Interviewing God, Part VII

Members of the Christian community often have questions about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Most of us have either said or heard someone say “When I get to heaven, the first thing I want to ask God is ….”  In aggregate, the pool of questions becomes quite large.  The drama, INTERVIEWING GOD, depicts a female news correspondent in an informal setting asking God a number of questions.  The answers she receives are from His Word, which the Lord inspired the prophets and apostles to write.  Scripture references are given throughout along with the author’s personal notes.  The interview was lengthy as one might imagine, so here it is broken into parts.  In the initial posting, God used a stage play analogy to answer the ultimate controversy of the universe question – “Who’s in charge?”  He upheld the inerrancy of the Bible, or as He terms it, “the introductory remarks.”  In the second posting, God revealed both the origin and the purpose of suffering.  In the third, God explained key elements within the creation of man plus the devastating fall of man.  He disclosed the choice to continue, nonetheless, making covenant with certain individuals and unveiled a restorative seed principle.  In Part IV, more truths were mined concerning the use of parables, the essence of true learning, plus the principle of authority was revisited.  That part ended with the interviewer “tipping her hand” a bit, asking ever so shyly about the second coming.  In Part V, God plunged headlong into the study of the time of the end – or eschatology – debunking the most common views of our time.  In Part VI, some of God’s answers given in Part V were brought into question via the interviewer bringing up His long ago promise to Abraham.  This became merely a catalyst for God, revealing His true Israel.  Here in Part VII, the Lord continues to discredit the popular “end times” teachings of our day, plus He brings clarity to those concepts of  the thousand year reign, the rapture, and the resurrection.

                                                      INTERVIEWING GOD

                                                         (Serialized Version)  

                                                                      by

                                                        Michael A. Lawrence

                                                                          

                                                     Part VII

                    “A Rapture, a Resurrection, a Thousand Year Reign”

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RAPTURE AND THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN?  HOW DO THOSE FIT WITH WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME?

We’ve been talking about prophets, so I’ll answer the thousand-year question first.  Prophets of old had a way with words that is even referred to by some as “the language of the prophets.”  What if I declare that a play will run for two years and then fold, having completed its purpose?  I can see the headline now if a prophet predicted its run.  GREAT NEW PLAY IN TOWN – WILL RUN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.  Remarkably, because of his particular lingo, we both have described the same situation.

The so-called “thousand year reign” began when my son received his anointing for ministry at the Jordan River.  It ended at his appearing at the fall of Jerusalem.  In the language of the prophets “a thousand years” means a completed period of time.  The return in judgment marked a completion of all that he was sent to accomplish for us.  “The age to come” had come.[1]  Conversely, a literal interpretation of the prophet’s time words spring from again the revolving door of endless circular reasoning by those in error when it comes to these matters.[2] 

ARE THEY WRONG ABOUT THE RAPTURE TOO?  THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, MANY ARE HOPING IT WILL TAKE PLACE ANY DAY NOW.

That’s not a healthy attitude.  Sadly, it comes via more circular reasoning from a flawed equation.  Besides, they should be more interested in growing up than in going up.  I have always been more concerned with development than I am with deliverance.  The concept of a future rapture?  It’s still two plus two equals five.  Even so, a rapture deliverance did occur in conjunction with a part of our progression of the resurrection and just prior to the aforementioned siege of Jerusalem.  But the futurist rapture theory?  It has led many astray and blurred the focus of our production, if you will.    

HOW DO YOU MEAN?

While we’re concentrating on building a company of performers with family resemblance who change their culture for the better, what are they doing?  They’re intent on getting as many in the fold as possible, using scare tactics if need be, before everyone in the fold is magically whisked away, leaving the other poor suckers to face would-be disaster.  It’s a mess.  They have completely written off a culture that we are intent on transforming.  Where’s the faith in that?[3]  They are majoring in negativity and fear and

don’t even know it.  They are merely following their natural impulses – the negative ones they still had at audition.[4]  Some have good intentions, but in their sideshow they have a GREAT BIG DEVIL and an itty-bitty god.  What a shame.  They call it “hope.”  People wonder why things seem to be getting worse and worse without fully grasping the impact of their very own words.  They are unable to see that their negative words have the potential, if left unchecked, to edge the culture near the abyss of self-fulfilling prophecy.[5]

A PROGRESSION OF THE RESURRECTION – JUST WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

We phased it in step by step, starting with my son and then quite a few others.  We had directed the people toward it for hundreds of years.

HOW’S THAT?

