THE HARLOT CHURCH SYSTEM

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Decades ago upon Christ Jesus coming into my heart I was quickly gathered up by the "Church System" where myself and my family entered into a world of dead works which produced in us a subtle self righteousness. After a dozen years of serving this system my relationship with my wife was a wreck and there were two young children suffering the ill effects of a family too busy and fractured in service to a demonic entity. Some would say, "Jack, "demonic" is too strong a word." I can only reply that after viewing and studying the church system for thirty five years, "demonic" is not strong enough and if I knew a stronger word I would use it in reference to that which we today know as "Church."

I believe God took me on the path of being wrecked by the system, that now, at the end of the age I might warn others and share the subtleties of how the Church usurps Jesus and becomes the harlot counterfeiting the true body and bride of Christ. I recently discovered a book that does a marvelous job explaining the origins, ways and history of the harlot and I want to share the first chapter here. If you are feeling in your spirit that there is, or has long been, something amiss with your relationship with Jesus, I would hope you might take the time to read this message and also the rest of this book. At the end of this writing I leave a link to the book.

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Today, God is bidding many to come out and be free of this horrible harlot that spends the lives of God's children in dead works and self righteousness. I can only pray you hear His voice.

The Harlot Church System "Come Out Of Her, My People"
by Charles E. Newbold, Jr.

"The trumpet of the Lord is sounding an alarm to God's holy remnant to 'come out of her My people, that you be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.'" Revelation 18:4

Zion And Babylon Compared

We often sang scripture songs about Zion. I was a new convert then, gathering with a room full of very Spirit-sensitive believers. Those songs always struck a chord of joy in my heart, but I didn't know why. "Do you know what Zion is?" I asked one of the sisters.

"Yes." She meekly answered.

"Would you explain it to me?" I eagerly asked.

"You'll discover it in time."

"That's it!? You know the answer, but I'll have to wait to discover it myself?" Having no other choice, I waited.

Some years later I came to understand that Zion is a symbolic place in the spirit where Jesus is the only thing there is. He alone takes preeminence.

Then, I came to understand that Babylon meant something as well, that it stood in contrast to Zion. Symbolically, Babylon is all that the carnal (fleshly) mind devises in the exaltation of Self--the preeminence of Self over God. It is a place in us where we think we are IT. We exalt our imaginations and every high thing above the knowledge of God. 2 Cor. 10:5.

Both Zion and Babylon were historical places, yet the scriptures also speak of them as spiritual states of being. Hebrews 12:22 speaks of Zion (Sion, in KJV) in this figurative sense: "But we 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 assembly of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." 1 Peter 2:6 reads, "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he who believes on Him shall not be confounded." This Zion is Jesus.

Revelation 14:8 is a good example of how Babylon has been used in this figurative sense: "And there followed another angel, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'" Most notable is Revelation 17:5 which identifies the mother of harlots as Babylon: "Upon her forehead was a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

Both Zion and Babylon mirror the condition of our hearts.

Symbolic Babylon is that attitude of the heart that makes us think we can solve all of our problems and meet all of our needs without God. We look to government, politics, science, technology, psychology, sociology, economics, entertainment, and religion for our help--things mankind has invented. Therefore, we look to ourselves to save ourselves.

In this book, however, my reference to spiritual Babylon is limited to the institutionalized, organized, religious church systems which I contend are products of the carnal mind. Please read on to see what I mean by this.

(The word church and the pronoun it when used in italics in this book refers to this Thing we call church. When it is not in italics, I am referring to buildings that have been dedicated to the worship of a deity, or I am directly quoting other sources.)

SPIRIT AND FLESH

In order to understand these two "spiritual states of being"--that is, Zion and Babylon--we must understand the difference between Spirit and flesh.

In the context of this book, the difference between the body of Christ and this Thing we call church is that difference between Spirit and flesh--what is of the Spirit of God and what is of our old man nature of flesh and sin, even the carnal mind.

Zion represents the Spirit; Babylon represents the flesh. The body of Christ needs very much to discern between what is Spirit and what is flesh, for that which is of the flesh is an enemy to the Spirit. True believers in Christ have been given the power of the Spirit to live a life separated from the flesh. This separation is what we call sanctification.

The word flesh is used in both the Old and the New Testament in reference to the natural, physical existence of all mankind such as we see it used in Matthew 24:22: "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."

Flesh has also been used in reference to an individual's human body. After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus appeared to His followers and said, "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Luke 24:39.

However, the kind of flesh written about in this book is in reference to that fallen nature of sin within all mankind that came about when Adam rebelled in the garden. Paul wrote regarding this, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery [which is witchcraft], hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:19-21. Flesh is capable of committing the most vile evils without conscience even while having an awareness of what is good and evil. Such occurred in the days of Noah. Gen. 6:5-7. These practices are not the deeds of the physical body, but of that fallen sin nature that resides in us.

Paul had already established in Galatians 5:17 that "the flesh lusts [sets its desire] against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." Romans 8:7 attests that "the carnal mind is at enmity [hostile] against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."

The carnal mind and the Spirit of God speak languages that are foreign and unknown to each other. The carnal (fleshly) mind cannot speak Spirit and the Spirit of God cannot speak flesh. The carnal mind has no ability whatsoever to understand the things of God which are Spirit. 1 Cor. 2:12-14. When inspired things of God are reduced to rigid doctrines, systems of theology, reasoning and logic, they are no longer Spirit but have become flesh. And if flesh, then deception. The carnal mind is at total odds with the Spirit of God; it is hostile to God.

THE DEATH SENTENCE

The sentence of death has been pronounced over the flesh. The flesh nature of man is separated from God who is life; therefore, the flesh is dead and all that comes from the carnal mind is death.

Nevertheless, flesh has a life of its own. It is earthly, sensual, self-centered, and at war with God. Its life is born out of the seed of death. It has an inherent drive to preserve itself at all cost. It fears annihilation. Yet, it cannot save itself because it is destined to self-destruction. The flesh nature rules a person until the life of God in Christ is planted within his spirit, at which time the old seed of flesh and sin is understood to be what it already is--dead. Unfortunately, even after we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and while we remain in this life, we carry about both seeds: the seed of flesh and death, and the seed of Spirit and life.

THE HARLOT OF SELF

The flesh loves Self. Self with the capital "S" is the term I use throughout this book to refer to that the self-centered, self-indulging, self-absorbed, self-willed, self-serving nature of fallen flesh. The flesh nature of Self turns in on itself. It is selfish, prideful, arrogant, haughty, vain, narcissistic, manipulative, controlling, dominating, impatient, stubborn, insensitive, resentful, angry, unteachable, rebellious, fearful, anxious, complaining, disagreeable, judgmental, negative, critical, cynical, indifferent, greedy, lustful, sensual, envious, covetous, jealous, fault-finding, dishonest, and deceitful. It is deceived and suffers from delusions of grandeur. It always asks, "What's in it for me?"

The harlot, broadly defined, is anything for Self. I refer to these Things we call church as the harlot church system because they have been created out of our fleshly minds and desires for Self. Churches as we experience them today have no basis in scripture. They are icons of self-worship. Moreover, they are idolatrous, deceptive, and dangerous.

A TROUBLING MESSAGE

I will hit hard on the idolatry of the church system as we know it and experience it today. If you are not prepared to hear this message by the Spirit, you will no doubt take serious offense to it. The message of this book will be troubling to many of you who are victims of the church system, but will be most troubling to those of you who depend upon the church system for your livelihood and who find your significance, identity, validation, recognition, power, and security in it.

If you choose to continue reading this book, it will take you where you may think you do not want to go. You will journey beyond the facade of that Thing we call church and see how it is an invention of flesh. You will discover the demons that empower it. If you go the distance, you will hopefully find, with Abraham, that "city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is the Lord." Heb. 11:10. You will "come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirit of just men made perfect." Heb. 12:22-23.

ZION AND BABYLON

Before I plunge forward into exposing the idolatry of this harlot system, I want to abbreviate some comparisons between spiritual Zion, where Jesus is the only thing there is, and spiritual Babylon (the harlot), where the carnal mind of Self exalts itself, in order to provide a better point of reference for what follows. Many of the thoughts below are developed further throughout this book.

Zion refers to the true body of Christ, the bride, the ekklesia; Babylon refers to the false church system of men's traditions and religions. (Ekklesia is the Greek word in the New Testament which has been mis-translated "church" in most English versions, but it literally means "called-out-ones".)

Zion is a people--the people of God; Babylon is a Thing--church institutions and systems.

Zion is a living organism; Babylon is characterized by organizations, institutions, and systems.

Zion consists of people who have been born into it; Babylon consists of people who have joined it or been voted into it.

Zion is a people who are called by the name of Jesus; Babylon is a people who are called by many different names that represent divisions within this Babylonian church system: Baptist, Catholic, Charismatic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and all the rest.

Zion is Jesus-centered; Babylon is self-centered.

Zion is living by the Spirit; Babylon is living after the flesh.

Zion is heavenly; Babylon is earthly.

Zion is grace; Babylon is law.

Zion is life; Babylon is death.

Zion is being; Babylon is doing.

Zion is rest; Babylon is works.

Zion is light; Babylon is darkness.

Zion is humility; Babylon is full of pride, arrogance, and haughtiness.

Zion is liberty in Christ; Babylon is bondage to the flesh.

Zion is the Kingdom of God; Babylon is the kingdoms of men.

Zion has Jesus Christ as her head; Babylon has elected or appointed men as their heads.

Zion is a Spirit-led people; Babylon is led by rules and regulations of man's own making.

Zion is Spirit-sensitive; Babylon is man-pleasing.

Zion is obedience to the Holy Spirit; Babylon is busy church work.

Zion accomplishes things in Holy Spirit power (Zech. 4:6); Babylon tries to accomplish things in self-strength.

Zion has its authority in the Word of God; Babylon places its authority in man-made doctrines.

Zion is one body in Christ Jesus as Lord; Babylon is sectarian and divisive, consisting of many divisions of people.

Zion worships in spirit and in truth; Babylon programs praise.

Zion preaches Christ and Him crucified; Babylon proclaims denominations, doctrines, heritage, traditions, creeds, personal views and opinions.

Zion is the priesthood of all believers; Babylon is the clergy system. The clergy are those who want to make a difference between themselves and others.

Zion answers to God as the highest authority; Babylon answers to men and their institutions as the authority.

Zion calls forth revelation; Babylon depends upon imagination.

Zion conforms people into the image of Jesus; Babylon conforms people into its own image.

Zion decreases that Christ may increase; Babylon increases itself in power, position, riches, and domination.

Zion counts the cost; Babylon counts the money.

Zion lays down its life; Babylon preserves and protects itself.

