2Thess 2:3-5 Events Prior to the Second Coming

bcbsr said:

Events Prior to the Second Coming

2Thess 2:3-5 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

Notice that one of the main events prior to the coming of Christ is the coming of the anti-Christ. (And I bet there will be many who will misread the coming of the anti-Christ as the coming of Christ, which will likely set up the rebellion with its persecution of genuine Christians)

Should we expect Christ to return at any moment? Would Christ return this very day? As much as some have proposed this idea, Paul here teaches that there are certain measurable events to occur prior to the coming of the Lord. For Christ will not return nor will Resurrection nor the Rapture occur until the anti-Christ is revealed and the rebellion occurs, which is going to be difficult for Christians to miss.

The "rebellion" or "falling away" is mentioned in Matthew 24:10,11 "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."

The antichrist is called "The Beast" in the book of Revelations. "He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven." Rev 13:6 He is also mentioned in Daniel. "It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground." Daniel 8:11,12

Setting himself up in the temple is mentioned in Daniel 9:27 "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes "

That abomination is also mentioned in Matthew 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel— let the reader understand—"

For more details on the timing of these events see http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/revtim.html

Notice in verse 5 that Paul used to tell them these things. These ideas were supposed to be a part of basic Christian doctrine, but historically in the early post-Biblical age Christians abandoned such doctrines. Consequently this neglect opened up the door to all kinds of false teachings in this area of theology which have propagated to the present time. Don't gullibly accept just any theory. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. Hold to what the Bible EXPLICITLY teaches.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

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Dear bcbsr,
Many years ago I used to teach End-time prophecy in my church. However, about 15 years ago my understanding of those End-time verses completely changed when I received the Latter Rain of the Spirit.

Nearly all End-time teaching in scripture is speaking about the pathway to conversion and the destruction of our "Old Man" (carnal nature). There is no future coming of an "antichrist" or "man of sin" as is commonly taught. Matthew Ch. 24 is likewise teaching about the pathway to conversion which Christ causes all of His Elect to travel.

We are only converted (saved) after Christ gives us the Early and Latter Rain of the Spirit. All believers receive the Early Rain but only Christ's chosen are given the additional filling of the Latter Rain. When a believer receives the Latter Rain, that is the time when the Man of Sin is revealed and destroyed. And at that time, we finally come to understand that the Man of Sin was us.

The Early and Latter Rain is taught in many sections of scripture but is hidden by Christ's spiritual language He uses to teach us.

Here is a quick overview of the pathway that leads to our salvation if we are one of Christ's Chosen:

THE CALLED OUT (THE CHURCH) The first step along the path of salvation requires an individual to first be Called Out from the world. This event of being Called Out is accomplished when Christ first appears to an unbeliever. This is a spiritual event and “does not come with observation” (Luke 17:20). At that time, those who have been Called Out receive from Christ an “earnest” amount of the Spirit (Early Rain). An earnest amount is a small down payment of the total amount that is to be received later. You are probably familiar with this term in relation to selling a house. When an offer is made to purchase a home, a small payment (earnest money) is made to the seller. When the house goes to closing, the full amount is then paid and the title is transferred. This is similar to the process in which Christ calls and chooses His Elect. Christ gives His Elect two fillings (the Early and Latter rain) of the Holy Spirit.

2Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Cor 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

When a Called Out believer receives the first down-payment of the Spirit, the believer does not receive full spiritual vision (understanding). In fact, he is left badly nearsighted and as such, cannot see the Truth or find the knowledge of God. To have clear spiritual vision, it takes a second filling of the Spirit. Mark 8: 20-25 teaches this understanding.

The first filling of the Spirit (which only produces a partial healing of our spiritual blindness) is shown to us in scripture, however, it is hidden in spiritual language. It’s kind of a “catch-22”. A new believer can’t know from scripture that their blindness has only been partially healed because it takes full spiritual vision to understand scripture. When a person (as an unbeliever) has been spiritually blind all their life, a partial healing of that blindness seems like a full healing to them. They have no reference point to know the difference. Only when they later receive the full healing can they look back (Rev 1:12) and realize that this had been the case. This is the principle reason why Christ and His Church are said to be a GREAT MYSTERY. Both unbelievers who “dwell in the sea” and Called Out believers who ”dwell upon the earth” cannot see spiritually and therefore, cannot unmask the mystery of Christ and His Church. The mystery is only unveiled to Christ’s Chosen, the ones who have received the second down-payment of the Spirit.

Please note that scripture commonly equates those who are near-sighted with those who are blind because a near-sighted person still cannot know the Truth – and anything that is not Truth is a lie. In fact, partial vision is actually a worse state for the individual since the individual believes that they can fully see.

Here is what Christ told the Pharisees concerning their blindness:

John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

At this Called Out stage of spiritual development, the believer can easily be deceived. Because of this weakness, Satan can successfully masquerade as Christ. He is the master deceiver and the father of lies. Satan’s corruption of the new believer is revealed to us in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Mat 13:24-30). In this parable, Satan quickly plants his seed within each new believer which causes them to fall away from the Truth (2Thes 2:3).

