Are We Close to the End? Part 2 - Pastor David

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Suppose we do NOT BELIEVE that Christ is coming and the end is coming, does that affect the truth or alter the fact? NO!

This present complex civilization, with all of its unsolvable entanglements and problems, is rushing on toward the consummation of this present evil age. The end will come with the coming of the Son of God.

Now, is not this simple language, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven?” Acts 1:11. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation?” Hebrews 9:28. “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one an­other with these words.”

Then let us carefully read the words of admonition and warning that follow in the next few verses, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-5, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

Do we have in these words of the Apostle Paul, the predictions of an ignor­ant or deluded religious fanatic, or do we have the more sure word of prophecy given to us through a divinely guided, Spirit filled messenger of the very Lord who is coming?

The world will soon know its awful doom, which is set forth in this language:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.”

Revelation 6:15-17, “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand?”

Revelation 1:7, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.”

Jude 1:14-15, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed.”

Matthew 24:38-39, “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.”

Matthew 24:21-30, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be...And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Daniel 2 :44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

We might quote from the Word of God several HUNDRED other prophecies concerning the end time, to show that the second coming of The LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is imminent; that His second advent will mean one thing for those who have been redeemed by God’s Grace, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ; and quite a different thing for the Nation Israel, whom we call the Jews; and still even a different thing for the great mass of unsaved Gentiles.

But the verses we have quoted above will enable you to appreciate the question that the Lord Jesus asked when He had been rejected by His own nation: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”

Surely such a question as this suggests that the Son of man, who was then ON earth, knew that He was someday coming back To earth, and the Greek verb used by Him in this question indicated that He would NOT find The Faith on the earth when He should return as the Son of man to Israel.

***

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)

Are We Close to the End? Part 1 - Pastor David

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Recently I have heard more than one person make this remark, “the next two years will tell the tale.” They, of course, were referring to the present economic and financial state of affairs, of the U.S. and the World. Many are expressing the opinion that there will be either a return to prosperity within the next year or two or a world-wide revolution.

Most will admit that the political situation all over the world is anything but satisfactory and the immediate future does not look any too bright. Heads of State, at home, and abroad are warning the public of the present chaos and the approaching crisis, asking men and women to take an inventory of world conditions and to admit that universal, political, economical and social unrest and un­certainty prevail, and that anything more serious and disastrous is liable to happen on short notice.

Among the nations of Europe there exists not only an undercurrent of suspicion and distrust, but the acknowledgment on the part of some of them that war is inevitable, and so they are rushing on to further financial ruin in their preparation for the inevitable. No European ruler or politician is sincere if and when he declares that there are prospects for world peace.

And when we consider our own United States, there are daily reports of utter financial ruin and distressful times ahead. The world cry is for able leaders, because the current bunch can’t do the job.

In all of the discussions of depression and political unrest, and rumors of wars, comparatively few, amazingly, seem worried about the ungodliness and immorality of the present generation; and a still smaller minority are deeply concerned about what is truly the most serious sign of the times; namely, the departure on the part of thousands of so-called “Christians”, with their preachers and leaders, from the great fundamentals of the Christian faith.

This falling away from the Faith is prophesied in the Bible as one of the signs of the end time. The worldwide political and social upheavals are very significant. So also is the present activity on the part of the Jews IN the LAND. So also is the present worldwide disregard for law. So also are the rationalism and materialism and atheism of this present time, especially propagated in the name of Christianity.

Yes all of these signs combined are indicative of the approaching end. What do we mean by the approaching end: the end of what? Now, remember, if you are thinking about the end of the world that is not what I have in mind.

There have been so many wild speculations and so many fanatical religious end-of-the-world movements, so many false prophets who have tried to set dates as to when the end of the world would be, that it is next to impossible to get very many people to seriously consider the more sure word of Prophecy from the Mind of the Infallible God.

Unto Him are known all His works from the beginning of the world. Surely the God who designed this universe, who governs and sustains it, the God, to whom it belongs, knows His present and future purposes for the earth and its inhabitants. This omnipotent and omniscient God knows how and when and why this present age will end, the climax of this present political and social order. If this God is sovereign and does purpose all things after the counsel of His own will, as He Himself declares, who can hinder or delay His movements when the appointed time for His action is at hand? And if He has been so considerate and gracious as to indicate unto His children, by certain signs, the nearness of the appointed time, certainly His children should, with eagerness and thanksgiving, study world conditions in the light of His inspired and inerrant Word.

In Matthew 13:39-49, we find three times the expression, “the end of the world.” The proper translation is, “the consummation, of the age.” “So shall it be in the consummation of the age.” We find the same thought again expressed in Matthew 28:20, wherein the Lord said to His apostles, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, or unto the consummation of the age.” He did not mean as long as they lived, but as long as the age endured. Man’s history, in God’s plans, is divided into ages. The age in which we now live is designated as “this present evil age,” Galatians 1:4. This is the Day of Grace, the Age of the Body of Christ, the Dispensation of The Mystery. Ephesians 3:1-9.

