MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Book of Revelation: Chapter Five
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Outline:
1–4. The Doom’s Day book regarding the prophesies of the Tribulation
5–7. Jesus Christ controls history
8-14. The New Song in heaven, the Song of Victory
Revelation 5:1
Then, I saw on the right of Him [God the Father], who was sitting on the throne [God the Father is also in the throne room], a book [which deals with the historical events of the Tribulation] written on both sides, having been sealed with seven seals [the seals indicate the sequence of the prophetical events of the Tribulation].
Καὶ εἶδον ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν τοῦ καθηµένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου βιβλίον γεγραµµένον ἔσωθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν, κατεσφραγισµένον σφραγῖσιν ἑπτά.
Revelation 5:2
Then, I saw a powerful angel [a Seraph possibly holding higher rank than the Four Angelic Heralds in the throne room; the Colonel refers to him as the King of Arms] announcing with a great voice, "Who is worthy to break its seals and open the book [the Doom’s Day Book in which are recorded the prophetical events of the Tribulation]?"
καὶ εἶδον ἄγγελον ἰσχυρὸν κηρύσσοντα ἐν φωνῇ µεγάλῃ, Τίς ἄξιος ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ λῦσαι τὰς σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ;
Revelation 5:3
And no one [angelic creature or Homo sapiens] in heaven or on the earth or under the earth [Hades (Sheol)] was able to open the book or even to see it.
καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐδὲ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό.
Revelation 5:4
And so I wept and wept [John became emotional in reaction to the pressure that he was facing], because no one was found who was worthy to open the book or to read [and understand] it;
καὶ ἔκλαιον πολὺ ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἄξιος εὑρέθη ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό.
John has a very important job to do, and he will not get this job done through emotional weeping. So, in the next verse, one of the Twenty-four Staff Officers will command him to stop this emotional nonsense and irrationality.
Irrational arrogance uses feeling and emotion as the criterion for life instead of Bible doctrine. Normal emotional function responds to the thinking of the precordial frontal lobes of the soul. Emotions are designed, under normal living, to respond to the content of your intellect and to the standards developed from your thinking. When your standards are met in any field of life, your emotions respond.
Emotion is an appreciator and responder and so functioning normally only when under the authority of thought. Just as your volition must be under human authorities of establishment and under the divine authority of the Word of God, so emotion is only normal when it is subordinate to thinking. Emotion is a responder and reflector of thinking or lack of thinking in a normal person.
As a system of feeling and response, emotion in itself does not contain any of the following:
1. Emotion has no ability to reason. So, the ability to reason is lost when emotion begins to dominate the soul.
2. Emotion has no capability of thought for emotion was not designed for thinking, but for responsive stimulation.
3. Emotion has no doctrinal content or criteria, and so has no common sense. So, if emotion dominates the soul of a person, that person will be irrational!
Emotion is never the criterion for Christian experience. You are not saved or spiritual because you feel saved or spiritual. Your feelings have absolutely nothing to do with your spiritual status quo. However, your emotions can respond to your spiritual growth or to doctrines you finally understand, just as your emotions respond to other things. Under the principle of irrational arrogance, emotion becomes a major distraction to the execution of the Protocol Plan of God.
Preoccupation with self in arrogance, substitutes emotional stimulation for Bible doctrine and the spiritual life. For example, in the verse above, John was substituting emotional weeping for the proper application of some known truth. Emotion rejects the three R's of operation Z: reception, retention, and recall of doctrine, all of which require the function of the frontal lobe.
Emotion is not involved in the process of learning and applying the Word and can even lead to blasphemy. Emotion benefits from doctrine learned and responds to it. However, to the extent that you get emotional about some doctrinal point, you lose your objectivity and your ability to actually learn and apply doctrine.
Emotional arrogance concludes the following blasphemies:
1. A person is not saved unless he feels saved.
2. A person is not spiritual without an ecstatic experience.
3. A person is not forgiven of his sins without a lot of emotional weeping and wailing.
Emotions cannot solve problems since solving problems require rational thought, judgment and decision making. Emotional stress causes the believer to act on impulse rather than the application of Bible doctrine.
A few examples:
1. The emotion of fear causes flight.
2. The emotion of disgust causes repulsion.
3. The emotion of anger causes violence. Therefore, emotions are feeling functions, and they should never become the criterion for the spiritual life.
Emotion is defined as a complex, biochemical, physiological process or function concerned with somatic expression of feeling. The prefrontal lobes are the cortical areas associated with thought and decisions. Normal emotions respond to thought in the prefrontal lobes. In cases where the prefrontal lobes have been removed as in a frontal lobotomy, such individuals still have emotional activity since emotions are located in the body and not in the frontal lobes. So, while the removal of the prefrontal lobes may eliminate thought, it does not eliminate emotional activity. In summary, emotional arrogance (emotion dominating the soul) is a denial of divine power which is stored and utilized in the prefrontal lobes.
The cosmic believer has three emotional malfunctions. He makes a god out of his emotions as found in Philippians 3. He is distracted from the Protocol Plan of God by the improper use of his emotions as found in Romans 16. He is hindered by emotion in the perception of Bible doctrine as found in 2 Corinthians 6. In these ways, irrational arrogance makes emotion the criterion for the Christian way of life.
Philippians 3:18-19, "For many [cosmic believers] keep walking [modus operandi in cosmic system] concerning whom I have communicated to you many times and now continue communicating, even though weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction [sin unto death], whose god is his emotions, whose fame is by means of dishonor, who keeps thinking about earthly things."
Romans 16:17-18, "Now I urge you, brethren, be alert for those who are causing dissensions and apostasies contrary to doctrine which you have learned. For such believers do not obey our Lord Jesus Christ, but their emotions, serving themselves. And by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the right lobes of the ignorant [of Bible doctrine]."
2 Corinthians 6:11-12, "O you Corinthians, our mouth has been opened face to face with you; [Paul, Apollos, Timothy] our right lobes have been enlarged [by Bible doctrine]. Therefore, you have not been hindered by us, but you have been hindered by your own emotions."
Characteristics of emotional arrogance:
1. Emotional arrogance is vulnerable to flattery, and flattery encourages unreality about self.
2. Emotional arrogance encourages fear under pressure since emotion cannot think. (Courage is the ability to think under pressure.)
3. Emotional arrogance produces personality disturbances, called psycho-neurotic disorders. Psycho-neurotic personalities use emotional arrogance to try to deal with stress, but instead of solving stress, they manufacture anxiety, piling more pressure on their life. Since emotional arrogance cannot handle anxiety. So, phobic, depressive, obsessive, and compulsive reactions result from emotional arrogance.
4. Emotional arrogance not only eliminates rational thinking in the soul but produces arrogant preoccupation with the insignificant. Arrogant preoccupation with the insignificant not only destroys any true scale of values in life, but develops an arrogant self-centeredness which destroys capacity for life, love, and happiness. Without capacity from correct thought, details of life will make you miserable.
Again, knowledge is the environment for thinking, not emotion. Emotions are wonderful when they are the result of thinking; that's what emotions are for. Therefore, emotions are designed to enjoy life, not to run your life.
Passages on Weeping:
Weeping as an expression of reversionism from functioning in the cosmic system is found in Numbers 14:1-3, “Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people [all the adults including the soldiers] wept all night, (2) and all the citizens [sons] of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation [of adult men] said to them [Moses and Aaron], ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this desert! (3) Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword [this is blasphemy]? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder [their excuse for cowardice]; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’” They had been frightened by the reconnaissance report made by the twelve princes of Israel. When they, the reconnaissance team had reported about the giants and the fortresses, the people under pressure failed to apply whatever little doctrinal truth they had in their souls. Rather, they became irrational under the emotional sin of fear.
The weeping of bitterness by Peter as found in Matthew 26:69-75, “And Peter sat outside in the court. And a girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee, (70) but he denied all before them, saying, I do not know what you say. (71) And when he had gone out into the porch [moved away from the little girl], another saw him and said to those there, ‘This one was also with Jesus of Nazareth,’ (72) and again he denied under an oath, ‘I do not know the man,’ (73) and after a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, for your [Galilean] speech betrays you.’ (74) Then, he began to curse and to swear, ‘I do not know the man,’ and immediately the cock crowed, (75) and Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who said to him, ‘Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.” Principle: Failure will generally not destroy a believer if he is willing to use the Recovery Procedure and to continue his advance in the spiritual life. Peter did use this wonderful grace procedure and went on to spiritual greatness.
The weeping of Paul as an expression of great sadness: Philippians 3:18, "For many [cosmic believers] keep walking [modus operandi in cosmic system] concerning whom I have communicated to you many times and now continue communicating, even though weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.”
