The church at Laodicea was known as a lukewarm people destined to be spued out of God’s mouth unless they would take certain steps for repentance. In this, we can see that God, as always, has an antidote for man’s wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked condition. This antidote is a request that they would anoint their eyes with eye salve that they might see. This is speaking of the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit who will open the eyes of the heart when responding to His invitation. The heart is speaking of the soul of man, which response to the Holy Spirit as He resurrects man’s dead fallen soul to become an illuminated “new creation man.”
This new creation man, a “living soul” is one that, because of the nature of God being written upon the heart, it begins to respond to all things according to God’s will, God’s mind, God’s emotions and God’s desires. Does this not speak of returning to a spiritual value system, though once lost through the first Adam, it can now be restored in Christ? This means that unto those overcoming people there is imparted a knowing that worldly assets do not have any spiritual value.
In this regard, a certain people are now making an appearance. There is a coming forth, as a remnant first-fruit company, those who move into that resurrected new covenant nature. This enables them to establish with Christ the prophesied kingdom of God upon the earth. God’s kingdom being established in the earth speaks of an ending to all the kingdoms made by man. The declared prophetic word, the new covenant nature within these remnant first-fruits shall root out; they shall pull down, throw down, and destroy all the kingdoms of men. In this they shall complete their work of building and planting God’s kingdom.
In the scripture, Rev. 19:1, we read a truth that this world’s Babylonian system (carnal minded political, economic, and religious entities) are destroyed, a destruction that releases the salvation and glory of God in a full measure.
“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia! Salvation and gloryand honor and power belong to the Lord our God.”
These are strong and mighty words which refer to the destruction of Babylon. Babylon, recognized as that worldwide system of political, economic, and religious structures, is that which opposes and stands against the true purposes of God. In observing this verse, we must take note of its powerful declaration in knowing the full meaning of some words and phrases that are declared.
In the phrase, “a great multitude in heaven,” it speaks of a great crowd that is living in a higher spiritual dimension with God. The little word “in” is from a Greek word with the meaning of “to remain within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance.” This is speaking to us of a people so connected with Christ as if welded to Him in nature and life. These overcomers now dwell with Him in another dimension of life called “heaven.” “Heaven” does not necessarily mean being separating or taken away with our bodies to another location or planet. However, it does mean an act of ascension, a catching up into a higher place in the spirit, a higher dimension with them dwelling in God.
It also speaks of a people, spiritually mature, who no longer live according to the appetites of the earth realm. Those who no longer pursue a life-style of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These are becoming a people who are no longer sensual as they respond only to what they see their Father God do or say. They no longer move in their own works but only in the works of the Father, meaning, that they, though walking on the earth, are now living in and according to God’s government of heaven, His spiritual realm.
With the use of the phrase “Alleluia and Salvation” stated, our attention is on this truth. It’s full meaning is more than being “saved” from some past sins, but it expresses this truth, because Babylon is now fallen the time of full salvation is come. Full salvation speaks of more than a one-time place of repentance but is a path that leads the individual to the salvation of spirit, soul, and finally the body. This full salvation is not speaking of a removal from the earth but is that which Jesus reveals to His disciples when teaching them how to pray. Matt. 6:10,
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth [within self first- spirit, soul and body] as in heaven”.
Does this not speak of a people, even as all the angels in heaven, who with great joy, are happy to be in obedience to God? This, likewise, is speaking of a first-fruit remnant who rejoices because they are now given the privilege of doing only what God wants them to do. These can now obey completely the nature of Christ that has matured within them.
Let us also take pause to consider the word “glory.” Understanding that this “glory” spoken of here is that glory Jesus Christ was a part of in His restoration to the place He had with God before the world was. John 17:5,
“And now, O Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the worldwas.”
Glorified “with” the Fathers glory speaks of a place beside Him, a place that expresses God’s rest, which is a position that results from Him being with the Father. Note that “before the world” is speaking of the position as being in sight of or a position of standing before and in place with God before the created world. Meaning, as when Jesus prayed, a door is now open, an open heaven occupied by a people of like nature as the overcomer becomes one with Christ. This oneness is likened as a man and his wife becoming one, birthing the man-child as he comes forth from within.
