November 2, 2018

Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
The above is recorded in John 20:29 and tells of Thomas finally believing the person He was seeing in the flesh was the risen LORD. It is important to understand the epiphany came when Thomas reached His hand into the body, to experience what was within. We know from earlier verses Thomas reached His hand into the same wound from which we are told in John 19:34 came out blood and water.
John later in 1 John 5:6 thru 8 explains the water and the blood, first as the way the LORD comes and then saying these along with the Holy Spirit are what witness (declare and validate) in the earth. We are also told in John 19 this wounding was done after His death, proving He was dead, meaning the water and the blood showed the body was dead and His Spirit had left it.
John 5 goes on to tells us the greater witness, the witness that is now in heaven with the Father, which comes as His Word is sent to raise us from the dead by the Spirit of the risen LORD, first to us and then in us. We know the water here is the word that flows directly from God, and the blood is the sacrifice necessary to deliver it in the form it is received. The actual accomplishment comes by the Spirit of God working all thing together for the Good of those who love Him.
John 5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son.

He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believeth not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death [which is demonizing and vilifying the work of the Holy Spirit]: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one [those sinning unto death and who perish with and by their own works] touches him not.

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness [on the course to perishing].

And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
The soldiers who pierced the LORD after His death are the foot soldiers of wickedness, which we war against, “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” They have no idea their wounding, their desecration of the dead body, releases the two witnesses before the eyes of those who doubt, and releases what raise them/us from the dead.
John 19

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knows that [what] he says true, that you might believe.
Matthew record what happened at this same moment, which chronologically was with or just after the piercing of His dead body and the blood and water came out.
Matthew 27

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
These events describe in kind what bring Thomas to the point of believing the LORD has come in a flesh body, which he didn’t recognize until he experienced the LORD’s wounds for himself.
John describes the LORD first coming to the disciples and showing them His hands and feet, which we have previously discussed. We understand this represent the work and movement, hindered by these same soldiers nailing (fixing) His hand and feet to the dead wood now teaching from the same carcass they killed. These men are the same trees, twice dead, without any fruit. The disciples see the wounds, understand the meaning, confess the LORD is living, and go on to live, and in life taking up His same cross and carrying it into their own deaths at the hand of the same wicked types.
Galatians 6

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel [His nation/culture, Christian and Jew] of God.

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the LORD Jesus.

Brethren, the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Habakkuk 2

What profits the graven image that the maker thereof has graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trust therein, to make dumb idols?

Woe unto him that says to the [dead] wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Jude

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of his saints,

To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
John 20

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive you the Holy Ghost:

Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Then said he to Thomas, Reach hither your finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.
Thomas here believes when he sees. The LORD says blessed are those who have not seen Him yet believe. This is John referring us back to the LORD’s words in John 14 where he speaks of when we will not see Him (after His death and the death of His body (the church), and then when we will see Him again.
John 14

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And whither I go you know, and the way you know.

Thomas says unto him, LORD, we know not whither you go; and how can we know the way?

Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.

If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth you know him, and have seen him.

Philip sais unto him, LORD, show us the Father, and it suffices us [seeing the Father, in the son, is what makes us compete].

Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?

Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

If you love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.

At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, LORD, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me.

But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence [forward].
This takes us to the Gospel of Thomas, which is God-breathed through him, but because it is hard to understand it has been cast aside. Those who do so conclude Thomas is/was dead (without the LORD’s Spirit), and therefore his words were his own and not worthy of hearing. Of course, the same men don’t conclude that of their own words, which are dead, and have by them produced the death of humanity.
The Gospel of Thomas is a single chapter containing 114 verses (some mini-chapters). I am going to separately post the entire book, while hereafter pasting several verses that enlighten us to things Thomas knew and wrote in a way they can be understood now at this time.
Thomas

Jesus said, “Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me.”

Jesus said, “The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so.

As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves.”
In verse 38 above Thomas (Jesus the risen LORD speaking in him as Jehovah’s Salvation) tells of when the LORD will not be seen nor found, and continues into verse 39 saying it the religious leaders and teachers (Christian and Jew) who have done this.
Being “sly as snakes,” tells us to keep ourselves hidden in/from what has grown from the earth (what these men have wrought), and “as simple as doves” is telling us to be always in peace and looking for the end.

This end is spoken of in earlier verses of Thomas.
Thomas [as always, the bracketed [] portions are my additions]

Jesus said, “I will give you what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has touched, what has not arisen in the human heart.”

The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us, how will our end come?”

Jesus said, “Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. [describing what we know is the end of one age and beginning of the next.]

Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death.”

Jesus said, “Congratulations to the one who came into being before coming into being [before the next age begins].

If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these stones [see Habakkuk 2 above] will serve you.

For there are five trees in Paradise for you [the tree of life spoken of by John in Revelation 22:2, here spoken of as five {grace} trees, both accomplishing the same]; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death.”

The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us what Heaven’s kingdom is like.”

He said to them, “It’s like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.”

