Hold Fast
Hebrews 10:23
Part 1
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23)
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6:20)
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Hold Fast to the Profession of Your Divine Faith
  The Holy Spirit wants us to HOLD FAST to the profession of our faith. In Hebrews 10:23 we have the profession of our faith. This is the faith once delivered to the saints by the Person of Christ Himself. It is CHRIST who is the root and offspring of our faith. He is both the Author and Finisher of this divine faith. 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) This divine faith is a member of the UNSEEN, yet it is declared by the SEEN. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) The Author of this divine faith is Christ and Christ alone. It is a LAW within the righteousness of God. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:27, 28)
  This gift of faith comes from above, from the Father of lights and perfection. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17) Through the gift of His Son, Christ gives us the Gift of His undying faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) Man cannot experience the grace of God except through the faith that is in Christ Jesus and there is no faith without the Gift of God which is Jesus Christ. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)
  Faith IN Christ opens the door to God’s righteousness, and this righteousness is obtained through Jesus Christ. 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) It is the seed of faith that brings forth belief in 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)
  Faith spawns more faith for faith lays hold of the power of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord declared that there would be those of little faith and those of great faith. He talked about faith and the very measure of faith as though it was part of His Living life at the right hand of God. One thing of note: faith has NO power without the Person of Christ for He is the very Author and Possessor of His undying faith. No one has the claim of faith apart from Christ Himself. We acquire our faith DIRECTLY from Him as a gift. This is why the Holy Ghost informs us that the Lord Jesus is both the Author AND Finisher of ALL faith. He is the sower of faith. He is the water of faith, and He grows that faith and at the end of our sojourn here on earth He SEALS our faith as the Great Finisher of ALL faith.
  There is only ONE faith, sovereign faith, and this faith has to have an object and God’s object of faith is His beloved Son, Jesus the Christ. There is no other faith apart from faith IN and BY Jesus Christ. There are no divisions of faith. There is no A faith, or B faith, or of C faith or D faith, there is only ONE faith and that is faith in the Son of the Living God. In Galatians 2:20, the Spirit of God, through the apostle Paul, reveals to us a great truth in the words, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. In these words, Paul gave direct OWNERSHIP of his faith NOT to himself, but to Christ. When the Lord Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, He described the spirit of grace, the spirit of life as a wind that brings forth the new birth. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8) In this Chapter, it is the Spirit of life for the Lord Jesus was talking about a new birth brought forth by the Spirit of God. Within Christ there is the power of an endless life, and this is uniquely bound by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of life is found IN Christ Jesus Himself as revealed in Romans 8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Our faith is structured . . . for it is a Law within the righteousness of God which is Jesus Christ. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)
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Hold Fast to the Anchor of Your Soul
  Now to HOLD FAST to the profession of our faith, one MUST believe that it is ministered to us by the High Priest forever, Melchisedec, the Living Word which is Christ Jesus. The ministry of the Spirit of God through the written word of God is to give us a foundation, a bulwark, a wall that cannot be penetrated in the measure of our faith. It is the Holy Spirit who preserves and maintains the written word of God here on earth. It is the Holy Spirit who is the heartbeat and the breath and the power of the written word of God. The word that we have before us is NOT of man, it was sent down from heaven from the very Living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God has been preserved as a pure stream of God’s grace and truth from Jesus the Christ. In the context of our verse HOLD FAST means BE UNMOVEABLE in your faith. Don’t listen to the voices of other spirits which are NOT of Jesus Christ. We only have ONE anchor for our soul and this anchor is our Lord Jesus Christ. And from this anchor there is a golden chain of faith and righteousness that attaches to our vessel to keep us from being blown about by every evil wind of false doctrines given by man. He is the ANCHOR of our SOUL . . . the soul that He saw BEFORE the creation of heaven and earth. (Psalm 139) In Hebrews Chapter 6, this anchor connects us to heaven and to the great high priest of God, the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ, Melchisedec. As Melchisedec He maintains a throne of grace in Hebrews Chapter 4. This is NOT a throne of judgment, but a throne of compassion for each and every one of His children. He has walked the same paths that they walk. He was tempted in ALL parts as we are tempted here in earth, and yet through all that temptation there was NO sin in Him. And the reason why the Holy Spirit presents this throne of grace is to show us the wonder of our great High Priest and how He is able to preserve us in the presence of this dark and evil world. The ANCHOR is connected to Melchisedec the great High Priest of Hebrews Chapter 4. Melchisedec is both SURE and STEADFAST for He is the Lord of glory with the power of an endless life. He is above all humanity, He is above ALL the angelic hosts, He has been placed higher than the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)
  He is the golden nail of God’s righteousness, and He has been placed in heaven in a SURE PLACE within the veil. He is the Minister of the sanctuary of our faith through His eternal priesthood.
