The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The Church WITHOUT the Holy Spirit

“The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. He fills the Body, directs its movements, controls its members, inspires its wisdom, supplies it's strength. He guides into truth, sanctifies its agents, and empowers for witnessing. The Spirit has never abdicated His authority nor relegated His power. Neither Pope nor Parliament, neither Conference nor Council is supreme in the Church of Christ. The Church that is man-managed instead of God-governed is doomed to failure.

A ministry that is College-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles. The Church that multiplies committees and neglects prayer may be fussy, noisy, enterprising, but it labors in vain and spends its strength for naught. It is possible to excel in mechanics and fail in dynamic. There is a superabundance of machinery; what is missing is power. To run an organization needs no God. Man can supply the energy, enterprise, and enthusiasm for things human.

The real work of a Church depends upon the power of the Spirit. The Presence of the Spirit is vital and central to the work of the Church. Nothing else avails. Apart from Him, wisdom becomes folly, and strength weakness. The Church is called to be a "spiritual house" and a holy priesthood. Only spiritual people can be its "living stones," and only the Spirit-fills its priests.

The Church always fails at the point of self-confidence. When the Church is run on the same lines as a circus, there may be crowds, but there is no Shekinah. That is why prayer is the test of faith and the secret of power. The Spirit of God travails in the prayer-life of the soul. Miracles are the direct work of His power, and without miracles the Church cannot live. But alas miracles are not to be the main focus of any ministry or church. The carnal can argue, but it is the Spirit of God that convicts.

Education can civilize, but it is being born of the Spirit that saves. The energy of the flesh can run bazaars, organize amusements, and raise millions; but it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes a Temple of the Living God. The root-trouble of the present distress is that the Church has more faith in the world and in the flesh than in the Holy Ghost, and things will get no better till we get back to His realized presence and power. The breath of the four winds would turn death into life and dry bones into mighty armies, but it only comes by PRAYER of ‘clean hands’!” ~ Quote taken from Lawrence Sloma and Samuel Chadwick which was shared in the public media of Face Book and was taken from it.

I have other things to say by way of revelation on such topics as the Last Supper and the Mysteries but have chosen to leave them almost untouched in this study. In my other blog, I deal with the secrets of God revealed to Paul and Paul then reveals these mysteries or revelations of the fullness of Christ for our understanding. The study on the Last Supper is titled The LORD our Passover and is being posted daily, even now.

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The Python spirit is the SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY. This spirit can cause feebleness, frailty, arthritis, cancer, weakness, and many other sicknesses and diseases. It starts with "YOU ARE GETTING OLD" or 'YOU ARE GETTING SICK', 'OR IT RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY', 'OR YOU HAVE RUN YOUR COURSE'.

Okay so we have covered allot of ground so what is this kingdom Gospel all about any way?

God made provisions in His original creation to have a heavenly order in all that He made. Everything was designed to work together and remain in harmony with the whole. Because there was no disorder in His completed work, God was able to say, “Indeed it was very good.” He created only two forms of life that were capable of disrupting His perfect order. Both angels and man were given a freedom of will. It would be necessary for them to respond to His guidance if they were to maintain His order. A heavenly harmony would continue to exist while they submitted their will to be led by His Spirit. Walking in His Spirit would also enable them to live in fellowship with Him and share with Him in His eternal life of holy love. "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Christ Jesus" (1 John 1:3). "Just as He chose us in Him (to live through Him) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). Disorder could only occur if these created beings rose up in pride and chose in some manner to live independently of God.

There is a liberating secret revealed within the New Covenant that is still hidden from many. The Apostle Paul referred to it as “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.” (Colossians1:26) ... The Son of God has promised to manifest His heavenly life through everyone who will choose to walk by His Spirit. Here is the very heart of the Gospel of the kingdom of God and heaven.

