Saturday, January 16, 2010

By not rightly dividing the Kingdom message and the Gospel of the death of Christ some men ignore the true authority of Christ in the Throneroom today

After the Kingdom of Heaven was "rejected by Israel" and postponed (the Church was birthed and Raptured, Great Tribulation takes place for 7 years, and the Millennial reign of Christ begins on the Mount of Olives)...Christ's Kingdom message changed. From that time of Israel's rejection (recorded in the four Gospels)...Christ began to declare to His disciples that He would suffer and go to the cross and die.

Christ himself, the Kingdom message, and Kingdom authority delegated to the disciples by Christ, was not only rejected by Israel but was lost due to the "doubt and unbelief" of the human heart (caused from the Adamic nature). Remember, the authority delegated to the disciples was to heal the sick, cast out devils, and have power over every natural law on planet Earth like Adam had before the Fall. Natural Law is the order of things in the Earth, the universe, and all the elements of tangible Earth contained within. Man's dominion over natural Law (which was delegated by Christ to the disciples) like Adam had before the Fall included; having authority over the animal life, the plant life, atmospheric conditions, and the Earth itself.

During the Kingdom message taught in the four Gospels man was given power over all natural Laws. Natural Law had to obey the disciples who were delgated Kingdom authority during the Kingdom Message to Isreal. Kingdom authority delegated by Christ then is not to be confused with Christ's authority from the Throneroom today in the Church. Throneroom authority from the Church Age is taught in the Epistles. In the Millenial reign of Christ man will again have dominion over tangible Earth. Obviously man today does not have the same dominion over the Earth in this present Church Age! Kingdom authority and not Throneroom authority is why Christ told the disciples they could move (literal) mountains and pluck up (literal)trees. Glory!

Matt 17:20...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;

Luke 17:6...And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Kingdom authority that was delegated by Christ gave man dominion over every natural thing and every natural condition in life. Mountains could be taken out of their place. Trees could be plucked up and cast into the sea! Unfortunately Christ's disciples did not have faith the size of a mustard seed! Here's an example of not having faith the size of a mustard seed. Christ "reproved" His disciples for not utilizing the authority that was given to them to use to spread the Kingdom Message throughout Israel.

Mark 11:23...For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Notice the doubt and unbelief...of the disciples!

Matt 17:20... And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Many times men today read these passages and they get their eyes on the Devil... when actually they should be focusing on human doubt and unbelief that hindered the disciples from using "faith the size of a mustard seed". That's why Jesus "reproved" his disciples who were delegated power and dominion over every tangible thing on Earth.

Matt 10:1...And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power...

Here's another example of Kingdom authority or man's dominion over the natural laws of tangible earth that were delegated by Christ to His disciples. Unfortunately the disciples' lack of faith and doubt smothered out the delegated Kingdom authority, the Kingdom of Heaven message, and the King Himself. Look at this illustration when Peter literally walked on water.

Matt 14:28-31... And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

All this written to say one thing, "The Kingdom message to Israel (not to the Gentiles) was rejected because of Israel's doubt and unbelief. The actual Kingdom of Heaven was postponed until the 1000 year reign of Christ. At that time the Kingdom message to Israel changed to the message of the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ to both Jew and Gentile"...When did it all take place? When Jesus withered the fig tree...literally.

Mark 11:12-23...And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

The withering of the fig tree was a literal withering that pointed to the Judgement of God upon the nation of Israel for rejecting the Kingdom message and the King. The delegated authority of a believer to move mountains was also a literal authority. No spiritulization should be applied to either passage when scriptures are rightly divided!

More to come on the "fig tree" in relation to Christ pronouncing the Judgement of God upon Israel and the postponed Kingdom of Heaven to the Millennial Reign of Christ.

