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What does it mean to "overcome"?
By Mahlon Wickey July, 2016
There are SPIRITS of fear, unrest, deception, and insanity that are sweeping across our beloved nation, and millions of Americans believe that this upcoming election will determine if our beloved nation will regain its greatness or continue in its decline. President Obama totally ignores our laws and our constitution that founded and built our beloved nation, and our very BIASED news media will openly LIE to FAVOR the insanity of "liberalism", and the unlawful agenda of Obama!
Our known "rigged" voting system could "select" (NOT elect) our next president that of course will have "good intentions" that would ENFORCE an evil and deceptive political agenda to "FIX" America, and millions of deceived American people will DEMAND this "much needed" INSANE form of government.
Our schools, colleges, courts, and our government over many years have systematically rejected the TRUE God and His righteousness, and our nation is now SUFFERING the results of this rejection of the RIGHT ways of God. Our nation (a nation of churches) is now immoral and DIVIDED caused by our modern churches NOT teaching the Bible CORRECTLY. There is a "religious" SPIRIT known as the "Christian" SPIRIT that inspires the thinking of many millions of Americans, and also inspires the thinking of certain politicians of our CORRUPT government to willingly DEFEND the religion that INSPIRES so-called "terrorism". This is "political" insanity!
As we all know, Christianity is the religion and faith of the vast majority of American people, and was founded many centuries ago on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When people become convinced (or INSPIRED) that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a FACT of true history then they could also be INSPIRED to be "Christ-like"; hence the term "Christ-ians".
Most Christians will profess that they BELIEVE every word in their Bibles, but this article will show that most Christians DO NOT BELIEVE every word in their Bibles! This article will expose the flaw of pretense (hypocrisy) of most Christians, and will also expose the flaw as to why the biblical term "overcome" is ignored or misunderstood.
Christians that ASSUME they have "enough" knowledge of the Bible generally have the carnal flaw of PRIDE known as the EGO of "self-importance"; which is causing these Christians to be UNprepared to accept, believe, and to GROW in the CORRECT knowledge of the original INSPIRED Holy Scriptures.
First of all, I want to show a biblical example that I believe shows that most of today’s Christians are unprepared to accept and BELIEVE that they could be classified as unbelievers by the words of Jesus Christ himself when He spoke a parable that has a "hidden" message….
Luke 12:45-47 KJV (45) But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (46) The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (47) And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
This of course is not the complete parable but it is enough to make the all important point and THEME of this article, so PLEASE read this article very carefully. Jesus Christ pointed out a profound truth about a servant that KNEW his Lord’s WILL and was LOOKING for his Lord’s coming, but he did NOT PREPARE himself for his Lord’s coming. The major point is that Jesus Christ said that the unprepared servant will be appointed his "portion" with the unbelievers. Therefore this servant who KNEW his Lord’s WILL and was LOOKING for his Lord’s coming was considered an unbeliever simply because his "portion" was with (yes, WITH) the unbelievers!
So WHY was the heart of this servant NOT prepared for his Lord’s coming? The major point and "hidden" message of this parable is within this statement; "But and IF that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming". "Delayeth" is the KEY word, and to "delay" of course means that the Lord had NOT YET "come" to this servant. As we all know, most of our modern churches teach in a FUTURE "second coming" or in a FUTURE "return" of Jesus Christ; which in other words is to teach in a DELAYED "coming" of Jesus Christ!
I believe that the "hidden" message and LESSON of this parable is that ALL Christians are to prepare their hearts so that they are ABLE to receive Christ’s coming. Obviously this parable shows a spiritual "coming" of Jesus Christ in the hearts of prepared Christians. This article will explain HOW Christians are to PREPARE their hearts for Christ’s spiritual "coming". Carefully read the link, "Coming" on my web site.
Based on this "hidden" LESSON why would Christians who KNOW Christ’s will and are LOOKING for Christ’s coming be appointed their "portion" with the unbelievers? It is simply because they have NOT PREPARED their hearts for Christ’s coming, and this "portion" is that Christians could be symbolically "beaten" (a very hurtful mental experience) with many symbolic "stripes" (many whip lashes). Obviously this is pointing to a severe Godly chastisement and NOT about Christians LOSING their salvation, but instead are Christians that just might be pretending to be CHRIST-LIKE Christians.
