PENTECOST 2005
#280.1105
scottSTANLEY
(For purposes of clarity, all scriptures presented have been edited with the author’s paraphrase as indicated by brackets [ ].)
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32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:32-33
COMING HOME
The study today is one of incredible importance to me because, for the first time in my Christian life, I realize it is time for the third angel’s message to be given. The Lord has given me an understanding of Pentecost and made it a personal "feast" for me, and I want to share this with you. The last two studies I put out were only CD’s – I didn’t make videos, but one was called As Pertaining to the Conscience and the other one was Preparing for Pentecost. I realize now as I go back and listen to those studies, the Lord literally was preparing me for what I’m about to share with you, that those concepts contained in those CD’s need to become a reality in our hearts. When that happens, Pentecost will be a reality. What does it mean when Pentecost is a reality? It means that Revelation, chapter 8, the preparation for the trumpets and ascending out of those seven angels has begun, that it is time to "trumpet" the love of God – to give that acclamation of the joy that we possess in our hearts because we know His love.
After making those CD’s, I was seeking the Lord – I have been seeking the Lord daily – to understand Pentecost because I wanted it to be a reality to me, and one day feeling impressed to go on a walk, as I was going down the trail, the Lord began to open my mind to the fact that we are "complete" as pertaining to the conscience.... in other words, we understand that God has never condemned us for anything we’ve done. The sacrifice of Christ reveals that to us, and then that parable of the prodigal son – the prodigal son parable is so sweet because it gives the testimony of our Savior to the last generation church and He takes on a "new name" for us, that of Brother. We discover that He is the "elder brother" in that parable, but there’s something else in there that you need to get – the prodigal comes home to the father. That is what the Lord helped me to understand, that in ascending out of the lie that I have carried from the womb, recognizing I am as loved by my Heavenly Father as Jesus is loved, but hearing God speak that to my heart, causing that ascension out of the lie and the inward healing to take place... then there is a "ten day" period while you wait on Pentecost. "Pentecost" is simply a coming into a realization of God’s understanding of what happened when you ascended. It’s letting the Lord sink into us what it means to Him that we have ascended out of the lie – the prodigal son tells us we have come home to the Father; we’re home!
He puts on us the "best robes," "the ring," "shoes on our feet" and "rejoices in that we who were once dead are now alive," but it’s key that you understand you’ve come home to the Father. That was never pointed out to me in reading that parable, ever. I always thought of a person giving their heart to the Lord and being "saved," but now I see I’m home and God has expressed that to me – He has brought me home. It is that realization, knowing who you are, where you stand with God – not being completely perfect yet, but perfect as pertaining to the conscience. That knowledge, that understanding, as God gives you the grace to realize the truth of it, empowers you to bear witness of the risen Savior. We are brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ – let Him take on a new name for you. Recognize we are joint heirs together with Christ.
Let me ask you this question: When you ascend out of the lie, where do you go? Where do you go? When Christ ascended, as a picture of us, where did He go? He ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on High. Now there is a prophecy Christ gives to Laodicea, and "Laodicea" is a key church because in "Thyatira" you’re given the truth that He’s the Son of God; "Sardis" is given the abiding message; you become "Philadelphia" and enter into "Laodicea" – thinking you’ve got it. That’s when the Lord reveals your sin nature and He says, at the end of Laodicea: To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am sat down with my Father in His throne. Well, where is He? He’s at the right hand of God! When you ascend out of that lie, you ascend to the right hand of God and you sit with your Brother, Jesus Christ, but it takes a time for the Lord to get that through to you, hence, the "ten days" – it’s coming into the reality of who we are in Jesus Christ that gives you the power to bear witness that He is the risen Savior... risen in us, risen in our understanding.
The Lord, for the first time, is releasing me to give this message. I say that because for quite some time I have been telling people: "The Lord is giving us all this information and I don’t feel impressed to go tell anyone. I only feel impressed to tell us, those on this realm, who have this understanding." Not so anymore. The difference between this study and the last study that you received is that God is telling me it’s time. Now you would think that I’m sticking my neck out telling you that – I’m not. I am so sure of it, the Lord has so laid this on my heart... it is time. We are to give the message that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We are to lay the foundation of Zion – the founded foundation, and lead people to understand that He’s really God’s Son; He died to manifest God’s love and you will be healed if you can receive that message. That is our message – it is time to go forth and give it and, in this study, I want to just share with you some of the things the Lord has given me pertaining to the message of the Godhead and declaring this message, and where it’s leading us.
