Completed Israel

Think of how Jesus must have felt dying on the cross. All of the love in the world did not bring Him down until He had undergone the pain and punishment that He was born for. He had not deserved it and in the end, it was only the Father's love that resurrected Him. He had to go, He had to suffer the insults and disrespect and taunts. He was spit at and reviled, people hit Him and made false accusations against Him, turned their backs on Him and called Him names. As He hung there on the cross, His final thoughts were of others, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." Jesus on the cross is the fatted calf given over to the feast for the prodigal son and we are about to enter into that self-same feast. The brother of the prodigal son was jealous but yet the Father reserved everything He had for him.

No religion of any persuasion receives the persecution that Jews and Christians have had to endure. Much of that persecution has come from false Christians. Everyone I meet, I treat with love and respect and do my best to lift others up but all of my life people have put me down. Once I am disrespected that mutual respect is gone but love must continue in spite of it. It is through their ignorance of course, but it still hurts. I give, they take. I exalt them in the spirit, they debase me in the flesh, I help, they hinder, I listen to the Lord and get clobbered for the privilege. Don't take it personal? Good advice but these things are meant to be personal and the hurt remains. I realize that the prophet's greatest enemies will be among their own family and friends but that is small comfort when you're hurting since even the prophets enjoy getting their own digs into me on the sidelines. Forgive them Father and myself as well but cleansing the soul amid depression and anxiety are small consolations for a life that seeks spirit-filled joy. It is hard to raise your head when it is being beaten down; it is hard to understand why love and kindness is returned with hatred and meanness. We may seek the spirit but yet still in the flesh and the flesh is subject to pain and suffering. Our hope is in the kingdom to come.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. Job 12:7-12.

If we take a discussion of the wedding feast with all our preconceived notions and popular conceptions and come up with the spiritual directed point that the crucifixion delivers past fulfillments concerning who the Bride is, we had better listen to it. We know that Jesus is our Passover lamb and it is really easy to see Him as the fatted calf but the Lord is also telling us not to forget the role that Judah is playing as the Bride of Christ.

The Christian Church is New Israel. No argument on this point except from misled teachers but Israel is not complete without Judah. We Christians may fill the prophetic role of the northern tribes and Ephraim and we can rightfully be expected to be at least part of the Bride of Christ, but until the restoration of the Jews to their rightful place, there is no wedding. The 144,000 are not just from the Jews but all twelve tribes with the ten lost tribes among them. The marriage of the lamb and the church consists of the whole house of Israel. The last question that the disciples had ever asked Jesus in the flesh was "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus answered with the promise that we would be witnesses over the entire earth after the Holy Ghost had come upon us. The restoration of the church and the Jewish restoration are to be taken together in these last days and it is the reconciliation between them that this will come to pass. It will be accomplished through that same Holy Ghost power and this gift also given to the Jews.

There is much talk about reclaiming our Jewish roots but not much being taught about reclaiming the house of Israel as one house. It is more than accepting Jews as our brothers and praying for the peace of Jerusalem, after all, Armageddon is coming no matter how hard we pray. What is of utmost importance is the realization of what Jesus taught us in Luke 13:34

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Saint Paul tells us in Romans 11 that the Gentiles were grafted into the branches of Israel and just like the prodigal son, it was to provoke the Jews to jealousy. The church is now part of that Israel but Paul goes on to say that "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Biblical scholars see the times of the Gentiles ending as soon as the tribulation period starts as the 70th week of Daniel. Unless you have been following our end-time discussion or studied it before, you may not have a clue what we are talking about. Nevertheless, understand this - the Jews must be restored into the vine before the branch will bloom and there is no end-time harvest without the reconciliation. Love will have its perfect way and it is in this love between the Jews and Christians that will convince the world of salvation. We may be the Christian remnant that has escaped from Babylon but there is also a remnant out of Judah.

Well, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is coming soon. He will not come however, until Judah finally accepts Jesus as the Messiah. We also come in the name of the Lord and they must accept the body of Christ as brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of Jacob also. So, in the final estimation, it is the peace in our hearts and the New Jerusalem that comes out of heaven that is really important. God has not abandoned Jews or the earthly Jerusalem but they still are in darkness and their house is desolate and the only way that they will see the light is Jesus living through us. For that to happen, unity must finally come through for Christians. We do that by restoring the temple and the faith of our fathers, by building the correct foundations, putting away the traditions of men and the doctrines of demons, by preparing ourselves as a spotless Bride without spot or wrinkle and by humbling ourselves, taking up our own cross and being led by the Spirit. First and most importantly, we love each other. Jews are not jealous of the Christian Church today, they are repulsed.

I encourage you to scroll down and at least skim over the information to understand what is being addressed here. A lot of material, but essential in the long run if you are really interested in being part of the returning remnant as nails in the holy place. There is much discussion on the wedding feast and the wedding garments, understanding the parables, preparations for purification, robes of righteousness and now being the time. There is much wisdom and good teaching coming through; for many of you, it is revelation. We are among the house of Israel and we must stand undivided for the perfect yet to come.

More comments welcome. More on the Christians and the Jews? More on the jealousy involved? What do you think of the peace between us coming? What have you seen already? Are we about to end the times of the Gentiles? What will that involve? When do the spirit and the bride say come? Now? Later? In the first century? At the end of the tribulation period or before the harvest? All of the above? Or are we wasting our time and does it really matter? Are we to just go and love and preach the gospel regardless of whatever?

Jay

Hi Jay.

I've watched the notes you sent to the list, and they seem to gravitate towards trying to understand the destiny of people, depending on their faith. I'd like to share the following with you, to open another approach to the questions that have been raised:

First of all, I'd like to point to Rom 11. This passage is about the partial blindness that has come over Israel, and the purpose of it.

Rom 11:30-36 (YLT)

30 for as ye also once did not believe in God, and now did find kindness by the unbelief of these:
31 so also these now did not believe, that in your kindness they also may find kindness;
32 for God did shut up together the whole to unbelief, that to the whole He might do kindness.
33 O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
34 for who did know the mind of the Lord? or who did become His counsellor?
35 or who did first give to Him, and it shall be given back to him again?
36 because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are the all things; to Him is the glory--to the ages. Amen.

At this time, people were concerned about the destiny of their own brethren, the Israelites. They did not believe that Jesus is the Christ, and are missing out on the preached salvation. Paul shows here the unmeasurable richness of Gods mercy. This does not automatically mean that there is another Way than Jesus, but still God knows a method, that we may not know, to do kindness. His desire and counsel is to do kindness to ALL. To learn mankind to appreciate this kindness, He 'shut up together the whole to unbelief'.

Further I would like to point to Eph 2:6, where we see statements regarding the 'Eklesia':

6 and did raise us up together, and did seat us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that He might show, in the ages that are coming, the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus,

Here Paul states, that there are ages (aions) to come in which God will show 'His kindness toward us', such that they also may find kindness. We as the Eklesia are put on display, such that the rest can see the 'kindness' of God.

And lastly I would like to point to Eph 1:9 (YLT)

9 having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,
10 in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth--in him;

Here it states that the secret of His will, is to bring together all things in Christ, in regard of the dispensation of the fulness of times (yet another age).

So we see a goal, we see a method, and we see a time-path. We see that God's plan and purpose reaches much further than we can possibly imagine. Our view is quite often limited to 'now', and constraint by the doctrines and truth of the 'current age'. We also tend to look no further than the time span of an earthly life. But there is much, so much more. Our Lord is moving step by step towards His goal. God already knows the end: God all in all (1cor 15). Which is the fulfillment of His purpose with creation. The path to it is paved with experiences, designed for mankind to learn and appreciate who God really is. God is Love, that is His substance. Appreciation for His love can only be learned by experiencing the opposite and being exposed to a witness. That's what Rom 11 and Eph 2 learns us.

We do not 'know' the end. That's why we are searching for knowledge. We want to know what will HAPPEN to people, while I believe God is interested in a RELATION with people. If we want to grow to mature children of God, I think we need to change our bias from 'searching what will happen to whom', to 'intimate relation with God'. Our Lord Jesus made it possible, and set the example of an intimate relation with the Father, and that is 'eternal life'.

Joh 17:3 (NKJV)
3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

So when we search for truth, I think the best way is to search for the heart of God, because when you get close to His heart, He will reveal His love for you, and you will find truth. Truth is not an answer to a question, or a doctrine, or a judgement, truth is a person: Jesus, it represents a way of being. Just as our Lord Jesus is the truth, we become the truth when we grow in Him, and live a Godly life.

Praise His name,

Hans.

It is time for that Hans, thank you for making it so clear. The following was the first response to the wedding feast post that went out and have already thought of an answer and it goes along with what you are saying, here's what the letter says.

>I believe the church is to exclude gays, demon possessed hedonists, and >fornicators. The gates of the temple don't open to anyone that does not >repent first, no one. And we don't open these gates, God does; based on what >that individual does with Christ. We are to separate ourselves from any >brother that walks disorderly.(2 thes 3:6), not to party with them.

>If you think these types of people are getting into the wedding feast, your >mistaken. If I wouldn't let these people into my own occasion, why would Holy >God at the wedding of his only Son? Your not making sense.

Art, Mission Viejo

The questions that we need to ask ourselves is just how far does God's grace extend and how far should our loving kindness extend. Now he makes a good point that the gates do not open without repentance but is that true? When the Pharisees and righteous people tried to stone the woman caught in adultery, Jesus did not condemn her but did ask her to go and sin no more and that would include repentance. The point is that He accepted her first and then told her to repent. Was He not inviting her first? If we need to discuss just how far we go in the acceptance of people then it is a matter of judgment, which we are not to do. Do we repent for the sins of other people? Of course not, we do not judge others, we must judge ourselves. Jesus is calling the sinners, not the righteous people. And what of the statement that we do not open the gates but God does, this is not what I have been saying or others that I know of but these are points that need to be discussed. Do we open the gates or does God and who is allowed to get in?

Jay

Truly the remnant are they who prepare the bride. In the 12th chapter of the revelation we see where the woman is hidden by God and fed by the Man Child for a time. This is after the wedding and consummation. She is covered with the sun which is the Glory of God, and she has the moon under her feet which is the fallen Church system. She brings forth a Man Child who is the 'Manifested Sons of God'.