The concept was within the law we gave them through Moses – in the fine print.  Paul discovered the link.  I can’t emphasize enough the importance of being committed with all of one’s heart.[6]  Paul was a consistent zealot – before, when he had been in error – and after, when he was apprehended and placed on the road to freedom.[7]  He was chosen for his tenacity as much as anything.  No one takes his stewardship of the truth to heart more than that dear man.[8]  We could share previously unfathomable mysteries with him.  Of course, he experienced a great deal of frustration trying to pass on the truths that we had allowed him to discover.

SO WHAT DID HE DISCOVER ABOUT YOUR RESURRECTION PLANS?

Everything.  It’s not that complicated.  We had the concept of  “firstfruits” spelled out in the details of the old agreement.  They were the first to spring from the ground – thus, the first to produce fully ripened heads of grain to be harvested and presented to me as a sacrifice.  In our analogy, my son was the first of the “firstfruits”[9] when we brought him out of the ground.  That was step one.  Full heads of grain – numerous people of ours who had proceeded him in physical death – were harvested along with him from opened tombs, so to speak, in bodily form and came into the city to be seen by many.[10]  That was step two.  They were the remaining portion of our “firstfruits.”  The best was yet to come.[11]

WHEN WILL THAT BE?

You’ve gone futuristic on me again.  We’re back to your end of the world question.  To be able to understand what I am saying, one thing has to become established in your thinking.  The earth remains forever.[12]  We must revisit the end that my son talked about, including the siege and fall of Jerusalem, when we put an end to that old system, replacing it with a new and better way.[13]  One day shortly before that siege was the last day when we consummated our resurrection or, to use our metaphor, harvested the rest of the grain.  That was “the end of the days” which we had promised centuries before in a vision to our servant, Daniel.  On that day he would be resurrected from the dead into a new body – along with all the others who had “fallen asleep,” whose bodies had previously expired.[14]  That was step three.  And being true to our analogy, they would merely come to us and not be paraded among the living.  All the grain was harvested, but only the firstfruits were presented to me publicly.[15]

THE RESURRECTION HAPPENED ALREADY AND I MISSED IT?

Yes and no.  You are included in step four, but there was more to step three which I haven’t told you.

“IT’S NOT COMPLICATED?”  JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

Unless you can lay aside your preconceptions, this all may sound to you like “the Great Pumpkin arising out of the pumpkin patch on Halloween night.”  It takes courage to be able to hear and believe the truth.

Paul explained our steps in a letter to a group of his charges.  Through circular reasoning, some now mistakenly conclude that some of his words refer to a future rapture.  The  rapture you speak of was also accomplished on that last day return of my son as the old agreement was on the verge of being consumed by the new.  It was truly accomplished a moment after the physically dead received a new body just like my son’s and also came forth to us.

The “last trumpet” had surely sounded  and our people who remained alive were forever changed in like manner, just as Paul had predicted.[16]  Our power that had raised my son and all the others had changed and translated them into the heavenly realm just like Enoch of old.[17]  What’s more – from that day forward the words they left behind would reproduce, spiritually speaking, after their own kind throughout all future generations.  From that point on, whoever came into the fold because of their word would get our package deal of complete redemption, including resurrection life.[18]  That completed step three.

THAT SET UP STEP FOUR?

You got it.  Paul understood the order of things.  First, my son plus the rest of the “firstfruits.”  Then the rest of the dead and those still alive at his rapture/resurrection coming – to be followed in years to come by each who died in his own order.[19]  Everyone of ours would now experience a rapture/resurrection into a new body simultaneous with the expiration of their old body.

SO WE’RE NOT WAITING FOR FUTURE RETURNS OF YOUR SON IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE EITHER RAPTURE OR RESURRECTION?

Death has been defeated for our worldwide troupe.  This takes place for real in the unseen realm, not in your visible natural realm.  Our life is accessed by faith, not sight.[20]

                                                          End of Part VII

Coming soon:  Part VIII (The Finale), “The Best Is Yet To Come”

             

           

           

           

              

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[1]Note: Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the New King James Version.  All parenthetical items contained within scriptural references are my emphasis.

“Then I saw an angel (Christ) coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished (at the end).  But after (at the end of) these things he must be released for a little while (Spring of A.D. 66 to late autumn, A.D. 70*, the “Great Tribulation”).  And I saw the thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was coming to them.  I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned (were reigning) with Christ for a thousand years.  (See Revelation 2:7, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, & 21.)               

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This (those I just saw) is the first resurrection.  (Reborn “over-comers” translated at physical death into the heavenly realm.)    

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign (were reigning) with Him a thousand years.

Now when the thousand years have expired (are at an end), Satan will be released from his prison (for the “Great Tribulation” time period; see above*)” (Revelation 20:1-7).    