WOMAN IN TRAVAIL
Now, I need to cover some ground that we have looked at in the past concerning a "woman in travail." I want to look again at the woman bringing forth the man child because this is a key phrase throughout the text that I want to read to you, so let’s begin in Revelation, chapter 12 – looking at verse 1:
Revelation 12:1
1 ¶ And there appeared a great wonder [or sign] in [the] heaven[s]; ...
And I’ve got to tell you, that word "wonder" is [4592] – it’s the word translated "miracle" throughout the gospel of John, saying, telling you that the miracles, what the King James put as "miracle" was a sign. In other words, when Christ would heal the "blind" man, it was a sign of the blindness, the spiritual blindness being healed. Well, when He healed the "lame," it was a sign of being healed spiritually – King James put "miracle." Remember when John the Baptist couldn’t recognize Christ and sent and asked, "Are you He who shall come or are we supposed to look for another?" and Christ said, "Well go tell him the blind can see, the lame walk..." see all these people are healed – those were the signs He was Messiah. But for you, being at the end of the world, this is your sign: Revelation 12.
Revelation 12:1-3
1 ¶ And there appeared a great [sign] in [the heavens]; a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another [sign] in heaven[s]; a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Now here we have a woman in travail, wanting to bring forth the man child, and before I get into that, I’ve just got to tell you again, the "signs" for the last day church are totally, absolutely nothing but spiritual – the two signs I just read in Revelation... there’s a third sign in Revelation 15, where the seven messengers prepare to sound the trumpets (Revelation 15:1). My point is, for us at the end of the world, our signs are spiritual. Now, let’s get back to the woman in travail. This woman is travailing to bring forth a man child, so I want to connect this with Isaiah 66 – this is something we’ve all looked at in the past... this time, let’s begin at verse 5 – Isaiah 66:5:
Isaiah 66:5-6
5 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and [they’ll] be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice [coming] from the temple, a voice of [YAHWEH] that [renders] recompence to his enemies.
And who are the Lord’s "enemies"? It’s the lies, it’s the deceit that is within us – it isn’t the person... it is the lie the person carries – that is the enemy of God because it keeps you from understanding His love.
Isaiah 66:6-8
6 ... [He will render] recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she travailed, [before she travailed] she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who [has] heard such a thing? who [has] seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion [did travail], she brought forth her children.
Now remember, the foundation of "Zion" is Isaiah 28:16 – the cornerstone, Jesus Christ – the founded foundation. So when Zion brings forth the man child, it’s before Zion travails. When Zion begins to travail, it’s bringing forth the children of Zion. So I always think of Galatians 4:19, and let me read that, where the apostle Paul states:
Galatians 4:19
19 ¶ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
The "travailing" we go through is trying to help the other person. At the same time, I want to read in the gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 21:
John 16:21
21 A woman when she is in travail [has] sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she [remembers] no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
So it isn’t like we didn’t go through our wrestling as we dealt with the Godhead message when it was first presented to us, but after that "man child" is brought into your understanding, you don’t remember the anguish – why? For the joy that you have in recognizing He’s the Son of God. So here we see, in Revelation 12, "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet" – in other words, she has the understanding of Christ. To be clothed with the "Sun" – you have the faith of Christ. The moon is under your feet – the "moon" is this book. For it to be "under your feet" means you have command of it... you have a grasp of it, and you are travailing to bring forth the man child in the other person who has the "dragon" in their heavens, waiting to devour that child, waiting to contradict what you’re teaching them... a woman in travail.
Go back, now, with me to Jeremiah 30. Jeremiah 30 is the time of Jacob’s trouble. I’ve said for some time that Jacob is who wrestles with Michael. "Jacob" represents a believer who doesn’t understand the Godhead but, after wrestling all night with the angel, He hangs on for all that he’s worth and says: "I will not let you go except you bless me," and his "name" is changed to Israel. "Israel," we know from the New Testament, is spiritual and it means he shall rule as God – and it means those people who are serving the Lord... the spiritual Jew. But in Jeremiah 30, I want you to see the way Jeremiah explains this. Reading at verse 5:
Jeremiah 30:5-7
5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, not of peace.
