LLM Question for 7-31-2012, and, The Second Coming of Christ to EARTH and the Restoration of the NATION of Israel, part 2 of 2

First the Question: Does a true Bible Christian have the Scriptural right to contend for a denominational church or a denominational baptism? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-29-2012

Question: The scattering of Israel and the desolation of Jerusalem was NOT foretold by the Lord Jesus. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! Israel’s scattering and Jerusalem’s desolation WAS foretold by the Lord Jesus, "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21:24. Out of the 736 responses we received to this question, only 86.7% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Second Coming of Christ to EARTH and the Restoration of the NATION of Israel, part 2 of 2

Israel’s scattering and Jerusalem’s desolation was foretold by the Lord Jesus:

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

From the prophecies quoted and from the studies of many other prophecies, GUARANTEEING Israel’s NATIONAL redemption (Isaiah 66:8), we learn that God does not state from the day that Joseph’s body was in the coffin in Egypt, until the death of John the Baptist, or up to the martyrdom of Stephen; that every individual Israelite is going back to Palestine. He speaks of a remnant. And again we are perplexed as to how many, if any, of the faithful Israelites who died will go to the land of the Jews, with the Jews who are yet to be saved out of the great tribulation.

The language of many of the prophecies concerning Israel’s future, seems to speak of the New Jerusalem let down out of heaven, rather than the Jerusalem where remarkable things are now taking place. Compare the language of Revelation 21:2-3 with Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22-24; Jeremiah 24:27; Jeremiah 30:22, and Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:28; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 8:8.

REVELATION 21:2-7, “And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh will inherit all things; and I will be his God and He shall be My son.”

Ezekiel 37:27, “My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Now carefully compare Isaiah 65:17-25 with Revelation 21:1-8 and note in both Scriptures redeemed Israel and a new heaven and new earth.

Isaiah 65:17-25, “For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and the people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and Joy in My people: and the voices of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled His days: for the child shall die an hundred years old: but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses and inhabit them: and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain, saith the Lord.”

Revelation 21:1-8, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

In the light of the Scriptures quoted and the present number, prominence and activities of the Jews we must believe that their preservation has been supernatural and some day the Lord will gather them from among the Gentiles and bring the remnant of Israel to enjoy an earthly glory far surpassing anything in the past.

But in the meantime, today, many Jews are going to death Christ-less and unsaved.

Read carefully Romans 11:26-32.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 7-29-2012, and, The Second Coming of Christ to EARTH and the Restoration of the NATION of Israel, part 1 of 2

First the Question: The scattering of Israel and the desolation of Jerusalem was NOT foretold by the Lord Jesus. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-27-2012

Question: The prophets of Israel foretold the blessings and destiny of the Body of Christ. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! Surely after reading all of the prophecies in this message below we SHALL NOT SHARE THE FOLLY of those who affirm that the prophets of Israel were foretelling the blessings and destiny of the Body of Christ. Instead, let us discover the prophecies concerning the future glorious redemption of NATIONAL Israel and the land of promise of Israel. Out of the 775 responses we received to this question, only 64.7% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Second Coming of Christ to EARTH and the Restoration of the NATION of Israel, part 1 of 2

“And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to record the remnant of His people. And He shall set up an ensign for the nations and assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth:” . . . “And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof: they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them” . . . “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord Thy God” . . . “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts. There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for every age” . . . “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” . . . “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country and from the west country:” . . . “And I will be in them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” . . . “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.” . . . “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of Him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” . . . “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them, and they shall be as though I had not cast them off : for I am the Lord their God and will hear them” . . . “And I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in His name, saith the Lord” . . . “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them” . . . “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it.”

We have quoted above Isaiah 11:11-12, Amos 9:14-16, Zechariah 8:4-5, Zechariah 8:7-8, Zechariah 8:22-23, Zechariah 10:6 and Zechariah 10:12, and Zechariah 12:8, and Micah 4:4.

Surely after reading these prophecies we SHALL NOT SHARE THE FOLLY of those who affirm that the prophets of Israel were foretelling the blessings and destiny of the Body of Christ. And now, rather than use any argument to show the fallacy of those who tell us that these Scriptures were fulfilled in the subsequent history of the Nation Israel, or that they are being fulfilled in a spiritual sense, (in that demonic doctrine of spiritual Israel), being the Church, we are going to quote in one long paragraph some other prophecies concerning the future glorious redemption of National Israel and Israel’s land of promise.

“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken: neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighted in thee, and thy land shall be married” . . . “Thus saith the Lord Which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar: the Lord of Hosts is His name. If those ordinances depart from me, saith the Lord; then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever” . . . “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” . . . “In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” . . . “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth Which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. But the Lord liveth, Which brought up and Which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them: and they shall dwell in their own land.” . . . “Hear the Word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the Isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” . . . “For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.” . . . “Thy sun shall no more go down: neither shall thy moon withdraw itself for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended”. . . .”Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands that I may be glorified”. . . . “And I will set up one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even My Servant David He shall feed them and He shall be their Shepherd” . . . “And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a Prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.” . . . “And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” . . . “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them”. . . “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers: and ye shall be My people and I will be your God.” . . . “And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.” . . . “Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock” . . . “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel; but for Mine Holy Name’s sake, Which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went” . . . “And I will sanctify My great Name, Which was profaned among the heathen, Which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen will know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be, sanctified in YOU before their eyes” . . . “And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel: and one King shall be King of them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:” . . . “And David My Servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have one Shepherd: and they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them”. . . .”For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land”. . . “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God. and none else: and My people shall never be ashamed”. . . “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in Mine anger, and in My fury, and in great wrath, and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:” . . . “And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” . . . “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them”. . . “And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from Me”. . . “Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul” . . . “So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more” . . . “And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” . . . “And I will also take of them for priests and or Levites, saith the Lord.”

We have quoted above; Isaiah 62:4, Jeremiah 31:35-36; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Jeremiah 31:10-11. Isaiah 60:10, and Isaiah 60:21. Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Ezekiel 34:28; Ezekiel 36:27-28, Ezekiel 36:34 and Ezekiel 37:22 and Ezekiel 37:24. Joel 2:27. Jeremiah 32:37-41. Joel 3:17. Isaiah 62:7 and Isaiah 66:19-21.

Now, we could quote many more Scriptures. But surely we have submitted Scriptural proof that Israel’s Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ is coming back to Earth to set His hand the SECOND time to RECOVER the remnant of His people and to plant them in THEIR land never more to be uprooted.

Whether, or not, this rehabilitation is included in the statement of Romans 11:25, (all Israel shall be saved), we may not be positive; but we do know that the Lord is going to order the nations to give up His people and they shall return with songs of joy to Canaan. Isaiah 43:5-7 and Isaiah 35: 10.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 7-27-2012, and, The Three Callings...The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and National Israel

First the Question: The prophets of Israel foretold the blessings and destiny of the Body of Christ. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-24-2012

Question: Christians today, members of the Body of Christ, are part of the BrideGROOM and NOT the Bride of Christ. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Now, in order to fully understand this, please read through the message below. Out of the 802 responses we received to this question, 59.4% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Three Callings...The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and National Israel

We at the Lion and Lamb Ministry firmly believe that The Bride of Christ and The Mystery, the Body of Christ, belong to different operations in the overall plan of God. Both are formed by Christ, and both are based on the redemptive work of Christ, but there are many differences, leading to the conclusion that they are in fact completely different.