So we see three levels of God's dealing with his Church. The Outer court church is the moon, which is to be tread underfoot by the sinners as well, during the three and a half year tribulation.(Rev.11-2) The holy place is the glorious bride prepared as a queen for her husband. The holy of holies is the Male seed church. They who have the power in themselves to give life to the church. No one has entered into this place yet, when the first person does God will draw the curtains on this charade.

These manifested sons of God will complete the ministry of their brother Jesus Christ who ministered for three and a half years. They will minister as the two witnesses for three and a half years to complete the cycle of the Seven years of Jesus' ministry which he pleaded with the Father in the garden of Gethsemane that he should finish.

Jesus says when he comes he shall separate the sheep (Holy place) from the goats (Outer court) because of their attitudes towards his brethren (Holy of Holies).

At midnight while the Virgins, foolish (Outer court) and wise (Holy place) slumbered, there were a people (Holy of Holies) that were awake to herald the arrival of the bridegroom.Hallelujah! Brethren, let us press on, we have the destiny of mankind in our hands and we must fulfill it. God willing I will write again soon.

Your brother in the Lord, Michael Obeya.
thetempleoftruth@aol.com

hey there! you are surely an evangelist, or a preacher, your words are strong and straight. i am reminded of the verse that says if there are not enough guests at the feast, go into the street and call who ever is passing by in, to fill the seats, and they shall attend as if invited. thanks for the mini sermon, please, no offense meant, i have always loved those who can spread open the scripture, and show it word for word, line upon line.
Teresa

If a Moslem, or person of the traditional Hebrew faith came to know God, our God, the God of Jesus of Nazareth, as He is known by an unbroken line of Christians since the time His blessed feet walked on this planet in Palestine, the same Jesus who washed His own disciples feet, the Jesus who died at the crucifixion orders of the Pontius Pilate and was resurrected from the dead, and He, Who rose from the dead and fellowshipped with over 500 witnesses, who then passed on this good news that He, Rabbi Yeshua bar Joseph of Nazareth was the promised one of Isaiah, (and other Hebrew prophets) the anointed one of God come to save all men from spiritual death for it was, and is the good news that God came to earth to walk upon His own Creation and establish in love a new covenant among His own creatures, men and women, who sin, no matter what it is they've done, or who it is that they are--this good news is for them and for you, if you (meaning anyone who is reading this) don't really know this, that God, the God of the Hebrews the Mighty One of Israel has given all men a way to his heart a way out of eternal damnation (which is the absence of the author of all good and the only Perfect Being and all Love--forever--compared to the incomparable good of fellowship with Him forever[everyone--please bet on the latter and flee from the former]) by believing that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, that this same God, so loved the world, all men and women in the world, that live and have died, all over the planet, He loved them so much that He sent his son, which is as much a part of Himself as any one human history has seen, and this event was so full of light that it has shown upon the world for two thousand years, by way of the Holy spirit keeping that light aglow and opening men and women's eyes to the truth, and Who has carried this good news to men of good will, who by knowing it have changed their lives from one's that were at the very best, lives of feigned religiosity, to lives of sons of God and the true worshipers of God, the living God who many men have tried to worship (Moslem, Jew, Hindu and Buddhist and others) and sought Him, and prayed to Him and some of them may have even indeed been holy-- in that humility of seeking, but all of those efforts apart from Jesus Christ is man reaching up to God! However, Christianity, (and praise God that this is so) is, even in its most base, and most clumsily communicated form, Christianity, is God reaching down to man! so the Hebrew, or Moslem, that really came to know God, our God, the God of Jesus Christ who said if you saw Him, you saw the Father, would then be Christians.

In Him,

james kelly

[The following and some of the above comments is picking up the Yahoo forum in the middle of the dialogue, if you would like to see where we were coming from here, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/latter_rain_list]

Dear Latter-Rain and Mary,

When I read Jay Fenello's response to my questions to him, I finally understood what he was saying. I think Hans responds to it very well. What Jay F. is saying is the God of Jesus. Not that Jesus is God. But that all roads lead to heaven. All faiths enter into the heavenly realm. The God of Jesus, is the God of Abraham, etc. and if there is a merciful God, He would not let so many perish. Perhaps that is why God had me ask Jay F. point out, do you believe Jesus is the Savior, that He is God? Jay F. never responded. This can be a hard reality to understand for some but Jesus tells us "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14

It is not ours to judge who enters into God's presence and who doesn't, as Jay A. said. But it is our responsibility for our own relationship with Jesus. We do not know for positive someone else's actions, or mind regarding the Lord. But we had better do all we can to stand strong upon the rock in our own lives. For Jay F. the gate is narrow, but the relationship with Him is large and great. More than our human minds can really understand. And as you go deeper with Him, He will reveal Himself to you in greater ways. Love Him, and trust that He will finish what He purposed upon the earth. You want everyone going to heaven. I imagine that is a reflection of God's heart also. Reflect the love you experience with Jesus. Don't worry if others don't reflect the light you think they should. You be the light. Since He gives you a heart of compassion for all to come home, then be the light to shine the truth upon the hearts of so many who have hearts of stone.

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9-10

Peace unto you,
Arlette

p.s. really sorry Jay A. have gone way off your topic of discussion.

Thanks Arlette for reminding us of the heart of the Father. You mentioned that you have gotten off the topic but I believe that we are right on track.

Just how wide is the gate of the temple anyway? Many in the outer court will never make it into the holy place and just because they are invited to the wedding feast does not guarantee that they have not entered into a wide gate that leads to destruction. No one yet has mentioned the wedding garments.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:9-14

We are inviting children into the kingdom. Does that guarantee eternal life? Jesus said in Matthew 8:11 "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

How is that for a revelation? The children of what kingdom? He may be speaking of the Jews but then leaves it open for speculation.

Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 13:40, "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

We may have a kingdom that is unshakable and eternal but entrance into that kingdom is not a guarantee of anything so the gates of the temple are wide open, it is the gate leading into eternal life that is narrow. That means that we should invite everyone and that includes all of the despicable and sinful and all of the ones that we would really not like to associate with. How deep is your love? How far does your grace and forgiveness extend? It seems that God's grace is just as far-reaching as His love is and that includes Jesus dying for the whole world. Shouldn't it be the same for us? And shouldn't we be inviting everyone no matter what they have done in the past or what culture, or even what religion? Are we to exclude anyone? Apparently some people think so.

Jay

When I read the scripture you that you mention Matthew 22:1-9 - The Wedding Banquet - this is what I have come to understand. The king is God. The son who is getting married would be Jesus. Those first called in Math. 3, would be those who had been waiting for the Savior, but when He comes they don't see, don't accept Him for who He is.

Servants sent out are the voices of God's messengers. John the Baptist is probably a good example of a servant, along with all those who love Jesus in Spirit and truth. Those who live on the physical earth, and perhaps supernatural servants, angels. I don't know if you would include those in the Old Testament who always hoped and spoke of a coming Messiah as being servants calling others to the wedding. Voices such as Daniel's: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14, would definitely be a voice of a servant calling others to wait in the hope of the Messiah. Their words called out to others to have hope and to wait for the coming Messiah, so would they be included as the servants calling "those who were bidden to the wedding" - Matthew 22:3. They definitely kept people aware of the fact that He would come.

Those on the highway and byways would be those who would accept Jesus as Savior. The ones who allowed their hands to be healed on the Sabbath - as opposed to the people who sought to destroy Jesus for doing good on the Sabbath. A day established under Jewish law in which no physical work was to be performed. "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.... Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him." Matthew 12:9-14. So those on the highway and byways would be those under the law of justification through faith in Jesus. Romans 3-5. Those who accept Jesus as the Son of God.

The question that I have come to wonder about is who are the ones who came into the wedding feast but had not on a wedding garment? Are they those who had walked with the Lord, who proclaimed "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets" Luke 13:26 but Jesus says "I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27. Also, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22, 23.

Then as I was reading my Bible today studying another subject I came upon "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for ye shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Romans 14:10, and wondered is this it? We will all stand before Him and those not clothed in our wedding clothes, our white linen garments will be cast out?

It always comes back to what we were talking about earlier. Stay in love with Jesus today. Keep your focus on Him, and then you will be assured that you will be able to say with Paul, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him." 2 Cor. 5:8-9.

Peace,
Arlette

Dear Jay,

Thanks for a kindly response, glad to see my email was in time,

RE: The Bride (again)

Here I will attempt to rephrase my perspective of "Israel" having to be the 'Bride of Messiah' for I deem it, actually critical! Again, not an essential revelation to the church now, but I know it will be some day. Yet know this too, this is also rather new to myself, I did not come up with it, but I (We as Christians) have been missing it for almost 2000 years!

Question: What does Abraham, Isaac, Jacob- Joseph, Reuben, Gad, Asher-, Moses & Aaron- the Apostle Paul all have in common? Answer- NONE of them were Jews! The first three were Hebrews and the rest were either the 'original' founders or heads of their separate houses, tribes- dynasties e.g. Reubenites, Gadites, Asherites and it was and still is only the people from Judah (Yehudi) that can be 'Jews' (Yudeans!).

In Acts 2:22 "Ye men of Israel hear…." Again, here the important point is- collectively (In the then future) Jews can again be 'in Israel', but Israel cannot be in Judah! Thus, this day God was bearing witness through the newly given HS to Peter to His people- ALL of them. And it is crucial to know that even to today all of Israel are still with us, despite our (Christian and many of their own) limited views on this!

Also Acts 1:6 Right before the ascension they asked him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" For in their own Messianic expectations the apostles knew that Messiah does restore Israel! (And again, at this time none of the apostles had any conception that the gentiles too would be included in the overall Kingdom Come- that came later!)

When Moses led out the children 'of Israel' (All 12 tribes) all were "Israelites"… 'and a mixed multitude'; and from here onward renamed 'House of Jacob' (Ex. 19:1-3). Later you will find in Israel's civil war the country was divided between Judah in the south and Israel (10) up north. You will also note that if one of then were a Jew it was not synonymous with being from 'Israel' and vice versa! Yet when God prophesises into the far future to restored Israel in Messiah they are then referred to collectively (Again, as in Ex. 19:1-3) as Israel of House of Jacob.

