Old and New Testaments-Two Witnesses.

 

A short recap-

 

The Two Witnesses.--During this time of 1260 years the witnesses are in a state of sackcloth, or obscurity, and God gives them power to endure and maintain their testimony through that dark and dismal period. But who or what are these witnesses?

 

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

 

Evident allusion is here made to Zechariah 4: 11-14, where it is implied that the two olive trees are taken to represent the word of God.

 

Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

 

David testifies, "The entrance of Thy words giveth light;" and, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119: 130, 105.

 

Written testimony is stronger than oral. Jesus declared of the Old Testament Scriptures, "They are they which testify of Me." John 5: 39.

 

Says George Croly: "The 'Two Witnesses' are the Old and New Testaments. . . . The essential purpose of the Scriptures is to give witness to the mercy and verity of God. Our Lord commands, 'Search the Scriptures, . . . they are they which testify [bear witness] of Me.' This was addressed to the Jews, and described the character and office of the Old Testament. The New Testament is similarly pronounced the giver of testimony. 'This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.' (Matthew 24: 14.)" [1]

 

These declarations and considerations are sufficient to sustain the conclusion that the Old and New Testaments are Christ's two witnesses.

(End short recap)

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Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed

 

 

To hurt the word of God is to oppose, corrupt, or pervert its testimony, and turn people away from it. Against those who do this work, fire proceedeth out of their mouth to devour them, that is, judgment of fire is pronounced in that word against such. It declares that they will have their punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. (Malachi 4: 1; Revelation 20: 15; 22: 18, 19.)

 

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

 

Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

 

In what sense have these witnesses power to shut heaven, turn waters to blood, and bring plagues on the earth? Elijah shut heaven so that it did not rain for three years and a half, but he did by the word of the Lord. Moses by the word of the Lord turned the waters of Egypt to blood. Just as these judgments, recorded in their testimony, have been fulfilled, so will every threatening and judgment pronounced by them against any people surely be accomplished.

 

"As often as they will" means that as often as judgments are recorded on their pages to take place, so often they will come to pass. An instance of this the world is yet to experience in the infliction of the seven last plagues.

 

 

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

 

"When they shall have finished their testimony," that is, "in sackcloth." the sackcloth state ended, or as elsewhere expressed the days of persecution were shortened (Matthew 24: 22), before the period itself expired. "A 'beast' in prophecy, denotes a kingdom, or power. (See Daniel 7: 17, 23.) The question now arises, When did the sackcloth state of the witnesses close?

 

And did such a kingdom as described make war on them at the time spoken of?

 

If we are correct in fixing upon A.D. 583 as the time of the commencement of the sackcloth state, forty-two months being the 1260 prophetic days, or years, would bring us down to A.D. 1798.

 

About this time, then, did such a kingdom as described appear, and make war on them, etc.?

 

Mark! this beast, or kingdom, is out of the bottomless pit--no foundation--an atheistical power--'spiritually Egypt.' (See Exodus 5: 2: 'Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.') Here is atheism. Did any kingdom, about 1798 manifest the same spirit?--Yes, France; she denied the being of God in her national capacity, and made war on the 'Monarchy of heaven.' " [2]

 

"In the year 1793, . . . the gospel was, by a solemn act of the Legislature and the people abolished in France. The indignities offered to the actual copies of the Bible were unimportant after this; their life in their doctrines, and the extinction of the doctrines is the extinction of the Bible. By the decree of the French Government, declaring that the nation acknowledged no God, the Old and New Testaments were slain throughout the limits of Republican France. But contumelies to the Sacred Books could not have been wanting, in the general plunder of every place of worship. In Lyons they were dragged at the tail of an ass in a procession through the streets. . . .

 

"On the 1st of November, 1793, Gobet, with the Republican priests of Paris, had thrown off the gown, and abjured Religion. On the 11th, a 'Grand Festival,' dedicated to 'Reason and Truth,' was celebrated in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which had been desecrated, and been named 'the Temple of Reason;' a pyramid was erected in the center of the Church, surmounted by a temple, inscribed 'To philosophy.' The torch of 'Truth' was on the altar of 'Reason' spreading light, etc. The National Convention and all the authorities attended at this burlesque and insulting ceremony." [3]

 

*1793 marked a year that could have been prevented, a period that should never have befallen the liberated citizens of France. Mirabeau warned that the destruction of the Monarchy would plunge the country into anarchy and his words rang true. France was not prepared for such social and political upheaval, and the resulting shift towards a republic would change the country forever. The Jacobins discarded their holy bible, the constitution, in order to ensure the security and stability of the country. Not only did their hasty actions backfire, but the tens of thousands of lives that perished during their reign symbolized the radical stage of the revolution in all its bloody glory.

 

http://www.studyworld.com/newsite/reportessay/History/European%5CThe_Radical_Stage_of_the_French_Revolution_(1792-1793)-32644.htm

*

http://books.google.com/books?id=iaspAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=gobet+1793&source=bl&ots=wkJPJoghJr&sig=Rq4KgBFQPBgiEJ2GI4MHywZIT94&hl=en&ei=KUe0SvveLsn7tgft6dGxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=gobet%201793&f=false

 

*

Spiritual Sodom.--" 'Spiritually' this power 'is called Sodom.' What was the characteristic sin of Sodom? Licentiousness. Did France have this character? She did; fornication was established by law during the period spoken of. 'Spiritually' the place was 'where our Lord was crucified.' Was this true in France? It was, in more senses than one. First, in 1572 a plot was laid in France to destroy all the pious Huguenots; and in one night, fifty thousand of them were murdered in cold blood, and the streets of Paris literally ran with blood. Thus our Lord was 'spiritually crucified' in His members. Again, the watch-word and motto of the French Infidels was, 'CRUSH THE WRETCH,' meaning Christ. Thus it may be truly said, 'where our Lord was crucified.' The very spirit of the bottomless pit' was poured out in that wicked nation.

 

"But did France 'make war' on the Bible? She did; and in 1793 a decree passed the French Assembly forbidding the Bible, and under that decree the Bibles were gathered and burned, and every possible mark of contempt heaped upon them, and all institutions of the Bible abolished; the Sabbath was blotted out, and every tenth day substituted for mirth and profanity. Baptism and the communion were abolished. The being of God was denied; and death pronounced to be an eternal sleep. The Goddess of Reason was set up, in the person of a vile woman, and publicly worshiped. Surely here is a power that exactly answers the prophecy." [4] This point will be further developed in the comments on the next verse.

