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 One
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
The American people today live in a utopia of arrogance. We are obviously in the cosmic system as a people because we demand everything for nothing. Americans no longer talk about working hard and doing the best possible job they can do. We are a nation of irresponsible people demanding that the government take care of them from the crib to the grave. What made America great was not socialism leading to communism, but freedom. Freedom means small government, not big government with millions upon millions of bureaucrats dictating every aspect of our lives. In America few want freedom; most want slavery. The average American has rejected truth as did the Exodus Generation had done in the past. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” No truth, no freedom. They go together.
Proverbs 11:21, “Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.”
Lamentations 3:22-23, “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease for His compassions never fail; (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Jeremiah weeping wrote Lamentations in 586 BC just after the Southern Kingdom along with Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed by the Chaldeans.
Is God the Father, the Lord, Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit ever unhappy? Well, then since we have God’s thinking in our souls, we should never be unhappy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “At all times, be happy. Habitually, pray. In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God [the Father] in Christ Jesus for you.”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Outline:
Chapter 1. Jesus Christ is the key to history, and the one who controls history.
Chapters 2, 3. The historical trends of the Church age as depicted by the seven churches of Asia Minor.
Chapters 4, 5. The entire Church is now in heaven.
Chapter 6. The panorama of the Tribulation
Chapter 7. Evangelism in the Tribulation
Chapters 8, 9. The Trumpet Judgments of the Tribulation
Chapter 10. The angelic herald of the Second Advent
Chapter 11. The Two witnesses and the 7th Trumpet Judgment
Chapter 12. After Satan was cast out from heaven, he made a final attempt to destroy Israel.
Chapter 13. The two world dictators
Chapter 14. The principle of grace before judgment
Chapters 15, 16. The seven Vial (Bowl) Judgments
Chapters 17, 18. The rise and fall of ecumenical religion
Chapter 19. The Second Advent of Jesus Christ
Chapter 20. The Millennium and the Last Judgment
Chapter 21:1-8. The eternal state with the New Heaven and the New Earth
Chapter 21:9-Chapter 22:5. The Eternal Jerusalem
Chapter 22:1-5. The only description of the Eternal State
Chapter 22:6-11. The termination of the Canon of Scripture
Chapter 22:12-17. The dialogue of John and the angel
Chapter 22:18-21. The final declaration of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ which the God [the Father] has given to Him [Christ] to make known to His servants [Church Age believers] things [history] which must soon take place. Furthermore, He [Christ] communicated [this history], having sent [this historical information] through His angel to His servant, John.
Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός, δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει, καὶ ἐσήµανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ,
After the ascension of Christ, God the Father gave the humanity of Christ this revelation of future human events which information was relayed to John. So, the book of Revelation is a revelation of Christ and how human events will unfold from 96 AD to the end of time and the judgments which follow these final human events.
Revelation 1:2
Who [John] made a deposition [the book of Revelation] namely, the word of God [given by God, the Father to Christ], and the testimony of Jesus Christ [given by Jesus Christ to John through a high-ranking angel] about everything to which he [John] was an eyewitness [through a vision].
ὃς ἐµαρτύρησεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν µαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅσα εἶδεν.
Revelation 1:3
Happy is he who teaches exegetically [the pastor who communicates accurately the book of Revelation], and happy are they [his congregation] who keep hearing [and learning] the words of this prophecy and keep guarding those things which have been written in it, for the time [for discernment] is near [the historical future].
µακάριος ὁ ἀναγινώσκων καὶ οἱ ἀκούοντες τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας καὶ τηροῦντες τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ γεγραµµένα, ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς ἐγγύς.
Pastors must exegete the Scripture and then communicate that information. Only the pastor who understands well the original languages can study thoroughly the Word of God. Most pastors are not prepared to teach exegetically from the original languages. However, in some cases, they are prepared, but either too lazy to study or too busy wasting their time so that they have little or no time to study. And if the pastor is not studying, he is not able to accurately teach this information to his congregation.
The pastor who is prepared and studies diligently the word of God will experience a great happiness in his life. If not, he will be most miserable.
Happiness comes to the Christian only if he learns, metabolizes and applies the Word of God to his life. In addition to this happiness which comes from spiritual advance, this verse promises a special happiness to the Christian who learns the facts, principles and doctrines found in this book. On the other hand, the Christian who does not learn and apply the Word of God consistently will never be happy in this world. Furthermore, he will miss out in the special happiness which comes from mastering the Book of Revelation. He may gain wealth, success, recognition and even glory in this world, but without doctrine in his soul and without a love for God, he will never be happy.
