What do I think will happen from here? I think the world is doomed, and will not recover. I know the men who lead it will continue to use crisis as an opportunity to further their ascensions to more power and control, as will the preachers to whom popular culture is already listening. In other words, the world is doomed because it’s going to continue doing the same things they have done. Those leading us, using a complicit, ratings driven, news media, are going to continue to incite the world into flames, and why would they alter the course they have with intention taken us on. They are taking us to utopia. Even those that know it’s the road to destruction, ending in mass misery and torment, aren’t doing anything different, waiting to be justified, hoping their same errors will have a different effect.
This is a great mystery, as we see written in 1 Corinthians 15 when in verses 50 thru 52 we are told, “50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
The mystery is hidden is the theme of yesterday: God is the One who solves as He wills and in His time (to edify). The key to understanding is knowing flesh and blood is unable to inherit the kingdom of God. In the context previous post we understand the meaning of the Greek word kleronomia here translated as “inherit.” It is a compound work from kleroo meaning to acquire, and nomos as meaning the law, from the sense of food being distributed, and meaning the governing principles (law) as distributed (measured out). (See yesterday’s post)
In this we see the context of the passage saying the kingdom of God can’t be acquired by the corrupted principles of men, and therefore men must “change” in coming to the uncorrupted. The point is that all must be changed (returned to the LORD, not His returning to us).
This passage goes on to further explain our mortality as the corrupted ways of trying to acquiring utopia by the principles of men, and putting on immortality as doing it in the way of uncorrupted truth. This is the “change” that must happen and which will swallows up death in its victory. It is important to note the passage ends by saying, the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law (nomos); telling us of what couldn’t come through violating the law (of distribution) and the resulting death, is overcome by it (incorruption) coming from the LORD Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.
In fully understand this last verse we must once again look at 2 Thessalonians 3 in the context of the previous post. There we saw it speaking of the way we receive the increase through the LORD further solving the mystery as we work with what He has given us, and always waiting for His time to give us what we need.
From yesterday’s post:
“In this concept (pre-cept) we see the battle must begin with the ideas that led God’s House astray and to do that the lines of communicating God’s word must be reestablished (uncorrupted by men’s errors).
This is the message we see Paul communicating as he continues on into 2 Thessalonians 3. In verse 6 we see the remedy prescribed telling us to separate ourselves from those who refuse to follow the way Paul then defines. It is talking about the idea described over the past few days as the law of distribution of food as it relates to God loosing it (distributing as needed to nourish us – edify) as He decides and for His purposes. This is also telling of the idea of the talents and as we use them (put them to work – ideas into action) the LORD providing the increase (the further solving). (See the post from July 16, titled: “The War Against Death, Feeding the Hungry and Opening the Prison.”)
2 Thessalonians 3
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the LORD is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the LORD touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 And the LORD direct your hearts [reasoning mind] into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our LORD Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now the LORD of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The LORD be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The idea of this not coming through men and only happening as God wills it is also found in the words of the LORD recorded in Matthew 16 as the LORD enlightens Peter. The rock is the same foundation stone (that washes away all the lies – Isaiah 28:16 & 17) we’ve looked at in many recent posts, and the gates of The place of eternal self-inflicted torment will not stand against it. (Again from yesterday’s post: “No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against us in judgment we shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, says the LORD.”
Matthew 16
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona (son of Jonah – equating his confession to being spit (delivered) out to the belly of the whale – grave): for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of The place of eternal self-inflicted torment shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
This takes us back to the closing statements of 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 54 and 55 quoting from Isaiah 25:8, “He will swallow up death in victory,” and Hosea 13:14, “O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction.” These chapters should be read in the context of today’s message.
Isaiah 25
1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things; your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
2 For you have made of a city an heap; of a defensed city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify you, the city of the terrible nations shall fear you.
4 For you have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
5 You shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations (see Isaiah 28:15).
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD to has spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.
11 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swims spreads forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.
12 And the fortress of the high fort of your walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.
Hosea 13
1 When Ephraim [the latter generation of God’s chosen people) spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal (the god of this world, as in the way of men’s rationale), he died.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt, and you shalt know no god but me: for there is no savior beside me.
5 I did know you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9 O Israel, you have destroyed thyself; but in me is your help.
10 I will be your king: where is any other that may save you in all your cities? and your judges of whom you said, Give me a king and princes?
11 I gave you a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Hosea 14
1 O Israel (those chosen to live and rule as God intended), return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods: for in You [LORD] the fatherless finds mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is your fruit found.
9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Psalms 18
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girds (prepares) me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation: and your right hand has held me up, and your gentleness has made me great.
36 You have enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For you have girded me with strength unto the battle: you have subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; and you have made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me.
48 He delivers me from mine enemies: yea, you lift me up above those that rise up against me: you have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto you, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto your name.
50 Great deliverance gives he to his king; and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
