“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
www.avoiceforthegatheringsaints.org
“After These Things”
The increase of spiritual activity taking place and ending those things once allowed by God is specifically for the purifying of a people. Thus, a people now established in God and His full salvation, those completely separated from that entity in the earth called Babylon. Who and what is this Babylon? A study from scriptures reveal it to be a system of religious, political and economical orders having great influence in the earth realm as it stands against the true purpose of God. However, as with all things that oppose God and His purpose, a destine time is upon Babylon to bring her to her destruction. Rev. 18:2, “And he [angel, messenger] cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the [a] habitation [dwelling place] of devils [demons] and the hold [prison] of every foul [unclean] spirit [evil spirit beings], and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Babylon then is an evil system that rejects the life of Christ, and institutes among the people all kinds of rituals and patterns that mislead the people to live a faulty life-style.
Herein a set time for a declared destruction as a harvest is bringing total separation between the elect of God and those dwelling in the Babylonian camp. With and when its time comes that all God’s elect are separated from Babylon, destruction comes. Meaning that the harvest of the elect, those that have spiritually matured to know resurrection unto God’s mountain of holiness, they know God’s year of Jubilee, His Day of Atonement. Even now, can we not see more and more of the dissatisfaction that manifest among God’s people. That is those still dwelling under the influence of Babylon. This state of dissatisfaction establishes a time of opportunity that God gives to those who truly desire to finally separate unto God for His glory alone. In this, a people are knowing a groaning and travail, a longing to see the appearing of these separated ones called “the sons of God”. Rom. 8:19, declares, “For the earnest expectation [anxious looking with outstretched head] of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation [unveiling, revelation] of the sons [Christ nature, including that of relationship to the Father] of God.” Also Rom. 8:23, “And not only they [creation], but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit [the foretaste and pledge of the eternal inheritance], even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [sonship], to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Is it not time to come out of Babylon? With the trumpet of God sounding a clear sound for this distinct purpose, is it not time to respond. It is with great joy that the elect of God ascends into another level of anointing. Even as Jesus was the anointed of God, so shall these separated ones manifest the greater joy. God’s sons are those who know complete obedience as the Holy Spirit leads them. Rom. 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
With the present tense falling of Babylon evident around us, a great expectation of God’s greater glory is upon us. Babylon’s fall, the results of her emptied out of God’s pure truth, and all those who desire truth, God ends her influence over them. Remaining is a dried up system of deceit, an empty shell of death that perishes. However, Rev. 19:1 declares, “And after these things [fall of Babylon] I heard a great voice of much people in heaven [the elect separated people living in Christ, a higher dimension], saying, Alleluia; Salvation and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.” Here we have a people who have ascended into a place of spiritual maturity called “heaven”. This heaven speaks of a people who now dwell with God in a dimension of life made available because of Jesus during His 3 ½ year anointed earth walk. These, though walking upon the earth shall also be dwelling in the delegated authority of God’s throne-room as He rules from the heaven within them. These saints are the elect who now gather in the great harvest of God in establishing His kingdom on earth.
The words “Alleluia and Salvation” spoken in the verse above has a much greater meaning than just being saved from passed sins. These words speak more in light of coming into the fullness of salvation that Jesus Christ made available. Matt. 6:10, “Thy kingdom come [God’s creation rulership without the sin nature]. Thy will [desire promoting His action] be done [be brought to pass, be accomplished] in earth [my earthly body and self-man changed to effect the earth], as it is in heaven [God’s nature manifesting through receiving man].” Also, note the word “glory” in Rev. 19:1 that speaks of “the glory”. This glory speaks of that which God is. God’s glorious nature seed He delights in planting within receiving man, a Christ seed that shall bring forth after its own kind. The nature of Christ’ life planted, growing, and maturing from within man to become the likeness of God’s image throughout all creation. What a wonderful plan, a plan in which the Holy Spirit is actively pursuing until the fullness of God’s salvation is complete.
Is this not the plan that Jesus brought to man as He fulfilled the needed sacrifice that He might bring others into that state of glory He had with the Father before the world was? John 17:5, “And now [at this moment], O Father, glorify thou me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with [beside] you before [denotes the position as being in sight, or before one, in place], the world [as created, ordered and arranged] was.” Christ, in the form of Jesus, now returning to a place of glory He had in God before He came to earth as the Saviour. However, according to God’s plan, He made available and prays for His disciples and all who would believe on Him to receive also. John 17:22, “And the glory which thou gavest [has given] me [Jesus Christ] I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”
Just what glory does this scripture speak? To answer this question let us consider the time Moses spent with God on the mountaintop. As Moses stood before God, God’s glory came upon him until his face begin to shine from that glory. Such a glory manifesting that the people of the law could not look upon Moses’ face. Likewise, at the time of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, two messengers in white apparel stood with their faces shining forth that glory. Later when John describes the form of Jesus Christ, His countenance manifested that same light of glory. Rev. 1:16, “And He had [having] in His right hand seven stars: and out of [out from] His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth [appears] in his strength [inherent power; the power of reproducing itself, mighty works].” Thus, a glory, speaking of the life of God that He willingly breathed into His created man, a man of His likeness and image.
