God has an agenda. “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant (Luke 1:72).” The promises of end times must be fulfilled, wherefore God will perform the miraculous signs and wonders that will shake even the powers of heaven (Matthew 24:29). Great healings, as well as other tremendous signs took place in Jesus' day, but the signs and wonders which are prophesied for end times are likened to that of Moses’ days. In those days God revealed himself to Israel by sending great plagues upon Egypt, and he parted the Red Sea and brought his children safely through it, and then he allowed the sea to destroy their enemies. After Israel witnessed all of these miracles, God turned and wiped out those people among them that ungratefully refused to believe his prophet, and accept his word. However far removed these miracles may seem, they are relevant to end times. The historic portions of scripture are recorded for our edification, and they are patterns which help believers discern the future.
When Moses prophesied about the tribulation and the required obedience of end times, he encouraged Israel to prayerfully turn unto God, and think upon the steadfastness of God's mercy and forgiveness, as well as upon the promises that God gave unto the forefathers. “When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them (Deuteronomy 4:30-31)”
Moses prophesied that there would be day in which Israel would again see God taking a nation out of a nation by mighty signs and miracles, like the miracles that they saw in Egypt. When Israel saw these mighty signs and wonders, she was to perceive and know that God was speaking to her, and Moses encouraged her to follow the Lord's instructions. “Hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee (from Deuteronomy 4:34-36).” The people of Israel are to take heed and obey God's instructions after they see God's mighty signs, and after they witness the terrors, and the wars.
God is going to bring about these mighty signs and wonders to establish the new covenant (Psalms 107:13). “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and I will make them lie down safely. And I will even betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord (Hosea 2:18-20).”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (Matthew 11:29).” These words were spoken by Jesus Christ, and they are our new covenant. The new covenant was a mystery that was kept hidden for the latter days, however, evidence of its mysterious elusiveness was prophesied by a psalmist: “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant (Psalms 25:14).” The new covenant works like a marriage covenant. Believers wishing to unite with the spirit of God must vow to learn of Jesus Christ, and if they that keep that vow, then the Holy Spirit of God will unite with their spirit, and the two of shall become one flesh. Christianity was unaware of its participation in this covenant, but all Christians who learned of Jesus, and who kept the commandments, were saved by it (Isaiah 42:6).
All of the old covenants are about to be dissolved. "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13)." “If the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:7-8).”
God's new covenant will crown Jesus Christ, the great High Priest over all believers (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:10). Under the old covenants, ordained priests were required to offer a sacrifice for their own sins, and then afterwards they were required to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1-3). According to that law, Christ, who had no sin, would still be required to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer (Hebrews 8:3)." The offering that Christ offers for the sins of the people, is the works of his body, the church, for his people preformed righteous works which were done in order to make God known to the nations (1Corinthians 12:13; Hebrews 10:5). Their sacrifices were acceptable, and they were well pleasing unto God (Philippians 4:18).
The laws of sacrifice are changing under the new covenant: God is taking away the need for priests to offer sacrifices for their own sins, as well as for the sins for the people. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law (Hebrews 7:12)." In other words, priests won't have to sacrifice their lives in order to cause believers to know the Lord. The new covenant will teach all believers how to receive the holy Spirit, and it will insure that all believers are being taught by the Lord. "They shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest (Hebrews 8:11)."
“He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and obligation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27).” We are already in the midst of the week in which God is confirming the covenant message, therefore God has already caused the sacrifices and the obligations to cease. Now which ceased, is the works that righteous believers were doing in order to strengthen religion. According to the afore mentioned verse, God has already brought spiritual death upon congregations whose leaders ignored the covenant message, and have continued to uphold religion's traditional teachings: they are desolate. Desolation will remain upon them until the prophesied pestilence of correction is poured upon these priests (Revelation 14:10).
“O Lord... have respect for thy covenant: for the dark places of earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name (Psalms 74:20-21).” By orchestrating end times in this way, God made it possible for the faithful believers of every religion to come and learn of Jesus Christ, without shame. Mercy and grace will be lavished upon believers of every faith when they acknowledge that Jesus' blood established all of God's covenants (Hebrews 8:12; 10:29). “Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little (Psalms 2:12).”
“Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto (Galatians 3:15).” This verse is implying that although the new covenant is a prophesied message, it will be confirmed by the certainty of God's verification. God will protect all believers who help to forward the covenant message, and through their faith the new covenant will be established. “Be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them (Jeremiah 10:2).” “He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (Psalms 107:20-22).” The forthcoming signs and wonders are something to be praised, for they mark the end of religion's reign on earth, and the beginning of God's peace among the nations (Psalms 37:11).
Call upon God and ask him to give you understanding for end times, for our God
is good, and he is powerful, and he is about to achieve the impossible! “We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned (Revelation 11:17).”
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Christmas and the Blessed Hope
Jesus Christ is the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the author and finisher of our faith. These expressions foreswear the inevitability of his return. God's people should not only be anticipating his return, but they should also be looking for the blessed hope. “Looking for that blessed hope, ‘and’ the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).”
The mystery of the blessed hope was prophesied by the apostle Paul (Colossians 1:23). “We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24).” One clue into the mystery of our blessed hope, is that believers are to be hoping for something that they haven’t seen. “If we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait of it (Romans 8:25).” Our blessed hope is for the redemption of the body. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).” If you think redemption is passé, think again.
Christ is our redeemer, but the redemption hasn’t happened. “You were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of your inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).” Redemption happens when the Islamic, Jewish and Christian faiths, unite their understandings and their hopes together as one. Paul put it this way, “Not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23).” Redemption is about Christ claiming his bride, and all believers are to be hoping for that day. "We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness that is by faith (Galatians 5:5)."
Jesus' death was not only for Christianity, but his death was for the iniquities and the transgressions of all of Abraham's seed. “That by means of his death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15).” Christians are fellow-heirs with Jewish and Islamic believers (Ephesians 3:6). The Islamic and Jewish faiths are receiving their inheritance by promise, while Jesus' followers are receiving their inheritance by hope. “Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:12-13).” The blood of Jesus' sufferings, cleanses Christianity. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).” Jews and Muslims are cleansed by the blood of Christ's death. “Christ hath made of one blood all nations (Acts 17:26).” “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:14-16).” Jesus' second coming will forever abolish the laws of every religion, and it will unite believers together in one understanding, thus making peace within the elect.
There is one hope of the believer's calling. “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in the one hope of your calling (Ephesians 4:4).” Paul prophesied details of the believer's calling, and prayed that men everywhere might know the hope of their calling (Ephesians 1:18): “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ (Acts 26:18).” In other words, when believers are hoping for the redemption of the body, what is really hoping for is the salvation of religion's deceived people. There are believers within every religion that did believe God, and that have kept his ways, therefore God is fulfilling his promise to bring redemption. Redemption is about knowing how to lead others in truth, and the new covenant will cause believers to know how to acurately tell others how that they too can receive salvation, and inherit God's blessings. Receiving eternal life is marked by evidence: believers are to inherit a quickened spirit, which is the gift of God.“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father (Romans 15:6).”
Teaching the covenant message before the day of salvation will take patience, because God is changing something that everyone deems unchangeable. “The servant of the Lord must be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil (from 2Timothy 2:24-26)." Insulting and accusing one another, displeases God. "If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully (2Timothy 2:5)." Share the mystery of salvation boldly and without fear (Romans 12:1). “You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God… joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together (Romans 8:15-17).” The sufferings that believers suffer as they promote the covenant message will turn into blessings, because of their love for the Lord. "For as the sufferings of Christ abounded in us, so our consolation also abounded by Christ... As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation (2Corinthians 1:7)."
The hope of our calling will overturn religion, and it will change the world. Fear not, consult the scriptures: every time that God moved to do a new thing, his followers were called to fearlessly go from faith, to faith, and their acts were recorded for our edification. The difference between their decisions and those of end times, is that end time conversions are not going to be optional. God prophesied promises of reward to strengthen believers, and just as his promises stood firm through the challenges of our forefathers, so they shall stand firm through the challenges of end times.
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (Ephesians 5:14).” Help promote the covenant message and teach others how to receive the Holy Spirit. “So is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption… It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body (1Corinthians 15:42;15:44).” Then all God's people can receive God's gift of new life. “Neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being children of the resurrection (Luke 20:36).” “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God (1Peter 1:23).”