God Bless you all from Rick Roehm!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Israel's backslidden state during the earthly ministry of Christ

Did you ever wonder why Israel "rejected" the Promised Messiah when He came? Think about all the miracles Christ performed? Think about the fulfillment of so many Old Testament prophecies that Israel should have recognized from Old Testament records! Think about John the Baptist who prepared the way for Christ according to the prophets! So many things were prophesied and so many things happened yet Israel still rejected both the King and His message of the Kingdom! Why?

Christ was born under the Law of Moses. Christ was circumcised according to the Law of Moses. Christ lived under Law of Moses. Christ taught the Law of Moses in the Temple and in the synagogues. Even Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" taught the moral righteousness of the Law of Moses to the multitudes. Did some receive? Yes. Did the majority receive? No. Israel's backslidden state hindered the "nation of Israel as a whole" from recognizing the Messiahship of Christ. That is the reason why Christ taught in His sermon on the mount that Israel's righteousness was to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.

Matt 5:20...For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Israel as a whole nation was living in a backslidden state. Israel was not keeping the Law of Moses. Their backslidden state pointed to the fact that Israel had made the commandment of God (the authority of the Torah) of none affect by their traditions. Jesus said in Matthew...

Matt 15:6-9...Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

This traditional teaching of men (Israel's interpretation of the Torah) was the teachings of the Babylonian Talmud that had crept into Israel from Israel's Babylonian captivity in 600 BC. This Talmudic teaching had caused Israel to deviate from the true authority of the Torah which contained 613 Laws and Commandments given to Israel to keep them holy.The Law of Moses kept Israel busy recognizing the God of Israel... and prevented them from drifting into pagan and heathen religions. The Law of Moses ministered holiness to the hearts and lives of Israel as a chosen nation separate from all Gentile nations. The holiness of heart and conduct taught from the Law and Commandments would cause Israel to recognize the fact that Christ was the promised Messiah recorded in their Holy Scriptures. Jesus told Israel if they would have believed Moses they would have believed in Him for Moses in his law taught of Christ.

John 5:46-47...For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:39...Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

The holiness that Israel was to have according to the Law of Moses allowed Israel to focus on the Promised Messiah which was foretold in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Luke 24:24-49 These holy writings birthed by the Jewish nation all pointed to Christ the Promised Messiah. Jesus during His Earthly ministry taught the moral holiness of the Law in all His messages. Jesus told Israel to have faith in His Messiahship... but also to do as Moses commanded. Israel lacked faith which caused them to lack obedience to the Law of Moses. Note how Jesus told the leper that he healed to do as Moses commanded...for a testimony to Israel.

Matt 8:3-4...And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus made another statement about Israel keeping the Law when He reproved the Pharisees for their religious works in the public.

Matt 23:3... All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

The backslidden state of Israel is a reason why Israel as a complete nation rejected John the Baptist, the 12 disciples, and the 70 disciples Christ sent 2 by 2. Israel rejected the King and His message of the Kingdom during the earthly ministry of Christ that lasted about 2 1/2 years. Through Israel's rejection, Old Testament Prophecies continued to be fulfilled. 18 prophecies said Israel would reject the Messiahship of Christ. No prophesies in the Bible say Israel would accept Him as the promised Messiah.

From Israel's rejection of the King and the Kingdom... both the prophecies of the crucifixion of Christ and His Earthly reign in the Kingdom of Heaven are fulfilled or to be fulfilled after the Rapture of the Church. Remember, because of Israel's rejection...God's promise of the Earthly Kingdom was postponed until the 1000 year reign of our Lord where " all" of Israel will accept the Messiahship of Christ. Notice what John's Revelation said about "Thrones", and those who will reign with Christ for 1000 years.

Rev 20:4-6... And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years

All the Raptured saints (members of the Church, the body of Christ) will return with Christ and step down to the Mount of Olives after the Great Tribulation (which by the way is a Jewish Tribulation prophesied in the Old Testament).