They have different beginnings, different Apostles, different Gospels, there is numerous scripture that pertains to each separately, they each have different members, they each have different governing's, and they have different prophesies to them. What many fail to realize is this: because Israel, the first nation, nation #1, stubbornly rejected Christ the Messiah, God finally set her aside, (albeit temporarily never ever forget that), as a nation, as we read in Acts 28:28, and, in unmatched incomprehensible mercy and love, interrupted the prophetic program, to which it is written, “none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8), ushering in the present parenthetical Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, through the Apostle Paul, who had been our LORD's enemy, but was now the appointed herald of His infinite Grace. Isn’t that AMAZING!

Therefore, the Bride and the Bridegroom, though in a sense are one, are yet distinct. And it is clear from all the scriptures relating to the Mystery, that the members of Christ's Body are part of the Bridegroom Himself. Whereas the elect Old Testament saints will form the Bride.

The Three Callings...The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and National Israel

Number 1: The Earthly Calling of Israel or The National Calling

FIRST, We have the earthly calling of Israel, called out from all nations, for blessing in the Land. Israel was the "wife," and is so spoken of all through the Old Testament; and the marriage will be consummated when Revelation 19:8 will be fulfilled.

I am sure we can agree that the great subject of the Old Testament prophecies is a restored Israel and a regenerated earth (Matthew 19). It is surely unnecessary to quote the many prophecies which tell of the time when the earth shall be full of the knowledge and glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Numbers 14:21, Psalm 72:9, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah11:9, Habakkuk 2:14).

That kingdom and sphere of blessing and glory will be on the EARTH; and the new Israel with a heart of stone changed to a heart of flesh and with a new spirit, will bring forth "the fruits of righteousness ". This will be the regeneration when the 12 Apostles will be seated "on twelve thrones judging the tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28).This will be the first and lowest sphere of blessing. It will be on EARTH, and under the whole heaven. These are "the people OF the saints of the Most High " (Daniel 7:27). All the nations of the earth will share in this blessing according to God's original promise to Abraham. This is the National Calling of Israel.

Number 2: The Heavenly Calling - The Bride of Christ

THEN, We have "the heavenly calling," distinctly spoken of as such in Hebrews 3:1, of which a certain class of believing Israelites were "partakers." Among these we may put all those whom we speak of as "the Old Testament Saints."

In spite of the earthly promises to Israel, and in the midst of all those who cherished those earthly promises, there was an ELECT "heavenly calling" of those whose hopes were not earthly, but heavenly. They looked for no earthly portion, but they looked forward with a heavenly hope to a heavenly blessing.

As it is written, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims (Genesis 23:4, 1 Peter 2:11) on the earth”. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a COUNTRY, a better country, that is, an HEAVENLY, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a CITY" (Hebrews 11:13-16).

And of Abraham it is said (Hebrews 11:10): "He looked for THE CITY which hath FOUNDATIONS, whose builder and maker is God."

When the angel, therefore, says to John (Revelation 21:9), "Come hither, I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife, and he showed me that great CITY, the holy Jerusalem descending out of HEAVEN from God," what can we conclude that here, we have that "better country," and "the City" for which the Old Testament saints belonging to the "heavenly calling" looked?

It will also be noted that the names "on the GATES" of the city are "the names of the twelve TRIBES of the children of Israel" (Revelation 21:12), while the names "in the FOUNDATIONS" are "the names of the TWELVE APOSTLES of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14).

NOW, if THIS is NOT "the CITY" for which they and the Elect Remnant looked, for what "City" DID they look?

Certainly not for an earthly city; but for this, of which we now see them, it’s blessed and happy inhabitants. No other city has these foundations; no other city has apostles and prophets to prophesy concerning God as its builder. God builds one City, His prophets and apostles are all concerned for the building of the City of the eternal ages. Their message concerning this city came from its builder and maker. The builder of it puts their names in the foundations of its walls; and the adornment of its foundations are the names of the twelve apostles. No other city could have such immortal, priceless foundations. Blessed foundations. This was the city; for this alone has foundations, all others will have vanished in smoke; this abides. This, then, is what Abraham, and his seed, by faith, looked for. This is the Holy City.

The Bride, (the HEAVENLY Calling), Abraham and his spiritual seed are "the saints of the Most High " as distinct from "the people" (OF these saints) on the earth (Daniel 7:18, Daniel 7:22, and Daniel 7:25), and occupying a distinct place in the HEAVENLY SPHERE of this SAME Kingdom. From the call of Abraham there have ever been these TWO seeds, the earthly and the heavenly. The one was likened by Jehovah to "the dust of the earth" or "the sand of the sea" (Genesis 13:16; Genesis 22:17); and the other was likened to "the stars of heaven" (Hebrews 11:12; Gen. 15:5). Both expressions suggest multitude, but the former is specially associated with EARTHLY blessing, while the latter points to "the partakers of a HEAVENLY calling (Hebrews 3:1), these are The Bride of Christ!

The Bride is seen all through the Old Testament as being " the church or assembly of God," " partakers of a HEAVENLY calling, "possessing a heavenly hope, and looking for a heavenly sphere of blessing". Then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel.

ISRAEL WILL AGAIN BE ELECTED. As touching the “ELECTION”, when Israel shall be saved, in fulfillment of Romans 11:26, this will be, because they are beloved for the fathers’ sake, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, because this is God’s covenant when He shall take away Israel’s sins. (Romans 11:26-29).

Number Three: The HOLY Calling – The Body of Christ

And then, we have the other "calling," of which we read in Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 4:1. It is a "HOLY calling" (2 Timothy 1:9). It is a Divine calling. HOWEVER, if we identify the calling of the Church of the Mystery, the Body of Christ, with the other callings we cannot but have confusion.

NOW, pay attention, God’s ELECT in THIS CURRENT Age and Dispensation of GRACE, the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:9), those of the HOLY Calling, are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”! "Who hath saved us, and called us with an HOLY calling, NOT according to our works, but according to his own purpose and Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE the world began" (2 Timothy 1:9).

Members of the Body of Christ are the Church of the Mystery. A secret that was hid in God. His Body, to be to be joined with its Head, called home at the Rapture, the GLORIOUS meeting in the air, before the "Day of the LORD" begins.

In Revelation 21 we have the New Heaven and the New Earth; we have the Twelve Tribes of Israel; and Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. So, we have to ask, What has all this to do with the Body of Christ, the Church of the Mystery? OBVIOUSLY this has to do only and solely with the Holy City and with the Bride of the Lamb.

Christians, in their selfishness, intrude themselves into the place of others as the Bride, and thus lose the blessed enjoyment of their own place which is theirs as part of the Bridegroom!

The Bride and the Bridegroom, though in a sense are one, are yet distinct. And it is clear from all the scriptures relating to the Mystery, that the members of Christ's Body are part of the Bridegroom Himself. Whereas the elect Old Testament saints will form the Bride. See Isaiah 12:6, "Cry out and shout, thou Inhabitress of Zion: For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." In Revelation 22:3, we read "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it." Of the glory of this Holy City other scriptures speak. Take a look at Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:14, 1and Isaiah 60:9-20; Revelation 21:23-24, and Revelation 21:27; Isaiah 54:11-12.

A Chaste Virgin – Husbands and Wives

True, the Apostle Paul might address the saints concerning his desire to present them "as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2). But this no more declares that the Church IS the Bride of Christ than that the Apostle himself was their father (1 Corinthians 4:15); or that he was their mother (Galatians 4:19). In the one case he spoke of the painful anxiety of a mother; in another of the loving care of a father; while, in 2 Cor. 11:2, he spoke of the jealousy of the friend of a bridegroom. The "Mystery" was a totally different thing.