THE CALLED & CHOSEN Believers who have been Called Out and have “fallen away” are languishing in the Church. They are at the mercy of Christ to pull them out. Those who are pulled out of the Church in this present age are referred to as the Called & Chosen, or simply as the Chosen (typed by Joshua & Caleb). Spiritually speaking, the Chosen will cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land but those who are only Called Out will remain in the desert where they will die. They will not be saved in this present age and will be resurrected with the unbelievers.

As the Called Out believers wander in the desert (place where Satan dwells), the Chosen believers who are dwelling with them (before Christ appears to them a second time) are spiritually no different. They are just as spiritually blind and carnally minded as those who are only Called Out. Both are quite content (peace & safety, 1Thes 5:3) where they are dwelling since Satan as deceived them into believing that he is actually Christ (2Cor 11:14-15). During this time of deception, Satan feeds them a steady diet of carnal food (stones/leaven) which is very pleasing to their carnal natures. It is a strong delusion (2Th 2:1-12).

However, for those whom the Lord has also Chosen, Christ will appear a second time to them as a thief in the night. Sudden destruction will come upon them and they will not escape.

1Thes 5:2-3 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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.

This sounds ominous and terrible but it is in fact, the best thing that will ever happen to them. This Latter Rain event described by Paul to the Thessalonians is commonly misunderstood to be the “second coming” of Christ to the world. When Christ does appear again, He comes spiritually to the individual – not visibly to the world. When He appears a second time to a Called Out believer, He fills that believer a second time with His Spirit, heals their spiritual vision, gives them a love for the Truth and causes them to repent. With their newly received vision, the chosen believer is now able to see Christ for who He truly is. As a result, the “brightness of His appearing” destroys the Man of Sin whom they have become. The Man of Sin dies and the New Man in Christ is born. The woman (carnal mankind) gives birth to the new child of God. This is God’s true propose for the Church. The Church is not part of the pathway that leads to life. The Church is part of the pathway that leads to destruction (Mat 7:13). The new Child of God that the woman (church) bares will now start along the narrow path that leads to the narrow gate of salvation. It is narrow because it can only be entered when one walks by faith alone in Jesus Christ and remains faithful until the end. Any works that must be done for our salvation are ALL the works of Christ within us. He will clean the “inside of the cup”, whereas we, through the Law, can only try to clean the outside of the cup (Mat 23: 23-26). The wide gate leads one to seek salvation through the Law (our own works) while dwelling in the wilderness (place of Satan’s deception). When a Called Out believer “falls way”, they fall back to trying to please God by “works of the Law (flesh) – just as Adam and all his offspring have done since the beginning of Creation. Our carnal nature which we all have from birth causes us to believe we must “do something” that will make us worthy of our salvation – even if that “something” is only taking credit for our decision to accept Christ. That “decision” has become a work and it causes us to “fall away”. In Heb 6:6, Paul says that once a believer “falls way”, they cannot be renewed by repentance. Since that is a truth of God, how does a person ever find salvation? The answer is simple: Christ must come a second time to the individual and this time He will bring our salvation with Him (Heb 9:27-28).

As I stated above, the woman in 1Thes 5:3 quoted above represents the Called Out believers (the Church) who is giving birth to the New Man in Christ. As this event unfolds, the Called & Chosen believer is “born again” and is gathered together with Christ in Heaven.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This entire event that I just described is strictly a spiritual happening and can’t be seen with human eyes. It all happens within the individual (between our ears so to speak) and that is why it remains a Great Mystery to the world. The world cannot witness it. Mankind expects a visible return of Christ to the world at some future date but Christ will not return in that manner. Christ is now spirit and will only appear again in spirit.

This spiritual “appearing again” (second coming) event is what occurred on the Day of Pentecost to the Apostles. However for them, Christ did not come as a thief in the night. The apostles were “watching” for Him. But for those in the Church now (since the time of Paul’s conversion), we all must “slumber & sleep” (spiritually blind & dead, Parable of the Ten Virgins) in the night and will not be watching for Him. When He does appear again to us, He comes at “midnight” (deepest state of spiritual darkness – Man of Sin) and as a thief. He comes to destroy the Man of Sin whom we have become in the fallen away Church.

There is a tremendous amount of scripture that speaks of the time of Christ’s second coming, however, please note that NONE of the “second coming” verses presented in scripture are referencing a visible coming to the world – that type of a return is NOT supported by the Word of God.

Once Christ appears to a person a second time, Christ will begin the sanctification process within them. He does this work by His Spirit and by His Truth.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Eph 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

In spiritual language, “water” represents the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is also referred to as “rain” in other scriptures.

This cleansing by water is a reference to the judgment of the Old Man (carnal nature) that still remains within the Chosen believer. The New Man will live forever but the Old Man must die (crucified with Christ).

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The believers who are only Called Out are the group to whom Christ will say “I never knew you” (Mat 7:23). They remain carnally minded and under the Law after being first Called out. Christ never appears a second time to them to give them “eyes that can see” and “ears that can hear” the Truth. They simply were not chosen to leave the Wilderness during this age. They must wait until some future point in time to cross the Jordan River after their resurrection to Judgment with the unbelievers.

