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The City of Zion Part 4
The Mercy of God
Introduction
This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group in October 2005. This is part four of a fourteen part series called the "City of Zion"; which addresses a very important subject called the "Mercy of God". True believers know in their hearts that without the mercy and grace of God salvation would not be possible. This article will show how the subject of the mercy of God is theologically linked with the city of Zion. Indeed, believers in a very real spiritual sense are come unto mount Sion (Zion); the city of the living God (Hebrews 12:22). I also address the function of the two cherubims on each end of the mercy seat where God dwelled in communion with His people Israel. The physical things built according to the "blueprint" (picturing the heavenly things) were only to serve Israel on a temporary basis. But God’s mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1), and the temporary physical "mercy seat" on the ark of the covenant represented a merciful God seated above the laws of the Ten Commandments; which God knew that Israel would never keep. But understand, we as believers under a new covenant are told to boldly come to the "throne of grace" that we may obtain mercy (Hebrews 4:16). My point is; God also knows under a new covenant His moral eternal laws can never be kept in perfection. Mercy and God’s laws go hand in hand, simply because mercy would not be needed and would serve no purpose if God’s moral laws were "done away". These moral laws would not be laws if there were no penalty, but the difference is; believers "in Christ" are not condemned by the penalty of these laws. Jesus Christ was the sacrifice to suffer the penalty; which is death, and believers have legally "died with Christ". Believers are saved not by works; but only through pure grace, but they should respond in love by daily heartfelt repentance in response to that pure grace of God. Please read this transcribed sermon very carefully…..
This is my fourth lesson on my continuing series on Zion, and what I want to do today is talk about the mercy of God and how it is connected with Zion. With so many scriptures on the subject of Zion this series might take many months. I don’t know how long, but I am asking for your patience and I am also asking for your attention. We are all aware that the subject of Zion cannot be understood in its fullness, but I do believe it pleases Our Heavenly Father if we at least have open minds and hearts to see what the Bible says that we are to inherit for eternity.
As I explained in my last sermon, to seek for this city of Zion is to seek for the understanding of this city, and that is what pleases God. If we do not have a desire to understand and to open our hearts and minds to spiritual things neither will our Heavenly Father give us the spiritual discernment to understand. So I am asking that we simply believe what we see written in the Old Testament for our learning. In my last sermon we looked at Romans 15:4.
KJV For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
How important is learning the Old Testament scriptures? It says that is why they were written. The only way we can learn about the subject of Zion is to open our minds and believe what is written, and what is written was inspired by God; again for our learning.
2Timothy 3:16-17 KJV All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Old Testament scriptures are profitable for doctrine; that means for our learning which is also a part of being furnished unto all good works. Learning correct doctrine is good works. We can do all the good works we want; we can show all kinds of love, and we can show joy and feel good about Jesus all we want. All these things are good works and should not be left undone, but what do these kinds of good works have to do with learning correct doctrine?
The point I am making; sure lets truly show love, and let’s truly be involved with good works of charity; but let’s also make sure we have an interest in what Zion is all about. We all know that the subject of Zion is repeatedly mentioned in Old Testament scriptures, and that can only mean God wants us to learn about Zion. Again, I say good works of charity are needed and they do not go unnoticed by God, and there will be rewards for self sacrifice in doing good works. But are we interested in learning about Zion through patience and comfort of the Old Testament scriptures, as we read in Rom 15:4; and are we learning WHY we might have hope? Hope for what? The point is, there would be no purpose of hope if we do not learn what we are to hope for, and that hope has to do with learning about the subject of Zion. There is such a thing as blind hope and blind faith.
Not to put the modern Churches down but let’s be honest. We know that generally the modern Churches are content with their belief system and it is obvious all they’re interested in is feeling good about their Jesus which causes people to keep the cash coming in. We seldom ever hear WHY Abraham looked for this city and we seldom ever hear anything about Zion; unless once in awhile we hear a song about Zion, or maybe a statement now and then about Zion being our heavenly home, and that’s just the point. Zion is our heavenly home and it becomes our duty to learn about the glorious inheritance God is preparing and building for us.
Do we here have the contentment we see in the Christian world today to where all that matters is that we just want to feel good about Jesus? It would be best to not have that mind set, brothers and sisters, and let’s not tell ourselves we can’t understand anyhow so why bother studying. With so many opinions and beliefs that we hear about; sure it’s hard for some to know what to believe, but why do we have to look to others to know what to believe? We have just made the Bible a very confusing book if we depend on others to tell us what to believe, and I want to tell you it pleases God very much if we find out on our own what to believe as individuals by doing our own personal studies.