 

*

http://books.google.com/books?id=IwUZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=French+Assembly+forbidding+the+Bible&source=bl&ots=_xPhhO-3Fk&sig=2nlHyT14I1POihZuFYgAevwmh0c&hl=en&ei=oUe0SrjMF9m_tgeO_dDADg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=French%20Assembly%20forbidding%20the%20Bible&f=false

 

THE COUNCIL OF TARRAGONA - 1234 A.D. The Council of Tarragona of 1234, in its second canon,

ruled that: "No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned...." - D. Lortsch, Historie de la Bible en France, 1910, p.14.

 

*

Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

 

 

"The language of this verse denotes the feelings of other nations than the one committing the outrage on the witnesses. They would see what war infidel France had made on the Bible, but would not be led nationally to engage in the wicked work, nor suffer the murdered witnesses to be buried, or put out of sight among themselves, though they lay dead three days and a half, that is, three years and a half, in France. No; this very attempt of France served to arouse Christians everywhere to put forth a new exertion in behalf of the Bible, as we shall presently see." [5]

 

 

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

 

"This denotes the joy those felt who hated the Bible, or were tormented by it. Great was the joy of infidels everywhere for awhile. But 'the triumphing of the wicked is short;' so was it in France, for their war on the Bible and Christianity had well-nigh swallowed them all up. They set out to destroy Christ's 'two witnesses,' but they filled France with blood and horror, so that they were horror-struck at the result of their wicked deeds, and were glad to remove their impious hands from the Bible." [6]

 

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

 

 

Witnesses Restored.--"In 1793, the decree passed the French Assembly suppressing the Bible. Just three years after, a resolution was introduced into the Assembly going to supersede the decree, and giving toleration to the Scriptures. That resolution lay on the table six months, when it was taken up, and passed without a dissenting vote. Thus, in just three years and a half, the witnesses 'stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which saw them.' Nothing but the appalling results of the rejection of the Bible could have induced France to take her hands off these witnesses." [7]

 

"On the 17th of June, Camille Jourdan, in the 'Council of Five Hundred,' brought up the memorable report on the 'Revision of the laws relative to religious worship.' It consisted of a number of propositions, abolishing alike the Republican restrictions on Popish worship, and the Popish restrictions on Protestant.

"1. That all citizens might buy or hire edifices for the free exercise of religious worship.

"2. That all congregations might assemble by the sound of bells.

"3. That no test or promise of any sort unrequired from other citizens should be required of the ministers of those congregations.

"4. That any individual attempting to impede, or in any way interrupt the public worship should be fined, up to 500 livres, and not less than 50; and that if the interruption proceeded form the constituted authorities, such authorities should be fined double the sum.

"5. That entrance to assemblies for the purpose of religious worship should be free for all citizens.

"6. That all other laws concerning religious worship should be repealed.

 

"Those regulations, in comprehending the whole state of worship of France, were, in fact, a peculiar boon to Protestantism. Popery was already in sight of full restoration. But Protestantism, crushed under the burthen of the laws of Louis XIV, and unsupported by the popular belief, required the direct support of the state to 'stand on its feet.' The Report of the Church; the old prohibitions to hold public worship, to possess places of worship, to have ingress, etc.

 

"From that period the Church has been free in France. . . .

"The Church and the Bible had been slain in France from November, 1793 till June, 1797. The three years and a half were expended, and the Bible, so long and so sternly repressed before, was placed in honor, and was openly the book of free Protestantism!" [8]

 

 

Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

 

" 'Ascended up to heaven.'--To understand this expressions, see Daniel 4: 22: 'Thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven.' Here we see that the expression signifies great exaltation. Have the Scriptures attained to such a state of exaltation as here indicated, since France made war upon them?--They have.

 

 

 Shortly after, the British Bible Society was organized [1804]; then followed the American Bible Society [1816]; and these, with their almost innumerable auxiliaries, are scattering the Bible everywhere." [9] Before 1804 the Bible had been printed and circulated in fifty languages.

 

"Up to the end of December, 1942, the Bible in whole or in part has been translated into 1,058 languages and dialects."

 

No other book approaches the Bible in inexpensiveness and the number of copies circulated. The American bible Society reported having printed and circulated, in whole, or in part, 7,696,739 portions in 1940; 8,096,069, in 1941; and 6,254,642, in 1942. The British and Foreign Bible Society reported for the year ending in the middle of 1941 a circulation of 11,017,334 copies; and in 1942, 7,120,000 copies.

 

A conservative estimate places the number of Bibles printed annually by commercial houses at six million. Hence the annual output of Bibles and portions has reached the enormous total of from twenty-five to thirty million copies a year.

 

From its organization up to and including 1942, the American Bible Society had issued 321,951,266 copies; and the British and Foreign Bible Society up to March, 1942, had issued 539,664,024 copies, making a total of 861,600,000 copies put out by these two societies alone. The American Bible Society said in May, 1940: "It is that nine tenths of the 2,000,000,000 people in the world might now, if they turned to the Bible, hear it read in a language they understand." The Bible is exalted as above all price, as, next to His Son, the most invaluable blessing of God to man, and as the glorious testimony concerning that son. Yes; the Scriptures may truly be said to be exalted "to heaven in a cloud," a cloud being an emblem of heavenly elevation.

*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books

 

Bible [1] Traditional Christian view: Revelation or Inspiration by God[2] to various authors Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic 70 BC- 105 AD,  Further information: dating of the Bible 2.5 billion[3] to more than 6 billion[4]

*******

 

Rev 11:13  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Rev 11:14  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

 

 

"What city? (See Revelation 17: 18: 'The woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings [kingdoms] of the earth.') That city is the papal Roman power. France is one of the ' ten horns' that gave 'their power and strength unto the [papal] beast;' or is one of the ten kingdoms that arose out of the Western Empire of Rome, as indicated by the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image, Daniel's ten-horned beast [Daniel 7: 24], and John's ten-horned dragon. [Revelation 12: 3.] France, then, was 'a tenth part of the city,' and was one of the strongest ministers of papal vengeance; but in this revolution it 'fell,' and with it fell the last civil messenger of papal fury. 'And in the earthquake were slain of men [margin, names of men] seven thousand.' France made war, in here revolution of 1798 [1789] and onward, on all titles and nobility. . . . 'And the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.' Their God-dishonoring and Heaven-defying work filled France with such scenes of blood, carnage, and horror, as made even the infidels themselves to tremble, and stand aghast; and the 'remnant' that escaped the horrors of that hour 'gave glory to God--not willingly, but the God of heaven caused this 'wrath of man to praise Him,' by giving all the world to see that those who make war on heaven make graves for themselves; thus glory redounded to God by the very means that wicked men employed to tarnish that glory." [10]

 

*******

SO MUCH TO STUDY!  SO MUCH TO LEARN!  SO MUCH TO UNDERSTAND AND ALL BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

In His love! We need to study this more and tomorrow we're going to go over it again, I need to.

