PART VI: THE TWO JUDGMENTS BY FIRE ........................................................1 Jesus ChristThe Rock ............................................................................................1 Who is this Man, The Christ? ...................................................................................3 Take Heed How You Build ........................................................................................5 Everything is Relative ...............................................................................................7 (The Saviour of All Men, Specially Believers) ..........................................................8 The Life of a Believer ..............................................................................................11 Revealed and Tried by Fire ....................................................................................13 Salvation by Fire .....................................................................................................13 Scripture Must Interpret Scripture ........................................................................14 Brimstone in the Lake of Fire .................................................................................15 Some Properties of Sulfur .......................................................................................16 Scriptural Use of Figurative Fire ...........................................................................17 Symbolic Brimstone ................................................................................................18 Origin of the Word Brimstone ...............................................................................19 First the Physical and then the Spiritual ...............................................................22 Jerusalems Spiritual Sister is Sodom ...................................................................26 Jerusalem is Far Worse than the very Worst ..........................................................27 It All Began at Babel ..............................................................................................29
PART VI:
Only two sections of Scripture speak of judging every mans work in fire. They are Revelation 20 and I Corinthians 3. Earlier in this series we covered many Scriptures showing that Judgment is on the House of God NOW (from the time of the Apostles until the return of Christ), and that there is coming a later judgment at the Great White Throne. All humanity and all angelic messengers will be judged in one of these two judgments by fire. In Part V we saw how God likens believers to a garden that is to produce fruit. God also likens our spiritual development to that of a building. We are to produce much spiritual fruit which will also make us living stones in a great temple pre pared for Gods dwelling place. We will now continue our study beginning with the Foundation upon which all this spiritual structure is to be built.
laid, which IS Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this
We already saw that we are Gods building of living stones that are to produce garden varieties of spiritual fruit. Paul gives us an even clearer description of this spiritual building process in Eph. 2:19-21, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
In whom all the building fitly framed [being connected together] built together for an habitation [dwelling place] through [in]
Gods Word portrays a far different and higher spiritual destiny than the Christi an candy-coated heaven of a Disney World Magic Kingdom with pearly gates, streets of gold, fluffy clouds, and chubby-cheeked cherubs strumming their little harps while huge choruses sing rock-n-roll gospel music and the saints practice rapping with the angels in a land of endless mountains of chocolate and candy where every one has his own mansion in which to live in the lap of perpetual luxury, laziness, and non-accomplishment, catering to the lusts of the flesh while delighting over a vision of countless billions writhing in unspeakable torturous pain of an eternal lake of fire. What a HELL that would be! Maybe it is time we rid ourselves of all the fabled fantasies of pagan nirvanas. Saints are never going to a geographical location on a huge rock or planet in outer space called heaven. There will never descend out of heaven a literal city with pearly gates or streets of gold. We will never live in such a literal, physical, material city! These are symbols, metaphors, and word pictures to describe SPIRITUAL REALITIES. Gods kingdom is SPIRITUAL. All in Gods kingdom will be SPIRITUAL. And all this is being built on a huge SPIRITUAL ROCKThe CHRIST. Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone, the Foundation, the ROCK! I live in Miami, Florida where they have recently completed twin towers of fortyfive stories each right on the sand of Miami Beach. That is they appear to be built right on the sand. They are, in fact, anchored on many pilings driven down to solid bedrock. No one is foolish enough to spend a hundred million dollars on skyscrapers that would have sand for their foundation. Jesus Christ is the spiritual bedrock upon which we are to become a spiritual and fit dwelling place for God. In times past God made His presence known within the physical temple at Jerusalem. But the physical tabernacle in Jerusalem is long gone. The Levitic priesthood is long gone. But there is still an high Priest: But Christ being come an HIGH PRIEST of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building For Christ is not
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 3 entered into the holy places made with hands, which are fig ures of the true; but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God FOR US (Heb. 9:11 & 24).
GLORY, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, and up had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power or darkness, and has translated demption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, the firstborn of every
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or AND FOR HIM [Jesus Christ]:
And He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and by Him ALL THINGS CONSIST. And He is the HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH: who is the beginning, the firstborn form the dead, that in ALL
I am Alpha and Omega, the BEGINNING and the ENDING, THE ALMIGHTY (Rev. 1:8).
saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, God. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM: and without Him the life was the light of men (John 1:1-3).
and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with was not any thing made that was made. IN HIM WAS LIFE; and
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Ab raham WAS, I AM (John 8:58). And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shall thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me to you (Ex. 3:14).
Jesus Christ was the GOD of the Old Testament! Jesus Christ was JEHOVAH! Moses SAW and HEARD Jehovah, yet John tells us that, No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE HAS DECLARED HIM (John 1:18). And this, And the Father Himself, which hath sent me, has born witness of Me. Ye have neither HEARD HIS VOICE at any time, NOR SEEN HIS SHAPE (John 5:37).
For the Father judges no man, but has committed ALL JUDG MENT UNTO THE SON (John 5:22).
And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH (Matt. 28:18).