The Christian who seeks happiness from a false scale of values. James 5:1, “Come on now, you rich persons [Jewish believers in reversionism], break out into crying and start screaming over your miseries that shall come [futuristic present] upon you.” James decided to use reversionism characterized by monetary lust to make the point that no Christian can be happy outside of God’s plan. James could have illustrated reversionism by using the example of an ascetic renouncing all the comforts of life in his pursuit of happiness, but this would not have caught the attention of too many Christians. So, James used the seeking and attainment of wealth, rather than the seeking of poverty, to illustrate the frantic search for happiness.
Men spend their whole life trying to make a fortune in their quest for happiness. Women marry wealthy men in their desire for material niceties and the comforts of life, as if this in itself is happiness. However, great wealth without capacity only brings frustration and misery. This frustration is one type of self-induced misery, to which God will add warning discipline. If the Christian does not heed this warning, the Lord will increase the discipline so that the believer might experience intensive discipline. In the believer’s frustration and discipline, he will begin to weep and eventually, when the pressure becomes unbearable (the frustration of self-induced misery combined with intensive discipline), he will enter into screaming (a tantrum related to mental illness). He sought happiness through wealth, but found only self-induced misery and divine discipline.
In Hebrews 12:17, we also have the weeping of the unbeliever under great frustration. “For you know that afterwards [when Esau was much older] even when he kept desiring to inherit the blessing [his right of primogeniture], he was rejected [by God], for he found no place for a change of thinking [regarding God’s plan for salvation], although he sought it with tears [salvation is not obtained through emotion even when it is expressed with tears].” Under emotional revolt of the soul, locked-in negative volition, black-out and scar tissue of his soul, Esau could only seek salvation through tears. In Reverse-Process Reversionism, he sought salvation through emotion rather than through faith in God’s promise of salvation.
Then, of course, the type of weeping that simply reflects the bad decisions one makes in life, the weeping of regret. 2 Samuel 14:23-24, “So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom [who had been exiled] to Jerusalem. (24) However, the king said, ‘Let him return to his own house, and let him not see my face [David would not forgive Absalom completely].’ So, Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.” 2 Samuel 14:28, “Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king’s face.” Absalom was allowed to live in Jerusalem but was not allowed to see his father, David. Eventually, Absalom entered into a revolution against King David and ultimately was killed in that attempt. After hearing of Absalom’s death, David wept from regret and sorrow as found in 2 Samuel 18:33, “The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept, and thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” This was the weeping of great regret for David made terrible mistakes with Absalom, not merely the one of the half forgiveness but many other mistakes as well.
Weeping from a terrible failure which led to a tremendous disaster: 1 Samuel 27:2-6, “So David arose and crossed over [into the land of the Philistines], he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. (3) And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's widow. (4) Now, it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer searched for him. (5) Then, David said to Achish, "If now I have found favor in your sight, let them [the Philistine kings] give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" (6) So, Achish [King of Gath, a city of the Philistines] gave him Ziklag that day; therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.” David would leave Ziklag to go on military raids and in so doing would leave Ziklag totally unprotected. 1 Samuel 30:1-8, “Then, it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag [after a military raid] on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; (2) and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. (3) When David and his men came to the city [of Ziklag which David had left totally unprotected], behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. (4) Then, David and the people [his soldiers] who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. (5) Now, David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. (6) Moreover, David was greatly distressed because the people [his soldiers] spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters, but David strengthened himself in the Lord, his God [He used the Recovery Procedure and started to think, the first one to do so]. (7) Then, David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. (8) David inquired of the Lord, saying, " Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?" And He said to him, "Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all."
In Reversionism, King Hezekiah neglected his military and so made it easy for the invasion by King Sennacherib of Assyria. 2 Kings 18:13-16, “Now, in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. (14) Then, Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the King of Assyria at Lachish, saying, " I have done wrong. Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear [Hezekiah surrenders to the Assyrians]." So, the King of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold [as part of the terms of surrender]. (15) Hezekiah gave him all the silver which was found in the House of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king's house. (16) At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the Temple of the Lord, and from the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the King of Assyria.” 2 Kings 20:1-6, “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill [was dying the Sin unto Death]. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, ' Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' (2) Then, he [Hezekiah after using the Recovery Procedure] turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, (3) ‘Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight [previous success in the spiritual life does not protect the believer in failure from the integrity of God],’ and Hezekiah wept bitterly [regarding his failure and the disgrace of dying the Sin unto Death]. (4) Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him [Isaiah], saying, (5) "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, " I have heard your prayer [after his recovery to fellowship], I have seen your tears [after he had gotten back into fellowship with God]; behold, I will heal you [of the illness]. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. (6) ‘I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.’”
Weeping may occur under the weight of self-induced misery combined with intensive divine discipline. Psalm 30:5 where David says, “His anger [divine discipline] is but for a moment resulting in a lifetime of great benefit; weeping may last for the night, but celebration-happiness comes in the morning”. In other words, the weeping from the terrible divine discipline and the pain that came from it, both mental anguish of the soul and physical pain, is now changed to happiness. Psalm 30:11, “You have converted my weeping into dancing; you have torn off my sackcloth and clothed me with your happiness.”
There is the weeping of sour grapes from having false priorities. In Ezra 3:12-13, “Yet many of the priests and Levites, the old men who had seen the first temple [Solomon’s Temple], wept with a loud voice when before their eyes, the foundation of the second temple was laid [no comparison between the two temples]. At the same time, many others were shouting for happiness [for now they can worship the Lord in a house of worship] so that the people [who were on the outside ready to attack at a future time and were making a reconnaissance] could not distinguish the sound of the shouts for happiness from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people [apparently aware of the reconnaissance by the enemy] shouted with a loud shout to drown out the weepers, and the sound was heard far away.”
There is also the crying drunk. The weeping of drunks in a national disaster is found in Joel 1:5-6, “Wake up you drunks, and start crying again; wail, all of you wine drinkers, on account of the sweet wine that is cut off from your mouth, (6) for the nation has been invaded by a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, and has the jaw teeth of a lioness.” In other words, once a people are deprived of their pleasures, of the things which are related to prosperity, they start to weep and to wail. Sooner or later a nation such as ours will move into social degeneracy and economic depression through its own bad decisions, through the shrinkage of the pivot, through indifference to the Word of God on the part of believers. Eventually there is the weeping and the wailing from the loss of the pleasures, the loss of the fun, the loss of everything that is associated with prosperity. It is a historical trend that one generation brings about prosperity through their virtue, their greatness, through Bible doctrine, through the truth of the Laws of Divine Establishment, and later, another generation loses it all through its degeneracy.
Jeremiah wept over the destruction of his nation by the Chaldeans. In Jeremiah 9:1, “O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears that I may weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.” Lamentations 1:16, “For these things I weep; my eyes run down with water; because the comforter is far from me, the one who restores my soul; my young people in the country are desolate because the enemy has prevailed.” This is the weeping of patriotism; this is an honorable weeping for a country that had been great through Bible doctrine and now has lost that greatness through cosmic involvement.
The weeping of Hannah because of her bitterness is found in 1 Samuel 1:10, “She, bitter of soul, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly [but there was no answer to her prayer].” She was the object of scorn and derision because she had not produced any children. Rather than applying God’s word, she reacted to all of these people who were maligning and ridiculing her and consequently wept bitterly. Eventually, when she had removed her bitterness and had gained some spiritual capacity, the Lord opened her womb and she bore Samuel.
The weeping of grief and sorrow is mentioned in many passages such as in John 11:33, “Therefore when Jesus saw her [the sister of Lazarus] weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit, and was troubled.” This is legitimate weeping for someone you love who has departed from this life.
There is the weeping of judgment. Matthew 8:12, “But the sons of the kingdom [racial Jews] will be thrown outside into the outer darkness [Torments] where there will be weeping [from lost opportunity] and gnashing of teeth [frustration from seeing gentiles entering the kingdom who had no spiritual heritage].” The ‘children of the kingdom’ are the Jews who had the Old Testament Scriptures but had not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are going to weep and gnash their teeth when they realize that they have lost such an opportunity, an opportunity that many gentiles without the Jewish spiritual heritage will not miss-out on. This fact will even make it more frustrating for them.