All in His love, in HIS righteousness now and forever!

 

Amen!

 

Faith Does Not Rest On Evidence.

 

1889 Sermon #2 on Righteousness- Continued.

By A.T. Jones

 

Now, Romans 5:6-8-10,

 

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.   (((Praise God!!!!!!!))))

 

Christ died for you because you are ungodly, and he died for the ungodly, and you can be counted righteous right now if you will believe it.

 

Christ's death reconciled the world unto God but it never saved any or ever can. His death met the penalty of the law, but we are saved by Christ's life.

 

Read Romans 4:25.

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

By his death then we have reconciliation, by his life justification, and by the second coming we have salvation--all these being necessary to complete the plan of salvation.

 

The law of God shows a man to be ungodly--and as by the law is the knowledge of sin which is ungodliness (we will call it now sin). So turn to Prov. 28:13

Pro 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 

 

 (mercy being treating one better than he deserves).

 

Remember, believe this fully; our habit has been to confess our sins and then doubt the forgiveness and carry them all away with us, obtaining no peace because we doubted.

 

"God never appointed us to wrath."-1 Thess. 5:9.

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ

 

He shows the laws to save us from them,

the knowledge of them being a token of his love, that there is Jesus to take them all from us.

 

He calls us to obtain salvation.

 

So do not take the knowledge of your sins as a token of his wrath. "Whoso confesses his sins shall be saved."--Rom. 4:6-7.

 

Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 

Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 

 

Now 1 John 1:9, 5:17, "If we confess our sins he will forgive and cleanse us from all our sins."

 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 

 

Believe this fully and go free.

 

How many go to the soul confessing and never believe they are forgiven?

 

To believe part of the word and not all is infidelity. "Man shall live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord."

 

To confess a sin and not believe in its forgiveness is infidelity.

 

Don't wait for feeling--that has nothing to do with faith.

 

How can anyone know how he ought to feel when sins are forgiven? If you trust to feeling you are like a wave of the sea tossed by the winds to and fro. Often revivalists tell mourners how he felt when he was forgiven, and they try to feel as he did and fail, as no two can ever feel just alike and so no one can tell if converted.

 

Faith does not rest on evidence.

 

If it rests on the reasonableness of a thing, it rests on reason and not faith. If it rests on the confidence we have in the person, and that person contradicts himself, then where is faith? If one says, I will do some great thing, and I believe him; if he comes again and says something that uproots all he previously said, what am I to do? Now let me prove this: Abraham was justified by faith and it was counted to him for righteousness. Read the account of it, Gen. 15:5 and onward.

 

Gen 15:5  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 

Gen 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

Sometime after that Isaac was born and growing up Abraham was told to offer him up, directly against the promise. Where did his faith come in? By believing the promise independent of appearances.

 

That was faith furnishing its own evidence. Abraham believed it until all came right because God had promised it would. Now turn to Romans 4:16-22;

 

Rom 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Rom 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 

Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 

Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 

Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 

Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 

 

 Abraham against hope believed in hope, his faith furnishing the hope, confidence and evidence.

 

Never let our feelings, then, have any control over our faith.

 

Feelings belong to Satan. Relegate them to him. "The just shall live by faith." Brethren, let us live that way.

 

When we believe it puts Christ in place of the sin and when Satan comes to attack us he finds only Christ, and then we have the victory over Satan, not delivering us from temptation, but giving us power to conquer temptation, and gaining the victory so that particular temptation never comes again. We are conquerors there forever. If you want feeling about this, praise the Lord because he ever pardons your sin and because you believe his promise, and there will be feeling enough within you to be satisfactory.

 

Look for God, and he will put a song in your mouth. Now, do you believe my opening text, that we are justified freely. Often we sin and feel so ashamed and bad over it we wait a few days to get a little better before we go to the Lord for forgiveness. We try to make ourselves good first. There is a tendency in every soul to this. That is justification by works the same as fasting or punishing oneself first. This is the root of monkery and all the penances in the Catholic church. Then, if we do not want to be papists, let us quit. We have done no better, but the sin has lost the horror before us, and we are better in our own eyes, and then confess only our surface sin, so the Holy Spirit shows us again the sin that was covered up. Now the only way to get rid of it is to confess it at once, because the Lord shows us a sin just as it is, and right then, so that he can forgive it fully and completely.

 

When we try to catch up our sin by doing better, we are putting on more and more of the filthy rags spoken of by Isaiah, which is our own righteousness. Let us read Revelation 3:11-18. Let us trust the Lord and believe his promises.

 

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

Believe!

 

1889 Sermon #2 on Righteousness,

By A.T. Jones 

The subject is how to obtain that righteousness of which we read yesterday, the righteousness of God which only will avail. 

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Rom. 3:24, justified means accounted righteous.

How? Freely. By what means? Grace. What is grace? Favor.

Let us ever believe this text, holding fast to it forever. In regard to grace we read Romans 11:6, 

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 

which means we are justified freely by his grace without works otherwise it is not grace. 

Another reference, Ephesians 2:8-9-5. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Now turn to Romans 4:4 with Romans 11:6. 

Rom 4:4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 

You see then why if it be our works it is no more of grace. If we have to work to obtain grace, then we bring the Lord in debt to us, and if he does not pay he does us injustice. To pay is not a favor, it is paying a debt. We are accounted righteous freely by his grace and that not of works. 

I read now Romans 9:1-2. 

