The Beautiful Letdown - Part 3

In Part 2 we spoke about how the imagery that John sees as written about in the book of Revelation is symbolic and not literal as most have been taught in modern churchianity today.
(If John had not written to the readers regarding whether or not these should be taken literally or figuratively then there would certainly be room for a literal interpretation of the images in the book. However, it was in the very FIRST verse that we are told that the things he was shown are signs and symbols.)

The other thing we began to look at is that the book of Revelation is about Jesus and the cross. It is about what happened and what was accomplished through his life, death and Resurrection. It is NOT depicting a future grand apocalyptic event. Jesus is, was and will always be that event.


In Part 2 we also looked at Matthew 24 where Jesus tells his disciples what the end of the age will look like. Jesus then goes on to describe the same events written by John in Revelation 6.
These events in Revelation have recently (last 500 years) been viewed by modern Christianity to paint a literal picture of the end of our world as the catastrophic ending of man - where the good guys will go and live in a literal glorious city with streets of gold and the bad guys will go to a lake of fire and fry.

However we saw that those events in Rev 6 were actually talking about the Day of the Lord that John was taken back in the Spirit to see. It was about the Crucifixion of Jesus.



In this Part we will look at:

• The end of the age that Jesus spoke about - when was it?
• The City with streets of gold - literal or Symbolic of something else?

In Mat 24 Jesus said that his death and resurrection signified the end of that age.... (as he had responded with these signs - see Part 2  -to his disciples question regarding when the end of the age would be)

Q: So, what is the significance that Jesus' death and resurrection signified the end of that age?
A: It means that we are now, already, living in the Good News age - we are not still waiting for God to come and live with us. HE IS ALREADY HERE WITH US NOW. When we begin to believe the Good News, we will begin to change the world we live in starting with ourselves. We can know the secret of living in contentment as Paul spoke about.

Track with me here:
Mat 5:18  For verily (firmly and surely) I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the LAW, till ALL THINGS be accomplished.

Did you get that? Jesus said that NOTHING... not even the smallest jot or tittle (punctuation mark) shall be changed in Law until heaven and earth pass away... and this will only happen when ALL THINGS are fulfilled.

Q: Has Heaven and Earth passed away according to current tradition?

A: No, according to current tradition that will only happen at the end of the age as per Rev 21
(Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.)

Q: According to current tradition, have all things been accomplished by God?

A: According to current tradition: No, only at the end of Revelation (which is seen as a future tense event), plus, heaven and earth have not passed away - and this will only happen once all things are accomplished according to Jesus. 

Q: According to the LAW, was eating an unclean animal allowed?

A: No, definitely not!

Q: Is God a liar?

A: Uhmm.... No!

Now, lets look at this - Post the Cross and Resurrection:

Act 10:9  The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 

Act 10:10  He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 

Act 10:11  He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 

Act 10:12  In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 

Act 10:13  A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!" 

Act 10:14  But Peter said, "Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled." 

Act 10:15  The voice spoke to him again, "Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean." 

Act 10:16  This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.

Very clearly Peter has seen animals in there that he knows without doubt were against the LAW to eat.  Agreed?

But here we have Jesus telling him that God has declared them to be clean!!

Q: What has happened?

A: The LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED!! 

But didn't Jesus say that not even the smallest jot or tittle (punctuation mark) would be changed in the LAW until HEAVEN AND EARTH  have PASSED AWAY and ALL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

Q: What happened between Jesus saying, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the LAW, till ALL THINGS be accomplished."  and "Peter, kill and eat. Do not call unclean what God has declared clean" ?

A: "It is Finished" happened!! The Glorious Cross changed everything.

By virtue of the Law having been changed by God post Jesus' death and resurrection, we have to then concede that somehow in his death,  heaven and earth also passed away as well because  "all had been accomplished".  Jesus said in Mat 24 that his death would mark the end of that age. 