I know what I have stated above is vastly different than what is commonly understood to be the truth. But when Christ comes a second time to us and gives us the Latter Rain of His Spirit, everything will change (all our understanding). It is at that time of the end that Christ heals our spiritual blindness and gives us "eyes" that can see. It is a time of destruction of the Man of Sin and a time of the new birth of a child of God. At that time there are great earthquakes, lightning and thunder. The sun is darkened and the moon is turned to blood. It is the Great Day of the Lord when He completes His work within us.

Joe

The OP is correct per The Word of God.

The second post is NOT correct, and is just the word of men, even aligned with the World Socialist movement joined with Occultism.

Davy said:

The OP is correct per The Word of God.

The second post is NOT correct, and is just the word of men, even aligned with the World Socialist movement joined with Occultism.

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As I said in my post, I used to believe the mainstream teaching, too but soon after Christ healed my spiritual blindness, I learned that those beliefs were completely false. The teachings of Christ were fulfilled within the generation to which He spoke. They were first fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost with the Apostles when they received the Latter Rain (also called the Baptism of the Spirit) and have been fulfilled over and over again within the lives of each of Christ's Elect since that time. With the mainstream understanding of End-time prophecy, a large portion of scripture has not applied to any believer over the past 2000 years. Scripture says just the opposite and that it absolutely applies to every believer since the Day of Pentecost "for the TIME IS AT HAND":

Rev 1: 1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.

Rev 22: 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.

It is your understanding that is not "per the Word of God".
Joe

FaithWillDo said:

As I said in my post, I used to believe the mainstream teaching, too but soon after Christ healed my spiritual blindness, I learned that those beliefs were completely false. The teachings of Christ were fulfilled within the generation to which He spoke. They were first fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost with the Apostles when they received the Latter Rain (also called the Baptism of the Spirit) and have been fulfilled over and over again within the lives of each of Christ's Elect since that time. With the mainstream understanding of End-time prophecy, a large portion of scripture has not applied to any believer over the past 2000 years. Scripture says just the opposite and that it absolutely applies to every believer since the Day of Pentecost "for the TIME IS AT HAND":

Rev 1: 1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.

Rev 22: 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.

It is your understanding that is not "per the Word of God".
Joe

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Ever since the early Church fathers and all the way up to the 1800s, the Christian Church has been well aware that the Antichrist, a certain entity, must come first, prior to Christ's return to gather His Church.

In the 1830's in Great Britain is when the Edward Irving church and John Nelson Darby's connection with that church, was when preaching of a false Pre-tribulation Rapture theory was done. And through later agents like Cyrus Scofield that doctrine was brought to the Americas. For 1800 years the Christian
Church held to a Post-tribulation coming of Christ to gather His Church, which aligns with what Apostle Paul taught in 2 Thessalonians 2.

But today, men that follow the leaders of this world (which are servants of Satan), join to their man-made doctrines not written in God's Word, of which a Pre-trib Rapture theory is one of them. Lucifer's servants today want to use Christianity and all religions to help form his coming "one world government" system over all nations and peoples, which those in Christ were warned about by Lord Jesus and His Apostles. So the believer is either on the side of Christ Jesus in His Word, or they are deceived and on the side of the coming Antichrist, albeit unknowingly in ignorance.

Davy said:

Ever since the early Church fathers and all the way up to the 1800s, the Christian Church has been well aware that the Antichrist, a certain entity, must come first, prior to Christ's return to gather His Church.

In the 1830's in Great Britain is when the Edward Irving church and John Nelson Darby's connection with that church, was when preaching of a false Pre-tribulation Rapture theory was done. And through later agents like Cyrus Scofield that doctrine was brought to the Americas. For 1800 years the Christian
Church held to a Post-tribulation coming of Christ to gather His Church, which aligns with what Apostle Paul taught in 2 Thessalonians 2.

But today, men that follow the leaders of this world (which are servants of Satan), join to their man-made doctrines not written in God's Word, of which a Pre-trib Rapture theory is one of them. Lucifer's servants today want to use Christianity and all religions to help form his coming "one world government" system over all nations and peoples, which those in Christ were warned about by Lord Jesus and His Apostles. So the believer is either on the side of Christ Jesus in His Word, or they are deceived and on the side of the coming Antichrist, albeit unknowingly in ignorance.

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Dear Davey,
I will start with the one item I agree with you on and that is Satan does and has always wanted a global government from which to rule the world. It started with the Tower of Babel and God stopped it by the confusion of languages. Now the dreaded beast with iron teeth mentioned in Daniel is walking this earth and seeking more power. But nearly all the rest of End-time prophecy is teaching on the pathway to conversion. There is no pre or post tribulation. All mankind is currently in the tribulation period while we are in the flesh - whether now or in the past. The final age will be a time of "great tribulation" for those still lost. But that time of great tribulation will end once the lost are added to the Kingdom of Heaven:

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands... verse 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

As for Paul teaching in 2 Thes ch. 2, it has been fulfilled and is continuing to be fulfilled in the lives of each of Christ's Elect since the apostles received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

2 Thes 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity DOTH ALREADY WORK: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

