This
manuscript (draft e-June, 1995) was transcribed from a paper written by
Livingstone Fagan, a student of David Koresh, and of the Seven Seals of the Book
of Revelation. It is the author's wish for this manuscript be copied and passed
on free of charge to all who are interested in the truth, providing it is
reproduced in its entirety. Forward any comments, or requests to the
transcriber via E-mail to: [email deleted for privacy reasons] or write Mark
Swett, [address deleted for privacy reasons].
What is a
man, but his beliefs. What is his beliefs, but the judgments he makes on the
things he sees. What is the strength of his beliefs, but the clarity by which
he sees. Where be his seeing; the spirit of his mind or sight of his eyes? The
Seven Seals reveal the mystery of God, a truth imperceptible to the eyes of the
body. God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and
in truth.
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. Mt. Carmel: Out Of The Ashes
2. Sealed With Seven Seals
3. Salvation And The Book Of Revelation
4. "And I Saw When The Lamb Opened One Of The Seals..."
5. The Decoded Message of the Seven Seals by David Koresh; Summary And
Conclusion
6. "Mt. Carmel: The Unseen Reality" Appendix A
7. Appendix B
8. Intuition - The Emerging Soul
It has been
several months now, since the events of Mt. Carmel and the deaths of those whom
I have loved. Since March of 1993, I have experienced life on a number of jail
cells across the State of Texas. As a continuation of the injustice practiced
against us, we were also made to endure this governments shameful attempt to
hide its atrocities through the judicial process. For seven weeks, we were
dragged through the courts, shackled hands and feet. By courtesy of the
electronic media, we were paraded before the world, humiliated, demonized and
lied about. Although judged and convicted, I remain unconvinced of any guilt. In
my soul I am continually reminded of my innocence, and the innocence of my
family and friends who were there with me. We have become part of the
continuing story of justice undone. Since the dawn of time, the endurance by
the just of the injustice of the unjust. Another case for the statute books,
showing the frailty of the judgments of men separated from a knowledge of God.
In his
humanity, mankind beholds the evils he perpetuates. Through his conscience he
is reminded of its evilness. But his heart fails him of the will and power to
do good. Justice is left undone. In his fearfulness of pending judgment he
hides his guilt. But he remains insecure in his hiding places.
With each
passing day I am reminded how transient our experience here really is. The
onset of age, the sights of death etches in the chambers of the mind, how
little control we hold over the body and its life. In our exasperation we seek
solace in engulfing ourselves in what we call living. Getting on with life, for
time is too short to think about it. But we are not comforted. For after the
body has received its fill, the soul cries out for satisfaction. The utterances
of the past, that once satisfied, are now worn out empty phrases. Like vomit
offered before us. We have grown! Experience has pushed us beyond that which we
were. We have become, and require new forms, material and abstract, capturing
and expressing that which we now are. Comforting us in our birth pains and
inspiring us in our newly emerging hopes and dreams.
My desire and
will to pursue what was once of interest, has been steadily sucked from me. I
now live and breathe the truth of the Seven Seals and the future it envisions.
A future according to the will of God. We have seen it, tasted it, now nothing
else will do. The plans of the UN government are unworkable. The scars we bear
from the shortcomings of the family, local and national governmental
institutions, remain as witnesses to the fact, that mankind cannot govern
himself. To seek to collectively govern billions of people can only end in
disaster. Evidently, the lessons of history along with present observations,
continue to be ignored. Right was the testimony of the prophet Jeremiah;
The heart is
deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah
17:9)
Further;
O Lord, I know
that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walketh to direct
his step. (Jeremiah 10:23)
This present
external reality in all its forms, material and abstract, is but an irritating
distraction from the truth of my soul. My interaction with this reality has
become one of necessity, and a want not to offend. At best it has become
burdensome. I contend with God daily, to bring this nightmare humans call
living to its conclusion. My contention reaches to the point of bartering my
souls salvation. I find myself at a place in my spiritual journey, where losing
my soul and ceasing to exist, offers itself as a more preferable alternative
than to remain in the body, albeit with the knowledge of God. I hate the flesh
with a passion. In this state of mind, it is a constant source of irritation
having to interact with minds still confined to thoughts arising out of the
fleshly concerns. It calls forth much patience to endure. In my present
circumstances I am left little choice.
My situation
intensifies as my mind expands, deepening its grasp of the knowledge of God and
His Christ. I am powerless to stop this process, designed to restore the soul
after the divine order. On the one hand I love it passionately, on the other I
hate it with a vengeance. My being present in the flesh, is the source of this
hatred. It arises from the pain experienced by the mind of the flesh, as it is
pressed out of existence, being replaced by the mind of the Spirit. Conversely,
my love for it arises out of the greater good envisioned in the mind of the
Spirit. One vision of reality with its hopes and dreams, being replaced by
another far greater. It is not always easy to give up that which one has
dedicated so much energy and effort to, let alone ones entire perception of
reality. Nevertheless, from time to time such requirements do occur. The love
of wisdom and understanding, leaves one little choice, but to adjust ones
perceptions.
I know of a
certainty, that I am a recipient of Gods saving work for this generation. The
knowledge and spirit of the Seven Seals attest to this fact. Consequently, I
take pleasure in the knowledge He is acting on my behalf for my ultimate
advantage, in spite of the cost to myself. I am further comforted by my being
able to communicate something of the truths I speak, albeit limited. Thus far,
experience has taught me, the limitations of contemporary thought perceptions,
and the near absence of genuine faith in this late twentieth century. As a
matter of fact, it has been quite a challenge, finding minds that can
intelligently consider the issues our faith raises for the present religious
consciousness. Granted, many have been moved by its demonstration and effect,
in bringing to light significant issues relative to church and civil
government.
In writing
this book, it has been challenging to find suitable language, in which to house
the spirit of Mt. Carmel. Its effective communication, in lieu of the high cost
of lives, has been something of a sacred concern to me. I have come to
appreciate experientially true freedom. It is of inestimably greater value than
life in this body of death. I dedicate this book to the many who have awakened
to the knowledge of this most precious of all divine gifts. Some have shown
their awakening through the sacrifice of their lives for a higher purpose.
Others, through suffering incarceration for its principles. Others still yet,
by refusing to be insulted in the belief that, access to materialism enabling
the satisfaction of the lusts of the body, constitutes freedom. We refuse to
submit our integrity as beings, created in the image of God, to that of base
man-made forms, material and abstract. They are there to serve us, and not us
them. We continue to hold to the ultimate justice of the supreme God. Hoping in
his soon coming Kingdom and reign here on earth. May our hopes be soon realized
and with it the destruction of all wickedness and corruption, and those who
perpetuate such.
I make
particular mention of my family and friends at Mt. Carmel. In the short time we
are apart whether by death or distance, I honor the memory. Also to the many
friends I have come to know since these events, I salute your virtue. May our
friendship be as enduring as God, and equally as rewarding.
Mt. Carmel:
Out of the Ashes
In my
experience of this justice system, in the wake of events at Mt. Carmel, I am
left in no doubts, that the judicial process no longer serves justice. It has
in fact bowed, to the service of the political economy. I have further come to
appreciate experientially, the fallacy of the commonly held belief, that
governmental administration is a vehicle for the will of the people. In writing
this book, I bypass the judicial process of appeal, and appeal directly to the
good citizens of this nation.
To many the
spirit of Mt. Carmel, expressed in the book Sealed with Seven Seals of the book
of Revelation, remains a mystery. In their observations, they see the material
events which occurred on February 28th, through April 19th of 1993. These
events they judge in the spirit of their own minds. Many correctly conclude,
that something seriously amiss took place. But beyond these judgments there
exist a deeper meaning. It is my hope that by saturating the pages of this
book, with the spirit and purpose of Mt. Carmel, many might catch a vision of
what hitherto has been a mystery. Further, they might be brought to a place in
their consciousness, where they can see the future envisioned by GOD.
It is a fact
of reality, that freedom begins at the level of the soul. Being free to think
and act in harmony with ones self. To be so disposed is further dependent, on
the persons ability to think and make sound truthful judgments. This ability,
arises out of a heart faithful to sound spiritual truths, as they exist in the
mind of God and not in the imagination of self-serving and corrupt men.
Essentially we are all children of God. Being aware of this heritage, we are
free to pursue His will for us or pursue the imagination of our now corrupt
hearts. Many have chosen the latter, the results of which we see everyday
around us. The innocent and the defenseless become the victims, being forced to
honor their integrity at a cost to their lives. Mt. Carmel was just such a case
in point.
Based in the
authority of the Word of God, an authority claimed acknowledgment in the
Constitution of this nation, it is considered the right and obligation of all
men to pursue God. Further, to pursue Him in the way shape or form, He should
choose, He be pursued. Is this not a sacred trust, that no institution of man,
has the right to infringe? Mt. Carmel was established for the pursuit of just
such a purpose. On February 28th 1993, under the guise of serving a search
warrant, this right, was unlawfully challenged. A challenge subsequently met
with a response, arising out of conscientious obligation.
It is not my
intention or purpose at this stage, to contend with peoples uninformed opinions
and misguided judgments regarding the conduct and actions of David Koresh. But
rather, to focus on significant information, placing the events of Mt. Carmel,
in the spirit and perspective of its residents. The propaganda disseminated by
this government, in its effort to disguise it's immoral actions, has left much
confusion in the minds of many. Significantly, this propaganda sought to
sensationalize certain accusations made against us regarding our beliefs and
conduct. It will be seen that the government totally disregarded our efforts to
address these issues. It ignored the evidence of our previous cooperation with
the authorities. Above all, it totally ignored our position of faith, the
premise from which our actions and behavior could clearly be shown to be of
God. The fact that such propaganda had to be employed in the first place, is to
me clear proof the government had no real legal justification to mount such an
attack. I remain convinced that the government was operating from a hidden
agenda, for which it employed the cover of law and propaganda, to conceal. It
will be seen from a basic introduction to our beliefs that this government is
bogus and lacking of the divine mandate for its rule.
Against this
background and knowledge of the will of God contained in the Seven Seals one
will be better placed to understand the reasons behind the events of Mt.
Carmel.
Since these
events, I have been comforted in the knowledge that, inspite of the propaganda,
there were some who were not fooled. As a matter of fact, the actions of the
government, merely served to confirm in their minds, the extent of governmental
corruption and control over the minds of the American people. This information
is available on record. Therefore, it can be checked for its accuracy and
detail.
The historical
context of Mt. Carmel is well documented. Consequently I shall not waste much
time by covering familiar ground. Only to say that, for many years Mt. Carmel
was a place where people came from many parts of the world, for serious pursuit
of the scriptures. The Center had been graced by the presence of a succession of
inspired teachers. Although they might not have been recognized as such by the
wider religious establishment, they were nevertheless respected and were left
alone in their pursuit. The Constitution afforded a measure of protection.
Through these teachers, much insights were gained into the many truths of the
scriptures. In time, these truths became part of the culture of the Mt. Carmel
residents. As a matter of fact the way Mt. Carmel was organized, was really no
different from a monastery. The prototype to your modern day theological
seminary. The basic difference being, Mt. Carmel was concerned not with a
theory of religion and God, but rather, the reality. We were deadly serious
about God.
My initial
involvement with Mt. Carmel began in late summer of 1988. At the time I was a
theology student at a seminary in England, pursuing a Masters degree. David
visited the campus, conducting some unscheduled studies on the nature of God
and Salvation. Shortly before he concluded, I had the opportunity to hear a couple
of his studies. This was approximately three hours in total. During that short
time, I had perceived more significant biblical truths than I had done, the
entire eight years I had been involved with organized religion. Admittedly, my
background knowledge of theological issues, provided me with a significant
advantage.
Following the
completion of my course of studies, in December of that year, I visited the
United States, on a tour of some Seventh Day Adventist institutions. This was the
church organization I belonged to at that time. I also took the opportunity of
visiting Mt. Carmel, a response to an invitation David had given while he was
in England. I was further able to hear more of what he had to say from the
scriptures. My interest continued to develop. It is important to note that, we
were dealing with an highly intelligent and systematic inquiry into the text of
scripture. After spending four weeks in the United States I returned home to
England. I made several additional trips to Mt. Carmel, of varying duration,
prior to April 1992. At each visit the subject of study intensified. By April
1992, I felt it necessary to return to America on an extended stay, in order to
keep pace with the truths being revealed. This may not be understood by all,
but the concept of a continuing revelation of truth is entirely biblical.
On this last
visit, culminating in the attack on Mt. Carmel, my wife, children, mother and
cousin, visited also. They too, had developed a strong interest and wanted to
pursue this interest further. Previously they had visited on a couple of
occasions. They attested to their faith, by their deaths in the fire of April
19th. On this last visit, approximately six months into our study, it was in
our opinion impossible to leave without doing damage to our grasp of this
continuing revelation of truth. We therefore decided to stay. It is important
to note, the purpose of Mt. Carmel was the pursuit of truth.
Sometime
around January 1993, we began discussing arrangements for returning to England.
By February, the events of which the scriptures spoke, began to manifest
themselves more clearly. By the end of the month they had culminated into the
full blown attack, witnessed by the world, on February 28th. From that time to
the present I have been falsely incarcerated by this government, in its effort
to cover its misdeeds. This account is typical of how many of us became
fortunate enough, to have had opportunity of direct contact with David Koresh
and Mt. Carmel.
As a center for
serious biblical studies, Mt. Carmel was designed for purposes of holistically
transcending, this present artificial and sensory based consciousness. The
perceiving of the truths of the Seven seals, demanded it. This concept is
neither new, or is it foreign to scriptures. Consider the following comments
and experiences recorded in scripture: 2Peter 1:16, 20-21; Romans 16:25-26;
Acts 9:1-6; 1Corinthians 2; Revelation 1:9-17; 4:1ff; 22:8; 10:7; 1John 1:1-4;
Hosea 12:10; Daniel 2:19; 7:1ff; 8:1ff; 9:20-22; 10:1-7; Isaiah 1:1; 6: 1-8;
Jeremiah 1:1-4; Ezekiel 1:1-3; 8:1-3; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1-2; 2; Jonah 1:1;
Micah 1:1, 2. These men were not telling stories. They gave accurate accounts
of their encounters with the supernatural. It is our choice to believe or reject
their claims. The whole nation of Israel experienced such an encounter. The
height of which, under the leadership of Moses. In these encounters they were
forced to go beyond the common experience of the mind. Today we read about
these experiences, but we would be mistaken to conclude that reading about them
constitutes comprehending them. At best, our experience is but a belief that,
what is recorded is in fact true.
The
transcendence of the sensory based human perceptions, opens the mind to hearing
God in the light, or context of God. This is in contrast to interpreting God,
in the light of ourselves. The thoughts of God are not as human thoughts. We
are dealing with an entirely different spectrum of thinking (Isaiah 55:6-9;
1Corinthians 2:7-16). Appreciating Gods thinking requires man to go beyond
himself.
Mt. Carmel was
designed of heaven for purposes of accomplishing the above transcendence. This
process is distinctly identified in scriptures as, the 'quickening.' Through
this process, God accomplishes His recreative work on the mind. Note the
following references on this subject: Ephesians 2:1, 4, 5; I Corinthians 15:
45-47; Isaiah 11:1-4; Psalm 1:1-3; 119:27, 35, 40, 48, 50, 68, 78, 93, 99, 107,
159, 154, 156, 159, 172. It involves choice experiences and an extensive grasp
of the scriptural text. Further, honesty and openness, with a willingness to
relinquish all human aspirations. All of this takes place in an atmosphere of
faith. Finally, and most important, inspiration, direct divine intervention. By
these experiences, the residents of Mt. Carmel, were able to hear God's word,
while blocking out the artificial noise of humanity. This is what the
government labeled brainwashing, and the judge at our trial, termed fanaticism!
No, the truth is, it is the world that is brainwashed.
Human sensory
perceptions, have a electro-chemical basis. Through the electronic media,
peoples thought perceptions have become artificially shaped and manipulated, by
the merchants of the earth for profit. A person is programmed according to the
information he receives. This information forms the basis of his thinking and
subsequent judgments. Through the electronic media, radio and television etc.,
the government did a brainwashing job on its people. By controlling and manipulating
the information people received regarding Mt. Carmel, the government sought to
maintain control over peoples thinking and judgments. Further, by labeling the
residents at Mt. Carmel as brainwashed, along with all the other tactical
language it employed, the government was able to shield its own brainwashing
tactics on its people, from its people.
Similarly, by
placing the bogus charges of conspiracy against the survivors, it was able to
shield its own conspiracy. It is necessary to transcend the bounds of these
mind games, to properly appreciate what is going on. These are ingeniously
simple, but effective techniques of deception. The electronic media, has made
it possible to deceive and manipulate, countless numbers of people. Being so
pervasive, it is almost impossible to be subject to it without being affected
by its deceptive influence. People are constantly being led to believe they are
thinking for themselves, making their choices, when in fact, they are being
manipulated.
With regards
to the truth of Mt. Camel, the government, by perpetrating such a crime,
demonstrated the depths of its moral degradation and corruption. That section
of the citizenry, that willingly swallowed this deception, also demonstrated
the state of its morality. There are those who want to cover themselves in
deception. They love the soul destroying sins they practice, and desire to be
left alone in these habits. Deception is a way of shielding them from the
painful light of truth, concerning what they do.