Now, remember that Revelation is the Disclosure (to make known something that was previously hidden) that the Father gave Jesus, to share with his disciples, the things that were to soon take place. This was then shared with John via symbols, signs and pictures. (Rev 1:1)

Well, the thing that was to soon take place in Jesus's ministry was THE CROSS and the resulting accomplishments of it:


Back to the fact that Heaven and Earth passed away at Jesus' Death and Revelation being about Jesus' death:
look here: John was taken in the Spirit back to the Day that belonged to the Lord - The Cross:

Rev 21:1  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea vanished. (Notice he says "first" heaven and "first" earth - this puts to rest any argument that this could somehow be another heaven and earth that was different from what Jesus spoke about in Mat 24)

Rev 21:2  And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband. 

Rev 21:3  I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is with men! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. 

Rev 21:4  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have passed away." 

Rev 21:5  Then the one who sits on the throne said, "And now I make all things new!"

John observes that the first earth and heaven have passed away. According to Jesus, this would only happen when everything had been accomplished! 

The LAW was also now made Obsolete - as per Jesus this would happen when heaven and earth passed away.

The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah regarding the NEW COVENANT which we are now in. 

Note he uses the same words as John wrote down in Revelation. He was talking about the SAME covenant. This was done at the Cross. If there as another covenant still to come - another future institution - then this would imply that the new covenant that we are in now is still faulty.... 

Heb 8:6  But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted upon better promises. 

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 

Heb 8:9  not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. Because they did not persevere in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. (Talking about the LAW)

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant which I shall covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind, and I shall inscribe them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

Heb 8:11  And by no means will they teach each one his fellow citizen, and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I shall by no means remember anymore." 

Heb 8:13  By the saying "new ," He has made the first (covenant) obsolete. And the one becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish. 

The OLD COVENANT, the OLD ORDER of things was made OBSOLETE when Jesus died and rose again.

The NEW HEAVEN and the NEW EARTH which John saw are symbolic of the NEW COVENANT which replaced the Old one.

When Jesus died, the Old covenant died with him, but when he rose again, EVERYTHING was made new with the confirmation of the New Covenant.

We have believed a confusing Gospel.... we say, "God lives in us", and then read Revelation 21  -which we were taught is a future event after the Judgement of the world - and see that God says. "NOW, is the dwelling place of God with man... NOW he will be with us and we will be His people..."

Can you see how, if we wrongly place Revelation as a future tense event, then our current gospel makes no sense? Because if God is already living with us then it would not make sense for Him to say in the future, "Now i will live with you... " 

(we MUST BE HONEST with our theology. Don't be afraid to ask questions).

The OLD order has passed away, we are NOW living in the reality of what John saw in Revelation, because Revelation is all about the Cross and what was accomplished through it.

Paul says it like this:

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, *if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, ALL THINGS have become new. 

(*note: the preceding verses explain that ALL ARE IN CHRIST and died  with him).

So, if this New Jerusalem, this beautiful golden city that John sees is a Representation of the New Covenant, and not a literal city  that Christians will go to live in when we die - as we had all been led to believe - then, can we find more evidence to prove this in scripture? Yes....

Rev 21:9  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls being full with the seven last plagues came to me and spoke with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the wife, the bride of the Lamb."

OK, so this angel is about to show John Jesus' Bride?  Agreed?

But look what he does in the next verse:

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain, and he showed to me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 

What?!! The angel says, come, I'll show you the Bride of Jesus..... and then proceeds to show John a city with beautiful streets of gold and other amazing features....

Note: Remember the first verse of Revelation tells us that this Disclosure is revealed to John by an Angel using SYMBOLS (semaino: To reveal using signs and symbols). But modern Christian tradition has made this vision a literal city and also completely ignored that what the angel told John before showing him this City.... that he was about to show him the bride of the Lamb. 

The City represents Gods Bride, His dwelling place, the exquisite scenery that John sees: Golden streets, valuable Gems are all symbolic of purity and innocence and perfection that Gods Dwelling place has become. WE ARE HIS DWELLING PLACE!!! HE is in Union with MANKIND, NOT A PHYSICAL CITY!

Remember Paul said:

Col 1:26  the truth which has been kept secret from all ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His people, 

Col 1:27  to whom it was His will to make known how vast a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied in this truth--the truth that 'Christ is IN YOU, the hope of glory.' 