The antichrist is a spirit and has infested the church since the time of Paul. When a called believer receives this spirit, it will eventually mature them into a "man of sin". This happens to everyone sometime AFTER they receive the Early Rain of the Spirit. The Man of Sin (who we become) is deceived and controlled by Satan. He believes in things like the Doctrine of Free Will and Eternal Hell. He mixes "works" with "faith" and causes us to "fall away" (the sin that leads to death). Once we are in this fallen away state, we cannot be renewed by repentance. Only the second coming of Christ can restore the believer. This happens when He gives the fallen away believer the Latter Rain of the Spirit and destroys the Man of Sin (our worsened spiritual state, 7 evil spirits). The Man of Sin is destroyed by the truth after Christ heals our spiritual blindness so that we can come out from Satan's deceptions. It is only then that an Elect person is saved. For those not chosen, Christ will not come to them a second time in this age and they will die in their sins. We do not have a "free will" ability to deviate from this path. That is how Christ controls who will be saved now and who will be saved in the final age. Our salvation is 100% the work of Christ, even the timing of it.

Christ said as much to the Pharisee in this verse:

Matt 21:31 Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, "The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.

It was never a question of whether the Pharisee would be saved someday, only the timing of it could vary. The Elect (chosen from the foundation of the world) are saved in this age, then everyone else will receive salvation in the final age. However, the Nation of Israel (which includes this Pharisee) will be last to be saved (after the fullness of the Gentiles come in).

All the second coming scriptures are speaking about the time when Christ comes a second time to His Elect for the purpose of giving them the Latter Rain. Christ is not coming back visibly at some future time where the entire world sees Him. Those verses which speak of the second coming are teaching about His spiritual return "within" each of His Elect and then finally "within" everyone else. By the end of the final age, every eye will have seen Him and then God will be "all and all". The Kingdom of Heaven comes without observation and it comes "within" us. All the End-time verses should be understood in this manner. They were fulfilled shortly after Christ spoke to the generation of His time and they have been repeatedly fulfilled within each of His Elect since that time.

End-time prophecy gets it name because it teaches on the end of our carnal nature which must be destroyed and then replaced by God's nature via the Holy Spirit. That is the Great Day of the Lord and it occurs within each person as they are saved.

Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davey,
I will start with the one item I agree with you on and that is Satan does and has always wanted a global government from which to rule the world. It started with the Tower of Babel and God stopped it by the confusion of languages. Now the dreaded beast with iron teeth mentioned in Daniel is walking this earth and seeking more power. But nearly all the rest of End-time prophecy is teaching on the pathway to conversion. There is no pre or post tribulation. All mankind is currently in the tribulation period while we are in the flesh - whether now or in the past. The final age will be a time of "great tribulation" for those still lost. But that time of great tribulation will end once the lost are added to the Kingdom of Heaven:

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That in bold is totally un-Biblical.

What God's Word actually teaches about the latter days just prior to Christ's literal return, is about a time of "great tribulation". Jesus Himself warned of that in His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24; Mark 13). And within that He revealed the timing of His literal return to gather His Church being AFTER... the tribulation He showed there!

So if you want to go directly against what Jesus Christ Himself said there, then fine. But you are not aligning to Him by that, and thus are either deceived, or you are working for His enemies.

Davy said:

That in bold is totally un-Biblical.

What God's Word actually teaches about the latter days just prior to Christ's literal return, is about a time of "great tribulation". Jesus Himself warned of that in His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24; Mark 13). And within that He revealed the timing of His literal return to gather His Church being AFTER... the tribulation He showed there!

So if you want to go directly against what Jesus Christ Himself said there, then fine. But you are not aligning to Him by that, and thus are either deceived, or you are working for His enemies.

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Dear Davy,
You must remember Christ words are "spirit". Spirit words carry a different meaning from what man's wisdom teaches. Paul even said that "we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery". The truth of God was written for His Elect and only then after they have been given "eyes that can see".

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Isa 28: 10-12 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 tongue will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them 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.

Christ speaks to us in "another tongue" and that is His spiritual language.

Until you can understand God's words spiritually, Christ's true meaning is going to stay hidden.

Here is Christ's teaching on when a believer is given "eyes that can see":

Mark 8:15-21 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

In these verses, Christ is giving His disciples a lesson on spiritual language - His language. At this point in time (before Pentecost), the disciples have not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Latter Rain) and were spiritually blind. They simply could not understand what Christ was teaching them. After Christ’s short lesson, He ends it by asking them this question: “How is it that ye do not understand”? No response is recorded in scripture, however, Christ answers His own question in the very next 4 verses.

Mark 8:22-25 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Christ speaks to us not only through His words which are recorded in scripture but also by the things that He did. In answering the question that He proposed to the disciples in verse 21, He goes to Bethsaida and gives us His answer through the type and shadow of His healing of a blind man.