Yes, Christians can be "cut asunder" (verse 46); which are the Greek words G1371 and G1364 that means "cut to bisect" (in two parts) and to flog severely TWICE. Christians correctly believe on Jesus Christ, so what possible reason is it for Christians to be symbolically flogged severely TWICE?
I believe the term "twice" (G1364) has to do with the term "twice dead" (also G1364) found in Jude 1:12, as we shall see. This parable is obviously a WARNING for Christians to spiritually PREPARE their hearts for Christ’s coming simply because unbelievers are also NOT prepared for Christ’s coming. But Christians STILL believe on Christ, therefore they will NOT be symbolically flogged on their BELIEF of Christ; therefore ALL Christians will eventually STILL be saved!
Please understand; this symbolic flogging and beaten with many strips is the SAME "portion" that is meant for unbelievers. I believe the "hidden" message and LESSON of this parable is how unprepared Christians will experience very HURTFUL Godly chastisement done in LOVE to PREPARE their hearts for Christ’s coming so that they can be SAVED! The major point is that this very HURTFUL Godly chastisement is ALSO for UNBELIEVERS to PREPARE their hearts ALSO for Christ’s coming so that they ALSO can be SAVED!
This is what our modern churches DO NOT teach, simply because they are NOT aware of the divine purpose in a delayed coming of Christ, and they also teach that only a very FEW souls will ever be saved. Therefore based on this theological premise Christians that BELIEVE what is taught in our modern churches are NOT PREPARED for Christ’s coming! So please understand; this very HURTFUL Godly chastisement is WHY this parable could be a serious WARNING for Christians that could mentally experience the SAME very hurtful Godly chastisement that unbelievers will experience.
Our modern churches correctly teach that the belief on Jesus Christ is the belief that SAVES, but they fail to explain the true purpose of the WARNINGS of the New Testament. You see, if Christians will be saved anyhow then WHY must they be WARNED, and warned about WHAT? Again, it is NOT a question IF Christians will be SAVED, but IT IS a question IF they are just PRETENDING to be Christ-like Christians.
Yes, Christians are WARNED simply because they can AVOID to be "cut asunder" to mentally suffer TWICE a very HURTFUL Godly chastisement of symbolic severe flogging, but they MUST all spiritually PREPARE their hearts for Christ’s coming IN THIS LIFE. The spiritual coming of Jesus Christ that is FELT in their hearts will INSPIRE them to "overcome".
The terms, "overcome" and "overcometh" are found 22 times in the KJ New Testament. This Greek word (G3528) simply means to "subdue" (or to DEFEAT). So what are Christians to subdue and DEFEAT? They are to defeat their spiritual enemies, and "enemies" by definition means that they are to be DEFEATED! Christians should LEARN to identify their enemies that will HARM their hearts and souls, which are SPIRITUAL enemies caused by spiritual deceptions!
These deceptions (by divine design) are enemies that must be DEFEATED, and by defeating these harmful enemies (again, by divine DESIGN) will PREPARE Christians for the spiritual coming of Jesus Christ, and to ALSO receive precious REWARDS. But again, ALL Christians will still be SAVED even if they did NOT "overcome" and DEFEAT spiritual deceptions IN THIS LIFE, simply because salvation is a GIFT that cannot be EARNED with ANY effort or "work" done on our part.
To DEFEAT spiritual enemies is a mental and spiritual "work", but it is GOD’S "work" that is done IN US, as we shall see. Yes, we are to give God the CREDIT to "overcome" and defeat spiritual deceptions, simply because God "works" IN US. This spiritual "work" to "overcome" is not (yes, NOT) to secure our salvation simply because our salvation was ALREADY secured by the sacrificial "work" done by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago!
This spiritual effort and mental "work" to "overcome" has to do with EARNING precious REWARDS, and I believe these precious rewards will qualify CHRIST-LIKE Christians to be "first-fruits" for the FIRST resurrection and to RULE with Jesus Christ. But our modern "spiritually-enlightened" churches generally do NOT explain the divine PURPOSE to "overcome" and the mental EFFORT it takes to "work" WITH GOD to truly "overcome" and DEFEAT any (and ALL) spiritual deceptions!