Our experience
at Mt. Camel, is typical of those who have sought God wholeheartedly in the
past. They certainly did not conform to the popular life styles and thinking of
their day. The process of the 'quickening' is designed to bring the mind into
harmony, with the divine nature. This has been referred to as what constitutes
salvation. (2Peter 1:1-4; Hebrews 12:1-10; Psalms 119:9, 40, 172, 173, 174;
Isaiah 28: 9-13; 55:3, 4, 7-10; Ezekiel 20:33-38).
The public are
generally unaware of, the numerous efforts that were made by the residents of
Mt. Carmel, to prevent this attack. Through the testimony and spirit of the
prophetic scriptures, we were informed several years before that, an attack
would be launched against us. This attack would occur because of the position
of faith and thinking we held. From the above one can begin to see the impact
of this thinking, in appraising us of the governments deceptions and corrupt
practices. Also its impact in equipping one to forcibly resist the governments
encroachment upon ones person. In any event, this foreknowledge was employed,
in a succession of efforts to avert this attack against us, through peaceful
means. The limits of these efforts did not include surrendering our faith and
thinking. This was non-negotiable. The significance of this will become
increasingly apparent as we proceed.
While it is
true that, we were aware of the fact they were coming, even before they knew
they were coming, it was not inevitable that events had to end the way they
did. The final outcome was contingent on, our adversaries response to our
efforts to communicate our position of faith. It will be clearly seen that, all
our efforts were ignored. Evidently the government wanted its deception, both
for itself and its people.
In spite of
what has been reported, much goodwill had been established between the Mt.
Carmel residents and the Waco community. This included the sheriffs office. In
the interest of brevity, I shall confine my focus directly to the federal
authorities. Our first encounter with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, (BATF) was in the latter part of 1992. Two agents visited the dealers
premises from whom David purchased his guns. Their stated purpose was to
inspect his sales records. While they were there on the premises, the dealer
contacted David by phone, informing him of their presence and interest in the
purchases he had made. David told him, to tell them, to come to the Mt. Carmel
premises, where they can physically inspect his purchases. This invitation was
flatly rejected. We were later informed, the agents said, they did not want to
do it that way! This is significant, since the BATF places heavy emphasis, on
the inspection of David's guns, as justification for their actions on February
28th 1993. It seems evident to me, they had other ideas in their minds, than
just the inspection of guns. As a matter of fact, their deceitful intentions
became increasingly clear when the undercover operation was set up. They were
looking for a prey. In any event, David took the opportunity of faxing his gun
purchase receipts to the dealer, for the purposes of assisting the agents with
their inquiry. This was to be the beginning of a number of attempts to
communicate with the Feds, that were to be ignored.
In January
1993, approximately two months before the attack against the Mt. Carmel
property, the BATF had set up, what is now generally known as the surveillance
house. This was located opposite the Mt. Carmel center. The agents posed as,
students attending a local college. Some of the men from Mt. Carmel had on an
occasion visited the house, as a welcome gesture to our new neighbors. Adjacent
to this house was another neighbor, whom we had frequently visited, and who
also visited with us. As a matter of fact he had lived in the house these
agents were now occupying. When he moved to the adjacent house, we assisted him
and his family to redecorate, at expense to ourselves. Our contacts with the
agents on this occasion was also rejected. Nevertheless an invitation was left
for them to visit us. One agent did in fact visit, and on a few occasions, part
of the undercover operation. By this time, it was becoming increasingly clear
that, these people were not being truthful with us. Nevertheless we cordially
accepted their visits. While on our premises he participated in our bible
studies, and also practiced shooting, on a makeshift shooting range at the rear
of the building.
It was hoped
that by his participation in the bible studies, he might understand something
of the nature and importance of our beliefs, and our commitment to God. Much
time, experience, and an extensive grasp of the biblical text, had gone into
the establishment of our faith. Likewise, it required more than a casual
acquaintance with us, to properly understand where we're coming from. It was
our hope that, by introducing this agent to our faith, he might communicate its
authenticity to his superiors. It was felt that, since they were not listening
to us they might listen to one of their own. The studies continued through the
latter half of February, to literally minutes before the attack. I later
learned, he did in fact seek to communicate with his superiors, but he too was
ignored. Further, after the attack ended in disaster, he was snubbed by his
colleagues. He felt a need to hire an attorney. It is important to note that,
during his visits with us, he was treated with the utmost courtesy. I remember
this agent testifying in the courtroom that, during the closing minutes before
the attack, he feared for his life. That fear could not have been from any
action on our part. David extended to him that morning, the same hospitality he
had always done. When he was leaving, we shook his hand calling him by his
first name and wishing him good luck. He went to his vehicle and drove off. In
my opinion, the fear he felt arose out of a knowledge of the deceitful
intentions of the BATF, in planning to attack us. Knowing we were aware of
their intentions, he probably expected some retaliation, beginning with
himself. We had no such intentions. Their evil thoughts were not ours. We were
seeking to stop this attack, not fuel it. But we were nevertheless prepared to
defend ourselves if the need arose. That need did arise. In retrospect, it is
right that he should be paranoid, they were about to perpetrate a sacrilegious
and criminal act under the garb of carrying out the law.
So then, this
effort also failed, but we did not end there. When the cattle trailers, which
were filled with fully armed agents arrived, David opened the front door unarmed,
to meet with these agents. He stated there were women and children in the
building and we needed to talk about this. It was then he sustained gunshot
wounds to the hand and side. Much was happening at this time. The helicopters
were round the back of the building firing. There was a team on the roof trying
to break in. Inside, the residents of Mt. Carmel. were orientating themselves
to what was happening. After his being wounded, the front door was slammed
shut. The sounds of gunfire increased in intensity. Interestingly, the BATF via
the media, would have the public believe, David opened the door snickered, shut
the door and the residents of Mt. Carmel began firing. To use an English
phrase, this is 'poppycock'! The BATF have not only shown itself to be
incompetent, but also possessed of a highly fictitious imagination. A possible
relic from their former days of glory. In any event, risking his life, David
had once again sought to communicate to these agents, but again was ignored.
Once more our
efforts to stop this attack did not stop there. As an indication of our
defensive intent, it was seconds into the attack on us, that the attorney Wayne
Martin contacted 911, in an effort to call a cease-fire. Its implementation was
delayed for at least 10 minutes. It was during this period of time that most of
the casualties were sustained. The delay in establishing the cease-fire,
resulted from the BATF's poorly thought out system of communication. The
dispatcher had to go through numerous obstacles before making contact with the
command center and then the field units. This was in spite of the fact that he
was previously appraised of the attack. When the cease- fire was finally
established we allowed them to come and remove their injured requesting no
assistance for our own. Just prior to this we had allowed them to leave our
land, during which, no further harm came to them. In the ensuing siege against
us, our efforts to stop the tragedy escalating continued. It was evident that
these agents were angry, they had just received a major blow to their pride and
arrogancy. This was fueled further by the fact that the FBI was called in to
take over operations. Through the negotiations we sought to draw attention to
what we had been trying to draw attention to, all along. The significance of
our position of faith. Doubtless, there is a supreme authority called God.
Being subject to that authority, all other authorities become insignificant. We
tried to tell them this as nicely as possible, but to no avail. The FBI would
have the public believe David controlled the minds of the residents at Mt.
Carmel. Interestingly, who controlled David? Who controlled the FBI, the ATF
and all the other agencies involved in this? We know one thing, we were not
under their control! As a matter of fact, we were under the mandate of the
Divine will. Whether or not people chose to believe this is simply their
choice. It really makes little difference to us. We know what we know and
believe what we believe. In the final analysis, there is a God who sits on a
throne, to whom we will all have to answer to. Throughout the siege they
continued to ignore us, responding to us with contempt. We were made to suffer
successive acts of torture and aggression. In the process misrepresented in the
media, in an effort to cover up and justify their murderous actions against us.
Not only our
efforts were ignored, but also that of others. During the siege, noted
theologians, such as Dr. James Tabor of North Carolina University, and Dr.
Philip Arnold of the Reunion Institute, in Houston, offered advice on matters
of the Spirit. Additionally, there was their own behavioral scientist. They too
were ignored. These agents demonstrated a level of ignorance and contempt for
the scared and the innocent, that can only be described as devilish.
We were
ignored by a defacto government, who sees through its eyes only. A government
who refused to take our position of faith seriously, and by what authority?
They called us a cult, demonizing us, yet they knew us not. They characterized
David as some vile maniac. They became victims of their own propaganda.
It is true, we
did have guns on the premises. It is also true that, these guns were deployed
during the attack against us. But this was because we had no alternative. Our lives
were in danger and our faith challenged. Further. our efforts to avoid this
predicament were ignored. Our use of these guns were with restraint and
strictly defensive. It is tragic that people were harmed, but were our
intentions anything but defensive, the death toll would have been much higher.
In defense of our faith and position, we were willing to fight to the last man.
Some have
argued that, these were policing agents, suggesting the residents of Mt. Carmel
should have responded to their demands without question! I find this sheepish
line of reasoning quite remarkable. These people show little understanding of
matters of spirit and conscience. What about the authority of God? Do they
suppose God sanctioned the actions of these agents. Of a certainty, we do not
recognize them or their superiors as Gods. The police are not beyond the realms
of corruption and abuse of their delegated authority. This is not the first
time these government agents have acted in this matter. Many may recall the
Randy Weaver Murders.
Significantly,
after burning our home and killing our people, they had the audacity to raise
their flags on our flag pole. Additionally, take pictures of themselves, with
the still flaming building of Mt. Carmel in the background. The bodies of men,
women, babes and sucklings, being consumed by the flames. Their ideal of
conquest, these people are gutless cowards. It is a painful truth, coming to
the realization that, this generation has become irretrievably desensitized to
evil. This being true, nobody is safe.
Our children's
deaths have been a source of soul stirring for many. Largely because they fear
for their own. I have heard many voices of complaint directed at the residents
of Mt. Carmel as a consequence. These people have no knowledge whatsoever,
about our children. Children have been suffering and dying throughout the world
for years. How much concern have these people shown to them. What contributions
have they made to improve the lot of humanity, lightening its burden, and at
what cost to themselves! Personally I remain unconvinced by their pretentious,
fleshly morality and concerns. In my view such a morality arises out of a
selfish and deceitful heart. The residents of Mt. Carmel are fully persuaded of
Gods approval of their actions. The faithfulness to truth, of these courageous
self sacrificing men, women, babes and sucklings stands as a witness against
this generation. No amount of mental gymnastics on the part of those who would
seek to hide from this reality, is going to change the fact. There is simply no
excuse. Our children are highly honored in heaven where it really matters. It
is my hope that, our sacrifice may jolt the conscience of some, to the end they
might give greater consideration to their souls final destiny.
The ignorance
and arrogance displayed by the government, resulting in this tragedy, did not
end on the field of Mt. Carmel. It was to continue in the court. The trial
lasted approximately seven weeks. We were escorted daily to and from the
courthouse by motorcade, our hands and feet shackled during the process. On top
of what we had already been through, this was an extraordinarily demanding
ordeal.
In the trial
itself, the government sought to cover itself in numbers. Over two hundred
witnesses were planned. They also placed heavy emphasis on the number of guns
that were at Mt. Carmel. This tactic amounted to a diversion from the real
issues. As a matter of fact, these diversionary tactics were characteristic of
the governments action throughout this whole episode. Such was the surveillance
house, the cattle trailers filled with fully armed hoodlums posing as agents,
the helicopters, the control of the, the tank attacks against the Mt. Carmel
buildings, that was not supposed to be attacks; the list goes on. Eventually
these diversionary ploys developed into outright lies. These too became a
matter of the numbers game. I suppose the government operated on the premise,
the more lies told the greater the likelihood people will believe them.
Nevertheless,
through the testimony of their own witnesses, the BATF showed they conspired
together for the sole purpose of mounting an attack against innocent civilians.
During this process, they trained with the use of live fire and supported by
specialized military personnel. They gave no consideration whatsoever to the
concerns, fears, hopes, or wishes of the people they were targeting. As a
matter of fact, based on the faulty intelligence these people were acting on,
we were already tried and convicted. The attack against us was merely the
execution. Further, no consideration was given to the possibility of something
going wrong. When it did they continued regardless, endangering the lives of
their own agents in addition to the lives of the people they were targeting. I
question, who do these people think they are, and by what authority do they do
these things.
I am not an
American citizen, but I am not un-American. In my understanding of the
Constitution, assuming it to be still in force, it is the right of the citizens
of this nation, not to be subject to unreasonable search and seizure. I don't
believe it takes much intelligence to conclude that, approximately 100 fully
armed agents, 3 military styled helicopters, plus all that hardware that came
against us, constitutes unreasonable search and seizure. This was not a
fictitious movie you watch on television, sitting in the comfort of your living
room, it was reality. Perhaps this nation has lost the ability to differentiate
between reality and fantasy, and appreciate the different responses required of
the two. The fact that the element of surprise was knowingly lost, yet the
attack took place regardless, is definitive proof of unreasonable search and
seizure. Through the testimony of their own witnesses, we are informed that the
planners of this attack, relied heavily on the element of surprise being
present, for any reasonable expectation of success. By reverse logic, one must
conclude that, the absence of this element, significantly reduces or removes
altogether any reasonable expectation of success. To know that the element of
surprise was lost, yet proceed regardless, cannot be excused as an accident. It
can either be seen as a deliberate intention to commit murder, or a flagrant
display of arrogance at the expense of peoples lives. In any event both are
inexcusable. The fact that we are here dealing with human lives, the executing
of such an attack, with or without this element of surprise, should never have
occurred in the first place. The real truth is, we were attacked by a bunch of
hoodlums under the covof bogus laws. Through the surrender of their
conscientious judgment for monetary gain, these agents became instrumental in
bringing about this murderous conspiracy. The fact that they were at fault, has
been significantly attested to, by the disciplinary actions taken against the
agents responsible. Incidentally none of these agents had the courage to
testify at the trial. Additionally, those who did clearly showed they had
conspired together in the testimony they brought before the court. In my
opinion, the action taken against these agents is not a show of disapproval for
their wrongs, but rather for executing this wrong unsuccessfully. It also
represents an attempt to appease the public, an insult to the intelligence of
the American people.
Against the
background of the above, it is extremely difficult for me to justify why myself
and my colleagues, were the ones put on trial. The evidence arising from the
way the trial was conducted leaves me no choice but to conclude that, this is
an attempt by the government to cover up its corruption. Evidently, the
mentality exists that, agents of the government and therefore the government,
can do no wrong and are not answerable to the criminal legal process. This
situation conveniently shields the government from a public exposure of its
corruption. It is significant that what cases have slipped through the net,
have done just that. The trial of myself and my colleagues, has served to
highlight that the justice system is the subject of manipulation by the
government for its own self preservation and political ends.
So then, my
experience of the trial has left me convinced that the same misguided judgment,
of the BATF and FBI resulting in the tragedy of Mt. Carmel, was repeated in the
courtroom. The judicial process also, lacked the necessary competence to judge
matters of the spirit. Additionally, there were significant aspects of the
legal practice, which were highly questionable. With regards to this last
point. The prosecuting attorneys were involved with the raid planning, yet they
played a significant role in determining the indictments and in the subsequent
trial. The head of the Justice Department, Janet Reno, was also involved with
the attack. The D.A.'s office is ultimately responsible to the Justice
Department. Evidently, the government has the potential power, to arbitrarily
decide who will be indicted and who will not. This state of affairs enables it
to cover its mistakes at the expense of the people.
At the conclusion
of the trial, I was found not guilty of the original conspiracy charges
unjustly brought against me, an evident blow to the government. However, I was
found guilty of aiding and abetting involuntary manslaughter. Also, the
possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime. The crime was with
reference to the original conspiracy charges. I was subsequently sentenced to
40 years and over $250,000 fine. How these two latter charges tie together, let
alone relate to the evidence, remains a mystery to me. Significantly my
original indictment did not include aiding and abetting involuntary
manslaughter. It included the conspiracy and weapons charges. Inoluntary
manslaughter was added by the defense attorneys, in consultation with the judge
and prosecution. Further, this was done after myself and my colleagues had
agreed to rest our case. Being convinced there was no conspiracy and the
evidence of the trial did not support a conspiracy, we did not think it
necessary to take the stand. Our attorneys acted on their own without
consulting or consent from us, by including the charge of voluntary
manslaughter. As a matter of fact, I specifically told my attorney not to alter
the original indictment. It is important to also note that, when the jury returned
the verdict of not guilty on the original charge of conspiracy, the weapons
charge, being contingent on the conspiracy charge, should have been dropped.
The judge did in fact rule to drop this additional charge, but later reneged on
this decision. In my judgment these are legitimate issues of judicial
misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel. It was clearly evident in the
trial that the attorneys were subject to the judge, who controls the court. To
trust ones attorney essentially means, to be subject to, and therefore to trust
the judge. That, the judge had taken the governments position was blatantly
obvious from the outset. What transpired at this trial was merely an attempt,
at the appearance of justice. Even then, the judge did an extremely
unprofessional job, and so the incompetence continues. As noted earlier, we are
not dealing with justice, but rather, the interest of the political economy.
