In the beginning God created each plant so that it would reproduce itself with its own particular seed. God purposed that each plant would produce its own seed and thereby, from that seed, create its own particular fruit. Genesis recounts this part of creation as follows:

¹¹ And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants^[e] yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.¹² The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen. 1:11-12)

And when he created animals he created each one so that it too would create its own seed and then reproduce “after its own kind.”

²⁰ And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds^[g] fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.²² And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen. 1:20-25)

Finally he created man “in his own image” and this created being also produced his own seed (sperm) so that he would thereafter propagate “after his own kind” as well.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ²⁹ And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. (Gen. 1:26-29)

Later, God revealed to Moses that his eternal law forbids the mixing of one plant seed with another type of plant seed, one type of animal seed with another type of animal’s seed, and man’s seed with any other type of seed, whether plant or animal.

You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material. (Leviticus 19:19)

This profound truth revealed in Leviticus 19:19 betrays the motives of much of science in these later years. More and more we see scientists mix and change seeds through genetic manipulations.  We see large corporate interests, like Monsanto, create new organisms by genetic modification which do not reproduce their own seeds. We see governments around the world outlaw the possession of natural seeds, beginning years ago with beneficial plants like hemp, (Just watch some YouTube videos about the health benefits of hemp oil), and continuing today with the European Union’s new proposed law to outlaw the possession of any seeds not approved by the government.

Today we live in a world of “chimeras,” bizarre mutations of animals which scientists create through their callous disregard of God’s Law. The ancient books of Jasher and the Bible reveal that this type of genetic manipulation of God’s creation first became common in the days of Noah and led to God’s destruction of that world by water. Jesus said that the time just before his second coming would be “as the days of Noah” with respect to sin and lawlessness. Clearly the signs that these are as the days of Noah appear everywhere now, which means that the end of this age is at hand. And since we now see the end of the age approaching it seems to me that we ought also see signs of God’s main purpose for creating this world, and in particular, for creating us. This means that we should now be able to observe God’s fruit in the earth.

For many years I have taught that God’s primary purpose for creating man was to re-create himself, to “have children” so to speak. We call our children the “fruit of the womb.” God’s children, then, represent God’s fruit. This is why the Bible calls the sons of God the “firstfruits of creation.” They are the overcomers revealed in Revelation 14.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, ³ and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, ⁵ and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5 ESV)

 So now let us begin to examine how the Bible describes this special fruit we should now be able to see.

The LORD introduces the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Exodus 12-13, especially in Exodus 13:3-16. First, in Exodus 13:6-7 he focuses on keeping the feast by eating only unleavened bread during those seven days. We now know that that rule means that God’s people are to keep themselves from the false doctrines of religion and from hypocrisy and the sins of the world. Just after giving this instruction God says that the keeping of this rule “shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (Ex. 13:9) God told Israel to obey his word and that such obedience would become literal memorials to them. In other words, the doing of God’s commands would affect what their hands did, what their minds thought, and what their mouths spoke!

Then, after giving the basic instructions for keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread the LORD again states that he is consecrating all of the firstborn males to himself. He is thus establishing this feast (along with Passover) as the feast of the manchild, the firstborn of creation. And, he summarizes his reservation of the firstborn to himself with this statement, “Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ ¹⁶ It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Ex. 13:15b-16) Not only will the doing of God’s commands affect all we do; now we see that God’s reservation of firstborn shall become signs and memorials to others. The reason for this has now become clear. At the time of the first Passover the LORD himself “by a strong hand” delivered his people “out of Egypt.” But on a coming day, a day which will fulfill “Second Passover,” God’s overcomers, the manchild, will deliver mankind out of an entire world’s tyranny and dominion. This is why they wield a rod of iron.