Matthew 25:30, “And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The worthless slave is the Jewish unbeliever of Israel. Israel having been a client nation for so many hundreds of years and the Jews of that nation having been custodians of the Word of God, and having had the opportunity of great blessing from free enterprise, and having heard the gospel time and time again, and having lived in the best environment for becoming a believer, yet so many had rejected Christ. Luke 13:28, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets in the kingdom of God,” same concept again. Many Jews will accept Christ as savior, but for those who do not, there will be the weeping of total frustration from lost opportunity.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest Jewish patriot, wept from patriotism. Luke 19:41-44, “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, (42) saying, ‘If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. (43) For the days will come upon you [in August of 70 A.D.] when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you [lay a siege around the city], and surround you and hem you in on every side, (44) and they will level you to the ground [Jerusalem will be leveled] and your children within you, and they will not leave in you [in Jerusalem] one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation [a reference to the 1st Advent].”
Revelation 5:5
Then, one of the twenty-four general staff officers [of the angelic army] ordered me [John], "Stop weeping [John has a job to do which will require concentration and thought]; look here, the Lion from the tribe of Judah [the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of David], the Root of David [our Lord’s first royal patent as eternal God], has won the victory [in the angelic conflict] and is qualified to begin opening the book and its seven seals.
καὶ εἷς ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων λέγει µοι, Μὴ κλαῖε· ἰδοὺ ἐνίκησεν ὁ λέων ὁ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰούδα, ἡ ῥίζα ∆αυίδ, ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ.
Christ as the Root:
Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot will come up from the trunk [stem] of Jesse, from his roots [Christ as eternal God] a branch [Christ in hypostatic union] will bear fruit [second advent].” Isaiah 11:10, “In that day [the second advent followed by the Millennium] the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the nations, the nations will rally to him and his place of rest will be glorious.” It is this particular chapter that gives us the basis for this particular phrase, “the Root of David.” This is the title of our Lord Jesus Christ as eternal God and the founder of the Jewish race. He is not only the founder of the Jewish race as eternal God and the God of Israel, but as the Son of David He will deliver the Jewish race at the second advent.
Jesus, the Root (root-shoot)
Isaiah: 53:2, "For He grew up like a sucker-plant [ draws nourishment from its own plant [the Proto-type Spiritual Life], but no nourishment from the ground itself [Client Nation Israel] before Him [God the Father], and like a root-shoot [sprouted root: the root representing the deity of Christ; the sprout representing His humanity] out of parched ground [Israel dried up from legalism in the Lord’s day], He had neither ostentatious [noble in dress and appearance] nor majestic appearance [no glamour] that we should stare at Him, therefore, no appearance by which we should be attracted to him."
To the Jews, Jesus just did not look like a king to them, not like Saul who was very tall and handsome. Jesus Christ came without glamour and ostentation. He came without the pomp, the magnificence, the splendor, and the haughty demeanor of an aristocratic patrician of Rome. The imperious appearance of a tyrant was not visible in Christ. The Jews had a preconceived notion of how Jesus should look, and he didn’t look that way. In the time of David, their Kingly image was related to height; in the time of the Romans, it was the haughty demeanor of a Roman patrician.
Isaiah 53:3, "Despised [hated by the religious unbeliever] and forsaken by men [by his loved ones], a man of adversities [sorrows, sadness, pain, pressures: seeing the gospel rejected, the ordeal of being betrayed by friends, being the object of hatred, jealousy, murder lust etc.] and knowing catastrophe [the grief and mental anguish of knowing that Jerusalem would be destroyed and that all those who would reject Him would go to the Lake of Fire forever]; And like one from whom men hide their face [like a leper: Leviticus 13:45], He was despised and we did not esteem Him [no value was placed on Him]."
Isaiah 53:6-9, “All of us [the human race] like sheep [the Greek probaton] have gone astray; each one has turned to his own way [free will to reject God’s way], therefore, the Lord [God the Father] has caused to fall upon him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity [punishment for our sins] of us all. (7). He was oppressed [abused, harassed: Satanic pressure via demons and human agents] and he was afflicted [every attempt to frustrate the cross: the abuse, slugging, scourging etc.], yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb [the Greek amnos] that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep [the Greek probaton] that is silent before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth [he never lost his poise]. (8). By oppression [Jewish law] and by judgment [Roman Law; oppression and judgment are references to his 6 trials] he was taken away [prior to the cross] and as for his generation who considered that he was cut off [because He was despised] out of the land [of Judea] of the living because of the transgressions of my people to whom the stroke of judgment fell [a reference to God the Father’s judgment of Christ]. (9). While his burial was assigned with criminals [he should have been buried with these criminals, the intent of crucifixion] yet he would be associated with a rich man in his deaths because he had done no wrong [of any kind with emphasis on overt sins] nor was there any deceit in his mouth [never told a lie, never did he deceive anyone, nor maligned or judged anyone].”
Romans always buried criminals in obscurity. However, this, God the Father would not permit. If Christ had been buried in obscurity, there would have been no proof of resurrection. Also, the Father would not permit any more indignities to the body of our Lord after his physical death.
Revelation 5:6
Then, I saw a ram [a noun in the neuter], as One who had been killed as a sacrifice [the perfect tense emphasizes the result of the humanity of Christ being judged for the sins of the world namely He now controls history], standing [representing power and control] in the middle of the throne with the four angelic heralds and in the middle of the throne were the angelic general staff officers, and He [present active participle in the masculine nominative singular for the Lord Jesus Christ] had seven horns [the power and influence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the 6 dispensations and the eternal state] and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God which have been sent out to the entire world [to all Church Age believers to determine historical trends].
Καὶ εἶδον ἐν µέσῳ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων καὶ ἐν µέσῳ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀρνίον [not a diminutive as some may suggest] ἑστηκὸς [the neuter case for the ram] ὡς ἐσφαγµένον, ἔχων κέρατα ἑπτὰ καὶ ὀφθαλµοὺς ἑπτά, οἵ εἰσιν τὰ [ἑπτὰ] πνεύµατα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεσταλµένοι εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.
In the Koine Greek of the New Testament, arnion (ἀρνίον) as in our passage means a male lamb, a male sheep, a ram. The cognate verb is arneuo (ἀρνεύω) and means to buck like a ram which connotes a certain amount of power and control. When John in John 1:29 called Jesus the “the Lamb of God who takes away sins of the world” ὁ ἀµνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁµαρτίαν τοῦ κόσµου, he used the Greek word amnos (ἀµνὸς). So, this Greek word (amnos) strictly speaks of our Lord’s work on the cross. In our passage, the ‘Ram’ emphasizes not only our Lord’s saving work on the cross but adds the concept of our Lord’s strategic victory and control of history.
Horns symbolize human and national power and authority.
Daniel 8:20, “The ram which you saw with the two horns [two power spheres] represents the kings of Media and Persia.” They represent great power in history: power to control, power to handle people, power to provide for people.
In Jeremiah 48:25, “The horn [power] of Moab has been cut off and his arm broken, declares the Lord.”
Psalm 132:17-18, “There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth [the Lord promoted David and gave him great power as a ruler]; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. (18) His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine.”
In Daniel 7:7-8, “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast [the Roman Empire], dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder [of the Hellenistic Empire] with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns [the Revived Roman Empire]. (8) While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.”
Revelation 13:1, “Then, I [John] saw [a vision] the beast-dictator [the gentile, bestial dictator of the Revived Roman Empire] ascending from [filled the void left from lack of truth] the sea [of nations of the old Roman Empire], and he had ten horns [became a powerful dictator ruling over the 10 nations of the Revived Roman Empire of the first half of the Tribulation], and seven heads [three nations had to be conquered; the remaining seven summited]; this means [one of the 17 different uses of the Greek word kai] that on his horns [his ten horns, representing power] were ten crowns [representing the original ten nation-confederation of the Revived Roman Empire], but over his heads [the nations of the Revived Roman Empire of the last half of the Tribulation] the name blasphemy [He took complete control over ecumenical religion in the middle of the Tribulation].”
In Zechariah 1:18-19, “Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns [three of which will administer the 5th Cycle of Discipline to three Jewish Client Nations]. (19) So, I said to the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these?" And he answered me, "These are the horns [four powerful gentile nations] which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem."
1. The first one is the Assyrian empire which in B.C. 721 administered the 5th cycle of discipline to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
2. The second horn is the Chaldean Empire which administered the 5th cycle of discipline to the Southern Kingdom in B.C. 586
3. The third horn is the Hellenistic Empire of the Seleucids which administered the 4th Cycle of Discipline to Judah.
4. The fourth horn is the Roman Empire which administered the 5th cycle of discipline to Judea in August of A.D. 70.
Dispensations:
Dispensations are periods of human history as taught only in the Scripture. Dispensations are divine categories of human history; therefore, both the divine outline and the divine interpretation of human history. Dispensations are the vehicle by which believers living at a specific time in history can orient to God’s will, plan, and purpose for their lives for God’s plan is not the same for every dispensation. In fact, the plan is quite different in each dispensation. The believer’s orientation to both time and to human history is vitally necessary for understanding God’s plan and God’s purpose. Dispensations constitute the divine administration of history.