Zion waits upon God to raise up what God wants in His timing; Babylon schemes, organizes, and promotes to execute its own plan in its own way and time.

Zion seeks the Lord with a whole heart to be possessed by Him; Babylon goes after things and people to possess them.

Zion is the city of God; Babylon seeks to build a city, a tower, and a name for itself. Gen. 11:4.

Zion longs to be gathered into Jesus; Babylon passionately seeks to gather people unto itself.

DENY SELF

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ one must be willing to deny Self, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. Luke 9:23. Self-denial is the cross we bear. The old man of flesh and sin has to be rendered dead. The laid-down life defines the New Testament concept of agape (love).

When we live according to the flesh, we are living for Self. Conversely, when we are living for Self, we are living according to the flesh. When we live according the Spirit, we will bear the fruit of agape. We have not been called to live unto ourselves. We have been called to surrender our lives to Christ that He might live His life of agape through us. We cannot be the bride of Christ and at the same time live selfishly in this world. We are either the bride or we are living the life of the harlot.

Self-centered living is making ourselves out to be god; therefore, it is idolatry. I will show in a subsequent chapter that idolatry is spiritual harlotry. I will also show how this Thing we call church is an idolatrous extension of ourselves--thus, spiritual harlotry.

We become spiritual prostitutes when we create something and give our hearts to it rather than to the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what men have done with this Thing we call church. They have made church a substitute for Jesus. Many within these harlot church systems are true believers who love the Lord, but are uninformed and deceived. They have unintentionally given their hearts to these Things we call church. God loves us all but hates our idolatries.

Judge the words in this book for yourself and judge yourself by these words. Open your heart to the Holy Spirit that He might instruct you and point you to Jesus. I hope to reveal Father-God's heart to you that your heart may be revealed to you; that you may dare face your idolatries, cleanse His temple of whom you and I are, and return to the God of your salvation. The idolatry revealed in this book is not about "them" but about each of us.

http://www.meatindueseason.net/newbold/or/harlot/harlottoc.html

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14 YEAR OLD WRITES OF HELL

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How often I run into men and women that are esteemed for their brilliance in one field or another. These folks have risen to the tops of their field because they spent much time studying, examining and getting to know all the ins and outs of that which makes up their profession. They know the material backwards and forwards, inside and out. So with that said, I often wonder how, these brilliant ones that also call themselves Christian have not analyzed, prayed about and studied the doctrine of "eternal torment in Hell." I mean come on! These bright ones believe most of the world is going to Hell and they can't take the time to come to a reasonable analysis of this matter which should be of the gravest importance to them.

Well, tonight I felt led by the Holy Spirit to share this short paper by a fourteen year old dealing with the subject of "eternal torment in Hell." I share it to illustrate that God reveals His mysteries to the babes often sidestepping the wise and the prideful of this world. I pray this child's take on the subject moves your heart to see our Father as Love.

Jack


"Does An All-loving God Send His Creation To Eternal Torment In Hell?"

By Joe Klein, (fourteen-year-old eighth grader in a Baptist school)

The subject of redemption by grace or works alone has been a controversial one in our class recently. We have discussed: does an all-loving God send His creation to eternal torment in Hell? This controversy has been going around our school for weeks, has been debated by Christians for thousands of years, and is now the subject of this paper.

The traditional view of Hell held by Catholicism and Protestantism is that most humanity goes straight to Hell and eternal torment. However, early church writings and the earliest New Testament manuscripts indicate something completely different. For example, the word "Hell" never appears in the original Hebrew of the Old Testament nor in the Greek of the New Testament. There are, however, four words that get translated Hell in the King James Version of the Bible. They are Sheol, Gehenna, Tartartoo, and Hades.

"For just as in Adam all people died, so also shall all in Christ be made alive!" (1 Corinthians 15:22) This verse brings up a very good point, Adam vs. Jesus. The verse says; that through Adam we all became sinners and all died. Also in the verse it says through Christ we all become righteous and all lived. If people have to accept and believe in Him; they are pretty much saying what Adam did was more important than what Jesus did on the cross. Because you don’t have to believe in Adam to become a sinner.

The concept of eternal punishment for the vast majority of God’s human creatures has no basis in the Jewish Bible, which Jesus called, "the Scriptures." The idea of "Hell" is actually Greek mythology. "Hades" is, of course, Greek Paganism’s torture chamber. Strabo said that, "Plato and the Brahmins of India invented fables concerning the future judgment of Hell."

I think deep down in people’s hearts they believe that all people go to Heaven because if they truly did believe that people go to Hell, they would be doing more about it. How can people go to the movies, how can they sleep at night, and how can people go on with their daily lives knowing that people go to such a horrible place as Hell. Obviously, a huge subject like this can have, and has had, many books written about it. On the surface believing in Christ as the ticket to Heaven seems true. But when you go beyond the surface, and begin to really study this truth, you realize Jesus is Lord of all. That is why I believe that redemption is not by our good deeds, but Jesus’ great deed and his blood on the cross that saves all mankind. (Joe Klein)

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THE CASE AGAINST HELL

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Over the last few years I have had a number of blogs where I have thought of sharing this wonderful writing by a friend. It is a longer message than I normally would post so I am breaking it up into parts. I pray you will take your time as you pray about and contemplate the wonderful truths my friend, Mercy shares. This is indeed the "Real Good News of the Gospel of Christ" and when embraced you will learn to love your neighbors and even your enemies as Jesus did. I personally, in the past, assigned most of my fellow man to eternal torment in hell and then one day I saw how grievous and belittling this was to Christ and His sacrifice that by the grace of God is extended to all men. Today, and even for the past twenty five years I have found "trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." (1Ti 4:10)

How I love Him tonight,
Jack


THE CASE AGAINST HELL
By Mercy Aiken

The case against Hell: Did you know that there is a solid scriptural case to be made against the idea of Hell? Many non-Christians have rejected the concept of Hell, but it may come as a surprise to learn that there is a growing number of Bible-believing Christians who also reject the notion-not in spite of Scripture but because of it! This short study is meant only to raise some questions and provide brief answers. For further study, please refer to the links at the end of the article.

An open and unbiased study of the Bible, including many key Greek and Hebrew words as well as Church history will reveal some surprising things.

For instance, did you know that....

"Hell" Is Not an Old Testament doctrine:

Popular myth : Hell is an established Biblical doctrine that is in the Bible from start to finish. This is not true! Two thirds of the Bible (the Old Testament) does not mention Hell at all. ("Sheol," the Old Testament word that is sometimes translated as Hell, only means "grave" by definition, and it is where everyone in the Old Testament went when they died--good or evil, Jew or Gentile). Thus the Old Testament does not contain the concept of Hell!

Think about it...

If Hell is real, why didn't God make that warning plain right at the beginning of the Bible? God said the penalty for eating of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was death- -not "eternal life" in fire and brimstone.

If Hell is real, why wasn't Cain warned about it, or Sodom and Gomorrah , or any of those who committed the earliest recorded "sins?"

If Hell is real why didn't Moses warn about this fate in the Ten Commandments or the Mosaic Covenant consisting of over 600 laws, ordinances, and warnings? The Mosaic Law simply stated blessings and cursings in this lifetime.

If Hell is real, why are its roots in paganism, rather than the Bible? Many nations surrounding Israel in the Old Testament believed in Hell-like punishment in the afterlife, for they served bloodthirsty and evil "gods," while Israel simply taught the grave (sheol) and a hope of a resurrection. If Hell is real, why was the revelation of it first given to pagan nations, instead of God's covenant people? Did God expect Israel to learn about the afterlife from the Pagan Gentiles? If so, why did He repeatedly warn Israel to not learn of their ways?

If Hell is real, why did God tell the Jews that burning their children alive in the fire to the false god Molech, (in the valley of Gehenna ) was so detestable to Him? God said that such a thing "never even entered His mind" (Jer. 32:35). How could God say such a thing to Israel , if He has plans to burn alive a good majority of His own creation in a spiritual and eternal Gehenna of His own making?

**FACT: The King James Bible erroneously translates the word "Sheol" as Hell a total of 31 times in the Old Testament, thus setting a foundation for that doctrine in the New Testament as well as the majority of Bible translations to follow the KJV. Even so, most new translations have completely eliminated Hell from the Old Testament, as honest and better scholarship has demanded. The Jewish version of the Old Testament (the Tanakh) has no concept of Hell in it. The importance of this fact cannot be over-emphasized. If a doctrine does not appear as seed form in the books of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, it cannot fairly be taught as a major biblical doctrine, if indeed it can be taught as biblical at all!

Hell Is Not a New Testament Doctrine:

Popular myth: Jesus spoke of Hell more than He did of Heaven. This is not true! Jesus warned the Jews many times of impending destruction, both nationally and individually. He used several different terms to refer to punishment/destruction, some of which were erroneously translated as the same word, "Hell" by Bible translators. We do not deny that God will indeed judge the whole world, nor do we wish to make light of His judgments. We are challenging the belief that His judgment on sin and unbelief is eternal torment/Hell and never-ending separation from God. Certainly, Jesus spent a lot of his ministry warning people to repent or reap the consequences, (particularly "Gehenna.") But could we be reading more into His warnings than He originally intended?

Think about it.......

If Hell is real, why were most of the warnings pertaining to punishment/Gehenna directed to Israel , particularly the Lord's own disciples as well as the Pharisees? The first great cluster of references to Gehenna, are found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5:22, 29, 30), Jesus' great sermon to His disciples in which He warned that one was in danger of Gehenna for the likes of calling someone a fool. This is a far cry from our modern Evangelical interpretation that says not accepting Jesus as your Savior is what sends someone to Hell. Are we perhaps missing the symbolism that Jesus originally intended?

If Hell is real, aren't we taking verses out of context when we warn non-Jewish sinners who are not part of the Mosaic covenant God made with the nation of Israel about consequences for sin which have nothing to do with them since they are not under that covenant?

Since the concept of Hell doesn't exist in the Old Testament, how could Jesus and his disciples teach that salvation was deliverance from a place that is not even found in their Scriptures? And if He was introducing the subject for the first time, why did He do it so casually, as though His listeners already understood what He was talking about?

If Hell is real, since some English translations use the word Hell for the Greek word "Gehenna," in the New Testament, why didn't this same place (Gehenna) get translated Hell in the many places where it appears in the Hebrew form "ga ben Hinnom" in the Old Testament?

If the Jews did not understand "Gehenna" as a symbol of everlasting torture, but rather as a place of shame, filth, and defilement (where Israel participated in the grossest form of idol worship), why does modern theology ascribe more to the word than the original meaning did? The teaching of Gehenna has evolved in Jewish teachings to include punishment in the afterlife; but even today, Gehenna still does not mean "endless" punishment to the Jews.