Now let’s consider another name which God calls these firstborn sons. These sons of God, named the manchild in Revelation 12:4-6, will also be called the firstfruits of creation. The very first of the firstfruits was, of course, Jesus himself who fulfilled the firstfruits offering which was part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Unleavened Bread itself is the seven day feast which follows the day of Passover. The Passover lamb was killed on Nisan 14 and the actual passover of the death angel first occurred in Egypt on the night of Nisan 15, at midnight (soon after the changing of days from Nisan 14 to Nisan 15). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began at the beginning of Nisan 15 and continued to the end of Nisan 22. See Leviticus 23:4-8. Also, according to this section of Scripture the barley firstfruits offering occurred on the day after the regular Sabbath day during the Feast of Unleavened Bread which alway occurs on a Sunday. Moses wrote,

⁹ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁰ “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them,When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, ¹¹ and he shall wave the sheaf before theLord, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.¹² And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. ¹³ And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah^[b] of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma,and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.^[c] 14 And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Lev. 9-14)

Jesus rose again early Sunday morning, the day after the Sabbath after the Passover on which he was crucified. Before he could be touched by men he had to ascend into heaven to present himself as the fulfillment of the firstfruits offering which always occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Paul mentions this in the following verse:

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Cor. 15:20)

The rest of this passage concerns other human beings who will one day experience a similar resurrection from the dead.

²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “God^[c] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:21-28)

I understand that verse 23 above makes it sound like there is only one group of Christians who will be resurrected, i.e. those who belong to Christ at his coming, but I am convinced from other Scriptures that at least two to four or more other groups will also be resurrected from the dead. First, I believe a group known as “Christ the firstfruits” will be resurrected. After that I think the Bride of Christ will experience the “rapture” she has always longed for.  ”Those who belong to Christ at his coming” in 1 Corinthians 15:23 evidently means the Bride of Christ who makes herself ready prior to his coming. And, as mentioned in the previous post, the manchild comes to maturity and fruition before the Bride. Also, a group of Christians which must have their part in the Lake of Fire and will not receive their glorified bodies until their souls have been purged of leaven appear to be resurrected into mortal bodies shortly after the Bride is glorified. Their glorification probably occurs at the end of the millennium at which time a fourth group enters into its time of judgment and purification. Revelation 20 mentions these things, but a further discussion of these four groups is beyond the scope of this article. Finally, then, let’s consider one more prophetic word concerning these firstfruits of creation.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, ³ and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, ⁵ and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Rev. 14:1-5)

These “144,000″ have now become totally identified with the Lamb (the real Passover Lamb) and his Father, so identified in fact that their spiritual names are “written on their foreheads.” This implies that their heads, their minds, their wills have become one with the Lamb’s and his Father’s minds and wills. Notice also that these redeemed from the earth are now perfect, just as Jesus taught them to be. This is because they have now been fully conformed to God’s image. Another way to think of this is to see them as the first people to have grown into full maturity according to God’s creative mandate he declared in the beginning.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

It is because the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14 are the first to be fully conformed to God’s image that the he calls them the “firstfruits” of creation. This is the goal of creation; this is why God created man. God’s work on earth is nothing less than procreating himself. This explains all the marriage imagery in Scripture between God and his people and it also explains why God considers man so important that he would literally incarnate himself in human flesh and suffer humiliating death on the cross in order to ensure man’s salvation and ultimate completed creation.

The previous articles in this series showed that God ordained the Feast of Passover primarily for the preparation of his firstfruits, his overcomers. God decreed fifteen or more specific regulations concerning Passover and, as we saw, each one of these mandates prophetically looked forward to particular spiritual applications in God’s overcomers, the specific overcomes who would one day be chosen as one of the “manchild.” The manchild is that spiritual body prophesied by John in Revelation 12.

And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 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. 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. (Revelation 12:4-6 KJV)

For many years I have thought that the manchild and the Bride of Christ were synonymous, just two terms representing different aspects of God’s overcomers. Yesterday and today God has shown me that these two groups make up separate and distinct groups of overcomers. I believe that Passover relates to the first of these groups, the manchild, and that the Feast of Pentecost relates mainly to the Bride of Christ. I believe the Bride of Christ is the woman who flees into the wilderness in the passage above. Now I will try to show this divisional spiritual concept from the Scriptures.

When Moses first announced Passover to Israel he said, “Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.” (Exodus 11:4-5 KJV)  The Hebrew word translated “firstborn” here comes from בְּכוֺר (bek-ore’) and means “firstborn; hence, chief:—eldest (son), firstborn(-ling)” according to Strong’s. This Hebrew word is a masculine noun and thus refers to the firstborn male of a family, not the firstborn female.