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 5 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did
all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spir itual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST (I Cor. 10:1-4). And contrary to popular Christian tradition, Jesus did NOT say that He would build His church upon Peter. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [Greek, petros, a piece of detached stone or rock], and upon THIS ROCK [Greek, petra {a different kind of rock}, a mass of rock that cannot be moved as in Matt. 7:24 and 27:60, which is distinct from petros which is a smaller detached rock that can be moved] will I build MY CHURCH; and the gates of the unseen [hades] shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). Jesus named Simon, Cephas(Peter is the Greek translation of Cephas which is Chaldee): And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone (John 1:42), said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called
That is, a smaller detached stone or rock in contrast to Himself who is a huge unmovable mass of foundational BEDROCK. See Luke 6:48. The Church of the Liv ing God is build upon CHRIST, not Peter! And so it is upon this SPIRITUAL, un movable, foundational, bedrock of Jesus Christ that we are to be built into a new spiritual creation.
And so it clearly has already begun with the Apostles and New Testament Church nearly two thousand years ago. And it is still going on in the Church of God today, in every believers life, as he lives his life.
And so judgment is upon the building of Gods house as each individual believer is framed and fitted for the calling that God has for each individual. This judgment began in the days of the Apostles after the resurrection of our Lord. It continued generation after generation down through the age until today when it yet continues. And it will continue still further until the entire harvest of firstfruits is completed. Remember we already learned that if we would judge ourselves now, Paul said we would not be condemned with the world later (I Cor. 11:32). It is while we are living and building that our works are being tried and judged BY FIRE according to HOW we are building. What fire? Gods fire. Gods CON SUMING [spiritual] FIRE (Heb. 12:29)! God is SPIRIT and likewise His fire is SPIRIT. I have never heard a minister or teacher preach on the good and beneficial side of Gods FIRE. Fire is usually portrayed as bringing about pain, evil, and de struction. Since God is GOOD (Luke 18:19), and God is SPIRIT (John 4:24), and God is INVISIBLE (Col. 1:15), why does the church teach the world that God as a CONSUMING FIRE (Heb. 12:29) is visible and not invisible, literal and not spir itual, and bad rather than good? For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones [valuable traits of Godly spiritual char acter] wood, hay, stubble [carnal traits of no value]; Every mans cause IT SHALL BE REVEALED BY FIRE; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, be
Every thought, every word, and every deed that proceeds out of the heart and mind of man is his WORKS. And every thought, every word, and every deed of man will come into the judgment of Almighty Gods CONSUMING FIRE. Notice that it is both our things of great value: gold, silver, precious stones, and our things of no value: wood, hay, stubble that are tried in the fire, Gods Consum ing Fire. Every person possesses knowledge, therefore, every person is a combina tion of both good and evil (for knowledge can only be a combination of both good and evil knowledge).
Everything is Relative
Everything in the universe is a contrast with or to something else in the universe. Nothing can be known about anything without contrasting it with other things. You cannot think a thought nor can you perform a deed without a working knowledge of these contrasting factors. If I should say that a box is big, you could not have any conception of what I am saying unless you also know what it is for something to be small. Something is only smooth in contrast to it being rough. Up is only up in rela tion to down. Without the contrasting relationship between two opposites up could just as easily be down. And all big boxes might be perceived as small were it not for the fact that there would be no concept of small without a knowledge of big. Therefore, in the physical universe, all things are what they are by contrast and relativity. Very hot stars are only very hot relative to cooler stars. If there were no knowledge of cooler stars, there could also be no hot stars. Things are either hard or soft, or harder or softer (but harder or softer than WHAT?always, something else). Things are light or dark (or somewhere in between, (but the in between can also only be known by gradations of relativity as well). Things are heavy or light, sharp or dull, big or small, tall or short, strong or weak, hot or cold, left or right, north or south, in or out, new or old, beginning or end, fast or slow, fat or skinny, straight or crooked, up or down, high or low, moving or still, positive or negative, visible or in visible, etc. You get the idea. Now then, this same law of knowledge pertains to inan imate things and things of a spiritual nature as well. Again it is only by understand ing one thing relative to another or one thing contrasted with another that enables us to intelligently communicate and live our lives. Lets look at a few of these: happy or sad, giving or stingy, build or destroy, kind or cruel, energetic or lazy, haughty or humble, intelligent or stupid, wise or foolish, right or wrong, true or false, good or evil, righteous or wicked, love or hate, life or death, temporary or eternal. Having a working knowledge of these relative and contrasting terms and con cepts is absolutely essential in living our lives. We must all come to know and to ex perience both good and evil. The universal teaching that God never intended for man to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is as false and unscriptur al as anything could ever be. It was both essential and paramount that man should eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge of both good and evil is an attribute of God Himself. If we are to be the sons of God, we too must partake of this quality of Gods nature. How could man ever be fully made into the very im age of His Creator God if he did not possess even the basic fundamental attributes of his Creator and Father? Let me make one thing clear at this point, lest my detractors think they have dis covered a major flaw in my teaching. Evil is not good nor is it eternal. Nonetheless, a knowledge of evil is good and is eternal. All evil will take its place in the lake of
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation [so here is another statement that is worthy and acceptable in the sight of God]. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, be cause we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of ALL MEN [and nothing short of all men IS worthy or acceptable to God], specially [specially does not mean exclusively] of those that be lieve (I Tim. 4:10).