The following Greek words oikonomia, chronos, Kairos and aion have more than one meaning. So, it is best to see them in context.
The Greek word Oikonomia is translated “dispensation.” It means the administration of a business or an estate, the management of a household. It is translated by three words: order (instead of chaos), a plan (instead of confusion), and arrangement (instead of disarray). It was used in the Attic Greek by Xenophon and Plato, who used it for household administration. It was also used for the authority of parents over children, the provision of parents for their children, and the policy of parents for their children. The study of dispensations connotes policy, administration, and the provision of God for believers in a period of history. The word is used in Ephesians 1:8-10a, "From which [riches of grace] He has made us [Church Age believers] super-rich by means of all wisdom and understanding (9) when He revealed to us the mystery of His will according to His gracious intention which He [God the Father] planned in Him [Jesus Christ], (10a) with reference to the dispensation [oikonomia] of the fullness of times [Kairos: pre-canon and post-canon period of the Church Age]"
The Greek word chronos is used to portray the chronology of history or time as a series of points. Occasionally, it is used for a section of time in chronology. Shortly before Christ ascended into heaven, His disciples pressed Him regarding the timing of future events in Acts 1:6-7, “And so, when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time [chronos: the time for the 2nd Advent] You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ (7) He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times [the time of the Rapture, the time of the 2nd advent etc. chronos] or epochs [kairos] which the Father has fixed by His own authority.’” Occasionally chronos is used in the Bible for a segment of time and has a dispensational connotation as per Romans 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the proclaiming of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery [of the Church Age] which has been kept secret for long [aionios] ages past [chronos: dispensations of the gentiles and Israel].”
The Greek word kairos means time as an epoch or era, a chronological order or system, a period characterized by a distinctive development within that period as from the pre-canon to the post-canon periods of the Church Age. In various passages kairos refers to the Church Age as per Romans 8:17, 18, “Now, if we are children and we are, we are also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed, we suffer [go through undeserved suffering] with Him, that also we might be glorified together with Christ. (18) For I conclude that the sufferings of the present period [Kairos: the dispensation of the Church Age] are not comparable to the glory which is destined to be revealed in us.” Luke 21:24, “and they will fall by the edge of the sword [1.9 million at the siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.] and will be led captive [97 thousand] into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under-foot by the Gentiles until the times [Kairos: in this context more than a dispensation] of the Gentiles are fulfilled [70 AD to the 2nd Advent].”
The Greek word aion is also used for dispensations. Colossians 1:25-27, “Of which [Church] I have become a minister on the basis of this dispensation [oikonomia] from God, which has been given to me for your benefit, that I might implement your deficiency of the Word of God, (26) that is, the mystery [of Church Age doctrines], which has been hidden from past ages [aion: used also for dispensations ] and generations, but now has been revealed to the saints [is a technical term for Church Age believers], (27) to whom God has decreed to make known what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles [in dramatic contrast to the exclusive spiritual position of Jews in the now-suspended Age of Israel] [which mystery is] Christ in you [the indwelling of Christ in every believer, a characteristic unique to the Church Age only], the hope of glory [the believer’s confidence of fulfilling the plan of God for this dispensation].”
The relationship between the Church and Israel.
Israel and the Church Age are two different dispensations which are separated by Dispensation of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union. So, even though we may learn many wonderful principles, promises and doctrines from that Old Testament period and the Mosaic Law, the spiritual life for the Church Age is not taken from the Old Testament. So, the Old Testament is for our instruction, but not for our spiritual life which is taken from the New Testament epistles.
In summary, the Mosaic Law has no power; it contains the Ten Commandments: you will not; you will not etc. It contains some Christology and Soteriology (the gospel) and many laws related to how the believer and unbeliever should live, but no power. However, the Mosaic Law is for our instruction, but we don’t learn about the spiritual life from it. Where do you think we learn about the Filling of the Spirit, the Indwelling of the Spirit, the Baptism of the Spirit, our spiritual gifts, ambassadorship, the royal priesthood, our rewards and loss of rewards, the Church Age standards regarding marriage et cetera? This information is all found in the New Testament Epistles. There are two powers in the spiritual life, and the Mosaic Law is not one of them!
The Divine Outline of History:
A. The Theocentric Dispensations
The Age of the Gentiles
1. Positive Volition (the garden)
2. Negative Volition (from the Fall to Abraham)
3. Jewish Patriarchs (Abraham to Moses)
The Nation Israel
1. Theocracy
2. United Kingdom
3. Divided Kingdoms
4. Judea
B. The Christocentric Dispensations
The Hypostatic Union from the birth of Christ until His ascension; it forms a wall between Israel and the Church.
The Church Age from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture;
C. The Eschatological Dispensations
1. The Tribulation (the completion of the Dispensation of Israel as Daniel’s 70th week)
2. The Millennium (The final dispensation)
For a complete presentation of dispensations, one needs to read, “Divine Outline of History” by R. B. Thieme Jr.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 deals with the 2nd Advent of Christ. So, it behooves us to distinguish between the Rapture and the 2nd Advent. The following chart was taken from the doctrine of the 2nd Advent by R. B. Thieme Jr.
Prototype Spiritual Life:
Jesus Filled with the Spirit as prophesized in Isaiah 11:2:
The seven spirits are titles related to the teaching ministry of God the Holy Spirit first to the humanity of Christ and then to the Church Age believers.
These 7 titles are as follows:
1. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him [Jesus] (The Holy Spirit’s power enabled Jesus to advance spiritually)
2. The Spirit of wisdom (wisdom extrapolated from truth and applied to people, circumstances, sufferings etc. The Spirit enabled Jesus to acquire much wisdom)
3. The Spirit of perception: the Spirit provided the power for Jesus to learn the Word of God.
4. The Spirit of counsel (the Spirit counseled Jesus through metabolized doctrine)
5. The Spirit of strength (the Spirit produces strength in the soul and so provided the necessary spiritual strength for Jesus to accomplish His mission.)
6. The Spirit of knowledge (the Spirit, the teacher of divine knowledge): Jesus mastered the knowledge of the Word via the Filling of the Spirit.
7. The Spirit who provides respect for the Lord. Jesus through this ministry of the Spirit developed maximum love for God the Father.
Revelation 5:7
Then, He [Jesus Christ who controls history is seated on a throne] came and took it from the right of Him [God the Father, the author of history] who sat on the throne.
καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ εἴληφεν ἐκ τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ καθηµένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου.
Revelation 5:8
And when He had taken the book [with the 7 prophetical events of the Tribulation], the Four Angelic Heralds and the Twenty-Four Angelic Staff officers fell down before the male Lamb [ram], and each one had a lyre and libation-cups made of gold full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints [the believers of the Tribulation].
καὶ ὅτε ἔλαβεν τὸ βιβλίον, τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα καὶ οἱ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσαν ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου, ἔχοντες ἕκαστος κιθάραν καὶ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεµούσας θυµιαµάτων, αἵ εἰσιν αἱ προσευχαὶ τῶν ἁγίων.
In the Greek, the word kithara is best translated as lyre; a stringed instrument very much like a modern guitar. These 28 high-ranking angels were all great in playing the lyre. Apparently, this was their hobby.
No matter how high you go in life, no matter how low you sink, no matter what you do in life, everyone ought to have at least one hobby or interest apart from their profession or job. The four angelic heralds and the twenty-four high-ranking staff officers not only possessed high rank, but also had music as their hobby, a hobby at which they were very proficient and enjoyed very much.
Every believer needs a hobby. Often believers get too intense and they fall apart simply because they do not know how to relax. People without an outside interest or hobby have a tendency toward subjectivity. God has designed our minds and our bodies so that we can have outside interests for relaxation.
Incense is a material used to produce perfume when burned. The burning of the spices or the gums produces a smoke which has a very pleasant scent or fragrance. Incense was used in the Levitical offerings to denote propitiation, the Father’s satisfaction with the work of Christ on the cross. The explanatory phrase which ends this verse explains incense in terms of effective prayer being offered by believers in the Tribulation.
Incense is also used to depict prayers in Luke 1:8-10:
“Now it came about, while he [Zacharias] was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, (9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (10) And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.”