If Hell is real how could the Apostle Paul (who was especially commissioned by God to preach the gospel to the nations) say that he had declared the entire counsel of God (Acts 20:27), when indeed he never warned of "Hell" in any of his letters? If Hell is real, wouldn't Paul, of all people, warn of it repeatedly?

If Hell is real, the sin/death of Adam has had a far more powerful effect on the world than the resurrection life of Christ! And yet Paul declares in Romans 5 that Christ's victory is far greater than Adam's transgression! Listen to Paul's confidence in the work of Christ! If Paul believed in eternal hell for the majority of men, how could he write the following verses?

".Just as the result of one trespass (Adam's) was condemnation for all men , so also the result of one act of righteousness (Christ's) was justification that brings life for all men . For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. ( Romans 5:18,19).

"Since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22)

"For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4;10).

(The above verses are just a few of the many verses where Paul writes of a pre-eminent Christ that far transcends the traditional Christian view. This article is full of many more New Testament references by Paul that display his views of the Christ triumphant, unlimited, all-powerful, all-conquering, and victorious).

If Hell is real, why is it that the only time Paul even mentioned "Hell" in any of his epistles, was declare the triumph of Christ over it? (1 Corinthians 15:55). The word "Grave" in the passage is the Greek word "Hades."

If Hell is real, why is it not mentioned once in the book of Acts in any the evangelistic sermons that were recorded by the early Apostles?

If Hell is real why do some of the best Bible scholars and Bible teachers say it is not in the Greek or Hebrew text? (William Barclay, John A.T. Robinson, Lightfoot, Westcott, F.W. Farrar, Marvin Vincent, etc.)

If Hell is real, why does the word itself come from the Teutonic "Hele" (goddess of the underworld "Hell" of northern Europe ). The description of this ancient mythological place has very little resemblance anymore to the modern Christian image of Hell. See any encyclopedia or dictionary for the origin of the word.

FACT: The apocryphal books of the intertestimental period had a tremendous impact on the Jews in the time of Christ. It is from these books, especially the book of Enoch, that many of the Jewish myths and fables concerning Hell, heaven, demons and angels and many other fables first became a part of Judaism and from there became a part of Christianity. The myths and fables of these books came from Pagan influences (namely Zoroastrianism), during and after the Babylonian captivity of Israel . In fact, Zoroastrianism looks more like modern Christianity in many ways than ancient Judiasm does!

If Hell is real, why did Paul warn Timothy repeatedly to stay away from Jewish myths and fables, the likes of which were influencing many in the early church? Rather than affirming such doctrines, Paul declares them to be profane fables. (1 Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:14)

Hell Contradicts The Work of the Messiah:

Popular myth: Jesus came to save the sinner from his destination of everlasting Hell. Not exactly true! Hell was never a place that the Jews were hoping to be saved from, since they didn't even believe in it! But they did need to be saved from their sins and consequences of them; namely death. Jesus came as the Anointed One to fulfill all of God's plan for the earth-that through Him might come the salvation, deliverance of sin, peace, kingdom of God and all that God had promised through the Old Testament scriptures. There is much we can say here, but for the sake of brevity we will limit our points to a few key passages. Please take the time to look up the verses that are referenced.

Think about it...

If Hell is real, why does Psalm 22 (one of the most prophetic passages in scripture concerning the Messiah) promise that because of the cross, " All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD , and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship , all those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive " (Psalm 22:27-29 NASB).

If Hell is real, did Jesus fail in His mission? He said, "I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47).

If Hell is real and most find their way to it, was Jesus lying when He said if He was lifted up (crucified) that He would "draw" ("drag" in the original Greek word, "helkyo") all mankind unto Himself? (John 12:32)

If Hell is real and eternal, how can the Scriptures speak of the gathering of all things into Christ? (Eph. 1:10)

If Hell is real and eternal, how can all things be subdued unto Christ? (1 Corinthians 15:28, Philippians 3:21, Hebrews 2:8).

If Hell is real and eternal, how can it be that the scriptures promise that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10).

If Hell is real and eternal, how will Jesus ever see the travail of His soul and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11)? If the traditional understanding is correct, most of those He came to save will never experience His salvation. Do we believe that this would be satisfying to Jesus?

If Hell is real, and God sent Jesus to save people from it, can we really say that the will and pleasure of God has prospered in His hand, since, according to traditional theology, only a few will ever be saved? (Isaiah 53:10, and 55:11).

If Hell is real, and the devil is the one who deceives people into going there, isn't he ultimately the winner in the war for souls? After all, traditional interpretation of the Bible says that more people will end up in Hell than in Heaven. If so, how can we really call Satan the defeated enemy and Christ the victor?

If Hell is real and most of mankind will remain in an eternal deathlike state of torment with no chance to repent or escape, how exactly are we to understand and rejoice in the fact that Jesus destroyed death and him that had the power of death (Satan)? (Hebrews 2:14-15, 1 John 3:8, Hosea 13:14, 1 Corinthians 15:55, 1 Corinthians 15:26 etc.)

If Hell is eternal, how can the increase of Christ's government and of peace have no end? (Isaiah 9:7).

FACT: The term "saved" has evolved in Christianity to mean something different than it did to the original readers and hearers of Scripture. The Greek words, "sozo" and "soteria" embrace the broad meaning of being rescued, delivered, healed and saved from danger. These words were applied in a variety of ways throughout the New Testament. There is much more to the salvation of Christ than most Christians know. Sadly, much of the church is robbed of fullness of their salvation by embracing a limited and futuristic view of what it actually means-- (i.e. "going to Heaven when they die").

Popular Myth: "Eternity" is a theme that is throughout the entire Bible, including eternal punishment. Not exactly true! We are not denying that the New Testament is full of warnings of judgment, and that the words, "everlasting" and "eternal" appear often in most translations. However, a careful study of the words that are translated to mean forever or everlasting, will prove that they have been mistranslated. The question is not whether or not God will punish sin and rebellion, but rather how He does it, and for what purpose and how long the correc5ion lasts.

Think about it..

If Hell is forever, why is the Hebrew word Olam (which has been translated to mean "eternal/forever") used in so many verses where it clearly does not mean "everlasting? A few examples: "Everlasting" is applied to the priesthood of Aaron; to the statutes of Moses; to the mountains and hills; and to the doors of the Jewish temple, to the length of time that reproach and shame should be upon the Jews. The word "forever" is applied to the duration of man's earthly existence; to the time a child was to abide in the temple; to the continuance of Gehazi's leprosy; to the to the duration of a king's life; to the time a servant was to abide with his master; to the duration of the Jewish temple; to the time David was to be king over Israel; to the throne of Solomon; to the stones that were set up at Jordan; and to the time Jonah was in the fish's belly. It should be obvious from the context that olam merely referred to an indefinite period of time--not forever!

Aion and related words ( aionian and aionios ) are the Greek equivalents of olam . Aion, literally means "age," from which we get our English word, "eon." Aion/age/eon, is merely a period of time. "Aionian and Aionios" are words that refer to the ages (plural) or pertaining to the ages. As long as time is being measured, it cannot be referring to eternity, which is a realm beyond the measurement of time. If "Hell" is forever, why is it described by words that pertain to the ages?

If the Greek word Aion and its derivatives mean eternal as some Bible scholars insist, why did contemporary Greek usage of it, at the time the New Testament was written, not carry with it the idea of endless eternity? (Works by Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Hippocrates and many others use these words in a limited, not an eternal sense).

If Hell is forever, how do we explain the fact that aion/olam did not mean eternal/unending to the original writers and hearers of Scripture?

FACT: Some would argue that if aionian and related words do not mean eternal, then God cannot be eternal, for these words also describe Him. To this we say, that just because God is described as the God of the eons, does not mean that He is not the God who also transcends the eons. In the same way, just because He is called the God of Israel , does not also mean that He is not the God of all the other nations. Also, there are other Greek words used to refer to the unending power and life of God. They are, aptharsia/apthartos, which means imperishableness and immortality; amarantinos/amarantos which mean unfading; and akatalytos , which means indestructable. They are usually translated as immortal, or incorruptible. Please refer to the following verses for reference: Hebrews 7:15-16, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Peter 5:4, 1 Timothy 1:17, Romans 1:23, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, Romans 2:7, 1 Corinthians 15:42, 2 Timothy 1:10, and 1 Timothy 6:16.

Popular Myth: One's fate is sealed after death. If this is true, how do we deal with the following scriptures that indicate the opposite?

Think about it...

"Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, He devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him" (2 Samuel 14:14).

"The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave (sheol), and bringeth up." 1 Samuel 2: 6

"See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand" (Deuteronomy 32:39).

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave (Sheol/Hell); I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave (Sheol/Hell), I will be your destruction!" (Hosea 13:11-14).

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. (Lam 3:31-33)

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:25-26).

If Hell is a place of no escape, why did the early church teach Jesus went to Hell (Hades), preached to them and led captivity captive? (Eph. 4:8,9; Psalm 68:18; 1 Peter 3:18-20)

If Hell lasts forever, why the Psalmist confidently speak again and again about being rescued from it (sheol)? (Psalms 16:10, 30:2-3, Psalm 49:15, 86:13, 116:3-8, 139:8).

If Hell is real, how can Solomon teach that the spirit of man will return to the God Who gave it? (Ecc 12:7).

If the grave settled the matter forever, why did the early Christians offer up prayers for the dead? Why were they baptized for the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:29).



"Hell" Was Not a Doctrine of the Early Church:
(continued in the following blog)


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THE CASE AGIANST HELL by Mercy Aiken (part 2)

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"Hell" Was Not a Doctrine of the Early Church:

Popular myth: Universalism was recently introduced to Christianity in the 1800's as the church became more liberal and modern and began to abandon their true biblical foundation. This is not true! A belief in the restitution of all things was a standard view in the early church, held by the majority of early Christians. It has also been held by a minority throughout all of church history even during the Dark Ages.

Think about it..

If Hell was real, why did the first comparatively complete systematic statement of Christian doctrine ever given to the world by Clement of Alexandria, A.D. 180, contain the tenet of universal salvation?

If Hell was real, why did the first complete presentation of Christianity (Origen, 220 A.D.) contain the doctrine of universal salvation?

If Hell was real, why do neither the Apostles Creed, nor the Nicean Creed, two foundational "doctrinal statements" for the early church, contain the concept of Hell?

If Hell was real, why did Church leaders as late as the fourth century AD acknowledge that the majority of Christians believed in the salvation of all mankind?

If Hell was real why did the early church appoint an avowed universalist as the President of the second council of the church of Constantinope in the fourth century? (Gregory Nazianzen, 325-381).