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Hold Fast to the Glorious Things Prepared for You
  We are told by the Holy Spirit that the Tabernacle in the days of Moses, and its blessings for the children of Israel were but examples of the glorious things in heaven, as was the Temple that Solomon built where the Lord placed His name and His glory on earth. Remember the plans of this great Temple were given to king David, but because of David’s sin with Bathsheba and his conspiracy in the death of Uriah, David was not allowed by God to build the Temple. So, the responsibility of building God’s Temple was passed to David’s son, Solomon. This great Temple on earth was also a great example of things in heaven. When we look into the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we see a marvelous and glorious Temple not made with hands.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)
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And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: (Revelation 15:5)
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. (Revelation 15:6)
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 15:7)
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (Revelation 15:8)
  The Spirit of God also reveals the golden altar, the altar of incense in Revelation 9:13, And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. It is also revealed as the altar of incense in Revelation 8:3-5.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Revelation 8:3) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. (Revelation 8:4) And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:5)
  God also reveals the golden censor, and in Revelation 7:11, And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, we have the throne of God and in verse 15, Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:15) they who come out of the great tribulation will serve God day and night before His throne in His most majestic Temple. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
  In Revelation 6:9-11 we again see the altar of incense covering those who were slain for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:11)
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; (Revelation 6:12)
  I purposely walked backwards to show you the fullness of God’s dominion and His glorious Temple in heaven. In both Revelation 4 and 5, we see the wonderful throne and the Throne Sitter before the company of the redeemed from every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
  In Revelation Chapter 1 we see the vision of John of the great High Priest walking among the seven golden candlesticks. Remember that the door in heaven is not YET opened until Chapter 4 and John’s departure from the earth which is figurative of the departure of the Church when ALL the saints (both dead and alive) are translated into heaven. In Revelation Chapter 1 we are still on earth. This explains the majesty and fearful image of the Son of man, the Judge of the whole earth. It also explains the seven golden candlesticks in relationship to the Churches here on earth. He is not only walking AMONG them to minister, but also to JUDGE those things which are in contention with His righteousness and holiness. As we see in the letters to the seven Churches beginning with Ephesus and ending with the seventh Church, Laodicea. The whole description of the Son of man is one of divine authority not only as the Ancient of Days, but also as the Eternal priesthood of Melchisedec. From this point in Revelation Chapter 1with the vision of the Son of man until Chapter 4, we only see His ministration of judgment and authority over the seven Churches.
  We do not see the Lamb of sacrifice and the blood of atonement in the seven Churches. However, in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 we see both the Lamb and the blood. Now is a good time in this article to go back to Hebrews Chapter 9, verses 1 -10, and Hebrews 8:5-6.
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:1)
For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:2)
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; (Hebrews 9:3)
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; (Hebrews 9:4)
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (Hebrews 9:5)
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (Hebrews 9:6)
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (Hebrews 9:7)
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (Hebrews 9:9)
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:10)
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:5) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
  This explains the wonder of these things in heaven via the examples of the things on earth. In Revelation Chapter 1, when we look upon the Lord Jesus as the Son of man, we also see Him arrayed in the garment of Melchisedec, and the brightness of the glory of God. This whole figure presents to us the great High Priest before the brazen altar judging sin pertaining to the earth. Here we have the seven golden candlesticks, the sense of the Lord Jesus is tending the light given off by the candlesticks. There is NO light in the candlesticks without the Light Giver the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives light and removes the light in the candlesticks as the great High Priest. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5)
   In the seven golden candlesticks, each one of them measure a period of time in the history of the Church Age. The provision of each candlestick is for all seven Churches; however, the light is only conditional to their obedience and holding forth grace and truth and maintaining God’s righteousness here on earth. In Revelation 2:5, the Lampstand of the first Church Ephesus is REMOVED. Why do I say this? I say this because of the overcomer. The overcomer shows us that this Church of Ephesus DID NOT repent and notice that after Ephesus there is NO mention of the Lampstand in all the remaining six Churches. It is sad to think that the glory of the Lord DEPARTED so quickly from the Church because of their sin. From Ephesus to Laodicea the paradise of God is only known by the overcomer and NOT the professing Church in this ungodly world. Ephesus was led away from the divine counsels and the word of God by the Nicolaitans, the ungodly men who came in unawares that we read about in Jude verse 4. 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.
  With your eyes of understanding being opened read the epistle to the Ephesians. Was the Holy Spirit commending them for their abundance of faith through grace, or was the Holy Spirit chastening the Ephesians for the lack thereof? I say, it was for the lack thereof which would blend us into Revelation 2:5, Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
  In our current age of Laodicea, all the evil seeds that were sown in Ephesus and all the following Churches have come to the fullness of a blind Church that knows NOT grace and truth. This is the full age of the corruption in the Church. Laodicea is marked by her wealth and her need of nothing, and her blindness and her nakedness before God which takes us back to Adam and Eve in the garden and THEIR nakedness before the God of glory, the glory that Laodicea has NEVER known. The fruit of Ephesus is completely fulfilled in Laodicea. All the failures of the Church have taken away any testimony of the professing Church. Ephesus left their first love which was Christ for another, as Israel, at mount Sinai, went whoring after other gods. The early Church amalgamated both paganism and idolatry into its belief system. As they went further and further away from the Lord Jesus, the professing Church NEVER awakened from their sin to a spirit of repentance. According to the Lord Jesus when He finalized His letter to the Church at Ephesus repentance was the only way back to the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we ended up with the infant Church of Ephesus FULL of leaven. They polluted the righteousness of God, and their lamp stand was removed. This is a fearful thing for in all the other Churches the lampstand was NEVER replaced. The only place that we see the unity of the seven lamp stands is the vision of John in Chapter 1. And the only portion that these seven lamp stands have is the Lord walking among them.