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 9 He informed me that in my ignorance I failed to see that the all men that God wills to be saved in verse 4 is speaking of kings and those in authority of verse 2 ONLY! Oh really? I asked him if the all men of verses 4 and 5 also pertained ONLY to the con text of verse 2. Lets read it: For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men for ALL [mankind], to be testified in DUE time (I Tim. 2:5-6). [all mankind], the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom
I asked him if Jesus Christ gave Himself a ransom for all kings and all in au thority ONLY (in keeping with his theory of context, context, context)? I never heard from him again. Alleging themselves to be wise, they are made STUPID (Rom. 1:22, Concordant New Testament). Let me kindly point out that the kings and authorities of verse 2 are only two categories of the all men in verse 1. Do we really think that what Paul was actu ally meaning to say is this: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, pray ers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all kings and for all that are in authority, ONLY? NO! The supplications, intercessions and giving of thanks were to be made for ALL men. Paul then gives us two categories of men out of all men that should be included. Namely kings and those in authority, because these have the power and authority to make our lives miserable if they become our en emies, and Paul desired that the saints live a quiet and peaceable life as much as is possible in this wicked world. I was kind of sad that my detractor did not answer back my last email to him, be cause I was holding I Tim. 4:10 in store for my next rebuttal to his inane arguments. Now this truly is a remarkable Scripture. I have had many traitors of the truth tell me that when God speaks of all being saved it always means all saints or all in the context or all in Christ or some other all, just as long as it can never ever mean all of mankind. But dont you just know that it is Gods way to shut the mouths of deceivers. Lets look at I Tim. 4:9-10 in any context you wish: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we specially of those that believe.
Now had God left off that last phrase, specially of those that believe, then
Is it even necessary that I point out that this verse does not in any way insinuate that the unruly and vain talkers and deceivers are ALL from the circumcision ONLY? Not now as a servant but above a servant, a brother beloved, flesh, and in the Lord? (Philemon 16). SPECIALLY to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the
This verse says for sure that Onesimus was special to more than just Paul. And so it is with every single use of this Greek work in the New Testament. It is absolutely clear and irrefutable that the believers of I Tim. 4:10 are saved in a special way, that is, they are saved before the rest of humanity, and they are given the gift of eonian (age-abiding) life reigning with Christ in the Kingdom of God, ages
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 11 before the rest of humanity are saved. Only those called and chosen NOW will EVER reign and rule and bring salvation to the rest of the world and to the universe THIS is a special gift of God to believers being called in this age ONLY. But BUT, the rest of humanity WILL ALSO BE SAVED (albeit by way of the lake of fire in the great white throne judgment). And so it is that long before the rest of humanity is purged through the lake of fire, believers must also be purged through FIRE. It is so sad that these things are not taught in Sunday school or church. Salvation is by grace through faith. But if we isolate these two words grace and faith from all the thousands of Scriptures that show us how grace and faith operate in the real world, then we will fail to see or un derstand the most fundamental of New Testament teachings. GAL. 2:20.
a NEW CREATURE [Gk: creation]: old things are passed away; be hold, all things are become new (II Cor. 5:17). Albeit, this new creation has its perils as we will see in the next verse. 3. Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus [as a new and dif is not just a possibility; it is an absolute PROMISE. 4. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to con tinue in the faith, and that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION [pressure, afflictions] enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). 5. ferent creature] SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION. (II Tim. 3:12). This
will give you a CROWN OF LIFE (Rev. 2:10). To him that over (Rev. 2:7), He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death
comes will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE [eternal, immortal life] (Rev. 2:11), And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the
end, to him will I give POWER OVER THE NATIONS (Rev. 2;26), He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment [righteousness] and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life
[Christ is the book of life] but I will confess his name before my Fath er, and before his angels (Rev. 3:5), Him that overcomes will I make a PILLAR [a main and vital support in the very government of that overcomes will I grant to SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, even in His throne (Rev. 3:21). Almighty God] IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD (Rev. 3:12), To him as I also overcame [see John 16:33], and am set down with My Father There we have a very brief overview of the life of a believer. Is it not obvious that the life of a believer consists of a whole lot more than just believing that Jesus is the Christ? God has bigger plans for the human race than just saving them. God can save chickens, but God doesnt want chickens for sons! God wants sons that are PERFECT as He is perfect! Wouldnt you all agree that becoming perfect might just require a whole lot more than singing gospel music once a week? Perfection re quires many things that only God can perform in our lives. We are, after all, His workmanship, His achievement. Having ALL OUR WORKS tried in the fire of His
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 13 Holy Spirit is no small part of becoming perfect.
words, and deeds] shall be made manifest [become known, come to light]: for the day shall declare it [make it evident], because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is (I Cor. 3:12-13).
The fire in these verses is no more literal than are the gold or stubble suggested as building materials. People do not construct large buildings out of gold, neither do they set them on fire after completion to see how well they will fare. This is all figur ative and symbolic language to instruct us in much higher spiritual development. We are not literaI gardens of God neither are we literal buildings of God. But we are like gardens in certain wayswe are to produce good spiritual fruit. We are like buildings in certain wayswe are to be a spiritual dwelling place for God. We have works that are like gold and silver in certain wayswe have thoughts, words, and deeds of good and lasting value. We also have carnal and evil worksbad thoughts, crass words, and evil deeds that are of no lasting value and are only fit for destruc tion. Only Gods SPIRITUAL FIRE can burn away spiritual wickedness and evils of the heart. All of these material items are used as symbols of spiritual things. Therefore, of necessity, the fire that tries these material symbols is also SPIRITUAL. It is not possible to burn up with fire an inanimate character flaw without burning up the person who harbors it. Likewise, it is not possible to purge and purify the good qual ities of character in a person with literal fire without burning up the individual that possesses them. But spiritual fire, Gods all consuming, purging and purifying fire is perfectly suited to do just that. This trying and purging is not always pleasant, how ever, it is not a torture chamber either. Does this fire harm the person being purged in this fire?