If Hell was real why did not a single Church council for the first five hundred years condemn Universalism as heresy considering the fact that they made many declarations of heresy on other teachings?

If Hell was real why didn't Epiphanius (c. 315-403) the "hammer of heretics" who listed 80 heresies of his time not list universalism among those heresies?

If Hell was real, since most historians would acknowledge today that Origen was perhaps the most outstanding example of universalism in the church, when Methodius, Eusibius, Pamphilus, Marcellus, Eustathius, and Jerome made their lists of Origen's heresies, why wasn't universalism among them?

If Hell was real and found in the original Greek manuscripts of the Bible, why is it that it was primarily those church leaders who either couldn't read Greek (For example, Minucius Felix and Tertullian), or hated Greek as in the case of Augustine, that the doctrine of Hell was advocated? Those early church leaders familiar with the Greek and Hebrew (the original languages of the Bible) saw universal salvation in those texts. Those who advocated Hell got it from the Latin, not from the original Greek and Hebrew. Who would more likely be correct--those who could read the original languages of the Bible or those who read a Latin translation made by one man (Jerome)?

If Hell was real then why did four out of six theological schools from 170 AD to 430 AD teach universal salvation while the only one that taught Hell was in Carthage, Africa, again were Latin was the teaching language, not Greek?

If Hell was real and a serious heresy, why was it not until the sixth century when Justinian, a half-pagan emperor, tried to make universalism a heresy? Interestingly, most historians will acknowledge that Justinian's reign was among the most cruel and ruthless.

*The historical facts documented in the above section can all be verified through the books, "Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Early Church for the First 500 Years" by J.W. Hanson
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Prevailing.html
and "The History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrine of Retribution" by Edward Beecher.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Retribution/DoctrineOfRetribution.html

Hell does not reflect the heart of God:

Popular myth: The justice of God demands a place like Hell in which the wicked shall be eternally punished for their sins. Not true! The justice of God demanded a perfect sacrifice for sin, and that man was Christ Jesus. The justice of God will certainly come to every person, and God may deal severely with our sins as He subdues and gathers all things to Christ, but to punish people endlessly for crimes committed in a short human lifespan defies all logic and justice. How is it just to have unending punishment for offenses that have limits?

Think about it....

If Hell is real and all things were made for God's pleasure (Rev. 4:11), is it conceivable that God would derive pleasure from seeing those He created endlessly tortured? God says He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ez. 33:11).

If Hell is a real place of endless torment, and God didn't want anyone to end up there, why didn't God just kill Adam and Eve and end the long terrible chain of misery that passed to their offspring before it began? After all, the Scriptures say that all died because of Adam. (Rom. 5:18)

If Hell is real, if God loves His enemies now, will he not always love them? Is God a changeable being? (James 1:17)

If Hell is real, if you had sufficient power would you not deliver all men from sin? If God would save all men, but cannot , is He infinite in power?

If Hell is real, and God can save all men, but will not , is He infinite in goodness and mercy?

If Hell is real, since God will have all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3 KJV), does that mean God's power is not strong enough to have His will fulfilled?

If Hell is real and Jesus teaches us to forgive seventy times seven and yet He Himself will never offer forgiveness to anyone after they die, does that not make Him a hypocrite?

If Hell is real and God's wrath abides upon billions of human beings forever, doesn't that violate the Scripture which says His anger will come to an end? (Isaiah 57:16-18)

If Hell is real and God only loves those who love Him, what better is He than the sinner? (Luke 6:32-33)

If Hell is real, since some people receive many chances to "get saved," some receive only a few chances and billions have never even received one chance, does that make God a respecter of persons? (Acts 10:34, James 3:17). After all, billions of people have been born and died on this earth without a chance to ever hear the name of Jesus, the "only name under heaven by which men may be saved."

If there is a Hell and all who have sinned are destined to go there (which is everyone) unless they figure out how to avoid it, does that not consign all aborted babies and non-Christian children to Hell? (While some denominations teach a so-called "age of accountability," it is not found anywhere in the Bible. It is just some people's way of trying to make God more humane than the eternal torment teaching makes Him out to be).

If Hell is real, does that mean that motherly love is more powerful and enduring than God's love? Do you know of normal parents who would endlessly torment most of their kids? Why do we believe our heavenly Father, Who is millions of times more loving than all of us combined, could do such an evil, wicked thing?

If Hell is real, why does the human spirit writhe under the horror of wars and prison camps, torture chambers and dictators? How can we judge these things as wrong, if Hell is real? After all, Hell far eclipses these earthly torments which came from the most sinful and beastly part of humanity. We say God is grieved by man's violence and disregard for life, and yet believe that He Himself enforces the same principles for all eternity!

If Hell is real, how would endless misery benefit the Almighty, as the inflictor? How would endless misery benefit the saints, as spectators? How would endless misery benefit the sinner, as the sufferer?

If Hell is real, how does the threat of endlessly torturing us convince us that God loves us and that we should love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

FACT: While the church has gotten used to thinking of God as Someone who was forced to design a grandiose punishment called Hell, and against His own will sends the majority of His creation there, this concept of a God "who did the best He could" is totally against the Scriptural view of a God who is absolutely sovereign, powerful, all-wise and all-victorious. He never had to come up with a plan B or C, for Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It is time to give Him the glory He deserves for our God is truly awesome and wonderful far beyond the limited, and man-centered views of Him!

Come Up Higher!

Beloved, what is the "lens" through which you are interpreting the Bible? Traditional doctrines teach us to interpret the "victorious" scriptures in the light of the "judgment" scriptures. But what if God wants us to see it the other way around? What if we are to interpret the "judgment" scriptures in the light of the "victorious" scriptures? Is not Christ's victory the greatest revelation in the Bible? Standing on this highest peak-that is, the finished work of the cross, causes us to see a much larger and far more beautiful panoramic view of God's plan throughout the ages. We do not throw out one set of Scriptures in favor of another. Rather, we seek to harmonize them.For man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

In the time of Christ, most of Israel completely missed the Word of God when He was in their midst. They were too busy with their nose in the book, to perceive the Word Himself as He came and walked among them! Many Jews were afraid to believe in Jesus, since the majority of their leaders (Scribes, Pharisees, Saducees, Priests etc) who knew the scriptures better than they did, were convinced that He was not the Messiah. In the early days of the church, faith in Jesus Christ was heresy and to admit faith in Him was basically asking for scorn and rejection. Modern Christians point the finger at Israel of old, not realizing that we are following in their footsteps today. Most of us play it safe, siding with the denomination or movement that we happen to be a part of. While there is wisdom in honoring our spiritual fathers, we can never allow them to take the place of the Holy Spirit teaching us in our own lives.

The facts presented in this article should at least cause every reader who is truly hungry to know God, to search the scripture to see if these things be so. If what we are presenting here is false, it needs to be disproved. And if it is true, it cannot be ignored.

It is time to stop skipping the parts of the Bible that do not fit in with our theology. And if, like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, our theology is not big enough to hold the entire counsel of Scripture, perhaps it is time to expand--lest we once again miss God!

And so we ask you again, beloved Christian, to ask yourself.

If the traditional teaching of Hell is real..

How can mercy triumph over judgment? (James 2:13)

How can it be true that, "where sin abounded grace did much more abound?" (Rom. 5:20)

When will all flesh come to God? (Psalm 65:2-4)

When will the poor of the earth be avenged and comforted by God? (Psalm 113:7, Psalm 140:12, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 31:9, Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 61:1, Jeremiah 22:16 etc.) (Bear in mind that most of the poor of the earth throughout history have not had a chance to accept Jesus as their savior).

When shall it come to pass that: "On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 26:6-8).

When and how will "all nations" praise Him, come to Him, serve Him, be blessed in Him and bow to Him? (Psalm 45:17, Ps. 86:9, Isaiah 62:11, Daniel 7:14 Ps 66:1, Ps 72:11, Ps 102:15, Jer. 3:17, Ps 72:17, Isa. 2:2, Isa. 11:10, Isa. 52:10, Rev. 5:13 etc.)

How can the world be reconciled to God? (2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 11;5, Romans 5:10).

Why would Paul the apostle say the goal of God's creative plan was to ultimately be "all in all?" (1 Cor. 15:28)

How can it be true that God, Who works all things according to the counsel of His will, shall gather together all things in Christ, in the fullness of the times? (Ephesians 1:9-11)

How can Paul insist that "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36).

How can the most often-repeated Biblical description of God be true? "His mercy endures forever" (literally, "His mercy/lovingkindness endures for the ages"). Certainly, as long as there are ages, and people in need of mercy, God's mercy will endure.

How and when can there ever be a "restitution of all things?" (Acts 3:21)

A Final Test

We have tested the doctrine of Hell against many different Biblical topics and concepts and found it wanting. When scrutinized in the light of the entire counsel of Scripture, the doctrine of Hell is found to be full of holes. Now, test this doctrine against your own heart and see whether it can stand. Please take some time and prayerfully ask yourself these questions:

If there is a Hell and according to most denominations of Christianity the majority of mankind will go there, could you really enjoy heaven knowing your mother or father or children or best friend are suffering everlasting tortures the likes of which would make the Holocaust seem like a picnic?

If Hell is real, will you judge your mother, son, or other non-believers to Hell ? "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world"? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?" 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

If Hell is real and a place of terrible, unending pain, could you even send a dog to such a place?

If Hell is real and universalism is a heresy, why is it that those who believe God loves all and will save all find it easier to love all people than those who believe most people are going to Hell? (Think this through very carefully.)

If Hell is real, can you honestly rejoice in the victory, love, and wisdom of God, knowing that somewhere in His beautiful creation there will always be a black and stinking hell-hole crammed full of tortured souls who have no chance for relief or forgiveness--or even death? Even if there was only one person left in such a state, how could all of Heaven rejoice for all eternity knowing that there was still one soul who had not been touched by the victory of Christ and was suffering alone?

Is it good to desire all men to be saved? "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim.2:3,4).

. Do you ardently desire the salvation of all men?
. Is it true that God "openeth His hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing?" -- (Ps. 145:16)
. Do you fervently pray for the salvation of all men? (1 Tim. 2:1)
. Do you pray in faith, nothing doubting? (James 1:6)
. Are you aware, "that whatsoever is not of faith is sin?" -- (Rom 14:23)
. Would God require us to pray for all men, and to pray in faith, unless He intends all men should be saved?
. If you believe endless misery to be the truth of God, why should you desire and pray that it may prove false?