  In Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 we only see the removal of the Lampstand and Christ ministering from heaven and NOT upon the earth. The seven angels now take the place of the seven lamp stands for NOW the Church is clouded with sin, and each address that the Lord Jesus gives to each Church, through their angel, is to lead them to repentance which they refused to do. The result is that the people of the world sit in darkness attempting to solve all its problems through governments of ungodly men, through the economics and banking system of ungodly men and through religion of ungodly men. Here is a good place for you to read the entire epistle of the book of Jude and apply it to Laodicea in these last days. All the ungodly systems of men control the strings of the marionette, control the heart, soul and spirit of the lost. The Church of Laodicea keeps the eyes of the world closed in the blindness of unbelief.
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Hold Fast to the Divine Principals of God Within His Word
  I once gave a message of the blindness of men in scripture. I began with Samson, a Nazarite dedicated to God. God brought forth Samson from the womb to be a child for Himself, a Nazirite SET ASIDE, and through the Old Testament the ONLY one who was a Nazarite from the womb was Samson. How could anything go wrong? One point overthrow Samson, he was still a child of Adam, and because of that, sin overruled Samson’s position with God.
And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. (Judges 13:2)
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. (Judges 13:3)
Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: (Judges 13:4)
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. (Judges 13:5)
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: (Judges 13:6)
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. (Judges 13:7)
  This was the only time that God revealed the Nazarite as a gift from Himself. The birth of Samson was to be a type of the very birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the difference between them both was that Samson was of the seed of man and Christ was that holy thing, the Seed of God. Both Manoah and his wife SAW the face of God. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. (Judges 13:22) In the Law given to Moses concerning the vow of the Nazarite it was NOT from birth. It was a vow of a child of Israel to separate himself from the rest of Israel to live a life of separation before God.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: (Numbers 6:2)
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. (Numbers 6:3 )
All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. (Numbers 6:4)
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. (Numbers 6:5)
All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. (Numbers 6:6)
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. (Numbers 6:7)
All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD. (Numbers 6:8)
  With Samson, God came down and stepped outside of the Law of the Nazarite in Numbers 6. Samson was drawn out to be a Nazarite from his birth, and he would remain on God’s part a Nazarite from his birth to his death. Samson is unique in this movement of God. God gave Samson so much light and yet in Samson’s death he was blind because he would not remain separate to the character, position and responsibility of a Nazarite, and lastly, he allowed an evil woman to take away the power that God had given to him. Why was Samson so important to the nation of Israel at that time period? Because the nation of Israel had been in captivity to the Philistines for forty (40) years. This is a time of judgment for the sins of Israel. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. (Judges 13:1)  Â
  Although Samson was given of God, he was still a child of Adam, and a descendant of sin and death. The strength of a great earthy man could not deliver his own soul let alone others. Samson shows us that there is no true deliverance from sin in the man of the earth. It took a Man from heaven to deliver us from Sin and Death with the true power of the Nazarite in Jesus Christ with His power of an endless life. The Lord Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ was the true witness of grace and truth, holiness and righteousness and separated from man and from the sin of man. His great witness to us was the very fact of His divine origin and His divine presence.Â
  When Christ cleansed the Temple, He was claiming it as His own, which being the possessor of both heaven and earth, it was well within His right to do so. Christ was not only the physical Temple, but He as the Divine Nazarite was completely separated from the sin of the world, His flesh being the Temple as presented in the gospel of John, And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (John 2:13) And we cannot fail to see one divine point that when Christ cleansed the Temple it was the time of the Passover, and the true Passover had come into the Temple with His Father’s authority. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (John 2:14) Remember that the gospel of John is the gospel of the Holy Spirit. You have to see this gospel through the eyes of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.
  Through the history of the Church, we have had merchandisers. They have built their temples and their buildings, their edifices and their idols on the backs of precious souls who know NOT Jesus Christ. Their merchandising continues every Sunday over the whole world. They have placed a price on the gospel, and a price on the souls of man. Even in the Old Testament, God’s salvation and God’s grace was free to the comers.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3)
  This wonderful book of Isaiah has sixty-six Chapters, and in Chapter 34, the Holy Spirit declared, Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read. According to the beginning of this Chapter, the invitation in verse 1 is for all the nations of the world, Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. Even the earth shall hear His voice. This message has not changed, God wants each and every soul to SEEK OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LORD. Isaiah, through the Spirit of God, described the Old Testament and the New Testament that did not yet exist in Isaiah’s day as ONE BOOK.
  The Spirit of God knowing that the word of God would be finalized in sixty-six books and that the final revision of the Spirit of God would be what is commonly called the King James Bible. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, NOT the books of man, and read. God the Father has a testimony within His word. The Son of God has a testimony within His word. The Spirit of God has a testimony within His word. All three testify to the fact that man should SEEK out of the book of the Lord and READ.