Zech 14:4-5...And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

At that time after the seven year Tribulation... all of Israel will "accept" Christ at the beginning of this 1000 year reign. No more backslidden state for Israel. The Law will flow from Zion. No more Jewish captivities. No more deviation from the truth about God's holiness. All of Israel will have a holy heart at this time. All the Raptured saints will have a holy heart at this time. Holiness will be the only standard on Earth where Christ will physically be seated on the Throne of His father David in Jerusalem. The holy King our Christ, the holy members of the Church (Raptured Saints). and the holy nation of Israel (Tribulation saints) which will then begin in Jerusalem....is where Christ will reign for 1000 years with all His saints.

1 Thess 3:13...To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

This early Kingdom promised from the foundation of the world will spread throughout the whole earth for the 1000 year period. In the beginning it's not a universal Kingdom but will spread during the 1000 year reign. The reason the 1000 year reign of Christ was never mentioned in the Old Testament but only in John's Revelation is because Israel had a chance to receive the Kingdom of Heaven before Christ went to Calvary. Unfortunately because of Israel's backslidden state from keeping the Law... the Kingdom and the King were both rejected! This Message of the Kingdom (a simultaneous message of both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven preached to Israel) was the central theme recorded in the four Gospels. Also remember this return of Our Lord is return with the Church where Christ comes back in Divine Judgment to purify an bless His chosen people Israel! The goat nations are Egypt who also help Israel in the Great Tribulation! All this was God's plan from the foundation of the world!

Matt 25:31-34...When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

I'm glad Christ went to Calvary and is now exalted in the Throneroom! We now have the Church the body of Christ! We now have the ministry of the Spirit instead if the ministry of the Law! We now have God's Divine Grace which is a greater blessing than the Law given to Israel only. We now have a greater holiness than the holiness of the Law that Israel backslid from. It's called the Grace of God. Glory! The beautiful Grace Covenant! The Grace of God that produces a greater holiness than the holiness of the Law because the Holy Spirit minsters to our hearts. Remember the Holy Spirit had not been given during the earthly ministry because Christ had not been glorified. John 7:39. We today have a greater blessing than the the Law of Moses and it's the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the body of Christ (present tense). Glory! No man could keep the law of Moses but any man can keep Christ in the heart through faith in the Grace of God. Glory! I'm getting blessed just thinking about the splendor of God's Divine Grace! When we get out of the Kingdom message to Israel and get into the Gospel message to the Jew and Gentile we get the to great power of God's Divine Grace. God's Grace Age is where He keeps the Holy Spirit present in our lives! I truly like what the Grace of God teaches today as a result of Christ's death, burial, and exaltation! Glory!

Titus 2:11-14...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The "promised land" in Israel is where Christ and the Raptured saints will step down to and re-establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

In the Garden of Eden Heaven was on Earth and man had dominion over every animal, every plant, and natural law. It was a perfect earth and man lived in perfect harmony with God. The Kingdom of Heaven didn't need to be restored until Adam violated the Law of God and lost his dominion over the Earth. In order to restore this perfect Kingdom of Heaven the Old Testament teaches that the land of Israel was first promised to the Hebrew nation. God gave the land of Canaan to the Hebrew nation...not to the Gentile! Abraham was the father of the Hebrew nation. Gen. 14:13. Here is God's promise of the land to Abraham.

• Gen 15:7...And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

• Gen 15:18...In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Gentiles today are heirs to this promise because of Christ the seed of Abraham. But before Christ died, the Gentile had no claim to this land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God only promised this land to Abraham because Adam had lost the original Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Now, God was going to restore the land and use the Hebrew nation as His vehicle to restore such Kingdom! God is the builder of the Kingdom...not man! God's promise of the land to Abraham to restore His Kingdom was 430 years before the Law of Moses was given to Israel on Mount Sinai. The Bible calls this land of Canaan a good land that flowed with milk and honey.

• Lev 20:24...But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.

