Good Things to Come
Hebrews 9:11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11)
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—– What are the Good Things to Come? —–
Good Things to Come First Seen at Mount Sinai
Before we examine the good things to come in the Lord Jesus, we have to be aware of the mountain of God which is Sinai. Here the first revelation of God was given to Moses and the children of Israel. The very words that Moses spoke came from the mouth and breath of God, and these words were accompanied by lightning and thunder. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16) And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:18) They heard the voice of a trumpet and the saw shaking of the ground. In the case of Moses, he was full of fear and dread. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) (Hebrews 12:21) Why do we see at Sinai good things to come? Because the same shaking of the ground, the same darkness and thundering was present at the cross of Christ. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (Mark 15:33)
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. (Matthew 27:50) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (Matthew 27:52) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:53) Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:54)
In verse 8 of Chapter 9, we have the authority of the Holy Ghost giving US the authority of the word then spoken, and the word NOW in the day of reformation. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. (Hebrews 9:8) Although grace and truth are the essence of the Spirit’s voice today, the thunder and lightning are still part of God’s word to us. When the Lord was ministering to His disciples, He continually gave them commandments, and His disciples were to follow those commandments in this life; however, through the false doctrines of the professing church, churchified people ignore the lightning and thunder when they read the holy book. The voice of the Almighty is truly lighting and thunder to those who are under God’s judgment.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (John 12:27)
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:28)
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. (John 12:29)
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. (John 12:30)
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (John 12:31)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)
This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:33)
In this section of Scripture, it is the world that is under judgment. So that clarifies why they heard the voice of the Almighty as thunder; thus, taking us back to Sinai when the voice of God shook the mountain.
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, (Hebrews 12:18) And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (Hebrews 12:19) (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: (Hebrews 12:20)And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) (Hebrews 12:21)
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. (Exodus 19:17) And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:18) And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. (Exodus 19:19) And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. (Exodus 19:20)
The Lord, speaking in John 12:31, explains to the world that the WHOLE WORLD is under the judgment of God . . . Now is the judgment of this world. He articulated that NOW is the judgment of this world, which of course, is denied by the world and the professing church.
When we use the term, day of grace, that only applies to what is available to man under the mercy of God for man is STILL under the thunder and judgment of God. If one would open their eyes, they would be able to see this ALL around the world and even in their own location. The world of sin has ALWAYS been under the judgment of God. God has not allowed man in unbelief to escape his judgment NOW on individuals and on whole nations throughout the world. Today, God is shaking the very fiber of the nations of this world. All that binds the nations of the world together is being torn apart by sin. There has crept in a deadness of heart, soul and spirit, and few can hear the still small voice of God. They refuse the voice from heaven in thunder and lightning. They cast off the thunder of God’s wrath as being just another day to day living experience for, they declare that it has been the same since the beginning. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2nd Peter 3:4) 3:4) When one is living in complete unbelief, one is blind to all that is around them, and in their unbelief, they will not believe in the God of judgment. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28) For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
Where is godly fear today? It is never seen in the world, nor in the professing church, for man in his sin has falsely proclaimed that God is ONLY a God of love. They leave out the judgment on the ungodly in Jude 1:15-19.
To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 1:15)
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:16)
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Jude 1:17)
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:18)
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (Jude 1:19)
Scripture tells us that judgment must begin at the house of God. It has to start there because of the false doctrines and the sins of the people, and the disobedience and unbelief in the word of God. God judges these trespasses even to take some out of the world in judgment.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1st Peter 4:17) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1st Peter 4:18) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1st Peter 4:19)
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1st Corinthians 5:4) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1st Corinthians 5:5) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1st Corinthians 5:6) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1st Corinthians 5:7) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1st Corinthians 5:8) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (1st Corinthians 5:9) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (1st Corinthians 5:10)
These Scriptures were given to remind the Church and the participants within the Church that God would not allow sin around His holy things. Week after week, they slander the Son of God through their sin and unbelief, they trample underfoot the Son of God, His blood, and the Spirit of grace.
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? (Hebrews 10:29) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30)
We live in an age where men are deliberately removing the word of God from the people. Constantly the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is under attack by the shallowness of the men in the pulpit. They change the meaning of the word of God or remove it altogether. It is time for the professing church to examine itself in their heart, soul and spirit, and to awake out of darkness and repent with godly fear, and to cast themselves on the forgiveness of God Almighty.
The world has been in continuous judgment since the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Day after day, God has been shaking this world to get man’s attention. And sadly, by the church being more of this world than of Christ they also are under God’s judgment. It is the blind leading the blind until both, or all fall into the ditch and the fires of hell. This is intensified by God in the book of Hebrews that He is a consuming fire. This too returns us to the mountain and the dread of God’s voice on Mount Sinai. He will not turn back from judgment in the present, nor in the future, and He will not turn back from the eternal judgment at the great white throne. This does not sound like good things to come.
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Good Things to Come
The Love of God
The love of God DEMANDED a payment and judgment for ALL SIN.
We have to understand the fundamentals in Hebrews Chapter 9. For it is quite evident that God’s LOVE and judgment is revealed to us. Love cannot come unless there is judgment. Each one of us cannot have God’s love without our sin being judged, and this judgment is against YOUR sin, and FOR your sin, and this becomes the point where we look at good things to come. It would take the just for the unjust to lay down His life in love bearing in Himself the judgment of God FOR us. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) God’s love is not arbitrary it is reactionary. It is given through and by His beloved Son, your judgment for YOUR sin was real the moment that God placed YOUR sin on Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He laid down His LIFE under the full judgment of God for sin. The love of God DEMANDED a payment and judgment for ALL SIN, and this could only be satisfied by the very article of God’s love, and this would be His beloved Son. There is no greater love than God the Father’s love for His beloved Son, and there is no greater love than the love of God the Son for the Father. As they have equality in power and in omnipotence as they have equality in their far-reaching omniscience, and equality in omnipresence, they have equality in divine love one for the other. It was God the Father who sent His Son, the Son of His love, in the very essence of divine love. It was God the Son who is the object of the divine love that came in the love of God. We see this in the 17th Chapter of the gospel of John. Here we have the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ embracing God’s love and His love showing us the very fullness of the love of God. Each one of us cannot have God’s love without our sin being judged, and this judgment is against YOUR sin, and FOR your sin.