The fact that Passover related only to male firstborns can be further proven by comparing Exodus 13:1 with Numbers 3:39-43. In Exodus 13:1 God announces that every “firstborn” which opens the womb of both man and beast shall be his. In Numbers 3:39-43 God substitutes the consecrated firstborn males of Israel with all the males of the tribe of Levi. The Hebrew word זָכָר zakar zaw-kawr’ which means “male” actually occurs right next to the Hebrew word for firstborn here, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.” (Numbers 3:40) The fact that only males are in view becomes crystal clear in the following passage:

¹¹ “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, ¹² you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. ¹³ Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. ¹⁴ And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand theLord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. ¹⁵ For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ (Ex. 13:11-15 ESV)

Thus those who qualify to rule with the rod of iron as the manchild described in Revelation 12:4-6 fulfill Passover by walking in the fourteen Passover regulations reviewed in part 8 of this series. These will have qualified for rule by a lifetime of testing and tribulation. They will have learned to discern good from evil and have determined to choose good. Although they do not yet live in sinless perfection that is their goal, their deepest heart desire. They yearn to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect and they mourn that they still dwell in bodies of sinful flesh. These are the ones of whom Isaiah prophesied in a mystery.

¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask a sign of the Lord your^[f] God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” ¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” ¹³ And he^[g] said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.^[h] 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. (Isaiah 7:10-15)

Jesus, of course, according to Matthew 1:22-23 first fulfilled this prophecy. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary and he was in fact “God with us,” which is what the name Immanuel literally means. But, like many prophecies this one too will receive a double fulfillment. A chapter later Isaiah speaks of Immanuel again, saying,

⁵ The Lord spoke to me again: ⁶ “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, ⁷ therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, ⁸ and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

¹¹ For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ¹² “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. ¹³ But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴ And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

¹⁶ Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching^[f] among my disciples. ¹⁷ I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. ¹⁸ Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:5-18 ESV)

The Hebrew word יֶלֶד yeled yeh’-led is translated “children” in verse 18 above, but according to Strong’s literally means “sons.” I in this verse refers to Jesus. I believe the manchild will thus consist of Jesus’ own sons. This is that which Paul prophesied,

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:18-23 ESV)

When I first began thinking that the manchild and the Bride of Christ were two separate groups of Christians the LORD took me to the following passage:

“Before she was in labor
    she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
    she delivered a son.
⁸ Who has heard such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
    Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For as soon as Zion was in labor
    she brought forth her children.
⁹ Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”
    says the Lord;
“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
    says your God.

And then I was reminded again of Revelation 12:5, “She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.” And I thought, “Certainly the “she” in these two passages cannot be the Bride of Christ for she is not yet married! Surely she cannot have a baby until after she is married? And it was after this that the LORD showed me the sign of Immanuel. Just as Mary was not yet married when she became pregnant and just as Joseph and Mary did not consummate their marriage until after Jesus was born, so shall it be with the Bride of Christ!

Today those in the Church who will be called out of that Church do not even now that they are (spiritually) pregnant. When they first see the manifestation of the sons of God (the manchild) they will ponder in their hearts if this truly could be the Sons of God which Paul predicts, because if they are then they would in fact be “God with us.” Remember also that when Mary heard and saw Jesus do certain things she pondered those things in her heart. Mary is a type of the Bride of Christ.

So, yes, it appears from Scripture that the son of the Bride comes to maturity before the Bride! And this occurs before the Bride makes herself ready and before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

I never noticed this until yesterday. God only commanded Israel one time to put the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts and lintels, and this one time was when they still lived in Egypt. In the Scripture Egypt represents (is a “type” of) the world. Israel’s dwelling in Egypt, then, is a picture of all God’s people living in the world. Passover thus shows mankind the only way that he can escape ultimate death (insofar as he is aware), and the death in view is his soul’s death, not physical death because since the time of Adam all men but two or three have died physically.

Remember now that the lamb blood Israel applied to the doorposts and lintels also foreshadowed, or prophesied, the blood Jesus would shed for all men, a sacrifice which brings spiritual life to all men as Paul preaches. Here, though, every Israelite had to apply this blood to their own two door posts and lintel or else the death angel would destroy every first born in their home in the coming night, the beginning of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Did you hear this? The death angel only killed the firstborn, not everyone in the house. The firstborn here represent the first born out of God’s ultimate creation. Consider again two key verses in the Book of John:

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came tohis own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13 ESV)

 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36)

These two verses show that the first step of a child of God (a son of light) is to believe in Jesus (God). The Israelites showed that they believed in God by placing the blood on their door posts and lintels according to his command. The penalty for failing to do this, death of all firstborns within the individual houses, and the rest of the commands for observing Passover show that this feast, like all others and like all the teaching in Scripture relate to becoming a son of God, not simply escaping “hell.” Becoming a son of God is all about the “salvation of one’s soul,” one’s mind, will, and emotions. It is all about being conformed to God’s image. Believing in Jesus is just the first step in this process.

