"I Answered Thee in the Secret Place of Thunder (Psalm 81:7)."
During end times God will manifest his thunder, he will cause his lightenings to be witnessed, and he will refresh believers with his rain: but the fulfillment of God's word will start with his thunder. "God thunders marvelously with his voice (Job 37:5)." God's thunder resonates through the voices of the living, but it is also heard in the testimonies of his ancient prophets. James and John were called "the sons of thunder," because their epistles were purposed to accompany God's lightening (Mark 3:17). Before listening to the thunder of James and John, consider God's parable meanings of the words, 'lightening' and 'rain'. The parable word 'lightening' refers to the light of God's presence as it goes swiftly out unto his people through the teachings of priests who have humbled themselves and turned from religion's errs, to teach the truths of the covenant message. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18)." "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (2Corinthians 11:14)." "As the lightening, that lightens out of one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day (Luke 17:24)." "He maketh lightnings for the rain (Psalms 135:7)." The parable word 'rain' refers to refreshing understanding that comes down from the Father, as God's hidden truths are revealed unto the hearts and minds of his elect (Deuteronomy 11:14; Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:23; James 5:7). "My doctrine shall drop as the rain (Deuteronomy 32:2)."
The thunder of James and John is the counsel of their epistles, which was purposed for the latter days. Let's begin exploring these blessing by first looking at works of John. John's epistles were overlooked and disregarded because of his use of names, such as Gaius, Demetrius, and the elect lady. These names were intentionally introduced because they caused believers to lightly esteem the counsel which was written there, thus reserving it for end times. John left important clues for opening the understanding of all three of his epistles in an informative section which is recorded in the first epistle. This little section is of vital importance, because it correctly identifies each of the three intended recipients. For lack of a perfect way of referring to this informative section, we will call it, a salutation (1John 2:12-14). The first epistle of John was written unto newly converted believers, and he addressed them by the name of, "little children." John's second epistle is addressed to, "the elect lady and her children," but according to the salutation in the first epistle, John's second epistle was actually written unto young men, and his third epistle was written unto fathers, which is another way of saying, unto priests.
John used the names of these recipients like parables, so that when believer's correctly identified just who the epistle was counseling, their understanding of the epistle was perfected. "Little children" are believers who know the Father, but their religion had dissuaded them against knowing Jesus. "I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father (1John 2:13)." Within the salutation, John delivered a message unto these children: “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake (1John 2:12).” These words were purposed to strengthen and encourage these believers. John boasted on the little children, insinuating that they had overcome the stumbling blocks of their religion. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1John 4:4)." The counsel of their epistle introduces these new converts unto meaningful things concerning Jesus. “That ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (1John 5:13).” Their epistle contains instructions on how to differentiate between true believers and seducers; and it delivers strong exhortation concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit which works mightily in believers who keep Jesus' commandments, anointing them, and teaching them all things (1John 2:27).
The second epistle of John is written to "young men." This is another parable name which discretely refers to believers who have overcome the stumbling blocks of their religion, but the difference between little children and young men, is that, the young men are familiar with Jesus's doctrine. “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one (1John 2:14).” The name "young men" compliments this group of believers, because it suggests that they already have a good sense of scriptural understanding. "Be not children in understanding, ...in understanding be men (1Corinthians 14:20)." Even writing the greeting, "unto the elect lady and her children" implies and suggests that this is counsel for the converted church (2John 1). This epistle instructs its recipients to persevere in love, and to uphold God's commandments, but the overriding reason for writing the second epistle is to warn the church against receiving believers who are not honoring Jesus' doctrine: they are transgressors, and therefore the church is not to receive them. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and they bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house (2John 9-10)."
The third epistle of John was written unto priests: “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning (1John 2:13).” The purpose of this letter is to instruct priests to receive God's messengers. "We ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth (3John 8)." In this epistle, John advertised an account of a prideful leader who refused to receive John, as well as some of the other apostles of his day. He had not only disrespected God's messengers, but he had commanded his congregation not to hear them, and anyone who disregarded his commandment was cast out of his church. The reproach of this man's pride and arrogance, epitomizes the wickedness of mistreating God's messengers. It is an evil transgression, for every believer is commanded by God to receive, and to love one another. It is beneficial for unbelieving priests to consider John's counsel, along with the implied meaning of his words: "If I come, I will remember his deeds (3John 10)." "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God (3John 11)."