Salvation by Fire
No, our merciful and graceful loving God and Father does not eternally torture hu manity IN fire, but rather eternally saves humanity BY fire. Lets read it and rejoice:
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE
shall try every mans work of what sort it is. If any mans work
HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; YET SO AS BY FIRE (I Cor. 3:1315). Does everyone understand this? NO ONE is tortured, killed, or annihilated in this fire! This fire of God SAVES people who go through it! There is salvation BY means of this fire. This fire is part of Gods judgment and grace!
are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak [in only twelve more verses Paul Himself speaks of just such spiritual things concerning the judgment of mens works in fire] not in the words which mans wisdom teaches [not the same physical torture in physical fire taught by the foolish understanding of the church] but SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL. which the Holy Spirit teaches; COMPARING [OR MATCHING]
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 15 By comparing these two spiritually matched Scriptures with one another we can come to the truth of Gods intention for BOTH of these fires that judge and try EVERY MANS WORK in their own order. The fire of I Cor. 3 accomplishes the very same thing as the fire of Rev. 20 accom plishes. Both of these fires are symbolic. Literal fire does not burn up inanimate flaws (wood, straw and stubble) of human character. But AS literal fire does burn up literal wood, straw and stubble, SO ALSO does Gods spiritual fire burn up human character flaws. We are not told of this wood, straw and stubble in the lake of fire, nor of the gold, silver and precious stones. We learn from I Cor. 3 that this is the case with the lake of fire also because these two sets of Scripture are the ONLY spir itual match in the entirety of the Bible. And just as we learn new things and addi tional things about the lake of fire in I Cor. 3, we also learn something new and dif ferent in Rev. 20:10 that is not mentioned in I Cor. 3. In this lake of fire of Rev. 20 we find a most unusual thing brimstone. BRIM STONE? OH NO! NOT BRIMSTONE! Isnt this lake of fire going to be painful enough without adding brimstone? First we learn from Christendom that the nonbelievers and wicked will be tortured for all eternity in literal white-hot fire, and now we read in the Scriptures that there is going to be BRIMSTONE in this lake of fire! Whose idea is it to add brimstone to this fire? Is this a cruel curse from Satan? That doesnt seem plausible seeing that this is GODS WHITE THRONE JUDG MENT, and not Satans BLACK THRONE JUDGMENT. But why then would God be putting this cursed brimstone into this fire? Wait a minute Maybe the brim stone isnt a cruel curse from God, but rather a marvelous blessing. Is that possible? With God all things are possible.
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 17 occasions. I am certain that none would consider the following verses as using fire in a literal way:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tarried with FIRE, might be Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:7). found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
And the tongue is a FIRE (James 3:6). And of the angels He says, who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of FIRE (Heb. 1:7).
Every mans work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE; and the FIRE shall try every mans work of what sort it is (I Cor. 3:13). For our God is a consuming FIRE (Heb. 12:29). Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of FIRE on his head (Rom. 12:20).
with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with FIRE (Luke 3:16).
For EVERY ONE shall be salted with FIRE, and every sacri fice shall be salted with salt (Mark 9:49).
But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners FIRE, and like fullers soap (Malachi 3:2).
For in My jealousy and in the FIRE of My wrath have I spoken (Ezek. 38;19).
From above has He sent FIRE into my bones (Lamentations 1:13). Is not My word like as a FIRE? Saith the Lord (Jer. 23:29). Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming FIRE (Psalm 104:4).
Symbolic Brimstone
And there are, of course, many more such Scriptures. Fire is often used in figurative language. But what about the brimstone? Why, oh why, is there brimstone in the lake of fire? It isnt caustic to the skin; it isnt noxious to the smell; it isnt ugly to look at, and its a poor conductor of heat, how can brimstone (sulfur) be detrimental to humans who are thrown into this lake of fire? Consider that sulfur is used to make medicines. Remember how many were saved with the famous sulfa drugs back in World War Two? Are there spiritually sick people in this lake of fire? THEY ARE ALL SPIRITUALLY SICK! EVERY ONE OF THEM! They certainly need a good medicine. We also learned that sulfur has been used since the beginning of time for PURIFICATION! Are those thrown into this lake of fire pure? I speak as a fool. THEY ALL NEED PURIFICATION! EVERY ONE OF THEM! Since physical medicines cannot cure the spiritually sick, and physical sulfur cannot purge spiritual impurities, it follows that the sulfur in this lake of fire is also being used symbolically. But the physical benefits of physical sulfur used as a spir itual symbol of healing and purification is only the tip of the iceberg. What is the real origin of this word brimstone (sulfur)? Lets notice carefully the first few times that brimstone is used in the Scriptures: Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah BRIMSTONE and fire from the Lord out of heaven And he [Abraham] looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace (Gen. 19:24 & 28).