A major problem for Christians is to simply identify "clever" spiritual deceptions, but spiritual deceptions can be "overcome" and defeated by carefully reading, studying, and BELIEVING the meanings of certain words found "behind" the English translated words in our KJ Bibles. Please understand; it is simply a matter of becoming "un-deceived" that will prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming! Our hearts must have a deep respect and AWE toward God and HIS original INSPIRED words found in the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. By Godly DESIGN spiritual TRUTH will prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, so if (yes, IF) Christ has truly "come" in our hearts we will then be CHRIST-LIKE. Yes, it is Christ along with God the Father IN US that has to INSPIRE our hearts to truly "overcome", subdue, and DEFEAT spiritual deceptions!
This mental EFFORT to "overcome" is NOT CAUSED by what is known as "free will" choices, but IT IS caused by our hearts being INSPIRED by the Spirit of God that is in (yes, IN) our hearts. Therefore it becomes God’s CHOICE to INSPIRE the WILL of our hearts WHEN and IF God chooses to do so! The problem of "free will" is that it teaches that our WILL must be FREE from any spiritual force or power that would otherwise "force" our choices. Therefore by this false premise of our supposed "free will" we are all made to believe that by our OWN uncaused efforts and CHOICES we would all receive the "human" pleasure of earning our OWN rewards! If (yes, IF) we BELIEVE on the power of our supposed "free will" we will then IGNORE, or NOT BELIEVE this scripture….
Philippians 2:13 KJV For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
This good pleasure truly belongs to God! So when we "work" to earn rewards it is instead God that "worketh" IN US and INSPIRES us both to WILL and also to do (yes, DO) this good pleasure that truly BELONGS to God.
We were all created to have "self will" (NOT "free will"), and we indeed have the power of CHOICE to either ignore or to respond to "work" WITH God to achieve His (yes, HIS) good pleasure! The illusion of "free will" is INSTEAD "self will" that indeed can be CHANGED by God! Our "self will" is NOT FREE from God, so if (yes, IF) God chooses to CHANGE our "self-will" HE (not US) will have the good pleasure of GIVING us precious rewards! Our "self-will" can RESIST to NOT "work" with God, but IF we are CHRIST-LIKE we will "work" with God, and we will also be INSPIRED to "work out" our OWN salvation.…
Philippians 2:12 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Notice that Paul did NOT SAY that the Philippians were to work "FOR" their own salvation. The KEY words are "OUT" and the word "OWN", and this would mean that our OWN (personal) salvation must be "worked out" (NOT "for"). Yes, salvation ITSELF is ALREADY "worked out" and is a "done deal", so WHY must our OWN salvation be "worked out" with fear and trembling? The Good News Bible says this….
Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation,
I LIKE THAT! If (yes, IF) we are CHRIST-LIKE then this "working out" process is to COMPLETE our OWN salvation! Salvation is NOT complete without REWARDS! I believe this "fear and trembling" is a symbolic term pointing to an INSPIRED state of mind that has a deep heart-felt respect and AWE toward God and HIS original inspired words; which will indeed INSPIRE us to COMPLETE our OWN personal salvation!
Our OWN "self will" is NOT ABLE to "work out" our OWN personal salvation, simply because it IS God’s CHOICE to change our stubborn "self will", which could mean a very painful symbolic flogging and beaten with many stripes from a LOVING God who does NOT "play games" with Christians!
This "working out" process means that Christians can AVOID this very PAINFUL Godly chastisement that is also known as "cutting asunder"; a symbolic severe flogging done TWICE. Notice the term "twice dead" (G1364) in Jude 1:12….
KJV 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;
I believe this is a typical example of the hypocrisy of "unproductive" believing saints WITHIN Christ’s church that are called "clouds" without water and "trees" without fruit. Yes, these believing saints during Jude’s day were a PART of Christ’s church simply because they were INCLUDED with the "feasts of charity", and were feasting WITH other believing saints. They were spiritually DEAD to God while they were LIVING this physical life, and they will be spiritually DEAD to God AGAIN (twice dead) when they are "awakened" in the resurrection of the UNJUST, spoken of in Acts 24:15….
KJV And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
I believe Daniel describes this resurrection of the UNJUST….
Daniel 12:2 KJV And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
The term "everlasting life" is H5769; which means concealed vanishing point of past or future TIME. Our modern "spiritually-enlightened" churches teach that "everlasting life" simply means "eternal life", but past or future time (yes, TIME) has NOTHING to do with the spiritual realm of "eternity"! Carefully read the link, "Eternal" on my web site.
Young’s Literal Translation correctly explains Dan 12:2….
Daniel 12:2 YLT `And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake, some to life age-during, and some to reproaches--to abhorrence age-during.
