Friday, May 15, 2015

The Day of Salvation

The words "day of salvation" best describe what will happen on the day that God arises and preforms his mighty signs and wonders. "In the day of salvation have I helped thee (Isaiah 49:8)." “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known (Isaiah 42:16).” The signs and wonders of that day will confirm the new way in which God wants his people to serve him from henceforth, and forevermore. After witnessing these signs and wonders, people, including believers, will turn unto God, and they will spend private time in his word. In the word they will find answers to prophecy, but many of them will be turning to the scriptures to study more about Jesus Christ and his doctrine, because it is the new covenant. In other words, on the day of salvation God's people will begin to turn from their past religious beliefs, unto the living God. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help… Happy is he that hath of God of Jacob for his help (Psalm 146:3-5).” “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments... surely he shall not be moved forever... his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord (Psalm 112:1-7).”

The miraculous, albeit, devastating sign which will be witnessed on that day, is an abhorring affliction that will be poured upon God's adversaries. "Therefore, wait upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations... to pour upon them my indignation, even my fierce anger (Zephaniah 3:8)." 
"For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries (Jeremiah 46:10)." "The Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath of his enemies (Nahum 1:2)." This troubling fact is a prophesied truth of God's word, therefore it is important to know the difference between the Lord's adversaries, and his enemies. God's enemies are persons who pose as believers, yet they have not known the Lord, for they have never spent time his word. God's adversaries are persons who love the Lord, yet they also love their own religious beliefs, so they paid no attention the newly revealed truths of prophecy. After discerning the discrete, but true identity of the Lord's adversaries, believers can conclude that on salvation day God will be pouring affliction upon what appears to be righteous and godly leaders: howsoever these leaders are not altogether innocent, because they have rejected knowledge. They were, and are, trusting in their own end time understandings of scripture.

Although the affliction of salvation day will be poured upon God's adversaries, within a short while it will also be poured upon God's enemies: because God's enemies, as well as his adversaries, have a greater love and respect for the teachings of their forefathers, then they do for the truth of God's word: and this is iniquity (Psalm 106:39-40). They are allowing their conceit and pride to stand in the way of receiving God’s mercy. “Their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste… If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me (Deuteronomy 32:35; 32:41).” “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies (Isaiah 59:18).” If only these believers would receive God's messengers, and listen to God's word, then they could avoid receiving the rewards of rebellion. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1).”

The pestilence of salvation day will be poured upon God's Christian adversaries, who are priests that ignored God's word, and disregarded his messengers. “He shall break in pieces mighty men without number… He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways (Job 34:24-27).” “Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted (Psalm 107:17).” Pestilence will get their attention, and it will prevent them from further sinning against God: God has not forsaken them. "For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard (Psalm 22:24)." "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgement for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness (Micah 7:9)." 
The devastating sign of this abhorring pestilence will guide many believers, including those priests which were afflicted, into a quick understanding of the covenant message. "Thus saith the Lord... In the day of salvation have I helped thee (Isaiah 49:8)." "Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it (Isaiah 30:20-21)."

This is the very strange act which was documented and affirmed in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 28:21). How could a loving and merciful God, send affliction upon goodly and godly men? The purpose of this strange act is to convince God's people to go in the way that he has prepared for them. This surprising act is comparable to the day wherein a parent is forced to discipline his child, for the sake of that child. Like as a parent who patiently waited for his son to voluntarily do the right thing, so God has patiently waited for, and pled with his priesthood. Like as a parent who is left with no other choice but to use discipline, so is the day of the Lord's pestilence. “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord… For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12).” And also, like as a parent, God takes no pleasure in punishing his children. “In their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them (Isaiah 63:9).”

There are certain prayers recorded in book of Psalms wherein believers that are calling upon God to provide them with guidance. The objective of these prayers is twofold: believers are asking God to keep them from shame, but they also want God to rise up and defeat man's lies by verifying the hard things of scripture. The consensus is that when God verifies the deep and hidden messages of scripture, then true believers will be able to proceed in righteousness. On salvation day prayers like these will be answered: because the pestilence of that day will begin to defeat religion's mistaken beliefs, and it will help guide God's people. The next few verses are some of these prayers. As you read through them, notice that these prayers are coming from believers.
 “Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts (Psalm 119:133-134).” “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end… Make me go in the path of thy commandments… Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity… Also, turn away my reproach which I fear… Behold, I have longed after thy precepts (Psalm 119:33-40).” “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul… let me not be ashamed… let none that wait on thee be ashamed… Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day (Psalm 25:1-5).”

Christian priests who inclined their ears and considered the covenant message are among the redeemed of the Lord, which means that they will be spared, and they will not have to suffer the shame of Salvation Day. They have, in essence, demonstrated a willingness to learn judgment, therefore these priests are being awarded a second chance to get things right (Psalm 91:14). This is just one example of how God will be guiding his people, and keeping them from shame. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men (Psalms 107:8).” But their deliverance is only temporary. It is the beginning of their trial, for each and every redeemed leader is going to have to submit themselves to the authority of God's word. “The Lord God... will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7),” “And he will not at all acquit the wicked (Nahum 1:3).” Nevertheless, if these priests will learn judgement, and if they will teach the newly revealed truths of prophecy, then they will altogether escape God's correction, as well as his wrath. “Thou liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion (Psalm 9:13-14).” “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:2).”