The Good News that Christ lives IN YOU NOW, just as John saw God announce in Revelation 21.

The Book of Revelation is all about JESUS's work of Reconciliation of humankind.

Jesus also plainly said this:

Joh 14:2  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go  and prepare a place for you, I will come again and I will receive you unto Myself; so that where I am, there you may be also.

Can you see this now? Rev 21: "NOW IS THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD WITH MAN"

this is NOT a future event, its the Gospel of Peace and Joy for ALL Men. 

Its the Gospel of Reconciliation. Its the Good News of Grace and the Kingdom of God.
We are the City of God!! His Home.

Click here for Part 4

The Beautiful Letdown - Part 2

In Part 2 we will look at these few things:
(see Part 1 here:The Beautiful Letdown - Part 1)

• Is The Book of Revelation pointing to a Future Time?
• Are the things that John sees in Revelation Symbolic or Literal?

Through out the book of Revelation we see some descriptions from John of some really mind blowing things like Dragons, creatures covered with eyes, a spectacular floating Golden City, lamp-stands, Slain Lambs, a Lake of fire, Horses riding across the sky and other things.

The questions often asked on these things is, "are these images real or only symbolic?", "When will all this happen?"

lets jump in:
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, " is the first part of this verse and is also the subject of the book. "Revelation"(apokalupsis) means "disclosure" - To reveal or make known something that has not been realized.
then: "which God gave unto him,"
So the book of Revelation reveals the Disclosure that Jesus received from the Father.

" to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;"
This is the next part and is often read to mean that the things contained in the Book are still needing to take place based on the phrase "which must shortly come to pass" as in "Shortly" meaning shortly after John had written the Book.
We do this because we do not see a world of Peace with our eyes currently, so we conclude that the events shown in Revelation are still to come. (But scripture says:  "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he..." If we still believing an unfinished work, we will still be living it.)

However, this is incorrect. it  says God gave this "Disclosure" to JESUS in order for Him to share it with his disciples regarding the things which were to take place shortly  - from their point of view in time, not ours - ie: The things that were to shortly take place BACK THEN.

"and he did SIGNIFY it , having sent through his messenger to his servant John,"
Q: who had this Revelation/Disclosure first? Jesus or John?
A: Clearly Jesus was given this Disclosure first from the Father.
John is now about to receive better clarity of the Disclosure the Father gave to Jesus. It says here that John will receive this Disclosure from an Angel/messenger and it will be SIGNIFIED to him: ie: the Angel will use SIGNS/Symbols to show John.
The word used for "Signify" here is sēmainō . It means "To make known using a Sign or a Symbol" 


So, lets get back to the other often asked question about the Book of Revelation:
Q: Is the vision John sees in this Book literal or Symbolic?
A: Without a doubt, it is Symbolic. 
(Like I mentioned in Part 1, this is a Beautiful Letdown for those who wholly embraced a Fantastical Dramatic future for the earth and her inhabitants, ie: Giant multi-headed creatures, flying horses, Lake of Fire, A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under his feet... and much more. We will cover these things as we go.)
Lets ReCap: We see in very first verse of this famous book, that which John is about to make known to us is the Revelation that the Father gave to Jesus, to share with his disciples, regarding the events that were about to happen, back then in Jesus' days. 
An angel was going to make these things known to John by way of signs and symbols - sēmainō.

Regarding how John came to receive this Revelation,, the 1912 Weymouth Translation puts it like this:
Rev 1:10 "In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord,.."

"The Day of the Lord" is more specifically translated as  "The day that belongs to the Lord". So John, by the power of the Spirit is taken back to the Cross, the Day that belonged to the Lord, and is given a revelation/disclosure of events by an Angel (and Jesus himself) by using symbols. and most of the time the meaning of these symbols is actually explained to John - this is something that modern Churchianity has completely overlooked and concocted up a fantastical "end times" theology theory.
We will get into these things in the next part.



Ok, so now that we can see that the Book of Revelation is about historic events, and NOT future events, lets look at a couple scriptures that further prove this:

In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age? (Note: "Age", Gr: "aion " - means a time frame with a beginning and an end.)