Jumping ahead to Rev. 7:4 and the 144K of every tribe of 'the sons of Israel' and verse :9 'and behold (another) great multitude' Dig it! This is Exodus all over again only now on a planet-wide scale.

Re: Who gets saved: (Is. 49:5-6)

Three identifiable groups are essentially mentioned here- we now know that 'Jacob' will be (future) restored Israel (and best understood as the Two Houses of Israel); and the gentiles!!

Yet the kicker is this and something that is beyond any standard church doctrine. That you like most have been reading our own New Test. for years and never knew that e.g. (1Pt.2:5- 10 NOT A PEOPLE is the same ' NOT A PEOPLE' of (HO. 1:-8,9) and these people are the dispersed 10 tribes of Israel, 700 years later who became semi 'assimilated' gentiles but through God's mercy get reborn into Messiah!

I could go on and on and there is much corroborating scriptures- yet there is a web site that lays this all out very methodically. Yet know too that I am not Jewish, nor Messianic, just someone that pursues Godly truths to know if they are either true or false.

Should you like to check this all out I will pass along that web site. Being up front with you, even my close Christian buddies have no interest in this- for it involves work and you may find some answers you do not like, at first. Yet for myself I can only share with you what I know is- my opinion counts for very little.

Lastly, you are right when you say that 'in Jesus' there is no Jew or gentile. However, those outside of Messiah still are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists etc. And 'the Jews' as in (Zach. 12:-, 13:- & 14:- ) still have a big part yet to play. All I will say is this- it is almost as if they are a 'reverse Ruth-factor' for as Paul so eloquently shows us in (Rom. 11:25-) God always comes back for His children. And one thing is certain, and I say this with over 20 years witnessing to Jews & Israeli's- the standard church perspective is stagnant- something has to give…and I know it will be the above.

OK, sorry to write so much, but there is much to know and still some.

Bless you Jay and those you may yet reach,

B. Al

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Hi Al,

You make some good points and I see what you are saying and for the record, your opinion does count. What I am coming to see more clearly is the role that Jacob is playing. Jesus said "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Also "Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." We also have the ability to cast out devils and most teachers today have all understood the kingdom to be present with us now as well as a kingdom to come. What you say here is true and I do appreciate the clarification on the ten tribes of Israel which helps me see your point. But again, your original premise in the last edition is that the Christian Church is not the Bride of Christ. If you could harmonize your own views here into what is Judah's part to play, then we may come into agreement but the fact remains that the people of which Peter is referring to in these verses are we as Christians and he was writing to Christians as Israel, not Jews. We are now among the people of God and part of His kingdom and like you say, Judah will have their part to play and the Christian church has been stagnant. We know that we are not yet restored but I have yet to be convinced that the Christian church is not Israel in the prophetic as the Bride of Christ:

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:1-10

The corner stone of Zion is Jesus. We as Christians are now among the people of God, we are the lively stones in the temple and the spiritual house, we are a chosen priesthood because we have tasted that the Lord is good. In that we were in times past not a people but now we are is the main thrust of the scriptures quoted here. Of course your view is beyond any standard church doctrine like you say but the reason is that your view is not according to the plain interpretation of scripture if you are saying that these verses do not apply to us as the Bride of Christ.

What you mention with this verse and its relationship to Hosea 2 is significant, thank you for that. It brings us into a question that I posed for this edition, that of Judah's part in all of this.

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:7-11.

The distinction here between Israel and Judah is very important. You are absolutely correct in that the two passages are the same "not a people" but the conclusion is faulty if we think that the promises given to Israel do not refer to the church and that we do not have a husband in Jesus, we being the Bride of Christ. I don't think that you are fully saying that but many other people are. We are the children of Israel through grafting into the family of God and fulfill the promises given to Abraham. We may only be adopted sons but heirs to the promise and still the sons of the living God. Nothing anyone will say can take that away from us except in his or her own case. Of course, this is my view at the present, my opinion. I am still open to more interpretation and instruction but I would hope it would be for more clarification and not to think that I am wrong in thinking that we are among the remnant to prepare the Bride of Christ of which we are a part. Judah will have their part to play and we are learning more. What is significant here is that we are also coming into the time and place that Israel and Judah will be gathered together as one again and like you say, it is critical.

Armageddon is the ancient hill of the Valley of Megiddo in the Plain of Jezreel in central Palestine so these verses in Hosea refer to the final battle and what leads up to it in the distinction between Israel and Judah. During this time, the children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together as one. That is a wonderful promise but we have thought this for a long time and in no way does anything here take away from the view that Christians are the Bride of Christ. If Judah is included in that and part of the New Jerusalem as many are trying to say does not preclude the Christian church from being part of that also. As we see here, they will be gathered together at the end, not separate.

Together here, we are clearing up some misconceptions but we need not bring up any new ones. I have heard many teachers on prophecy say that the 144,000 are Jews, we both realize how preposterous that is, yet false teaching is a hard nut to crack with very hard shelled people teaching them.

You mentioned Isaiah but I believe that it is out of context if it is thought to be any part of your original premise that Christians are not part of the Bride of Christ.

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. Isaiah 49:4-9

Paul quoted this very scripture to the Jews:

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:46-48.

I mentioned before that the bride has past, present and future fulfillments.

Jeremiah prophesied after Israel was dispersed and said:

Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 3:20

Throughout history, Christians have hated Jews and Jews have hated Christians and by doing so, both have played the harlot. Once we finally come to the point that we can recognize that each depend on the other, the kingdom restored to Israel can take place and as such, the marriage can take place. The Lord God is the husband of a restored Israel, not a divided one. If that is the case, then the Christian church is not yet the perfect Bride of Christ but they must be included as being part of that Bride or Jesus could not be our husband.

Remnant Christians are saying to get out of the whoredom of Babylon and that Christians are caught up in the daughter of Babylon. Hosea goes on to prophesy concerning the husband:

Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst. And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms. For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Hosea 2:2-5.

We are not a part of that, we are saying to return to the true husband as His holy bride. It is the harlot church that is not the Bride and that has been increased with goods and will not come out of Babylon. We may not be complete or perfect or restored without Judah but we are still commissioned to do what we can to prepare the Bride. The church is under a strong delusion and it was sent by God for believing the lie. It was the Jews that first refused the marriage feast and the Gentiles were able to see the light, we may certainly be out in the highways and byways already sent to but there is still more to come:

Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Hosea 2:6-8

Paul was not writing to Jews here but to Gentile Christians:

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:2-4.

Thanks Al,

Jay

The Aldulterer was given a chance to repent. Yes , He "invited" her to repent but not to the wedding feast which was the topic. Why should I ask myself how far God's grace extends. God's grace extends farther than I can comprehend so there is no use trying to figure that out. But in regards to how we deal with fornicators, homosexuals, and the demon possessed, that is clear in scripture. If they are considered brothers we are to rebuke them. (1 jn 5:16)If they repent we save them from hell. If they don't turn, we withdraw from them so they will be ashamed. (2 thes. 3:14). If these people are unbelievers we are to go out to them and to preach the message of Christ. This is where God's grace comes in. But there is no grace to those that reject Christ. He is the Chief cornerstone of which most will fall upon and be broken into powder. The wedding feast is not for outsiders. I really don't care to see homosexual acts at Gods wedding feast. Why would you want to contaminate this event?

Art.

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Hi Art,

Jesus is calling the sinners to repentance, not the righteous. No one here said that there would be homosexual acts committed during the wedding feast. God may hate the sin but He loves the sinner, homosexuality is to be condemned but it is only up to the hypocrites and Pharisees to be throwing stones at them. Once anyone is in attendance, they will be asked to show their wedding garments. Many will be thrown into outer darkness. That is what is clear from scripture.

Jay

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Dear Jay:
Piece by piece I'd like to respond to your response if I may.

  1. You say "Jesus is calling sinners, not the righteous to repentance". This statement would be contradictory to other scriptures unless Jesus had a deeper meaning. Everyone is supposed to repent. Why? Because there are none righteous, no not one. We are all sinners. Jesus was trying to point out to the self-righteous that he was not calling them until they realized that they were sinners.
  2. True. No one said there would be homosexual acts at the feast. But you did say that they (homosexuals)would be there along with demon possessed hedonists and fornicators. These are your words right? I don't see anywhere in scripture for this. And since you're apparently adding on to scripture with this teaching one must continue on with the fabrication. What makes an individual a homosexual is the act of Sodomy and the acts of unnatural affections. I think it's fair since we are getting away from scripture with your teaching that "these people will be there", that once they are there, anything unscriptural can happen. And what about the demon possessed hedonists? Will they sit quietly in the presence of God and enjoy the feast? I don't think so. Demons cry out in the presence of Christ in fear and will probably run for the hills. That is unless you have some scripture to back that up.
  3. You say "God hates the sin but loves the sinner". I'm sorry. But this pseudo verse repeated over and over by "once saved always saved type churches" is often used as a license to sin. You see this made up verse seems to say that God loves a person while he's committing an act of sin. That is not true. Here are some actual verses reveal that God does actually hate sinners unless they repent are as follows: Rom 9:13 - Ps 5:5 -- Hos. 9:15 --Ps. 11:5.
  4. Are you saying that I am throwing stones, and am therefore a pharisee or hippocrite? If so, remember this. Stones are physical heavy objects meant to kill. I have never lifted one seeking to kill anyone. And you know that yet you say it anyway. Why? Is there a threat in what I'm saying? Is God's attack against Homosexuality a threat to you in some way? Is condemning Homosexuality the same as throwing stones to you. You must differentiate there.

    why? Because a salt that loses it's flavor is fit for nothing but the dunghill.

