BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: SCRIPTURE INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE


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“The Apostle of the Gentiles” – Rom. 11:13

10/4/2024

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“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” – Romans 11:13

Introduction ​

Readers of the New Testament can easily perceive the greatness of John the Baptist (Mk. 1:7, Jn. 1:31-34). By virtue of being the nearest to Christ, John was the greatest Prophet born of women in the Old Testament (Matt. 11:11). Greatness is measured by each man’s nearness to Christ. Therefore, even the least of the saints in the New Testament are greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11). 
​“Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” – Matt. 11:11
The same yardstick can be used upon the Apostles. The Apostles experienced something very special. They followed the Son of God in bodily presence for 3 years. Countless experiences! Unforgettable memories! This was a necessary part of their qualification for Apostleship. Obviously, these 3 years would put these men in the highest category of greatness. The names of “the twelve Apostles of the Lamb” are emblazoned upon the foundations of the walls of Jerusalem in Heaven as an eternal memorial (Rev. 21:14).

However, among the twelve, there were three that excelled in greatness above the rest. Peter, James, and John were sometimes separated from the others. These were exclusive experiences with the Son of God that forged character and permanently impacted the Pillar Apostles. Early on, they beheld the resurrection power of the Son of God (Mk. 5:37). Later, they saw the resurrection glory of Jesus Christ on the holy mountain of transfiguration (Mk. 9:2). Finally, they were more closely beholden to our Messiah’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk. 14:33). The face that had so lately shined as the sun then gushed with blood! Soberly consider it. 

The Questionable Greatness of the Apostle Paul?

The greatness of all men can be determined by the same yardstick. However, using the same measurement, the greatness of the Apostle Paul is questionable. Admittedly, Paul was the “last of all” the Apostles to see Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:8). Paul was so far removed from the earthly ministry of the Son of God, he described himself to be “one born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:8). Adding to the problem, before becoming an Apostle, Paul was a bloody persecutor of the Church of God. Reflecting on this, he said, “I am the least of the Apostles” (1 Cor. 15:9). However, in the same breath, Paul gave an apology of his own bonafide Apostleship as it compared with the rest in 1 Corinthians 15:10. 
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” – 1 Cor. 15:10
The same tone is struck in the Epistles. Paul was often compelled to defend his own Apostolic office. His reputation was continually being assaulted by slanderers and persecutors (Acts 21:28, 24:5-6, 25:7-8). Even the Church in Jerusalem stood in doubt of him (Acts 21:20-21)! The most compelling argument for Paul’s apostleship was rendered in the Book of Galatians, the same Epistle where Paul explained how he went to “Arabia” for “three years” (Gal. 1:17-18). Why three years? This is the same amount of discipleship required for the qualification of the original twelve Apostles. Read Paul’s argument in Galatians 1:1-2:10 and discern for yourself if this is a mere coincidence. What is in Arabia? The New Testament is almost completely silent on this subject. There is no mention of “Arabia” anywhere else other than the Book of Galatians. It appears two times in this Epistle. Paul goes on to clarify that “mount Sinai” is “in Arabia” in Galatians 4:25. Is this a coincidence?

Apparently, something special happened in Arabia! Consequentially, there is something special about Paul. The man could be called the Prophetic Apostle. Considering his untimely conversion, and the fact that he was totally estranged from the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, you could say the odds were stacked against him. Paul was fraught with inadequacies! Nevertheless, the Spirit of Prophecy performed a miracle of “grace” (Eph. 3:2, 7, 8). Paul is a “pattern” of grace (1 Tim. 1:11-17). The chief of sinners became the most fruitful Apostle (1 Cor. 15:10)! Paul wrote most of the New Testament. Among these books are Romans and Hebrews! And both of these are mighty and unparalleled Epistles. How would you grade the greatness of Paul? 
“For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.” – 2 Cor. 11:5-6
​A unique prophetic revelation was given to Paul making him different from all the other Apostles. Paul was called, “the Apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). Peter, James, and John recognized the fact that Paul had received “the Gospel of the Uncircumcision” by revelation (Gal. 2:7). This was a prophetic revelation! A revelation that was hidden from all the prophets since the beginning of the world, until it was revealed to Paul (Rom. 16:25-27, Col. 1:24-29, Eph. 3:1-12, 1 Cor. 9:17, 1 Tim. 2:7; Rom. 11:1-36). You can call this revelation the mystery of the Gentile Church Age. 
“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” – Eph. 3:2-5
The things revealed to Paul are impressive. Somehow, even Peter was compelled to publicly acknowledge the staggering “wisdom” of Paul’s Epistles (2 Pet. 3:15-16). How were all these things revealed to the Apostle Paul? Where were all these things revealed to the Apostle Paul? The “how” and “where” of this story is also impressive! You see how Paul was an unlikely character to find place among the Apostles. Something happened to Paul in Arabia! Upon being converted, Paul had a chance to go to Jerusalem to submit himself to Peter, James, and John, and the other Apostles (Gal. 1:15-18). This is the normal path of most believers. Paul took a different path.

Paul puts everything that happened into context in Galatians 1:1-2:10. Instead of going to Jerusalem, he went to Arabia. Why? A closer look at Saul (Gal. 1:13-14), his shocking conversion to Christianity (Gal. 1:15-16), and the surrounding circumstances in Damascus and Jerusalem (Gal. 1:16-24), will prove to be enlightening on this subject. 

Saul as a Zealous Persecutor

Paul, then called Saul, was the most zealous persecutor of Christianity. He appears in Acts 7:58 as the primary authority figure present at the martyrdom of Stephen. In the days following, Saul arose as the leader during the first great outbreak of persecution against Christianity (Acts 8:1-4). All the House Churches of Jerusalem and Judaea were systematically raided (Acts 8:3). The Christians were arrested and imprisoned. The congregations of every Synagogue in the land were searched. Public beatings commenced upon finding Christians in the Synagogues (Acts 22:19). By design, the beatings were severe, punishing, and unrelenting, because Saul was beating them until they blasphemed God through renouncing their faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:11). 
“And I punished them oft in every Synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” - Acts 26:11
Saul couldn’t control himself! He was “exceedingly mad against them” (Acts 26:11). He was thinking about murder (Acts 22:4, 26:9)! He was breathing out threats of slaughter (Acts 9:1)! Therefore, after wreaking havoc upon the Churches in one region, Saul moved to the next. However, he needed authority from the Chief Priests to commence a systematic persecution in strange cities like Damascus. 
“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” - Acts 22:3-5

“Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a Light from Heaven, above the brightness of the Sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” – Acts 26:12-14
Saul was knocked off his high horse! The persecutor was prostrated. At noon, during the brightest part of the day, another Light appeared overhead. This Light shined “above the brightness of the Sun” (Acts 26:13)! Just one glimpse… and Saul was blinded. Literally, he couldn’t see, so he had to be led by the hand into Damascus. What is this Light? Ananias and Barnabas are very bold to declare that Saul personally saw Jesus Christ (Acts 9:17, 27). 
“And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.” - Acts 22:14-15
This spectacular vision led to Saul’s conversion to Christianity three days later. Saul was devastated. He spent three days in fasting and prayer. Although Saul was a fierce persecutor of Christianity, he really believed that he was doing the right thing (1 Tim. 1:13). He believed Christians were false prophets. He believed that he was following in the footsteps of Elijah, who ordered the slaughter of all the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). 
“And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” – Gal. 1:14

“My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” - Acts 26:4-5
Saul was the most famous Jew in Jerusalem. His zeal surpassed all his comrades! When he persecuted Christianity, he “did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Tim. 1:13). He was sincerely deceived! Therefore, when Saul came to understand that Jesus was the Son of God, he was very hopeful and optimistic that the Jews of Damascus would also come to realize the identity of the Messiah. 

Saul as a Zealous Newly Converted Christian

“And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” – Acts 9:20
Can you imagine it? Saul preached, and preached, and kept on preaching! He knew that if the Jews of Damascus could be won to Christ, then there would be hope for Jerusalem. However, if Damascus rejected the Word of God, and slandered Saul to the Jews in Jerusalem, then there would be little hope for Jerusalem. All of Saul’s hope for the Jews now depended upon Damascus! And Saul intensely desired the salvation of the Jews above all other people. 
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” – Rom. 9:1-3
Through study and prayer in Damascus, Saul’s ability to scripturally “prove” that Jesus is the Christ increased dramatically (Acts 9:22). He was able to silence the gainsayers. However, “after many days” (Acts 9:23), instead of the Jews being converted to Christ, they took counsel on how to kill him. No small persecution broke out! Even the governor of Damascus was involved in commanding the soldiers of a garrison to arrest Saul. 
“In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.” – 2 Cor. 11:32-33
The Jews organized this persecution from the top down. The word of it would have already reached Jerusalem. Saul was devastated! He fled into the wilderness in the middle of the night, not knowing where to go or what to do! He couldn’t go to Jerusalem. He would face the same thing there because the Jews were forsaking the Lord! Where was he to go? 

Did Saul Flee to Sinai in Arabia? ​

Feeling alone, and desperate for answers, Saul must have fled to Sinai in Arabia for refuge. Perhaps he remembered how God dealt graciously with Elijah when he fled to Sinai for refuge in similar circumstances. 
“And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life…he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness…” – 1 Kings 19:3-4
Elijah felt hopeless! He even prayed to die (1 Kings 19:4). What happened? Shortly before Elijah’s flight into the wilderness, God was doing mighty miracles. It seemed that a national revival was about to breakout and spread throughout the land of Israel (1 Kings 18:17-46)! But then Jezebel ended up standing in the way. After hearing what happened with Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, the Queen then began a new campaign of persecution to slaughter the Prophets of the LORD, and the general population of the Jews bowed to her will.

Even Elijah fled the scene! He didn’t know what else to do. Jezebel had just sworn an oath to the “gods” that she would kill Elijah in the next 24 hours, and he knew that she would employ all the powers of the kingdom to hunt him down (1 Kings 19:1-2). Most of all, Elijah was devastated at how the Jews had “forsaken” the LORD (1 Kings 19:14). At Sinai, Elijah said to God, “the children of Israel have…slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:14). Sound familiar?

Saul and Elijah were remarkably zealous! Everyone knew it. This is the first thing that Elijah said to God when he arrived at Sinai: “I have been very jealous [zealous] for the LORD God of hosts…” (1 Kings 19:14). Of course, Saul, who was later called Paul, spoke the same about himself (Gal. 1:14, Php. 3:6). It appears that both men were driven to Sinai for the same reasons. Normally, men would not dare to ascend the untouchable mountain of God (Heb. 12:20). Strong warnings were given against it (Ex. 19:12-13, 21-24)! Nevertheless, somehow, Elijah was filled with courage to ascend the holy mountain, and there he found audience with God (1 Kings 19:8). Similarly, Paul is radiating with confidence in Galatians 1:1-2:10. This is where Paul gives his own account on why he went to Arabia.

God’s answer to Elijah at Sinai came in a word of comfort, where the LORD said, “Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18). The distraught Prophet’s intense anguish subsided with this revelation. Faith and hope were restored! Elijah then proceeded to pressed forward in the divine plan being revealed; and, upon being sent away from Sinai, Elijah returned on a specific path at the direction of the LORD.
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus…” - 1 Kings 19:15
Paul was distraught over the same thing about the Jews when he fled into Arabia (Rom. 9:1-3). Amazingly, then the same divine answer was given to Paul in Romans 11:3-4. Do you think Paul received this at Sinai? This is certainly when Paul needed this word the most! Also, this divine answer is intertwined with the greatest revelation Paul ever received as an Apostle. Sinai is the right place to receive such apostolic revelations. Romans 11:3-4 coincides with the mystery of the Gentile Church Age in Romans 11:1-36. Finally, at Paul’s departure from Sinai, look carefully at the path he was directed to take as it compares to Elijah’s return from the holy mount. 
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus…” - 1 Kings 19:15
​
“…I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” – Gal. 1:17 
The parallels between Elijah and Paul are compelling! Now, everything has come to a full circle in the parallelism between these men: firstly, in a zeal for God to eradicate false prophets; secondarily, in the path to Sinai; thirdly, in the revelation at Sinai; fourthly, in the path from Sinai. Is this a coincidence? No. God is speaking. 

Elijah, Paul, Sinai, & Damascus

  1. Zeal for God inspired these men to do famous exploits to eradicate all false prophets from the land (Elijah: 1 Kings 18:17-46, 19:14; Paul: Gal. 1:14, Php. 3:6, Acts 22:3-5, 26:4-5, 11).
  2. The Jews forsaking the LORD led to a sudden flight of the Prophets to Sinai in a desperate attempt to get answers from God (Elijah: 1 Kings 19:1-4, 14; Paul: Acts 9:20-25, Gal. 1:17).
  3. The devastated Prophets received an answer from God (Elijah: 1 Kings 19:4, 18; Paul: Rom. 9:1-3, 11:3-4).
  4. In returning from Sinai, the holy footsteps of these Prophets were directed into the same course (Elijah: 1 Kings 19:15; Paul: Gal. 1:17). 
Paul’s own testimony about Arabia, provided in Galatians 1:1-2:10, is complicated because of the surrounding circumstances of the historical situation. People were suspicious of Paul’s apostolic authority in the Church because of his past life (Gal. 1:13-14). Everyone, even as far as Galatia, had already heard about his former conversation as a fierce persecutor. Also, many deemed Paul’s Apostleship questionable because, upon being converted, he did not submit himself to the Apostles in Jerusalem. Paul lacked all the qualifications that were required for the ordination of the Apostle Matthias (Acts 1:21-22). 
“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” – Acts 1:21-22
When Matthias was ordained and “numbered with the Eleven Apostles” (Acts 1:26), it was through the direct authority of the current Apostles. The same could be said about the ordination of Barnabas. He too submitted himself to the Apostles in Jerusalem, even though he was a citizen of Cyprus (Acts 4:36-37). Barnabas was a beloved and trusted disciple who was under authority (Acts 9:27, 11:22), and then he later became an Apostle by the same means (Acts 13:1-3, 14:14). I’m sure the same route to Apostleship was taken by James, the Lord’s brother (1 Cor. 15:7, Gal. 1:19). However, the path to Apostleship taken by Paul was conspicuously different.

