The Plan and Purpose Of God For Eternity
Disguising The Plan.
Identifying The Purpose.
A Progressing Focus!
October 13, 2016
Brother Leo, you use the term “The Eternal Purpose” as an abstract term so much we would like for you to clarify, define and identify what that means.
You, also, use the term “God’s Plan” as an abstract term. Could you define “God’s Plan” so we can understand your definition to clarify the former studies?
“God’s Purpose” has been predestined, eternally established and will never be modified or altered in any way. What God Purposed before the Foundation, He will surely complete. Jesus will not return until this present portion of God’s Eternal Purpose is complete! Even if we fast and pray, make proclamations or declare something different, nothing will change God’s Eternal Purpose. Why? God is absolutely Sovereign over both His Plan and His Purpose for this present Creation that began in Genesis one. All this was predestined before this world began. It was at Calvary that this present portion of God’s Purpose began and this portion of God’s Purpose must be completed during the Church Age! Then the Next Portion of God’s Purpose will take place during the Great Tribulation. Then the Next portion will take place during the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus. The final portion of God’s Eternal Purpose will begin with the Tabernacle of God. That is when the Next Creation Begins as we see in Revelation 21 and 22. The New Earth, the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem will make up the Tabernacle of God. No other creation is mentioned in Scriptures!
Therefore, there is NO CHANCE at all that anything will change of what God purposed before the creation of this world! Everything will be totally fulfilled in every minute detail. Why? All this, both His Plan and His Purpose, will be required to prepare a people for the World that is to come after this world is totally destroyed.
The only purpose for this present world and for this creation and the church age is to prepare a Kingdom People to Rule over the World yet to Come. That new Creation (the world yet to come) is referred to as the Tabernacle of God. How do we know that? That is because the present earth and the present heaven will pass away because of their usefulness in God’s Ultimate Purpose is complete.
Even though the details of God’s Purpose have been slowly revealed over several centuries, some things were previously revealed by the Old Testament Scripture. Several of the Old Testament prophets began to reveal some of the aspects of God’s Purpose centuries before Calvary. God revealed many things in Scriptures in types, word pictures, examples and shadows of the reality within God’s Purpose. Isaiah revealed things about the destruction of this earth (great tribulation) and then that New Heavens and New Earth would be created.
Isa 66:15 For behold, the LORD will come in fire And His chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by the LORD will be many.
Isa 66:21 "I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the LORD. 22 "For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure. 23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from Sabbath to Sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me," says the LORD . 24 "Then they shall go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm shall not die, And their fire shall not be quenched; And they shall be an abhorrence to all mankind."
Since Calvary and Pentecost, God has established a totally New Covenant which was built upon a more relevant provision and on much better promises! Why? That is because both God’s Plan and God’s Purpose depends 100% upon the New Covenant to prepare a people for His Eternal Purpose. Why? Within the New Covenant there would be a new species of men and God’s design required that God would put both a New Spirit and then His Spirit within them. The New Covenant revealed how His New Provisions would be built into the New Creation. With the New Covenant it would no longer be necessary for the natural, outward man to attempt to please God! Why? It would be the New Man in Christ doing His work. Why? Those who are in the flesh can never please God. That indicates that until man can escape the dominion and influence of the flesh, man will be unable to please God. Since the Old Covenant dealt with the natural, outward man to establish a morality among God’s people, the Old Covenant was not equipped to deal with the transition to a new creation inward man which is of a new species and quite different from the first Adam species! It required the “new species” of person, called Christian, to deal with the flesh. Why? The natural man was helpless to overcome the dominion of flesh.
We seldom hear about “conversion” as preparation for “New Covenant Salvation.” We are using the term “New Covenant Salvation” to differentiate it from the partial salvation being “offered” today through just a forgiveness of sins. In religious circles today we generally hear about “forgiveness of sins” through the blood of Calvary. Our thesis is that forgiveness of sins is less than “full Christian Conversion.”
Even a casual reading of the Book of Hebrews should reveal that the Tabernacle of Moses and the preparation of the priests to function in that priesthood was just a copy, a shadow of another reality! This “word picture” was revealing a fulness of New Covenant Conversion that precedes any function in the Holy Place or within the Lampstand Church. We really cannot speak of a “Lampstand Church” (the one He is building) while we are still in the process of “New Covenant “CONVERSION.” Why? New Covenant Conversion is essential to our preparation for the “New Covenant Priesthood.” Why? The “flesh” must be fully dealt with, first! Why? That is because the Pure Gold Lampstand has NO WOOD (humanity) in it and is ONLY made of Pure Gold. (Divinity) ! The Pure Gold Lampstand is made wholly from Christ!
Therefore, it is these seven Outer Court Preparations (foundations) that are essential for our New Covenant Conversion. These are identified as;
(1) Repentance and the fullness of all that means. (Repentance must become a new Covenant life-style).
(2) Forgiveness of sins should include “all” the other New Covenant provision of Calvary. (Not just forgiveness)
(3) Laying aside (past tense) of our old manner of life (our old Adamic garments)
(4) Water Baptism and ALL the New Covenant experiences that Baptism provides (death, burial of our former “old” self and an experiential Resurrection into a completely NEW LIFE. (Newness of life)
(5) Being completely Clothed with New Priestly Garments ( being clothed with Christ) (putting on the Eternal Christ as a garment).
(6) Receiving a genuine Anointing / In filling or New Covenant Baptism in the Holy Spirit and all that provides and accomplishes.
(7) Becoming a personal and total and experiential “Consecration Offering” to God as Priests after the Order of Melchizedek and as Bondservants.
This New Covenant Conversion produces a New Creation of a totally new and different Species of Person who has been BORN, not by blood nor by the will of man nor by the will of flesh but who has been BORN AGAIN, experientially, by the Sperma of God. It is this New Creation that is called Christian. Referring to the old Adam man as being Christian because He believes in Jesus is uninformed and not Christian. Why? He is of the wrong species to be a Christian. The Apostles were the first Christians following the first Pentecost. They were first called Christians at Antioch. Why? This was when their participation in the New Covenant function began and participating in the New Covenant is essential to be a functioning Christian! It was the “believers” from Jerusalem that BECAME the Christians in Antioch.