Then in Ephesians 4:28-29, the argument is that husbands "ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord, the Church, for we are members of His Body," That is, AS Christ loves HIS OWN BODY (Himself (the Head) and the Church (the Head’s Body)); so ought husbands to love their wives. Thus "the Mystery" is employed as an argument as to the reciprocal duties of husbands and wives. In NEITHER case is it said that the Church IS the wife, or that Christ IS the husband. But that AS Christ loves His Body (Himself and the Body of Christ), SO husbands ought to love their own bodies (that is, themselves and their wives).

What Have We Learned

The one thing that is clear, is that the Church of the Mystery is the Body of Christ; and that the members of that Body being "in Christ," are PART OF THE BRIDEGROOM. They cannot possibly, therefore, be the Bride herself as separate and distinct from the Bridegroom.

Another thing that is certain is that the mystery of the Church was not revealed in the Old Testament, but was "hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9) and "kept secret" (Romans 16:25); "hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1;26).

And Here is The Mystery

Before Israel was created for God’s glory, before all of the promises concerning Israel’s coming glory and the millennial reign of Christ on earth, even, before Adam had sinned, or was created, God PREDESTINATED that members of the Body of Christ should be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29). They would be SEATED in the Heavenlies in Christ.

God’s eternal purpose is to have a company of redeemed sinners SEPERATE and DISTINCT from ALL OTHER companies. Dwell on this.

These predestinated and justified believers are to be JOINED to Christ as ONE flesh, to make ONE New Man, the Perfect Man, with HEAVENLY citizenship, to appear with Christ in glory. (Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 5:31-32; Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:1-4).

THIS the Father wants every Christian to make known (Ephesians 3:9). And, of course, Satan hates this message with a vicious hatred.

It is one thing to see an illustration of the Church in the Old Testament; but it is quite another thing to say that this is there revealed, which God distinctly declares was not revealed!

At the First Resurrection, following Christ's return to the earth in power and great glory, those of the Heavenly Calling will be resurrected, made ready as a Bride, to be married to Christ, both Head and Body, (the Body which was Raptured, and united in glory with the Head prior to the going forth of the Antichrist). THIS will be the time of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 7-24-2012, and, The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 3 of 3

First the Question: Christians today, members of the Body of Christ, are part of the BrideGROOM and NOT the Bride of Christ. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-22-2012

Question: The ELECT of God in this Dispensation of GRACE, the Dispensation of the Mystery, are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT elect Israel. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! So then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel. God’s ELECT in this Age and Dispensation of GRACE are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”. Now, out of the 741 responses we received to this question, 90.5% of you got it right! Good job once again. Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 3 of 3

THE ELECTION HATH OBTAINED IT: AND THE REST WERE BLINDED

After reading in Romans 11:7, “The ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded”, we read in Romans 11:8, “according as it is written.” In Romans 11:25, after reading that the time of Israel’s blindness will come to an end, we read in the next verse, “As it is written.”

It is very interesting to study “as it is written” in Romans 11:8 and in Romans 11:27, with John 12:37-42; that Israel did NOT believe, BECAUSE Isaiah 53 had to be fulfilled; and that Israel COULD NOT believe, because Isaiah 6:9-10 had to be fulfilled, “Go and tell this people (Israel). Hear ye indeed, but understand not: and see ye indeed, but perceive not…Make the heart of this people fat and make their eyes heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and be healed.”

Not many years after this prophecy in Isaiah 6:9-10, Zedekiah, their king was blinded, and “the times of the Gentiles, politically, began.” (2 Kings 25:7; Daniel 2). Israel was under Caesar, the Gentile world-ruler, during the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24), when John 12:37-42 was quoted, explaining why Christ’s own received Him not. They did not believe and could not believe; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and God’s plan of redemption might be accomplished.

Surely when we read John 12:37-42 we think of some verses in the ninth chapter of Romans, and well may we ask the question asked in Romans 9:20 after reading Romans 9:15-23. So Christ, in incarnation, was rejected by Israel, not only “as it is written”, but that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

As we read in 2 Kings 25:7 that Zedekiah was blinded, and “the times of the Gentiles, politically” began, let us read in Acts 13:5-13 that BARJESUS, the Jew, was blinded, and because of his blindness, a Gentile believed. Then see that God was getting ready to fulfill Isaiah 6:9-10 again and usher in “the times of the Gentiles, spiritually.”

So then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel. God’s ELECT in this Age and Dispensation of GRACE are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”.

ISRAEL WILL AGAIN BE ELECTED

As touching the “ELECTION”, when Israel shall be saved, in fulfillment of Ro­mans 11:26, this will be, because they are beloved for the fathers’ sake, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, because this is God’s covenant when He shall take away Israel’s sins. (Romans 11:26-29). All of this will be al­so, because “it is written” in the Old Testament.

So we learn that during the period, from Abraham to Moses, Israel was “ELECTED”. In the days of the Apostle Paul Israel was “ELECTED”. And after the Body of Christ has been com­pleted and taken home to glory, Israel will again be “ELECTED”.

At the time the rest were blinded, God turned to the gentiles with the Ministry and Message of “RECONCILIATION”. (Romans 11:15 and Romans 5:10-11). At that time Gentiles obtained mercy because of Israel’s unbelief. At that time God gave the Gentiles the opportunity of being rich, because of the diminishing of Israel (Romans 11:12). At that time God sent salvation to Gentiles, as it had NEVER been sent before. (Romans 11:11, Acts 28:25-28).

When we learn that God will fulfill His future Kingdom plan with His “Kingdom” nation redeemed and restored, “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7), because “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18), we know that God will establish His millennium of righteous­ness and peace on this earth. When we read in 1 Peter 1:18-23 that Christ was foreordained from BEFORE the foundation of the world to die on the cross for the redemption of the human race, we can believe that Christ’s death was the LORD’s doing. Therefore, the quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10 in John 12:37-42.

But why the quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10 in Romans 11:7-10 and in Acts 28:25-28? If God purposed, from before the foundation of the world, that Christ and the Body of Christ would be one flesh (Ephesians 5:31-32), that Jews and Gentiles would be reconciled in one Body by the cross, thus forming ‘ONE NEW MAN’ (Ephesians 2:15-16), would we be in error, if we should say that Israel’s rejection of their Messiah and the Grace Gospel after Christ’s resurrection was the LORD’s doing? Or should we just rest our case with the LORD, and say with the Apostle Paul, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past-tracing-out! Who hath known the mind of the LORD? Who hath been His counselor?”

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 7-22-2012, and, The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 2 of 3

First the Question: The ELECT of God in this Dispensation of GRACE, the Dispensation of the Mystery, are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT elect Israel. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-17-2012

Question: Israel exceedingly erred in that they sought righteousness not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! They stumbled at that stumbling stone (Romans 9:30-33). Israel was ignorant of the righteousness of God and they went about to establish their own righteousness, and they refused or failed to submit themselves unto the righteousness of God. Now, out of the 836 responses we received to this question, 90.2% of you got it right! Wonderful! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 2 of 3

TWO VINEYARD PARABLES

We read in Isaiah 5:7, “the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the House of Israel and the men of Judah.” Read the LORD’s song concerning this Vineyard which He planted, a pleasant plant…in a very fruitful hill. Read Isaiah 5:1-7. Then with this read the solemn words of Israel’s Messiah and King, in His Vineyard Parable in Matthew 21:33-46. In this Parable the LORD Jesus told Israel of the great sins of their fore­fathers, and the still greater sin that Israel of His day was about to commit, and which they did commit. According to Acts 3:14-15; they killed “the Prince of Life”. As the LORD spoke the closing words of this Vineyard Parable he reminded Israel that Psalm 118:19-24 was being fulfilled. In order that righteousness and salvation might be provided, the builders, (Israel), would reject the STONE (CHRIST). This rejection and Christ’s work of redemption would be the LORD’s doings…“marvelous in our eyes”. The day that Christ suffered ONCE for sins on the cross, the Just for the unjust, to bring sinners to God was the day which the LORD made. (Psalm 118:22-26).

