Revelations 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right
to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the
city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers,
and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in
the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the
bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
The
Apostle John rounded up a series of prophetic revelations which he
received while on the island of Patmos with a revelation of a new
world coming into view from heaven [Revelation
Chapters 21-22]. It
was so glorious and perfect that John prostrated in reference when
He had finished receiving the vision of the glory that was to be
revealed. This is the conclusion of the matter; it is the revelation
of the perfect model of God's kingdom from the heavens. All that
Jesus set out to do was to bring an awareness of this world order
hidden in God and to cause men to enter in and be saved.
Christ is revealed from heaven to restore man back to His rest in
God, He came to deliver men from this dark inglorious world into the
glorious liberty of the sons of God in the kingdom of light which is
also the kingdom of heaven. In Christ we are ushered into a new age
which this world is not aware of. This world or age which is hidden
in God is referred to by different names in the Bible, some of the
names are THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THE CITY OF
GOD, THE NEW JERUSALEM, GOD'S WORLD, THE WORLD (AGE) TO COME, MOUNT
ZION, THE GARDEN OF GOD, THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THE HEAVEN'S etc. From
the book of Genesis to the book of Genesis a path of restoration
unto this kingdom is very evident. Adam lost His place in God's
kingdom through transgression, from that point men slipped further
and further away from God until the revelation of the Christ, who
has appeared to restore us back to God's kingdom.
For
those of us who are new to spiritual truths, understand that our God
is spirit, and He lives in a spiritual kingdom which has no physical
form whatsoever. Let us understand that God's kingdom is invisible,
it is also a kingdom that men can attain to while here on earth. We
attain to this place in our inner consciousness when our souls are
promoted from the lower realms of corruptibility into the realms of
omnipotence in God. We have been accustomed to a world where we live
by natural senses, for this reason most people find it difficult to
embrace the concept of God's invisible kingdom. Have you ever
wondered where does God inhabit? Where did the things seen with
mortal eyes originate from? The unseen is the answer; the things
that are not seen are the real things, that which is seen is
temporary. God's kingdom or dwelling place is a spiritual kingdom
which we can attain to only by faith. Without faith we can by no
means enter into God's kingdom.
2Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
God
uses elements of this physical world to express His thoughts to men.
Throughout the bible God always communicates to us about His kingdom
and the glorious age to come using elements of this world like gold,
gardens, fountains, fruits and crystals to describe the attributes
of His kingdom. Gold in the heavenly City structure reveals the
eternal, imperishable, rich, valuable attribute of the kingdom
because gold is the only element that is not changed with time, it
does not rust nor does it wear out like other elements; crystal
points to purity, clear and transparent without darkness, the fruits
talk of peace, joy, health and unlimited faith in God, the fountains
of water and streams flowing in the kingdom point to the knowledge
and the life of God flowing from the heart of God. The message of
God's kingdom is being preached even right from the days of Jesus,
and all who will hear it and receive it will enter in and be saved.
The message educates us of our true nature in relation to God and
His kingdom. The word comes to increase and strengthen our faith in
the unseen spiritual kingdom of God. We must by the spirit behold
the kingdom by faith then enter into it.
STILL WITHOUT THE GATES OF THE CITY?
If
we still live in fear and torment, we are still living a life
outside of the reality of God's kingdom. Living outside the reality
of God's kingdom is living outside the gates of the heavenly
Jerusalem. If we still manifest bitterness, hate and intolerance
towards men we are still without the gates. If we still manifest
un-forgiveness and impatience towards men no matter whom, we are
still without the gates. If we do not feel His love governing our
lives we are still outside the City of God or to put it in a
friendlier tone, progress still has to be made into God's kingdom.
God is not revealing this to hurt us or to condemn us, God' way is
not the way of man. He is only trying to show us the way into His
blessed City where we can live once more in the safety of His
presence.
The
dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, murderers and all who make
and create lies are all spiritual terms used to describe the
inhabitants of this world for the world consists of these things.
The term world is used to describe the systems of men, where people
walk in the lower carnal realms away from the presence and knowledge
of the living God. Jesus once described what men of this world
consist of.
Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that
defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from
within, and defile the man.
There is no need to point the fingers at those who prostitute with
their physical bodies, neither is there need to point to those who
commit marital adultery as is known in this age, do not even bother
looking at those convicted for murder in the courts. We all in the
Adam-like consciousness which backslides from the conscious
knowledge of the living God for the gain of this world once fell
into this category. Loving and flirting with the darkness (No
knowledge) of this world and its deceitful beauty at the expense of
the knowledge and love of God is fornication. James wrote in His
letter that friendship with this world is enmity with God.
Friendship or fornication with this world is the divorcing of
ourselves from the spirit of God and our uniting with the spirit of
this world. This is the temptation that makes men fall into the
snare of death.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will
be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Oh
yes in the Adam-like consciousness we find ourselves outside the
gates of God's kingdom, the same way Adam was put out when He
transgressed. Remember Adam was placed in the garden of God in the
day he was glorified. Remember He is placed in the very source of
the fountains of living waters which is situated in God's kingdom
(The New Jerusalem). John saw the same garden, the same trees and
the same river proceeding from the throne, exactly the same way it
was in the beginning when Adam was in the garden.
Revelation 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side
of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve
manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves
of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Genesis 2:8-10 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden;
and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the
ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the
sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of
the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a
river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was
parted, and became into four heads.
Someone might wonder that where does the Bible mention the gates in
the time of Adam. The answer is simple; God placed cherubim with
flaming swords to guide the passage back into His presence. All this
shows that there is an entrance into and out of the garden of God's
presence it also confirms that nothing that defiles can find it's
way through the gates into God's presence because of the presence of
the Angels with the flaming swords (To be explained). There is
tribulation and anguish in the souls of men today because they find
themselves outside of the garden of God, if we seek rest we must get
back into the garden of God. Getting back into glory means passing
through those spiritual gates.
Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So
he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of
Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep
the way of the tree of life.
THE
DREAM OF ALL AGES
The
holy enquirers, righteous men and the prophets of old all looked for
this world hidden in God, they all knew and had a strong witness
within them that there is a world whose creator is God. They had a
witness within them that there is a place of exceeding pleasures,
peace and joy, a place where they will never lack nor suffer the
anguish and pains of this world. Some were mutilated, tortured,
imprisoned, stoned, humiliated, mocked and homeless all in the hope
of seeing the glory of God in His kingdom. As hard as they tried
they never found the gates of this City [The New Jerusalem] [HEBREWS
11]. It was not given to them, to know the way to the
open gates of God's kingdom but to us WHO LISTEN it is given.
Think deeply into the labor of all men living the Adam-like life.
Their labor is all in the hope of finding heaven on earth. They are
laboring to reap peace, joy, divine health and security, but the
world does it in the way of the proverbial rich man of whom Jesus
gave a parable [Luke 12:15-21].
In all their labor, the world find's themselves drifting away into
the night (outer darkness) away from the light of life. In
darkness they stumble on unto death never finding the gates into the
eternal kingdom of heaven. Listen closely to the groaning of men,
listen to the lyrics of songs that men sing in this world, songs
like IMAGINE- John Lennon, KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR Randy Crawford
and many others. These people produce these songs from a deep inner
resource within them that recognizes that there is a place where
they can soar above the pain and wickedness seen in this world. Most
never find it in the days of their flesh though. Those who will find
this place are those who open their eyes and ears spiritually to
receive from the endless resources of truth flowing from God's
presence today.
Mathew 13:15-17 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their
ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at
any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and
I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and
your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many
prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye
see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear,
and have not heard them.
We
hear and we see that which the great men of faith of times past were
not able to see, hear and understand. Presidents, generals,
inventors, scientists and many others sought to hear these things
but it was not giving to them. If they saw and heard what we are
hearing today they would have entered through the gates eagerly. As
you read these messages and hear what God is saying in this hour let
us praise God from the depth of your being and thank Him for giving
us ears to hear and eyes to see what millions sought to see and hear
but never did. Let's awake from the bed ignorance that is in this
world and bring out the candle of God's spirit and let it shine so
that we can behold the entrance into His goodness. The more we
listen to the mysteries of His kingdom, the more His
awareness grants us entrance.
Luke 8:16-18 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with
a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a
candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For
nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any
thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed
therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he
seemeth to have.
HOW
MEN DISCOVER THEMSELVES OUTSIDE THE GATE
Christ leads those who hear Him speak, He leads them through the
gates, into His kingdom. He does this by casting down high
imaginations of men which are exalted against the knowledge of God.
We are speaking of the carnal vain thoughts of men that have
obscured and hidden the thoughts of God from view. As the spirit of
God flows forth from the throne of grace, it knocks down and burns
up the traditions and concepts that men have held on dearly to.
These traditions and concepts are the things which block the view of
God's kingdom from men. Religious concepts of God, of His kingdom
and His promises only bar men from freely partaking of the free gift
of eternal life in God. Men grope in darkness, tossed to and fro by
these winds of religious and traditional doctrines, always learning
but never coming to the true knowledge of God and His heavenly
kingdom. These have become the principalities and powers that try to
preserve the institutions of men and the institutions of religion at
the expense of their knowledge of God.
2Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the flesh: 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Believe it or not the thing that trouble men and rob them of their
victory is the lying Tongue of men. It is the lie of men that
actually leads people into torment and bondage. Men are actually
knitted into a web that is influenced by the prince of this world.
There is no such thing as an entity with a fork in His hand like we
see in pictures all over the world today. The Prince of the power of
the air operates through men walking in carnality, men who judge
according to appearances. He feeds people with lies, causing men not
to ever have a grasp of their true identities in God nor their true
inheritance in God. When Adam took of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil in the Garden, He actually inherited death because He
received from the lie embedded in this world system. Humanity is
nourished continuously by the knowledge of good and evil working
through religions, through earthly family structure, through tribal
and regional traditions and indeed all systems of men operating in
this carnal realm. They look attractive and beautiful outwardly but
they are nothing but wickedness in the sight of God. The systems of
men are painted beautiful on the outward but inwardly it is nothing
but evil. Remember how Lot from afar off beheld Sodom and the Cities
around her? They looked like a garden of God from without, but not
before the living God. Appearances can be deceitful so let us not be
carried away with this system but let our hearts be focused on God's
invisible and eternal kingdom.
What defines a man is actually what He thinks, if you think like
mortal carnal men you will be like mortal carnal men, but if we
receive the thoughts of God and live by them we become like Him in
every aspect. The thoughts of men lead men into darkness, death and
anguish of soul, while the thoughts of God lead to light,
immortality, impeccable peace and joy. Let us understand that the
difference between a true believer and the unbeliever is the spirit
by which they operate. If we operate by the spirit of man or the
spirit of this world we die but if we receive God's spirit and live
by it we are exalted into life. The saving hand of God is revealed
from heaven to destroy the works of the devil which plunges men into
a bottomless pit which is an ever separating realm from the love of
God. The Devil through false concepts of God and morality working
through traditional institutions of men and religion only separates
men the more from the living God. These systems of men breed sons of
hell out of men without knowing it. What did Jesus mean when He said
sons of Hell [Matthew 23:15]?
It simply means men who live in the lower realms of torment, fear
and anguish of soul because of an ever greater sense of separation
from the living God. These are people who do not feel the warmth and
love of God encompassing them; they are annihilated from the
presence and love of God.