Notice the term "life age-during", and also notice that these reproaches and abhorrence (shame and contempt) are ALSO as "age-during". So WHY are some to be "awakened" to FACE this mental TORMENT of REAL shame and contempt? Daniel might be describing unprepared Christians that will "awake" to this torment of shame and contempt that is CAUSED by the embarrassment and tragic REGRET of Christians NOT preparing their hearts IN THIS LIFE for Christ’s coming, and just might be pretending to be CHRIST-LIKE Christians.
Yes, the theological premise of Dan 12:2 (YLT) could be that some Christians when they "awake" will be "dead" to God AGAIN the second time (twice dead), but NOT to remain "dead" for eternity since the spiritual realm of eternity is NOT "age-during" (or NOT during an AGE).
To be "cut asunder" is to be symbolically severely flogged and beaten the SECOND time; which indeed could be this mental torment of the HURT of shame and contempt (despised) CAUSED by embarrassment and REGRET, but again, is ONLY "age-during" that will VANISH at some point of TIME (H5769). Of course, the symbolic severe flogging and beaten with many strips the SECOND time will be very effective, and this mental torment of shame and contempt will then END and VANISH!
Adams’s sin caused ALL mankind to be BORN in sin and death (the "first death"), and the "lake of fire" is called the "second death" that UN-saved mankind must ALSO experience....
Revelation 20:14 KJV And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death,
When DEATH and the STATE of death (hell/Hades) will be cast into this lake of fire they BOTH will be CONSUMED. The "second death" IS the death of death! God himself IS this "consuming fire" (Heb 12:29), and when God has CONSUMED death and ALSO hell/Hades then what is "left over" is the LIFE OF GOD given as the GIFT of salvation to ALL mankind. But please understand; CHRIST-LIKE Christians that truly do "overcome" will NOT BE HURT of the "second death"….
Revelation 2:11 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Christians that are NOT HURT of the "second death" simply means they are NOT HURT of the symbolic "lake of fire"; which again is (yes IS) the "second death". These would be Christians that truly prepared their hearts IN THIS LIFE for Christ’s coming, and they did NOT NEED to be HURT of the "second death". The "second death" is the HURT of severe "flogging" done TWICE ("cut asunder"), but it is done in Godly LOVE to simply CORRECT Christians for their own GOOD!
As we all know, in the book of Revelation there are special rewards promised to the saints within the "seven churches", and the phrase; "he (or him) that overcometh" is spoken to all the seven churches. Each church was promised to receive special rewards, but ALL seven churches together were promised all these special rewards if (yes, IF) the believing saints within these seven churches TRULY do "overcome".
Please understand; Jesus Christ did NOT SAY to the seven churches; "to he (or him) that overcometh" shall be "SAVED", and Jesus Christ also did NOT SAY that these special rewards are different "ranks" or "positions" of authority. Of course, believing saints that truly do "overcome" are given the special REWARD of having "power over the nations" (Rev 2:26), but this type of power is NOT given in different ranks or positions of authority since the ONLY requirement to EARN this special reward is to truly "overcome". To truly "overcome" is only ONE goal that is NOT determined by earning GOALS of "different" ranks and positions of authority.
Indeed, the apostle Paul explained in 1Cor 15:24 that all rule, all authority, and power will be "put down" (G2673); which means to render entirely idle and useless. Of course, there will be NO NEED for different ranks and positions of authority since all rule, all authority, and power will be rendered entirely idle and useless, and therefore will no longer be NEEDED!
Some Christians believe that they could have ETERNAL "regrets" since they KNEW they could have done "much better" (whatever that means) to EARN a "higher" rank or position of authority, and then to "enjoy" this coveted higher rank and position of authority for all ETERNITY. I believe this is all just nonsense! Believe me, there will be NO REGRETS when ALL Christians are "awakened" to see Jesus Christ, and have glorified bodies as Jesus Christ has (1John 3:2).
Different ranks and positions of authority are ONLY necessary for sinful man’s temporary form of government, and have nothing to do with the matter of salvation. All the saved will be as ONE with God when ALL of God (ALL His divine qualities) will be IN ALL, and when ALL will be "IN CHRIST" to be made ALIVE. Open your Bibles and carefully read, study, and BELIEVE what Paul explained in 1Corinthians 15:22-28.