What does it mean “the time is near?” ‘Near’ to the trends of the church age as in chapter 2, 3, to the Rapture; near to the events of the Tribulation, 2nd Advent and Millennium. 2 Peter 3:8, “But do not let this fact escape your notice, beloved that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”
Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches, those which are in [the Roman proconsular province of] Asia [Ephesus was the capital]; grace to you and prosperity from Him who is [Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of God, the Father] and who always existed [Jesus Christ as eternal God], and who is to come [Jesus Christ at the 2nd Advent], and from the seven spirits [a reference to the Holy Spirit and his power system] who are before His throne [Isaiah 11:2].
Ἰωάννης ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις ταῖς ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· χάρις ὑµῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόµενος, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑπτὰ πνευµάτων ἃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ,
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 found in Isaiah 11:2 and are as follows:
1. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him (The Holy Spirit’s power)
2. The Spirit of wisdom (wisdom extrapolated from truth and applied to people, circumstances, sufferings etc.)
3. The Spirit of perception (the means of learning doctrine)
4. The Spirit of counsel (counsels from metabolized doctrine)
5. The Spirit of strength (the Spirit produces strength in the soul)
6. The Spirit of knowledge (the teacher of divine knowledge)
7. The Spirit who provides respect for the Lord
Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor where these seven churches existed. This area today would be Western Turkey. These 7 churches produced the largest number of great believers in the early part of the Roman Empire and brought about its golden age.
Shortly after John wrote Revelation, the Emperor Nerva came to power ushering in the golden age of the Roman Empire. Nerva, Hadrian, Trajan, Antonius Pius, Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. The first five were great; the last one was evil. From 96 AD to 192, we have one of the greatest periods of world history. The Lord Jesus Christ was able to prosper the Roman Empire because of the number of great believers in the Roman Empire at that time, but especially those believers of the Roman province of Asia Minor.
Revelation 1:5
Even from Jesus Christ, the dependable witness [In the angelic appeal trial by His life and substitutionary death on the cross] the first-born from the dead [first to receive a resurrection body] also the Ruler over the Kings of the Earth [at the 2nd Advent] to Him who has loved us and has released [liberated] us from our sins by means of His blood [propitiation, reconciliation and redemption].
καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ µάρτυς ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς. Τῷ ἀγαπῶντι ἡµᾶς καὶ λύσαντι ἡµᾶς ἐκ τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν ἡµῶν ἐν τῷ αἵµατι αὐτοῦ
Revelation 1:6
And he has made us a kingdom, priests to God, even His Father; to Him [Jesus Christ] belongs the glory and the ruling power [rulership in the Millennium and for all eternity] forever and ever. Amen.
καὶ ἐποίησεν ἡµᾶς βασιλείαν, ἱερεῖς τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ñ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας [τῶν αἰώνων]· ἀµήν.
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.
7. The royal priesthood of the Church Age believer which is based on Current Positional Truth with one High Priest is better than the Levitical priesthood, which was based on many high priests and physical birth.
8. Hebrews 7:22, “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.
9. Hebrews 7:23-25, “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.”
10. Our priesthood prays to God the Father through the person of Jesus Christ, our high priest.
Since Jesus Christ defeated Satan strategically on the cross, he receives and deserves the greatest glory. Jesus Christ is not only the one who controls history, but the major issue in history. At the Second Advent Jesus Christ will return and take control of the earth and rule under the perfect environment of the Millennium.
Revelation 1:7
Behold [particle demanding concentration and perception]; He is coming [2nd Advent] with clouds [innumerable peoples: the Church and all the Old Testament Jewish believers], and every eye [every person in the world believers and unbelievers] will see Him, including those who had pierced Him [the unbelieving Jews of the Tribulation] and all [the unbelieving Jews of] the tribes with reference to the Land [promised to the Jews] will enter into extreme lamentation [beat the breast] over Him [because of their rejection]. Yes, I believe it.
Ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται µετὰ τῶν νεφελῶν, καὶ ὄψεται αὐτὸν πᾶς ὀφθαλµὸς καὶ οἵτινες αὐτὸν ἐξεκέντησαν, καὶ κόψονται ἐπí αὐτὸν πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς. ναί, ἀµήν.
Supernatural darkness will cover the earth just before the 2nd Advent (Isaiah 13:9, 10; Ezekiel 32:7, 8; Joel 2:10, 11, 3:15; Amos 5:18 etc.). The Glory of the Lord as the Light of the World will be seen as he approaches the earth with ‘clouds’. (In Scripture clouds is used as a metaphor for multitudes of people (Isaiah 60:8; Jeremiah 4:13; Hebrews 12:1)).
There were Jews during the 1st Advent of Christ who were responsible for getting the Roman government to crucify Christ. These Jews were a part of the big blot-out at that time (extremely negative due to maximum scar tissue of the soul.) Now at the 2nd Advent we have a similar type of Jew on the earth.