John 8:31-36 KJV Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Christ spoke to only the Jews that believed on Him, therefore what Christ said applies to all believers; it applies to His Church, and it applies to all of us. Notice if we continue in His word then we shall know the truth. The key words are "if ye continue". We must continue learning God’s words to eventually know the truth. To continue means to grow, and please understand we will never grow if we are content to stay where we’re at, or if we’re stuck on neutral. We have to learn to shift our theological gears.
The Jews thought they were free from the bondage of being servants. The Jews knew the honor of being of Abraham's seed was not to be in bondage; but to rule and to be the blessing to all nations. But Christ was referring to being free from the bondage of sin. What does Christ freeing us from the bondage of sin have to do with the truth about the subject of Zion? Zion is a part of the overall truth of God that we are to continue learning; which makes us disciples of Christ, and Christ will indeed free us from the bondage of sin, as Christ explained in John 8.
By the way, I want to mention when I prepare these lessons I chose my words very carefully. I am not a communicator and I am not a teacher, and I do lack wisdom in giving these lessons. So I to ask you, please don’t let any of my comments bother you or offend you, and do not take my word for anything. I only want to read the scriptures, and then express what I believe based on what we read. We are on a journey through the scriptures in seeking for a city and we seek the understanding of this city by continuing in Christ’s words as we read in John 8, and that includes the words of the Old Testament.
In my previous lessons we saw that David made is home in historical physical Zion, and he dwelled in a castle and a fort that he captured from the Jebusites. We saw in Psalms that Zion was not at all that fort and castle that David dwelled in. We learned that Zion is God’s dwelling place and it is where God’s judgments will be determined for His children. We learned that David called mount Zion the "joy of the whole earth." We learned that salvation, joy, and gladness will come out of Zion for Jacob and Israel. We learned that the name Jacob was referred to before they were renamed as Israel, and Israel was referred to as having power as princes that prevail with God. That is what the name Israel means, as we know. We learned that all people will see the glory of God and the judgments that will come out of Zion.
When preparing these lessons I am forced to do some research and the more I analyze what the scriptures are truly saying the more I realize how little I understood about the subject of Zion, and I find the subject of Zion very interesting. I am finding things that I never seen before, and things that I have never heard discussed or talked about in all my life. I am just interested in reading the scriptures and then having the simplicity of mind and humility to just believe what I read.
I look at the meaning of words, because as we know, it was hard for the translators to express the correct meaning of Hebrew words into the English language. I have software that shows the words that were used for the original Hebrew words and it shows all the scriptures where all these words are found. It is best to read several verses before and after where Zion appears because we want to get the correct context.
Psalm 99:1-5 KJV The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2 The LORD [is] great in Zion; and he [is] high above all the people. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy. 4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; [for] he [is] holy.
The context of this Psalm is when the Lord reigneth; which includes the 1000 year rule. This is when He will be great in Zion. As we know, Moses was instructed to build two cherubim on each end of the Ark of the Covenant, and these cherubim had to be made exactly like God instructed because they had to accurately represent the function of these cherubim in Zion where God sits.
Exodus 25:21-22 KJV And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which [are] upon the ark of the testimony, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
God met and communed with Moses above the mercy seat regarding the written testimony put in that ark that God gave in commandment to Israel. That mercy seat is called the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). The point is, God had mercy when He commanded Israel. He wants to rule in mercy and He sits between two cherubim as a balance to cause the rule of God to function in mercy and not by rigid law keeping.
Genesis 3:24 KJV So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
"Keep the way" simply means to guard. Cherubim are angelic beings that guard the way of the tree of Life and also God’s mercy seat where God sits on His seat of power in Zion. The cherubim guard to keep the way of the tree of life available. It does not say the flaming sword turned everyone away; but that it only turned every way. Turned every way means to overthrow every way. Every way that could cause the way that leads to the tree of life to not be available is overthrown.
The mercy seat in Zion and the way of the tree of life are directly connected. Christ is the tree of life and the way to Christ is through mercy given by God from that mercy seat. God controls these cherubim and they are not above God’s authority. But there was an anointed Cherub that thought he was above God and we know who it was.