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (John 17:25)
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26)
In these four verses we have the word love, loved, or lovest five (5) times showing us the grace in God’s love. We also should remember that this is the prayer of the sanctifying Priest after the oath and order of Melchisedec. In the priesthood of Melchisedec we have the priestly aspect of righteousness and the kingly aspect of bringing peace for the transgressors. Since the Lord Jesus is the Eternal Priest, He must sanctify Himself before He can sanctify others and this He does and did through the offering of Himself for sin.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:18) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19)
Now compare this in John 17 to our High Priest that is made higher than the heavens in the book of Hebrews.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
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? (Hebrews 10:29)
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. (Hebrews 13:20)
Once again, we see the sanctification of the great High Priest under the order and oath of Melchisedec in verse 29. And through HIS sanctification He sanctifies others BY His blood, verse 14. Compare this with Exodus 29:43-46.
And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. (Exodus 29:43)
And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. (Exodus 29:44)
And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. (Exodus 29:45)
And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. (Exodus 29:46)
We see that Aaron in the Old Testament MUST take the blood of others into the holy of holies for his own sin and the sin of others. The day of atonement was the day of judgment. Without the sacrifice AND the blood judgment would fall on the nation of Israel for their sin. In the provisions that God gave to Israel the spotless sacrifice without blemish, would bear the judgment for the sins of the people, and that innocent victim’s blood would be taken into the holy of holies to appease God’s wrath and judgment against the people. On the day of atonement, the people themselves had nothing to do with the redemption of God. It was totally between the priest, Aaron, (the high priest) and God. All had to be accomplished by Aaron, and even his sons were left out on the day of atonement. Aaron could not enter into the holy of holies without blood. So how could Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, who did no sin, who was separated from sinners, and there was no sin within Him, how could He enter in to the Holy of Holies without sin? He became the Sin Bearer in the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He became the Goat of Sacrifice, the Ram caught in the thicket in Genesis 22. He fulfilled the type of the scape goat for He carried the sin into the wilderness so that it could be looked on no more. The sin of the whole world was laid UPON Him, NOT IN HIM.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.(Isaiah 53:4)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
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So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
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Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1st Peter 2:24)
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And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1st John 3:5)
In Christ we see the Lamb of Sacrifice as the unblemished victim to carry and bear the sin of the world, in that, God would provide Himself a sacrifice. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8) He not only became the Sin Bearer, but He PURCHASED His own Church with His own blood. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
It was NOT only the perfection of the sacrifice, but the purity of the blood for there was nothing in the body or blood of the Lord Jesus that was connected to Adam. The Sin Bearer had a Body of His own in the likeness of flesh BUT prepared of God before the foundations of the earth. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) 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. (Revelation 13:8)
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Good Things to Come
The Gift of God
In Genesis Chapter 22, in verse 10 through verse 18, we see the drama played out with the son and the father when Abraham went ALL the way to lifting up the knife to slay his son. This was to test Abraham’s faith, and his faith in God was confirmed, for Abraham believed that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Hebrews 11:17) Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: (Hebrews 11:18) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:19)
Where did Abraham attain this faith and knowledge? It took place in Genesis Chapter 14 when Abraham met the Son of God. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (Genesis 14:19) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Genesis 14:20) The Son of God appeared as the High Priest Melchisedec. Although there are only a few words written, this encounter MUST have taken quite a bit of time for they sat down in communion with bread and wine. It was there that Abraham learned of the day of Christ, and the plan of eternal redemption, and that He was the power of resurrection and eternal life. Since Abraham is called the friend of God, God did not keep His plan of redemption from His friend.
In Genesis Chapter 22 Abraham already knew of the sacrifice of the Son of God. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56) Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (John 8:57) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58) Abraham already knew that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead. And it was there at the point of Isaac’s death that Abraham heard the voice of God, not once, but twice God used Abraham’s name to confirm His friendship with Abraham in this double call.
Side Note: The Double Call. Few men in Scripture have received the double call of God.
• Abraham was the first. (Genesis 22)
• Jacob was the second. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. (Genesis 46:2)
• The third was Moses. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. (Exodus 3:4)
• The fourth was Samuel in 1st Samuel 3:10, And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
• The fifth one was Saul/Paul. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4)
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 22:7)
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 26:14) ♦ End of Side Note.
All of these men were chosen in time of trouble and to begin a new work of God. Abraham in his calling was the renewal of faith on earth. Jacob was the first man to see the Lord of glory IN heaven above the ladder of God. Wherefore Jacob was a prince with God and therefore, his name became Israel meaning ‘a Prince with God.’ Samuel would become the first prophet to the nation of Israel under the kings. And he would have the office of both priest and prophet. And of course, we know the history of Saul and God divinely changed his name to Paul to enforce his complete transformation of what he was to what he became. Paul in 2nd Corinthians 12:2 spoke of being caught up into the third heaven and being given revelation dealing with the Church. However, as the 11th Chapter of Hebrews tells us these all died in faith as well as others. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) I want to show you something in this statement from Hebrews 11, they died IN faith, they simply fell asleep in Jesus. Abel died in the power of faith, and yet even today he still speaks through the word of God. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) Stephen, in Acts Chapter 7, verse 60, fell asleep in Jesus, he died in faith. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. We have a wonderful ending in Hebrews Chapter 11, which reveals to us the good things to come not only for us but for those who died in faith.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39)
God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
What is the fullness of this last verse, that they without us should not be made perfect. This has nothing to do with our physical or spiritual status. This brings in the fullness of time in Galatians 4:4-7.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5)
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)
The fullness of time was God joining the Old Testament saints with the New Testament saints, thus, making faith an ocean and not two separate streams or rivers. We can say that THEY without the fullness of time could not be made perfect, and we can say the same about ourselves today, that our perfection comes from the fullness of time. This last statement in Hebrews Chapter 11 is joining ALL in Christ together whether in the Old or the New. All is determined BY faith by the Author and Finisher of faith. Faith does not belong to man, for man, in Adam, is void of faith. Faith is a gift from God. It is the wrapping around the grace of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) Ephesians 2:8 discloses that it is faith that is the gift of God. That grace can only be acquired through faith and that faith is a gift, and the gift that it represents is found in John Chapter 4:10, Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Without the Gift of the Lord Jesus Christ, one cannot acquire grace for Christ is the eternal Author and Finisher of faith.