Thank you for your discussion. God Bless. Art Fortt

Jay,

Re: Travail for the Seven Spirits

Once again you're right on time... even though i avoided reading your email for almost 3 weeks, you're right on time. Let me be the first to admit to allowing myself to be defeated by depression, anger and self disappointment because when I gave my all to God, not being raised in the church, but meeting Christ Himself at the age of 17, I was looked down upon and rebuked for doing what He gave me to do, which is to praise Him with all of my soul, my mind my heart, and my strength, which confused me and eventually killed me because my entire being, personally, was in my praise. I stopped praying, reading my word, and eventually going to church, because i dwelt on my weakness and failures and confusion of why exactly i still didn't fit in; from my home to the streets to the church. Even now, i'm preoccupied with thoughts of will you look at it as dumping a whole bunch of garbage on you, because every time, i tried to just be an honest individual and express what i was feeling, whether i knew why or not.

Tyrae

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Hi Tyrae,

Let us hope and pray that you fit in now. All of us here are a bunch of misfits and looked down on by men who would cast stones at us but praise God that he is looking down on us too, except to see us as worthy of His love.

Jay

Arlette wrote:

The question that I have come to wonder about is who are the ones who came into the wedding feast but had not on a wedding garment? Are they those who had walked with the Lord, who proclaimed "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets" Luke 13:26 but Jesus says "I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27. Also, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22, 23.

Arlette, I think you know the answer. There are many who claim the name of Christ and want to have all the perks that go with being a Christian, yet they walk in their own righteousness and will not eat of Him, but eat their own food. These are the ones who are cast out of the wedding feast. "Close but no cigar", as the saying goes.
Consider this verse:

1 And in that day seven women (representative of the seven churches) shall take hold of one man, saying, ³We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach.²
(Isaiah 4:1, NKJV).

I believe that the rest of this passage matches the parable of the wedding feast as well.

In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped. And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy--everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:2-6, NKJV).

We must be found IN Christ if we are to be welcome as His bride. He must be our whole identity. Our identity can not be our righteousness, our ministries, our callings, or even our churches. Our eye must be single if our whole body is to be filled with light.

Love in Christ,

Michael C.
Bayview, ID

"A Wilderness Voice" http://www.wildernessm.homestead.com

Romans 14:10, and wondered is this it? We will all stand before Him and those not clothed in our wedding clothes, our white linen garments will be cast out?

Blessings Michael,

You forgot to add the last sentence of the paragraph that you used from my last letter. We will all stand before God. All of us, all by ourselves. We don't bring our good works with us. We don't bring those that we led to the Lord. We don't bring all of our good Bible study habits with us. Even though those are all wonderful gifts to experience, the truth is what we bring with us into the heavenly realm is the love we have for Him. The love we have for others.

It is the Spirit within us that lives on in Christ. 1 Corinthians 13, is our passage that tells us specifically what the gift is that is to be desired above all gifts. Love. God reminds us 1 Cor. 13: 12, "But then shall I know even as also I am known." God is not fooled - He looks at the heart. He knows who loves Him. How to get there? A heart that longs for God? We are all different and unique, but for me I accepted Jesus into my life. I knew personally that I was a sinner and thanked God for the forgiveness that He poured out abundantly upon me. Since He forgave me I just knew instinctly to forgive all those who had hurt me, starting from the time I was a small child. From there He took me step by step. The love has grown. The seed was planted and watered and now lives on within me. Nothing has been able to stop it.

I have gone through seasons such as this: Exodus 27:20 "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." Days when I was beaten down - for things I didn't understand. But I didn't know the whole picture of where I was going with God. Sometimes I have come to learn, we are put through the fire, beaten down, so that we will be able to produce the oil within us that will continue to burn (the fire, the light within). That way the lamp (my life and relationship with God) will always continue to burn. Or you could say - the dross is burned away to produce a more pure gold.

So even in the really difficult times we need to give praise to God. Even in days of suffering and uncertainty as we abide in Him - we have the knowledge that He is bringing forth the oil, the purity of our relationship with Him. For me personally, I grew in understanding as I continued on through days of not knowing what He was using me for. Don't misunderstand - I always loved Him, and even though I was pressed down, I trusted Him. And had a joy that no one could take from me. I knew He was my only hope and kept my mind focused on Him.

So in response to your question, yes I understand who God is talking about. Those who will be cast out. And like Jay F. it is very upsetting to my mind that any should not enter in. So I try to focus on those who will. Try to encourage what remains and those who are to enter in, today and tomorrow.

Peace,
Arlette

Michael and Arlette,

I believe you both are right also. Jesus supplies the "wedding garment" and is Himself our "robes of righteousness". In the Garden after Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they immediately became aware of their "nakedness". Immediately, they covered themselves with a covering of their own choosing, but when the Father came calling for them, this covering did nothing to take away the shame of their nakedness. So, we see further in the Chapter that God made a covering for them of HIS choosing.

We know that Jesus is now our ONLY covering. If we have covered ourselves in our own religious garments instead of only Christ Jesus, then we will not be dressed in the right garment, and He will say, "depart from Me I never knew you".

In Isaiah 4:1 we can see that these ones wanted to claim His Name but eat the food of their own choosing and cover themselves with a garment of their own choice. The same is true today with His people. They want to wear the garment of their own particular religion or tradition and eat the food of their own choosing, and do all of this in His Name. He will no longer allow this. It is a serious day we live in.

Be blessed in Him, Lorraine

Jay,

RE: The traditional Jewish/ Israelite wedding feast and our 'assembling to meet the Lord- in the air'.

The oldest version of this that I've heard is that the groom comes for his bride when and only when the Father deems it 'the time'. And then they go back to the Fathers house (Very extended family).

Yet, for our time it is not the traditional joyful shouts and music of 'the bridegroom comes' from his friends, but is replaced by- wars, famine, earthquakes etc. Thus this tells me that the 'five- wise maidens' still are here earthbound...at least for awhile. Why, because without them what is God's witness to what is happening? (And He never leaves Himself without witnesses!) Yes, this will be the time of the "two Witnesses" of (Rev. 11:-) but it also stands that someone has to believe them- the church o Phile., the 144K etc.

Note when I say during the time of the 'two Witnesses' I mean the last 1,260 days. Also note that the apocalypse is progressive- each day is not a 'holocaust'- that comes last. This is also why, I believe the 'servants of God are sealed' (Rev. 7:3) before- for they are in the apocalypse. (I know, for many pre-Trib. people they do not like to hear this perspective- all I say for here is keep it in the back of your mind. I don't 'wish' to be present here during the apocalypse either- but this is how I read it all!)

Also, in traditional Judaism- the awaiting bride burns her lamp in the window continuously for several reasons. One to let other men know that she is betrothed and is engaged to a specific groom that can literally come for her at any time so she has to be ready. But as I stated- she only get s short time-interval before 'he' is at her door (Mat. 25:6 "But at midnight there was a cry")- then the door was shut- thus, technically we have to 'be in the apocalypse' to hear to hear/see the 'signs'! (Note: Rev. 7:14)

Also, it is interesting to read in Mat. 25:5 "they all slept"! Thus it does go back to what you stated re: whom should we pray for. Answer- everyone- right up until they accept 'the mark'!

OK, some o my views again. Hey, I only know so much, but what I do know I share it.

Bless you through all the promises in Christ Jesus,

B. Al

Jay, I also used to think the "wedding clothes" were the Robes of Righteousness -- but I have since come to believe that these garments have more to do with the fine linen clothing of the Bride -- the righteous acts of the saints, as seen by John:

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Rev 19:7,8)

All Christians - if they are truly Christians -- are clothed in Christ's Robes of Righteousness, but the Scripture makes clear all Christians are in process of "being perfected" - or completed in Love.. being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ. We know our Father is after Christlike character in us - "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of His Son." (Rom 8:29) "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass, the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" ...

God is making a man. He is building a race... He is after the perfecting, the maturing of the body.. not 'sinless perfection', but rather a full grown and matured man... "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph 4:12)

Will all Christians be included in the Wedding Feast? We can gain some more insight through the parable of the wise/foolish virgins.....

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Matt 25:10

The foolish virgins are awake at the coming of the Bridegroom, but they had not "made themselves ready" - as we know the Bride did and "the wise virgins" did. She has made herself ready, by embracing the Cross, not protecting 'self' but having come through the fiery trials of Christ's Perfecting Love -- she is clothed in fine linen. Glorious White Linen. These wedding garments of Love are provided through the process of sanctification by the Holy Spirit -- as Christ's Character is worked into the very fiber of her being.

Linda Evans

[The following article submitted is placed down at the bottom] From John Wright Follette's "Broken Bread" -- devotional for the developing of Christian Character: (long but well worth the read)

Dear Jay

In my view the wedding feast is a spiritual event that will take place towards the end of the tribulation.

The answers may be found in Thessalonians. As Paul says, I would not have you ignorant nor deceived. Before the coming of the Lord, there must first be a passing away of the old. And the man of sin, son of perdition must be REVEALED.

THE WEDDING FEAST
Then the dead in christ will rise and the living christians will also rise to meet christ in the clouds.
This is the wedding which some call the rapture. In my view the revelation gives detail of how Satan will be revealed and how the rapture will take place. However the order of events as described by paul, should be our guide.

To believe the restoration will take place before the destruction is a deception. As Christ has said, "Does a man put new wine in with old wine". I my view what is happening today is the preparation and sealing up of the christians. It is this seal that will protect us during the time of tribulation.

God Bless
Carl

Hello, all...
Peace to you and your's, and love from us...

To one man gold is like a paper bag, having the same value, but to another, that same paper bag, is gold, but neither one can reveal to the other it's value, for it is different in each, unless they both come to the awareness of the need the paper bag holds for them.
There is grace, which is the atonement, but there is faith which gives us access to that grace, and neither one alone can save us, they both must be present in the judgement.
Now, if there is clearly faith to be needed, why is it needed?
Faith is the power of God to turn us from the power of the devil, to the power of God.
There are two powers, that of the flesh, and that of the Spirit.
The flesh has the power to make a man walk after it, but only if the spirit within us is seeking it as a value, and this will naturally be done without our awareness of the spirit within us.
The spirit within us has the power to make a man follow after it, but only after having awareness of itself.
Man will naturally follow after the carnal mind, "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life." None of these things are of God, and have nothing to do with spirit, except to direct the spirit by awareness of, into these carnally minded things, if they are of value to us.
Now being blinded to the awareness of our spirits within us, we can never find it, because it doesn't exist in us without awareness.
Watch.... In the garden, Adam & Eve knew and understood their spirits, just not sin, nor it's consequences to their spirits. They lost the ability to comprehend their awareness of their spirits, by the new comprehension of the flesh, now bringing in darkness. The awareness of them being spirits was gone, they could only discern the awareness of the flesh now, because the spirit mind was no longer of it's twain comprehension, a spirit in a flesh body.