6 Ask now, and see whether a man [does] travail with child? [Why] do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, all faces are turned [to] paleness?
7 Alas! [The] day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
The giving of this message puts you in travail in that you want to help these people see the truth, but other people will go into travail, too, and it is "the time of Jacob’s trouble" as they struggle with this doctrine of the Godhead. If the scriptures were written for those upon whom the end of the world is come, you know the Lord understood the state, the condition, the beliefs of the world – what they would be at the end... and He has made quite a statement concerning the people who receive the Godhead message, and the travail that people go through.
BABYLON DESTROYED
I want to ask you to turn now to Isaiah 13... Isaiah, chapter 13, is the fall of Babylon; it’s a description of Babylon. Let’s just start reading this:
Isaiah 13:1-2
1 ¶ The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, ...
What banner? That word "banner" is [5251] – it is used in chapter 11 of Isaiah, verse 10:
Isaiah 11:10
10 ¶ And in that day [there’ll] be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for [a banner] an ensign of the people; ...
The "banner" – the "banner" over me is love. That is what understanding the Son of God gives you... the banner of love. But when he says, "Lift up the banner," this is what he’s talking about... Give the message of the Son of God. Now look what else he says:
Isaiah 13:2
2 Lift up [the] banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, ...
I could see two messages there: This is the Son of God, hear Him. This is the Son of God... it is His spirit that is leading you -- He is the Holy Spirit. You see, on the Mount of Transfiguration -- this is My Son, hear Him... here’s the message. Lift up the banner, exalt the voice and I think of the third angel’s message – the first angel: Fear God, hear Him (listen to Him). Fear God, you see? The hour of His judgment is come – we’re going to get into that. Right now let’s go back, Isaiah 13:
Isaiah 13:2–3
2 Lift up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, ...
Now, if you haven’t gotten the last two CD’s, the "sanctified ones" in Hebrews 2 are who Christ says I’m not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:11). "Sanctified one" – what does that mean? I’ve come out of the world in my understanding concerning God. When did that happen? When I ascended out of the lie – I was told all my life God loves me but I didn’t know my value to Him and didn’t know the depth of it until He spoke it to me. When that happened, I ascended out of the "sea" and my mind was set apart and, at that point, I received the promise of the Father... listen: Holy Spirit. I received the promise of the Father. God set apart my mind. Now remember, I’ve got to say this before I read this in Isaiah 13: Remember Peter, what he stated in Acts 2:
Acts 2:33
33 [Christ being raised from the dead, sitting at] the right hand of God, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy [Spirit], he hath shed forth this, which [you] now see and hear.
Why? Because Christ is a picture of you – at Pentecost, you will pour out of your spirit, why? Because you have received the promise of the Holy Spirit – you have ascended out of the lie; you are at the right hand of God. If I’m at the right hand of God, He will use me... see, the right hand. The right hand... the Lord is going to use me in His work. To do what? To go bear witness of my testimony. This is what we’re reading in Isaiah – Isaiah 13, verse 3:
Isaiah 13:3-9
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for [my] anger, them that rejoice in my highness. [Now remember, His anger isn’t against these people – His anger is against the lie that they carry. Verse 4:]
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts [musters] the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of [the heavens], [YAHWEH] and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. [Now remember, the "land" is between their ears.]
6 ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; [they’ll] be in pain as a woman that [travails]: [they’ll] be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD [comes], cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and [he’ll] destroy the sinners out of it.