Therefore, Paul was compelled to defend the legitimacy of his Apostleship, even though it was acquired independently from the instrumentality of redeemed men through the authority structure of the Apostles. Paul’s defense began in Galatians 1:1. 
“Paul, an Apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;)” – Gal. 1:1

“But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – Gal. 1:11-12

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.” – Gal. 1:15-19
In the language of Galatians 1:1, Matthais and others were ordained Apostles through men. Galatians 1:1 is rhetorically connected to Galatians 1:11-12 & Galatians 1:15-19. Paul’s extraordinary path to Apostleship could be summed up in the saying, “immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood”, which means that Paul didn’t go to Jerusalem to submit himself to the men that were Apostles before him (Gal. 1:16-17). Paul was not demeaning the Apostles by calling them “men” in Galatians 1:1, 11-12, 16-17; rather, Paul was emphasizing the prophetic nature of his ordination as an Apostle. Galatians 1:11-12 reinforces the same point, while focusing on “the Gospel” that Paul received, the same which Paul repeatedly called, “my Gospel”, in other Epistles (Rom. 2:16, 16:25, 2 Tim. 2:8). This is a token of Paul’s Apostleship! 
“But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the Uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the Circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” – Gal. 2:6-9
Evidently, “the Gospel of the Uncircumcision” was a manifest token of “the Apostleship” that Paul had been given “toward the Gentiles” (Gal. 2:7-9). Amazingly, Peter, James, and John “added nothing” to Paul while they were in conference together (Gal. 2:6). On the contrary, or “contrariwise” (Gal. 1:7), these pillar Apostles were surprised to see the grace of God with Paul! This further proves the point being argued from the beginning of Galatians. Namely, that Paul’s “Gospel” and Apostleship did not come by men, that is, by the Apostles, “but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:12). Paul was unique because he was the Prophetic Apostle! 
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me…” – Gal. 1:15-16

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a Prophet unto the nations.” – Jer. 1:5 
Experientially, Paul’s spectacular conversion through encountering “the Daystar” was on par with the ordination of Prophets in the Old Testament (2 Pet. 1:19). At least, this is how Paul viewed it. Under inspiration, Paul said, “God…separated me from my mother’s womb” (Gal. 1:15). This is a bold claim in biblical terminology. The Jews regarded such men to be Prophets! This is the same thing that God said to Jeremiah at his ordination (Jer. 1:5). Therefore, essentially, Paul was claiming to be a Prophet (Gal. 1:15), while bearing witness of the prophetic things revealed to him (Gal. 1:11-12, 2:6-9), and then he went on to describe how he didn’t go to Jerusalem upon being converted to submit himself to the Apostles, but instead went to Sinai in Arabia for three years.

In context, following the argument, these “three years” in Arabia stand for Paul’s qualification as an Apostle. Paul was clearly drawing a comparison with the twelve Apostles. They were blessed to have three years with Jesus Christ in bodily presence, and Paul had his own prophetic journey of three years that amounted to a “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:12). Prophets see things! This is why they used to be called Seers (1 Sam. 9:9).

Moses saw something when he ascended Sinai (Ex. 24:15-18, 25:9, 40, 26:30, 27:8, Heb. 8:5). Elijah saw something when he ascended Sinai (1 Kings 19:8-13, 2 Kings 2:10-13). Peter, James, and John saw something when they ascended “the Holy Mount” north of the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 16:21-17:13, Mk. 8:27-9:13, Lk. 9:29-35, 2 Pet. 1:16-21). Similarly, if Paul ascended Sinai in Arabia, we can be sure that he saw something! Perhaps this is why Paul was drawing a comparison between the Pillar Apostles and himself in Galatians 2:9, even though James the greater is here replaced by James the lesser. 

Did Paul See the 3rd Heaven at Sinai in Arabia?

The Book of Acts closely follows the life and ministry of Peter and Paul – shifting from Peter to Paul – even as God was turning from the Jews to the Gentiles in the 1st century. However, despite the detailed history provided on Paul, his time in Arabia is omitted from the record. It could have been provided in Acts 9. Its placement would have been in between Acts 9:20-26 and Acts 9:26-29. But for some reason the narrator overlooks these three years of Pauline history. We do not read about it until the Book of Galatians. Similarly, the Book of Acts provides no record of history on when Paul saw “the Third Heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2). We do not read about it until the Book of 2nd Corinthians. However, amazingly, Paul’s testimony of Arabia and the Third Heaven are explicitly joined together in Scripture. Galatians 1:15-2:10 is directly linked to 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:7. See the time stamp of “fourteen years” in Galatians 2:1 and 2 Corinthians 12:2. 
“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.” – Gal. 2:1

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the Third Heaven.” – 2 Cor. 12:2
This is how we know that Paul saw the Third Heaven at Sinai in Arabia. The two accounts are corresponding with time stamps for no other reason than to excite this interpretation in the reader. An overview of biblical history will bring this into view.

Paul was converted, fled Damascus (Acts 9:25), went to Sinai in Arabia (Gal. 1:17, 4:25), and then returned again to Damascus, before finally coming to Jerusalem to see the Apostles (Acts 9:26-29). However, Paul only spent fifteen days with Peter (Gal. 1:18-19). Jerusalem could not endure Paul’s preaching (Acts 9:28-29, 22:17-21)! Consequentially, God sent Paul away to Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 9:30). He remained there until he was fetched by Barnabas and brought to Antioch of Syria, where a move of God had taken place among Greeks, so they both remained there for 1 year in ministry (Acts 11:19-26). Meanwhile, Paul was never known by any of the Churches in Judaea. This brings us to Galatians 1:20-24. In other words, they were still very vulnerable to being deceived by slanderous reports about Paul. 
“Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.” – Gal. 1:20-24
Paul and Barnabas eventually embarked upon their 1st missionary journey to the Gentiles. A record of this mission is recorded in Acts 13:1-14:28. The cities that pertained to Galatia were heavily evangelized. Antioch of Pisidia was in Galatia (Acts 13:14). Iconium was in Galatia (Acts 13:51, 14:1). Lystra, Derbe, and Lycaonia were in Galatia (Acts 14:6). Many churches were planted in this region! Hence, when and if any controversies arose, Paul would have wanted to safeguard the Galatians by writing an Epistle.

A controversy did arise after the 1st missionary journey when “certain men” came from Judaea to Antioch of Syria (Acts 14:26, 15:1). Let the reader observe how the same origin of heresy is emphasized again in Galatians, where Paul spoke of “certain” men that “came from James” (Gal. 2:12). The controversy of Acts 15:1-2 led to a conference of all the Elders and Apostles in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts 15:3-29, to pass judgment on the matter in question. Paul picks up here in Galatians 2:1-10, clarifying to readers that “fourteen years” had passed since he was in Cilicia and Syria. Essentially, this is “fourteen years” and counting from Paul’s time spent at Sinai in Arabia, because after Sinai only 15 days were spent in Jerusalem and then Paul went directly to Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 9:26-29, Gal. 1:18, Acts 9:30). Why is this important? Because a corresponding number of years was given in 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:5. 
“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the Third Heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.” - 2 Cor. 11:30-12:5
Paul was taken to the third Heaven while at Sinai in Arabia! Do you see it? A clear connection is being made between Galatians 1:17-2:10 and 2 Corinthian 11:30-12:5. The Epistle to the Galatians counts up from Sinai (“after” – Gal. 2:1). The 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians counts back to Sinai (“ago” – 2 Cor. 12:2).

Following the Acts 15 conference, described in Galatians 2:1-10, Paul began to evangelize the Corinthians in his 2nd Missionary Journey. A historical record of this evangelism is in Acts 18:1-18. Paul spent over 1 year and 6 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11). Therefore, it is safe to say that the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians was written at least a couple years after the Acts 15 conference. This would account for why Paul said, “above fourteen years ago”, when counting back to Sinai (2 Cor. 12:2).

Sadly, the same slanders eventually caught up with Paul in Corinth, according to Acts 18:12-13. Therefore, in yet another defense of his apostleship (see 2 Cor. 11:30, 12:1, 11-12), Paul was compelled to recount his personal testimony to the Corinthians, starting from when he fled Damascus, leading the reader to the revelations he received at Sinai in Arabia (2 Cor. 11:30-33). Again, by saying, “above fourteen years ago” (2 Cor. 12:2), readers are made to remember and count from the earlier date provided by Paul, when he said, “Then fourteen years after I went…” (Gal. 2:1). These time stamps allow us to connect these two records of history and identify that Paul was speaking about the same event.

This is conclusive evidence that Paul went to Sinai in Arabia and saw a vision of the third Heaven, similar to how Moses saw Heaven during his time at the peak of Sinai (Ex. 24:15-18, 25:9, 40, 26:30, 27:8, Heb. 8:5). Perhaps this is the time and place when Saul’s name was changed to Paul, just like how Jacob’s name was changed to Israel in Mahanaim (Gen. 32:1-32). Israel went away from that divine encounter with an added infirmity, halting upon his thigh, because God is pleased to make great men weak. (Gen. 32:31). The same could be said of the Apostle Paul. 
“Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” – Gal. 4:13-15
​
“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” – Gal. 6:11
Surely, Paul saw great and mighty things at Sinai! He was a changed man (1 Sam. 10:6). He would never be the same! Neither would his eyes ever fully recover from beholding the glory of the Daystar (Acts 9, 22, 26). The Book of Galatians is the only letter that specifically identifies the “infirmity of the flesh” that Paul had as it pertained to his eyes (Gal. 4:13-15). Presumably, this is also why Paul signed off in his Epistles by writing the salutations of each one in very large handwriting (Gal. 6:11; See 2 Thess. 2:2, 3:17, 1 Cor. 16:21, Col. 4:18, Heb. 13:22-25). Is this infirmity, spoken about in Galatians, a corresponding part of the “infirmities” that Paul was speaking about in 2 Corinthians 12:5-10? Or should we chalk this up as another mere coincidence? You be the judge. My advice is to let Scripture interpret Scripture.
​
Paul was speaking about how he was humbled with infirmities because of “the abundance of the revelations” that were given to him above fourteen years ago at Sinai in Arabia when he saw the Third Heaven (2 Cor. 12:7). Hereby, Paul became the foremost apostolic authority on Sinai. He explained how Sinai relates to Zion – mountain to mountain – and he explained how these mountains on earth relate to the City of Jerusalem in Heaven. These dogmatic interpretations can be observed in 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:7, Galatians 4:21-31, & Hebrews 12:18-29. How did Paul muster such boldness in the making of these interpretations? Did Paul see Heavenly Jerusalem located in the Third Heaven while at Sinai? Paul’s doctrine speaks volumes about his authority as one beholden to Sinai, Zion, and Heavenly Jerusalem. 

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"The Church" - The Arena of God's Immediate Sovereignty | by Leonard Ravenhill

10/4/2024

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God's immediate sovereignty, what is it? 
"People do not leave the sanctuary for hours." 
"You can't explain it, you can't predict it, you can't direct it... God becomes sovereign!"

God's immediate sovereignty is not "Christian Humanism":
"We'll do it, You bless it Lord."
"We put personalities up, just like the world does."
"He said, 'I want to tell you that if God withdrew the Holy Spirit from my church today, it would function tomorrow the same way we wouldn't even know He'd gone...'"
"Come our way..."
 
God's immediate sovereignty is when, suddenly... God comes: 
"When he prayed God just came down as though He jumped into the audience." 
"He prayed the whole night for the anointing for the next day."

God's immediate sovereignty is when God is in control and His burden manifest: 
"And I just walked forward and sat on the floor - didn't go to the pulpit: ...and I began to weep."     
"My spirit just groaned, and he stayed  there 50 minutes weeping."
Instead of God's immediate sovereignty we've become carnal and mechanical: 
"The Church has become so carnal...
the glory of the Lord doesn't fill the Temple!"
"When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary and say, 'Surely God is in this place, and that to bless us!'"
"They don't expect Deity to invade the place. They don't expect to tip-toe out of the holy place..."
"God only had one problem in the Old Testament, and that was Israel. And I believe Almighty God only has one problem in the world tonight, and it's not communism or romanism, it's the Church of the Living God!" 
"The Glory has departed!"

What must we do? 
"I'd like to see 300 pastors come  together, for a whole week and stay prostrate before God."
"TOTAL control by YOU." 
"If we stay here it doesn't matter whether we die here." 
"Our people don't feed on God, they feed on meetings."
"So I am praying this morning that suddenly God will come."
We must rediscover worship:    
"I haven't been in a Church in England where they know how to worship God."
"Sometimes the glory comes down..."
"Maybe before you die, you'll see people coming from foreign countries to show us what New Testament Christianity is all about."   
"There's not a flood of revival in America today."       
"God is bypassing us, provoking us..."
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Do you go to Church?