Ephesians 2:11-19, 11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Now being in darkness they could not listen to the will of their own spirits being dead in unawareness to it, even until this day, and until the end.

Philippians 3:10-12, 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Now brothers and sisters, we walk by Jesus' spirit alone when we walk in Spirit, because we are dead to being aware of our own spirits, as long as we are in these bodies of death, passed down. God is the Spirit, that Jesus followed, and Jesus was also dead to His own spirit as we are, which is in the likeness of this body of sin, being made like His brethren.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father," notice it says, "Spirit," not spirit. God kept Jesus alive in God's own Spirit, [by the Spirit of God, thus dying in the flesh,] Jesus was alive in His dead body, by God's Spirit keeping His dead body of works dead, working in Jesus life, the Spirit of life. Just the opposite of Adam and Eve, where they were alive to the awareness of their own spirits, and then died to the awareness of their own spirits, by their spirit following after the flesh lusts, which killed the spirits awareness of itself, and taking away it's awareness of self, and bringing in a new awareness, that of the flesh only.
Thus, already, and have they been, "dead to self awareness." Our spirits are dead and will remain that way until the wedding. Where we all come to God in one Spirit, and are given new robes, [life back to our own spirits, awareness] robe = a new awareness, consciousness of, life again in our spirits.
Remember, we all come by one Spirit, which is the Spirit that led Jesus, and if we walk in also we will by one Spirit only.
What if we come to the wedding because we are called, but are not dressed in this Spirit, can we remain, when only one Spirit can be accepted?

Revelation 5:2-4, 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

No man was worthy, not one work by the awareness of the flesh will stand before God , for all flesh is dead to the awareness of the Spirit. Meaning, no one walking by the awareness of the flesh, but them that simply followed the awareness of the Spirit, [born again,] willfully desiring to be led by this Spirit, [good ground,] and then being led by the Spirit, [one minded - dead to the flesh but alive to the Spirit, turned from the power of satan to the power of God,].
So was it finished on the cross?
The power of the darkness was over, [the captivity was over,] meaning that no longer is this world in darkness to the life of the spirit, or rather, to the awareness that there is a Spirit which gave us life.
Jesus was finished, as He said, "I have given to them the words, [Spirit,] that you gave me." We are not finished, because we die daily to the awareness of the flesh, over to the awareness of the Spirit of God. We are alive in flesh, but by not being unable to know our own souls we are dead in unawareness from the passing down of Adam's sin, until the wedding where they will be given life again.
So it is a lack of error not knowing God, where by one may think that it is, or that they are finished, and that there is noting to be done, because again, if one does not walk by this Spirit, they cannot by no means walk their own spirits in Spirit, for we are dead to the awareness of, and can only be alive in our spirits by this one Spirit. So this Spirit is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, so much so, that without it, we are simply walking in the only awareness we have, the awareness of the flesh.
That which is turned away is because it is not quickened, and it cannot be quickened by walking after our only awareness, flesh, but by the Spirit of God, because the Spirit of God is alive, for He is life.
The words Jesus spoke to us were by God's Spirit, in an expression of spirit, the words, in hopes that by God's Spirit, we would come to the knowledge of the life and death of the spirits, which is the captivity that was taken away.
We search the scripture in hope of salvation, [ to return back to the awareness of our own souls, which takes being taken out of this body of death] and the scripture tell us how to be aware in our spirits, in Spirit, which is life, by revealing both life and death, by revealing Himself, [who He is,] and revealing us, what happened to us.
Let us come to the wedding of the bridegroom and the bride in the robe of the Lamb, for it is this robe of the Lamb that is to marry the bride, this is what is freely given, and what we freely give, simply by walking in the Spirit of God. If any man comes without this robe, then he denied the life of the Spirit, by that man not walking in the Spirit of God with his own spirit.
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. Only one Spirit is accepted, only one wins the race.
So while the whole world lies in wickedness by the spirit of the devil which passed this to Adam and Eve, we brothers, have walked in one spirit or the other, but with our spirit, whom do we follow, that Spirit of life, or the dead spirit, that lies in wickedness?
So to them who cannot walk their spirit by the Spirit of God, do so because, this life is choking them, where the spirit of wickedness is roaming like a lion seeking to kill the very Spirit of life we seek. If it is stopping one from being able to grow, then they are leading their own spirit by the wrong spirit, because it's the simply awareness that gives us power to become the sons of God. Upon that Spirit is the gift of righteousness revealed through grace, and it cannot be any other way, because God's Spirit is righteous, and we are being conformed into that Spirit by desiring to know of Him.
Only faith can bring us to His Spirit, because it takes our spirits being dead to this body of evil works, and alive to the Spirit of God in good works, that the Spirit of God is ordained to do naturally.
The flesh has no works in it that can walk by the awareness of the Spirit of God, because flesh is not alive in awareness, our spirits in us are the awarenesses of these bodies, and even our spirits are dead to awareness of themselves, but is alive to the awareness of the flesh.
So to walk our spirit as though they were alive, [while they are dead to,] must be done through the Spirit of God.
The spirit of Jesus was led by the Spirit of God, the life, whom the Jews are of, but from lack of faith they did not walk by life only, but also by this life here and now, which is, and can only reveal, the awareness of the flesh, and cannot bring awareness of the spirits within us because our spirits are dead to self awareness, through the passing down of it's death, born after it's kind, into the bondage of.
We are given robes already, they are in the calling on the byways and highways, they are what gets us to the wedding, but if we come to the wedding not dressed in them, the true robes we cannot receive, because it is the Spirit of God that quickens this dead spirit to rise up this body of death, and overcome it's condemnation of dead, giving life to our spirit, walking by faith, in Spirit and truth, not by sight.
Thus, the dead spirit we are, is alive in the Spirit of God, and quicken by the Spirit of God, giving life back to our spirits.
Meaning only the Spirit of God can quicken our spirit to walk after the truth, because it is the Spirit of truth that revealed to our dead spirits, the life of the spirit, through the face of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanks for your time....

jesuswon

God First....

Hi Jay,

I have read your article about the wedding feasts. I sense only to address this specific area concerning the bride. Everyday in our world people get married and we have that revelation set in place that the bride is pure, sometimes symbolizing it with the white dress. Unless there is a very remote country where ungodly customs and traditions are yet practiced. Right here in America Brides go down the aisle in white dresses, or with the implied custom of marriage that the Bride should be pure. Some of those brides have slept with their grooms the night before however they expect something different and magical to take place on the wedding day. A lot of what we are dealing with is DECEPTION.

However the Bride of Christ will be pure and without spot or wrinkle. I'm not sure if this is allowed but I want to share a bit of testimony, I became pregnant at 15 and delivered a son at 16. Because of the teaching of our society back then you were very stained to have committed such an act. Everything kind of supported this because your baby was called illegitimate. But the greatest STAIN was made in me. When the time came that I got married I wore a blue dress thinking that to wear white was denied me because of what had happened. There is a twofold thought here 1. I had a heart understanding of holiness, however not understanding that the white dress did not make me holy. 2. A bride must be prepared for her marriage. God was not so concerned about what happened, but what the church was going to do to get me ready for marriage. Many times we may not have parents that know how to guide us but the CHURCH the BODY OF CHRIST should be prepared in every GENERATION to prepare the bride for her groom. (That's when the Body doesn't see itself with just it's 4 walls and a vision and mission statement)

You said something in your article that we tend to think that only the squeaky clean are the bride. But the scriptures says that:

Ps 130:3

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

When we get the revelation that we all must go through the preparation then we will cut out the middle man of DIVISION. If God would have to make one charge against man we would all miss eternity. When we start seeing the drug addict, gays, as the bride prepared, when we start seeing the prostitute as the bride prepared, then we will bring the right things for their purification. When Esther was chosen by the King the scripture says.

Esth 2:9

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Notice he gave her HER THINGS FOR PURIFICATION...I wonder as the Body are we making sure to seek the Lord and His wisdom as we prepare His bride.

The king had Esther to be prepared for him.....It did not make any difference where she came from or her background...when she was prepared she was without spot or wrinkle. Religion has put a lot of demands on the Body of Christ...But our KING JESUS has given to the church the things to PURIFY HIS BRIDE. Jesus our King has looked upon all mankind and said in His heart this is my Bride....While we were yet sinners Christ died for us...He left His BLOOD to purify His BRIDE. They killed His body but His BLOOD was HOLY and without BLEMISH. That BLOOD is sprinkled on the MERCY SEAT RIGHT NOW.... the BRIDE can be prepared when the Body begins to give her the right things for her purification.

You said something in your article Jay....The bride and groom LOVE each other....One of the keys to the Bride being prepared is that she is going to fall in LOVE with her GROOM in a way that we have not seen in the earth. They shall become one in every area. Weddings are like funerals, they make you think... They make you want to turn over a new leaf so to speak. People will begin to want to look like the bride when they begin to see her PURENESS. They will begin to want the spots out and the wrinkles.

Some years ago I got the picture of the Table spread, I think it may be called the Wedding Feast. (not sure) The table has no END the table is adorned with the most beautiful gold and silverware and glasses you can tell that Jesus is seated at the head and other people are seated on both side, however you never see the end or what we may think is the bride at the other end. I believe that Jesus is the Head and His Bride will sit with Him and the Feast of the Lord shall take place. Jesus' Bride will be those who know what it means to be saved from the uttermost, those who Jude describe as:

Jude 1:23

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude says that we must build ourselves up on our most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost. There is a revelation to come about the Bride and only the Holy Ghost will reveal this to the Body when we again DESIRE to have our lamps full...The Church for too long has been like the five foolish virgins with not enough oil in their lamps to see what He is trying to show us. That alone should keep us all Humble before Him.

Agape
TaMara

Re: The Wedding Feast

Jay,

Whoa! I have been reading this site for a few months and I'm absolutely overwhelmed, yet in my spirit, it all feels "well within me...a knowing." It's good to know I'm not the only one marching to this beat!