So WHERE do spiritual deceptions come FROM that Christians are to subdue, defeat, and OVERCOME? Well, what did Jesus Christ OVERCOME? Notice what the apostle John explained…..
John 16:33 KJV These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus Christ subdued and defeated His spiritual enemy known as the "kosmos" world (G2889); which means "orderly arrangement". The term "world" can simply be defined as the "orderly arrangement" of sinful mankind. Adam’s sin CAUSED a "world" of severe HURT, all kinds of sufferings, sicknesses, diseases, and DEATH. It is also a "world" of war, evil, wickedness, confusion, and all kinds of deceptions!
It is sinful man’s "orderly arrangement" that all of mankind was (and is) born in, lives in, and DIES in, and this is sinful man’s "world" that Jesus Christ subdued, defeated, and OVERCOME! Jesus Christ was born, lived, and DIED in sinful man’s "world", but Jesus Christ was BORN OF HIS FATHER, and therefore was NOT of (yes, OF) sinful man’s "world", and CHRIST-LIKE Christians can also NOT be of (yes, OF) sinful man’s "world"….
1John 5:4 KJV For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
We were all born into sinful man’s "world", but we must all be "born AGAIN" (from "above") OF GOD (our TRUE Father), and then be INSPIRED by our TRUE Father (as Jesus Christ was) to subdue, defeat, and overcome the "orderly arraignment" of sinful man’s "world". The FAITH in the NEW birth is the VICTORY (1John 5:4) for CHRIST-LIKE Christians to subdue, defeat, and OVERCOME sinful man’s "world", simply because they no longer are of (yes, OF) sinful man’s "world", and they also no longer believe in ANY religion of sinful man’s "world", INCLUDING the religion known as modern "Christianity"!
Paul spoke of another promised reward that MUST be earned; which is to INHERIT the kingdom of God ….
Galatians 5:19-21 KJV (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Notice that Paul did NOT SAY that those which DO these harmful works of the flesh shall NOT be SAVED. Paul also did NOT SAY that they shall NOT "see" or "enter" into the kingdom of God. Paul however DID SAY those that do (yes, DO) these harmful works of the flesh shall NOT INHERIT the kingdom of God. The key word is "INHERIT"!
This would mean that Christians with certain WEAKNESSES of the flesh will continue to DO some of these harmful works of the flesh, but that does NOT MEAN they will NOT be SAVED! And neither will these harmful works of the flesh keep Christians from "seeing" or "entering" into the kingdom of God. "Inherit" is the INSPIRED word, and it is always best for Christians to PREPARE their hearts by simply believing what is stated, and NOT ASSUME something that is NOT stated!
To INHERIT the kingdom of God is a very precious REWARD that is given to Christ-like Christians that are INSPIRED to defeat and OVERCOME the carnal "natural" state of mind that INSPIRES and causes all these harmful works of the flesh. In other words, Christians that RESPOND to the SPIRIT of Jesus Christ that has "come" in their hearts are preparing their hearts to have the Godly state of mind to RESIST their carnal "natural" HARMFUL desires of the flesh.
To INHERIT the kingdom of God means to be a joint-OWNER of the kingdom of God (with Jesus Christ), which requires Christians to qualify for this very precious reward! The coming of Jesus Christ IN the hearts of Christians will INSPIRE them to NOT DO (the key word is "DO") these harmful works of the flesh; which would otherwise disqualify them from inheriting this very precious REWARD.
Here is another precious reward promised to Christians….
Philippians 3:11-13 KJV (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
This is a most precious reward that EVEN the apostle Paul (a spiritual "giant") did NOT know IF he qualified for this most precious reward. "Apprehend" (G2638) simply means to take eagerly or to seize. So WHAT did Paul want to take eagerly or to seize that he KNEW he had NOT yet EARNED this most precious REWARD? It is called the "resurrection of the dead", but this is a very poor and misleading statement by the KJ translators. It should instead be called the resurrection "out from among the dead" as CORRECTLY translated by the CLV….
Philippians 3:11 CLV if somehow I should be attaining to the resurrection that is out from among the dead.
This is a certain resurrection (G1815) that obviously is NOT a resurrection of the BODY, but it is a "rising from death" that happens in the hearts and minds of Christians that truly have qualified to spiritually RISE "OUT from among the dead". This would mean that these qualified CHRIST-LIKE Christians are NO LONGER considered to be AMONG other spiritually "dead" Christians, or AMONG other "dead" unbelievers.