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 19 Now in this historical event there is nothing in suggest that this destruction was figurative. No, it was a literal destruction, however, it most certainly is a spiritual and symbolic message in this destruction for our admonition TODAY! Now ALL these things happened unto them for ensamples: ends of the world are come (I Cor. 10:11). and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the
Notice that this destruction of these cities comes from God, but not only did God burn the cities, but the WHOLE PLAIN AND COUNTRY as well. This destruction from the Lord was so complete that even the location of these cities is a matter of conjecture to this day! But why the brimstone? Could God not destroy these cities with fire ALONE? Why was there brimstone in this fire? So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sick ness which the Lord has laid upon it; and that the WHOLE LAND thereof is BRIMSTONE, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Deut. 29:22-23).
Notice once again that this destruction comes from the Lord and that it is a com plete and total destruction so that even grass would not grow on this land. Half of the occurrences of the word brimstone in Scripture are found in the book of Revelation. Every single time the word brimstone is used in Scripture, its source is GOD out of heaven. Satan is NEVER connected with the use of brimstone. Brim stone is as far removed from the nature of Satan as unrighteousness is removed from the nature of God. Now then, what is brimstone, REALLY? Are you ready for this? After all the centuries of rank paganism being interjected into Gods pure Word, its time we blow the lid off of this heresy being published and preached by the church around the world, blaspheming the very name and nature of our Great God!
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 21 For BY GRACE are you saved (Eph. 2:8). How so? men [but notice how it does something more in ADDITION to bringing salvation], TEACHING [Greek: paideuo, TO TRAIN, EDUCATE, DISCIPLINE, PUNISH, CHASTISE, LEARN, INSTRUCT. (P. 186, Strongs Greek Dictionary of the New Testament). Such words as discipline, punish, and chastise, are great TRIALS that we are to go through and endure. These things are not fun, but wearisome. Peter has instructed us with the following wisdom: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto SALVA TION [yes, and by grace] ready to be revealed in the last time. heavy heart], though now for a season, if need be, you are IN Wherein you GREATLY REJOICE [rejoice, Yes, but also with a HEAVINESS through MANIFOLD temptations [trials]: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it [your faith] be TRIED WITH FIRE [fire is an important aspect of saving grace], might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:57). Salvation involves the trying of our faith with FIRE. This Peter calls our For the GRACE of God that brings SALVATION has appeared to all
FIERY trial, Beloved, think it not strange [this is not some unusually or rare thingwe ALL must go through it sooner or later] concerning the FIERY TRIAL which IS [certain] to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you [or you only] (I Peter 4:12).
But Peter is not speaking of literal fire, but spiritual fire, Gods all CONSUM ING spiritual fire. There was a reason for the brimstone in the fire that destroyed Sodom and there is a reason for the brimstone that is in the lake of fire judgment. Are we so nave as to think that God could not have destroyed Sodom and the neigh boring cities with fire alone? Was the brimstone necessary to destroyed Sodom? Not only didnt God need to use brimstone to destroy Sodom: He didnt even need to use fire. God could have just made Sodom DISAPPEAR! If Mrs. OLeary cow could burn down Chicago without any brimstone, but merely by knocking over a lantern, surely God could have burned down Sodom as well without any brimstone. Just as there are properties of fire that God wants us to understand in the spiritual, there are properties of brimstone that God wants us to understand in the spiritual! Can we not get it into our heads that GOD IS SPIRIT and that all He is
But this is not what the church teaches. They teach that first came the natural, the soulish, the physical, and AFTERWARD will come A BETTER VERSION of the natural, the soulish, the physical! That is unscriptural nonsense. God is not building a better version of our physical bodies. We will be given SPIRITUAL BODIES: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, er star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from anoth sown in corruption; [Adam was destined to DIE from the time of his very creation:] For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willing, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in
hope, Because the creature itself [this certainly includes Adam] also shall be delivered from the bondage of CORRUPTION raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in Rom. 8:20-21. [Adam was created in the bondage of corruption]; it is glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a
natural body; it is raised a SPIRITUAL BODY. And so it is writ ten, The first man Adam was made a living soul [subject to death and corruption]; the last Adam was made a quickening SPIRIT [NOT subject to death or corruption]. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is SPIRITUAL (I Cor. 15:42-46).
Make no mistake about it, what God is creating is SPIRITUAL and eternal. But first He created the physical and the temporary. He has dealt with the physical and
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 23 temporary in the past, and will get do so in the future, but the time will come when God will do away with physical things, and then all will be spiritual. There was an OLD Covenant and now there is a NEW Covenant. The first was based solely on the physical and temporary promises, whereas the second is based on SPIRITUAL AND PERMANENT promises! The reason there was brimstone in the fire from heaven when God destroyed Sodom and the cities of the plain is that brimstone is a purging and purifying agent. And brimstone means DIVINE! This purging of the plain of these evil cities was a DIVINE purging fire from the God of heaven. God so divinely purged those cities of the plain that their very location is a matter of speculation for archeologists. To show Gods utter disdain for the sins of that land, God did not merely destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities, but He rather WIPED THEM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH! That land was then pure! It was fumigated. It was made white. It was purged of every and all wickedness of its inhabitants. Poor Sodom. Are they lost forever? Are all Sodomites right now burning in the fires of some fabled hell? What do you suppose might have been the fate of Sodom had Jesus preached His message there and performed His healing miracles there? We dont have to suppose or guess, because Jesus has already told us exactly what would have happened if He had taught and healed in Sodom: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be bought down to hell [Greek: hades the unseen]: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in 11:23). So by Christs own words we have witness of the fact that all it would have taken for Sodom to remain a city right down to our very generation today, was some heal ings and miracles in their city (Luke 10:13)! Is a whole race of people worth a few healings and miracles? Not according to the stupid and evil doctrines of the church. They will tell you (if you corner them) that God opted for an eternity of torture for the Sodomites rather than Salvation at the cost of a few healings and miracles! No, Sodom is dead! But like all peoples of the world who have ever died (both the right eous and the wicked), they will be resurrected back to life and will be judged and purged in the loving, consuming, spiritual, divine fire of God. Jesus did not come to eternally destroy the Sodomites nor to torture them for eternity. The Lamb of God, which takes away the SIN OF THE WORLD (John 1:29). Sodom, IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED UNTIL THIS DAY (Matt.
