April 2014

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS IMMINENT?


Posted on April 6, 2014 by ADMIN

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THE DAY OF THE LORD IS IMMINENT?

It is taught that the second coming of Christ is imminent. That it could happen at any time. You know, “like a thief in the night”.
Some verses used for this are like from Revelation 22 “these words are faithful and true, the things which must shortly take place”, meaning immediately and without further notice. And “do not seal the prophecies of this book for the time is at hand”. Meaning imminent, or, right now. Or “behold I come quickly and my reward is with Me to give to each one according to their work”. Yes His reward is Himself. Then the last words from that chapter,  “surely I come quickly. Amen even so come Lord Jesus”. So what does “come quickly mean”? Or “must take place shortly”?
Here are some other verses using the same Greek words to help us understand. From the sermon on the mount, agree with your adversary quickly while you are on the way with him lest he deliver you up. After the resurrection “go quickly and tell the disciples”. They “went out quickly and fled the tomb”. And when Mary was grieving over the death of Lazarus. She heard Jesus was coming and “she arose quickly and came to Him”. In Luke 18.8 He will avenge them speedily” or quickly.
This is the same Greek word. Acts 17.15 “to come to him with all speed”. Of Judas at the betrayal “what thou doest do quickly. Also used are “suddenly, shortly, swift. You get the idea.
Now for the term “at hand”. It is also translated, draws nigh, know it is near even at the doors, he who betrays me is at hand, the tax collectors drew near to him to hear Him. Always used as really close, at hand. If we could un-shackle these words from human reasoning and apply them consistently in our understanding we could see what happens “quickly” and what is “at hand”.
It could be said that the flu spread rapidly, that it came so quickly that it caused an epidemic. You may not have it yet but it is close, it draws nigh, you could get it shortly, it is at hand. It is imminent. If you had a relative flying in for a visit who would be here soon, shortly, or quickly, and if they have arrived they could be at your door, at hand. You would never say that of someone who would be here in a month, next spring, a year, and certainly not for someone who is coming in 2000 years. You just broke the meaning of the words or phrases we are talking about. How could you then tell a sick loved one who is in hospital that you would be there shortly? That should mean without delay, or A.S.A.P. And this is what quickly and shortly means. So the nurse could tell them of you, they just checked in at the front desk and they should be right up, meaning shortly or quickly. And if she saw you walking up the hall she could say they are right here at the very door, even at hand.
This is the correct usage of the terms in question. The imminent coming of the Lord or Christ was not meant as a threat to keep you on good behavior. Like “your father could be home any minute” or quickly. That he is imminent. Isn’t that kind of what is portrayed when talking of the elusive 2nd coming? A term not found once in scripture. Of those with that mind set, it is as if you are in a building with the roof collapsing. Everyone does their part in girding it up. Standing on chairs and tables propping up the ceiling and pushing on rafters saying “hurry God, when are you coming?” Holding on by a strand you are doing the work of God and maintaining the image, doing church.
Well learn what this means from Danial 12 When the power of the holy people have been completely shattered all these things will be fulfilled.
You know the very thing you are looking for is really close. It happens quickly. I hate to break it to you but it also does not come with human observation. For they will say to you, look here or look there, but do not go after them. Why? Because they are carnal and the carnal mind is enmity against God. For they want to see with their eyes what needs to be seen in the spirit. “To those who have eyes to see!” You see it is close even at hand. It is in your heart and in your mouth that you may say it and do it. It is at your very doors. This is the word of faith in which WE preach. “Behold I stand at your door and knock. If you open up I will come in and dine with you and you with Me. Revelation 3.20

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TODAY, THE LORDS SABBATH REST


