“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11)

Because of the “hour of temptation” Jesus gives the warning: “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Man has not finished his selfish dirty work of robbery: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10) Jesus instructs them to “hold that fast which thou hast”. Philadelphia had great spiritual light on: salvation, sanctification, true unity, Bible love, the true Church, and the judgements against false religion. This understanding and experience is the “crown” that men would like to rob the Church of.

In Revelation 12:1 we have revealed to us a spiritual picture of the true Church of God, and the crown she has:

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” (Revelation 12:1-4)

This pure picture of the Church shows she is clothed in the light of the New Testament, the light of Jesus Christ. (See also Revelation 21:1-11) She has the moon under he feet for a place to stand. The moon is a reflection of the true light of the sun (not as bright, yet a light in the darkness of night – or the Old Testament.) The Old Testament gives us a light that actually foreshadows the true light: Jesus Christ. On her head is a crown of twelve stars. Remember from Revelation chapter one that Jesus tells us that the stars represent the angel-messengers to the Church. The twelve stars represent the teachings the Church is crowned with because of the twelve apostles of the Lamb that were sent by Jesus and taught us of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But now Jesus is warning us “hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” So in Revelation 12 we see Satan’s powers working through people represented in the form of a dragon, ready to devour those who have been saved – even as soon as they are spiritually born. We must be on guard and resist the temptations of sin, false teachings and the pressures of religious minded people, lest they re-blind us of the truth, and completely rob us of our eternal reward for staying true and faithful:

• “The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:18)
• “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)

But remember, Jesus warned “Behold, I come quickly” therefore don’t let down and be robbed of your crown, which represents your reward! “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12)

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:2-4)

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

The Church has a “crown of twelve stars” (see Revelation 12:1 above) which represents the pure truths that the Apostles of the Lamb originally delivered to us concerning Christ and his plan. May we earnestly “hold fast” to these pure truths, without the mixture of false teachings, so that no man can rob us of our crown and our eternal reward!

Click here to read the sample chapter. You may pass it on if you like.

Interview with Ed Stetzer: Mission, Church, and God’s Timeless Purpose

Brant Hansen (of radio fame) reviewed “From Eternity,” focusing on Part I of the book: “A Forgotten Woman.” Here is the review:

—

Here’s the book we’ve been talking about:  Frank Viola’s From Eternity to Here.

You can get it at the usual places online.  And you really should get it.  Like here.

I don’t say that often, and — of course — it’s true that one book does not fit all.  But this is a very accessible book about a topic so important, the word “topic” seems diminishing.

It’s about Jesus.  And you.  And a wedding.

Many people think knowing Jesus is ultimately about one thing:  Going to heaven.  “I got my ticket to heaven, so the rest is details” — I’ve actually heard that.

This sounds right to some, at some level, maybe, but it doesn’t capture the love affair between God and His people.  Not even close. Viola brilliantly explains what he calls the “eternal purpose of God”, and it’s a love story, since before time began.

When I read about this love story, this wedding-to-come, I can’t help but think the “ticket to heaven” idea of Christianity is a selling-short of this Great Romance.  You see, it’s like saying, “All that matters is I get in the reception, and I get some of that cake.  I loves me some wedding cake.”

Well, okay.  We all do.  But this is about love. Always has been.  You see, it’s about much more than whether or not you get some cake.  YOU ARE IN THE WEDDING. You’re being proposed to.  You’re going to be standing up in this one, front-and-center, and the question isn’t whether you want some cake.  The question is:  Do you take this man…?

The question is, and always has been, not “Do you have your ticket?” but…”Do you love me?”

So do I?

Viola admits to being a romantic.  I’m not — not in the typical I-love-”The Notebook” sense — but I’m glad he’s that type, because it’s allowed him some remarkable insight and appreciation into the romantic elements of the Bible, from start to finish.

Genesis to Revelation is all about Jesus.  I knew that.  But Viola points out the romantic storylines, played out over and again, that I’d never noticed.  Fascinating stuff.  (I’d never thought, before, about how “communion” is, among other things, a re-enactment, based on Jewish tradition, of the acceptance of a wedding proposal, for example.  And there’s much, much more.)

This book is not overly heady, not written for scholarly-types only.  And there’s far more to it than I can allude to in a short entry.  If you read it, let me know what you think.  It might rock your world, in the most exciting, freeing way.

- Brant Hansen

It does not take a Ph.D. in history to know that human existence has been fraught with warfare. I doubt that there ever has existed a time of peace on earth.  Somewhere war between two groups of people or more was and is always waged.  It began as long ago as Cain and Abel and continues right down to our present day.  We continue to see it in the tribal or ethnic warfares of Africa, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, and Sri Lanka.

One would think that our human evolutionary process would have taken us past this need to annihilate one another after some thousands of years of our living together on earth.  But, alas, no.  Neither physical nor social evolution has brought us to an any brighter end than when we began.  Indeed, at times in our common history it appears that we have de-evolved back into cannibals; take the wars and genocides of the 20 century, for example.  These all took place at the height of western rationalism and scientific achievements.

The tendency to devolve into unthinking brutes is no more apparent than in the present state of American politics.  I am constantly amused by the “Letters to the Editor” in my own local paper, The Tri-City Herald.  Each week, social and political conservatives and liberals take turns lambasting one another.  The vitriol is bitter.  The hate is evident.  Each side uses over-generalizations, unfair caricatures, and name calling to publicly flay their opponents.  Of course, it is couched in language that is supposed to make us think it is all really intelligent and thoughtful when it is apparent that it is not.

This is nothing new to American politics.  It goes way back; before even the founding of our great nation.  Politics and religion in America have always been the cause of great divides between its citizens.  More than once in our history it has turned extremely nasty.  For example, one only needs recall the early colonial embattlement between Christian sects.  Crossing a colonial border with the wrong religious credentials could get a person thrown in stocks or worse.  Our early protestant heritage created an extremely hostile environment to immigrant Catholics, especially Irish Catholics in the mid to late 19th century.  It was still a major issue for Protestant Americans when John F. Kennedy (an Irish Catholic) ran for president.

Our greatest historical black eye came to us in our own Civil War.  This was essentially an issue over politics; the role the federal government was or was not going to play in state governments.  As we know, the pro-federalist north won the fight over the anti(con)-federalist south.  Federal government has continued to grow stronger and stronger since that time.

Those in power have always used the seat of power to promote their political and social agendas.  So we have in our history a crazy-quilt pattern of abuses by those in authority.  One only needs to note the persecution of those who tried to bring about changes: the anti-slavery activists who were vilified and persecuted; the women suffragettes who were frequently jailed; the unionists and socialist who were imprisoned and killed; the communists who were jailed and castigated in society; the civil rights activists who were beaten, jailed, and killed.  And the list goes on and on.