It is just amazing to me how the Christian churches rally around the state of Is rael and its capital Jerusalem, as though Jerusalem is a holy city to be adored and protected at all cost. A popular Jewish Christian who appears on international tele vision always closes his program by asking everyone to Pray for the peace of Jerus alem. Let me ask candidly: Are those prayers being answered? Turn on your TV or look at this mornings newspaper and then tell me if these prayers are being answered! Is the orthodox religion of Judaism the way to Gods heart? Is this the one reli gion by which men can be saved WITHOUT Christ? Well, according to one famous and rich international evangelist, the answer is YES! Christless Judaism is a means to salvation. Oh really? Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other whereby we MUST be saved (Acts 4:12). name [that name is JESUS] under heaven given among men,
It is one thing to be anti-Semitic (which, of course, is wrong, and for all I know I may be a Jew myself), but quite another thing to suggest that God is well pleased with the state of Israel, or its capital, Jerusalem, or its dominant religion, Judaism. Maybe here is the time for a little reality check concerning this matter of Jerusalem and the state of Israel. Israel probably has the highest per-capita Christ-rejecting people in the western world (if we might include them in the western world). Did you know that the future salvation of Jerusalem is directly connected to and contin gent upon the resurrection, restoration, and salvation of SODOM? Even if you are a Preterist and believe that everything in the book of Revela tion has already been completely fulfilled by the end of the first century AD (which it clearly has not), you will still have to acknowledge Gods attitude toward Jerus alem both historically and prophetically as recorded in His Word. As these things I am about to show you in Gods Word are not generally taught anywhere in the world of Christendom. Let me caution you that what I am about to show you is not a pretty picture. Parental discretion is definitely advised for any minors reading the next section of this paper. First, let us see what God Himself calls Jerusalem: And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called [remember that the spiritual is more
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 25 real and significant than the physical and literal] SODOM AND fied in JERUSALEM] (Rev. 11:8). So God Himself calls Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt. Not exactly an accolade of spiritual endearment. So prophetically God calls Jerusalem, Sodom and Egypt. How does God view Jerusalem historically leading up to this shameful appellation of Sodom and Egypt? Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her ABOMINATIONS (Ezek. 16:1).
EGYPT, where also our Lord was crucified [our Lord was cruci
Throughout chapter 16, God likens Jerusalem as a young virgin bride that He takes to Himself: Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon you, behold your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore unto you and entered CAME MINE (Verse 8).
into a covenant with you, saith the Lord God, and YOU BE
and a beautiful crown upon your head. Thus were you decked silk, and broidered work; you didst eat fine flour, and honey,
with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine line, and and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper
into a kingdom. And your renown went forth among the hea then for they beauty: for it was PERFECT through my comeli ness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord God (Verses 1214).
Was Jerusalem thankful to God? Did Jerusalem worship and adore God as a Perfect Husband? No: But you did trust in YOUR OWN beauty, and PLAYED THE HARLOT because of your renown and poured out your FOR NICATIONS on everyone that passed by and played the HARLOT and did commit WHOREDOM with them Is this INATIONS and your WHOREDOMS you have not remembered
of your WHOREDOMS a small matter And in all your ABOM the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and
and MULTIPLIED YOUR WHOREDOMS. You have also com mitted FORNICATION WITH THE EGYPTIANS your neigh bours You have played the WHORE also with the Assyrians You have moreover multiplied your FORNICATION in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea How weak is your heart, saith the Lord God, seeing you do all these things, the work of an MAN as a wife that commits ADULTERY, which takes
IMPERIOUS [a female fox, arrogant, malicious] WHORISH WO strangers [heathen religions and gods] instead of her husband [God] but you give your gifts to ALL WHORES; but you give them, that they may come unto you on every side for your WHOREDOM (Verses 15-32). your gifts [of sexual favors] to ALL YOUR LOVERS, and hire
God is not pleased with His harlot wife, and pronounces terrible woes upon her:
Etc., etc. (Verses 35-36). But it gets WORSE: thou art your mothers daughter, that LOATHES her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, which loathed their husbands and their children: your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite. And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at your left hand: DOM and her daughters. (Verse 45-46).