“The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth (Psalm 9:16).” Just like the Christian priests which beheld the pestilence and received a second chance to get things right, so it is with every fearless convert, even of another faith, who sees the affliction and and tries to help establish the new covenant: they too will avoid the affliction, and they will be awarded a second chance to get things right, for God will have mercy upon them, and he will deliver them from the plagues. “The Lord preserveth the strangers (Psalm 146:9).”
 Spared believers will give spirit filled testimonies which will help lead others in the way of deliverance. “Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance (Psalms 32:7).” These converts and their testimonies are yet another way in which God will be guiding his people into covenant understanding, and keeping them from shame. “He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them (Isaiah 49:10).”

Some of these spared and converted believers will be in the armies which are coming against the places of worship that are still practicing religion. This is an interesting turn of events, because it insinuates that some who began as God's enemies, will be executing vengeance upon God's adversaries (Psalm 149:7). “Righteous men, they shall judge them… because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands… I will bring up a company upon them… and the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land… and ye shall know that I am the Lord God (Ezekiel 23:45-49)." "I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged... and I will give thee into their hand (Ezekiel 16:38)." Every new convert is a messenger of God, however, this
 army still hasn't been perfected, and wickedness is thriving in its ranks: “We shall not die, O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction (Habakkuk 1:12).” God will cause his army of imperfect believers to come against the religious authorities that are not correcting their teachings, so that this army is helping to forward the covenant message, and to make known the new covenant. "Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them (Isaiah 26:11)." The fiery passions of these believers will work to insure that religion is defeated, and that the truth of God's covenant message is heard throughout the land. “I will make thee waste… when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes (Ezekiel 5:14-15).”

“Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded (Psalm 7:6).” Keep in mind that the Lord will protect those priests which were afflicted. Every imperfect believer within God's army is warned and instructed that they are to help forward God's message without violence, and without blood shed, or else they will be among the casualties that suffer the annihilating punishment of Judgment Day. Vengeance is an inflammatory word, yet lawful vengeance is in accordance with God’s word. According to God's word, vengeance is the prophesied punishment that will be executed upon the heathen, as well as upon the adversaries of the Lord. “Let the saints be joyful… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people… To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 149:5-9).”

“There shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord (Ezekiel 12:24-25).” God is planning to destroy region forever, and he is not happy with those priests, who, after hearing the truth of the covenant message, have settled back upon their lees, and continued to dwell carelessly, quiet, and secure. God wanted his priesthood to pay attention, for he desired them to prepare their congregations for end times. A pattern showing evidence of God's anger at their offense is secured in the parable of Zidon. Zidon is the name of an ancient city whose people dwelt carelessly, quiet, and secure (Judges 18:7). This is the mindset of priests which are spiritually dwelling in Zidon, and understanding their mindset lends interpretation to the prophecy: “Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. For I will send into her pestilence… and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 28:22-23).” The p
riests and leaders who are indifferent towards God's end time message, are the enemies of God, for ignoring God's word equates to despising it. Priests that are spiritually dwelling in Zidon are on the threshold of being afflicted by the afflicting pestilence. They do not have the Holy spirit, because they are not teaching the newly revealed truths of prophecy. They will be pestered by God's army, until they submit themselves to the authority of God's word; and if they try to come against God's army, then God will pour his pestilence upon them, and they will be afflicted.

Some well-respected authorities and leaders are opposed to teaching the truth of the covenant message at this time. These procrastinators are also God's enemies, for they too have despised God's word. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).” 
God's thoughts about procrastination are best revealed through the word, judgment, so let's look into the meaning of this word. After Solomon became king, he prayed that God would give him a discerning heart so that he could discern the difference between good and bad, and govern God’s people according to God’s ways. The Lord credited Solomon with having asked for the ability to discern judgement. "Thou... hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment (1Kings 3:11)." This is what the word, judgment, is all about. Judgment means that believers are using God’s word to discover whether things are good, or bad, in God’s eyes; so executing judgment means that believers are teaching others to know what is good, or bad, in God's eyes. “Every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord (Proverbs 29:26).” God's people are required to have righteous judgment, wherefore teaching the newly revealed truths of prophecy is a necessity, as well as an urgent part of God's plan. “Zion shall be redeemed with judgment (Isaiah 1:27).” “Judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it (Psalm 94:15).”