In these verses, Christ leads a blind man out of the city. Once outside the city, Christ places spit on his eyes and touches him with His hands. These actions occur as the blind man is looking down which symbolizes that the blind man remains carnally minded. The “spit” (water) symbolizes the blind man receiving the Early Rain of the Spirit with its accompanying vision (understanding). After Christ asks him what he could see, the blind man looks up and says that he could see men walking as trees. "Walking as trees" is a symbol for Called Out believers of which the blind man is now one. The man’s blindness was not total any longer but he was still very near-sighted. This “first healing” of the blind man reflects our spiritual condition when we first enter the Church. At that time, we are left carnally minded and spiritually near-sighted. Peter says this condition is the same as being blind:

2Pet 4:19 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In the final verse of the story, Christ lays His hands upon the man’s eyes again but this time, Christ has the man “look up”. This second healing represents the Latter Rain of the Spirit (second coming of Christ) when true spiritual vision is given to the believer. The man’s upward gaze represents this heavenly aspect of the healing in contrast to the carnal aspect when the blind man was looking down. From that moment onward, we know that the blind man is a Called and Chosen believer. We can now know that the blind man is one of Christ’s Elect, a First Fruit of the harvest of mankind.

Unless Christ comes and heals a person's spiritual blindness, the knowledge of God will remain hidden.
Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davy,
You must remember Christ words are "spirit". Spirit words carry a different meaning from what man's wisdom teaches. Paul even said that "we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery". The truth of God was written for His Elect and only then after they have been given "eyes that can see".

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Whatever preacher you're listening to, you need to run... as fast as you can, away from that idiot.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not... a mystery. There are mysteries in God's Word, I admit that, but they are not what you are talking about, because you reveal you don't know what they are while trying to claim... you do!

According to Apostle Peter, no prophecy of The Scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20).

Now if those idiots you listen to are telling you that what Peter wrote is for the Jews only, then you are not keeping to God's written Word, you are heeding men's doctrines.

So when I quote a prophecy about the end of this world leading up to Christ's return, God's Word is not speaking mysteries, nor am I. He made those prophecies easy and plain to understand, which is why Peter said what he did there.


Are there mysteries written of in God's Word? Yes, the mystery Paul spoke of was about the mystery that The Gospel would go also to the Gentiles, however that mystery was hinted at in the Old Testament prophets, like the Book of Isaiah, long before Jesus' 1st coming.

Davy said:

Whatever preacher you're listening to, you need to run... as fast as you can, away from that idiot.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not... a mystery. There are mysteries in God's Word, I admit that, but they are not what you are talking about, because you reveal you don't know what they are while trying to claim... you do!

According to Apostle Peter, no prophecy of The Scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20).

Now if those idiots you listen to are telling you that what Peter wrote is for the Jews only, then you are not keeping to God's written Word, you are heeding men's doctrines.

So when I quote a prophecy about the end of this world leading up to Christ's return, God's Word is not speaking mysteries, nor am I. He made those prophecies easy and plain to understand, which is why Peter said what he did there.


Are there mysteries written of in God's Word? Yes, the mystery Paul spoke of was about the mystery that The Gospel would go also to the Gentiles, however that mystery was hinted at in the Old Testament prophets, like the Book of Isaiah, long before Jesus' 1st coming.

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Dear Davy,
I learned what I believe directly from scripture. I have no teachers any longer.

Scripture says that Christ is hidden from all but those whom He has chosen to reveal Himself. The Book of Revelation is the about the "unveiling" of Christ. The carnal mind cannot know Him or His truth. Here are a few verses that show Christ and His truth is HIDDEN.

Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Ecc 3:11 He (God) has made everything fitting in its season; However, He has put OBSURITY in their heart so that the man may NOT find out His work, that which God does, that which God does from the beginning to the end.

Rom 3:10-11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Matt 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Isa 28: 10-12 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 tongue will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them 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.

1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Also, the prophecies are NOT plain and easy to understand. Their true meaning is hidden in spiritual language just as I have been pointing out.

Christ is only healing the spiritual vision of His Elect during this age. They are the only ones who are healed of their spiritual blindness like the blind man in Mark 8:21-25.

Christ frequently healed the blind during His earthly ministry. He did this to show what He is going to do for us spiritually someday.

If Christ's truth is not hidden, then why do you suppose there are around 2000 different church denominations in the world? They are places of the blind leading the blind. The truth cannot be understood by them. It takes the healing that comes with the Latter Rain of the Spirit.

Maybe once you can accept this truth, then maybe you can come to see that the Doctrine of Hell is completely unjust and untrue.
Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davy,
I learned what I believe directly from scripture. I have no teachers any longer.

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That statement doesn't prove anything. Keeping to The Word of God as written is what matters, as God's Word is the Measure of all things.

Scripture says that Christ is hidden from all but those whom He has chosen to reveal Himself. The Book of Revelation is the about the "unveiling" of Christ. The carnal mind cannot know Him or His truth. Here are a few verses that show Christ and His truth is HIDDEN.

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And I say your 'reasoning' is bent on these below verses you quote, with you supplying a 'different' meaning to them than what they are actually saying.


Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Solomon above is only giving a comparison of Wisdom to something of great value, like a hidden treasure one finds. It does not mean an occultic idea, which is the meaning you are trying to attach to that.

I'm well aware of the meaning of the word 'occult' (hidden, secret). God's Word is not like that, because His Salvation is offered to ALL. Now the fact that His Word remains hidden to those who refuse to believe does not mean His Truth and Wisdom is actually occultic, or hidden. Like Paul said about Jews that convert to Christ...