So we see that the remaining commands regarding Passover relate to spiritual concepts which God’s overcomers learn and apply to their lives in order to save their souls. They are the ones who work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Here is a list of the specific commands concerning Passover:

1. The lamb had to be eaten on the night of Nisan 15
2. It had to be roasted on the fire, not boiled in water or eaten raw;
3. It had to be eaten with unleavened bread, not leavened bread;
4. It had to be eaten with bitter herbs;
5. It was to be roasted whole, with its head, legs, and inner parts. In Exodus 12:46 we learn that none of the lamb’s bone could be broken;
6. No flesh of the lamb could be left until the morning of Nisan 15. Anything left over was to be burned with fire;
7. Each Israelite was to eat his lamb with his “loins girded”;
8. Each Israelite must eat with shoes on this feet;
9. Each Israelite must eat with a rod in his hand;
10. Each Israelite was to eat in haste;
11. No foreigners could eat of the Passover lamb (Ex. 12:43-45)
12. The lamb had to be eaten in one house and none of its flesh could be taken outside of that house (Ex. 12:46)
13. Every member of the nation of Israel was to eat the lamb (Ex. 12:47)
14. Besides women, only a male who had been circumcised could eat it. Strangers who sojourned with Israel who were circumcised could also eat it (Ex. 12:48)

Earlier we saw that eating unleavened bread foretells eating (bringing into ourselves) true doctrine and living that doctrine out in a life without hypocrisy. Then we learned that roasting the lamb relates to Christ’s  baptism of fire upon our lives which represents a total submission to his ways and his word. Next we see that the lamb has to be eaten with “bitter herbs.”

Today’s end-time church of Laodicea, the prosperity church, cannot relate to eating bitter herbs. To them believing in Jesus is their ticket to a better life here on earth, a life filled with healing, riches, and every good thing. They do not understand that this command looked forward to God’s words to Ezekiel and to John the Beloved:

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.³ And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

⁴ And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. ⁵ For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— ⁶ not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. ⁷ But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. ⁸ Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. ⁹ Likeemery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” ¹⁰ Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. ¹¹ And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’whether they hear or refuse to hear.” (Ezekiel 3:1-11)

To John God said:

⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” ⁹ So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take andeat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” ¹⁰ And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. ¹¹ And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:8-11)

Any time a prophet or a teacher receives a new word from God that Word seems at first sweet to them. After all, the great God of the universe is speaking directly to them! How could that not be sweet? But, as any prophet or Godly teacher will tell you, the working out, the preaching, the application of that word is bitter, very bitter. The main reason for this, as God tells Ezekiel, is that the people you preach to do not believe you. They call you legalistic, divisive, a false prophet. I can testify to you that over a thirty six year ministry of teaching God’s word this has always been the case with me. Very few people within “the church” have ever heard anything I have had to say. I still remember one of the leaders of a “prophetic” ministry saying to me thirty years ago, “I see your ministry as at the back of the church.” In others words, “Don’t think you have anything to say to the people!” And even today I find that old church friends “de-friend” me on Facebook because they do not like the things I say.

Men love the “sweetness” of God’s word, but they hate the application of that word which makes their life bitter for a season, bitter because they must change in order to walk by that word. This is why God commanded Israel to eat their Passover lamb with bitter herbs. The overcomer’s life is one of applying the sweet words of God to his life, his soul, and that outworking is bitter indeed. It is no wonder, then, that most of “The Church” changed the feast of Passover to the pagan holiday known as Easter or Ishtar, a feast filled with bunny rabbits, colored eggs, and sweet ham, a feast where the Passover lamb and the bitter herbs are long forgotten.

The third song of ascent begins,

I rejoiced in those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house[b] of Yahweh.”

Now we have reached the third step of ascent. Now we begin to gain a glimpse of what God calls us to. All of us rejoice when we first repent of our sins and believe in Jesus as our Savior. Most of us believe at that time that heaven is surely ours because most of the Church erroneously believes that once a person believes he immediately becomes the “Bride of Christ” and will automatically be raptured into the presence of God at some point in the future.  The question presented here, though, is will we take the step toward the “House of God” or not? Will we continue to ascend into the actual presence of God, or will we return like a dog to our vomit (to the ways of the world)?

