Continuing: In the previous post we discussed those killing others sent by God to correct their straying and bring them back to Him. As we saw in ending the post, the vials poured out, written of in the latter chapters of Revelation, vindicate the message of these martyrs, as blood poured out in witness to their truth. We saw the response of these men being plagued and scourged by the LORD’s correction, rather than accept the correction they vilify this work of His Holy Spirit and refuse to repent while continuing their blasphemy.
This brings up one of many major departures from truth found in the interpretations of the false prophets in our time. The book of Revelation has the theme of departure and correction; the destruction resulting from a continued fall into the bottomless pit of confusion (Babylon) and the LORD correcting and reconciling those who will receive it. Revelation 15 thru 19 speak of the testimony that accomplishes this correction, ends the confusion, and this process produces the final reconciliation of man to God.
Revelation 15 begins by telling of the seven last plagues, and in them is found the wrath of God. The Greek word rendered here “plagues” is plege, meaning a stroke, or a wound; from the word plesso, meaning to pound flat; both words from the root plasso, meaning to mold, shape or fabricate, and translated – form.
In this one word we are faced with the first choice in understanding; how would the LORD have us understand this? Should we define it by its worst, or by His correct best?
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
The word plasso is only used twice in the word of God and both times it is used to tell of God forming man in creating him. We know [because we listen and understand] this creation process is ongoing and not complete until we have been fully formed in the image and likeness of God.
The first use of plasso is in Romans 9:20 speaking to those questioning and disputing the LORD’s methods of shaping what He has and is creating. It tells of those He hardens and those He chooses to have mercy upon. This is what we also see in Revelation when we are told of those who make the choice not to repent, and continually harden themselves in their confusion and its resulting blasphemy. They refuse to accept what is written in Romans 9 telling of all being guilty: they think themselves righteous, because they compare themselves to other men, when they should be listening to the LORD and comparing themselves to his standard.
Romans 9
18 Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.
19 You will say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?
21 Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Revelation 15 tells of those who have gotten the victory over the beast that still exists (that was, is not, and yet is). We saw is the previous post this beast is the corrupted and disfigured governments of church and state, and the victorious are the elect remnant who have overcome its defiled ideas and its works of confusion (the mark in their head and their hand). We see these elect standing on the sea claimed as smooth as glass by their receiving the clarity of thought offered to all by the LORD. The mingled fire tells of the fires still burning in the world caused by the confused and corrupted reasoning those in control choose to retain.
These elect sing the songs of Moses and the song of the Lamb, and pronounce their agreement with the LORD God Almighty as His judgments are manifested. In the following verses we see the testimony revealed as what is in the vials then given to the angels by the Holy Spirit, seen here as one of the four beasts we are told of in Revelation 4:6. There in context we are first told of the sea of glass being before the throne of God. In the final verse of Revelation 15 we see the purpose being to chase (smoke) the vermin out of God’s house as it is filled by smoke from the glory (presence) of God.
Revelation 15
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
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.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, LORD God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear you, O LORD, and glorify your name? for you only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest.
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Revelation 16 then tells of the plagues poured out of these vials, and (again) we are told in verse 6 this is the wrath of God being poured out validating and vindicating the testimony of the martyrs, poured upon those who have killed them for their testimony. As we discussed in the previous post, these are those the LORD speaks to and of in Matthew 23 when he says the blood of all those killed by the corrupted religious leaders for faithfully delivering God’s correction, will “be required” of this generation. We saw the word here translated “be required” is the Greek word ekzeteo, meaning diligently investigate, and thereby we understand the vials as being truth poured out that exposes these misleaders, their false doctrines, and their violence and blasphemy in covering and protecting their errors/sins. We see it in Revelation 16 as their waters (words) turned to death; in this we see the contrast of the life offered by the LORD’s correction, and it rejected and vilified by what is now seen as unclean spirits coming from their mouths.
Revelation 16
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O LORD, which are, and was, and shall be, because you have judged thus.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, LORD God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
This is what I know: I know many hear this message and are coming out from among the confusion. I just as surely know the message is being rejected and vilified, and this is occurring to its most extreme at the highest ranks of the most established orders of church and national governments. Those accepting correction have become as if they never strayed from the Father. Those rejecting it will by choice go the axiomatic way of Pharaoh and Esau.
The following is where the LORD directed me in starting this discussion. It is to Acts 22 where Paul describes his former state while he was protecting what the LORD said was ended. He tells of his persecuting the true church, at that time seemingly merely a disjointed band of zealots following a thought to be dead leader. It tells of his seeing the light, and of being forgiven. I offer this as the example of what the LORD will do with those allowing themselves to be reformed, and of His mercy which endures forever.
Acts 22
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me?
8 And I answered, Who are you, LORD? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the LORD said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For you shall be his witness unto all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now why tarry you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the LORD.
2 Peter 3
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses [martus – martyrs], let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speak unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
6 For whom the LORD loves he corrects, and scourges [mastigoo, from mastix, also translated as plague] every son whom he receives.
7 If you endure correcting, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father corrects not?
8 But if you be without correction, whereof all are partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days correct us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no correction for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard demanded that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But you are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