There have been other ages. They have come to an end. Certainly the antediluvian age came to an end with the flood. And, let’s not forget, there will be other ages after this present evil age, mentioned as “the ages to come”. Ephesians 2:7.

This age will have a consummation. Other ages will follow. In Ephesians 3:21 we find the expression, “world without end,” properly translated, “ages of the ages.” In connection with the coming of Christ, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:23, we read in the very next verse: “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.” Certainly this language tells us that Christ is coming and the end is coming.

***

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)

The Faith of Jesus Christ - Pastor David

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"Therefore by the deeds of The Law there shall NO flesh be justified in his sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" Romans 3:20-22

“....knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we HAVE BELIEVED IN JESUS CHRIST, that we might be justified by THE FAITH OF CHRIST, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall NO flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:15-16

“But the scripture hath concluded ALL under sin, that the promise by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST might be given to THEM THAT BELIEVE.” Galatians 3:22

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through THE FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is of God BY FAITH.” (Phil. 3:9)

Why is this important?

Because it is NOT OUR faith in Jesus which justifies us, but the Faith OF Jesus Christ in us which justifies us.

In other words, it is HIS Faith at work in us and in our hearts which produces righteousness and the God kind of life. And what is most important about this is the implications it has for us and our faith.
First of all, it explains why Faith is a gift and why we are saved through Faith by Grace and not as a work of our own. It is not our faith which justifies, but the Faith of Jesus given to us, which resides in us. Since it is not our faith that justifies, but the Faith of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, whose Faith is now at work on the inside of us, we are not called upon to believe God out of our own miserable resources or self generated faith or mental efforts, or our attempts to believe.

We are only enabled to believe God through and because of the Faith of Jesus Christ as working in us. It is Jesus' Faith upon which we are dependent and upon whom we rely. It is upon His Faith, which is perfect and never fails, upon which we can rest and fully trust, because we know His Faith is sufficient for every need and greater than every obstacle.

***
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)

Is Jerusalem the Woman that Rides the Beast of Revelation 17? - Pastor David

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A theory recently making the rounds in Christian theological circles is that The Woman that Rides the Beast in Revelation 17 is Jerusalem. In order to come to this conclusion the theorists have to perform some Scriptural gymnastics and actually alter the meaning of the word "Mother".

Therefore, until one of these theorists can produce real scriptural evidence to refute what I am now going to present, Jerusalem is NOT "that great city" of Revelation 17. And, if you were thinking Rome, think again, because there is only ONE city that fits the bill, Satan's city: Babylon

MYSTERY
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH

"BABYLON THE GREAT, the MOTHER of the harlots and the MOTHER of abominations of the earth” which is written on the woman's forehead, was a secret sign or symbol. It does not, of course, mean that this is an actual woman, so let's get that out of the way. The explanation of what the woman represented is not given until the very last verse of the chapter, so until then the meaning of the name was a secret. Then at the end of the chapter it is revealed that it referred to "that great city" (Revelation 17:18). The word Mystery here or musterion means simply a secret.

In Revelation 17:5-6, the woman's name is a secret SIGN and means something deeper than the name itself could convey. So, in Revelation 17:18 we see that the name was the name, NOT of a woman, but of a city, "that great city". And I believe that city is Babylon. Why? Now follow me on this…THIS Babylon, is not signified merely by the material city itself, BUT by the ENORMOUS SYSTEM of idolatry connected with it. That is why the explanation to the secret sign name follows, and that is "the MOTHER of harlots and the MOTHER of abominations of the earth."

It is important at this point to understand the definition or meaning of the word MOTHER. According to Webster’s Dictionary as well as Dictionary .com, the definition of the word Mother includes: something or someone that gives rise to, or exercises protecting care over, something else; The Mother is the origin or the source. In order for the “Jerusalem is the Woman” theorists to make their theory work, this definition is twisted to mean any woman.

Back on point, so, what we have here shown in Revelation 17 is "the MOTHER of harlots and the MOTHER of abominations of the earth." That is, the MOTHER, or ORIGINATOR, the fountain-head, of ALL the systems of idolatry which have since covered "the earth" from that one great source. Therefore, Jerusalem, Rome, London, even Washington, are only a part. This here is the secret of "the mystery of iniquity" referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. It was Babylon that was the fountain-head of ALL idolatry.

"And Cush begat NIMROD: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was BAB-EL, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the LAND OF SHINAR." Genesis 10:8-10

I refer you to Zechariah, “And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a WOMAN that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, THIS IS WICKEDNESS. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the LAND OF SHINAR: and it shall be ESTABLISHED, and set there upon her own base.” Zechariah 5:7-11

So back to Revelation 17, we have here two things, ONE is the reality of the city itself, which is “That Great City" which will be SEEN by those NOT YET initiated into Satanic worship; and TWO, The Woman, which is the "secret sign" of what that means. Think of the image of the woman like the Stage Curtain. Those that HAVE been initiated into the worship of Satan are those who will be allowed behind the curtain, in order to learn "the depths of Satan", while the uninitiated will see only the stage curtain, which is the wonderful city. Proverbs 9:13-18, gives a view of this where both are shown.