Revelation 1:8
"I am the Alpha [deity] and the Omega" [Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union] proclaims the Lord, the God [the alpha glory of Jesus Christ], "who is [the omega glory in hypostatic union] and who was [eternal God - Alpha glory], and who is to come [alpha and omega glory at the 2nd Advent], the total ruler [controlled human history and world ruler at the 2nd Advent]."
Ἐγώ εἰµι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόµενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
This alpha and omega glory is mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Listen O Israel, the Lord is our God [alpha glory], the Lord is unique” [alpha-omega Glory]. Many Jews at present have accepted the alpha glory of Jesus Christ but have rejected his omega glory.
Revelation 1:9
I, John, your fellow believer and partner in the pressures of time [suffering, disaster and problems in life] and the kingdom [of priests as per verse 6] and perseverance in Jesus [passing undeserved suffering], came to be on the island, that one being called Patmos [deserted rocky island in the Aegean Sea], because of the Word of God and the testimony concerning Jesus [the book of Revelation emphasizes the Omega glory of Jesus Christ].
Ἐγὼ Ἰωάννης, ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑµῶν καὶ συγκοινωνὸς ἐν τῇ θλίψει καὶ βασιλείᾳ καὶ ὑποµονῇ ἐν Ἰησοῦ, ἐγενόµην ἐν τῇ νήσῳ τῇ καλουµένῃ Πάτµῳ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν µαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ.
About 68 A.D., the siege of Jerusalem began under General Vespasian and his son Titus. However, because of the chaotic conditions in Rome, Vespasian took part of the army and took control of the situation there and began the Flavian Dynasty. After a ten-year rule from 69 A.D. to 79 A.D., his son Titus became the next emperor but ruled only for a little more than 2 years. It is deduced that he was assassinated by his evil brother, Domitian who became the next emperor. It was Domitian who not only began a persecution of the church but also had John arrested and confined to the Island of Patmos. After John had completed the writing of Revelation in 96 A.D., Domitian was assassinated by court officials. The next emperor, Nerva knowing that John was under religious persecution, by Domitian, allowed John to leave the Island of Patmos. (Nerva was the emperor who began the golden age of the Roman Empire.
In summary, John’s banishment to this rocky island was a terrible blow to his congregation in Ephesus and to all those in the Roman province of Asia, but God had a purpose in isolating him on this island for John had to be isolated on this island to write the last book of the Bible.
Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit [Filling of the Spirit] on the day belonging to the Lord [Sunday, resurrection day] and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet [The commanding voice of the Lord Jesus Christ],
ἐγενόµην ἐν πνεύµατι ἐν τῇ κυριακῇ ἡµέρᾳ, καὶ ἤκουσα ὀπίσω µου φωνὴν µεγάλην ὡς σάλπιγγος
Revelation 1:11
Which said, "Write in a scroll what you see [in a vision, the total panorama of history from 96 AD to the end of time] and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
λεγούσης, Ὃ βλέπεις γράψον εἰς βιβλίον καὶ πέµψον ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις, εἰς Ἔφεσον καὶ εἰς Σµύρναν καὶ εἰς Πέργαµον καὶ εἰς Θυάτιρα καὶ εἰς Σάρδεις καὶ εἰς Φιλαδέλφειαν καὶ εἰς Λαοδίκειαν.
These seven churches, the center of Christianity were the basis of sustaining civilization as well as the Roman Empire for many years to come and ushered in the golden age of the Roman Empire.
Verses 12-19: Jesus Christ controls history.
Revelation 1:12
Then, I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned around, I saw seven golden lampstands [representing the 7 churches].
Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα βλέπειν τὴν φωνὴν ἥτις ἐλάλει µετí ἐµοῦ· καὶ ἐπιστρέψας εἶδον ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶς,
Jesus Christ uses the local church as a means of controlling and blessing history. What type of churches? Churches which have a qualified pastor and members who are eager to learn the Word of God are these which the Lord uses. The seven churches of Asian Minor were such churches. This is why they are called “golden lampstands”.
Revelation 1:13
And in the middle of the lampstands I saw one resembling the Son of Man [his title in hypostatic union] being attired in a robe reaching down to the feet [His high priestly robe] and having a golden sash belted across his chest [a part of the high priest’s robe].
καὶ ἐν µέσῳ τῶν λυχνιῶν ὅµοιον υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου, ἐνδεδυµένον ποδήρη καὶ περιεζωσµένον πρὸς τοῖς µαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσᾶν·
Revelation 1:14
Moreover, His head and white hair were like white wool [“the lamb without spot (no sin nature) and blemish (no sin)” speaks of His perfection] and [His head and white hair] like snow [denotes the shock of bearing our sins]; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; [His integrity demands eternal judgment for those who reject salvation and discipline for the believers who reject His spiritual life].