  In Isaiah 55, we have grace displayed in full light to those who have no money, no price, the grace of God is freely given to them, and they are freely maintained in that grace for that grace was paid for from above when our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself upon the cross of Calvary. Salvation can only come from heaven by the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no treasure on earth that can compare with the treasure of God’s love in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Temple at Jerusalem, the merchandisers were lining their pockets with the price of sacrifices.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (Matthew 21:12)
And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (John 2:13) And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (John 2:14 ) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; (John 2:15) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16)
  This so infuriated the Lord Jesus Christ that He made a whip of small cords and DROVE the money changers and the merchandisers OUT of the Temple that He Himself had taken possession of. These merchandisers, these money changers, can be seen in Revelation Chapter 3, verses 17 and 18.
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) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
  These words are so similar to the words found in the book of Isaiah that they collected the gold and took the gold to the metal smith or the foundry and had idols made from their merchandising. In the infant Church of Ephesus, the priests of Diana changed their apparel, and came into the Church unawares, but they did not leave their doctrines of idolatry behind for they brought into the Church these lascivious statues of Diana. In 2nd Peter 2, Peter gave this warning to the Church in verse 3, And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (2nd Peter 2:3)
  These men are brought out by the Spirit of God before verse 4, and the condemnation of the angels that sinned IN heaven. This adds to the damnation of these men who for centuries have made merchandise out of YOU with their buildings, and their tithing systems that has angered the most high God, so much so that this wicked Church of Laodicea of our present day will NOT be in the translation of the Church. They will remain on earth to be burned with Babylon the great, and the merchandise of the great whore. The kings of the earth, the leaders of nations, and the merchants will wail and mourn as they see the tremendous smoke from Babylon the great and the destruction of their merchandise ascend in flames of fire.
  Through covetousness and feigned words ungodly men has made merchandise out of YOU with Church membership and pledges and Church attendance multitudes upon multitudes believe that they are purchasing their own souls from a gospel of man that has placed a price on salvation. Listen closely, the judgment of the men of merchandisers, the money changers of our day, according to Peter that God has watched these men for a long time, and they will be judged according to their works written in the book at the great white throne judgment.
  The Church of Laodicea has no time for the free gospel in Jesus Christ. They cannot achieve wealth or fame or preeminence without the gold that they collect from precious souls. When Babylon the great is destroyed she is the greatest religious system in the world. She controls leaders and kings. She controls the merchants and their merchandise. She is the bank of the world and has hordes of gold that she has used to get her temples with idols and to those slaves who bow to her, she gives them authority to place idols in their own homes, on the walls, over their beds, and this great whore fraudulently sells the Holy Spirit to the highest bidder. We live there today.
  I was once visiting (by request) a home in Fall River, Massachusetts and in the hallway was a giant cross and upon that cross was an image of man that supposedly represented the Lord Jesus Christ. (They are so bent in their perverse theology that they cannot take Him down off the cross. There is no place for a risen Christ in their decadent system.) The lady of the house in Fall River saw me staring at the cross, she thought that I was pleased, and in her joy, she took myself and my wife into her bedroom and over her bed was a huge image of a bleeding heart that was supposed to represent the heart of God. They had made merchandise out of this woman, and their judgment is a long time coming and it will be sure.
  The great whore of Babylon is a permissive religion of all manner of sin, and the kings and rulers and merchants of the earth have committed all manner of sin with her. There is a distinct absence of God in her system, in the hearts of her people, in the souls of her people, and in the spirit of her people. In Revelation Chapter 18, verse 13 we read, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. Chapter 18 should shake the very root of religion for ALL religion is founded on merchandising.
  These are the same men who were in the Temple at Jerusalem in the gospel of John, Chapter 2. They were selling souls then, and they are still selling souls now. Under Babylon the great, we see the souls of men and the slavery of men to a system that destroys their own souls by making merchandise out of them. The seed of Babylon the great was sown over two thousand years ago when the devil brought his ministers, his Nicolaitans into the Church and the Church would not repent of this horrible sin until we find the Church of Laodicea who is full of gold and silver, they are so rich that they have need of nothing. Christ has no place among them, only the love of money and the perverse doctrines of Babylon with all its treasures of marble and of wood which will all be turned into stubble in the great fire of Babylon. The eyes that will not weep for Christ and His salvation will weep when the bell tolls for Babylon, and they look upon the great fire and the loss of their own souls.
  Today, we have been watching the great destruction of a once great nation, the United States of America. This destruction has taken many years. In some ways we lost WWII for the prosperity that came after this great war stole the hearts and minds of Americans away from God. America grew more and more independent away from the things of God believing in Washington, D.C. and Washington became our great Babylon. We live at the very termination of this great nation. God is ready to light the fire that will destroy us all for as a nation we have not repented before God of our wickedness and our sin. We slay our children and disfigure those who are born, we twist their minds in the insanity of the devil and his darkness. We have cast out, as a nation, the light of Christ, and although we boast of God, it is not the God of heaven, but the God of merchandising, the God of silver and gold, the God of Babylon the great. This nation has enslaved its people because they have disregarded the great cost of the souls of man. Each soul that their system deceives will demand a great price from the Almighty God, possessor of heaven and earth. Man loves darkness and he absolutely hates the light of Jesus Christ. (John 3)
  Now there is one great hope that in the deepest darkness, that darkness that you can feel with your hand and your eyes cannot penetrate, there is still the divine Light of Jesus Christ, yea, come to the waters of life, and freely drink, quench your parched soul, and drink of the river of life FREELY without price, without money for the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will MAKE YOU 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) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
  In seeing the eternal river of life in Revelation 22 takes us back to the very beginning when the Spirit of God hovered over the darkness of the deep. And God’s word closes with the waters of life and light in Jesus Christ. This is the same Spirit that tells us to come to the waters FREELY in Isaiah Chapter 55. With no money, nor merchandise and we have a greater Temple in the Body of the risen Christ.