[2]“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from (such) evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

[3]“But without faith it is impossible to please Him . . .” (Hebrews 11:6a).  “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).  “ . . . that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

[4]“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

[5]“Death and life are in the power of the tongue . . .” (Proverbs 23:7).  “I believed, therefore I spoke, ‘I am greatly afflicted’” (Psalm 116:10).  “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).   “. . . out of the abundance (or poverty) of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34b).

  

[6]“. . . because you are lukewarm . . . I will spew you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

[7]“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm” (Psalm 42:2, New American Standard).

[8]“. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!  For . . . I have been entrusted with a stewardship” (1 Corinthians 9:16b, 17b).  “ . . . consider us . . . stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).  “ . . . when they saw that the gospel . . . had been committed to me” (Galatians 2:7a).

[9]“. . . He (Christ) would be the first to rise from the dead . . .” (Acts 26:23a).  “And He is . . . the firstborn from the dead” (Galatians 2:7a).

[10]“. . . graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52-53).

[11]“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life” (John 5:28-29a).

[12]“One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

[13]“. . . a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6b).

[14]“But you go your way till the end; for you shall rest (fall asleep), and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13).  “. . . eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23b).  “. . . to redeem those that were under the law that we might receive the adoption as sons   . . . Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir (inheritor) of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:5, 7). 

[15]“Three times you will keep a feast to me in the year . . . the Feast of Unleavened Bread . . . the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field . . . (in which) the first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God  . . . and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in (all the rest of) the fruit of your labors from the field” (Exodus 23:14, 15a, 16a, 19a, 16b).

“ . . . When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.  He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord . . . the sheaf of the wave offering” (Leviticus 23:10b, 11b, 15b). 

[16]“Behold I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

[17]“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die’” (John 11:25, 26a).  “He who has the Son has life . . .” (1 John 5:12a).  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).  “. . . when He is revealed, we shall be like Him . . .” (1 John 3:2b).  “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

_              It’s the author’s belief that in the midst of an unprecedented tribulation period

(AD 66-70) but prior to God’s wrath being unleashed and soon culminating at the AD 70

Fall of Jerusalem, all those still alive and in spiritual unity with Christ were instantly

changed.  They were translated from the visible physical realm into the spiritual realm

just like Enoch of old – having involuntarily exchanged their earthly body for their new

everlasting heavenly one, never to be heard from on earth again.  Less than a moment

before, others in spiritual unity with the Godhead by faith who had already physically

died were made alive and translated to heaven in like manner.  Just like that, the multi-

prophesied and earnestly expected rapture/resurrection event had been accomplished by

an omnipotent God.  Also as prophesied, an unbelieving apostate nation would be left

behind to experience the wrath to come.       

                 

[18]“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (John 17:20).  “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).

[19]“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the (first of the) firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  But each in his own order:  Christ, (the rest of) the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

[20]“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).  “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17).  

FINDING YOUR PASSION

By Jonathan Clark

While attending a recent high school graduation, I listened as one of the speakers encouraged her fellow graduates to find their passion in life and discover and pursue what they were truly passionate about. She was exhorting them not to get caught up in the usual trivial pursuits of life—greed, the rat-race, the ho-hum—but rather, to “make a difference” by pursuing their passion.

I have, of late, been thinking quite a bit about passion. It seems that “passion” has become a theme among inspirational speakers and writers—and for good reason. Pursuing a passion not only involves direction and focus; pursuing passion involves motivation and purpose. We all need purpose and meaning in our lives. A worthwhile purpose motivates us to get out of bed and spend our time in pursuit of it. Each of us must have purpose and motivation, truly believing that our lives have meaning and value—that we are “making a difference.” This is man’s deepest need.

Jesus found His passion: “For I have come…not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Jesus had discovered the key, the secret to His earthly life—to daily please the heart of His Father (John 4:34, 5:30; Matthew 26:39). He wasn’t interested in pursuing His own agendas. He knew that self-motivated goals would be empty and unfruitful and lead to a life of burn-out. He had found what motivated Him to get out of bed every morning. He was passionate about pleasing His Father.

Over time, I have discovered my passion. I have found what motivates me to get out of bed in the morning. My passion has become what was Jesus’ passion: to get up each day and spend time with the Lord, discern His plans for my day, and go do it with the strength He supplies! Jesus was a Father-pleaser, and His passion is my passion: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Pleasing Father God’s heart satisfies my heart. Passionately pursuing God’s agenda for my day motivates me and renews my vitality. Serving God’s purposes allows me a path in which to serve others, not myself. Without sounding cliché, discovering and fulfilling God’s plans for my day is “my calling,” my reason to be. This passion—His passion and now my passion—is a sustaining motivator. It has been well worth it for me to take the time to find and fulfill God’s passion for my life!