9/15/2022

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The Church isn’t a building. You can’t go to Church. It’s only possible to become the Church through a miraculous conversion to Jesus Christ by the power of the Gospel. Just because you go to a building on Sunday doesn’t make everything okay! “Churches” are filled with hypocrites these days (Heb. 10:26-27); and hell is full of “Church” goers (Matt. 7:21-27). 
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) = Called Out Ones
The Church isn’t a place; it’s a people! Literally, the Church in the Bible is the people of God, or an assembly of Called Out Ones, who have become the people of God through the power of the Gospel. This isn’t speaking about you answering an invitation to attend a building for a service. This isn’t a work of man. You can’t decide to become the Church whenever you please, even if you are called out of your house to join a meeting. God performs “the calling” through a revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. 
“But ye are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” - 1Pe 2:9-10

The Divine Call: Acts 7:38, Hos. 11:1, 1 Pet. 2:9-10, 1 Thess. 2:11-12, 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Pet. 2:21, Eph. 4:1, Col. 3:15, 2 Pet. 1:3, 1 Thess. 4:7, 1 Tim. 6:12, Heb. 11:8-9, 2 Cor. 6:14-18, 1 Pet. 2:11, Heb. 3:1 
Radically depraved sinners sit in gross darkness (Isa. 60:2-3). They are alienated from the life of God (Eph. 4:17-19). They don’t know God (1 John 2:3-4; Jn. 17:3). Nevertheless, through an irresistible divine call, sinners are called out of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ like in the Genesis of time, when God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” (Gen. 1:3-4). Marvelously, the divine power that was at work in the creation of light in the beginning of the world is again at work in the new creation (2 Cor. 4:3-6, 5:17); “…and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Gen. 1:4). 
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Cor. 6:14-18

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” – John 15:19
Wherever two or three real Christians are gathered together in company with Church Officers (Eph. 4:11), no matter where they are assembled, this is a Church in the sight of God (Matt. 18:18-20). As a body of true believers, the Church is commanded to “go” into all the world and preach the Gospel (Matt. 16:15), rather than to bring the world into the Church. “And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47). Not just anyone should be allowed to associate with the holy name of Jesus Christ! This distorts the Gospel and confounds the meaning of salvation in Christianity before nonbelievers. In other words, the name of Jesus Christ must be purified from sinners and false converts! “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Cor. 5:9-13). 
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Loving the Puritans more than the Patriarchs, Kings, Prophets, & Apostles?

11/17/2020

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On any given day in modern times, the noblemen of "Christendom" relish the thought of living in the 16th or 17th century to accompany the Puritans in the Reformation. In the late evening, or early morning, you could catch them perusing a cherished book from their personal library. Sparks of excitement fly at the touch, texture, and smell of a book from heroic old-timers. A quiet read of one's own personalized copy only increases the fervor of religious sentimentality. The attachment grows and so does the enchantment. 

Among close friends, such men show off their first edition publications of anything Puritan, even with handwritten signatures or personalized notes from or to an original author or owner. Learned men are greatly moved at the sight of such jewels, even stroking the cover and delicately turning the pages for a glance. Meanwhile, unlearned bystanders look on with curiosity and wonder at the magical sight, being enticed themselves to invest in the enterprise. A religious culture thickens over time until no one in the Church is deemed trustworthy without amassing religious paraphernalia. Even so, pretty soon nothing is pure outside of the Puritans, and all people are proud and misguided who think otherwise. 
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Remnant leaders these days are experts in religious paraphernalia, especially those who occupy the renowned pulpits of the land. In conversation among themselves, you will hear a staggering recollection of pastime events among the Puritans. The times, places, and people involved in any given event of Church History are cited with ease in a comfortable conversation among learned men. Nevertheless, for some reason the Patriarchs, Kings, Prophets, & Apostles are woefully absent from the conversation. 

On the contrary, the Apostles regularly certified their teachings to the Churches of the New Testament by quoting from the Patriarchs, Kings, & Prophets of old.
TOTAL DEPRAVITY: To show the filthiness, pollution, and defilement of sin, the Apostle Paul cited the Psalms while modern Preachers cite select sermons of Edwards (Rom. 3:9-20). 

JUSTIFICATION: When speaking of justification by grace through faith in Christ, the Apostle Paul cited Abraham while modern Preachers cite Luther (Rom. 4; James 2; Heb. 11; see Abrahamic Exemplification). 

REGENERATION / CONSECRATION: To describe the holy consecration of true Christianity in the experience of regeneration in Christ, the Apostles quoted the Ceremonial Law while modern Preachers quote famous Theologians or celebrity Preachers who quote the Puritans, or even early Wesleyan Methodism (Titus 3:5). 

PERSEVERANCE: When teaching on the perseverance of the saints, the Apostles pointed to the mighty exploits of faith accomplished by thoroughly Jewish men in the Old Testament as a Cloud of Witnesses, among other things (Heb. 11), while modern Preachers point to the elaborate controversies of Whitefield & Wesley, or Owen & Baxter, etc. 

ELECTION: While professing faith in election or proving the sovereignty of God, the Apostle Paul emphasized God's dealings with Isaac in contrast to Ishmael, Jacob in contrast to Esau, & Israel in contrast to Egypt (Rom. 9; Ex. 33:19), while modern Preachers quote Calvin alongside other venerated Confessions of Faith in extra-biblical Church History. 

THE GOSPEL: To confirm and defend the Gospel, the Apostle Matthew cited the Kings & Prophets while modern Preachers cite "the Early Church Fathers", the Reformers, & the Puritans. 

​THE CHURCH: To show the origin & function of the Church, the Apostles cited the status of the Jews in the Land of Israel & Judah, the Kingdom of God, the City of Jerusalem, & Mount Zion, while modern Preachers herald the status of the Church after the Reformation - Puritanism, Separatism, Presbyterianism, Reformed Baptists, etc. 

ESCHATOLOGY: To confirm and defend a new dispensation of the Gospel in the Gentile Church Age, while warning of an end to this age and the beginning of another with the Jews (Rom. 11:25-36), the Apostle Paul quoted the Prophets, but modern Preachers quote the Puritans in hopes to perpetuate the Reformation of Christianity from Catholicism in every age. 
If things continue as they are in this generation of Neo-Calvinists and the like, it will get darker by the day. A whole new generation will come up that doesn't know the LORD, and they will pollute the world by teaching the "fear" of God according to "the precept of men" (Isa. 29:9-14). For, without vital reality with God all is lost! Even one's own personal study of History and Puritanical Theology can blind the eyes that look to Jesus! This happens when one's admiration for the Puritans far surpasses a personal admiration of Holy Scripture, all the while such men adamantly and hypocritically promote the slogan: "Sola Scriptura!". This is a great deception.  

​While ascribing to the Orthodox Doctrines of modern times, men will forfeit the Apostles' Doctrine pertaining to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While professing faith in ancient Creeds and Confessions, men will deny the faith of the Apostles in how they understood salvation. While being engrossed in Revival Theology, men will become oblivious to the essence and implication of revival in the soul. Things will get worse and worse, until a worthy expression of Christianity will become totally unimaginable in Church-ianity, and persecution follows true Christians wherever they go as they earnestly contend for the faith. The signs of this declension are all around us. For, men love Matthew Henry more than the Gospel of Matthew. They admire Jonathan Edwards more than the Apostle John. Alas! They even promote Paul Washer more than the Apostle Paul! 
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Every Generation Since 800 B.C.

12/3/2019

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If you don't know what I am talking about, then your fathers and forefathers have failed you. This comes out to be nearly 3,000 years of criminal negligence. Are you a student of Church history? If you were born at any time after the prophet Joel's ministry, which took place around 800 B.C., then you are the victim of sleepy Watchmen. The sin of silence has slain many! Ignorance is endangering whole generations because a grave threat is approaching on the horizon. Your fathers and forefathers should have told you that BABYLON IS COMING. 
"Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."- Joel 1:2-3
This is a law of perpetuity. Everyone is supposed to know about it! Every single word of the Book of Joel is going to come to pass. All the good and all the bad. Some good has already come to pass (Joel. 2:28-29). Thanks be to God for the fruition of a New Covenant in Christ, exactly as declared by the apostle Peter at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21). Nevertheless, a lot of bad is still to come. You would know what I am talking about if you have read the Book of Joel. 
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Maybe you think Joel was just talking about the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews in the Old Testament. Well, you need to know that historical Babylon did not fulfill all of what the prophet Joel foretold. This is exactly why the apostle John foretold the coming of "Mystery Babylon the Great" in the future (Rev. 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:2, 21). Babylon is mentioned five times in the Book of Revelation. This is a warning! In other words, what happened of old is going to happen anew. The threat of history is an emergency of futurity. What God did as a judgment upon the Jews through Babylon historically will be repeated in the near future. 
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The Watchman of Isaiah 21 is very bold to declare that another midnight Lion will one day appear after the first one disappears. In other words, the ferocious Beast of the Book of Daniel will rear its ugly head again according to the Book of Revelation. You and your children need to know about this! According to Joel, something worse than a Locust Plague is approaching on the horizon (Joel 1:4, 2:1-11, 2:25). Isaiah saw the same thing (Isa. 5:26-30). So did John (Rev. 9)! All three of them described what they beheld in staggering detail. Have you read about it? A fierce army of Fallen Angels is literally going to be spawned from Hell! Can you believe it? 
"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs." - Hab. 1:5-6
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Wiser than the Ancients

11/26/2019

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"...It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life;
​​for I am not better than my fathers." - 1 Kings 19:4 
Elijah was a student of Church History. From a place of deep conviction he aspired to advance beyond the status quo hypocrisy prevalent among his fathers. His standards of life and godliness were born from Holy Scripture. Therefore, at a crisis moment of weakness, when Elijah came to believe he had failed God and succumbed to the cowardice of hypocrites, he lamented, "...I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4).

​Can you relate? Indeed! Gray hairs should speak and young men should keep silent. I agree. The hoary heads should be honored and the youth should pay their respect. Aged men should instruct and children should hearken diligently. However, in the process, only let God speak while all flesh remains silent (1 Pet. 4:11). Only let God have the honor and get all the glory (1 Cor. 1:29). Only let all earthly fathers conform themselves to our Heavenly Father (Rom. 12:2).
"I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment." - Job 3:7-9
Nowadays, in order for God to be honored aged men must be dishonored. In order for God to be heard the status quo hierarchy of authority must be disrupted. This proves true for all man-made structures of authority prevalent in the Church, or those which are imposed upon the Church. In other words, this proves true with our fathers and our forefathers - the living and the dead. For, as is often the case, when men of renowned in Church History reach a certain level of notoriety and fame among believers, they become "icons". The sense of reverence is so strong that the status of these men is somehow immortalized with iconic glory.
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​These are "the ancients". A handful of top-tier men redeemed by grace. Call them Calvinists or Arminians, or whatever you please. Call them Reformers or Puritans; it makes no difference to God. They made an impact upon their generations, and now they are the icons of our generation. Men think they are doing God a service by etching their images in stone (Ex. 20:3-5). They see no shame in this. Exhilarated pilgrims pay homage and go away happy. They brag about the experience and imagine themselves to be more godly at having made the journey.

The faults and errors of "the ancients" are either discredited or practically irrelevant because they are generally unknown by the Church. Therefore, the common perception among believers is radically exaggerated. A culture of intolerance thickens in the air. The unspoken rule is that no one should dare to cross the counsel of "the ancients", nor should anyone humbly criticize their confessions of faith. Albeit, not so much could be said of the young man, Elihu.
"Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away." - Job 32:21-22
We should all aspire to be like our fathers and forefathers, only inasmuch as they are like our Father in Heaven. Anything else amounts to a growing culture of flattery in the Church. A fever of idolatry is paralyzing the Body of Christ, and this makes for a sick Church in a dying world. The circumstances couldn't be more tragic. The Bride of Christ wouldn't dare to think she could be wiser than "the ancients". Her estimation of grace is severely dwarfed (Eph. 3:20-21) while her reliance upon Scripture is diminishing by the year (Acts 20:32). Albeit, not so much could be said of the young man, David.
"MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." - Psalm 119:97-100
​David was severely oppressed while growing up in the Kingdom of Saul. Yet, by the grace of God, he didn't succumb to the pressure heaped upon him by backsliders and compromisers, and neither should we. The breath of God has recorded and preserved the jubilee of this worshiper in Psalm 119:97-100, and we would do well to take heed. Even if it is to the dismay of modern day oppressors who feel threatened by our exclusive and seemingly radical trust in Scripture. 
"The tragedy of this late hour is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people. Oh! the horror of it. There is a strange thing that I have seen "under the sun," even in the fundamentalist circles; it is preaching without unction. What is unction? I hardly know. But I know what it is not (or at least I know when it is not upon my soul). Preaching without unction kills instead of giving life. The unctionless preacher is a savor of death unto death. The Word does not live unless the unction is upon the preacher. Preacher, with all thy getting - get unction." - Leonard Ravenhill 

“Salvation of America does not depend upon the White House it depends upon God’s House, and before God does anything He will clean up the Church. When He was on earth He cleaned up the Temple, when He comes again He will clean up the pulpit - Judgment must begin at the House of God; judgment must begin with the preachers! I think the most awesome task in the world tonight is not to be the President of the United States or the King of an Empire, but to be a man who stands between a Living God and a dying people. I’d like to send a notice to all the deacons of every Church in America: ‘If your preacher doesn’t weep over the congregation - weep over your preacher!’" – Leonard Ravenhill
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Until the Iniquity is Full | 2,000 Years of Church History

11/26/2019

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"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy." - 2 Chron. 36:16 

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." - Dan. 8:23
The ruins of ancient times have a story to tell. Albeit, mankind is bound to misinterpret the moral of the story if the infallible record of Scripture isn't consulted. The disobedience of the Jews warranted Babylon of old (2 Chron. 36:16) and every cyclical appearance of the Beast thenceforth (Medo-Persia, Greece, & Rome; Dan. 7). In every case the Day of the LORD tarried until the iniquity was full (Dan. 8:23, Gen. 15:16). Babylon is God's last resort for the backslidden Church. Even so, today, "there is no new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). God's judgment by this means hasn't expired. Many voices of Church History for the past 2,000 years wouldn't agree, but that doesn't matter. According to the apostles of the New Testament, they don't have any credibility to join the conversation. Anyone who lived beyond the days of the apostles and/or outside of their direct authority (as recorded in Scripture) simply cannot be trusted.