The RISEN Jesus Christ is in HEAVEN, and CHRIST-LIKE Christians are inspired to "rise" WITH Christ that is ABOVE the physical bondage of sin and DEATH! But the physical body still awaits the physical DEATH, but evil deceptive SPIRITS that HARM Christians by deceiving their hearts have been totally defeated and OVERCOME by CHRIST-LIKE Christians that are resurrected (risen) "OUT" from AMONG the spiritually DEAD!
It is therefore possible that CHRIST-LIKE Christians can consciously live "outside" of their physical bodies and "outside" of any physical constraints, but ONLY when and if (yes, IF) they are inspired by the RISEN Jesus Christ! This "out of the body" experience happened to the apostle Phillip….
Acts 8:39-40 KJV (39) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (40) But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
But this could also have happened to the apostle Paul when he was spiritually taken to the "third heaven", but it is very unusual that Paul could NOT TELL if this experience was IN the body or OUT of the body….
2Corinthians 12:2 KJV I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
The major point is that Paul was NOT SURE that this had happened to him personally since he confessed that he only "knew a man in Christ", and this could be WHY he did NOT mention that this had happened to him personally. I believe this is WHY Paul did NOT KNOW if he qualified for the PERFECTION required to attain the "out from among the dead" resurrection, as he explained in Philippians 3:11-13.
I want to now show just a few biblical examples (but NOT nearly all) of inspired words that most Christians DO NOT BELIEVE! Here is one biblical example….
1Timothy 2:4 KJV Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
"Will have" is a very STRONG statement! But most Christians believe that ONLY a FEW will be saved OUT of the "ALL", and therefore most Christians DO NOT BELIEVE this most important scripture! They generally believe in the POWER of "free will", so therefore they are INSPIRED to NOT BELIEVE Paul’s statement!
Keep in mind that not ONLY will God have ALL men to be SAVED, but that ALL men "come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH". But Christians already KNOW about the knowledge of the TRUTH since this is the SAVING knowledge that inspired them to become Christians! Therefore Paul obviously included the salvation of the unbelievers simply because they are NOT yet INSPIRED or are not even AWARE of the "knowledge of the TRUTH". Please understand; this SAVING knowledge could very well inspire unbelievers to become CHRIST-LIKE Christians so that they can ALSO be saved!
But most Christians have NO PROBLEM with the word "ALL" found in 2Peter 3:9….
KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
It is by God’s OWN nature and character that does NOT ALLOW Him to WANT to see any (yes, ANY) soul perish, and "any" is now turned into the "all" (yes, ALL) that should come to repentance. Of course, EVERY Christian would agree with the premise of the words "any" and "all" in this scripture, but when it comes to the "all" that God will save then these Christians will show their obvious hypocrisy and pretense.
God is NOT WILLING for ANY soul to perish, but ALL Christians know that most of mankind WILL indeed PERISH! But deceived Christians are NOT aware that it is necessary for most of mankind to perish, but only "age-during" (or during an AGE) to fulfill God’s temporary plan of the AGES. In Romans 8:20 God ALSO was NOT WILLING that the creation be made "subject to vanity" (depravity), but it was necessary, and on this theological premise God is also NOT WILLING that ANY soul should perish. Deceived Christians are NOT aware of these theological possibilities, or they simply do NOT BELIEVE them!
Here is another example of inspired scripture that the vast majority (yes, VAST majority) of today’s Christians DO NOT BELIEVE....
Joshua 10:13 KJV And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
The "orderly arraignment" of sinful man’s "world" that teaches the so-called "science" of astrology is accepted and BELIEVED by the VAST majority of today’s Christians, so therefore they are INSPIRED to believe that Joshua 10:13 is not truly saying that the sun (and moon) actually "stood still". Well yes, it does TRULY say that!
A Christian’s response generally is with this statement; "I know it says that but there are also other statements of the Bible that CANNOT mean what they seem to say. But that "Christian" EXCUSE will NOT work with Joshua’s "long day" simply because there are over 60 other scriptures that talk of a MOVING sun, and therefore all these inspired scriptures would support the sun that "stood still" during Joshua’s day.