ἡ δὲ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ τρίχες λευκαὶ ὡς ἔριον λευκόν, ὡς χιών, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλµοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡς φλὸξ πυρός,
Our Lord appears very shortly after the ascension and His hair is now white. “White like wool” means the hair is thick and like “snow”. The white hair of our Lord Jesus Christ denotes the shock of His bearing our very own sins on His own body on the tree. “White wool” is a reminder that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, the efficacious sacrifice for our sins, while the whiteness of snow indicates the impeccability of Christ residing and functioning inside the prototype spiritual life. Because of His impeccability our Lord was qualified to go to the cross and be judged for our sins. The white hair, like the scars in our Lord’s hands and feet, are the visible manifestations of the price He had to pay on the cross. So, in effect, what John is seeing here is what he said in the first chapter of his Gospel: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
In verse 15, the next verse, we will see His feet like bronze as the national judgment but in the meantime, we have the judgment of the eyes like a flame of fire. This is individual. It is not only true in the historical trends of people, collectively but it is true individually. We are the products of our own decisions. Good decisions open options for greater decisions; bad decisions destroy those options and eventually remove them altogether and the individual is removed under the principle of the sin unto death. But before his removal he has a long and miserable life of divine judgment and discipline. This is brought out now in the flame of fire, for the flame of fire speaks of individual judgment just as the feet of bronze represents national judgment. Jesus Christ will not ever tolerate arrogance. When it says “a flame of fire” it means that our Lord personally is going to do a lot of judging. For example, John 5:22, 23, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, (23) in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” So, the Lord Jesus Christ has charge of all judgment.
Grace always precedes judgment. Decisions from free will create environment; not vice versa. Personal and historical disasters are not tragedies that just happen accidently but are the outworking of bad decisions. Since Jesus Christ controls history, he controls the destiny of all peoples. Even so, he does not interfere with the freedom of choice.
Revelation 1:15
And His feet were like bronze [historical judgment of nations by the Lord; here it represents the 4th cycle of discipline] when it has been refined [the intensive perfect places emphasis on the results which are the removal of impurities: judgments in order to preserve the nation] in a furnace [the historical trends which eventually result in the destruction of a nation], and His voice was like the sound of many waters [military judgment of nations under the 5th cycle of discipline].
καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὅµοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ ὡς ἐν καµίνῳ πεπυρωµένης, καὶ ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὑδάτων πολλῶν,
What is the significance of bronze feet? Bronze always relates to some form of divine judgment. Jeremiah identifies with divine judgment as per Lamentations 3:6-8, “In dark places, he has made me live like those who have been long dead (analogy to the destruction of a client nation). (7) He has walled me in so that I cannot go out. He has made my bronze chain heavy. (8) Even when I cry out and call for help, He shuts out my prayer [Prayers are not answered during the administration of the final cycles of discipline]” The bronze chains were used to illustrate the 5th Cycle of Discipline and the servitude of the nation. 2 Kings 25:7, “And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze chains and brought him to Babylon.” Bronze is used for economic disaster to a Client Nation as part of the 4th cycle of divine discipline. Deuteronomy 28:23-26, “The heaven which is over your head shall be like bronze [no rain], and the earth like iron [no production]. (24) The Lord will make the rain of your land [the normal rains to cease so] powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you [divine discipline] until you are destroyed. (25) The Lord shall cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways before them (retreat in panic), and you will be an example of terror [the intense fear when facing the consequences of rejecting God and His laws] to all the kingdoms of the earth. (26) Your carcasses will be food to all birds of the sky and to the beast of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.” Leviticus 26:19, “Furthermore, I will also break down the arrogance of your power [a tremendous lust for power in the Land]; I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze [as part of the 2nd cycle of discipline].” Bronze is also used for destroying future options by making bad decisions. Isaiah 48:4, “Because I know that you are stubborn and arrogant, and your neck is like an iron sinew, and your forehead like bronze.” In our passage we have “His feet were like bronze.” This represents the historical judgments of the nations of the earth by the Lord based on the principle that Jesus Christ controls history.
When bronze is being refined, the impurities are removed. By analogy, the Lord removes the impurities, the scum of a nation through natural, economic and military disasters. Without the removal of these impurities, the nation could not survive. For example, the Roman Empire had a golden age from 96 to 180 under the following emperors: Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. This period brought about great prosperity in the Roman Empire and many failed this prosperity test. So, the Lord, as the one who controls history, used Emperor Commodus, an evil ruler to purge the people who did not pass the prosperity test. After these impurities were removed, Rome as a client nation went on for another 100 years as an effective client nation.
No nation goes down historically because of some tragedy for it is the sum-total of the bad decisions of its citizenry that brings the nation down. For example, in the United States, both unbelievers and believers have failed the prosperity-test. The unbelievers have rejected the Laws of Establishment for a multitude of evils, and the Christians have exchanged the spiritual life for religion.