Jonathan Clark is associate pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church and a physician in Springfield, Missouri.

God-Inspired

Interviewing God, Part VI

Members of the Christian community often have questions about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Most of us have either said or heard someone say “When I get to heaven, the first thing I want to ask God is ….”  In aggregate, the pool of questions becomes quite large.  The drama, INTERVIEWING GOD, depicts a female news correspondent in an informal setting asking God a number of questions.  The answers she receives are from His Word, which the Lord inspired the prophets and apostles to write.  Scripture references are given throughout along with the author’s personal notes.  The interview was lengthy as one might imagine, so here it is broken into parts.  In the initial posting, God used a stage play analogy to answer the ultimate controversy of the universe question – “Who’s in charge?”  He upheld the inerrancy of the Bible, or as He terms it, “the introductory remarks.”  In the second posting, God revealed both the origin and the purpose of suffering.  In the third, God explained key elements within the creation of man plus the devastating fall of man.  He disclosed the choice to continue, nonetheless, making covenant with certain individuals and unveiled a restorative seed principle.  In Part IV, more truths were mined concerning the use of parables, the essence of true learning, plus the principle of authority was revisited.  That part ended with the interviewer “tipping her hand” a bit, asking ever so shyly about the second coming.  In Part V, God plunged headlong into the study of the time of the end – or eschatology – debunking the most common views of our time.  Here in PART VI, some of God’s answers given in PART V are brought into question via the interviewer bringing up His long ago promise to Abraham.  This becomes merely a catalyst for God, revealing His true Israel.

                                                      INTERVIEWING GOD

                                                         (Serialized Version)

                                                                       by

                                                          Michael Lawrence

                                                                          

                                                     PART VI

                                                  “God’s Israel”

I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM ABOUT ISRAEL.  HOW CAN YOU JUST WRITE THEM OFF?  DOESN’T THAT MAKE YOU A LIAR AFTER WHAT YOU PROMISED ABRAHAM?

You remember your student days.  Well, it might help to think about eschatology – the study of end time events – as if it were a giant mathematical equation on the blackboard.  What if in the midst of all those figures there was a slight error like two plus two equals five?  That would lead whatever followed in the equation to a false conclusion – no matter how elaborate or impressive those subsequent figures might be.  That illustrates just what happens to those who rely mostly upon their own understanding and therefore stray from the simplicity of my son’s remarks concerning these matters.[1]  They get caught up in some rather complicated and bizarre scenarios that are fraught with endless circular reasoning.  The blackboard can get quite messy in the process, and they exhaust themselves while leading many others to the same false conclusions.

SO HOW ARE THEY TO GET OUT OF THAT REVOLVING DOOR AND BACK ON TRACK?

That involves going back to where two plus two equals five, but that means erasing all those pretty figures they have amassed.  That involves humiliation and suffering.  Not many opt for that, even though it’s the only way to get on the path to be guided into all truth.  Like I said before, I don’t reveal myself to casual passers-by.  They must invest in intimacy and trust – lay aside their own preconceptions.  Their equations become subtle attempts at control.  I am in charge, remember, and there are no shortcuts to reality.[2]

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ISRAEL AND YOUR PROMISE TO ABRAHAM?

Everything.  Shortly after my son had ascended back to us and before we sent him back in judgment, there was a great deal of friction between those followers of our new covenant and the sticklers to the old one who were unable to discern what had happened.  One particular fellow from the old camp, an intellectual zealot whom we had been grooming for some time to enter the new way, was wrecking great havoc on our fresh charges.  At a critical point, my son knocked the unruly fellow of his ride, blinded him, and told him where to go.  The man was converted to the new way in the process and would become one of our chief spokesmen.[3]  So much for “free will.”  I meddle – both inwardly and behind the scenes.

Also, can you see a pattern here?  How we use donkeys, horses, camels – various rides – in the production?  It’s quite colorful and the audience loves it.

THE UNRULY FELLOW WAS SAUL OF TARSUS WHO BECAME THE APOSTLE, PAUL?

That’s right, but there is something that I want to reiterate here.  My long suite – taking something very bad and recreating the same into something very, very good.  Think about the introductory remarks and those whom we enabled and inspired to write them.  The major portion of those writings was penned by former murderers or accessories to murder.  Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster.[4]  David saw to it that his paramour’s husband would not return alive from battle.[5]  While an angry mob of legalistic zealots stoned a chosen young man of ours, a consenting Paul – known as Saul at the time – guarded their coats.[6]

THAT’S AMAZING.  I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY.

Nonetheless, Paul became a key player, and we became quite intimate.  I was able to reveal much to him.  He came to understand just whom my true Israel had always been and will always be.  It’s not those of Jewish ancestry who continue to migrate to the tiny nation of Israel which many of our people are mistakenly fixed upon these days.