God had other reasons and purposes for choosing to use the word "judgment" in prophecy. In the days of Israel’s coming out of Egypt, God gave Moses a list of statutes and judgments to set before the eyes of all Israel (Exodus 21:1). These laws awarded God’s people the ability to know how to judge what is pleasing and acceptable behavior in the Lord's eyes. This collection of laws contained some predetermined punishments whereby Israel was to punish every offender that exhibited unacceptable behavior in the Lord's eyes. The punishments which were prescribed by this law, were prescribed not only for their benefit, but also for our edification. They are a pattern which suggests that God will punish every offender that is not exhibiting righteous behavior in his eyes. God gave these judgments and these statutes unto Israel because he had promised to take her for his people (Genesis 17:7-8). In essence, these punishments and laws were prescribed unto Israel for its good, because God loved her, and he wanted her to have glory among the nations, as well as everlasting life. The same laws and judgments are given unto us for our good, because when believers do  that which is good and right in the Lord's eyes, it glorifies God's people, and it sets them apart, for it gives them wisdom and understanding in the sight of all nations (Deuteronomy 4:6).

God made certain promises unto his people saying that if they remembered and kept his statutes and judgments, then he would keep the word of his promise: These promises include: saying that he would love and bless his people, and that he would multiply their seed, and that he would keep them from every sickness, disease, and plague. God also promised that if his people kept his statutes and judgments, then he would keep the covenant which he had sworn to their fathers (Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 30:19). Let God's stipulation sink down into your ears, because cradled in the heart of all of God's statutes and judgments, is a law which pertains to the authorities that are delaying the announcement of the covenant message. “Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause (Exodus 23:6).” It is evil in the eyes of the Lord for our authorities to impede, or in any way, postpone the advancement of truth. Furthermore, it is also evil in the Lord's eyes if priests have respect for the authorities that are impeding the advancement of truth. 
“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons (Deuteronomy 16:19).” “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause of decline after many to wrest judgment (Exodus 23:2).”

Hearken and consider this carefully. In the days of Moses, Israel stood before the Lord as a body of believers. According to God's word, she was there to represent every believer. As she stood there, she swore to uphold God's statutes and judgments, so by her, and through her, every believer has sworn. The afore mentioned verse that commanded believers not to wrest judgment, was written in the laws which Israel swore to uphold (Deuteronomy 26:16-17). So everyone that is refusing to comply with God's commandment not to wrest judgment, is breaking the believer's pledge to uphold God’s covenant. God affirmed that disobedience was a grievous mistake for it would bring wrath upon his people. “If you will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; and if you despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but you break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague… and I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies… and if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then will I punish you seven times more for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power… and if you walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you… and I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant… I will send the pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy (Leviticus 26:14-25).” There is no excuse for not preaching the truth of God's word, for hinderances and delays of any kind are only adding to the perversion of the congregation’s ability to discern the difference between good and bad, and it is evil in the Lord's eyes. “Cursed be he that perverts the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow (Deuteronomy 27:19).” "Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of his covenant (Jeremiah 11:3)."  

God's commandment not to wrest judgment is not the only way in which priests are forewarned to preach the truth of the covenant message. “Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sitteth upon the throne of David… Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor:.. If ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation (Jeremiah 22:2-5).” Every prophecy containing the words "execute judgment" is also as a warning unto priests, for through these words God has commanded his people to teach the truth. The commandment to execute judgement was repeatedly rehearsed in the scriptures, therefore it was established by God, which means that leaders who are silencing the truth are not only lying, but they are also sinning, and transgressing. “Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates (Zechariah 8:16).” Only by executing judgment, will these offenders be able to escape the affliction of God's correction. “I have found David my servant… his seed will I make endure forever… If his children walk not in my judgments… Then I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes (from Psalm 89:20-32).”

Postponing the advancement of truth, is rebellion. “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11).” God will not respect the good intentions of any of the procrastinating authorities, because procrastination is deceiving God's people, and it's keeping them from their inheritance. “The Lord your God is a God of Gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and terrible, which regarded not persons, nor taketh reward. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment (Deuteronomy 10:17-18).” “Woe unto them that… write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn away the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people… what will you do in the day of visitation? …to whom will you flee for help (Isaiah 10:1-3)?”

Be certain and rest assured that God's people will be delivered: God will protect, guide, and deliver the innocent, as well as the righteous. “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive (Jeremiah 49:11).” Priests are commanded to execute judgment, therefore they are to leave their religious beliefs behind, and have faith. Rejoice and fear not, for the covenant message is the answer to our prayers. God is setting up his kingdom on earth: "Thy kingdom come!" “Concerning this house… If thou wilt keep my statutes, and execute my judgments… Then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father (1Kings 6:12).” Having faith is a requirement, for it is by faith that believers will prepare the way of the Lord.  “If thou wilt walk before me… and do according to all that I have commanded thee… Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David (2Chronicles 7:18).” When God's people execute righteous judgment, it means that they will be teaching the newly revealed truths of prophecy, and by their testimonies they will be causing people to inherit the kingdom of God. “I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people (Isaiah 51:4).”

The hidden truths of prophecy are being revealed to prove the hearts of God's people: what will they believe? In the days of Moses God gave his people a promise which will help strengthen the resolve of every true believer: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26).” In other words, if believers will diligently try to learn the truths of God's end time plan, then God will keep them from suffering his end time corrections. Take your uncertainties to the Lord, and don't be afraid to share this message. “I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin… Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for Joy, all ye that are upright in heart (Psalm 32:5-11).”

“They shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God (Ezekiel 28:26).”