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me... even the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1)." The covenant message is the truth: Don't take it lightly. “It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they had known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them (2Peter 2:21).” “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done dispite to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29).”
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:13).”
The mystery of the blessed hope was prophesied by the apostle Paul (Colossians 1:23). “We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24).” One clue into the mystery of our blessed hope, is that believers are to be hoping for something that they haven’t seen. “If we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait of it (Romans 8:25).” Our blessed hope is for the redemption of the body. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).” If you think redemption is passé, think again.
Christ is our redeemer, but the redemption hasn’t happened. “You were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of your inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).” Redemption happens when the Islamic, Jewish and Christian faiths, unite their understandings and their hopes together as one. Paul put it this way, “Not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23).” Redemption is about Christ claiming his bride, and all believers are to be hoping for that day. "We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness that is by faith (Galatians 5:5)."
Jesus' death was not only for Christianity, but his death was for the iniquities and the transgressions of all of Abraham's seed. “That by means of his death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15).” Christians are fellow-heirs with Jewish and Islamic believers (Ephesians 3:6). The Islamic and Jewish faiths are receiving their inheritance by promise, while Jesus' followers are receiving their inheritance by hope. “Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:12-13).” The blood of Jesus' sufferings, cleanses Christianity. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).” Jews and Muslims are cleansed by the blood of Christ's death. “Christ hath made of one blood all nations (Acts 17:26).” “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:14-16).” Jesus' second coming will forever abolish the laws of every religion, and it will unite believers together in one understanding, thus making peace within the elect.
There is one hope of the believer's calling. “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in the one hope of your calling (Ephesians 4:4).” Paul prophesied details of the believer's calling, and prayed that men everywhere might know the hope of their calling (Ephesians 1:18): “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ (Acts 26:18).” In other words, when believers are hoping for the redemption of the body, what is really hoping for is the salvation of religion's deceived people. There are believers within every religion that did believe God, and that have kept his ways, therefore God is fulfilling his promise to bring redemption. Redemption is about knowing how to lead others in truth, and the new covenant will cause believers to know how to acurately tell others how that they too can receive salvation, and inherit God's blessings. Receiving eternal life is marked by evidence: believers are to inherit a quickened spirit, which is the gift of God.“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father (Romans 15:6).”
Teaching the covenant message before the day of salvation will take patience, because God is changing something that everyone deems unchangeable. “The servant of the Lord must be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil (from 2Timothy 2:24-26)." Insulting and accusing one another, displeases God. "If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully (2Timothy 2:5)." Share the mystery of salvation boldly and without fear (Romans 12:1). “You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God… joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together (Romans 8:15-17).” The sufferings that believers suffer as they promote the covenant message will turn into blessings, because of their love for the Lord. "For as the sufferings of Christ abounded in us, so our consolation also abounded by Christ... As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation (2Corinthians 1:7)."
The hope of our calling will overturn religion, and it will change the world. Fear not, consult the scriptures: every time that God moved to do a new thing, his followers were called to fearlessly go from faith, to faith, and their acts were recorded for our edification. The difference between their decisions and those of end times, is that end time conversions are not going to be optional. God prophesied promises of reward to strengthen believers, and just as his promises stood firm through the challenges of our forefathers, so they shall stand firm through the challenges of end times.
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (Ephesians 5:14).” Help promote the covenant message and teach others how to receive the Holy Spirit. “So is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption… It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body (1Corinthians 15:42;15:44).” Then all God's people can receive God's gift of new life. “Neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being children of the resurrection (Luke 20:36).” “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God (1Peter 1:23).”
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me... even the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1)." The covenant message is the truth: Don't take it lightly. “It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they had known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them (2Peter 2:21).” “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done dispite to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29).”
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:13).”
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Death, Hell, and the Power of Satan
Satan's name in prophesy represents priests who are shown the truth of God's word, yet they continue to promote the teachings of their religion. Until God arises to punish and correct them, priests will have the power to decide what their congregation will be taught (Jeremiah 36:23). This is Satan's power: and it is his decision, which is why Satan's power will affect the congregation. “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).”