It was by participating in this wonderful New Covenant and its new and inner reality [Spiritual / Eternal provision] that permitted the Apostles to reveal many more details about both God’s Plan and about God’s Eternal Purpose. How was this possible? That is because they were born again (into a new species) by the Living and Abiding Word of God.” That is by the semen of God , the Eternal Spirit of Christ. They had also received His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who had come to teach them all things and to cause them to walk in His ways!
They were able to reveal that God’s Eternal Purpose would revolve around His Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, who is now revealed as God’s prototype Son.
Eph 1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Both HE and the many “sons,” which He will bring to that same perfection and glory, will be given dominion over all the works of God’s hands.
However, It is very important that we recognize that even though the outer man is male or female, the New Inner Man (sons) has no gender and is neither male nor female!
Col 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Eph 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25
Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
It may seem difficult to accept that while the old man (inherited from Adam) was clothed in a human body, the New Man nor female because he is Christian. Why? There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, (there is neither male nor female) but Christ is all, and in all.
Still, it is these “SONS that are also required to grow up in all things and be like His prototype Son (all those who are in the Son, [our High Priest] have matured into Sons) in order to participate in the Government of the world yet to be created. When the “ministries” ignore this requirement, their “ministry” has failed! Why? Baby Christians may qualify as children but not qualify as Sons!
This process of “growing up in all things into Christ” is actually fulfilling “THE PLAN OF GOD!” However, this is still “abstract” because it lacks the many details of how, exactly, that happens. It is because of the lack of step by step details, in scriptures, that we lack the full extent of how this takes place. However, it is necessary that each of us be aware that “growing up” is both corporate (within the church) and individual (within our own experiences.) Why? That is because God is gathering together a Kingdom of Priests and summing them up IN CHRIST! Why? With a view to an “administration or Kingdom” suitable for the age yet to come!
Lets us be very clear; This New Covenant Conversion is essential in completing “GOD’S PLAN.” While this is generally directed at individuals and their own responsibility, in the Book of Hebrews it says, twelve times, “LET US” (as in go on to perfection) or “LET US” FEAR which indicates there is a corporate group called “THE CHURCH.” In other words, part of our maturity depends upon our corporate participation. However, we should add; THIS Is Participation in the “Church He is Building!” Participation in a casual, lukewarm, half-saved group is not very helpful in the eternal viewpoint.
It is certainly disappointing that “some ministries” have rejected any “preparation (plan) for eternity” except to believe in Jesus, have your sins forgiven and go to heaven when we die.
We should be aware that even though “God’s Plan” is somewhat of a mystery, “God’s Eternal Purpose” has been clearly revealed, within the Scriptures, for hundreds of years! Therefore, this “purpose” should no longer be a mystery to any of the modern church groups that believe the Scriptures. Any “minister” who is ignorant of God’s Purpose is unqualified to lead a church group. This ignorance of God’s Plan and God’s Purpose is one of the reasons for so many failed ministries today.
Well, brother, we do not understand what you mean by “failed ministries.” These are the “ministries” that get believers in the door of the assembly but then lead them nowhere near the Purpose of God and never reveal God’s Plan for taking them there!
Well, brother, what exactly does than mean? That means attempting to prepare people for “heaven” through forgiveness of sins rather than preparing believers (through New Covenant Conversion) to be qualified to participate in that Kingdom of Priests and in God’s Eternal Purpose!
Therefore, in this study we will list several scriptures that identify God’s Ultimate Purpose! However, there are still so many other scriptures available that there is NO EXCUSE for any ignorance. Why? That is because God’s Ultimate and Final Purpose has been clearly revealed even in the limited number of scriptures we list!
However, “God’s Ultimate Plan” to develop and prepare the “MANY SONS TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE” is not so clear or obvious. We know there will be multitudes, so many no one could count them, that will be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! We must not confuse these “invited guests” with the Bride, nor the Overcomers, nor the Many Sons, nor the Bondservants, nor the Kingdom of Priests! They will just be invited guests! While, just this, will be wonderful, that is not the limitation nor calling of the New Covenant Christian.
Well, Brother, how do you know that and what makes you so certain? In our group, we learned that everyone in heaven was the bride!
Rev 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." 8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 And he *said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he *said to me, "These are true words of God."
Revelation 19, 21 and 22 reveals this distinction between just being believers who qualify to attend the wedding feast, as invited guests, and the Bride who has come to transparency, to perfection, to pure Gold, and has qualified be included in the “bride” company!
In today’s church systems, this distinction between the Bride Company and the invited guests is the difference between making believers (who are barely believers) and preparing a corporate group of overcomers and priests who are qualified to participate in God’s Eternal Government. Each one of these “perfected believers” must be qualified to function, in unity, as members of the body of our great High Priest! This “membership” functions under one Sovereign Head and as a Kingdom of Priests (Kings / Priests) after the Order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was BOTH a King and a Priest and Jesus took up His New Covenant Priesthood after that exact Order. Jesus, God’s Prototype and Eternal Son, is now seated at the Right Hand of God, the Almighty, and is ruling until every enemy is put under His Feet. When He was our Savior, Christ Jesus is now our Great High Priest! Since His Feet is in His body, He must now rule as sovereign Head, through the Church He is Building!
It is by the New Covenant provision that both the Spirit of Christ, The Living and Abiding Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, has come to dwell in us during the church age! The Holy Spirit’s “earth name” is Melchizedek, and He has come as the King of Righteousness and as the Priest of the Most High God. He is the King and the direct representative (the Priest) of the Most High God.
What is His great work He has been sent to complete during the Church Age? That is to build up a Kingdom of Priests [Kings and Priests] that are after His Divine Order. How do we know that?
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
It is clear that there will be a Kingdom of Priests, who will rule upon this earth! That is a revealed fact! Also, Jesus Christ, Himself, God’s appointed King, will be the Sovereign Ruler over these Kings. (These “Kings” are neither male nor female but of the same species as Our Great High Priest and King of Glory) Why? Everybody, who is a true New Covenant believer, will have been BORN into a totally New Corporate Species of persons who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of ( the Semen) of God. This corporate group is “the Church He is Building.” The “churches” that men are building are in various stages of “New Covenant Conversion.”