I have a sense that I may not be able to finish writing about these songs of ascent before something occurs which prevents me. I want to encourage all you readers to purchase the English Standard Version “Classic Reference Bible” this week so that you can continue studying and taking these steps of ascent in faith. This particular Bible has the best references I have ever seen. They do not always take me to the place I think I should go, but often they take me to verses which add light to the one at hand. Such is the case with the references given to Psalm 122:1. First it takes us to Isaiah 2:3. This passage reads,

It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the law,[a]
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:2-5, ESV)

Isaiah’s prophesy deals with the “latter days,” these days. It concerns the “mountain of the house of the LORD,” the mountain you and I now climb as we ascend into God’s presence. The ESV’s second reference is to Micah 4:2 which is an exact quote of this passage from Isaiah. These passages tell us that the house of the LORD is a “mountain.” Yesterday I suggested that that mountain is Mount Zion which is also called Jerusalem. The Book of Revelation reveals that its name is actually “New Jerusalem” and is a spiritual city rather than a natural one.

The Book of Hebrews also sheds light on this “house” saying,

Therefore, holy brothers,[a] you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s[b] house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.[c] (Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV)

To take this third step we must identify with Christ and his Father in that we ourselves belong to the same house, the same family. We must see ourselves as having been created in his image and as now being conformed to his perfect stature. To take this third step we must move beyond the elementary doctrines of Jesus Christ and embrace the teaching about righteousness. Remember the words of John,

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[f] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3, ESV)

This third step is the critical step for this is the necessary step of moving on into the maturity of a son of God. Thirty five years of walking with God has taught me that most Christians never take this step. When you take this step you will begin to be called “legalistic” or “judgmental.” This step is the step of separation, the step out of Mystery Babylon and truly toward God’s House, New Jerusalem. Thus the Psalmist declares, ² Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem—

It is at this point that God begins to reveal Jerusalem (spiritual Jerusalem, New Jerusalem) to us, saying,

³ Jerusalem that is built
as a city that is joined together,
⁴ where the tribes go up,
the tribes of Yah^[c] as a testimony for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.
⁵ For there the thrones sit^[d] for judgment,
thrones of David’s house.
⁶ Pray^[e] for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be at ease.
⁷ May peace be within your walls,
security within your palaces.”
⁸ For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house^[f] of Yahweh our God,
I will seek your good. (Psalm 122, Lexham English Bible)

The first two steps in our ascent to finally behold our God demand that we revisit the very foundations of our Christianity. We must examine ourselves without guile and hypocrisy and repent of our sins. And we must continue walking by and in faith in God. The third step takes us beyond the elementary doctrines of Christ to consider the very goal of our salvation, the city we sojourn toward, New Jerusalem.

When most people consider this psalm they think of the old city of Jerusalem in the Middle East. When they read verse six they mechanically pray that God will bring perpetual peace to that besieged carnal city. There was a time, the time when God still dwelt in ancient Israel, when this prayer did apply to natural, old Jerusalem. That time is long past. Today this prayer, like the entire 122nd psalm, concerns New Jerusalem. Today we choose: do we remain in man’s city of Babylon or do we take the third step, separating ourselves from Babylon and climbing up toward our new house, our new city, New Jerusalem?

Psalm 120, the first song of ascent into the presence of God, teaches us that we must repent of our sins before we can ever see his face. This also is the first elementary truth of the eternal Gospel of God preached both to and by Moses and to and by the first Christians. See Hebrews 4:2 and 6:1. We cannot repent unless we know, really know, that we stand as unclean beasts before God. God considers us unclean because we sin, we miss his mark of perfect holiness. If we deny that we sin, then the truth dwells not within us. If we confess our sins, then God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins because his son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins. When we acknowledge our sins, then we may take the second step, the step that will absolve us of our sins. The second song of ascent thus says,

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness. (Isaiah 8:16-22 KJV)

This blog is now about four years old. During that time I have endeavored to teach God’s Word concerning his overcomers.  My goal has been to understand God’s teaching about overcoming, put that teaching into practice, and to teach others to do the same.  I hope that these writings have helped some to find and stay upon that narrow path which leads to New Jerusalem, our eternal home.