What we seem to have entered into today in American society, however, is a new level of hostility.  The “middle ground” that has always helped America keep her head seems to have shrunk to a non-entity or have been muffled by the screams of the extremist hostiles on both both sides of the debate.  Not only is the dialogue that does take place extremely uncivil but both sides are simply shutting down dialogue all together and shutting one another out.

As such, we frighteningly have taken on the characteristics of the tribal warfare that has plagued other parts of the world.  How far are we from the hostilities between the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda or the Luos and Kikuyus in Kenya?  How different are we from the Serbs, Croats, and Albanians of the Balkan nations?  What makes us unique from the Catholic/Protestant or Unionist/Nonunionist war that has plagued Ireland?  How are these examples any different than what we presently see displayed in our own society between the Republican “tribe” and Democratic “tribe” or the conservative “tribes” and the liberal “tribes”?

Sure, we can boast that the difference is we do not now have the physical violence they have experienced (though we have admittedly had it in our past).  However, I’m left wondering how long that will last as long as both sides of the debate continue to demonize one another and paint each other as “the enemy”.  When the United State of America descended into the Civil War of  the 19th century, it took many by surprise that it had come down to an act of war.  Soon, friends and even family members were divided and shooting one another on open battle fields on American soil.

The Capital Building, Washington D.C. ©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

Given the fact that humans seems to have not evolved at all and that we still have a propensity to kill one another over skin color, religion, ethnic differences, political view points, and social statuses, we should tread very carefully into this 21st century.  We are not so far away from our tribal cannibalistic ancestors.  We will war with one another just because we are different from one another.

We also need to keep in mind that this great nation of ours is still an experiment in Democracy.  We have not proven that we have succeeded yet.  The story is still unfolding.  The end is still to be written.  Are we truly a nation that is still the “great melting pot” of the world where people of different ethnicities, religious and political backgrounds can come together and co-exist peacefully and in harmony?  Or, will we descend into a bunch of hostile tribes who huddle together and plan how to annihilate all competitors for food and control?

The way out of our present dilemma and stalemate is to return civility and a generous spirit back into the public discussion of what is best of the whole nation.  This will take a concerted effort especially by the more moderating voices in the public arena.  Places where incivility and unkindness are displayed in any form must not be tolerated by the crowd at large.  We do not need laws and government interference in the public forums.  What we need is self-censureship and self-control by all those involved.

What is also needed is for those who call themselves Christians to act like the One they claim to follow. Identity in the Kingdom of God trumps any social or political or ethnic identity.  If in the New Testament “there is now, therefore, neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave or free, neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:28, see also Romans 10:12), then that truth is needed now as much as it was then.  The unity we are called to in Christ is lived out in the family of God as adopted sons and daughters from every walk of life on earth.  Who are we to determine who gets to be a part of the family of God and who does not?

Our recent historical lesson should be the African nation of Rwanda where supposedly 80% of its population claimed to be Christian.  Yet, that religious identity and calling made no difference in how one looked upon or treated persons from the other tribe.  Ethnic identity trumped Christian faith and calling.  Millions died and suffered because the Church abandoned its true identity as brothers and sisters in Christ apart from tribe.

This is just the opposite of what Christ calls us to.  It is the same for Christian Americans who come from different political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds.  Let us not stand around singing “We Are One in the Spirit” with only those who look and think like us.  Let us sing that in the midst of our great diversity as a the Bride of Christ, the family of God, and a Democratic nation.

Finally, two childhood sayings come to mind when I listen to the public debacle we have come to call town meetings or community forums.  The first is “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  This is not to say disagreement should not be voiced.  By all means, it should be.  However, whatever is said needs to remain focused on the main point and not degenerate into accusations and name calling.  The second is this, “It is not what you say, but it is how you say it that is important.”

The tone that we bring to the public discussion will in some part determine the response we get from the other side of the aisle.  It only helps our cause, not hinders it, when we treat each other and contrary view points with respect and kindness.  Perhaps these should be posted at our next meetings before we break out the machetes and machine guns.

©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2009)

I have been inspired by recently reading over Revelation 20-22 and particular themes that come out in this critically important final chapter of Scripture. And one of the things that has been amazing me is John’s revelation of the bride of Christ. To some the subject might not be new but it’s always worth remembering that for John a lot of this stuff would have been a brand-new way of seeing things. In particular I would imagine that the angelic invitation in 21:9 would have been a striking moment in itself. The angel says, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Why would this have been striking? Because the bride is the wife of the Lamb. Not just anybody! Throughout the book there has been a significant revelation of Jesus as the Lamb of heaven. At the beginning He was seen to be the only one worthy to take the book that was in the hand of the Father and to break its seals to release the unfolding events of the last days. No one else in heaven or earth was worthy. He is revealed as the most unique, wonderful and praiseworthy being in all of history and creation.

And then, John discovers that this Lamb is to have a wife. Now, for such a one to have a wife must say something hugely significant about her also. Suddenly, statements about excellent wives and the like from Proverbs and other places seem a whole lot more meaningful. This is the one who the Lamb has been waiting for! She must be incredible.

Which is where we should begin to be surprised because, if you know anything about the bride of Christ, without doubt the term refers to the church. And you look at the rabble that we see as church today, and you wonder that the Lord would be so delighted over us! And yet He is.

I noticed something exciting too when I continued to read about the heavenly Jerusalem that is the bride of Christ. It says that there are twelve foundation stones to the city, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). Where does this bride spring from? It springs from the source of His followers, right from the days of the first twelve who gave their lives to follow Him. From that group that came to be known as the church. It is founded right back there when Jesus chose twelve to follow Him. This confirms for us the idea that the bride which is the city is the church.

But furthermore we can actually see Jesus actively sowing the seeds for this heavenly city-bride which comes to earth, way back in the Gospels. Because when John sees the bride, he sees

the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… (21:10).

It comes from heaven to earth – this city founded on the twelve apostles. What did Jesus teach His followers to pray? “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Without doubt His purpose from the beginning then was to raise up a people to become His bride who could see this ultimate goal accomplished, of heaven coming to earth, and He won them by buying their heavenly seat from which to operate in this task (Ephesians 2:6)

One last note about the new heavens and the new earth. There are two words for the word ‘new’ in the Greek – and this is currently second-hand information and I’m no Greek expert so I can’t tell you what they are. But I do know for sure that one of them is new in the sense of: scrap the old one, throw it in the bin: we’re getting a new one! And the other word is meant to convey the sense of something that has been re-newed. Taking something that has gotten a bit bad, and freshening it up. This is the word that is always used in the New Testament with reference to the new heavens and new earth. Even in 2 Peter 3 when everything is (literally) ‘dissolved’ (3:11) the new heavens and earth referred to there (3:13) are re-newed. Because sometimes you need to use a really strong cleaning agent to dissolve all the muck that has accumulated on your once-nice possession!