Jesus answers them by describing some of the events that are also described in the Book of Revelation:
Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven (Gr: ouranos - as in the sky, as a mountain lifted above the plain.... Like Jesus on the cross, "When I am lifted up.." ): and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming (Gr: erchomai - to find place of influence, be established, become known.) in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 
Mat 24:31  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens to their ends.
Mat 24:32  But learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch becomes tender and it puts out leaves, you know that the summer is near;
Mat 24:33  so also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Check Rev 6 talking about the same events!

Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 
Rev 6:13  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Also, Peter,  at Pentecost, stands up and quotes the Prophet Joel about all the recent events regarding JESUS (not some future sequence of events, but events that had by that time already happened). He describes the same events that Jesus did in Matthew 24 and John did in Rev 6.  He says:

"Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days,(the end of that age) saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (this is already happening in our time..)

Act 2:18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (this is already happening in our time..)

Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 

Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (this already happened on the day Jesus was crucified..)

So we have - among many others in the Old Testament -  Joel, Jesus, Peter and John (in Revelation) writing about the same event.... The Crucifixion of Jesus and events surrounding his life and death.

Lets take a look at the recorded events of the Crucifixion of Jesus:

Mat 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 

Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 

Mat 27:54  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 

Side Note: Interesting that the moon has no light of its own, but it's light is a reflection only of the sun's light.

Jesus said that he only did and said what he saw the Father do and said - just as the moon only reflects the sun, in the same way Jesus only reflects the Father.

Some believe -as I do -that the moon being turned to blood was Jesus on the cross covered in blood.
(FYI: There are a few written accounts recorded in history of this event which say that the moon had an actual red hue at that time - possibly as a result of a dusty atmosphere after the earth quake.)

So we can see that the events described in Revelation 6 are the same events were described by Jesus in Mat 24 as being signs of the end of that age.

Q: According to Jesus, when were these events that were the signs of the end of that age supposed to happen?

In 2000-3000 years time from then  - as per modern Christianity?

A: Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 

That's right, Jesus believed that the end of the age would happen when they saw all those signs (Earth Quake, The sky going dark, Moon turned to blood, resurrection from the death - as in "signs in the earth below").
These things all happened surrounding the events of the Cross!!!


Q: Did Jesus get it wrong?
Q: Was Jesus' announcement of "It is Finished" a bit premature?

Perhaps, rather, the events of the Cross are a lot bigger than modern Christianity has believed?
I believe it really is Finished as Jesus said and that the Book of Revelation reveals this Disclosure.
I hope you can begin to at least question the modern traditional view of the book of Revelation which points to another future judgement, which, can only then cast doubt on the finished work of Jesus.




So far, we have seen that according to the first verse of Revalation, that the book is about the revelation that Jesus received from the Father, that he shared with his disciples regarding the accomplishment of the Cross. - its a Past tense event.
John was taken by the Spirit to the day Jesus was crucified and is shown the finished work through Symbolic scenes. - the depictions in the Book are symbolic, not literal.

In the next few parts I hope to convince you further that the Book of Revelation is all really about Jesus and the Good News of the Finished work.


The Beautiful Letdown  - Part 3 (Click Here)



Much love
Andrew

Thomas, Paul and the Faith of Jesus!

Its always a great exercise to sit back and ask questions of what we believe and why we believe it. Its been a pleasure to sit with Jesus and allow him to wash his Grace and Love over all areas of my theology and doctrine.To Allow his Grace to Stain and Wreck all our "Sacred doctrines" regarding topics like Tithing and Church-meetings, Hell and the Fathers love, has been an absolute Joy. He gives us the courage to change in the face of Tradition.
I've discovered that most of what we have previously believe has been not much more than man's traditions dressed up as "the gospel". Here is another wonderful point to think on, and hopefully you will begin to realize just how Big this Gospel really is and what a wonderful Father we have!


Jesus' disciple, The Apostle Thomas could not possibly have been "saved" according to Modern Western Christianities Rules! He did not place his faith in the risen Christ. He did not believe until AFTER he saw Jesus Face to Face.


