“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
www.avoiceforthegatheringsaints.org
“The Two Available Worlds”
Luke 4:16-20, “And He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord [this commission has continued on through the church age until this time of transition]. And He closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.”
Jesus, as instructed by God the Father, stood up on that certain day in the Synagogue at Nazareth. Here, Jesus began to read from the book of Isaiah, chapter 61:1-2a where He read to a certain point and then stopped reading to sit down apparently to teach. Why was His action that day one of stopping His reading but simply because the next sentence, verse 2b, was a prophesy belonging to a future dispensation. While in Jesus’ time on earth, the acceptable “year of the Lord” had come. But, “the day of vengeance of our Lord” had not yet arrived. This action set in motion by God according to His purpose, supplies for humanity a knowing concerning two separate dispensations or worlds. This action of Jesus, while fulfilling “the day of the Lord” as promised in Isaiah also released and began a 2000-year separation between these two dispensations. Within this interval of time, we see the whole of the present day church dispensation, a dispensation that shall have its ending in judgment. This judgment shall end the time of one dispensational world while ushering in another better dispensational world.
Through this 2000-year interval, God’s purpose for His church has continued in its mission and ministry of proclaiming the “year of the Lord”. These 2000-years have manifested a world that the Apostle Paul declares to be a world that was never to become the world or dispensation of Gods finished purpose. 1 Cor. 13:9-10 reveals the weakness of the world of the church age, with a declared promise of another world being made available. “For we [the church] know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” In considering, these two verses lets look at the meaning of a few words. The word “know” is the Greek word “GINOSKO” that has the meaning of “to know by experience, or effort; to acquire knowledge, become acquainted with; hence, to come or get to know, learn, perceive.” Thus, pointing to a church that forms a life-style that is limited in its ability concerning the things of God, having an in part understanding only.
The words “in part” comes from the Greek word “EK MEROUS” which is declared to mean “out from”. This points us to a knowing concerning the ability of the church to manifest life-styles from God only according to that knowledge received. Thus, a church, a world that is destined to pass away in that another world, a kingdom will take its place. How and when will this transition take place? Consider the word “perfect” with the Apostle Paul using the Greek word “TELEIOS” which means “that which has reached its end. Meaning perfect, in the sense of initiated.” 1 Cor. 2:6, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world [age], nor of the princes of this world [age] that come to naught.” This is speaking of a world or age that passes away because a world of greater wisdom and manifestation is appearing. How is this to be? With Paul, we find a people who are receiving a vision of this better world. A world wherein all that which is imperfect passes away for the manifesting of another world, meaning the old in part world dissolves, with a people pressing into this available new world. Phil. 3:14-15, “I press [follow after] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [departing from the in part world] be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded God shall reveal [to unveil so as to be visible to the eye] even this into you.”
Thus, a faithful God who fulfills all things according to His will and purpose, that is to take a people from one world unto another. 1 John 5:20 declares, “And we know [to know without effort] that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know [this know means by experience] Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” In considering the declaration “is come”, John uses the Greek word “HEKO” with the meaning “to be present,” a presence that remains with His people. Together with the words “in Him” that point to “a being or remaining within.” Thus, a declaring verse issuing the knowledge that we, in light of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and accepting it, become a part of the world of the ascended Christ. A present-tense world that we become partakers of as one willingly, through Jesus Christ, leaves the old in part world behind. Heb. 11:40 states, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect [“TELEIOO” meaning “to make a full end, consummates].” Notice also Heb. 2:10, “For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory [“EIS” meaning “when a line is drawn to meet another line at a certain point – denoting motion into an object], to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
Therefore, with these two worlds now available, what is the action God makes available to transit into God’s place of dwelling, His other world? 2 Peter 3:10-12, “But the day of the Lord [identifies with “the day of vengeance of our Lord”] will come as a thief in the night [darkness now covers the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people]; in the which the heavens [the in part understanding heavens within man] shall pass away with a great noise [a rushing sound – remember the upper room at Pentecost], and the elements shall melt with fervent heat [being burnt up], the earth [region or territory, in which peoples dwell – their mind-sets and life-styles] also and the works that are therein [basic elementary rules] 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 and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens [in part understandings] being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.”