​For, as of nearly 2,000 years ago, the apostles were acknowledging the spiritual rise of Babylon as a devastating force upon the saintliness of the Church. With a growing sense of anticipation and urgency, they spoke of the darkness of night steadily increasing upon the Church (1 Thess. 5:1-8; Rom. 13:11-14). Nighttime wasn’t merely about them; it was encroaching upon them (Eph. 5:6-17)! As a people marching towards their fate, the apostles knew the midnight hour would come (Matt. 25:1-13). The Day of Darkness couldn't be stopped. Even as Isaiah foretold in the ancient time ("Watchman, what of the night?" - Isa. 21:1-12), or as John later elaborated (Rev. 8:12, 9:1-11), they believed it was inevitable. This is exactly why Paul said that the Day of the LORD “shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (2 Thess. 2:3).
Evidently, the apostolic testimony of nighttime darkness wasn’t a miscellaneous use of metaphorical rhetoric. These weren’t relativistic acknowledgments that are disconnected from the rest of Scripture. The apostles were alarmed at the dogmatic fulfillments of Biblical Prophecy as they observed the increasing blackout of spiritual light in their days (Matt. 5:13-16). Plainly spoken, John said, “whereby we know that it is the Last Time” (1 Jn. 2:18). In one statement, simply put, the apostolic acknowledgement was twofold: (1) Backsliding saints (2) deserve Babylon. For, whether of old, or anew, only backsliders are deserving of Babylon. Not just physically, but spiritually. In other words, only those who are overcome by spiritual Babylon are deserving of physical Babylon. Thus, in beholding the saintliness of Christians turning into worldliness for lack of abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:1-7, 1 Jn. 2:15-19), John acknowledged that this could be none other than the work of antichrist (1 Jn. 4:1-6).
“…this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
​and even now already is it in the world” - 1 Jn. 4:3
John is speaking of the “spirit” of antichrist, or, the rise of a spiritual antichrist. He isn’t acknowledging the coming of the physical antichrist. The former precedes the latter. According to the apostles (speaking under divine inspiration), the antichrist will rise spiritually before he comes physically. Yet, who is the antichrist, but the figurehead of Babylon (Rev. 13)? Therefore, let the reader understand, this is one and the same as acknowledging the rise of spiritual Babylon.
Spirit of Antichrist  -> Physical Antichrist
Spiritual Babylon  -> Physical Babylon
Just as the antichrist will rise spiritually and then physically, even so does Babylon rise spiritually and then physically. This is what Paul called “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess. 2:7); and, how hardly will the backsliders of any generation come to a sober acknowledgement of it! According to the apostles, the casualties are among the Church. Expressly, John is affirming that this is the cause of backsliding among the saints. As an indicator of the Last Time (1 Jn. 2:18), lo, this is bringing about a falling away from Christ (2 Thess. 2:3)! Or, in terms of John’s Gospel, this is bringing about a severance of the branches from the Vine as they are being broken off for their lack of abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:1-17; Rom. 11:21-22). Literally, this is a discontinuance of saints in the Son of God (1 Jn. 2:24). Therefore, in departing from the Church (John argues), it is visibly evident that these individuals are no longer “of” the Vine (1 Jn. 2:19, 24; Jn. 15:1-7).

Therefore, in Paul saying, “the mystery of iniquity doth already work” (2 Thess. 2:7), he was acknowledging the manifestation of a prophetically foretold scenario that would directly precede the physical arrival of Babylon & its antichrist. Thus, in acknowledging the mystery of iniquity already at work, he was acknowledging the rise of apostasy; and, in acknowledging the rise of apostasy, he was acknowledging the rise of spiritual Babylon. As of the 1st Century, some 2,000 years ago, the foretold spiritual battle was at hand. Spiritual Babylon was the real and present danger among them. They knew that “many” would be “offended” in the spiritual rise of Babylon, or that “many” would be deceived, and “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:10-12). Therefore, Paul was compelled to testify how spiritual Babylon was already on the rise (“the mystery of iniquity doth already work” - 2 Thess. 2:7), even as John acknowledged the spirit of antichrist (1 Jn. 4:3).
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The same acknowledgements were made when Paul, beholding the casualties ("the Last Days" - 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 4:3), informed Timothy by letter, saying, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Tim. 1:15). Even so, fearfully, all the virgins of the Gentile Church Age will be asleep in the darkness of Babylon directly preceding the 3 ½ Year Great Tribulation (Matt. 25:1-13). For, “He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7), until the future scenario is exactly as foretold. Therefore, like Ezekiel beheld, it must needs be that the Glory of God will depart from the Churches of this current age of redemption (2 Thess. 2:7). Soberly consider it, my reader: the invisible God will depart from the visible Church in the days preceding the End of the World. 

I know many zealous Christians who have spent a lifetime studying the past 2,000 years of Church History. However, in doing so, their outlook of "the Church" for the past two millennia is radically different than that of the apostles. This is what happens when we let the Church tells us about the Bible instead of letting the Bible tell us about the Church. This is dangerous. To optimistically study "the Church" in every century following the 1st Century without consulting the prophetic outlook of the apostles concerning the latter years of their own century, is to gaze upon the ongoing and progressive work of darkness while hoping to bask in the dim light of a sickly flame. This is dangerous. Therefore, it is neither wise nor safe to endeavor a study of "Church History" from our vantage point without bearing in mind the apostolic witness of Church Futurity - to behold what the apostles saw when they prophetically looked into what's ahead from the standpoint of the 1st Century (Prov. 22:3, 27:12). 
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When the "GOOD" is Short of "PERFECTION"

11/17/2019

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A working knowledge of Church History is admirable. However, if this enterprise is undertaken without biblical caution, the ambitious students of today will be injured or even mortally wounded in the endeavor. The masses of Christendom wouldn't agree. They are quite content to seek the living among the dead. They have no qualms roaming the graveyard of conventional seminaries looking for the divine. It seems that everyone from just about anywhere is willing to give a hearty salute to the system of "Christian Academia" (Isa. 29:13). 
I understand the sentiment. We, being 2,000 years removed from the 1st Advent of Christ, aspire to ground ourselves in an ancient and historic faith that has proven true through the test of time. Yet, what does the Bible teach about how "truth" fairs through many generations of human depravity? Specifically speaking, can "the Church" be trusted as the guardian of the "truth", or will even they mishandle it and allow its corruption through time? I'm afraid you will not like the answer, my reader. For, in reality, according to Holy Scripture, even redeemed men are prone to corrupt the "truth" and mishandle it. Consequentially, the general consensus of "the remnant" in any given generation cannot be trusted. One must resort to Holy Scripture as the only voice of truth - the one and only faithful guardian of the soul. 
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Leaders of "the Church" nowadays would never cast a shadow of doubt upon the study of Church History. It's truly disturbing. They don't want its appearance to be darkened in the eye of the beholder. They don't want its true shade to become apparent before the onlooking eyes of aspiring pupils. Nevertheless, the Bible speaks for itself (Isa. 29:14). The Bible accurately portrays how successfully "the Church" can guard, preserve, and pass on the "truth".

For, according to Holy Scripture, there is a nigh-invariable course of depravity which runs in cyclical revolutions from generation to generation: namely, that the SONS follow in the sins of their FATHERS from generation to generation. This is not a progressive and steady learning of the truth, this is a progressive and steady unlearning of the truth from generation to generation. My reader, please, let me present to you a brief survey of the Kings of Judah. See for yourself how among the 20 Kings of Judah, only a handful broke the cycle of declension that violently progressed onward from generation to generation. 
THE KINGS OF JUDAH
REHOBOAM caused Judah to do “evil in the sight of the LORD…above all that their fathers had done” (1 Kings 14:22).

ABIJAH “walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings. 15:3). Notably, Abijah’s sermon shows a profound understanding of the knowledge of God, albeit he was wicked like his father Rehoboam (2 Chron. 13:3-19). 

ASA broke the cycle and “did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father…But the high places were not removed: nevertheless, Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days” (1 Kings 15:11, 14). 

JEHOSHAPHAT “walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:43). 

JEHORAM “walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, as did the House of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 8:18). 

AHAZIAH “walked in the way of the House of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the House of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the House of Ahab” (2 Kings 8:27). 

ATHALIAH, a Queen, “destroyed all the seed royal” after the death of Ahaziah and reigned until Joash, the only remaining son of Ahaziah, grew to be of age where the Kingdom was restored to the proper line (2 Kings 11:1-18). 

JOASH (Jehoahaz) “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoida the Priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places” (2 Kings 12:2-3). Fearfully, Joash rebelled against the LORD after the death of Jehoida the Priest… thus in the latter end he was a wicked King. 

AMAZIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places” (2 Kings 14:3-4, 2 Chron. 25:2). 

AZARIAH (Uzziah) “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the King, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death…” (2 Kings 15:3-5). 

JOTHAM “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places…” (2 Kings 15:34-35). 

AHAZ “did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Kings 16:2-4). Also, Ahaz made a league with Assyria and copied their idolatrous altar, and he reformed the priesthood around it! What an abomination. 

HEZEKIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not” (2 Kings 18:3-7). 

MANASSEH “did evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel…Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel…moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:2-16). Shockingly, though, after Manasseh was chastened by God and imprisoned, he humbled himself to the LORD and besought Him only; and, graciously, the Lord restored him to the Kingdom and Manasseh lived out his last days converted unto God and walking in obedience. 

AMON “did that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did…he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:20-22). 

JOSIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2). “And like unto him was there no King before him [Josiah], that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the House of which I said, My name shall be there” (2 Kings 23:25-27). 

JEHOAHAZ “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:32). 

JEHOIAKIM“did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:37). 

JECONIAH (Jehoiachin) “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done” (2 Kings 24:9). 
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ZEDEKIAH “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done” (2 Kings 24:19).
Evidently, "the truth" can hardly survive the hands of the Church even as they hope to safeguard it and pass it on to the next generation. Rehohoam rose beyond the crest of the rebellion of his predecessor and father, Solomon, exemplifying the unquenchable thirst of depravity from the beginning. Abijah, secondarily, being encumbered by a guiltier conscience than his father, only continued in the status quo “sins of his father” and not beyond. Asa, though, on the contrary, and very early on in the line of Kings, broke the cycle of depravity and did “as David his father” had done; thanks be to God. Jehoshaphat, also, following in his train, did as “Asa his father” had done. Nevertheless, religious superstition prevailed in that neither Asa nor Jehoshaphat removed the unlawful patriarchal high places. This shows how reverence for pastime religious antiquities is strong among the common people in every generation. Somehow, men are fond of ancient practices of religion, as if such things have become holy through "passing the test of time" ...whatever that means. 

Suddenly, and tragically, after this short-lived revival of righteousness, Jehoram swerved into an unprecedented course from all the Kings of Judah before him by following in the way of the Kings of Israel! Why? For similar reasons… it was because he was influenced by the daughter of Ahab, his wife. He couldn’t resist the pastime Family Values. Predictably, Ahaziah his son, also, followed in the ways of his father Jehoram, for he was influenced by his father in law, Ahab, and did likewise. Athaliah, though, as an off-shoot, was notoriously self-seeking and murderous. After her unexpected and bloody reign, Joash, the only son of Ahaziah, was able to stand upon the truth as long as he was positively influenced by Jehoida the Priest, a righteous man, …but, fearfully, after Jehoida’s death Joash caved under the pressure of the status quo widely accepted apostasy. Ah! How the vicious cycle continues in its revolutions!
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as​ Joash his father did." - 2 Kings 14:3

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." - 2 Chronicles 25:2
Evidently, saving faith is exemplified by walking in the ways of David, and nothing short (compare 2 Kings 14:3-4 & 2 Chron. 25:2). “Almost Christians” still aren't Christians. Or, in other words, “Incomplete Christians” still aren't Christians. Just like "Unbiblical Believers" aren't real Believers. Therefore, Amaziah, being caught in the cycle, did what his father Joash did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Azariah, likewise, did what his father Amaziah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Jotham, likewise, did what his father Azariah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Then, Ahaz, radically swerving from the cycle of depravity in motion among the Kings of Judah, fell a-lusting after the cycle of depravity ravaging the Kings of Israel instead! Veering from one he was sucked into the other like the gravitational pull of orbiting planets! This is fearful. Note: God Himself, and no one else, should be our center of gravity.