Believe me, it would be in any Christian’s best theological interests to simply BELIEVE what Joshua 10:13 is saying, and then confess to themselves (and to OTHERS) that the sun and moon indeed actually "stood still". In other words, the sun and moon STOPPED moving on a divinely and perfectly CONTROLLED path above a perfectly level and flat plane of the earth shaped in a huge gigantic literal CIRCLE! This divinely controlled circular path of the sun will shift just slightly each day AWAY (lower) or CLOSER (higher) from our location on the earth causing the seasons of the year.
You see, honest Christians that are willing to BELIEVE this scripture KNOW that this indeed is HOW Joshua’s "long day" could be explained! But Joshua’s "long day" does NOT have to be understood, but it certainly should be BELIEVED by Christians, which is a small theological step in defeating and overcoming the "orderly arraignment" of deceived sinful man’s "world" of FALSE "scientific" teachings!
Suppose you happen to believe WHAT Joshua 10:13 is truly saying, and you are "brave" enough to share what you BELIEVE with your Christian friends, but be prepared that they might "feel sorry" for you that you have "fallen" for this major "deception". But what you have "fallen" for is that you were simply willing to accept and BELIEVE what Joshua 10:13 is truly saying, and was willing (with Godly WISDOM) to share this "forbidden" knowledge with other Christians.
But it is OUT of your control IF this "forbidden" knowledge will bear "fruit" with other Christians; which depends on if (yes, IF) they have the proper respect and AWE for inspired scripture, and if (yes, IF) they will then accept and BELIEVE the inspired scriptures! Yes, you are simply taking a small theological step in preparing your heart for Jesus Christ’s spiritual "coming" that will truly INSPIRE your heart.
Another example of inspired scripture that the vast majority (yes, VAST majority) of Christians DO NOT BELIEVE! Geneses 1:14-18 talks about the biblical "firmament", and again, the "world" of sinful man that teaches the so-called "science" of astrology totally ignores this biblical "firmament". These scriptures very plainly say that ALL the stars, the sun, and the moon were divinely placed in (yes, IN) this firmament.
The major point is that this firmament high above us is clearly visible to our human eyes, as we shall see. The incredible deception of modern astrology is that it attempts to "explain" the unexplainable concept of "endless" space that supposedly contains many trillions of stars and billions of galaxies in unimaginable SIZES and distances in billions of "light years" away from us.
The incredible dilemma is that the VAST majority of Christians (that profess to BELIEVE the Bible) would rather BELIEVE the "science" of modern astrology as taught by the "orderly arraignment" of the evil deceived "world" of sinful man! But these Christians are "clueless" as to HOW all the many trillions of stars in billions of galaxies are all contained in (yes, IN) this biblical firmament.
Now let us honestly look at the Hebrew meaning of this inspired word "firmament". This word is found 17 times in the KJ Old Testament, and it is H7549 taken from H7554; which simply means the expanse of the visible arch of the sky. Yes, when we look up on a cloudless day we are ACTUALLY seeing the firmament spoken of in Gen 1:14-18; which is simply the expanse of the visible arch of the SKY. This is indeed awesome and should NEVER be taken for granted!
But notice that H7549 was taken from H7554 that means to expand by pounding or hammering; by implication to overlay with thin sheets of metal. The Brown Driver Briggs definition of H7554 uses terms such as; to beat out, spread out, or to stretch. This firmament was created by a DIVINE hammered and beaten process so as to literally spread, stretch, and EXPAND this firmament. To me this indicates a STRONG form of STRUCTURE; hence the term, FIRM-(ament).
Christians of course will indeed BELIEVE in a firmament, but they will NOT BELIEVE the inspired meaning of "firmament", or WHAT the firmament IS, or the divine PURPOSE of the firmament! Various translations used the statements, "hath founded his vault upon the earth", "basing his ARCH on the earth", "His structure over the earth", "over the earth he puts the dome of the sky". I was pleasantly surprised that an internet search defines "firmament" as a structure, conceived as a vast solid DOME….
"In Biblical cosmology, the firmament is the structure above the atmosphere, conceived as a vast solid dome. According to the Genesis creation narrative, God created the firmament to separate the "waters above" the earth from the "waters below" the earth. The word is anglicized from Latin firmamentum, which appears in the Vulgate, a late fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible".
Job 37:18 is also a very interesting scripture that again, the VAST majority of Christians IGNORE, or DO NOT BELIEVE….
KJV Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
Yes, of course, God SPREAD (hammered and beaten) out the BLUE sky (firmament) high above us, which is STRONG as a molten "looking glass" that divinely serves as a mirror!