Prayer:
Sequence for Private Prayer:
1. Recovery Procedure: If we name [acknowledge] our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us [cancel] our sins for our benefit and to purify us from all wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9)
Use of the Recovery Procedure is the first and most important consideration. “If I regard wickedness [iniquity] in my heart [soul], The Lord will not hear [will not answer prayers].” (Psalm 66:18)
2. Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is appreciation and gratitude for all that God has done in grace (freely given and undeserved). The more you love God and the more you appreciate Him, the greater is your “attitude of thanksgiving.” “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
3. Intercession: Intercessory prayer is praying for others. This aspect of prayer is a ministry of Christian service in which you provide a barrage of support for those in need. Ephesians 6:18–19, “With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the [power of the] Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (19) Also, pray on behalf of me (Paul), in order that doctrine might be given to me, in the opening of my mouth with confidence to communicate the mystery pertaining to the Gospel.”
Prayer for others falls into two categories: believers and unbelievers. When you pray for unbelievers, it is primarily for their salvation (Romans. 10:1). Although you cannot ask God to abrogate the volition of unbelievers, you can ask Him to bring some circumstance into their lives that will direct their attention to Christ. You can pray for a personal opening to witness to someone with whom you are in contact. Regarding believers, there are several categories for which you can pray such as the following: Pray for those who have certain spiritual gifts of communication such as pastors, evangelists, and missionaries (Acts 12:5). (Though comparatively few believers actually possess these communication gifts, those believers without these communicative gifts can participate in the ministry of communicators through prayer.) Pray for those in positions of authority in the church. Pray for those who work in the church. Pray for those who are ill. Pray for missions. Pray for loved ones and friends (Acts 21:5). Pray for those in the military, the police, and the fire department. You also are mandated to pray for those who despitefully use you, for those who seek to do you harm and hurt, whether they be believers or unbelievers. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:28; cf. Matthew. 5:44) You also are mandated to pray for the nation and its leadership. Moses made some of the greatest intercessory prayers in history for the reversionistic nation of Israel (Exodus. 32:11–13; Num. 14:13–19). Such intercessory prayer is part of the deliverance of the client nation which has fallen into reversionism. “And if My people [client nation] who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways [reversionism], then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
4. Petition: Generally, don’t ask for personal blessings since God wants to give you much more than you could ever pray for. Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him [to God the Father] who is able to do infinitely more than all we could ask [in prayer] or think on the basis of the power [the Filling of the Spirit and metabolized doctrine] that keeps working in us for our benefit.” It appears that God does allow for petitions from growing believers since they may not have the moxie to apply Ephesians 3:20. Petitions may address those particular circumstances for which there is no direct statement or solution from Scripture. (If provision for your own needs or solutions to your problems are found in the Word of God, do not petition for those things. For example, we are Filled with the Spirit automatically when we use the Recovery Procedure. Therefore, do not pray a meaningless prayer by saying, “Fill me with the Spirit.”
As you learn Bible doctrine and advance to maturity in the spiritual life, you will understand both the constraints and the fantastic opportunities of your prayer life. In spiritual maturity, you will reduce the number of your personal petitions while expanding your capacity for intercessory prayer.
Ten reasons why prayer is not answered:
1. Lack of faith: Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive [logical future].”
2. Lack of prayer: James 4:2c, “You quarrel and fight, and you do not have because you do not ask [failure to pray].”
3. Selfishness: James 4:3, “You ask but you do not receive because you ask for yourself that you may squander it on your lusts [in your frantic search for happiness].”
4. Carnality in general: Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart [soul], the Lord will not hear [my prayers]”
5. Lack of compassion: Proverbs 21:13, “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor, will also cry himself and not be answered.”
6. Lack of domestic tranquility: 1 Peter 3:7, “You husbands in a similar manner, live with them according to knowledge, as the weaker vessel [dependent upon her husband for fulfillment as a responder], since she is a woman; and show her honor as a joint-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
7. Pride or self-righteousness: Job 35:12,13, “There they cry out [in prayer], but He does not answer because of the pride of the evil men. (13) Surely, God will not listen to an empty cry [prayer] nor will the almighty regard it.”
8. Lack of the Filling of the Spirit: Ephesians 6:18, “By means of every prayer and petition, be praying on every occasion of prayer in the [Filling of] Spirit, also with reference to this prayer, be on the alert with all persistent determination and petition on behalf of all saints.”
9. Lack of obedience: 1 John 3:22, “Furthermore, whatever we have asked, we receive from him because we keep his mandates and keep on doing the things that are pleasing in his sight.”
10. Lack of compliance with the divine will: 1 John 5:14, “In fact, this is the confidence which we have toward him [God] that if [3rd class condition with an indirect middle] we ask anything according to his will, he [God the Father] hears us.”
A few statements regarding prayer:
1. God is not our servant; we are his. So, don’t treat God in prayer as if he were your servant.
2.Too many believers use prayer to get their own way, not God’s way.
3. Prayer must be compatible with God’s will and God’s way, not our will and our way.
4. Prayer must recognize who and what God is, not who and what we are.
5. Prayer is not designed to get us out of trouble, but to express our helplessness, our humility, our total dependence on God rather than on human ability and power. Prayer is our recognition and orientation to His grace and His mercy toward us.
6. Prayer is not designed to manipulate God, but to perform and conform to the will of God.
7. Prayer is not what we want, but what God wants for us.
8. Prayer is our recognition and orientation to the grace of God.
9. Prayer is an expression and extension of Bible doctrine resident in the stream of consciousness of the soul. We fail in prayer because we fail to understand and utilize Bible doctrine.
10. Prayer was never designed to fulfill our lusts and desires, but prayer was designed to fulfill the will, plan, and purpose of God for our lives and to give us access to heaven while still living on earth.
Five Mistakes in Prayer:
1. The Christian assumes that God has emotion which He doesn’t and so prays with emotional appeal. This Christian does not understand anthropopathisms, and so thinks that God actually has regrets, anger, loathing, compassion etc.
2. The Christian thinks that prayer is a problem-solving device when it isn’t. This type of Christian usually prays for miracles. Paul’s prayer was not only asking for a miracle, but it was also a violation of the integrity of God. God’s integrity demanded that Paul receive undeserved suffering.
3. The Christian prays for things that are resolved in other ways for example the Christian who prays for protection or food when he is already being provided with these via God’s Logistical Grace Pipeline.
4. The Christian whose prayers are in conflict with the integrity of God for example a Christian may pray to make America great again when the righteousness of God is demanding severe punishment for the U.S.A. A Christian may pray for rain in a drought-stricken area when the Lord has already instructed the Weather Angels to bring about that drought.
5. Generally, don’t ask for personal blessings since God wants to give you much more than you could ever pray for. Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him [to God the Father] who is able to do infinitely more than all we could ask [in prayer] or think on the basis of the power [the Filling of the Spirit and metabolized doctrine] that keeps working in us for our benefit.” Now obviously, if a Christian either doesn’t understand or rejects this verse, he will pray for all of his personal needs.
Applications:
1. If you desire your prayers to be private, then don’t pray them during a public prayer time.
2. If you claim that God is answering your prayers as if you were another Elijah, then you should be more specific in your prayers.
3. Do not pray selfishly. What may be good for you may be detrimental to many others.
4. When Paul was being transported to Rome to face trial under Nero, he didn’t pray for good weather, but rather advised not to sail since it was the time when terrible storms usually occurred. If Paul had prayed for good weather during that time of the year when terrible storms occurred on the Mediterranean, it would have been asking for a miracle.
5. After leaving Egypt on year 40, the Jews were suffering from a lack of water. At that time, Moses neither prayed for rain nor did he instruct the citizens of Israel to pray for rain. Rather, the Lord provided water since that was required to sustain the Jews under the concept of logistical provision.
Some Prayers in Scripture:
Paul prays for the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:17-18. I pray that the God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory may give to you a lifestyle of wisdom and revelation concerning him through metabolized doctrine [human volition is involved]. (18), That the eyes of your right lobe [of their souls] may be enlightened [through your advance in the spiritual life] so that you may know what is the confidence [regarding escrow blessings in time and in eternity] of His election [the objectives], what are the riches of His inheritance in the saints. [escrow blessing for time and eternity].
Regarding this prayer, a few points for elaboration:
1. Although Paul is praying to the Father, he is not asking the Father to provide anything for these Ephesian believers other than what he has already provided.
2. In this prayer, Paul desires wisdom and revelation for these Ephesian believers, but realizes this will not happen apart from the Ephesian’s desire to learn about the spiritual life.
3. Paul clearly states that God the Father has already provided the means of obtaining revelation and wisdom which is via the two power options “through metabolized doctrine.”
4. Paul prays that the Ephesian believers may be enlightened and so have confidence regarding their Escrow Blessings. In other words, Paul is praying that the Ephesian believers utilize the spiritual life which God the Father has already provided for them.