  One thing that has always bothered me, in our present day, in my life with Christ Jesus is the price that man places on the gospel. For some reason, the words of Christ never registers on their minds, nor on their hearts or souls. The words freely ye have received, freely give, was not only given to the Lord’s disciples in the gospel of Matthew but it is also a principle to the children of God concerning the gospel of Christ faithfully exhibited by the apostle Paul in his ministry. (Acts 20:33; 1st Corinthians 9:15, 18) Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (1st Corinthians 9:14) But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. (1st Corinthians 9:15)
Side Note. This ministry of ‘The Son of His Love dot com’ and the origin of its authority. This gospel from heaven has no price tag, so as this message goes out all over the world, the two of us (my wife and myself) refuse any world financing to this ministry. We have a message and the testimony of Christ that our Lord paid it all and He is faithful in maintaining His ministry. You need to understand that the anchor of our faith and soul is Jesus Christ our Lord and forever how long the Lord wants these websites to exist, they are totally in His hands. He has been more than faithful to us, and don’t forget to print these articles for in our present day we do not know how long these evil governments will allow these messages to go over the internet.
  Faith is not only the beginning of our walk with Christ. Faith is the catalyst that keeps us walking in His steps. As soon as the attractions of the world come near, they attack our faith because it is Jesus Christ who they rebel against. The first question when anyone reads one of these articles is, Does this man have the authority from man in the religious world? They have no concept of the movement of the Spirit of God to guide us and to give these messages. Thank the Lord, we have Him. The Jewish leaders asked the Lord of glory while He was teaching in the Temple, who gave Him authority?
And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15)
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (Matthew 13:54)
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? (Mark 6:2)
For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29)
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (Matthew 21:23) And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. (Matthew 21:24)
And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. (Matthew 21:27)
♦ End of Side Note.
 Let’s return to our article. Any authority in messages from heaven HAS to come from the mind of the Spirit which comes with the full authority of God Almighty in heaven. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has separated us from Adam and from the world. Just as He separated the world of darkness with His marvelous light, the glory of His presence in Genesis 1:3. It was only the light of separation that was good. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. This gave us the first precept of God’s separation separating the light from the darkness. In John’s gospel, Chapter 1, we read in Christ IN Him as life and the life was the light of man, verse 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. In verse 5 of John 1, man with the Adamic nature cannot receive the light because of the darkness of man’s own heart, soul and spirit. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. They will not believe in the light and in the life of Jesus Christ. Why? Because man loves darkness and hates the light. This is both the life and the light which is in Jesus Christ.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:20) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:21)
  God the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our understanding so that we can see the separation of the love of God from that evil heart of man. The Holy Spirit puts this hatred of the light and unbelief together in the rejection of Jesus Christ. Those who love the Life and the Light of Christ are those who have realized the grace and truth IN Jesus Christ through faith. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) Beware of any teaching proclaiming to be the doctrine of grace without truth: salvation is NOT pixie dust thrown over all of mankind. For ALL of mankind does not have faith. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2nd Thessalonians 3:2)
  Now if we are going to HOLD FAST, it must NOT be through our own power, but in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to see the lesson from the Spirit of God in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 3. The lesson of humility and smallness is that we come in Christ’s stead and NOT in our own power. The example is the apostle Paul, and those who were like minded.
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (2nd Corinthians 3:2) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2nd Corinthians 3:3) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (2nd Corinthians 3:4) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (2nd Corinthians 3:5) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2nd Corinthians 3:6)
  We see in the beginning of our new life that we are not only separated from the Law of Sin and Death, but we are separated from the man Adam and the world that Adam dwells in. We are a HEAVENLY PEOPLE, and we have heavenly responsibilities which begins with seeking those things which are above and setting our affections on Jesus Christ the Son of God.
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)
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
  All this begins through faith and faith reveals to our hearts that we are crucified with Christ and Galatians 2:20 ends with the love of God which is IN Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 separates us from the world of Adam to the man in heaven, and the Man in heaven gives us NEW life IN Himself. (Romans 8:2) And then the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ within us draws us to the heavenly Man and separates us from the earthly in Adam to not only seek Christ above but all the heavenly things that He has promised us IN Himself. Christ has completely separated us from the man of the earth: Adam. In Colossians Chapter 1, God the Father has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. This is our present position as God sees us IN Christ, the heavenly Man. In Jesus Christ we have taken our place through faith with Him at the right hand of God. That which is of the earth is attracted to the earth. Those who are of heaven are attracted to the heavenly Man and those things which are above. When we spend time with the word of God and the Man in heaven then we will reflect Him down here on the earth. When we consider Paul’s humility and lowliness in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 3, we will understand 2nd Corinthians Chapter 12 in a much greater light. We view a man, Paul, ascending to the third heaven where Christ is.