"A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways:

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell." Proverbs 9:13-18

Ok, next point, IDOLATRY was not a sin into which people gradually sunk, but it was the creation, by Satan, of a huge complicated system of methods, which he intended to lead to his own worship. So how did it get perfected, where is it's MOTHER?

It was NIMROD that was used as the founder of this scheme of Satan. And, as you saw previously from Genesis 10, BABYLON was his city (Genesis 10:10). Now consider this…wouldn't Cain's city, before the flood, be of the same type to the people of his day? And Cain's city comes to the same end as Babylon does afterwards (Genesis 4:17). Each of these cities would be the capital of their respective idolatrous systems.

Therefore, the words "Cain went out from the presence of the Lord" are very significant. Also significant is the name of Cain's city. He called it Enoch, which actually means INITIATED (coming from the root: chahnak, meaning to initiate or dedicate). The corruption of the human race spoken of in Genesis 6 led to monsters, which would account for the half-human, or super-human beings, which became the Nephilim, the Rephaim, and the Anakim of Scripture, (the Titans of Greek Mythology). Then came the worship of these monsters as Ishtar, Isis, Ashtaroth, and all the abominations of Spiritual Harlotry.

So from ALL this we can see how "that great city," BABYLON, founded by Nimrod, was the SOURCE or the MOTHER of all idolatry.

This CANNOT be said of Egypt, Rome, Jerusalem, London, etc. The idolatry being carried out in Jerusalem or Rome are only parts of the system; part of the polluted streams from that SOURCE, BABYLON. It is just not possible that one of the many streams can be the source of all the streams.

Then consider this, wasn't there idolatry before Jerusalem, before Rome, before Athens? You have to ask yourself, where did the worship of Moloch, and Remphan, and Chium, come from? They had to ORIGINATE, and be MOTHERED somewhere BEFORE they were practiced in the wilderness (Acts 7:43. Amos 5:25-26). And then consider the worship of Ashtoreth, the abomination of the Zidonians, and Chemosh, the abomination of the Moabites, and Milcom, the abomination of the children of Ammon, all of which were introduced by Solomon (1 Kings 11:5, 2 Kings 23:11), but certainly had existed BEFORE Solomon? Was JERUSALEM the MOTHER of these?

So what have we learned?

We have learned that the descriptions seen in these verses of Revelation 17 goes all the way back to the ORIGIN, the MOTHER of ALL the abominations of heathen idolatry. Jerusalem's place in history makes this an absolute impossibility. It would be just as ridiculous to say that the Zionist movement of our day was the SOURCE or the MOTHER of the Nation of Israel!

Now, let's take a look at something further. The Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar's day, is NOT the Babylon being referenced in Revelation 17! And for the same reason that it is NOT Jerusalem, Egypt, Rome, etc. THESE cities do NOT date back far enough. We must go back further, and we do indeed find the TRUE Source or MOTHER in Genesis 10:8-10 and Genesis 11:9. There we find the MOTHER of harlots in the LAND OF SHINAR.

Under NIMROD the work in the spirit of Antichrist began. Nimrod's object was to build a city, and make for HIS People a name, so that they might not be scattered. BABYLON was founded in rebellion against God.

Nimrod was "a mighty one on the earth" (Genesis 10:8). He called his city Bab-El. Some interpreters take this to mean the court or gate of God; because Nimrod, like his FUTURE, antitype, would phonily exalt himself (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

***

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)

What is Withholding the Antichrist Today? - Pastor David

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Revelation 12:7, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels.”

The initiative here will be taken by Michael, and NOT by the Dragon: a very important point in the interpretation. The time has come in the Divine counsels for this great event of the ages. Satan, who has up until now had access to the heavens is at length to be cast out.

Now, pay attention here, we are NOT to think of Heaven as consisting of one place. The word is so often used in the plural, that, though we can not adopt the teachings of Jewish tradition, yet we are to think of many (it may be) different spheres or dimensions. As the heavens are "higher than the earth," so we may look on them as being larger than the earth. And as the earth is divided into various countries and states, so may heaven have its various divisions. In one of them these mighty spiritual forces set themselves in battle array.

On the one side we have Michael, who is elsewhere described as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13); "your prince," that is, of Israel (Daniel 10:21); "the great prince which standeth for thy (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 12:1); "the archangel" (Jude 9). He, it is, with his heavenly hosts, who makes war against the dragon, and it is NOT the dragon who makes war against the man-child (as is so often taught). What the dragon DOES do is make war against the woman, as we see in Revelation 12:13; and THAT war is made on earth and NOT in heaven. Now mind you...The Body of Christ, the Church of God in this current Dispensation of the Mystery, will be removed LONG BEFORE these judgment scenes commence; and is therefore not to be looked for in any place in these events.