Then, in God’s chosen moment of time, this same God planted within the Virgin Mary a seed of His glory. This seed of God’s glory became a walking, talking manifestation appearing to become the sacrifice needed to restore fallen but receiving man back to that place of glory. Matt. 13:43, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father [the sovereign exercise toward obedient sons]. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
In revealing this purpose, God gives a testimony of His desire for man while on the Mount of Transfiguration. A time God chose to reveal His eternal purpose in having for Himself a kingdom in which to show forth His glory. How, but through the spiritual birthing and maturing of His many sons as they reveal to the world that which God is. In this revealing, the world will know that God sent Jesus to glorify God through those who received Him. Luke 9:28-31a, “And it came to pass about an eight days [new beginnings] after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion [appearance] of His countenance [face] was altered [became different, another of a different kind, generic distinction], and His raiment was white and glistering [to shine or lightening forth as though from internal light, consider Adam and Eve before the fall when they became naked]. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory ….” Could the glory manifesting upon Moses and Elijah also be pointing to a separated people who have ascended God’s mountain of holiness by dying to self completely? If so, the sanctifying work of the cross continues to work a work in believing obedient vessels until “after these things” After these things speaks of the fall of Babylon from within a people, a people separated from her influence and becoming complete in spirit, soul and body.
Rom. 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer [baptized into His death, not speaking of sufferings of this present time] with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” This glory speaks of the indwelling power of the Almighty Christ in His fullness. This glory is that which lifts the human being from the earthly life-style into a daily living according to Christ heavenly life-style. Moreover, as we recall the voices speaking in Rev. 19:1 from above, they are saying that the glory has come, the glory they were seeking and waiting for has now come.
“After these things” speak of a sanctified people who have come out from among an influential system called Babylon to separate completely unto God. These separated one’s make room for God’s judgment upon and the destruction of Babylon as she receives her reward. 2 Cor. 6:16-18, “And what agreement hath the Temple of God [now God’s people consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies within] with idols? For you are the Temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among [out of the midst of] them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Note that in partaking of the order of any group, fellowship, church or individual not functioning in the anointed Word of God’s divine order and government, the purposed dwelling place for Christ presence becomes a place of darkness filled with idols. When belonging to such deceiving orders the people remain yoked together in eating and participating in the error of their ways. In this, consider spiritual discernment and yield only to the Holy Spirits leading.
2 Cor. 6:14, “Be [become] not unequally yoked together with [to] unbelievers: for what fellowship [partaking or sharing] hath [is there to] righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light [used specially of God] with [towards] darkness?” How easy it seems to maintain union with church group orders who yield only to modern day religions. Many are those who are departing from God’s truth to follow man’s latest fad. Here they yield to man’s carnal ideals in seeking man’s approval instead of Gods. Care, should always be taken for confirming any so-called fad or humanistic ideals with God’s word. In this, God’s word, conformation enables the true believer to follow only Him, the Christ and only the Christ.
Babylon, destined for destruction, who is she and what form does she take in manifesting her corruption? God’s word says that all spiritual activity rejecting the life of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for progressive sanctification misleads and distracts from God’s true purpose. For this cause, the needed separation to “come out from among her, Babylon”, brings judgment to Babylon and the establishing of God’s elect. Remember, even though Babylon carries its deceit through calling itself a part of the church, she remains the habitation of devils, every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Babylon is falling and the elect, the Christ-ones are arising with the anointing of God upon them. With God’s throne-room authority dwelling within them, His nature manifests to bring forth Gods light and glory. In this, God’s kingdom is established wherein He rules and reigns through these elect of God. With “after these things”, now being upon us, what manner of person should we be? 2 Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens [deceived church] shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [elementary rules] shall melt [be dissolved, mans carnal order] with fervent heat [burnt up], the earth [territories in which people dwell] also and the works that are therein [mans carnal order] shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation [behavior] and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God …. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and earth [God’s manifesting created men], wherein dwelleth righteousness [Christ’ nature].”
Notice the word “promise” in the above scripture and let us take note of the promise as God has purposed it. With “after these things” coming upon us, it is time to look for the fulfillment of said promise according to 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by [on account of, or because of] these you might be [become] partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption [come out from among them] that is in the world through lust.” (Also, read Acts 17:28-31).