God is building up to something and He is slowly preparing humanity for it.
For that reason, our learning must rise to a spiritual purpose. Through spiritual
learning, we develop a deep sense of self-acceptance and compassion, not
only for ourselves, but also for others. We experience a deep sense of
belonging and oneness with all beings, transcending the boundaries of race,
religion, and nationality. This, in spite of the world becoming less inclusive
and less harmonious where understanding is void and disregard and denial
for truth prevail. There is a transformative journey that experiences truth, that
allows for transcendance. This transcendance declares why we exist. It
captures the heart of why we are on this earth and why Jesus died for us. It
defines our life - not in terms of what we think, but what God knows. It clarifies
the non-negotiables. It identifies God’s purpose about who we are,
regardless of circumstances. It anchors our life in the character and call of
God. We must focus more on our “being” than on our “doing”.
The biblical narrative is about God, His revealed works of creation, provision,
judgment, deliverance, His covenant, His purposes, and His promises. The
bible sees what happens to mankind in the light of God's determined,
righteousness, faithfulness, mercy, and love. Remember the bible is one
unified story. And it teachs us how to know the difference between descriptive
and prescriptive passages. Descriptive passages describe what happened:
they give us the historical accounts and the stories of the events that took
place. Prescriptive passages give us clear commands and instructions as to
how we are to live our lives. We are to reason the original purpose of the
passage, whether positive or negative. We are to ask how it points to Jesus.
The complete universal plan of the Sovereign God is being worked through
His creation. The key aspects of God's plan center around God's people -
Israel. The word of God is composed of hundreds of individual narratives that
provide the content for the story that is ultimate truth, crucially important, and
often complex. Their purpose is to show God at work in His creation and
among His people. The narratives glorify Him, and give us a picture of His
providence and protection. The people of learning will approach God’s truth
from the perspective of spiritual individualism and spiritual collectivism,
reasoning solely with spiritual dialogue. Individualist spirituality is centered
on the within. Collectivist spirituality is centered on the effects of events upon
the whole of the people. For these reasons spiritual dialogue in truth will
demonstrate our understanding. It will show our failings and where we veer
from God’s way. Ignorance doesn’t make us less wrong, nor does it save us
pain. It is far better to know for certain what is truth, even when it is
unpleasant, because that gives us an opportunity to move in the right direction.
Truth is the aim of reason. Without the truth, there is no hope. This
is why we must learn the power of truth now and make a right use of the
words that conviction by the spirit of God is revealed. And what makes the
truth the truth? Actual reality of experiences and observations. Make a
commitment to yourself to accept the reality of a certain situation. Remember
truth isn't desirous for its own sake, it serves a higher Master. The purpose
of truth is rooted in the purpose of life itself. And if any truth offends you, it is
because you are afraid of truth. There is a huge amount of freedom that
comes to you when you take nothing personally. One of the purposes of the
2520 is to make God’s people immune to hard sayings. We are not to set
ourselves up to suffer for nothing. If we be a servant of God, our boundaries
are not feelings, but rather acceptance of spiritual responsibility. We are given
the power of the spirit over esteem. Our value is in the word of God. When
we have insight into the truths of God, not taking anything personally gives
us immunity in the interaction that we have with other people. We contend
for the truth without contention. Now, I pray that we are prepared to accept
the truth of prophecy. It is divinely inspired actualization of the measure of
faith, of the purposes of God, of the revelation of Christ, fulfilled in God’s
people. There is a reason that God is going to take this point really deep. It
is to take us to a place theologically that many people are not comfortable
going. God wants to show us something incredibly important about Himself
and His plan of salvation. What is God revealing about Himself? What is the
big take away that He wants us to see? These are theological waters to swim
in. Let’s do this! Let’s gain insight from scripture. Let’s understand this first.
I Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
We are thus encouraged in our patience. A sort of people called to be objects
of woundings. We recognize the kindness and the love when one who is
chosen offers that which will profit us: correction, rebuke, reproof,
instructions for our learning, and therefore we must expect it; by the terms of
our faith we are bound to deny ourselves, and take up the cross. And if we
suffer in these offerings we are brought nearer to God. We are called by the
commands of Christ, by the dispensations of God’s providence, and by the
preparations of divine grace; and, by the practice of Jesus Christ. We are
being gathered for eternity. It is by instruction that we become knowledgeable.
We must have wise souls.
Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth;
I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 45:4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee
by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
We are chosen for purposes by divine counsels. We are the elect; an
outcome of God’s unconditional, irresistible, and irrevocable grace. We will
always seek to glorify God in all we do, because of the work of the Holy Spirit
in our lives and our love for God because He first loved us.
Theologically, our election is tied to Christ before any event happened. There
are deep penetrating messages in the bible that we are responsible for
hearing. Messages for our salvation. Messages that will “seal” us. It is when
we understand who the elect are, that we can then understand the meaning
of “the world” as a mindset of societal order. We are to do nothing to remove
the chance for someone to believe. The atonement of Christ is not limited.
The election, the chosenness, is influentially set in the word of God as
evidenced by the recurring sibling rivalry stories in which one sibling is
specially favored. God's granting Israel special status entailed both
unmerited privilege as well as an expectation of a proper human response
toward God. God is Sovereign in His purpose and His election. Let’s reason.