Religion has deceived God's people, and it is going to take time to convert everyone from its laws, unto the truth of God's word. The days wherein believers are adapting and converting their understandings will be a time of trouble and confusion, because righteousness and wickedness will prevail on both sides of the disagreement (Daniel 12:1). John delivered certain truths which show believers how to correctly identify godliness in others. The first truth regarding godliness, is that believers must avoid being prejudiced or deceived by their former ways, and discern with their own eyes, and see whether or not the people are behaving themselves in accordance with God's word. “If you know that he is righteous, ye know every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (1John 2:29).” Are they exhibiting a spirit of love for all believers? “God is love; he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1John 4:16).” “Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him (1John 3:15).” Another way in which believers are to identify godliness, is to see whether or not the people in question are believing and teaching that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God (1John 4:2).”
There is a verse written in the second epistle of John which requires special attention: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God (2John 9).” Before believers can fully understand the meaning of this verse, they must perceive that in order for transgression to occur someone has to be fully informed, and afterwards if they ignore the word of God and if they break his commandments, then they are transgressing. Wherefore in order for a person to transgress the doctrine of Christ, that person must first know the doctrine of Christ (1John 3:4). So, to paraphrase the afore mentioned verse, believers who know Jesus' doctrine, and who knowingly break his commandments, do not have the Holy Spirit. This truth is evidenced in words which Jesus spoke wherein he magnified the importance of keeping his commandments: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him... We will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:21, 14:23)." If Christians are breaking and ignoring God's commandments, then they are spiritually dead. "There is a sin unto death (1John 5:16)."
Overcoming, and overturning religion is achieved by correctly assessing the rolls of both the Father, and the Son. There are therefore certain truths which Islam and Judaism must accept; and there is a certain misunderstanding that Christianity must relinquish. “Hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us (1John 3:24).” Islam and Judaism must accept and promote God's truths concerning Jesus, as well as his truths concerning the Holy Spirit, who is a witness. Every person within these faiths must be informed that God's people who keep his commandments through Jesus Christ, receive eternal life while they yet walk the earth; for, according to the word of God, everyone who is quickened by his Holy Spirit is already experiencing eternal life (1John 4:13). The Holy Spirit is a rejoicing witnesses which testifies truth, and confirms the souls of God's elect (1John 2:27). “It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth (1John 5:6).”
John delivered a very strong message concerning the Holy Spirit: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son (1John 5:10).” This testimony is for little children so that they might know that there is a wondrous gift which is given exclusively unto persons who believe on Jesus, and who trust that his doctrine is of God. “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father (John 5:23).” “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1John 5:12).” This does not mean that believers of Jewish and Islamic faiths have no part in eternal life, but it does mean that apart from Jesus' doctrine believers of these faiths did not enter into eternal life until after they were physically dead. Anyone who objects to this truth needs to hear Jesus' response to the rich young ruler, when he asked Jesus, saying, "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life (Matthew 19:16)?" Jesus answered him saying that he should obey God's commandments, period!! After receiving that answer, the ruler responded saying that he had kept God's commandments, and then he pressed Jesus further, saying, "What lack I yet?" What followed was a teaching that brings believers unto perfection: Jesus, in essence, suggested that this man should lay down his life and follow him. If this man had complied with Jesus' request, then he would have received Holy Spirit while he yet walked the earth. Nevertheless, this rich young ruler who had obeyed God's commandments, did receive his inheritance after his death, by the promise of God (Matthew 19:17-21).
It will be necessary for believers of the Christian faith to acknowledge their religious mistakes too. They will need to broadcast the truth concerning the salvation of their Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters, and they will be required to acknowledge their new covenant. They will also need to accept and promote the truth that Jesus is not God, but he is the Son of God. Evidence of this truth is eluded to in the words: “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believes Jesus is the Son of God (1John 5:5).” Jesus published evidence that he was not God when he confessed and said, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God (John 20:17).” If Jesus' words are not enough to convince Christians that he is not God, then ponder another testimony, “When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself, be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all (1Corinthians 15:28).” Don't let Jesus' words "I and the Father are one" be a stumbling block against you. Jesus is not God, just as I am not my husband. Every testimony wherein Jesus made himself equal with God, Jesus was confirming and concluding that all of his teachings, and all his actions, were in absolute agreement with his Father, and that the Spirit of God was within him.
