Satan Doesn't Care How He Deceives

As Long As He Can Steer You From The Truth

The following video is making its rounds on the Internet as testimony of a Muslim's conversion to Christianity. Integral to this man's conversion was information he found about Jesus in the Qur'an.

First, let us not fall into the trap of believing that God needs validation from sources that are not inspired by the Holy Spirit and merely reflects the wisdom of men (James 3:15).  While things that are true may be found in any writing, the standard of truth are the Scriptures.

Yet, much of the information cited from the Qur'an as validating the identity of Jesus Christ is inaccurate and unbiblical.   These are reportedly the things that are said of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Qur'an:

• Mary was ever-virgin
• Mary was born without sin
• Mary never sinned
• Mary was ascended bodily into Heaven

While there are also a few things said about Jesus in the Qur'an as well, more seems to be said about Mary; even having a book of the Qur'an named after her.

What some may not realize is that the statements above about Mary are part of the false doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.  Why would Islam be so supportive of false Catholic doctrine?

In 1985, Pope John Paul II falsely stated that Christians and Muslims worship the same god, saying "Christians and Muslims, we have many things in common, as believers and as human beings...We believe in the sane God, the one God, the living God...".  The truth is that both Catholics and Muslims worship the same god, but that is not the True & Living God worshiped by true believers in Christ.

There are numerous similarities between Islam and Catholicism:

• Veneration of a woman they refer to as Mary
• Use of prayer beads
• Use of repetitive prayers
• Intense Hatred for the Jewish People
• Salvation by works

Further, it is even speculated by some that the Catholic Church played a key role in the creation of Islam.  Nonetheless, they are both false religions designed to keep you from Christ.

Satan is like Baskin-Robbins.  He has a flavor for every person. Whatever suits your fancy, he can provide a belief system for you.  This is also why there are so many Christian denominations.  True faith in Christ is the only thing which will translate man from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light.  Anything which falls short of that is a delusion.

What we need is for a line to be drawn in the sand between the real and the false (all of it).  That line will be a Church full of the Holy Spirit, preaching the word of God in power with signs and wonders following...just as it was when the Church was born.

We must not settle for someone coming close to the truth, but still being ensnared in Babylon.  That is not a reason to rejoice.  It is not a victory when that which is false seems to give credence to some aspect of truth.  Whom Christ sets free is free indeed, not free in part; and that requires the whole truth, not a mixture of truth and lies.


Additional Resources:

Following the Biblical Example of Mary

Messages From Heaven or Hell?

Are Allah & Yahweh the Same?

The Challenge of Islam

AWAKE!

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." Psalm 17:15

The above verse is just beautiful to me.  "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness".

We should be satisfied each day to be in the presence of the Lord.  He should be the first whom we seek in the morning and the last whom we seek at night.  We should be in constant communion with Him (I Thessalonians 5:17).

Yet, as I read that verse yesterday, God put upon my heart an additional meaning.  "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with [to possess] your likeness".  I shall be satisfied when I finally find myself transformed into the image of Christ.  Is that not the goal?  To be like Christ?

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

As this verse implies, it is by beholding the face of Jesus that such a transformation occurs.

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

The battle we face is truly an inner battle with the flesh.  Jesus was persecuted, despised, rejected of men...but it did not bother or deter Him (Isaiah 53:3).  He was tempted in all ways in which we are, but He did not sin (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15).  Why?  Satan had no inroads into Him (John 14:30).  Jesus' flesh and soul were in subjection to His Spirit, which was led by the Holy Spirit of God.  His sole focus therefore was in doing the business of the Father and not doing as He pleased (Luke 2:49; Romans 15:3).

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." I Peter 4:1-2

This is the same lesson for us to follow.

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."  II Corinthians 5:14-15

Yet, there is one thing which must precipitate that transformation, and it is us being "awake".

The world is in overdrive trying to keep people asleep.  Whether it is teaching people to open their third eye (which is in actuality putting them to sleep by activating the pineal gland) or keeping their senses overloaded as a form of escape (which the world calls entertainment) - however he chooses to do it - Satan is trying to keep people's minds blinded (II Corinthians 4:4).

The answer for them is a Church which has been metamorphosized into the likeness of Jesus Christ that can take authority over those unclean spirits, cast them out, and bring to bear the the light of Christ so that they can be set free.

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." I Corinthians 15:34

Why are some ignorant of God?  Because much of the Church is asleep right along with the world.  This is to our shame for we are the ones God has commanded to preach the Gospel and set captives free in Jesus' name (Luke 4:18).  Trust me, if you are not being transformed then you are being deformed.