I stated a few weeks ago that I believe that I am to “stand down” from this work. I still believe that, but God’s work continues and I will continue to work as God calls me to. If anyone new comes to this site before tribulation on earth prevents that from happening, then please use the tags, categories, search, and links to find answers to your spiritual questions as you seek to follow God. I speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the “law and the testimony” as Isaiah says. Today’s church became corrupt because she threw off God’s law and testimony and thus became a wicked and lewd harlot, a willing participant in and of Mystery Babylon. Christians are called to be “in the world, but not of the world.” Today’s church by and large is happy to be both in and of the world.

The word of God in Isaiah and Revelation to “come out of her,” and to “come out of Babylon” is the word to depart from the ways of the world. “Do not love the world,” says the apostle John. Many have loved the world and cherished her idols instead of following God’s way, his law and testimony. To any of you new to this site who wish to depart from the ways of the world, then read, read, read! This site will help you to understand and to overcome. But the day is far spent and a new day comes. It will begin with much anguish and tribulation for you who are not ready. Again I say, read the posts on this blog to get ready (if you have time)!

Now, for the foreseeable future, I will be writing on another blog called www.day-of-the-lord.com. Click here to get there.  The posts there will now begin with prophetic utterances by Isaiah which are about to be fulfilled.

That day is at hand.

Today, May 27 2012, is the Day of Pentecost, the day which Christians commemorate as the day upon which God first gave the Holy Spirit to his people after Jesus rose from the dead. When Peter explained this strange occurrence in Acts 2 he quoted from the book of Joel, chapter 2, verses 28-32a. Peter did not quote the second half of verse 32 which reads, “for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” He omitted this because it was not then time for this aspect of the prophecy to be fulfilled. It is time now.

The book of Joel mainly prophesies about these days we live in right now. Chapter one begins with four groups of locusts which come upon God’s land to destroy it. That which the first group of locusts does not destroy, the second group eats. Anything left by the second invading army is eaten by the third, and everything left by the third is consumed by the fourth. The result is this:

He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. (Joel 1:7, KJV)

Now remember that Jesus cursed the fig tree, causing it to die, just before his crucifixion. He cursed the tree, which represented the Jewish nation, because it bore no fruit. Thus it is today. The fig tree still represents Israel, God’s people who today comprise the Church. But the Church, like Israel of old, has failed. She bears no fruit. She refuses to leave her love of the world’s ways; she refuses to “come out of Babylon.” Through her fornication with the world she has become one with Babylon, which is a mystery, and rides the beast of satanic world governments. See Revelation 17-18.

One fulfillment of the four groups of locusts in Joel 1 is that they represent the four generations of Christians beginning in the early 1900′s which presided over America’s fall from a Christian nation to the most evil people ever known to the world. Today’s news, for example, reports of a naked “zombie” eating the face of a living man. Can we get more disgusting than this? Well, unfortunately the answer is yes. Satan has some plans in store for all who refuse to obey their Creator which even exceeds this in horror. Yes, in four generations America fell from a relatively faithful form of Christianity to become the haunt of every type of demonic activity. Four generations of locusts destroyed our entire culture.

But that is not all that the locusts represent. If you compare Joel 1:4-7 with Revelation 9:1-12 you will see that their final prophetic fulfillment comes with the demonic locusts released from the abyss in the fifth trumpet judgment. There are four keys for understanding that these two chapters describe the same locusts: 1 ) both passages deal with the time period just before or at the “Day of the LORD,” 2) both passages deal with locusts, 3) the locusts have teeth “like lions’ teeth,” and 4) the locusts damage certain types of plants, which Revelation 9:4 clearly shows represent people. Revelation 9:4 specifically commands the locusts “not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” These three types of people represent the three types of fruitful Christians Jesus described in Matthew 13:23. All fruitful Christians will be sealed by God before he gives the key to the abyss to Satan. All of them will be fully protected by God from demonic assault when they are released.

On the other hand, the fig tree of Joel 1:7 represents all Christians who hold the truth in unrighteousness and have, therefore, become unfruitful and unproductive in their walk with Jesus. Joel says that these trees become splintered, stripped, thrown down, and made white (naked). They did not seek God to become clothed in his righteousness; they accepted the world’s definitions of righteousness and his way they do not know. They chose not to walk the narrow path which Jesus warned we all must take. But, note that God restrains the locusts (demons) from killing them in Revelation 9:5. For “five months” they will be severely tortured and will want to die, but death will elude them. What does all this represent?