I just want to share a bit about what I've felt the Lord has spoken to me over the last few years. Last summer I woke up in the wee hours of the morning crying. I began asking the Lord, "please don't call me out of my church. It is my comfort." He let me see about twenty things concerning that statement alone, but the main one was He wasn't calling me "out of my church," but that He was calling "the church" out of me. "Come out of her, my people." Over the next few days, He showed me that Babylon, the harlot, is what is causing us to be unfaithful to our Bridegroom. I began to see with new eyes the oppression in our sisters and brothers in our churches. And, I was only seeing that because the Lord revealed it. Then began the understanding of why I had been experiencing intercession for my "family." Weep between the porch and the altar, the intercessor for God and for us, speaking for God to my brothers and sisters to repent and turn our hearts back to Him; yet speaking for us to Him to have mercy on us. He is, indeed, the One who will call us out of Babylon. I can't tell you the oppression that I felt lifted off of me, even loving the Lord before. I know Him and love Him in a different way now, He has called me up to Zion, that secret place in Him that I long for others to know. But I've always also known that more was required of me than other "Christians." I believe you have been used of the Lord to confirm that the Bride and the intimacy we can have with Him only comes from us loving Him, truly knowing what it means to love Him and depend on Him alone. He will manifest Himself to those who love Him.

He put me through the refiner's fire; two years ago, my husband passed away suddenly. I'm now 34 and alone with two little girls. All of my comforts were stripped away and I found in the months to follow, that I am in love with Him. I could share for hours, but so much would be repeated of what you have shared already. I'm just thankful that the Lord has given me somewhere to go and get excited about to see the very words typed on the screen that He has been speaking to me!!!!! I love it!!!!! And, I never want to lose this intimacy with Him.....what a privilege it is to know Him and to really know what it feels like to be loved by Him. Hope I didn't get too off-track with the response to the original post!!!! There is so much more that I'm longing to talk to others about....He is pouring out so fast I cannot contain!!!

Blessed and glad you all are too!
Chris

We know that those who accept the invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb are those who believe in, rely upon, and trust in the Lamb completely for all things. It is through faith that each one receives the Lord Jesus and all that He provides for us to enter into His Kingdom. It is a continuous reliance, not a one time choice.

There are two distinct groups within His people. Those who are learning to depend upon Him for all things, and those who continue to rely upon their own efforts and religious works to be made righteous. We see both of these groups represented at the marriage banquet in Matthew 22.

One group insists on weaving their own garments, and the other group realizes that Christ Jesus does the weaving. Or, one group chooses the robe of their choice, and works hard to keep these garments cleansed, and the other group accepts the garment of His choosing, and allows Him to do the cleansing. These two groups are very distinct and easily discerned by those who are seeing and hearing what His Spirit is speaking to the churches this day.

The Lord gives His people very clear directions concerning these things. First He points out our true condition without His Provision:

Rev 3:17 - "For YOU SAY, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

The hardest thing for His people to realize or understand is that WE CAN DO NOTHING apart from Him. We cannot weave nor can we cleanse our own garments. To admit this takes a humble and repentant heart before the Father. We would rather carry on in what seems good and right in our own eyes, believing the lie that we can make ourselves righteous and clean. But, like Adam and Eve, our own coverings do not take away the shame of our nakedness. We NEED the covering of the Father's Provision who is the Lord Jesus. He tells us quite plainly what we need to DO:

Rev 3:18 - "THEREFORE I counsel you TO PURCHASE FROM ME gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, AND WHITE CLOTHES TO CLOTHE YOU AND TO KEEP THE SHAME OF YOUR NUDITY FROM BEING SEEN, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see."

He warns us again:

Rev 16:15 - "Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who GUARDS HIS CLOTHES, SO THAT HE MAY NOT BE NAKED AND [have the SHAME of being] seen exposed!"

What are we to guard our clothes from? Our own filthy self efforts. The Lord provides the garments and He keeps them cleansed only as we believe in, rely upon, and trust in Him to do so. This speaks of faith, and we know that He searches to and fro across the earth looking for those who would believe in Him. We also know that the Lord Jesus wondered if He would find faith when He returned. He is finding this now in the lives of those who have received Him as their ONLY Provision.

Rather than tell us to cleanse our garments in, the Lord warns us not to soil them. The garments the Lord provides are WHITE(He doesn't give us dirty garments), and He warns us NOT to soil them...how? By our own filthy works of unrighteousness. Rev 3:4 - "Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who HAVE NOT SOILED THEIR CLOTHES..."

Of course, in order to guard our clothes, we must FIRST have put on what He provides in the first place. After we have done so, we must believe in, rely upon, and trust in Him to keep us cleansed from all unrighteousness. But, the man at the wedding banquet hadn't even put on the RIGHT garment to begin with. The shame of his nakedness was plain for all to see.

The same is true today. Those who weave and cleanse their own garments are easily discerned from those who have chosen to PUT on the Provision of Christ. There is no comparison between the Lord and His ways, and the ways and ideas of man. Is this not the way He has told us it would be? The gap dividing these two groups is widening more each day.

Today the invitations have either been accepted or rejected. There is a group of people who are feeding at the Lord's table. There is another group who is weeping and grinding their teeth because they have no Manna to sustain them. They dwell in the gross darkness which covers the earth. The only Light that now shines comes forth from Zion.

This man in Matthew 22 was an imposter, one who claimed to have accepted the Provision of Christ Jesus, and believed he had the right garment. This one was blinded to the garment that Christ provides, for he had woven and attempted to cleanse his own garment, which only revealed the shame of his nakedness. As Rev 16:15 says, this man's nakedness was exposed for all to see.

This man desired the Lord therefore he is called, "friend". But, he had refused to allow the Lord to be his ONLY Provision. The Lord will strike those like him today speechless (muzzled, gagged)Matt 22:12. He will cause their words to fall to the ground, have no effect any longer. He will bind these ones hands and feet so that they will no longer have success in their religious works, nor be able to spread their gospel of works any longer. They even now being thrown out into the darkness, into the place of their own choosing. There are only two choices: Truth or error, Light or darkness, His Way or our way, His garment or our own garment, Life or death, etc..

His Way brings Light in the midst of gross darkness, and mans' way brings weeping and grinding of teeth as one continues to stumble around in the darkness of our own minds, trying to cleanse a robe that they have woven themselves.

The darkness is the judgements of God upon His people, so that they may be brought to repentance and humble themselves before Him for going their own way (or weaving their own garments), and be restored to Him and accept ALL that was PURCHASED for us by Christ Jesus. The Lord has many who He calls "friend" that He will deal with this day, so that they will not be separated from Him any longer. He will cause them to grope and stumble in the darkness until they cry out to Him to save them. The darkness is His mercy upon His people, so that none would be lost. He has bound them hand and feet and muzzled them so that they would fail at all their religious endeavours, and as each day goes past they will become more and more hungry for the true Manna which is only found at the table of the Lord. This is His judgements which is His mercy and Love for His people.

Blessings, Lorraine

This is real good food for thought Lorraine.

I am thinking that we are all in the Lord's kingdom. If there is a difference between the kingdom of this world and the heavenly kingdom, we can easily identify it but then when the spirit entered into the world with the blessings of atonement, things changed. It may be the kingdom of this world and the devil may be the god of it but through grace, mankind had entered into a new earth. We know that not everyone in the kingdom will be justified, only those that do the will of the Father. The kingdom is certainly something that is entered into "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." II Peter 1:11. But we also know in Matthew 8:11-12 concerning the kingdom of heaven that "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus was talking to the Centurion, a gentile and this puts many in the kingdom of heaven that will not be allowed to stay rather than not be allowed to enter. He seemed to be speaking of the Jews but I suppose could mean most anyone.

Jay

Dear Group

The parable of the King giving a banquet (Mat 22), is part of a series of parables Jesus tells the chief priests and the elders. It starts in Mat 21:23, where the leaders ask Jesus by what authority He does the things He is doing, and who gave Him that authority. Jesus counters with the question whether the baptism of John is from heaven or from man. The leaders do not dare to answer Him, since either answer will put them in the wrong spotlight.

Then Jesus continues with the question about who of the 2 sons are obedient to their father, the one that said no, but did what the father asked him to do, or the one that said yes, and did not do what he asked him to do. The first parable He tells them.

They gave the correct answer, and Jesus tells them, that tax collectors and harlots will enter the Kingdom before they will. Since John showed the way to righteousness and they did not believe him, but tax collectors and harlots did. So the yes-nodding but disobedient son represents the chief priests and the elders, they worship God with their tongue but not with their life.

The first point is to teach that obedience is not only 'lip-service'.

Then Jesus continues. And tells the second parable of the vinedressers, who killed the servants, and finally kill the son of the landowner, to seize the inheritance, and keep the fruit to themselves.

Jesus compares the chief priests and the elders with the vinedressers, and tells them that the kingdom will be taken from them, and given to another nation bearing the fruits of it.

The elders are the ones, who kill the prophets, and finally will kill Jesus, the son. They want to own the inheritance of God, but by way of right, and not by way of obedience. They refuse to give God the fruit of their life, but want to keep all to themselves, the offerings the honour and respect is taken by humans, and not given to God.

The second point is to teach that not giving fruit to the landowner will cause the kingdom to be taken away.

Then the elders get angry, and try to lay their hands on Him, but are afraid of the people, and the Lord continues with yet another story, the third. Notice that the subject has not changed, the kingdom of heaven, it's still the same setting.

Mat 22:2
2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and the slaves are sent out to call the invited guests. They were not willing to come, and again he sent out other servants. The oxen and fatted cattle are killed. But they were ignored, and people conducted business as usual, there were even some who killed the servants. Then the king got angry, sent out his army, destroyed the murderers and burned their city.

The king invites others. The slaves go into the highways, and gather both bad and good, and these people fill the wedding hall. When the king enters the hall he spots a guest without a wedding-garment. He asks why this person does not wear a wedding garment, and he did not have an answer. This person is then cast out into the outer darkness, where the weeping and gnashing of teeth is.