have MULTIPLIED YOUR ABOMINATIONS MORE THAN TIONS which you have done. You also, which have judged your
THEY, and have justified your sisters in all YOUR ABOMINA sisters, bear your own shame for your sins that YOU HAVE COMMITTED MORE ABOMINABLE THAN THEY: they are eous than Jerusalem?] than you (Verse 52). MORE RIGHTEOUS [imagine God saying that Sodom is more right
What do you imagine would happen to me if I were to stand up in one of the in ternational churches that supports Israel and Jerusalem and even teaches that they can be saved WITHOUT Jesus Christ, and I told them that the wicked City State of Sodom WAS MORE RIGHTEOUS than Jerusalem, Israel? On second thought, dont imagine it. OH the deceitfulness of the church! I have heard two messages on international television this week wherein Jerusalem was mentioned again as Gods chosen city of His chosen people, and how we must back Israel and Jerusalem. This corrupt city is praised and praised daily by the church as though God just really does love this cor rupt city with their corrupt religion! God HATES what is going on in Jerusalem and Israel. God is NOT blessing Jerusalem. God is NOT protecting Jerusalem. There is NO PEACE in Jerusalem. God certainly loves the people of Jerusalem, but they have some deep deep repentance ahead of them. OPEN YOUR EYES! Where have you ever read anywhere in the Bible such condemnation on ANYONE as we have just read regarding Jerusalem? OH how the church applauds Jerusalem, when the reality is that their sins are reaching to high heaven. Recently 60 Minutes presented a documentary on how Russian girls are being sold around the world as full-time live-in harlots. Thousands of Russian girls are be ing sold for sex slaves (and many by their own will for a better financial life). Well it just so happens that there is a location that acts as a clearinghouse for brokering these girls around the world. Just where do you suppose that brokering center is loc ated? Would you believe, JERUSALEM?
Take another look at what you have just read! According to the Word of God, there is to come (and has already come as we speak) a WORLDWIDE ORGANIZA TION that will spread her spiritual whoredom and fornication AROUND THE EN TIRE INHABITED EARTH and will make ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH DRUNK on the spiritual intoxicating wine of her doctrine! And what is the name God gives this system of spiritual whoredom? Lets read it: And the woman [woman represents a church in Scripture] WAS ARRAYED DECKED WITH GOLD AND SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES IN PURPLE AND SCARLET COLOUR, AND
AND PEARLS [this church is not poor] and a golden cup in her
hand full of ABOMINATIONS AND FILTHINESS OF HER FOR NICATION. Gee, sounds like the exact description of the harlot wo man in Ezekiel 16, doesnt it? (Rev. 17:4-5): And upon her forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HAR LOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH
This church system is the apex, the zenith, the epitome of ALL THAT IS DE CEITFUL, AND WICKED!
the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the FACE
God confounded their languages and He scattered them over the face of all the earth, but they took their rebellious, self-centered, godless religion and government WITH THEM. Have we forgotten how that later mankind once again regrouped under one cent ral government? There was a time in ancient history when officials gather the edu cated and scholars from around the world, and once again shared philosophies, reli gions, laws, sciences, and other academia at a central location which they would then once more take back to their respective countries and share, worldwide? And what was that great nation called? Thats right, BABYLON! But that great GoldHeaded Kingdom also came crashing down under the Medes and the Persians. Well guess what? Babylon is rising once more. This time God calls it: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev. 17:5).
Notice that this Great Whore is a mother of harlots. She is a mother who has harlots for daughters. This is the very same thing that we read in Ezekiel 16: 48, As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister has not done, alema MOTHER] and your DAUGHTERS. she nor her daughters, as you [Jerusalem] has done, YOU [Jerus
Any woman who has daughters is of necessity, a mother. Now for a real shocker! From where does God call HIS people? The answer shocked me. BABYLON THE GREAT is fallen, is fallen For ALL NA TIONS have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come OUT
Wow! Can you believe it? God calls HIS PEOPLE, HIS SAINTS, HIS ELECT, HIS CHURCH, OUT OF MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF Apostles came from, thats where Paul came from, thats where the small persecuted church down through the ages came from, that where every believer I know came from, and thats where I came from. I, in fact, followed and obeyed several of her harlots in the process of coming out of Babylon. I was no better than the worst of sinners. It is only by Gods grace that we are able to escape this system. And God will continue to call His elect out of that very system until He destroys it in His presence. So clearly, the Mother Whore Jerusalem has HARLOT DAUGHTERS! And of the great religious system spoken of in Revelation 17 we also clearly see that MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, is a Mother Whore of Harlot Daughters! One has to be spiritually blind as a bat to not see that when we compare Spiritual with spiritu al, these two are a spiritual MATCH! More proof: The one True Church of the Living God has a Father and a MediatorJesus Christ. But does Gods Church have a Mother? Ah, Yes, it surely does: For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman
was by promise. Which things are an allegory [a representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters] for these are the TWO COVENANTS; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to
like, in certain ways] mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to tinues to this day] and is in BONDAGE with her children. But
JERUSALEM which NOW IS [at the time Paul wrote this and con Jerusalem which is ABOVE [The HEAVENLY JERUSALEM Heb. 12:22] is free, which is THE MOTHER OF US ALL (Gal. 4:22-26). What amazing Scriptures these are. The New Covenant Church of the Living God has a MOTHERHEAVENLY JERUSALEM ABOVE. And the giant Old Cov enant Whore Church also has a motherEARTHLY JERUSALEM BELOW. The New is FREE, whereas the Old is in BONDAGE. But how can I say that the Old Covenant Church is huge? Arent there only a relatively few orthodox Jews around
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 31 the world who keep the Old Covenant? No, there are BILLIONS of people who keep the Old Covenant around the world. There are almost no Christians that un derstand and keep the New Covenant. To the world of Christendom, the Old Cov enant IS THE NEW COVENANT! The New Covenant is merely keeping the Old Covenant, BETTER! Thats right. To most, the New Covenant consists of keeping the Old Covenant, better. They say that they now keep the Old Covenant in the spirit. Just how, pray tell, does one keep the physical in the spirit? Such a doctrine is utter unscriptural contradictory nonsense. You cannot keep the physical in the spirit. THERE IS NO SPIRIT IN THE PHYSICAL, SO HOW COULD ONE KEEP IT IF IT DOESNT EXIST? We are all born with a physical [carnal] mind. It is possible to keep physical [carnal] laws with a physical carnal mind (Paul did it to near perfection when he was Saul!). But one CANNOT keep Gods spiritual laws with a physical carnal mind! Because the carnal [natural physical] mind is enmity [deep seated HATRED] AGAINST God; for it is NOT subject to the [spiritual] law of God, neither indeed can be (Rom. 8:7).