When you give the truth that this is the Son of God, and that process begins in helping them know God’s love, you are destroying the sinner out of the "land." When that person comes out of it, the sinner is destroyed and the true disciple is left standing. Isaiah 13, the burden of Babylon reveals quite a bit – it tells you the way God sees you... You’re my sanctified one; you’re the mighty ones. You are the weapon of My indignation, to go level this land, clean it up, destroy the sinners out of it. You do that with your message, but you cannot give healing if you’re not healed – you can’t give something you don’t have. You have to ascend out of that lie and come to the realization of who you are in Jesus Christ. I can’t tell you the importance of this message because, as you receive this, I pray that you not get ahead of yourself; you seek the Lord for the true understanding, that the experience be in your heart and the Lord turn you loose to bear witness that this is the Son of the Living God. You see, I can’t tell you how important this is that you understand this: To hear it, to seek the Lord, to receive it and to go forth and give it – and I tell you now as sure as I’m here now, as sure as I’m sitting here, I’m telling you the Lord has told me to give this message, and I pray to go forward and do it. This is what we have looked for all of our Christian lives – the end of the world. This is truly the "third angel’s message" that we are to give. We have not reached a completed perfection – that comes on atonement, the "Day of Atonement," but Pentecost, my friend, is here and, if Pentecost is here, the Day of the Lord is begun.
PENTECOST & THE DAY OF THE LORD
How do I know that? Well, turn with me to Zephaniah, chapter 3 – I want to begin reading at verse 1:
Zephaniah 3:1-8
1 ¶ Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction [or instruction]; she trusted not in [YAHWEH]; she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law [to the teachings of God].
5 The just [YAHWEH] is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning [does] he bring his judgment to light, he [fails] not; but the unjust [they know] no shame.
6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; [I’ve] made their streets waste, that [no one passes] by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is [no] inhabitant.
7 I said, Surely [you’ll] fear me [Remember the third angel’s message: Fear God. That’s the way it begins.], [you’ll] receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
8 ¶ [Because of that... Now follow the next two verses closely...] ... wait ye upon me, saith the LORD [That is equivalent to the Lord telling you Tarry, tarry in Jerusalem until you’re endued with power from on high.], ... wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: ...
Let me tell you something.... When the Lord sends us to give this message, it isn’t simply because you are ready to give it but, in the Lord’s mind, the world is ready to receive it. He is going to rise up to the prey. He’s already shown you in Isaiah 13 – you are "the weapon of His indignation." Now, when He rises up to the prey, you are at His right hand... you are His weapon and He is going to use you to lay the land desolate. This entire book of Zephaniah is a description of the Day of the Lord and He explains the mindsets of people in this world – where they are in their understanding, how they’ve rejected Him. So let’s come back to Zephaniah 3, again, verse 8:
Zephaniah 3:8
8 ¶ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [or judgment – that word is [4941] ... my judgment] is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them [my] indignation, all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Now look back, Zephaniah, chapter 1, verse 2:
Zephaniah 1:2-9, 14-18
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith [YAHWEH].
4 I will stretch out [my] hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by [YAHWEH], and that swear by Malcham;
6 And them that are turned back from [YAHWEH]; and those that have not sought the [YAHWEH], nor enquired for him.
7 ¶ Hold [your] peace at the presence of [LORD YAHWEH]: for the day of the LORD is at hand: [YAHWEH has] prepared a sacrifice, he [has] bid his guests.
8 And it shall come to pass in the day of [YAHWEH’S] sacrifice, I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit. [Verse 14:]
14 ¶ The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against [YAHWEH]: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of [YAHWEH’S] wrath; the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. [Chapter 2, verse 2...let’s just read verse 1]:
Zephaniah 2:1-3
1 ¶ Gather yourselves together, gather together, O nation not desired;
2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of [YAHWEH] come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.
3 Seek [YAHWEH], all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be [you’ll] be hid in the day of [YAHWEH’S] anger [See... hidden in Christ].
My point is throughout this book, He consistently refers to and calls it the Day of the Lord, and when you come to Zephaniah, chapter 3, Tarry now He says – He begins to describe Pentecost. He’s already said, Well, this is the day of the trumpet, so in Zephaniah 3, he says again... I want to read verse 8 again. It’s important that we see this:
Zephaniah 3:8-9
8 ¶ Therefore wait upon me [or tarry for me], until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [or my judgment] is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them [my] indignation, all my fierce anger: for the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language [a pure lip], that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one [shoulder... with one consent].
