Universalism with a Twist– Denying Faith as a Prerequisite Only for the Forgiveness of Sins
This theory is very subtle in its deception as it directly eschews having faith in one of the elements of the gospel of Christ, namely, the forgiveness of sins, and as a second thought, its promoters do however believe you must have faith in the other two elements of the gospel.
Two questions for those who believe this lie:
1) What does being clothed in your own righteousness mean?
2) If, as they say, it is pointless having faith for the forgiveness of your sins, because it (forgiveness) has already been accomplished on the Cross by Christ, why is it acceptable then to have faith in the other two elements of the gospel, namely his burial and resurrection, as these too have also already been accomplished by Christ on the Cross?
The contradiction and error of this theory which its adherents fail to see. Good luck in wrapping your mind around the error and contradiction of it all:
Christ has already forgiven you (error) – BELIEVE it (have faith) to be saved (contradiction).
☆ Which theory amounts to nothing other than another gospel, placing the emphasis on the lie that all sins have already been forgiven, almost foregoing the other two important elements of the gospel.
Proponents of this heresy do however tell people to believe 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Full-Blown Universalism
Which variety is the way of the “Connecticut confusion” and other former Mid-Acts Dispensationalists who aren’t the first, nor will they be the last to acquiesce to this heresy.
Like the aforementioned “Universalism with a twist”, full-blown Universalism is also based on hyper-grace which puts the emphasis on God’s mercy and ignores that God is just and that He is a God of judgment and wrath.
The proof-text of both varieties of Universalism is 2 Corinthians 5:19, which is obviously taken out of context, and thus denies the basic requirement for all men to be saved: faith on their part today in Christ’s redemptive work 2000 years ago.
Truth
☆ Christ came to save sinners, not the already forgiven
☆ God does not forgive those who are in unbelief (unrepentant sinners)
☆ Forgiven people belong in heaven, not in hell.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
I find this subject, aka error, tremendously B-O-R-I-N-G, as I admit, I do not give it much time, as it is just another basket case caused by those who misinterpret scripture, the conclusion of which states not all members of the Body are joint-heirs with Christ, so if not all are joint-heirs, it then means some are – why?
Because there are some who say not all Saints suffer with Christ – which assumption is true, but there’s more…
Their proof-text:
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
If we all did suffer with Him, we would all be glorified together on the same level as all of us as members of His body would receive a reward, thus, we would all reign with Him in glory.
But reigning with Christ IS conditional upon having suffered for all the right reasons.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if we deny him, he also will deny us:
And realistically speaking, not all Saints suffer for the right reasons.
Yet each and every member of his body is a joint-heir though, because they all receive an inheritance, regardless of whether they do sanctified works or not, or whether they suffer as a result thereof or not.
Ephesians 1:11 In whom alsowe have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
The difference between Saints in glory will in effect be that some will receive a reward (whilst others won’t – suffering with Christ brings with it the reward of reigning with Him) as living godly lives (doing sanctified works) in Christ does inevitably lead to persecution.
Doing good works cannot be separated from its end result: that of suffering. Good works (living a godly life in Christ) includes keeping the faith, preaching the gospel, rightly dividing the word of truth, not going down the rabbit hole, and if you find that you have, repenting of it (changing your mind) and being conformed to Him. Good works also entail having morals, integrity, and standards, et al.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
We are all joint-heirs with Christ because we are all sons of God together with Christ who is the Son of God and thus His (God’s) heirs.
If you are saved, you are a child of God.
Inheritance:
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
Reward:
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of himfrom the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, whichfrom the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
Today, as in times past, there are fallen, sin laden men with corrupt minds who believe they are wise, but in reality are ignorant as they are without understanding concerning the things of God.
The mystery revealed to Paul by the ascended and glorified Christ is invisible to them. On the other hand, the mystery (Ephesians 3:3) can clearly be seen by those who are considered simple by the world, as they, unlike those who are considered wise, do have understanding – and these people are the believers of Paul’s gospel who rightly divide truth from truth.
God calls those who consider themselves wise, who are unable to see the invisible things of Him, fools.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Summed up
Fallen men (including religionists), consider themselves to be wise in this world, yet cannot see Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Romans 16:25), thus do not understand the things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
So will their lack of understanding excuse them from judgment one day?