Then, at last, Hezekiah broke the cycle of depravity in motion among the Kings of Judah and returned to the LORD “according to all that David his father did”. This is saving faith. This is a true believer. However, sadly, after Hezekiah came Manasseh - a man who rebelled more than them all! Perhaps he was acclimated thereto by the wretched example of Ahaz. Then, at last, ...when the Church was on the verge being judged, Josiah arose! His generation narrowly escaped the wrath of God (1 Pet. 4:17-18). Nevertheless, a revival of righteousness after the ways of David flourished gloriously. It lasted for 13 Years (2 Chron. 34:31-33). Nevertheless, everything was suddenly lost as depravity resumed its course in an ever-increasing stride via the former generational cycle picking up where it left off. Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, the sons and grandson of Josiah, were all sucked into the unquenchable force until God’s judgment came and Jerusalem was made desolate.
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How relevant is the Doctrine of Perfection? In reference to the aforementioned generations of Kings, for example, when the scripture stated of Amaziah, “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart” (2 Chron. 25:2); this meant, in other words, “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father…” (2 Kings 14:3). So, what is perfection? Apparently, David was perfect. Right? My reader, let us understand this vital doctrine, even if the language of it is foreign or distasteful to our “Christian Vocabulary”. Don’t let those heretics who preach “sinless perfection” cause you to reject anyone who renders a correct teaching on the matter of biblical perfection. A correct view of biblical Church History in these terms is vitally necessary.
When that which is “right in the sight of the LORD” is incompletely defined
and far short of what is perfectly righteous, will you discern it?
Amaziah, caught in the cycle, did what his father Joash did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 14:3-4, 2 Chron. 25:2). Azariah (Uzziah), likewise, did what his father Amaziah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 15:3-5). Jotham, likewise, did what his father Azariah (Uzziah) did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 15:34-35).
Biblical history describes the lives, generations, and centuries of God’s work of salvation in terms of personal and corporate perfection. Depending on whether or not they obtained biblical “perfection” - this determined their destiny of heaven or hell. The scripture explicitly states that Job (Job 1:1, 8, 2:3, 8:20), Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham (Gen. 17:1-2), Joshua (Deut. 18:13), David (Psalm 101), Solomon (1 Kings 11:4, with his repentance, which is in Ecclesiastes), Asa (2 Chron. 15:17), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3) went to heaven because they were perfect. As for all other heaven-bound men, even though it was not explicitly mentioned that they were “perfect”, they nevertheless followed the ways of those who were called “perfect”.

Likewise, the Scripture explicitly states that Abijam (1 Kings 15:3) and Amaziah (2 Chron. 25:2) went to hell because of a single indictment – that they were NOT perfect. Furthermore, every major vocation is taught the saving expression of their office and duties by the term perfection. Kings (Psalm 101), Priests (Lev. 22:21), Judges (2 Chron. 19:9), Warriors (Ps. 18:32), and all, were taught what it is to be perfect in the execution of their office, and depending on whether or not they were perfect, they went to heaven or hell. All other men and women of every generation were taught perfection in the principle of its meaning, even though the very word is not explicitly used.

Therefore, shouldn't it alarm us if we don't even know what "perfection" is in the sight of God? For, how shall we escape the declension of Amaziah, Azariah, and Jotham - who did “right in the sight of the LORD” as their fathers had done - but not as David had done with a perfect heart! How susceptible are we to doing what is widely accepted and venerated as “right in the sight of the LORD”, and, at last, we lose our souls! How vulnerable are we to adopt a status quo righteousness as we have been taught and instructed by our fathers (a righteousness supported by Scripture but far short of perfection), so that all our faith and practice as we know it amasses to an unpardonable violation of the Doctrine of Perfection before the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-11). 

Did not our Lord say, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasure of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Lk. 8:14)? Here, in this text, a “perfect repentance” is exactly what God is expecting and demanding; and, because John the Baptist understood this doctrine he commanded the 1st century Jews, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father…” (Lk. 3:8). If John the Baptist were here today he would preach this to the Christians of this century. The only difference is, Christians don’t say, “We have Abraham to our father”, rather they say, “We have God as our Father and we are eternally secure”. This statement may be true, notwithstanding Christ was burdened for the perfection of God’s children when He said, “Be watchful, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:2)! Here, in this text, a "perfect repentance" is God’s expectation, and without it Christ warned that He would blot their name out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5)! What does this mean? The text is very clear: without perfection, Christ told the saints that they were eternally insecure (blamable, unholy, unsanctified, & spotted). 
Without a working knowledge of biblical Church History, we are bound to believe whatever is purported as extra-biblical Church History. While unacquainted with what God thinks, we will comply with whatever man thinks about God even if it isn't perfect. This is dangerous. What's more important? ...what men say about the stalwarts of Church History, or what God says about the heroes of biblical Church History? Should we aspire to learn more about Calvin or Wesley, both of whom taught many right things, while abiding ignorant of the perfect things of Holy Scripture? You be the judge.
"...let God be true, but every man a liar" - Romans 3:4 
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Are You a Student of Church History?

10/23/2019

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Have you considered "the Church in the Wilderness" as a profitable subject of study (Acts 7:38)? If so, I commend you. Also, have you considered the Church as it existed beyond the Exodus Generation? Or, do you think the Church ceased to exist after it transitioned from the Wilderness into a Civilization through the occupation of the Promised Land by the Israelites?

If "the Church in the Wilderness" does indeed exist according to Holy Scripture (Acts 7:38), it is erroneous to believe that "the Church in the Civilization" is nonexistent. Right? Don't you think this is important (1 Cor. 10:11)? Sadly, many people have been trained to totally neglect the Church History of the Bible while boasting themselves to be educated students of Church History. 

​Well, what about the Prophets? You know... the Books of the Bible that go by the name Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, & Malachi. These Prophets were compelled to rise up and speak on the same subject matter! They were inspired interpreters on how the Church was faring in those days. Samuel and David could be added to the number as well. They were Prophets who arose on behalf of the backslidden Church of their day. For, since the times of the Judges, the Church has been overwhelmingly backslidden and only intermittently restored through the instrumentality of redeemed men like Samuel, David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, & Josiah. These events are recorded in Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, & 2 Chronicles. 

Accordingly, God had a backup plan for the backslidden Church if it wasn't steadfastly recovered by the formerly mentioned men of God. This plan involved God's judgment of the Church in a redemptive purpose that was highly offensive to adulterous generations. Perhaps you've heard the saying, "Judgment must begin at the House of God". 
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" - 1 Pet. 4:17-18
The foremost burden of the Prophets pertained to the recovery of the Church through God's judgment, and the two primary means of divine judgment were Assyria & Babylon. 

The Major & Minor Prophets: 

Isaiah – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Israel & Judah) through Assyria and Babylon.
Jeremiah – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Lamentations – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Ezekiel – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Daniel – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (the Jews) through Babylon.
Hosea – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Israel & Judah) through Assyria.
Joel – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Amos – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Israel & Judah) through Assyria.
Obadiah – God’s judgment of Edom for helping Babylon injure the Church (Judah).
Jonah – God’s judgment of Assyria (Nineveh), which relates to God’s judgment of Israel & Judah through Assyria.
Micah - God's judgment of the backslidden Church (Israel & Judah) through Assyria. 
Nahum – God’s judgment of Assyria for destroying Israel & nearly destroying Judah.
Habakkuk – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Zephaniah – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Judah) through Babylon.
Haggai – God’s restoration of the Church (Israel & Judah) upon it being purified through the Babylonian Captivity.
Zechariah – God’s restoration of the Church (Israel & Judah) upon it being purified through the Babylonian Captivity.
Malachi – God’s judgment of the backslidden Church (Israel & Judah) through Greece & Rome. 
From our vantage point in the 21st Century, the teaching of the Prophets lead into and shed light upon both the past and the future. In other words, God's judgment by this means hasn't expired. God uses history as a "divine prop" to declare futurity. Indicating this, the apostle John foretold the coming of  "Mystery Babylon the Great" in the Book of Revelation. Truly, one can hardly call himself a student of Church History if he or she is generally oblivious to the teachings of the Prophets. We're talking about well over 1/3 of the Bible! Furthermore, it's not like the Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles of the New Testament are somehow irrelevant to these things. 

The same problem exists among the people of "Christendom" concerning the subject of biblical Eschatology. People have been trained to think that the subject of Eschatology is a side issue. Yet, fearfully, if the Jews of former times regarded the ministries of the Prophets as a mere side issue or a secondary matter, then they would have perished in the divine judgment that was underway through Assyria & Babylon. Furthermore, the prophecies concerning God's use of Assyria and Babylon as a judgment upon the Church were typological representations of a greater work that the LORD would accomplish in the future according to the Book of Revelation. Even so, my reader, what can be said about those who regard the message of the Book of Revelation as a mere side issue? What saith the Scriptures (Rev. 1:1-3)? 

Soberly consider it, my reader! From the Assyrian Captivity of Israel until now (nearly 3,000 years), Church History has consisted of one continuous cyclical pattern of reappearing Beasts. Since Assyria wiped-out Israel, and thereafter Babylon wiped-out Judah, all of Church History has been one continuous cycle of God judging the backslidden Church through the reappearing manifestation of Beast Empires as a divine instrument (Deut. 32). Bearing witness of this, consider the prophecies of Daniel in Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9, & Daniel 10-12. According to Daniel, diverse and generational identities bear witness of one inter-generational identity when it comes to the End-Time Beast that God is going to use to punish the backslidden Church in the Last Century. Does that sound important to you? 
A true understanding of Church History will underscore the vital importance of Church Futurity as it pertains to the Book of Revelation. That's the truth! For, without understanding Church History, we cannot even hope to understand Church Futurity. Sadly, for all such people, the Book of Revelation will continue to be an unintelligible mystery that's practically irrelevant to the Christian Life. If we don't understand the Former Days, we'll never come to understand the Last Days, and for this cause the present generation is dangerously unprepared for the Great Tribulation! 

My earnest appeal to all avid learners of extra-biblical Church History (who are fearfully negligent of Biblical Church History), is that you would reconsider your choice of study, disregard the tribalistic boast of your companions, and regard NOTHING above the inspired teachings of Holy Scripture! 
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The Church & Its Attendees - is your name on the list? 

3/7/2017

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A Definitive Study of the Church & Its Attendees
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Ministerial Branches, Church Members, or Attendees?
The popular Doctrine and Practice of Church Purity does isolate the mandate of separatism as a requirement for Ministerial Branches of the Church and or “Church Staff”, as some call it. As a result of this erroneous isolation, purity, holiness, and separatism is practically irrelevant to the status of regular “Church Members”, as some call them. Or, while obligating Church Members to loose standards of holiness, the Church Members assemble and congregate with what the scripture would call a mixed multitude of the clean and the unclean (2 Cor. 6:17-18), the righteous and the wicked (1 Cor. 5:13), the unleavened with the leavened (1 Cor. 5:6-8), or, if you will, the wheat and the tares (Matt. 3:10-12), and the list of inordinate mixtures could go on (Ezek. 22:26, 44:23). Take note, my reader! What was and is metaphorically communicated in the aforementioned comparisons has been exhaustively set-forth as a doctrine in scripture through clear, definitive, and indisputable non-metaphorical argumentation; namely that, The Church is “A Clean Place”!
What is a Clean Place?
So… what is “a clean place”, you wonder? Well, throughout all the differing stages of redemption found in Biblical Church History, the Church has been identified as a people known as the “assembly” and “congregation” of the LORD, and, in the widest sense, these people were born into, living within, and abiding by the rules (Lev. 10:10, 20:25, Ezek. 22:26, Lev. 7:21, Num. 19:20) of The Land of Israel & Judah, The Kingdom of God, The City of Jerusalem, and Mount Zion, and, finally, it must be noted that the focal point of this people and the reason why these places were clean, sin-separated, and holy, was because therein abides GOD via the Temple, Tabernacle, House, and Sanctuary of God. In other words, the Church is a clean people who gathered together in a clean place via an assembly or a congregation, whether in the Old Testament, the New Testament, or the Consummation.