Here is a picture painted in Acts 2 of "tongues" – the languages, but He says I’m going to give you a pure language. You see, every man heard God speak in his own language the wonderful works of God. Every man heard the apostles, heard these disciples of Christ speak in their own language, yet there were others standing around that said they’re drunk. You see, all they heard was babble, but there will be those who will hear and understand in the language of which they were born, as you speak the wonderful works of God. Why a "pure language"? It’s pure because there is no deceit in it... there are no lies in it; you are telling the truth. Finally God has a people who can declare the truth of His love for humanity. Why with "one shoulder"? For all of us to push with "one shoulder" shows that we’re all together... we all have the same understanding; we’re all trying to achieve the same thing – we push together; we push with one shoulder as we go forth declaring the acclamation of joy. Let’s come back, again, to Zephaniah 3, verse 10:
Zephaniah 3:10-17
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring [my] offering.
11 In that day [shall you] not be ashamed for all [your] doings, wherein [you have] transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of [you] them that rejoice in [your] pride, and [you’ll] no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
12 I will also leave in the midst of [you] an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the [character] of [God]. [Now, remember as we read this, the beatitudes and how this brings you into the mindset of New Jerusalem, the mother of us all, the wife of the covenant.]
13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14 ¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. [Daughter of Jerusalem – the mother of us all]
15 [YAHWEH has] taken away [your] judgments [your determinations], he [has] cast out [your] enemy: the king of Israel, [YAHWEH], is in the midst of [you]: [you shall] not see evil any more.
16 In that day it [will] be said to Jerusalem, Fear not: and to Zion, Let not [your] hands be slack.
17 [YAHWEH your] God [is] in the midst of [you] [He’s] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over [you] with joy; he will [be silent] in his love [King James put "rest."], he will joy over [you] with singing.
What does it mean "He’ll be silent in His love"? That is what makes you perfect as pertaining to the conscience, for the Lord to say, I’ll write on your heart; I’ll give you my understanding of My law and I won’t remember your sin and iniquity any more. You see, He will be silent in His love – you will no longer be ashamed. You’ve got to understand the reason you do what you do is because you don’t know how not to do it – you’ve lied to yourself all of your life. Coming to the truth begins with understanding this is truly the Son of God; I know I can hear God; I now know what my sin problem is – God speaks His love to your heart and you ascend out of the lie. Now that you’ve ascended, ten days – coming to the understanding of what that means to God... what does it mean? You’ve come home to the Father; you understand the truth; you are now His "sanctified ones" – you are "the mighty ones in the earth"; you are "the weapon of His indignation" and it is time to rise up to the prey, to lay the land desolate, that the true God and His only begotten Son might shine forth and people get a true picture of what worship is, what church is, what salvation is, what redemption is – all of those things will come into focus. And by God’s grace, we are going to be used to give this message. Let’s go back to Zephaniah, verse 18:
Zephaniah 3:18-20
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for [King James has put "solemn assembly" – that is [4150] – it’s the feast. "Sorrowful" – I think of the beatitudes... I will gather them that are sorrowful for the feast...], who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict [you]: and I will save her that [halted], and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. [What does it mean "gather them that halted"? That goes right back to Jacob wrestling with that angel (Genesis 33:24-32) and the angel touches the hollow of his thigh and, from that moment on, Jacob "halts" as he walks – the halting shows that you’ve wrestled with the Savior and hung on.] I will [gather] her that [halted] and her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
How big of a deal is this? I can’t even begin to tell you! I cannot even begin to tell you the Day of the Lord to the world is the setting free of His church – we’re there! I can’t say that enough, we are there – we have reached the place where the Lord is turning us loose to bear witness to the world!
TIMES AND SEASONS
Now, I want to take this to 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4. I want to read again about the resurrection of God’s people. 1 Thessalonians 4, I want to begin reading at verse 13:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-3
13 ¶ I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, [You should underline that...] concerning them which are asleep, that [you] sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 ... if we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [or lead away with Him].
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not [go before those people who have died in Christ].
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 [will] rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [Now, King James put "Chapter 5" – Paul did not put "Chapter 5." He is still talking about it.]
1 ¶ But of the times and seasons [of this resurrection], brethren, [you] have no need that I write unto you.
2 ... yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord [Now remember, this goes right back to Zephaniah, right back to Isaiah 13, and he is getting ready to quote Isaiah 13 to you...] ... yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord [comes] as a thief in the night.