In John 20 after His Resurrection, Jesus appears to Mary, then to all the disciples except Thomas.
The disciples run to find Thomas to tell him the Good news of the Risen Jesus. But he denies this Good news, He simply does NOT believe or have any Faith in Jesus. he said:
Joh 20:25  So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." 

Thomas outright denied  the existence of the Risen Christ. He refused to "place his faith in Jesus" 
But hold on... Weren't we all taught that placing our personal faith in Jesus is THE requirement for Salvation? 


The account goes on to tell that a few days after this, they were all together inside a locked room and Jesus appeared in their midst. 
He said to Thomas, "“Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” 

So we see that even right up to this point, Thomas still had no faith/belief in the Good News as Jesus said to him, "don't be unbelieving".
Thomas is then filled with Joy as now he finally believes! But only after having SEEN Jesus, the Risen Christ.


Again, Doesn't Western Christianity teach that you can only "Choose Jesus now" because "when you are standing before Him, it'll be too late to decide to believe in him then!"


Jesus goes on to say, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."
(it is necessary to point out here that the word translated "Blessed" (makarios) simply means "Happy". It does not mean they somehow have "extra merit" conferred on them via some special "anointing"..... it just means that they are Happy. Religious Christianity has made up a whole system of levels of blessing based on a whole lot of stuff, eg: if you give/tithe you will be extra "blessed" by God. The word simply means "happy")

From here we can see that Jesus was actually OK with Thomas believing the Good News only after having seen him.


Thomas was not the only one who only believed the Good news after having seen the Risen, Glorified Christ first. The is another man who also followed Thomas' pattern.....The Apostle Paul.


Paul

Paul was a man who was extremely opposed to the Good News message! So much so that he would imprison and have executed those who embraced the Gospel. Yet in One glorious moment of encounter, as Paul meets the risen Jesus in his Glory, He instantly believes!
Paul only became a believer AFTER having seen Jesus for himself! 

Here is a wonderful description from Paul:
1Ti 1:12  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, (Paul was Judged as "faithful" before his appointment by God to serve him, but before His appointment, he was an unbeliever who only believed after having seen Jesus face to face.)
1Ti 1:13  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, (many in this age will reject Christ out of Ignorance and unbelief)
1Ti 1:14  and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (As an unbeliever, Paul was extended Grace via the FAITH and LOVE OF JESUS - not his own faith.)
1Ti 1:15  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (Note, Jesus saves sinners with His own Faith. Sinners can not save themselves or make their own decision based on their own wisdom)
1Ti 1:16  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as a pattern to those who shall believe in him for eternal(age-during) life. 
1Ti 1:17  To the King of the ages(different periods of time), immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Here we see Paul saying that he was saved by the Mercy of God, by His Grace and His Faith and His Love, and not of any of Paul's doing.
Paul says that Gods display of Mercy in Salvation to him is a PATTERN/example to them that do not yet believe. 
How did Paul believe? He saw the risen Christ and only then Believed.
Paul then emphasizes (vs 17) that God is the king of all the coming Ages.

He the writes that:  “Jesus is the Savior of all mankind, especially of those who believe/trustful/persuaded.” (1 Tim. 4:10)
Paul states here that Jesus is the Savior of mankind but he is especially valuable to those who are now already convinced/persuaded/trusting of this fact. - In this age, they that believe will be "Happy" (Blessed) based on this fact.




Again, "blessed (happy) are those who believe without seeing God", but there will be many who will follow the same pattern of Paul who will believe after having seen. And like Thomas "Unless I see Him, I will not believe!"

My question is: Has God changed as revealed by Jesus in this account? - surely not.
Does God show partiality to Thomas and Paul by allowing only them to believe after having seen the risen Christ? - Surely not.
Will God reject those who have already died in their unbelief who did not believe, Or those at the end of this age who see him as he really is? Will he respond differently to these ones - not showing Grace, not showing Mercy, not showing Love and not showing Faith towards them? Will not EVERY knee bow and tongue confess him to His praise? 
Heb 1:3 "The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God's nature"

Remember, Jesus perfectly reflected the Father and he demonstrated the Fathers heart when He accepted these guys who would not have believed if they did not first see Him. 
Where does that leave "You can only saved if you place YOUR faith in Jesus in this age"??
God tells us that into the ages to come He will still be revealing his Grace to man.(Eph 2) These are those that will believe after having seen Him as he truly is like Paul and Thomas. 
Presently we might only know in part but Then when we see him face to face we shall know him as He truly is - even as we have always been fully known by Him.