And Revelation 21:5 spells this out in beautiful and famed words: “Behold, I am making all things new.” And what I love is that to then really back this up, He goes on to say, “These words are faithful and true…. It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” (21:5-6) It is as sure as He is faithful and true, and is the beginning and the end. As sure as ‘it is done’ – or perhaps, ‘it is finished’ – and the work of the cross 2000 years ago.

And what I especially love is that His very next phrase is an invitation to drink: “I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” (21:6) It is amazing how often in Scripture God’s answer to a problem or method to a particular plan involves bringing water in some form, be it rain, floods, a drink…because we need the Spirit! If we want to see this renewing outworked in our lives on our patch of earth, it is done only by the Spirit. He is wrapped up in the whole ‘newness’ of God that is released in the New Covenant; in fact the Spirit is inseparable from the New Covenant. Come to Jesus and you’ll pretty quickly discover that He’s eager to give you His Spirit so you can live in heaven’s life to the full, rather than being stuck on earth having to cope by your own strength.

And together they join their voices at the end:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” (Revelation 22:17)

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

Jesus said while still on earth:

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

But to confess him before men means more than professing a name before people. Jesus was specifically speaking of living the true and faithful life before the very closest to you; even when they are very religious, self-righteous, and very offended by your Christian sincerity and faithfulness. This is why Jesus immediately after this statement made it clear that there was a serious need to “overcome” right at home, and right amongst your closest loved ones:

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)

We must overcome all: sin, false doctrine, false churches, and our own loved ones that are not “faithful and true” to Jesus (although they may be very religious.) Then, and only then, will we be clothed in white and be accepted of Jesus:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;… …And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. (Revelation 7:9 and 11-14)

Jesus has the names of the truly saved on his roll in heaven. Having your name on a Church membership roll down here on earth will not do you any good. The one in heaven is the only one that matters. Turning your back fully on sin and being saved is how your name gets there, and it is sin, including the sin of unfaithful religion, that will “blot” your “name out of the book of life.” This has always been true, even all the way back in the Old Testament:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Exodus 32:33)

Having your name written in heaven matters more than anything else:

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20)

Again, in Revelation 3 and verse 5 he emphasis the need to be clothed in garments that are not spotted: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Like the five virgins who kept their lamps burning, so those who keep their garments clean and white, will also be allowed through the door to the wedding feast of the bride of Christ:

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)

Where are you today? Is your heart pure before the Lord? Are you spiritually clothed in white raiment? Is your name in the Lamb’s book of life?

Jerald Finney
© October, 2009
*All prior articles on this blog are listed and linked at the bottom and all articles on this blog may be accessed from the following link: http://churchandstatelaw.com/gpage8.html

Have you ever done an in depth study of the biblical doctrine of the church? Every Bible believer, and especially every pastor, should have done such a study. Every Bible institute and college should give priority to such a study. Did not Christ “love the church and give himself for it?” Included in that study should be a study of the application of the doctrine of the church. In other words, a scholarly spirtual study of the church would require an in depth study of the definition, organization, and purposes of a church. This  would require a study of such matters as the organization of churches as corporations, unincorporated associations, corporations sole, etc. and seeking Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) of churches. Do such devices comport with biblical principles? Is our Lord grieved when such devices are employed by churches? What are the consequences to churches, individuals, families and the nation?

The players below will teach on the biblical doctrine of the church. In conjunction with other audio teachings on other pages of this blog, a spirit filled believer will be given the knowledge to answer all the questions in the paragraph above and more. You may or may not agree with all this teaching, but this study will be invaluable to the Bible believing Christian who wants to do things God’s way. This study is patterned after Section II of the book God Betrayed/Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application (Ordering information for this and other books is on the “Books” page of churchandstatelaw.com.).

You can move time line of each teaching to a desired point by left clicking the cursor on the end of the time line or by just clicking on the time line at a particular point.

1. Introduction to the biblical doctrine of the church (The audio opens with a song by Brother Rocky Otwell, “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?” followed by opening remarks and prayer. That portion of the audio is 5 min. 3 sec. in length. The total length is 14 min. 55 sec.):

2. Definition, organization, and purposes of a church (27 min. 22 sec.):

3.  The love relationship between Christ and His church (52 min. 16 sec. This may be the most important teaching concerning the issue of separation of church and state. The last few minutes of the audio is of poor quality because of technical difficulties that were later corrected).

4. Heresy and apostasy (Begins with a song, “In Times Like These,” sang by Rocky Otwell and prayer. Prayer ends at 3 min. 31 sec. Total length of segment is 28  min. 15 sec.):

5. Recent accelerated apostasy in America (14 min. 22 sec.):

6. Apostasy at the end of the church age (3 min. 30 sec.):

7. The church will reign with the Lord (1 min. 56 sec.):

8. Conclusion (Conclusion is 5 min. 41 sec. followed by song and prayer. Total length is 8 min. 51 sec.):

End

For His Glory,
Jerald Finney
Christian and practicing attorney
churchandstatelaw.com
For a complete outline of all articles on this blog click the following link: http://www.churchandstatelaw.com/gpage8.html. On that page, you will find an audio series that covers all that one needs to understand concerning separation of church and state (the biblical principles and the American application).

The Unification of the Bride

Now let’s take another look at a scripture (that we introduced previously in: Preparing-the-Bride-of-Christ-for-Jesus) that foresees the coming of the bride and the bridegroom:

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:2-5)

This scripture tells us that the Tabernacle of God will be with men when the above scripture is fulfilled. Since we have identified Jesus as the living Tabernacle that came to earth (in the post: The-Tabernacle-is-Prophetic-of-Jesus), then the above scripture is referring to Jesus. This means that Jesus and the bride are together on earth and more importantly, that the bride is prepared for marriage.

The rest of the scripture communicates how the bride will be loved by Jesus. He will live with her and take care of her every need. He will take away all her sorrows and will make all things new, including her body, so that she can have life everlasting in Him.

Jesus is the husband who will provide and care for His bride. Each of us individually can be members of the body of the bride who is now preparing for the wedding feast. To do so we must be united as one in the spiritual body of the Bride and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  It should be exactly as Jesus prayed in the following scripture:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

Jesus in Prayer Geting Direction from the Father

This prayer of Jesus reveals His desire to be one with us (the bride) and the Father. His prayer will be consummated in His marriage to His bride.

Therefore, as we wait for the return of Jesus in glory we are to be busy perfecting the bride by continuing the work that He left us to do. By way of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit the bride becomes like Jesus as her heart is conformed to His heart. As the bride speaks the word of God to others the body is matured as more followers are incorporated into the body. As the bride takes charge in the spiritual world the entire body is strengthened as the strongholds of the devil are broken. As the sick are healed and the spiritually bound are set free through the prayer of the bride the body becomes ready for ministry. As the forces of darkness are defeated more souls will turn to the true light of God.

As we finish this posting the Bridegroom remains seated at the right hand of the Father, patiently waiting for His bride to prepare the way of His return. This preparation can only be achieved when His bride has finished the work that He Himself started over 2000 years ago.