Upon hearing this, the Modern Church would rashly argue that the command, “Touch not the unclean thing”, is an Old Testament commandment which bears no relevance to the New Testament Church. My reader, the apostle of THE GENTILES wrote to the Corinthian Church, saying, “Touch not the unclean thing” (2 Cor. 6:17)! So, apparently, the question remains for us to answer: is our local Church “A Clean Place”? Upon due consideration of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, and the like, one is forced to conclude that the Church of the New Testament is named and understood by the same titles as the Church of the Old Testament, and, if the Church of the New Testament is superior to the Church of the Old Testament inasmuch as it is the reality of the old-time shadows, parallelism exists between the two. Therefore, if the Church of the Old Testament (a shadow) was exclusive, the Church of the New Testament (the reality) is equally as exclusive. The shadow did portray the real image in its shadowing, you know! That was its purpose. Therefore, the shadow is like the real image, in reality. There is a shadow-to-reality parallelism on purpose, according to the unsearchable wisdom of God! Thus, in an attempt to comprehend the rules of Church Purity and congregation exclusivity, we need to understand the shadow-to-reality actuality of, “Touch not the unclean thing!” To prevent confusion, scripture is explicit enough to name names. By name, the peoples of the World were expelled from the Church of the Old Testament because it was “a clean place”. Hence, because the Church of the New Testament is also “a clean place”, parallel exclusivity applies.
The Assemblies of the Church
The Church Assemblies of the Old Testament
In reference to the assemblies of the Church in the Old Testament, this meant: every individual’s name who attended the assembly was written in the Book of Life; and, this being the case, this population of people were identified as “the upright” and “the saints” (Ps. 89:7) who were assembled in separation from “the mockers” (Jer. 15:17); and to be in separation from “the mockers” meant, in principle, the assembly was exclusive to “holy” and “clean” people and, therefore, “profane” and “unclean” people were excluded (Ezek. 44:23-24).
The Church Assemblies of the Consummation
In reference to the assemblies of the Church in the Consummation, of course, the continuation of these ideals is further confirmed: so, all the attendees of the assembly will be “holy”, “washed”, “purged” (Isa. 4:2-6), “saved” (Rom. 11:26), and “meek” (Matt. 5:5, Ps. 37:11); this being the case, all “the sinners”, “the wicked” (Ps. 104:35, Prov. 2:22, Isa. 13:9), and the “unbelieving” (Rev. 21:8) will be utterly expunged from the assembly of the Church. Seeing that this was and will be the code of assemblies in the Church via the Old Testament and the Consummation, would the assemblies of the New Testament Church be any different? Surely what was and will be, is no different than what is. The stages of redemption and expressions of the Church build and progress in unanimity from the Old Testament, the New Testament Gentile Church Age, unto the Consummation. They do not and cannot contradict one another.
The Church Assemblies of the New Testament
Even so, in reference to the assemblies of the New Testament Church, this meant: its attendees were in the Book of Life (Heb. 12:23), free from willful sin (Heb. 10:24-27) “sprinkled”, and “washed”, (Heb. 10:19-27). This being the case with the assemblies of the Church in every age, surely we can expect the same criteria to characterize the congregations of the Church, right?
The Congregations of the Church
The Church Congregations of the Old Testament
In reference to the congregations of the Church in the Old Testament, this meant: they were “the congregation[s] of God” (Neh. 13:1-3) that were bound by one supreme “ordinance” (Deut. 33:4-5, Num. 15:15) which necessitated that every individual in the congregation was holy (Num. 16:3, Lev. 19:2), “righteous” (Ps. 1:5), saintly (Ps. 89:5, 149:1), and belonging to God (Ps. 68:10, 74:2); hence, this congregated people was separated from all the accursed things and people who brought contempt upon the congregation (Josh. 7:13, Ezra 10:11-14). Therefore, all those whom God spoke of and named in various ways throughout scripture, saying, for example, “A…shall not enter into the congregation” (Deut. 23:1-8), were expelled – and this list of names included: “the adversary”, “the heathen” (Lam. 1:10), “the ungodly”, “sinners” (Ps. 1:5, Num. 15:30-31), “evil doers” (Ps. 26:5), “the dead” (Prov. 21:16), “vain persons”, “dissemblers”, and “the wicked” (Ps. 26:4-8, 12).
The Church Congregations of the Consummation
In reference to the congregations of the Church in the Consummation, of course, the continuation of these ideals is further confirmed: so, all the attendees of the congregation (Jer. 30:20) of the Church will be “Priests”, “Ministers” (Isa. 61:6, Rev. 20:6, Jer. 33:17-22), “Levites” (Isa. 66:21, Jer. 33:17-22), “Kings” (Rev. 5:10), and “Children of God” (Rom. 8:21).
The Church Congregations of the New Testament
Just as all citations have thus far proven, the attending congregants of the Church in the New Testament must harmonize with the criteria heretofore named, so that: the attendees of the congregation of the Church are Jesus’ “sanctified” “brethren” (Ps. 22:22, Heb. 2:11-12), and no one else! Hence the prayer, “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9, 1 Tim. 2:8).
The Locations of Church Gatherings
Having just examined the persons who congregated and assembled, specifically speaking, let us turn and gaze upon the locations in which the Church gathers: The Land of Israel & Judah, The Kingdom of God, The City of Jerusalem, and Mount Zion. In summary, the people of the Church in the Old Testament, the Consummation, and the New Testament were, will be, and are identifiable by the rules enforced at these various locations.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the Old Testament
The people of the Church in the Old Testament were identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. According to Doctrinal Rule, the people who populated The Land of Israel & Judah were exclusively: “the upright”, “the perfect” (Prov. 2:21), those who put their “trust” in the LORD (Isa. 57:13), “the faithful”, “he that walketh in a perfect way” (Ps. 101:4-8), and those who were “clean” (Isa. 52:11). The people who were eradicated from the Land of Israel & Judah via the Death Penalty were: false prophets (Ezek. 13:9), rebellious Israelites (Hos. 9:3), “the wicked” (Nah. 1:5, Ps. 101:8), “the transgressors” (Prov. 2:22), “the rebels” (Ezek. 20:38-40), unconverted and forbidden “strangers” (Hos. 7:8-9, Isa. 1:7), “a froward heart”, “whoso privily slandereth his neighbor”, “him that hath an high look and a proud heart”, “he that worketh deceit”, “he that telleth lies”, “wicked doers” (Ps. 101:4-8), “the uncircumcised”, and “the unclean” (Isa. 52:1). The same rich and peculiar identity of the people is demonstrated a-new in each of the aforementioned titles or places of the Promised Land.
The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament
From a different angle of emphasis, the identity of the Church in the Old Testament is revealed by the term, The Kingdom of God, which was in fact The Land of Israel & Judah, and, as you will soon see, the people who dwelt therein were exclusive from the very beginning according to Doctrinal Rule. The Land of Israel & Judah became a settlement of the Israelite people BECAUSE God was KING: of a people, a territory, by Law, through Government, by war through battles in which God commanded and fought! The commissioning of the battle by the KING reveals the exclusivity of the Church in The Kingdom of God: “thou shalt save alive NOTHING that breatheth: but thou shalt UTTERLY destroy them”, “thou shalt consume ALL the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have NO PITY upon them… (Deut. 20:16-17, 7:16). In other words, God was saying that the native inhabitants of the Promised Land were exceedingly great sinners (Lev. 18:24-30, 20:22-27, Deut. 9:1-5), and because the Promised Land had been chosen by the KING as His Dominion, the Church, sinners had to be eradicated from the domain.

There were no sinners allowed in the Church – in the places or among the people where the Church gathered before God – according to the Dominion of the KING. If Israel allowed the native inhabitants to live and, thus, they were allowed to settle within the Promised Land at the same time as the conquering Israelites, the result was a mixture of saints and sinners in the Church --- a thing which God forbade at the pain of death! The KING said, “it will surely be a snare unto [the Church]” (Ex. 23:33, 34:12, Deut. 7:16, 25, 12:30, Num. 33:55, Judges 2:3). To be “snared” meant that they would eventually “perish” on account of this inordinate mixture (Josh. 23:13, Deut. 7:4, 20:18, Ex. 23:33, Deut. 7:26). The settlement of the Israelites in the Land of Israel and Judah was, in fact, the settlement of the Church; and because this settlement would be accomplished by war to the establishment of a Kingdom, Church Purity was demanded in the language of war (Ex. 23:23-24, 31-33, Ex. 34:11-17, Num. 33:51-56, Deut. 7:1-6, 16-21, 25-26, Deut. 12:1-4, 29-32, Deut. 18:9-14, 20:16-18, Josh. 23:1-16). Even so, on the contrary, Church Impurity was expressed in the following words and the like: “Judah…could not drive out” (Judges 1:19, 21, 27-28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34). God’s warnings proved true and, indeed, the remnant of sinners who mixed in the Church did utterly destroy the Church, according to scriptures (Judges 2:1-15). Therefore this people, the Church, must be sanctified, holy, and sinner-free… or else God would forsake them (Josh. 7:11-13). All sinners, Canaanite Sinners or Israelite-turned-Canaanite Sinners must be killed and thereby expelled from the Church, The Kingdom of God (Deut. 13:8-9, 11, Deut. 13:5, 17:7, 12, 1 Cor. 5:13, Deut. 18:10, 13, 2 Cor. 6:17, 7:1, Deut. 29:18, Heb. 12:15, Hos. 7:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Cor. 5:2, 6-7, Ps. 106:34-39).

The unholy and sinful chaos which ruled within once-born mankind worldwide – it was unwelcome in Israel. The passions and persons of hell were given their boundary point---stopping at the borders of Israelite settlements which encompassed the entirety of the Promised Land (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). My reader, Israel was sanctified to God as a “peculiar” and “separated” people (Ex. 19:5, Deut. 14:2, Lev. 20:24-25) above all other peoples on the face of the earth! Like the crest of earth was appointed by God and fixed with immovable fortitude before the whelming and untamable sea, the borders of Israel were appointed to withstand the untamable chaos of depravity that it would pass no further (Zech. 2:5, Isa. 4:5, 60:18-19, Psalm 48). As God “gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth” (Prov. 8:29), even so, likewise, God gave sin and sinners His decree that they should not pass into the camps, settlements, cities, or Lands of Israel – when He appointed the foundations of The Kingdom of God amidst the people of Israel (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). That which was expelled without would die if it was found within. Therefore if, in an overarching sense, the Church was known to be holiness unto the LORD according to the rules of the location, The Land of Israel & Judah, and by the rules which were consistent with the title, The Kingdom of God, then surely the more specified regions within these wider areas are holiness unto the LORD in like manner of exclusivity!
The City of Jerusalem in the Old Testament
Even so, narrowing our focus of study, the Empire City of the Kingdom of God - The City of Jerusalem - was known by Doctrinal Rule in Old Testament Israel as: “the City of our God”, “the City of the Great King”, and “the City of the LORD of hosts” (Ps. 48:1, 2, 8)! And because the Presence of God was valuable to the people of Israel and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people determined to “cut off all the wicked doers from the City of the LORD” (Ps. 101:8) so as to secure the presence of God (Ps. 101:2). With all scripture heretofore considered, applied, and fulfilled, the inhabitants of The City of Jerusalem were not “the wicked doers” (Ps. 101:8), “the adversary”, or “the enemy” (Lam. 4:12). By no means! On the contrary, every citizen was a saint, every sinner they did morally hate (Deut. 23:1-8, Num. 15:30-31), and judgment was the filter of the populous who passed through the Gates (Isa. 26:8, Ps. 48:11, Zech. 8:16-19)!

This City was a place in which “the heathen” would NOT come except in the case when the unholy sons of Adam broke through the boundaries which God had ordained by Law that none should trespass (Ps. 79:1, Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19). The walls and Gates of this City were not meant as mere barricades of defense in times of war, oh no! They were meant to be of old what they will invincibly and everlastingly become in the Consummation: The Walls and Gates of Salvation (Isa. 26:1-2, 60:18-19, Rev. 21:22-22:5, Rev. 22:11-15)!
Mount Zion in the Old Testament
Finally, and with all things considered, what exclusivity of Doctrinal Rule shall we expect existed in what was known in the Old Testament as, Mount Zion? Mount Zion was called the Mountain that God “loved” (Ps. 78:68), and what was so lovable about it?

According to the Doctrinal Rules exhaustively covered in the Chapter, the inhabitants and visitors of Mount Zion were exclusively: speaking in the present tense of that time, “He that putteth his trust in [the LORD]” (Isa. 57:13), he that has “clean hands” and a “pure heart” who has not “lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sword deceitfully” (Ps. 23:4), He that “walketh uprightly” and “worketh righteousness” (Ps. 15:2), that “speaketh truth in his heart” and “backbiteth not with his tongue” (Ps. 15:2-3), He that does not do “evil to his neighbour” (Ps. 15:3), He who hates “a vile person” and “honoureth them that fear the LORD” (Ps. 15:4), “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not” (Ps. 15:4), “He that putteth not out his money to usury nor taketh reward against the innocent” (Ps. 15:5), even these people, and none other, did “receive the blessing from the LORD” which was “righteousness from the God” (Ps. 24:5), which was, furthermore, the privilege to circuit Mount Zion and especially appear before God Almighty!