For to be carnally minded is DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace (Rom. 8:6).
Lets be sure that we are perfectly clear on these Scriptural facts: Paul said that there ARE RIGHT NOW, TWO Jerusalems in existence. One answers to the New Covenant, which is HEAVENLY JERUSALEM ABOVE. One answers to the Old Covenant, which is EARTHLY JERUSALEM IN IS RAEL. If you think that you can spiritually keep the physical laws of Moses, then your mother is the Old Covenant which answers to Jerusalem which now isIN BONDAGE. But if you are keeping Gods spiritual laws through the spirit of God, then your mother is Heavenly Jerusalem ABOVE which isFREE. Of course the fact that Jerusalem is TWICE as wicked and abominable as Sodom does not in any way justify the sins of Sodom. No, God will deal with both Jerusalem and Sodom. And that is the whole point of this discussion. So even though the sins of Jerusalem are twice as abominable as the sins of Sodom, God will, nonetheless, SAVE JERUSALEM! And just when will God save Jerusalem? AT THE SAME TIME THAT HE SAVES SODOM. Yes, Sodom WILL BE SAVED, and she will be saved at the same time that doubly corrupt and abominable Jerusalem will be
you shall receive your sisters, your elder [Samaria] and your younger [SODOM]: and I will give them [Samaria and Sodom] unto you for daughters, but not by your covenant. And I will first time] that I am the Lord: That you may remember, and be
establish my covenant with you; and you shall KNOW [for the confounded, and never open your mouth any more because of
your shame, when I am PACIFIED [make atonement, to pardon, to sisters, Samaria and Sodom] for all that you have done, saith the Lord God (Verses 61-63).
When God purges the hearts and minds of the wicked with His all-consuming spiritual fire, they will be UTTERLY ASHAMED! Notice what God says in Revela tion 14:10 regarding anyone who is a part of this one world religious system: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God [seeing that For ALL nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of HER fornication Rev. 18:3], which is poured out without
mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tor mented [UTTERLY ASHAMEDspiritual and mental torment] with ence of the holy angels, and in THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB (Rev. 14:10). the fire and brimstone [God DIVINE spiritual fire] in the pres
They are going to have to face their sins and wickedness and hypocrisy, NOT in the presence of GOD ALMIGHTY, but in the presence of the LAMB! How embar rassing and shameful it will be for all those being purged in the Gods spiritual con suming lake of fire to see and acknowledge their whole life of sin in the very pres ence of the Lamb of God who DIED FOR THEM! Every heart in the universe will melt like snow in a furnace when they face the LAMB OF GOD in their judgment!
Part VI: The Two Judgments by FIRE 33 So, is Sodom right now suffering in some fabled hell fires? NO. Is Jerusalem of old right now suffering in some fabled hell fires? NO. Will Sodom and Jerusalem be saved TOGETHER? YES, in the second resurrection, at the white throne judgment, in the lake of fire. The lake of divine spiritual fire will bring salvation to ALL THE NATIONS! but he himself [whomever of the billions of people purged in Gods Cor. 3:15). Remember that there are two administrations of Gods purging fire: The first is on the House of God consisting of those whom God is calling to be overcomers and sons of God. The second will be at the second resurrection and white throne judg ment in the lake of Gods divine purging fire. All the children of the bondwoman, the Old Covenant, the Mother Whore with her harlot daughters, will one day be the children of Heavenly Jerusalem Above, which is the MOTHER OF US ALL! God truly is NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS. GOD IS ABLE TO BRING ANY PERSON TO REPENTANCE. How could anyone deny it? There is no such thing as a person being so evil that he cannot be converted by the spirit of God. But God has a timetable, and He will follow that timetable. There is great wisdom in what God does and how He does it and when He does it and to whom He does. If you have never experienced COMING OUT of Babylon the Great, then maybe you are being called to respond to Gods plea: Come OUT of her MY PEOPLE. It is a great and wonderful thing to be called by God at this time to be prepared as the very SONS OF THE LIVING GOD to bring salvation to the rest of the world and the entirety of the universe!
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