Deut 1:8...Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

• Ex 6:4...And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers

The above verses are not to be spiritualized or taught in a sense that we in the Church today (Jews and Gentile) are Spiritual Israel! If the above verses are misapplied to the Church today Israel is robbed of its promises and the student of God's Word has a misconception of what the Bible actually teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven! False teachings have caused much confusion in the religious world and have plagued the truth of God's Word for hundreds of centuries!

Israel was the inheritor of the land of Canaan! The Law of Moses was given to Israel prior to inheriting or possessing this land. In fact, Abraham recieved the Promise of the land 430 years before the Law of Moses was given on Mt. Sinai. Then it was another 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness before they entered Canaan to possess the land!

Deut 11:7-12...But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did. Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

When Spiritual Israel is taken out of the picture verses like the following will not be overlooked!Here's an unusual passage concerning this promised land given to Israel. In the Law of Moses we read the following words...

• Ex 20:12...Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

The promised land was promised to Israel never to the Gentiles. The promised land was honored in the commandments and all of Isreal was aware of such teaching. What would the Gentile world know about such teaching? The language of the Old Testament records also speak of the land in Israel sinning. In Deuteronomy 24:1-4 we see an illustration of Israel's violation to God’s law which in turn causes the land to sin:

Deut 24:1-4… When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

This expression of the land sinning is found many times in the Old Testament records. For example, “thou shalt not cause the land to sin” or “their land was filled with sin… Jeremiah 51:5” which meant Israel had violated the Law of Moses. For that very reason, Israel also had to be in perfect obedience to the Law of God in order to have peace in their land with other nations.

• Lev 26:3-6….If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

To stop neighboring nations from rebelling against Israel and to cause Israel's crops to prosper God required perfect obedience to the Law of Moses.

• Josh 1:7-8…Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success

Notice the language, Israel was instructed to walk in His statutes, keep the commandments, and do them! Israel had to obey all the commandments in order to prosper and be successful. It’s important to understand that Israel's obedience to God under the Law brought prosperity, and Israel could not prosper unless they obeyed "all the commandments". There are 613 laws in the Law of Moses, and they had to obey "all the laws" to prosper. Unfortunately because of the Adamic nature Israel was not able to keep Divine Law...therefore without obedience to the Law of God Israel could not recognize Christ as the promised Messiah.

If Israel would have kept the Law of Moses they would have "accepted" Christ when He came the first time. If Israel would have kept the Law of Moses they would have prospered and had success according to Josh. 1:7. If Israel would have kept the Law they would have had peace with the all the surrounding nations. No more Wars! No more captivities! No more being scattered! No more curse! They would be blessed among all nations!

Many prophecies say that Israel would reject Christ. There are no prophecies that say Israel would accept Him! If Israel would have kept the Law they would have accepted the Kingdom message preached by John the Baptist and the King before Christ went to the Cross. The Kingdom of Heaven would have been restored on Earth in the promised land and Christ would be ruling right now from the Throne of His father David in Jerusalem! In the promised land where God will bring the latter rains upon Israel's crops the Kingdom of Heaven will be restored first, in Jerusalem. In that promised and restored Kingdom the land will once again flow with milk and honey like it did in the Garden of Eden! There are (2) Kingdoms taught within this message...

Both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven were presented to Israel simultaneously. The simple reason for this is that both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven were to be restored by Christ. Christ brings the Kingdom of God (to restore the divine nature), and Christ brings the Kingdom of Heaven (to restore Heaven on Earth). Neither Kingdom is the work of man! Neither Kingdom is the effort of mans intellect, nor the effort of mans will, nor the effort of some physical ceremony man goes through. Both Kingdoms are strictly, the work of God.

It is important to understand that until Jesus Christ comes back, the earth will never be ruled by the righteous. Nor will man have dominion over all the Earth like Adam had in the Garden until that earthly reign. Only when Jesus returns with all the saints to reign on earth will God and his saints enjoy this peaceable Kingdom as it was in the Garden of Eden.