2 Cor 3:14-16
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
KJV

What the occult societies are about is esotericism. They rely... on that occult, secret, hidden, type of idea for knowledge, even proclaiming it as a 'hidden knowledge', esoteric knowledge that can only be imparted by one who has been initiated into one of their so-called 'mystery schools' or fraternities. They even try to USE... the examples in The New Testament about the idea of the Elect, applying Christ's choosing of His Apostles as an example of how they apply their elect in their hidden mysteries. I tell you, all that is a hoax, a lie.

A believer on Christ Jesus baptized in His name that shows theirself approved of God through disciplined Bible study and prayer, will be given to understand His Word, and that via The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised His servants. That is what Apostle Paul taught, and that is what Scripture teaches. And none of that is hidden.

Davy said:

That statement doesn't prove anything. Keeping to The Word of God as written is what matters, as God's Word is the Measure of all things.



And I say your 'reasoning' is bent on these below verses you quote, with you supplying a 'different' meaning to them than what they are actually saying.


Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Solomon above is only giving a comparison of Wisdom to something of great value, like a hidden treasure one finds. It does not mean an occultic idea, which is the meaning you are trying to attach to that.

I'm well aware of the meaning of the word 'occult' (hidden, secret). God's Word is not like that, because His Salvation is offered to ALL. Now the fact that His Word remains hidden to those who refuse to believe does not mean His Truth and Wisdom is actually occultic, or hidden. Like Paul said about Jews that convert to Christ...

2 Cor 3:14-16
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
KJV

What the occult societies are about is esotericism. They rely... on that occult, secret, hidden, type of idea for knowledge, even proclaiming it as a 'hidden knowledge', esoteric knowledge that can only be imparted by one who has been initiated into one of their so-called 'mystery schools' or fraternities. They even try to USE... the examples in The New Testament about the idea of the Elect, applying Christ's choosing of His Apostles as an example of how they apply their elect in their hidden mysteries. I tell you, all that is a hoax, a lie.

A believer on Christ Jesus baptized in His name that shows theirself approved of God through disciplined Bible study and prayer, will be given to understand His Word, and that via The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised His servants. That is what Apostle Paul taught, and that is what Scripture teaches. And none of that is hidden.

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Dear Davey,
If God's Word is not written in such a way (spiritual language) to hide its meaning, then why did Christ only teach in parables?

We don't have to guess the reason because scripture tells us:

Matt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Matt 13:10-11 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

The parables' meanings are hidden in spiritual language and that is why the Jews could not understand. Even the apostles could not understand the parables before they received the Latter Rain:

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

In Mark ch. 8, Christ confronted them about their lack of understanding:

Mark 8:15-21 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

The apostles were "called out" to follow Christ but without the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Latter Rain), they simply could not understand.

And Paul said that he speaks in the same manner as Christ did:

1Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The words of Christ are spirit words and they carry a meaning that is different from what "man's wisdom teaches". We learn the meaning of the words by comparing them with how they are used elsewhere in scripture (comparing spiritual with spiritual). Then with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the truth of what is being taught will come to light.

Who besides the Elect can understand? No one.

God has even put "obscurity" in the heart of mankind so that he cannot understand:

Ecc 3:11 He (God) has made everything fitting in its season; However, He has put obscurity in their heart so that the man may NOT find out His work, that which God does, that which God does from the beginning to the end.

Here is one of the easiest example of spiritual language:

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. So if we are to understand it literally, then 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. So is Christ mistaken or is His message something else?

Since His “words are spirit”, His message must be spiritually understood. Christ’s spiritual message is quite different from what He is literally saying.

In Matt 26:52, Christ is using a “symbol” or “type” to give us His spiritual message. Here Christ uses the symbol of a Sword. To understand what that symbol means, we must look at how it is used elsewhere in scripture.

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 edged 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 these examples, it is easy to understand that a Sword represents the Word of God. So Christ’s hidden spiritual point He is making in Mat 26:52 is that all who live (those being “born again”) by the Word of God (Christ), must perish (death of the carnal nature) by the Word of God (Christ).

Water baptism is another symbol which sends the same spiritual message as Matt 26:52. When an individual is baptized in water, the immersion represents the death of our carnal nature (Old Man). The ascension out of the water represents our new birth in Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. This great work of salvation is accomplished by the Word of God (Sword).

Here is another one:

Matt 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

The woman represents carnal mankind but since this parable relates to the Kingdom of Heaven, she more specifically represents those who have be called out and have received the Early Rain. She is still spiritually blind since she has only received the Early Rain. The leaven represents false teachings. The number three represents a spiritual process. The meal represents the truth of Christ. Once the loaf is finished, the "whole" loaf of bread is mixed with false teachings and because they are "hidden" in the loaf, no one who eats this bread realizes that they are being deceived. All Called believers will eat this from this loaf since this is only one pathway we ALL must follow.

Since our salvation is dependent upon us understanding the truth, why does God hide His truth? As I have said, Christ is only saving the First Fruits (Elect) of His harvest in this age. He has chosen them from the foundation of the earth. They are the only ones who Christ allows to understand His word. In the final age, the rest of mankind will have their spiritual blindness healed and then they too will understand and be harvested into the Kingdom of Heaven. That is the order God has decided to save all mankind - the Elect in this present age and then all others in the final age.

If you can't believe what I have stated, then I don't believe presenting you more verses is going to help. You must receive the Latter Rain in order to have "ears" that can understand.

Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davey,
If God's Word is not written in such a way (spiritual language) to hide its meaning, then why did Christ only teach in parables?

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If you'll notice, He gave those parables during His Ministry, BEFORE He was crucified and raised from the dead, and preached to the world by His disciples. Believers on Christ are supposed to understand them. It's the unbeliever they are still a mystery to.

The parables' meanings are hidden in spiritual language and that is why the Jews could not understand. Even the apostles could not understand the parables before they received the Latter Rain:

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

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Once again, there you have in your hand the Matthew 13 Chapter where Jesus 'explained' that parable of the tares to His disciples, and to His Church today. So where's the mystery? It was only at that time when He gave the parable. Now any believer can understand it.

So your supposed secret knowledge idea is just something those you're listening to have you all pumped up about, trying to make you think you're special. That's what the occult secret societies do with pushing their idea of esotericism (i.e., secret knowledge) and their idea of the elect.

Davy said:

If you'll notice, He gave those parables during His Ministry, BEFORE He was crucified and raised from the dead, and preached to the world by His disciples. Believers on Christ are supposed to understand them. It's the unbeliever they are still a mystery to.

Once again, there you have in your hand the Matthew 13 Chapter where Jesus 'explained' that parable of the tares to His disciples, and to His Church today. So where's the mystery? It was only at that time when He gave the parable. Now any believer can understand it.

So your supposed secret knowledge idea is just something those you're listening to have you all pumped up about, trying to make you think you're special. That's what the occult secret societies do with pushing their idea of esotericism (i.e., secret knowledge) and their idea of the elect.

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Dear Davey,
Christ explained the parable of the Wheat and the Tares WITH ANOTHER PARABLE which the apostles still could not understand. Do you understand it?

Here is what it means:

The field is mankind and is symbolized in scripture as the "woman" whom Christ marries and produces
offspring (child of God). In the parable, Christ comes to the woman and plants His seed within her. This is the Early Rain of the Spirit (an earnest amount, a down payment so to speak). At this point, the woman is "with child" (child of God) and is now a "called out believer". Then a short time later, Satan comes to the woman and plants his seed within her, too. But since the new believer is spiritually blind and carnally minded, they have no ability to learn the truth of God and grow the child of God in the womb. But since the woman's carnal nature readily accepts Satan's lies (his stones/leaven), the child of the devil grows to maturity and is born (tares, Man of Sin). If the woman has not been "chosen" by Christ, she will die in her sins as a child of the devil. But in the parable, the believer is "chosen from the foundation of the world" so Christ comes to her a second time (Latter Rain) and destroys the tares by burning them (fire, judgment). After the tares are destroyed, the child of God in the womb grows to maturity by receiving the truth of Christ (bread) and is born (wheat, babe in Christ) and is harvested into the Kingdom of Heaven (barn).

Does this match your understanding of the parable?

Only after a believer receives the Latter Rain of the Spirit (which is what the apostles received on the Day of Pentecost in the upper room) can they start understanding Christ's spiritual language.

I am not special but I am blessed. Someday, all mankind will be able to understand the hidden truth of God. Christ hides His truth now because He is only saving those whom He has chosen from the foundation of the world. Everyone else will be saved at the end of the harvest season. The Elect are called First Fruits because they are not the only ones harvested, they are only "first". If Christ didn't hide His truth from this world, then His plan of saving the world would not have worked. Paul even said that if His truth was not hidden, the Jews would not have even crucified Christ (which was part of the plan):

1Cor 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davey,
Christ explained the parable of the Wheat and the Tares WITH ANOTHER PARABLE which the apostles still could not understand. Do you understand it?

Here is what it means:

The field is mankind and is symbolized in scripture as the "woman" whom Christ marries and produces
offspring (child of God). In the parable, Christ comes to the woman and plants His seed within her. This is the Early Rain of the Spirit (an earnest amount, a down payment so to speak).
....

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That is Occult b..s., almost right out of books by Dan Brown who wrote The Da Vinci Code.

You need to go back to your hooded adepts and tell them Lord Jesus Christ is coming.

Davy said:

That is Occult b..s., almost right out of books by Dan Brown who wrote The Da Vinci Code.

You need to go back to your hooded adepts and tell them Lord Jesus Christ is coming.

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Dear Davy,
I don't know why you think I am associated with an occult group. I am not associated with any group or teachers, nor do I try to "recruit" people into any church. All I do is try to help God's Elect who Christ has made ready to receive His Latter Rain and His truth.

Christ makes them ready by preparing their hearts:

Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

If Christ has prepared their hearts, then they will respond to His call:

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Mystery Babylon the Great is the religious aspect of our carnal nature. It is within us. It manifests itself in the world in the churches. When Christ is ready for one of His Elect to "come out of her", He comes to them and gives them the Latter Rain of His Spirit. This event is also called the Baptism of the Spirit. After receiving this baptism, their religious carnal nature is destroyed and they then start consuming the true bread from Heaven (Truth). At this time, they are "born again" as a babe in Christ and begin the maturing process on the narrow path.

Since you don't understand the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, then it is obvious that Christ's teachings are still "hidden" from you. But your blindness is not forever. It will be healed in "due time" and then you, too will come to the knowledge of the truth:

1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in DUE TIME.