  When Stephen was about to be stoned, he looked into the third heaven and saw the Son of man at God’s right hand. And he requested of the Lord Jesus Christ that his spirit would ascend and be with Christ in the words, Lord, receive my spirit. And Christ being true to His own righteousness honored the faith of Stephen and received the spirit of Stephen into His realm above made higher than the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26) With Paul his ascension to the presence of Christ would be to receive revelations and to return to earth to minister those revelations to man concerning the Body of Christ and much more. We find Paul’s humility after his translation for although Paul had ascended up to heaven to the third heaven he could not let the flesh be exalted. Also, notice that Paul would not burden the Corinthians with his personal needs. And his companions in the gospel walked the same humble path, they also refused to burden the Corinthians with their personal and daily needs for freely they had received themselves and they had determined in their hearts as Paul to put NO price on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul received revelations in heaven for a heavenly people. Even when Paul returned later, he received further revelations while on earth. These revelations are related to us throughout all of Paul’s epistles. Now I have a Bible . . . and in my Bible there is a map section, these are maps that man has configured. One of the maps has the journeys of Paul, but his first and most important journey is missing. Let’s walk with him in this first missing journey. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (Galatians 1:15) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:16) Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:17)
  Now immediately Paul conferred NOT with flesh and blood. So therefore, he must have conferred with God. Paul did not go to Jerusalem but went into Arabia. Why? Because the holy mount of God was in Arabia. And Paul gives us proof of this in Galatians 4:25 and 26. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Galatians 4:25) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)
  This confirms that mount Sinai, the holy mount, is in Arabia. And notice, the Spirit of God also tells us of a Jerusalem which is above in contrast to mount Sinai which is on the earth. Now Paul received revelations while he was in the third heaven. He had ascended to the top of Sinai and then the Lord Jesus called Him up to Jerusalem which is above to the third heaven. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2nd Corinthians 12:2) This is where the eyes of your understanding again need to open. God sent Paul back to minister the things of heaven to us (the heavenly people on earth) who have the Spirit of Christ. Faith is the overcomer of unbelief. 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) So, as we continue this journey, we see that mount Sinai is the holy mount of God.
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2nd Peter 1:16)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2nd Peter 1:17)
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2nd Peter 1:18)
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2nd Peter 1:19)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2nd Peter 1:20)
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2nd Peter 1:21)
 Now for a little history lesson. Mount Sinai, the holy mount, is also called mount Horeb which was referred to by Christ Himself in the burning bush as ‘holy ground.’
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (Exodus 3:1)
And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: (Exodus 18:5)
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. (Exodus 3:12)
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And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (1st Kings 19:8)
  Now Horeb was holy ground, and that holy mount was mount Sinai. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5) It is later when the Lord delivered Israel OUT of Egypt that Moses ascended up into the holy mount and received the earthly covenant for an earthly people. When we understand this EARTHLY COVENANT from God coming DOWN to earth to mount Sinai, then we will understand why Paul had to ascend to HEAVEN where Christ is, to receive the revelations of the NEW HEAVENLY COVENANT for a HEAVENLY PEOPLE. And there is yet much more. For also, Elijah went UP into mount Horeb, which is Sinai, there Elijah received prophecy and revelation concerning Israel (the ten tribes) and prophecy and revelation concerning the Gentiles and the further judgment on Israel AND the Gentiles which was fulfilled in the days of Elijah and Elisha. So now, we have two men on mount Sinai both dealing with EARTHLY people to be a witness then and to be a witness now to us in Matthew 17:1-9.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Matthew 17:1)
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (Matthew 17:2)
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (Matthew 17:3)
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Matthew 17:4)
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. (Matthew 17:6)
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. (Matthew 17:7)
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8)
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:9)
  Notice in verse 1 that it is a high mountain apart in the word apart we see divine separation, and later in Peter’s epistle he described the place of Christ’s transfiguration as the holy mount. God gives us FOUR accounts of these three men: Peter, James and John seeing the translation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (Mark 9:1)
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. (Mark 9:2)
And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. (Mark 9:3)
And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:4)
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Mark 9:5)
For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. (Mark 9:6)
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Mark 9:7)
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. (Mark 9:8)
And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)
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But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:27)
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28)
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (Luke 9:29)
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: (Luke 9:30)
Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31)
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. (Luke 9:32)
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (Luke 9:33)
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. (Luke 9:34)
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Luke 9:35)
And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (Luke 9:36)
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And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
  In Matthew and in Mark Chapter 9:1-9; Luke 9:27-36; and in John 1:14; we have the total in the gospels of Christ’s transfiguration of four, and then with Peter’s proclamation of the holy mount this gives five recordings of the Spirit of grace.