We are a very busy generation, much too busy to spend very much time searching the Scriptures to learn among other things the most interesting history of Israel, and learn why the question of Romans 9:4, “WHO ARE ISRAELITES?” We speak of the most interesting history of Israel; yes, it is fascinating, romantic, but tragic. And, we cannot be ready for the study of Romans 9, Romans 10, and Romans 11, until we have a general knowledge of God’s dealings with ISRAEL. Did you know that you need not spend more than several hours of diligent study to possess a rather fair general knowledge of Israel? Will you make the sacrifice? If you DO, here are the Scriptures to read together with the two Vineyard Parables we have mentioned: Genesis 15, Exo­dus 12 and Exodus 20, Psalm 78 and Psalm 106, 2 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 23, Daniel 2, Acts 2, Acts 7 and Acts 13, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Luke 21:22-33, Romans 11 and Acts 28:26-31. Ok Good!

Think this over…It is possible, within a few hours, to have a general history of Israel, mentioned BY the name ‘ISRAEL’ about 2570 times in the Bible. Now in comparison, The word ‘CHRISTIAN’ is mentioned just three times. So, after reading this brief history of God’s ‘ELECT’ Nation you will be convinced that there is a sense in which ISRAEL is a ‘Mira­cle’ nation. Remember Hebrews 11:12, “therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.”

ISRAEL HATH NOT ATTAINED THAT WHICH HE SEEKETH FOR. (Romans 11:7)

Israel exceedingly erred in that they sought righteousness not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the law. They stumbled at that stumbling stone (Romans 9:30-33). Israel was ignorant of God’s righteousness and they went about to establish their own righteousness, and they refused or failed to submit themselves unto the righteous­ness of God. (Romans 10:3). All day long God stretched forth His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people (Romans 10:21).

In Matthew 21-23, the LORD Jesus summed up many of the charges against Israel. In John 1:11 we read that Christ came unto Israel, in His own world, and Israel received Him not. Then they added those words in Luke 19:14, “we will not have this Man to reign over us.” Christ warned Israel, in Matthew 12:31-33, that Israel’s sin against the Son of man would be pardoned; but not their sin against the Holy Spirit. The LORD Jesus said, “the Son of man must go” (Matthew 26:24)…the Son of man must be lifted up”. (John 3:14).

“The Son of man came to give Himself a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). Christ was truly the foreordained Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:18-23), and was made lower than the angels for the suffering of death, that He should, by the Grace of God, taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9).

Therefore, the Son of man declared that He must be lifted up, and in the shadow of the cross Christ said, “for this cause came I un­to this hour.” (John 12:27-33). So, according to Psalm 118:19-24, and Matthew 21:42, and Acts 3:18, the rejection and death of Jesus Christ was the LORD’s work, for He was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God when wicked men put Him to death. (Acts 2:23).

“Christ died for our sins”, “according to the Scriptures”, or in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). What Pontius Pilate and Caesar and Israel did in the matter of the cruci­fixion of Christ was what God’s hand and God’s counsel determined before to be done. (Acts 4:26-28). Now, BECAUSE the death of Christ was inevitable and in the redemptive plan of the eternal, omniscient God (Luke 24:46, Acts 3:18, and Acts 17:3), and because Christ had to be lifted up and then become the firstfruits of them that slept, Christ prayed for His murderers on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). And, because of this prayer and the truth of Acts 3:18, God was will­ing to charge Israel’s great sin to ignorance and turn all of them away from their sins, IF they would repent and be BAPTIZED in the Name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins. (Acts 3:26 and Acts 2:38). Israel’s Messiah was raised from the dead to be Israel’s Prince and Saviour, “for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31). And, to witness this willingness of God to forgive Israel for the great sin of killing the Prince of Life (Acts 3:14-15), and all other sins, the Ho­ly Spirit was sent.

Many Israelites believed and were saved (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14, Acts 6:7, and Acts 9:42). BUT many MORE Israelites resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:45, and Acts 18:5), and forbade the Apostles to preach the Gospel to Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16) and the wrath of God came upon them to the uttermost.

So, Israel rejected Christ as their Messiah, Prince, and Savior, both before and after Calvary, before and after the coming of the Holy Spirit from Heaven. When Is­rael rejected Christ and had Pilate put Him to death, in fulfillment of Psalm 118:19-24 and Isaiah 53, in fulfillment of Christ’s predic­tions in Luke 18:31-35 and Luke 12:50, it was the LORD’s doing, for the day that Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself was “the day which the LORD hath made.”

After Israel rejected Christ in resurrection, after the “ELECTION” obtained righteousness by Faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ, and the rest of Is­rael was blinded, that blindness to continue until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (Romans 11:7-8, and Romans 11:25), God ushered in a NEW Dispensation of very, extra special favor for Gentiles. Then cried the Apostle Paul, “O the depth of the rich­es both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways Past-tracing-out! Who hath known the mind of the LORD?” (Romans 11:33).

As we read Romans 11:33-34 together with Ephesians 1:11, in which verse we read that the members of the Body of Christ, chosen in Christ from before the overthrow of the world, predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5), were predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will, we might well ask the question, “in what sense was Israel’s rejection of Christ after His resurrection the LORD’s doing and marvelous in our eyes.” (Matthew 21:42).

We do know, after reading Ephesians 3:9-11 and Colossians 1:24-27, that God’s eternal purpose concerning the Body of Christ, the hope of God’s calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:17-18), was ‘HID IN GOD’ and ‘HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS’ (Ephesians 3:9, and Colossians 1:26).

So, take note, Israel’s prophets did not contemplate, in their prophetic utterances and writings, “the Dispensation of the Mystery”…“the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles”. One reason why the Apostle Paul was treated as a malefactor (2 Timothy 2:8-9), an “Ambassador in bonds” (Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3-4), “the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1 to 3), was because he could not prove, by an appeal to the Old Testament Scriptures, that his “GRACE” message and program, which he tes­tified was given to him by special direct revelation from the RISEN, glorified Christ, was God’s UNprophesied, predestinated, eternal purpose.

In spite of the Apostle Paul’s testimony in 2 Cor. 12:1-12 as to the proof of his Apostleship as the LORD’s Ambassador of Reconciliation, because Israel had been cast away (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Romans 11:15), comparatively few in Paul’s time believed, and comparatively fewer religious leaders have TODAY believed, the Apostle Paul’s testimony in Ephesians 3:8 that special Grace was given to him to preach the UNSEARCHABLE (‘PAST-TRACING-OUT’) RICHES of Christ. One reason why present day Christians repudiate Paul’s claim in Ephesians 3:8 is because of a lack of understanding of the Mystery of Romans 11:25 and an understanding of the two-fold “ELECTION” of Israel in that great Dispensational chapter (Romans 11), and especially the time element, that is, the time when the FALL of Israel took place, and when, and why, and how, Is­rael shall yet be “ELECTED”.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question, and, The Last Trumpet...Final Word

First the Question: Israel exceedingly erred in that they sought righteousness not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, just like the religious of today. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now...