Many will believe the Gospel after having seen Jesus in his Glory, not only in this Age we are currently in, but also in the Ages to come.

Our Traditional Christianities representation of God is a Far cry from the Reality of Him who is the author of salvation, the Savior of all mankind, The Source and the Conclusion of Faith.
May the eyes of your heart be opened!

Love

Unbelievers and Free will

Often in the discussion regarding Jesus, the Savior of the World, the question regarding Free will will come up.





Here Some thoughts to really consider on Free Will?

(Nehemiah 9:7) “You are the LORD God, who Chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham.”
It was not a matter of Abraham deciding to follow God by his “free will”, it was a matter of God showing mercy and calling him out.


After dozens of similar descriptions in various instances in the Old testament my question is:
Has God changed in Character since then? 
“For I the LORD do not change” 
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”
the answer is NO. there is no shifting in His nature or character.

Do we really only come to the Father of our own free will?

John 6:44 NO MAN can come to me except THE FATHER that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.
John 6:65 And he added, "This is the very reason I told you that no people can come to me unless the Father makes it possible for them to do so."


Q: So then, if the Father draws men to Jesus, and this is not our Free will choice, then does he also leave some out in order to populate “hell”?

John 12 :32 Jesus: "when I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), I will DRAW ALL PEOPLE TO MYSELF."

(Its very interesting that the word “DRAW” here in both of these verses means to “Drag” - not very “free will-ish”, But in exactly the same was that we were not by our own “free” will included in First Adam, we are not by our own “free” will included INTO Christ.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).

Jesus says that “the Son gives life to whom he *will” (John 5:21).

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4 Who *will have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

ethelō: (same word used in John 5:21 “will”) means: to be Resolved/Resolute or Determined, to Purpose, Intend, to Pleasure*)

(Isaiah 46:9) I am God, and there is none like me; (10) declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I WILL DO ALL MY *PLEASURE. 
(Do we really believe that our “free” will can thwart His Ultimate plan? I believe that Love NEVER FAILS.)



(Romans 9:15) For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” (16) So then IT IS NOT OF HIM WHO WILLS, nor of him who runs, BUT OF GOD who shows mercy.
( So it’s not the one who works for their salvation or THEIR WILL TO CHOOSE salvation in Jesus; it’s simply God’s mercy.

And then again, Paul clearly confirms a short while later who His choice is:

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded ALL in UNBELIEF, that he may have MERCY ON ALL.


Guys, where is our free will in all this??


(2 Timothy 1:9) God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE.
That’s why Paul calls Grace and Faith Gifts in Eph 2 – if they were not gifts from start to finish there would be room for Boasting.
Rom 3:26 for the shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of the faith OF Jesus. 
Rom 3:27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? No, but by law of faith; 
Rom 3:28 for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law.
(Question: ….and who’s Faith is Paul talking about here that Justifies us? 
Answer: see Vs 26: it's THE FAITH OF JESUS!).


Who chooses who by who’s free will?


(Ephesians 1:4) He CHOSE US in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him

“God from the beginning CHOSE YOU for salvation” (2 Thes 2:13)
(God does the choosing, not us.)


Unfree will...

No person who sees and understands the love of God our Father, wilfully rejects it. It is not a will that is free that reject this love; it is a will in bondage. No person has ever, out of his/her own free will rejected our Lord, rather it is because of  ignorance, because of blindness that some have made uninformed choices. 

Man’s “free” will is simply a product of his past influences: a muslim man who by his “free” will chooses to worship allah is Hardly expressing any “Free” will! He is simply making an informed decision based on His up-bringing! If in his life time – in this age – he hears one of the very many versions of the Gospel and rejects it, was that really a “free” will rejection after a life time of indoctrination inclined to Islam? I doubt it! (I hear Jesus’ words “father forgive them for they are ignorant”…. 
If our “free” will leads to faithlessness then God REMAINS Faithfull.
The good news, however, is that God, and we as his co-workers, are in the business of making the truth plainly known.