  (By the way, one of the divine titles of the Spirit of God is the Spirit of grace. Just as the Spirit of Christ is one of the titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we find this marvel in Hebrews 10:29. 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) Notice despite unto the Spirit of grace is referring to part of the Godhead. This is one of the titles of the Spirit of God. Just as viable as all the titles of Christ. God is ONE SPIRIT and His ONE SPIRIT has many titles. The Lord Jesus is the Son of God and the Lord Jesus has many titles from the book of Genesis to the end of the book of Revelation. So the titles of the Spirit of God are unified in the same manner that ALL the names and titles of Christ are unified in Him bringing about the fullness of the Godhead bodily.)
  Now, on the holy mount when Christ was transfigured, He is called the Son of man. We have Christ, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John. This makes SIX men on the holy mount ALL dealing at that time with the men of the earth for man’s number is the number six. Â
  But God did not stop there. For God demands perfection. So there has to be a SEVENTH Man and that number seven speaks of God’s rest and our rest in Hebrews Chapter 4. Now, Paul went into Arabia and ascended into mount Sinai, the holy mount, but God IN Jesus Christ, the resurrected Man and the Man at God’s right hand does not come down this time to mount Sinai. Why? For the revelations given to Paul in the third heaven are for a heavenly people in Christ. So, God in Christ calls Paul UP to the third heaven to Jerusalem which is above. When Paul climbed mount Sinai, he became the seventh man to fulfill God’s rest; however, this rest could not come until God translated Paul into the third heaven to give Paul revelations of OUR REST in God that we receive by the indwelling of the Spirit of grace which Paul explains to us THROUGH the Spirit in Hebrews Chapter 4. Also, we would not know about Jerusalem which is above without Paul sharing the revelation in Galatians 4:25 and 26. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Galatians 4:25) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26) In verse 25 we have a description of mount Sinai in Arabia and mount Sinai, the place of the earthly covenant and the Law which was given to Moses is identified with the present Jerusalem of Paul’s day. And their children were children of bondage, so therefore, to break their bondage, Paul ascended to the third heaven to fill up the things that were left behind. In verse 26 we ascend to Jerusalem which is above and which is FREE which Paul declared is the mother of all those in Jesus Christ. Just as Isaac when he received Rebecca took her into his mother’s tent. Also in Hebrews Chapter 12, we find that Jerusalem which is above is inhabited with just men made perfect.
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)
  Just as Chapter 10 relates the heavenly covenant with the children of faith, so Chapter 12 reveals that same covenant in the blood of Christ in the SPRINKLING of the blood. Remember that all the articles of the Tabernacle when they were dedicated to God were SPRINKLED with blood. Even Aaron and his sons were SPRINKLED with blood in their dedication to the service of God. In Hebrews Chapter 12 with the SPRINKLING of the blood of Christ ALL has been sanctified unto God including Jerusalem which is above. The reason for this is that sin with Lucifer began IN HEAVEN. And as we are sanctified by the blood of Christ so the heavenlies HAD to be sanctified as well. Remember, Christ’s first ascension when He told Mary, Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God. (John 20:17)
  Once more, you need to have the eyes of your understanding opened. There are four periods of Jerusalem on earth and each one of these periods has a Temple. Here we go. . . . the first Temple was Solomon’s Temple, this was where God placed His name AND His glory upon the earth. The next Temple of importance was Herod’s Temple. Now, we have a Temple of man (Herod) to the glory of man (Herod). The next Temple is in the book of the Revelation. (Remember that we are only dealing with the earth right now.) In Jerusalem we have the temple of the Beast. And in this temple he sits on Satan’s throne showing himself to be as God. The fourth Temple is the millennial Temple that is built by Christ Himself and He will sit upon His throne. The number four speaks of the earth, and the things of the earth. It is here in the fourth Temple that Christ reigns as both Priest and King for a thousand years.
  In these four Temples Jerusalem passes through four phases. The first phase under Solomon we have the presence of the glory of God. The second phase is in the days of the Lord Jesus when Jerusalem is possessed by the glory of man until the glory of Christ entered in and claimed it as His Father’s house. The third phase of Jerusalem is under the power and the seat or throne of Satan where he places his man of sin, the Beast, upon his throne. And in this Satan’s fulfills the promise that he gave to Adam and Eve . . . ye shall be as gods. Now the last and fourth phase of Jerusalem upon the earth is the millennial kingdom and the millennial Temple in Jerusalem both built and occupied by God’s Christ the Lord Jesus Christ where He will reveal Himself to man of the earth as both Priest and King. Melchisedec as the Priest of righteousness and as King fulfilling the prophecies given to David. Christ will sit as the King of peace.
  Now, let us consider the two heavenly Jerusalems which we see in Revelation 21:1 – 7.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:5)
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6)
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7)
  As Paul revealed the third heaven and the heavenly Jerusalem, the apostle John reveals a NEW heaven and a NEW earth for our world and our earth and our present heaven and the present heavenly city of Jerusalem is passed away.