The Last Trumpet...Final Word

Due to ALL the speculation, and the wrong and often felonious teaching being spewed out by so many pastors, preachers, teachers, and so-called theologians, regarding the Last Trump of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 being the same as the Seventh Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 11:15, we submit to you, here, our exegesis, our teaching, on the matter.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." AND, Revelation 11:15, "And the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were loud voices in heaven"

Each seventh Seal, Trumpet, and Vial in the Book of Revelation is marked off from the preceding six by unmistakable signs, sufficient to show us that they are resumptive rather than continuous. They each go over the SAME ground to give particulars not contained in the others, bringing us to a crisis; and giving the other events in the corresponding period, but from a different point of view…The background details.

In the Book of Revelation, we see in Revelation 11:15, this Trumpet called the "seventh" Trumpet, and it is the "last" of this special series. But it does NOT mean that there will be none after: or, that a trumpet sounding BEFORE it may not also be called the "last," relative to another subject.

In 1 Cor. 15:51-52, we read of "the last trumpet: for a trumpet shall sound." In 1 Thess. 4:16, we read that the LORD "shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trump of God." This is the "last" Trumpet with regards to the Body of Christ, but NOT the last absolutely.

The Trumpet that is sounded in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 will be sounded LONG BEFORE the Trumpet judgments of the Book of Revelation begin. The Trumpet sounded in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 will be sounded in order to raise His sleeping Body members, and take them up with the living Body members, to be with Him for ever. The Body joined to its Head!

Now, pay attention, there will be ANOTHER great trumpet AFTER the Great Tribulation, immediately connected with the LORD's Revealing. See Matt. 24:31. This is AFTER this Revelation 11:15 "seventh Trumpet”, for that Apocalypse (revealing) is recorded in Revelation 19.

So, we can CLEARLY see that the seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 is NOT the "last Trump," absolutely, but ONLY relatively; for it is only the last of the particular series of seven seen in Revelation. FURTHERMORE, this trump of Revelation 11:15 is not called "the last": nor is it necessary for us to call it the last. However, the Trump in 1 Cor. 15:51-52, IS called The Last with reference to the Body of Christ. It is the Trump which shall close our connection with the earth; and therefore there is a true sense in which it is OUR, (members of the Body of Christ), last Trump. The Trump of 1 Cor. 15:51-52, is the same that is mentioned in 1 Thess. 4:16.

We have had so many positive proofs that the Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation belong to another Dispensation altogether, therefore we cannot read this into our "calling on high" (Phil. 3:14), and confuse it with the trumpet which shall bring on the last of God's plagues and end up His judgment of the earth.

The sounding of the Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 produces great activity and stir in Heaven. Again the Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 is sounded IN HEAVEN, (and NOT in the air above the earth). It is nothing less than the proclamation of the coming Coronation of earth's rightful King (compare 2 Sam. 15:10 and 1 Kings 1:39). It is the signal that, at long last, the hour has come to herald the glorious news of the setting up and establishing of God's Kingdom on earth. It is the announcement that the prayer of the ages, "Thy kingdom come", is about to receive its glorious answer. For THIS is the subject of the loud voices in heaven.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 7-17-2012, and, The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 1 of 3

First the Question: Israel exceedingly erred in that they sought righteousness not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-15-2012

Question: Between Genesis 32:28 and Revelation 21:12 the word ISRAEL is found 2570 times. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! It is interesting to learn that in the Bible between Genesis 32:28, when the LORD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, (a prince with God), that is, from the first Book in the Bible, to Revelation 21:12, (the last mention of Israel in the last Book of the Bible), we find the word ‘ISRAEL’ about 2570 times. To understand the Bible intelligently we must know much concerning the past, present and future of the Nation of ISRAEL, God’s peculiar “TREASURE”, called in Matthew 8:12, “the children of the Kingdom”, and in Romans 11:21, “the natural branches”. Now, out of the 767 responses we received to this question, 90% of you got it right! Terrific! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an indepth look at...

The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 1 of 3

The Lion and Lamb Ministry has been wanting for some time now to set down a series of messages on three very important chapters in the Book of Romans, namely Romans 9-11. And here it is “The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel. This is part one of three. Ok, here we go…

First, let us see why the title “Israel”…“three Elections”. In both the Hebrew in the Old Testament Scriptures and in the Greek in the New Testament Scrip­tures, the word translated ‘elect’, ‘election’, both in the verb and the noun form is also translated ‘choose’ and ‘the chosen’.

In Romans 11 we shall consider the two elections of Israel; but for the first election let us read several verses of Scripture written centuries before the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans. We read in Deuteronomy 7:6-7, concern­ing God’s election of Israel, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth…The LORD did not set His love upon you, because ye were more in number than any other people: for ye were the fewest of all people.” Then note carefully the next verse, which throws much light on Romans 11:26-29, “But because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

As we learn why God saved Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt, we then read Jeremiah 16:14-15 and Isaiah 60:20-21, “the days come, with the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, But, the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers”...”The LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended...Thy people also all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever.” Why? That the LORD may be glorified.

In Ezekiel 36:21-22 and Ezekiel 36:31-32 we learn that Israel’s future redemption and res­toration will be for the LORD’s own Holy Name’s sake. In Romans 11:26 we learn that Israel will be saved, after God has accomplished His own eternal purpose during this temporary and parenthetical age and dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace. Why? Because God’s gifts and calling are without repentance and it’s for the fathers’ sake. (Romans 11:27-29). The fathers are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We recall the words of the Son of God on earth in Matthew 22:32, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel). God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Let us note in Exodus 2:24-25 and in Exodus 12:40-41 why and when God visited Israel in their Egyptian bondage and led them out under Moses in fulfillment of Gen­esis 15:13-14 (at the end of 430 years on the selfsame day), “God remembered His cov­enant with Abraham, Isaac, and with Jacob.” “God had respect unto them (Israel).” “For the fathers’ sake”...“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God confirmed His covenant with an oath. (Hebrews 6:17; Genesis 22:16).

THE LORD GOD CHOSE ABRAHAM AND JACOB (ISRAEL)

Note Nehemiah 9:7, “Thou art the LORD, the God, Who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham.” Now Psalm 135:4, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.”

It is interesting to learn that in the Bible between Genesis 32:28, when the LORD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, (a prince with God), that is, from the first Book in the Bible, to Revelation 21:12, (the last mention of Israel in the last Book of the Bible), we find the word ‘ISRAEL’ about 2570 times. “ISRAEL” or “ISRAELITE” is found in the three chapters of Romans we are considering with other Scriptures 14 times. To understand the Bible intelligently we must know much concerning the past, present and future of the Nation of ISRAEL, God’s peculiar “TREASURE”, called in Matthew 8:12, “the children of the Kingdom”, and in Romans 11:21, “the natural branches”.

As to the past election of Israel and the future election of Israel, it is inter­esting to compare Ezekiel 20:5 and Isaiah 14:1, “Thus saith the LORD God: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up Mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known unto them in the land of Egypt”…“For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose ISRAEL, and set them in their own land.” With Isaiah 14:1 let us read Zechariah 1:17 and Zechariah 2:12, “The LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem”…”And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.”

When the LORD God foretold what He was going to do for Israel by the hand of Cy­rus (Isaiah 45:1-3), He said, “for Jacob, My servant’s sake and ISRAEL Mine elect.” Isaiah 45:4. “But thou, Israel, art My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend.” Isaiah 41:8. “Thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob and He that formed thee, O ISRAEL…Fear not for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” Isaiah 43:1. “I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Crea­tor of Israel, your King.” Isaiah 43:15. “I have created him for My glory.” Isaiah 43:7. One other verse concerning the future glory of Israel, Isaiah 65:9: “I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains: and Mine ELECT shall inherit, and My servant shall dwell there.”