The outer man, the natural man, the Adam man, was born of blood, by of the will of the flesh, or by the will of man, of perishable sperma! This distinction identifies the natural created Adam man who was not and cannot be NOT born of God by the imperishable sperma. It is the New Species of embryo man, who is conceived by the imperishable semen! This “embryo” must NOT be still born but must, following birth, grow up in all things into Christ, our Great High Priest.
embryo >noun (pl. embryos) 1 an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, especially an unborn human in the first eight weeks from conception. Compare with fetus. 2 the part of a seed which develops into a new plant.
But why is “His Plan” to develop this embryo into a full grown NEW MAN so difficult to define and explain? That is because “His Plan” is to develop “individual believers” who are willing (by consecration) to be subjected to severe, intense and sometimes painful preparation until they are conformed to the image of God’s Prototype Son who is functioning as our Great High Priest. While each believer must participate in the same foundations, the “perfection of each believer” is quite diverse! Why? That is because God has predestined each of us to function within His Ultimate Purpose!
However, since He is BOTH the Sovereign King and the High Priest of our preparation, we cannot decide how much preparation we will need. Why? That is because “perfection” is to His Standard and not ours!
Even though the Holy Spirit has come as the King of Righteousness and as the Priest of the Most High God, he does not act on His own initiative but speaks as He hears and does as He is instructed. Why?
He is functioning within the Kingdom Government of our Great High Priest! And in this role of King of Righteousness and Priest of the Most High God He still does not act by His own initiative. Why? That is because Jesus is functioning as King over His body and is sovereignly directing the work of perfecting His Bride!
However, He, Christ Jesus, does NOT act out of His own initiative nor did not choose this eternal work for Himself but was appointed by God. In Hebrews 4 we learn that those who do not act by their own initiative but just involve themselves in His work and doing His Will have entered into His rest. This “rest” seems to identify “His Sons” as they function within the Kingdom of God! [ As members of the Body of our great High Priest]
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE"; 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that
He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
It is very sad to say but both God’s Purpose and God’s Plan have been severely neglected by most modern church groups. This “neglect” seemed to begin in about the third century and a great “falling way” followed. God began the restoration of the church back to the basic beginnings “of Christianity” in the last half of the 1400's.
A further example is that “Justification by Faith, as a Restoration” only began in 1517 with Martin Luther. During the Catholic period man’s relationship with God was defined as man’s relationship to the church. Justification was limited to the church and the parameters it had established. Individual justification by faith was a new “doctrine” that was rejected by the hierarchy because it eliminated them from the process. Selling indulgences for money was rejected and condemned by the restoration and was replaced by the restoration of Justification by faith alone plus nothing!
This process of the “restoration of all things” has continued slowly up until 1985 but we have not witnessed very much “restoration that is consistent with the Tabernacle of Moses” since 1985. What we do see is that the “restoration of all things spoken by the prophets” has followed the pattern (the foundations) shown in the Outer Court of the Tabernacle of Moses.” This pattern was for “the preparation of the priests, after the order of Aaron” for them to qualify and to enter into the Holy Place life and function. This “pattern of preparation”, which now reveals the experiential preparation of the New Covenant Priesthood, is all part of the “total restoration” of both God’s Plan and God’s Purpose! This must be complete BEFORE the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride! The “next” first coming of Christ Jesus (before the tribulation) is for the “first-fruit harvest.”
Act 3:19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
It seems obvious, by observing church history, that God has been restoring the church in various stages exactly according to the pattern of the Tabernacle. This should be easy to visualize so the church can follow God’s Plan and one day fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose. (To function in the Most Holy Place) Why do we join these things? The Pattern for the preparation for the Priesthood in the Outer Court of the Tabernacle of Moses is the type and pattern that God has used to follow His Plan for the Preparation of the Bride and His Eternal Priesthood of Kings!
In previous studies we have examined the final result of all the unfolding history
of this present earth, beginning in Genesis 1. This also must complete the “restoration of all things spoken by the prophets!” This must, also, complete the Kingdom Government of God, among men, to rule on earth during the great Tribulation! Following the Tribulation this Kingdom Government must ultimately govern a corporate group of New Covenant believers, which are revealed as the New Jerusalem [ the Wife] in Rev. 21 & 22. All those who “govern” must first be “governed”, experientially, by this inner Sovereign Kingdom Government. This “process” of learning to obey His Inner Sovereign Government is what we call HIS PLAN. To speak of some abstract obedience or maturity as separate from His Inner Sovereign Kingdom Government is to misunderstand the “PLAN.”
However, we are aware that even in Gen. 1 God could have revealed the Wife of the Lamb in Rev. 21 because He knew and predestined the end from the beginning. The real purpose of creation in Gen 1 was to prepare this city, which is the bride of Christ and His Eternal Companion and Co-Sovereign ruler with Him.
The “gospel” should be clear that all discipline, all suffering, all testing, all development, all training and all the power of redemption and of the King/ Priesthood of the Holy Spirit, within our church history, is focused upon this one final event of earth’s history. That is the marriage supper of the Lamb {Revelation 19} and the Millennial Reign of Christ (the 1000 years) and the destruction of this earth. {revelation 20}.
Then in Revelation 21, after the first heaven and first earth passes away, God will begin a totally new Creation, which is called the Tabernacle of God. It is the Tabernacle of Moses that reveals the structure and preparation of the Tabernacle of God. Why?
Hebews 8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
Hebrews 8:5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as
Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."
The Tabernacle of Moses was just a copy and shadow of the True Tabernacle in heaven, which is the Tabernacle of God! It is the Tabernacle of God ( the New Earth, the New Heaven and New Jerusalem) that God is preparing for the People of God who are “saved.” It is the Most Holy Place, The New Jerusalem, that God is preparing for the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb. While the New Earth and the New Heaven are both part of “heaven” these are not designed for nor assigned to the Bride. It is the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion that is promised to the Bride, the Overcomers, the Bondservants, the Kingdom of Priests. Mount Zion is the location for the Throne of God.