The goal is not to try and live like Christ, act like Christ, love like Christ, or say the type of things Christ might have said. It is not us in the flesh doing what we think Christ would do.  The goal is to be like Christ because we have been changed to possess His likeness.  This can only happen via transformation (Romans 12:1-2). It is the hope for the lost in a dying world.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11

Additional Resources:

Awakest, Thou That Slumbereth!

You Say You Have Received the Lamb

But Will You Recognize the Lion?

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." Deuteronomy 6:4

You might be surprised to realize how many Christians have splintered the image of God in their minds.  God the Father is considered to be the relentless tyrant, but Jesus Christ is seen as the merciful Savior.  

They do not realize that when we see Jesus, we are seeing a revelation of the Father.

"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matthew 11:27    (Also Psalm 40:8; Luke 10:22; John 1:18, 14:7-9; I John 2:23)

Jesus does not perform His own will; He does the will of the Father alone.

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." John 6:38    (Also Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 5:19-30)

Neither did Jesus come to do a separate or different work than the Father; He came to complete the Father's work.

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:24    (Also John 14:10, 17:4)

Jesus does not speak His own words, but only what the Father speaks.

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." John 12:49-50    (Also John 8:28)

Jesus is the Creator of all things, but He will also be the Judge of all things.

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:...And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." John 5:22, 27     (Also Matthew 25:31-46; Act 10:42; Act 17:31; Romans 2:16, 14:10; II Corinthians 5:10; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; II Timothy 4:1; I Peter 4:5; Psalm 9:7-8, 96:13; 98:9; Revelation 20:11-12)

We are reconciled to the Father by the Son, but it is the Father who gives us to the Son.

"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him...I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word...Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." John 17:2, 6, 24    (Also John 6:6-44, 10:29)

What is my point?  God's entire plan for man's salvation includes every dot and tittle in the Old Testament as well as the New.  It is the story and reflection of one mind and one will; not in the way which some surmise, stating that Jesus and the Father are one in person.  Rather, that Jesus - as the forerunner and example for us - always honors the Father by submitting to Him His own will as an obedient Son.

The heart of Jesus is also the heart of the Father. Similarly, the judgment of the Father is the judgment of Christ.  You cannot hide behind Jesus to escape the Father, nor should you desire to. Receiving the mercy vs. the judgment of God is not about having Jesus vs. the Father.  It is about being reconciled to the Father through Jesus or not.  The Father is not against you if you are in Christ.  You are accepted by the Father in the Beloved [who is Christ].

It is somehow easier for people to receive a Savior, a Brother, even a Bridegroom...but there is something about a "Father" which is hard to grasp and off-putting to those who are not used to the image of a father. He speaks with authority, doesn't cater to our feelings, and issues commands, rather than makes requests. Satan with one masterful stroke in the Garden of Eden was able to transform the role of a father into someone who is considered as weak and with no authority.  The Lord knows that this is the root of the problem with mankind and is why Christ was sent: to reconcile us to the Father.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6

It is common to hear people cry out to Jesus or the Holy Spirit in prayer, and we should.  However, Jesus taught us, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (Matthew 6:9).

We are encouraged by Jesus to pray directly to the Father, but how many do?  How many shirk back from the Father with a preference for just dealing with Jesus alone?  I believe that such only happens when we have a skewed perception of Christ.  Jesus is not only the meek and lowly Lamb who died for us, He is the strong and mighty Lion who will judge all.

What does it mean for Jesus to be called a Lion?

"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." Revelation 5:5-6

Jesus is called the Lion, but appears as a Lamb; the title "Lion of the tribe of Judah" signifying that He has "prevailed".  He is victorious and has conquered all who stand against Him.  A lion is also referred to as the "king of the jungle", so the moniker also represents Jesus' royal heritage as a King and son of David.

"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Hebrew 7:14

Jesus is a Jew; the word "Jew" refers to those belonging to the tribe of Judah.  He is the King of the Jews.

"Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Genesis 49:8-10

Judah is described by Jacob as a "lion's whelp", and is said to be worthy of praise, reigning triumphant over all of his enemies. He is strong and courageous, a protector of His people and avenger against those who would do them harm.  He is fierce against those who would attempt to disturb Him.  