Paul’s Prayer for Philemon:
Philemon 4-6, “I thank my God always when making mention of you [Philemon] at the time of my prayers, (5) after hearing of your [Philemon’s personal] love and doctrine which [the singular relative has a collective force] you [Philemon] have toward [the Greek preposition pros means face to face and thus implying personal love] the Lord Jesus and [your unconditional love and doctrine which you have] toward [the Greek preposition eis is directional only and so non-intimate implying impersonal love] all the saints, (6) and I pray [ elaborating on the phrase, ‘making mention of you’ in verse 4] that the fellowship [fellowship occurs during Bible teaching: the pastor along with the congregation enjoying doctrine together] of your [singular: Philemon’s] doctrine [truth learned in a Bible setting] might become [the subjunctive mood recognizes the free will of Philemon] effective [energy in the stream of consciousness] by means of the metabolized knowledge [epignosis] of every good [doctrine] which is in us [plural: in the souls of Philemon & Paul; good manuscript support, also the context: verses 1, 4, 5] directed toward Christ [occupation with Christ].”
A few points regarding this prayer:
1. Paul prayed for Philemon and we can assume other great believers as well.
2. In this prayer, Paul knew that Philemon would continue taking in the Word of God “that the fellowship of your doctrine.”
3. Paul prayed in the subjunctive mood (Philemon’s volition would need to be involved) that the Biblical truth being assimilated by Philemon would become effective energy in the soul of Philemon through the normal metabolization process and contribute towards Philemon’s love for Christ.
A prayer patterned after Paul’s prayer above: Father, I pray for all the adult believers in the United States and even beyond our borders who are at spiritual maturity or advancing toward that objective that the Biblical information that they are learning from a prepared pastor might become spiritual energy by being metabolized and related to the truth stored in their stream of consciousnesses to strengthen their love for the members of the Trinity with emphasis on their love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul prays for the Philippians:
Philippians 1:3-5, 9, “I am giving thanks to my God for every memory of you, (4) Always, in my every prayer for all of you when offering prayer with inner happiness, (5) Because of your contribution [monetary] from the first day until now, for the purpose of spreading the gospel. (9) In fact, I pray this prayer, that [purpose and objective] your love [they had great capacity for love] may be caused to abound still more even to a greater degree by means of doctrine [faith perception] and resulting in all discernment [application of doctrine].”
1. Since Paul had great capacity for gratitude, he expresses his thanksgiving for great believers.
2. Paul with much metabolized doctrine and subsequent happiness in his soul, had fond memories of other great believers.
3. Although Paul is praying to God the Father, he requests nothing from him. He in recognition of the free will of the Philippians merely states his desire for the Philippians to continue their spiritual growth.
Revelation 5:9
Then [the sequential use], they sang [in Tribulation] a new song [a completely new song, a song of victory for our Lord's worthiness in opening the Doom’s Day Book], the lyrics are as follows [saying]: "You are worthy to take the book [literally a scroll] and to break open its seals [Jesus Christ controls history; the first six seals are broken open in chapter 6; the rest of the seals are broken open from chapter 7 to 18], because You were sacrificed [ a reference to the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], by means of Your blood [this word connects animal sacrifices to the work on the cross; thus, a representative analogy presenting propitiation, reconciliation and redemption], and you have redeemed mankind for God [now we belong to God forever] from every tribe [of Israel; salvation was first offered to the Jews of Israel], from every language [languages were necessary to prevent human self-destruction] and from every people [aboriginal peoples] and from every nation [civilized national entities based on establishment].
καὶ ᾄδουσιν ᾠδὴν καινὴν λέγοντες, Ἄξιος εἶ λαβεῖν τὸ βιβλίον καὶ ἀνοῖξαι τὰς σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐσφάγης καὶ ἠγόρασας τῷ θεῷ ἐν τῷ αἵµατί σου ἐκ πάσης φυλῆς καὶ γλώσσης καὶ λαοῦ καὶ ἔθνους,
The lyrics are much more important than the melody. Emotions must always be a responder to thought.
Revelation 5:10
In fact, you have appointed them [the Royal Family of God] a royal power [the two power options in the divine power system] and priests to our God, and they [the greatest male and female Christians] will rule [Gentile nations] on this earth [in the Millennium].
καὶ ἐποίησας αὐτοὺς τῷ θεῷ ἡµῶν βασιλείαν καὶ ἱερεῖς, καὶ βασιλεύσουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
Priesthoods: Old Testament Versus New Testament Priesthoods.
1. There never has been a priesthood in the history of the world that required the priest to be a believer. Every priesthood prior to the Church Age was based on physical birth or position in the family, not on spiritual regeneration though most undoubtedly were believers. Genesis 4:3, 5 “So, it came about in the course of time that Cain [as a priest] brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. (5) but for Cain and his offering, He [the Lord] had no regard. So, Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.” The requirements of the Levitical priesthood are stated in Leviticus 21:17-23. Not once does it state that the Levitical priest had to be a believer for you see even an unbeliever could have carried out the rituals required by a Levitical priest.
2. On the other hand, the priesthood of the Church is formed from our position in Christ as a result of the Baptism of the Spirit. So, our priesthood is composed of every member of the Royal Family of God.
3. No high priest in Israel ever functioned in resurrection body as does our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only the royal family of God has a High Priest in resurrection body.
4. Jesus Christ was never a high priest to Israel for He was not qualified to function in a priestly role since He was not from the tribe of Levi.
5. The Church has one High Priest, the resurrected humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of the Father with indestructible life. So, our high priest will live forever; Israel had to constantly replace their dying high priests.
6. The royal priesthood of the Church Age believer which is based on Current Positional Truth with one High Priest in resurrection body is better than the Levitical priesthood, which was based on many high priests and physical birth.
7. Hebrews 7:22-25, “to a greater degree Jesus [as our high priest] has become the guarantee of a better covenant [as found in the New Testament epistles]. The spiritual life must match the priesthood. Whereas the Levitical priesthood functioned under the ritual of the Mosaic Law, our royal priesthood functions under the spiritual life as found in the New Testament epistles. (23) On the one hand therefore, the former priests existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, (24) but Jesus on the other hand, because He abides forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. (25) Therefore, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God [by faith in Jesus Christ we enter into the royal priesthood] through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
8. Our priesthood prays to God the Father through the person of Jesus Christ, our high priest.
9. Each priesthood had its own spiritual life. The Levitical Priesthood learned its function from the Mosaic Law. The Royal Priesthood of the Church Age believer in the post-canon period of the Church Age finds its spiritual life in the New Testament Epistles.
Rewards and Decorations for Church Age Believers:
1. Eating from the Tree of Life: Revelation 2:7, “He who has an ear [capable of perception, but involves motivation and volition], let him hear what the Spirit communicates to the churches. To him who is a winner [overcomes], I will authorize him [predictive future: I will give him the privilege] to eat from the Tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God [in the New Jerusalem].”
The Tree of Life was associated with perfect happiness in the environment of the Garden, as well as the perpetuation of Adam and his wife’s relationship with God in the Garden, Genesis 2:9, “Out of the ground, the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight, and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Genesis 3:22, “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, and now, he might stretch-out his hand and take from the Tree of [everlasting] Life and eat and live forever.” When man sinned and was driven out of the Garden, he was cut off from the Tree of Life, Genesis 3:24, “So, He drove the man out and at the east of the garden of Eden, He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the Tree of Life.” The tree of life is not seen again by man until the eternal state, Revelation 2:7 and in Revelation 22:1, 2, “Then he [the angel] showed me the River of the Water of Life [the first monument of eternal life], bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God [the Father] and from the throne of the Lamb [the Lord’s throne in the New Jerusalem] (2) in the middle of the street of the city [was the River of the Water of Life]; so, on either side of the river, the Tree of Life [the 2nd monument of eternal life] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [a memorial that there is no conflict between nations in the eternal state]” Revelation 22:14, “Happy are those who wash [perfective present: the use of the Recovery Procedure starting at salvation and continuing throughout their lives] their robes in order that they might have the privilege to the Tree of Life and that they may enter the city [of the New Jerusalem] by the gates.”
Paradise:
1. A Persian word describing a garden where the Parsi partied.
2. The king’s garden for magnificent parties associated with great happiness was called paradise.
3. In the New Jerusalem, God will have his own Paradise Club with beautiful gardens for winners only.
At this point, it is important for us to understand why Adam rejected the Tree of Life in the garden for the woman outside of the garden. By creation, man was designed for happiness, and prosperity which was to be perpetuated indefinitely as long as he was positive toward God’s plan. The prohibition to not eat from the fourth tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the only test of obedience. Only disobedience to this one command could destroy their happiness and relationship with God. The tree of life, of course, combined capacity for happiness with immortality (perfect happiness and immortality go together) and could only be lost by a negative action on the part of the man and the woman. In other words, the Tree of Life would be useless to man in the status of spiritual death. And since man died spiritually when he ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, it was absolutely, necessary that the Tree of Life be removed until a future time in eternity.