Two nations, Edom and Israel. Israel was chosen to perform a particular type
of service to the world, so also Edom was chosen to perform a particular type
of service to Israel. Not all Israelites have eternal life, so also, not all
Edomites are destined for eternal condemnation. Any Edomite has
opportunity to believe and receive eternal life from God. God chose Israel so
that they might be a blessing to the nations, and God chose Edom to help
Israel in this task. God will reveal hatred for what it is and make known His
power of love. He does this not to destroy any, but in the hopes that they
would see His mercy and become vessels of honor. We must reason
concerning our role, our function, and our purpose within this life individually
and corporately. We are not seeing some strange act of God. Through the
election God is calling the whole world to come to Him. God’s promises do
not fail…man’s faith does. This thing is purposed by counsel.
Romans 9:1-5
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in
the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my
heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and
the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom
as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.
Amen.
Hear the man of God sharing his broken heart for his fellow countrymen,
Israelites, who did not know Jesus. He even went so far as to say that he
would give up his own salvation in Christ if he could secure it for them. Of
course this is not possible, but shows his heart of love for the lost people.
The word begins to set up a question to be answered by rehearsing all that
Israel was given by being God’s chosen nation: they were given the law, they
had the temple, they were given promises from God, the patriarchs came
through them, and even the Messiah Himself, Jesus. However, despite all of
this, most of Israel was on the outside looking in. They had not put their faith
in Jesus as the Messiah. So, the question that naturally arises is, has God
failed? God chose Israel as a special people for Himself, so why are the vast
majority not in a saving relationship with Jesus?
Romans 9:6-9
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all
Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham,
are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They
which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the
children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of
promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
God’s Word has not failed by any means. It goes on to point out that just
because someone was born in the line of Abraham and was an Israelite by
race did not mean that they were children of the promise. In other words,
your family line does not guarantee you a relationship with God. So, what
group will find salvation? The word says it is the children of promise. Who
are the children of promise? Jacob and Esau illustrate that for us.
Romans 9:10-13
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done
any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand,
not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall
serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
So what group will find salvation if not all of Israel will? It is the group of God’s
elect, the children of promise, those whom God has chosen. What was the
significance of God choosing Jacob’s over Esau? That His purpose of
election might stand. That God could show that in salvation it is His choice
that matters. That God is sovereign over salvation as well as every other
aspect of life. The principle that God established in the choice of Jacob over
Esau carries over into the salvation of all who come to know Christ today.
Let’s pause for a considerate moment to reflect on our day. The twins were
not merely struggling in the womb. They were warring. Never in history has
this demonstration of hatred been shown. Two infants, not yet even drawing
breath. Not having uttered a single word. In the closest proximity possible.
The prophetic message God is giving here is fruited in our day…the last day.
Hatred of the two manner of people has so ripened that the word expresses
it.
Romans 3:10-12
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out
of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth
good, no, not one.
Please capture the truth in these verses. All of this culminates to teach us
something critical about election. Without election, heaven would be empty
and the lake of fire would be flowing over its banks. Election is not fair, justice
is. God’s choice to save some is gracious, it is loving, it is merciful, and it is
our only hope in finding eternal life! But we are responsible for our faith. And
it is by faith that we trust God because we have the realities of an infinite
God being expressed to finite minds. The Triune Community, Divine
Sovereignty and human responsibility, the Incarnation and many other things
in scripture are things that we accept by faith and that we trust God with the
unknown details with. It is by faith that we give weight to the full testimony of
scripture. God’s ways are taught throughout the word and so are our
responsiibilities. We must reconcile our faith to God’s Word. The reality is
that we don’t know who God has chosen to salvation. But faith knows that
God has a people chosen to election. Does our faith share the truth about
Jesus and trust God will work out the rest in the hearts and lives of His
people?
With that said, may we advance to the ending purpose of God before
unveiling the historical path left for us to travel to our featured heritage.
Let us know this as it is to be revealed by God in a most arresting episode in
human history...it’s the final faith that matters – it will be the ultimate test. We
have a very serious message, a word from God. Even if we have achieved
other huge victories of faith in our walk with the Lord, it won’t matter, because
if our faith does not remain till our final days on earth are at an end, then
without that final faith it will have all been in vain. We are in the time when
our evening, morning, daily prayer life is to reflect a most excellent spirit in
this most difficult time of our whole life. We need the faith that will bridge us
from here to eternity. There is this attack on our first faith…the attempt to
cause us to leave our first love, Jesus, by spigoting silken threads of
fondness to idol worshippers. The enemy’s final faith’s attack is centered on
our very salvation. Are we willing to be martyred for Jesus’ sake, having faith
that will take us through death? Our faith is to satisfy the eternal, not the
temporal.
The magnitude and significance of the 2520 prophecy is it prepares God’s
people for the transition from who humanity is and was, and who and what
we can become if we choose Jesus Christ as our Savior. It’s the vision given
to us of the glorious, worldwide event like nothing we’ve ever seen before.
It’s the culmination of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross. This
prophecy connects our existence and events which overwhelmingly affirms
the historicity of God’s purpose for His people. To maintain a coherent biblical
theology, it is vital that we learn the narrative of the integrated whole of truth.
We learn more of God. Not comparatively but reasonably. Who are we to
attempt to examine God?
Isaiah 40:25-28
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift
up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that
bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the
greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why
sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD,
and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? Hast
thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends
of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his
understanding.
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