Man can enlarge his understanding concerning this transition by looking at the true meanings of a few words as written in the above verses. “Elements”, the Greek word “STOICHEION” is used meaning “elementary rules.” This enlightens our understanding in that, while the earth, the ground itself does not melt, it is but the elementary laws that have rule over the man who rules over the earth that passes away. How do the elementary rules pass away but by fervent heat causing them to melt? Is not our God a consuming fire? “Melt” is from the Greek word “LUO” with the meaning of “to loose from, release, and let it go away.” Meaning the consuming fire of God within those receiving Him melts away the elementary rules through change. Thus, a dissolving of the old life-style characteristics as the Christ nature within burns up the old nature. Man herein manifests the new Christ like nature from within. 1 Cor. 3:15, “If any man’s work be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” A spiritual fire called the Holy Spirit that brings change to the individual progressively for a living in a new and better world.
Herein a people who can stand upon God’s promise and purpose. A people who now know that the time of “the day of vengeance of our Lord” are upon creation. A knowing that Jesus, the Christ has resurrected to return into the glory He had with the Father from the beginning. (Read John 17:1-5) concerning Jesus’ prayer for restoration to His former glory. Verse 5 shouts out, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.” Also stated by Jesus unto all who would hear and respond to His voice is the invitation, come and follow that where I am you may be also. With 2000-years of the church age passing away from the “year of the Lord” and coming to its end, another world is ready for the people of Christ. Thus, a people now taste, according to God’s timing, the world where the Christ now dwells. This abiding place is within God’s throne-room that dwells within the souls of a receiving and changed people. A dwelling place that is now to manifest through Gods birthed man-child. Notice that this man-child is birthed from out of the church, the woman, to ascend into God’s throne-room authority. Rev. 12:5, “And she [church] brought forth a man-child [a son referencing his origin and nature, his relationship with the Father], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up into God, and to His throne [depicting God’s nature and authority birthed in His man-child company].”
Here consider with understanding that this ascension is progressively taking place until the completion of maturity within this man-child, in that they are now more at home in God’s throne-room than at home in the visible world realm. This man-child now brings to the visible earth the things of the heavens, speaking of that which comes forth from God’s heavens within the man. A birthing from the church age as the man-child now dwells within the throne-room to effect and rule over the visible realm of humanity from the invisible realm of heaven within. This heaven dwells within because they have entered into that country that Abraham was seeking. Heb. 11:13-14 & 16, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but have seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth [natural realm]. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country [the world of spiritual things]. ….But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: for He hath prepared for them a city [a people of His nature, a world wherein the visible and invisible are to dwell together as one].”
In considering, the time and season of creation today, a season has come for God’s first fruits to appear within the visible earth realm manifesting the authority of the heavenlies. Meaning that these have ascended unto the Christ within their minds and hearts, to abide with God in His throne-room and they, while continuing in the visible earth realm, bring forth the law of heaven to the earth, the place that God reserved for this people as they come forth during “the last time”. 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [the hope of living again because of His resurrection, a restoring of all that was lost by Adam] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven [God’s heavens that now abide within the redeemed man] for you, who are kept by the power [the power of reproducing itself] of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
The word “revealed” spoken of here is from the Greek word “APOKALUPTO” meaning, “to unveil so as to be visible to the eye.” Thus, a people touching the heavens of God, a people becoming a part of God’s better world, a people now anointed to manifest the better things while among those who still dwell in the passing away world. A man-child first fruits company of God along with Jesus Christ the head to manifest the invisible unto the visible, thus the “day of the vengeance of our Lord” to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth through judgment. This speaks of a passing away of one world and the establishing of another better world. When shall these things be? Scripture states “in the last time”. A study of scripture reveals that the declaration announced in 1 Peter 1:5 extends to, and embraces the days of Messiah’s first and second advents. This time includes the passing away of one age or world and a manifesting of God’s world coming into the earth that is changing in accordance to the revealing of Gods manifesting Sons. Rom. 8:19, “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation [the unveiling, to uncover, denoting a person that is made visible] of the sons of God.” A time for the manifestation of God’s better world now brought forth through the manifesting of the Christ, both head and His many member body. A life as manifested through Jesus during His forty days after His resurrection. Again, we declare, this is a new day and world. Which world do you desire to dwell? God’s sons are ascending that they might be sent forth to bring judgment and establish God’s kingdom on earth. The time is at hand.
Matt. 6:9-10, “In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth [pointing to the earth that man is – changed to effect the earth, man’s rule] as it is in heaven.”
John 3:34, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
Lest we forget let us always remember that Christ’ anointing has been given to the church for maturing processes to bring man unto the measure of the stature of Christ. Eph. 4:13-15, “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect [mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head even Christ.”