Joel 1 and the fifth trumpet blast of Revelation 9 depict God’s judgment upon his church, for judgment begins with the House of God according to God’s word. This explains why Joel addresses his prophesy to the “elders,” the leaders of God’s people and also why he calls those leaders to repent in 1:8-20. God commands the locusts not to kill these lukewarm, unbelieving Christians because he graciously grants them one last time to repent, one last time to believe the prophets who have spoken and spoken and spoken.

The end does not come as these Christians were taught. They will not be miraculously whisked away to their pie in the sky heaven prior to all hell breaking loose upon earth. They will learn that they walked in deception, that they called evil good and good evil and that they accepted the demonic for the divine in their church services and gatherings. Many, I believe, will repent, but these will be difficult, trying times for multitudes who called themselves by the name of Christ and yet walked in the dens of Satan.

You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4)

If you are reading this post, then this verse speaks to you, that is, so long as you are striving against sin.

We live in the Day when the beast, the governments of men, rule with blatant tyranny over the lives of their citizens. Many eloquently point this out, but many end up thinking that these citizens will have to rise up in arms against their governments if their peaceful protests do not bring necessary changes.  See, for example, this excellent article by Greg Evenson, which I agree with except for his remedy. Some, like Evenson, say that the time comes when righteous men must even take up arms against lawless, evil governments, and he warns that the United States government quickly approaches this point. He is right that our government is lawless and evil, and that it continually gets worse, but he is wrong about the method of our warfare.

Paul never teaches disciples of Christ to take up arms against the state power. Instead he says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Jesus said,

You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. (Matthew 5:38-41 KJ2000)

The word translated “evil” in verse 39 above is from the Greek word “poneros” which according to Strong’s means “hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from 2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from 4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue).” The word thus speaks of specific acts, not of the sin or evil nature. On the other hand Hebrews 12:4 translates the Greek word “hamartia” as sin and relates to the abstract principle of sin which every man must deal with.

These verses make it clear Christians must fight a spiritual war against sin which battles against our souls, not a physical war against evil acts by sinful men indulging their flesh.

Now, it is true that this spiritual battle may cause men to hate us who will then want to destroy us (kill our bodies) simply because they cannot stand the truth we speak and live. This is what Hebrews 12:4 refers to. Jesus and the first generations of Christians were not killed and persecuted because they attacked the reigning government; they were tortured because they would not bow to the gods those governments worshiped.

The entire Western world has been in the process of changing her gods for many years now, with America drastically quickening her pace in 1963 when the Supreme Court outlawed the Bible and prayer in public schools. The time soon comes when Christians will be forced to bow to a god other than Jesus, or else be murdered in what once was called the “land of the free.” Revelation shows us two images of those persecuted by the beast world government as the Day of the LORD begins. The first pictures those who overcome in their strife against sin:

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. (Revelation 6:9 KJ2000)

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 who had not worshiped 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. (Revelation 20:4 KJ2000)

The second reveals those religious ones who rise up in the power of their flesh against the beast:

And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:16-18 KJ2000)

“That great city” is Babylon the Great, the harlot who poses as true religion. She is also the ancient city of Jerusalem who always opposes and kills God’s overcomers, the residents of New Jerusalem.

The ways of God are not our ways of the flesh. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says our God. Christians must not take up arms to fight against Satan’s beast kingdom which even now manifests in the earth. Instead we must learn God’s ways, walk in them, teach them, and still attempt to live at peace with all men. Although we despise the shame of being ruled by evil, just as Jesus despised the shame of his humiliation and crucifixion, let us run with endurance the race which God sets before us.

Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us [our unbelief], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:1-4 KJ2000)

The salvation of the soul has always been a hard doctrine for me to teach because it always seems to sound like a salvation based upon our works versus our faith. Please, therefore, read the previous two posts in these series concerning faith if you have not done so before proceeding.

Before getting into this, though, let me review a couple of basic doctrines. There exist three distinct salvations: 1) the salvation of the spirit which Jesus Christ effected for all men by his death on the cross (most people lump the salvation of the soul with this salvation and miss the concept entirely), 2) the salvation of the soul (the soul is that aspect of a person that he thinks of as “me;” it includes one’s mind, will, and emotions); and 3) the salvation of the physical body which will occur at some future resurrection.