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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LLM Question for 7-15-2012, and, Romans 11...the Blindness of Israel For a Time and Cause

First the Question: Between Genesis 32:28 and Revelation 21:12 the word ISRAEL is found 2570 times. True or False? Search it out.

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-12-2012

Question: The Nation of Israel will be saved because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Now pay attention here, no Christian leader will be a faithful steward of the MYSTERIES of God until he is taught by the Holy Spirit the dispensational CRISIS recorded in Romans 11. This means, to understand, that God sent blindness upon Israel for a time, and for a cause. And, after Israel’s blindness for a time and for a cause, “ISRAEL will be saved”, and for an excellent reason. (Romans 11:26-29). And that is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Now, out of the 748 responses we received to this question, only 50% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an indepth look at ...

Romans 11...the Blindness of Israel For a Time and Cause

The subject that I want to tackle in this message, as a precursor to a new upcoming series of messages, is about recovering a Bible Truth that appears to have been lost. If we, as Children of God are honest with ourselves we will admit that an extremely high percentage of pastors and Bible teachers and most all other Christians are NOT obeying Ephesians 3:9, which states clearly, “make all see what is the Dispensation of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been ‘HID IN GOD’, “HID FROM GENERATIONS’ ‘BUT NOW IS ‘MADE MANIFEST TO GOD’S SAINTS’. (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:25-26).

This spectacular truth had been revealed to the Apostle Paul, by direct revelation of the Risen LORD Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul then revealed it to all the saints. THEN, it was lost! It was lost within two generations after the death of the Apostle Paul. Absolutely tragic!

Now, after the truth concerning ‘the Dispensation of the MYSTERY’ was lost, the truth concerning the coming of Christ, before the Great Tribulation to Rapture the Body of Christ was lost, and during the tribulation to save Israel (Romans 11:26), and then to establish God’s prophesied kingdom, was also lost.

In the Apostasy from the Faith that followed the death of the Apostles, church “leaders” ceased to differentiate between the prophesied Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ, declared “is at hand” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15), and the UNprophesied BODY of Christ which began historically with the FALL of Israel (Romans 11:11).

Then, it was not very long until the church “leaders”, many of them UNsaved religious leaders, substituted tradition for the Word of God (Matthew 15:6), preferred the praise of men to the praise of God (John 12:43), and the fundamental doctrine of ‘justification by Grace through Faith’ was lost, and the world and the church were plunged into centuries of religious darkness. The leaven had done its work. However, it is STILL at work today!

This all continued until Martin Luther was led by the Holy Spirit to believe ‘the just shall live by faith’. As the result of Luther’s conviction, vision, courage, zeal and aggressive evangelism, under God, the all-important Christian doctrine of ‘justification by Faith’ was uncovered or shall we say, RECOVERED. Millions were saved as the result of the mighty reformation! So, we find that the last of the great doctrines of the Body of Christ was the first to be recovered!

Then, God raised up other men of conviction and courage to clear out Luther’s ‘justification’ message of the religious rites. After that, God raised up the man of God, who perhaps did more to recover the truth concerning the difference between the UNPROPHESIED Body of Christ, (a spiritual ORGANISM rather than a religious organization or sectarian group), and the much PROPHESIED Kingdom, (which with the Fall of Israel was postponed, put on hold, paused, until God completes ‘The One New Man’ of Ephesians 2:15, reconciling Jews and Gentiles in one Body by the cross, Ephesians 2:15-16), than any other man.

Any man of God who is not grateful to God for John Darby and the RECOVERY of truth by him, should be ashamed.

Then, God has seen fit to recover lost Bible truth in what seems like inverted order. However, the Truth of God, for which the Apostle Paul suffered as a criminal (2 Timothy 2:8-9; Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4) has not been recovered to the degree that Christian pastors and Bible teachers now obey Ephesians 3:9, as they should be. That task is what The Lion and Lamb Ministry has undertaken, it is why we are here, but we can’t do it alone, we need your help! So join us, in this most glorious endeavor.

So, let’s first take a look and examine Ephesians 3:9 and Romans 11:25-26.

Now, whether Christians plead negligence, disobedience, apathetic indifference, or ignorance; after reading Ephesians 3:9, they know that it is their duty and blessed privilege to “make all Christians see what is the Dispensation of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world was ‘HID IN GOD’, ‘HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS’, ‘now made manifest to God’s saints’.” (Colossians 1:24-26).

A Child of God, who does not know the MYSTERY of Romans 11:25, has not seen, or will ever see, what is the Dispensation of the MYSTERY of Ephesians and Colossians, and it behooves every Child of God to pray that the Holy Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation will cause the eyes of his or her understanding to be enlightened (Ephesians 1:15-17), to first understand the meaning of Romans 11:25 and then to continue praying to be enlightened as to how to obey Ephesians 3:9.

Now pay attention here, no Christian leader will be a faithful steward of the MYSTERIES of God until he is taught by the Holy Spirit the dispensational CRISIS recorded in Romans 11. This means, to understand, that God sent blindness upon Israel for a time, and for a cause.

Let us see how this truth is foreshadowed in Acts 13:5-15. In these verses we read of a Jew, with a terrific name, but with a heart filled with guile. His name was ‘BAR-JESUS’, meaning ‘The Child of Jehovah-Savior’. What a wonderful name! What a significant name! Comparing Acts 13:5-13 with some chapters concerning Israel in the Book of Isaiah, from Isaiah 41-47, we will learn that Israel was indeed, ‘BAR-JESUS’, ‘The Child of Jehovah-Savior’. When we read the fearful denunciation by the LORD Jesus Christ, upon Israel in Matthew 23:13-33 and then compare His pronouncement upon Israel with the pronouncement upon Israel recorded in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, we shall certainly know that ‘ISRAEL’, meaning ‘a prince with God’ (Genesis 32:28), was filled with guile.

Christ, told them that the devil was their father, although they claimed God was. (John 8:41-44). The Apostle Paul called ‘BAR-JESUS’, ‘the child of the devil’. (Acts 13:10). Then note the verse which follows: Acts 13:11, “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind not seeing the sun for a season (kairos).” Then note what immediately a Gentile did when he saw what was done (the blindness of the ISRAELITE), he BELIEVED, being astonished at the doctrine of Christ.

As we read two or three verses in Romans 11, let us see why all Gentiles should be astonished at the doctrine of Christ, and believe and be saved. A blind man cannot see. He must be led by another hand. (Acts 13:11). God sent blindness upon ISRAEL. (Romans 11:8-10). ISRAEL stumbled and had a great FALL. (Romans 11:11). ISRAEL was diminished and was cast away. (Romans 11:12-15).

Now read Romans 11:25 and know that God would not have Christians “ignorant” of ‘THIS MYSTERY’, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Then what? After Israel’s blindness for a time and for a cause, “ISRAEL will be saved”, for another reason. (Romans 11:26-29). And that is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

God sent blindness upon Israel for a time and for a cause. We might ask the difference between the cause of Israel’s blindness and the Divine reason or purpose for their blindness. In Romans 11:21 we read that God spared not the natural branches (Israel). They were cut off because of unbelief. (Romans 11:20-21). And, because of Israel’s unbelief, God offered special mercy to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:30). Concerning Israel’s blindness, “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Romans 11:8-10).