I now want to offer what I believe is the divine PURPOSE of an enclosed structure of the STRONG BLUE DOME that is high above us that is indeed visible to our human eyes. The sun’s intense heat and RAYS are reflected OFF the enclosed DOME that serves as a divine MIRROR that creates a very HUGE enclosed "green-house" balanced environment to maintain and reproduce all vegetation and all physical life. Moisture, air temperatures, and wind currents are also in an ENCLOSED environment WITHIN the DOME of the BLUE firmament high above us to produce balanced weather patterns and climates.
Romans 8:20 says that the creation was made subject to "vanity" (depravity), and this is WHY at times Mother Nature is "out of balance", and the "vanity" (depravity) of sinful man will SUFFER earthquakes and major weather disasters such as drought, flooding, and hurricanes, etc.
I believe that this STRONG BLUE "FIRM-ament" serves as a barrier to separate the temporary physical creation FROM the dwelling place and throne of God, and FROM the spiritual realm of ETERNITY. I cannot find in Geneses where WATER was ever created, so could it be that there was WATER with God BEFORE the creation? IF this was just physical water, then what would be the divine PURPOSE for dividing (Gen 1:6) physical water? Could not the DOME of the firmament have been built without dividing this physical water?
This tells me of the possibility that there was indeed un-created water BEFORE the creation that HAD to be divided to bring forth physical water, simply because ALL physical LIFE cannot survive WITHOUT physical water! This incredible possibility could be WHY the Spirit of God "moved" (H7363) (brooded to relax) over this un-created water to "relax" (loosen) it in order to divide (separate) it from its spiritual REALM!
By this premise the water ABOVE the DOME would be a divine BLUE "copy" that reminds us of the spiritual "living water" that Jesus Christ mentioned several times. This strong DOME would serve as a barrier since all physical life is to be contained WITHIN an enclosed environment, and this divine barrier would also serve to divide physical water from the visible divine BLUE "copy" of the un-created water that is ABOVE the dome of the STRONG "FIRM-ament". I confess that this is just all speculation on my part.
Keep in mind that ALL the stars, sun, and moon are "IN" the firmament (or WITHIN the enclosed DOME). The temporary physical realm (including physical water) is also WITHIN the enclosed DOME, and was NEVER designed to be ABOVE the DOME. Above this strong BLUE DOME is also NOT the unexplainable "endless" so-called space as we are all made to BELIEVE. The temporary realm of time, distance, and "endless" so-called space will NOT FIT with the realm of eternity that is ABOVE the Dome. Carefully read the link, "Sun" on my web site.
But HOW did all the "space" shuttle flights, all the satellites, and other "space" objects all orbit INSIDE this solid blue DOME? This question can be answered if (yes, IF) CHRIST-LIKE Christians understand the true NATURE, POWER, and the divine PURPOSE of deception! The "orderly arrangement" of sinful man’s "world" has taught so-called "scientists" on HOW deception can be "orderly arranged" to make absolute FAKERY appear to be very REAL so that it is BELIEVED!
I FULLY understand WHY Christians DO NOT BELIEVE Joshua 10:13, and Geneses 1:14-18. All my life I also did NOT BELIEVE what these scriptures were truly saying, and I thought they could be explained in a DIFFERENT way than the WAY they are truly stated. Modern astrology has been "orderly arranged" to "skillfully" and very "convincingly" teach all of us WHAT to believe, and yes, we all believed what was taught to us. Modern astrology is taught by evil men that DO NOT acknowledge God and the TRUE teachings of the Bible, and it is incredible that we (as Christians) blindly, stupidly, and ignorantly BELIEVED these UNGODLY evil wicked men!
In conclusion; I truly believe that most of today’s Christians will be "severally flogged" (chastised) TWICE from a God who is called LOVE (1John 4:8,16) that only wants to CORRECT the FLAWS that keeps Christians from being CHRIST-LIKE so that they can be SAVED! Adam’s "world" of HURT is in a sense the hurt of "severe flogging" that includes "fiery trials" that ALL Christians MUST face the FIRST time (1Pet 4:2), but this "cutting asunder" of severe flogging can be avoided the SECOND time, as this article attempted to explain. But we must NOT be "clouds" without water, and "trees" without fruit (Jude 1:12) with unproductive "works" that include not sharing (with Godly WISDOM) the precious truths of God!
By Mahlon Wickey July, 2016
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