YOU’VE ALWAYS HAD SOMEONE ELSE IN MIND?

That’s right, and Paul revealed this to his various charges through his correspondence with them.  We’re back to the seed principle.

HOW’S THAT?

My promise to Abraham was to him and to his seed.  While there was by necessity a natural lineage involved, what we primarily had in mind was spiritual lineage.  Our spokesman, Paul, was allowed to discover that my son was the seed in question.  Paul had studied what was then the available portion of the introductory remarks.  He saw my record of continually making covenant with key players.  Through the lens of covenant, he detected that my Israel had always been spiritual in nature.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

Paul recognized that those key players and their remnant followers were just a covenant-keeping nation within a much larger nation of merely natural descendants.[7]  Through his seed – my son – Abraham became the spiritual father of all who would allow faith to cause them to obey me.[8]  Paul saw that it was to be through the faithful that my promise to Abraham would be fulfilled.  Of course, that’s what I had in mind all along.  My work has always been about relationships – the union of hearts, if you will.[9]  It was never just keeping a bunch of rules or being of natural lineage.  True family resemblance status cannot be accessed via those things.  They are a hindrance, more often than not.

SO, IT’S THOSE WHO OBEY YOU WITH A HEART OF FAITH – THEY ARE ISRAEL?

You got it.[10]  That’s my Israel, the only one – always has been.  Of course, my son got it too.  When told that his own mother and brothers were trying to get through the crowd in order to see him, he asked the rhetorical question, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”  Taking full advantage of the teachable window, he supplied the answer as well.  Whoever was hearing from me and obeying my voice from a faithful heart was his real brother or sister or mother.[11]  Many continue to stumble over that bedrock of truth.[12]

Paul had no idea that he was contributing to the introductory remarks when he wrote to his various charges about these foundational matters.  Remember, we’re talking covenant here.  That remains foreign to the thinking of a majority of our own troupe.  Discernment is a wonderful thing.  Abraham knows that I haven’t lied to him.

                                                            End of Part VI           

Coming soon:  Part VII, “A Rapture, A Resurrection, A Thousand Year Reign”

             

           

           

           

              

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[1]“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

[2]“The humble, He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. . . . The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:9, 14).

[3]“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples . . . (gained authority to search them out at Damascus so that) he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  As he journeyed . . . suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.  Then he fell to the ground and heard (Jesus’) voice . . . So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’  Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’  Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one . . . (and) was three days without sight . . . . (Simultaneously) the Lord said in a vision (to) . . . a certain disciple named Ananias (that he would be) ‘putting his hand on (Saul) so that he might receive his sight.’  (Ananias expressed fear.)  But the Lord said to him, ‘Go for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel, for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’  . . . Ananias . . . lay his hands on him . . . and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized . . . received food . . . was strengthened . . . spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.  Immediately, he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God”  (Acts 9:1a, 2-4a, 6, 8a, 9a, 10b, 12b, 17a, 18b-20).

The author acknowledges that according to Scripture, Saul of Tarsus may have very well been on foot when he “fell to the ground” in awe.  However, in this interview, God makes it clear that he was atop some conveyance of the time.

[4]“So he (Moses) looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:12).

[5]“And he (David) wrote in the letter (to his general, Joab), saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die’” (2 Samuel 11:15).

[6]“Then they cried out . . . ran at him (Stephen) . . . cast him out of the city and stoned him . . . (laying) their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul (who, thereby) . . . was consenting to his death” (Acts 7:57-58, 8:1a).

[7]“For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants . . . That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise (covenant) . . . not from among the Jews only, but also from among Gentiles, as He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call those who were not My people, MY PEOPLE’ . . . Of the sons of Israel . . . it is the remnant that will be saved . . . a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 9:6b-7a, 8a, 24b-25a, 27b; 11:5b, New American Standard).

[8]“(While) Gentiles . . . did not pursue righteousness . . . (nonetheless, they) attained . . . the righteousness (which is) of faith; (natural) Israel pursuing the law of righteousness . . . has not attained (it) . . . because they did not seek it by faith . . . (but) stumbled at the stumbling stone (Christ) . . . (and) because of unbelief they were broken off” (Romans 9:30-32; 11:20a) . . . Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. . . . And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (covenant)” (Galatians 3:7, 29).

[9]“’But this is the (new) covenant . . .’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will right it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people’” (Jeremiah 31:33, New American Standard).

[10]“. . . to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22b).  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17).  “Bondservants, be obedient . . . in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, but . . . doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5, 6).

[11]“Then His mother and brothers came to see Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.  And it was told to Him by some, who said, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.’ 