Having two masters inevitably leads to conflicting wills. It is in this sense that “no one can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) It is not possible to serve the self of our flesh and God at the same time. This is why Jesus said as recorded by John in chapter 12 verse 24 that a death is required to receive Eternal Life. The seed proof of this life is hidden within man as Genesis 3:15 shows. God shares His heavenly life with His children as they choose to live for His purposes and glory, the very thing that Israel as a people and nation did not grab hold of. God created these eternal beings as vessels that He could use for the display of His life and works (such as the works of Israel's yoke which the Law became under the leadership of its Priest's, this was in contradiction to God's plan). But He cannot live through either angels or human beings while they are directing their own steps. He requires His creation to unite their will with His divine Will (Romans 12:1-2 New, Deut. 6:3-9 Old). It is the sin of self-will that causes separation. It prevents created beings from walking with God and sharing with Him in His Eternal Life, a life of abundance in Himself restored to His creation, man.

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

There is yet another illustration of a Religious (and familar) spirit some have labeled it the Jezebel spirit: Spirit of Python/Divination and Witchcraft

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been set forth, crucified among you? Galatians 3:1

The ultimate purpose or goal of the spirit of Python is to crush and destroy the vision, dreams, and hope of individual Believers and of the Church. Uses 'voices of the past', discouragement, hopelessness, surrender.

For I know the thoughts ( plans or purposes ) that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law (the Word of God), happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 YOU CANNOT KEEP IT....without Loving Christ First and PYTHON crushes that.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-18

For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (irrevocable, without repentance of Him). Romans 11:29

If the spirit of Python can crush your hope, your visions, and your dreams you will not have the intensity you need to 'press on to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ.' (YOU ACCEPT THE CRUSHING BY DECEPTION) This evil spirit wants to destroy God's plans and calling for your life. Python wants to rob you of your drive, motivation, and fight, and replace it with discouragement, hopelessness, and apathy. This is why Paul tells us to press on in our course of studies to show our selves approved of God in 2Timothy 2:15.

True to it's name sake, the spirit of Python wraps itself around it's victims and suffocates the life out of them. This is true whether the victim is an individual, a family, a business, a church, a community, or even a nation. The spirit of Python loves to 'play' with it's victims by squeezing them until their almost dead then releasing its grip some what, then squeezing again, time and time again. Ultimately bringing death. This is why one sees individuals, families, businesses, churches, and communities that always seem to be on a roller coaster ride. Up one moment, down the next, success and prosperity today, failure and devastation tomorrow, only to rise up again, only to fall again. Each time they fall, they sink lower than ever before.

When the spirit of Python is working, there is no real communion or fellowship. There will be isolation, cliques, and special interest groups. There is no real sharing or rejoicing, but lots of agitation,strife, contention, and a high level of defensiveness. People will become fearful, weak, and weary. The people become so cynical they don't enjoy anything or anyone, including themselves.

Python seeks to break down God's plan and purpose of the local church by destroying the divine order of authority. It is always undermining the authority of the church, constantly causing havoc for those in leadership. There will be no commitment to the Church or the Pastor. Doubt and unbelief will soon enter in; and people will begin to question their calling, their position, and their vision. People controlled by the spirit of Python will wander from church to church, never becoming rooted, never established in a local body.

The spirit of Python is the source of witchcraft and divination. Divination, the art of obtaining secret knowledge, especially of the future, is a pagan counterpart of prophecy. Python spirit is a diviner, false prophet, a giver of false prophecy. Careful comparisons of scripture will reveal that inspirational divination is by demonic power, whereas genuine prophecy is by the Holy Spirit of God. The biblical attitude toward divination is distinctly hostile. In Deuteronomy 18:10-14, the prophet of Yehovah is contrasted with diviners of all sorts and is set forth as the only authorized medium of supernatural revelation.

There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination (qecem - witchcraft, divination, the casting of lots or magical scrolls), or an observer of times (anan - magic, enchanter, sorcerer, soothsayer), or an enchanter (nachash - magic, to prognosticate, a spell), or a witch (kashaph - to whisper a spell, to enchant, to practice magic, witchcraft, sorcerer), Or a charmer (cheber/chabar - to join by means of a spell, to fascinate, charm), or a consulter with familiar spirits (shaal/owb - to inquire, ask, or converse with an evil spirit or demon, a necromancer, a ventriloquist, conjurer, medium), or a wizard (yiddeoniy - one who practices witchcraft and sorcery, a knowing one, conjurer, magic, enchant), or a necromancer (darash/muwth - one that seeks, ask, consults, and worships the dead, a medium, ventriloquist). For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord your God does drive them out from before you. You shall be perfect with the Lord your God. For these nations, which you shall possess, harkened to the observers of times (anan - magic, enchanter, sorcerer, soothsayer), and to diviners (qecem - witchcraft, divination, the casting of lots or magical scrolls): but as for you, the Lord your God has not suffered you to do so. Deuteronomy 18:10-14

