Come and See – Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John – Verily, Verily, Part xi – Betrayal and Conspiracy –

Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John

Verily, Verily

Part xi

Betrayal and Conspiracy 

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  (John 13:21)

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Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. (Psalm 66:5)

For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory. (Isaiah 66:18)

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He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about tenth hour. (John 1:39)

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)

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Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)

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And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:3)

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5)

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7)

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Introduction to Verily, Verily

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Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51)

   In our study of John 10:1, I mentioned, Verily, verily, or truly, truly, or Amen and Amen, and I am moved to return to this important point. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1) In the racing world, it would be known as a pit stop to prepare our car for what is ahead, to open up our chances to see the invisible. So, I am moved to return to this point of importance not only for the value of Verily, verily, but how the Spirit of Christ uses this combination throughout the gospel of John, and ONLY IN the gospel of John. It is evident that the three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are predominately of the earth. However, John by the Spirit of God takes us into the unseen world, into the mind of Christ, and into the revelation of God. We pass from the temporal world to the spiritual world in the first three gospels in that we can see the horizon of the earth: Matthew is the gospel of the king, Mark reveals God’s faithful servant in every way, and Luke unfolds the Son of man in a divine form as the Man from heaven. However, in John, we have heavenly things such as the eternal Word being made flesh and being God.  Angels ascend and descend upon the Son of man as the Spirit of God looks down from above wherein the three preceding gospels it is the world looking up. In the gospel according to John, it is the Spirit of Christ opening to us spiritual truths found nowhere else in the Scriptures. This reveals the very importance of Verily, verily in the gospel of John. Before we begin, I will list all the verses that have the words Verily, verily.

1. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)

2. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

3. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

4. Verily, verily, I say  unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (John 3:11)

5. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19)

6. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

7.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)

8. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (John 6:26)

9.Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)

10.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)

11.Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (John 6:53)

12. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34)

13. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51)

14. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)

 

15. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)

16.Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

17. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)

 

18.Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13:16)

19. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (John 13:20)

20. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21)

21. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

22.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

23.Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (John 16:20)

24. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. (John 16:23)

25. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not. (John 21:18)

   The different subject matter found with each Verily, verily is extremely important. The Spirit of God emphasizes these verses so that we might know and understand the mind of the Spirit of Christ. Let’s take each Verily, verily together, and open the mind of the Spirit so that we might understand and receive of the glories of Christ. This will take some time, but I believe that this will be our only opportunity to see these truths within the veil. I suggest that you read the previous articles on Verily, verily.

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The Beginning of Betrayal in Adam

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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said,Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.(John 13:21)

   The very first verse of Chapter 13 of the gospel of John is related to the whole Chapter and gives us the clue when Jesus KNEW when His hour was come and it is specific that He should depart out of this world unto the Father. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.(John 13:1) From before the foundations of the world, the Son of God bore this heavy load of the redemption of mankind. Before mankind was even created, the heavenly Son KNEW the road that He would have to tread, and what He had to bear; yet, in 13:1, the true moment was not yet. The true moment would come when He, the Lord of glory, would bare the sin of the whole world in His own body on the tree. 

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)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:(Galatians 3:13)

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30)

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:(Acts 10:39)

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.(Acts 13:29)

  The Holy Spirit refers to that particular tree (five times) which was the cross of Christ. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, but grace was fulfilled on the cross. The cross was not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The cross was the tree that held the divine Seed of grace. Grace was nailed upon the cross. He was there on that tree with ALL the knowledge of the goodness of God and the knowledge of the evil that He would have to overthrow through His own death upon the cross, or tree. The curse of this tree of the knowledge of good and evil was brought to man through Adam. Adam brought the curse of sin into the world by partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fullness of the curse was both sin and death. Now the Lord of glory upon the tree removed the curse, removed death, and removed sin. He bore the sin of the whole world in His own body, the Body that was prepared to defeat sin and death and the works of the devil. 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)Could the body of Adam remove sin? The answer is no. The Lord’s Body was a divine Body in His manifestation. It was the Body that was prepared before the foundations of the world to defeat sin and death, and the works of the devil.

We live in an age of the uncontrollable Cain syndrome, and just as Cain, we do not blame sin, we blame the gun, or the sword, or the poison, or the car, or any other vehicle of death, but we forget the driving force that is within every man and that is sin. It is death by sin.

   In our current age, we have lost the understanding of sin. We see the results in the death of Adam, and his descendants, but we are almost to the point that man will not acknowledge that sin has brought him to the doorstep, even to the darkness of death. We live in an age of the uncontrollable Cain syndrome, and just as Cain, we do not blame sin, we blame the gun, or the sword, or the poison, or the car, or any other vehicle of death, but we forget the driving force that is within every man and that is sin. It is death by sin. And we should focus on this point. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13 exposes sin and death as a curse. And in Galatians 3:13 we have God’s part in lifting that curse. In 1st Peter we have God in Christ bearing the curse of sin and death in His own Body on the tree. 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) Both Paul and Peter witnessed that the cross of Christ represented the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established. And if Peter and Paul are not sufficient we have a third witness in the Holy Spirit of God. In the book of Acts the Holy Spirit records three separate verses related to the tree that Christ was nailed upon.

• The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30)

•And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: (Acts 10:39)

• And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. (Acts 13:29)

   These three verses are the testimony of the Spirit of God to the betrayal of the Jews, and to God’s own grace ending in13:29 when they had fulfilled ALL that was written of Him. This of course, refers to the Old Testament prophecies concerning the life, and the walk, and the betrayal, and the death of the Son of God. They took Him down from the tree, again the Holy Spirit wants our minds to go back to the days of Adam and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

   After the Lord Jesus had defeated sin, death, and the works of the devil, He laid claim to the finality of His work in the words, It is finished. They took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulcher. Although the cross was NOT the tree of good and evil, it was also NOT the tree of life. The cross was the dividing point. It was the symbol of ALL the evils of sin, and it was a symbol of the very hope of life through grace and the removal of the man in Adam for a new man that would take His place at the right hand of the majesty on high. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.(Hebrews 1:3)

You may not have placed the nails in His body, but you held the hammer that drove them in. Sin is the hammer, and sin is no respecter of persons. From Adam onward throughout the entire history of mankind all are guilty of the cross.

   It was the enmity and the hatred of mankind that put the Lord Jesus on the cross. . . . the tree. It was also man in passion who took Him down from the cross and placed Him in a divine sepulcher. This sepulcher had not seen corruption of any kind. For the incorruptible must not see corruption. Truly, thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10) It was the Holy One from heaven who passed through the gates of death to destroy death and presented eternal life to as many who would believe on Him — not just in mind, and word, but in the center of one’s heart. (As Paul would take liberty to write some of his own thoughts, I will also make a suggestion: I believe, when anyone is born again, created outside of Adam, their heart is transformed and within its center is a representation of the holy of holies.) This newborn one is under the blood of the One who was sacrificed on the tree and has received new life through redemption. The betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ by Judas was by one man, and in Judas we see the enmity of Adam; as Adam, the one man, brought sin into the world. This also multiplied in the conspiracy for the conspiracy was by all, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.(Romans 3:23) You can say what you will, you can make as many excuses for your own behavior, and your life . . . . you may not have placed the nails in His body, but you held the hammer that drove them in. Sin is the hammer, and sin is no respecter of persons. From Adam onward throughout the entire history of mankind all are guilty of the cross. The cross is either a path of death, or a path of life. It depends which side of the cross you stand on. If you reject God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, then for you it is the cross of death. If you call unto God for grace and mercy (out of a pure heart) then the cross is the tree of life, which the Lord will give to all who overcome the world through Jesus Christ. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

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Betrayal Within the Infant Church

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   There is a tremendous misconception with the word ‘overcometh in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3. There is a bubble in some minds that the seven churches represent the outward profession of Christianity including world organizations and the religion of man. It is NOT the masses of religion, but the overcomer is outside of religion, and in Christ, and is unspotted from the world. It is the overcomer AND ONLY the overcomer who is a child of God. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1st John 5:4) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1st John 5:5) In 1st John, the Spirit of God introduces us to the overcomer. In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God announces the way of the overcomer. If the present world of Christendom, which represents the world, is the truth then why should we even have overcomers? According to the Spirit of God, the overcomer loves not the world. Why? The world speaks of betrayal, conspiracy and lies and all kinds of divisiveness. The present visible church, or what mankind calls ‘the church’ is far removed from biblical Christianity. Even independent churches have been absorbed by the wickedness of the world simply because the world is within. The vast majority of participants on Sunday do NOT know the truth and have not laid hold of the truth. It is the Spirit within us who tells us that we are the sons of God. God has placed that Spirit in EVERY child of God to not love the world, nor the things of the world. In biblical terms this would cover manmade religions and denominationalism, the World Council of Churches, and the Beast on the hill, Romanism.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1st John 2:14)

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)

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1st John 2:18)

    Since the Holy Spirit in the day of John the apostle knew the condition of both the world and of professing Christendom, why then is the world and religion so blind today? The preachers of this world today have mentally blocked out many verses in their minds so that they will not insult or upset the constituents of their religion. The love of money and buildings has become more important than Christ and HIS Church. The Almighty God has given EVERY Christian who is born of the Spirit of God an unction of the Spirit of God to be able to discern the truth as it is put forth IN biblical terms by the Spirit of God Himself. It is given to each and every Christian born of the Spirit of God to understand and to KNOW the evil world around them. With the Spirit of Christ within we KNOW the heart of every man, we KNOW that there is nothing in mankind that we can trust for the truth in both the Old and New Testaments has revealed the treachery of all of mankind. We can rest in the Spirit to show us all truth. There is no debate or argument. Truth is truth, and there is nothing in between.