He is both willing and able to make Himself known to any and every man, in a way that is as unique as the individual. The good news is that He took, takes, and will take the initiative to do this! 
Romans 10:20: Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not 
seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Our free will???)


Tradition

Christians are taught that the one thing God would never violate, is man’s free will. The erroneous conclusion states that a man’s free will is more sacred and more powerful than God’s eternal purpose. It incorrectly assumes that a person who rejects God is free, for they do so from a FREE will!


Saul (Paul) was described as “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”. We are not dealing with a weak-willed, indifferent person here. He considered Jesus and Jesus’ teaching to be his enemy and did whatever possible to stop it. Later Paul described himself as the chief of sinners.

Do you think that Paul’s strong opposition and determined will, was a problem for Jesus? 
Can you imagine the Father and Jesus conversing regarding Paul and saying: 
“What will we do! We can’t interfere with his ‘free will’”
Ridiculous!

Jesus knew that Paul’s enmity against Him was rooted in ignorance; He knew that if Paul saw Him for who He truly is, there would be no argument. Jesus knew that Paul did not act from his own “FREE” will, but from deception, and therefore He had no problem with interfering in his life. His stubbornness was no obstacle to the love of God. We all know well what happened!

No wonder that Paul’s whole testimony and message is centered around the initiative of God and not around the contribution of man.
In Galatians he emphasizes that this encounter with God had nothing to do with his decision, but all to do with God’s decision! In fact it was zealously persecuting the church … “But when it 
pleased God … who called me by his grace …to reveal his Son in me.” Gal 1:15, 16


Question: Did God treat Paul differently from the rest of us – does he show Partiality to Paul by messing with his “Free” will?
 Did God change... Just for Paul?

Phi 2:9 – 13: Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.
*For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.*

Did you see that last part? “…IT IS GOD who works in you both to WILL and to DO …” 
I am so glad that our Father does not consider my will off limits! 
I’m so glad He influences my desires, my will, my everything.



Cheers

Keep the Gospel Simple!!

You could call this part 2 of my "Lordship Salvation" post.

"Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

The Bible says that “certain men” came down from Judaea who taught false doctrine to the brethren, perverting the Gospel message. They taught that a person who is not circumcised and fails to keep the Law cannot be saved. This greatly troubled the brethren, who had been previously taught by the Apostle Paul that salvation was wholly of God's grace and not of works.

The Bible tells us in Romans 4:5,6,
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works."
Carefully notice the words "to him that worketh not." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. This cannot be overstated. Also notice the words "unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." We are saved by Christ's righteousness, and not our own efforts. It's not what we do that saves us, but what Jesus did.

The Word of God teaches that if the sinner recognizes his sinnership—acknowledging that he is guilty of being as vile as God's Word has declared him to be—and that person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven—he will be saved. Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." We don't forsake a sinful life as a prerequisite to be saved; rather, we trust upon the Lord to forgive our sins and then he makes the necessary changes in our life.

There is no greater truth in the universe than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are the sinners and Jesus is the Savior. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15,6:23). Salvation is receiving, not giving. It's not what you're doing that gets you to Heaven, it's where you're looking. Isaiah 45:22, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." This is the simplicity and power of the Gospel."



“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”
A Quote by Harry Ironside (1876-1951)

The Words of that great old Hymn are so true:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
look full in His wonderfull face
and the things of this world will grow strangely dim
in the light of His Glory (Goodness) and Grace"

Many teachers/preachers will insist on preaching a "self examination" message, but that, simply, is NOT the Gospel, and it's NOT the way to overcome "sin cycles".
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus" is the way to overcome the things of this world. The Bible says that our FAITH is the victory that overcomes the World. Have Faith in the Gospel that Jesus has done it all already on your behalf in terms of your rightstanding before the Father - and all because He Loves us so much.
God wants us to be Jesus concious and NOT sin concious! (Heb 10)

Perhaps more of this in another post.

Remember, God Already Blessed you!!
Andrew