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:3)

Remember back in Thyatira Jesus told them in Revelation 2:26 that “he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations“. Now in Sardis Jesus reminds them to think back and “remember” what you received and heard in Thyatira and “hold fast” to what you have left, and repent of what you have allowed yourself to lose: your works being found perfect before God.

If you will not watch, he states he will come on them suddenly, and they will not be prepared! Jesus gave this same warning a number of times even while he was still physically on earth, and gave a very specific parable to warn against not keeping the burning love of the Holy Ghost, the work of perfection, alive in your soul. The parable was about the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins who had lamps, but only the wise took extra oil (representing the maintenance of their soul “holding fast” with the Word and the Spirit of God – see Matthew 25:1-13.) The cry went out suddenly at midnight that the bridegroom had come for the marriage feast, and all 10 virgins were woken up out of a “sleep”, but the lamps of the 5 foolish had run out of oil and had gone out. They did not “hold fast” and their spiritual oil had run out, consequently they were not ready and lost out. Only those with a burning lamp were allowed into the marriage feast. (Remember the lamp, or the candlestick represents the Church, and the the light of the candlestick represents the pure burning love of the Holy Ghost and the clear light of the Word concerning Jesus and his Church; for only a faithful love for Jesus keeps that light burning – see Revelation 1:12.)

Now Jesus finishes the parable by warning: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

In particular he is giving this warning here because in the next Church age, Philadelphia, Jesus would suddenly come for the marriage feast with his standout bride, the Church of God. The 5 wise virgins can be represented as the “true” people of God amongst 5 spiritual Church conditions of: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis. These true people would “trim their lamps” (making them even brighter) for the marriage feast. Many others are like the 5 foolish virgins, only having a name, but being spiritually dead, and represent the “fallen” people of God during the 5 Church conditions already mentioned. These fallen, yet still religious people, would not be ready for such a message concerning the marriage feast of the one true bride. Their lamps, (their understanding and love for the truth) had gone out! Yet they were still claiming to be true virgins and knocked on the door wanting in, but Jesus would not open to them and said “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Matthew 25:12)

This does not imply that during the darker ages (Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis) when a clear visible Church of God was not standing out separate from all falseness and division on spiritual Mount Zion, that true Christians were not married to Christ. True Christians have always been married to Christ, that is why they are described with the name of “true and faithful.” But what this parable of the ten virgins does imply is that when the call to “come out from amongst them” went out (or the call to the marriage “feast” where they all gather together to the bridegroom to celebrate), that then it became evident that some of those virgins were true and “trimmed” their lamps of love so they would be even brighter.

But others had let their true love for Jesus go out. They were not worthy nor ready to be part of the “feast.” False, so-called Christian churches had effectively killed the true love and desire to follow and obey Christ in pure unity and truth.

In the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins, Jesus, the bridegroom, came for the marriage feast at midnight. The Jews divided the night into four “watches” each named according to when the “watch” ended. The first began at sunset to three hours later, around 9pm and was named “even”; the second from this time to midnight and is called “midnight”, hence Jesus is referring to 12pm as the time that the bridegroom returns for the marriage feast; the third from midnight to three hours before sunrise and is called “cock crowing”; and the fourth from this time to sunrise called “morning”. Today we refer to a day by the 24 hour clock and “technically” recognize midnight as the end of the day, but in this parable this does not necessarily represent only the end of the Gospel day. No one knows when the end of time, the end of the Gospel day will be (except God the Father), but we know it is getting near. The ten virgins were awakened out of their sleep, and there are still many people mixed up in a mess of so called “Christianity” that also need to awaken out of sleep for the night is far spent!

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:11-12)

Now the Sardis Church age, the 5th Church age, approximates the dates of 1730 to 1880. (There will be more said later concerning how these approximate dates are determined from the Book of Revelations.) But even though the message to Sardis was for the Church located at Sardis, and for the Church age of Sardis, spiritually today we need to “watch” that we do not fall asleep and lose out also. Like how all the Epistles are also for us today, the Sardis message is also for us today.

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:35-37)

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10)

When people spiritually are not “watching” the Devil always takes advantage to bring in false people amongst them that will seduce the true into compromise and to divide them and gather them to themselves:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31)

Because people “slept” and were not “watching” is why compromise came in after the Apostles, and men created their own religions (Catholicism and Protestantism) and doctrines and called them “Christian”. This is also why Jesus foretold of this happening in a parable, in the which he also explained how, at the appointed time, his true ministry would be sent to preach the full truth to gather the true worshipers apart from the false worshipers:

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:24-30)

The beginning of this particular “harvest” where the tares are gathered out from the wheat, especially happened in the Philadelphia Church age, approximately beginning in 1880 (the end of the Sardis Church age. Remember in Sardis, Jesus warned if they would not watch, he would come upon them at an hour they did not expect.) Starting around 1880 the full truth was sounded out by a true ministry: salvation from sin, the sanctifying of the nature and infilling of the true Holy Ghost to live a sin free life, and the true, undivided unity and oneness of the Church of God. (This absolutely is not to be confused with the modern day “ecumenical” movement where various Churches “unionize” but yet are divided on doctrine, and still are not completely delivered from sin.) Jesus wanted us to clearly understand this parable about the tares, so he explained it later in Matthew the 13th chapter:

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:36-43)

The “furnace of fire” that the tares would be cast into is the preaching of the judgments of God’s word against: sin, division, false doctrine, false Christians, false Churches, etc. This IS what the preaching of the Revelation message is all about! This is one main reason why Jesus gave his Revelation message! To help honest souls to be gathered apart from falseness so they will only serve and worship Jesus in perfect unity with his one true bride: the Church of God.

Have you been watching? Has this message come upon you like a thief?

Many years ago, when I was just starting out in ministry, I performed a wedding ceremony for a couple in their seventies. A couple widows who’d known each other for many years had decided to marry. The only other witnesses were another couple they were friends with. I don’t remember what the bride looked like. I certainly don’t remember her as being especially unattractive, despite her years.

What I do remember is the mistake I made as I read from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the part in which he compares marriage to the relationship between Christ and the church. He speaks of Jesus’ spiritual bride as being “holy and blameless.” Yessir, that’s the way Paul wrote it.

Unfortunately, Gary didn’t read it that way. I read it “homely and blameless.”

It wasn’t a misguided attempt at humor, believe me. Perhaps it was the famous Freudian slip. Whatever the reason, the result was inner pandemonium. I felt a giggle rising in my throat. It wasn’t that I thought what I’d done was funny. The impulse to laugh at my faux pas no doubt sprang from a young minister’s mixture of nervousness and fear. But I knew that, whatever happened, I must not laugh. Should I beg pardon, then, or go on, hoping they (especially the bride) hadn’t heard? I couldn’t laugh like a loon. Nor, I felt, could I call attention to my slip. So I went on, managing by God’s grace, to recover some measure of calm.