   The early Christians loved NOT their lives for the love of the truth. We know from secular church history that there have been many martyred for the truth; yet Antipas was the only martyr recorded in the seven churches in the book of the Revelation. Antipas represents all martyrs because he stood alone, separated by his faithfulness to the word of God and for the truth of God. This goes for all those who loved not their lives for the love of the truth. As the devil entered into Judas, the same devil entered into the church in its infancy while the apostles were still ministering to the church. Much of their writings was to combat the evil doctrines that had already come into the church. The reason that we have the book of Ephesians is to counteract the false doctrines of the priests of Diana who had infiltrated into the infant church by their master, the devil, to overthrow faith, to change the divine into the natural, to redirect their worship from the unseen, the Son of God, in heaven above, to the visible things of the earth (their priests and their buildings). After Christ’s ascension into glory, and taking His place at the right hand of God, the devil could not reach out again to harm Him, but the devil used the same lies to reach out to infiltrate into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Betrayal Within All of Mankind

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    Since Adam, betrayal is common in all of mankind. Adam had his own part in betrayal when He disobeyed the Almighty God and took part in the betrayal and rebellion at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We must remember that the vast majority of the world populace are fallen beings who love to pretend that they are something that they are not. They are not the children of God; thus, betrayal in mankind is so deep that the Lord pronounced that ALL would forsake Him, and as the Lord spoke, it came to pass. Sin is the deepest chasm known to man. It is the darkest hole in all of creation from whence there is no return. There is not one sin that you have done that you can undo, and all the sins of a lifetime cannot be undone by you, or by anyone (Adam). It took the Supernatural Man from heaven, the Holy One of God to overthrow sin, death and the works of the devil. The immediate penalty of sin in its finality is death. The judgment of all sin was in Jesus Christ. He bore sin in His own Body on the tree. Sin was completely foreign to Him. He took sin upon Himself because within Him was no sin. It was impossible for Christ to sin; not only He did no sin, but sin was completely outside of His realm of deity. Therefore, He had to take sin UPON Himself to destroy sin, and to destroy the result of sin which is death. He took away the Law of Sin and Death and gave us the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. 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)I will repeat, Jesus Christ bore the judgment of sin IN His Body on the tree as 1st Peter 2:24, discloses that it was IN the Body of Christ that sin was reconciled. 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.He bore the sin of the whole world IN His Body on the tree. At that one divine point in time, the Lord Jesus bore the judgment of the sin of the whole world; this was the final moment, the final hour, the final day of atonement — there could never be another day like unto that day — there was not one sin left out from all the sins of all of mankind. Although sin came into the world by one man (Adam), and death reigned by that one man (Adam) because sin brought death; so also, by one Man, the Holy Man, life and light came into the world by Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.(Romans 5:16)

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18)

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:(Romans 6:5) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6) For he that is dead is freed from sin.(Romans 6:7)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Light Was Betrayed.

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   By one man sin came into the world, and death reigned over ALL men because of sin. So, by ONE MAN, the Son of man, Jesus Christ, the Just One full of grace and truth, was sent from heaven’s glory into the world to bring life and light to a dead human race in Adam. Grace is endless when that Seed of faith is sent into the heart, and both life and light comes with the Spirit of Christ. This is an eternal truth, and one of the glories within Jesus Christ, the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Life and Light have been given to us by the divine receptacle of all truth. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) It is the spiritual true Light that divides and conquers the darkness of mankind and Satan’s iniquity. Darkness cannot abide the light. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5) Both light and darkness are not tangible articles; therefore, they reflect the spiritual. In the light which is not a tangible substance, we have the spiritual Light of God. In the darkness which also has no tangible substance, we see the spiritual connected to the enmity and evil of both man and Satan. Neither one of them can abide the light. God enacted this first transition from darkness (remember that all was in darkness on the face of the deep) when He initiated His first command to the earth, Let there be light.

   In the first Chapter of the gospel of John, we have the fulfillment of the spiritual in Jesus Christ. From beginning to beginning: from the beginning when God created the earth as recorded in Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and from the beginning as recorded in John 1:1-3, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In one of the hidden truths of John Chapter 1, Christ came to divide the darkness and give forth light, and it was good, and there is none good but God.In him was life; and the life was the light of men.(John 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.(1st John 1:5) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:(1st John 1:6) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1st John 1:7)

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)

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Who Was Betrayed?

Goodness Was Betrayed.

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   God divided the light from the darkness in the beginning, and in the beginning was the Word piercing that darkness with the light, and that it was good. The Scriptures bear witness to the goodness of God, and it is God who gives and judges all that is good. It is God who determines the goodness of all. Man’s thoughts of goodness are tainted by sin. This blocks the true path of goodness. Social distribution of goods and monetary power has nothing to do with goodness. It is predominately done to keep a system of debt alive. Political justice is not God’s justice. Political justice is in the realm of darkness and not in the realm of light, and today we are smothered with the darkness of sin and corruption. This is to keep humanity from the goodness of God in Jesus Christ. It was as though lightning struck when Christ was manifested on earth. Out of the darkness came life and light in Jesus Christ. He would walk the path that the Father sent Him to walk, and now, the hour was upon Him. And the betrayer was in the midst, and the presence of Satan was known to the Savior. But no other in the room beheld him. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21)

   Betrayal has a dark and secretive face. It hides in the darkness, even today, when many think of betrayal they think of the night and the name of Judas. Forever the name of Judas will be attached to betrayal. Betrayal also has many characters, and many tentacles. The hardest betrayal comes from family and friends, and those who use religion as their mask. The other eleven apostles did not recognize betrayal in Judas. But the Master, who knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end, always knew the character of Judas from the first moment that He chose him. So, what was in the heart of Judas when he walked with the Lord. Truly, he felt companionship with the other eleven as he followed and obeyed the Lord. After all the Lord Himself had chosen him. At the point of choosing Judas, Judas did not know his own heart. As so many today, man does not understand his own heart in any way. Not only has sin in Adam dulled the senses, but it has hardened the heart and twisted the thoughts of the mind. The Lord KNEW the heart of betrayal. The moment that He chose Judas, He KNEW what would come in the upper room and what would transpire in the garden.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; (Luke 6:13) Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, (Luke 6:14) Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,(Luke 6:15) And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. (Luke 6:16)

   We have the choosing of the twelve disciples named apostles. Compare this with John Chapter 6, verses 70 and 71. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. Judas was the last chosen among the twelve, and the Lord KNEW the heart of Judas, as He KNOWS the heart of every man. It is only the Lord Himself that is capable and able to search the hearts of man.Man cannot search his own heart for his own heart has become darkness to him. The heart (as well as the rest of the creature) has to be quickened by a new birth, and a new creation. When the Lord searches the hearts of man, He uses the Word and the Spirit of that Word.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)

   There are also times that the Spirit of God, the Comforter, will search the heart through meditation as in Nathaniel when he was under the fig tree.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.(1st Corinthians 2:10) 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1st Corinthians 2:11)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1st Corinthians 2:12)

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1st Corinthians 2:13)

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1st Corinthians 2:14)

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1st Corinthians 2:15)

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.(1st Corinthians 2:16)

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But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.(1st John 2:20)

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But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1st John 2:27)

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Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;(1st Timothy 4:1)

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And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

   That’s right, God KNOWS the heart of every man and what is in man.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:24) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:25)

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The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.(Jeremiah 17:10)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Son of God was Betrayed.

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   When reading the record of Judas and the betrayal of the Son of God, the natural heart within sinful man says, ‘I would never do that.’ Well, you do not know your own heart. All the disciples forsook Him on that dreadful night of betrayal to show us the message of the Spirit that there is none righteous, no, not one. Only the God of righteousness could fulfill all righteousness, and God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. The betrayal of one leads to the conspiracy of many. Here is rule by mob, and the mob was bold enough to threaten the Roman government which was represented by Pilate and Herod. Pilate bowed to the mob of the Jews. He was trapped in his own pride and position. He could wash his hands, but they would never be clean from the blood of the Savior. Washing hands is only symbolic. It can never cleanse the soul. You can put a basin of water in every church building, but this will neither purify the heart, nor cleanse the soul. Only the blood and the water from the One on the cross is capable of purifying the heart and cleansing the soul; there is no other, for it was God who gave His blood for the redemption of mankind. 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)

   Both the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are the vehicles of sanctification. Sanctification carries with it the thought of action in cleansing. The last thing that Aaron did before he entered into the tabernacle was to wash his feet at the laver.