2. Wreath of Life: Revelation 2:10, "Stop fearing [They were aware of the pending persecution.] that which you are about to suffer. Note that the devil is about to cast some of you into prison in order that you may be tested, and you will have special persecution ten times [ten historical persecutions from 96-305 A.D.]. Keep on being faithful even until death, and I will give you the Wreath of Life."
James 1:12, “Happy is the believer who endures testing [passes the three categories of undeserved suffering] for having become approved [at his evaluation after the Rapture], he shall receive the wreath of life, which He [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him [enduring devotion and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ].”
The greatest happiness comes to the believer who completes the spiritual life, because in doing so he obtains the happiness which God has designed for him. The happiness of spiritual maturity is a system of integrity and thinking, a happiness not dependent upon people or things, but related to loving God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Since the mature believer has both enduring devotion, respect and reverence for God, he has the power, the inner strength to handle any test or suffering in life. After the believer develops a personal love for Jesus Christ, he will receive his final test in life, then upon passing this test he will be approved by the Lord and receive “The Wreath of Life”. This decoration is awarded to invisible heroes for maximum production of divine good through the execution of the plan of God. Therefore, the wreath (crown) of life is related to the invisible hero's (mature believer’s) production from his spiritual gift, his ambassadorship, and his royal priesthood. The wreath of life is awarded for consistent Filling of the Holy Spirit, consistent perception of doctrine, and consistent use of the Ten Problem-Solving Devices resulting in the completion of the spiritual life.
The Latin ‘Corona’ was the highest decoration in the army and is the exact equivalent of the Greek ‘Stephanos’ (wreath). The Romans had many different crowns as decorations in the military namely, the ‘corona obsidionalis or grammania’, a wreath of golden strands was the highest and rarest decoration. This was given for breaking a blockade or raising (removing) a siege. One example of actions leading to awarding of a grass crown would be a general who broke the blockade around a beleaguered Roman army. The ‘corona civica’ was a crown made of golden oak leaves which was awarded to a soldier who saved the life of another citizen in battle and held the ground where this deed occurred for the rest of the day. The ‘corona navalis’ was the highest decoration in the navy for destroying an enemy fleet or the first marine to board an enemy ship. The ‘corona muralis’ was awarded to the first soldier who scaled the wall of a besieged city. The ‘corona vallaris’ was awarded to the first soldier to scale an enemy rampart. The ‘corona aurea’ was a golden crown for gallantry in battle or any heroic act in battle. The ‘corona triumphalis’ was awarded to a victorious commander. Each crown included a monetary reward, freedom from taxes, children educated at public expense, a statue of the person erected in the public square, and a home wherever you wanted it built. The crown is used by analogy for the greatest honors God can give to believers. There were also decorations worn around the neck, decorations on a baldric worn over the chest, and various spears as rewards.
3. Wreath of Righteousness: When the Christian completes the spiritual life and subsequently receive the fullness of blessing from God, he will wear both the crown (wreath) of life and the crown (wreath) of righteousness. These two wreaths go together. If you have one, you will have the other.
As a result of having obtained maximum capacity righteousness, the Christian will receive the wreath of righteousness as per 2 Timothy 4:7, 8, “I have fought that honorable fight [advanced through the stages of spiritual growth], I have finished the course [Paul reached spiritual maturity and had passed Evidence Testing], I have guarded the doctrine [as first priority in the soul]. (8) In the future a wreath of righteousness [escrow blessings for eternity] is reserved for me [on deposit since eternity past], which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day [at the Evaluation Throne of Christ] and not only to me but to all those who love His appearing [mature believers, whose thorough understanding of doctrine enables them to be occupied with Christ],”
Capacity righteousness is the capacity for true love in the soul. Our spiritual life must have a love based on a righteousness that has capacity from the word of God. True love is always the result of true righteousness in the soul. All capacity for true love is soul capacity-righteousness, not legalism.
This crown (wreath) is used to describe the capacity for the greater blessings in resurrection body that the winner believer receives. God has given special capacity to winner believers to enjoy special blessings forever and ever. 2 Peter 3:13, “But according to His announced promise [Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1], we [the believers with doctrine] are anticipating [as wonderful] the new heavens and the new earth [after the Millennium and forever] in which righteousness is at home [the believer in his resurrection body will enjoy perfect righteousness].” This promise means that we are going to be blessed forever and ever and the blessing is going to be so great that we will never recall a bad memory in time. True righteousness and happiness go together.
4. Title of Aristocracy: Revelation 2:17, "He who has an ear, must hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [to the spiritual winner], to him [dative of advantage] I will give [blessing] from the hidden manna [metabolized doctrine hidden in the soul], and I will give him a white pebble, and a new title written on the pebble which no one knows but he who receives it [in time, but in eternity all will know]."
Explanation:
The juries in the ancient world voted privately. They had a box which was passed around in which were black pebbles and white pebbles, and each one selected a pebble and put it on the table. A black pebble was guilty; a white pebble was a vote for acquittal. The white pebble here is the Lord’s vote for acquittal for the believer. There is no condemnation, no lake of fire for the believer in Christ as per Romans 8:1; we are acquitted because we have personally believed in Jesus Christ. The Lord votes with a white stone to adopt the convert into the family of God with the potential of obtaining the highest possible aristocracy. Those who reject Him as their savior get a black pebble; those who accept Him through faith in His person get a white pebble. Either a white pebble with no title (adopted into God’s family with a resurrection body, but not into the elite aristocracy of the eternal state) or a white pebble with a title written on it (a title of eternal aristocracy).
Every aristocratic Roman would adopt a son at age 14 whether it be his own natural son or another young man with great integrity and ability. Once the adoption ceremony was complete, the adopted son was given a new name of aristocracy and had the right of marriage, military service, and had the right to access his father’s fortune. Even the Roman emperors used this system of adoption to guarantee greatness in succession. For example, Emperor Nerva began the golden age of the Roman Empire in 96 A.D. He adopted Trajan, and Trajan adopted Hadrian, and Hadrian adopted Antonius Pius, and Antonius Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius, the last great emperor of the golden age. None of these adoptions involved their own sons.
On this white pebble is the title that Jesus Christ will bestow on the winner-believers at the Evaluation Seat of Christ. This title means that the believer will be part of an elite eternal aristocracy. And to have a white pebble with a new title of aristocracy on it is about as high an honor as one could possibly obtain based upon one’s impact on both human and angelic history, not only an honor, but many wonderful privileges and rewards related to it. (The only higher honor would be the ‘Order of the Morning Star’ to be explained later.)
5. Rule over nations in the Millennium: Revelation 2:26, "He who is victorious [in the spiritual life] and keeps My assignments until the end [of his life], To him I will give authority over the nations, [as a blessing in the Millennium];"
6. The Uniform of Glory: Revelation 3:4, “But you have a few people in Sardis [a group of mature believers] who have not soiled their garments [the uniform of honor worn by the mature believer in time]; in fact, they will walk with Me in whites [the uniform of glory in eternity], because they are worthy [have passed all the undeserved suffering tests].”
7. The Order of the Morning Star: Revelation 2:28, "Furthermore, I will give him [The Order of the] Morning Star."
Explanation: “Furthermore, I will give to him [the mature believer, the winner in time] the order of the morning star,” the highest decoration for life on this earth, the highest decoration for historical impact and for glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ. The uniform of glory worn over the resurrection body as per Revelation 3:4, 5 and the decoration which goes with it, the Order of the Morning Star, means that there will be a presentation in the court of heaven before the Father and his angels for a few believers out of every generation (Revelation 3:5), those who make-up the pivot, those who advance to maturity, and pass Evidence Testing.
But that is only a part of the story, because the person who is making the great contribution to history is the believer who advances to maturity. As goes the believer so goes the client nation to God, and the believer living in the divine power system contributes to the uptrend of the client nation, and the believer living in the cosmic system contributes to the downtrend of history. It is the historical impact of the unknown factor, the unknown factor being as goes the believer so goes the historical trends of any given generation. So, at the 2nd Advent logically there will be a presentation to the entire population of the world of every person who has the Order of the Morning Star and the Uniform of Glory. The authority of this particular decoration is phenomenal because for one thousand years of perfect environment on the earth namely the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Christians who have the Order of the Morning Star on their Uniforms of Glory will rule nations with a rod of iron (perfect justice). And then in the eternal state as well there will obviously be many unique privileges which will belong to the believer who wears the Order of the Morning Star on his Uniform of Glory.
