there is little, if anything, in common between two people. How shallow and worldly the conversation! We’ve all been there. There is NO difference between someone who loves working on cars talking to someone who has not idea of how cars run and a believer speaking with an unbeliever. Both try to force a conversation, but have nothing in common. (Yes, even trying to force a conversation with someone who says that they are a believer, yet they do not want to talk about God). There is just nothing in common. Without God as a base, what is there to talk about? It’s like: What do we have in common without the Lord? I don’t love what you love, I don’t live to gain what you are striving to gain. What do we have in common with unbelievers? Yet there are many among us who seem to love both God and the things of this world … it just doesn’t make sense! “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says YHVH. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

LIGHT is the work of God and His true children … obedience, what is good, truth.
DARKNESS is the work of Satan and his followers … disobedience, what is evil, lies.

Let us start from the beginning … and when some believe Satan and His followers fell from grace: “God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4) Even during creation, God separated good and evil, light from the darkness, the work of His Son from the work of Satan!

My friends, you can NOT love both the world and God. If the world loves you, most likely, you look like the world! If those in the world love you, most likely you are not looking like the light. If you live in obedience to God’s commandments, the darkness will hate you … period. For you will be exposing their darkness by simply being a light among them! “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you OUT OF THE WORLD. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) and again “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) Can you see? These are NOT my words, but our Master’s. How can you love God and also the things He is against? How can you love evil (disobedience) people and righteousness (obedience) at the same time? They have nothing in common with each other. I am not talking about hating the people, we are to have a passion to save the lost, but hate the life they lead!

BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE VERSES, KEEP IN MIND …

LIGHT is the work of God and His true children … obedience, what is good, truth.
DARKNESS is the work of Satan and his followers … disobedience, what is evil, lies.

“Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” (Luke 11:36)

Those who are walking in obedience to the light have come to realize the frustration of those walking in disobedience. They just don’t seem to understand why we obey God! On the other hand, we cannot forget either that neither did we understand before we simply obeyed out of faith!

- “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5)
- “He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.” (John 1:10) (Remember … He is the ultimate light and we get our illumination from Him!)

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil (disobeys God) hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (Light … obedience … exposes the darkness … disobedience) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21) (It is ONLY through the sanctifying work of the Spirit that we can now shed sin, obey God out of a pure heart, thus being a light to the world!)

“When Yeshua (Jesus) spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) (Can you see the sanctifying work of the New Covenant? If we walk in HIM, we are able to shed sin. We will never walk in the darkness (disobedience), for we are now able to obey the commands of God (not perfectly, but hopefully, we will not be sinning intentionally!).

“Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness (sinners), but now you are light in the Lord. (He is able to take away our sins … so:) Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:7-14)

“… to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:18)

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua (Jesus), his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7) (There is NO sin, or darkness, in God … Are you one of His children? Then you will be like Him … 1 John 3:9 … Go ahead, look it up!)

LAST THOUGHT … (This is nothing new! Hasn’t it always been this way? )

Isaiah 2:5 … “Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of YHVH.”

2 Samuel 22:29 … “You are my lamp, O YHVH; YHVH turns my darkness into light.”

Isaiah 5:20 … “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Woe to those who call God’s Laws evil and their disobedience as though it were ordained by God!! Woe to those who call the obedient children evil for obeying the truth as commanded by God!)

Let us just think about it? What do we enjoy? Who are our friends (are they saved or are we “trying to witness to them” while we enjoy their companionship? Just like our words show what is in our hearts, those we enjoy show what we truly believe!