The furnace of divine judgment is constantly judging nations like the heat of the furnace refines the bronze, removing the impurities. Many nations, especially client nations to God, must undergo disaster-testing to remove that portion of the population which is negative. In this way, the evil part will not infect and destroy that part of the population which is for truth. So many times, disaster will come to a nation because God intends to continue using that nation as a client nation to God. If degeneracy is unrestrained it will eventually influence those who are moral, who are good, and who are not degenerate. Therefore, degeneracy is periodically destroyed in history. National disaster is designed to remove the impurities of a population where the nation is going to be perpetuated as a client nation. No nation can survive without national disaster which removes its scum and gives opportunity for it to be perpetuated in history.
The phrase “His voice was like the sound of many waters” is also used for divine judgment. Ezekiel predicted the defeat of Israel as a client nation through military forces the Lord would bring against them. Ezekiel 1:24, “I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters as they went like the voice of the Almighty [the Lord destroyed 185,000 Assyrian infantry in the past as in Isaiah 37:36 to protect the Southern Kingdom possibly by a voice command; in this passage his voice is being used to destroy the Southern Kingdom], a sound of a great uproar like the sound of an army camp [the shouting and screaming of the Chaldean army pursuing and destroying] ; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings.”
JESUS CHRIST CONTROLS HISTORY
1. Jesus Christ has direct control of human history through His divine essence, and through divine decisions of the Supreme Court of heaven. This is the type of power mentioned in Deuteronomy 33:26, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His Majesty, He rides through the skies.”
2. Jesus Christ has indirect control of human history through the function of the laws of divine establishment. There are nations that follow the laws of divine establishment and continue to survive and are even blessed by God through establishment principles. These are the laws related to the individual, marriage, family, and the national entity. Romans 13:1-8 teaches this principle, “Let every soul be subject to governmental authorities, for there is no authority except delegated by God, that is, those which do exist have been delegated by God. (2) Therefore, those who resist the authority have opposed the ordinance of God [the divine institutions]; in fact, they who oppose shall receive judgment on themselves (punishment). (3) For governing authorities are not a cause of fear for good function (establishment good) but for evil function (rejection of authority, activism). Really, do you desire not to fear the authority? Keep on doing the good [obedience to laws of divine establishment] and you will have recognition from it [government]; (4). For he [government authority functioning under the Laws of Establishment] is a minister of God to you for the purpose of good [that you may advance under the umbrella of government]. But if you do what is evil, keep on being afraid, for he [government] does not wear the sword for nothing [capital punishment for crime]; for you see he is minister of God, a punisher to execute wrath to him who practices the evil. (5) For this reason, it is necessary to be subordinate to governing authorities, not only because of punishment, but also because of conscience. (6) So, for this reason also keep on paying taxes, for they are public servants of God who make a career out of this same thing. (7) Therefore, discharge your obligations to all: to whom taxes, taxes, to whom custom, custom, to whom respect [for authority], respect, to whom honor, honor. (8) Owe nothing to anyone [fulfill all obligations], except to love one another [impersonally]; for the one who loves another, has fulfilled the Law [of impersonal love.]” Jesus Christ controls history through the hostility of mankind. In Psalm 76:10, “For the wrath of man shall praise you [The Lord uses evil to destroy evil in finesse judgment]; With a remnant of wrath, you will gird yourself [The rest are restrained by seeing what happened to the portion wiped out.] The rise of Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler are excellent examples of finesse judgment. The communist helped to destroy the Nazis.
3. Jesus Christ controls history with legal control through liability to the laws of volitional responsibility. This is the principle of the sovereignty of God and the free will of mankind coexisting in human history to resolve the prehistoric angelic conflict. This is taught in Hosea 8:7, which tells us that “we sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind.” Also in Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he shall also reap. For the one who sows to his own sin nature shall from the sin nature reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap in life eternal.”
4. Freedom and volition are the issues in both human history and the prehistoric angelic conflict. This is a part of Jesus Christ controlling history. Since freedom is necessary to resolve the angelic appeal trial regarding the angelic conflict, the free will of mankind and the sovereignty of God must coexist in human history. The unique spiritual life of the Church Age is extremely important as part of the witness for the Prosecution in the rebuttal phase of Satan’s appeal trial. John 8:32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” Psalm 119:45, “I will seek freedom; for I seek Your doctrines.”