We hope that this information has raised enough questions for you to pursue further study on this subject. For more information on the history of the doctrine of Hell, the Lake of Fire , Studies on Biblical words that are often translated as eternal, everlasting, etc. and many other teachings pertaining to this subject, please visit:
http://www.tentmaker.org/ScholarsCorner.html%20

Some of these questions were taken from a much larger list compiled in an article entitled Is Salvation a Deliverance From Hell or Eternal Death? " by Gary Amirault .
http://www.what-the-hell-is-hell.com/FromHellsEternalDeath.htm

The painting on the front of this booklet is a scene from "The Damned" by Michelangelo. His paintings of Hell and the damned, like much Christian art of the time, was influenced more by Greek mythology of the underworld, than by the Bible.

Who are we? Tentmaker Ministries and Publications is a Christian ministry committed to sharing as best to our ability our understanding of God's plan for the ages to reconcile all things to Himself through Jesus Christ. (This view is also known as Ultimate reconciliation or Christian universalism, which is a very different thing than Unitarian Universalism). We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the only way to the Father, the only begotten Son of God, and that there is no other way to everlasting, "aionian" life but through Him. We believe He is king of the universe, and owner of all Creation, and that His purpose is to bring all things under His government and reconciled with Himself.

".And for this we labor and strive, that we have put our hope in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe" (2 Timothy 4:10 ).
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I pray Mercy's message has blessed you. I believe it is the definitive writing of my generation on the subject of "the myth of Hell and the truth of Universal Salvation."
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If you are not yet convinced I pray you would further investigate this all important matter by reading that which is considered the "old standard" on "Universal Reconciliation." Multitudes have come to be set free from the torrid belief in Hell, a place of eternal torment through this anointed writing by Andrew Jukes first published in 1867.
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THE SECOND DEATH AND THE
RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS
by ANDREW JUKES
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http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/jukes2.html#p015

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COMING OF AGE

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Yep, at twelve I kissed the Bishop's ring after twenty five other young doofuses had slobbered all over it. Plus the clown in the weird cap, beads and white dress called me by a new name "Anthony." Who the heck is Anthony?

Looking back, I say this proves, that at twelve I was too stupid for Hell.

That is a description of my Roman Catholic Confirmation ceremony. This was my religious experience of "coming of age" and, lest any think it is only a laughing matter, let me say I wrote that in satire to share the absurdity of it all! Today or even tomorrow, should I ever come upon a scene where my twelve year old grandson or granddaughter was bending over to kiss the ring of a man dressed in beads and a dress, while addressing him as Father there would be real hell to pay. Same goes if I should ever find any child paying homage to some pompous ass they address as Pastor! These religious cults, with their dual hierarchical chaste systems, where false apostles, false prophets and self proclaimed pastors rule over the people sicken me in their unadulterated phoniness and corruption. Jesus didn't put up with the religious system of His time as He spoke out, and it is time we do also as the Spirit leads (and it will). Today's harlot church system of Charlatans and Nicolaitans, ruling over a worldly people wanting a "king" and "a go between with God", does not know or worship the One True God. They do not know God, Who came as Christ, for to serve, and died in His service to "all"!

Oh, hear me dear people this thing most call Church is anything but! This false church is the soulish counterfeit that appeases and coddles the selfish carnal nature of man, and she will do anything to keep her reign. The true Church, "the ekklesia" has been called out of the false church that they be not partakers of this Harlot's sins. The true Church seeks not power nor wealth but instead lays down her life in service. She lays her very life down next to Her Champion, Her Saviour, Her Lord and Her Beloved Husband Jesus Christ. I am convinced that the day is approaching when such martyrdom will catch the world's eyes and heart, and all will eventually stand weeping, as they recognize this is Christ come again to lay down His Life in the Union and Oneness of His bride. These are the "two witnesses" that manifest themselves in "death resurrection" ....... the Spirit and the Word .... Deity and Humanity ....... Christ and His Bride. Love by it's very nature needs "two" and when Love is complete the two are One.

Now if you would, please contemplate more lunacy of what many organized churches and their congregants hold as doctrine. The "age of accountability" comes wrapped in an overall theological system called "Arminianism" and it is as foul and false as is it's contrasting counterpart "Calvinism." Both of these systems are fear based and are built upon the cornerstone of Hell and eternal torment. Somewhere in the future we will look at Calvinism with it's "doctrine of reprobate and elect infants" and we will discover an equally absurd, foul spirit that defies and defiles all that is Good in Christ Jesus. For many years I have experienced, studied and observed the "spirit of the hellfire and damnation doctrine." I will unequivocally state, "anything associated with this Hellish doctrine becomes foul, false and full of death. Who would ever want their children any where near such a thing!

Age of Accountability
This is the age at which a child is old enough to understand the moral consequences of his or her actions and can be held accountable for sins. It is also called the 'age of reason.' Though it does not correspond to a particular age for every person, due to differences in personal and psychological maturation, it is sometimes set down arbitrarily as 12 or, in the Roman Catholic Church, 7; the latter convention gave rise to the English common-law presumption that no child under the age of seven could possess the mens rea necessary for commission of a felony. The concept of the age of accountability is not based upon any direct teaching from the Bible, but stems from individual church traditions. A child who has passed the age of accountability is said to know the difference between right and wrong and to be capable of obeying the moral laws of God. Some Christian traditions believe that the age of accountability is the end of a period of early grace (prevenient grace, in Wesleyan traditions) which covers over the sins of those not capable of knowing the moral consequences of their actions. (Persons who, due to developmental disability, mental or emotional development, will never reach a sufficient level of abstract reason, are covered by this grace for life and are sometimes known as 'the innocents.') In Christian traditions which practice Believer's Baptism (baptism by voluntary decision, as opposed to baptism in early infancy), the ritual can be carried out after the age of accountability has arrived ..........
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So with Arminianism in which "free will" is king and the "age of accountability" weighs heavy on the adolescent, surely the abortionist should be considered a hero and Andrea Yates' drowning of her five children could be hailed as a heroic act of mercy. Oh, the insanity and deceitfulness of the doctrines of demons that accommodate the horrors of a mythical Hell.
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And we wonder why the world scoffs!


(sources: Wikipedia & Tentmaker Ministries)

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JESUS WEARS A BLUE COLLAR AND CARRIES A LUNCH PAIL

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Jack I believe that His love is opening more peoples hearts and minds to see His wonderful love and grace.
Love Dan

Dan was kind enough to leave a this comment yesterday and I wish I could agree. In part I understand what he is saying but I am a realist. I also believe, more than most, I am out there testing the waters and sharing God's love tirelessly day in day out. As I told Joian, my closest friend and confidant in the Lord, tonight, "God has taught me to bring my lunch pail when He works through me. And yes, I get irritated with so many that start a work only to see them loose their zeal and interest after awhile, as their work falters to become like the two witnesses "the Word and the Spirit" laying dead in the street." (Rev 11)

I often awaken in the morning with just the greatest pain in my heart for my brothers and sisters that are still caught up and bound by the Apostate Organized Church. It is in the seeking of relief from this incessant pain that I am driven to share the "Real Good News of the Kingdom of God." Having shared of my pain, and with the greatest of humility, because I know of myself there is no good thing, I will share something else with you.

I have a most dear sister that will only address me by my real birth name "John." She won't use "Jack" by which I am commonly known. This young lady ran into me on a forum where I was doing battle with the Christian New Agers that frequented there. She wanted to know who I really was, because, as she said, "she saw the powerful spirit of Elijah in me as I shared Truth while making no bones and barring no holds." Later after this sister became acquainted with me she said she found not only a likeness in me of "John the Baptist" but recognized the persona of another "John." Please note, that in the telling of this, my eyes water, so blessed am I that one might liken anything in me to this, the dearest to me and my favorite of all the Saints of Old. My lovely friend saw in me also the spirit of "John, the Beloved of the Lord." This John is he, who laid His head on Jesus breast and that is my favorite picture of Christ with His twelve. With continuing great sincerely and humbleness of spirit I believe we are to be all things to all men as we take on the likeness of our Christ. Today the fivefold ministry of the "Church Age" is corrupt and dead and the five have been gathered together in each of God's appointed sons. Christ, within these sons, is the Apostle. He is the Prophet and the Evangelist etc. And make a note of it; these sons are blue collar guys and gals. They maybe not be clothed in camels hair and leather but as the Baptist did, these laborers carry their lunch pails and toil long and hard. These are 24/7 people as their minds and hearts are always stayed upon the Lord. Day in day out , hour to hour and moment to moment these sisters and brothers are before the face of the Lord as they minister in a thousand different ways.

I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that God, some many years ago told me to focus the majority of my support and ministry on His humble and broken in spirit, blue collar sons and daughters, for it is they that world groans for (Rom 8).

Today, rather than say revival is happening in the world , I share with you these scriptures which I believe speak to the season we are in now. I pray more than else, you will identify with the last thought of the last scripture in this list. I can only hope you are spending much time before His face as you prepare His way.

"Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa 57:14,15

"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." Mal 3:1

"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Lk 1:17

"As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luk 3:4-6

"He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet" Jhn 1:23

"And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways" Luk 1:76


So this morning, with my lunch pail in hand I shall go out into my community and on every bulletin board I can find in town, I will place this new flier (below) with my "JH & Christ" calling cards attached to it. Before I do this I might even find some colorful heart stickers to add to this poster. While I'm making my rounds, in the "spirit of John the Beloved", I will hug the necks of a few neighbors. And should I run into one adorning a preacher's Roman collar I might, with my best "John the Baptist voice", holler across the way, " O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" [wink ..... and because of the liberty He has given me, my friends know I actually do stuff like that. Maybe that is also why I don't have very many friends. lol ]

Yes my beloved and bold ones, it's a good day to be a "John" but it is the best of days to be as Christ, with a lunch pail and a blue collar. For such is the season.

John




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A PASTOR FINDS THE REAL JESUS

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For ten years I served the Harlot Church system as a Saul. I worked extremely hard doing that which I thought was the work of God. Later I received a true revelation of Jesus and I left being a Saul to become as Paul. It happened to me as it did to this author I quote below.

I receive a meditation every morning and only one. It is by Chip Brogden and he knows, preaches and teaches the real Jesus. Here in today's meditation Chip writes of how, as an ordained pastor he finally found the "real Jesus." He was like so many ministers today that don't know Jesus, but have built ministries of self righteousness and dead works around a facsimile and counterfeit of the True Son of God.

Today's organized Christian religion has usurped the position of Christ and His body. This false, corrupt and emaciated religion is made up of many Saul's that stand in their raised pulpits preaching to more Saul's sitting in their congregations. My prayer is, that Jesus will reveal Himself, that these like Saul might be thrown to the dust, and from the dust would rise up men and woman, as modern day Paul's sharing the true Gospel of Christ. As we approach the end of this age the world writhes in pain, groaning to hear and know of the True Jesus and the Saviour of the World.