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Good Things to Come
In the Unseen World of Heaven
In Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 1, faith is called a substance. This means that it is a tangible object, and then Hebrews Chapter 11 continues on to show us the tangible in the history of the men and women that the Spirit of God records. When we think of tangible or substance, we think of things seen and this is what Hebrews 11 reveals to us. The faith of Abel was tangible in his life. It had substance within and without with his testimony for God. We see the tangible or substance in Enoch. He not only believed God through faith but walked with God IN that faith and the result of his tangible life and substance of faith was that God took him out of this evil world. We could go to Noah, how was his tangible faith shown in his life? He was a preacher of righteousness, and God MADE SURE that Noah’s voice echoed over all humanity before the flood. All of humanity, except for eight souls, were condemned because of they refused to repent of their sin. But the voice of God was tangible through faith in Noah. As we go through the faith list in Hebrews 11, we see all of the tangible results of faith. However, faith has a broader field, for the works of these men in faith were also evidence of things not seen. They held faith as a looking glass of good things to come that were not of this world. Our faith introduces us to heaven which is unseen. Our faith carries us to heaven at the moment of falling asleep in Jesus.
At that time heaven becomes the tangible that which is seen, and the earth that we have left becomes the unseen. Faith, as I said, is that looking glass of the evidence of the unseen and the things hoped for. And each one of the men and women listed in Hebrews Chapter 11 are only samples of the great throng that has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ and who has received the Gift of God in faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Lord Jesus is the center object of God’s love. He is also the center object of faith. The Spirit of God has made the claim that Christ is the Author of faith, and the Finisher of faith showing us a broad spectrum through history of how HIS faith has been applied to man. Paul, in Galatians 2:20, did not use the term my faith, he declared it this way: faith OF the Son of God showing that it was Christ who authored His faith and His salvation. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. This would be a good place to read the entire first Chapter of Ephesians. A lot of people do not see this, but the first Chapter of Ephesians reveals the determinate counsels of God in the life of the individual before God. It is God who chooses, it is God who elects, it is God who predestinates. It is God who accomplishes His own perfect will. This all in the first Chapter of Ephesians. But you have to accept it through the looking glass of faith. And that it is the evidence of things hoped for, and the revealer of things unseen. Abel was from the same parents as Cain. Yet God GAVE Abel faith to believe, and Abel diligently sought-after God and God rewarded him for exercising belief and faith in the Almighty God and obeying what God had delivered unto him for the keeping of his own soul. So, what was different between Cain and Abel? Abel was a man of faith. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) Abel was obedient unto God. Cain was disobedient for Cain was without faith. He was a child of the devil, and not a child of God. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1st John 3:12) The Spirit of God gives us the answer that it was Cain who was of the wicked one. And the Lord Jesus expands this is John 8:44. In John 8:44, the Lord Jesus threw a blanket over humanity, in Adam, that they are of their father the devil. And it does not take long to see their traits and their actions around us. In the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the tangible, His Body on the tree, but we also have that which is UNSEEN in Him, by Himself, accomplishing ALL that God required to put away sin and open the door of the unseen to all man.
The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has made it perfectly clear through the centuries that without Christ there is no salvation for man, that His personal Being is the door of salvation, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10 :9 also shows us that the good shepherd and Bishop of our souls has possession of His own sheep BEFORE He calls them, and through faith they recognize His voice. However, the goats and the tares continue to wander aimlessly in sin through this world who are of the wicked one. There cannot be any other way. There are only two camps in this world: those who are the children and the sons of God, and those who are the children of the devil. There has always been and will always be two camps concerning faith: those who love God through faith, and those who hate God through unbelief. And those who are friends of God, and those who are the enemies of God as the Cainites (the descendants of Cain before the flood), and the Canaanites (the descendants of Ham after the flood).
In the creation of Adam, Adam had no say over his design, or the material used, or the way he was created, or the way he became a living soul. However, today, Adam wants to tell God what God can do, or what God cannot do in total disregard of God’s sovereignty. God is the Potter, and Adam is the clay. With God’s own hands, He molded the image of Adam from the dust that had nothing. It was even void of its own consistency. It was dust that could be blown away, yet the dust had nothing to say for at that point there was no life in the dust. After the Lord Jesus had fashioned the dust in His own likeness, He then breathed into the dust both life and spirit, and Adam became a living soul. Now, through sin, Adam gave up life. He gave up life for death so that ALL man is seen by God as dead man walking. There is no life in them. And they are but clay in the Potter’s hand.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? (Romans 9:19) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20) Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (Romans 9:21)
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isaiah 29:16)
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6)
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Good Things to Come
Sonship
In the book of Genesis, we have the book of beginnings, we have the beginning of creation that had no say in its creation. We have the beginning of tangible objects: both the heavens and the earth. They both have tangible substance; one we can see, and the other that we cannot see because it is hidden behind the veil of our own sin. In Genesis we have the beginning of life, the beginning of time, the beginning of the solar system, moon and sun, individual planets, and innumerable vast galaxies. We have the beginning of life on earth, the beginning of plant life, the beginning of the animal kingdom, the beginning of the garden of God PLANTED in Eden. In the beginning of man, he was placed in the garden of God. In the beginning God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and He formed man in His own image. The outward likeness of Adam did not contain inward deity for Adam was a created subject. He was the clay and God was the Potter.