Stand now with your enchantments (cheber/chabar - to join by means of a spell, to fascinate, charm), and with the multitude of your sorceries (kashaph - to whisper a spell, to enchant, to practice magic, witchcraft, sorcerer), wherein you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Let now the astrologers (habar/shamayim - study of the stars and planets to predict or foretell future events, horoscope), the stargazer (chozeh - the study and worship of the stars, a seer), the monthly prognosticators (yada/chodesh - the study and worship of the moon, to study the moon for the purpose of foretelling future events), stand up, and save you from these things that shall come upon you. Isaiah 47:12-13

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Psalm 112 delivers one from Poverty and increases their Spirit by Living This way

Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; His scattered (the peoples of the nations, the families of the earth which are greater in number than the stars of heaven) He has given their horn to be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing (The wicked are the overly Religious).

Job shares another very interesting thing for us to consider;

LEVIATHAN SPIRIT (PREDATORY SPIRIT, another of the many tentacles of Religions deceptive spirit as revealed in Revelation 15-18)...... being king of the proud, Job 41 mentions other characteristics of this spirit:

You cannot play around with this spirit; it would be dangerous to attempt to do so. It cannot be tamed and has therefore to be renounced completely.
You cannot enter in covenant with this spirit (v. 4). It encourages people to break covenant by encouraging those under its influence to **** LEAVE CHURCHES****. It can destroy marriages (LEAVE MARRIAGES) and break up friendships.
Leviathan twists the truth. It misrepresents what has been said, causing people to sometimes believe the very opposite of what was said. Those under its influence HEAR THINGS in a twisted way, and then pass on this twisted version, often believing it to be the truth. So this is definitely a spirit of deception. It is this twisting of the truth that makes it a difficult spirit to deal with.
You cannot reason with this spirit because it blinds people to the truth. In fact those under its influence can be so deceived that they do not appreciate THAT THEY ARE DECEIVED or are twisting the truth.
This spirit can only be overcome through the supernatural activity of God's Spirit (CAST IT OUT...CAST IT AWAY..'OPEN BLIND EYES), not by any human means.
"His breath kindles coals," meaning that their words have a destructive, negative effect. Those under its power become very critical, especially of those in authority. They become judgmental and their words have the effect of pulling down rather than building up (THEY ACCUSE YOU WITH JUDGING WHILE JUDGING YOU).

This spirit produces a hardness of heart (a callous shell like covering) in people (v. 24, Romans 11:8, 25) making it even more difficult to bring those beings used by this spirit to the repentance they need.
Because of its pride, and because it has access into people's lives through their proud (and often self-rightous) hearts, this spirit wants to be in control. So those under its influence want to control situations in which they are placed. They resist submission to true spiritual authority.
This is a mocking spirit, and uses mockery as one way of attacking others. It will mock those who are walking in obedience to the Lord or who disagree with them, because for them are their own opinions are so important.
Not only do people become hard-hearted under its influence, they become thick-skinned in the wrong sense. The truth bounces off them!

However, there is a big difference between those who inadvertently come under the influence of this spirit and those who are carriers of this spirit because of their continued pride and their refusal to repent. Some serve Leviathan whether they realize it or not; others are merely its unwilling victims.

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

All this which has gone before lays the foundation for the book of Hebrews because in it is found the resistance movement exposed like no other book even though it speaks of the Better things found only in Christ and glorifies Him above all others. We find God's paln for mankind to become a soveriegn agent of God again, definded within this books context.

As in each of Paul's Epistles there is brought out the resistance and opposition to the Gospel of God's Grace and the New Covenant now being instilled in all men, who become willing for a change from slavery to that of being a soveriegn in those who become receptive of Christ. The world and mankind has already been judged and found wanton and therefore Jesus tells us that He did not come to judge but to bring repentance and Redemption (the way back from what was lost, through regeneration of soul and spirit) through which we can then receive His work of Salvation (healing and regenesis or restoration to a Genesis 2 nature, as a soveriegn person with the ontological essence of Christ own Spirit) within us.