OK, back on point, now, on the other side we have the Beast of Revelation 13 and Revelation 17. In Daniel 2 we have these powers in their earthly, human, mortal, successive and historical form. But in Daniel 7, and in the Book of Revelation, we have the superhuman revival and the existing, or occurring in the same period of time, concentration of them in the Beast.

Take note, the Dragon's dominion covers all the powers and governments of the world, which are here seen included in and controlled by one being, THE DRAGON. The sovereignty of the world is about to become the sovereignty of our LORD and of His Christ, as we have just heard it announced "in heaven" (Revelation 11:15). We are here shown the source and the embodiment of his sovereignty. This is why the prophecy is suspended just at this point (Revelation 11:15). It is in order to explain to us (in Revelation 12 thru Revelation 15:8 ) what this sovereignty is, whence it comes, and whither it goes. All is here gathered up into one head.

NOW, the Connection with 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9

In 2 Thessalonians 2 we find further information as to the rise of this final embodiment of Satanic power. There we are clearly told that the revelation of that awful being has an appointed season. HE CANNOT ARISE BEFORE HIS TIME. We are told why and how this is. In Revelation 12 we have the events which lead up to that revelation, and in Revelation 13 we have the actual manifestation of the Beast himself.

2 Thessalonians 2 therefore forms a very important link when studied in connection with Revelation 12:7 thru Revelation 13. There we learn that the Beast could not be manifested on earth as long as he ("he" here is in the masculine) now holdeth fast (to his place in the heavenlies, Revelation 12:7). This is the meaning of the word "letteth" or "holdeth fast", as is clear from its use in the other epistle 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ("prove all things, hold fast that which is good"). (Here are all the occurrences of the word, so that you and all members of the Lion and Lamb Ministry may judge for yourselves: Matthew 21:38; Luke 4:42; Luke 13:15; Luke 14:9; John 5:4; Acts 27:40; Romans 1:18; Romans 7:6. 1 Corinthians 7:30; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 15:2; 2 Cor. 6;10; 1 Thessalonians 6:21; Philemon 13; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 10:23.)

THEN, He Will Hold IT Fast Until He Be Cast Out

This casting out is described in Revelation 12, and we are here told exactly how it will take place, and what will be its causes and consequences. When the Apostle Paul wrote, worldly power was then being used, and has all along been used by Satan for the accomplishment of his secret purposes; and it is still working today, but here (in Revelation 12) we see it come to a head, and Satan is about to openly manifest it.

In the Meantime, "Ye know WHAT (neuter, or neutral, gender) holdeth HIM (the lawless one, the antichrist) fast, that he (the lawless one, the antichrist) may be revealed in his time."

The Apostle Paul could write this, and in this way, to the church of the Thessalonians, because he had previously told them and THEY KNEW; but WE DO NOT KNOW. All WE know is that it CANNOT be a person who holds the lawless one fast, BECAUSE the word is in the neuter, or neutral, gender. THEREFORE, it can only be a PLACE, and we suggest that it is the pit of the Abyss, (NOW go read Revelation 9:1-2, and Revelation 9:11), out of which he (the lawless one) is to ascend.

In any case, the popular view cannot be correct. The popular view which makes it of the Holy Spirit. So, now we have to ask, what does the Holy Spirit "hold fast" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) in order that the lawless one may be revealed in his appointed time? This idea arose from a wrong translation of the verb "katecho", which means to hold something fast. Above you have all of the occurrences of this word.

That wrong translation of both the AV. and RV. arises from ignoring the fact that the verb is TRANSITIVE, and MUST have an object. SOMETHING must be held fast. Then, further confusion is also introduced by not preserving the important difference between the genders, which is NEUTER in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 ("THAT which holds him fast"), that is, the Pit of the Abyss; and MASCULINE in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 ("HE who holds something fast," that is, his position in the heavenlies.

What Have We Learned

At the first advent the announcement was made "on earth, PEACE." But now, at the time of the Second Advent, it is "in heaven, WAR"; because the Dispensations have changed. At the return of the remnant from Babylon, Satan was present to resist the restoration of the Nation (Zechariah 3:2), and was rebuked. So it will be again when the great restoration is about to take place: but this time war will be declared against him.

So, to review, 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, "And now ye know what (The Abyss) withholdeth that he (the lawless one, the Antichrist) might be revealed in his (the lawless one, the Antichrist) time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he (the Dragon, Satan) who now letteth (katecho: holdeth fast) will let (continue to katecho: hold fast), until he (The Dragon, Satan) be taken out of the way (cast out Revelation 12:7-9) . And then shall that Wicked (the lawless one, the Antichrist) be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the Spirit of His Mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming"

The mystery connected with this conflict is easy understand by the Faith, yet very difficult for us to reason through. However, a little insight is given into these spiritual realities in such passages as Job 1; Job 2; 1 Kings 22:19-22; Daniel 10:9-13; Ephesians 6:11-12; and Jude 6.

