Well, it has been a true joy to my spirit and soul that I was allowed, even called, to labour and cooperate with the Spirit of the Lord and write the above Judgments of the Lord. (Pr. 21:15a)
I am now ready to conclude this book by a prayer to Our Gracious, Merciful and Loving Lord Christ Jesus. Yet, I am being brought by His Spirit to one unusual experience in my life, which I must share with you with hope that it might give you a practical picture of ourselves as the Lord sees us before and after our Redemption.
One day I visited the famous prison on an island near San Francisco in California, USA, called Alcatraz where the most dangerous criminals were kept since it was impossible to escape from there. I volunteered to be put into one of the famous solitary confinement cells. A heavy steel door was closed and locked behind me and I found myself in an absolute darkness and quietness and cold. There was nothing inside but bare concrete walls, concrete floor, concrete ceiling with a small ventilating opening and additional steel bars with an opening for feeding the prisoner. After some time, I started to feel the horror it must have been for the prisoners who spent there days or weeks without getting out even for a moment. The only things missing there for me to feel like in a true damnation were flames of fire and some brimstone. (Rev. 20:15; 21:8) Fortunately, the tourist guide remembered me and after some minutes he unlocked and opened the door and I walked out.
Imagine that you are on a death row waiting for your execution. (That is how we all were before our Redemption in the eyes of the Lord.) Every time steps are heard in the corridor, your soul is trembling whether they are coming for you or for your neighbour. And then one day, your door is noisily opened and instead of the executioner with shackles in hand, there is a nice looking officer. You are told that your crimes have been paid for in full, you are pardoned and you are a free man! Is this a sweet news? Can you truly feel it… appreciate it? Probably not, unless you were shut into a similar solitary confinement… for a short time at least.
BUT THEN, you are also told that there are conditions for your release into the freedom: You must agree to clean yourself (spirit, soul and body) and put on a new, clean clothing. (2Cor. 7:1// Eph. 4:22-24) But you say: “Oh, no, no, no… I do not want that! For years I have been filthy and wearing this rags, I feel fine, I am used to it, I do not want to change, I just want to go out into my freedom as I am.”
You are then told that the freedom is only for new, clean men in clean clothing, and the decision to fulfil these conditions is yours. Also, that the door will not remain open forever but one day, about which you do not know, it will be shut never to be opened again.
So, the heavy door of your solitary confinement has been opened, but you keep sitting inside peeking out to the sunshine and freedom, yet, not being allowed to get out! Will you be shut in again and die there rather than be cleansed and clothed in new, clean clothing? What do you say? Do you see yourselves in that situation…of your spirit and soul?
If not, then you should know that the Lord may see you EXACTLY in such circumstances, and He desires to tell you and to confirm it in your own heart. He desires to tell you that He not only paid for all your sins and provided for your release, but that He will also help you in your cleansing and putting on the new, holy and righteous man. And He has been waiting for your decisions maybe a very, very, very long time!
The above is just my personal experience and interpretation. But it compares to the true reality of our Salvation rather well. Perhaps, you would like to read it again and again… and meditate on it and realize that…
CHRIST DID NOT DIE FOR US JUST SO THAT WE MIGHT ATTEND SOME CHURCH, JOIN IN SOME RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND TRY TO BE “BETTER” THAN IN OUR PAST. HE OPENED FOR US THE DOOR TO A NEW CREATION… AND HIS WILL IS TO MAKE US MAGNIFICENT NEW CREATURES SUITABLE FOR THAT NEW AND MAGNIFICENT CREATION!
BECAUSE OUR NEW MAN WAS ALREADY CREATED (Eph. 4:24), GOD WAITS WHEN WE SHALL “DIE… PUT OFF” THAT OLD MAN AND “PUT ON” AND LIVE THAT NEW MAN! EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR CHRISTIANITY WAS, IS AND SHALL BE TOTALLY UNIMPORTANT AND MEANINGLESS, IF WE DO NOT REACH THIS FINAL WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
What else do we, believers, need to hear or read in order to pause, ponder and admit that we are not infallible in our hearts and beliefs and that our future is worth reviewing in the Light of the Word of the Almighty God? I am sure that there may be multitudes of believers who may read Mt. 25:6 and think that this is a future event. NOT SO!
MIDNIGHT HAS ARRIVED AND THE CRY HAS ALREADY STARTED! The Spirit of the Lord is crying even through this book. Do you hear His voice? He says clearly:
“Behold, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING; GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM.” (Mt. 25:6) Go to meet Him by opening your heart to Him… and do it now, not tomorrow.
Finally brethren, the last thing to which the Spirit of God is directing me is to imprint into our hearts the true “two-sided picture” of Our God, His Ways and Judgments. We must see and realize that Our God uses both GOODNESS and SEVERITY, LOVE and WHIP, GOOD and EVIL, SWEETNESS and BITTERNESS, PEACE and TRIBULATION toward all whom He had called and chosen to be His people, whether Israel or the Church.
And I must repeat at this point that ISRAEL and the CHURCH are ONE in His sight. They have become branches of one tree with one root (Rom. 11:16-24) and were made into ONE NEW MAN (Eph. 2:11-16) because the Lord had slain the enmity thereof. Therefore, Israel and the Church have been made brethren in Christ Jesus!