Therefore was Zion remembered by God to be, metaphorically speaking, pure silver and un-mixed wine (Isa. 1:22). This means that The City of Jerusalem and Mount Zion was a “faithful City” which was “full of judgment” so that “righteousness lodged in it” (Isa. 1:21), before the silver became dross and the wine was mixed with water (Isa. 1:22), and after Mount Zion was defiled, God said: “I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin” (Isa. 1:25-26). This metaphorical purging and taking away was, in other words, the destruction of “the transgressors”, “the sinners”, and “they that forsake the LORD” (Isa. 1:27-28). Naming names, we know who the people of the Church at Old Testament Mount Zion were.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the Consummation
The people of the Church in the Consummation will be identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names.According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will inhabit The Land of Israel & Judah at the Consummation will be a regathered people of Israel and Judah which will become one family by regeneration (Jer. 31:1-14, Hos. 1:11, Ezek. 34:23-24, 37:11) and, thus, by conduct, they will meet the special criteria due to the title: “My people” (Jer. 31:1). Not only will the people, via regeneration, no longer “sorrow ANY MORE AT ALL” (Jer. 31:12, Rev. 21:3-5), but, also, they will never again defile themselves by idols or backslide from salvation (Ezek. 37:23). Likewise, as a consequence, the unified families of Israel will not be divided into two Kingdoms “ANY MORE at all” (Ezek. 37:22). According to the Gospel of Matthew, all of this will be made possible by “the regeneration” (Matt. 19:28) – not the regeneration of the soul, only, but the body and the rest of creation will be liberated, also, by a consummating regeneration that is yet to come (Rom. 8:18-23)! – and, because of this, there will be NO MORE rebels, transgressors, or idolaters in all the Land of Israel & Judah forevermore, and, notably, everyone in the Land will be servants of the LORD in Spirit and in Truth (Ezek. 20:37-42)! Hallelujah! Come Lord Jesus, come! Till all the ransomed Church of God are saved to sin no more!
The Kingdom of God in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be in The Kingdom of God at the Consummation (when the Lord Jesus will rule and reign forevermore) has been clearly named: it was written, “the saints possessed the Kingdom” as “joint-heirs” (Dan. 7:22, Rom. 8:17). In summation, they will be few in number like Christ said (Lk. 13:23-30), because they will not be workers of iniquity (Lk. 13:27). This means that they will be “saints” (holy ones) inwardly and outwardly (Dan. 7:18, 22, 27, Rom. 8:17), according to apostolic doctrine. This holiness or separateness means that they were the overcomers of the World (Rev. 3:21) by the power of the Cross (Gal. 6:14). Through the Cross – the power of salvific mortification (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:24) – this company of saints lived up to the name, “holy one”, hence they will inherit the Kingdom of God (because they exhibited behavior that “becometh saints” – Eph. 5:3). Undoubtedly, therefore, all unrighteous people will be excluded from the Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9)! Naming names, this means that all such men are strictly excluded from the Kingdom: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, the effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners (1 Cor. 6:9-10), unclean people, filthy people, foolish talking people, jesting people, whoremongers, and the children of disobedience (Eph. 5:3-7), lascivious people, witchcraft users, hateful people, variant people, emulating people, wrathful people, argumentative people (those who practice strife and seditions), heretical people, envious people, murderers, partiers (those who practice revellings), and such like people (Gal. 5:19-21), the non-overcomers, the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the sorcerers, and all liars (Rev. 21:7-8). Glory to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World! “For whatsoever is born of God ovecometh the World: and this is the victory that overcometh the World, even our faith” (1 John 5:4)! These are Church Members.
The City of Jerusalem in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be in The City of Jerusalem at the Consummation is harmonious to how the work of redemption will consummate: it was prophesied of old, “All Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26)! At this time, not one single man will be able to enter the City of Jerusalem unless he or she is saved! Explicitly, it was written, the walls of the City will be called salvation and the Gates praise (Isa. 60:18-19, 26:1-2)! This mean that within this City and Land, there will be no more sin, uncleanness, idolatry, false prophets, or unclean spirits (Zech. 13:1-2); no more unholiness of any kind and no more Canaanites (Zech. 14:20-21); no more “any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie”, but only those persons whose names “are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:22-22:5); only those persons who were, are, and will be the servants of the LORD (Rev. 22:3), or, “they that do His commandments”, will enter into the City of Jerusalem, because “without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:11-15). Glory be to God! Only those persons who make-up a “righteous nation which keepeth the truth” will enter into the City of Jerusalem (Isa. 26:1-2)! This is the Church.
Mount Zion in the Consummation
According to Doctrinal Rule, the population of people who will be ascending or dwelling upon Mount Zion at the Consummation must be just as the Mountain itself will be --- “HOLY” (Joel. 3:15-18)! The people shall be as the place! God said, “I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory” (Isa. 46:13). What a glory! This means that “no strangers” will pass through her any more (Joel. 3:17). No unsaved man! And as a result of glorious and unspeakable judgments, “strange children” will be eradicated from the Mountain (Ps. 144:6-8, 11). The operation of these judgments will begin at the bodily appearance of the GOD-MAN, Jesus of Nazareth, who will return upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4, Acts 1:11-12) and ascend Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1-5) – there to fulfill all the glorious prophecies and promises of salvation in Consummation. This exclusive people, the Church, who will be allowed to ascend Mount Zion, are named in scripture: a “righteous nation which keepeth the truth” (Isa. 25:6-26:2), the people who followed the Lamb “withersoever He goeth”, the “redeemed from among men”, those who were “not defiled with women” and were “virgins” (2 Cor. 11:2-4, Jas. 4:4, Rev. 19:7-8), “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”, those whose mouths had “no guile” and whose persons were “without fault” before the Throne of God (Rev. 14:1-5). Thus, the question remains for the Church of the 21st century: “WHO” are we (PS. 15:1, 24:3)? “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8)! These are authentic Church Members according to scripture.
The Land of Israel & Judah in the New Testament
The people of the Church in the New Testament are identifiable by the rules enforced at these locations in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. In other words, the Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The Land of Israel and Judah depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are inhabitants of The Land of Israel & Judah in the New Testament are the regenerate: Jews and Gentiles by flesh who have been inwardly regenerated into Israelites in Spirit and in Truth! For this reason, Paul said to the Gentiles, “if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed” (Gal. 3:29). By the indwelling of Christ via regeneration, every race of man does become Abraham’s seed spiritually speaking, inward Jews legally speaking, and “the circumcision” truthfully speaking (Gal. 3:29, Rom. 2:25-29, 9:6, Php. 3:1-3) – therefore they are, rightly called, “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:15-16). They are, furthermore, “a chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a peculiar People” (1 Pet. 2:9-11, Ex. 19:5), which means that they are “fellowcitizens with the saints” of the Old Testament, and they are, now, “of the Household of God” (Eph. 2:18-19). By the 2nd birth, Christians of all fleshly races are made into natives and ambassadors of the Nation of Israel.

By spiritual position, Christians have come (Heb. 12:22) to the same place which they have been made to sit (Eph. 2:6) - The Land of Israel & Judah (the Heavenly Country), The Mountain of Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, unto Join-Heir Thrones to rule and reign with Christ (Heb. 11:14-16, 12:22, Eph. 2:19, Rom. 8:17). All the aforementioned details of identity are true via the inner-workings of redemption which are, in summation: the regeneration (Titus 3:5), the adoption (Rom. 8:15), the Kingdom (Lk. 17:21, Col. 1:13, Eph. 2:6), the resurrection (Rom. 6:4), eternal life (1 Jn. 3:15, 5:12-13), overcoming power (Eph. 2:5, 1 Jn. 5:4), the defeat of death (Rom. 8:2-6, Eph. 2:5), the light (Eph. 5:8), the revelatory sight (2 Cor. 3:17-18, 1 Cor. 13:12, Heb. 11:27), knowing God (1 Jn. 2:4, Jn. 17:3), conformity to Christ (1 Jn. 2:4-6, 4:17), and so on. Therefore, at last! Let us understand the New Testament in perfect harmony with the Old Testament and the Consummation in the matter of Church Purity! Naming names, this means: unconverted “strangers” and “foreigners” are forbidden entrance to the Church (Eph. 2:18-19); for, who else would dare drawn near (Heb. 10:19-23)!? And, furthermore, who else could draw near! The rules of holiness in the Church do not change from shadow-to-reality-to --- the Consummation!
The Kingdom of God in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The Kingdom of God depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are citizens, ambassadors, inheritors, and possessors of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament are an otherworldly people, by necessity. Testifying to this, Jesus Christ said, “My Kingdom is not of this World” (John 18:36). Though the Kingdom is mysteriously invisible to most of the World, it is revealed to men on the day of their 2nd birth into its jurisdiction (Jn. 3:3, 5); thus to all born again individuals, Christ said: “BEHOLD, The Kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:21)! This people of the Kingdom are fruit-bearing, repentance-keeping, believers who have become Abraham’s seed, no matter their original nationality according to the flesh (Matt. 8:10-12, 3:7-10, Gal. 3:14).

For the establishment of this Kingdom, or, in other words, for the Gentiles to be born again into this blessed lineage so as to become the Church, WAR transpired (1 Jn. 3:8, Lk. 2:34-35): a conquering King took captives by force (Josh. 5:13, Matt. 16:18, 23:15, 2 Cor. 4:3-4, Eph. 4:8-10, Heb. 2:14-16, Judges 5:12, Ps. 68:18, Rom. 5:21, Col. 2:15, Rev. 1:18)! Now, at present, those were rescued by Christ do fight for, with, and in Him (Matt. 10:34, Eph. 6:10-17, Col. 1:18, 1 Cor. 7:22, Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Tim. 1:16, 2 Tim. 4:7) because the battle continues on, still yet, inasmuch as the Kingdom advances upon other souls to save. The Church Militant knows that there are yet more souls to be freed from Satan’s tyrannical laws of sin (Rom. 8:2-4, 6:14, 7:23, 14:17). With war-like preparations of heart, the Christians, in adoration of their King, adhere to the Cross which does violence to all flesh (Gal. 2:20, 5:24, 6:14)! With moral hatred, the King’s Army marches onward to kill all flesh (1 Cor. 15:50, Lk. 14:26, Jn. 12:25, Gal. 5:24)! The BATTLE rages in present-tense combat: Heaven against Earth (Col. 3:5, Rom. 8:13, Php. 3:19, Col. 3:1-3), Light against Darkness (Rom. 13:12, Col. 1:12, Eph. 5:8, 6:12, 2 Cor. 6:14), the Spirit against the Flesh (Rom. 8:1, 4, 6, Gal. 5:16, 24-25, Jn. 1:12-13, 2 Cor. 7:1), the sons of God against the sons of Adam (Gen. 6:2, 1 Cor. 15:22, Rom. 5:12, Gal. 4:29, Rom. 8:7), the family of God against the family of Satan (1 Jn. 3:10, Matt. 10:25, 2 Cor. 6:17-18), and the twice-born against the once-born (John 3:3, 5, 1 Cor. 2:14, Eph. 2:2-3). The CODE of the King’s Army lives and fights so that the Clean prevails against the Unclean and Virginity prevails against Adultery (2 Cor. 11:2, James 4:4, Rev. 14:4). Therefore, like battles of old wherein all Canaanites needed to die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament, all flesh must die in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament. And, like as the climactic finality of redemption in the Consummation wherein, it was written, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:20), even so, now, the same rule applies in the Church of the New Testament (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:24). This means that the Kingdom’s soldiers are employed with mercilessness and pitilessness to annihilate the flesh unto death for the establishment of Kingdom-wide or Church-wide holiness and purity (in what is called “the perfection holiness” – 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1), and, all of this, for the obtaining of the promises of salvation, or else, like of old, the Church will suffer the promises of damnation decreed by scripture as a threat to all violators of Church Purity. You see, perfect parallelism resounds!
The City of Jerusalem in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of The City of Jerusalem depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who are the children of The City of Jerusalem in the New Testament are saved (Gal. 4:25-26, Heb. 12:22), persecuted (Heb. 13:13-14, 2 Thess. 1:4-5), strangers to the earth (1 Jn. 2:6, 16, 4:5, 5:19, Titus 2:11-14), lights in the world (Php. 2:15), and rulers in the world to come (Mk. 10:30, Lk. 18:30, Heb. 2:5, 6:5). In harmony with this identity, and notably, the entire lifespan of these individuals on earth is called sojourning, mere sojourning! They are sojourners! Rightly said, because these people are citizens of the Heavenly City, Jerusalem (1 Pet. 1:17, Heb. 12:22, Mk. 6:21), the same place where they long to be (Ps. 137:1-9, Isa. 62:6)! You see, they “desire a better country”, “wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Matt. 10:32-40, Heb. 11:16). They are godly because they are born of the City of God (Ps. 48:1, 8), and sinners are worldly because they are born of the World (1 Jn. 4:5-6, 2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 6:12).

New men belong to a New World, the “New Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:2), the “New Heaven and a New Earth” (Rev. 21:1), where dwelleth Him who said, “Behold, I make all things NEW” (Rev. 21:5). Even so, God is “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” (Rev. 4:8), His Spirit is a “Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:8), and those that walk in Him are “holy” (Heb. 12:48), therefore they are not strangers, but citizens and friends of “the Holy City” (Rev. 21:2). None other “may enter in through the Gates into the City” (Rev. 22:14)! This holy people of the Church, they are not friends of the World nor are they adulterers against God (Jas. 4:4, 2 Cor. 11:2-4, Rev. 14:4), like all the disobedient children are (Eph. 2:2). They are, rather, friends of God and enemies of the devil (Jas. 2:23), and this is their strangeness (1 Pet. 4:1-4). They are “true worshippers” of God, having died to flesh and sin (2 Cor. Jn. 5:23, Php. 3:3, Rom. 8:13, 1 Cor. 1:29). These are heaven-born men and heavenly citizens who are free from iniquity! Therefore, they are recognizable men who are welcomed into the Heavenly Gates of Jerusalem (Lk. 13:24-30, Rev. 3:11-13). “Blessed” are these men, because they “do His commandments” (Rev. 22:14-15), scripture declares! All other men are illegals, foreigners and aliens, therefore they are unrecognizable to God and unwelcomed into the City of Jerusalem; they are eradicated, excommunicated, and non-existent in the Churches of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Consummation, even so let it be!
Mount Zion in the New Testament
The Church of the New Testament is identified and understood according to the rules of Mount Zion depicted in the Old Testament and the Consummation. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people which has ascended Mount Zion in the New Testament is Gentile-Israelite by race, stranger-free by law, ingratiated by unmerited favor, and godly-fearful by nature – therefore they are a holy people (Heb. 12:22, Ps. 24:3, Joel 3:15-17, Heb. 12:18-29, 1 Pet. 1:15-16) who does hear the voice of God from the standpoint of a superior Mountain than Sinai, and they are obedient (Heb. 12:25)! And, in like manner to Sinai, they eat and drink on the Mountain while they see God and live. What a Glory! Harmoniously, the people who were and will be on Mount Zion in the Church of the Old Testament and at the Consummation do, right now, have the same identity in the Church of the New Testament.
The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God
Having just examined the geographically larger locations and the assemblies and congregations of the populous therein, our study narrows down to The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God. The aforementioned places are the same place, but in four different stages of Old Testament redemption. For this reason, our study in this Chapter is more focused and less diverse; meaning, we will examine the rules of holiness pertaining to this location in the Old Testament, in one section, and the rules of holiness pertaining to this location in the New Testament and the Consummation, in another section, instead of using three sections like the former Chapters.
In the Old Testament
The people of the Church in the Old Testament were identifiable by the rules enforced at this location in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. Needless to say, the assembly or congregation of people who were permitted court or building entrance to The Temple, Tabernacle, House, & Sanctuary of God in the Old Testament were HOLY unto the Lord. For this reason, the Sanctuary was exceedingly “amiable” (Ps. 84:1): a place of revelatory, eye-opening experiences where men saw God (Ps. 63:2), His ways, works, and purposes (Ps. 68:24, 77:13), and therefore all saints were compelled to look thereto for help from God (Ps. 20:2). Those individuals who entered and abode therein were blessed, chosen, and caused to approach (Ps. 65:4, Jer. 11:15) unto an otherwise unapproachable place – HOLY PLACE – where everything must be “cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary” (2 Chron. 30:19).