“But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it’” (Luke 8:19-21).

[12] “(Either) He (and what He says) will be as a sanctuary (or as) a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense  . . . “ (Isaiah 8:14a).

Interviewing God V

Members of the Christian community often have questions about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Most of us have either said or heard someone say “When I get to heaven, the first thing I want to ask God is ….”  In aggregate, the pool of questions becomes quite large.  The drama, INTERVIEWING GOD, depicts a female news correspondent in an informal setting asking God a number of questions.  The answers she receives are from His Word, which the Lord inspired the prophets and apostles to write.  Scripture references are given throughout along with the author’s personal notes.  The interview was lengthy as one might imagine, so here it is broken into parts.  In the initial posting, God used a stage play analogy to answer the ultimate controversy of the universe question – “Who’s in charge?”  He upheld the inerrancy of the Bible, or as He terms it, “the introductory remarks.”  In the second posting, God revealed both the origin and the purpose of suffering.  In the third, God explained key elements within the creation of man plus the devastating fall of man.  He disclosed the choice to continue, nonetheless, making covenant with certain individuals and unveiled a restorative seed principle.  In Part IV, more truths were mined concerning the use of parables, the essence of true learning, plus the principle of authority was revisited.  That part ended with the interviewer “tipping her hand” a bit, asking ever so shyly about the second coming.  Here in Part V, God plunges headlong into the study of the time of the end – or eschatology – debunking the most common views of our time.

 

                                                      INTERVIEWING GOD

                                                         (Serialized Version)

                                                                      by

                                                         Michael A. Lawrence

                                                                          

                                                       Part V

                                                “The Return”

            SO YOU’LL TELL ME ABOUT THE RETURN OF YOUR SON?

            Yes, but brace yourself.  The truth is, he returned already.  He didn’t come sauntering in on some donkey colt, though.  No, he was atop a mighty stallion, or I should say many mighty steeds which were outfitted for war.  He came just how he had predicted he would, did just what he said he would do.[1]  Those of his own generation, who had studied what there was of the introductory remarks at the time and had not only seen my works but had learned my ways – they knew what a return in judgment was supposed to look like.  I had documented many examples for them in the rough drafts.[2]

            WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?  WHEN DID HE RETURN?

    

            About forty years after he ascended back to us.  It was what secular historians would call “The Fall of Jerusalem.”  We manifested our judgment in the Roman army, not at all unlike we had done so often in the past.  We “rode in” on those magnificent war horses and laid waste to an already debauched city.  We flattened a corrupted temple and rendered inoperable a whole way of life.[3]  We made way for a better way.[4]

            BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT TRIBULATION?  WHO WAS THE BEAST?  WHAT ABOUT THE ANTI-CHRIST?

            Don’t go bailing out on me now.  It takes courage to believe the truth – especially when you have a lot invested in something else.  Great tribulation?  You want to know about great tribulation?[5]

            About four years before Jerusalem fell, what historians would tag “The Siege of Jerusalem” would begin.  Conditions became so bad that I don’t even want to discuss it here.  You’ll have to read it for yourself, but let me warn you – it isn’t pretty, and they didn’t tell the half of it.  The beast and the anti-Christ?  Both the same fellow.  Came on the scene and left the stage just prior to the siege – just as my son’s close friend had seen in a vision.  It’s all in the introductory remarks, submersed in a lot of symbolism.[6]  We had to do that to protect the innocent, a remnant we would use to carry on the production from there.  My spirit guided them past the murkiness and into the truth as need be.[7]

            WHOA!  YOU’RE LOSING ME.  THE BEAST AND THE ANTI-CHRIST THE SAME GUY?  AND JUST WHOM ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

            He’s a well-known and rather infamous historical figure, as one might imagine.  I’m sure you’ve heard the expression:  “He fiddled while Rome burned.”  That was the guy – as nasty a critter as ever came down the pike.  He wasn’t nicknamed “The Beast” for nothing.

            SO YOU’RE SAYING THAT EMPEROR NERO WAS THE BEAST AND THE ANTI-CHRIST ALL ROLLED INTO ONE?

            Yes.

            THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

            Not to the folks who had to put up with him.

            BUT WHAT ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD?  YOUR SON WAS RATHER EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT.  WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN?

            What a question – two questions actually.  Let me put it this way.  The end that you’re talking about?  Never.  I have seen to that.  My play runs forever – keeps reinventing itself in perpetuity.[8]  The end that my son talked about?  That happened back in Act II, Scene 5 – the very juncture we have been discussing.  With the fall of Jerusalem, we put and end to that world, allowing the new one that we had created to fully kick-in.  That covenant with Abraham and his progeny that I mentioned earlier?  We replaced it – I should say, absorbed it into the one that I made with my son and his future siblings.[9]  That was the plan all along.  Just a tad difficult to explain, but when I made that earlier agreement, I had the future one in mind.  They were one in the same, actually – sort of like the beast and the anti-Christ.