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and allthe world may become guilty before God.
Romans 3:20 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.
God revealed things (truth) for Man to understand, so the ignorance of those who consider themselves wise, can be cured if they would only study the scriptures, as therein lies Man’s accountability: God gave mankind a complete book of instructions for salvation which need to be rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15).
It goes without saying, that some Believers also suffer from the sin of ignorance, as they have not come to the full assurance of understanding, particularly in reference to the status of lost men in this present evil world, which relates to them being in the first Adam, which status they deny outright, and in so doing, take away the accountability of lost men in relation to this matter.
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Believe 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 for your salvation + nothing more, and nothing less.
The Antidote for Foolishness (Ignorance):
☆ Study the Authorised King James Bible
☆ Believe 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 for your salvation
☆ Practise 2 Timothy 2:15
☆ Walk the talk, clothed in Ephesians 6:11
Colossians 2:1-3 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Events, I might add, the world is oblivious to, as it too is concerning the reason for the most important event in the history of the world: Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary.
THIS EVENT SIGNALS THE END OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
✅ The NextResurrectionon God’s Calendar
Saints who died in the Dispensation of Grace are resurrected and caught up with those Saints who are alive, to the third heaven:
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The case for a pre-tribulation ‘rapture’ is simply that it is dispensational:
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
THE TRIBULATION
❗God’sWrath & JudgmentDuring the Tribulation
God proceeds to pour out His wrath on the world:
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
God casts the Beast and the False Prophet into the lake of fire after the Tribulation:
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
God judges the nations at the end of the Tribulation:
Matthew 25:32-33 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:41,46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
THE MILLENNIUM REIGN OF CHRIST
✅ Resurrection
The resurrection of the New Testament Saints who witnessed for Jesus during the Tribulation and were beheaded as a result thereof and reign with Christ during the Millennium:
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
❗God’sWrath &JudgmentAfter theMillennium
The devil, along with those who wanted to destroy the camp of the Millennium Saints:
Revelation 20:9-10 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
✅ Resurrection
The remainder of the Saints who died during the Tribulation as well as the OT Saints are resurrected:
Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
❗God’sFinal Judgment
The judgment of all lost men (except for those who have already been judged by God), who died in every dispensation:
Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The verses below best describe the world today under the Dispensation of Grace – it is like that of the world of the heathen Gentile nations in times past where immorality of every kind reigned supreme which means they were a law unto themselves as the world is today.
Yet at times even heathens who were without the law unknowingly adhered to themoral law, and still do, by way of good words and good deeds (“do by nature the things contained in the law”), because all people are born with the capacity to know right from wrong (“the work of the law written in their hearts”), having a conscience, which leads them to either excuse one another from guilt when they have done good, or accuse one another when they have done wrong (“accusing or else excusing one another”) ⬇️
Romans 2:14-16 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Paul was speaking to saved Roman Jews or proselytes below, as he described them as follows, and in in modern terms we can say they were saved people who rightly divided truth from truth, they knew God’s will, approved things that are more excellent, were instructed out of the law, saw themselves as guides of the spiritually blind, a light to those in darkness and their circumcision was that of the heart, in the spirit. ⬇️
Romans 2:18-19 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
It is important not to override your conscience when it accuses you when you do wrong otherwise it will become seared, so it is very important to be open to correction concerning doctrine ⬇️
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Being seared with a hot iron means it is burnt or damaged beyond recognition, it cannot be repaired. It is of no use.
Those who teach unsound doctrine (if it’s not sound, it isn’t Pauline) and give no thought to correction, fail to heed any and all rebuke or reproof whatsoever, have in reality departed from the faith and their consciences have become seared.
Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Why will you and I as saved people (at the JSoC), along with lost humanity (at the WTJ) who lived during this, the Dispensation of the Grace of God, be judged by Paul’s gospel?
Because of the works we did, which will be measured and judged by the moral and doctrinal code which falls within the parameters of Paul’s gospel of which Ephesians 6 is just one very good example.
Why will unbelievers be judged according to the doctrinal code? For fairness. It will be like a court. For example: “Susan this is Paul’s gospel written in the book I have here, which was also given to all men, which I instructed you to believe for your salvation, but you didn’t believe it, is that correct?” And when it comes to believers, they will be judged on whether they twisted doctrine, read corrupt Bibles and proof-texted scripture.