As it turned out, I don’t think the aging couple had even noticed. Maybe, at this stage of the game, they were a bit hard of hearing.  But now, I can’t read Ephesians 5:25-32 without remembering one man’s mistake–and thinking of a much bigger mistake so many others make.

“Homely.” Isn’t that what many people consider the church to be? Oh, she’s a sweet girl. Good personality. Great cook. We don’t mind visiting with her every now and then, say, Christmas and Easter. But, well, she’s not somebody you want to be seen much with. No man wants to be associated with a homely girl, does he? As for marrying her…uh, thanks but, uh, no.

But Jesus loves His church. He doesn’t fret over her appearance. He sees something in her, something He can work with, even transform.

Jesus loves His church. Some days, it wouldn’t pay you to ask me why. I’m a preacher. I’ve been one for thirty years. There have been days–days? More like weeks when I could scarcely abide the sight of her. “Homely?” I only wished she’d looked that good! After certain board meetings, after certain encounters, after surveying Sunday morning congregations that looked more like the flag flapping over Fort McHenry, shot full of holes, I’ve shook my head at the notion of the Bride of Christ. Looked more like the bride of Frankenstein to me!

Every preacher feels that way, I guess, from time to time. If he doesn’t, well, he’s probably a better man than I am.  Either that or he’s not really paying attention.

But Jesus loves His church. He sticks with His church. He feeds and cares for His church. He is in some mysterious way one with His church.   So who am I to criticize another man’s wife? I didn’t marry her. He did. I didn’t travel an unimaginable distance to woo her. He did. I didn’t pay for her, not with cold, hard cash…or with warm, wet blood like He did.

How dare I, then, trivialize or disdain her? Who do I think I am? I’m…I’m, er, part of His church.  It comes as a shock sometimes to realize it.  I too am a body part of  the Bride with whom He is one.  And when I’m put out with the church, I’m put out…with me. I’m part of the problem, you see. I’m the big nose, the skinny frame, the buck teeth pushing out the upper lip of His bride.   The home in “homely” starts at my own doorstep.   

After thirty years in public ministry, I’ve given up any ideas I once had of fixing all the problems with the church. I can’t even fix myself. I do a pretty good job, though, of loving myself, of feeding and caring for me. If I can do that, somehow, by the power of the living God and the grace of Jesus Christ, I can love His church.

And I intend to do it.  Amen.

• Breitbart // Millions face shrinking Social Security payments
• El Universal // Salinas y Peña Nieto
• FT // The risk of a double-dip recession is rising by Nouriel Rubini
• Bible Prophecy Today // The Bride by Jack Kelley
• Mail Online // Artificial life will be created ‘within months’ as genome experts claim vital breakthrough
• BBC Mundo // Más cerca de la vida artificial

While doing some personal research about how an emergent will learn about God I found something very interesting, funny, and sad. One of the sites I will frequent in an effort to learn about what is current in the Emergent Church is Solomon’s Porch.

Solomon’s Porch does not a use the word church. There I would agree. They are, as the subtitle says “A Holistic, Missional, Christian Community. Solomon’s Porch is lead by Doug Pagitt, who is by all means a leader in the emergent movement. He has written several books on the movement and is an authority, which is a contrast in the emergent community. But that is another post, article, discussion.

While navigating the Solomon’s Porch web site using their navigating drop-down list I found an entry for “What Makes a church?”. Curious, I navigated to that page. The result can be seen here.  Go ahead, do it yourself.  I don’t know if this was intentional or not. Usually a web site will have something on a page that is published to the public, so maybe this was intentional. Does the blank page represent the open-minded, broad brush,  emergent definition of church? You draw your own opinion.

In contrast I will briefly mention another web site I frequent a bit more, especially to find info about “What Makes a church.” The web site is 9Marks. They have a couple of tag lines: “Church Matters”, and “Is Your Church Reflecting Culture or Re-shaping It?” The 9 in 9Marks represents the 9 marks of a healthy local church. When I navigated to their page on what a church looks like, I found this. It is based on what is  the ultimate authority for every man, the bible.

It is not my intention to bash Doug Pagitt and Solomon’s Porch. I just found it interesting that they do not have a definition for what makes a church. It is my prayer that Doug Pagitt and Solomon’s Porch update their “What Makes a church” page using the same basis. The bible. It is how we know God, the Holy Spirit, and Christ the son and head of the church.

Some food for thought:

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:9 ESV)

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria

Jesus is the Reward of the Spirit Filled Warrior Nation

The promises of God to Israel for taking the Promised Land are predictive of the rewards we as Christians will receive for entering into spiritual warfare and taking down the strongholds of evil around us.

The Ark Brings Down the Walls of Jerico

To understand our spiritual rewards better we must first summarize the rewards promised to Israel.

Israel’s rewards included peace, prosperity and possession of the Promised Land and everything in it:

But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, (Deuteronomy 12:10)

In addition, God would abide with them in the land such that their offerings could be made:

Then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD. (Deuteronomy 12:11)

They also received favor from the Lord that came in the form of the early rain as well as the latter rain for their crops. Through this rain they would then derive their new wine and their oil:

Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled. (Deuteronomy 11:14 – 15)

Again, these physical rewards are prophetic of our spiritual inheritance. In place of the land of Canaan the Christian Nation will enter into the New Jerusalem that will come down from heaven. The New Jerusalem is also referred to as the Lamb’s wife in the Bible. We will cover the New Jerusalem and the Lamb’s wife in greater detail later in subsequent posts. For now, suffice it to say that each true Christian is a component of the bride. After Christ comes again, the bride will become one with Jesus in marriage and as a result, Jesus will love and care for us as a perfect husband loves and cares for his wife. In addition, since Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him, then we will become one with God as well.

Until the time that Jesus comes for His Bride, she is to be working preparing the way for His return. This would be a similar mission to that of John the Baptist:

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. (John 1:22 – 24)

John Baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River

The work that we do as members of the bride comes with the blessings of the Holy Spirit that empowers our work. The harvest of our grain is prophetic of the spiritual seeds that we sow and in turn, the spiritual fruit that we reap. Our new wine is the new covenant which is based on the shed blood of Jesus that is effective in setting us free from sin. Finally, our oil is the anointing of the Spirit that enables us to achieve His purpose.

This is the essence of the new covenant. We enter into it by eating the body and drinking the blood of Jesus as He taught us at the last supper:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26 – 28)

However, this physical act of communion that we practice today is emblematic of the transformation of our nature to that of Christ Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

It is in eating His body and drinking His blood that we become like Him. In encouraging and fostering this transformation we must prepare ourselves, the bride of Christ, for the Bridegroom. We do this by carrying on the mission and the works that He did here on this earth:

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:6)

In addition, let us not forget that gifts and blessings come from God washed with the blood of Jesus. As we have discussed previously, we have open access to the Holy Place that brings with it the blessings of becoming enlightened to know our purpose, our mission and our direction. We can commune with the Father and are empowered to be victorious in spiritual warfare, which in turn brings safety, protection salvation and peace to the loved ones that we pray for. In this regard, we take up our cross and follow in His footsteps. We cling to the promises of God with all of our being and remain steadfast to our purpose, our dream and the mission that He created us to achieve.