  In the NEW earth there will be no more sea. In the fulfillment of God’s holiness and righteousness for the NEW heaven and the NEW earth God creates a NEW city, the holy Jerusalem and its dwelling place is upon the earth; however, it descends from heaven, and we have the unity of the city of God with the Bride of Christ. For John hears a great voice out of heaven proclaiming the Tabernacle of God IS WITH MEN. And He will dwell with Him and they shall be His people, and God will be their God completely fulfilling through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus and His shed blood on the cross, the conclusion of ALL the promises of God. And now, in this dwelling place, this NEW heaven, this NEW earth, this NEW Jerusalem there will be no more tears, there will be no more death, there will be no more sorrow, nor crying and there shall be no more pain for ALL those things that afflicted us will be passed away and we will dwell in the fulfillment of all God’s righteousness IN His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As He is the Alpha and the Omega, He is the same One who gave the first promise of faith, and He is the same One who will fulfill all faith for He is the Author and Finisher of all faith. And IN Him is the fountain of faith which brings forth the fountain of the water of life freely.
  In verse 7, once again, we have the overcomer. Remember, that in ALL seven Churches in Revelation in Chapters 2 and 3 that is ONLY the overcomers who dwell in the paradise of God, And he that overcometh shall inherit all things for he that overcomes is joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Then in verse 7, the Almighty declares, the Alpha and the Omega declares, the Son of God declares, I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Here we have the complete fulfillment of the love of God that we found in the 1st epistle of John, Chapter 3, verses 1 – 4.
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)
  In Revelation 21:10, And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, this verse is reminiscent of the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ on the great and high mountain. This is the last witness of the high mountain, and it is the witness of the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. And the glory of God descends with the city. And in Hebrews 1:3, it is Christ who is the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His Person. In the glory of God it is as a stone most precious, a particular stone, a tried stone and a polished stone, and the Spirit of God informs us that it is a jasper stone, clean as crystal. It is the flawless diamond, and this same jasper stone is found in Revelation Chapter 4, verse 3. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
  This is the One, the ONLY ONE who has been tried by God and fulfilled all of God’s righteousness, the ONE of Hebrews Chapter 1, verses 8-10.
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) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Hebrews 1:9). And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10)
 In Hebrews Chapter 1 we have the same glory of God in the Lord Jesus Christ holding the sceptre of righteousness as the stone most precious upon the throne of God, the flawless jasper stone. From Hebrews Chapter 10 we see the working of the Godhead in our redemption THROUGH the Lord Jesus Christ, we see the ministry of the Spirit of God THROUGH the word of God to the redeemed of God. And these things have been given to us and will be fulfilled in us in the NEW heaven and the NEW earth, the NEW city, the NEW Jerusalem, and the NEW Temple of our God. He will be our God, and WE will be His people. Now do you realize that as the children of God, you are NOT of this earth, and the path that you are on, this path of faith will be finalized in the new heaven and the new earth.
  We also see that John was brought up into an exceeding high mountain. He became the eighth man upon a high mountain. The number eight (8) speaks of resurrection and the resurrection of Christ speaks of a NEW BEGINNING and isn’t it fitting that on the last mention of mountain in scripture that John sees a new beginning in a new heaven, and in a new earth and in a new city of God. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:10) This is all in the future for the children of God, and nothing will be able to separate us from that point when we will be in the new heaven and the new earth and in the new city of our God. But now, we MUST enjoy what Paul received in the third heaven when he descended back down to mount Sinai. He then returned to Damascus and began to reveal to the children of God great truths that had been hidden. He opened the mysteries of God to us that Christ was the fullness of the Godhead bodily, that Christ was the express image of the invisible God, that Christ was the heir of all things, and BY Jesus Christ, God had made the worlds. That Christ was the fullness of God’s glory and the EXPRESS image of the invisible God. He revealed the heavenly Man in Christ that never surrendered His deity or His Spirit. He revealed the mystery of the Body of Christ that it would be the Church that would be the Bride of the Son of God. And time will not permit me to fill in all the blanks in your heart. You must fill in these blanks yourself by the word of God. Sit down at your table with the Lord Jesus Christ and READ from the book of the Lord and drink in of the water of life freely in all the glories of the Son of God.
  Paul did not receive his revelations for an earthly people. All the revelations of the apostle Paul were given to a heavenly people, the new creation of God in those who have been born again by the eternal Spirit of grace. A new creation in Christ Jesus and our home is in heaven for we have been translated by God the Father into the kingdom of His dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (Colossians 1:13)
  We still live in the age of the seven men in the holy mount where we have received God’s rest for He has perfected us IN Christ. All the things of our earthly future and our heavenly rest are acquired by us NOW according to Hebrews Chapter 4. The rest of the heavenly people of God for by grace are we saved through faith and faith has come forth in the spirit of grace in the Law of Life in Christ Jesus that has freed us from the Law of Sin and Death. We have received the gift of faith through the gift of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10) The Lord Jesus has brought us to grace and truth and through HIM we enter into heaven by a new and living way through the veil of His flesh. If we make this a present reality, we are only abiding by the truth of the word of God. Christ has brushed Adam aside so that IN Christ we can possess all these treasures of the Son of God BOTH now and eternally; therefore, HOLD FAST.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1st Thessalonians 5:21)
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2nd Timothy 1:13)
Amen and Selah.
© Copyright 2023, Michael Haigh
September 29, 2023 – 4:38 PM (EST)
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)