3 ... when they say, Peace and safety; sudden destruction [comes] upon them [how?], as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Let me tell you what has just happened in this scripture: For the first time in our lives, God has given us timing to fit in the resurrection of His church – the second coming of Jesus Christ. What is the timing? They’re going to say peace and safety and sudden destruction is going to come upon their "land," – How? As a woman in travail. Well, I just read that I am God’s weapon to do that, and I just read it begins at Pentecost. We now have a scripture telling us that after the giving of this truth, the Lord is going to return. How long will that take? I don’t know. I don’t have any idea how long it’s going to take us to give this message or how long the Lord is going to give the world to hear it and make a decision, but for the first time in our lives, the Lord is connecting the resurrection to an event that we are living right now!!
For Scott Stanley, I don’t see how anything else in your life could take precedence over receiving the truth and preparing your heart, and being used of God to give this message. What is more important than this? Surely nothing – surely you want to be used of the Lord. I want to continue reading this in 1 Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 4:3-11
3 ... when they say, Peace and safety; sudden destruction [comes] upon them, [They’re saying peace and safety now. They’re saying, "I’m saved; I’m saved."...but sudden destruction will come upon their land] as travail upon a woman with child; ...
4 ... [you], brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 [You’re] all the children of light, the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God [has] not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation [through] our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 ¶ ... comfort yourselves together, edify one another, ...
This can be frightening, to think we’re talking about the end of all things – how is it going to end? A giving of this message. It begins at Pentecost... Pentecost takes place – the realization... Off you go to "trumpet" to the world that God loves them. You know, the other night, my children sing in a choir at school and they were having a performance for all the parents, and I had to go to a local church and the place just filled up with people... and as I was sitting there, I had realized the day before the truths I’m sharing with you now – and I sat in that church and I turned around and I looked at all of these people, and I realized... most of these people love the Lord. That’s why they’re making the effort they’re making, to raise their children, be in this church, do these things... Most of these people love God, but they are so confused of who He is and what it means to worship Him, and I realized they have a right to know that God loves them. They have the right to be told this message. At one time in my life, I would think: Gosh, I can’t tell them this stuff – they’ll think I’m crazy. That was my main thought – they can’t deal with it; well, I’ll build walls. Now, it doesn’t matter to me because the Lord is turning me loose. It doesn’t matter what they think of you, what they think of me... it doesn’t matter a bit. What matters is that we lay that "land" desolate; that the fire of God’s love devour that land and these people know even as they are known – that they start that process of salvation, learning of the love of God. Again, it begins with the Son of God, recognizing He truly is the Son. Now, I’ve got to ask you to turn to Matthew 24.
THE SIGN OF HIS COMING
Now, some time ago I did a study on Matthew 24, and the point that I want to make now, I brought out then but I’ve got to say this again.... You’ve got to see this and then make it current, present truth – tie this in with present truth. In Matthew 24, the question is asked, verse 3:
Matthew 24:3-8
3 ... as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came [to] him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of [your] coming, and of the end of the world? [There is your word "sign" again, translated miracle in John. What is the sign, the symbol of your coming?]
4 ¶ Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 ... many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and [they’ll] deceive many. [They’ll be saying that He is the Christ but they’re going to be deceiving many.]
6 [You’ll] hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that [you] be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but [the completion or] the end is not yet.
7 ... nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: ...famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in [different] places.
8 All these are the beginning of [sorrow].
That word "sorrow" in the Greek is [5604] – it is to travail in birth – King James put "sorrow." Now understand what he just said: Nation against nation; kingdom against kingdom... this is the beginning of the woman in travail. He isn’t saying this is like that, he says this is it. I know that earthquakes, wars, all of these things are increasing in the world – it’s only a "picture" of what is happening inwardly. The sign of His coming is the same as the sign we just read in 1 Thessalonians 5 – the timing of the resurrection... the woman in travail. The "kingdom against kingdom, nation against nation, earthquakes in different places," he is talking about is inward, because he says this is the beginning of the woman in travail. It is at hand, it is just before us... the reality that we’re at the end of the world needs to sink in. There is no time anymore to be angry with one another, all of the things going on that I have seen happen... people struggling – Well is this true, is that; how do I see this? It’s time to get with it. It is time for you to take the attitude: I know nothing and mourn for where you see yourself, and in meekness, hunger and thirst for God’s understanding. Love mercy, be pure in heart and be a bringer forth of peace.
