Dear AdB,
I quoted you what Paul said about comparing spiritual words with spiritual words. That is what a person must do to find the meanings of Christ's spirit words. But again, one must also be guided by the Spirit of Truth to find the correct meanings.
The Spirit of Truth is only given to a believer during their time of conversion. For unconverted babes, they are spiritually blind and have no ability to be guided into the truth. For this reason, Satan has no problem deceiving them.
The Spirit of Truth is what even the apostles required before they could understand the spiritual teachings of Christ.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Have you ever truly considered what the scripture below actually teaches?
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts (converted believers). 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another language (Christ's spiritual language) will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them (babes who draw milk) precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken (by Satan).
This scripture above was fulfilled shortly after Paul's death. It was at that time that the spirit of anti-Christ devoured the sheep (babes) in the early churches.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things (like the doctrines of hell and free will), to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Nothing has changed in the church since that time. All new babes will quickly "fall away" and become apostate after being given the small measure of the Spirit (the Early Rain). No babe has any ability to avoid it happening to them since Christ directs everyone's steps. For that reason, it is vital that Christ "come again" with the baptism of the Spirit (the Later Rain) so that His fallen away Elect can be restored and converted.
In the scripture below, Christ teaches this same truth again:
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself SEVEN other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
The spiritual symbol of an unclean spirit represents a spirit which teaches Satan's false truth through lies and deceptions.
Since a new believer remains spiritually blind (Mark 8:15-25) after receiving the Early Rain of the Spirit, they cannot replace their worldly false beliefs with the truth of Christ. ONE unclean spirit leaves but comes back with SEVEN more. The number "seven" represents perfection. In this case, the number seven represents the perfection of Satan's lies/deceptions which come to a believer by the indwelling of the spirit of anti-Christ. Now, instead of ONE unclean spirit within the believer, they now have EIGHT. The number eight is a spiritual symbol which represents a new spiritual condition. In this case, the new spiritual condition is worse than the first.
This "worse than the first" spiritual condition causes the believer to become a False Prophet, a Man of Sin, a Minister of Satan and a Seven Headed Beast with Ten Horns & Crowns.
Below is a short lesson on Christ's spiritual language and how to understand it:
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Does Christ really mean that if you use a sword to kill others, then you must likewise be killed with a sword? Literally, that is what He is saying. However, if we understand this verse literally, that statement can easily be proven to be false. There are countless examples of people who have used violence to kill others but then do not die from that same type of violence - it almost goes without saying.
Is Christ mistaken or is His message something else?
In Matt 26:52, Christ is using the spirit word SWORD to teach His spiritual message. To understand what this spiritual symbol represents, we must look at how it is used elsewhere in scripture. As Paul said to do, we must compare spiritual words with spiritual words.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edge sword...
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword...
From the verses presented above, it is easy to understand that the spiritual word SWORD represents the Word of God who is Christ.
Christ’s hidden spiritual message He is teaching in Matt 26:52 is that all who take up the Sword (those who have been given the Early Rain of the Spirit and have been “called to be a saint”), will later perish by the Sword (death of the child of the devil). This death is a necessary part of the conversion process which happens when the Word of God (Christ, the Sword) comes to a person a second time and gives them the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Latter Rain), followed by the Baptism of Fire (judgment):
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with Fire.
As for what I base my understanding of the seven seals of Revelation upon, I base it upon the truth that the Elect must keep the sayings of the prophecy in order to be blessed (saved). Once a person understands the steps of the pathway to salvation, they will be able to see the pathway taught (here a little and there a little) over and over again throughout Christ's New Covenant teachings. The book of Revelation's primary teachings concern the steps that the Elect will travel (keep) to their moment of conversion. The prophecies are certainly not about one-time world events that only happen at the literal end of the age. That understanding is a deception from Satan.
If a believer does not keep the sayings of the prophecy presented in the book of Revelation before they die, they will not be converted and saved. But since Christ is the Savior, He will see to it that all His Elect keep those sayings. It is His responsibility and not the individual's responsibility. In that way, a converted Elect believer has nothing to boast about concerning their salvation. Their salvation was accomplished solely by the work of Christ that He performed within them.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Even a person's faith is a gift from God. Christ leaves nothing up to chance or to the individual's "will" concerning their salvation.
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Joe
news.syr.edu
www.gettyimages.co.uk