The Tabernacle of Moses is fulfilled in the Tabernacle of God! The Outer Court corresponds to the New Earth and the Holy Place corresponds to the New Heaven and the Most Holy Place corresponds to the New Jerusalem.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
This “Tabernacle of God” is called in Hebrews 2:5 the “world yet to come”!
Heb 2:5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU REMEMBEREST HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT THOU ART CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
“What is man, (plural / corporate man; not Male or Female; but a new creation ” who will rule over the next creation?” We are introduced to a new name; the New Jerusalem, the wife of the Lamb or the Throne of God. (ONE NEW CORPORATE MAN)
The political and natural history of the earth must be viewed from a perspective of unfolding years, various governments and the events within certain continents, countries and cultures. This natural History of this earth is still unfolding today and will continue until God vaporizes it and this “earth history” will cease! Then a New Heaven and New Earth will appear, along with the New Jerusalem and a new dimension of eternity and God’s Ultimate Purpose will begin. This future history identifies with and is “called God’s Eternal Purpose.”
However, as we view God’s History today, we must see from a higher and from His Eternal Viewpoint which is far higher than just what is happening on earth! We must elevate our viewpoint from earth and “earth history” to the eternal perspective of the development of this eternal companion for God’s Son, Jesus Christ! This reveals the City of God, the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion. To focus upon this earth’s history and the current distress but Ignore God’s History and what is taking place in the invisible realms concerning eternity, is really ignorant!
2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
There are very many things revealed in scriptures, that are ultimately real, but that we have not yet experienced. Maybe we should focus upon our participating in these “experiences” rather than focus upon what is happening in Earth’s History, visibly. For example;
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
The genealogies, that reveal God’s history of His chosen people, has been divinely orchestrated within each generation to provide for a specific time when “earth history” would change to begin another dimension of time. That time was when the Messiah would be born! God predestined the families that would precede the Messiah. Why? There had to be a “Messianic People” before there could be the Messiah, come in the flesh. For about 4000 years God was selecting and calling certain people to produce this specific WOMAN!
Gal 4:4] But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, [5] in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Even with all the planning, Israel did not respond to this change of history but rejected God’s Messiah and missed the Adoption as Sons.
Even though we were chosen “in Christ” before the foundation of the world we each had to respond to the call of God in our own time period and be redeemed by faith in His sacrifice at Calvary. Our redemption is the beginning of our experience in God’s history and the unfolding of His eternal plan for our lives. That means; That we might be perfected to fit into that eternal city which is the bride of Christ. If we put anything ahead of that absolute priority in our lives it must be because we really don’t understand what this redeemed Christian life is about. {our personal goal should be “total conversion.” } If we put anything ahead of that absolute priority in our ministry it can only be because we are ignorant of God’s eternal purpose for the bride of Christ which is the New Jerusalem. If our ministry goal is less than God’s revealed and Eternal Purpose, we could find ourselves “laboring in vain” or even using flammable material to build a fantasy “church” that will not survive the fire of God’s testing.
The “plan of God” (total conversion) to produce that specific corporate group called the “overcomers, the manifested sons, Mount Zion, the Bride, the New Jerusalem and the Bondservants” is such a subjective and diverse experience that it may be impossible to codify these various and essential transforming experiences.
What we do know of God’s Plan is that certain beginning “foundations of the Christian Life” (total Conversion) must be laid in each person’s life or they will certainly be excluded from God’s Ultimate Purpose! The present “ministries” have ignored these “FOUNDATIONS” and are failing the believers concerning their eternal destiny. Why? That is because these “Foundations” are not just doctrines to be learned but personal and transforming experiences. Many of us are now aware that the “doctrinal Church” has reached its limit of advancement. From now on they will be rehearsing the same doctrines over and over (claiming orthodoxy) but not growing in Life, Light or Ultimate maturity. Knowing doctrines is NOT maturity. Christianity is not a growing, developing education but an ascending and growing Life. [ It is NOT the Tree of knowledge we should seek but the Tree of Life]
Every time I try to open “God’s Plan,” in document format, I find that my words fail. That probably means that I don’t really understand it myself or it could mean that this understanding only comes by revelation and not by the logical mind. Hopefully a grouping together of many relevant scriptures will open up this truth and this mystery and explain it . While I am convinced that the purpose of all of creation was to establish the Kingdom, prepare a bride for Christ, and produce a people to rule over all the works of His Hands, it is not so easy to define how this subjective transformation into a new Species of Man works! It seems obvious that one single plan does not recreate every person to participate in God’s Purpose!
Maybe we can let the scriptures explain this mystery. We can begin with a few clear scriptures that identifies one of the reason Christ died! It was NOT just for our forgiveness of sins but for the developing and perfecting /maturing of the church.
Ephesians 5:25 ----Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; [26] that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
We should see that the purpose of Calvary, and Jesus’ sacrifice, was much more that just for the forgiveness of sins. He gave Himself on Calvary for the perfecting of the bride and to present HER to Himself as His eternal Wife. Forgiveness of sins through faith in the blood of His cross is not the end of our preparation, as is being taught! That is just our introduction, the beginning! Our “sanctification” also requires this continual washing of water with the word! Why? These things are essential so He can present the church to Himself, in all her potential Glory!
There are very many scriptures we could use to make this point about the “perfected Church” but we will just use enough to establish our thesis. Our point is to reveal WHY JESUS DIED!
EPH 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; [2] and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
ROM 14:7] For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; [8] for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
2 COR 5:14] For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; [15] and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
This gospel of cheap grace that teaches that we can accept Jesus as personal Savior and then live for ourselves, eliminates very many important scriptures!
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? [20] For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Redemption simply means that we have been “bought back” for a purpose. I am adding; “to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose!” Repurchased as a “slave” of a new master and to do His will. ( this is revealed in the Law of the Bondservant in Exodus 21:1-6 and in Deuteronomy 15: 12 to 18)
Romans 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. It is the Bondservant that is in view here!