Zech 14:4-5…And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

• 1 Thess 3:13…To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints

Only then will the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of our Christ and our God when He reigns on the earth.

• Rev 11:15…And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, Brother Lindsey's Kingdom series teaching, and a determination to help people to recognize the truth of the Holy Scriptures "without" spiritualization, this writer attempts to rightly divide and teach others to rightly divide the Holy Scripture. God bless you all!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Enlightenment, Divine Revelation, and Binding and Loosing...without spiritualization

In the Kingdom Age during the ministry of our Lord many men in Israel were undecided on the fact that Christ was the son of God. Certain men were saying that he was John the Baptist; some said he was Elias; and some said he was Jeremiah. (All three mentioned were men recognized as Prophets of God.) The disciples however were questioned directly by Christ as He asked them, “But who say ye that I am?” Peter answered as he recognized the fact that Christ was more than a Prophet. Peter recognized that Christ was… the son of the living God.

• Matt 16:16…And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Peter had a Divine Revelation from God concerning the deity of Christ. In response Jesus made an unusual statement in Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock I will build my Church”. The subject of the Church was never spoken of by the Prophets in the Old Testament however; Jesus foretold of the Church …in Matthew 16:18. Jesus likewise stated He would be the builder of that Church.

• Matt 16:18…That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;

The rock…the Church would be built upon was not Peter as the system of Roman Catholicism proclaims. The rock the Church is built upon is actually the person of Christ. Christ foreknew His own death and foretold that He would build His Church. New Testament Scriptures later prove the mystery of the Church was birthed through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Peter’s revelation of Christ came through enlightenment from God. Enlightenment to Christ gave Peter understanding of the will of God in the Kingdom Age. The Revelation of Christ was revealed to the heart of Peter, directly from the Father and not by flesh and blood. Peter’s acknowledgement of Christ did not come from his own… natural understanding.

• Matt 16:17…for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

In that period of time where the Kingdom message was presented to Israel, Peter understood the Messiahship of Christ and the promised Kingdom on earth. Christ thus stated in Matthew 16:19,

• Matt 16:19…And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven

In other words Christ gave Peter Kingdom authority on Earth as all men will have in the future Kingdom of Heaven. Peter had a Divine nature and a revelation of the Messiahship of Christ in his heart. Christ would never turn His Kingdom on earth over to the rule of people who do not have a divine nature. This prompted Christ to say,

• Matt 16:19…and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Peter had received Kingdom authority on Earth. Binding and loosing relates to mans authority in the Kingdom of Heaven. Divine Revelation gives man discernment between right and wrong; and good and evil. Binding and loosing is mans power to discern these things in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the future Kingdom of Heaven man will be in perfect harmony with God. Binding and loosing will be necessary in that Kingdom however; it’s not to be misinterpreted in this present Church Age. All saints in the Kingdom of Heaven will have power to declare things to be bound or loosed on Earth as they fully understand the will of God. Man will have heavenly knowledge and understand what’s lawful and unlawful on Earth as it is in Heaven. Earth at that time will be like Heaven. In the Kingdom of Heaven when God restores the earth and Christ reigns as King. Man will once again have dominion over the earth like Adam had before the fall. Remember, man was created in the image of God. When man receives the power to bind and loose in the Kingdom Age…it will also fulfill prophecy,

• Mal 3:18…Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

The Kingdom message and the Kingdom Age were taught in Matthew’s Gospel however; that message changed in the latter part of Christ’s Earthly ministry. The Church was foretold by Christ in Matthew 16:18. Why? The message of the Kingdom of Heaven which came through John the Baptist, Christ, the twelve disciples, and the seventy was the plan of God for Israel’s Kingdom on earth. Tragically, Israel rejected the Kingdom message and the King himself. Because of Israel’s rejection the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth was postponed until the 1000 year reign of Our Lord.