8. Title of Aristocracy registered in the Book of Life: Revelation 3:5, "Thus, the winner [he who overcomes] will be clothed in white garments [a reference to the translucent uniform of glory worn by those who hold the Order of the Morning Star]; and I will never blot out his title [of aristocracy ] from the Book of eternal Life, in fact I will acknowledge [the presentation of these winners in the court of heaven while the Tribulation is occurring on the earth] his title [of aristocracy] before My Father and before His angels."
At birth, every member of humanity is written in the Book of Eternal Life. However, every unbeliever is blotted out of the Book of Life at his physical death. This we have taught before. So, even though all believers remain in the Book of Eternal Life only a few will have a title prefixing their names, a title of aristocracy.
9. Acknowledged before God the Father and his angels: Revelation 3:5, "Thus, the winner [he who overcomes] will be clothed in white garments [a reference to the translucent uniform of glory worn by those who hold the Order of the Morning Star]; and I will never blot out his title [of aristocracy ] from the book of eternal life, in fact I will acknowledge [the presentation of these winners in the court of heaven while the Tribulation is occurring on the earth] his title [of aristocracy] before My Father and before His angels."
10. A Pillar in the Eternal Historical Record Center: titles emblazoned on the Uniform of Glory which allows access to the New Jerusalem: Revelation 3:12, "The winner, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God [historical record center], furthermore, it [the pillar] will never ever depart outside of the Temple [the Christian’s record of great achievement will never be removed from the Temple of God]; also I will emblazon on him [on his uniform of glory] the title of My God [the Father: indicating the fulfillment of his plan], and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem [the pass to enter into the satellite city of the eternal state], which will descend from heaven from My God, and My new title [is emblazoned on him which title provides access to the New Jerusalem].”
A few points for explanation:
1. While the temple of heaven is the record department of history, the pillars found in the temple are the permanent records of Church Age heroes, the believers in this dispensation who advance to maturity and have maximum impact in history.
2. The Bible must be interpreted in the time in which it was written, so obviously our interpretation of a pillar in the temple must go back to the modus operandi of the ancient world where temple-pillars were chapters in history books.
3. Take, for example, the Temple of Artemis (Diana in Latin) where there was recorded history. This temple in Ephesus was 375 feet long and 180 feet wide, a rather large record-keeping area. Inside of the temple were 127 pillars on which were recorded the deeds of famous kings and other famous people. On these pillars were hung priceless gifts, trophies of the kings involved. There were tablets (inscribed slabs) and records engraved telling of the deeds of these kings and other heroes. In the analogy, the priceless gifts which were on the pillars depict the decorations, the rewards which belong to the mature believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Evaluation Platform of Christ). The written biography depicts the eternal history of mankind with emphasis on the true heroes of history.
11. Wreath of Glory: This crown is awarded to pastors who faithfully study and communicate Bible doctrine to their respective congregations. The mature pastor through his personal study and teaching, advances to maturity and leads his congregation there as well. He is a prepared person who emphasizes doctrine and correct theology. He focuses on the message, not his personality.
1 Peter 5:2-4, “Shepherd the flock of God with you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily on the basis of the will of God; and not for sordid gain but with a ready mentality; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears [at the Rapture], you will receive the unfading Crown of glory.”
Philippians 4:1 personalizes this concept. “Therefore, my brethren, loved ones [members of the congregation who are respected for their faithfulness], deeply desired ones, my happiness and my crown [of glory], keep on being stabilized [winners of the crown of righteousness and life].”
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For who is our hope or happiness or crown of boasting [glory]? Is it not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and our happiness.” At the judgment seat of Christ (Evaluation Platform of Christ), those who have attained spiritual maturity are the crown of glory for the pastor.
The pastor’s boasting or crown of glory is received because certain members of his congregation do two things by listening to his teaching of the Word. They take the giant step to spiritual self-esteem and then the victory step to spiritual maturity and ultimately pass Evidence Testing.
Revelation 5:11
I both saw and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, plus the voice of the angelic heralds and the angelic general staff, and their number was beyond counting;
Καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἤκουσα φωνὴν ἀγγέλων πολλῶν κύκλῳ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῶν ζῴων καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἀριθµὸς αὐτῶν µυριάδες µυριάδων καὶ χιλιάδες χιλιάδων,
Revelation 5:12
And they sang fortissimo, "The Lamb who has been sacrificed is worthy to receive power [to rule in the Millennium] and wealth [the prosperity of the Millennium] and wisdom [the sagacity of His millennial reign] and strength [the energy and ability to rule in the Millennium], and glory, and blessing [both temporal & eternal glory and blessing for the Royal Family of God originates with our Lord Jesus Christ]."
λέγοντες φωνῇ µεγάλῃ, Ἄξιός ἐστιν τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἐσφαγµένον λαβεῖν τὴν δύναµιν καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ σοφίαν καὶ ἰσχὺν καὶ τιµὴν καὶ δόξαν καὶ εὐλογίαν.
Revelation 5:13
Then, I heard every creature who was in heaven [Church Age believers], both on earth [living believers at Rapture] and under the earth [Church Age believers who had died], also on the sea [living believers at Rapture] and everyone who is in them [all believers who have died at sea during the Church Age], singing, "To Him who sits on the throne [God the Father] and to the Lamb [the Lord Jesus Christ] be blessing and honor and glory and sovereign power to Them [the holy Trinity] forever and ever."
καὶ πᾶν κτίσµα ὃ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς πάντα, ἤκουσα λέγοντας, Τῷ καθηµένῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ τιµὴ καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
Revelation 5:14
Then, the four angelic heralds kept saying, "Amen" [I believe it] Then, the angelic general staff fell down and worshipped [silently].
καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα ἔλεγον, Ἀµήν· καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσαν καὶ προσεκύνησαν.
Worship:
Romans 12:1, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [the grace blessings from the integrity of God] that you place your bodies under orders [obeying God is to be guided by God, an important part of advancing spiritually] as a living, set-apart sacrifice. This is well pleasing to our God - your rational and spiritual worship."
Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑµᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρµῶν τοῦ θεοῦ, παραστῆσαι τὰ σώµατα ὑµῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑµῶν·
“That you place your bodies under orders as a living set-apart sacrifice” means to place one’s self at God’s disposal. We are on this earth to serve God, not for God to serve us. Why the body? Why not the brain? Why not the soul? The body of the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is also the residence of the old sin nature. These two are resident and mutually antagonistic as explained in Galatians 5:16. When the old sin nature controls through sin, good, or evil, it also takes control of the soul. On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit who indwells the body, controls the soul, the believer is able to advance. The soul is the issue, what you think is the issue, and the whole process of the function of the soul. When it says here that you place your body under orders it is referring to the use of the Recovery Procedure to place oneself under the command of the Spirit via the Filling of the Spirit.
A few points regarding worship:
1. All worship must be rational, and this is only possible by relating it to Bible doctrine.
2. All worship must be spiritual, therefore related to the Filling of the Spirit and metabolized doctrine which is summarized in John 4:24.
3. To place your bodies under orders as a living, holy (set apart) sacrifice is not a one-shot decision, a so-called dedication to Christian living or service. In reality it is a series of decisions, daily decisions which involve the use of the Recovery Procedure when necessary, followed by the maintenance of the Filling of the Spirit, and the consistent intake of Bible doctrine, the means of establishing the royal family honor code in your life.
4. The pattern of the Christian life is never guided by one decision. It takes one decision to become a Christian; after that there are no one-decision panaceas. Always it is a series of decisions. God gives us a day at a time and so we must make decisions each day.
5. Salvation, then, is a one-shot decision, but the spiritual life which follows salvation is a series of decision. You place yourself under orders to God for daily commands, daily decisions, daily function.
A few more points regarding Worship:
1. Spiritual worship is rational worship. Therefore, the emotionalism of tongues and other forms of emotional revolt are excluded.
2. Basically, worship includes certain functions: singing, praying, giving, the intake of doctrine, and the communion service. Each facet of worship demands two things: the Filling of the Holy Spirit and the residence of Bible doctrine in the soul. Always, it is doctrine and the Spirit.
3. Therefore, singing must be related to doctrine and executed under the Filling of the Spirit.
4. Therefore, prayer must conform to doctrine and be executed in the Filling of the Spirit.
5. Therefore, giving must be motivated from doctrine resident in the soul and fulfilled in the Filling of the Spirit.
6. Therefore, perception of doctrine, the most important and basic facet of worship, demands the Filling of the Spirit for inculcation.
7. Therefore, the communion service is a ritual which has no meaning apart from doctrine resident in the soul. Hence, a worship function which is impossible apart from the Filling of the Spirit.