The judges
conduct with the jury was also a matter of great concern. It is noteworthy,
that a significant number of the jury were pro-gun control. They were also
misguided by the judge. The jury foreperson wrote a letter to the judge stating
this, in addition tearfully repeated this on national television.
In the face of
all this, how can it be said that justice has been done. Why should I be forced
to address these blatant injustices in the judicial process, through an appeal.
Could it be that, what we have here is nothing but another industry. There
seems to be a clear vested interest in maintaining an unjust judicial system.
Between the courts and the prison system, a tremendous amount of money is
generated. Most certainly, the attorneys are happy about it.
The sentencing
phase of the trial was also of great interest. Washing his hand of responsibility
for his actions, in his opening statement, the judge blamed the people via the
jury and congress, for what he was about to do and why!
During this
process, he remarked concerning our commitment of faith, this fanaticism is
difficult to understand! In the pretrial hearing he had ruled out issues of our
faith and rights under the constitution. It is no wonder he made the above
comment. Further analysis reveals this comment to be illogical. How can he in
one breath define our commitment as fanatical, while in the same breath state
he does not understand it? One cannot label something accurately without first
understanding it. Moreover, by stating he does not understand it how can it be
said that, the issues of this trial were established beyond reasonable doubt.
Evidently the jury saw no intent or conspiracy to murder federal agents. Their
decision on involuntary manslaughter can only be construed a political
compromise, arising from the judges deliberate misguidance. Notice the judge
was not quick to respond to the juries pleas following their mistake.
Judge Smith
also made the comment, David was a false prophet. This was the most alarming of
all his comments. In his own mind he was evidently sitting in judgment on our
faith. Yet assuredly, he does not have the slightest clue of the subject matter
of our beliefs, let alone its spirit. In making such a comment, he has shown
that, the government through the justice system, now decides what constitutes
matters of the state and matters of Religion. Further, what is true and false
Religion. At no time did the judge declare his criterion of judgment on both
the above. As a matter of fact, he stated he did not understand us. It would be
implied from the nature of the trial, that any group professing to be religious,
yet thinks differently from the governments accepted boundary of thinking,
would be highly suspect as false. Further, should such a group be willing to
defend its thinking, actively demonstrating this, against attacks by the
government, it would most certainly be judged as false. So then harmony with
the thinking allowed by the government, is what constitutes true religion. In
taking it upon itself to separate church from state, the government has made
itself a god over both. In principle, this is no different to what existed
under Catholicism during the dark ages. The result of which we look back in
horror. All dissenting voices from the governments determinations, will be
silenced. We have come full circle.
The question
remains, what are the influences behind the scene encouraging the government to
act this way? Are they political economic or religious? We often hear the cry,
national security, but are left in the dark as to what's going on. Meanwhile,
the government appropriates to itself more power and resources, how convenient!
One thing is
certain, Judge Smith's comments demonstrates a profound ignorance of spiritual
reality, similarly, the prosecution. They not only judge our beliefs to be
false, but went on to brand us religious terrorists! All of this because we
stood and died in defense of what we believed. If this is not the essence of
what constitutes faithfulness, and therefore true religion, I don't know what
is! Consider the following commendation, Hebrews 11 (note verses 36-38); 12:3,
4-10; Revelation 2:8-10.
In the
following I shall endeavor to address our beliefs as far as I am able within
the boundaries of this book. Briefly, ones belief is generally defined as that
which one perceives in the mind to be true. Few appreciate that beliefs require
a yardstick or criterion against which they are contrasted enabling them to be
judged true or false. This criterion is distinctly separate from the beliefs
themselves and is absolute in its nature. Traditionally the criterion generally
employed has been that which we refer to as conscience, that inner voice.
On the outside
people have compared the conscience to the ancient books written by holy men.
In the West, the Judeo- Christian scriptures has been generally accepted as
such. These external criteria provide a measure by which to judge the accuracy
of both our own perceptions of what is true and that of others. If we assume
that civil laws are not to compel one to act contrary to conscience then such
laws too must also parallel conscience.
The above
scenario reflects something of an ideal situation. However, in the reality many
of us have come to know it does not work that way. Generally people are not
true to conscience. They give little consideration to the books of the
ancients, and civil law tend to reflect economic and political interests.
Deviations
from the conscience are often related to a desire to satisfy the lusts of the
senses, a choice available to man. It is understood that progression in these
deviations results in the lessening of ones ability to respond to the inner
voice of conscience. This finally ends in confusion, weakening the will to
pursue harmony with conscience. Many choose instead to satisfy and to cultivate
the sensual lusts, reflective of the prevailing situation of today. Being born
into this situation places much stress on one to give little thought to
conscience. Some abandon it altogether.
In my
experience I have found people to be at different stages along this continuum.
These varying positions have a profound impact on our ability to comprehend the
meaning behind the written words of the scriptures. Logic would suggest, the
greater the harmony with conscience the greater ones ability to perceive the
meanings of scriptures. At the opposite extreme its pursuit and comprehension
is abandoned altogether. Only to be replaced by an alternative generated
through the imagination of the mind. In any event, the awareness of the mind
games we play remains with us. In the final analysis we are really fooling
ourselves, and these things have a way of catching up with us!
It is against
this background of the inner workings of the human mind and the shortcomings of
the heart that people form and utter their opinions of what they perceive to be
true. Certainly, in the actions of man, faithfulness to the mind of conscience
is sadly lacking. Often when faced with the challenge of being faithful at some
loss to ourselves we sacrifice faithfulness. The heart of man is considerably
weak and requires strengthening. How this is to be accomplished has been the
inner struggle of man from time immemorial. As mentioned above, most have
abandoned this struggle opening the floodgates to whatever pleases the fancy.
But is this the answer? We may find temporary pleasure, but the morning after
we are met with a sickly after effect. Only to find ourselves turning to
something else to cure that, yet weaker for the experience. In the interim the
inner voice of conscience is seeking to re-establish us again. Unfortunately
this effort is often interpreted as condemnatory, sapping the will of it's
power to return. The truth is this interpretation, arises out of our own
imagination. It is we who condemn ourselves. We have been nurtured and cultured
in this habit for generations. It is also we who judge ourselves, but we are
still faced with the need for a criterion against which to judge. We are back
where we started. There exist within us an inescapable realization that there
is something called truth, be it relative to conscience or some other measure
we devise ourselves. Consistency with it, affords us a necessary sense of peace
and security. Without which our survival as, complete and healthy beings, is
virtually impossible.
So then, ones
expressed beliefs are a reflection of ones state of conscientious awareness. In
order to understand a persons expressed beliefs, it is necessary to understand
their state of conscientious awareness. This requires an atmosphere of
openness, honesty and trust. Failure to do this results in interpreting such
beliefs against the background of ones own state of conscientious awareness.
This becomes judgmental and generally produces inaccuracies in understanding.
The scriptures
reflect the state of conscientious awareness we identify with God. This is the
subject matter of the Seven Seals. At Mt. Carmel we gave ourselves over to
conscience without reservation. The United States government defined it as
brainwashing. We like to think of it as being honest with ourselves! I don't
need to question the integrity of its judgment. It knows what it did and the
reasons it did it. As sure as night follows day we are all to be judged by the
truth of conscience, the true measure of righteousness. Moreover according to
our righteousness so shall we be rewarded.
The following,
focuses on the book of Revelation, highlighting a significant part of our
beliefs. It brings to view the nature and criterion against which we judge what
is true or false, as it relates to beliefs and thinking. The book of Revelation
itself is generally accepted as the last known revelation given to the Apostles
and included in the Canon.
Briefly the
Apostle John was on the Isle of Patmos. He received a visit from a being
belonging to a distant reality, both in space and time. He gives John some
information instructing him to write it in a book and send it to the seven
churches in Asia. Following this initial encounter, John is taken a place he
identifies as heaven. He is shown the judgment at the end of this world. He brings
to view a throne with someone sitting on it. This is surrounded by twenty-four
elders, also seated. Additionally he beholds four living creatures and an
innumerable company of angels. In the right hand of the one on the throne is a
book sealed with Seven Seals. A strong angel appears on the scene crying with a
loud voice, "Who is worthy to take the book and to loose the seals thereof
?" The response was unequivocal, "No man!" John's attention is
subsequently directed to a personality described as the Lamb. He comes and
takes the book from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne and
proceeds to open the seals. As he looses each seal he reveals a succession of
symbolically coded information. The essential issue has been the book and the
meaning of the seals. Since only the Lamb was identified as worthy to loose the
seals, logic would suggest only he can show their meaning. Anyone therefore
claiming to know the meaning of the seals, must either be the Lamb, or being
his servant, was taught by him. The Apostle John was subsequently shown the
meanings, but was not permitted to write them. The Apostle Paul made reference
to this in his second letter to the church at Corinth. (II Corinthians 12:1- 5)
The book called the Revelation which the Apostle John wrote, merely seeks to
notify the inhabitants of the earth of the issues concerning the sealed book.
Mt. Carmel was
a place where David Koresh opened the Seven Seals. The issue now facing
everyone with any interest in the scriptures and the will of God is, what do
these seals teach? Further, did David truly reveal them? If this is so, then
the question must be asked who is he? It is not impossible for beings of spirit
to take human form. Additionally by killing him what has the Gentile world
done? On the other hand if it is not true, then by what criterion is it judged
not true and by whom? Moreover, what then do the seals teach?
Had this
government approached Mt. Carmel in a more rational fashion, David would be
alive today addressing these questions in person as he offered to do.
Nevertheless I shall now focus on the text of the book of Revelation. All the
references will be taken from the King James Version. Our text begins with
Revelation 1:9-20.
Revelation
Chapter 1
1:9 I John,
who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word
of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as
of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest,
write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto
Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis,
and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw
seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man,
clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden
girdle.
14 His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his
eyes [were] as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his
voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp
two-edged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand
upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the
seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
In this
section, John introduces himself to his hearers, he also identifies where he is
writing from, note verse 9. We are acquainted with the fact that, the Isle of
Patmos was a place of exile. Speaking to the seven churches in Asia, John
declares, he was sent there for the word of God and the testimony of Christ.
During this time, the early believers were a target of persecution. In verse
10, John notes he was in the Spirit and heard behind him a voice, which sounded
like a trumpet. This voice introduces itself, then instructs John to write what
he sees in a book and send it to the seven churches in Asia, compare verse 11,
and 19. In verse 12, John turns around to see the voice that spoke with him. He
proceeds to describe what he saw, one like the son of man in the midst of seven
golden candlesticks. In verse 17, John faints at the sight. After recovering
consciousness, they both enter a dialogue, verses 18-20. This being was in fact
identified as the angel of Christ, compare Revelation 1:1; 22:16. This explains
why John describes him as one "like" the Son of man. Note he has the
keys of hell and death. Evidently, the Apostle John is being used as an
instrument by heaven, through the angel of Christ, to communicate certain
information heaven deems important, to the churches.
In Revelation
Chapters 2 and 3, John records the information the angel showed him, in the
form of seven letters, one to each of the churches. They give us, who are
living today, some insights into how Christ dealt with His church in the past.
1 Unto the
angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the
seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not
bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles,
and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and
hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I
also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God.
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the
first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I
know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the
synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will
give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he
which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]:
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days
wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan
dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold
the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which
thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give
him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth [it].
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the
Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are]
like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and
thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest
that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce
my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know
that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every
one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this
doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will
put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I
give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation
Chapter 3
1 And unto the
angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven
Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that
thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:
for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will
not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name
before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he
that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth,
and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can
shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not
denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews,
and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before
thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he
shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of
heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold
or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Clearly, the
church had a direct link with heaven. What is the evidence of such a link
today? There are so many churches today, which of them has that direct link to
heaven, and what is heaven saying? We know there is a judgment to take place in
heaven, how are we to know it's substance? Could it be possible that, the
churches today are merely man made institutions, bereft of the spirit? Who is
the spokesperson on earth, through whom heaven is communicating to man? From
ancient times, God's always had a visible presence, or representative on earth.
In the
interest of brevity, I shall focus on two of the above letters. Firstly the
letter to the church of Smyrna. You will note, this church was the subject of
persecution, from within and without. In the former, from people falsely
professing to be believers, whilst in the latter, the civil authorities. Note
carefully verses 9 and 10, of Chapter 2. Evidently following Christ knows no
bounds. The followers in the church of Smyrna, are to experience prison and
death, for which they are counselled to endure. You will further note the
warning of verse 11. This counsel comes from the spirit. The rejecting of the
spirit has been identified with the unpardonable sin. This is nothing really
complicated. It is through the spirit that Christ communicates himself. To
reject the spirit, merely cuts off communications with Christ. One is
effectively left in darkness regarding matters pertaining to Christ and heaven.
Ordinarily, the spirit elects an individual here on earth to be its mouth
piece.
In the letter
to Philadelphia, the spirit brings to view some interesting information.
(Revelation 3:7-13) Note the key of David in verse 7, we saw this in Revelation
1:18. There, it was identified with hell and death, evidently it must open
something. What has this got to do with David? We know David wrote the Psalms.
Is there some mystery to the Psalms, that we have not yet fully understood? In
verse 18, an open door is placed before the Philadelphians. What does this
mean? What does John have to say about an open door? (Revelation 4:1) Note
carefully verse 12. Christ informs the church, he is to have a new name! What
is Christ's new name?
In addition to
Johns initial encounter with the angel, or spirit of Christ, something
extraordinary follows. In Revelation 4:1, John beholds a door opened in heaven.
You will recall mention being made of an open door in the letter to the
Philadelphians. John is invited to come up to heaven through this door, by the
angel he met at the beginning, to be shown things future to his day.
Revelation
Chapter 4
1 After this I
looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I
heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up
hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven,
and [one] sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and
[there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I
saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on
their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and
[there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven
Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in
the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of
eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and
the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying
eagle.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were]
full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the
throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and
worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou
hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
As he was in
Revelation 1:10, John again identifies himself as being in the spirit, verse 2.
Once in heaven, he gives a graphic description of what he sees, the content of
which takes up the remainder of the book of Revelation. In chapter 4, he
describes the scene in God's throne room. Verses 2 and 3, brings to view the
throne, having one sitting on it. John describes Him as a jasper and sardine
stone. It is no wonder, the prophets called God a Rock! Surrounding the throne
are twenty-four elders seated, verse 4. In verses 6-9, John introduces these
four beasts, one of which is identified as having a face as a man. Later on in
chapter 5:11, John also introduces an innumerable company of angels. In verses
10 an 11, the elders are seen worshipping the one sat on the throne.
Additionally, in Chapter 5:7, John is to bring to view a personality described
as the Lamb. The question arises, what are we seeing here? The Apostle Paul,
describes this gathering as Mt. Zion; the City of the Living God; the heavenly
Jerusalem; the general assembly and church of the firstborn written in heaven.
(Hebrews 12:22-24) Paul was also permitted to see John's experience of going up
to heaven. (II Corinthians 12:1-5)
An additional
question arises, concerning the purpose of the above assembly? In Revelation
4:1, it was noted that, John went to heaven to be shown events future to his
day. In Revelation 1:1, it speaks of a Revelation concerning events to come to
pass. In Revelation 5, the issue of this assembly is clearly brought to view.
Revelation
Chapter 5
1 And I saw in
the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the
backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open
the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open
the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the
book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe
of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the
seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and
in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all
the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders
fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials
full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the
earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times
ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down
and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
In the right
hand of the one who sat on the throne is the book, sealed with seven seals,
verse 1. Note the inquiry of verse 2; who is worthy to take the book and loose
the seals thereof? The response in verse 3, was unequivocal, no man! You will
recall these events are taking place in the realm of the spirit. The fact that
no man was found worthy was of concern to John, evidently he wanted to know the
contents of the sealed book, verse 5. John is comforted, having his attention
directed to a personality described as the Lamb. He comes and takes the book,
verses 6 and 7. In the rest of the chapter he receives all honor, worship,
glory etc, being the only one accounted worthy to take the book and loose the
seals thereof.
We noted
earlier, the Apostle Paul had spoken of this event. He identifies the book as
the new covenant, and the Lamb as Christ, the mediator of the new covenant.
(Hebrews 12:24) So then, it is established in this first stage of the judgment,
that only the Lamb is worthy to reveal the book. It therefore follows, that all
authorities are subject to him. As we proceed further in our study, it will
become apparent that, the sealed book in heaven, with all its symbolic codes
written in a language heaven understands, is in fact the scriptures here on earth.
The information contained therein, written in a language man can understand.
What this judgment effectively means therefore is, the bible is a sealed book.
This is particularly as it relates to the subject matter of the new covenant.
We learn from the prophet Daniel, who wrote during the Medio-Persian empire,
that the book would be sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:4, 8-10)
Naturally, someone was to emerge in the earth to open the book and reveal its
meaning. The fact the scriptures is a sealed book, with regards to its meaning,
helps us to understand the prevalence of so many churches offering their
opinions and interpretations of its meaning. This is all well and good. No one
is to be condemned for trying to understand the book, nevertheless the judgment
of Rev 5, concludes that no one but the Lamb is worthy to reveal its true
meaning.