Being created and formed, Adam was subject to the obedience of God’s righteousness. Again, God is Sovereign, and this was the will of God for Adam. From the beginning of man, we also have the beginning of wo-man. This should tell us something. Because of the dimness of the eyes and the heart of man we fail to see the beginning of God’s commandment to man. We fail to see the beginning of God’s Law. The beginning of commandment was that they should not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (Genesis 2:16) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17) The beginning of the Law was very simple: obey and live, and if not, then the Law of sin and death becomes the result of disobedience. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
In the book of beginnings, we have the beginning of sin, and also the beginning of death. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) And all of these beginnings are contained in the first three Chapters of Genesis. In the fourth Chapter of Genesis, which is the earth number, we have the beginning of faith. BY FAITH Abel . . . he was the very first created being whom God imputed faith. And the result of faith was that Abel received the righteousness of God. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) This brought in the first division and conflict between man upon this new world, and it was between two brothers: Abel a man of faith, a son of God; and Cain, who was of that wicked one in 1st John 3.
In 1st John 3, the Spirit of God begins with the sons of God, and only later into the Chapter are we introduced to the children of the wicked one. According to John Chapter 8, these children were and are of their father the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning. (John 8:44) This is also confirmed in 1st John 3:12 -15.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1st John 3:12)
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (1st John 3:13)
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1st John 3:14)
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1st John 3:15)
We should realize that the principles in Genesis (being the book of beginnings) will be played out throughout the rest of Scripture and throughout man’s history. The seeds in the beginning will bring forth fruit in the end whether it is righteousness unto righteousness or sin unto sin. The beginning of sin in Adam’s children brought HATRED from the heart of Cain to Abel. This is one of the warnings that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples as documented in the gospel of John Chapter 15, verses 18 and 19, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Then later, through the 1st epistle of John, he wrote about this hatred in Chapter 3, verse 13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Cain’s hatred for his brother is seen in the lives of every Christian in every age. Thus, we should not be astonished to feel and suffer the hatred against those who follow Christ. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. This should bring Cain up to date in the lives of every Christian. The hostility that was in Cain brought forth an intense fit of hate and sin against Abel and God. This left no good thing in Cain, for Cain condemned himself by his disobedience to God.
Now, in Chapter 9 in the book of Hebrews, we have the good things to come because the OLD THINGS have passed away. We have a new and LIVING way through the veil, which is to say, His flesh, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can approach God IN that NEW and LIVING way through the Mediator at the right hand of God, His Son, Jesus Christ. Now, as Abel, we are able to put on sonship. For as many as receive Him to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name.
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Good Things to Come
A New Covenant – A New Beginning
Again, Hebrews 11:6 is very important in relationship to the belief that is found in John Chapter 1. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) We are believing in what is contained in the name of Jesus Christ. One of the most important possessions of Christ is that He is the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily.
As the book of Genesis is the book of tangible beginnings, the gospel of John is the beginning of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In the very beginning of John’s gospel, Chapter 1, we are introduced to a spiritual world and a spiritual life. Verse 13 concludes our new birth as not being of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Our new birth is determined by the WILL OF GOD. And it moves us and possesses us as the evidence of things not seen. For we, as the sons of God, are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (Colossians 1:130)
Since Genesis is the beginning of tangible beginnings, and John’s gospel reveals the beginning of ALL spiritual things, thus, we are ushered into a spiritual world of the unseen: past, present and future. In Genesis we look through the eyes of the flesh, and see the tangible world revealed to us. In John’s gospel that which was FROM the beginning is revealed to us by the eyes of the Spirit of truth, which is the Spirit of Christ. In John’s gospel we are made aware of the Living Word of God, and that the Living Word of God abides forever. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1st Peter 1:23) In 1st Peter we are thrust back to John Chapter 1 by the Spirit of God. We find that in John 1:1, in the Word of God, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, which IS the Lord Jesus Christ, that IN Him was life, and the life was the light of man; within the word of God is the presence of the LIFE of God, and the life of God becomes the light of man. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)
In our study of Hebrews Chapter 9, we have the end of the Old and the beginning of new life sealed with the blood of Christ. The Old covenant under the blood of beasts must pass away. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13) With the passing away of the old we have the beginning of the new. A new covenant sealed with the King’s ring in His own blood, and His own Body on the tree.
We, today, as the children of God, in a strange world, have been privileged to be part of this age for the holy prophets desired to have what we have. They desired to enter into what we behold. And this was through the Spirit of Christ within them testifying of good things to come. When Isaiah penned Isaiah 53, the Spirit of Christ that was IN him, revealing to him good things to come. We benefit from the testimony of the Spirit of God through Isaiah 53 that God offered the soul of His Son for our transgressions and Christ IN THAT endured the travail of his soul for our redemption. Nowhere else in all of Scripture do we find the dealings of God the Father and God the Son in offering His soul for the transgressions or sin of the people. And through the Spirit of Christ that was IN Isaiah, as Abraham, he also saw the day of the Messiah, and was glad. However, he, knowing this truth desired to enter into these things of Hebrews Chapter 9.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)
Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
These verses from Isaiah reveal to us the very soul of the Son of God. We see the result of Him offering His soul for us in 1st Peter 1:9, Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. The Spirit of God directly connects Isaiah 53 with 1st Peter 1:9. Our eternal soul is connected through our salvation to the Lord Jesus Christ. And according to verse 8 in 1st Peter, although we (as the prophet Isaiah) have not seen Him, yet we love Him, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The impact of this verse in 1st Peter surrounds not only us, but also Isaiah. Remember that the same Spirit of Christ that is in you was also in the prophet of Isaiah, and through faith he received and believed the words that he wrote. Seeing in the distance of time the fulfillment of the words that he wrote. He experienced the same unspeakable joy which is full of glory that we have received at the end of the age. The prophets of old searched the preceding Scriptures to enquire of the Spirit the good things to come. They searched concerning the salvation that would be revealed to all mankind in a future time which through faith impacted their own testimony for God. When we minister the gospel of Christ, as Isaiah, we can repeat the words, Who has believed our report? Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Isaiah 53:1) Isaiah (in his day) ministered the gospel throughout his prophecy of good things to come as well as the other prophets. This is confirmed to us in 1st Peter Chapter 1, verse 11 and 12.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:11)
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1st Peter 1:12)
Again, we see the evidence and the proof of the incorruptible word of God which liveth and abideth forever. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1st Peter 1:23)
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Good Things to Come
Revelation
Let’s look at one of the good things to come that has already embraced us. We are born again by the Spirit of God and God the Father implants within us the Spirit of His Son. At the same time, God the Father translates the new creation into the kingdom of His dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (Colossians 1:13) As we read in 1st Peter 1:23, the word of God has life within itself, and if we behold that life then the mind of Christ shows us every heartbeat of the divine within the word of God. Look at these men of old, they searched the holy Scriptures, most people miss that, the word holy gives it authority from above that there is no question, nor variance of shadow of turning, and there is only one interpretation of the holy word of God, and this is divine interpretation. HE, the Lord Jesus Christ, IS THE INTERPRETATION of THE WORD OF GOD because the word of God lives and abides forever in the power of the Lord’s endless life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)
To those who deny the Old Testament Scriptures: you deny the prophecies that you could receive from the prophets of old for they testified of the things of Christ. And because some deny. or do not want to study the Old Testament, they only see PART of God’s wonderful salvation through Jesus Christ. I say this in all humility, I enjoy knowing the prophets, and rejoicing in the Spirit of the same joy in which they testified in their day. I joy in that they not only testified in their day, but their testimony was specifically to me as a child of God bought with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and acquired by the sacrifice and travail of His own soul. I know the prophets, and in the Spirit of Christ they knew me for they testified of US in their day to their own glory in the Lord and in the Living Word of God who liveth and abideth forever.