We were created unto good works. And for those who say we cannot possibly work ourselves into heaven, and as long as we are saved, all else doesn’t matter and that we’re being self-righteous – the truth is, we are his workmanship, already created in Him, so we should do the good works he intended for us.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) was written by David H Stern, Chief Architect of the modern Messianic Jewish (non) Movement.
Stern never denied Paul outright though, as he incorporated all of his 13 epistles into the CJB, rather, he denied Paul indirectly by corrupting his words, words which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and by doing so, also denied God the Son and believed in another Jesus.
The problem with Messianic Jews, which nominal Christianity cannot see (because it too has been blinded by the god of this world), is that they are fellow vain believers of Christ as they follow Him according to the New and Old Testaments and are thus the modern day version of the law-keepers who persecuted Paul.
This is how the CJB portrays Paul and how some Messianic Jews view him. They see him as the historical version of modern day prosperity preachers ⬇️
But this is the truth as written in the Authorised King James Bible, inspired and preserved by God Himself ⬇️
Philippians 4:16-19 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: butI desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The Philippians who gifted Paul with much needed material goods during his ministry will obtain a reward in glory and not hard cold cash and material wealth on this earth as falsely depicted above.
The CJB: “I am looking for what will increase the credit balance of your account” – the CJB makes out as if the Philippians had accounts at the Bank of Babylon and gave Paul money… corrupt Bibles are indeed crude.
The NIV: “…for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough.”
The KJB: “…but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” You cannot deposit fruit into a bank account, however, fruit (good works) can abound to your personal record and you reap the benefits of having done so, in glory.
When vain believers see the word “account” in their corrupt Bibles, Bibles which lead them to believe it is all about prosperity on this earth, they view it as being blessed financially in the here and now, but do not consider that they will have to give an account of themselves one day before God, which personal account unfortunately shows a zero balance, being devoid of God’s righteousness.
Will you stand naked before the Great I Am one day, clothed in filthy rags, which amount to your own righteousness
– not having God’s righteousness, but rather being in posession of the wages of sin, racked up over your lifetime on this earth
– which amounts to having nothing, having no meaning on the ledger of life other than
– the second death which equates to an eternity of suffering in the lake of fire
– with vain excuses, begging for mercy, when it is clearly too late for such, trying to explain to God why you chose not to believe Paul’s gospel
Since you are without Christ, what else is there to offer other than your own filthy rags (works/self-righteousness/sin/ungodliness/unrighteousness/iniquity) for God to finally judge you on?
Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the BOOKS were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Books: 9/10 people hate reading, particularly one book – the Bible, and if they do (read it), they mostly proof-text it, take it out of context, do not understand it, neither do they rightly divide the gospels contained in it, but most of all they corrupt it and let questionable men standing behind pulpits try and explain it to them.
The world and its religions, which includes nominal Christianity, care more about money and earthly things than what they care about salvation. Something they will regret for an eternity.
God opens more than one book at the White Throne Judgment, which he does not name except for the book of life, which Paul also mentions here ⬇️
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Those with Christ, who are in Him, obviously won’t be judged at the White Throne as their names are in the book of life. *Saved by God’s grace through faith in Paul’s gospel and set in stone: once saved, always saved according to the good news for this dispensation*.
But why does God open more than one book other than the book of life at the White Throne Judgment if he judges men according to their works?
Since God is just and he has dealt with different people in different ages who were given different instructions for the salvation of their souls, he judges them according to these.
Lost people from the Dispensation of Grace will stand before God at the White Throne Judgment and be judged according to Paul’s gospel and be found naked, clothed in their own righteousness, without Christ – the result of not believing 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. So what’s left will be judged, namely, their good/bad works done over the course of their earthly lives which will result in the degree of their punishment they will experience (pain and suffering) in the lake of fire, because some people WILL suffer more than others, and as I said before, God is just so He won’t let someone who did not commit murder suffer the same degree of punishment as those who did (commit murder) as it would not be fair.
There are varying degrees of punishment in the lake of fire:
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For those who say sin is sin and all sin is equal: this is not the case for the lost in the lake of fire.