In Rev.
6-22:5, the Lamb proceeds to open each seal. Rev 6:1-7:17, focuses on the first
six seals. At the opening of the first four seals, we see a series of symbolically
coded information:
Revelation
Chapter 6
1 And I saw
when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of
thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a
crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come
and see.
4 And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him
that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one
another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and
see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of
balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat
for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not
the oil and the wine.
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast
say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was
Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the
fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death,
and with the beasts of the earth.
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they
held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true,
dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto
them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants
also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be
fulfilled.
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every
mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid
themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face
of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Revelation
Chapter 7
7:1 And after
these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the
earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an
hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve
thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve
thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve
thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve
thousand.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number,
of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne,
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and
the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour,
and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are
arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in
his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall
lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes.
In Rev 6: 1-2,
as the Lamb opens the first seal, note the sound of thunder. Rev. 10:3, has
something to say about seven thunders and the open book. At the opening of each
seal you will also note the invitation of the four beasts, for John to come and
see. The first seal reveals a rider on a white horse. He has a bow, and a crown
was given unto him. Evidently he's a king. Further, he goes forth conquering
and to conquer. Maybe that's why he's got a bow, to shoot arrows at his
enemies. In any event, that's all the information we get on the first seal. The
question is, what does all this mean here on earth? Who's the one on the horse?
Who are the ones he conquers? When do these things happen? Who on earth can
teach us these things? It has already been established, that only the Lamb can
reveal the seals. Therefore we are obliged to conclude that, only he can
truthfully address the questions above. Whatever answers we offer, unless we
are the Lamb, they amount to mere opinions and private interpretations. The
apostle Peter counsels against such. (2 Peter 1:19-21)
He opens the
second seal verses 3, 4 again a man riding a horse, this time a red horse!
Power is given unto him to take peace from the earth, causing man to kill one
another. Additionally, he's given a great sword. The third and fourth seals
also reveal a man riding a horse, black and pale in color. Then there's some
minor information concerning the task he has to perform, verses 5-8. We are
faced with the same questions introduced under the first seal.
When the fifth
seal is open we see some dead people on the other side. They were killed for
the word of God and the testimony they held. I wonder why that is? These people
are conscious in spite of their death, and cry for their blood to be avenged
against those who killed them. They are told to wait a while, until the rest of
their brethren that are to be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Note
also that there are no more beast! (Rev. 6:9-11)
In Rev 6:12;
7:17, the sixth seal is brought to view. All hell breaks loose. Cataclysmic
events occur in the heavens and in the earth. Fear possesses the inhabitants of
this world as they seek to hide themselves from the one on the throne, and from
the wrath of the Lamb. I wonder why that is. I thought the glorious appearance
of Christ was something to look forward to! How come these people seek to hide
themselves? Evidently these things take them by surprise! It appears they had
not taken heed to the subject matter of the judgment of Revelation 4 and 5. But
some did take note. In chapter 7, an angel is seen ascending from the earth
with the seal of the living God. Note he's ascending, not descending.
Evidently, he must have been on earth. What is that seal of the living God,
that he has? Further still, how does it relate to the sealed book? Who is this
angel, and what's he got to do with the angel of Revelation 10, who comes to
earth with the opened book? Maybe he wanted to give a bible study. Whatever
this means, the inhabitants of the earth failed to take heed, consequently
these things take them by surprise!
Rev. 8:1-22:5,
focuses on the seventh seal and concludes the information on the seals. The
following looks at some immediate topics:
Revelation
Chapter 8
1 And when he
had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of
half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given
seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and
there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the
prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints,
ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast
[it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings,
and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to
sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood,
and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up,
and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with
fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life,
died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven,
burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and
upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the
waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made
bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and
the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third
part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and
the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying
with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of
the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Revelation
Chapter 9
1 And the
fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to
him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as
the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason
of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was
given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth,
neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not
the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should
be tormented five months: and their torment [was] as the torment of a scorpion,
when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall
desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7 And the shapes of the locusts [were] like unto horses prepared unto battle;
and on their heads [were] as it were crowns like gold, and their faces [were]
as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [the teeth]
of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of
their wings [was] as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their
tails: and their power [was] to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, [which is] the angel of the bottomless pit,
whose name in the Hebrew tongue [is] Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath
[his] name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; [and], behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the
golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which
are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day,
and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand
thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having
breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the
horses [were] as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and
smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the
smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails
[were] like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented
not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols
of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see,
nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their
fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation
Chapter 10
1 And I saw
another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow
[was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as
pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the
sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried,
seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write:
and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the
seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his
hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the
things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and
the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to
sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his
servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go [and]
take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon
the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he
said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but
it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it
was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was
bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and
nations, and tongues, and kings.
Revelation
Chapter 11
1 And there
was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and
measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for
it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty [and] two months.
3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the
God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and
devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner
be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their
prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the
earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth
out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them,
and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which
spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their
dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to
be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry,
and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them
that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into
them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw
them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.
And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the
city fell, and in the earthquake wereslain of men seven thousand: and the
remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Note Rev.
10:1-11:13, following the sixth trumpet of the sixth seal, an angel appears. He
comes to the earth, from heaven with a little book opened. What is this book?
What does he want to teach the inhabitants of the earth? In verse 3, he cries
as when a lion roareth. Maybe he has some connection with the lion of the tribe
of Judah, the root of David, brought to view in Revelation 5:5, otherwise known
as the Lamb. When he cries seven thunders utter their voices. Seven thunders!
What's that got to do with Rev 6:1, where the Lamb opens the first seal? John claims
he hears, as it were the noise of thunder. He was about to write what the seven
thunders uttered but was told not to, verse 4. Note verses 5 and 6, when the
angel comes to earth there is time is no longer. In verse 7, we find the
statement;
But in the
days of the voice of the seventh angel, When he shall begin to sound,
the mystery of
God should be finished,
as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets.
What Mystery?
What was John told not to write? Evidently John knew something. Has this mystery
been shown to the prophets before hand? How about that. Ever wondered about the
man on the red horse in Zechariah 1:7-8. What did the prophet Zechariah see?
Who's that angel that comes down to earth in Zech 2:1-3, and who's that young
man he speaks to? The one who goes to Jerusalem to measure the temple. What is
he told about the events to occur in Jerusalem? Why is it that under the second
deal, the man on the red horse takes peace from the earth? Is there a movement
for peace in the Middle East? Does it bear the sanction of God? We know God has
chosen Jerusalem for His dwelling place. What did Christ have to say about
future events in the Middle East, and Jerusalem? (Luke 21:20-27, 35; cf.
Zechariah 14:1, 2) In Matthew 24:2, he had stated not one stone of the building
would be left upon another. We know the wailing wall remains to this day. Is
there something to occur in Jerusalem? Why is it that Christ takes peace from
the earth? (Mt 10:34-39) What did the Apostle Paul, have to say about all of
this? (I Thessalonians 4:16-5:4; note 5:3) This angel that comes to the earth,
could it be he's the one with the seal of God, ascending from the East in Rev.
7:2! How about that, what are we seeing here, who can show us the meanings of
all of this? We know one thing, many serious events are here spoken of. But do
they matter, are they of any importance to us? They seem to be important to
God!
Revelation
Chapter 11 (continued) 14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe
cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and
of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell
upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and
art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy
servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small
and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple
the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and
thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation
Chapter 12
1 And there
appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon,
having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to
the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be
delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of
iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of
God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore
days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and
Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and
night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the
inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the
woman which brought forth the man [child].
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly
into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and
times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that
he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ.
Revelation
Chapter 13
1 And I stood
upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name
of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the
feet] of a bear,and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, an great authority
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound
was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make
war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;
and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and
his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with
the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns
like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth
the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly
wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on
the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles
which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell
on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound
by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of
the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the
image of the beast should be killed
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive
a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of
the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and]
six.
Revelation
Chapter 14
1 And I
looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty
[and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their
harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four
beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and]
forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from
among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the
throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of
his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man
worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in
his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with
fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of
the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have
no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever
receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they
may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp
sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him
that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for
thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the
earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having
a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and
cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy
sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes
are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of
the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the
winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six
hundred furlongs.
Revelation
Chapter 15
1 And I saw
another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven
last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had
gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and]
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of
God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true
[are] thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art]
holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are
made manifest.
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the
testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues,
clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden
girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full
of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his
power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of
the seven angels were fulfilled.
Revelation
Chapter 16
1 And I heard
a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and
pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a
noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and
[upon] them which worshipped his image.
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the
blood of a dead [man]: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of
waters; and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which
art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them
blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true
and righteous [are] thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given
unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which
hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his
kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and
repented not of their deeds.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and
the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be
prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the
dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false
prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto
the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a
great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an
earthquake, [and] so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto
her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the
weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail;
for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Revelation
Chapter 17
1 And there
came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me,
saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great
whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman
sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven
heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold
and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of
abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. {harlots: or, fornications}
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood
of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the
mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven
heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the
bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall
wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of
the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is
not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the
seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no
kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he
is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called,
and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth,
are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the
whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn
her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give
their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the
kings of the earth.
Revelation
Chapter 18
1 And after
these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and
the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and
the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants
of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,
that ye be noparkers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to
her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment
and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no
widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine;
and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who
judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived
deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see
the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that
great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man
buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and
fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all
manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of
brass, and iron, and marble, {thyine: or, sweet}
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and
oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and
chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all
things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find
them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar
off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and
purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and
all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar
off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is]
like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying,
Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the
sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for
God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it]
into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be
thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters,
shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft
[he be], shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be
heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice
of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for
thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all
nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that
were slain upon the earth.
Revelation
Chapter 19
1 And after
these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia;
Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great
whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the
blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped
God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his
servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the
Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings
of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it]
not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him
[was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make
war.
12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and
he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called
The Word of God.
14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh
of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the
flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together
to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of
the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into
a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse,
which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with
their flesh.
Revelation
Chapter 20
1 And I saw an
angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This [is] the first resurrection
6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the
earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom
[is] as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the
saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven,
and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented
day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead
were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to
their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.
Revelation Chapter
21
1 And I saw a
new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God
[is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and
God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for
the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he
said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full
of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew
thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and
shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from
God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most
precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates
twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve
tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates;
and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of
the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the
gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:
and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length
and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits,
[according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure
gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner
of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire;
the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the
eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a
jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one
pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent
glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the
temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it:
for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and
the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no
night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
[whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life
Revelation
Chapter 22
1 And he
shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of
the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was
there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded
her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the
nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall
be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of
the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and
ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God
of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which
must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the
prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard [them]. And when I had heard and seen,
I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these
things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and
of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:
worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for
the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him
be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he
that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and
morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,
and [from] the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
In Revelation
22:6-9, the Apostle John affirms the truthfulness of the things he saw. He is
further told not to seal the information he has been shown concerning the book
sealed with seven seals, note verse 10. In verse 11, we see God's attitude to
our righteousness, and unrighteousness. Evidently he's not concerned with that,
His focus has to do with the things He has written concerning His son. It's
certainly not a problem for Him to heal us of our sinfulness. In verse 12, the
Lamb directs our attention to the fact that, He is to come, and he brings His
reward (the book) with him to give every man according as his work shall be.
Evidently we are to be rewarded according to our responses to Him, when he
comes to reveal the seals. Verse 14, brings to view briefly the city. In verse
16-21, the Lamb Himself affirms the truthfulness of the Revelation John was
instructed to send to the churches. He further extends an open invitation to
the Kingdom, and issue a warning not to tamper with this Revelation.
I began this
study in Rev 1:9, primarily because Rev 1:1-3, was not in fact written by the
Apostle John. Having now grasped an understanding of the text, careful analysis
will reveal that these verses are in fact, a summary of the entire book. The
statement, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, refers to the information contained
in the sealed book. The book is given to the Lamb (Christ) who shows it to His
servants, in this case John. It is therefore referred to as, His, Christ's
revelation. The Revelation itself, contained in the book, refers to events
future to John's day. It is also true that these events concern Christ and His
Kingdom here on earth. These events come to pass shortly after the Lamb gets
through revealing the seals, not shortly after John's day. The opening of the
seals was not to take place until the end of time. The prophet Daniel had spoken
expressly on this matter. (Daniel 12:4, 8-10) The Apostle Peter also commented.
(I Peter 1:5, 13; note also Amos 3:7; Isaiah 42:9) John was merely notified of
these events before hand. He then proceeded, as instructed, to notify the
churches. Having access to this information, the followers of Christ today can
be forewarned about the event of the opening of the sealed book. This knowledge
was designed to prepare the followers of Christ, living in the days the events
in the sealed book comes to pass, to cope. It is unfortunate that this truth
has been neglected. The seals have indeed been opened, but this generation
continues in its ignorance of them. A mere handful of people were present to
learn the meaning of the seals. The events themselves are to shortly come to
pass. They too will come upon the world unawares, consider Luke 21:20-22,
24-27, 34, 35; cf. Isaiah 2:2- 4; Micah 4:1-3; Zechariah 8:1-3, 20-23; 14:1-12,
16-19; Ezekiel 36: Daniel 2:44; Matthew 5:14; II Peter 3; I Thes 4:14- 5:4. It
is no wonder under the sixth seal, the world seeks to hide itself from the one
on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
The additional
verses of Rev 1:4-8, have also been a subject of discussion. Their form follows
the usual pattern of the writer introducing himself to his hearers.
Additionally they introduce concepts, contained in the body of the Revelation.
These are not immediately comprehendable, without some knowledge of what's
written in the book. This is largely because, the events referred to are of the
realm of the spirit, and being yet future, do not have a bearing in our sensory
based consciousness. Since not all the manuscripts have these verses, I felt it
useful to leave its discussion till last. In any event, they do not detract
from what John wrote regarding his experience on the Isle of Patmos and his
subsequent visit to heaven.
Significantly,
the coming of the Lamb to reveal the sealed book, and the subsequent
fulfillment of the events contained therein, was the hope of the early
believers. Consider the Apostle Paul's comment in I Corinthians 1:7. The word
translated "coming" in the KJV comes from the Greek word
"Apocalypsis" which is generally translated "revelation."
The Apostle Paul was aware of the Revelation given to John. (II Corinthians
12:1-5; Hebrews 12:22-25) His usage of this word in I Cor. 1:7, was in
reference to the Revelation John received, and not the glorious appearance of
Christ. The Apostle Peter also spake in reference to the Revelation received by
John. (I Peter 1:4, 5, 13).
Salvation And
The Book Of Revelation
In the
foregoing chapter, my primary goal has been to introduce the text of the book
of Revelation. By laying this basic foundation, it is my hope to bring the mind
of the reader to a place, where it can appreciate the book and the issues
contained therein. Evidently its focus centers around the subject matter of the
sealed book. Having a comprehension of the issues, one is provided with the
conceptual frame of reference, against which it may be judged whether or not
David did in fact reveal the Seven seals. Further, with this improved
awareness, one is also better placed to further understand the purpose of Mt.
Carmel and the reasons for the events which occurred there.
There have
been many commentators on the text of the book of Revelation. Much attention
has been given to its form and structure. Also to the language and symbolism
employed in its composition, In spite of all this attention, the meaning of the
book has hitherto remained a mystery. The essential question that needs to be
asked of all these interpreters is, by what authority do they speak? Having
something of an awareness of the issue in Revelation 5: 1-3, we begin to
appreciate the significance of this question. First of all, only the Lamb can
reveal the book, whoever or whatever he is. Secondly, he does reveal the book.
The information contained therein, is shown to His servants. So then, to know
the seals you're either a servant of the Lamb, or the Lamb himself.
The confusion
that exists among commentators, regarding the meaning of the book, evidently
suggests we are dealing with peoples opinions. The book is not amenable to the
carnal human consciousness; what is described as, natural religion. It is
significant that the Apostle John, spoke of things not yet having a bearing in
our human sensory based experiencing. Evidently we would not yet have formed
the conceptual tools necessary to comprehend these realities. This has been the
heart of the issue of faith. Perhaps also, the reason why the prophet Daniel,
recorded that the book would be sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:4,
8-10) The prophet Isaiah, also saw this. (Isaiah 29:10-14) The complexity of
the above is further compounded by the fact that John identifies himself as
being in the spirit, when he saw these things. (Rev 1:10, & 4:1, 2) What
does this mean? Evidently Johns common sense consciousness was unable to cope,
with what he saw. In verse 17, John faints. The Apostle Paul had something to
say about being in the spirit:
Most
definitely we know, the information in the book of Revelation, is given us of
God. Paul writes further;
Consider also
Romans 8:1-8. The above being true, one has to convert to the consciousness of
the mind of the Spirit, without which, comprehending the book of Revelation
remains impossible. At least until the events spoken of, meet their
fulfillment. When they become a matter of common knowledge, the human mind, via
the senses, would then have experienced these realities firsthand.