Rom 9:1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 

Rom 9:2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 

Rom 9:3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 

Rom 9:4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises

Abraham was the father of all them that believe--the spiritual father. Can we expect to receive more than he did? If he was justified by works, he gloried in himself. Now put Romans 9:2 with 1  Corinthians 1:27-31.

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 

1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

The Lord has arranged it that all should glorify him and not themselves because to glorify a sinner, a rebel, would not be proper for a government, allowing them to come back in harmony with it glorifying themselves.

All the woes in the world came through Satan attempting to glorify himself. "I will be like the Most High."

To allow a sinner then to glorify himself would force pardon being extended to Satan, also. 

Now, Christ is made unto us righteousness and sanctification, and we glory in Christ and not ourselves. If we believe on him our faith is counted to us for righteousness. But can the Lord justify the ungodly? Yes, Christ came to justify sinners, so read carefully this verse, Romans 4:5. 

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

The first thing then to learn is that we are ungodly and confess it, and God will count him righteous. 

The Lord cannot justify and save any who cannot see their true condition. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine that need no repentance. The Saviour came not to call righteous but sinners to repentance, then none but sinners will be saved. Now Romans 4:16, "therefore it is of faith." Why? That it might be by grace, "to the end that it may be sure."

Rom 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all

Faith is the easiest and most natural thing in the world. There is nothing wonderful about faith, as some think, and say "I try to believe and if I can't then how can I." But we can believe God with the same faculties we believe others. Don't try to believe--quit it--and believe. 

We either believe or don't believe--then why not believe? Believe as a child, don't reason it out. Faith goes in advance of reason, knowledge and all else.

At school the teacher pointed out a letter and told us "That is A," and that is all the evidence we have of it. We believed it; now let us receive the kingdom of heaven as we did when a child the words of your teacher. 

If we reason on faith we can never believe, because to reason faith is unreasonable because the effort of reason always produces doubt.

It begins and ends with a "how." Because faith is the simplest and easiest thing for all, God put his salvation in the surest place, that we might have it and know that he has it.

To Be Continued....  by the grace of God!!! All through HIS amazing LOVE! All glory to God!

Keeping

 

Read.

Hear.

Keep.

 

We read, we understand, but do we keep?

 

I don't know about most people, I can only speak from my own personal experience, but I don't remember a lot of the stuff I was made to learn in school. Remember having test after test, after test on so many different things? History, science, math, geography, and so on.  We remember being taught to read and write, don't we? And we've been able to keep this knowledge. We remember our basic math and basic science. We also have a rudimentary knowledge of history, geography and such. Do we have the details though? I remember at one point learning all the state capitols, today, I don't remember them. I remember being taught basic algebra and such, I have difficulty with recalling that. Do I know the periodic table I was told to memorize? No. This knowledge, and a lot of the knowledge I was given has gone into the dark, dark recess of my mind- I didn't keep the knowledge I let it slip away.  I didn't use the knowledge and through lack of use it was allowed to disappear.

 

A lot of us have a basic knowledge of the Bible, but beyond the basics do we know details? Do we really seek the truth of prophecies or are we content to take fanciful theories not based on a thorough exegetically study of the Word of God? Do we listen to our church teachers, our leaders and neglect combing through history books not connected to our religion? Do we take history and then the word of God and align them as God reveals? 

I know I take a lot from learned scholars, but in doing so I have also gone to the history books myself. I have gone to the library- and not just online, this was even before online existed (I'm old), and studied from texts of history to prove what I was reading wasn't the word of man storytelling to fit their own agendas.  These Biblical scholars have delved deeply into history and it shows in their work.  Each of us is accountable for the truth we are given by the Holy Spirit, we can only pray we are not deceived, pray fervently not to be duped by those seemingly God-fearing men and women that are in truth the servants of Satan- deceived themselves.

 

I need to keep reading, hearing and studying all this so I may- KEEP it as I am told to do by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

God help us all!

 

Continuing with our studies of Revelation-- 

 

Rev 10:8  And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

 

The voice from heaven which told John not to write what the seven thunders uttered, spoke again. He told Him to take the little book which is opened in the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and earth. John is taking something from an angel, very interesting.

 

Rev 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

Rev 10:11  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

 

The little book is open. Was there ever a little book closed?

 

Daniel {12:9} And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

 

Now a little book is opened.

 

John is to take this little open book and eat it. Eat it? Who eats books? Seriously? If I devour a book I'm reading it with enthusiasm. We've discussed this before recently, the book of Daniel- a book of prophecy was to be sealed to the time of the end. Now here in Revelation John is being given prophecy and in this particular prophecy he is shown an amazing angel who has this little open book and he's instructed to eat it. After eating it his belly would be bitter even though the book tasted sweet.

 

In the 1800's there was a religious revival that was unprecedented, as the book of Daniel and Revelation were studied and enlightenment seemed to descend upon people. History fit together with the prophecies and this particular prophecy in Daniel talked of 2300 days. The end of that 2300 day would be in 1844. So people began to believe that Christ would return then. They believed it so thoroughly their lives revolved around the predicted second coming of Christ- it was sweet, so sweet to have such understanding! Then when Christ didn't come as they believed the bitterness was vile in their bellies. There was more to be done. This was the beginning of the end so to speak. There had to be more prophesying, a lot more, and where were John's thoughts directed?

 

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

 

The temple of God! The wonder of the Sanctuary and its services. If after 2300 years the Sanctuary was to be cleansed and that didn't mean Christ's returning it surely meant something momentous.

 

A study of the Sanctuary services revealed the typified day of Atonement, the day the Sanctuary was CLEANSED. The High Priest had to enter the Most Holy Place, a place so sacred it was only entered once a year on this day. So in heaven it's safe to believe that Christ entered in the Most Holy Place, the most sacred of places to finish the cleansing. Once that cleansing is complete then Christ will return again- we live in that cleansing time.

 

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Again I'm going to defer to the Book of Daniel and Revelation for a more intellectual explanation of things.

 

(Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith) --

 

By this message, our attention has been called to the temple above, and through it the light and truth on this subject has come out. Thus we measure the temple and the altar, or the ministration connected with the temple, the work and the position of our great High Priest; and we measure the worshipers with that part of the rod which relates to character, the ten commandments.