5. Jesus Christ controls history through the preservation of Israel. Our Lord gave Israel fantastic promises that must be fulfilled at a future time. Through three generations of believers in the Old Testament a new racial species was born, Romans 9:7-13, “Neither because they are Abraham's posterity [racial Jews] are all children [of the inheritance], but [a quote from Genesis 21:12) "in Isaac your seed shall be elected. (8) This means that the descendants of the flesh [racial Jews] these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned for the spiritual seed [regenerate Jews]. (9). For the word of the promise [of an heir] is this: [a quote Genesis 18:10] "At this time [the Lord promised to return from the previous year] I will come [to impute blessing] and Sarah will have a son.” (10) And not only this [the previous case history - Isaac, Ishmael], but also Rebecca when she became pregnant from one Isaac, our father. (11) For though the twins had not yet been born, and though they had not accomplished anything good or evil, in order that the predetermined plan of God (the diving decrees) might remain in status quo in relationship to election, not from works but from Him who elects. (12). It was said to her [a quote Genesis 25:23], "The older [Esau] shall be subservient to the younger [Jacob]. (13). Just as it stands written [a quote Malachi 1:2, 3], "I love that Jacob [an anthropopathism for Jacob having believed in Christ], but I hate that Esau [an anthropopathism for Esau’s rejection of Christ]." Because of this, Jesus Christ is called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as per Matthew 22:32,"I am [and keep on being] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob [They are alive in his presence: Exodus 3:6]?” God is not the God of the dead, but of the living [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive and will be given resurrection bodies at the 2nd Advent].” Nations are judged for their anti-Semitism. You cannot malign the Jew and get away with it, just as you cannot reject Bible doctrine and get away with it.
6. Jesus Christ controls history through the preservation of planet earth and the entire universe which He created. Colossians 1:16-17 tells us that Jesus Christ not only created the universe but holds it together and preserves it. In Hebrews1:3a, “Jesus Christ holds the universe together by the word of His power. Who [Jesus Christ] being the radiance of His [God the Father's] glory, and the exact image of His essence [deity of Christ]; furthermore, He sustains all things by the Word of His power.” Hebrews 1:10 tells us that He created the universe. “And, [Psalm102:25-27] ‘In the beginning, O Lord [the deity of Christ], You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.’” Mankind does not have the power to destroy either the earth or the universe. The universe will not be destroyed until the termination of human history and at that time, the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy it as per 2 Peter 3:10-12, “But the day of the Lord [a protracted period: 2nd Advent to the end of the Millennium] will arrive like a thief [suddenly: fear, panic and shock] in which [day] the heavens will vanish with a sudden roar and the elements [chemical structure of the universe] will be dissolved with intense heat [possibly thermal action from nuclear fusion], both the earth and the works [related to the Book of Works, the basis of indictment at the Last Judgment] in it [the earth] will be investigated [a reference to the Last Judgment]. (11) Since all these things are in the process of being dissolved in this manner [the elements: structure of the earth], what kind of people [directed at the believer] ought you be in a dedicated to Godly lifestyle [which will glorify him]. (12) Anticipating and earnestly desiring the coming Day of God [eternal state], because of which the burning heavens will be dissolved and the elements [atomic structure of the universe] will melt [fusion] with intense heat?” The deity of Christ will then create a new universe for the eternal state, 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” Also in Revelation 21:1, “Then, I saw the new heaven and the new earth [Isaiah 65:17] for the first heaven and the first earth were blown away and there was no longer any sea.”
7. Jesus Christ controls history through mature believers. Noah was used to preserve the human race. Abraham was used to start a new racial species. Moses was used to deliver the Jews from slavery and to begin a new Jewish nation. Joseph was used not only to preserve Egypt but also to prevent the starvation of hundreds of thousands and to provide a safe haven for his Jewish family. Rahab was instrumental in helping the Jewish Army enter the Land. God used the Jewish prophets to warn Israel on numerous occasions, and Jewish dictators to deliver Israel. Finally, one should appreciate how the writers of the New Testament impacted history!
8. Jesus Christ controls history. Psalm 46:1, “God is our fortification and security; He is a help in time of adversity.” Psalm 46:2, “For this cause, we will not fear, when the earth is caused to change and when the mountains quake into the heart of the sea.” Psalm 46:5, “Since God is in the middle of her [Jerusalem], she will not totter; the Lord will help her when the morning dawns.” Psalm 46:6-9, a Psalm of the sons of Korah, “The Gentiles [the Assyrian army] will utter their great battle cry; they [the Assyrians] will cause kingdoms to tremble; but He [the Lord] will utter His battle cry, and the earth will be dissolved.” (7), The Lord of the armies is with us; an impregnable fort is the God of Jacob. Selah.” (8) March pass in review and see the performance of the Lord, who has caused desolation in the land?” (9) He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He smashes the bow and cuts in pieces the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.”
9. Degeneracy precedes economic disaster. Economic disaster plus degeneracy leads to violence and the abandonment of the Laws of Divine Establishment. These disasters precede military disaster. We in the United States are presently proceeding through these disasters. Believers will survive but no believer in time of historical disaster survives apart from functioning under God’s plan. So, believers who have rejected the spiritual life are going to die like flies in the upcoming disasters.