Eze 28:14 KJV Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
The stones of fire are highly symbolic of precious stones used for decoration, beauty, and splendor in the holy mountain of God. We are so very limited in our carnal thinking we cannot comprehend the awesome spiritual beauty in holy mount Zion; the house where God dwells. Satan was in holy mount Zion, and since he covered and guarded the mercy seat he rebelled against mercy. Satan did not understand the purpose of mercy and grace. He thought God’s mercy was not righteous judgment and he rebelled, and I believe he has been replaced so as to uphold the rule of two or three witnesses used to establish equity and righteousness in Jacob, as mentioned in Psalm 99.
The two witnesses are the cherubim that cover the mercy seat and God himself is the third witness. We here as a Church have two elders for leadership and the Church body itself becomes the third witness if it is needed. But the Church as one body has the final authority and God also has the final authority over the two Cherubim. God is now using Satan to cause His children to either choose rebellion with Satan or choose His mercy through Jesus Christ, and that is not rigid law keeping which is called legalism. God controls Satan and he is only a puppet on a leash and we are not to fear Satan; we are to fear God.
Mercy rises above the legal aspect of what the law says, or what is called the "letter of the law". The law never made anyone righteous; the law only causes every mouth to be stopped or silenced, and causes the entire world to be guilty as explained in Rom 3:19. God is a merciful God and He has mercy on His children when He establishes equity and executes judgment and righteousness in Jacob, and this is before Jacob is renamed as Israel. Only Jacob is mentioned in Psalm 99; not Israel. When the Lord reigneth He will be great in Zion and the king loves judgment, as we read. That means God loves judgment because He loves to show mercy; and that is not a contradiction.
Why would God love to judge all the world of Israel that is made guilty by the law? It is only after equity and righteousness is established through righteous judgment that mercy can truly be realized and appreciated; which is why God loves judgment. God’s judgments have to be premised on His love for His children and the point is; it is only through His mercy that any of His children can ever be saved.
Psalm 103:8-14 KJV The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.
If God’s judgments and rewards would be according to our sins and iniquities then God would not be a merciful God, now would He? But God’s mercy is directed only toward them that fear Him. If we do not have a healthy fear, or a deep reverence and respect toward God and the words of God then we can expect a fiery indignation from God.
Hebrews 10:25-29 KJV Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
We often wonder why it so important to assemble regularly with other believers. Verse 26 is in the same thought of not assembling because the word "for" is used which means because. Could this mean to sin willfully is because we do not assemble after we receive the knowledge of the truth? Before we receive the knowledge of the truth it wouldn’t matter for us assemble. But the point is, it matters very much AFTER we receive the knowledge of the truth because we are held accountable for growing in the truth, and that is only possible if we assemble as one body. To receive means we only accept the knowledge; it doesn’t mean we understand the truth; which is why we must grow in the truth. We accept the knowledge OF the truth, it doesn’t mean we know the truth; we only know OF the truth, and let’s not kid ourselves, we cannot grow in that truth unless we assemble with other believers.
Under Moses they died without mercy from a stoning, and suffered maybe a half hour or so. But God is not mocked, and under the sorer punishment the sufferings will be much worse, and we cannot know the mental torment and shame that comes under the judgment of God’s fiery indignation. The sorer punishment has to be done also without mercy or else it could not be called punishment, if you know what I mean.
But understand something; God is still a very merciful God because His throne in mount Zion is called the mercy seat. The righteous judge of the universe is a merciful judge, and if He has to show His fiery indignation it is BECAUSE He is a merciful God. Mercy is the reason for punishment because mercy is the ultimate expression of God. This sorer punishment will be executed at the resurrection of the unjust (Acts 24:15); which I believe will be after the 1000 year rule of Jesus Christ.
A resurrection of the vast majority that counted the shed blood of Christ an unholy thing, and notice also they despised the Spirit of grace. Satan also despised the Spirit of grace which is why he rebelled. Those that DO count the shed blood a very holy thing, and those that DO have a deep respect, reverence, and fear of God, and those that DO NOT despise the Spirit of grace; these all will receive mercy now in this age. That mercy is not according to our sins and iniquities or else it could not be mercy because we all do sin and come short of the glory of God. For God to judge according to our sins is what is called legalism.
God is sitting on the mercy seat between those two cherubim in mount Zion and He does not judge His people according to the letter of the law. In other words, the letters that spell the words of the commandments will produce the works of the law which cannot save anyone. God’s righteous judgments are by the spirit and intent of the heart, and that cannot be defined by letters and words. Mercy rises above the written words of what the law says.