All of this is to say that in Jesus we have a perfected Manna in that He sustains us as we walk in our desert place toward the fulfillment of the new covenant.

Violence in Heaven

This covenant will be fulfilled when the bride takes possession of the spiritual Promised Land, which is in heaven, and the bride is united in Christ Jesus and the two become one.

Read my book entitled, “Possess the Vision.”

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime. They start in his youth when amazingly he has a series of dreams that warn of impending danger that come true. In a mind gripping account he tells what happened when he turned away from God and suffered demonic attacks that took him into spiritual Golgotha, the place of death. There he is confronted by Satin and is brought before the judgment seat of Christ. Fortunately, judgment is not dispensed. He awakes in the hospital the next day disbelieving what he perceives as a very bad dream. He is then pummeled by a series of physical attacks and teeters near death for months. Out of desperation he picks up a bible and later gives his life back to God.

Immediately God responds by leading him through a series of spiritual and prophetic experiences, that when melded together, communicate God’s desire. Possess the Vision weaves these experiences into a proposal to unite Christians in a common ministry to improve the life and living standards of the world’s people — in support of the command of Jesus Christ that we love one another.

The Jewish Wedding and the Rapture

Understanding the Rapture from Jewish Wedding Traditions

Introduction

The title of this article speaks of what many are being taught. That being, Jewish Wedding traditions, parallel the Church as the Bride of Christ and the Groom, Christ, coming for His Bride as depicted within these traditions. The Jewish Wedding traditions being discussed are the rabbinic teachings found within the Talmud and Kabbalah. That means they come from those who had rejected Jesus Christ and which same writings denigrate and blaspheme Him. They are not a source for believers. Despite what many many are doing to inculcate Christian beliefs with them.

Many are being lured into Hebrew Roots by such ways as this. There is nowhere in Scripture where we are to take Jewish traditions as a way to interpret Scriptures. While these teachings concerning the Jewish Wedding traditions are much used by Messianic Jews, they are also found within the Christian community and those who specifically parallel them to the Rapture and as a way to attempt to confirm the rapture belief.

Some Jewish sites have stated that very little is provided in the Torah with regard to the procedures of a marriage, and therefore, the Talmud provides the method for providing a spouse, the form of the wedding ceremony, and the nature of the marital relationship.

Many become interested in Hebrew Roots and then involved with Hebrew Roots because of this issue, and with it the road is paved to accepting more false teachings and error. If you were to peruse most pre-trib forums and some Messianic ones, this teaching is being discussed and promoted time and again. And it is found written about on many websites.

As we will see with the various sources directly from Judaism -orthodox, reform, chasidic -the Jewish wedding ceremony is virtually the same. Some have different interpretations of meaning, with some more openly kabbalistic, but the source of the Jewish Wedding is defined by the Talmud, which all sects of Judaism follow. Understand that Judaism rejects Jesus Christ as Messiah, Savior and Lord.

It will be shown that the Jewish wedding ceremony and beliefs do not have, nor were they ever intended to have, anything to do with Jesus Christ. On the contrary, as stated from the one source, “You are hereby sanctified to me with this ring according to the Law of Moses and Israel.”. In other words, missing throughout the various descriptions is any part of the Jewish wedding ceremony being compared to, or a parallel to Christ, or a rapture. They do not exist. There is absolutely nothing anywhere in Judaism that points to a surprise wedding day scenario. And no where do we see anything that suggests He surprises–as a thief in the night– the bride and brings her to His fathers house where He has added a room for her.

What is being done by those who have taken snippets of the various Jewish wedding traditions, is they have taken pieces from one source, rearranged and reinvented the content and events and then made the declaration that the Jewish wedding tradition is really the story of Christ and the rapture, and attempt to match it to Scripture and or their opinion of particular Scripture or possible events. When the Jewish wedding in fact, does no such thing. It is entirely different than any scenario being declared as proving the rapture or the bride of Christ and so on. And the manipulation of these things goes against the very Scriptures said to be concerning all subjects involved.

It’s almost like the telephone game only worse. If I might make it clearer, its like reading one story and conveying a word or two from that first story, into a second and totally different story, and then saying it is identical to the first story. And then saying it is identical to a third and totally different story that uses a few of the same words.

As we will see with the various sources directly from Judaism -orthodox, reform, chasidic -the Jewish wedding ceremony is virtually the same. Some have different interpretations of meaning, with some more openly kabbalistic, but the source of the Jewish Wedding is defined by the Talmud, which all sects of Judaism follow. Understand that Judaism rejects Jesus Christ as Messiah, Savior and Lord.If one looks at the NT, we see one specific reference to a Jewish wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine. And the gist of the celebration was that it was normal for attendees to drink much wine, and after such was when the worst wine would have been served. Obviously that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ returning, regardless of what one believes concerning when Christ will return.

The following is a presentation of rabbinic thoughts, ie. from the Talmud and Kabbalah which all branches of Judaism use, and what some are declaring that this is how the Jewish wedding parallels the rapture, Christ and the Bride of Christ.

Part 1:

Many believe that the laws and customs relating to the Jewish wedding ceremony and all that surround it, date back to the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. For many the Talmud is merely those things written down.

According to various sites and if one were to peruse the Talmud, the belief is that Adam and Eve were created as a single being, as siamese twins. Others say with two faces. God then separated them, making them husband and wife. Prior to marriage, it is believed that neither a man or woman is complete until they marry and become one whole being again. The wedding then is the unification of the two halves making them complete. This theme is repeated at every Jewish marriage. [15]

And just as Eve was brought to Adam (Genesis 2:22), so to the bride is brought to the groom. “Eve, who was created later, was shown thereby to be the higher life form of the two, because the potential of future life lies with her. Therefore, Adam was not complete until Eve was brought to him.” [8]

*** Note — Eve was brought to Adam. Adam did not go to get her.***

The Jewish wedding ceremonies are in several parts. The seven nuptial blessings speak of paradise regained, the miracle of God’s creation, and the creation of man and woman, so that mankind might endure, and specifically the continuity of the Jewish people. The sixth blessing refers to marriage in the scheme of creation: “Make these beloved companions as happy as were the first human couple in the Garden of Eden.” The joy of the Creator’s blessing is invoked at the inception of every Jewish home.

***Note, the seven blessings obviously have nothing to do with Jesus Christ or His return. If they are said over the cups of wine, then the significance of the cups means nothing as well to Christians.***

The thought is presented that if God created man, woman, and their marriage relationship; and if the creation of man and woman is good and marriage a blessing; then God is a conscious, albeit silent, partner in the marriage. Thus the ideal Jewish marriage is a triangle composed of two human beings and their Creator.