Then follows what might be considered the most important Dispensational verse of Scripture in the Bible. A truth that marked a great turning-point in God’s dealings with Israel on the one hand and with the other nations on the other hand: “Have they (Israel) stumbled that they should FALL(forever)? God forbid; but rather through their FALL(blindness), salvation is come unto the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:11).

Then, Romans 11:12 states that because Israel was diminished and was caused to FALL, God extended to the Gentiles the opportunity to become RICH. Then Romans 11:15 states that the casting-away of Israel sent RECONCILIATION to Gentiles.

In 2 Cor. 8:9, 1 John 2:2, Romans 5:9-11, and Colossians 1:20-21, we learn that believing Gentiles are RICH, because the RICH Christ, became poor; that they have obtained, (certainly NOT attained), Divine MERCY because of Christ’s death on the cross; that they have been RECONCILED because Christ made peace by His shed blood on the cross. Open your Bible and read these seven verses (2 Cor. 8:9, 1 John 2:2, Romans 5:9-11, and Colossians 1:20-21) with seven verses in Romans 11(Romans 11:21-27) and learn that believing Gentiles are RICH, RECONCILED and enjoy God’s GRACE, SALVATION, AND MERCY, because God SPARED NOT His own Son and because God SPARED NOT His own Nation.

With these fourteen verses read several other verses, in which is found the word NOW, indicating a radical change in God’s dealings with the Gentiles. These verses are Romans 3:21, Romans 8:1, 2 Cor. 5:16, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:19, Romans 11:30, Colossians 1:21 and Colossians 1:26. Surely these ‘dispensational’ NOWS’ should convince any intelligent, spiritual student of the Scriptures that God offered a new deal to the human race when and because of the FALL of Israel. Therefore, it behooves every member of the Body of Christ to search the Scriptures diligently to learn when that FALL took place.

In the light of the Scriptures we have just mentioned, every Christian should know that Israel’s blindness was for a cause. When we say ‘cause’, we should think of ‘reason’ and ‘purpose’. When we read 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Romans 9:27-33, Acts 7:51-60, and Acts 13:45, we should know the ‘reason’ for Israel’s stumbling and FALL. When we read Romans 11:25-33, we should learn God’s ‘purpose’ in Israel’s FALL. Why did God say, in Romans 11:25, “I would not have Christians ignorant of THIS MYSTERY?” Perhaps He knew that more than ninety percent of Children of God in every generation would be ignorant. This ignorance is often due to the strong prejudice of some Christians, or to preconceived opinions based upon tradition substituted for the Word of God, rightly divided, and very largely to the apathetic indifference of the great multitude of church members who seem perfectly content to continue as ‘INFANTS’ on a milk diet. (Hebrews 5:11-6:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Ephesians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 13:11).

Then, of course, the god of this age, transformed into an angel of light, and as head of spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:11-12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Cor. 11:1-3; and 2 Cor. 4:3-4), will always do his utmost to keep religious sinners and saved religious people from knowing the glorious Divine Truth, ‘GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE’ in the Dispensation and Age of Grace.

Satan’s principalities and powers are involved. (Ephesians 3:9-10). They realize that a Child of God ignorant of ‘THIS MYSTERY’ in Romans 11:25, will, or can, make other Christians “see what is the Dispensation of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been ‘HID IN GOD’,” “HID from ages and generations”, But NOW is made manifest to His saints.” (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:24:26).

The blindness for a time and for a cause is explained in Romans 11:25: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of ‘THIS MYSTERY’, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Then what? “And so all Israel shall be saved, ‘AS IT IS WRITTEN”

As what is written? It is written in many of the Books from Genesis to Malachi, that God’s ‘Kingdom’ Nation, Israel, will be established in a kingdom of righteousness and peace and prosperity on this earth, with Jerusalem as the world capital; that Israel’s Messiah and Prince and King, Yâ-hwéh Yâhuwshúa`, The LORD Jesus Christ, will reign over Israel and the other nations.

HOWEVER, it was NOT written in any of thirty-nine Books from Genesis to Malachi, that the building again of the Tabernacle of David and the planting of Israel in their land (Amos 9:11-15) would be POSTPONED, put on hold, on pause, for more than Twenty centuries; and that while the prophesied Kingdom is in abeyance, Christ, is to remain on His Father’s throne in heaven, as Head of the Church, Which is His Body. Hence, ‘THIS MYSTERY’.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 7-12-2012, and, Love and Forgiveness

First the Question: The Nation of Israel will be saved because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-10-2012

Question: No matter what the circumstance, are we, as members of the Body of Christ, to forgive those that hurt us? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! Whoever comes to mind that you are having trouble loving or forgiving, lay this problem at the feet of our LORD and seek His divine help in doing what we all ought to do, and that is...FORGIVE NO MATTER WHAT! Now, out of the 703 responses we received to this question, I am very pleased to see that 100% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at...

Love and Forgiveness

Did you know that there is one book in the New Testament dedicated to the matter of LOVE and FORGIVENESS - it has only one chapter of 25 verses - the Book of PHILEMON. We believe that he was a man of some means as he not only had “slaves” like Onesimus (who is mentioned in the book) but his home was large enough for the church to meet there. His wife’s name was Apphia, and their son was Archippus whom Paul addressed in the last chapter of the Book of Colossians. Here is what you might call the “TWELVE STEPS OF LOVE TO FORGIVENESS” from the 25 verses of the Book of Philemon.

Step 1 - REMEMBER to pray for those involved - Philemon 4-6, “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

Step 2 - REJOICE in how God can use them in spite of the problem you may have with them - Philemon 7, “For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."

Step 3 - RELATE to others with proper motives - Philemon 8-9, “Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."

Step 4 - RECOGNIZE the changes which God can make in a person’s life - Philemon 10-11, “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me"

Step 5 - RESPOND with compassion - Philemon 12-13, “Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel"

Step 6 - REALIZE the importance of a willing heart to forgive - Philemon 14, “But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly."

Step 7 - REMIND yourself of God’s will and purpose in the difficult circumstances you face - Philemon 15-16, “For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?"

Step 8 - RESOLVE to correct whatever needs to be done - Philemon 17-19, “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides."

Step 9 - REFRESH the hearts of others by forgiving - Philemon 20-21, “Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."

Step 10 - REFUSE to separate from the fellowship of another believer - Philemon 22, “But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you."

Step 11 - REFER to others who would be blessed by your forgiveness - Philemon 23-24, “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers."

Step 12 - RELY upon the grace of our Lord - Philemon 25, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

The best way to relate to the above 12 steps is by having your Bible in hand as you review these steps. The standard is clear, and can be found in Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Grace gives us what we do NOT deserve, and Mercy holds back from us what we do deserve!

Whoever comes to mind that you are having trouble loving or forgiving, lay this problem at the feet of our Lord and seek His divine help in doing what we all ought to do, and that is - FORGIVE NO MATTER WHAT!

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

The Coming Nephilim run New World Order, and, the Time between the Rapture and the Start of the Tribulation

First the Question: No matter what the circumstance, are we, as members of the Body of Christ, to forgive those that hurt us? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-6-2012

Question: Does the Great Tribulation begin immediately following the Rapture? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! Take note, there is NO WHERE in scripture that says that the Great Tribulation, Daniel’s Prophesied 70th Week, begins immediately following the Rapture. The knowledge of the timing of the Harpazo, The Rapture, of the Body of Christ, seems to have on it a Spiritual Padlock of sorts. This is NOT, so much, to keep us from knowing the time of our “Blessed Hope”, Titus 2:13, as it is to keep Satan from being able to plan for it. Now, out of the 801 responses we received to this question, ONLY 74.3% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at...