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. (Exodus 30:18)

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:(Exodus 30:19)

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:(Exodus 30:20)

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.(Exodus 30:21)

   Aaron could not enter in unless he was completely sanctified. And there could be nothing on his person that could defile the articles, the holy articles, within the tabernacle. This is why the Lord washed the feet of the disciples for they could not enter into His grace without being sanctified by the Lord. This is prewashing before the regeneration, and they could have no part in the regeneration unless He washed their feet.

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.(John 13:8)

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

   It is difficult for the flesh to give up everything, although death looms over the flesh, and all is laid down, man will fight to the bitter end to hold on to something that is not his. This is why it is needful for the new creation in the new birth to have the cleansing power of God. When anyone is changed from death to life, from sin to God’s righteousness, they are immediately quickened by the intrusion of the Spirit of Christ, and the power of His Spirit, to overthrow the flesh of man; thus, we have the cleansing power of both the blood and the water from the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ for out of His side (at the thrust of the tip of the centurion’s spear) flowed blood and water.

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34)

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For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.(1st John 5:4)

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1st John 5:5)

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.(1st John 5:6)

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.(1st John 5:7)

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1st John 5:8)

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (1st John 5:9)

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1st John 5:10)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1st John 5:11)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Spirit of Truth and Grace was Betrayed.

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   The blood and water of the Son of God was from heaven. In 1st John 5 He came by water and by blood, verse 6. In Hebrews Chapter 1, we have the divine side, God the Father bringing the Son of God into the world ‘this day have I begotten thee.’ For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5) This verse shows the divine side of the birth of Christ. It takes all of humanity out of the equation for all three parts were divine parts: the water, the blood and the body. Just so we will not get confused over what is a natural birth to man, verse 6 of 1st John Chapter 5 ends with the supernatural witness of the Spirit. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1st John 5:6) In His own declaration that He is the Spirit of truth, and it is that Spirit that was the witness to the supernatural birth of Christ, and in 1st John 5, once again, we see one of the titles of the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of truth. It is this Spirit of truth that ‘speaketh expressly.’ In 1st Timothy, Chapter 4, verse 1, it is recorded that when the Spirit of truth speaks, He is always precise, and exact in every word and in every meaning. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1st Timothy 4:1)

   In Hebrews, Chapter 1, God not only brings the first begotten into the world, but He declared that He will be a Father unto Him and gave the title of Sonship to the Lord Jesus Christ. He also in Hebrews Chapter 1, placed the robe of righteousness around His Son when He declared that all the angels of God should worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There had to be divine blood, divine water, and a divine Body. God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. And then we have the testimony of the Spirit of God in Acts 20:28, by God’s own blood, presenting deity and the Lord Jesus Christ as One. This deity is brought out by 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) We see the direct connection of the blood of the Lord Jesus with the Spirit of grace. We must understand the fullness of the Godhead: Father, Son and God the Holy Spirit. There is a union, a likeness that mankind cannot understand within the Godhead. Remember that we are created creatures, and we must rely on God our Creator to reveal what is true. In Romans 8:2, we have the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus. Do you see the union? In John 17, God the Son is completely united with God the Father, there is no division in the Godhead. The Godhead will remain a mystery to man, and that is where we shall leave it in its complete uniqueness and unity. This should give us more understanding to the gift of the Comforter in John Chapter 14:16, 17.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)

   Again, we see the title the Spirit of truth, as in 1st John 5:6. This Spirit of Truth in the unity of the Godhead is an active part in every believer. For He, the divine Spirit of God, leads the children of God into all truth. Man will deny this, just as man denies the truth. Man under the direction of His father, the devil, does not want grace to abound. The devil does not want man quickened unto salvation. The devil wants man to remain at the trough of his lies in the muck and mire of Satan’s swill. The Spirit of God is in the world today working in every believer to bring the truth to the heart, soul, and spirit. We see a unification of this Spirit with the Person of Christ in Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Now link Romans 8:9 with John 14:18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. This was not the manifestation of His resurrection to His disciples. This is His presence to the extended members of the family of God who are the sons of God that He will make His presence known to them by His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ which IS the Spirit of Truth.

   For grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. As we have seen in Hebrews 10:29, He is 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?

   In 1st John 5:6, He is the Spirit of truth. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.(1st John 5:6) The unity of His Spirit is once again a witness that the manifested image of God in Jesus Christ was the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) And in John Chapter 4 we have the words of the Lord Jesus that God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) From the testimony of the Scriptures, the testimony of God the Father, the testimony of God the Son, and the testimony of the divine Spirit all reveal their presence within the Son of God giving us a completeness of the manifest image of God in Jesus Christ. So what does all of this have to do with betrayal?

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Body and Blood of Christ was Betrayed.

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   In the upper room in Jerusalem, a great and mighty battle raged. The presence of God the Son was in conflict in a spiritual battle with the devil. An unseen battle was being played out between the God of righteousness and the author of all evil, Satan. This is documented in John 13, verses 26 and 27, and in the gospel of Luke 22:1-6, and in John 6:70.

Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.(John 13:26) And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13:27)

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. (Luke 22:1) And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.(Luke 22:2) Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.(Luke 22:3) And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.(Luke 22:4) And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. (Luke 22:5) And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.(Luke 22:6)

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70) He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:70))

   Scripture bears record that Judas was controlled from the beginning of his appointment by the devil. However, only the Lord could see this. The Lord was aware of the presence and the power of the devil while His disciples were completely ignorant of this unseen battle. Even in the upper room, they questioned among themselves, who it would be who would betray the Lord Jesus. This is also a witness of the Lord’s omnipresence, and His omnipotence, for as He was in the tangible world He could see and perceive the spiritual world of good and evil. Did a light go on? Now John 2:24 and 25 becomes more realistic for the Spirit of prophecy is also the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of prophecy was fulfilling the very prophecy that He gave to His prophets concerning Himself; and those prophets of old had the Spirit of Christ.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1st Peter 1:10) 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)

   In the upper room there was only One who could see the importance of that moment when He would give ‘a sup’ to His betrayer. It was one of the twelve that He had chosen that sat at meat at the table with Him. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9) This would fulfill another prophecy and give more understanding to the determinate counsels and foreknowledge of God in Jesus Christ. Again, verse 1 of Chapter 13 becomes more vivid to us as the prophetic timeline was being fulfilled. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1) From the moment that the Lord Jesus gave the ‘sop’ to Judas the prophetic timeline was revealed by the number of prophecies that were fulfilled. Christ gave ‘a sop’ to Judas; a morsel cannot be ‘a sop,’ as it had to be dipped and become saturated by some form of fluid (in this case, it was the wine, and the sop was unleavened bread).

   Through his betrayal Judas rejected the blood and body of Christ as the sacrificial means of redemption. As the Lord declared, the bread was a symbol of the His body, and He confirmed that the wine was a symbol of His blood which He explained to all the disciples when He kept His Passover with them. In Luke 22:18, Christ passed a cup with the fruit of the vine, and spoke of it as symbolic of His blood in verse 20. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.(Luke 22:18) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.(Luke 22:19) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20)

   The ‘sop‘ was the symbolic mingling of both His body and blood and would be the last witness that Judas would receive, for he took the ‘sop’ but rejected the truth contained in it. It is the same today, many take the bread and the cup and know not the truth contained in them. And many are not worthy to undo His shoe latches let alone partake of the bread and the cup. There is a strong truth within the body and blood of Christ that He was the Eternal sacrifice, that God put forth His only beloved Son to be the Redeemer of man through His own sacrifice and shedding of His own blood on the tree, the cross of Calvary.

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Son of man was Betrayed.

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   Through the gospels we have a sequel concerning the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In all three of the Synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke, and as well as in the gospel of John, the body and blood of the Lord Jesus is put forth as a holy and divine sacrifice for the sin of the world. In the upper room, the Lord never referred to a flesh, only to His body. He referred to His body that was prepared for Him.  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)

   At this point in the upper room, the divine title of Christ as the Son of man is recorded in all four gospels. It comes from the first begotten of the Father, which is the Son of man from heaven, not the man of the earth in Adam.