 

"The court which is without the temple leave out." This must be interpreted to mean that the attention of the church is now directed to the inner temple and the service there. Matters pertaining to the court are of less consequence now. It is given to the Gentiles. That the court refers to this earth is proved thus: The court is the place where the victims were slain whose blood was to be ministered in the sanctuary. The antitypical victim must die in the antitypical court, and He died on Calvary in Judea. The Gentiles being thus introduced, the attention of the prophet is directed to the great feature of Gentile apostasy, the treading down of the holy city forty and two months during that time. Thus we are carried back into the past by an easy and natural transition, and our attention is called to a new series of events.

 

Verse 3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The period of "a thousand two hundred and three score days" is variously referred to in the Scriptures. It appears in three forms:

As 1260 days in this verse and Revelation 12: 6.

As 42 months in Revelation 11: 2 and 13: 5.

As 3 1/2 times in Daniel 7: 25 and 12: 7, and Revelation 12: 14.

 

These all refer to the same period and can be easily be calculated. A time is a year, as is evident from Daniel 11: 13, marginal reading. A year has twelve months, and a Biblical month contains thirty days. Thus we have the following:

1 year of 12 months at 30 days - - - - 360 days

3 1/2 years, or times, of 360 days - - - - 1260 days

42 months of 30 days - - - - - - - - 1260 days

 

A year made up of 12 months will be readily conceded, but that the month has 30 days needs perhaps to be demonstrated. This can readily be seen by referring to the record of the flood in Genesis 7 and 8. There we learn the following:

 

1. That the flood came on the seventeenth day of the second month. (Genesis 7: 11.)

2. That the waters subsided on the seventeenth day of the seventh month. (Genesis 8: 4.)

3. That the flood continued for five months--from the second to the seventh month.

Reference to Genesis 7: 24 reveals the fact that "the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days." Our calculation showed five months. This text mentions 150 days; hence we have five months equaling 150 days, or 30 days to a month.

Thus we have a definite measure for calculating the prophetic periods, bearing in mind that in prophecy a day is equal to a year of ordinary time.

 

The Two Witnesses.--During this time of 1260 years the witnesses are in a state of sackcloth, or obscurity, and God gives them power to endure and maintain their testimony through that dark and dismal period. But who or what are these witnesses?

 

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

 

Evident allusion is here made to Zechariah 4: 11-14, where it is implied that the two olive trees are taken to represent the word of God.

 

Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

 

David testifies, "The entrance of Thy words giveth light;" and, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119: 130, 105.

 

Written testimony is stronger than oral. Jesus declared of the Old Testament Scriptures, "They are they which testify of Me." John 5: 39.

 

Says George Croly: "The 'Two Witnesses' are the Old and New Testaments. . . . The essential purpose of the Scriptures is to give witness to the mercy and verity of God. Our Lord commands, 'Search the Scriptures, . . . they are they which testify [bear witness] of Me.' This was addressed to the Jews, and described the character and office of the Old Testament. The New Testament is similarly pronounced the giver of testimony. 'This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.' (Matthew 24: 14.)" [1]

 

These declarations and considerations are sufficient to sustain the conclusion that the Old and New Testaments are Christ's two witnesses.

*******

IT MAKES SENSE!  So many are now looking for two men to come to earth and make their stand on behalf of God-  we've seen it in movies, we've read it in books -Left Behind and others. People are allowing themselves to be deceived so they will be waiting for things that will NEVER happen and as long as they are waiting for those things they are not fully prepared for the coming of our Lord and Savior! Deception comes in so many forms, I pray to God we are NOT deceived! That we are prepared for our Lord's return!  We don't want to watch the deceptions come to pass to further the deceiving, do we? We want to hold fast to the truth even when everything around us is caught up in deception. Being in the minority, seemingly standing alone when all around us are deceived this is the fate of many of God's people throughout Biblical history- please, Lord, if we must seemingly stand alone let us remember that YOU are always with us, always!

 

All through Your grace- may we continue our study tomorrow. Help us to read, hear and keep!

 

 

 

Another Mighty Angel.

 

Continuing…The seventh seal was opened- seven angels were given seven trumpets and the last study had the sixth of those seven angels with trumpets sounding his trumpet. We pick up here in this very deep, study of prophecy and history with yet another angel appearing during the sixth angel with the trumpet sounding… (picking up from previous studies- we need to study over and over never allowing ourselves to forget the truth revealed. Remember we are to READ, to KNOW-understand, and KEEP the things in the Book of Revelation. Do we keep them? To do so we must read and know them first, and truthfully it is so easy to forget even after we read and believe we know. In forgetting we no longer keep what we've learned. God help us all only to ever know HIS truth in all things!)

 

Rev 10:1  And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

Rev 10:2  And he had in his hand a little book open...

 

Here John's vision of the angel with the sixth trumpet is interrupted.

 

He sees another angel. Why the interruption? The last angel sounded the sixth trumpet and set about telling of the second woe. Could it be perhaps because even while the woe is occurring other things are happening as well?

 

 Think about it. Right now there are men and women overseas fighting in wars, some of us know some of those over there, or we know of others who have loved ones over there. What do you think their lives consist of? Anything but the normalcy which we know, in which we live. They exist in another whole world, a world of war where they have guns in their hands, slung across their backs, in a holster at their hips, in a strap about their leg, in a back pack they wear on their backs. They have weapons of war in their possession and they wield them with the intention of shooting another human being should they be attacked by them. They are fighting to uphold principles of freedom that the others don't seem to have. The war is ongoing and has been for several years now. Think about it, really think about what is going on right now in a place that we are not. We are sitting at our computers reading/writing this in the comforts of our own home, in our own town, in our own city, in our own state, in our own country and we aren't wielding weapons of warfare. Two different worlds and it's the same in all time. While wars are being waged there is also another existence for those who send their loved ones off to war while remaining home. Rarely is there war everywhere in fact most likely never. When a war is started it's for a purpose, whether or not that purpose is achieved, it is started for a reason. Perhaps to conquer, but there is no guarantee to being the conqueror, you could be the one conquered in the battle.

 

Anyway, the point that I'm trying to make here is that while wars go on they don't go on simultaneously everywhere so there is an existence that doesn't have the war going on and I believe that when this angel comes down from heaven after the angel with the sixth trumpet sounds and tells of the second woe, it's not necessarily a continuation of time because that would mean the seventh angel should sound. It isn't the seventh angel with the seventh trumpet but rather a completely different angel and we'd do well to pay attention what messages are given to us by this angelic interlude.