The Coming, Nephilim run, New World Order, and, the Time between the Rapture and the Start of the Great Tribulation

With info SO READILY, and EASILY available about this "New World Order", and as more people "wake up" and start seeking the truth behind the shenanigans we are seeing played out on the world stage, Satan has set up this decoy "New World Order" as what they are to wake up to. As a matter of fact, the Satanic, Luciferian, elitists LOVE it when the news of a "New World Order" is spread all over the place because they created the paradigm, or storyline.

It will be the one AFTER this, the NEW New World Order, will take on many of the characteristics of the "Truth Movement". It's the one AFTER this, the one humanity is being lied to and programmed to accept as the TRUTH, THAT will be The Beast. Now, keep in mind that The Bible, The Holy Scriptures, speak of the One World Government (Beast out of the Sea, Revelation 13:1) and the Antichrist as being WANTED by the world, Revelation 13:4, John 5:43. However, wherever we look people are opposing this NOW, in major ways.

Very possibly, we could soon see Satan managing, through Almighty God's allowance, to mimic some of the events of the Great Tribulation, Daniel's 70th Week. A major war, then a peace Treaty with Israel brokered by a "patsy" antichrist, then World Peace, and then the Truce is broken, catastrophe follows and as it really appears that the world is heading toward Armageddon, the REAL Antichrist comes on the scene, destroys the "patsy" antichrist and the decoy "New World Order", and is heralded by the WORLD as the TRUE Christ who is to return. False Flag diversions like this are common in covert planning.

Now, of course, before the REAL Antichrist is given the command from The Throne, by God, to go forth, Revelation 6:2, the Body of Christ is removed. Take THAT to the Bank! How LONG before, well, that's another topic. But just think about how many will be completely disillusioned by a chain of events like this. And it is perfectly reasonable to suspect that Satan would do this, and then how willing the world will want the REAL Antichrist, when all is said and done.

What is the REAL End Game of the “New World Order”?

The whole purpose and mission of the Satanic realm is to rebuild the Antediluvian world. To get back what was lost, as a result of God’s Judgment on them for their attempt to corrupt the Messianic line, in The Flood. This, Antediluvian world is today known by New Agers, Satanists, Illuminists, upper level Freemasons, and the like, as ATLANTIS. Some even call America, the NEW Atlantis.

Satan wants to see all of humanity ultimately, to be completely, and totally corrupted by the fallen angel’s offspring AGAIN! Genesis 6:2. And thereby creating and setting the stage for the rise, once again, of the offspring of fallen angels and women, as it was then in the Antediluvian world, the very same "mighty men which were of old, men of renown." Genesis 6:4.

There is strong indication that the Ten Kings of The Beast will be these Nephilim beings. Revelation 17:12. Each one of these “Kings” will be the Leader of one of the Final Empire’s 10 Super Nations or Unions. This is, what we believe to be, the ultimate goal for the Satanic lunatics behind the New World Order.

Now, just as in Genesis 6:5 "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" and then again in Genesis 6:11-12 "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth" So it will be again, when the Nephilim are in charge. THEN, at that time, on Earth, there will be found NO FAITH IN GOD!

So let's read now as The LORDs words will ring true (as always):

Matt. 24:36-39 " But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be"

Then in Daniel 2:43, in describing the Final Empire from Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, he writes:

“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay”

Make note, in order for the “They” to mingle themselves with the “seed of men”, the “They” have to be something OTHER than the “seed of men”!

And then also:

Luke 18:7-8 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find the Faith on the earth?" The answer to that is NO! By the time of the LORD's return "To the Earth", (not descending into the air for the Harpazo, the Rapture, of the Body of Christ), all of what is left, except for the Children of Israel, will have been corrupted by these Nephilim.

Satan, will have believed by that point, that he corrupted the Earth so badly, much worse than at the time of the Flood, that God will want to have nothing to do with the Earth, and Satan will have won. This is the End Game of the Satanic Realm and the New World Order! Satan will be SORELY Disappointed!

The Time between the Rapture and the Start of the Great Tribulation

The time between Enoch's Harpazo/Rapture and the start, the first day, of the Flood is 531 years According to The Bible in the Book of Genesis. Could that be an indication of the time between the Rapture and the Return of the LORD to the Earth?

Take note, there is NO WHERE in scripture that says that the Great Tribulation, Daniel’s Prophesied 70^th Week, begins immediately following the Rapture.

I also believe that the knowledge of the timing of the Harpazo, The Rapture, of the Body of Christ, has on it a Spiritual Padlock of sorts. This is NOT, so much, to keep us from knowing the time of our “Blessed Hope”, Titus 2:13, as it is to keep Satan from being able to plan for it.

So there should be no surprise then that there is much talk in the New Age community of “The Cleansing”. Instead of teaching that the Body of Christ will be Raptured prior to the start of The Day of The LORD, as many Christians believe, New Agers believe in a reverse rapture of sorts. New Ager’s, channeling their “masters” (demons), call it the "cleansing," and New Age literature describes it as a time when all the “wicked” people of the world, including Christians and others who don’t go along with the coming New Age occultism, will be removed to another dimension and be destroyed.

"Prepare yourselves," wrote New Ager Aleuti Francesca, "for the day now closely approaches and those who are not so prepared must vanish from the face of this your Earth. Those who align themselves with the things of the Old must surely be destroyed with that age of decay and darkness."

The "cleansing" teaching is an obvious tactic of Satan who will want an excuse for The Rapture of The Body of Christ after the event takes place, in order to quell enormous and out of control public hysteria. The LORD God wants Satan to be completely fooled by the event of the Harpazo, The Rapture, just like he was fooled by the unfolding and revealing, to the Apostle Paul (and NOT the 12), of The Mystery, The Body of Christ, after Our LORD’s Resurrection and ascension.

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory, Which NONE of the Principalities of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, and then, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" Colossians 2:15

More on the Time between the Rapture and the Start of the Tribulation

Once again, the time between Enoch's Harpazo/Rapture and the start, the first day, of the Flood is 531 years According to The Bible in the Book of Genesis. So, could that be an indication of the time between the Rapture and the Return of the LORD to the Earth. And again, there is NO WHERE in scripture that says that the Great Tribulation begins immediately following the Harpazo, the Rapture.

So let's see. The Average lifespan for the Antediluvian person was 929 years, also according to The Bible in the Book of Genesis, (That's Adam to Noah, not including Abel or Enoch). Then, according to the Psalms (Psalm 90:10), man's lifespan is three score and ten years (70 years.)

Since we know the length of time between Enoch's Rapture and the First Day of The Flood Judgment (531 years), and we know the average Antediluvian lifespan, and we also know what the Bible says is the lifespan of man today, we can use some figuring and conjecture to find out what would likely be the comparative span of time between the Harpazo, The Rapture of the Body of Christ, and the Day that the LORD returns to the Earth for the Final Conflict.

So here we go:

929 / 531 = 70 / X

531 x 70 = 37,170 / 929 = 40 years

Therefore, there very well could be a span of time of 40 years from the Rapture to the physical appearance of The LORD returning in Glory to the Earth. 33 years (The amount of time of the LORD's Incarnation) + 7 years (Daniel's 70th week) = 40 years.

Not that it matters to the Child of God as a member of the Body of Christ, as we will be home, in Heaven, with The LORD. The Body finally united with it’s Head in Glory, Forever. Search all these things out for yourself!

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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