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. (Matthew 26:24) Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. (Matthew 26:25)

And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. (Mark 14:20) The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.(Mark 14:21)

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.(Luke 22:21) And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! (Luke 22:22)

He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.(John 13:30) Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. (John 13:31)

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Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (1st Corinthians 15:46) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1st Corinthians 15:47) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1st Corinthians 15:48) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1st Corinthians 15:49) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1st Corinthians 15:50)

   In the upper room we have a specific place that He kept His Passover as the Lamb of God with His disciples. Every time that He spoke of Himself, He used the title Son of man. This baffles the world for they forget that in the day that Adam was created He was created in the image of the first begotten of God, Jesus Christ. Let us make man in our image. God had a image. God was seen by Adam through an image . . . . this was the image of Jesus Christ. Being Spirit, God made Himself visible to mankind through the image of Jesus Christ.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)

   What every believer has within them in the Spirit of Christ will one day be manifested as the image of Christ, the first begotten of the dead. It will be after the Man in heaven at the right hand of the majesty on high. We will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, so we must understand that before God created the first molecule, God took on an image, and this image was the first begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was at the same time the true image of the Son of man, although He was yet not manifested in His likeness to all men at that time, He was still the Son of man.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1st Corinthians 15:49)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.(Romans 8:29)

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.(2nd Corinthians 3:17) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2nd Corinthians 3:18)

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:(Colossians 3:10)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.(1st John 3:2)

   In John 3:13, the Lord Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of man, and then He presented His own attributes to us as the Son of man. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13) He showed His power and omnipotence by being capable of ascending up to heaven and coming down from heaven. This also brings in His omnipresence, for He finished His statement with even the Son of man which is IN heaven.’ These are the heavenly things that man cannot comprehend. How can one be so mighty that He can transcend Himself over and through His entire creation. He can read and try the heart of every man through all ages and time, and He knows the very root that is in man, that element of sin that deceives all the thoughts and intents of the heart of man. When the Lord Jesus in John 3:13 used the title Son of man, it applied to His deity. He had this divine title BEFORE the world was, for all things were created BY Him and FOR Him.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:(Colossians 1:16)

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)

    In John Chapter 17 the Lord Jesus prayed and spoke to the Father as though He was in the very presence of heaven, and the Father is before Him. The unseen is visible to the Lord Jesus Christ just as He knew the heart of mankind, He was also aware of both the seen and the unseen at all times. The uniqueness of the Godhead is this: they are One with no divisions, no conflicts of thoughts, or deeds, and they are always united with the scepter of righteousness always conforming to one another in unity and will to fulfill their own determinate counsels in the One divine mind of the Godhead. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)Because God cannot be divided; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be divided. The uniqueness of the Godhead is just that, there is no other. This adds great impact to the very manifestation of God in Jesus Christ. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1st Timothy 3:16)

   He bore this image from BEFORE the foundations of the earth, and to be betrayed by one of His own creatures that He had created is beyond comprehension. Do you see the act of war as Satan entered into Judas? This gives us another truth of Scripture that Satan has been manipulating mankind from the day that Adam partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This makes Satan an active part of the betrayal and conspiracy of Christ. If we do not see the spiritual battle taking place in the upper room, then we are blind to the works of Satan. We should also consider the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke for the words of the Lord Jesus are very profound when He declared that it would be good for that man if he had NEVER been born. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. (Mark 14:21)

   We also can compare Matthew 26:24, and Luke 22:22, The Son of man goeth as it is written of him : but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. (Matthew 26:24) And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! (Luke 22:22) These verses show us the power that the devil has over the children of Adam. The Lord stated in John 8:44 that the devil was the father of the Pharisees, so we should see in Judas that the devil used him to bring about his own desire to fulfill his obsession to overthrow God. To take God’s kingdom by force, to overthrow the throne of God, and to rise above the stars was and is Lucifer’s burning desire to have dominion over both man and angels; to own the seen in the tangible, and to own the unseen in the spiritual. However, the true King was in their presence in the upper room. He knew what was taking place within Judas. He KNEW what had to be accomplished, and He KNEW that through the darkness He would be triumphant not only as the true King of Israel, but as the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is the true King, Jeshurun. [There is] none like unto the God of Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. (Deuteronomy 33:26)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The King Eternal — the King of Glory Was Betrayed.

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   Although mankind continually rejects Him as the King of glory, it does not change the truth and fact of God’s declaration, Yet, have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Psalm 2:6 shows us that prior to the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ He was the Eternal King for God’s announcement in Psalm 2:6 which reveals a prior station of being King BEFORE HE is set on the holy hill of Zion. Under His title as King we have the following distinctions.

1. The King (Isaiah 33:17) (Luke 19:38)

2. The King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2)

3. The King of Israel (John 1:47-49)

4. The King of saints (Revelation 15:3-4)

5. The King Eternal of all ages (1 Timothy 1:17)

6. The King of Righteousness and Peace (Hebrews 7:1-3)

7. The King of heaven (Daniel 4:37 then 34)

8. The King of glory (Psalm 24:7,8)

9. The King of kings (Revelation 19:12-16)

10. My King and My God (Psalm 5:2) (Psalm 44:4)

11. King over all the earth (Psalm 47:2, 7)

12. The King of nations (Jeremiah 10:7) 

  The title of King takes in His dominion over ALL things that He has created. He created ALL things from the position of King, and ALL things fall under the power and dominion of His kingdom.

   Both Kingship and Sonship are woven into the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7) In verse 7 of Psalm 2 it is the prophetic voice of the Spirit in the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was manifested before men upon this earth. In verse 6 He is a King. In verse 7 we see that He will declare that He is King, and He will also declare that He is the Son of God. Again, we see not only this prophecy fulfilled in the life of the Lord Jesus, but we have a reminder of the fulfillment of Psalm 2 verses 6 and 7 in the book of Hebrews Chapter 1 and in Chapter 5.

   In Hebrews Chapter 1, we have a divine description of the Son that includes His Sonship, His inheritance, His divine glory, His divine sacrifice, His divine manifestation being made better than the angels, and again, we see in verse 8 of Chapter 1, His eternal Kingship upon His throne, and His throne ruled by the scepter of righteousness.

   In Chapter 5 of the book of Hebrews, So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.(Hebrews 5:5) As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:6) Here we have a connection with the Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the King Eternal. His office of King and Priest is part of the inheritance that He received. In Hebrews Chapter 1, verse 2, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2) In this verse His inheritance is prior to the creation of the worlds. So therefore, His inheritance contains a lot more then just the articles of creation. His inheritance was given prior to the first Word of creation of both King and Priest which according to Zechariah will be fully manifested in the day that the Lord Jesus sits upon His throne as both Priest and King. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13) This of course will be the manifestation of His presence on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. He will overthrow the rulers of this earth, and He will take their kingdoms (made up of lies and iniquity) and He will sit upon His throne as King and He will sit upon His throne as Melchizedek, the Priest of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.

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)

   After Abraham’s great victory which was brought about supernaturally by the God of creation, Abraham returned to his prior location and there he met a Supernatural figure in the High Priest of God whose name IS Melchizedek according to Hebrews Chapter 7. In verse 2, we have the interpretation not only of the name, but also of the Person of Melchizedek. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Hebrews 7:2) The first thing that the Spirit of God brings out is the interpretation as ‘King of righteousness,‘ now since there is none righteous, no not one, except God, the King of righteousness MUST be and IS the preexistent manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Which once again will be fulfilled in His millennial kingdom as both King and Priest upon His throne.

   The second point that the Holy Spirit makes note of is that the King of Salem, who is the King of peace, will once again be fulfilled in the reign of Christ upon the earth. This will fulfill His many titles found in the book of Isaiah Chapter 9. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

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What Was Betrayed?

The Love of God Was Betrayed.

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    Buckle up . . . . because we are heading into uncharted territory. Verse 3 of Chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews disclaims any natural ties to humanity in Adam. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Verse 3 begins with without father, speaking of the natural world of Adam, without mother, speaking of the natural world of Adam, without descent, speaking of the natural world of Adam, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, this goeswith verse 16,Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)

Side Note: The carnal commandment is documented in Genesis 1:27 and 28, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. ♦ End of Side Note.

   Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life, this is speaking of the Son of God that He is not made after the natural law of man in birth, but that His manifestation was completely made supernaturally according to the power of His endless life. Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest, as Melchizedek , continually before the foundations of the earth or in the realm of mankind.

   Man likes to make a lot out of the word made in Hebrews Chapter 7, however, if you would just return to Hebrews Chapter 1, when the Holy Spirit is speaking specifically of the Son of God, it is He who has made the worlds. It is the Son of God who is made‘ much better then the angels, it is the Son of God who has a more excellent name then they (the angels), and this would be the name of Jesus, which is the name above every name. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9) And at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of those in heaven and of those upon the earth, and those under the earth. ALL will be brought into subjection to the only begotten Son that was brought forth by the Almighty God when He declared, This day have I begotten thee. Thus, taking out completely all human elements from the Supernatural birth and manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Although we have been given a huge genealogy in Matthew Chapter 1, this Chapter begins by stepping outside of the natural and presenting to us a supernatural genealogy that is born of the first begotten of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those of faith make up His generation. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) In Psalm Chapter 2, verse 7, it is the Lord Himself declaring His birthright and accepting His throne, and His Sonship from the Almighty God. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.(Psalm 2:7) In verse 6, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, (Psalm 2:6) not only is the King brought forth before the millennial kingdom, but God establishes His holy hill of Zion. I believe this not only takes in the earthly Zion and the city of Jerusalem, but it is spiritually linked with Jerusalem which is above, and as the Spirit of God tells us in the book of Galatians, But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26) Here the Spirit of God shows us that there is a divine city of righteousness which is ruled and controlled by the King of righteousness, and it is established under His peace, as the Prince of peace, and this city is made up of just men made perfect in the Lord Jesus Christ.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,(Hebrews 12:22) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. (Hebrews 12:23)

The manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ was the manifestation of the fullness of God’s love for the world. Within Christ was the embodiment of God’s love.