            HAVEN’T SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED THAT THE EARTH IS SLOWING DOWN?  DOESN’T THAT MEAN THE END IS INEVITABLE?

            Be careful not to forget who controls it all, who invented science for his own purposes.  That’s me.  Earth winding down – just one result of the usurper’s rebellion and the judgment which followed.  Tilting the Earth is another.[10]  No need to fret about those things.  We can fix it all when the time is right.  The best is yet to come.

            It is helpful to be actively engaged in possibility thinking.[11]  You recall that I mentioned audience participation.  We called our servant Gabriel from the audience to inform the mother we had picked for my son of her impending miracle.  Do not forget he conveyed to her that with me nothing will be impossible.[12]

            BUT WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL?  IT’S NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE NATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1948, IS IT?

            There are no coincidences.  We allowed that.  Even so, it became a “straw dog” and now serves to separate those who use their intellect, at times, to interpret the introductory remarks from those who rely on my spirit to discern each facet of truth from those remarks.[13]  It has worked remarkably well in that regard.  The same holds true for a remnant of the old temple wall which we allow to remain standing to this day – the “wailing wall.”  Just another dog with the same spots.  Not a problem for the discerning but a definite stumbling stone to the intellectual elite.

            WAIT A MINUTE – I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING.  MY COUSIN’S A MINISTER, AND HE SAYS MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT JOHN’S VISION, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WAS WRITTEN ABOUT A.D. 95.  HOW COULD JOHN BE WARNING THE REMNANT ABOUT A FALL OF JERUSALEM WHICH HAPPENED 25 YEARS BEFORE?

            A late date for the last book from the introductory remarks – how can I put it?  No disrespect to your relative, a fine man, but the scholars are grasping at straws.  No, late-dating those closing remarks – another pup from the same litter, like national Israel and the wailing wall.  Any formula for understanding our introductory remarks which relegates my spirit to the orchestra pit is flawed.  It’s their own creation – Exegesis 101 straw-grasping, yet they’re quite proud of it.  Apart from allowing it to develop, we had no part in it.  When compared to spirit-taught truth, all natural learning or systematic theology, if you will, shrinks to insignificance.

            SO, YOU’RE SAYING THEIRS IS A POOR ARGUMENT?

            In the first place, their case rests primarily upon a small bit of evidence outside of the inspired remarks – shaky evidence at best.  Even on an intellectual level, it will not stand the test of merely being placed alongside all the contradictory historical external testimony.  The evidence within those inspired writings blows their argument out of the water altogether.  Although they are sincere in what they believe, what they have is a house of cards, built on sand.

            YOU’RE SAYING THAT THERE IS BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR AN EARLY DATE?

            Yes.  It’s everywhere you look.  For example, certain folks within our troupe were concerned that they had overslept and missed my son’s return in judgment.[14]  Think about that.  How could they have believed such if the return was to involve the visible destruction of the planet?

            OKAY.  SO WHAT HAPPENED?

            We had a certain delegated authority of theirs, whom they highly respected, send them a letter to remind them of a few things and ease their fears.  We included it in the introductory remarks.

            REMIND THEM OF WHAT?

            The chain of events we had set in motion.  It involved a politically compromised priesthood which served to keep in check an evil individual – unknown to our charges at the time.  The dastardly fellow was a fallen-away leader who was soon to arise from within a splinter group which was violently revolting against the ruling government.  The third link in our chain would be that very government’s armies.  Our emissary reminded those folks in his letter that first the vicious leader must violate the temple, just as Daniel and my son had both predicted.  The evildoer would eliminate those restraining and tilt the political scales, thus, becoming our catalyst for the destruction of the temple at the fall of Jerusalem.  Our charges were reminded that they already knew what was holding back the mystery man.  That evil man, his restrainers, our fearful charges – all served the same generation.[15]

            WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE DATING OF THE FINAL BOOK OF THE BIBLE?

            Both our man’s letter to his fearful charges as well as the recorded vision that you are referring to attest to the very same temple which was yet to be destroyed.[16]        

                                                            End of  Part V

             

           

Coming soon: Part VI, “God’s Israel”           

           

              

---

Unless otherwise noted, the scriptural references are from the New King James Version.  All parenthetical items contained within scriptural references are my emphasis.

[1]“. . . His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, ‘. . . Assuredly I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down . . . . Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven . . . and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. . . . Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place’” (Matthew 24:1b, 2b, 29a, 30, 34).