*It should be noted that the Jewish sources being accessed for this information also quote the Zohar for these wedding teachings ie the Kabbalah.

*** Note–the bride is taken to the groom. The groom does not come for the bride. Which is contrary to the claim of the parallel of this to Christ returning to rapture the church. While I am not going to cover all the ceremony and details, I will cover some very significant parts. ***

Many believe that Tuesday is the best day to be married because God said the third day was good twice, during creation, not just once like the other days. [23] From the Talmud, it is also said, “Wednesday is the appointed wedding-day for virgins, and Thursday for widows “. [22]

***That flies in the face of only God knowing the day or hour for the return of Christ. Some paralleling the rapture also state that the groom always came at midnight, therefore Christ will come at midnight, which again goes against that Scripture. Others state that the “catching away of the bride” or rapture is understood by knowing their Jewish roots which they believe means that Christ will come for His Bride on Rosh Hashanah. ***

Many marriages were arranged from childhood. The couple may not have met prior to the betrothal or wedding. The betrothal was a legal marriage and could only be dissolved by a formal divorce, yet the woman remained in her father’s house. The betrothal constituted the actual “purchase” of the bride, and her eventual move to the groom’s house, the “delivery” of the purchased “property.” That was when the actual wedding took place. [1, 12]

*** Note: the marriage was formal at the point of the signed ketuba- marriage contract- which was signed at the betrothal, not at the wedding itself, and requires a divorce to break it. This is contrary to the rapture parallel which states that the wedding ceremony in Heaven– after the rapture– formalizes the marriage. The Jewish wedding considers the bride a wife BEFORE the wedding. That belief is also found in Deuteronomy.***

Historically, the mohar was the original purchase price of the bride paid by the father of the groom to the father of the bride. The marriage in those times was an agreement between families not two individuals. Until the Middle Ages, a marriage consisted of two ceremonies, with celebrations and an interval between. The betrothal and the later wedding. The wedding meant that the betrothed woman was brought with a colorful procession, from her father’s house to the house of the groom. After the marriage was complete, the groom would have a small area or nook for his new bride in his father’s house.

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“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” (Revelation 2:21)

The “her” that Jesus gave “space to repent of fornication” was that false Christian spiritual condition (Jezebel) that claims to be married to Jesus (claims to be his Church) but yet flirts and fornicates with evil and takes pleasure in mixing false doctrine with the pure teachings of Jesus. (See earlier posts of: “Should Jezebel Be Honored as a Queen and Prophetess?” and “Jezebel Kills True Prophets and Then Sets Up a False Communion“.)

Earlier in the Pergamos age, and now in Thyatira, a false church spirit has been noted as committing fornication with the Devil by mixing false teachings with the truth of God’s word, yet still claiming to be married to Jesus. The reason for this: for selfish personal gain, not because the church loved Christ first and was true to him. This is the spirit of a harlot, not the spirit of a pure, true to Jesus bride.

In Ephesians 5:22-33 we read and get clear understanding about how the true Church of God is a pure and true bride of Christ:

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Because of people “leaving their first love” (as mentioned in an earlier post “Have You Left Your First Love?” on Revelation 2:4) the impure spiritual condition of flirting with sin and evil, false Christian (pagan like) practices eventually moved in amongst those claiming to be the Church. In spite of this, Jesus in his mercy has given people time to repent of playing church, and to return to him with all their heart. The Lord in the Old Testament also gave backslidden Israel and Judah the same opportunity to repent and return, but eventually the “space” of time to repent ran out:

“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:1)

But in Thyatira, Protestantism in particular (and those in Catholicism) would not repent, but continued to “play around” with false teachings and the purposes and kingdoms of men. Jesus indicates that her space of time for offered mercy has run out.

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” (Revelation 2:21)

“Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” (Jeremiah 51:8-9)

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Revelation 18:1-7)

Next in Revelation 2:22 we shall see some of the judgment that is placed by Jesus upon those who continue to flirt and play around with spiritual Jezebel, spiritual Babylon, or Catholicism and Protestantism together – for they all essentially have the same spirit, that of claiming to be married to Christ, but they live unfaithful to the marriage vow of obedience, purity, and faithfulness.

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Revelation 2:20)

Jezebel – who was she? She was the wicked Old Testament wife of King Ahab, the King of Israel (see I Kings 16 – 21, and II Kings 9.) By the time of the writing of the Book of Revelation she had been dead approximately 1000 years. Consequently, this verse is not speaking of a specific person, but rather the spiritual condition that this person represents and how she operated. Notice the resulting effect of this spiritual influence of “Jezebel” – the same result that occurred in the previous Church age of Pergamos: “to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”

But notice that in the previous Pergamos age that there were some who held to the “doctrine of Balaam” and the “doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.” They needed to repent of both false “doctrines” to overcome. In the Thyatira age we don’t just have a false doctrine, but we also have a highly respected and honored “teacher” – a wicked pagan woman who has (in the minds of many) worked herself into the position of being the queen of the King of Israel (like she did in the Old Testament.) In the Old Testament the queen was, next to the King, the highest place of human honor amongst the people of God. In Thyatira she is professing to be a “prophetess” and is being allowed to even “teach” Jesus’ servants, and thereby “seduce” them into evil relationships, and even idolatry. Spiritually she is being highly honored by men and women as if she was something very special.

In the Old Testament, Balaam helped Balac use pagan women and idolatrous practices to “cast a stumbling block” before the people, but Israel was able to repent and overcome the stumbling block and go on. Why, because the Israelites did not recognize Balac as their king, nor his kingdom as being their kingdom. At that time, Moses was their spiritual leader and God was their King, not a man! In the Pergamos church age Balaam’s false doctrine was a “stumbling block before the children of Isreal,” but the scripture teaches us that:

“Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” (Proverbs 24:15-16)

In Pergamos it was a “stumbling block” that some were not on their guard against and they would stumble over it, but the truly righteous could rise again from it, and repent of it to walk right with God. False pagan teachings had been mixed so long with the Gospel that many would stumble over them in their sincere attempts to seek God with all their heart. It was a “stumbling block” they would be able to overcome because they did not accept the notion of the Church being ruled by the Pope or the Pope being the head of the Church. Those who honor the Pope as the head are not the bride of Christ. The true bride of Christ is true to Jesus, and the true Church is the mother and true teacher of all the saved. The true bride of Christ is also described as the true spiritual city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the true Church of God.

• “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Galations 4:26)
• “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb 12:22-23)
• “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:23-27)

Like the Old Testament Israelites did not accept Balac as their king, in Pergamos true Christians did not accept the Pope as their king, consequently, they also did not accept the Pope’s Catholic Church as their “queen” and spiritual mother. But still “stumbling” over some false doctrines, a number would recover because they were not “seduced” into an evil relationship and fellowship with an evil spiritual woman, a false church.