***

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)

THE WAR IN HEAVEN OF REVELATION 12: WHEN WILL IT TAKE PLACE? - PASTOR DAVID

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First let me point out that the sealing of the 144,000 happens immediately upon the heels of the Rapture of the Body of Christ. THESE go throughout the whole world RESUMING the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom, and continue on with the fulfillment of the so-called Great Commission of Matthew 28. As well, the sign gifts will most likely also be present and back in full swing during this period, since they have been in abeyance during the Dispensation of the Mystery, the Dispensation of Grace, which comes to a close with the Rapture of the Body of Christ.

The War in Heaven of Revelation 12: When will it take place

Revelation 13:1, "And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads blasphemous names."

Ok, now, THIS, (in Revelation 13:1), is the Beast in his superhuman form. What you have to understand is that he has ALREADY been on the Earth for an absolute minimum of 3 1/2 years, in his mortal stage, however we believe quite a bit longer. He then receives his death-wound (which I mentioned below), in Revelation 13:3 (as the seventh head), which I believe will coincide with the resurrection and ascension of the Two Witnesses, and POSSIBLY a second Rapture which is reflected by the Great Multitude of Revelation 7:9, (...now, purely speculating, it would seem to me that the enemies of the Antichrist use this opportunity of the resurrection and ascension of the Two Witnesses and the possible Rapture of the Great Multitude to assassinate him).

It is at THIS POINT, the point of the assassination, that the War in Heaven takes place. Satan is ONCE and for all thrown out of the Heavens and is confined to the earth and the sea. Immediately Satan goes after the Woman, ISRAEL, which brought forth the Man-Child, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Then, after the failure of Satan's attempt to destroy Israel, John sees him standing on the sand, or shore of the sea, as though pondering over, weighing, and forming his future plans. And while Satan is occupied doing this, John sees the outcome, in the Beast which rises (as though at Satan's call) out of the sea.

In Revelation 9:1, we see Satan being cast out (as witnessed by the LORD Jesus Christ in Luke 10:18, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven". Keep in mind that God is OUTSIDE of time), AND, has been GIVEN (by God, because this is all His purpose) the Key to the Abyss. Satan opens the Abyss and releases out of the Abyss the eighth king, comprising all the seven heads and the ten horns. These are, in their now superhuman form, crowned. Whereas, in their mortal form they were not crowned. (Revelation 17:12). Certainly what we have here is something far beyond Rome, papal or pagan; and something far beyond the "fourth Beast," whether you are inclined to believe that fourth beast was the Roman Empire or view it as the Ottoman Empire.

We have here all the world powers, and all dominion in the earth, gathered up and concentrated in this one sign. We see them in their superhuman form, here in the Book of Revelation, however, we see them in their human or mortal form in Daniel. WHAT WE HAVE HERE is the WHOLE Image of Daniel 2 in its superhuman form, rather than one of its mortal parts. IT IS THE IMAGE REVIVED AS A WHOLE, (and not simply Rome or the Ottomans). It reaches to "wheresoever the children of men dwell" (Daniel 2:38); it affects "all that dwell upon the earth" (Revelation 13:8; Revelation 11:10; Revelation 14:6). When the time for these final judgments arrives the great Stone falls. It smites the image upon the feet, which may seem odd, it is true (Daniel 2:34); but it is immediately added, "Then was the IRON, the CLAY, the BRASS, AND the GOLD BROKEN TO PIECES TOGETHER" (Daniel 2:35).

What we have here is the embodiment and personification of the full sovereignty of the world under Satanic power, for "the whole world lieth in (the power of) the wicked one."

OK, now, when I say personification, we must recognize the spirit being from the Abyss (Revelation 17:88), that is, the superhuman agent, through whom he works. As Satan delegates this special mission to the Beast (a superhuman-being from the Abyss), so does the Beast act THROUGH a human being by possession, or in some other way. Therefore, what the Holy Spirit of God, here in Revelation, is doing, takes us behind the scenes and shows us the Satanic machinery by which the whole thing is operated.

So, while the people on earth see only a man, "The Man", their long awaited SUPERMAN, they may know nothing of the power of the Abyss behind him, and out of which he comes.

Now what might shock you is that this is exactly what is foretold by our LORD, in the parable of the strong man (Matthew 12:43-45), when He tells how the unclean spirit returns to his house whence he came out, and "taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse then the first. EVEN SO SHALL IT BE ALSO UNTO THIS WICKED GENERATION."

This shows that the LORD is speaking a parable with regard to the Nation of Israel; and it shows us that there will be possession by evil spirits acting through human agency; not only with regard to Israel, but with regard to the whole world. Doubtless, the human agent Antichrist will have already been alive some time on earth, working up to this point, when Satan takes him in hand uses him henceforth for his own purposes; by rapid strides raising him to the pinnacle of earthly pride and power.

Always keep this in mind, the moment will come when a human being will be found who is willing to accept that which the LORD Jesus rejected in Luke 4:6-7, when the devil, having shown Him "all the kingdoms of the world," said unto Him, "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If, therefore, thou wilt worship me, all shall be thine." The LORD refused it, but he did NOT deny the truth of the words, or dispute Satan's authority or power. What the LORD DOES do is He says, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD THY God, and him ONLY shalt thou serve." The whole question is one of worship, and it will never be settled until at last Satan finds one to worship him. In return, Satan will get for him, and give to him, the worship of the world.