 

This mighty angel comes down from heaven and is clothed with a cloud and a rainbow rests upon his head, what an image this evokes. His face is as the sun, his feet as pillars of fire.

If ever an angel was grand in appearance this angel all but demands notice.

 

We are concerned with symbols and the symbolic references here are what? Clothed with a cloud and rainbow on his head. A reminder of God's past dealings with humans? The rainbow was given as a symbol that God would never flood the entire earth again in a way that would kill almost all living things, it was a sign, a covenant with God and His people. His face as the sun- brilliantly bright, illuminated with the most powerful luminary in the skies. Feet as pillars of fire, a pillar of fire led God's people at night when Moses was guiding them through God out of captivity into the land of freedom. Clearly this angel is bringing a powerful message from God, enlightenment, powerful enlightenment.

 

Rev 10:2  ... and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth

 

Symbolically in prophecy the sea can represent a place of many people, just as the earth can represent a place without so many people. It's possible the angel's stance is such that this messenger is going to give the message to all.

 

Rev 10:3  And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Rev 10:4  And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

 

What a mighty cry! Yet just what his cry -was- isn't mentioned. His cry  precedes the voices of seven thunders to sound. Seven Angels, Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Thunders- and yet whatever messages the Seven Thunders have to give to us we can't know, it wasn't for us to know or read, or hear, or keep. A voice came from heaven to John and told him to seal up the things the seven thunders uttered and write them not. That the angel who was amazing and glorious in appearance cried out and caused seven thunders to sound a message we weren't to know- tells us what? There are mysteries not meant for us, mysteries we cannot know. What we are being given isn't all there is but it's all we need and we have to trust that God has given us His words in such a way that we aren't completely overwhelmed.

 

Rev 10:5  And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

Rev 10:6  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who CREATED HEAVEN, AND THE THINGS THAT THEREIN ARE, AND THE EARTH, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE THEREIN ARE, AND THE SEAS AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE THEREIN, that there should be time no longer

 

Thy will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN. Mat 6:10 

 

For in six days the LORD made HEAVEN and EARTH, the sea, and all that in them is. Exo 20:11

 

Him that liveth forever and ever! The creator of HEAVEN, of EARTH, of the SEA.

For in six days the Lord made HEAVEN and EARTH, and the SEA.

 

The angel swore by the one and the only Creator God, the maker of HEAVEN, of EARTH, of the SEA.

 

This mighty angel cried out - SWEARING by GOD, by our LORD-- for God the Father with God the Son created the heavens, earth, and sea. This angel cried out that THERE BE TIME NO LONGER.  Then this…

 

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

 

The seventh angel HAS YET to sound and yet we are being told ahead of time that when the seventh angel does sound that the mystery of God would be finished.

 

The mystery of God

...

Colossians

{2:1} For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

{2:2} That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the MYSTERY OF GOD, and of the Father, and of Christ;

{2:3} In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

{2:4} And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

{2:5} For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

...

In whom are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Romans

{16:25} Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, which was kept secret since the world began

{16:26} But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith

{16:27} To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Praise God!

 

1 Corinthians

{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

{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

{2:10} But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

{2:11} For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

{2:12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

{2:13} Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

{2:14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them,] because they are spiritually discerned.

{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

***

Praise the Lord!

 

Ephesian

{3:9} And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

{3:10} To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God

{3:11} According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord

{3:12} In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

{3:13} Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

{3:14} For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

{3:15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named

{3:16} That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man

{3:17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

{3:18} May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

{3:19} And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

All Glory to God!

 

To be continued…. By the grace of God!

 

 

Individuality the Eternal Principle.

Excerpt from Individuality In Religion- by A.T. Jones.

 

  'Government exists in the very nature of the existence of intelligent creatures.  For the very term "creature" implies the Creator; and as certainly as any intelligent creature is, he owes to the Creator all that he is.  And, in recognition of this fact, he owes to the Creator honor and devotion supreme.  This, in turn, and in the nature of things, implies subjection and obedience on the part of the creature; and this is the principle of government.

 

 Each intelligent creature owes to the Creator all that he is. 

 

Accordingly, the first principle of government is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." Matt. 22:37

 

 This is pronounced by the Lord to be the first of all the commandments.  It is not the first of all the commandments because it was the first one that was ever given; but simply because it exists in the very nature and existence of every intelligent creature, and so inheres in the nature of things as soon as a single intelligent creature exists.

 

 It is, therefore, the first of all the commandments, simply because it is but the expression of the inherent obligation in the first relationship which can possibly exist between creature and Creator. It is the first in the nature, the circumstances, and the existence of created intelligences.

 

 It is the first of all the commandments in the supreme and most absolute sense.  It inheres in the nature and the relationship of the first intelligent creature, and stands as complete in the case of that one alone as though there were millions; and stands as complete in the case of each one in the succession of future millions as in the case of the first intelligent creature, as he stood absolutely alone in the universe.  No expansion, no multiplication of the number of the creatures beyond the original one, can ever in any sense limit the scope or meaning of that first of all commandments.  It stands absolutely alone and eternally complete, as the first obligation of every intelligent creature that can ever be.  AND THIS ETERNAL TRUTH DISTINGUSHES INDIVIDUALITY AS AN ETERNAL PRINCIPLE.

 

 However, just as soon as a second intelligent creature is given existence, an additional relationship exists.  There is now not only the primary and original relationship of each to the Creator, for both owe equally their existence to the Creator, but also an additional and secondary relationship of each to the other.

 

 This secondary relationship is one of absolute equality.  And in the subjection and devotion of each to the Creator, in the first of all possible relationships, each of these honors the other.  Therefore, in the nature of things, in the existence of two intelligent creatures, there inheres the second governmental principle, mutuality of all the subjects as equals.

 

 And this principle is expressed in the second of all the commandments, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matt. 22:39 This is the second of all the commandments, for the like reason that the first is the first of all the commandments: it exists and inheres in the nature of things and of intelligences just as soon as a second intelligent creature exists.  And also, like the first, this is complete and absolute the moment that two intelligent creatures exist, and it never can be expanded nor can it be modified by the existence of the universe full of other intelligent creatures.