"And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 22:6,7).

All it takes is a millisecond of time for the Revelation to strike you down. I recall when I first received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I had had many religious and spiritual experiences up to that point, more than the average person. I had been a pastor and teacher for many years. I thought I really knew the Lord. But one day God revealed His Son IN me. I was sitting in the backyard reading the Word and without warning, in my heart of hearts, I "saw" (not with my eyes, but inwardly) Jesus seated at God's right hand, and I saw myself raised and seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

That day was like walking out of one room and into another, closing the door behind me. I got a glimpse into another world. I finally knew what before I had only talked about. Though not as outwardly dramatic as Paul's experience, inwardly a massive earthquake had taken place and my foundations were ripped to shreds. It was the beginning of the end of my career as a preacher for Organized Religion. I saw the real Jesus and realized He was nothing like flesh and blood had said. Hallelujah!

For the rest of Chip's article you can find it here:

http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/articles/revelation.html

If you care to receive his daily meditation this is

the link given for that:

http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/join.html

In His Sweet Lord Jesus,

Jack

PARADOXOLOGY & THE KINGDOM ...... (part one)

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Today's post is a little fair from our SONSHINE blog where we share messages with a little more depth. Should you care to visit us there, the link is:
http://jack-sonshine.blogspot.com/


It doesn't take much time spent within the Kingdom of God before one finds that this sphere of the Spirit is filled with paradox. So it seems this morning I awakened feeling lost to this world, yet with that feeling I also felt wonderfully at rest because I knew I was found in Him and He held me tightly. This was another paradox, of which for me there seems to be a new one discovered with each succeeding day. So with that, I feel led to share a few messages on "Paradoxology & The Kingdom of God."

How often I enjoy reading of some great theological mind that has fallen at His feet knowing that only with our vision of Christ, is there sense to made of our existence. And that sense ....... well it's nigh impossible to explain, thus we can only throw up our hands and point to Jesus and say there it is ..... there it all is! That is God and that is Love! That's the Whole of it and Whole of it is Jesus! And when you have come to the place where He is all you see and there is nothing else, you will ........... well then you will be the Whole and you will understand perfectly. Such is the Mystery of Christ, the Resurrection and God, All in All.

It is all found in Jesus. And "Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way."

So, last night I decided to research the background, thoughts and writings of a man that has often been called the greatest theologian of the twentieth century, if not the last five hundred years. What an enjoyable evening I had as I read of this esteemed man with the great mind. How wonderful it was to finish my evening's research with a simple story told of this famed theologian, Karl Barth. It said it all, and I had tears to witness the rarity of a "one of the few wise that had found the Kingdom."

Once a young student asked Barth if he could sum up what was most important about his life's work and theology in just a few words. The question was posed even with gasps from the audience. Barth just thought for a moment and then smiled, "Yes, in the words of a song my mother used to sing me, 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.'"

The "Jesus does not give recipes" quote I used earlier also came by way of Barth and I laughed at the truth of this other quote of his.

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"The truest rallying cry that can be used by any leader is ,

'I don’t know where I am going; follow me!'"

With that said I hope you will "follow me" as we explore the paradoxes of this wondrous sphere of the Spirit, we call the Kingdom of God. Hopefully we'll even get lost only to discover that in our lostness we have been found in His Love, which knows no bounds. I can think of no better way to start this series on "paradoxology and the Kingdom" than with this beautiful piece of prose by Linette Woods.

Lessons from Life
by Lynette Woods


I cannot learn anything until I unlearn what I have already learned.
I cannot be real and genuine until I have been disillusioned.
I cannot do anything until I've stopped everything.
I cannot be wholly in Christ until I am totally out of religion and its ways.

I cannot wash another's feet while standing on my own two feet.
I cannot walk in another's shoes unless I first take off my own shoes.
I cannot offer anyone a helping hand if my hands are already full.
I cannot speak words of Life to another unless Life has first engraved those words on my heart.

I cannot see through another's eyes while looking at myself.
I cannot hear through another's ears while listening to the throb of my own heartbeat.
I cannot share another's heart if I am consumed with the passion and pain in my own heart.
I cannot truly love another if I am still in love with myself.

I cannot give anything of worth to anyone until I have nothing of myself to give.
I cannot experience real Life until I am dead and buried.
I cannot know Freedom until I am content to be locked away.
I cannot know Rest until I can completely give up on myself and my plans.

I cannot live in the Light if I cannot bear the exposure of being seen.
I cannot know Truth unless I stop deceiving myself with lies.
I cannot walk in the Way until I quit studying the map.
I cannot know Hope until I'm convinced of how hopeless I am.

I cannot enjoy Peace without going through many storms.
I cannot experience amazing Grace if I secretly believe I deserve it.
I cannot receive Mercy until I stop trying to save myself.
I cannot completely trust Another until I no longer trust myself.

I cannot really pray until it is not me that is praying.
I cannot truly cry until it is not me that is crying.
I cannot really sing until it is not me that is singing.
I cannot truly laugh until it is not me that is laughing.

I cannot truly live until it is not ME that is living...

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I can do all things through Christ Who empowers and strengthens me.
Phil 1:21; 4:13.

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THE UNIVERSAL SONG

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We also share God's love through Christ Jesus on another blog called "SONSHINE." The Lord has been good enough to gather together a handful of saints there, who have surrendered all of their hearts and lives to Christ. The comments section following each blog of late, is filled with the goodness of God's sons and daughters that have found the true Shepherd and Saviour that looses not one of the Father's children. If you get a chance please also visit us, on our other blog, to enjoy a deeper message of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is a sampling from SONSHINE and is copied from this morning's post. Here also is the link to our other blog:

http://jack-sonshine.blogspot.com/

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What a weekend! Seems the devil got into my computer along with a thousand imps, viruses and trojan horses from the bowels of hell. The evil one gave my computer a will of it's own and then to add insult to injury spammed me none stop with all kinds of perversion from pornography to greedy Internet security manufacturers wanting to help me for a price. This was more than your typical computer crash. It was the suffering of the Computer's Terrible Infernal that proceeds it's purification and newness of life ;-)

Praise God all things are made anew, as I feel like I can worship Him again on SONSHINE. When you get to the foundation of our blog that's the "all of it." We just come here to worship Jesus in our writings, sharings, comments and even our viewings. Personally, I think of this blog as my hands stretched heavenly and not to be able to write and share for a few days is as if my arms were cut off. Surely it is not until you lose something that you really appreciate it and how thankful [tears now] I am to be able to wake up and first thing, pray about how to share more of His Glory on SONSHINE.

With that desire, I felt led to share a part of Preston Eby's latest message that I thought was as beautiful as I have ever seen him write. This excerpt so speaks to and even echos that which we have been pondering and commenting concerning, "creation set free and Heaven and earth met." What a beautiful picture is this, as Brother Eby attempts to describe the indescribable. May we also, ever do as our brother has attempted here. May we use what ever means we have to give voice to that which is glorious beyond imagination. I speak of our wonderful Christ in whom all things are birthed, sustained and ended.
Jack and Joian


“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands…” (Rev. 5:11).


............Oh, yes! THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH is something for now, not tomorrow, nor during the millennium, nor in the ages to come. You see, my beloved, when I (that is, my human consciousness, my Adamic identity, my carnal mind) resign from the dominion I have exercised in my life and abdicate the throne, in that same blessed moment the whole realm of dominion which I have usurped and reserved unto myself IS GIVEN TO THE LORD, THE SPIRIT! The power I once held in my own hands is yielded up to Him so that He now exercises the power and authority that I previously exercised. Thus, HE RECEIVES POWER! He receives the right to rule my life. He never took that right by force — but He receives the right when I yield it up to Him. All things shall be “subdued unto” the Son of God! That is the testimony of scripture. And that is how He receives the power, the riches, the wisdom, the strength, the honor, the glory, and the blessing! It is all the wealth and strength and glory of the kingdoms of this world yielded up to Christ the Lord. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). Oh, the wonder of it!

We are to crown the Lord, the Spirit, as King in every place of our being, outer and inner. It was the humiliation of France, in the fifteenth century, that her king Charles VII, was not crowned in the proper city, where former kings were crowned. Joan of Arc, burning with the high resolve to resolve this dishonor, and have the king crowned in Rheims, emerged from obscurity, gathered an army, drove the enemy back from one point to another, until she dislodged him from Rheims. The king came then. The crown was placed upon his brow in the right place; and the fair maiden bowed at the foot of the throne, with tears of joy streaming down her beautiful cheeks. Where are we to crown our King? We are to crown Him in the most sacred and authoritative chamber of our nature, from whence proceed the impulses and propensities of spiritual life. The authority and dominion of life is in the spirit, in your spirit and my spirit. AND FROM THENCE HE WOULD BE CROWNED AND RULE IN LIFE OVER THE KINGDOM OF OUR BEING.

So, precious friend of mine, when you conduct the King to the place of crowning in your nature, you may have to escort Him down a winding passageway, intricate with illusions, imaginations, fears, errors, and distortions of the carnal mind, dismal with sin, sickness and weakness, bare and jagged with earthly consciousness and evil tendencies, on through the gloom and grind of carnality, corruption, and death, to the most sacred altar of your heart. There implore Him to arise and cleanse and purify all your entire nature every whit. Submit — trust all the powers of your being into His mighty hands that HE MAY RECEIVE THE POWER OF RULERSHIP in you and through you in the kingdom of God!


THE UNIVERSAL SONG

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands…and every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Rev. 5:11,13).

As John goes on with his songs we might have expected him to say, “I heard,” but he first says, “I beheld.” This is a book of visions, and there are continuing references to what is “seen.” But he did also hear! Though there are many singers he speaks of the voice, which is the one voice heard through the many — the voice of the spirit, the voice of the truth and the revelation in the Spirit of the Lord. There is only one voice! Hearing the voice goes beyond the sound, beyond even the words. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice, and a stranger they will not follow.” It’s not just that the sheep understand the words the shepherd speaks, but they know — recognize, discern, and perceive the voice.

There are various Greek words for “know,” each bearing its own shade and depth of meaning, in this case it is oida, denoting absolute knowledge. Praise God, there is a realm where you can have absolute knowledge of His voice — without doubt or questionings. I do not hesitate to say that such absolute knowledge comes as a result of prolonged and intimate association, communion, and relationship with HIM. I “know” my wife’s voice, not merely its sound, but also its meaning and intent. By each inflection of her voice I discern her attitude, determination, state of being, etc. Such knowledge has developed as a result of more than fifty years of being her HUSBAND! His sheep — His mature ones — shall come to the place where they unmistakably know His voice, not just hear it, but know it. It is precious as we tune out the voices of this world, and of our own carnal minds, and listen only to the voice of the spirit within; the more we do so day by day the stronger and more resonant and meaningful becomes His voice unto us.