   Pay close attention to verse 23 to the word firstborn. This comes under the manifestation of God in Jesus Christ, and is linked to the words, This day have I begotten thee. Now what has this to do with betrayal? It is the greatness of the One who was being betrayed by His own creation. And although His own creation of mankind wants Him out of the world, He will fulfill not only the righteousness which is of God, but He will fulfill the love of the Father. The first declaration of God the Father at the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ was from heaven, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. We see here that God the Father loves His Son. We also see the obedient Son who loves the Father. There is much through the Scriptures concerning the love of God, but at the Lord’s baptism, God the Father expressed His love for His Son that He had begotten into the world to redeem mankind unto Himself. And the Lord Jesus was in the world to show and to testify of the ultimate love of God by bringing grace and truth into the world. Christ was the embodiment of God’s love, as the Father loved the Son, the Son loved the Father, and according the Romans 8:2, we have the love of the Spirit in Christ Jesus who has made us free from the Law of Sin and Death. 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) The manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ was the manifestation of the fullness of God’s love for the world. Within Christ was the embodiment of God’s love. As He was loved of the Father, so He loved His own to the very end. We see the Father’s love for the Son in Chapter 17:23, and 24 in the gospel of John. 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))

   The words of the Lord Jesus as thou hast loved me go back further then the days of His flesh, which is confirmed in verse 24, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Now Christ is in the world to reconcile the world unto Himself. This cannot be done unless there is a love of God the Father for the world. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) In this verse, we see the purpose of the determinate counsels of God in the redemption of mankind which the Spirit brings out in John 3:15, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. The Spirit of God presents to us the sacrifice of God’s love that He will provide Himself a sacrifice for sin. 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) God the Father demanded out of Abraham nothing more then God the Father was also prepared to give up His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Lord Jesus would be lifted up in the wilderness of darkness, which was under the reign of sin and death guided by God’s adversary, the devil himself. Christ would be lifted up in God’s love, but He would be killed by man’s hate, and Satan’s enmity against God. The bridge of God’s love is built on the sacrifice of Himself of both the sacrifice of His body and His shed blood. And the love of God extends to all those who He calls His own, the redeemed. 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. And hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23) Do you see the depth here of the love of the Father for the Son is the same love for all the redeemed? The sermon on the mount was specifically to man from God. John Chapter 17 is the revelation of the mind of God within God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit addressing God’s love for His Son and those who God has given Him, which is expressed by God the Son in Hebrews Chapter 2, verses 10 – 13.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10) For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. (Hebrews 2:13)

   In Hebrews Chapter 2, the Lord Jesus was expressing His gladness and love for His redeemed, and this relationship of love to the redeemed and to the Father. Even in the human element of the Jews when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jews in astonishment declared, Behold how he loved him. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:36) Even in our Chapter 13 of the gospel of John, it begins with the love of the Son for His own in verse 1. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.(John 13:1) Having loved His own, which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. This is speaking of His life on earth, and not the end of His love. For His love is without end, and runs parallel with His endless life.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  (1st John 4:9) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1st John 4:10)

   So we have two contrasting elements of love: we have the love of God in Jesus Christ, and on man’s part, we have man’s rejection of God’s love through the betrayal of Judas Iscariot under the direction and influence of the spirit of hate and enmity of Lucifer.

   God presents His love in His Son to the world, but we also see the love of the Father, and the love of the Spirit. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:(1st Peter 1:22) We also see the Spirit of unfeigned love. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. (Galatians 5:22)Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:23)The fruit of the Spirit is love . . . . and the seed remaineth in itself. Therefore, we see the love of God in Jesus Christ, the True Vine that bringeth forth much fruit. The seed of the Spirit, for God is Spirit, and they must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And in things that we do not understand, there is the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Therefore, through the very first revelation of God in the Bible in Genesis 1:2, when God the Spirit moved over the face of the darkness of the deep . . . And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters . . . . we see the united action by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. As One acted, All acted.

   The uniqueness of the manifestation of the Son of God is the indwelling of God manifested IN His Spirit and the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus Himself declared that those who had seen Him had seen the Father. These are words of Spirit and truth. And it is the seed of the Spirit of God that bringeth forth much fruit in Jesus Christ. By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2nd Corinthians 6:6)We see specifically that these things are given unto us by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God and the unfeigned love of the Spirit. Also consider Romans 15:30, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.

    In the upper room scene of betrayal acknowledged and confronted, we have the love of God the Father, the love of the Son of God, and we have the unfeigned love of the Spirit of God. The room was filled with God’s love. And yet, we see the presence of evil in both Satan and in Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus Christ, evil was acknowledged and confronted. God is revealing to us that love overthrows the evil of the wicked one, and it constrains the evil because nothing can stop the love of God in Jesus Christ. Paul in Galatians 2:20 expressed this love in the words that the Son of God . . . loved me, and gave himself for me. Man does not comprehend this great love neither does Lucifer. Only the redeemed can understand and enter into the depth of the love of God and how precious the Son of His love is to those who walk by faith. Consider the redeemed— that when we were without Christ, there was nothing to love, there was nothing IN us that God could love, however, love conquered by grace, and grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)The article of grace has been given to us, and through the Spirit of Christ it has been given to us to lead us into all truth. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)We have the Spirit within us to lead us into all truth.

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The Character of Betrayal and Conspiracy

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   Judas is a composite character portrait of ALL of mankind under sin and the influence of evil in Satan. One of the inherent traits of man is his lust, and the influence of lust is evident in Judas for he had a lust for money. . . . he held the bag.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, (John 12:4) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (John 12:5) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:6)

  Verse 6 describes him as a thief, for he had been stealing some of the coins that were in the bag for his own personal use. We also see the lust of covetousness. He desired to add more wealth to ‘his bag’ by selling Mary’s precious ointment, This also brings in the lust of greed for he was part of the world of greed. Judas had a deceptive nature, although he was perplexed that her ointment had not been sold, he used his deceptive nature in stating that the funds could have been given to the poor. This of course disclosed the lie in his heart, and his lust for money. Satan has never cared for the poor. Today we hear this same lie that he cared for the poor, the religious world and the political world care not for the poor, but only to strip more from the poor to make them poorer. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)The true poor of this world never receive what the world steals when they beg for the poor. (How much did the poor of Haiti receive after the disaster earthquake when the two famous politician grifters begged for money for the poor of Haiti? The poor became poorer and the richer became richer, and those who gave never held these two liars responsible for their lies and theft.) Men as these two grifters, and many other grifters, for centuries have been the beggars of Satan. They care not for the poor but for their own wealth. And the poor, as Lazarus, get the scraps that fall from the tables of the religious and political tables of corruption. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Luke 16:20) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.(Luke 16:21)

   The love of the religious world is the love of money. They will compromise everything in their religion for the money from the world that they say will go to the needy and the poor. You cannot love the world and God with the same heart. It is quite evident that the love that they speak of is the love of self, and this sets them up for all the influences of Lucifer. To think of oneself as more important than God is an accepted modern trait both in the false church, and in the world. As in the world of sports, betrayal has become an entertaining sport in the religious and political world. (When M. P. ran with D. J. T. for V.P. I said to my wife, This is a Judas using religion to deceive the people. And I was right, for later we witnessed M. P.’s betrayal not only against D. J. T. but also against a nation.)

   When Judas, a man of deception, is seen in the garden he appeared bonded with the Pharisees, and in his deception he used the Lord’s proper title, Master. This title is recorded twice in the betrayal scene in Matthew 26:49, And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him, and in Mark 14: 45, And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

   Betrayal has another character trait — the kiss. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.(Luke 22:47) But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (Luke 22:48)

   Judas tried to cover his wickedness by using the Lord’s title of Master, this also shows us the awareness of Judas that Christ was the Master and this made his betrayal a greater and deeper evil so that God in the end would send Judas to a place prepared specifically for him. Judas received the judgment as a betrayer of the Son of man. And to make this even deeper yet, he betrayed the Son of man with a kiss. This is the only time that it is documented that one of the twelve kissed the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was a kiss of betrayal. This kiss is mentioned four (4) times in regard to Judas in his betrayal, thus, connecting the earth number (the number of sinful man) to the kiss of betrayal showing that all of mankind is guilty of betraying God. The conscience of Judas as the Scripture declares was seared with a hot iron. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (1st Timothy 4:2)In the betrayal of the Son of man, the Lord of glory, the guile and evil heart of mankind cannot be measured. In my own life time I have seen the depth and the deepness of Satan’s evil in this world. Man spews out guile as easily as he breathes. Governments treat the lives of their subject as dust, and they too betray their subjects with a kiss and a promise that they never intend to keep.