Matthew 16:21 unfolds another mystery of the Church as Jesus charged his disciples to tell no man from that time forth that He was the Christ. The Kingdom message to restore Israel was halted in the plan of God at that point time. Why? Israel’s rejection and unbelief caused the Kingdom message to cease through fulfillment of prophecy; and the actual Kingdom of Heaven on Earth was postponed until return of our Lord in the 1000 year reign. Jesus foreknew the Church and the beginning of a new Age as He told the disciples from that time on… that He would suffer, die, and be resurrected from the grave on the third day.

• Matt 16:20-21…Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

In the latter part of the Lord’s ministry scriptures indicate Peter’s understanding of Christ’s death was very limited. In one breath Peter acknowledged Christ as the Messiah; in another breath Peter could not fathom the fact that Christ had to suffer, die, and rise from the grave as prophesied. Peter was limited in knowledge of what the Prophets taught concerning Christ’s death and resurrection. Peter ignorantly rebuked Christ because he lacked understanding concerning how Christ would suffer, die, and be resurrected on the third day.

• Matt 16:22…Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

In Matthew 16:22 Peter was talking from his own understanding instead of Divine Revelation. Peter had Kingdom faith; not New Testament faith as we have today. Peter’s understanding at that time was based on what the Prophets said about the Kingdom and restoration for Israel. Peter’s knowledge was limited on what the Prophets said about the death burial and resurrection of Christ.

Human reasoning and natural understanding caused Peter’s disbelief. Peter was talking like a natural man and no longer from Divine Revelation. Jesus rebuked Peter for this cause,

• Matt 16:23…and He said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

After the death and resurrection of Christ, Divine revelation came to Peter through the truth of the Gospel according to the Prophets. The Church was birthed under the Grace Dispensation as the Law was done away with. The promised Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost and enlightened the hearts of believers with a Divine revelation of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Peter’s understanding of Christ changed. Peter’s understanding changed from Kingdom revelation… to revelation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by Grace. Peter’s Epistles beautifully express his enlightenment to this Divine revelation… after the death of Christ in the Church Age.

In this present Church Age, through the truth of the Gospel the Holy Spirit continues to reveal the same person of Christ …in suffering, death, and exaltation. Divine revelation given by the Spirit of God continues today upon those who receive the truth of the Gospel message according to the Prophets. The person of Christ is revealed to the hearts of men through the blessing of the Church, the body of Christ. When people receive the person of Christ they become members of His spiritual body. Confession is thus made because of salvation in the human soul. Upon this very rock…Christ presently builds His Church from the Throneroom. This Church, the body of Christ revealed to men through the Gospel message is what Christ foretold in Matthew 16:18.

In conclusion Christ foretold that He would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) Christ now seated upon His Throne in Heaven became the head of the Church and all believers in this Grace Age became members of His spiritual body. (Col. 1:18) Christ presently adds to the Church daily. (Acts 2:47) Christ from His Throne gives gifts unto men to govern local Churches. (Eph. 4:11) Christ sets men in authority to oversee the local churches. (1 Cor.12:28) The mystery of the Church that Christ purchased with His own blood is now revealed in all the New Testament writings. (Acts 20:28)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The object of Kingdom authority...Israel. The object of Throneroom authority...the Church.

The Bible must be rightly divided to see the difference between the Kingdom message given to Israel and the Gospel message given to the Church, the body of Christ today.

In the four Gospels we see the parables being taught. In the Epistles we never see the parables being taught or even mentioned. During the Earthly ministry of Christ we take note that Christ and His disciples preached the Kingdom of Heaven message. In the Epistles we only see the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection being preached. In the four Gospels the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are the object toward Israel. In the Epistles the mysteries of the Church are the object toward both Jew and Gentile.

So, why such a vast distinction? Why the law of Moses before the death of Christ? Why the Grace of God after the death of Christ? Why Israel? Why the Church? Here is a for instance...