In Revelation 13:3, it does not say WHICH of the seven heads is slain; or when; but the Beast is repeatedly spoken of as "he whose stroke of death was healed." It is this last or seventh head, this man himself who is killed and restored to life, as the SUPERMAN. The whole world wonders at him and follows after him, on account of this great satanic miracle worked on his behalf. This is the hour spoken of in Revelation 3:10, "which is to come upon the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." "Satan's throne" will then be set up in the earth (Revelation 2:13; Revelation 16:10), and a man, "the lawless one", "the Antichrist", will occupy it, and take the sovereignty of the world, obsessed, possessed, and energized by satanic power.

Now you can also take a look at Revelation 13:4. Because here, it is clear, that everything is combined in this SUPERman to make him not only acceptable to the world, but to call forth their wonder, admiration and praise. He is not in any way a terror to men, but full of blandishments, attractions, allurements, and activities which will be all put forth in the interests of human greatness and happiness. It will be Satan's brief millennium, in which mankind will, by every art and artifice, be made happy.

It will be a time of peace and progress for the whole world. Great secrets of nature will be discovered; evil angels will be the teachers, and deceiving demons the guides of mankind. Great inventions and discoveries will be made, and turned to the utmost possible account. Philanthropy will be the governing principle of the world and of the "Church".

Now, today, look around, and see that this great ETHICAL revival is at our doors. Its advent is announced by the foremost preachers of today. All of this is preparing the way for the man of sin, and the lawless one, who shall be a law unto himself and unto the whole world. Men will delight in him, and regard him as the greatest benefactor the world has ever known. Kings will gladly owe him suzerainty; and behind all of it will be Satan himself, swaying the hearts, tongues and energies of thousands of willing agents.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

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

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

JUDGING. MATTHEW 7:1, PART 3 – Pastor David

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Christ calls upon His people, to be truly spiritual Children of God, and THEN...not merely to judge others, but to be such as are qualified, morally and spiritually, to judge in matters concerning truth and error or right conduct and wrong.

As the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy and Titus, both truly spiritual men of God, to act in situations in which it is necessary to judge. To Timothy He writes, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" 1 Timothy 5:20. And, "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" 2 Timothy 4:2. Then, to Titus He writes, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I have appointed thee" Titus 1:5. "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" Titus 1:10-11.

Not just anyone would be qualified, spiritually and morally, to judge the “wrong-doing” Children of God to whom Timothy and Titus ministered, but these two men of God WERE thus qualified and the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul instructed them to do so firmly.

This brings us to a most important subject pertaining to us all:

Judging Ourselves

In the Apostle Paul's well known passage on the LORD's Supper, he warns against partaking of this sacred memorial in an unworthy manner, 1 Corinthians 11:27, as some of the Corinthians were indeed doing. "Let a man examine himself," he says, "and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup" 1 Corinthians 11:28.

It was because they had been so irresponsible in this matter that it had become necessary for Christ, to discipline them. Many among them were "weak and sickly," and some had even been taken away in death. 1 Corinthians 11:30. This would not have been necessary, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle declares, if they had judged themselves. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32. Each one carefully examining himself in the presence of the Christ, so that he might be in the proper spiritual condition to celebrate the death of Yâ-hwéh Yâhuwshúa`, The LORD Jesus Christ, for sin.

Concluding the remarks about living so that they could partake of this remembrance in a worthy and sincere manner, He says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" 1 Corinthians 11:31-32.

All of us should surely take the Holy Spirit’s exhortation through the Apostle here to heart. If we would judge ourselves God would not have to discipline us for our irresponsibility and we would be in a better position to serve Him as those who are truly spiritual.

Now, be VERY aware that the fact that a man judges others does not of itself indicate that he is truly spiritual. As a matter of fact, someone who judges himself and is truly spiritual will NOT be quick to judge others. Yet, it SHOULD be our desire to BE truly spiritual so that we might correctly "judge all things". 1 Corinthians 2:15. And, therefore judging, stand for what is Scriptural and right and withstand what is unscriptural and wrong, even when, in so doing, it is necessary to withstand those who teach or practice what is unscriptural and wrong?

So let’s STOP the use of such passages as 2 Timothy 2:24 and Matthew 7:1 as excuses for irresponsibility and for the criticism of those who seek to stand true to Christ and His Word. Let us rather consider prayerfully all that God says about judging, that we might truly please and honor Him!

***

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)

Are We To Follow Jesus (while on earth), OR, The Apostle Paul? - Pastor David

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There has been, and even today still is, MUCH controversy over the teaching of The Mystery, which the Holy Spirit first revealed to and then taught through the Apostle Paul.

MANY “Christian” Fundamentalists have joined with Modernists in attempting to exalt "the teachings of Jesus" (while on earth) above the Word of God through the Apostle Paul. They ask, "Which should bear the greater weight with us, the words of Jesus, or the words of Paul?"