Why still stand before God at the White Throne Judgment if your name isn’t obviously written in the book of life? Because you are given a fair trial. If this wasn’t the case, and God would be unjust, He could easily just cast you straight into the lake of fire because the Bible says you are guilty… you are a sinner if you are not saved.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
It is written.
Romans 2:15-16 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Now is the time God is dispensing His mercy through the Apostle Paul and now is the time to take Him up on His offer of grace as standing before Him at the White Throne Judgment will be too late for mercy.
Believe 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 for your salvation today + nothing else.
Copyright: The Musings of an Acts 9 Dispensationalist.
Of all the trans-dispensational truths out there, this one holds sway and the reason I write ⬇️
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
There are a few Right Dividers’ posts I read on that terrible 21st century platform known as social media, who unknowingly spur me on (inspire me) with their posts, as admittedly not all Right Dividers speak twaddle, and these I refer to here, are very few and far between.
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
What are the signs, apart from the catching away of the Saints to meet the Lord in the air, that will signal the start of God’s wrath and judgment of the world?
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
1. False Christs showing great signs and wonders
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
The devil at this time will have changed his ministry from that of an angel of light to that of a roaring lion to compete with the Lion of Judah.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Hosea 11:10 They shall walk after the Lord : he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
2. Wars and rumours of wars
Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
3. Famines, pestilences, earthquakes in divers(e) places.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
⬆️ The above occurrences reflect how the tribulation will begin.
Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Through the evangelization work of the 144 000 and 2 witnesses, the fruit thereof (New Testament Believers) is present at this time and they will be persecuted.
4. Persecution of believers
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
5. Betrayal
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
6. False prophets deceiving with great signs and wonders
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
7. Men will be ruthless, having no mercy
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
8. The gospel of the kingdom will proceed to be preached throughout the world
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
9. Satan incarnate (the Antichrist and false Messiah) stands in the temple and declares himself to be God
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
10. ⬆️ Those who understand the repercussions of this will flee
Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
The result of the Antichrist claiming to be God ⬇️
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
People are deceived into worshipping him.
⬇️
Revelation 13:7-8 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
He causes people to take a mark.
⬇️
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
⬇️
Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
⬇️
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Upon reading Hebrews to Jude, one realises that New Testament Saints (the Little Flock of Israel) suffered a certain degree of tribulation already, so it is perhaps with this in mind that God implements Matthew 24:22 in future.
And as in times past, the unbelieving world which will be the majority of people, will be oblivious to what is actually happening. If today’s mindset is anything to go by they will in all likelihood blame the events of that time on climate change, religion and race, and continue with their lives thinking everything will eventually return to what they consider normal.
Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe 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.
And as we know, the devil has used Matthew 24 in this current dispensation to sow deception. ‘Christian’ Zionists, along with nominal Christianity and 7th Day Adventists have applied this chapter for decades already and still, there is no Antichrist…
Copyright: The Musings of an Acts 9 Dispensationalist.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Isn’t a reason to climb to the top of the highest building in the world, jump off it and expect to come out of the situation unscathed, neither is it any Pentecostal’s claim to fame, power, wealth and false fulfilment of scripture.
It however has everything to do with the subject of running a race ⬇️
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And being in a state of contentment and strengthened in both bad times and in good times, because situations, both good (edification/abounding) and bad times (tribulation/being abased) should lead to growth, if you aren’t an ungrateful murmurer as the Jews in the desert were. ⬇️
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
I can do ALL THINGS through Christ WHICH strengtheneth me).
Ever wondered why Paul didn’t say: I can do all things through Christ WHO strengtheneth me?
Philippians 4:11-12 l Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
⬇️
1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
⬆️ Jews lost their salvation because of this, we the members of His body face being ashamed and losing our reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ because of the same thing.
Compare this to someone who does all things without Christ: does pain and suffering strenghthen them, or does it break them either physically, mentally and/or emotionally? What about spiritually? Do good times strengthen unbelievers, or make them soft and weak – and unable to cope with life’s storms?
Only through Him can both good and bad times strengthen and be beneficial to us.
Selah.
Copyright: The Musings of an Acts 9 Dispensationalist.
I was always led to believe the word ‘trump’ in itself refered to the trumpet mentioned in the same verses, but if one looks closer at the scripture below, the lasttrump can actually be likened to a game of cards in which God holds the ace, which he will present or declare at a time only known to Him with the sound of a trumpet.