During Christ's Earthly ministry He delgated authority to his disciples.

Matt 10:11... And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

These disciples were given authority by Christ...but why? They were given authority by Christ to "spread" the Kingdom of Heaven message throughout all Israel. To declare the Messiahship of Christ and establish His Kingdom on Earth. This Christ given authority would show God preparing His people for a complete restoration on planet Earth as prophesied in the Old Testament. But Israel as a complete nation "rejected" this Kingdom message and the King. Even the disciples doubted the Messiahship of Christ because of the Adamic nature. So what happened? The Kingdom of Heaven was postponed until Israel as a nation would accept the Messiahship of Christ and His Kingdom on Earth. This event will take place in the 1000 year reign of our Lord after the Rapture of the Church. Christ's parables simply showed the rejection of Israel toward the King and Israel's rejection of the message of Christ's Earthly Kingdom that was promised to be restored in Jerusalem. This is Kingdom authority not to be mixed up with Throneroom authority! Also this is a brief glimpse of Kingdom authority that Christ delegated in His earthly ministry...but what about authority in the Church...after the death and resurrection of Christ then, now, and in this present Grace Age?

Unlike the Kingdom teaching under Law...The New Testament after the death of our Saviour describes the fact that Christ has all power today in the Throneroom. A Christian's position in this present Grace Age is to realize Christ as the one in authority. Christ's authority is not delegated to us today like it was in the Kingdom Age. His authority is simply granted to believer's because of their faith and trust in Him. This is the Christian position that's taught in the records of the New Testament...in this present Grace Age. This revelation is simply the mystery of the Church.

Eph 2:4-6... But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Because of the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ we have the privilege to exercise faith in the authority of Christ. We (the Church) realize who Christ is, where Christ is presently, and what He's doing for all the members of His body. With the ministry of the Holy Spirit (not omnipresent in the earthly ministry of Christ to the lost sheep of Israel only) we (Jew and Gentile) both have access to the Father.

Eph 2:18...For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

It must be understood Christians have a consciousness to Christ's Divine presence. It must be understood the Holy Spirit takes Christians to the Throneroom where Christ is seated with "all power and authority". Christ from the Throneroom is exalted! Christ has all power and authority. All the Church has to do is to live with a consciousness to Christ's Divine presence in the Throneroom. Consciousness comes through belief, trust, and acceptance. Christ meets the needs of our lives, delivers us from our problems, and gives us victory over every circumstance in life.

If you want more power in your life get out of the earthly ministry of Christ under Law. Get into the Throneroom of the Grace of God where Christ is exalted with all power and authority! Exercise your faith in His authority. Exercise your faith in His presence. Be conscious to Him. Put your faith into the person of Christ where He reigns from the Throneroom...today present tense!

Remember, Christ is the builder of the Church... Mat. 16:18!
Remember, Christ purchased the Church with His own blood...Acts 20:28!
Remember, Christ is the head of the Church where He governs His body from the Throneroom...Eph. 1:22.
Remember, Christ gives gifts unto men from the Throneroom...Eph. 4:11!
Remember, Christ sets Apostles, Prophets, and teachers in the Church from the Throneroom...1 Cor. 12:28!


This is Throneroom authority where Christ controls all things not man! Throneroom authority is not to be mixed up with Kingdom authority!

This comparison between Kingdom authority taught in the four Gospels and Throneroom authority taught in the Epistles must be understood! This is rightly dividing the Holy Scriptures. Right division is necessary! Thank God we are under Grace today where we can have the constant victory in our lives... from the authority of Christ in the Thronerom. He's exalted! He's alive taking care of our needs! The devil is subject to Christ! Glory! All things must be put under His feet!

1 Cor 15:25-27...For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet.

This is Throneroom authority! Glory to Christ! I'm glad we're not under Law living in the four Gospels but under Grace living in the New Testament Epistles. Glory! Rightly divide God's Word!