This is the classic straw-man argument. Because, see, they do not ask this because they truly desire to OBEY these "words of Jesus" and to see them obeyed. NO! For they flagrantly disregard and disobey them, from the Sermon on the Mount to the Great Commission.

With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, they do not subject themselves to the Law of God given through Moses (Matthew 5:17-19). They do not bring gifts to altars of sacrifice (Matthew 5:23-24). They do not give freely to all who ask of them, quite the opposite (Matthew 5:42; Matthew 10:8-9). They do not refrain from laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19, and Matthew 6:25-26); And they certainly do not sell what they have and give alms (Luke 6:30; Luke 12:33).

Let's not stop there...then, these hypocrites, while professing obedience to the so called "Great Commission" as "the Church's marching orders", they do not proclaim faith AND baptism for salvation (Mark 16:16); they do not, (they cannot), perform miraculous signs (Mark 16:17,18); they do not give the Jew first place in their ministry (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), and they certainly do not teach others to observe all things that Messiah on earth commanded (Matthew 28:20).

So why? Why do these hypocritical fundamentalists and modernists set "the teachings of Jesus" (on earth) over and against the teachings of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul? Well, it is NOT because they are determined to obey Jesus, but because they are determined to minimize that which God has "magnified", and that is, the authority of the Apostle Paul as "the apostle of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13).

They seek to exalt the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry above those of the RISEN Jesus through the Apostle Paul BECAUSE they have closed their ears to the often repeated and Holy Spirit inspired teaching of the Apostle Paul that the glorified RISEN Christ spoke from heaven, to and through him, committing to him "The Dispensation of the Grace of God". THE program for the day in which we live (Acts 20:24; Acts:22:6-10, Acts 22:17-21; Acts 26:12-18; Romans 11:13; Romans 15:15-16; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:16; Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:11-12; Galatians 2:7-9; Ephesians 3:1-9; Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 4:9; Colossians 1:23-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:7-9; Titus 1:2-3).

But MORE than this, they have forgotten the STERN rebuke the Galatians received for failing to recognize the Apostle Paul's teachings as a message from the RISEN, Glorified, Exalted Christ (Galatians 1:6-12). They have taken lightly Paul's words to the Corinthians, "if I come again I will not spare: since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me" (2 Cor. 13:2-3).

These hypocritical fundamentalists and modernists have, as well, distorted the Holy Spirit's admonition through the Apostle Paul as to His own writings, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

***

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)

JUDGING. MATTHEW 7:1, PART 2 – Pastor David

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"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" 1 Corinthians 2:15. The truly spiritual Child of God is so far above the wisest people of this world, and even, so far above the mass of Christians with whom he or she comes in contact with regularly, that he can understand THEM, but they can never quite understand HIM. It is a sad fact, however, that in the Body of Christ, today, as in that of the Apostle Paul's day, there are so few, comparatively, who are truly spiritual and truly QUALIFIED to judge. Referring to the senseless and shameful contentions among the Corinthian believers, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul wrote, "I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" 1 Corinthians 6:5. Here he reprimands them because there is not one man among them who is spiritual enough to reprove the wrong and defend the right.

Indeed, Paul himself, an eminently spiritual man of God, once found it necessary to rebuke Peter publicly, even though Peter had been used of God to bring thousands to the LORD Jesus Christ’s feet before Paul had even been converted.

Now, let’s read that passage carefully, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the Circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation (hypocrisy). But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Galatians 2:11-14.

WOW! This must have been embarrassing to the Apostle Peter. BUT, who can deny that the Apostle Paul was absolutely right in thus dealing with this crisis, stepping in immediately to rebuke Peter's hypocrisy in going back on the great truths which God had revealed with regard to the oneness of Jewish and Gentile believers in the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul's action was not only right; it was necessary lest Peter "build again" the wall of separation between Jewish and Gentile believers which he himself had been used by Christ, to "destroy" (Galatians 2:18 and Acts 15:9-11).

While the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, deals with judging in the context of spirituality, he is not the first in Scripture to declare that God's people should, when truly qualified, judge others. When the LORD Jesus Christ, Himself was judged by His antagonists, He said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" John 7:24.

Surely Christ indicated by these words that His hearers should judge fairly and rightly, though "hypocrites" as in Matthew 7:1-5, should take care not to judge at all.

In 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, declares that believers, members of the Body of Christ, will one day "judge the world" and will EVEN "judge angels" basing upon this fact his exhortation that they should be able to judge in matters pertaining to this life, 1 Corinthians 6:3, and reproving them for their inability "to judge the smallest matters" 1 Corinthians 6:2. And then in 1 Corinthians 6:5, as we have seen, he speaks to their shame that there is not even one among them who is spiritual enough, and therefore respected enough, to judge between his brethren.

Thus Christ, calls upon His people, not merely to judge others, but to be such as are qualified, morally and spiritually, to judge in matters concerning truth and error or right conduct and wrong.