Mary [the faithful] said to Jesus, “What are your disciples like?”

He said, “They are like little children living in a field [a world] that is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, ‘Give us back our field [world].’ They take off their clothes in front of them in order to give it back to them, and they return their field to them.

For this reason I say, if the owners of a house know that a thief is coming, they will be on guard before the thief arrives and will not let the thief break into their house (their domain) and steal their possessions.

As for you [the faithful], then, be on guard against the world. Prepare yourselves with great strength, so the robbers can’t find a way to get to you [be sly and simple], for the trouble you expect will come.

Let there be among you a person who understands.

When the crop ripened, he came quickly carrying a sickle and harvested it. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!”
The LORD goes to speak of those He will choose, and now has chosen, which will find Him in the light within a person.
Thomas

Jesus said, “I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one [One body].”

His disciples said, “Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it.”

He said to them, “Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark.”

Jesus said, “Love your friends like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye.”

Jesus said, “You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you don’t see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend’s eye.”

“If you do not fast [abstain and purify] from the world, you will not find the (Father’s) kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath [His interruptions to stop and correct the erroneous words and works] as a Sabbath you will not see the Father.”

Jesus said, “I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty [for God’s sobering word of correction]. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty.

But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine [what has stupefied them], then they will change their ways.”

Jesus said, “If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body [by the LORD speaking from man], that is a marvel of marvels [the end of the mystery].

Yet I marvel at how this great wealth [the LORD’s riches] has come to dwell in this poverty.”

Jesus said, “Where there are three deities, they are divine [they have become complete, One in knowing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]. Where there are two or one, I am with that one [to enlighten them to know the character {identity} of the others].”

Jesus said, “No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don’t cure those who know them.”

Jesus said, “A city built on a high hill and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

Jesus said, “What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops.

After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light.”

Jesus said, “If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole.”

Jesus said, “One can’t enter a strong person’s house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house.”
The above is telling of what we have already seen in the Word of God, and which Thomas later explains in very simple terms.
Thomas

Jesus said, “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him.”

Jesus said, “The (Father’s) kingdom is like a person who had a treasure hidden in his field but did not know it. And [when] he died he left it to his [son]. The son [did] not know about it either. He took over the field and sold it. The buyer went plowing, [discovered] the treasure, and began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished.”

Jesus said, “Let one who has found the world, and has become wealthy, renounce the world.”

Jesus said, “The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death.”

Does not Jesus say, “Those who have found themselves, of them the world is not worthy”?

Jesus said, “[Curse] the flesh that depends on the soul [the mind of man – in agreement with the world]. [Curse] the soul that depends on the flesh.”

His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?”

“It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, the Father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth [as light], and people don’t see it.”
This takes us to Thomas’ description of what is written in John 20 describing when he put his hand in the wound of the LORD, and saw Him as He is. Thomas begins this above in verse 17 as Jesus says He will give him (us) what hand has not touched, and what has not arisen from human reasoning.
Thomas

Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a person who wanted to kill someone powerful. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he killed the powerful one.”
The LORD is speaking of destroying the principalities and power, the ruler of the darkness of this world, the spiritually wicked in high places. While in the house with His disciples he allowed the sword, the word twisted into darkness by man, to be trust into the wall the powerful had built. This wall is described in Matthew 27:51 as the veil of the temple, which was ripped into two. We know this is the veil that kept people from entering the holy of holies and into the presence of God. These ideas, in consort, tell of the place Thomas was shown he “would go in.” This destroyed the powers – their ideas – that had kept him/us out.
Thomas

Jesus said, “Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship is gentle, and you will find rest for yourselves.”

They said to him, “Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you.”

He said to them, “You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not know how to examine the present moment.”

Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.

In the past, however, I did not tell you the things about which you asked me then. Now I am willing to tell them, but you are not seeking them.”

“Don’t give what is holy to dogs, for they might throw them upon the manure pile. Don’t throw pearls to pigs, or they might … it ….” [this is speaking of casting our ideas before those who aren’t seeking truth, answering their question and giving them the opportunity to pervert and twist them into their redefinitions – turning them into the same dung {lies and deception – of the false prophets and fake news report} as they have turned everything else they touch.]

Jesus said, “One who seeks will find, and for one who knocks it will be opened.”

Jesus said, “If you have money, don’t lend it at interest. Rather, give it to someone from whom you won’t get it back.” [speaking of riches {ideas and understanding – truth and light} that come from God.]

Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a woman. She took a little leaven [corruption], hid it in dough, and made it into large [corrupted] loaves of bread. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!”

Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking along a distant road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her along the road. She didn’t know it; she hadn’t noticed a problem. When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it was empty.” [This is speaking of the vessels which held the teaching and ideas into which the corrupt was worked. It has all become empty – void.]
Isaiah 10

For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

For the LORD God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, O my people that dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian [the progressives/communists]: he shall smite you with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against you, after the manner of Egypt [trying to bring you into captivity and under a heavy burden/yoke].

For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Psalms 37

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.