All those who resist are proven to be of that character, separated from God because of the kicking against the goads, that is to say having a guilty conviction of conscience when ever the Truth is spoken to them or over heard by them. They feel a since of conviction and bitterness toward those who spoke, say or even print the Truth, they say do not judge me I am not guilty of a crime, when in actuality they are. This I wish could be said of those trapped in the spell of Religion but sadly their consciences have often been scared as with a hot iron, because there is no conviction of sin, and no gilt of the blood of Christ Jesus. Many have by use of habit commited the alter many many times confessing sin just to have repeated them over and over again because there was no change of heart within them. They just followed the habit as they also follow the Religious habit of their form of worship of a god they know not who or what he is. Religion has been using God's name in vain for well over 4000 to 5000 years so for it it is not a big deal to still do so now. The past 2000 years or so since Jesus' life was laiddown for all mankind as a ransom for the first Adam's act of rebellion, to the last seed of Adam that will be born. And as the little illustration of repeating a sinners pray went, two can not pass through the gate or eye of a needle at the sametime easily.

Now I want to look at a few things in Revelation:

TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES.....

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ – Rev 2:7

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ – Rev 2:11

 

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’ – Rev 2:17

‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; – Rev 2:26

‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. – Rev 3:5

‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. – Rev 3:12

‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. – Rev 3:21

“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. – Rev 21:7

 

Now listen to the following:

SPIRIT OF POVERTY....generates unexpected shortages to generate the spirit of Fear....

Fear brings in tormenting spirits of depression, lack of motivation, laziness, quarreling, and despair. Many will receive the damage as emotion. Even the Wealthy struck by Fear have ended their lives as hopeless. 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1. NEVER SPEAK in PRIDE OVER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Duet 8:18 comes from God...Prov 10:22.

2. NEVER use your faith in wealth, goods, anything. True Faith comes from God by hearing EVERY WORD OF GOD (sheep hear the Shepherd)

3. God holds your Tomorrow.

4. What you have share with others.

5. Lay up treasure in heaven.

 

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

We are to keep ourselves in the Love of God

Jude 17-23, 24-25 But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord, Christ Jesus; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord, Christ Jesus to Eternal Life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
 
Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, is glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Before continuing there remains another sterner warning not caught by many and I would be amiss if I leave this warning unmentioned, it is found in 1Corinthians 11 which is dealing with our participation in the LORD's Supper, toward the end of Paul recital as given him by the Spirit of Christ. Which states this in verses 23 through 32; “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you, That the Lord Jesus the night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament (New Covenant) in My blood: this do, as often as you drink, in remembrance of Me*. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you show the Lord's death till He come. (parallel passages Pro 9:4, Isaiah 55:1-3, John 6:53-58, Matthew 26:2, 13, 17-32; *Exodus 12:14, Psalm 111:4, Song o f Sol. 1:4, Is 26:8)

Wherefore whoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a (every) man examine himself (Numbers 9:13; 1Cor. 5:7-8, Psalm 22:26, 29; Ecc. 8:5, Heb. 5:14) and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 

With this being said look all so 2John to hear his warning also in:1:7-11 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.* This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddes him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
*This simple passage has caused many to stumble not realizing just what John is speaking of here. The literalist for example would say yes to this because of the obvious truth of fact, Jesus did come in the flesh as attested to in the four synoptic gosples and then Pauls own witness. But also in Paul's witness is the most startling fact and truth of all, “Christ in you” is how it is worded by Paul. It is this truth to which John is referring too.

I believe that the Holy Spirit led Paul to write the letter to the Romans in such a fashion as to reveal how God sees things, in other words from God's perspective, much as He did with king David in the Psalms. This is how Romans breaks down from this view point and please bear with me because there are a few overlapping areas within the chapters.

Chapter 1 verse 1 through 17 are the introduction with verses 8-17 showing the gentiles need for righteousness in the immoral man.

Chapter 1 verse 18 through 32 reveals Unbelief and its Consequences, Sin will be Punished or the Immoral verses the Amoral man.

Chapter 2 verse 1 through 16 the Impartiality of God and His Law, or how He sees the Moral man.