Romans 3:19 explained what the letter of the law does; it says the law will silence every mouth and the entire world will be guilty, and guilty simply means subject to the judgment of God. We are all made guilty by the letter of the law, and we can all thank God we will all be judged by a merciful God and not judged on the legality of the law, or how the law is defined by letters and words. There is no mercy in judging according to our sins and iniquities, and our sins are defined by how the law is worded. Jesus Christ had no kind words for the type of people of His day that were involved in legalism. He repeatedly called them hypocrites.
The mercy of God is directly connected with the subject of Zion. Zion is where God sits on His mercy seat; the throne of grace. He sits on the seat of the power of the universe right between those two arch angels; the cherubim that make up the rule that by two or three witnesses every judgment and every word will be established in Jacob.
Hosea 6:5-6 KJV Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
This is talking about the sacrifices and burnt offerings of animals. The law of animal sacrifices stalled off the anger and wrath of God and was the substitute for the mercy and the knowledge of God. God desired to give the Israelites the real thing; His mercy and the knowledge of Him, but they didn’t deserve the real thing because of rebellion and unbelief, as we know. That is the way we all are by nature, and that is why believers are to become as living sacrifices and burnt offerings.
If we believe that the knowledge of God is not all that important then God will not reveal it; and the same goes for mercy if we don’t fear God. Hosea 4:6 says, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and Israel was destroyed which means "cut off." To ignore, reject, or not believe the words of God causes the lack of knowledge, and that is why God also rejects His people. This becomes very serious business brothers and sisters, so let’s not have a causal attitude toward growing in the correct knowledge of God.
But how are we to know what the correct knowledge of God is? Believe me, if we would have the proper reverence, respect, and fear of God and for the words of God then God would love to reveal the correct knowledge of Him. You see, that’s the problem. God knows most of us are content and would never change so God never turns the lights on.
Why are the judgments of God as light that goes forth, or shines as it should read in Hosea 6:5? Because the judgments of God will cause God’s mercy to shine and will cause the correct knowledge of God to shine, simply because that is what God desires to give to His people; as we read.
Psalm 51:15-19 KJV O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Look what takes place unto Zion by the sacrifices of broken spirits and contrite hearts. God is doing His good pleasure unto Zion. He is doing His good pleasure onto His children, and is building the walls of Jerusalem by these types of sacrifices. "Walls" mean walls of protection for those with broken spirits and hearts. Notice when God is pleased with these types of sacrifices of broken hearts and spirits; He will then accept the burnt offerings of bullocks as sacrifices of righteousness.
This was of course during the laws of the old covenant. God desires to do His good pleasure based on mercy and on the sacrifices of the broken spirits and hearts of His children. He delights in mercy and that is why His children must also have mercy. I would like to show something in Jude, and it is important that we get the context of what Jude is saying so let’s start in verse 14.
KJV 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
The correct context is when the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints. The extension of the meaning of "thousands" means an indefinite number, but if it is not an extension then it literally means only ten thousand, and the CLT says exactly that; ten thousand. So for what it’s worth, it could mean an indefinite number of saints coming with Christ or it could mean only ten thousand. What are these saints and Jesus Christ going to do?
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
The word "convince" is no. 1827 and means to convict fully and by implication to punish. It also means to admonish, rebuke, or reprove. Stop and think; why would the saints want to punish so as to convict fully, admonish, rebuke, and reprove these ungodly men? These saints will have the awesome power to execute judgment and to convince and convict fully all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds and ungodly words spoken against Christ. Remember the correct context of Jude is when the saints with Christ will execute judgment on all, and understand this kind of power could never apply in the time of Jude’s day.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude instructed believers to build or train themselves on the most holy faith. They were to look for the mercy of Jesus Christ and to build on that mercy; now notice what they are instructed to do.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
The word "compassion" is to show pity and mercy, but notice they are to make a difference with some when executing judgment upon all.
23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Glorified saints must be qualified to know if the garments of some are still spotted by the works of the flesh, and they must know WHEN to make a difference to pull some out of this fire to actually save them. The point is, Jude instructed the saints of his day to look for the mercy of Jesus Christ so that they will also show mercy, compassion, and pity when executing judgment on all the ungodly. I want to read verse 23 in the CLT: And to those indeed who are doubting be merciful, yet others be saving snatching them out of the fire, yet to others be merciful with fear hating even the tunic spotted by the flesh. I believe that is the correct wording.