Here I believe we see a couple of lessons. First of all, the invited guests represent the Jews, being lead by their elders. They have all the excuses, busy with religion. And again they are the ones that killed the prophets who time after time invited them to feast at the table of the Lord.

The story tells, that the King got angry with the people who killed the servants, and he kills the murderers and burns their city. These represent as we saw the Jews. Jesus points here to the destruction of the Jewish nation, including Jerusalem.

The third point is to teach that there will be severe punishment for not responding to the invitation of the Lord, and killing His servants.

Every story brings the reality closer. It starts with pointing out the faults, and ends with judgement when there is no repentance.

Then the story goes on, and tells about the others that are invited to the feast. These are not the Jewish leaders. We know that the message of the Kingdom has been sent to the nations or gentiles. They are now invited to join the feast of the king, and they are coming, the good and the bad. All are invited in. But the king requires everyone to wear the wedding-garment. Since these people come from the streets, they likely don't have a garment of their own. It is custom, that there are garments available at the entrance of the wedding hall. So there cannot be any excuse for not wearing the garment.

Not wearing a garment, is a sign of no respect for the king. This person wanted to be part of the feast, share the blessings but on his own terms, and not by being obedient to the king. He is cast out. He is removed from the intimate communion with the king and his son. He is not present in the light of the king, but he lives in his own light, which is in fact the outer darkness (1john 1).

So we see, that the invitation is sent to others, but that the attitude towards the king needs to be the same: true-hearted obedience. We cannot be in the kingdom on our own terms. In the kingdom, there is one king, and if we do not want the Lord to be king in our life, then by definition we are not part of the kingdom, but live in our own kingdom: the outer darkness.

I think these stories, even though the first target is the Jewish leaders, point to a current reality. Are we feasting at the Kings table, being part of the Kingdom, doing the will of the Father, or: are we providing lip-service, are we keeping the fruits from the landowner, are we killing servants that we should not kill, are we seeking honour for ourselves?

This parable is a word from our Lord Jesus which puts us to the test.

Blessed be His name,

Hans.

I agree Jay that only those who do the will of the Father will be justified, and abide in the kingdom of heaven upon this earth. The will of the Father is to bring forth Christ upon this earth in His people. In order for His will to be accomplished, His people must be willing to CHOOSE to accept all that Christ Jesus provided for us when He died and rose again. For centuries His people have diluted the Provision of Christ with their own ideas. Now, we see a mixture of Truth and error, His Way mixed with the many various ways of men. The Will of the Father has always been to glorify His Son, and to see His Son glorified in His people. Jesus is the Gate in which we enter into the Kingdom of God, and He is the Pathway in which we follow after we enter in. Nothing else will be allowed entrance into His kingdom, it will be burned up in His judgements this day.

Look at 2 Peter 1:11 in the Amplified Bible:

"Thus there will be richly and abundantly PROVIDED FOR YOU ENTRY INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Yes, we must enter the Kingdom of God, but even our entrance is provided for us, and that Provision is Christ Himself. It is through accepting Him as our ONLY Provision that we enter into His Kingdom upon this earth, and into eternity. When we choose to accept ONLY Him and rely upon Him as our sole Provider; worry falls away, peace rules in our hearts, there is no striving and no fear, joy becomes our portion, and our eye becomes single upon Him. Faith rules in our midst, and He leads us along His Pathway to fulfill the will and the purpose of the Father upon this earth. I believe that there are now a people who have CHOSE to accept Him as their only provision, and now walk upon this earth in His fullness. I believe these ones are firstfruits, and that He intends for the whole tree to be filled with fruit before His plan is finished.

He has a plan to cause those who have refused to CHOOSE Him as their only Provision, and continue to carry on in their own efforts not realizing their disobedience. This plan is His judgements, which could also be referred to as His burnings, His fires, His refining, chastizing, etc...His judgements will burn up the wood, hay, and stubble of mans' efforts to be made righteous in their own strength, or in their own garments. His purpose is for the redemption or restoration of mankind to Himself. That is why I say that His judgements upon us are His Love and Mercy for us. Unless He destroys the many idols that His people have worshipped and honored above His Name, His people will continue to walk separated from Him, following after a way that seems good and right in their own eyes, but is in truth rebellion against their Father.

There are two groups: those who dwell in the darkness which they have chosen(for now), and those who are beginning to manifest Christ upon this earth by dwelling in the Light of His Glory. As each day goes by, the two groups grow more distinct. He is bringing forth His ministry upon the earth through those who have accepted His Son as their sole Provider, and He is shutting down the ministries of men which have refused to turn to Him in repentance for going their own way. This will take place individually and corporately. His purpose is to restore all mankind to Himself, beginning with those who call themselves His, or His Church.

This is what I believe is happening this day. It would be interesting to hear what the rest of you are seeing and hearing the Father saying and doing this day also.

Blessings, Lorraine

Hi Jay, everyone,

My son recently found a very simple oil lamp at a junk stall. It is just a dish that holds oil and contains a wick that is laid over a lip on the edge, and set alight. We filled it with some olive oil and cotton wick, and lit it. After not very long the flame grew dim despite the full supply of oil. So we trimmed the wick. Immediately the flame sprang into life again, burning brightly.

I had been looking at the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25, and understood that now is the time that the bride is being prepared, now is the time we should be trimming our lamps, getting rid of the stuff in our lives that is causing our lamp to burn low. Past blessing or testing is not relevant to the flame of the current move of God. Are we ready? What things are we to trim away in order that our lamps burn brightly?

Do we find our hearts yearning to be with the Lord? Are we yearning to be one with Him forever? Are our hearts seeking out His wishes? Are we becoming more like Him? Do we have the heart of the shepherd seeking out the lost, the straggler, the wayward, the wounded, the dull and the deaf the dirty? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

I think I can hear the sound of singing - "Oh, yes I know! Oh, yes I know! Oh, yes I know!, JESUS IS COMING - Oh, yes I know!"

love from Mary

I find that there is a fine line of division between putting to death, and being put to death. This also parallels which garment we will have chosen to accept in our lives.

Many get confused between fleshly works(putting to death) and works of faith(being put to death). This confusion has kept the majority of the Church striving hard to accomplish a "death" that can never be accomplished in their own strength.

When a believer speaks of allowing Christ Jesus to lead them into all things, including the death that He brings to our "self-life", oftentimes other believers mistake this reliance upon the Lord as meaning that they are refusing to die as others are. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In Rev 3:18 the Lord says,

"Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me GOLD REFINED AND TESTED BY FIRE, that you may be [truly]wealthy, AND white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, AND eye salve to put on your eyes, that you may SEE."

It is not just white clothes that He provides us with it is also the refining and testing by fire of our hearts and our minds, the denying of our "self" on a continually basis, not a one time thing. Those who have chosen to rely upon the Lord for all things follow Him wherever He leads. He ALWAYS leads us to our death of "self". This is a given, because the Pathway of Christ ALWAYS leads to the Cross, and then to the resurrection of His Life within us.

The choice we have is which pathway to the Cross we will take, His or our own. Our own leads us to have a form of religion but denies the power of the Cross to be manifest in our hearts. We look like we have died because we have so many religious works under our belt, and our natural appearance seems so lovely to others. But in truth, in our hearts "self" is still ruling and reigning trying hard to disguise itself.

Those who allow Him to lead them to the Cross gratefully willingly accept the "death" that He requires of them, in order that His Life may be resurrected in them upon this earth. These ones know that they must yield continuously to His Spirit which will NOT lead them into works of the flesh, but lead them into the works of faith that He has purposed for their lives. It is only in total obedience to Him that one can truly die to the wrong intentions and motives of the heart, and have their mind renewed continuously by His Spirit.

In John 21:18-22 Jesus tells Peter what kind of death he would suffer to glorify God. This speaks of two kinds of death, the natural and the spiritual.

verse 18 - "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [PUT ON your own belt or girdle] and YOU WALKED about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old YOU will stretch out your hands, and SOMEONE ELSE WILL PUT a girdle around you AND carry you where you do not wish to go."

verse 19 - "He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. AND AFTER THIS, HE SAID TO HIM. FOLLOW ME!"

This speaks of Peter's natural death of going to the Cross as the Lord did. But it also speaks of Peter denying himself and taking up his cross daily. It speaks of the need for each one of us to allow the Lord to lead us to the Cross, or the "death" of "self" that is required in order to be resurrected into His Life upon this earth.

When we were young we tried to PUT ON our own garments, but when we grow up, we will allow Him to PUT His garment on us and carry us where HE decides for us to go. This verse says that this place is somewhere that we do not wish to go. "Self" will never want to go to the Cross, nor will it do so willingly. It is only in denying "self" that we will grow in faith until we are willing to TRUST the Lord to lead us where our flesh does not want to go...its crucifixion.

But one can see that the Lord said that Peter would STRETCH OUT HIS HANDS and allow someone else to CLOTHE HIM and lead him wherever they wanted. Peter chose to do this willingly, because he stretched out his hands and accepted it. So must we. The flesh will never choose to be led to the Cross, and it will try to devise many ways to have the appearance of death, so that it may avoid the true death of "self" that can only take place if we trust in the Lord for all things.

This is why there is a fine line between works of the flesh and works of faith. One tries to kill itself, never allowing Him to lead them to their "death of self", and the other relies totally upon the Lord to lead them where they KNOW their flesh will never choose to go, trusting the Lord as He trusted the Father to bring them forth from the grave to shine forth with the Life that is only found in complete reliance upon Him.

We mustn't be concerned with the "death" of others. We must keep our eyes upon Him, and allow Him to lead us in the Way He wishes for us each to walk. We must FOLLOW HIM as He told Peter. He makes this clear to Peter in the next few verses. Peter looks around at John and says, "Lord, what about this man?" The Lord says,

verse 22 - "Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? {What concern is it of yours?} YOU FOLLOW ME!"

The Lord's instructions are to each one of us. YOU FOLLOW ME! Don't be concerned with who is dying in which manner, or with those who may not be going through the same "death" experiences as others, simply FOLLOW HIM! Each person must individually stretch forth their hands and allow the Lord to clothe them and lead them in the Way He desires for them to go. There is no such thing as a "list of dying instructions" that must be followed by all. The Lord leads each one individually along the pathway that HE has purposed for their lives, including their pathway to the Cross.