Here in lies the patience of the saints: We must wait on the Lord to act.

Joe

FaithWillDo said:

Dear Davy,
I don't know why you think I am associated with an occult group. I am not associated with any group or teachers, nor do I try to "recruit" people into any church. All I do is try to help God's Elect who Christ has made ready to receive His Latter Rain and His truth.

Christ makes them ready by preparing their hearts:

Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

If Christ has prepared their hearts, then they will respond to His call:

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Mystery Babylon the Great is the religious aspect of our carnal nature. It is within us. It manifests itself in the world in the churches. When Christ is ready for one of His Elect to "come out of her", He comes to them and gives them the Latter Rain of His Spirit. This event is also called the Baptism of the Spirit. After receiving this baptism, their religious carnal nature is destroyed and they then start consuming the true bread from Heaven (Truth). At this time, they are "born again" as a babe in Christ and begin the maturing process on the narrow path.

Since you don't understand the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, then it is obvious that Christ's teachings are still "hidden" from you. But your blindness is not forever. It will be healed in "due time" and then you, too will come to the knowledge of the truth:

1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in DUE TIME.

Here in lies the patience of the saints: We must wait on the Lord to act.

Joe

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Just keep making false assumptions about me to try and discredit. It will be only to your own demise, as most people are sharp enough to know when someone uses slander to discredit.

In my younger years, way younger years, before I came to Christ, I studied a lot of the New Age thinking that's in your explanations of Scripture. (Yes, the New Age system uses The Bible at times to push their occultic ideas.)

As for Lord Jesus' parable of the tares of the field, HE EXPLAINED IT. It's what the Matthew 13:36-43 verses are about, and the "field" is symbolic of "the world", not a 'woman', nor 'the woman'.

Davy said:

Just keep making false assumptions about me to try and discredit. It will be only to your own demise, as most people are sharp enough to know when someone uses slander to discredit.

In my younger years, way younger years, before I came to Christ, I studied a lot of the New Age thinking that's in your explanations of Scripture. (Yes, the New Age system uses The Bible at times to push their occultic ideas.)

As for Lord Jesus' parable of the tares of the field, HE EXPLAINED IT. It's what the Matthew 13:36-43 verses are about, and the "field" is symbolic of "the world", not a 'woman', nor 'the woman'.

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Dear Davy,
I did not make an assumption about your understanding. You did not agree with the correct meaning of the parable, therefore you do not understand it.

Also, Christ explained the parable with ANOTHER parable as I stated earlier. The "field" is the "world" and the "world" is a symbol for mankind who is represented in other scriptures as the "woman". The "woman" (carnal mankind) is who gives birth to the child of God. She is the wife of Christ:

Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Here is a parable that uses the symbol "woman":

Matt 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Do you understand this parable?

The "leaven" is the false teachings of Satan which are "hidden" in the loaf of bread that masquerades as the true bread from Heaven (truth of Christ). We all eat this bread after we are first "called out" since we are all spiritually blind and cannot know the truth. Satan is a master deceiver and He does his job well. Shortly after a believer eats this bread, they "fall away" back to works and spiritually die. The "deadly head wound" by the sword that Christ delivered to our OLD MAN is healed and the OLD MAN lives on. For that reason, in Rev: 13:3, one of the heads on the seven headed beast (represents carnal mankind) is shown to still be alive:

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Those with the deadly head wound are "called out" Christians who have eaten the leavened bread and have grown into a "tare" (child of Satan, Man of Sin).

See how scripture is like a jigsaw puzzle that comes to us in pieces that have to be assembled in order to see the truth? Christ wrote His truth in this manner so that it will stay hidden from all but those He has chosen to reveal it and He even spoke His truth in "another tongue" (spiritual language):

Isa 28: 10-12 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 tongue will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them 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.

His Word is presented to us this way so that carnal mankind will not understand it and because of that lack of understanding, Satan can easily deceive us, which causes us to "fall backward (fall away) and be broken (spiritually die).

Back to the parables: All the parables that start with "the Kingdom of Heaven is like" are teaching an aspect of the pathway that leads to salvation. Every aspect He teaches is spiritual in nature and they happen "within" an individual person. But since God is not a "respecter of persons", everyone must travel the same pathway and experience the same things. However, ONLY the Elect finish the pathway in this age. Everyone else must wait to finish the pathway in the final age. But the steps are the same, only the timing of when a person finishes the pathway is different.

Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The above verse is likewise speaking of the pathway to salvation. We don't just "live by bread alone" but by everything that comes out of the mouth of God. We all experience the "tares" plus all the other negative aspects of the pathway to salvation. We are all spiritually blind after receiving the Early Rain, we are all deceived by Satan who masquerades as Christ and we all become a "worse creature" (Man of Sin). We all "sleep at midnight" with a deadly head wound and we all experience Daniel's abomination of desolation.

When Christ comes to us with the Latter Rain, He comes as a thief to destroy the Man of Sin. But from that destruction, we are "born again" as a child of God. Only then are we saved. Unless you can understand the pathway to salvation, you cannot understand the "Kingdom of Heaven" parables. Their meaning is truly hidden.

Joe