A trumpet sound not only symbolises warnings for Israel in both the Old and New Testaments, but also symbolises resurrection and victory in both the New Testament and Dispensation of Grace.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For 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:
The word ‘trump’ means:
“A valuable resource that may be used, especially as a surprise, in order to gain an advantage.”
The valuable resource that God uses as a surprise (as no-one knows when it will happen) is the catching away of the Saints to meet Him in the air (otherwise known as the ‘rapture’), and it gains advantage over the last enemy which is death.
“The English word trump derives from trionfi, a type of 15th-century Italian playing cards, from the Latin triumphus “triumph, victory procession””.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So is it any wonder Satan and his followers say the last trumpet in Revelation 11:15 is also the last trump of 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16? And in so doing, not only deny the promise of the pre-tribulation ‘rapture” but also deny the ‘trump card’ God holds over death which will give all believers of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the literal, final and manifest victory over death.
Only in Christ.
The death the devil brought upon mankind when he deceived the first Adam in the garden of Eden will be trumped.
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This is the last trump of God concerning this dispensation, then the tribulation will begin…
What has always astounded me about mainline Christianity is that its opinions, which amount to nothing other than the traditions of men, exist to demonstrate its leaders’ good character, its churches social conscience and its congregants’ moral correctness, which they see as love at the end of the day, which is a shallow concept of the love true Believers are to demonstrate.
Let’s take a look at the age old Christian tradition of virtue signalling which is done to dumb down not only debates, but also Biblical-dispensational truth.
Doesn’t anyone else notice how virtue signalling always references one’s perceived lack of love when the debate isn’t going according to how they envisaged it?
And the proof-text that is used is usually this one when debating with unbelievers ⬇️
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
And this one when debating with believers ⬇️
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
BUT what does it actually mean to have love for someone – both believer and unbeliever alike?
1. It means telling them the truth ✔️
2. It means rebuking and reproving Believers when they are wrong and by doing so, saving them from deception ✔️
3. It means forgiving them when they have repented (changed their minds) of their error ✔️
4. Which in turn means ⬆️ not holding a grudge – ever ✔️
5. It means preaching the gospel to those who are lost because you care enough not to see their souls in hell for eternity ✔️
6. It means marking and avoiding some in order to protect Pauline truth, and in so doing, demonstrating one’s love for God’s words rightly divided ✔️
7. It means feeling about them the way Paul felt about unbelieving Israel ✔️ ⬇️
Romans 9:2-3 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
There are some with a particular mindset who call those who have put on the new man, ‘self-righteous’, which is wrong because being in possession of God’s righteousness leaves no room for self-righteousness: either you have His righteousnes – or you don’t, in which case amounts to having your own righteousness.
Putting on the new man is a work and ties in with the following scripture ⬇️
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesusunto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Apostle Paul says it is a work Believers will be judged for at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Because Believers’ words and actions are judged by those without God, the ministry can be brought into question and not be taken seriously by those wrong words and actions.
2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
⬇️
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Ignorant, unbelieving legalistic Paul haters and deniers call Paul’s gospel ‘the loose goose gospel’ and blame it for all the moral decay and ills currently being experienced in the world.
They are anti-Paul because they say most churches out there include Paul’s 13 epistles as being part of the 66 books of the complete canon of scripture which they believe, who also so happen to be the vast majority of religious or vain believers, and are thus seen as the ones guilty for the current state of the world because they are perceived to believe and practise Paul’s ‘loose goose gospel of lawlessness’. Which isn’t true.
They are also of the belief that since Paul could not succeed in ridding the world of believers by way of persecution, he thus changed his modus operandi and became a wolf in sheep’s clothing and fleeced people by eschewing the law.
These people clearly see the differences/contradictions between Paul’s epistles and the Old and New Covenant, but fail to see the reason why.
The other reason why they call him a false apostle is that there is absolutely no prophecy concerning his ministry in the Old Covenant, so they say he isn’t of God because he wasn’t raised up or chosen according to the Biblical concept of two or three witnesses.
So these people are quick to ‘shoot you down’ if your actions and words are questionable as they already hate Paul.
All the more reason to put on the new man.