   The kiss of Judas was a kiss of death, not life. Judas had an opportunity to fall down and to kiss the Master’s feet, but he did not. What a contrast between Judas and the woman in Simon’s house who would not stop kissing the feet of Jesus, and worshiped Him. But Simon would not even give the Lord of glory a kiss. Judas was the son of Simon (we do not know who this particular Simon refers to because there are many men called Simon in the New Testament). But there is much contained in the name of Simon throughout the New Testament, this Simon in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 7 gave the Master no kiss.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.(Luke 7:36)

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, (Luke 7:37)

And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38)

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. (Luke 7:39)

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. (Luke 7:40)

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. (Luke 7:41)

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (Luke 7:42)

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.(Luke 7:43)

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (Luke 7:44)

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.(Luke 7:45)

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.(Luke 7:46)

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (Luke 7:47)

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.(Luke 7:48)

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?(Luke 7:49)

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.(Luke 7:50)

   There are many lessons in this account of the Spirit in Luke Chapter 7. In Simon, we see the pride of man. We also see the pharisaical mind. Simon is a name mentioned in connected with the Pharisees, and also in connection with a man who had leprosy, and was healed by the Lord, and Simon is also the name of the father of Judas.

   In the gospel of Luke, Chapter 7, the Lord entered into the house of Simon, and a woman who was completely given over to Christ in her heart, soul and spirit was also there. She brought with her the heavy load of her own sin, and placed it at the feet of Jesus, the Son of man. Here again, we see the Lord’s power to forgive sin and to free the woman of her heavy load. Simon could not recognize the Master of creation, but the woman had no trouble seeing the invisible through her faith (although she was unworthy), and she worshiped the Lord Jesus Christ. But which one of us are worthy? It is only the power of Christ that makes anyone worthy in the realm of faith. This woman had a faith from above in the Son of man, Jesus Christ. Prior to His crucifixion, Christ revealed that He had the authority over sin and to forgive all her sins. The hidden motives of the Pharisees are well known for we have the same pharisaical hearts beating in every religious and political entity.

   The Pharisees used every opportunity to find a fault against the Lord, every word and every movement of the Lord came under their constant surveillance as they continually conspired against Him. When the son of Simon, Judas, went to them in his betrayal, it fulfilled their desire to kill the Prince of life. We should realize that the father of the Pharisees was named by the Lord Jesus in John 8: 44. If we examine this text closely, Satan, the devil was and is a murderer from the beginning. Satan is an expert of guile and treachery, and his specialty is betrayal and conspiracy in his battle plan to overthrow and to conquer mankind. He caused the spiritual and physical death of Adam and Eve through guile and deception; he stirred up the lust in Cain to kill his righteous brother Abel. 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)

   Judas was under the influence of Lucifer from the very beginning of his walk with the other disciples, and the Lord recognized him from this very beginning. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70)He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.(John 6:71)

  The Spirit of God begins with further condemnation of the Jews in verse 1 of Chapter 7, After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)Verse 1 discloses the treachery of the Jews. It was not only Pharisees, it was not only Sadducees, it was not only Herodians, it was neither Herod alone, nor Pilate alone, but the Spirit of God encompassed the entire nation by the word Jewry, thereby, connecting the nation of Israel (as a whole) with the actions of the conspirators in their desire to kill the Lord of glory. It is amazing (in the gospel of John) how many times that the hearts of murderers was exposed.

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. (John 5:16)

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Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. (John 7:30)

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And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.(John 7:44)

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Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.(John 8:59)

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Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.(John 10:31)

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Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, (John 10:39)

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Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. (John 11:53)

   These episodes given to us in the gospel of John were given by the Spirit of God to show us the darkness of the heart of mankind. Even those who are the subjects of grace must remember from whence we came.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:3)

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)

   In Ephesians Chapter 2, we see our past record. This is what we were, and through God’s grace He supernaturally transformed us into the children of grace through Jesus Christ. We have passed from death to life, and we are free from the bondage of sin, and death, and the works and influence of the devil. Notice in Ephesians Chapter 2 that we not only walked according to the course of this world, but we walked according to the prince of the air, the evil spirit of Lucifer, that even now works in the children of disobedience.

   The devil was present in the upper room with Judas his child of disobedience. Judas willingly gave himself completely to his father; thus, Satan entered into Judas, and they both together with one heart met with the Pharisees in the temple and betrayed the Lord of glory. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.(John 13:27)

   In order for Satan to enter into Judas, the devil had to be present in the upper room. There is no doubt that Lucifer was watching all that was happening, and heard all that was said concerning the Lord’s body and His blood. There is no doubt that the Lord knew the presence of Satan as the Lord also knew that Judas was a willing host to fulfill all the wickedness of Satan. This is Satan’s M.O. modus operandi. He continually works behind the scenes trying to destroy the righteous.

   The Holy Spirit of God has given us an excellent description of Lucifer’s methods and tactics in the book of Job in Chapters 1 and 2. Notice that the key to these chapters is the measure of time . . . . Now there was a day. Verse 6 begins with Now there was a day, and time is only measured on earth. God sets this scene up for us in the very first Chapter of Job as a scene on earth. This did not take place in the heavenly realm. Satan described himself as connected to the earth through the words . . . . going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (This earth is his current confinement after his failed war in heaven, he was cast out into the earth(Revelation 12:9), this is his present prison yard . . . . and he has made himself the prince of this world and the god of this world. Satan is the prince and god over this small prison yard.) When the sons of God came together to worship God (in the book of Job) Satan was there, he was in their midst. (Now tell me truthfully, wherever man gathers to worship God, do you not think that Satan is also there watching and listening and waiting?) The Lord God Himself picked out the man Job and drew Satan’s attention to this man described by God as perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. . . . would this not make Job a son of the living God. Job fits the description that we have in 1st John 3:1-3.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.(Job 1:1)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.(Job 1:7)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.(1st John 3:1) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.(1st John 3:2) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Sons of God Have Been Betrayed.

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   As Judas betrayed the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the sons of God who are bought with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and are part of His eternal inheritance have been betrayed by the ministers of Satan. We acknowledge the fact that the ministers of Satan exist today and existed in the days of the apostle Paul.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2nd Corinthians 11:13) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2nd Corinthians 11:14) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2nd Corinthians 11:15)

   Over the course of two thousand years plus, the adversary, the devil Satan a.k.a. Lucifer, has been doing all that he can to overthrow the position of the sons of God upon the earth. He has used his own ministers to bring in damnable heresies that include denying the sonship of the children of God. This sonship has existed from the days of Abel unto the present age in those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Job, we have the sons of God, the children of the redeemed coming before God to worship. God picked out one of His sons, whose name is Job, and allowed Satan to do his diabolical work against the possessions of Job, the family of Job, and the very flesh of Job; revealing how divisive and deceptive Lucifer is as he goes to and fro throughout the whole earth trying to overthrow the sons of God by denying our birthright and rights as the sons of God. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1st Peter 5:8)

   In the gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 12 and 13, it is all about the transition from flesh to spirit, from the sons of men to the sons of God; and yet, the faithless false ministers of Satan, and the high-ranking theologians begin in this first Chapter of the gospel of John denying this the sonship of the redeemed. How do we acquire this sonship? We acquire sonship under Heirship. We have been put into position as part of the eternal inheritance of Christ.

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)These two verses are also linked to Romans 8:23,

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)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(Romans 8:23)John also clarifies our position as sons in his first epistle, Chapter 3, verses 1 -3.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1st John 3:1) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John 3:2) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3)

  Our position as sons of God comes under the Heirship of Jesus Christ that He is the Heir of ALL things. His Heirship was given to Him by God the Father before Christ made the worlds,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:2) The religious world has also denied theses gifts of the Spirit of God. The world church denies the true life of the Spirit of Christ WITHIN EVERY BELIEVER. The world church denies the participation of the sons of God in their most holy position before God in the remembrance of the sacrifice, and death, and shed blood of their beloved Savior, and the true worship of Him. The world church (which is the false church) has also attempted to shut off all spiritual avenues of ministry from the true servants of God who have been born of His Spirit. They, the religious world, have also denied the true Word of God by the Spirit of God.

   The gifts of the Spirit, and the ministry of the Spirit, have been given to glorify Christ and to bring peace to the soul through the divine breath of the Spirit and of the Word of God. However, the imitation gifts of Lucifer are seductive and glorify the flesh of man and not the Lord of glory. The gifts of Satan bring confusion and division. They also bring pride and resentment of others. These are all the exact traits of Satan in Satan’s world. The doctrine of our sonship cannot be overthrown by the evil ambassadors of Satan. The Spirit of God has made SURE that there is a record of our sonship imbedded eternally in the word of God. Our sonship is a supernatural transaction. It is manifested IN us by the Spirit of truth, and unites us with the Son of God, Jesus Christ under HIS Heirship, and our heirship is under the Law of Adoption that we see in Romans Chapter 8. Romans Chapter 8 makes us joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. This does not give us equality with the Son of God, but it teaches us (as His Church) that each one of us has equality with each other IN Christ’s inheritance. If we suffer with Him, the Scriptures also tell us that we will be glorified together. Each one of us will be transformed and be glorified before God IN His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. At the present, in this life on earth, we have the power of the Spirit of God within each and every Christian to lead us into all truth. This is for ALL the children of God, and there are no exceptions. We have been brought into divine sonship, and we are under the authority of God the Father, and our relationship is as sons.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (Hebrews 12:5)

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.(Hebrews 12:6)

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:7)

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9)

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)

   In 1st John 3:1 we see the love of the Father for the sons of God. In Hebrews 12, we see the interaction of that love of the Father for His sons in the work of correction, and chastening. This is all done in the love of the Father for us so that our lives will bring forth the peaceable fruits of Christ. The love of the Father seen through His Son in the sacrificial death upon Calvary came first to our hearts through the Spirit of truth. However, when we are given the title, at our birth, as the sons of God there are godly and holy responsibilities that go with our sonship. We should go forth into the world with the character of Job, and yes, we will feel the harsh trials of this earth, and we will be constantly buffeted by the evils of Lucifer, and we will be surely corrected by God the Father, but in no way, will it affect our faith in the Son of God. It will not overthrow the fact that we will see Christ in His glory, and be like Him. We will be surrounded by the love of the Father which He sent forth within and through His only begotten Son, it was the love of the Spirit of Christ that came to give Himself for those He loved that they would be a new creation, and in this new creation, they would be embraced by God’s love.