“When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1John 3:2).” Faithful believers are like Jesus in many ways. One of those ways is that we are called the sons of God. Find evidence of this in the verses: "Jesus is the son of God (1John 4:15)." "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God (John 1:12)." A second way in which believers are like Jesus, is that they are both called light. "I am the light of the world (John 8:12)," "Ye are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)." Light has everything to do with making the Father known unto the world. “Whatsoever doth make manifest is light (Ephesians 5:13).” One final way in which believers are like Jesus, is that both are love, for when believers preform acts of compassion and works of love for the kingdom, then they too are showing God's love unto the world. “As he is, so are we in this world (1John 4:17).”
Jesus referred himself as a lamb, and as a door, and as a good shepherd. Each of these names create an awareness of the presence of God's Holy Spirit within other believers. Jesus is the lamb through followers that put their blind trust in him, and rely upon him for their salvation (John 1:29; Romans 4:5). Jesus is the good shepherd through his followers who give themselves unto the teaching ministry (John 10:11). Jesus is the door through prophets and messengers who lay down their lives in order to perfect our understanding, and to broadcast the way of salvation unto the world (John 10:9). During end times, the world needs more doors. “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth (John 18:37).” “Ye shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning (John 15:27).”
Now let's look at the thunder of the prophet James. His thunder is called, The law of liberty. “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty (James 2:12).” The law of liberty has everything to do with justification, and justification is important because it is through justification that believers will escape God's judgments (Zephaniah 2:3; Revelation 21:7-8). “It is God that justifieth (Romans 8:33).” Justification is different from salvation, in that justification requires a believer to actively participate in promoting God's kingdom message: it is not about preforming good deeds. "By deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight (Romans 3:20)." See how that verse seemingly disagrees with the rest of James' message, thus confirming that it is only the acts which are purposed to help God forward his end time message, that count towards justification. "Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2:13)."
James encouraged believers to do works and speak truths which insured their justification. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).” The principal logic of the law of liberty is that if a believer truly believes God, if they honestly hope for his will to be done, then there ought to be some sort of verifiable evidence that their faith and hope exists, either by their conversation, or by their actions. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:17).” “You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only (James 2:24).”
There is a certain verse of scripture which clearly testifies that believers who have obtained the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus (1Corinthians 6:11). This testimony needs clarification: for this appointment is a predicted justification because of the anointing. As in the case of every believer, the absolute certainty of whether or not Jesus' followers will escape the pestilence, is contingent upon their forthcoming words, as well as their actions. “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:37).” “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36).”
Within his epistle James put forth a riddle: Can a fountain yield both fresh water and bitter (James 3:11)? This riddle has everything to do with the church’s transformation process. "Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain yield both salt water and fresh (James 3:12)." To fully understand this riddle, believers must first interpret the meanings of its parable words. The parable word "vine" pertains to believers who are in Christ, but they are either ignorant of, or unmoved by the covenant message. The parable word "fig" pertains to congregations whose leaders are promoting some of the truths of the covenant message, however the controversial parts of the message are being withheld from the congregation. When leaders promote all of God's message, a final transformation will occur. "I am like a green olive tree in the house of God (Psalm 52:8)." The answer to this riddle is that every newly informed believing leader must press onward. When we cast out religion's falsehoods and teach God's truths, then our congregation will be anointed by the holy Spirit, for fresh water is necessary for producing olive berries (Ezekiel 47:9; Revelation 22:1). "Salt is good: but if salt have lost His savor... men cast it out (Luke 14:34-35)."
You can see that the law of liberty is important truth for end times. “Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man is blessed in his deed (James 1:25).” Note the promise of blessings, but more importantly, see how the word "continueth" confirms yet again that the promised blessing are contingent upon not turning back (Matthew 24:17-18). “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).” Therefore, trust God, rely upon his word, and press on. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded (Philippians 3: 14-15).”
“Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth (see James 5:4).” Believers who are working to destroy religion and are helping to promote the covenant message are God's reapers, and God hears their cries. He knows the problems that they suffer because of prideful authorities. “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).” Reaping is a form of justification. “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap (Revelation 14:15).” Everyone who joins in the battle and works to spread news of the kingdom message, has God's promise of reward. “He that reaps receiveth wages, and gathered fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together (John 4:36).”
Believe God, and fear not. “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God (James 2:23).” If we believe God and trust in his word, then his instructions will be completed, and perfected, and taught, and all believers will learn how to be justified, so that they too can avoid God's wrath. "They that understand among the people shall instruct many (Daniel 11:33)."