The fact that “salvation” enslaves us to God is certainly not an acceptable message for the “gospel of the half priced sale!” Roman 6 presents this “Christian Slavery” as a rational and normal New Covenant experience, as normal as Water Baptism.
Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
This is NOT some deeper life doctrine reserved for a specially called few but just normal Christianity! Doing the will of God is just normal Christianity!
1Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
1 Peter 1:17] And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; [18] knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, [19] but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:28] And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete (perfect) (mature)in Christ. [29] And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Just from these few scriptures it is clear that “redeemed, purchased, born again reconciled and converted” individuals have been “repurchased as Slaves” (bondservants) and predestined to a unique position in the eternal realms of heaven. If Christ is going to present the church to Himself, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless and if she is going to rule and reign with Him through out eternity, she will be in a very unique position and will have had a very unique and complete preparation.
No other created being has been offered such a glorious position, or to be joined to Him as bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh or to sit with Him on His throne.
If the believers are too busy or too involved with their own projects to submit to every aspect of change, total conversion, including Christian Slavery, (which is required) or to totally surrender to Christ’s Absolute Sovereignty as “a consecration offering” and as one who has been purchased off the auction block as slaves (bondservants) and redeemed from hell, they must be ignorant of God’s Eternal Plan and His Purpose.
This is a very long paragraph but this is necessary to tie all these things together as total conversion!
Just a basic fact of redemption is that “we are no longer our own”. We have been purchased as slaves off the slave ship but not just to serve our new Master for 6 years but to become the Bondservant, [a permanent Slave], the Overcomer, or the Bride of the One who purchased us. Some “good news, gospel” that declares us to be “free to do our own will and way” is too shallow, wrong and an abomination for the time in which we live.
Within the New Covenant, we can never be “free” to serve ourselves or to do our own will. God puts His Spirit within us to cause us to walk in His ways.
Romans 6:18] and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:22] But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
Then how can we identify this divine plan of God to accomplish this great transformation from fallen man, who is dead in trespasses and sins, a stranger to God and living without a Covenant, to become the co-ruler of the universe? It involves the Creator God coming to live in man and changing man from what he is to what he must become to qualify for such a tremendous or even “extreme” and “ultimate” position.
John 17:19] "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. [20] "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; [21] that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. [22] "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; [23] I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity,
John 17:24] "Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world.
COL 1:26] that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, [27] to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 8:9] However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. [10] And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. [11] But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
John 14:23] Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
Colossians 3:16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
There are many scriptures that reveal the fact that the Creator God, Himself, will come to live in us and do His eternal work in us. [ The Creator God is the Eternal Father, the Eternal Word and the Eternal Holy Spirit.]
However, this eternal work that must be done “in us” is not automatic just because we believe something but is only accomplished in us as Eternal Reality when we obey, submit and change from what we were to what HE IS! .
2 Timothy 2:12] If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;
Romans 8:16] The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
2Thessalonians 1:5 This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
It may appear to the casual believer that the cost is too high for this high calling to be practical for us in the modern church system. However, let us consider the full proposal! No angel nor any other created being has been offered this privilege of sharing in the Eternal Creator, the God of heaven. None has been offered the opportunity for the Eternal God to come to dwell IN THEM and to accomplish His Work. God , Who has all power and all wisdom has agreed to humble Himself to come and dwell in perverse and fallen man and from that internal position to begin an eternal work in man to perfect him for the day of Christ.
Phillippians 2:12 work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Not only does He live in us (by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Spirit) He is also at work in us to cause us to do His will. If we are successful in our preparation, we may qualify to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose!
If all this tells us anything, it reveals that God has provided, within the New Covenant, for a whole new race and species of man to exist as Christians! This species never existed before Calvary and Pentecost and cannot without the full New Covenant experience.
We each should be aware that no Old Covenant saint could ever, under the law, achieve anything like what is promised to and said about the New Covenant person that is taking advantage of the tremendous opportunity to be changed from what he is to what he must become to inherit these promises! Just to believe such a thing is even possible for me requires a radical faith!
This “new order” of beings is what God had in mind when He created the universe and all that is in it. This “new order” of beings is what God is using as the raw material to perfect the “few” for the New Jerusalem. Many are called but few are chosen. Even this simple truth seems to have been lost by the modern church.
Matthew 7:14] "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
Luke 13:22 And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, [24] "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, `Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, `I do not know where you are from.'
The “gospel of the half priced sale” offers the wide door of just believe! The “Gospel of the Kingdom” declares the wide door is a very poor choice and eliminates us from the presence of God. Since the “Gospel of the narrow way” is not just another “church doctrine” but a personal experience within the Kingdom way, the eternal results and the individual destinies are quite different! The “few that find it” will have been totally converted. “FEW” is not a relative number!
1 Peter 3:19] in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, [20] who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
Those who entered into the ark and were saved were few, when compared to the multitudes that were drowned. The few represented an exclusive order of people that were used to populate the earth following the flood
Joshua and Caleb, out of three to six million ‘believers,” were the only two over the age of 20 years who could enter Canaan. A very “few”.
Then are there just a few who are being “saved”? Jesus didn’t give a direct answer but said to “ Strive to enter by the narrow door”. In other words, entrance is not just by “salvation” but personally entering by the narrow door!
From Revelation 7 and from Revelation 19 we know there will be multitudes who are saved! These re NOT the bride and neither do they sit on His Throne. Still, they are accepted into some part of the Tabernacle of God.
Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
These are “saved” but have come short of fulfilling God’s Purpose. Still, God has another place for them but that is “Before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple;
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in
the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" 14 And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. 16 "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."
In Revelation we see there are so many “saved” that it is impossible to count all of them! However, these will not be caught up with the “first-fruits” but will come out of the Great Tribulation. For that reason they will just stand before the throne of God. These all have palm branches in their hands and cry out “salvation to our God”.
Any place in the Tabernacle of God will be wonderful but the best and highest place will be in the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion. Most Christians, that I have met, have no idea that there are these three places in heaven. Many are told that if they are “saved” they will sit on the Throne and rule with Christ! They actually may be VERY FAR FROM THE THRONE in eternity and be on the New Earth.