"God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." Numbers 24:8-9

Israel is called a lion, and we see attributes of the Messiah in the description of His people. Israel is strong as a rhinoceros, and victorious in destroying his enemies (I John 3:8).  Those who blessed them received blessings while those who cursed them were likewise cursed.   

With a strong hand, God delivered Israel out of Egypt and brought them into a Promised Land He had prepared for them.  As a great lion, they have couched and laid down; none shall be able to move them. This is symbolic of the sovereignty of God.  Jesus opens, and no man can shut; He shuts, and no man can open.

Interestingly, it is often the Old Testament texts about how God defeated Israel's enemies in the Promised Land which contribute to these issues regarding how people see God.  How could the Lord command the extermination of so many men, women, and children?  Failure to understand this only adds to a warped perspective of God.  Yet, it is not simply the Father who was with Israel during this time, but also Christ (I Corinthians 10:4).  Again, there is one mind and one will at work in all of Scripture.    

"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:" Revelation 6:16

Who has even heard of an angry lamb, and what would that look like?  Yet the word of God says that the wrath of the Lamb will be poured out in Revelation.  If the One who has been sent to be our propitiation has instead become our enemy, there is no place from which to hide.

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Psalm 2:12   

Do not forget that Jesus can get angry.  What is the result of being the object of Jesus' anger? You can perish from the way.  

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" II Thessalonians 1:7-9

Here we see that the vengeance of the Lord depicted as that of a flaming fire which will not be quenched against those who do not obey Him.  Jesus is not sitting idly by while the Father hands out judgment; He shares His Father's wrath and is active in meting out punishment to transgressors; one mind and one will.

We should not be deceived in our understanding of who Jesus is.  Many like to look at just the "red letters" - and not even all of those.  They portray Him as "Sweet Baby Jesus", and are quick to say what Jesus would or would not do.  State biblical truths and it is not uncommon to hear, "That doesn't sound like Jesus!".  Why? Because they have received "another" Jesus (II Corinthians 11:4).

Art used by Pat Marvenko Smith, 
copyright 1992. To order prints visit her 
"Revelation Illustrated" site.

The image of a lion may not be seem as approachable as the image of a lamb, but we had better realize that Jesus is both one and the same.

We cannot separate Jesus Christ from the attributes of His own character or even the Father to whom He submits.  The Father and the Son are one (John 10:30).  If we do not have a right perspective of Jesus, then we will not recognize Him upon His return.

"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." I Corinthians 15:24-28

Additional Resources:

Our Father's Love Letter to You

Come Back to the Father's Love

God Will Not Recognize a Bastard

Our Father

Prayer Through the Son

The Pleading of the Lord

Many times, the Church paints an image of Jesus that is effeminate, weak, defeated, and docile; begging to be received by sinners.  Yet Scripture paints a different picture. It shows a God who is pleading with sinners via "the fire and His sword" (Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:31), and the Lord's pleading is often associated with pending judgment (Isaiah 3:13).

plead: shaphat; to judge, govern, vindicate, punish

Yet, some may ask, "Isn't Jesus up in Heaven interceding for all sinners?"

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

 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25 

 "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine...Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." John 17:9, 20

Jesus' primary focus in intercession is for believers.  Does this mean that He doesn't care for the lost? Not at all.  It is God's desire that all would be saved (I Timothy 2:4).  The reason that Jesus prays for the Church is because such is God's vehicle for proclaiming Christ (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 10:14-15). Jesus prays for the Church so that we will be an effective witness to the world and a powerful army against Satan; the empowerment of the Church is to be a key focus of our prayers as well (Colossians 1:9-11; Ephesians 6:18-20; I Thessalonians 5:25; II Timothy 1:3; James 5:16).

In the same way, Jesus came primarily for the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24), but it was for the benefit of the whole world.  God deals primarily with His people, because it is His people through which He brings the deliverance.  This is rather different than the picture of intercession painted by much of the Church, because much of what is preached these days is based on carnal emotion - what people want to believe - and not Scripture.

As a new convert, I found it hard to believe that God would send people to Hell.  First, it was an uncomfortable thought (for someone who just narrowly escaped Hell).  Yet also, I just couldn't reconcile the concept of Hell with a God who is love.  Like many, I didn't realize that my understanding of "love" was perverted. How can a God of love send a person to Hell?  He loves you enough to give you exactly what you want: an eternity separated from Him.