Most people never think of the witness of their own life being part of the good things to come. Peter, James and John didn’t know the effect of the Mount of transfiguration when they beheld the majesty and the glory of the Son of God. They were with Him on the holy mount, yet they had been transported through time and space to the holy mount of God, which is Mount Horeb, which is also Mount Sinai. Moses was told to remove his shoes for the mountain that he was standing on was holy ground. Peter reflected on the moment of the Lord’s transfiguration called the mountain, the holy mount. The word of the Holy Spirit wrote through these three men concerning the glory and life of the Lord Jesus Christ that would become part of the good things to come. We have the words of the Holy Spirit that He gave to the apostles to pen the VERY words of the Lord Jesus that He spoke here on earth. They didn’t need a perfect memory for the Spirit of Christ sent down from heaven testified and brought to their memory the exact words that Jesus spoke. This is also part of the good things to come. We have the revelation of GOD concerning His Son in our hands, in our eyes, in our minds, and in our hearts SEALED by the Spirit of God which brings forth the unspeakable rejoicing of our hearts in the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. . . . good things to come.
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Good Things to Come
Sealed by the Spirit of God Within
Part of these good things is our own personal witness for Christ. We witness of the truth which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The world knows not this witness of the truth because the Spirit of God does not dwell in them. The truth can only be believed when it is sealed by the Spirit of God by the faith of the Son of God. When the Lord creates us as a new creature in Christ as children and sons, we have the Spirit of His Son within us.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5)
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)
We see that the Spirit of Christ within is the voice of Christ to seal us in His faith which is in Christ. The faith of the Lord Jesus Christ is like a rock thrown into a pool, it causes many ripples, however the rock is the author of the ripples as Christ is the Author of our faith. And these ripples of faith are ever expanding in the multitude in the sons of God who have obeyed Hebrews 11:6 and Romans 10:8-18.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
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But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Romans 10:8)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)
For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Romans 10:12)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15)
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (Romans 10:16)
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18)
In these Scriptures we have an arrow of the Spirit of God to strike through the heart of man and to convince the ungodly of their need for a Savior through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sound of the word of God in righteousness has gone out through the whole world. The WHOLE WORLD has heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ many times, and they still refuse salvation THROUGH the Lord Jesus Christ. The world today is under greater condemnation than the Old Testament Jews and the nations. They were in trouble because they believed NOT on Him who spoke on the earth from Mount Sinai to Mount Calvary, or the place of the skull. Now they are refusing HIM who is speaking from heaven, and this puts this world under GREATER condemnation for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
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 12:25)
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Hebrews 12:26)
In Hebrews Chapter 12 we also enjoy good things to come. For we are blessed as the children of God to be able to HEAR the voice of the Lord Jesus speaking to us from heaven through the word of God. We are BLESSED in His reassurance to our heart, soul and spirit that we have the HOLY LIVING WORD OF GOD as an eternal witness of God’s love to us and the saving of our souls. Not only does the word of God testify but the blood of Christ is also a testimony IN heaven and a testimony to the earth that it is a better blood than Abel. That it is a better blood than all the animal sacrifices, and according to Peter, we are redeemed with the ONLY blood in the Bible that is called precious, and this is the blood of the Son of God the Lord Jesus Christ. Only the purity and preciousness of that blood could cover sin. As we have entered into Hebrews Chapter 9, the Holy Spirit is showing us the marvels and the preciousness of the blood of Christ. From Chapter 9 to Chapter 13 we have the marvels, the preciousness, the application of His blood, the result of His blood, and the total worth and complete price of His blood. From Hebrews 9 to Hebrews 13, the Holy Spirit of God builds on the value of the sacrifice of the Body and blood of the Son of God opposed to all other sacrifices and blood. The Spirit of God deliberately draws us into the Old Testament so that we will understand and receive the Spirit’s voice in the New and a better covenant in the blood of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. By the witness of the Spirit of God in the book of Hebrews, the Spirit of God shows us that in the days of Moses, Christ was IN the tabernacle for each article was a reflection of Christ so that not only IN the tabernacle, but in the things of heaven would be revealed to the Israelites. That ALL that God gave to Moses on earthly ground reflected Christ and the heavenlies. When you read the book of Revelation, take your eyes OFF the world, and place them on the heavenly things that are revealed through revelation. There is a vast knowledge and spiritual wealth in the heavenly things revealed. Man wants to excite himself with his own future on the earth, but the children of God are not of the earth. We are a heavenly people now, so we should look for heavenly things. That the eyes of your understanding be opened so that you might receive in your heart the wonders of Christ in heaven. Think as heavenly people upon the earth, as the apostle, through the Spirit of Christ, told us in Colossians Chapter 3:1-4.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
The impact of the two words seek and set are enormous in these verses in Colossians. We are to seek those things which are above, this brings us right back to our faith in Hebrews 11:6 that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This applies to those of faith, to the children of God, to those who love His appearing, and want to know more about the divine Savior and God. It is the Christ of today who speaks from heaven, so our ears, our hearts, and our minds should be open to that voice, and to be seeking that which is above. The Lord Jesus, when He was on earth, said Learn of me. This hasn’t changed. Now He is in heaven with all power and great glory, and His words are still Learn of me. When you learn and seek the Lord where He is He wants you to set your affection on one specific object. Set your affection on things ABOVE. Those affections in Christ seal your own death to the world. For ye are dead, and your life is hid in Christ in God. Again, we have the good things to come. As the old prophets diligently searched the Scriptures and looked forward to the day of Christ, and the glories thereafter, as they set their affections into the future concerning their God, we also should have the affection for the One who had affection for us. He asks through the Scriptures that this same affection be returned by our obedience and love through the word of God and the Spirit of Christ.