 

 Each, himself, alone, in his own individuality, is completely subject and devoted first of all to the Creator; because to Him he owes all.  And in this subjection and devotion to the Creator first of all, each honors every other intelligent creature as his equal: as equally with himself occupying his place in the design of the Creator, and responsible individually and only to the Creator for the fulfillment of that design.  Therefore out of respect to the Creator, to his neighbor, and to himself, he loves his neighbor as himself.  And this second eternal truth, equally with the first distinguishes individuality as an eternal principle.

 

 This is original government.  It is also ultimate government; because these are first principles complete and absolute; and because they eternally inhere in the nature and relationships of intelligent creatures.  And this government, which is at once original and ultimate, is simply self-government—self-government in rationality and in God.  For it is only the plainest, simplest dictate of rationality that the intelligent creature should recognize that to the Creator he owes all; and that, therefore, subjection and honor are the reasonable dues from him to the Creator.  It is likewise a simple dictate of reason that, since his neighbor equally with himself owes all to the Creator, his neighbor must be respected and honored in all this as he himself would desire to be respected and honored in it.

 

 It is also the simple dictate of rationality that, since these have all been created, and in their existence owe all to the Creator, this existence with all its accompaniments in the exercise of abilities and powers should be ever held strictly in accordance with the will and design of the Creator.  Because it is still further the simple dictate of reason that the Creator could never have designed that the existence, the faculties, or the powers of any creature should be exercised contrary to His will or outside of His design.  Therefore it is the simplest, plainest dictate of rationality that this original and ultimate government, which  is self-government, is self-government under God, with God, and in God.  And this is truly the only true self-government.

 

 God has created all intelligences absolutely free.  He made man, equally with other intelligences, to be moral.  Freedom of choice is essential to morals.  To have made an intelligence unable to choose would have been to make it incapable of freedom.  Therefore, He made man, equally with other intelligences, free to choose; and He ever respects that of which He is the Author the freedom of choice.

 

 When, in the exercise of this freedom of choice, an intelligence chooses that his existence, with its consequent faculties and powers, shall be spent strictly subject to the will and within the design of the Creator, and so, indeed, with the Creator and in the Creator, this is in the truest sense strictly and truly self-government.

 

 And when the service, the worship, and the allegiance, of each intelligence is to be rendered entirely upon his own free choice, this reveals on the part of God, the Supreme and true Governor, the principle of government with the consent of the governed.

 

 Thus the divine government as it relates to both the Governor and the governed, the Creator and the creature, is demonstrated as well as revealed to be government of perfect freedom; and of perfect freedom because of perfect individuality.

 

 Through sin man lost his freedom and therefore his individuality.  But in the gift of Christ all was restored.  "He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives." "Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."

 

 Christ Jesus, therefore, came from Heaven unto the world to bring back to man, and to bring man back to, what man had lost.  Individuality was the Creator's supreme gift.  In the fall, this was lost.  In the gift of Christ the day that man sinned, the gift of individuality was restored to man.

 

 In the long ages of sinful and imperial despotism from Cain to Tiberius Caesar, men had been so continually and systematically oppressed that they had been robbed of every vestige of individuality.  Then Christ came into the world in human flesh as man, and through every phase of human experience established the individuality of man upon its own original and eternal basis.  Matt. 25:15. 

 

Mat 25:15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 

 

Therefore, without Christianity in its original and native purity there cannot be true individuality.

 

 But in the interests of despotism the very name of Christianity was perverted.  And through long ages of ecclesiastical imperialistic tyranny men were again systematically robbed of every vestige of individuality.  In the Reformation, God again restored men to Christianity and 'individuality.  But Protestantism hardened in forms and creeds; and every form and denomination of Protestants has denied, and done all that it could to destroy, Christian liberty and individuality.  And now, through denominational, national, international, and world federation and confederation in religion and of religions, again ecclesiastical imperialistic despotism will work with all worldly power, deceiving signs, and lying wonders, systematically to rob man finally of every vestige of individuality.

 

 But Christianity in its supreme gift of individuality, as always before, will now and finally triumph over all.  Rev. I5:2, 3.

 

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 

 

  And Christianity triumphing through individuality, in the nature of the case, does it now as always before only in and through the blessed individual: the individual under God and with God, the individual maintaining in perfect sincerity the Divine Right of Individuality in Religion, and Religious Liberty Complete.

 

 Individuality, bear in mind always: not individualism: for it is distinctly and eternally an "ity"; never an "ism."

 

Note:  ("ism" makes it a practice, a system, a philosophy, "ity" highlights the word it's attached to.)

 

–ism is a suffix added to the end of a word to indicate that the word represents a specific practice, system, or philosophy. Often these practices, systems, or philosophies are political ideologies or artistic movements.

 

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+adding+ism+to+a+word+mean&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS845US845&oq=&aqs=chrome.1.35i39l8.1671401j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

 

 

 

Religious Liberty.

 

Individuality In Religion (Religious Liberty)

A.T. Jones

(Excerpt)

 

 WE have now traced in the Word of God the principle of the divine right of individuality in religion, as that principle is applied and illustrated as relates to autocracy, to government of the supremacy and inflexibility of law, to the union of Church and State, to the church itself, and to individuals.

 Please let no one think that all this is only a series of studies in ancient history, nor yet that it is a study of principles and Scriptures only as such: though on either ground the study would be amply justified.  However, it is nothing of the kind.  It is a study of principles which in one phase or another are fully as alive and active today as ever.  And the day is yet to be, and that not far distant, when the whole series of illustrations covered in these studies will again be all alive and active, and all at once, as truly and to the like purpose as each was in its place and day.

 The day is coming, and it is not far distant, when autocracies, governments of the supremacy and the inflexibility of the law, unions of church and State, and churches as such, will all be standing unitedly, and bent as from one mind, to compel submission and uniformity in religion; and to crush out every suggestion of individuality in religion and every kind of right of it.

 It is particularly in view of what is soon to come that these studies have been published.  All these things written in the Scriptures were set down there by the Spirit of inspiration, not only for the instruction of all people always, but, particularly "for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." 

1Co_10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The mightiest contest, and this upon the grandest scale,  between the forces of evil and the reign of righteousness that this world's experience shall ever know, is yet to be.  This mightiest conflict is to be in the time when the ends of the world are come.  That time is even now at hand.  For this reason these lessons from the inspired record are all-important just now.