What God uses toward us depends entirely on us, on our hearts, our willingness and our decisions. Hence, God uses…
…SEVERITY toward all those that fell in the past and are fallen or falling even today by continuing in their pride, fears, arrogance, hypocrisy, iniquities, unrighteousness, in defying or neglecting His Word, His Ways, His Judgments, in mocking His messengers, despising His Words, misusing His prophets and thus abusing His Grace (2Chr. 36:15,16,19),
…GOODNESS toward those that continue in His goodness, in pressing toward His high calling upon their lives, in being willing to obey His Word, walk His Ways, accept His Judgments and be thus transformed into the Image of Christ Our Lord. For IF WE would not be willing to continue in His goodness, WE SHALL ALSO BE CUT OFF! (Rom. 11:22)
PLEASE, READ AND MEDITATE on this important Word of God showing GOD’S TRUE CHARACTER, HIS WAYS, HIS PRINCIPLES AND HIS JUDGMENTS in both Old and New Testaments. God will not act according to our expectations or understanding or wishes. His Ways, Thoughts and Judgments are different than ours. (Is. 55:8,9)
Let us also realize that DESPITE all His Great Love, Grace, Mercy and Desire that no one should perish, but all should come to repentance (2Pet. 3:9), GOD YET ALLOWS the disobedient people to go to their everlasting damnation! Why? Because…
…HIS GREAT LOVE, GRACE, MERCY AND DESIRE WILL NEVER CHANGE ANY OF HIS PRINCIPLES OF OUR SALVATION OR ANY PART OF HIS WORD! IF YOU THUS ONLY CONSIDER HIS LOVE, GRACE, MERCY AND DESIRE BUT REFUSE TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD, YOU ARE TERRIBLY DECEIVED AND IT MAY COST YOU YOUR ETERNAL LIFE! (ex. Mt. 5:18// Rev. 22: 18,19)
We should then not be surprised when God is dispensing to people both tribulation and comfort. Tribulation to that part of the Church, which refuses to do His Will, and comfort to those that do His Will or are willing to do It or are learning to do It.
THEREFORE, in accordance with the above and being called by Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and with a true joy in my heart,…
… I AM IN HIS NAME WARNING all those described above and through this book who will keep refusing to do the Will of the Father according to His Word. (Ez. 3:18-21) They shall go right through the coming Tribulation and the reign of antichrist. They shall be thrown to outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They shall be called to overcome their old lives, crucify their flesh under very different conditions and sufferings and pains. Since they refused the hand of Grace to deliver them and destroy their flesh, they shall be delivered to Satan to destroy their flesh that their spirit may be saved. (1Cor. 5:4,5) When that time of darkness, suffering, weeping and gnashing of teeth comes upon them, they will, even in the midst of it all, recognize it as an extended and, as it were, the “Final and Greatest” Grace of God toward them.
…I AM IN HIS NAME COMFORTING those that do, or are willing to do, His Will according to His Word and are ready to suffer for It. The Lord has been comforting me that I may be able to comfort others also. (2Cor. 1:4,5) For we also go through our tribulations, pains, troubles, afflictions and sufferings until now. But they are different in character, magnitude and duration. We suffer for “a while” under the Grace of God and thereby we are perfected, established, strengthened and settled. (1Pet. 5:9-10) Our fruitfulness in the knowledge of Our Lord is assured and our entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ will be ministered unto us abundantly! (2Pet. 1:1-11)
THE FINAL VERDICT OF GOD IS SIMPLE AND IT IS THIS:
TO THOSE THAT ARE DISOBEDIENT AND COMFORTABLE NOW, GOD WILL SEND A WHIP AND TRIBULATION AND HELL. AND TO US, WHO ARE IN TRIBULATION, GO THROUGH HELL AND ARE UNDER HIS WHIP NOW, GOD SENDS HIS COMFORT AND SWEET LOVE. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. (see also Lk. 12:47-49; 16:25// Rom. 2:5-13)
THE FINAL MYSTERY OF GOD IS ALSO SIMPLE AND IT IS THIS:
WHAT SATAN LUSTED AFTER IN HIS PRIDE, JEALOUSY, INDEPENDENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST GOD (Is. 14:12-14), THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE TO US IN OUR OWN MEEKNESS, OUR HUMBLENESS, OUR TOTAL DEPENDENCY ON GOD AND IN OUR TOTAL OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS! (1Cor. 2:9// Jn. 17: 22-24// Eph. 2:6// 2Pet. 1:4// Rev. 3:12; 21:9-11) AMEN.
HE WHO HAS A HEART TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND,
LET HIM SEE AND UNDERSTAND.
Let us pray together…
♥ ♥ ♥
“Beloved SAVIOUR and LORD JESUS CHRIST. I greatly praise You and Your HOLY NAME. I greatly admire You and the Beauty of Your Holiness, Your Glory, Your Character. I fully rest in Your Grace and Love and WORD and will never depart from It. I will never leave You nor forsake You! This is what You promised to me (Heb. 13:5-9) and this is what I am also promising to You… by my free will and decision of my heart and soul (and, please, help me keep my promise for, in myself, I have no strength to keep it).