The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ has two divine roads: it is the unfolding of prophecy, and it is also a revealing of the Spirit of God. It reveals the prophecy as things which must shortly come to pass, and as a revealing, it opens the wonders of heaven and the throne sitter to our hearts, minds, and spirits. It is here that God reveals in His saints the true spirit of worship around the emerald throne. They have no problem worshiping their Redeemer and Creator with a full heart, spirit and soul, for the light and glory of heaven in the gem of their sovereign God controls all their desire, and all their worship for Him. 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. (Revelation 4:11)
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Good Things to Come
Freedom from Sin, Death, Flesh the World and the Devil
The Spirit of God, writing in Chapter 9 in the book of Hebrews, gave the words good things to come to all the children of God. It is a gift to us that God is going to unveil good things. As in Revelation Chapter 4, the saints around the throne are free of Adam, they are free of sin, they are free of death, and they are free of the world. They are free of the flesh, and they are free of the devil. Isn’t this good things to come for all of us awaiting our time to joint them around our Savior’s glorious throne. If the Son shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
Although the children of God today are serving out our servitude here in this world, we have been delivered already from this present evil world. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4) Paul addressed his time as the present evil world. This has not changed in our age. In fact, through the progression of man’s sin and Satan’s influence over man, the world has almost filled up its cup of evil; thus, the children of God are surrounded with the evil world. We are surrounded by the children of disobedience. We are surrounded with the children of the wicked one. We are surrounded by the children of the devil, and yet we have spiritual freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ. The children of disobedience still carry the weight of sin, and the judgment of that sin upon them, and they will be taken out of the world with the finality of sin which is death. We can walk through the rest of our lives here on earth without the burden of sin and death, for absent from the body is present with the Lord. The world is no longer our concern for we live by those two words in Colossians 3: seek and set. However, the world still surrounds us, thus our minds must be set on Christ and be of Christ.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 5:18)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1st John 4:4) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (1st John 4:5) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1st John 4:6) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1st John 4:7)
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1st John 4:13)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1st John 2:15) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1st John 2:16) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1st John 2:17)
We see ourselves in separation from the world. We are pilgrims meaning that we do not have tangible roots to the world. We are strangers, we do not make friends with the world. Just as in the Old Testament that they were pilgrims and strangers, as Abraham. We also travel through a world that we are not part of. We travel through populace that we have no affinity with. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
As Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews reflects on the Old Testament saints, Peter in his 1st epistle applies the same thought of pilgrims and strangers to the New Testament and to those who are bought with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1st Peter 1:1) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1st Peter 1:2) Peter tells us that WE are strangers, and that WE are scattered, and in our scattering, we become pilgrims. Peter relates to us this truth by the Holy Spirit that we are strangers and pilgrims scattered by the omnipotent God throughout this ungodly world. James also identifies the world as not being worthy of our friendship, and in godly wisdom we are not to have friendship with this world. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
We have been scattered for God’s purpose. We move through this world as strangers and pilgrims, as Abraham was in Canaan in the land of promise, yet he was not part of the land. He was separated from the darkness just as we are separated from the darkness in the Light of Life in Jesus Christ. When we look at the history of the world, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, we have to consider all who have been called of God from Abel through the prophets and kings, to each and every life that was chosen of God. The lives of the apostles, the life of Antipas, were all separated from the world of darkness. They were ALL strangers and pilgrims, and they WOULD not and DID NOT CONFORM to this present evil world. Paul, writing to the Romans, also wanted to stir their hearts concerning THEIR separation from this present evil world.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:10)
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:12)
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (Romans 13:13)
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans 13:14)
This stirring of the heart by the Spirit of God also included those who had not come to the birth. They had heard that word of God, the word of God was in their mouth, but they had not swallowed it and made it part of their being. The truth was before them, but they had not applied that truth to themselves. They had fallen asleep in the Roman pleasures of that world. And their oil was running out. The light that was revealed to them did not become part of them. For one must be born of the Spirit of God and have the mind and Spirit of Christ within. They were being warned that not all of them had come to the birth. The true birth is confirmed by the Lord Jesus in John Chapter 17, verses 22 and 23. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)
This is one of the good things that has already come. The Lord Jesus not only shows us His affection for us, but He shows us that we have been received within Him, and He is within us. This is an impossibility in the mind of Adam. But the supernatural Christ of God has united us with the Father and with Himself in a unity of birth that cannot be broken. He has not only set but confirmed our eternity in Him. This is one truth not realized in all today: the oneness of the sons of God with Christ and God the Father. And of course, while we sojourn on earth, as strangers and pilgrims, we are accompanied within by the Spirit of Christ, the Son of the Living God binding us ALL together in His omnipotent power to uphold and preserve and comfort His own. Under the sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see that John Chapter 17 reveals to us His very mind for us. He reveals the High Priest upon the throne of grace.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
In Hebrews 4 we are to draw nigh to the throne of grace and our great High Priest. In John Chapter 17, we see how Christ upholds that throne of grace before God the Father. John 17 is that true High Priest who always has had that throne of righteousness. In Hebrews 4 because of His finished work on Calvary as both High Priest and Sacrifice, He maintains that throne of grace that is SEALED in His blood and is after the oath and order of Melchisedec. In John 17, the cross is before the Lord Jesus, but He is ministering concerning His own, and their preservation. He is committing those who belong to Him to His Father that His Father may SEAL them through the cross and the death of their Savior, and preserve them through the night of darkness, and present them once again to the resurrected Savior on the day of resurrection. In John 17 we see the equality of the Son with the Father. We see the submission of the Son to the will of the Father. And yet, in the Oneness of the divine Godhead we see the complete unity of not only God the Father and God the Son, but the unity of those who belong to Him with Himself AS the great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. In the complete priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ, He has made us priests before the Almighty God. Through the complete sacrifice of the Lamb without blemish, He was both the Author in the order of Melchisedec, and the offering as the Lamb of God. The Lord Jesus would soon be led as a Lamb to the slaughter.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