Revealing the commonplace introspection that every individual underwent before entering this place, the LORD questioned: “Who then is able to stand before Me?” Even so, God made sure that all impure people were petrified to violate the purity of this place (by immediate and inescapable judgments: Job 41:10, Jer. 7:1-15, Ezek. 9:1-8). Therefore, let us understand! God’s immediate Presence was the people’s sanctification (Ex. 23:20-21, Deut. 4:7, Ex. 33:14, 16, 34:9-10). The place where God and the people met was a “Sanctuary” because of the sanctification of the people and place (Ex. 15:17, 25:8, 20:24). A Sanctuary is a “cleansed” place (Ezek. 45:18) which was ruled by “Laws of purification” (2 Chron. 30:19). Such a place as this required ministers (“them that keep the charge of the Sanctuary” -Num. 3:32), and they too, like the actual place, needed to be purified, cleansed, and sanctified.

The ministers of the Sanctuary were the Levites (which included the Priests). They were the foremost class of holy persons who were, above all, called to stand before God. The Levites, who entered His “Sanctuary” (Ezek. 44:15-16), and the prophets, who stood before God’s special presence (Jer. 15:1, 19), were the shepherds and pastors of God’s people, and according to scripture they were “chosen” for this office because they were “like” God (“a chosen man” - Jer. 15:19, 49:19, 50:44, 2 Chron. 30:22). Everything done at this place were deeds done directly and immediately before God’s Face (Lev. 20:3), thus when or if a Priest or Levite sinned in this place it defiled the Sanctuary and profaned the Name of God (Lev. 20:3, 7-8). Ultimately, if the iniquity was not cleansed it must be eradicated by death (Lev. 20:14). Likewise, the Priesthood could not draw near without the associated “putting off”, “putting on”, and “washing” regulations (Lev. 6:10-11, 24, 26, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:9-10, Rom. 13:12, 14). Concerning other ceremonial qualifications, the sons of Aaron were permanently disqualified from the priesthood if they had a “blemish” or were “blind” (Lev. 21:18, 23), and they were temporarily forbidden from priestly orders as long as they were “unclean” (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3, 22:9). Acts of delinquency there did defile the Temple of God and result in death (Lev. 22:3, 9, 1 Cor. 3:17). The Priests and Levites existed in part to instruct all other Israelites to put a difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane (Ezek. 22:26, 44:14, 2 Chron. 23:19, 30:22, Neh. 8:7-8, 8:3, Ezek. 44:23-24), because on an individual or nationwide scale of consequence, a violation there resulted in death and annihilation everywhere (Num. 3:38, 19:13, 17:12-13, 18:5, Zeph. 3:4, Jer. 23:11, Ezek. 44:7-9, 8:6, 24:21, 5:11, Lam. 1:10, 2:7, 20, 4:1, Isa. 63:18, Ps. 79:1, 74:1-8, Zech. 9:8-9, 14:20-21)! Hence the terrifying question, my reader! “LORD, WHO shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? WHO shall dwell in Thy holy hill” (Psalms 15:1)?

Marvel at this, and be astonished! NO wicked persons were allowed inside the courts or walls of God’s House (Lev. 20:14)! Can you name the names, my reader? In an OT sense, that is, “no strangers” (Num. 3:38, Ezek. 44:7-9), no “Canaanite” (Zech. 14:20-21), no “oppressor” (Zech. 9:8-9), no “uncircumcised” (Ezek. 44:7-9) were allowed in God’s House! Whether “the enemy” (Ps. 74:1-8, Lam. 2:7), Israel’s “adversaries” (Isa. 63:18, Lam. 1:10), “the heathen” (Ps. 79:1, Lam. 1:10), those unclean by dead bodies (Num. 19:11, 13), or simply put – the “unclean” (2 Chron. 23:19) – all were expelled from the hallowed honor granted to redeemed humanity in that, on earth, they were enabled to stand before God’s immediate and special presence which abode in the Temple! Giving further language to the exclusivity of The Priesthood in Old Testament, these were terms of acceptance or rejection: Aaron’s sons who were “holy” (Lev. 21:7), “anointed” (Lev. 21:12), and “washed” (Ex. 30:20-21, 40:12, Lev. 16:24, 26), having “put on his linen garment” (Lev. 6:10-11) – therefore they were enabled to minister in the Sanctuary, and none else! On the contrary, if any of Aaron’s sons were defiled by dead bodies (Lev. 21:11, Num. 19:13), or otherwise, had “a blemish”, is “a blind man” (Lev. 21:18, 23), or in any regard, had “uncleanness” upon him (Lev. 7:20, 21:17-23, 22:3), they were disallowed entrance into the Sanctuary of God. Ceremonially they needed to be “purified”, “sprinkled”, and in “separation” (Num. 19:13). Under the pain of death, God warned: “Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from My Presence, I am the LORD” (Lev. 22:3).

My reader, if these rules of holiness regulated the people who attended or abode at this location in the Church of the Old Testament, rules which were but shadows of future realities to come, according to scripture, should we expect the New Testament inspired writers to identify and describe Christianity in the aforementioned terms and the like? Of course!
In the New Testament & at the Consummation
The people of the Church in the New Testament and at the Consummation are and will be identifiable by the rules enforced at this location in a strict and exclusive way, naming names. The Church of the New Testament and the Consummation is identified and understood according to the rules of The Temple, Tabernacle, House, and Sanctuary of God in the Old Testament. According to Doctrinal Rule, this means that the population of people who enter or abide at this location will be identified and codified with the same terms depicted in the Church of the Old Testament, with equal exclusivity.

In the clean place of the New Testament Church, the sanctification of an earthly place happens whenever the sanctified people of the Church do gather together, and wherever they gather does become a sanctified place because of the presence of the Sanctifying One: Jesus Christ said, “there am I in the midst of them” (Isa. 8:14, Ezek. 11:16, Matt. 18:18-20, Heb. 10:25, Eph. 4:4-6, 1 Cor. 1:30, Php. 1:27, Acts 4:24, Matt. 6:10). Special audience with Christ in this way cannot be apprehended without the Code of the Priesthood in order and without defilement (2 Cor. 6:17-7:1, Isa. 56:7, Matt. 21:13): holy washings, holy waters, blood-sprinkling, beautiful garments, and undefiled conduct (Heb. 10:19-25, Heb. 10:22, 1 Pet. 1:2, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, Isa. 52:1, Rev. 19:7, Eph. 4:26-27, 1 Cor. 3:17, Rev. 3:4). This is because, notably, an order of “Royal Priesthood” continues in the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:9-10, Heb. 7:3, 1 Pet. 2:4-5)!

Therefore, the priests are required to keep the “putting on” and “putting off” regulations necessary for ministry to the King (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27), which means: according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put off” the “old man” results in a “putting away” of: lying, anger, stealing, corrupt communication, bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking, malice, and un-forgiveness (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Ephesians 4:22-24, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “created in righteousness and true holiness”, and thus the man speaks the truth, works hard, gives to the needy, and with edifying speech, is kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (see Eph. 4:22-32); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put off the old man” results in putting off of: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, and idolatry (see Col. 3:5-17); according to Colossians 3:9-10, to “put on the new man” results in a renewal of the entire-man, in thought, word, and deed, because the new man is “the image of Him that created Him”, which means that “Christ is all, and in all”, therefore the man is merciful, kind, humble, meek, longsuffering, forbearing, forgiving, charitable, peaceful, thankful, and because he is of a continual mind to meditate on wisdom in his own personal time, he zealously pursues opportunity to teach and sing to others (see Col. 3:5-17)! Let The Code of the Priesthood be understood by all! Those who are arrayed in Christ, these are Priests! And this Christ is, according to the aforementioned beauties of holiness, the Priestly Garment of Righteousness whereby NT saints find boldness to draw near, attend, and minister within the New Testament House of God!

Thereby being enabled to drawn near, it is for ministry (1 Cor. 9:13, Heb. 13:10, 1 Cor. 5:7): the offering of incense (Ps. 141:2, Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4, Isa. 56:7, 1 Tim. 2:1-8, Eph. 6:18-20, Jude 1:20-21) and priestly sacrifices (individually: Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20, 1 Cor. 15:31, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Heb. 13:15-16; corporately: Rom. 15:15-19, Php. 2:17-18, 1 Cor. 10:16-17; ceremonial qualifications: “holy”, “acceptable”, “perfect”, “without blemish”, and “sanctified”). All others who dare to draw near are forbidden, unacceptable, and unholy invaders into the NT Holy Place, a crime justly punished in the Old Testament and terrifyingly possible in the New Testament (2 Chron. 26:16-21, Num. 16:35-38, Eph. 2:18-19, Ps. 51:15-17, Prov. 15:8, Isa. 29:13, Prov. 15:29, Heb. 13:10, Prov. 28:9, Lev. 10:1-4, Num. 16:7, 26-27, 31:35, 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1). From another typological vein which is of equal significance to the holy requirements of the Priesthood, and terrifyingly serious, is the fact that Christians are likened to and have become living stones of the Temple of God in the New Testament. Speaking of this, the inspired writers boldly declared that Jesus Christ has become “the Chief Corner Stone” (Eph. 2:20) for the New Testament Sanctuary, and those persons who assemble together within this “Spiritual House” are the “Holy Priesthood”, who also are “as lively stones” “framed together” (see Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-5, Ps. 118:19-24, Isa. 8:13-22, 1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17, Heb. 3:6). As the doctrine unfolds with greater and greater significance, it is evident that the saintliness of the Priesthood is a code of equal strictness to the sanctity of the stones of the Temple.

In other words, the stones must be “chosen”, “elect”, “precious” (1 Pet. 2:4-8). By essence, this means that they must be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual, and heavenly (2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 3:16-17, Col. 3:10, Rom. 2:7, 1 Cor. 15:42-50, Rev. 21:9-22), instead of corruptible, vile, weak, carnal, and earthly (1 Cor. 15:35-50, Php. 3:21, Rom. 7:24, 2 Cor. 5:1). This means, in other words, they are of an acceptable grade, either gold, silver, or precious stones (2 Chron. 24:14, Lam. 4:2, Mal. 3:3, Rom. 9:21, 1 Thess. 5:23), and not an unacceptable grade, which is wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects (1 Cor. 3:12-15, 2 Tim. 2:19-22). If any preacher or person [stone] of the Temple of God is a defilement of wood, hay, stubble, or other earthly-objects, God warns, “him shall God DESTROY” (1 Cor. 3:17). Christians are commanded to keep the House of God without defilement through a purging of all unacceptable stones (2 Tim. 2:21). If saint-to-saint judgment fails to do the purging (2 Tim. 2:21), God brings the FIRE: a Salvific Fire. Some will survive and some will not (Prov. 17:3, Matt. 3:11, 1 Cor. 3:13-15, Num. 31:21-24, Amos 4:11, Jer. 6:28-30, 9:1-9, Isa. 41:21, 48:8-12, Ps. 66:8-15, Ezek. 22:17-22). If the defilement of the Temple pervades the whole House, God will immerse the whole House in what is called, the Baptism of Fire (Lk. 3:16-17, Mal. 3:2-3, Isa. 1:25, Ezek. 20:38, Jer. 6:28-30, Amos 9:8-10, Zech. 13:8-9). Let us understand, therefore, that God will have His House HALLOWED. God’s chosen people, which are as stones, will be a “peculiar treasure” of a holy and glorious grade, a grade representative of the Lord’s Image (1 Pet. 2:9, Ex. 19:5-6, Deut. 14:2, 26:18, Eph. 2:19), or else, my reader, He will burn, refine, melt, purify, purge, sift, fan, sever, baptize, and those who are imperishable will be thus revived.

Henceforth, with the scriptural testimony laid-forth in Chapters 15, 16, & 17 in due consideration, overwhelming evidence begs from the Church one unwavering conclusion. Masterfully, inspired scripture does testify to the doctrines of Church Holiness in every stage of progressive redemption with perfect parallelism, naming names. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches” (Rev. 2:7). Is your name on the list?
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