It is largely
for the reasons discussed above, why the meaning of the book of Revelation
remains a subject of dispute in the religious arena. Further questions may be
raised regarding the presence of God, among these church communities, as being
distinct from other such groups not openly professing God.
The term
Revelation, denotes the unveiling of some truth by God to man. Such revealed
truths are distinguished from 'natural' religion, the content of which being
demonstrated by the process of reason. This is the pre-occupation of
theological seminaries. There are basically three theories, arising from
natural religion, offered as keys to understanding the book of Revelation.
After careful analysis of these theories, it will be determined that, none of
them have brought us any closer to understanding the meaning of the book of
Revelation. Thinking on this subject. in the theological world, is at best
speculative. For many the book of Revelation has been altogether abandoned,
being regarded as unimportant to our salvation. It's a case of'just accept
Jesus, and forget about it.' There is no escaping the fact that, the book of
Revelation and our appreciation of salvation is indispensable. It is
comparative to that, of God warning the antediluvians before hand of His
intentions to destroy the earth with a flood. Those who took heed, became
conscious of the way of escape and lived, those who did not perished. Indeed,
the prophetic references of Christ' in texts such as Matthew 24, makes such
comparisons to the days of Noah. The issues of the Seven Seals relate, not to
the salvaging of our bodies, but much more importantly, the soul.
Consider the
following. In the Gospel of Luke, Christ made the following statement:
Can you
imagine what would have happened to the human race, had not Christ uttered
these words! Further, what would have happened, had not the Father accepted them.
By accepting Christ's statement, God bound Himself to forgive man, as long as
he remained in his ignorance. The Father had previously bound Himself by His
own word, when he said to Adam, if you eat of the tree you shall surely die.
(Genesis 2:15, 16) The flip side of this statement was, if you don't eat of the
tree you shall continue to live. Adam did eat of that tree. In so doing he
procured to himself and his descendants death. Christ on the other hand, kept
the law, yet he died. The law, which is the word of God, became indebted to
Him. In lieu of this debt, Christ requested the forgiveness of man. Our
probation was further extended. It would be wrong to conclude that this time
was allotted to us to do as we please. As a matter of fact, it was for the
purpose that man would wise up to the spirit of Christ. In Luke 23: 46, Christ
commended His spirit into the hand of the Father. In the book of Revelation,
His spirit was to return again to the earth, immediately before His appearing
in glory. This was a further effort to communicate itself to man, man having
failed of attaining to it himself, in the additional probationary time
allotted.
You will
recall Christ commended His spirit into the hand of the Father. On his visit to
heaven in Revelation 4, John saw in the right hand of the one sitting on the
throne, a book Sealed within and on the backside, with Seven Seals. The book
contained the revelation (knowledge) of Christ, His spirit. (cf. Revelation
1:1; Luke 23:46) The Apostle Paul describes Christ as, the author and finisher
of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1) Peter speaks of those, who have obtained like
precious faith. (2Peter 1:1) Christ, being in the flesh, walked the path of
righteousness by remaining true and faithful to the will of God. In so doing, he
cultured a spirit, giving rise to a mindset of thought perceptions, that he
offers to man in place of their own. We inherited from Adam a fallen mind, and
a weak and fearful spirit. The spirit which Christ offers is our salvation. The
opening of the Sealed book, reveals the things which must come to pass
pertaining to Christ. These are God's judgments, about what he intends to do
for his son. To understand these judgments, bringing ones thinking into harmony
with them, is to be one with the spirit of Christ and of God. One cannot
convert to the spirit and will of God without a knowledge of His will.
We see then
that, salvation was not given 2,000 years ago. The early church. like the
Patriarchs and Prophets of old, received only the promise of salvation. Salvation
was to be given in the last times, at the revelation of Christ. Consider the
following:
Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed In the last time
Further:
Wherefore gird
up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is
to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:13)
The Apostle
Paul, having also seen Johns experience of going to heaven, brings to view the
same thoughts as Peter, note his comment regarding Christ as, the mediator of
the new covenant. (Heb 12:24) This is in reference to John' statement regarding
the Lamb, his being the only one accounted worthy to loose the Seals off of the
book. The book itself, contains the new covenant, the spirit Christ cultured
for us, in place of our own. The prophet Daniel also brings to view this
subject of the Sealed book, and it being open in the end of time. (Daniel 12:4,
8-10) Those who understand the contents are accounted wise, those who do not,
wicked.
So then,
Christ's purchase of our salvation required a response on our part. We are
required to receive the free gift of His righteousness. This is His spirit,
contained in the book sealed with Seven Seals. The accepting of this knowledge
converts our way of thinking to God's.
When the
spirit of Christ returned to the earth, identified by the teaching of the Seven
Seals, God is no longer bound by Christ's statement of Luke 23:34. Judgment can
now be executed on sin and sinners. It is required that man have a conscious
awareness of this spirit, albeit not all men, since the hearing of it and the
acceptance of it, is strictly by choice. The few of us at Mt. Carmel, who
received this spirit made this possible. In the Revelation, John records Christ
saying He comes as a thief in the night. (Revelation 16:15; cf. 22:12) This
event of His coming is the subject matter of Revelation 10-11:13. It is
developed further in Matt 24:43. The thief comes to break up the house of the
owner. Note this is linked to the seven last plagues of Rev 16. Before the
owners house could be broken up, the owner had to be bound, note Mark 3:27. In
verse 26, Mark indicates the owners house, and who the strong man and the thief
are. Satan took possession of this world, by virtue of Adam's sin. With the
Seven Seals now in the earth, both Man and Satan are now bound. This is the
cause of the controversy spoken of in Psalms 2, note verses 2 and 3. When the
seventh trumpet, of the Seventh Seal sounds, the mystery of God is finished.
This world returns back to its rightful owners, God and His Christ.
Being direct
recipients of the knowledge of the Seals, when challenged to surrender our
position of faith, we were left with no alternative but to defend ourselves. The
government over stepped its mark in asking us to surrender our souls to it. The
fact that it may not have been aware of the issues, cannot be offered as an
excuse. Ignorance no longer constitutes innocence. In truth, the governments
action was a late and last ditch effort, to hold on to power. The deaths of
those who died at Mt. Carmel merely sealed God's victory. Those of us who
remain alive in faith, are an open show of that victory. The kingdom of God,
can now be made manifest in the earth, the next event to shortly come to pass.
(Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3; Ezekiel 36; Zechariah 8:1-3, 20-23;
14: 1-12, 16-19; Matthew 5:14)
"And I
Saw When The Lamb Opened One Of The Seals..."
In this
section, I aim to expand on our discussion further by focusing on the Psalms,
the subject matter of the First Seal. Before addressing the text itself, it is
necessary to clarify what the Psalms are.
There exists
this commonly held belief, that the Psalms are songs, written by King David of
old and relating to his experience. This is not entirely true. They are in fact
the song of the Lamb, spoken of in Revelation 15:13. Although sung by King
David, they reflect the experience the Lamb goes through, while in the earth
fulfilling His Fathers will. It was the Holy Spirit who inspired King David, to
document them for future generations, in accordance with the judgment and the
opening of the seals. Being a man after Gods own heart, he was at a place in
his experience of appreciating the experience of the Lamb.
Consider what
the following commentators had to say. on the subject of the Psalms and their
focus. In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24, sometime after Christ's'
resurrection, he appeared to two despondent followers who were journeying to a
village called Emmaus. Christ appeared alongside them and began opening to them
the scriptures, note verses 26, 27, 31. In verse 44, Christ made the following
comment to the disciples, regarding the Psalms:
King David of
old, had the following to say, in connection with the writing of the Psalms:
Note also:
Christ himself
had the following to say about David's writing of the Psalms:
Consider also,
what the Apostle Luke had to say in Acts 2:25-35. Quoting from Psalms 2, and
89, the Apostle Paul made the following comments:
Paul also made
it unequivocally clear that, the person spoken of in Psalms 45, is Christ, and
not King David of old;
This last
reference will be of particular importance as we develop the first Seal. In
fact, all the Psalms deal with the subject matter of the first seal. Primarily,
they detail the mind of the Lamb, the one riding the horses in Revelation 6:
1-8. (cf. Matthew 10:34-39, with Revelation 6:3, 4) While it would give me much
pleasure, in pursuing an in depth review of the Psalms, in the interest of
brevity, I shall confine my focus to two examples. These both, clearly amplify
the true focus of the Psalms.
The first,
Psalm 22, deals with the experience of the Lamb at his crucifixion 2000 years
ago. You will recall the utterance Christ made, as he hung on the cross:
There was much
more to this utterance that, remained as unspoken thoughts, in the mind of
Christ. Psalms 22, picks up the story:
Psalm 22
1 To the chief
Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my
roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night
season, and am not silent.
3 But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not
confounded.
6 But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake
the head, [saying],
8 He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him,
seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope [when
I was] upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother's
belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me [with] their mouths, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is
like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;
and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:
they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the
unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation
will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him;
and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows
before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek
him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the
kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom [is] the LORD'S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.
29 All [they that be] fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go
down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that
shall be born, that he hath done [this].
There's a
unity of thought in the mind of Christ, revealed here in this Psalm. It helps
in affirming the fact that, this Psalm was about the experience of Christ at
His crucifixion, 2000 years ago. King David had written about the intimate
details of this event, many centuries before. Note verses 1, 7, 8, for their
correlation to events surrounding the crucifixion. Compare Mark 14:65;
15:29-32. Consider also Matthew 27:27-32. Verse 9 takes us back to his birth,
compare Luke 1:26-35. The experience of his being on the cross is given much
detailed attention in verses 14-18, the whole Psalm is written from the
position of his being on the cross. Compare Mark 15, particularly verse 24. All
the Gospels give some commentary on this scene. They give the fuller external
picture of what was taking place during those tragic days and nights. It is
through the witness of these historical narratives that we today, have been
able to come to something of an awareness of Christ. A reality long witnessed
to by the prophetic writings of the ancients.
In the latter
part of this Psalm, the mood and focus shifts to the future. Verse 28, speaks
of the Kingdom of the Lord and His being the governor among nations. How does
this relate to the Christ of the book of Revelation. As the Psalms and the
Prophets notified the Jews before hand of Christ's appearance 2,000 years ago,
through the testimony of the spirit, so it is today. The Apostle John in
writing the book of Revelation, as instructed by the angel of Christ, sought to
make us aware of events concerning the opening of the sealed book. The prophet
Daniel had already spoken on the subject of the sealed book. (Daniel 12:4,
8-10) Psalms 22:22, 25 speaks of this congregation Christ is to declare the name
of the Lord to. What does this mean? When was this to occur? Is there something
about this Revelation we have failed to grasp? Who is the spirit of truth of
John 16:13-15? What are those many things that Christ had to say that the
disciples could not bear then? When were these things to be revealed? It is a
fact of reality that in order to appreciate answers, we must appreciate the
questions. In our second example, Psalms 40, the Spirit through King David
introduces us further, to the experience of the Lamb.
1 To the chief
Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined
unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set
my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many
shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the
proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and
thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto
thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be
numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened:
burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not
refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy
faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy
truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness
and thy truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken
hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of
mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to
destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love
thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
17 But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my
help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Note verse 1
and 2, the person of this Psalm waited patiently for the Lord. Evidently he
dies and is finally brought up out of a horrible pit. What has this got to do
with the resurrection? What about that rock! Who sits on the throne in
Revelation 4? Why does John describe him as a jasper and sardine stone? Did
Christ go to heaven after his resurrection? Was His spirit commended into the
hands of the Father at His crucifixion? Verse 5, speaks of God's thoughts
towards us. Could those thoughts possibly be written in a book. Could that book
be sealed with seven seals? In any event, the one spoken of in this Psalm is to
come, verse 7. Come from where? He continues;
,...in the
volume of the book it is written of me,...
Is the seven
seals a revelation of Christ? What does the Father give to the Lamb? Note Revelation
1:1. What is Psalm 40:7 really teaching us? In verses 8 and 9, this person has
the law of God in his heart, he preaches righteousness to the great
congregation. What righteousness and to what congregation? What are God's
judgments, are they not right? Is God not righteous in His judgments? Are His
judgments not contained in the book, He gives to the Lamb?
Remember the
congregation of Psalms 22:22, 25. In verse 11, he asks for mercies from God,
note verse 12. His iniquities are more then the hairs of his head. I wonder why
is that? Most definitely this is not Christ in His glory. It certainly is not
Him as He was 2,000 years ago. But what about this Christ? The one in the
volume of the book. Why were there two goats offered during the sanctuary service,
on the Day of Atonement? (Leviticus 16:7-26) Both were symbols of Christ. Why
did the second of these goats have the iniquities of the people transferred to
it? What do these symbols really teach? Who can show us? What did Christ mean
in His statement of Matthew 24:28? A carcass is a dead body. Well, we know one
thing, there's a sealed book with seven seals, and only the Lamb can reveal it.
In the
foregoing we attempted to take a brief look at the Psalms. Clearly they contain
information pertinent to our knowledge of Christ. The term Christ is a title,
the Greek word for the Hebrew 'Messiah' meaning 'anointed one'. There are many
references to a David, future to King David of old. Hosea 3:5, speaks of Him.
So does Ezekiel 34, note verses 23 and 25; 37, note verses 24-28. Isaiah 55:3,
4, identifies Him as the one who brings the covenant. He is brought to view in
Jeremiah 23, note verses 5 and 6; 30 note verse 9; 33, note verses 15-17, 20,
21;. He is identified as the King to reign in Jerusalem over both the houses of
Judah and Israel. Evidently all the tribes are to be united under His reign. In
Psalms 89: 20-21, this David is to be made God's firstborn, higher than the
kings of the earth. (cf. Revelation 19:16) We know the name David means
'beloved'. King David was the eighth son of Jesse, a man after God's own heart.
(Acts 13:21-22) It's hard to find a man, with a heart fashioned after the heart
of God. In King David we see a model of Christ. It was largely for this reason
he was chosen of heaven to be the one to write the deeper truths concerning the
experiences of the Lamb. All the above references are prophetic, they were
written after King David had died.
Against the
above background, the significance of the Psalms and the first seal, can be
considered. Principally, the reason the Lamb alone was the only one considered
worthy to reveal the book, is because it contains God's thoughts about Him.
Since He is the only one who knows God's thoughts, being one with God, who but
He can reveal the book, note John 1:18. God had spoken before hand via King
David about Christ. David wrote the thoughts about Christ, communicated to him,
in the form of Psalms. It should be clear by now, that the sealed book in
heaven is the scriptures on earth.
In Rev 6:1-2,
the code to the first seal is recorded:
The question
arises; what was it that John heard , that sounded like the noise of thunder?
Who's the one riding the horse, and what, if anything, does the horse
represent? This rider, rides a red, black, and pale horse under the second,
third and fourth seals. What about that bow! He must have some arrows. Maybe
he's intending to fight a war of some sort. Perhaps that's why he goes forth
conquering and to conquer. Note also he's given a crown, kings wear crowns. I
wonder who gives him this crown and what kingdom is he to rule over?
In our
introduction to the Psalms, Psalm 45, begins the link with the first seal.
Consider verse 1, very carefully:
Here the
question arises, whose heart is this, inditing a good matter, and what is the
matter being indited? Whoever this person is, the matter he's inditing has something
to do with a king. As a matter of fact, the King. Further, this person makes
things, evidently he is a creator. But what about this King, who is he and why
does the one indicting make things for him. Did the king ask him to, or did he
do it all by himself? He continues, "My tongue is the pen of a ready
writer." What does this mean? Could it be he has written the matter
concerning the King? Perhaps in a book, what book? You be the judge. In verse 2
and 3, he speaks further:
Continuing the
revelations concerning this king, the maker describes him as fairer than the
children of men. Additionally he has grace poured into his lips. What is that?
Maybe the king has something to say. In any event, God has blessed him forever.
Maybe the one inditing the good matter, who also makes things, might just be
God! It could be He sits on a throne with a book in His right hand. What do you
think? You will recall, the rider on the white horse under the first seal
receives a crown. Under the second seal, he's given a great sword. Verse 3 of
Psalms 45, brings to view this sword. Note also the kings glory and majesty. In
Revelation 5:7ff, after the Lamb takes the book, he receives "power...
honor... and glory,...". Note verse 12. In verse 4, the maker has more to
say concerning this king:
Wait a moment?
Ride prosperously! Ride a what? A motorbike! Maybe it's a horse. Maybe it's a
white horse, a red one, a black one and a pale one. What do you think? What
about all that truth and meekness and righteousness! Why does his right hand
teach him terrible things: What's in his right hand? Could it be a book! Maybe
it's those arrows he shoots in the heart of his enemies in verse 5. But how can
he shoot arrows without a bow? Must be the one he has in Rev 6:2, note verse 5.
