Willie Martin
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 Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:58 am Post subject: Argument - 4 |
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They'll partake of the trees and waters of life. As long as
they desire to be there, they will be. But if they fall back
and revert to their old ways of thinking, they will find
themselves back on the outside...because they do not belong
inside.
"And there shall not enter into it any thing that defiles,
or anyone working an abomination or a lie: only they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)
Notice that there is a continuing metaphor of those who are
to enter into the Kingdom through a door or a gate. And,
more importantly, notice that the people are soon to enter
in.
"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, (translators and
religious leaders) hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of
heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (Matthew 23:13)
The futurist Judeo-Christian churches have interpreted the
Bible to say that entering into the Kingdom is an end-time
event which occurs only after an end-time "judgment day."
But what does the Bible really say? It says that citizenship
in the New Jerusalem is a present relationship with Yahweh.
It is the status of "knowing" Him...or rather, Him knowing
us...and it is today.
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say
unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When
once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to
the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the
door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer
and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall
ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence,
and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I
tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all
ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east,
and from the west, and from the north, and from the south,
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." (Luke 13:24-29)
Just because one claims to do "powerful works" in Yahshua's
name doesn't mean that they are in the Kingdom. This shows
that there can be insincere people who prophesy (teach) and
do great works claiming to be "in the name of Jesus Christ."
But Yahshua says to them "I don't know you!" This is not a
prophecy of some future judgment, but rather a description
of current policy. And well it should because the United
States of America is the New Jerusalem and New Zion as
spoken of in the scriptures.
Another myth is that all who profess Christ; especially
pastors of churches, are good, honest people...and that
Yahshua was not speaking to them.
Read the passage again. There is no one else to whom He
could have been referring. Just claiming to do thing "in
Jesus' name" does not necessarily make it so. If Yahshua
says "I never knew you," that indicates that the people
don't know Him either.
There are obviously many people who think they know
Yahshua, but don't. Perhaps one explanation of this
phenomena is explained by the fact that different groups
define Yahshua differently...as in the case where one group
claims Yahshua is the Son of God and another group claims He
is God Himself. Obviously, at least one of these is wrong,
and therefore "doesn't know" Yahshua very well if at all.
With regard to admittance into the Kingdom, it is not a
matter of being coaxed into entering. Either you can see the
Kingdom, or you can't. If you cannot see the Kingdom,
obviously you cannot find the gate to enter. You either know
Yahshua or you don't. You are either one of His sheep or you
are not...and if you are, then you can "hear" and understand
His voice as He bids you to enter in. Here's the way Yahshua
describes the Shepherd/Sheep interaction in John 10:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by
the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by
the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter
openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his
own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth
forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep
follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will
they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not
the voice of strangers...I am the good shepherd, and know my
sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:1-5, 14)
Scripture also tells us that even though men were hearing
the words from Yahshua's mouth, they still couldn't
understand about the Kingdom:
"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and
it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's
porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto
him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the
Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you,
and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's
name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because
ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto
them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:22-28)
As you can see Yahshua told them He was the Christ and yet
they didn't believe. Yahshua presented His proof; His
"Perfect Argument," but that was not enough for them. It
wasn't enough because they weren't of His sheep. They were
in the wrong frame of mind, due to being of their father the
devil, and the call did not register with them; nor does it
now. The claims of some of them to be messianic Jews; or
Jews that believe on Christ. Well the evil spirits believed
in Christ.
"And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to
torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29)
A second time we are told this same thing:
"Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art, the Holy One of God." (Mark 1:24)
Yet a third time we are told the same thing:
"Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art; the Holy One of God." (Luke 4:34) |
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