As the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy and Titus, both truly spiritual men of God, to act in situations in which it is necessary to judge. To Timothy He writes, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" 1 Timothy 5:20. And, "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" 2 Timothy 4:2. Then, to Titus He writes, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I have appointed thee" Titus 1:5. "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" Titus 1:10-11.

Not just anyone would be qualified, spiritually and morally, to judge the “wrong-doing” Children of God to whom Timothy and Titus ministered, but these two men of God WERE thus qualified and the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul instructed them to do so firmly.

Ok...This brings us to a most important subject pertaining to us all: Judging Ourselves. Coming next.

***

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)

JUDGING. MATTHEW 7:1, PART 1

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How often, in our efforts to take a stand, and to stand, for the truth and withstand error, we have been taken to task with the use of such Scripture passages as "Judge not, that ye be not judged" Matthew 7:1, and "the servant of the Lord must not strive" 2 Timothy 2:24. These passages taken out of context can induce some Children of God to great irresponsibility. However, it is the purpose of this message to examine the Scriptures as a whole and see what they have to say about judging others, or judging what they say or do.

But, FIRST, members of The Body of The LORD Jesus Christ, Pay ATTENTION! Satan LOVES it when one Child of God, *HYPOCRITICALLY* judges another Child of God for their sin! You know what Satan calls the one doing the judging? His next VICTIM!

Truth, not sprinkled with Mercy, is Brutality!

The Scriptures have a lot to say about judging others. Since, however, one Greek word, "krino" is most often used in discussing this subject, and since this is the word the LORD Jesus Christ, used when He said, "Judge not," we will deal only with those passages in which this Greek root "krino" (to judge) and its derivatives, "anakrino" (to judge strictly) and "diakrino" (to judge thoroughly) are used. In this way, there can, at least, be little or no "strife about words."

If the "interpretation" so often placed upon our LORD’s words, "Judge not," were consistent with the Scriptures as a whole, the Apostle Paul would not have taken such strong exception when he and Barnabas "had no small dissension and disputation" with the Judaizers who had come to Antioch, seeking to bring the Gentile believers there under the Law, or as later at Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul "gave place by subjection" to these same Judaizers, "no, not for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with the Gentiles" Acts 15:2 and Galatians 2:5.

As to the root word "krino," (to judge), it should be observed right away that some of the passages using this word urge us NOT to judge, while others teach as strongly that we SHOULD judge, indeed, that"he that is spiritual judgeth all things" 1 Corinthians 2:15, so that the interpretation of any Scriptural statement on judging must be determined, not by any "private interpretation," but by the context and/or of related Scripture passages.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged" Matthew 7:1.

Our Lord's words here have, of course, to do with judging persons, obviously for what they do or fail to do, but in Matthew 7:5 there is the indication that they have reference to a certain type of critic, "Thou hypocrite," or one who has a "beam" in his own eye, while criticizing the "mote" (which means any small, dry particle) in his brother's eye. Such a critic would surely not be the "spiritual" person of 1 Corinthians 2:15.

Thus Matthew 7:1-2 is a warning that if you are to judge others, you must expect others to judge you. The parallel passage in Luke 6:37-38 brings this out even more forcefully. The Apostle Paul, also, in Romans 2:1, says to those who hypocritically judge others, "wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."

In Romans 14:4-13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul speaks on this readiness to judge others. He deals with the friction between those on the one hand who feel free to "eat all things" and those on the other who are convicted that they should only "eat herbs", "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him" Romans 14:3.

Then, in Romans 14:10-13, The Holy Spirit urges those on both sides to refrain from criticizing each other since all of us, each one individually, will one day give a personal account to God, "But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way"

It is important to note that this has to do with judging one another as to way of life. Romans 14 has to do with judging one another in matters NOT specifically dealt with elsewhere in the Word of God. Such judgment should be left to Christ, at whose "judgment seat" we shall all one day stand. Notice the Apostle Paul DOES say to not put a stumbling block in your brother’s way. This means, say, you feel free to have a glass of wine with dinner. But your brother in Christ, lives the absolute opposite, AND he is coming to dinner. The Apostle Paul is here telling those who feel free in this manner, to abstain from the glass of wine at this particular dinner for your brother’s sake.

In the same vein the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."

Let us then, rather be criticized than to criticize, rather be judged than to judge, EXCEPT in matters where God has given us the clear knowledge of His Will. To the Galatians, for example, who had been enticed to go back under the Law after The LORD Jesus Christ, had so gloriously set them free, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul wrote, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" Galatians 5:1. And then he proceeds to tell them in stern language how they will belittle Christ, and what the results will be if they continue in their course.

Also, he writes to the brethren at Colossi, this time urging them NOT TO ACCEPT the criticisms of those who would bring them under the Law, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the Body (the substance) is of Christ" Colosians 2:16-17

But where God has clearly made His truth and will known believers SHOULD judge between truth and error, not only standing for what is right, but withstanding what is wrong, Ephesians 6:11-13, and this often involves "judging" and "withstanding" persons involved. Using the same root, krino, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul says, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" 1 Corinthians 2:15. More on this point next time...

***

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)