But in Thyatira it is no longer just a “stumbling block” to the people of God, but now it is also a spiritual woman, a false church, who “saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Rev 18:7) who is recognized as a true “prophetess” of God. In the Old Testament, Jezebel was recognized and honored by the majority of Israelites as the Queen of the Israelite nation. Therefore many fell into paganism never to rise again. In Thyatira, because many recognize and honor spiritual Jezebel, a false church, it is no longer just a “stumbling block” but rather a teaching and a false fellowship that they believe came from God himself because of the “church” and the “preachers” that the people honor and trust in.

The “queen” she pretends to be is the “bride of Christ.” She has them believing they are receiving “truth” from their spiritual mother the true Church of God, but she is NOT the Church! The church systems of Protestantism pulled this evil seduction off. They tricked many by saying they were not married, or a part of the Pope’s Catholic Church, but rather were married directly to Jesus. Many true Christians, ones whom Jesus called “my servants” were seduced by believing in, fellowshipping, and following some Protestant denomination and their false doctrines. When they did, most of them never did repent and arise again! In the Old Testament (unlike the influence of Balaam that Israel overcame,) after the rule and influence of Jezebel, the nation of Israel was eventually conquered and carried away by a foreign power because as a nation they never did rise above and overcome the idolatrous practices that the pagan queen Jezebel brought in.

But there has always been a few who stayed true to God, and in Jezebel’s physical day; and in her spiritual day this has been true also. During Jezebel’s physical day God told the profit Elijah (who is called “Elias” in New Testament) that there were still 7000 who had not bowed to the image of Baal. The same is true during Jezebel’s spiritual day:

“God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:2-5)

Yes, even today there is a remnant that have not bowed to being just a religious member of a “so-called” Christian church. Instead, they are living holy and true to Jesus and his Word!

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:13-17)

Read my amazing true life story about how the forces of good and evil battle for my life and the vision that God has given me. My book, “Possess the Vision,” communicates my supernatural experiences and as a result, provides insight into the realm of the spiritual warfare that is raging for our souls and our purpose. This is a must read for all Christians. Learn more by following this link: Possess-the-Vision-at-Amazon

Put on the Full Armor of Jesus

Here is another lesson of the spiritual warfare of Jesus. Our past examples we have supported the claim that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Golden Altar of Incense found in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. Since the Jews believed the smoke that went up to heaven from the Golden Altar was symbolic of the prayers of the people, the following passage shows how our prayers before Jesus (our Golden Altar of Incense) are powerful in bringing down the strongholds of the devil. It demonstrates the power of the saint’s prayers in spiritual warfare:

In the following passage, Paul calls us to prepare ourselves for spiritual battle by putting on the uniform of the spiritual solider. Again, this includes constant prayer:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:11-20)

Saint Paul Preaching

So in summary, anyone seeking to be like Jesus should know that Jesus was victorious in a spiritual fight that we could not win for ourselves. This victory restored dominion back to us and therein empowered us to become victorious over the forces of evil. However, just because we have dominion does not mean that all of the battles are over. Satan is still deceiving the world and as a result a war rages between the forces of good and evil. The difference now is that Jesus has given us the power to be victorious in spiritual warfare.

The only problem is that we have to know that we are in a battle and we have to know how to prepare. Like soldiers that have to go through basic and advanced training to become effective in battle, we must also be adequately prepared for warfare. This comes through prayer. We must pray ourselves through the Courtyard and into the Holy Place where the Golden Altar is found. Once there, our prayers will enable us to be able to put on the whole armor of God. But it is up to us to enter into Jesus by seeking to become like Him. All of eternity in the garden with God lies in the balance.

It is up to us to choose. On the one hand we can choose to become spiritual soldiers or relax, enjoy ourselves, live the good life and ignore the evil that is all around us. After all, is this not what Jesus was talking about in the following passage:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Paul Follows in the Spirtual Warfare of Jesus, even to Death

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew 16:24-28)

The Disciples See Jesus Transfigured

Jesus wants us to take up the role of spiritual warrior and overcome evil. In our next posting we will enter into a discussion about why we should be entering into spiritual warfare.

So until then, may God bless you.

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelation 2:14)

The condition is described here in Revelation 2:14 as a spiritual condition where men are being taught to fornicate and to eat with ungodly women as part of the pagan idol worship practices. Now in stark contrast, the true Church of God is described spiritually in scripture as a pure woman. She is portrayed in scripture as the one and only faithful bride of Christ. She loves only Christ and is fully submitted and obedient to him in everything.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing… …This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:22-32)

Yet there is another spiritual woman condition that seduces men and women into a form of worship where they think they are serving God, but they are not faithful to Jesus alone. Consequently people are drawn into feasting on a corrupted word, and having a relationship with a church (an impure woman) that is not faithful to Jesus. This spiritual condition is described in scripture as: “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (see Rev 17:5) She is an impure woman (or an impure church) who claims to be married to Christ (the bride of Christ) but she is not submitted to him, nor is she true to him. She “flirts” and has “relations” (or takes pleasure in) all kinds of sin, sinful practices, pagan worship practices, and with flirting with men who are leaders of people doing the same evil. The people who are part of her claim to be saved, but they still commit sin. So was the testimony of the Roman Catholic Church during the Pergamos age, and so also has been the testimony of every major “so called” Christian denomination. They claim Christ, but they are not free from sin – they are not true to Jesus and his word.

The call that is going out today to the very few who desire to be “faithful” to Christ is:

“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Rev 18:4-5)

Love Never Fails

Love never fails! This statement seems false to those who live in the world. This is because the love that the world is referring to is self-centered and therefore the opposite of the love that God’s example leads us to adopt. In our previous postings we have presented definitions and examples of God’s love as demonstrated in the life and words of Jesus. I have provided the following list of hyperlinks for anyone who may want to review any of these prior postings:

What-is-Love

Love-Suffers-Long

Love-is-Kind

Love-Does-Not-Envy

Love-Does-Not-Parade-Itself

Love-is-Not-Puffed-Up

Love-Does-Not-Behave-Rudely

Love-Does-Not-Seek-Its-Own

Love-is-Not-Provoked

Love-Thinks-No-Evil

Love-Bears-All-Things

Love-Believes-All-Things

Love-Hopes-All-Things

To start our presentation on “Love Never Fails,” we present a passage taken from the first letter of John:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood; Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 4:1- 5:21)

There are a number of key points in John’s letter that support the proposition that love never fails. They are;

· God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; If we love we abide in God and if we abide in God then how could we possibly fail?

· Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. This statement indicates that if we love according to the definition of love identified above, that our love will be a reflection of His will and therefore, He will give us what we pray for.

· We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. This indicates that the devil cannot touch us if we remain in God’s love.

Finally, the saints that remain in true love as demonstrated by Jesus can rest assured that their destiny is secured. The next passage is a second scripture that reaffirms the proposition that love never fails:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:19 – 22)

Therefore, love never fails because we will live and reign with Jesus on His throne forever.

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