 In view of the mighty pressure from all these sources and by all these forces, that is soon to be put on every individual, it is of the greatest importance that each individual shall know for himself, and know by the surest possible evidence-to know by very certitude itself-just what is his place, his responsibility, and his right, individually, in the presence of principalities and powers, and before God and with God.

 While in these studies of the Scriptures we have discussed each case from the point of view that these powers have no right to assert or exercise any authority or jurisdiction in religion, but that the right of individuality in religion is supreme in the presence of all, the other side is equally true and no less important, even if it be not even more important—that it is incumbent on the individual never to allow any other than God to assert authority or jurisdiction in religion without being openly challenged and absolutely ignored: that in true allegiance to God and perfect loyalty to the right, the divine right of individuality, in religion, shall be maintained.  This every individual owes absolutely to God, to the right, and to himself in God and for the right.  This principle each individual must maintain or else prove disloyal to God, to himself as a man before God, and to consent that the wrong shall prevail instead of the right: in other words, to consent that the wrong shall be the right.

 It is true, as the inspired record shows, that autocracy, as illustrated in King Nebuchadnezzar; that government of the supremacy of law, as illustrated in the Medo- Persian power; that the union of church and State, as illustrated in the Jewish church and the Roman power united against Christ; that the church as such, as illustrated in the church of Israel against the disciples of Christ; has no right to assert authority or jurisdiction in religion.  It is equally, and even more emphatically, true, that, to be at all loyal to God and the right, or true to themselves and to their fellow men, the three Hebrew young men, the man Daniel, the Lord Jesus, and the apostles of the Lord, must absolutely disregard every such assertion.  In each case God's dominion was usurped.  In each case the right was being completely thrown over, and the wrong established in its place.  In such a case and at such a time could any who knew God or cared for the right, sit still and do nothing?  Is allegiance to God, nothing?  Is loyalty to the right, never to be known?  Shall the wrong be recognized as having only the right to prevail?  Shall man never be true—neither true to God nor to the right, neither true to himself nor to his fellowman.

 It is true that Nebuchadnezzar was entirely out of his place and did wholly wrong when he attempted to exercise authority in religion; and the story is written to show to all people forever that every autocracy is just as much out of place, and just as far wrong, when it presumes to assert authority in religion.  At the same time it is true, and equally important to remember, that the three Hebrew individuals openly and uncompromisingly disregarded that autocratic assertion of authority in religion.  And the story is written to teach that all other individuals forever must do as did those three individuals, if these too will be true to God, to the right, to themselves, and to their kind.

 It is true that, notwithstanding its principles of supremacy and inflexibility of the law, the Medo-Persian government did wrong when it by its law entered the field of religion; and the story is written to show to all governments and people forever that every government is equally wrong in entering by law the field of religion.  It is equally true, and equally important to remember, that the individual,—Daniel,—did absolutely and uncompromisingly disregard that law; and that the story is written to teach all individuals forever that in all like circumstances they must do as did that individual, if they will honor God and the right and be true to themselves and to their fellowman.

 It is true that the Church of Israel did an enormously wicked thing when she allied herself with the civil power in order to make her will effective; and the story of it is written to show to all the world forever that every church commits the like enormity whenever, under any pretext whatever, she seeks to control the civil power to make her will effective.  It is equally true, and equally important to recognize and remember,, that the One lone Individual Who was the object of this wicked alliance of the church and State, would die under it rather than to yield to it or to recognize it in the slightest degree.  And this is all written, that every other individual to the world's end shall be ready under like circumstances to do as did the Lord Jesus, in order to be true to God, true to the truth, true to himself, and true to the human race.

 It is true that the church of Israel went out of the right way, and did entirely wrong, when she assumed the authority to decide what the members of that church should or should not believe and teach; and the story of it is written to make plain to all churches and people forever, that every church is just as far from the right way, and equally wrong, when she assumes any authority to decide what any member of the church shall or shall not believe and teach.  It is equally true, and just as important to remember, that the individual church members there openly and uncompromisingly refused to recognize any such authority to any extent or in any degree whatever.  And this is written to teach to all church- members forever that they must individually do the like, if they will be true to God, true to Christ, true to the right, true to themselves, and true to mankind.

 The three Hebrew young men did right when they refused to recognize any right of autocracy in religion.  Daniel did right when he refused to recognize any right of civil government of law in religion.  The Lord Jesus did right when he refused to recognize any right of the church through the civil power to make effective her will.  The apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus did right when they refused to recognize any right of the church to decide or to dictate what they should or should not believe and teach.  In each of these cases God openly and in mighty miraculous power made perfectly plain to all that these individuals were right.  By this it is openly demonstrated not only that they were right, but that they were divinely right.  And in each case the story has been written out that all powers and people forever may know that such course is divinely right.  And whosoever will stand with God as did each of these in his place, can know it.

 It is these individuals and such as these, who, in their day and from age to age, have kept alive in the world the honor of God, who have kept alive the right in the world, who have kept alive integrity and true manliness in mankind; yea, it is just these and such as these blessed individuals who have kept the world itself alive.

 It is not autocracies, nor governments of law, nor unions of church and state, nor yet is it even churches as such that have maintained the honor of God, that have held true to the right, and that have preserved the integrity of man.  For all history with one voice testifies that all these have done all that they could to undermine and break down all individuality and integrity of man, to obliterate the right, and to shut out God from his own place in men and in the world.

 No, it is not these, but the blessed INDIVIDUAL with God and in God; it is those who have known and maintained the divine right of individuality in religion; it is the Daniels, the Christ, the Pauls, the Wyckliffes, the Luthers, who have stood alone in the world and in the church, and against both the church and the world—it is THESE, who have maintained the honor of God, who have kept alive the knowledge of God, of the right and of the true, and so have kept alive the world.

 And now, and for the time to come— when there is being pushed forward among the churches and urged upon the world, denominational, national, international, and world FEDERATION in religion and of religion; when all this is aimed expressly to the one end of asserting by autocracies, by governments of the supremacy and inflexibility of law, by churches allied with and in control of civil power, and by churches of themselves; when all these shall work at once and together to the assertion and exercise of absolute authority in religion -in view of all this, just now, as never before, it is essential to know, to proclaim, and to maintain, The Divine Right of Individuality in Religion, and Religious Liberty Complete.