He is concerned ONLY with our willingness to yield to Him by stretching forth our hands and allowing Him to clothe us and lead us to the death of our "self". He does not want us looking with our natural eyes and judging who has "died" correctly in our mind, and who has not.

Bringing His people to the Cross is the purpose of His judgements. The majority of those who claim His Name have never stretched forth their hands and allowed Him to lead them to the death of "self", they have been deceived into believing that they can and have overcome their "self" by the works of their hands, and the knowledge of their minds(putting on their own garments).

His judgements will cause His people to come to the place where they will willingly stretch forth their hands and say YES LORD, I will FOLLOW YOU!

Blessings, Lorraine

"And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" This "preparedness" relates to a garment. "And it was given unto her to array herself in fine linen, bright and pure, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." RV. or.. as some translations: "the righteous conduct of the saints". Salvation is always a gift.. while Character (a privilege granted) is a result of cooperation in building and arraying. We see at once this is NOT a garment of salvation -- this is very evident. The Garment of Salvation was wrought out or woven on the loom of Calvary by Christ our Lord; HE worked out the finished act of redemption. HE made the garment of salvation; We never could. We had absolutely nothing to do with it, it was His Work, noble, proud and Eternal.

In this text it says, ..."IT was granted her -- a privilege -- to array herself" It was something she could accept or reject -- to array herself -- something SHE could do. When we were saved, it was Christ who put the garment of salvation upon us. It was Christ who made the garment and Christ who put it on us. We stood still -- helpless sinners. But here is a wedding garment which WE WEAVE. It says distinctly, the linen is "the righteous acts of the saints". NO righteous act of the saint ever made a garment of salvation. It says here it is the garment of a saint. (He is not talking about sinners, but the Bride). It was her readiness, fitness, preparedness, qualifications which gave her this position. She has all the necessary training and equipment in character to move in this capacity and to hold this lofty place. She has passed all the tests and holds the qualifications necessary for this heavenly, spiritual and holy and sacred union. She is not a stranger to the atmosphere of this place -- and she speaks the language of the Bridegroom. She has learned.

The garment speaks of "Preparation". It is a process, not a gift. How does one get it? He does not get it by going to the altar and saying, "I now will take a wedding garment"... or "I will not take a Christian Character". That is quite impossible. But he may at the altar offer himself to the Spirit for the necessary discipline and training to qualify for it. Then will the Holy Spirit take him, hand in hand, and train him by way of the many experiences through which he is asked to go.....

So in the picture of the Bride, she hath arrayed herself.. made herself ready. Surely NOT for salvation -- she is already saved and wears a garment of salvation. But is now able to enter into the deeper reaches of fellowship with the Son. It is not a question of God loving one soul more than another -- He is not a respecter of persons, all may qualify if the soul so desire. It was granted unto her -- a privilege. What could thrill a soul more -- or stimulate Love and devotion to our Adorable Lord than such a glorious experience? The new creation is made for the highest heaven may offer -- then why not yield and let life and all go under the leading of the Spirit and let Him conform us?"

"God is not so concerned with 'how much' we may do for Him as He is with the question, 'What has all the service done to us in its reaction upon our nature and spirit? Has it all reacted in developing the man or woman into the person of faith, strength, love and yield ness He so desired to find? Did all the man did really mellow, subdue and conform that man into the new creature God wanted? According to our creation we are 'reacting agents' and God is wonderfully interested in this point. WHAT is all my conduct and ministry doing to this strange personality? It is continually registering upon my immortal spirit and weaving a garment. Shall it be a wedding garment?'

Let us turn to the story given in Matt 22. Here is a man without a wedding garment. As a rule this story is used to represent a 'sinner' trying to move in the realm of salvation without the garment of salvation. But let us look at it more carefully. Get the setting of the story correctly. This chapter is so important in its relation to what precedes and follows. The public ministry of Christ has covered a period of three years and in a few days, He will offer His Life in a sublime testimony by a vicarious death. As never before it seems He is anxious to present to His nation the offering of God's Grace, Mercy and Truth. And never before has the Jewish hierarchy shown more malignant opposition. On His way to Jerusalem, He speaks several parables -- all of which were to show them the supreme folly of rejecting Him as their Messiah.

We must remember the parable has a double application. First to the Jew as a body at His first advent; second, to the Church at His second advent. So often preachers, teachers and evangelists are not careful or perhaps 'brave' enough to make the application where it belongs.... this picture does not relate to a sinner, as we shall see. He is giving truth for the saint -- only it is not so pleasing.

Just as in the first application, where we find the Jews (because of their own doings) made themselves unworthy of the Kingdom, so at His Second Advent when the marriage supper is due, there are elements of the saved group who by their lack of preparation and qualification are unworthy of this fellowship and privilege offered in the picture of the marriage feast etc. The analogy is here very clear. There are many Christians today who refuse the necessary discipline and training needed to qualify, while there are others who embrace the Cross and Suffer the loss of all things that they might satisfy the Desire of God in getting a Bride worthy of the Son's fellowship. Note the word of the king, "Friend". He is not talking to a sinner about his sins. He says, "Friend". John 15:14, "Ye are My Friends.." Sinners are never spoken of as 'friends'; they are rebels. He does not rebuke nor chide the man about his sins.. it is rather a point of Place or Position. "How camest thou in hither?" Place, Location!

The garment again speaks of Character, Fitness. He had no fitness or adequate degree of fellowship and understanding to move in the sphere of a Wedding Feast and all that this type suggests. He had no garment.. no qualifying attributes to adapt himself to the order of life suggested.

And not too, he is not cast into hell, sheol, gehenna or the pit. "outer darkness" is the word. Some may ask, what is 'outer darkness'? You will find Jesus using the same term in Matt 8:12. Here it does not refer to hell, the pit or gehenna etc. He is speaking of the lack of faith and appreciation on the part of the Jews (the children of the kingdom). And because of their refusal to accept and move into the Kingdom of Heaven (verse 11) they are cast out in outer darkness. Anyone knows that when the Jews refused to accept Christ and the kingdom, they were not cast into hell or the pit. But they were turned into outer darkness where they are today. As far as Christianity is concerned, and the kingdom Christ came to set up in the hearts of men, they are in outer darkness. They are denied (by their own choice and doing) the privilege and fellowship of the Kingdom...

The term is used again by Jesus in the story of the talents and servants (not sinners). Matt 25:30. The sinner has no talent or pound by which he must some day give an account. But the servant (the Christian) has. In this story the reward (verse 21) was a 'privilege' of ruling. (Because he had qualified) and also the joy of the Lord. The unprofitable servant (not sinner) because he had not qualified and had no results to show at the reckoning, was cast out into outer darkness. He was not burned up but he lost the reward of ruling and the joy of the Lord. He was Excluded from the special fellowship which he might have had, had he trained and educated himself for it.

So from the teaching of Jesus, outer darkness does not mean hell or the pit, but rather the loss and denial of a great privilege. The Jews are alive today, not in a pit, but they are in outer darkness, because they refused Christ. They Glory and Joy of the Marriage feast is Light. They are excluded from it, or rejected.

"Know ye not that they which run a race, run all but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1 Cor 9:24. (Note -- one does not run FOR salvation. It is not a "prize". He runs because he is saved, and is after a prize, the real goal)

If he is cast into the pit to be burned up, why bind him hand and foot? Here we find him in outer darkness and bound. The "hands" represent service. He is not qualified to serve in this realm. He may know service in the natural, religious life and service in the sphere of the flesh (natural and to some quite wonderful) but he does not know Spiritual Ministry, and is so bound. The "feet" represent the walk. He may have traveled thousands of miles in the energy and power of the natural life, and fairly exhausted himself, but he does not know the "walk in the Spirit". That was always too demanding and restricting for him. He may have walked all around the Lord - but not WITH Him. So his feet are bound. He has no power to enter into such fellowship as is suggested by the picture. And alas! He might have had. What a mercy he is cast out. God is yet kind to him not to subject him to the embarrassment and confusion of face to find himself trying to fit in where he has absolutely no qualifications. It would not be LOVE for a principal of the high school to take a fourth grade child and place him in a class of university students. That would not be Love. God does no such cruel things. We are NOW qualifying and God will place each soul in the realm for which he has fitted himself.

Can you imagine the disappointment and ache in the heart of Jesus to find in that day that so many have not valued His deepest fellowship enough to cultivate and build a life for it here and now? God does not arbitrarily say, "you go to heaven; you go to hell". "You reign over ten cities; you are cast out. You may enjoy the kingdom; but you can't come in". That is silly and very unscriptural. Each soul determines his own destiny. The sinner goes to hell, because he so chooses. The saint has or has not the rewards of fellowship and future association because he either does or does not desire it. The carnal Christian even though baptized in the Spirit may be saved, but miss the reward and glorious privilege Christ holds out for him.

He that is spiritual suffers the loss of ALL Things that he may know Christ in the deeper and fuller relations. His garment is the Christian Character wrought in Him by the Spirit as he surrenders. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." (Rev 3:4)

Do not confuse the Gift of Salvation with Character. NO one experience can change you so you are thus qualified. The prize is given to him that overcometh -- not to him that is saved, or baptized, or is a great worker. Look at Rev 2:7; 17, 26 and Rev 3:12, 21; All this relates to the saints overcoming and thus qualifying -- not to a sinner getting saved.

In the face of this message, there comes a challenge to any Spirit-filled saint. Could God hold out to us a more lofty and glorious life? One encouraging feature I find among spirit-filled folk is the hunger and desire on the part of so many for something more than the initial teaching of salvation. Acts 2:4 and the general line of truth given to babes in Christ. God has given us a wonderful and more responsible message. By His Grace, let us enter more fully into the Power of its meaning. These are Preparation Days and He is after us, His People!

We are looking to Him and long for His return, but remember the Scripture: And His Wife hath made herself ready. The days are trying and God is leading His own into trials and testings and is faithfully disciplining the souls who Dare and Love Him enough to Die and let go the natural, thus to Live in Him and discover the joy and wonder of a walk with the Adorable Lord.

Christian Character -- a Qualification
John Wright Follette, Broken Bread, p 200-205

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