However, we learned that some will overcome and sit with Him on His Throne. These multitudes in Revelation 7 stand “BEFORE” his throne and serve Him day and night “in His temple.” However, in the New Jerusalem there is only DAY and NO night and there is NO TEMPLE in the New Jerusalem.
There are multitudes in the New Heaven and even more on the New Earth but there are just a few that enter into His Life and “become partakes of the Divine nature” and are prepared to sit with Him on His throne in the New Jerusalem. These are the Bride, the Overcomers, the Manifested Sons, the Bondservants, the Kingdom of Priests.
These “few” will be that exclusive royalty that will rule over all the works of His hands throughout eternity and will be declared to be the “bride of Christ / the Wife of the Lamb”. The glory of the eternal Son of God is well known and well preached! However, His Eternal Purpose is not well preached! It is seldom preached that the glory of the only begotten Son will, also, be given to the perfected and manifested sons of God. While we have no idea what that means, it is just for the few “that go on to perfection!”
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 17:22] "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; [23] I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity.
The “glorious Christ” (our Great High Priest) is willing to share His glory with the Lampstand Church that OVERCOMES! This Glorious Bride is The Body of Our High Priest. Where is that Glory Seen? On the Throne, in the Most Holy Place, The New Jerusalem and Mount Zion.
Rev 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. 25 And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
The Kings / Priests who are ruling on the New Earth have their citizenship in the New Jerusalem and will have freedom of access to the City. Those who share in Christ’s Glory and rule on the New Earth can bring that glory of the nations into the city. However, the New Earth has no illumination of it’s own but shall just walk in the Heavenly Light coming from the New Jerusalem.
Ephesians 5:25, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; [26] that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
This “finishing work” of sanctifying, washing, cleansing, of making holy and blameless and removing every spot and wrinkle must precede Christ receiving the glorious church unto Himself. This additional cleansing is accomplished through the “washing of the water with the Word of God”. This is not just a matter of hearing the word but it is when we “do the word” that we are cleansed by it.
The Church HE is Building, which is His Glorious Body, will also be “the many sons that He will bring to His same glory”. They will be carbon copies of the original Son and exact replicas of Christ, Himself.
In Psalm 8 it says that man was originally made to be “a little less than God”or a “little” lower than God. Since God is infinite and has all knowledge and wisdom it is certain that man (who is finite) can never be as “high” as God but according to scriptures man can be joined to Jesus Christ as His bride or as the Wife of the Lamb. The church in her full maturity and perfection and in her being developed, transformed, and grown up to reflect His image, will be enough like Him in all respects so we do not defile or diminish Him.
Perhaps, we should attempt to answer other questions here, even though it is clear no logical explanations exist!
The church, “Which is His body,” is such a confusing term that we cannot imagine how this could possibly be true. This may be comparable to “I and the Father are one.” Or; “I in you and you in me.” Human logic is worthless in evaluating these strange statements. However, since several of these kinds of statements can be found in scriptures, some explanation is helpful. Of course, it is easy to use terms like metaphors , symbolic, not literal or spiritual but “words” like these just add to the confusion. I have used phrases like; “His body is of the same substance or of the same essence and also of the same Life! No “explanation” of this “logical kind” has been satisfactory. The term “perfection” can be in that same category. “Growing up into His measure and stature and fullness” have been repeated in these studies for decades! Still, many questions remain. However, since no explanation has been satisfactory, we will just have to accept what the scriptures reveal even though “logic” is eliminated.
Nevertheless, as a “minster” I can gaze down and say; “Well, brother, it is all by revelation” while pretending that I secretly understand, but I don’t!
Still, this “perfection” certainly must be “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” that Paul was striving for. This perfection “in the saints” was the goal of Paul’s ministry also.
Colossians 1:28] And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete (perfect, full grown, mature) in Christ. [29] And for this purpose also I labor, striving (wrestling) according to His power, which mightily works within me.
This POWER that was working in Paul to perfect the saints for the day of Christ was certainly not his own natural strength but must have been the power of God (HIS POWER). Probably the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to lead us into the reality or the experience of the Truth, which is Christ, Himself.
Phillippians 1:6] For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 1:9] And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; [11] having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Phillippians 2:15] that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, [16] holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
If the souls that have been assigned to us are not sincere, blameless and innocent and if their love is not abounding more and more and if they are not filled with the fruit of righteousness, they are not ready “for the day of Christ” and we will have labored in vain and run in vain.
Since this is probably identifying my personal experience and testimony, I am warning other “pastors” not to waste their life by failing to prepare the saints to take their place in God’s Eternal Purpose!
Colossians 1:21] And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, [22] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- [23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
The ministry of the “gospel of becoming perfect”is much more than “getting people saved” as is commonly thought but the real ministry is presenting every man perfect in Christ.
Even though we don’t know exactly what these strange scripture mean, it is clear that the “gospel minister” must do much more than tell some funny stories and entertain the saints. He is charged with the equipping, the maturity and the perfection of the saints, whether he knows what that means or not. If he fails in that “goal” he has labored in vain. It is not those who begin the race who will be “perfected” but those who finish the race, holy, blameless, innocent, sincere, firmly established, steadfast and above reproach.
For a man of God to run in vain and waste his whole life, by laboring faithfully but producing nothing “perfect” that qualifies for God’s Eternal Purpose, will certainly be devastating for the minister! From these scriptures, it appears this “failure” is very easy, quite common and very possible for any minister to fall short of the goal. Most ministers, that I have met, are not aware that our entire Christian life and our work can be very disappointing and rejected “in the day of Christ”.
God has called us to dual calling; to labor for the perfected bride for Christ and also to be personally included in that bride company.
1Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
After over 46 years sharing in different groups and countries and cultures, it is clear that many or maybe most “ministers” are “beating the air” every Sunday and producing nothing eternal but have no thought about being disqualified. Why? “We assume we are doing the Lord’s work.”
2 Corinthians11:2] For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
Just “laboring in God’s field” is not enough! Our labor must result in the mature saints, meeting Christ in the air as the first fruits unto God. I, at least recognize that most of what I called “ministry” was a failure.