There is not a slightest shadow of a doubt where You are leading me and what you have been creating in me. I am looking forward to our first personal meeting, to our Marriage-Union-Oneness (Jn. 17:21), to our Life together, to the future that will never end in Your New Creation.
I am interceding for every soul that You foreknew and chose from this world for Yourself in these last days before You come. I am also interceding for every soul that is joining me in this humble and truthful prayer trusting in Your Grace, Mercy and WORD. Together we stand before You and Your Holy Throne, the True and Faithful Witness, the KING of kings and LORD of lords, the True and Righteous Judge.
Please, grant each such soul and heart ALL that he needs at this time according to Your Wisdom, Power, Grace, Mercy and Your calling upon that soul, that he may come forth victoriously and together with Your SPIRIT accomplish Your calling. May it also please You, LORD of Grace, to grant us what we never deserved from You, yet we always needed from You at all times, so that Your Glory may shine to Your whole Creation.
Help us, therefore, LORD to sacrifice on Your altar ALL that is evil, filthy, abominable and unacceptable in Your sight and in Your Presence, including our own selves, old lives, old creation. Help us put on our new Creation, new and clean heart, mind and will – New Man – that would satisfy You fully for all eternity and that You can love for ever. Help us to break our “alabaster box – the shell of our soul”, our earthen vessel, and to anoint Your HEAD with its precious content; to part with all that is precious to us while You are in our house of lepers, for we all are lepers in our unbroken alabaster boxes and unsown corns of wheat. (Mt. 26:6,7// 2Cor. 4:7// Is. 6:5// Jn. 12:24-26) Finally, enable us to anoint You while there is time and not to start seeking You when it is too late. (Mk. 16:1)
Then we will all greatly rejoice in You and with You and will become a true pleasure to Our Heavenly FATHER, Who before the foundation of this world had designed our Great Salvation in His Heart and with It our Eternal Life and future in His Eternal Presence.
I desire to express my deepest gratitude, thankfulness, love, admiration and a true appreciation to My Heavenly FATHER, to My SAVIOUR and LORD JESUS CHRIST and to the Most HOLY SPIRIT through Whom all things have been created and accomplished. Let my New Man be the fruit of Your works that will fully satisfy You and worship You in spirit and truth for ever and ever. AMEN.
♥ ♥ ♥
EPILOGUE
Just before this book was to be submitted to the printers, the Lord provided His closing word through brother T. Austin-Sparks from his brochure “The Kingdom that can not be shaken, Part 4”, published by The Golden Candlestick Trust, Twello, Holland, pages 2,3 and 4:
“We will not – we must not – put Romans 8:28-29 into any lesser category than God’s purpose for all in Christ; that is, we must not say that this is for a certain number in the thought of God. It is for all in Christ, and this is God’s will for all His people, but as has always been the case, the majority of the Lord’s people do not follow on spontaneously, and the Lord has continually to have in the midst of them, amongst them, before them, a company embodying and representing and expressing His full thought, to be a ministry of revelation and a ministry of strengthening and exhortation to His people. It is a ministering vessel in the midst of His people, and that vessel not just having special information to give, but that vessel being the embodiment of that, which the Lord would have all His people know and be. Paul put himself into that category in a personal way…
…He put himself, therefore, in the position of one, who was the full embodiment of God’s thought for the church, and so Paul became in very truth a dispensational man; that is, the individual in whom the whole supreme meaning of the dispensation was gathered up experimentally; and the church, the Body of Christ, being the supreme feature of this dispensation, had its embodiment and expression in a living way in that one man.
Now what was true in him as an individual early in the dispensation has had to be true and be repeated again and again through the dispensation in instruments, which God has raised up; that is, that there shall be a living voice – not a voice of teaching, a voice just of truth in the technical or academic sense, not just the proclamation of something, but a living embodiment and expression of God’s thought amongst His people. The Word of the Lord to such a vessel at all times will be: “whether they will hear or whether they will forbear”. (Ez. 2:5)
It is so easy from time to time to let go, to sag because your message is not wanted and because you see no place for it, no room for it, or because you see almost universal opposition to it; to conclude, or to take the attitude as though you had concluded, that this is not the message for the time, the people are not ready for it, they are not open to it, they will not have it. Whether they will hear or whether they will forebear, is the Lord’s word to an instrument, which He raises up for any purpose. That is, although you may be speaking in the wilderness, you have to get on with it; although no one will listen to you, you have got to go on; although you may see no response, but just universal antagonism, you have to go on with your work, “whether they will hear or whether they will forbear”.
For the fullness of God’s thought a vessel has to be constituted accordingly, and if the fullness of God’s thoughts is sonship as the means of the universal dominion of which this letter speaks, the universal dominion of Christ, then our training is along the lines of sonship, for we are called to that ministry…
…What is the basis of the training of sons? It is the cross. What is the pattern of the training of sons? It is the Son. What is the sphere of the training of sons? It is in the spirit.”
AMEN.
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brother Hanola
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