  In Chapter 13 of the gospel of John, verse 1 defines an enduring love, the endless love of the Son of God who has brought the Father’s love to us and given us the power and unfeigned love of His Spirit to be called the sons of God. Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Each individual within the body of Christ is born supernaturally by the Spirit of God and has a position of sonship so that they may enjoy the Heirship of Christ Himself as joint-heirs with Christ.

   In John Chapter 1, never separate verse 12 from verse 13, the combination of these two verses is supernatural. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) This is what God wants from each and every believer to behold in the power of His Spirit. There is a power of the Spirit which verse 12 confers to us, and this power of the Spirit must come from above not by blood, nor by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man. It is solely OF God and the power of God that the new birth is enacted through a new creation and our sonship comes WITH this new creation from above. Man and his will is not involved in this new creation. The body of Christ, which is called HIS Church of the living God, cannot be divided. The body of Christ is not made up of two peoples of distinctly different natures: the natural nature and the supernatural divine nature. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2nd Peter 1:4) Man and his will is not involved in the new birth. The body of Christ which is called His house has no division of birth. Each individual within the body of Christ is born supernaturally by the Spirit of God and has a position of sonship so that they may enjoy the Heirship of Christ Himself as joint-heirs with Christ. This includes ALL heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus. The amazing love of Christ for us is supposedly to be seen in us.

   The world church makes a fraudulent claim of love. It is love of socialism, a love of social issues, a love of self and the wants of self. This is not the eternal love of Christ. It is easy to see that Christ is not the Center of any of their organizations because they control their own house, their own buildings, and their narratives. No matter what banner they gather under, whether they claim a denominational base, or a main stream root, or have biblical sounding names, the love is the same false love that Judas claimed to have for the Lord Jesus Christ. These falsely so called ‘faith based’ organizations have worked desperately under the leadership of Lucifer to overthrow the things that belong to the divine inheritance of the Son of God. (They are not ‘faith based,’ they are solely based on money, power and control.) They do not want Christ in their midst, they want Christ out of their midst as the Pharisees wanted Christ out of this world. The further you go up the ladder of religion (or the money tree), the more you see the betrayal and conspiracy of religion against Christ. They not only deny the very things of Christ, but substitute the true gospel with things of the world and doctrines of Lucifer to form another gospel, another Christ and another Spirit, and to overthrow (if it were possible) the Word of God.

   The very heart beat of the Father speaks through His Son and is revealed by His Spirit in the book of books. What joy to open The Book and ascend out of this world into the unseen world. Faith carries us into the presence of God if only for an hour to be at His feet absorbing the truth of the Spirit of God through the word of God, and when we return to this world what strength we bring back with us. This fortifies us for another day in an evil world. To walk with God one has to go where God is . . . . if only in Spirit. It is still a reality in the unseen. The gift of Christ and His Spirit IN you is the hope of glory, and this cannot be taken away, or changed by any world organization or group. Lucifer remains frustrated when God says of one of His own, as with Job, Thus far, but no further. We have submitted ourselves to the Spirit of God and we have the reality of His presence, the upper room, may be past, but the upper house is still intact. Jerusalem which is above, the mother of us all, who have been brought into the divine city by the blood of Christ.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)(Hebrews 12:21) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,(Hebrews 12:22) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23) 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)

   The Spirit of God connects us to this wonderful divine city; the Spirit connects the Church of the first born to the heavenly Jerusalem. Notice that in Hebrews Chapter 12 that our names, each and every one of us born by the blood of Christ, is written in heaven. Not only are our names written in the divine book, but our names are written in heaven by divine authority, and we belong to the house of Hebrews Chapter 3:3 – 6.

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.  (Hebrews 3:3) For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;(Hebrews 3:5) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.(Hebrews 3:6)

   This house is His own fold surrounded by His eternal love and is His great joy for the joy that was set before Him BEFORE the world was. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.(Hebrews 12:2) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:3)

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Who Was Betrayed?

The Holy Spirit of God Was Betrayed.

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   Betrayal and conspiracy are made up of two evils: betrayal is the evil heart of one man; conspiracy is the father of evil in the devil and in his many servants. Notice that in John 8:44, the devil is the father and he lusts for power over the things of God. He easily conquered the Pharisees because they were his children. Any other interpretation of John 8:44 would be to deny the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. The devil’s lust for power was transferred and replicated in the hearts of these Pharisees. The five (5) ‘I wills’ of Lucifer documented in Isaiah Chapter 14 are repeated in the servants of the devil.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Isaiah 14:12)

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:(Isaiah 14:13)

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:14)

   The first lust of Satan was the proclamation of his own will above the will of God when he declared, I will, and this lust spread from I will ascend into heaven‘ to I will ascend above . . . . I will be like the most High. This became a battle between his will and the will of God. Lucifer was determined to magnify himself above God. He would exalt his throne above the stars of God. He wanted to have dominion over the spiritual realm of God as well as the physical realm of earth.

Side Note: The Five ‘I Will’s of God in Isaiah Chapter 14.

For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 14:22)

I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 14:23)

That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. (Isaiah 14:25)

And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. (Isaiah 14:30)This was God’s answer to Lucifer’s obsession to achieve complete control over God’s creation that God’s will would destroy Lucifer’s agents, and his nations, and the root of all evil. Lucifer himself is destined to be cast into the everlasting lake of fire. ♦End of Side Note.

    When the Lord was manifested on earth, He showed several times His own dominion over evil spirits, and over the spirits of men. The raising of Lazarus showed not only the power to restore life to dead flesh, but we also have the returning of the spirit of Lazarus to the flesh, thus, showing Christ’s dominion over the physical and spiritual realm of mankind. Lucifer wanted to set his throne above the stars of God, those stars are the angels, spiritual beings that God created when He created Lucifer.

   In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 1, verse 20, we have the seven angels which were/are the seven stars in the hand of the Lord Jesus. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. We also see His dominion over the seven angels to the churches. This also reinforces His dominion over those seven churches. Each angel of these seven angels were/are His divine connection to the seven churches, beginning with Ephesus and ending with Laodicea. The continued rebuke that He ministered through the angels to the churches was/is that the churches would repent from the wickedness; thus, those within the churches who repented are seen as overcomers. The last church is Laodicea, in this we also see the perfect finality of the number seven; only this time God did not pronounce Laodicea as good, as when He first looked upon His creation on the seventh day and declared that it was good. The seventh church is a total disaster in the spiritual realm. The epistle to the Colossians gives us further insight into the life of the Laodiceans. They had allowed the rudiments of the world to overthrow them. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) They had also denied the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19)They had even denied the manifestation of God IN Christ, and the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily wherein Christ, in His manifestation, was Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) This is also denied today in Laodicea, and this is why the apostle, through the Spirit, stated that the epistle to the Colossians should also be read to the church at Laodicea.For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;(Colossians 2:1) And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the [epistle] from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16) The words of Lucifer coincide with the Laodicean church of our age, this was Lucifers’ last ‘I will,’ and it is brought to fruition in the Laodicean church in the words, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. The Laodiceans are magnified as man and Satan joined together to completely overthrow the testimony of the Body of Christ with the body of Adam and his flesh. Also compare Revelation 2:13 (the church in Pergamos) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:(Revelation 3:17)

    The spiritual ruin in the seventh church was and is the result of many years of betrayal, and conspiracy. These traits of betrayal and conspiracy of both Adam and Lucifer did not end at the cross. It is a great mistake not to see the divine correction that is ministered through the writing of the apostle Paul. All his epistles exposed the evil of each individual church and group that his epistle addressed. What Paul wrote was the voice of the Spirit, which is the voice of Christ to His churches both in Revelation and in the gospel of John Chapter 14:16, 18. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. (John 14:16) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18)

   The Comforter is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God which at this point in time dwells in every believer. This was the same Spirit who was in the prophets of the Old Testament, and this Spirit was specifically named as the Spirit of Christ.

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1st Peter 1:10) 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)

   As the prophets of old, looked into the things of Christ, we today should also look into the same things, and see the legacy that these prophets left for us in the Old Testament scriptures. They were moved by the Spirit of Christ that was in them. Now in the gospel of John, Chapter 14, the Comforter that has come is the manifested Spirit of Christ. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. The Lord Jesus specifically instructed His disciples that He would come in His Spirit to them. Just as the other apostles and the prophets of old were moved and instructed by the same Spirit of Christ.