Our goal must certainly be higher than what many are preaching on the radio today. That “message” is to prepare a people to accept death during the first half of the tribulation and then be resurrected in the middle of the tribulation. Even if what they are preaching may be true and those believers “may be saved” and resurrected after 3 ½ years, that is not our calling.
Our New Covenant Calling is to prepare a bride for Christ. That means “the few” that will go the narrow way and grow up in all things into Him, which is the Head. That is the primary purpose for “the gospel of the Kingdom of God”!
The church must “become” the fulness of Him that fills all in all.
Because we were all sinners, we all needed redemption. Because we were all enemies of God and without covenant, we all needed reconciliation. Because we were all imperfect we all need to be perfected. Since we came into Christ as immature babes, we all need to grow up in all things. Since we were all hostile in mind, we all must be renewed in our mind. In other words, WE ALL NEED TOTAL CONVERSION.” For a total “conversion” we must experience a TOTAL REPENTANCE! Just as an observation, it appears that possibly only 50% of those “believers” I have encountered have even had an actual experience of a genuine New Covenant Repentance.
The reason the “ministries” take such a casual view of salvation is because they have little understanding of how far man has fallen and how much a complete recovery into God’s Purpose requires. To be like Christ requires more than believing something about Jesus. It requires a complete transformation and this requires a continuing process of “God working in us”. Those who resist God’s discipline and correction are most foolish and may forfeit their eternal destiny as a Kingdom of Priests and as the bride of Christ, the Wife of the Lamb.
When we realize that God’s eternal plan is to elevate and glorify redeemed and perfected man to the highest realms of heaven and be given dominion over all the works of His hands, we should be certain that requires that we also be like Jesus. God has offered to bring “the bride” into the circle of His sovereignty and permit her to sit with Christ, as His body (wife), ruling over the works of God’s Hands.
Is all this just another religious fantasy or is that what the word of God teaches? When “the experts” make this government and reigning and sovereignty and throne just symbolic, a metaphor and a figure of speech , they rob the church of her eternal destiny by keeping her ignorant of both God’s Plan and of God’s Eternal Purpose.
The scriptural fact, which we are confronted with, is this; the word of God puts very much emphasis upon the character, the maturity, the transformation and “the total Conversion” that each believer must acquire here, that this must become our first priority during our stay upon this earth! Why? This is just basic Christianity and is essential to participate in the eternal government of God. These things must also be “in our experience” if we are to be joined to Jesus Christ as His bride and co-sovereign. This is our present challenge and first priority!
The “true church” must be Christ’s representative, here on earth, now as His body because our Head has ascended to the realms of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.
While the spiritual Head is in heaven, His spiritual body is on earth and the feet of that body are on earth, it should be clear that Jesus is now ruling through the church. This gives the church “on the job training” right now and the preparation for the future reigning over all the works of His Hands.
Many have interpreted this to mean that “since we are His body” we can have whatever we say. This doctrine implies that this is entirely up to us whether we live in poverty or whether we live in abundance. God has put us in charge and we need to begin to command things to happen. This error makes the church lord and Jesus, the HEAD, our servant to do our bidding.
The fact is that Jesus is still Head over the feet and the feet can’t move unless the Head decides. Then what is the proper relationship between the Head and the feet. God has invited the church into a full partnership with Him in the affairs of the earth. All decisions are made by the Head in heaven but the administration and enforcing of those decisions on the earth are the responsibility of the church. This was God’s original “dominion” given to man and the very “dominion” that Jesus exercised during His ministry.
MATH 18:18] "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
MATH 16:18] "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. [19] "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This seems to put the responsibility to decide what needs bound and loosed upon the church. Another translation says “ What you shall bind on earth shall be what has been bound in heaven and what you loose on earth shall be what has been loosed in heaven”. This places the responsibility on the church to first find out what decision has been made by the HEAD in heaven and then enforce that decision on the earth. This agrees with what Jesus said “ I do nothing on My own initiative but as I hear I speak”. The same way the Father sent Him, He has sent us!
In this way, of hearing and obedience, the church is enforcing the decisions of Kingdom Government of Heaven on the earth and by that action is ruling now with Him or at least is being trained to rule. When imperfect man tries to rule after his own will, we hear all kinds of grandiose commandments and proclamations given that lack any power or produces any results. This megalomania ( the infantile feelings of personal omnipotence) that we have heard expressed over the years only prove that man cannot originate God’s history. He can only cooperate with God to get the will of God done on the earth the way it is being done in heaven. For man to try to enforce his own will on the earth is delusional. To force his will upon the church is the work of the Nicolaitans.
This brings us once again to the question of why God has put such high and, it
seems, unreasonable demands upon us! If these scriptures we just read represent absolute reality and eternal truth, it can only mean that God has designed something for the saints far beyond going to heaven! These saints are those that come to full maturity, are fully developed, completed, equipped and perfected, and become transparent! It is these few that will someday make complete sense of these radical scriptures!
1Corinthians 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, "THINGS which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, AND which HAVE not entered the heart of man, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
Still, to write it down in document form sounds like we have developed a mental disorder of megalomania.
megalomania >noun 1 obsession with the exercise of power. 2 the delusion that one has great power or importance.
Here is an example of popular opinion of megalomania ; God has predestined the perfected bride of Christ to be “THE ARISTOCRACY OF ETERNITY”.
Webster says that means; “A government by the best and most qualified individuals who are of a privileged class. A minority group who has the responsibility of exercising government over the majority. A kind of exclusive royalty. A ruling hierarchy.”
In other words, we are predestined to sit with Him on His throne and be co-ruler and co-administrator of the universe.
This really does appear to be the advanced stage of megalomania!
ROM 8:29] For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; [30] and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
The bride is to be a full scale model of Jesus Christ. She will be the many sons who are just like the only begotten Son. Jesus is the mold that God is pressing us into so that the finished product will look just like Him. Thse “perfected saints” will fit into His Body without diminishing Him in any way!