This was all before Him while He was praying His high priestly prayer and sanctifying Himself before the cross and in the presence of God the Father, He had complete foreknowledge of what was going to transpire. He, as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, had FULL knowledge of the determinate counsels and foreknowledge of God. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. (Acts 2:23) The fullness of His suffering was before Him not only at the hands of wicked men, but under the wrath and judgment of God against ALL sin. The horrors of death were before Him. There was NOT one article of suffering left out of the purchase price of the souls of His own. He KNEW the great price He was about to pay. But He would endure THAT price for the joy that was set before Him. He would complete and finish the work of redemption in ALL righteousness and holiness before God as the great High Priest under the oath and order of Melchisedec.
Now we, as the children of God, have to see our part in the determinate counsels of God. The children of God have to understand that we also are on the earth to fill up the sufferings of Christ. We are seen in the cross, and the work of the cross by the seven Spirits of God before His throne. Christ’s part was suffering OUR part in the forgiveness of sin. Christ took on the cause and He Himself became the remedy; both were met together in His own Body on the tree. It was there that the love of God united grace and truth in Jesus Christ.
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29)
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)
That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; (1st Corinthians 1:5) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. (1st Corinthians 1:6)
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1st Peter 4:13)
All these verses bind us as the children of God to the sufferings of Christ: not only to the sufferings of Christ, but the sufferings that we experience IN this world as filling up the sufferings of Christ.
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. (Philippians 3:10)
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2nd Corinthians 1:5) And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (2nd Corinthians 1:6) And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. (2nd Corinthians 1:7)
These are some of the verses that the prince and the children of this world DO NOT want you to see. Even in the professing church, the sufferings of Christ in the children of God today are not understood for if someone is suffering, in many cases, they are looked down on because of their sufferings. Please put this together: the gospel and the children of God are in contention against the world, and the world is in contention against them. Then why don’t we see this contention played out today? Because the masses of world religion are of the world and NOT of Christ. The world is AGAINST the sons of God. We are a threat to their world because we preach righteousness, and they want no part of God’s righteousness. You see, in their world, they want to be gods. The politicians want to have power OVER the masses. The religious leaders want to have power OVER the masses. In their power they want to determine both life and liberty. And in doing this, they present themselves as the gods of this world. In wars, and in the destruction of nations, and the overthrow of governments we have man continually wanting to rise to a pinnacle of dominion over other men. Over the last century they have exposed themselves many times. We see in them the works of the devil, and they have presented themselves as the devil’s children both in word and in deed.
Looking back into history, if we are given a true account of the night of the fall of Belshazzer’s Babylon, the son of Nebuchadnezzar as they defiled the things and articles of God, while drinking out of the holy cup, and presenting themselves in their own defilement before the holy things.
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. (Daniel 5:1)
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. (Daniel 5:2)
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. (Daniel 5:3)
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. (Daniel 5:4)
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Daniel 5:5)
Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Daniel 5:6)
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:7)
Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. (Daniel 5:8)
Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. (Daniel 5:9)
Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: (Daniel 5:10)
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; (Daniel 5:11)
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. (Daniel 5:12)
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? (Daniel 5:13)
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. (Daniel 5:14)
And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: (Daniel 5:15)
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:16)
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. (Daniel 5:17)
O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: (Daniel 5:18)
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. (Daniel 5:19)
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: (Daniel 5:20)
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. (Daniel 5:21)
And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; (Daniel 5:22)
But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: (Daniel 5:23)
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. (Daniel 5:24)
And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. (Daniel 5:25)
This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. (Daniel 5:26)
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27)
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:28)
Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:29)
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. (Daniel 5:30)
And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Daniel 5:31)
In their day, they were trampling underfoot the Son of God, they were mocking and despising the Spirit of God. So that God sent them a message, that they had been numbered, and weighed in the balance, and had been found wanting. The balance is God’s righteousness. 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? (Hebrews 10:29)
Going to man’s account in the annals of this historical event as documented in Daniel Chapter 5 we understand that on that very night, the army of Darius, the Mede, diverted the Euphrates River by creating a dam upstream from the city of Babylon. This river flowed through this massive city noted as one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world known for their engineering accomplishments such as the ‘hanging gardens’ of Babylon. By stopping the river, the men of Darius were able to breach the city quietly and with amazing speed completely overcame all resistance as the people slept safely within the walls of this impenetrable city fortress. And in one night, in one hour, Babylon the great fell. As Belshazzar and his court played in sin, the army of the Medes as a tumultuous river flowed through the palace doors unabated. This fulfilled the writing by the finger of God on the wall in the palace of Belshazzar. He had defiled the articles of God that were taken from the Temple of Solomon which, if we consider, represents the God of Mount Sinai. The Ark of the covenant was the full representation or type of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The same hand that wrote on the wall, was the hand that wrote on the table of stones and was the same finger that wrote on the stones of the Herod’s temple, when Christ condemned the Pharisees not only in word but by the writing with the God’s finger on the stones on the ground of the temple.