Yet even God's judgment is a form of His love.  His mercy for the lost is seen in the presence of the Church as well as His holding back of judgment. He waits patiently for - and gives every opportunity for - man to repent.  Why is it that many people will not repent?  How is it possible to experience the wrath of God as we read through the Book of Revelation, yet instead of turning, become even angrier with God (Revelation 9:20-21, 11:9-10, 18)?  I had to realize something that God of course already understands: Not every one wants Jesus.

Many hearts are so set on having their own way that they will not yield to correction but rather grow in hatred towards the One who brings it.  We must come to terms with this.  People delude themselves thinking that - if others just knew the truth - they would come to love Jesus.  That is just not true.  Nothing will ever deter such individuals in their pursuits against Christ.  Not the ultimate act of love in sacrificing Himself for our sins nor the ultimate act in punishment in pouring out His wrath upon them.  It is not that God is unjust, unloving, or has not given them a will to be able to choose.  Such will not turn because they refuse to, leaving God no choice but to destroy them (Matthew 23:37).

As I read through God's word to Israel in Isaiah Chapter 66, I saw a number of parallels to what the Church faces today in these matters.

"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."  Isaiah 66:1-4

God has never been after a show of religion, but sincerity of heart (John 4:23-24).  He despises the sacrifices of the hypocrite and sees it as profane.  There is nothing we can offer Him but what He demands: our reverence and obedience.  If we refuse and choose instead our own way, then He will personally send us a delusion bringing about our downfall.

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  II Thessalonians 2:11-12

If we keep resisting the truth, God will eventually seal our resistance by sending us a delusion to ensure our damnation.  

There are a number of contemporary Christian songs out now declaring how God will never give up on us.  That is not completely accurate (Acts 7:42; Romans 1:24-32).  The truth is that God does not give up on us...easily.  He is longsuffering (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Romans 2:4; II Peter 3:9).

Even the delays to judgment are God's ways to prod the sinner to change.  If repentance still doesn't come, there will come a time when God sends forth judgment.  Judgment is not just having some calamity fall upon you.  Judgement is first seen in God giving you over to your own ways.  

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies." Isaiah 66:5-6

Much is being done and said now in the "name of the Lord", but is false because such persons do not honor God's word.  God says we must sanctify ourselves from the unclean in order to be fit as His witnesses (II Timothy 2:21); yet it is falsely preached that we must join with the world in order to win the world.  God says that the elders of the Church are to be patriarchs after His own heart (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6); yet it is falsely preached that women can be elders, pastors, and bishops, etc.   

Do not be dismayed because the wicked seem to be flourishing like a green bay tree (Psalm 37:35-36).  The day is coming when the Lord will stand up with the righteous for all to see.  He shall appear to our joy and to the shame of the hypocritical mockers.

"Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? Saith thy God.

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies." Isaiah 66:7-14

There will be no bringing forth of children without first the travailing of the Church.  For what are we travailing?  For Christ to be formed (Galatians 4:19).  However, things will happen so quickly as we approach the end, that it will seem as if it was no travail at all.  Just as when the Church was first birthed at Pentecost, there will be a great harvest as God pours out His Spirit in power for the benefit of those who would be saved.  

Everything the Lord has promised will come to pass.  He has not forgotten His people and our living has not been in vain.  The new life the Lord has formed and nurtured within you all this time will be brought forth to manifestation (Romans 8:19).  It will be a time of rejoicing, for we sow in tears, but reap in joy!   

However, judgment against the enemies of the Lord will be just as swift.   

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" I Thessalonians 5:1-3

"For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 

And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.  And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain."  Isaiah 66:15-22

As the Lord is preparing His people to be an end time salvation army, He is also preparing to destroy His enemies (and the enemies of His people). Amongst these enemies are they who have fallen into apostay, performing rituals in the groves as in the worship of Baal Peor.  In spite of their outward appearance in looking as if they belong to God's people, the Lord knows their hearts and judges them according to the wickedness therein. 

The only ones who will be chosen by God as part of His royal priesthood are they who have been purged to be clean vessels.  This seed of spiritual life within the Church will thereby remain ever before Him (Matthew 16:18); the true Church being comprised of those who have ceased from their own works and entered into His everlasting Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).

"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." Isaiah 66:23-24

While God promises rejoicing and comfort for God's people, the end for the transgressor is terrifying.

There are some who say that all mankind will eventually be redeemed and that Hell is not an eternal place of punishment.  They base these assertions in part on such phrases as "shall all flesh come to worship before me", claiming that the word "all" here refers to every single person who ever lived.  Yet, it is clear from this text that such is not the case.