“I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven (Luke 10:18).” According to the scriptures Satan will be cast out of heaven, so the question is, how will Satan be cast out of God's house? “How can Satan cast out Satan (Mark 3:23)?” As the Holy Spirit begins to spread the truth of the covenant message into the hearts of believing priests, they will perceive the truth, and they will rise up and promote it before their congregations. “If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end (Mark 3:26).” By shining forth the truth of God's word, believing priests will cause religion's mistakes to have an end. “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2Corinthians 11:14-15).”
If priests choose to serve religion and disregard the covenant message, they will lose their right to eat at God's table (Romans 10:3). “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle (Hebrews 13:10).” God will correct their rebellious ways. He will pour pestilence upon some of them, and others will cast out of his presence. Why are they rebelling against God's word, and why do they persist in provoking God to wrath? Was Christ's work in vain? God manifested Jesus and brought him forth a second time to cause believers to have victory over religion's mistakes. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8).” “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments (Ephesians 2:15).”
When Jesus walked the earth, he showed believers God's answer to the parable of Satan. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44)." In other words, Jesus allowed the rebuke of his words to verify that religious authorities and priests which walk in the lies and errs of religion, are those of whom the parable words, Satan, and the devil, apply. Think about it: many of the authorities and priests of Jesus' day were content with their common religious beliefs, therefore they set themselves against Jesus, and presumptuously believed that he was a false prophet who was misleading the people. Rather than studying God's word and listening to what Jesus had to say, these authorities sought to destroy Jesus' ability to persuade the people. “The scribes and chief priests sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine (Mark 11:18).” Jesus showed their hypocrisy before all people. “Ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham (John 8:40).” Through these occurrences Jesus prophesied that there are religious authorities and priests who do not know God, and they are so blinded by their religious beliefs that they do not fear disregarding the commandments of his word. “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15).” Jesus revealed that Satan and his angles, fear change. “I forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast you into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him (Luke 12:5).”
The parable title, "the order of Melchisedec" applies to the mindset of priests which deem religion's laws to be unchangeable. So long as priests believe this way, and so long as they continue to promote religion's laws, there was no reason for God to change the name which applied to their ways (Hebrews 7:11-12). When priests do change their minds, and when they begin to persuade believers that salvation is based upon believing and doing God's covenant, then all the laws concerning salvation will melt away, and all believers will know that there is only one unchangeable law that is necessary for salvation. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law (Hebrews 7:12)." When we promote the new covenant, then Jesus Christ will assume his rightful role as our great High Priest. “It is evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:15-16).” When salvation is based upon keeping covenant with God, it remains forever steadfast, endless and unchangeable: this victorious new law removes Satan's power to deceive, or to make mistakes. “There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof, for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did (Hebrews 7:18-19)."
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24)." Scripture refers to the act of abandoning personal comforts in order to serve the Lord, as death. "For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2Corinthians 4:11)." This type of death is sacrificial service, and it reaps the rewards of the Holy Spirit. Pastors will be delivered to this type of death as they assist others in understanding the covenant message. This is their service to God, and their service is sacrifice that is well pleasing to the Lord. "We are unto God a sweet savior of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish (2Corinthians 2:15)." Jesus Christ himself modeled this type of sacrificial behavior. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life… No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again (John 10:17-18).”
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Corinthians 15:26). Since the word, death, is associated with spiritual death, the interpretation of this verse could be that the last enemy to be destroyed is that of sacrificially working to declare Christ unto the nations. Whether it is destroying the lies which cause spiritual death, or whether it is destroying the need to declare God's word to the nations, end times is about obtaining victory over death! "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1Corinthians 15:54-55)?"
A good conclusion for this message is found in the book of Psalms. The setting of the second psalm depicts the times which surround the second coming of Christ. This is verified by the words, “God hath raised up Jesus again; as it is written in the second Psalm (Acts 13:33).” This psalm indicates that end times will be a time of confusion, wherein mighty leaders will be setting themselves against God, and against his word, and God will judge them for their mistake. "The kings of earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure (Psalms 2:4-5)." The psalmist concluded the psalm by insinuating that priests and their followers could avoid God's correction by receiving the instruction of his message. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalms 2:10-12)."