Then the purpose of God’s history is to progressively correct, transform, discipline, and change us until we all come to the measure of the stature that belongs to the fulness of Christ. To wash us until we stand before Him without spot or blemish, holy and blameless and a glorious church. That we are fully equipped, living in the unity of the faith, the full knowledge of the Son of God, unto the Perfect Man. That we grow up in all things into Him.
This most likely will represent the “few that find it” and “the few that are chosen”
and the “first fruits”. These will be those who are qualified to sit with Him on His throne.
2 Peter 1:10] Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; [11] for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
IS THE ARISTOCRACY OF THE KINGDOM WHAT IS IN VIEW HERE? CERTAINLY!
If this is the goal of our life and ministry, how then should our ministry adjust to this eternal challenge of continual forward motion? From the Tabernacle of Moses we can understand there is a difference between the light in the Outer Court and the illumination of the Holy Place. The Outer Court is lit by the sun moon and stars which is natural light but the Holy Place is illuminated by the seven flames of fire on the Lampstand. The seven flames of fire are the seven eyes of the Lord which are the seven Spirits of God. This illumination is designed to light everything in the Holy Place so that there might be a God given function in the light.
This simple fact reveals that the Outer Court experiences and doctrines can be taught by logic and understood by the natural mind. The last Outer Court experience is the Consecration Offering and can be shared by simple logic.
This is revealed in Romans 12: 1-2. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
“Spiritual service” is translated from the Greek word “LOGIKOS” from which we get the English word “logical”. This pertains to the reasoning faculty of man, reasonable and rational decisions. It is only logical that each of us would present our body to God to do His will as an intelligent sacrifice of service. In other words we don’t need a special revelation to understand that because that is just logical.
Even the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the anointing can be shared out of logic and understood by man’s natural intelligence. We should see the absolute necessity of the anointing for ministry and experience that anointing to bring spiritual insight into the primary foundational experiences of the Outer Court. However, to lead the assemblies into the next restoration of God will require a different vision of ministry. The old methods will be too shallow because they deal with just the intelligence of man and his logic. The new methods of Holy Place ministry, that will involve the Lampstand Church, will require spiritual insight, revelation and ministry by the Spirit, directly to the spirit of man. This has to exceed just logic and ministry to the mind and soul of man.
The Holy Place life and ministry will involve the Lampstand Church , the Showbread and the Altar of Incense functioning under the revelation and illumination of the ministry of the seven fold manifestations of the Holy Spirit. (The seven Spirits of God)
Even though the Pentecostal and the Charismatic movements have proclaimed and taught “spiritual things” and spoke much about the anointing, the actual “ministry” fell far short being “spiritual” in the context of the Holy Place life and ministry. This is not something to be criticized because that was certainly acceptable for that time period. However, my thesis is that will not be effective, but grossly ineffective, in the next restoration of God.
For example; Justification by faith and not by works was a great restoration message in the early 1500's. Believer baptism was a great message in the early 1600's along with each restoration of truth. We appreciate those understandings and proclaim their necessity today. We should hold to and experience each of the truths that have been restored and then seek God for the next restoration of truth. While justification by faith (plus nothing) is a valid doctrine and experience today, if that is our only revelation and the focus of our ministry we are about 470 years behind the times. The Anabaptist understanding of believer baptism is still valid today but if Anabaptist doctrine is still the focus of our ministry today we are running about 400 years behind God’s restoration. Thank God for what Menno Simons preached but to rehash those things today, as the current message, is a travesty and a distortion of restored truth.
In that same way our current ministries must move on from what God has said and done in the past. We must hold to and experience everything that God has restored in the last 500 years but not rest there and just repeat these former things in our assemblies. Once all these foundational experiences are firmly laid in our lives we still must go on to perfection. This will only produce life in our fellowships if our message is in harmony with what God is currently saying today. My theory is this; God is ready to bring another Spiritual Restoration in this time period that will be as radical as Justification by Faith was in Martin Luther’s time!
The old cliche of “We never did it that way before” or “That is not the way we work” will bring death to the forward motion of any church group.
This is the Matra we hear in the Pentecostal and holiness groups. “We restored the last truth 100 years and we have put the lid on any new understanding!”
This concept is always popular. However, church history proves this was the revelation of the denominations that we can now identify as “the dead churches” today!
From 1968 to 1985 even the Charismatic Restoration and Renewal was not able to breathe resurrection life back into most Pentecostal Groups! Many now are “double dead” as far as an ongoing revelation is being ministered. Too many are just rehashing what happened 100 years ago. God’s History is still unfolding and we can make a logical decision to “unfold” with it or we can make the same mistakes that the churches have made in the past and refuse to embrace the needed change. My opinion is that if what we have established as “Gospel ministry” today is something which is too ridged to flex and respond to God’s Current Word, we must just walk away from it and leave it to posterity and begin anew. My theory is it is better to walk away from that ministry than to fossilize with it. Why? God has called us to be the Aristocracy of Eternity and whatever conflicts with that should be treated as dung so that we might press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Maybe the next observation on this subject should look at the place of suffering, trials and testings have in our life! Why? These things relate us to the goal of reigning with Christ throughout eternity. When the believers become comatose in the pew it may require desperate steps to get them growing again. Of course we can always use the doctrine of “free will” to refuse to move on to experience the next restoration. How do we know that? Hundreds of “churches” have done just that all through church history.
Regardless of what hundreds of “churches” have taught and practiced in the past, both God’s Plan and God’s Eternal Purpose has seamlessly been progressing among those who are always willing and excited about changing into the image of His Prototype Son. We should be looking for these “believers” who willing and expecting to be subject to the Kingdom Government and Laws of God and the transformation they require!
But, brother, what about all the others? There are always plenty of other groups in which the lukewarm and casual believers can fellowship and be welcomed. In these
circles the “FEW”, who are seeking God’s purpose, will be too radical to fit in.
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I
will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Many of these warnings in the Bible are very serious and have very serious consequences in eternity. The 9 warnings in the Book of Hebrews support this claim as
does Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Even if the Gospel of the Bargains is preached in the whole world, God will not accept it. Why? His good news is the “Gospel of the Kingdom.”