Why are the
children likened unto arrows in the hand of a mighty man? Who is this mighty
man? What's he got to do with the mighty man of Psalms 45:3? Further, why are
the arrows so sharp in the heart of the kings enemies? It can be painful to see
a baby cry. It's even more painful to see one burned alive, especially when you
know you're responsible! Why is the man happy who has his quiver full of these
children? I guess it's because they speak to his enemies in the gate. It's kind
of like what Psalms 8:2, had to say:
Who is the
enemy at the gate, the avenger? What gate are we talking about here? Further,
what have these children got to do with Isaiah 53:10? It states the suffering
servant shall see his seed, what seed? Did Christ have children 2,000 years
ago! What does it mean for his soul to be offered for sin? And why are we saved
in Christ? What does Zechariah 13:7, really teach? Who is this man equal with
God? The shepherd who gets smitten. What about the sheep who get scattered, and
those little ones, God turns His hand upon! Who is this King, the mighty one,
who rides horses? Note what Christ had to say about him:
In Psalms
45:6, the king is referred to as God. In verse 7, he's anointed above his
fellows. Who are his fellows? Are we not all children of God! In verse 9,
through the rest of the chapter, the King is to be married, and his children
reign as princes throughout the earth. Who is this daughter of verse 10, he
gets married to? What's all this got to do with Revelation 19:7, and Matthew
22:2-13, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
The above
represents a brief introduction to the firsts seal. The following are copies of
David Koresh's last testament before he died on April 19th at the hands of the
government. I believe this to be satisfactory introduction to the seals, for
any honest person possessed of understanding, to conclude that, Psalm 45,
introduces the first seal. Hitherto, no man has shown otherwise, neither denied
it's authenticity. The attack on Mt. Carmel; the deaths of its residents, has
procured to this nation a serious sin! The continued persecution of those of us
still alive, by this government in its effort to cover its sin, only worsens
the guilt. We are not dealing with man's inhumanity to man. This was a direct
challenge to the government of God. The residents of Mt. Carmel stood for
truth. Our position was a matter of conscientious obligation. It was this
government's persistent arrogance, in refusing to listen, that has placed it in
its present predicament. Its reluctance to acknowledge and confess this sin,
will be the final cause of this nations downfall. Babylon has been snared and
taken. There is no escape, what has been done, has been done and cannot be made
undone. The truth of the Seven Seals is that stone, that smote the image of
Daniel 2. The stone with seven eyes of Zechariah 3:9, and Revelation 5:6,7. The
ignorance of the ignorant, no longer qualifies as innocence. The time of
accountability is now, the Seals have been opened and received in the earth,
albeit by just a few.
The next pages
are David Koresh's final statement to the world regarding the message of the
Seven Seals. He finished writing it on the last night of his life.
A computer
disk of the text was carried out of Mt. Carmel the following day by a Ruth
Riddle, a survivor of the fire. It was transcribed by Dr. James Tabor Professor
of Religion at the University of North Carolina, and Dr. Phillip Arnold of the
Reunion Institute in Houston, Texas.
Search forth for the meaning here,
Hidden within these words
`Tis a song that's sung of fallen tears,
Given way for two love birds.
Love birds yet not of feathered creed
Shot down for gambled play,
And caged a far distance betweenst themselves
For the hunter felt it best that way.
"She bird is mine,'' the hunter said,
'Twas this bird I raised and faithfully fed.''
'Twas he bird who released her from her cage,
Sought her womb in youthful age.
Love birds the name, these birds they call,
Two, plural, love bird, takes two.
'Twas not her womb of which he sought,
And certainly not her youth.
Love birds, the name these birds they call,
Two, plural, love bird, takes two,
It's just that he needed she,
To fly the skies of blue.
And now we see the hunter man,
Robbed without a prey,
The evil which he sought to do,
Caused the birds to pass away.
For loneliness and solitaire,
Is death to every soul.
For birds of God were meant to pair,
The two to complete the whole.
And now we see the final meaning
Of this rhyme and verse:
The pending judgment of the King
Who rules the universe.
For with Adam and his spirit Eve,
To share the kingdom fair;
But when they sinned they lost their crown
In exchange for shame to bear.
So Eve travailed and brought forth death,
And passed the crown to all;
For each to learn the lesson here,
The kingdom of the fall.
For virgins do not bring forth sons,
Until God does reverse,
The inner meaning of the law,
To remove man from the curse.
For in the Christ, we've seen a bride,
The water mixed with blood,
The wife with cloven tongues of fire,
Of whom the Christ has loved.
And now He's back to sing His song,
The life of every spring,
And love birds gather, each one with mate,
For the marriage of the King
INTRODUCTION
John 18:33-38
Then Pilate
entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art
thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of
thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine
own nation and chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the
Jews; but now is my kingdom not from here. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art
thou a king, then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end I
was born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness
unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith
unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the
Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Strange indeed
for the judgment of man, for who knows within himself that his judgment be
true?
Scripture
tells us that Pilate was convicted of the truth in Christ, but failing to take
heed thereto, he lost his soul, causing the blood of the innocent to be shed.
How many of us since the dawning of time have committed such things? Who was
this Jesus? Who was this Saviour that nearly a whole religious nation rejected?
Matthew told
us. Mark, Luke, and John all recorded their side of the story of which remains
unto this day, read and judged of all. Likewise, the Acts, the Book of Romans,
Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians and such books open for our learning this
most unique mystery of judgment and justice undone. But of all the records the
most awe inspiring remains to be the most misunderstood, that being the
Revelation of Jesus Christ written by the Apostle John to the churches of Asia
and left on record that all who follow may ask the question:
In my work to
unfold this mystery to you I will not use great techniques of scholarly display
nor in-depth reasonings of philosophy, no sophisticated, congenial language
shall be used, just simple talk and reason.
First of all, "the
Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants
things which must shortly come to pass" are to be seen just as that: a
revelation of Jesus to reveal to men His wishes and His desires for those who
make up His church. For the kingdom of God being that of heaven, and not of
this world, is to be revealed unto this world by the means He has chosen -- "the
foolishness of preaching." John the Apostle while on the Isle of
Patmos received the Lord's messenger and in obedience placed in written form
all that he saw and all that he heard pertaining to the mysteries of Christ.
And in good faith the Apostle stated, "Blessed is he that readeth, and
they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3).
Likewise John
was commanded of the angel, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and
the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter"
(Revelation 1:19). Simply, John's record contains the past, present, and future
events that revolve around the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
John in
faithfulness sent his writings to the seven churches in Asia and the will of
Christ for these churches is plainly revealed from chapter 2 to chapter 4 of
Revelation. Therefore on record, all may read and see how Christ has dealt with
His churches of old.
Our subject of
interest will be taken up from chapters 4-22, for these passages entail the
events that are to be after John's time. For it is written (Revelation 4:
entire chapter):
After this
I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I
heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither,
and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in
the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there
was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round
about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and
twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads
crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and
voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are
the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like
unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were
four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion,
and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and
the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them
six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and
is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that
sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders
fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for
ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art
worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created
all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
John states
that **"that which must be hereafter"**-- sometime after his day
there will be a God who sits on His throne. There will be a jury of twenty-four
elders. God will be declared as "worthy to receive glory and honour and
power," because unto Him and for Him all things were created.
John continues
to say (Revelation 5: entire chapter):
And I saw
in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on
the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with
a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open
the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found
worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the
elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root
of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals
thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand
of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one
of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of
saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I
beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the
beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on
the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four
beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him
that liveth for ever and ever.
Very clearly
John tells of a judgment in which only one question is asked, "Who is
worthy" to open or to reveal a book found in the right hand of God
clearly sealed with seven seals. John states, "No man in heaven nor in
earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look
thereon." Then John is pointed to the hope of all men: the Lamb that
was slain. Here is a revelation of Christ as our High Priest in heaven. Here
His work is revealed: the opening of the mysteries of God. These mysteries of
which reveal Christ and His sufficiency to save all whose prayers are directed
to God through Him. Likewise Paul the Apostle has stated:
So also
Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto
him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
For the law
made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we
draw nigh unto God...But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them.
But now
hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator
of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
For Christ
is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of
the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
But this
man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
For if we
sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and
hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For ye are
not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor
unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the
voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not
be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was
commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or
thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I
exceedingly fear and quake:)
But ye are
come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and
church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of
all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of
the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things
than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they
escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape,
if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:] Hebrews 5:5; 7:19, 24-25; 8:6; 9:24; 10:12-14, 26,
29; 12:18-25.
Clearly then,
John is showing us of that very event of which Paul the Apostle so clearly writes.
Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant and that New Covenant is contained
in the seven seals. If we the church have been so long awaiting that which must
be hereafter, why is it that so many of us in Christendom have not even heard
of the seven seals?
Why is this
Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him such a mystery? The Apostle
Peter gives us a clue when he said (1 Peter 1:3-5):
Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant
mercy, hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Truly Christ
is our only Saviour, our only Mediator between man and God. Likewise, it is
true the opening of the seven seals by Christ is as much or more so important
for our salvation as any other former gospels. If this salvation is "ready
to be revealed in the last time," as Peter says, then we should hear
another statement from the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:13):
Wherefore,
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
So the
question remains--What are the seven seals? And the answer remains--a
Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants
things which must shortly come to pass. If these things were to have shortly
come to pass then surely they must have already been fulfilled, and if so, does
that mean we are His servants if we know these things not? Or could it be that
the things which must be hereafter pertaining to God's throne, the judgment,
the book, and the Lamb receiving that book are events directed primarily to the
last times or the last days? If that's the case are we in the last days? If so
then it must be time for God's servants to know these things (Psalms 90:12-17;
91:1-4; 11:3-4).
So teach us
to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD,
how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early
with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad
according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we
have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their
children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou
the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and
under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
If the
foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy
temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the
children of men.]
The servant of
God will find as we continue in our searching of the scriptures that every book
of the Bible meets and ends in the book of Revelation. Gems of most sacred
truth are to be uncovered, golden promises never before seen are to be brought
to view, for when has grace ever been needed more than now in the time of which
we live?
Although we,
the servants of God, do not live in Asia, we are none the less to be
beneficiaries of their counsels; and they likewise, not being alive today are
no doubt to be a part of the grace which we are to receive.
Revelation
6:1-2. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it
were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I
saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown
was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Here in our
Heavenly Zion we see the Lamb loose the first seal. This preview of God's
revelation of His Son is to be of our utmost interest, for not only will it
more clearly reveal the nature of Christ, but it will likewise unfold more
clearly the Divine nature of God who is the Author of this revelation.
Now let's turn
to Psalms 45:
My heart is
inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the
king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children
of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for
ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy
majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and
righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine
arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall
under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom
is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory
palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings' daughters were among thy
honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own
people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty:
for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be
there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour. The
king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She
shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions
that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall
they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. Instead of thy
fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the
people praise thee for ever and ever.
Verse 1: "My
(God's) heart is inditing a good matter: I (God) speak of the things
which I (the Creator of all things) have made touching the King
(Christ), my (God's) tongue is the pen of a ready writer."
Here we see God not only creates all things by His Word but in His wisdom, He
has chosen some things to be written that by the power of His word He may bring
to pass in His own time. Here we see God by His written Word foretelling his
determined purpose for His Son, Christ.
Verse 2:
"Thou art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips;
therefore God hath blessed thee forever, Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty,
with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of
truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee
terrible things." Clearly in the Revelation Christ is fairer than the
fairest. Those who receive the seals receive the grace found therein. Christ is
capable of destroying his enemies for His majesty truly is great in heaven, for
it is witnessed that all angels bow before him. What is it that Christ shall
ride but the white horse because the book given to Him is the truth and He
shall ride prosperously. Verse 5: "Thine arrows are sharp in the heart
of the king's enemies whereby the people fall under thee." Here we see
the meaning of the bow of which the first seal speaks. Let us pray that none of
us refuse "Him that speaks from heaven" and the Spirit of
Truth that is now speaking from heaven for it is likewise written in verse 6:
"Thy
throne O God, is for ever and ever; the scepter of thy kingdom is a right
scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God**
(Christ), **thy God** (Father), **hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness
above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out
of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings's daughters were
among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of
Ophir, Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also
thine own people, thy father's house; so shall the King** (Christ) **greatly
desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him."
How can any
man deny that the first seal is a preview into the event spoken of by the 45th
Psalm? How important is this insight? How important is it to God, or to Christ,
or to the church? While on earth Christ spoke many parables regarding His
kingdom and his bride. Let's hear one and see if we cannot more clearly
understand the importance of these things.
Matthew
22:1-14:
And Jesus
answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth
his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not
come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden,
Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all
things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went
their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took
his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king
heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those
murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding
is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the
highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants
went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found,
both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king
came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding
garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a
wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants,
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are
chosen.
Notice that in
this parable of Matthew, Christ clearly teaches that those with indifferent
attitudes who would not come to the Marriage Supper were to be slain. Their
disinterest offended the King who we know is God. So, likewise, today if we
disregard the truth of the first seal we really disregard Christ, who opened it
and in so doing we disregard God who gave it. This indifference most surely
will place one's salvation in jeopardy.
Matthew 21:42:
Jesus saith
unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders
rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes?
In this
passage we see Christ pointing his hearers to the Rock (His God). We know in
Revelation 4 God is pictured as one who appears to be as jasper and sardine
stone. This one is the same stone to which Christ referred to. So again we are
reminded that what the Father gives to Christ is a revelation of Jesus Christ
that God gives to Him to show unto his servants. Was it really David who wrote
the Psalms or was it God who spoke through David? Was it really the prophets who
wrote their books or was it God who spoke through the prophets? If it was God,
we must conclude God claims the book as His and we should more earnestly take
it as God's Word.
We find now in
Revelation 19 a verification of the events we have just read.
Revelation
19:1-13.
And after
these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia;
Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true
and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did
corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his
servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for
ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came
out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that
fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great
multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty
thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be
glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come,
and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto
the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings
of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do
it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And I
saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a
name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Notice how in
verse 9 it says, "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage
supper of the Lamb!" And he said unto me, "These are the true
saying of God!" Being the true saying of God, the first seal of
Revelation 6:1-2 must be true according to the saying of God in Psalms 45. And
how can we be blessed if we know nothing about the **Marriage Supper of the
Lamb** nor what it entails?
Isaiah 33:17:
Thine eyes
shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far
off.
Are we
starting to see the King a little more clearly? And how about that heavenly
land very far off?
Isaiah 55:3-4:
Incline
your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have
given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Has not David
truly witnessed on behalf of God by God's own power this beautiful marriage of
which all are called to receive the knowledge of.
Isaiah
61:8-10:
For I the
LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their
work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their
seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people:
all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD
hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
We should
surely at this moment realize the importance of learning more thoroughly the
meaning of Christ according to the seals lest we be found without "the
wedding garment" of God's judgment, for if we receive this
enlightenment, this grace which comes from heaven, we shall surely be partakers
of the marriage of the Lamb for we are the guests who will "Hearken
and consider."
Jeremiah 23:5,
6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20:
Behold, the
days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and
a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the
earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and
this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say,
The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of
Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the
house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had
driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land...For who hath stood in the
counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his
word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even
a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The
anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have
performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it
perfectly.
This beautiful
prophecy, the Desire of Ages, entails of Christ the Lord our Righteousness and
also warns us of the latter days should we be found not standing in the counsel
of the Lord. If we, the church of God, stand in the counsel of Christ,
especially in the light of the seven seals, shall we not be a part of that
beautiful bride spoken of in Jeremiah 33?
Jeremiah
33:14-16:
Behold, the
days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have
promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and
at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David;
and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days
shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name of
which she shall be called, THE LORD, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
She, the city,
she, the saints, those who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and His
Word, for it is also promised in verse 17, "David shall never want a
man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel." For Christ remains
a King "forever." (Psalm 45:6)
Ezekiel
37:24-25 Daniel 12:1:
And David
my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they
shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they
shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your
fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their
children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be
their prince for ever.
And at that
time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children
of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
If we are to
be found written in the book, surely we should be found in the first seal for
where Christ is revealed, shall not we also be revealed as one who "hearkens
and considers" for is not He "our Lord" and shall not
we "worship" him "in spirit and in truth"
(John 4:24).
In Hosea 2:14
we read, "Therefore, behold I will allure her and bring her into the
wilderness, and speak tenderly unto her." The Christian Church being
scattered from Jerusalem went throughout all nations. Being amongst the
Gentiles, the gospel was to impart unto the Gentiles the riches of God's mercy.
Verse 15:
"And I will [give her her vineyards from thence, and the Valley of
Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there, as in the days of her
youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of]
Egypt." Here it is promised that once the unfaithful ones as Achan are
taken from amongst God's people we will definitely have a deliverance as all
the prophets agree.
Verse 16: And
it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi, and
shalt call me no more Baali. If we are to call God by such an endearing
term, we are to know Him a little better and what better [way] to know him than
in the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Verse 17: For
I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more
be remembered by their name. All false teachers and false prophets are to
be forgotten for there is one God, and one Lamb and one seven seal truth.
Verse 18: And
in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and
with the fowls of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground; and
I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will
make them to lie down safely. Just as Isaiah 11 has promised, so Hosea also
promises, peace for those who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Verses 19 and
20: And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto
me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I
will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the LORD.
So again, here we see the importance of this opportunity of learning these
seven seals and the complete entailment of what that includes.