Man’s rise and fall is shown to us many times in history. Nations and leaders are rotated in God’s sovereign plan. And we, as the American people, have witnessed the very same fall of a nation that has forsaken God. While the politicians drink their champagne and spirits, the Medes are passing over the Rio Grande, and the great walls of the country are crumbling to its enemies, for in the hordes are representatives from the whole world. Our open borders have sealed the fate of the American people. As the city of Babylon was ravished and is NO MORE, so also, this nation of the United States, and many other nations are being invaded and ravished and plundered, as the people sleep. And as in a dream or a coma, there are many who still believe that those in leadership positions care about their nations. But they, as Belshazzar, play in sin and mock God not knowing nor caring that God is about to close the door, and to judge this nation because of the sin of the people. From the politicians down to the lowest serf, this nation has sinned, and will not repent. The corruption is all around us. There comes a time when every nation is numbered and weighed in the balance and is found wanting. There is no recourse for them, it is too late. They have heard God’s final call.
In one night, the great ancient city of Babylon fell, and the Medes took control of the entire kingdom. This has also happened to the American people. In the late evening of November 2, 2020, and into the early hours of November 3, 2020, this country fell because of the enemies within were aided and supported by ‘traitorous news agencies.’ These numbers of 11/2/2020 and 11/3/2020 should always be remembered more than 9/11. Consider the 11th month: we have a double witness of God in the multitude of witnesses that beheld the fall of the American nation. On THAT night ungodly men and women, the outright children of the devil, overthrew the United States of America. This is what transpired. The rights of the people were completely overthrown. There would be no more Bill of Rights, no more Constitution, no more FREEDOM, Free speech would become a thing of the past, and since 11/2/2020 those who overthrew the country have been locking up their opposition to put fear and dread into those who oppose their wicked act. The light flickered because the whole nation engrossed itself in sin, and then, the light went out.
In the history of Israel, when the people returned from Babylon, and built the temple of Ezra, the young men cheered, but the old men wept because they remembered the glory of Solomon’s Temple that had been repaired in the days of Josiah, the last godly king of Judah. And this is upon our nation today. Those who come after us will not remember the freedoms and the liberties that we once had. The sin of a nation has a way of blinding the people to their own realities. They live in fantasy and in their imaginations because of their own wicked heart. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) When Adam sinned, he lost everything. Now at the end of the world, man has once again cast-off God and he will lose everything that he holds dear. The nation that boasted in its freedom has to that freedom fallen because of sin. The American people, as a whole, willfully live in a slave camp of sin. The political class may sometimes be referred to as ‘elite,’ but they are far from the point of elitism. These narcissistic self-proclaimed dominators of politics and wealth will continually tighten the screws to remove liberties and to increase the burden of the people. Tyranny is a dotted line, increasing in length by its own power. We see in the book of the Revelation that tyranny becomes so demanding that man will desire to die and not live. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)
They of the political and wealth estate have no clue who they have offended. They have no clue of the power and might of the Almighty God. They have no clue of the judgment that is coming upon them. And although, they have planned and schemed, and have their fifty-year play book, the Grand Master of Kingdoms will write their history as HE WILLS and not as they will. So, you say, where are they heading? The answer can be found in Revelation Chapter 13, however, for those who are the sons of God, aren’t you glad you have the cloak of righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you. And you have the hope of good things to come that are not of this world.
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Good Things to Come
More Good Things Yet to Come
Our study in Hebrews Chapter 9, takes us to heaven as we enter within the veil by the blood of God’ dear Son to be with the Testator.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11)
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (Hebrews 9:13)
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19)
In the spiritual sense, while we are here on earth, we have the privilege of entering into the Holy of Holies. He has both sanctified us and redeemed us for Christ is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1st Corinthians 1:30) In wisdom (if we go back to the examples given of God in Exodus and Leviticus) we can look within the holy of holies. We can see the blood on the mercy seat. In heaven above, they are not cherubims of gold, but living cherubims, covering cherubims, that look over the mercy seat at the purity of the precious blood of Christ. Our eyes are opened in heavenly places. We get to look around and see the saints worshipping, and we get to hear and see the lightening and flashing coming from the throne of God.
We have entered in through the blood of Christ and our spiritual mind is awakened to the glory around us. We are seated with the Testator in heaven itself. We behold the True Temple and Tabernacle of God, and all this we have gained entrance by the blood of Christ. The great Shepherd and Bishop of our soul has written each and every name IN His testament with His own blood. In Revelation Chapter 4, the Almighty throws open the door to heaven to those on earth who belong to the Lord Jesus. It is a door that is opened so that we can SEE the good things to come. And we have the assurance that it will remain open until the day that we enter in. What Christ proclaimed in John Chapter 10, verse 9, He has fulfilled in Revelation Chapter 4, verses 1 and 2.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
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. (Revelation 4:1) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (Revelation 4:2)
Think of this door in heaven: since the days of Stephen, how many have entered in to behold good things to come. They are completely fulfilled in Christ. That door continually welcomes each and every child of God to enter into God’s rest. When the Lord Jesus, in John Chapter 10, speaks of calling His sheep by name, it is not one specific location, they are called out of every nation, out of every tongue, and they are all part of the great multitude of Revelation Chapter 5. Whether on earth or in heaven, we have our presence known before the throne of God. We already know these things that have come and, yet there is more to come. This is all because of the precious blood of Christ as a Lamb slain before the foundations of the world. He is the Son of the Father’s love. He is the divine Priest of righteousness forever after the oath and order of Melchisedec. He has ascended to the true throne, the true Temple and Tabernacle above, and He has placed His blood upon the mercy seat and in doing so, He took ALL the redeemed with Him.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11)
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)
Good things to come.
Amen.
© Copyright 2022, Michael Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)