I want to talk a little about "loving mercy." What does it mean to love mercy? What does it mean: "Go learn what this means, I would have mercy and not sacrifice"? Well, if you would turn to Hosea, chapter 6, starting at verse 4:
Hosea 6:4-6
4 ¶ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is [like] a morning cloud, as the early dew it [goes] away.
5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: [that their] judgments are as light that [goes] forth.
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Now I know I talked about this in an earlier study: The "mercy of God" is receiving His knowledge – for Him to have mercy on you, He gives you His understanding. The "sacrifices" that we read in the Old Testament were for mercy. It was God revealing to you His love – they are to teach you of His love. They are not for sacrifice, meaning I’ve sinned, I’ll kill something... God won’t be mad now. That basically is where people have been... Oh, I’ll turn to Jesus... He died so God wouldn’t be angry with me. You see, no, that "sacrifice" was for mercy – it was a teaching tool to show you His love. God would have mercy and not sacrifice. Do you love mercy? Can you receive from God and go forth, and declare His mercy?
A MIGHTY WIND
Remember, Pentecost is a picture of you pouring out of your spirit the wonderful works of God. Just as Christ did it, you do it – the catch is, we are the meaning of Acts 2 – we’re the true substance. God painted a picture of what it would be like. On that day, a rushing, mighty breath or "wind" filled all the house of the person, you see. When you pour out of your spirit, I want to show you the destruction of Babylon in Jeremiah 50. Jeremiah 50 and 51, you need to read in detail – you need to take the time, sit down with your husband or wife, sit down with your children and read these two chapters, knowing, wrapping it all together with what I’ve already covered with you – and recognize the destruction of Babylon and what happens when you pour out of your spirit. Your words are as fire – there is wood, but the rushing, mighty wind... I want to show you something:
Jeremiah 50:1-9
1 ¶ The word that [YAHWEH spoke] against [the confusion,] against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 Declare ye among the nations, publish, and set up [the [5251] – the "sign," the "banner" – the Son of God]; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
3 For out of the north there [comes] a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
4 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: [they’ll] go, and [they’ll] seek [YAHWEH] their God.
5 [They’ll] ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward [or pointed that direction], saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to [YAHWEH] in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
6 My people [have] been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, [they’ve] turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
7 All that found them devoured them: their adversaries said, [We’re not offending], [they’ve] sinned against [YAHWEH], the habitation of justice, even [YAHWEH], the hope of their fathers.
8 [Come] out of the midst of Babylon, go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.
9 ¶ For, I will raise and cause to come against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: they shall set themselves in array against her; from [there] [she’ll] be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
Now, I’m not going to read this whole thing. I wanted to get you started in this chapter because it leads right over to 51, and in chapter 51, he begins – verse 1:
Jeremiah 51:1-2, 10-17
1 ¶ Thus saith [YAHWEH]; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
2 And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and empty her land: for the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. [Now look over at verse... let me start at verse 10:]
10 [YAHWEH has] brought forth our righteousness: come, let us declare in Zion the work of [YAHWEH] our God. [Pentecost – the wonderful works of God...]
11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: [YAHWEH has] raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes [Why would he say that? Because their attitude was it’s an unchanging attitude. Once the Medes declared the law and set it, they couldn’t change it – and it’s that spirit, I pray, that consumes us, that once you get this and you see it, you’re unchangeable.]: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of [YAHWEH], the vengeance of his temple.
12 Set up the [5251] [the "sign" – the Godhead message... the Son of God] upon the walls ["walls" are salvation... upon the walls] of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for [YAHWEH has] both devised and done that which he [spoke] against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O [you] that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, [your] end is come, and the measure of [your] covetousness.
14 [YAHWEH] of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, I will fill [you] with men, as with caterpillers; and [they’ll] lift up a shout against [you].
15 He [has] made the earth by his power, he established the world by his wisdom, [he] stretched out the heaven[s] by his understanding.
16 When he [utters] his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; he [causes] the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he [makes] lightnings with rain, and [he brings] forth the wind out of his treasures.
17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. [There is your word "breath" – it’s the same word translated wind.]