[2]“The (prophecy) against Egypt:  ‘Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt . . . ‘  Then the Lord said, ‘. . . the king of Assyria (will) lead away the Egyptians as prisoners . . . to the shame of Egypt’” (Isaiah 19:1a, 20:3a, 4).  “. . . the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.  And a sword will come upon Egypt . . . (when) her foundations are torn down. . . . when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt . . . a cloud will cover her . . . thus I will execute judgments on Egypt’”

(Ezekiel 30:3-4, 18-19a, New American Standard).  “For the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand . . . like the morning clouds spread over the mountains, a people come great and strong . . . surely nothing shall escape them . . . “ (Joel 2:1b, 2, 3b). 

It’s the author’s belief that most modern-day theologians try to explain away the time statements which Jesus made to His contemporaries about His return, because they have not yet grasped the true nature of His promised return in power and judgment.  They have confused a cataclysmic end to our world with the fall of Jerusalem/destruction of the temple/end of sacrificial Judaism historical phenomenon. 

The author believes that Jesus returned when He said He would to accomplish what He had prophesied in just the way that those who had heard and understood expected Him to.  New Testament authors were not mistaken when they declared:  “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37, New American Standard); or “. . . the end of all things is at hand” (1 Peter 4:7); or “. . . the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).  They knew that when Jesus said, “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34), He meant their generation – not some future generation or age to come.

The apostles knew that Christ’s “coming on the clouds” metaphor (Matthew 24:30, 26:64) was analogous to all Old testament language depicting God’s calamitous actions to bring judgments to nations.  Throughout their history, God had acted invisibly through the armies of man or via natural phenomenon to achieve His will rather dramatically.

Like Father, like Son – an unseen Jesus employed Roman armies and came “on the clouds” to effect a “great tribulation” final siege, the fall of Jerusalem, and the subsequent destruction of the temple as promised.  Paul had predicted that “the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).  The only “world” that most first-century disciples had known was gone.  The “new creation” world that they had only begun to experience had fully come.      

[3]“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. . . . Therefore say I to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 7:18, 21:43, King James Version).

[4]“In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete.  Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).  “. . . the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining . . .” (1 John 2:8b).  “For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious” (2 Corinthians 3:11).

[5]“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

[6]“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. . . . I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (when) . . . I turned to see the voice that spoke to me.  And having turned I saw . . . out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword . . .”

(Revelation 1:3, 10a, 12a, 16a).

[7]“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 6:13).

[8]“Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen” (Ephesians 3:21, King James Version).  “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).  “And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has established forever” (Psalm 78:69).

[9]“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us”

(2 Corinthians 1:20).

[10]“He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars (axis) tremble” (Job 9:6).

[11]“Now faith is the substance (seed) of things hoped for, the evidence (seed) of things not seen. . . . by faith the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:1, 3).

[12]“. . . the angel Gabriel was sent by God to . . . a virgin . . . (whose) name was Mary.  And . . . the angel said to her, ‘. . . with God nothing will be impossible’” (Luke 1:26-28a, 37).  “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).  “Ah, Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and the outstretched arm.  There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:6).

[13]“Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”  (Romans 8:16).  “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but . . . the same anointing teaches you concerning all things”

(1 John 2:27a).  

[14]“Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together with Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from one of us, as though the day of  Christ had come” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).

[15]“Paul (and company), to the church of the Thessalonians:  Grace to you and peace . . . (for) it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels . . . when He comes that Day. . . . (But) let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God . . . Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?  And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 1:1a, 2a, 6-7, 10a; 2:3-8).

                “Therefore, when you see the ‘abolition of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [whoever reads, let him understand], then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

                “And the forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31).

                It’s the author’s belief that the “man of sin” is identified in Jewish historian Josephus’ account of the horrible destruction of the temple as one John, the son of Levi, from the provincial area of Gischala.  This man meets all the criteria.  He led a Zealot faction’s revolt (“the falling away”) against Rome, persuading the people of Jerusalem to make war with the Romans.  He usurped all that represented God in the temple.  He ordered the removal of the priesthood (“what is restraining”) and the death of the high priest, (“he who now restrains”), Ananus (“until he is taken out of the way”).  A treacherous man – he had the throats slit of anyone he surmised might be in allegiance with the Romans.  He denigrated the temple, melting down many of the sacred utensils.  Daily sacrifices were ended.  Josephus wrote that “the death of Ananus (who “preferred peace” with Rome “above all things”) was the beginning of the destruction of the city” (Josephus:  Wars VI, p313).  The entire siege took three and one-half years. 

[16]“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod.  And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.  But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.  And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months’” (Revelation 11:1-2).