Revelation 1:16
And having in His right hand seven stars [faithful Bible teaching pastors]; and a sharp double-edged broadsword came out of His mouth [divine punishment against demonic teaching and worship, immorality, crime, revolution, terrorism, governmental tyranny, evil nations etc.]; and like the sun His overt appearance [in resurrection body] like the sun shines in His power.
καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστέρας ἑπτά, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόµατος αὐτοῦ ῥοµφαία δίστοµος ὀξεῖα ἐκπορευοµένη, καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος φαίνει ἐν τῇ δυνάµει αὐτοῦ.
The provision of a right pastor is one of the more important aspects of logistical grace since doctrinal teaching from the minister is the only way of spiritual growth and momentum in the Christian life. The believer cannot learn doctrine on his own. Perception of doctrine via a prepared pastor must comply with the principles of academic life and discipline, objectivity, humility, teachability and, above all the filling of God the Holy Spirit.
The Rhomphaia, an ancient broadsword always represented divine punishment even military disaster. We will see this in Revelation 2:12 where the Rhomphaia was used for divine discipline against many evils. This is confirmed as divine discipline in Revelation 2:14-16, “But I have a few things against you [the members of the church in Pergamos], because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. (15) So, you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (16) Therefore, change your thinking, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword [Rhomphaia] of My mouth.” At the 2nd Advent, Jesus Christ will strike down the invading armies with a Rhomphaia as per Revelation 19:15, “And [at the 2nd Advent] a sharp broadsword [Rhomphaia] comes out of His mouth, in order that with it [the sword] He should strike down [to kill with great violence from his integrity] the gentile nations [the enemy armies of many nations invading Israel]. Then [after the slaughter of many armies] He will rule them with an iron scepter [crime will be punished by perfect jurisprudence]. And He treads the winepress of the wine [a metaphor for the bloody slaughter of all these soldiers] of the wrath even the anger of God, the Omnipotent One.”
The hope of the individual for salvation and the hope of the world for historical deliverance are both combined in the last part of verse 16. The external appearance of our resurrected Christ in His glorified body is analogous to the sun and the phrase “shining in His power” could be a reference to His prototype spiritual life.
Revelation 1:17
And when I saw Him [the 17th & last appearance in the Church Age] I fell at his feet as though dead [I fainted]. Then, He placed His right hand on me [for assurance and comfort] saying, "Stop being awed [John needs to remove this emotion and begin concentrating]; I am the first and the Last,
Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός· καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπí ἐµὲ λέγων, Μὴ φοβοῦ· ἐγώ εἰµι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος,
The 17 resurrection appearances of the Lord
1. The first appearance of the resurrected Christ was to Mary Magdalene, John 20:11-17, “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; (12) and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. (13) And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. (14) When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. (16) Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). (17) Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
2. The second appearance was to the other women, Matthew 28:5-9, “And the angel answered and said to the women, “Stop fearing, for I know that you seek Jesus [His humanity] who was crucified. (6) He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (7) And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him. Lo, I have told you [I have followed my orders]. (8). And they quickly departed from the tomb with awe [occupied with Christ] and great joy [sharing God’s happiness] and ran [in good condition] to report it to His disciples. (9) But as they were going to report to His disciples, behold, Jesus also met them [2nd appearance], saying, “Hail [greetings]! And they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.”
3. The third appearance was to Peter. He appeared on Sunday afternoon, according to Luke 24:34, “saying, ‘The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.’” 1 Corinthians 15:5, “And that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve [the group was called the “twelve” though it now excluded Judas Iscariot].”
4. The fourth appearance was to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-31, “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. (14) They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. (15) As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; (16) but they were kept from recognizing him. (17) He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. (18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (19) “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. (20) The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; (21) but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. (22) In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning (23) but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. (24) Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus. (25) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? (27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (28) As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. (29) But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them. (30) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.”
5. The fifth appearance was to the ten disciples (Thomas was not there, nor Judas Iscariot), John 20:19, 24, “So when it was evening on that day [on resurrection day], the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Prosperity be with you.” (24) But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.” Also found in Mark 16:14 and Luke 24:36-43.
6. The sixth appearance was to the eleven disciples including Thomas. How he acquired the name ‘Doubting Thomas’ is found in John 20:25, “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” At the sixth appearance, Thomas was present. John 20:26, “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Prosperity be with you.”
7. The seventh appearance was to the seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee, John 21:1-23. These first seven appearances might be classified as personal resurrection appearances to friends and associates.
8. The eighth appearance was to more than five hundred believers, 1 Corinthians 15:6, “After that, He appeared to more than five hundred at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.”
9. The ninth appearance was to James, his stepbrother. 1 Corinthians 15:7, “Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”
10. The tenth appearance was again to the eleven disciples on the Mountain in Galilee, Matthew 28:16-17, “And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had assigned to them [before his death] (17) And when they saw Him, they [the eleven disciples] worshiped Him, but some [other Jewish people in Jerusalem believed the report of the guards] doubted.