There are many pitiful words and pathetic messages pawned off on God’s precious people under the guise of “the word of God.” But the Lord is bringing forth a people in this day who have gotten beyond dead doctrines and religious traditions. God is causing us to hear with our spirit the Voice of the Living Christ, for He is the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Reality of God. I cannot emphasize too strongly that it takes more than sermons on sonship, and exhortations on perfection, and claims about our high attainments in God, and boasts about immortality to make truly manifest sons of God. We must HEAR HIS VOICE, for it is only those that hear His voice who shall live!

It takes more than having meetings, singing choruses, clapping hands, shouting Amens and Hallelujahs, prophesying, and preaching to one another about the deep mysteries of God to bring us to the knowledge of God and transformation into His likeness. We shall have to see Him and touch Him and hear Him and walk with Him as did John on the Isle of Patmos. We must hear His voice speaking to us in the deepest recesses of our being. We must commune with Him in the glory that radiates from the face of Jesus Christ. Sonship comes only by personal association with the living Christ! And think not, precious friend of mine, if you cannot now discern His voice amidst the confused babble of voices that fill the earth, that you will hear HIS SHOUT when He comes in that glorious Word by which He shall finally deliver us from the last vestiges of sin and death and present us faultless before His Father as holy sons of God with power and great glory.

In the heavenly mists of that long ago Eden, Adam “heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool (Heb. — spirit) of the day.” Every “day” has a voice! Every “day” of the Lord bespeaks of a season of a particular dealing and purpose of God in our life. The voice of the Lord is speaking in the spirit — anointing and purpose — of that particular day. All who have truly been called to sonship to God are now hearing the “voice” of the Lord God walking in the spirit — in the anointing and purpose — of this new kingdom day to which we have now come! We hear not just the message, for multitudes hear the message but never truly hear the voice. Because they do not recognize the voice they do not discern the importance and significance of the word they hear. It bears no fruit of righteousness and power in their lives. They continue on in their carnal ways, and often in the old-order religious systems of man, professing to embrace the revelation of this new kingdom day, but void of its transforming power. Those apprehended for this day are now hearing the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live! The voice is a tone, a note, a chord, a knowing, an inner hearing and quickening beyond the message of the words.

In our text above great pain is taken to declare another glorious day — a day when not a single creature of God, whether in heaven or upon the earth, whether in the sea or even the lowest realms of degradation “under the earth,” shall fail to bow the knee and joyfully proclaim the worthiness of the Lamb! This includes all men and all creatures of all worlds throughout the universe! This includes all angels, holy and fallen, and includes the devil as well! “And every creature…heard I saying…” It means that absolutely everything that has life or breath will, in that great day, rejoice and exult and jubilantly cry, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever!” Praise shall be universal for the Lamb, for He is worthy indeed!

John beheld in spirit the wonder of a day when the universe shall be free from sin and sinners, and a universal song of adoration goes up to God and the Lamb. It is futile to attempt to apply this to the church in its present state, or to any time in the past since Adam fled from the garden of God. At the time of which John speaks, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth without any exception sends up its anthem of blessings to God and the Lamb! While we praise God for every moving of His Spirit and every step of His all-wise plan, the fact remains that none of the revivals of history has ever once-for-all defeated Satan, sin, and death. No revival at any time in any land has ever turned the whole world to God! No dealing of God with humanity has ever brought to pass the total triumph of His kingdom in all realms! Sin and death still stalk across the earth, the vast masses of humanity held tight in their terrible clutches, with sorrows beyond description. Is there no deliverance for these?

How truly the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now! And creation waits — not for another Luther, nor another Paul, nor another Finney, nor another Peter, nor another Moody; waiting not for another Pentecost, nor for another evangelistic crusade or healing campaign, nor for another prophet. “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD” (Rom. 8:19). And why does all creation stand in the wings waiting with bated breath, crowding the door and standing on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of God’s sons coming into their own? “For the creation itself ALSO shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God!” (Rom. 8:21). Think about it!

Thank God, Daniel 7:27 is really true! “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and ALL DOMINIONS SHALL SERVE HIM!” Thank God, Ephesians 1:10 is actually the fully inspired word of God! “And this is in harmony with God’s merciful purpose for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it — the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in heaven and things on earth, to find their one Head in Him.” (Weymouth translation).

What love! What wondrous love! What victory! What an unspeakably glorious consummation! The might of God’s strength which operated in Christ, raising Him from the dead, was sufficient to exalt Him to the highest pinnacle of the universe, thus ensuring that all His enemies would be reconciled to Him, that every opposing power would be made subordinate to Him, that all sin and death in every realm and in every man and in every creature throughout all the unbounded heavens would be so swallowed up of HIS LIFE until God would be ALL IN ALL, bless His glorious name! The gospel of the grace of God! Truly it is not just for this age, but extends to all ages and realms, for every creature cries blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb “for the ages of the ages.” That’s how it reads in the Greek! May it flood our hearts that they may, indeed, be illuminated with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!

The redemption of God’s elect, men out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, is far from being the whole story of Christ’s reconciliation and redemption. John hears the choirs of heaven joined by the voice of the whole creation in a universal outburst of praise to God and the Lamb! Hear it! “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13). Such is the universality of Christ’s achievement that His victory cannot stop short of universal response. No wonder that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song proclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb to take the book and open its seals! No wonder an innumerable company of angels round about the throne take up the refrain: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” No wonder that every created thing in heaven and in earth and throughout the underworld unites in the great chorus of blessing, glory, honor, and power unto the Lamb!

This is the very music of heaven! As we look at the praises rising up out of chapter four and chapter five of the Revelation, it can be seen that they comprise in substance two great oratorios — the Oratorio of Creation in chapter four, and the Oratorio of Redemption in chapter five. It is interesting to note that an oratorio is a musical composition in which solos and choruses combine to the accompaniment of instruments. Here the voices of angels and the living creatures and the elders with their harps form an immortal choir, chanting celestial praise. As one writer has pointed out, the arrangement of these musical numbers is most artistic. The worship begins with a quartet as the four living creatures sing the seraph’s song, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which is, and was, and is to come!” This is followed by the choir, consisting of the twenty-four elders, which continues the praise of God, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Then are heard the solo voices: “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Then comes the response: “The Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seals thereof!” Then as the Lamb takes the book out of the hand of Him that sits upon the throne, there is heard the unison of the quartet and the choir of elders singing the new song concerning the worthiness of the Lamb, “For Thou hast redeemed us unto God by Thy blood…and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth!” Scarcely had the quartet and the choir finished this ascription of praise, than with thrilling crescendo the climax and grand finale are reached. The limitless expanse of God’s universe became vocal, and, led by the unnumbered angelic host, the infinite reaches of creation, filled with its myriads of worlds and suns and these all peopled with the creatures of the mind of God, joined the sublimest anthem of praise to the Lamb that divine ears will ever hear. The strains of this mighty coronation song swell until their echoes fill all the ceaseless ages of eternity with unspeakable melody! Then, as the tumult of universal praise dies away, there is heard the sound of a grand “Amen!” It is from the lips of the four living creatures. A breathless silence follows, and the elders fall down and worship. Such is the Universal Song — the Celestial Song of Creation and Redemption!

The following is a beautiful writing which appeared some years ago in The Sharon Star. No name of an author was attached to it, so whoever the author is, deeper than the human heart can fathom is the meaning and mystery of the words he shares. I quote:

“Many centuries ago there was a Greek musicologist named Boethius. Boethius theorized that there were three main levels of music, and he gave each level a name. The lowest form of music was what he called musica instumentalis. This referred to audible music, either sung or played, performed mainly for entertainment purposes. This is the kind that all people are most familiar with. As we all know, there have been countless works of music written and played over the years which have been and still are incredibly beautiful but which still belong to this category.

“The second highest level of music, according to Boethius, was what he called musica humana, which was an audible music, but referred only to that which existed between God and man. It was not intended to be entertaining, but the music was spiritual in nature. The song being sung could be a prayer, an exhortation to people, or it could even be a prophetic song. We, of course, are familiar with and thankful for the gift of spiritual singing, that of singing a higher song in the Spirit that has never been sung before.

“But Boethius recognized that there existed music of yet a far higher nature. He recognized that there are symphonies that have always been playing in a realm that far transcends our natural ears. He recognized that the earth, nature, the atmosphere, and all of Creation are lost in melodies far, far more beautiful than any human ear can hear, but which can be heard only by those who have spiritual ‘ears to hear,’ those who listen to the voice of the Spirit. He called this level of music musica mundana, also given the names ‘Music of the Cosmos,’ ‘Harmony of the Spheres,’ or the ‘Symphony of the Universe,’ which referred to this very vibration of all celestial and terrestrial bodies and all of Creation. The scriptures declare that even the very elements give glory to the King of kings! (Isa. 55:12; Job 38:7; Isa. 44:23). Yes, there is indeed such music saturating even the air all around us. But only the sons and daughters of the living God can tune in to that higher frequency and sing its melody, for these are they WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD!

“This music is more than just sound. There are not necessarily any words with it. It is not learned in words, nor does it depend upon words. But it is a living, throbbing vibration of all that God is, which is felt and released from the very center of the spirit! This music is the beauty and glory of the Resurrected Christ! It is the unbroken communion between Christ and His Church, between the Bridegroom and the Bride, and between the Creator and His Creation!

“The source of power behind this Song of Songs is not musical overtones but SPIRITUAL VIBRATIONS of Perfect Love, Life Everlasting, Joy Unspeakable, and unending expressions of Praise and Thanksgiving, springing up from deep within a heart that is filled with all the fullness of Him who reigneth forever and ever! It is a song BORN OF LOVE! It doesn’t just tickle our natural ears, but it pierces the heart and spirit of men! The Song actually operates on a Love so great that men’s hearts shall be opened and melted as they hear! The Day shall come when they shall respond to the quickening power of that Song and join their voices with all the angelical host and sing and sing with such a lyrity of heart, mind, soul, body, and spirit until they become enraptured into the beauty of infinite harmony! Creation shall then be truly lifted! Chains shall be broken! Captives shall be liberated as the Resurrected Christ is made alive!

“We, as members of this glorious body of Christ, are called not only to sing that Song, but to BECOME that Living Song of Songs! ‘And give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth’ (Isa. 62:7). It is when we BECOME this precious melody of love that its power is made manifest. We then BECOME this rhythm of glorified life, yea, earth’s heartbeat of Joy. I pray that we all put on ‘ears to hear’ and join our voices with all the myriads of angels and become that Song. For each individual who develops the power to hear it with spiritual ears can send it on and lift the burdened hearts of a weary world! Hallelujah! For, “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound…!’ (Ps. 89:15).

