The Last Days, the Quick and the Dead

Continuing: How is something proven true? First of all it has to be seen or heard, then as we’ve recently looked at, comprehended, meaning not merely seen but also understood for what it is. Once truth is realized it must/can be verified through testing (experience/experiment) and the validation can be presented as assurance of the authenticity of the claimed truth.

Hebrews 12:2 uses a unique word as it describes Jesus (Jehovah Deliverer) as the “Finisher” of our faith. The Greek word only used this one time is teleiotes. Remember, this statement comes just before our being told of the Father correcting us as we enter New Jerusalem. The chapter goes on to warn us not to reject the voice we are hearing. In understanding this context we see teleiotes meaning the one perfecting what we believe (our faith) through these after mentioned means.

Here are the Strong’s Greek Dictionary and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon definitions of the word:

Strong’s #5051: teleiotes (pronounced tel-i-o-tace’) from 5048; a completer, i.e. consummater:–finisher.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: teleiōtēs
1) a perfector
2) one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith

Teleiotes is the masculine noun form of the word, and the twice used teleiosis is the feminine: Strong’s #5050: teleiosis (pronounced tel-i’-o-sis) from 5448; (the act) completion, i.e. (of prophecy) verification, or (of expiation) absolution:–perfection, performance.

The use of these words tells us how the word of the LORD spoken through His Holy Spirit is verified. Teleiosis is translated “performance” in Luke 1:45 as Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth and she speaks of the perfected faith that brings what was spoken into being. Mary then responds in verse 46 thru 55 with speaking what has been brought to pass.

Luke 1
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the LORD.
46 And Mary said, “My soul does magnify the LORD,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Deliverer (soter).
48 For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For He that is mighty has done to me great things; and Holy is His Name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
51 He has showed strength with his arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent empty away.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
55 As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

The word is also used in Hebrews 7:11 as the chapter makes plain Christ came as the Author of deliverance because “perfection” couldn’t be accomplished by the Levitical priesthood and the Law. The Luke passage tells us, as does Hebrews 12:2, that the “validation” is of faith comes from hearing, and the proof comes when the Holy Spirit brings to life the mind of God written over ours. It is speaking of giving understanding that validates.

1 John 5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Hebrews 7 ends with telling of Christ perfected by the “word of the oath.” It is speaking of His validation coming in this way, “according to the scriptures,” as the Author with the authority to change the law and the priesthood, and then as Finisher the one who will in the same way reproduce the same effect in perfecting us.

Hebrews 7
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our LORD sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testified, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is truthfully a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and un-profitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The LORD swore and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated (perfected) for evermore.

The “oath” spoken of is defined in verses 17 and 21 when they quote it from Psalms 110:4. The Psalm should be read as coinciding with the words of Mary pasted above from Luke 1:46 – 55.

Psalms 110
1 The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the midst of your enemies.
3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth.
4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The LORD at your right hand shall strike through (scatter) kings in the day of His wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies (corpses – bodies without life); He shall wound (scatter) the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the (His) head (reign).

The “brook in the way” is telling of the same pure water of life flowing directly from the throne God and the Lamb into the street (way), as we are told of in Revelation 22. This is the water that produces what follows. In Psalms 110 we are told of the dead heads ruling over the inhabited world. In verse 7 above and in Revelation 22 we are told of the reign of the LORD, and of His character in the “foreheads” of those perfected in experiencing this validation of their faith. By this comes the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the LORD God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9 Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that hears 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:
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.
20 He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, LORD Jesus.
21 The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

There is another Greek word, dokimazo, used in telling us to “try” the spirits. In 1 John 4:1 we are told to do so because of the many false prophets in the world.

Here is the Strong’s definition of the word: Strong’s #1381: dokimazo (pronounced dok-im-ad’-zo) from 1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:–allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.

1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.
6 We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

In this same sense of validation we need to again look at Galatians 3 and it telling us how our faith comes. The word translated as “bewitched” is the Greek baskaino, meaning to mesmerize by false representation. The chapter goes on to tell of true miracle being ministered by the Spirit and hearing the truth. Remember, this is what we are told in 2 Thessalonians 2 when it speaks of the lying signs and wonders of the wicked. There again we are being told of those who refuse to accept the love of the truth because they are beguiled by the deceptions of those opposing God (His Truth).

Galatians 3
3 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministered to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuls, or adds thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.