In following the thought concerning this “glory” of the heavens, let us consider Moses, a man called to ascend upon Mt. Sinai to stand before God. While on the top of this mountain, Moses expressed his desire to see God’s glory. Exodus 33:18,
“And he [Moses]said, please, show me your glory.”
Note, that while Moses was unable to see God’s face because Moses represents the law, God protected him with His hand while showing Moses His passing glory. This experience, seeing God pass by, caused Moses’ face to shine in such a way that the people could not look upon him. Notice also that when Jesus resurrected from the dead, there was standing there an angel dressed in white whose face was shining with glory. Matt. 28:3,
“His [angel] countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow.”
Now notice that the risen glorified Christ, as revealed to John in Rev. 1:16, was in His Kingly eternal form.
“He had in His right hand seven stars [perfected messengers], out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword [the word], and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength”.
The “glory” proceeding from this dwelling place of God was as the “sun shining in its strength.” This shining speaks of a countenance that shines forth from within. This describes the way the glory presents or shows itself. The “strength” which emits from God’s glory is that inherent power from God, which is a power that reproduces itself.
Recognize that this same glory is that for which the whole world groans and travails. These groaning ones include the sons of God, the first-fruit man-child company that are to appear and establish this dimension of the heavens from within. These reveal the nature of God to a fallen world. Recall the parable of the wheat and tares. Let us recognize that after judgment removes the fruit of the seed planted from the enemy, the tares, a great change begins to manifest itself. (Read Matt. 13:36-43) with verse 43 stating the manifestation of the wheat.
“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Is this not also the description of the Christ given to us by John in Revelation?
Luke 9:28-31,
“Now it came to pass, about eight days [God’s number meaning new beginnings] after these sayings, that He [Jesus] took Peter, John, and James and went up to the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem”.
Here, as Jesus prepares for His death, burial, and resurrection, He receives His measure of life from the Father. A measure enabling Him to willingly lay down His life of glory, to give it up willingly, on the cross, that He might take it up again at His resurrection. Note the fashion of Jesus’ altered countenance and His raiment becoming white as it glistens. “Was altered” speaks of His face made “another of a different kind (usually denoting generic distinction)”.
This glory also affected His garment, it become one that glistened with light. This light, likened unto lightening, coming forth as though from an internal light, something from within. Could this internal light be a similar type of light covering that Adam and Eve lost when they disobeyed God? Because they had this covering removed from them, did they not immediately find it necessary to cloth themselves with the fig leaves to cover up their nakedness? This same light covering again shines from those who overcome, by their ascending into the heavenly dimension of the throne room of God. These shall now partake of the same glory revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration.
This glory is not just for Moses and Elijah and other special ones mentioned in scripture. However, as stated in the Bible, we read of those who do become like-kind heirs to God’s glory. Rom. 8:17,
“And if children, also heirs; heirs, indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed, we suffer together, so that we may be also glorified together”.
This same glory, which is the indwelling power of the Almighty God, in His fullness, is that which lifts the human being from the dimension of the earth (fallen man of dust) realm to the dimension of the heavens (sons of spiritual maturity). Moreover, is it not as spoken of by the many voices of Rev. 19:1 above, revealing that the glory they were seeking and waiting for has come? Has the time to rejoice come?
We, known as God’s people, have been optimistic of the manifestation of these many sons. We, God’s creation, though made subject to the vanity of this flesh, are subject to deliverance from this bondage of corruption through the redemption of our bodies. This means that a people are coming into another dimension, those rescued from carnality, fleshliness, and earthliness. This is speaking of the fullness of times, the fulfillment of the progressive work of the Holy Spirit in changing a people from a fallen nature unto a new nature, manifesting through a renewed spirit, a renovated soul, and a redeemed body. Rom. 8:20-23,
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body”.
Meanwhile, darkness and gross darkness has come to its full measure. Babylon has come to its time of judgment, a judgment that results because she has corrupted the earth with her fornication. This great harlot is the many organizational systems that are causing its people to commit this type of spiritual fornication. This speaks of going beyond natural fornication between a man and woman, but likewise speaks of mixing the things of God’s enemy, the carnal fleshly mind, with the things that belong to God. This mixture has created deceiving experts, a people willing to divert truth as it dwells in God and His word, to satisfy the lusting of the unregenerate political, economic, educational, and religious arenas. This unholy mixture has also caused the world in general to hate the church, or that which the world sees as the church.