Jeremiah 51, He’s going to bring a destroying wind upon Babylon – a destroying breath. Jesus poured out of His spirit – a mighty wind came into all of their habitation. I want you to consider the destruction of Babylon. Pentecost – coming to that realization of what has happened at your ascension is that Babylon is destroyed.
CLOSE
If you have ascended out of the lie, and I mean truly ascended out of the lie – if it’s more than just an intellectual thing with you – Babylon has fallen. Babylon is destroyed – you’ve entered the marriage supper of the Lamb... you are to be used to go forth and bear this message of truth to those who have ears to hear. God is using you to bear witness to the world. To what extent will it go with us personally? I don’t know. I just know that if we were to go back to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, one hour before it happened, had you told all of those guys, say Peter – if you had said: "Hey, you know, something’s getting ready to happen that is going to change the entire world. In fact, God is going to use you to call His church, and this gospel will be preached to all the world. And, in fact, you, yourself will write two letters that will be existent two thousand years later – people will still be picking over what you’ve written, trying to understand." Can you imagine Peter... the way he would have looked at you had you told him that? He would have never believed it. We’re no different – we’ve got to believe it. We’ve got to know who we are. We’ve got to be in that place to receive the understanding from God and be used of Him to declare the truth to the world. We are His church; we are Israel. We are the 144,000. We are the weapons of His indignation. We are His "sanctified ones." We are, in His eyes, the "mighty ones."
Can you receive that? I would pray that you guys are sitting on the edge of your seats – that this is sinking in; that joy is filling your hearts. Zephaniah 3, I’m telling you, if you guys would take the time to recognize what’s going on and realize how our Heavenly Father rejoices over us with singing, with joy, why? Well, consider: Finally God has a people who understand His love. Finally He has a people who understand it, who are experiencing it. Do you think the gospel has been proclaimed in our lifetime? Not so. The gospel these people are giving the world concerns a god that doesn’t even exist – it’s a "trinity" god who’s angry, that needs a human sacrifice. Yet this gospel needs to be proclaimed to all who have ears to hear. Don’t take these scriptures and figure out a way that we don’t have to go tell everybody – we do need to go tell everybody, and the world is going to hate and despise, and there will be a few who will love you. Mostly it’s going to be a reproach.
Do you love mercy? Well, God has had mercy on you. Can you die for your brother that he might see the love of God? You see, that’s our question isn’t it? I want to keep going in my understanding... I want to continue to study. Thank God, thank God that He is telling us what He’s telling us. I want to be as strong in my spirit as I possibly can and I want to give this message, and I’m enjoying giving this message because I feel like we finally are winning. Now again, the difference between this study and the last one I sent you, the difference is God is telling me to go give this message to all who have ears to hear. If He’s telling me that, that means He is in it. You see, before, intellectually, I thought: Well, I should be giving this to people. It’s totally different now – if He is moving me to do it, He is in it.
I am preparing to re-do the "Godhead Study"... possibly the "Holy Spirit Study" to start laying these things out, bringing them into present truth. I’ve started a series of studies called In the Moment of Present Truth. I did study one: The Introduction. It’s time for me to continue building on what we know, but also taking these things and putting them in such a way that anyone that hears it might receive it, and be able to grow and build with us. I would ask you to use these studies – hand them out, give them away. Let people know that Jesus is the Son of God. I pray to give you the tools, not only that you might sit down and study it out and see it for yourself, but give you ideas of how to present it and give you something to pass out, to pass around, that people can hear this truth.
Jesus is coming! It doesn’t matter anymore about anything else! The resurrection is soon to take place. The "woman" is about to travail in a big way because the message is going to go to all the world. I pray for you – I love you guys. I pray for you as the Lord moves me... there are days when I’m on my knees in tears, praying for you. I could name the names, of how the Lord moves me to pray for you. I pray that we can be in harmony, that there aren’t the distractions that happen. I want to push with one shoulder with you and, I’m telling you, for Scott Stanley, for me personally, I am going to stand with Jesus Christ and I’m going to reach out and grab for you to stand there with me. It is time to give the message! It is time for the "third angel’s message" to go forth – and how does it begin? "I saw an angel flying in the midst of the heavens." What did he have? "The everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth" – it’s time to do it.
I ask for your help, your support. I ask for your prayers. I pray that we be united and that this study pulls us together – that we go forward together and glorify God together.