There are three classes of the ungodly in the fire that the saints with Christ will execute judgment on; some are still in doubt, some are ready to be saved, and others are still spotted by the works of the flesh. The point is, executing judgment on all must be done by fully convicting the ungodly; to reprove and rebuke them, and after they are fully convicted and convinced then the saints must have mercy, pity, and compassion. The glorified saints will have real power, and with that kind of power they have to be spiritually trained in this life to have compassion and mercy on the ungodly. That was the message of Jude.
The ungodly men of Jude’s day will be in the general resurrection of the unjust, and Jude instructed the saints when they rule with Christ to have mercy on these men after they are convicted fully and reproved. Could it be that God will choose out of the resurrection of the first fruits the cream of the crop, so to speak, to execute His judgment, and could it be only ten thousand? These saints are highly qualified to show mercy because they were trained to grow in grace as well as in knowledge, as Peter said in 2 Peter3:18. What is this fire that the saints pull others out of to save them, and when does it take place?
Most Christians take Jude to mean that they are to pull others out of the fire now, and we know what they mean. There’s nothing wrong with trying to convert sinners from the error of their way as explained in James 5:20, and in that sense they believe they are saving people by pulling them symbolically out of the fire of God’s wrath now in this age. I checked various Commentators and they interpret Jude as most Christians do. The commentators don’t like to talk about saints that have the awesome authority to execute judgment on the ungodly, and having the power to actually save others out of that fire.
I don’t believe Jude was talking about pulling the ungodly out of the fire now in this age. Remember Jude said to save others, and I believe only glorified saints that are qualified to execute God’s judgments will have the power to save others out of the fire of God’s wrath, and they will actually be saviors.
Obadiah 21 KJV And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.
It says saviors will come up on mount Zion to judge. That is what it says. As we all know, Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16). One of the meanings given for baptize is to whelm, and in the case of water baptism it is the water that whelms, immersions, or covers completely, and it can also mean to overwhelm. When Jesus Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire He immerses and overwhelms believers with God’s Spirit and with God’s consuming fire. So why would we want to pull others out of the fire that Jesus Christ himself overwhelms believers with?
That is the fire that all believers are baptized with NOW so they can be tried by God’s consuming fire NOW in this life. God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and as we know, judgment must begin with the house of God now (1Peter 4:17). So why would anyone want to pull others out of God’s fire that consumes the works of the flesh NOW in this life?
Believers must be led by the Holy Spirit so that the works of the flesh can be consumed by that fire now. Christ wants people to experience that fire; so why would we want to symbolically pull them out of that fire, or why would we also want to prevent unbelievers from going in that fire? I am only asking. I find it very interesting that the apostle John said in 1John 4:17
KJV Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Why are believers to have boldness in the day of judgment, and just when is the day of judgment? I believe Jude answered both these questions. Glorified saints are to be bold to convince and rebuke the ungodly; they are to be bold when they pull and save some out of that fire, and they are to be bold to judge WHEN to save. But at the same time they must have compassion, pity, and mercy. That kind of power is given by the Father who sits on the mercy seat between those two cherubim in mount Zion. God will resurrect the ungodly and they will all face God during the fire of His wrath.
I believe the glorified saints are then to show mercy and boldness when making a difference in saving some out of the fire. They are to be bold to hate the garments, but to still have compassion, pity, and mercy on the ungodly when they see that some are not yet cleansed and purified from the works of the flesh. One more scripture then I will close.
Psalm 102:1-22 KJV A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day [when] I call answer me speedily. 3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. 8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; [and] they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. 12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
This Psalm is a prayer of the afflicted, and there is a lot of trouble and affliction mentioned. Notice the words consumed, smoke, and burned in verse 3. These are words used with the wrath of God, and notice in verse 10 these afflictions are because of God’s indignation and wrath. Zion is mentioned several times, and notice at the set time after the afflictions God arises to have mercy upon Zion. He has mercy on His people. God builds up Zion, or builds up His people when He appears in glory, and the heathen and all the kings will fear God’s name and His glory.
Abraham looked a city whose builder and maker is God. God is the builder when He builds up Zion by His mercy, and notice this was written for the generation to come. "Generation" is no. 1755 and means age. God’s mercy will be fully realized when He builds up Zion in the age to come. God hears the groaning of prisoners and by His mercy He loosens those appointed to death. All of God’s children inherited sin and death and all are appointed to death and will be loosed from death in the ages to come, and they will declare God in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem. This is also when kingdoms will serve God. All these promises can only come as a result of the mercy of God, and if God is in us that mercy is also in us.
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