“I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven (Luke 10:18).” According to the scriptures Satan will be cast out of heaven, so the question is, how will Satan be cast out of God's house? “How can Satan cast out Satan (Mark 3:23)?” As the Holy Spirit begins to spread the truth of the covenant message into the hearts of believing priests, they will perceive the truth, and they will rise up and promote it before their congregations. “If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end (Mark 3:26).” By shining forth the truth of God's word, believing priests will cause religion's mistakes to have an end. “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2Corinthians 11:14-15).”
If priests choose to serve religion and disregard the covenant message, they will lose their right to eat at God's table (Romans 10:3). “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle (Hebrews 13:10).” God will correct their rebellious ways. He will pour pestilence upon some of them, and others will cast out of his presence. Why are they rebelling against God's word, and why do they persist in provoking God to wrath? Was Christ's work in vain? God manifested Jesus and brought him forth a second time to cause believers to have victory over religion's mistakes. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8).” “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments (Ephesians 2:15).”
When Jesus walked the earth, he showed believers God's answer to the parable of Satan. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44)." In other words, Jesus allowed the rebuke of his words to verify that religious authorities and priests which walk in the lies and errs of religion, are those of whom the parable words, Satan, and the devil, apply. Think about it: many of the authorities and priests of Jesus' day were content with their common religious beliefs, therefore they set themselves against Jesus, and presumptuously believed that he was a false prophet who was misleading the people. Rather than studying God's word and listening to what Jesus had to say, these authorities sought to destroy Jesus' ability to persuade the people. “The scribes and chief priests sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine (Mark 11:18).” Jesus showed their hypocrisy before all people. “Ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham (John 8:40).” Through these occurrences Jesus prophesied that there are religious authorities and priests who do not know God, and they are so blinded by their religious beliefs that they do not fear disregarding the commandments of his word. “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15).” Jesus revealed that Satan and his angles, fear change. “I forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast you into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him (Luke 12:5).”
The parable title, "the order of Melchisedec" applies to the mindset of priests which deem religion's laws to be unchangeable. So long as priests believe this way, and so long as they continue to promote religion's laws, there was no reason for God to change the name which applied to their ways (Hebrews 7:11-12). When priests do change their minds, and when they begin to persuade believers that salvation is based upon believing and doing God's covenant, then all the laws concerning salvation will melt away, and all believers will know that there is only one unchangeable law that is necessary for salvation. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law (Hebrews 7:12)." When we promote the new covenant, then Jesus Christ will assume his rightful role as our great High Priest. “It is evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:15-16).” When salvation is based upon keeping covenant with God, it remains forever steadfast, endless and unchangeable: this victorious new law removes Satan's power to deceive, or to make mistakes. “There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof, for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did (Hebrews 7:18-19)."
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24)." Scripture refers to the act of abandoning personal comforts in order to serve the Lord, as death. "For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2Corinthians 4:11)." This type of death is sacrificial service, and it reaps the rewards of the Holy Spirit. Pastors will be delivered to this type of death as they assist others in understanding the covenant message. This is their service to God, and their service is sacrifice that is well pleasing to the Lord. "We are unto God a sweet savior of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish (2Corinthians 2:15)." Jesus Christ himself modeled this type of sacrificial behavior. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life… No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again (John 10:17-18).”
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Corinthians 15:26). Since the word, death, is associated with spiritual death, the interpretation of this verse could be that the last enemy to be destroyed is that of sacrificially working to declare Christ unto the nations. Whether it is destroying the lies which cause spiritual death, or whether it is destroying the need to declare God's word to the nations, end times is about obtaining victory over death! "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1Corinthians 15:54-55)?"
A good conclusion for this message is found in the book of Psalms. The setting of the second psalm depicts the times which surround the second coming of Christ. This is verified by the words, “God hath raised up Jesus again; as it is written in the second Psalm (Acts 13:33).” This psalm indicates that end times will be a time of confusion, wherein mighty leaders will be setting themselves against God, and against his word, and God will judge them for their mistake. "The kings of earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure (Psalms 2:4-5)." The psalmist concluded the psalm by insinuating that priests and their followers could avoid God's correction by receiving the instruction of his message. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalms 2:10-12)."
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