Verse 21:
And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear
the heavens, and they shall hear the earth.] Are we not a part of this event by faith? Is not
heaven in total unity to the receiving of these seals from God? Is not God's
word supreme in heaven? And it being the Word which reveals Christ now is the
time like never before to pray that we may be worthy to understand these things
more clearly.
Verse 22 and
23: And the earth shall hear the corn and the wine, and the oil; and they
shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have
mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them who were not
my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. We will
not go at this point into the in depth meaning of the book of Hosea in every
particular for our primary subject at this point is the first seal and the
Marriage is that subject. This should inspire us to look into the meaning of
Hosea 3:5: "Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the
LORD, their God, and David, their king, and shall fear the LORD and his
goodness in the latter days".
Joel 2:15,16: Blow
the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children,
and those that nurse at the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his
chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Yes, the bride is definitely to
be revealed for we know that Christ is in the Heavenly Sanctuary anticipating
His Marriage of which God has spoken. Should we not eagerly ourselves be ready
to accept this truth and come out of our closet and be revealed to the world as
those who love Christ in truth and in righteousness.
Amos 9:11,14,15:
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and
close up the breaches of it; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it
as in the days of old ... And I will bring again the captivity of my people of
Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall
plant vineyeards, and drink their wine; they shall also make gardens, and eat
the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no
more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD,
thy God.
Obadiah 21: And
saviors shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the mount of Eaau; and the kingdom
shall be the LORD's.
SUMMARY AND
CONCLUSION
First they
raided us
with their guns and helicopters.
When we did not surrender our faith,
They cut our fuel,
electricity, and water.
We did not surrender.
So they
intimidated us.
Threats,
Destruction of our
properties.
But we did not surrender.
So they gassed
us.
When we did not surrender,
They burned our home,
killing us.
But we did not surrender.
Now, they
continue in their lies,
demonizing us.
We are imprisoned as they seek
through their laws
to cover their
cruel deeds. Accusing us
of having faith.
But we are free,
And we will not surrender.
I am empty yet
full.
I sorrow but I'm happy.
Momentarily my family and friends
are separated from me.
I'm a stranger from my relatives.
I have been here many days now,
facing two
life sentences.
In secret my tears flow.
All for what?
My faith in the
Seven Seals of Scripture.
The price of
faith is high.
But now I understand.
It can be no other way.
Father, for your sake,
Forget us not.
It is you who have placed
love for you
in us.
Now you have
found us.
Please don't let us go.
Accept our feeble response
of gratitude.
**Livingstone
Fagan, Branch Davidian**
The destruction
of the Spirit results from a transgression
of the Laws of Commandments protecting her.
But rather than give her up
We suffer the destruction of the body by those who,
through counterfeiting the Law,
Seek to plunder us.
Being
unreservedly, and wholeheartedly devoted to you
She is inestimably more valuable than Life in the body.
Mt. Carmel was my marriage to her.
She is the truth of the Seven Seals.
Death and
imprisonment are unworthy offerings
in defense of her.
Our Father has said "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."
On these words we rest,
Waiting patiently to fly away.
**Livingstone
Fagan, Branch Davidian**
On the subject
matter of David Koresh's conduct, a topic so highly misunderstood and
misrepresented in the media. There are significant and delicate truths relative
to the salvation process giving rise to such actions. In his letter to the FBI
prior to his death, he offered to address these questions. This offer was
rejected, evidently people want to believe what they want to believe, then so
be it! Nevertheless, consider the following.
God instructed
the prophet Isaiah to walk naked and barefoot three years; why? (Isaiah 20:1-3)
He instructed Hosea the priest, to marry two prostitutes; why? Evidently
prostitutes are notably responsive to the call of God, you may recall Rahab and
Mary Magdalene. (Hosea 1:1; 3:1) The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to gather
grains to make his bread. In the process mix it with "shit". Having
done so, he was commanded to eat this and drink water in measure, before the
people. God also killed his wife and instructed him not to mourn; why? (Ezekiel
4:9-17; 24:15-18) The Apostle Paul, describes these and such actions as, the
foolishness of God, chosen to confound and bring to naught the mighty. Ways and
means he employs in His mysterious workings, to nurture faith in the sincere,
and capture the insincere in his own craftiness. (I Corinthians 1:19-28; Psalms
58:3-5; Ezekiel 12:2ff; 14:1-11; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 48) Consider Paul's
second letter to the Thessalonians, Chapter 2:1-12, note particularly verses 7,
8-12. People have this weird and often unconscious notion they can deceive God.
At the revelation of the mystery of God, it will be seen that, God is a bigger
serpent than Satan! note Genesis 3:22. Under the third seal, the balance of
deceit are in His hand. (Hosea 12:7) No one really escapes with anything, we
all ultimately reap what we sow, unless there be one willing to take our place!
Having an
awareness that, the basic understanding, of even the existence of the seven
seals, let alone their meaning and significance, is for the most part sadly
lacking. To enter discussions into matters of detail regarding David's actions
serves little purpose. Without sounding paternalistic and arrogant, the response
of the Media and the public, clearly indicates a level of spiritual maturity,
insufficient to appreciate the importance and significance of these matters. In
it's principle, salvation is a reversal of the spiritual rape, performed by
Satan on Eve. The fact that he deceived her, constituted a raping of her mind.
Mankind consequently, fell from that mental plane of existence enjoyed by Adam
and Eve. Their eyes became opened and they were no longer virgins. They now
knew sin! The differences in the reversal process are basically twofold. The
element of choice, and the fact that, God has to now work with a fallen mind.
In this fallen mental state, mankind has lost the mental perception, of his
pre- sin condition. God cannot automatically return him to that state, without
his exercising his choice. An image of this reversal process, received via a
faith perception of the reality, takes place on the carnal plane. This allows
the demonstration on this plane of existence, of the exercise of ones choice to
return to the pre-sin state of consciousness. We are here dealing with the
science of salvation. There are laws governing the spirit, as there are laws of
physics. The requirements of these laws, also have to be met. Without a
conscious awareness of them, their manifestation by the Spirit, in and upon
those she works through, are not comprehended. This is what the Apostle John
spoke about in his gospel. (John 1:1-18)
While not
everyone is required to go through our experience at Mt. Carmel, everyone is
required to give a response of approval or disapproval. Such responses
represents an indication of ones choice, either for or against, God's
salvation. Ultimately it will be seen, that everyone consciously chose their
eternal destiny, be it desirable or undesirable. I believe it pays, to be
properly informed of spiritual reality.
David's action
and conduct, in harmony with scriptures, facilitated the evidence of the union
between the divine and the human. You will recall the Genesis account of the
pre- sin union, between God and Man. It was subsequently broken by Satan. This
union is reflected in marriage, between man and woman. In the children that
result, we see the man and woman joined into one. I realize that today, parents
rarely remain faithful to their marriage covenant. Nevertheless, the children
remain as natural evidence of that union. This cannot be replaced by a lifeless
certificate of marriage. The marriage covenant has been deemed so important by
God; for the stability of the universe, of which the family is an image, He has
given birth to the concept of children.
They were to
be a living and perpetual reminder of that covenant. With all the joy they
bring, by their childish foolishness, coupled to the responsibility, they
afford us, as parents, they kept alive before our face, our covenant promises.
The whole of creation, Adam and Eve being the principle focus, is evidence of
the union of God and His Spirit. (Note Genesis 1:1, 2ff; cf. Proverbs 8; Romans
1:19-21)
Finally, the
16th century reformer Martin Luther, introduced the truth: righteousness by
faith. At the time, righteousness by works was the prevailing thought shaping
theological thinking. The truth of righteousness by faith, was so pervasive in
scripture it could not be overturned. Consequently, the prevailing theological
thinking, which gave rise to the then socio-political and economic status quo,
was overturned. A new order of things emerged, and has continued on to today.
It is significant to note that, societies are shaped by ideology. Ideologies
have their roots in ones perceptions of God. Where God is perceived as non
existent, men do as they please, because they see themselves as answerable to
none, but themselves. It is ironic that such thinking, leads men into being
gods over their fellow men! Nevertheless, where God is perceived as existing,
men act according to their perception of Him. History has shown that,
perceptions of God and His requirements, are subject to change and development.
The Reformation is a case in point. The subject matter of the Seven Seals and
the issues they introduce, are destined to have a profound impact on the
existing theological thinking. There are equally profound consequences for the
present socio-political and economic status quo.
...And because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Mt 24:12)
So, Johnny's
father comes home one evening, uptight about some problem at the work place.
After pulling into the driveway, barely missing Johnny's bike, his anger is
inflamed the more. With a beaming smile upon his face, Johnny runs up to the
now stationary car, eager to speak with his father. Before he could utter a
word, his father angrily bellyaches at him for leaving his bike in the
driveway, sending him to his room. Confused and trembling Johnny silently
complies. His father grabs his briefcase from the back seat, slams the car
door, and makes his way to the house.
Expecting to
see his wife, and have her cater to his needs, having had a bad day at work as
breadwinner, he hurriedly enters the house. But she is not home. She had been
waiting for him for over twenty-five minutes, having cooked a special meal for
the family that evening. Before leaving for work this morning, she had asked
him to buy an item needed as a final garnish to the meal, on his way home.
Anticipating he might not have had opportunity, she nipped to the corner store
before they closed. She had left word with Johnny to tell his father this, and
have him look in the refrigerator for a special drink she had prepared him.
With her not being home, his anger now turns to profanity. About this time his
wife arrived. Hearing the high volume of her husbands voice, she became
concerned. She rushed to the house, almost dropping her shopping, only to be
met by the verbal abuse of her husband. The entire evening is spoiled, the
spirit of which continues through to the next morning.
Johnny's
mother rose early that morning, so too did Johnny. She wanted to prepare
breakfast and get Johnny ready for school. Johnny was anxious to get to school.
Last evening, before his father got home, he had learned to tie his shoe lace
and was eager to tell his friends. Something he also wanted desperately to
share with his father when he approached the car. In his still festering anger,
Johnny's father gets up, quickly dresses and leaves the house, not uttering a
word to anyone. Soon after his arrival at work, he receives good news
concerning the problem that was bothering him. As a matter of fact, excellent
news. He was elated. The monetary and promotional rewards were very promising.
About an hour later he receives a telephone call from the emergency services. A
drunk driver had crashed into his wife and son, while they were crossing the road
to school. She's in a coma and Johnny is dead. He immediately rushed to the
hospital. On arrival he had opportunity to read the incident report. It stated,
Johnny's skull was crushed by the wheel of the car. At the bottom of the page,
an eyewitness stated: "...for about ninety seconds before he died, he had
been screaming repeatedly, at the top of his voice, the words "Daddy -
daddy - daddy - I can tie my shoelace." His last breath. Two days later
his wife also died, having never regained consciousness. HOW DO YOU BREAK A
HARD HEART?
In it's
principal, the life style and conduct of Mt. Carmel, in addition to our
experiences following February 28th, 1993, were a series of tests. Designed of
heaven, to address the question, HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE GOD? This is a question
to all of humanity, and predicate to receiving the new covenant (The Seven
Seals, The mystery of God) reuniting humanity with God. It required a wholistic
and unreserved response from mankind, to facilitate the bonding of the
covenant, also known as the marriage of the Lamb. This is what affirms its
Holiness.
The Biblical
backdrop to this begins in Deut 32:21. Prophetically speaking, God stated;
Note the
reference to those which are not a people. The foolish nation.
Historically,
and as the Prophets foretold, Israel became scattered throughout the nations. A
situation arising out of disobedience and rebellion from God. Against the
background of the above text, consider the role played by the Jewish influence
in the events surrounding Waco. We know the role of the Jewish community in
shaping world events. At Waco, one notable such organization was the Cult
Awareness Network (C.A.N.)
Isaiah 65:1-3,
develops the theme of Deut 32:21, further. Note God being sought and found, by
a people who asked not, nor sought for Him. A nation not called by His name.
(verse1) As a matter of fact it, was He who found them. Note also the
rebellious people, those who provoke Him to anger. (verse 2, 3) The former
group of verse 1, who are the foolish nation of Deut 32:21, are spoken of as
the people to come by Ezra. [ 2 Esdras (Ezra) 1:33-37 NRSV]
I will give
your house (The Kingdom) to a people that will come, who without having heard
me will believe. Those to whom I have shown no signs will do what I have
commanded. They have seen no prophets, yet will recall their former
(iniquities).
I call to
witness the gratitude of the people that is to come, whose children rejoice
with gladness; though they do not see me with bodily eyes, yet with the spirit
they will believe the things I have said.
In Psalms 22
they are referred to as the congregation. The ones to whom the Lamb declares
His Fathers name, and who He also calls His brethren. (verse 22, 25) Psalms 40,
also refers to them as the congregation. Spoken to by the poor and needy, the
one who comes in the volume of the book. His iniquities, said to be more than
the hairs of His head. (verses 5-10, 12, 17) Note also verse 14, He has enemies
who seek to destroy His soul, in contrast to His bodily life. Waco was a
spiritual battle made manifest in the material. In Psalms 45, this people is
identified with the King, as His fellows. (verse 7) They are brought to view in
Zechariah 13:7; Isaiah 57:1, 2; Micah 7:14; Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:10-13, 24, 25;
11:33, 34: 12:10, and elsewhere. Psalms 89, is of particular importance. Note
verses 13-18, in connection with the judgment of Revelation 4ff, reference is
made to a people that shall be exalted. Verses 28, 34, 39, brings to view the
covenant. In Isaiah 55:3, 4, one is introduced named David, who brings the
everlasting covenant. He's described as a leader and a commander to the people
(and boy did He lead!). In Ezekiel 20:23-28, they again show up. So too is the
process of their being brought under the rod, for the purposes of bringing them
into the bond of the covenant.
That, the
scriptures speak of this people is abundantly clear. To deny this would be to
deny the Word, which amounts to denying Christ, who is the Word and God who sent
Him. You will recall from "Mt. Carmel: The Unseen Reality," the issue
of the judgment is not, in the first instance, what the Seven Seals teaches,
but rather who is worthy to reveal it. We are in no doubts as to its contents
and who revealed it. This places us in the picture of the people referred to in
the above texts. Additionally our being able to testify to these things, is in
itself a witness to our being the ones spoken of. This is no mere coincidence.
I do however appreciate, that we live in a generation whose ability to perceive
truth is virtually non existent. Further, whose knowledge and faith in the Word
is nigh diminished. They require tangible proofs of a divine order, but do not
fully appreciate the implication. But this too is to come.
In the
meantime, Mt. Carmel was the designated place. Its residents were to be the
representatives of humanity, from this generation, to address this age long
question. The materialization of the events spoken of in the book of
Revelation, namely the Kingdom of the Lamb; the subsequent new heaven and
earth; the new Jerusalem, were dependent on our response to this question. A
response made apparent through the tests.
The scriptures
state very clearly, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The
first of the 10 commandments. (Exodus 20:3) Christ amplified this commandment
by stating, he that loves father, mother, sister, brother, wife, husband, son,
daughter, life, personal theories etc. more than me is not worthy of Me.
(Matthew 10:37-39; 15: 8, 9; 16: 24-27; 22:35-40; Luke 10:25-28; 14: 26, 33;
Matthew 6:24; 19:12; 2Peter 1:19-20). To place this temporal reality in all its
forms (abstract and material) above God is evidently unacceptable. This is
understandable given that it is just a shadow.
Mt. Carmel was
designed to give precedents to matters spiritual, rather than matters temporal.
The soul rather than the body. There were many who came with inherited and
cultivated tendencies relative to matters temporal. Mt. Carmel was not designed
to cater to these. Such were challenged to high levels of self -discipline in
order to remain, or through want of fulfilling these tendencies, be drawn away
by them. Both scenarios occurred.
Those who
successfully passed the initial hurdles of inherited and cultivated tendencies
were to be proved further, Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace if you will. For
those who failed, it merely meant that, they excluded themselves from the
former group. In the further proving, the tests intensified. An example would
be the issue of wives and husbands. Among the deepest of all temporal bonds
(ropes). It is more important to note here that, mankind's present
relationships and sexual habits, "heterosexual" and otherwise are
something tolerated by God. They were crutches to enable man to conceptually
appreciate the divine family, and were to come to an end. (I Corinthians 7:2,
7, 29; Matthew 19:12; I John 3:9; Isaiah 56, 57)
Without
further elaboration, they were a shadow of the reality, and not that reality.
In any event, one might say, I love God more than I love my wife or husband,
but do we really? How does one know this to be true? We can say we feel it in
our hearts, but then love is not a feeling. What happens when feelings change?
Also let us not forget the deceit of the human heart. (Jeremiah 17:9) It
requires proving. Indeed, it is certainly a test to have God take your wife or
husband away thru death. But does this thoroughly prove the ideal, as distinct
from the material, of loving God above your spouse? Certainly one can feel proud,
ones faith has endured in spite of God taking ones spouse in death.
Nevertheless, is it not a more piercing test were God to take your spouse whom
you deeply love, and while yet still alive, to have him or her enter the bed
chamber of another? Job, identified the significance of this. (Job 31, note
verse 10) Would one continue to love God under such circumstances? Would your
faith endure? I think not, were your faith based on a feeling. Here we separate
those who love God out of self-sacrificing principle, from those who love Him
out of feeling, or in theory.