Corresponding to the three salvations are three deaths: 1) spiritual death, 2) soul death, and 3) physical death. Spiritual death is that death which occurred through Adam’s sin and through him affected all men. Remember the Scripture which says, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive.” Physical death, of course, is that death which we usually think of which also comes to all men, all men, that is, except for the those “alive and left” at the time of Christ’s second coming who participate in the firstfruits (hidden)  and first resurrections.

Most people confuse the soul and spirit, however, so the concepts of soul salvation and soul death remain largely hidden from the church. Jesus spoke of soul death when he said that if we die during this life then we will not have to die again in the future. He referred to voluntarily giving up our own selfish and soulish desires during our normal lives on earth in order to do his will here. If we do this, he says, we will not die again. The Book of Hebrews tells us that it is given unto men to die but once and after that comes the judgment. This death which both Hebrews and Jesus speak of is the “second death” referred to in the Book of Revelation.  Revelation makes it clear that even Christians must participate in the second death if they fail to “put to death the things of the flesh” and to follow Christ here on earth.

The Book of Hebrews concerns itself exclusively with the salvation of the soul. Paul, or his disciple, clearly wrote this book to Christian believers. The main theme of the book deals with faith and its relation to the salvation of the soul. The author repeatedly warns his readers to beware of unbelief. Unbelief, he says, prevents Christians from entering into God’s rest and keeps them out of God’s promised land, New Jerusalem. He focuses upon the Word of God which is living and active and able to separate soul and spirit. He longs to explain “the teaching about righteousness,” the mature discernment of good and evil, but fears his hearers may not understand because they have become dull of hearing.

Therefore Paul or his disciple explains in detail the high priestly role of Jesus, who came in the Order of Melchizedek, in order to reconcile all men to God through his one, holy sacrifice.  BELIEVE, he says, BELIEVE! Do not succumb to the sin that so easily besets us, our unbelief. We are not of those who fall back from faith in Christ to destruction, but are of those who believe unto the saving of our souls! See Hebrews 10:39 where the word “soul,” not “spirit,” is specifically used. Also, refer back to Hebrews 4:12 where the Holy Spirit brings our attention to his Word which divides soul and spirit. God’s Word contains many details like this which we need to discern and understand.

Hebrews contains at least five critical warning which explicitly state that Paul’s hearers could lose this salvation he speaks of. Preachers and Bible teachers for centuries have misunderstood this book and taught that warnings were for those who were not true Christians. Others have used this book to teach that Christians can lose their eternal (spiritual) salvation. Both camps (Calvinism and Arminianism) are wrong. Hebrews speaks of, and only of, the salvation of the soul, a salvation totally different than the salvation of the spirit. And Hebrews teaches us that this salvation comes by, and only by, faith. Thus the author includes chapter 11, the “honor roll of faith,” just after one of his most severe warnings.

But notice the similarity between this Hebrews’ faith and the faith of which James speaks in the very next book. Faith, true faith, always shows itself through its works.

This is no new doctrine. Paul said “work out your salvation in fear and trembling.” He also said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” One salvation, the second, is already done… “you have been saved.” This salvation comes as a gift from God and speaks of our spirit’s salvation. By grace God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, effected eternal salvation for each of us. This explains why Christ’s sacrifice affects all men.

When you understand and believe this, then you receive the “earnest” or down payment of the Holy Spirit. This is when you receive the “power” to become a “son of God.” You do not receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, just a seed, just the earnest upon this initial belief or faith, a faith which itself is a gift of God. We do not choose Christ; he chooses us. With respect to our initial salvation, the salvation of our spirits, we do not even have free will.

It is after we receive this seed of the Spirit that we must begin to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This salvation, unlike the first, requires our will, our “free will.” Now, and still by faith, we begin to effect the salvation of our soul. But, we have to choose to do so. History shows that most Christians do not make this choice. They content themselves to live like the world. They fail to “come out of Babylon,” the ways of the world. But, if we do choose God’s ways instead of the world’s ways now, before forced to do so by the rod of iron, then we will qualify for the prize of being fully made into God’s image. We will be accounted an Overcomer, a Son of God.

(Warning: the first separation of God’s people is about to occur. Only God’s firstfruits will be taken at this time. All others must go through the tribulation which is about to occur. I urge you to pray for understanding of this important doctrine now while you yet have time.)