11. The eleventh appearance had great historical and doctrinal significance. This appearance was followed by His ascension. Acts 1:9, “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”
The rest of the resurrection appearances were post-ascension where our Lord would leave the right hand of the Father and make an appearance under special conditions. All these appearances ceased after the completion of the book of Revelation.
12. The twelfth appearance was to Stephen, the first and most famous of the martyrs in Acts 7:55, “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God [the Father] and Jesus standing at the right hand of God [the Father].”
13. The thirteenth appearance had great significance, the appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus, the basis for his conversion. This story is told in three different passages in Acts namely Acts 9:3-6; 22:6-11; 26:13-18.
14. The fourteenth appearance of the resurrected Christ was to Paul in Arabia for the purpose of teaching him the spiritual life of the Church Age. Galatians 1:12,17, “For I neither received it [the spiritual life] from man, nor was I taught it [the spiritual life] from man, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ [in Arabia]. (17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me [for an explanation regarding the spiritual life], but I went straight away to Arabia [to be taught by Christ] and returned once more to Damascus.”
15. The fifteenth appearance was to Paul in the Temple in Jerusalem. Acts 22:17-18, “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple that I fell into a trance, (18) and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly because they will not accept your testimony about Me.”
16. The sixteenth appearance was to Paul in the Roman barracks. Acts 23:11, “But on the night immediately following [a Jewish mob trying to kill Paul], the Lord stood at his [Paul’s] side and said, ‘Take courage for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem so you must witness at Rome also.”.
17. The seventeenth and final one was the appearance to John on the Island of Patmos, Revelation 1:12-20.
What John was recording was so fantastic that he was overwhelmed by his emotions and fainted. He didn’t faint from shock because, remember that John has already seen our resurrected Lord on four different occasions. Instead, it was the emotional impact of seeing all these things and so fainting was really like an emotional fuse shutting off.
“The first and the last” is another analogy regarding the Lord’s control of history. As the first he is the author of history, as the last he is the terminator of history. During his first advent, he provided salvation; at His 2nd Advent He begins his Millennial and eternal rule.
Revelation 1:18
And the living One and I [the humanity of Jesus] became dead [substitutional spiritual death followed by his somatic death], now see, I [the humanity of Christ] am alive forever and ever [in resurrection body], furthermore I have the keys of death [the Lord chooses the place, manner and the time of the believer’s death but the believer chooses which key the Lord will use whether it be the key of dying grace or the sin unto death] and the keys of Hades [Each unbeliever chooses and receives his own key that, as it were, opens the gates of Hades, a place of torment for the unbeliever before the second resurrection and final judgment].
καὶ ὁ ζῶν, καὶ ἐγενόµην νεκρὸς καὶ ἰδοὺ ζῶν εἰµι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, καὶ ἔχω τὰς κλεῖς τοῦ θανάτου καὶ τοῦ ᾅδου.
The key goes with the volition of every individual. The issue here is volition. The Lord says: “I have the keys.” Each one of us has a key related to our volition. We were created with freewill to make decisions for or against God. The angelic conflict is resolved by the fact that the human soul possesses freewill, the only thing it had in common with the angelic creation. Therefore, the keys are plural because a key goes to each volition. Your use of positive volition unlocks many doors which glorifies God and give you great blessing and happiness in life. Positive volition experientially is related to your making good decision under the two power options. Negative volition is related to your residence and function in the cosmic system. Your attitude toward doctrine is the determining factor as far as everything is concerned.
Hades is merely a place where unbelievers go after they die. The unbeliever by rejecting the two gifts namely imputed righteousness and eternal life which one receives by believing in Christ, chooses the key which opens the gates to Hades.
Revelation 1:19
“Therefore, write the things which you are about to see both the things which are [the trends of the Church Age: chapters 2-3], and the things which will take place [the rest of human history] after these things [the historical trends of the Church Age].
γράψον οὖν ἃ εἶδες καὶ ἃ εἰσὶν καὶ ἃ µέλλει γενέσθαι µετὰ ταῦτα.
Revelation 1:20
“As for the mystery of the seven stars [not known in the Old Testament] which you have seen on My right hand [royal approval and delegated authority], and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the messengers [pastors] of the seven churches [in Asia Minor], and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
τὸ µυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων οὓς εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς µου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς· οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσιν, καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι αἱ ἑπτὰ ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσίν.
The stars give-out light just as good ministers communicate the light of the Word. Churches where Bible doctrine is taught and mastered are golden lampstands which bring light to the world. In summary, the stars send out light from heaven. The lamp stand sends out light from the burning fuel of Bible doctrine and sheds true light upon the events of history.