Although all flesh is coming to worship before the Lord, the bodies of transgressors are clearly visible, and the description of these persons sounds very close to Jesus' description of Hell.

"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43-48 

We are told in Revelation that the smoke of Babylon's burning will rise forever and ever as a witness to God's judgment of Babylon, the Great Whore, and those who follow them (Revelation 19:1-3).

God is looking to see the yearning of His people for a return of His manifested divine blessing and presence amongst them.  There is an end time harvest, but we need laborers who have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to go and reach that harvest.  As time unfolds, the pleading of the Lord for people to repent will be turned into judgment as He prepares for His return.  Redeem the times now so that this time does not catch you unawares.

But They Could Not Show Their Father's Seed

To Whom Do You Belong?


"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." I Peter 1:23 

In the book of Ezra, God begins to gather His people who had been captured and taken away into bondage in Babylon.  The story of God's deliverance of His people here is amazing.  It starts with the Lord moving upon the heart of the Persian King Cyrus to declare God as Lord and calling for God's people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  All that had been stolen from the temple of God and given unto idols, Cyrus collected so that they could be returned to the house of the Lord.

Israel had grown to substantial numbers in captivity.  Not all Israelites chose to return to Jerusalem because their spirits would not be stirred by God (Ezra 1:5; Luke 13:34).  However, of those who were stirred, they came forth as priests, singers, porters, servants...their lineage was made clear so that they could show evidence of a rightful inheritance to possess the land.  Yet, there were some who could not produce this evidence.

"And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: these sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood." Ezra 2:59-62

polluted: Hebrew word ga'al; to be to defiled, polluted, desecrated

Why had these people lost their identity? They were children of those who married into the family of Barzillai and had chosen to be called by their name.  This is critical because your identity comes from your father.  It is why the wife takes on the name of her husband, and the children as well.  It reflects the fact that you belong to him and are under his authority, sharing in his inheritance.  This is true even in the world.  In order for a person to claim a right to the inheritance from another, they must prove their relationship with that person.  So it is with God; just consider how much time God spends in the Scriptures detailing genealogies. Yet, these men took upon themselves the name of their wives and therefore, they nor their children had such evidence.

Now here is the kicker; Barzillai was not an evil man (II Samuel 17:27-29, 19:31-40; I Kings 2:7).  He was a great nobleman who served as a benefactor to King David.  Yet these Israelites esteemed it better to bear affiliation with this great household than with the household of God. They disregarded their lineage - and the burdens of being a part of a captive people - preferring to be identified with the world along with its comforts & riches.  They may have gained the acclaim of the world in doing so, but in return they had forfeited their standing before the Lord (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36).

This is no small thing to God (Genesis 25:31-34; Philippians 3:18-19; Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13).

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 2:16-17

The issue was not that these families had never been part of God's people at one time. The issue was that - when called upon to do so - they could not authenticate their relationship with Israel.  There was no longer evidence of their father's seed amongst them, and as a result, they were considered polluted and denied their inheritance.

As I read Ezra yesterday morning, I could not help but think of the current state of the Church.  For year's God's people have been lost and displaced, enslaved in Babylon through idolatry.  In these last days, God is calling His people to return to Him and to come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4).  Separate from Babylon and sanctify yourselves unto the Lord so that He may rebuild within you the temple of His Holy Spirit, allowing you to be a witness for Him (Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 3:16).

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." I John 3:9

Even amongst those who have been born again, some will not heed the call to come out of Babylon, just as in Ezra's day.  They will not allow their hearts to be stirred by God because they have become too enamored with the world (Proverbs 26:11; Matthew 24:12-13; II Peter 2:20-22).  Yet, of those who do respond to God's call, how many will no longer be able to show that they belong to the Father?  How many consider themselves to be one of God's people, but have since left their first love (Revelation 2:4)?  How many say all of the right things, but their hearts have strayed far from Him?

"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."  Ephesians 1:12-14

The evidence that we belong to God is that we have the seal of the Holy Spirit; yet, God's Spirit can be grieved and offended.  We cannot simply live how we choose and do what we choose, believing that God still receives us.  We must not be like the foolish virgins who heard the call to come wait upon the Bridegroom, but whose oil ran dry (Matthew 25:1-13).  Just as He did back then, God is maintaining a record of those who belong to Him (Revelation 20:12-15).  The Lord knows those who are His.

The Bride of Christ is preparing herself even now for Jesus' return (Revelation 19:7).  Be sure to make yourself ready so that you do not hear the words, "I know you not".