Of a truth,
God himself was made to go through the above tests. It happened when mankind,
in Adam and Eve, chose to turn from God to Satan. We placed the temporal
(shadow) before the spiritual (real), and through having children, we
perpetuated in them this evil. This was a slap in the face of God. Yet He still
loved us. He sent His son (Word) knowing He would be further abused, to procure
for us the opportunity of life, in place of death. In such actions God has
proved the depth of His love for us. It's certainly not a feeling, were it
such, I doubt very much whether mankind would be still living today! Is it too
much that we should be put through such tests?
By putting
humanity (in the persons of His chosen representatives) through these tests,
exercising them therein, and separating the true from the false, He was able to
bring man back into the bond of His covenant. The tests themselves, were
conceptually drawn from the culture of this generation. They reflected what
humanity does. Their fears, concerns, loves, hates, lusts, dreads etc.
Categorically, the general focus of this generation centers around the stomach,
genitals, and self display. The pre-occupation with satisfying these lusts have
shaped the economic and social structure of society. In the process people have
become desensitized to the effects of over indulgence on matters spiritual, as
a matter of fact, for a large class its existence is not even recognized. This
state of things influenced the intensity of the tests. They had to be such that
they effectively proved our hearts, bringing to the surface the truth of
whether or not, our love for God was truly self sacrificing, or merely a
pretentious deception arising from our carnality. By them, such deceptions were
made apparent, and the opportunity afforded to address them. Not all had to go
through all the tests. They were specifically geared to personal need.
Nevertheless, they were representative of the experience of the present carnality.
We were truly proved and exercised in matters spiritual, perfecting our faith
(spirit). Having reached a particular place in the bonding of the covenant, we
were allowed to be thrown back to the world. To see whether or not, through
what it threw at us it could tear us from the covenant, our Garden of Eden
experience if you will. This became our ultimate test. The threat of bullets,
deception, torture, gassing, flames, imprisonment, betrayal, shame,
humiliation, ostracisation and time, we have withstood. Bearing witness to the
bond of the covenant. There is a greater depth to this, relative to the issues
in the divine realm. But it makes little sense elaborating further, if people
cannot perceive what is thus far clearly revealed. It takes a mind that is
spiritually aware, to discern the meaning of these things. Appreciating the
truth of the Judgment and the Seven Seals (God's giving of Himself to us, the
replacing of our spirit with His) are pre-requisites to a proper understanding
of these matters.
The agents of
the BATF and FBI, further, the government they represented, lacked the
necessary qualifications to perceive these things. So too did the media. Their
history of perverting the meaning of reality, manipulating the minds of the
public, for purposes of economic and political ends, ill equipped them to
discern the truth. For the most part, they didn't seem to care. The truth of
the meaning of the reality is not determined by the subjective imagination of
the human mind. Had these people the basic common decency to listen, they would
not have given themselves over to the forces of darkness. The cruelty inflicted
upon us, both by the government and the media (for which there's a recompense)
would not have occurred. We needn't have gone through this final test. God was
already satisfied with what we had thus far attained.
Our subsequent
steadfastness of faith, having nevertheless gone through this final test,
proved we were already bonded. It therefore represents an open show of our
victory. What we individually experienced is both personal and private, between
us and God.
We now have an
experience with God, that is eternally unique to us. Our God is known to us and
we to him. He sit's on a throne with a book in His hand, sealed with Seven
Seals. So too is our brother, otherwise known as the Lamb, the only one
accounted worthy to take the book and loose the seals of it. Where then is the
room for any humanly devised government.
Verily, the
foolishness of God is wiser then the wisdom of man!
Inspite of the
mountains of evidence, humanity has problems believing there is a God, let
alone knowing, or greater still doing his will.
It is a simple
conclusion of reason, that truth (reality as it really is) is in the mind of
God, not in the mind of man. It must of necessity follow, that to be in truth,
one must be situated in the mind of God. Not in one's own mind, becoming so
situated is the work of inspiration: our restoration in the divine and the
assurance of salvation. From this vantage point, we are positioned in eternity,
seeing as God sees. Religiosity aside, to the extent this is accomplished in
us, the purpose of Christ's sacrifice has been successful. The mind is as
space, in all of its vastness. Presently filled with the shadows of darkness.
An ethereal reality, cast by the now substance of forms suspended in the
universe of space - the object of our thoughts. Together they form our
essential being. Thinking itself, being the effect of change, having its cause
outside our time and space. In an ever present reality of light, symbolized by
the stars. To the which, this existence is orientated, and is here experienced
as conscience.
The Messianic
Kingdom - Isaiah 1:2-3, 24-27; 2:2-4; 25:6-9, 46:12-13; 60; 62 (cf. Mt 5:14,
last part); 65:18; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Daniel 2:31-35, 44, 45; Micah 4:1-3;
Zecheriah 1: 16-17; 8: 1-3, 20-23; 14: 1-3 (12) 4-11, 16- 19; Psalms 48; 122;
Revelation 20:4; 21:10; 22:5.
Inspiration -
In-spirit. Being situated in the Spirit of God. Through which we become
perceptive of the mind (thoughts) of God ( ICor 2:7-16). It requires our being
in a state of meditation on spiritual, as opposed to carnal matters (Psalm 1).
To the point where the subject of meditation takes over, unveiling itself, as
when a flower opens. It is similar to listening to a person tell their story.
In your attentive listening you become drawn into the drama. With inspiration,
the difference is you're listening to the Spirit of God, as she reveals the
thoughts of God. We bring to the process trust (faith). A willingness to give
our minds over to the subject of meditation. Further, an extensive grasp of the
text of scriptures - the revealed thoughts of God. The subject of meditation
(Psalm 1). Being responsible for the origin of the scriptures, the Spirit take
over, and through them, is able to bring our minds to maturity of
understanding. A task, otherwise impossible by our own weak sensory based
spirit (I Peter 1:19-21).
Without eyes
we cannot perceive seeing. Without ears we cannot perceive hearing. Likewise
smell, taste and touch. Without being the possessors of the Spirit of God, we
cannot perceive the Spirit of God. Without being a possessor of God, we cannot
perceive God. Being of earth we perceive the earth. Of water, we perceive
water. Of air, we perceive air. Being possessors of thought, we perceive
thought. Of conscience, we perceive conscience. Only as possessors of these
attributes and qualities are we able to perceive them. This does not deny their
independent existence, rather our ignorance of them. Through the process of
inspiration we are brought into acquirement of them, thereby perceiving them.
God is a
Spirit. Note a Spirit, not merely spirit. A particular way of thinking,
producing its corresponding thoughts. The thinking, thoughts and expression
thereof (Word) comprises the Godhead. In the image of which, we were created.
To be as God, is a characteristic state of being, not possible of ourselves.
Adam and Eve's
being deceived was not a result of their not knowing what being God meant, but
rather their not knowing what, not being as God meant. They were as God. Being
created in his image. In falling from their original state of being - in the
all knowing spirit and mind of God - they became situated in their own minds. A
state of not knowing. Having lost the consciousness of being as God, we have
become the play thing of the adversary and his forces.
From the
universe of matter, remove the substances forming earth, water, air, ether, we
confront the void (nothing) separating us from the ever present reality of
light - the domain of God. In truth, "nothing" separates us from God.
We need but believe God to be brought back into the divine. Unbelief is the
essence of sin keeping us apart. Exodus 24:10. And they saw the God of Israel,
and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and
as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. Awesome! God dwells on the
circle of the universe in light. We dwell within, in darkness. The darkness in
the light. Through inspiration we are brought up into light. The full
consciousness of God.
As the body
has its shadow, so does the mind. Its shadow being manifested by the light of
God, as opposed to the sun for the body. In His light we see our thoughts to be
just that, shadows of the true light.
It is not how
much skill or knowledge we may acquire, but rather our understanding of the
nature of knowing. For all human theories are but crutches and scaffolds for
the purpose of constructing the mind. Once the mind is constructed they are no
longer needed, and as such are torn down. We should not become attached to
them, beautiful as they sometimes are. There were useful means of introducing
us to the end object of thinking - an activity of faith, and personal evidence
of our essential being. Equipping us to better appreciate the first and
greatest thinker of all (God), and His thoughts. The depth of which defies all
human thoughts. Hence the title God.
It is through
faith that all things are. Without it everything returns to nothing -
formlessness, and void. It is a humbling thought to imagine that the universe
is established on faith. What we call 'facts' are merely laws of faith. We
ourselves are a product of faith - God's faith. And are invited to continue in
His faith. To deny His being, amounts to a denial of our own existence. Put
another way we are the surest evidence of the existence of God. Because He is
we are! The intimacy we share is reflected in the relationship of husband and
wife. Indeed, this imagery is pervasive in scriptures, and is fragrant with
love. Sadly sin has marred its beauty.
We should not
forget that, for our sins, all of mankind has procured to itself death. That we
live at all, and are able to benefit of salvation, is strictly by the grace and
mercy of God. I am in agreement with the judgment of God, that sin and sinners
should be destroyed. Thanking God for His mercy in so judging. As a matter of
fact I present myself for the immediate execution of his judgments. Better it
is to die, than to live in unrighteousness. Trust (faith) - the sacred union of
otherwise free entities, who being so much in love with freedom, covenant to
sacrifice all including life itself, for the preservation of the freedom of the
other.
Love - the
active principle of trust, and aroma of life; fragrant with self - sacrifice.
Freedom -
another word for dignity. Our very image of God. The essence of His right as
God to create and our right to be His creation. It is from this scared
doctrine, that choice is born. To control the freedom of another, particularly
in matters spiritual, is to place oneself in the position of God. To do so
unlawfully, amounts to a challenge of God's right as God, and man's right to
be.
God being a
Spirit, rather than mere spirit, implies law. For there are many spirits. The
laws issuing from the Spirit - God - His word, sets Him apart from all others.
His laws are laws of freedom, for God is ultimately free. Being such, we
understand the necessity of His being a Spirit as opposed to confinement to
form - a condition of the creature, arising from its creature status. The
demarcation between creator/creature affords independence in dependence,
individuality in oneness. Further extensions of freedom. Righteousness - simply
being right. Having its origin in God, whose right and freedom it is, to will
and to do as He wills. The same right out of which creation had its being, and
based in the power of God's word to create. To deny God this right amounts to a
denial of our creation. Humanity is righteous in so far as it is in a
harmonious relationship with God. We have no righteousness outside of this. It
cannot be otherwise, since we are not possessors of the power of original
creativity.
Being saved is
our resting - having faith in what God creates. This is our righteousness, as
it was with Abraham, who had faith in God's promise of what He intended to do.
Knowledge and faith in what God purposes to do for us, given our fallen
condition, is our escape from the consequences of sin. This is where the
promised Kingdom of God becomes important. Through our faith in this revealed
truth, we are translated - first in mind, then - in body into the Kingdom. Our
having to wait for the materialization of this promise, is a result of man's
failure to come into the faith of it. Further, God's mercy, in not wanting any
to perish. But this process of grace has an end. The finality and far reaching
consequences of which, lends justification to the wait. These are not just
words. Here is the patience of the saints. Failure to come into the faith of
what God purposes to create, excludes us from it. We are therefore obliged to
walk in the light of God's promises. Being assured it is impossible for God to
lie.
Salvation is a
creative act of the same nature, as the creation recorded in the book of
Genesis. Only this time God is working with living conscious entities capable
of making choices. He respects our choice, to reject or share in the salvation
He intends to create. This is the beauty of the new creation, we get to take
part in its shape. The awesomeness of God leaves one tingling with excitement
and love. It is this God, who identifies Himself as our Father, and we His
children.
It was the
purpose of the scriptures - God's word - to bring the believer to a place in
his/her consciousness, of perceiving and trusting the Spirit of God. In the
absence of achieving this, the word is without effect. There are those who hide
behind the word, quoting it as if they know it, yet are devoid of its Spirit.
The word thus becomes a curse, their damnation rather then salvation. The word
without the Spirit is dead. The life of the word, enabling our salvation, is
the Spirit. Through this means the true believer is made manifest. Further, it
(the word) ensures we identify with the right Spirit, being a testimony of that
Spirit.
It is better
to be in faith than not. For with faith there is hope. To be on the side of
unbelief is to be without hope. Too often people's faith fails, when the object
appears not to deliver. They throw out the baby with the bath water, Genuine
faith is strengthened in disappointment and delay. Those possessed thereof know
that it is of equal value to the anticipated object. From the perspective of
God - the primary end of our faith - our being matured in faith is the
end/object of His faith. In our becoming situated steadfastly in faith
regardless, we become as He is. Being accounted worthy, to receive Him as
reward. God is unfailing (faithful) were it not so, the universe would be shaky
indeed! Faith and God are inseparable. Our growth in faith (being true) is our
growth in God, who is true. His children are to rule in the earth made new,
where the entire universe becomes open to us. A wise God cannot give such a responsibility
into the hands of weaklings. Look at the mess made of this existence. We are
here being trained for eternity. Those who would stumble at faith's door, have
lost before even beginning. The issue is not confidence in our faith, but
rather in God's faith. He seeks to bring us into the faith of it.
We should not
forget that faith is forward, not backward looking, "...the substance of
things hoped for... (and) evidence of things not seen." Placing faith in a
matter of fact reality, now past, shows ignorance of the nature of faith.
The birth,
life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, are events of history, and
no longer objects of faith. They are facts! One either accepts them or rejects
them. For those who accept them, they become reasons, for faith in hitherto
unfulfilled testimonies of the word of God. Now objects of faith. This is where
the Revelations and prophecies become important. Without a knowledge of them,
one lacks intelligent faith. This is important, for when the events are manifested,
as was with Christ 2,000 years ago, people are ignorant of their meaning and
significance. As a result they act contrary to the purposes of God, showing
themselves not to be right with Him. This can have devastating consequences,
like killing Christ! Seeing that salvation is being right with God, they lose
out, becoming captives to pride. The events of Mt. Carmel (Waco) is a present
case in point. It is in the light of the book of Revelation, that Mt. Carmel,
David, the Seven Seals etc., are to be understood. Not in the light of the
propaganda filled media, and misguided human ignorance posing as opinion. Those
subject to such, become snared in the trap of, 2Thessalonians 2:7-12; Jeremiah
50: 24; Luke 21: 34-36. The reward of their insincerity and outright rebellion.
Those taking heed to the prophecies avoid this, being found in an harmonious
relationship with God, and are judged righteous. Righteousness is really that
simple. Those of us who were with David, are judged righteous, having stood and
acted in the counsel of God. As revealed in the judgment, and the book Sealed
with Seven Seals. There is no mistake about this, now a fact of reality. Were I
to say different, I would be lying. How people react to this, will essentially
be their judgment, note Matthew 25: 31-46, in the light of Romans 3:21-30.
God's actions
in the realm of man, become our reasons for faith. His revealed purposes our
objects of faith. His compassion and faithfulness, our compulsion to faith. Our
fallen condition, our need of faith. To judge what I have written, to be truth,
would be a mistake. Truth is a state of being. In so far as I am in that state
of being I am true. My utterances arise from my being in the state of truth,
and are therefore true. But they remain just that, utterances. Likewise, the
word of God - although true - is not truth. God is truth. It is to God all
worship belongs. Christ (the word) came to lead us to the Father, to whom he
interceded on our behalf. The Seven Seals reveal the outcome of that intercession.
It draws our attention to the salvation, God in His righteousness purposes to
create for His son, on account of Christ's faithfulness. His reward, Revelation
22:12-14; cf. Matthew 25: 31-46; 6:33; 7:21-23; Revelation 2, 3.
Intuition -
the combined effect of the senses and seed of judgment of the fledgling soul.
Developed in concert with conscience, we are thereby made able to think God's
thoughts after Him, the Source of true Judgment. By themselves our thoughts are
really ethereal labels attached to the feelings (processes and objects) of our
senses. True thoughts begin with intuition and, with the aid of conscience,
mature into judgments. Such judgments form the basis for true ( correct)
thinking, producing its corresponding thoughts. At each level - feelings,
intuition, judgments, thinking - a new phase of consciousness emerges. In the
light of each development, the understanding of the preceding level is
completed. Becoming situated in true thinking, the soul is ready for birth.
The importance
of conscience in this process cannot be underestimated. It is like the
umbilical cord of the developing child in the womb. The fledgling's link to the
soul of the universe from which it is nourished and takes its form. Cut prior
to maturity, and the soul fails of coming to birth. It dies and ultimately
returns to nothing. As with a soul, so with a nation.
The matured
soul combines thinking and its corresponding thoughts, the one male and the
other female. The perfect image of God. At the birthing they are placed in
separate forms, and are one, completely in touch with every aspect of each
other. Perfectly mated. This is God's ideal of marriage, of which Adam and Eve
in their innocence were an example. His being formed first was an object less
in order. Her being the more beautiful, it was necessary for her to be formed
from living substance, rather than raw dust. The majesty of femininity. This
ideal has been blighted by sin and has degenerated to what we have today. The
plan of salvation incorporates its restoration. Of a truth, the soul is created
from nothing, coming via dust. In the Kingdom of God we are born perfectly
mated.