Chapter 2 verse 17 through chapter 3 verse 20 the Jew is Condemned by the Law, which means Religious man who is Condemned and all the World is Guilty for all have sin. These people it would seem remain in their sin though they confess or profess things other than. (look at 1John 1)

Chapter 3 verse 19 through 27 the removal of doubt in telling us not to doubt as Israel doubted because of the blindness which Religion inflects on all of its victims, this is also picked up in chapter 11 again.

Chapter 3 verse 19 through chapter 4 verse 8, we have an overlap from verse 1, in Redemption and Justification which brings righteousness, the only Way to Salvation. 

Chapter 4 verse 1 through chapter 5 verse 5 we have the promise of Salvation, wherein we have Justification by Faith as Evidenced in the OT and the Imputation of Righteousness, because Salvation is the result of the working of Righteousness (the revelational work of the Holy Spirit as He directs us to the truth of Christ hidden within the context of the OT).

Chapter 6 man restored to God and become His servants dead to sin and alive (restored) to God.

Chapter 7 man set free, released from Religions hold by being United to Christ but still with a conflict of two natures, verses 14 through chapter 8 verse 17.

Chapter 8 verse 18 through 30 we find the revelation of God's glory restored to men of Faith. Then in verse 31 through 39 we have Loves power (a bond of unity restored) to maintain the Believer, because it removed mans separation from God.

Paul goes on the explain God working within the regenerated soul until chapters 9-11 where he takes a parenthetical break like that found in God's Dispensational plan of the times in Psalm 2. This break takes us from Israels past in chapter 9 to Israel today in chapter 10 and then Israel's future in chapter 11. And if we skip over these three chapters we will find that we have not missed a beat when entering chapter 12 after ending 8.
In chapter 11 Paul explains why Israel now walks in blindness caused by sin in the hardness of heart (caused by a spirit of slumber or Religion in Isaiah 6:9, 29:10; Deuteronomy 29:4) and that God's Salvation remains available to them but on the same level ground as the Gentiles now acquire Salvation through Redemption. Ezekiel tells us why God gave this spirit to them in chapter 12 which states this: "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house."

Chapters 12 and 13 reveal the Exhortation to a Dedicated service in Practical living.

Chapter 14 are the Principles of Conscience and the judgment of our brothers. In verses 1 through 12 and then verse 13 through chapter 15 through verse 13 we find our “Christian” Liberty with Self-denial on Behalf of Others for Edifying of them. In verses 14 through 33 Paul reveals his diligence in proclaiming God's Gospel.   

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Peters Purpose for this Letter

with Exhortation to Steadfastness 

 

2Peter 3:1-18 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord our Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.

But, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord (not the same as the day of Christ) will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, (this is revealed in the following passages Ps. 46:6, 97:5, Amos 9:5, 13, Nahum 1:5) the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

Then all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation (Living) and godliness, looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God (God's wrath on all disobedience and unbelief), wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such things, be diligent that we may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. On account that the longsuffering of our Lord is to our salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (to twist the language to unholy end and purposes), as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, seeing you know (understand) these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in Grace, and the Knowledge of our Lord, our Savior Christ Jesus. To Him is glory both now and for ever. Amen.

In order to keep with scripture, that being from the mouth of two or three let all prophesy be firm I will also include another witness to what has been revealed already.

Hear the warnings taken from history to the Ungodly

Jude 1:4-5, 6-7, 8-13, 14-16, 17-23, 24-25 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord, Christ Jesus. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that did not believe.

The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

Likewise also these are filthy dreamers defiling the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit wither, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

And Enoch (Gen. 5:18, 24, 1Chron. 1:1-3, Heb. 11:5-6, there is a small book now available which had been in our Bibles but was removed eons ago because of what it contained and spoke of, it is simply titled, Enoch) also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.        

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Peters Warning about False Religionists and their Prophets

who are in our day and time pastors and teachers and many elders.