“As the never-ending fire of God which cannot go out, this Song has always been ringing throughout Creation and it cannot die. Its melody of Life, Love, and Praise DEMANDS expression! Some men may slam their doors, and try to drown it out, but all their noise cannot smother the living crescendo of Love! Its power and impact are too great; it cometh from above” — end quote.

Some time ago a word from brother Carl Schwing crossed my desk and I was especially impressed by the following testimony: “Some nights ago, upon my bed, as my thoughts were upon the Father, my spirit was carried away to the KINGDOM OF THE ELEMENTS…I felt the strong wind blowing against my face, I reached out to touch the rain and snow, I could hear the heaving of the oceans, and the song of the four seasons; I heard the clapping of the trees, I heard the mountains shout for joy and the valleys sing, and the song was always the same: ‘Christ is Lord! Christ is Lord! Christ is Lord!’ I remained in that realm for an hour or so, as my body was in a state of perfect peace. Tonight I understand more deeply what I experienced: The Kingdom of God had visited the kingdoms of the earth (not of the world), for as He had created these kingdoms before creating man, so now they are first to receive the ‘Knowledge of the Lord’ (the awareness of His presence). My brethren, can you not see how close the Hour is? The Father is walking amid His creation and all creation is being shaken by His presence…and we, O sons of God, are being changed in a ‘moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ by His presence!” — end quote.

Some years ago brother Paul Mueller shared the following illuminating experience in one of his papers. “To help us understand this truth, I would like to share with you a wonderful experience I had while in Nigeria, West Africa thirty years ago. One afternoon the Lord appeared in my room, and said to me, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand!’ As soon as He said that, He immediately turned away and left the room. Needless to say, I was surprised and amazed by that visitation. As I thought about it later, I began to doubt that it was of the Lord. Since I saw no other manifestation of the Kingdom, I thought the whole experience should be questioned. A few days later, as I was walking down a path from our house to the Bible School where I taught Bible classes, the Lord again got my attention. This time, as I was walking through the lush Nigerian bush, I heard the leaves, the shrubs, and the plants singing a combined song of praise to the Lord, and of travail for the Kingdom of God. I stopped to listen! The sound of it all was so arresting that my attention was fixed for a few minutes on the awesome, majestic wonder of that scene. The sound was so awe-inspiring, I thought it to be a most heavenly sound. The whole creation around me came alive with that combined song of praise and travail. In fact, the creation is always singing and travailing (Rom. 8:22), but for those few minutes I was given ears to hear it! As I stood there transfixed by the wonder of it, the Lord spoke again and said, ‘Now do you doubt me when I tell you the Kingdom of God is at hand?’ I replied, ‘No Lord, help me never to doubt your word again’” — end quote.

A distant relative of mine, Dr. Richard Eby, was accidentally killed a number of years ago when he fell to the street from a three-story building. Instantly he was conscious in the realm of the spirit. One moment he was conscious with a flesh-restricted mind, the next moment with a spirit-released mind whose speed of function was that of light. He was instinctively aware that the Lord of lords was everywhere about him, though he did not at that time see Him. Hours later he was raised from the dead, and of one of the wonderful experiences encountered in that heavenly sphere, he says, “Music surrounded me. It came from all directions. Its harmonic beauty, unlike earthly vocal or instrumental sounds, was totally undistorted. It flowed unobtrusively like a glassy river, quietful, worshipful, exceedingly edifying, and totally comforting. It provided a reassuring type of comfort much like a protective blanket that whispered peace and love. I had never sensed anything like it! This music was sounding within my head, not from an eardrum. Obviously it was not airborne. Most unusual to me was the absence of any beat. Then I realized that without time this heavenly music could have no beat which is a measure of time! I was hearing harmonic perfection, undistorted by any interposed medium between me and its source, as heard mind-to-mind.”

Richard Eby explains that since God is the Creator of the universe He is the Composer of the Song of Creation. This universal Song is the prime communication of worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Music became the resulting harmony from all creation, both of matter and energy. All resonated in unison with the Spirit. It is like a triad of sub-electronic particles with and around which God constructed everything in the universe. The wave-forms we call Light; whereas the material forms we call earth and water and air. The original creation mirrored the composition and perfection of Person-God. All things vibrated in unison with Him! There was total accord and harmony everywhere as the whole cosmos was resonating with and in God. Each separate thing or being thus carried out an appointed task in His scheme for the universe. A celestial-form of music resulted as the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy! Dr. Eby adds: ‘The music around me suddenly seemed louder. I rushed to a nearby tree and grasped its trunk to my ear; it was singing! I lifted my right elbow to my head; it too emitted the same joyous, beatless melody. Excitedly I stopped to pick some flowers, and found them already in my hand. They too were ‘playing’ the tune!”

There is a story of the Lost Chord that has been told in exquisite verse, and in rapturous music. Perhaps you have heard of the lady who in the autumn twilight laid her fingers on the open keys of a great organ. She knew not what she was playing, or what she was dreaming then; but she struck one chord of music, like the sound of a great Amen. Something called her away, and when she returned to the organ, she had lost that chord divine. Though she longed for it and sought it earnestly in unnumbered hours of practice, it was all in vain. It was a lost chord.

And so in our world today a voice of longing cries out of every human soul in surges of incomprehensible yearning. It is a voice that is felt, not heard. None has ever walked the pathways of this planet who has not felt the haunting refrain of that “Lost Chord” moaning out its unutterable lamentation. And one and all try to silence that plaintive cry as it sobs forth its heartbreaking sorrow beneath the burden of a faint glimmer from some long forgotten memory…or world…or lost existence. Whenever I hear the story of that Lost Chord it reminds me of the lost memory, the lost understanding, the lost knowledge, the lost joy, the lost peace, the lost power, the lost glory, the lost life that has fled from mankind. That whining refrain of sadness, darkness, and death, echoing weirdly out of each man’s soul, is but the fragmented, scrambled notes of the great Lost Chord, as they are released with harmonic dissonance and discord. It is like the exquisite notes of a masterpiece sounded forth indiscriminately without harmony at the hands of an unlearned child. The notes may all be there but there is no lovely melody, only a raucous racket.

There is recorded in the book of Job the statement of a glorious former time when “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). That exquisite harmony was muted when man was lowered out of the realm of pure spirit into this gross material realm, and then muted further by sin and the subjection of creation to the bondage of corruption, as mankind became overwhelmed with the consciousness of this dense realm of the earthly, material, and temporal. But through the quickening of the Spirit of the resurrected and ascended Christ A NEW SONG IS ARISING — the Universal Song, indeed, the Lost Chord begins to vibrate and sing within our hearts again!


Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore,

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

Chords that are broken will vibrate once more!


There is a glorious company that stands upon mount Zion with the Lamb, they are of the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north (Isa. 14:13; Ps. 48:2), brought there by the transforming grace of God, and they sing as it were A NEW SONG before the throne, which no man (earthly realm, carnal mind) can learn. It is called “as it were” a new song because though it seems new, it is not new at all! It is the same song Creation sang in that long ago beginning when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy! It is heard through the celestial realms again as the new morning stars take up that lost chord and express the Life and Glory and Reality of God in spirit and in truth. Well did Ray Prinzing write, “Thrilling to note that the word ‘song’ is the Greek word for an ode. An ode isn’t the same as a hymn which is a song composed and sung, whereas an ode is a spontaneous outflow of melody and praise that finds its expression in song by the Spirit’s inner prompting. Now a morning star means the first, early, or foremost one. And it is given as the herald or messenger to announce the day which is coming forth. The night might seem dark, but the morning star shines out to announce that the GREATER LIGHT OF GOD shall soon be seen over all the earth. Truly ‘the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.’ Ah, this gives new hope for coming days, His lighted stars betoken the victory” — end quote.


I cannot tell how all lands will worship

When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled;

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.


But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture

And myriad, myriad human voices sing;

And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer,

At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!


Thirty centuries ago the Psalmist cried out in spirit, “Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” All the way through the book of Psalms, even in its most sorrow-laden passages, you feel that you are walking in a smoldering volcano of praise, liable to burst out at any moment into a great flame of thanksgiving to God. And as the book draws to its close, the flame leaps high from the crater: here you have praise, and nothing but praise! You have perhaps watched a great conductor bringing every member of his orchestra into action towards the close of some majestic symphony; have seen him, as the music climbed higher and higher, signaling to one player after another, and always at the signal another instrument responding to the summons and adding its voice to the music, until at the last crashing chords not one was left dumb, but all were uniting in a thrilling and triumphant climax.

So these final Psalms summon everything in creation to swell the glorious unison of God’s praise. They summon symbolically to the sun riding in the heavens, “You come in now, and praise Him!” And then to the myriad stars of night, “You now, praise Him!” Then to the mountains, piercing the clouds with their summits, “Praise Him!” Then to the kings and judges of the earth, “Praise Him!” Then to manhood in its strength and maidenhood in its grace and beauty, “Praise Him!” Then to the multitude of the redeemed in earth and heaven, “Praise Him!” The crescendo continues until the whole wide universe is shouting with every voice the praise of God alone. The Psalms in their sequence show forth the redemptive progression that can only end when every heart beats in unison with the heart of God; when every mind shall harmonize with divine wisdom and purpose; when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

The loving, praising, worshipping attitude of the whole universe is to be complete and perfect. Thus all the ends of the earth shall offer up their praise and thanksgiving to Him for His great love, salvation, and inflow of life. What a THANKSGIVING DAY that will be! Every knee on this globe, and in the heavens above, and in the underworld shall confess the Lordship of God and His sons. What a TESTIMONY MEETING! There has never been one like it. The summing up of the universe is the revelation of harmony. It is not that the harmony comes at the end, but that the harmony is revealed at the end. The universe is all music, but it is not all music to our ear. We only hear a few chords, and they are most often minor chords. The minor chords seem discords when we hear them in their fragmented position; they lack the full symphony to bring out their symmetry. Often our hearts cry out that we are living in a world filled with discords. The Father must teach us that we are living in a world of perfect music, but we only hear a small portion of the music. Sorrow, pain, disappointment, heartaches, frustration, and travail, not to mention sin and death, seem to our ear sad and discordant notes. Often we feel that the coming melody shall atone for the grating chords. Nay, my brother, my sister; say rather that the grating chords themselves shall be revealed as parts of the completed harmony. Then shall we fathom the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Then shall we understand His ways that are past finding out! Then shall we see just how it is that all things work together for good! The melody is not to come, it has come already; it has only to be completed to be revealed, and then the harpers shall stand upon the glassy sea.

Eby



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