Posted on April 3, 2014 by ADMIN

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In the Melchizedek post we talked about the King from the before time. The priest who is King or more importantly this King that is also priest. Without father or mother meaning no beginning  or end of days who lives continually. Of whom it is witness that He lives. Who? The eternal before time one. Christ.
Let us go on about this eternal topic, the before time, that which is now and is after time. To that day which is not measured by days months seasons and years. To the day that was before anything was made. This place that has no need for the sun because the lamb is it’s light. This place Peter refers to “till the day (of this age) dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”. This day is not a physical one related to the sun and solar system as we know it.
The morning star for us is an awakening. That sun shines eternally. “Jesus Christ is that light that shines in the  heart of every man”. He is that true light. He is the light of the new day. The day that already was. Like the King and priest who lives continually in a day that is like them. That has  no beginning and no night. For God is light and in Him is no darkness.
The writer of Hebrews expounds on this day as the day of rest. The Sabbath that is not on a Saturday or a Sunday remains a day continually saying “There remains a rest for the people of God”. There is a promise to enter in to this day, to this place. “Let us fear lest any of you fall short of entering in, for the gospel was preached to us as well as them but it did not profit them not being mixed with faith”. This is the gospel finished from the foundation of the world.
You see when God rested from His works, He rested from His creation from what He spoke into existence. He did not rest in what He created, and He says “it is in this place they shall not enter”. So did God rest in the heavens like Orion’s belt or some distant galaxy? No. Those were made on the 2nd day of creation. Well maybe He rested where the angels are. No. For He has not put the age to come of which we speak in subjection to angels. (Heb 2.5). For He made all things visible and invisible by the things that He said and He rested in this place before a word was spoken in what is called the beginning. That place before time and the creation of matter and lower level spirits. The place of His rest is before all things. A place where  a created thing cannot go but to Us the invitation is extended, to this place is Gods rest, from His creation.
It is generally thought that the Sabbath is just not doing our works. That we rest from our labor. But He says “in this place they shall not enter“. This place before time and matter. This place remains the King and a Kingdom continually, eternal, timeless, the be fore time place.For he who entered his rest has ceased from his works as God did from His. We rest in His place, in Him. In Christ the before time.
Let’s look at it this way. There is this creation that we experience with our physicality, and there is a spiritual before time reality. Both of these realms have specific design being distinguishably different from each other. The creation we experience physically has characteristics of getting old. From the day it was made  there was erosion, corrosion, decay, corruption, wrinkling and fading. The apostle differentiates  the two this way “for our outward man perishes but our inward man is renewed daily”. Or new every day always.
So our inward man is brand new always. It is not being made or it is not eternal,  It is forever new.  It is our inheritance ”reserved for us in the heavens that does not fade”.
So there is a getting old creation and the new. But the new creation is not getting new or being made as we think of a new born baby or a new house or car. You see these things are created. They have a beginning. The new in an eternal sense is just not getting old. It is eternally new in it’s perfect unchangeable state at it’s peak point in glory. This is how we know Christ as the Bridegroom and father of the new. The new Adam, the replacement creation. This is how it is new.
The first man Adam is a human being, the last Adam, Christ  is a life giving spirit.. As Adam was born of the dust so are all of humanity and as Christ  was heavenly so too are we, if we are born of the Spirit. The last Adam Christ is a quickened spirit. (1 Corinthians 15.45-49. And are we not quickened if we have this spirit?  Ephesians 2.1
Think about in the physical world all the efforts that are made to create and make new things and to refurbish and to restore. Almost everything man does is related to this. Our jobs and duties as parents and teachers and nurses and politicians are all spent doing this. The health and fitness industries do this. They try to optimize us and make us as perfect as possible. To be glorious.
A  preacher friend of mine always said “no matter how much make-up and lip stick you put on a pig, it is still a pig. And it is our old Adamic nature that we wash up and make sure there is not a hair out of place to be as perfect as humanly possible and doing the best we can and we offer that to God. God is not pleased with that. Like the Israelite’s in the desert with the sacrifices “drag that old carcass outside of the camp”. It is what  is inside that counts.  Rom 12.1 Offer up the living sacrifice. The for ever new.
The new testament teaching of “putting on the new man” is just this. By faith we learn to put on, not the pig and the best we can do but Christ in His perfection that has been gifted to us in it’s complete form.  And when we put Him on, the new man, “in the image of Him who made us” this grants us access to Gods eternal, invisible, before time, always brand new, glorious, non-created, realm scripturally called “the new creation”.
This is what Paul means in the book of Galatians 6.15 when he says that “nothing avails anything but the new creation”. Meaning we are granted access to Gods rest in the before time when we put on the new, in Christ. This is what grants us access.  This is what it means to be “in Christ”.
Feet can’t get you there. Not a car an airplane or a flying saucer but faith. Being re-newed by the washing and the regeneration of the spirit. This is the porthole into that kingdom. Faith in Christ. This is you new in the eternal . The new creation is you. (2 Corinthians 5.17)
Of Adam he was told “in that day you eat of the tree of knowledge you shall die” And mankind with all this creation has been dieing, fading, and falling apart every day since then. But there is another day. It is called in scripture “in that day”, “the day of the Lord”, the “Sabbath day” the day of rest from this creation to be where God is.
As in Adam all die. In Christ all live. All who are quickened enter by faith. And they rest where? In that place, that day finished from the foundations of the world before time and matter. That place from before God ever spoke a word.
There are many who think that the visible creation must be gone, that time must culminate before we see the new. That the new is somehow after this, but if you can truly understand, what they are looking forward to has already been since the foundations of the world. It pre-existed not being subject to time and matter in it’s eternally new glorious state of existence. The things that are in “that day”  are God, it is all God, it is complete, a complete kingdom “and you are complete in Him who is the head of all power and principality. And to be “in that day” is to be “in Christ”. The things that are there is the King in all rule and power in the Kingdom.
When Christ said the Kingdom is at hand, this is what He meant. All the components of the Kingdom are equally God. They exist before a word was ever spoke. If they are not eternal it is because they were spoken into existence. But the King and the Kingdom are equally eternal and before time and are not of the creation of time and matter, emc + square, big bang stuff.
So they are only new, meaning having not been, only in our understanding. But they, meaning the persons of the Godhead, are always. To be in the forever Kingdom is to be in the forever day. This is being “in Christ” if you can receive it. If your ability to recon is working.
As John the baptist spoke “He who has the Bride is the Bridegroom. And yes this is the Bride of Revelation 21- “Therefore this joy of mine is full”. And his understanding is complete. This is the eternal gospel to be preached till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man  to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. To no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine by the trickery, cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to tell you of a 2nd coming Jesus. They formulate theories that keep you out of this Kingdom. They direct your attention to another day,  to another work of God.
The kingdom to come in which we speak is “TODAY” If you will hear His voice harden not your hearts as they did in the wilderness. TODAY is the day of salvation. Today is that day of rest.
The Kingdom of God is still at hand. Why do you look for another?
Blessings

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