2Peter 2:1-3, 4-16, 17-22, 3:1-18 There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord, Who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. 
*We must of pure necessity keep in mind to whom Peter is writing this warning in order to see and hear clearly and thereby gain the more in understanding. Peter like Jame and John in their later letters are addressing the new converts to Christ and His Gospel these converts were formerly bond by Judaism which means they are Hebrews who denounced their former way of life in Judaism. In order to take on the essence and character of Christ, caused by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth who caused this change within them. If we fail to understand this change then we will misunderstand all the things that these men are revealing in their letters of warning against hypcrocrisy and great heresies. Point of fact, this simple truth is what has caused many heresies and hypcrocries in our own understanding from childhood on through our adulthood of life in of mans religion and religious systems. Which goes to show to what extent Satan and his army has destroyed the fabric of God's Church through his deception and the making full use of false prophets who have an appearance of light similar to the white horse rider of Revelation 6:2. This horse when stood beside the horse upon which Christ sits (in Rev. 19) pails in comparison even though the Greek word meaning is the same for both as used by Strong's Hebrew Greek Dictionary.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to the judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example to those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation (the way of life around him) of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished (this is what is on the horizon, to be repeated again when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled or made complete): But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities (things belonging to God in Christ and Christ in us). Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. (2Corinthians 6:11-7:3)

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord, our Savior Christ Jesus, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it is happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.    

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The Revelation of being Bond or Free

continued

Ephesians 4:7-16, 17-24, 25-32 For to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He said, When He ascended up on high and He led captivity captive (those who had been held in Abraham's bosom), and gave gifts to men (the Holy Spirit). (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Ephesians 1:23, Colossians 1:19-20) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children (caught, held fast by Religion which causes us being), tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes to increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love. 

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.* But you have not so learned Christ in that manor; If so be that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus (John 1:14,17): That you put off concerning the former conversation (way of life in) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
*I must say this, Paul here speaking to Gentiles could have also included the Hebrews, to include those under their Religious dogma, because as the scriptures bear the record, these characteristics are formalized in all the worlds Religions many doctrine and precepts, which had its roots first known in the garden and acquired in the eating of the forbidden fruit.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be angry, but sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that has need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of (Salvation for) redemption* (must come first as it is our seal by the Holy Spirit who is first deposited at this time within us). Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, along with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

*This translators may have changed this one word for the other depending on their own Religious background and church dogma. Sadly we have seen this happen many times in many translations of the Bible, to man's shame. Our Redemption must come first because within it we are to learn Christ and our total bankrupcy and undoneness and then our need and dependancy on Him through the teaching, tutoring, and training of the Lord the Spirit of Holiness and Truth. It is while we are in the works of Redemption that we see that we have been given only the power or right to become sons of God while we are learning Christ. 

I want to look at another who was a disciple of the Lord, Jesus while He ministered to primarily Israel. To hear what he may reveal to us about those of a Religious spirit though he does not use this term of expression and this would be Peter.     

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Picking up with Paul's warnings 

 

Galatians 1:1-13 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;) And all the brothers which are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our Father: To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 


I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the Grace of Christ to another gospel: Which is not another; for there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 
 
I certify you, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:1-8 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brothers brought in unawares, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into (Religious) bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of those who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it made no matter to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter; For He that worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.

Paul here seems to be saying that his and Peters assignments were different and so they were. It this that has in itself caused many errors within the Religious world and thereby causing many to fall, remain bound by their Religion or never acquire God's Grace. Peter, James and John in their respective letters are addressing Jewish converts, believers and the posers of Christ Jesus' ontological essence in the person of the Spirit of Holiness and Truth. James for example tells us that they worked the works of faith through Love. What upsets me, no infuriates me is the fact that oh so many refuse to allow God's change to take place within them because of Religious blindness much as Israel is still under. The next passage describes those like the Religionist and futurist's (those who take and apply God's word literally) of our day and time and is the areason I feel that so many resist God and His designed change.



Galatians 4:8-20, 21-31 Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service to them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereto you desire again to be in (Religious) bondage? To observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all. You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness you spoke of? for I bear you record, that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect them. For it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

The Revelation of being Bond or Free

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? (Romans 3:19, Mat. 21:42-44, 22:29-34, John 5:46-47) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. For he who was of the bondwoman is born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman is of promise (spiritually awakened). Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (to sin and Religions slavery). For Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, barren that bears not; break forth and cry, you that travails not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband. Now we, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (having received freedom from sin and Religions slavery). But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what say the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

Galatians 6:12-16 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be in them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (parallel passage Galatians 2:20)