   The betrayal and conspiracy began by Lucifer as soon as the Spirit descended into the church. Lucifer brought in his own ministers and revived the hatred of the Pharisees once more. We see the beginning of this hatred perpetrated against Stephen as recorded in the book of Acts in Chapter7. And as the years passed by, betrayal and conspiracy increased against the true church. Ungodly men brought in damnable heresies.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.(2nd Peter 2:1)

   Through betrayal and conspiracy Lucifer created a false church that appeals to the multitudes of the world. God’s people have always been a minority and few in number compared to the populace of the world and the attendance of the false church. In our clamoring times of false professions at the end of the Church Age we must accept that the true believers are few and far in between. The church of the Laodiceans is filled with false believers and abundant wealth. These two elements go together in Satan’s church. A church that needs nothing and is increased with goods is spiritually empty of the Spirit of Christ within.

    Lucifer, Satan, you know . . . . the devil, that old serpent desires to overthrow all that is of God. Lucifer’s rebellion began in heaven where he was unsuccessful and was cast out, and those angels that joined with him in his rebellion were bound in chains and are held in hell; when death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, these rebellious angels will also be cast in.

    After being cast out of the spiritual realm and relegated to the earth Satan found himself in the realm of the earth with Adam (a new creation of God called man). God had given man dominion over the earth, and Adam was its Federal Head. Satan, once more, began his work of deception to overthrow what was of God on earth. Lucifer could not tolerate another created being given oversight over this earthly realm; consequently, Lucifer through stealth and deception persuaded man that he could be as god. Remember that in this threesome Satan suggested to the two beings (Adam and Eve) that they could be as gods. This also began the conflict between Adam and Eve. Individually both wanted superiority as god. Adam was not only a physical being, but he was also a spiritual being. Satan wanted what was of the earth, and he wanted not only what God had created, but Satan also desired to overthrow man as well.

   Adam walked with God, he listened and was instructed by the voice of God and had remarkable intelligence. The contention of Satan was so alluring that Adam betrayed his Creator for the lie of the serpent, and ye shall be as gods. Adam, before the fall, was a man’s man, but after the fall he became a true ‘mano a mano’ man . . . . a man always in conflict with himself and with others. The earth, this world, and they that dwell therein became a battlefield of good and evil. Satan and man united together in the same sin of betrayal. Although evil had permeated the heart, soul, and spirit of mankind, God did not surrender man to Lucifer. Once again the Almighty God (through His Supernatural creative power) chose a man in Abel and converted Abel through divine faith. This faith was from above for man in Adam had and has no faith. Therefore, in God’s battle against evil He sent forth His faith into the heart of Abel and Abel had a testimony of this faith, and he offered a better sacrifice then Cain whereby he obtained the righteousness of God. Abel was the first soldier 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)

   The Holy Spirit identified Abel as a man who had acquired not only faith, but the righteousness of God through his obedience to that divine faith, and thus, Abel became the first recipient of God’s love and grace. Abel was the first sinner changed into a loving worshiper of God. This all came to an abrupt end when Lucifer stirred up Cain, and Cain murdered Abel with a spear that pierced Abel’s heart to show us that it is with the heart that man believes God. (This murder weapon runs parallel with the spear of the centurion that pierced the Savior’s side. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:3)Although the Lord Jesus had already given up His Spirit, the spear allowed the blood and water to flow from His body. What ended with a spear began with a spear: meaning when Christ uttered the words, It is finished, His sacrificial death was the fulfillment of what God began when He required Cain and Abel to offer up a worthy sacrifice that was a shadow of the future divine sacrifice of His Lamb on the cross of Calvary. All that God began, ended or was fulfilled in like manner.)

   Abel’s death transported Abel into the presence of God in heaven for Abel’s faith and grace did not end on earth, but was magnified and confirmed in the presence of God. For Abel being dead, yet speaketh – and by it he being dead yet speaketh. In the actions of Abel from the earth the battle was not over because God gave Eve another seed. This seed was specifically given to replace the faithful Abel. This seed was Seth. Now Seth was placed into the battlefield of good and evil, and as Abel, Seth also received divine faith from above. We should always remember that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Just as Abel was transported into heaven through faith, so then Seth would stand and battle in his faith against the evil of the world. And in Seth’s son, Enos, man would call on the name of the Lord. And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.(Genesis 4:25) And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26)

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The End of All Betrayals and Conspiracies

IT IS FINISHED

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    The warriors in this battle were (and are) named and set: on Satan’s side is sinful man in Adam, such as Cain and the children of man; on God’s side was (and is) man infused with divine faith, and kept by the divine power of God. God chooses His soldiers of divine faith which is the power of God in man on earth. This has not changed. Faith is the same today as it was from the beginning; the same faith that Abel possessed is the same faith that Christians today possess. However, today, we have more revelation that has been given to us in the word of God. Many mysteries of the battlefield and of the battle have been unfolded to us in God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The mystery of His one Body, the Church, has been revealed, and this one Body is in Jesus Christ. It is His divine house above made up of the recipients of faith. To understand this, read Ephesians Chapter 2. The Holy Spirit tells us that grace comes through faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Faith is the hinge pin that joins us to God and to every true believer for without faith it is impossible to please God. 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)

   Before we get to Hebrews 11:6, we have the lives of two men: Abel and Enoch. These both come before this declaration in Hebrews 11:6 showing that they pleased God through faith. Although these two men lived different lives at different times, they both represent the walk of faith. Abel represents faithful man before the Church, while Enoch represents the Church. Abel entered into heaven through faith and that by faith he entered in through death. Therefore, the death of Abel represents all those who will have a part in the resurrection. Enoch (through the same faith) was translated into the kingdom of God not seeing death, and he was changed in a twinkling of an eye at the point of his translation. This is revealing the mystery of faith that both Old Testament saints and New Testament saints are under the same Law of Faith that we have recorded in the book of Romans, Chapter 3, verse 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Both Abel and Enoch are first two introduced to us in the 11th Chapter of the book of Hebrews to reveal that either through death or translation we (the sons of God, the faithful witnesses to God, His servants) will enter into glory by the same faith. It also shows us the mystery between the resurrection and the translation of the saints that we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a twinkling of an eye.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1st Thessalonians 4:13) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1st Thessalonians 4:14) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1st Thessalonians 4:15) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:(1st Thessalonians 4:16) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1st Thessalonians 4:17) Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1st Thessalonians 4:18)

   The translation of the saints is a hope that the saints have had since the days of the apostles. It is our hope today that we will be translated out of this evil world to be with Christ. No doubt this translation is closer now then it was before for the storm clouds of evil are gathering all around us. Those who have the Spirit of Christ within must stand fast even unto death. This is easy to say or to write, but the reality is hard. No matter how anyone comes by death, it is difficult to give up the flesh, but we must remember that flesh and blood CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God. It is the Spirit and the ministry of faith from the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus, that will change all to conform to His glorious image. This was all established in a place called Calvary, the place of ‘the skull,’ where the Son of God was lifted up between heaven and earth and proclaimed, by His sufferings, for the sin of mankind, It is finished.

   Sin and death were cast out. The Redeemer had reconciled ALL to God. In this ungodly battlefield, called earth, all the promises of God from Abel to the cross were seen and completed in the words, It is finished. And all the hope of glory for His saints was fulfilled in the words, It is finished. All the judgments to come on this earth was fulfilled in the words, It is finished. The future kingdom of Christ was fulfilled in the words, It is finished. All the counsels of God were upheld and completed in the words, It is finished. All that is needed for both God and man was finished in those divine words from the lips of the Savior, It is finished.

   So this battle on the field of earth still rages on. This battle is between the sons of God and the sons of Adam. In Adam we see sin, deceit, betrayal and conspiracy. In the sons of God we see faith, and this faith in action, as James said, Faith without works is dead. This is the truth once again denied today by the betrayers and the conspirators. By removing the works of faith of the Holy Spirit within they remove the judgment of God so that their calculated gospel saves men, but not the gospel of Christ. Their gospel has many colors, as M&M and M&M. I did that on purpose to show the many bags of candied tricks that Satan uses to keep mankind out of heaven. If there is no work of the Spirit of God within and no work of true faith without then one must face Romans 8:9 and Matthew 7:23, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)

   As Judas betrayed the Lord in that darkest night and the conspirators gathered together against the Lord, so also today, Lucifer stirs up the spirit of Judas and the spirits of the conspirators against the children of God, the sons of God. John tells us in 1st John that we should try the spirits. What does this mean? Take the word of God and by the Spirit of God try the spirits whether they are of Christ or not. Do not accept every soft voice, neither believe every winsome word, nor follow after every sweet smile.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1st John 4:1)

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1st John 4:2)

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1st John 4:3)

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)

  Read that over and over. Pay attention to verses 5 and 6, by trying the spirits you expose them whether they are of God or of Adam. Every Judas, and every betrayer will be exposed by the word of God and by the ministry of the Spirit of God. It will also unmask the conspirators and their conspiracy against God and against the Son of God and against the children of God. It is finished.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)

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)

Amen and Amen.


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© 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)



 

 

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