There is a difference between having put on Christ (salvation of the soul) and putting on the new man (salvation from shame at the Judgment Seat of Christ) ⬇️
Salvation
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Salvation from being ashamed at the JSoC
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Renew your mind and be thankful you are able to see by way of Paul’s ministry and the progressiveness of Acts, what Christ accomplished on your behalf because many don’t (want to see and thus will never see).
When people have closed their eyes and ears to what the Apostle Paul has to say, it is pointless continuing with the debate.
Acts 13:50-51 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
BUT
There are always the curious few who will dig deeper as their curiosity has been challenged, who remain silent in the background and on the sidelines, who will in all likelihood see the truth.
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
A proof-texter looks for isolated verses (isolated: because they’ve been ripped out of their rightful context) to support certain (erroneous) belief/s.
An example of proof-texting ⬇️
Isolating 2 Corinthians 5:19 not only from the context of the entire chapter, but also from verse 18 with which it forms an entire sentence – done to back up the proof-texters claim of Universalism. 2 Corinthians 5:19 so happens to be the Universalists ‘go-to’ verse when all else fails.
Proof-texting is one of the ways cults were, and still are created, so are heretical views present in the nominal Christian camp as can be noted from the above verse when taken out of context.
Proof-texting and unbelief so happen to be bedfellows.
2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
The modern church has become a pasture for golden calves. Here are a few of the fattest false gods in churches today:
god of fun.
god of ambition.
god of prosperity.
god of coincidence.
god of circumstance.
god of affirming words.
god of personal pleasure.
god of good feelings.
god of compromise.
god of happiness.
god of nice.
god of this world.
To know the true God, you must read the Bible. Failure to worship the God of the Bible leads to idolatrous worship of a false god.
Any church that removes understanding the Bible from its primary objectives has opened its doors to idolatry and will soon become the ministry of a false god using the name of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 11:4; 2 Cor 11:13; Phi 3:18-19)
If they use the Bible at all, it will be to prooftext praise for their false god.
The only thing keeping any of us from idolatry is understanding the Holy Bible which describes the true God in much detail.
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then there is no Christ and no salvation.
No Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:16-18 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
No salvation:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Only annihilation:
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Regardless of a person’s unbelief concerning the resurrection of the dead, it is certain that all men will rise from the dead, both unbelievers and believers alike, but to vastly different eternal circumstances:
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
The synoptic gospels contain a lot of pertinent information concerning those who are resurrected to eternal life in Christ (studying in accordance to 2 Timothy 3:16) ⬇️
If a believer was married, he/she won’t have any claim to that marriage or those marriages in heaven, neither will anyone marry in heaven as marriage is an earthly (terrestrial) concept created by God for the safety and security of the family unit which isn’t required in heaven (celestial) ⬇️
Matthew 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
⬆️ They aren’t angels, but are rather likened to angels who as celestial beings, do not marry.
Jesus is God, thus he could raise Himself from the dead, and those who die in Christ he in turn also resurrects to eternal life ⬇️
Matthew 22:31-32 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
⬇️
Matthew 27:52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
⬆️ For the Jews require a sign – 1 Corinthians 1:22
Those who are resurrected unto life are equal to the angels on the basis that they can no longer die ⬇️
Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Only in Him who is Christ Jesus ⬇️
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
But how does a person do good in this Dispensation of Grace in order to be resurrected to life, that is, to the resurrection of the just and have eternal life reconciled to God in the heavenlies?
God made salvation simple/easy, so all a person needs to ‘do’ is believe how Christ died for his/her sins, was buried and rose again on the third day for his/her justification + nothing, which is in accordance to having faith in the following scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7 and Romans 4:25.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Some people call it ‘harping on a subject and hammering it to death’ – I call it study – looking at a subject from various angles.
This subject concerns the unforgiveable sin and whether Saul of Tarsus committed it AND whether Stephen filled with the Holy Ghost knew what the unforgiveable sin actually was.
Why?
Because there are some who say ⬇️
“WHEN STEPHEN WAS STONED, HE ALSO PRAYED FOR HIS PERPETRATORS TO BE FORGIVEN”
Which is based on the following scripture ⬇️
Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
SO…
My question is this:
Why did Stephen ask God not to lay this sin to their charge if it was unforgiveable?
THE MUSINGS OF AN ACTS 9 DISPENSATIONALIST 
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