Meanwhile, these unholy religious circles are ending up in the camp of the antichrist order of Babylon. Rev. 19:2,
“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her”.
Thus, we see God’s judgment bringing forth righteousness upon the earth as these tares, which the enemy of God planted, have come to the maturity of their corrupt nature. These tares are now being cast into the furnace of fire that the righteous ones of God may shine forth. Thus, the saints continue to praise their God for the time to rejoice has come. Their Alleluias ascend because Babylon is defeated as purified creation stands justified, and the judgment of burning is accomplished.
Rev. 19:3,
“Again they said, alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.”
Could this smoke be the results of a spiritual burning, because, in the natural, natural things tend to only burn until burned up? Could this not mean that the seed and offspring of Babylon are to arise no more? Isa. 34:1-2, speaks of destruction by deliverance to God’s judgment,
“Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all things that come forth from it. For the indignations of the Lord is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them; He has given them over to slaughter.”
“Utterly destroyed” speaks of that which is devoted to destruction or placed under a divine ban. When speaking of Babylon, it is not referring to just a place or singular location, but it refers to all nations and peoples as they are affected by judgmental destruction, speaking of the nations and people who are standing against and opposing God.
Our attention now returns to the saints, the overcoming first-fruits who now abide in God’s dwelling place, that place called the throne-room. Note that this throne-room dwelling place consist of the nature of God as He manifest Himself unto creation through His elect. His elect is birthed into the new covenant as written on the heart by God’s hand. Rev. 19:4,
“And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, amen! Alleluia!”
Falling before God speaks of a total act of submission because all the old fallen nature is now conquered and put under foot. Let’s note that the twenty-four elders, with the number twenty-four being God’s number designating the Priesthood authority, are those now dwelling within this realm of God, the God who dwells within these overcoming people. Has not God declared that He would make these overcomers a King/Priest company? This then speaks of an authority manifested because of man’s nature change.
Does not this nature change bring the results of God writing the new covenant within the soul of His new creation man? Therefore, these four beasts, the living creatures, represent and speak of the soul of man that has now come into the fullness of maturity and have become the Priest-hood of God’s kings. Man’s overcoming soul shouts out with amen and alleluias because the work has been finished as these have been brought into a place of perfection. Here we must remember the ten virgins spoken of and just what happen among them at the midnight hour. At midnight, there was a time of separation that took place. While five of the ten virgins were wise, five were foolish and missed out when the bridegroom came.
While these five foolish virgins had oil in their lamps (spirit), they lacked the oil needed for their vessel which speaks of the soul (lamps speak of man’s spirit while vessel is speaking of man’s soul). Thus, their lamps went out and only the five wise (with oil in their soul) could came into the fullness of God because of the oil in the soul. Take note that these five wise virgins had gone through that necessary nature change (reproducing oil). With the four beasts speaking of the four parts of the soul, let us consider the change that takes place when changed from a “dead fallen soul” to one that becomes a “new creation living soul.”
The four parts of the soul consist of the mind, the will, the emotions, and the desires that motivate man. The soul renewed to be a “living soul” is one that now consists of the nature of God. Firstly, the mind once as the eagle that is always flying about and restless, never satisfied in following and fulfilling his selfish thoughts. Now, the new covenant writer writes upon the mind the thoughts of God, becoming obedient only to God in becoming one of the saints. Secondly, the will once like the ox that is stubborn in always wanting his own way. However, the ox changed will now become as a calf that is humble and willing to yield completely to God’s ways. As a calf, its nourishment comes only from God.
Thirdly, the emotions once reacting as a lion, a wild beast that reacts to every situation in a terrible beastly manner. Again, a change causes this lion to become the lion of Judah, always declaring praise in its worship to all things of God. Then we have the desires, which as a man who is human (hewed down man), he has multiple selfish desires that are never fully satisfied. In all things, this desire is hungry for something new or more of the same. Desires in human form never seem to know total satisfaction. However, becoming a new covenant vessel, it brings forth a set of desires even as a son of God, desiring only the desires of the Father. This season is a season of change and change is at the door. The new covenant man is now coming forth and is establishing the eternal kingdom of God over all the earth. This earth, speaks first of the earth of the individual human body which through change affects the whole earth as we dwell upon it as the first-fruit man-child people who reign from the nature of God, His throne-room. Surely, now is the time to rejoice.