FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES



Recently, Patti had a very informative conversation with someone on Five Doves site. If I remember correctly, a person named David asked her a question concerning the "revealing of the Antichrist" and when this would happen.

Although many Christians do not have the same spiritual understanding that I do, this does not mean that my understanding is incorrect. But, I do feel that to interpret Scripture TOTALLY in the "natural" realm is absolutely INCORRECT.

I Cor.15:46..."Howbeit that was NOT FIRST which is spiritual, but that which is NATURAL; and AFTERWARD that which is spiritual." The interpretation of the Bible is FIRST "natural" and then "spiritual"....and this is what we are told by God.

What God DOES NOT SAY is that FIRST comes the "natural" examples (OT), followed by "spiritual" fulfillment of the natural examples (NT) and THEN, there will be COMBINED "natural and spiritual" at the end. And that is what too many Christians are trying to do....putting "natural" interpretations in the end-times WHERE THEY DO NOT BELONG!

If we are looking for the "man of sin" (II Thess.2:3), "Mystery, Babylon" (Rev.17:5), or "antichrist(s)" (I John 2:18, II John 1:7) they are defined for us in the Bible as SPIRITUAL understandings. Yet, Christians still want to make them into things we can "see", "touch" or "hear" with our natural senses.

With the word "BEAST", we are given the definition in Ecclesiastes 3:18...

"I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might SEE that they themselves ARE BEASTS."

ALL THESE WICKED THINGS ARE WITHIN EACH ONE OF US...and they will be "destroyed" by Jesus Christ at His coming...

II Thess.2:8..."And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." These "wicked" things are the "Adversary" (I Peter 5: within each one of us. Yet, most Christians look to anyone, and everyone, OUTSIDE of themselves.


Great link on this from December 12, 1647...when the apostasy in the "body of Christ" was not as complete as it is today:


http://awildernessvoice.com/AntiChristinMan.html


Piece of the link article:


The revelation of the man of sin, the Antichrist, or mystery of iniquity, as being within us is a revelation that will put us on our knees before the Lord, seeking for deliverance from this harlot within that has troubled the world from Adam's day to this. All who are walking with Christ in this final hour of the age will repent and will seek for that Life in Christ that is reserved for those who love His appearing.

The word "wh*re" is used throughout the book. Although it may seem strong to some of us, the use of the word is no less startling than the truth of her presence within us. She is the reason behind all the sins of the flesh. She is the cause of the downfall of preachers and evangelists. She is the mother of the present, corrupt church system. She is the architect of all three realms of Babylon, which is religious, political and economic. She is indeed "the mother of harlots."

This book by Joseph Salmon was written in 1647. It is interesting to realize that the early seventeenth century was an era of the revelation of divine truth, for we have received other copies of inspiring books from this period. Jacob Boehme was another inspired writer who wrote in the same era. It is reported that Mr. Boehme wrote thirty books from 1612 to 1624. He said of his books: "My books are written only for those who desire to be sanctified and united to God, from whom they came; not through my understanding, but in my resignation in Christ; from Him have I received knowledge of His mysteries. God dwells in that which will resign itself up, with all its reason and skill, unto Him. I have prayed strongly that I might not write except for the glory of God and the instruction and benefit of my brethren."

****************

This is well worth considering....even though it may be far from your thoughts and beliefs at this present time. Paul had a struggle with this, and he told us all about the "wretched man" that he felt he was in Romans chapter 7. He fully understood this spiritual concept...and much evil coming from within "man" instead of outside in the natural realm.

Arlene

Dear Arlene,

As usual you really hit the nail on the head!!! This is exactly what is happening, it is the natural being mixed with the spiritual, that is blocking so much of what can be understood as the Truth.

I especially like what you say in this paragraph, and I quote:

"What God DOES NOT SAY is that FIRST comes the "natural" examples (OT), followed by "spiritual" fulfillment of the natural examples (NT) and THEN, there will be COMBINED "natural and spiritual" at the end. And that is what too many Christians are trying to do....putting "natural" interpretations in the end-times WHERE THEY DO NOT BELONG!"

The "nature of man" or the natural, cannot be mixed with the Spiritual, or the whole will crumble. The ways of the natural leads to death, and the ways of the Spiritual leads to life. If we mix them, then we end up with a half dead hollow religion. It reminds me of the statue in Daniel, with the feet and toes made of iron mixed with clay. The iron being the Truth, and the clay being the false doctrines of men. The Truth cannot be mixed with lies, so therefore the whole statue crumples.

Adam and Eve first fell Spiritually and then they naturally died. Natural does not lead to eternal life, only Spiritual leads to life everlasting. Man is natural, God is Spirit, they cannot mix. Man must become Spiritually ALIVE, and rise above the natural in order to have a relationship with the Creator. The created, the clay, cannot mix with the Spirit of the Creator, as one is temporary and one is Eternal. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE NATURAL TO BECOME SPIRITUAL.

I am in total agreement that all mankind are beasts, and our personal relationship with our Creator is one that can be aligned with the whole plan of Salvation for all mankind. Judgment begins at the house of God, which is each of us individually, as we are the temple of God. We can see every aspect of the Bible being played out in our own lives, especially if we are having a personal walk with Jesus and are part of His Kingdom.

I feel what is playing out, in the world, right now is a reflection of the collective soul of mankind. The majority of mankind preferring the natural over the Spiritual, choosing Satan over Christ, and that choice has consequences on a worldly scale, as well as with each individual.

Just some thoughts on what you wrote. Hope you do not mind me chiming in. Great post!! Thought provoking and eye opening!!

Agape!

Patti C.

Re: Patty's "chiming in"...


When you do it as well as you do, then I don't mind at all!! In fact, I rejoice in the fact that someone thinks spiritually at all!!

That's what the "body" is supposed to do....each put in some things, and others put in their thoughts until the whole thing comes together like a big jigsaw puzzle.

But, as you (and I) said, one CANNOT mix the spiritual with the natural...and that's a good thought that you had about Daniel 2:43 with the mixing of iron and clay. Spiritual and natural will never mix because they are in different dimensions. Theology built on mixing them disintegrates....

Thanks for your input, Patti....

Arlene

bump