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scottSTANLEY
(For purposes of clarity, brackets [ ] indicate either the author's paraphrase of scripture or editing for transcription.)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18
OPENING REMARKS
Each time I make a new study, I tell myself: This is the most important study I’ve ever done – and I guess, you know, for that time it is, and this study is no exception. We, as the remnant church, are living in present truth – present truth is continuing to grow and change. Our understanding of God is heightened, our understanding of self is deepened as we grown in the knowledge Christ possesses – not only of His Father but of us, of humanity. I had to make a decision: Who do I want to make a study for to share the newest revelations the Lord has given me? Do I want to give this to people who are struggling with the Godhead, who are struggling with abiding in Christ, who struggle with spiritual understanding? Eventually, I do want to do that – now I want to address people who are settled on those issues. I want to take those concepts: The Son of God, hearing God, what happened at Calvary that day – and I want to share with you the latest things God has helped me to see.
It’s phenomenal, where the Lord has brought the church – already many of you have stepped up on this platform with me of understanding what it means to be dead to sin, and I want to address death to sin for the opening segment of this study. All of my Christian life I have wanted to be where I am today – all of my Christian life I knew there was a way to be perfect in Jesus Christ and the Lord slowly, over time, has helped me to see exactly what that means and how to be there. Like I say, many of you are already in this place with me. I know there are many of you, who, when you hear this, will be able to receive it with an open heart and stand with me in this truth. We’re living in an awesome time!
As we go through this study, I want to show you where we are in time – help you understand the thrill of living in the last days... the thrill of being a true child of God – heart open to the Lord, heart open to receive truth, a willingness to stand in it and apply it, and growing in a love of our God, of our Savior, of the church... even of those in the world. More than ever, the heart of the gospel, the heart of this ministry is John 3:16: God has loved the world so much He gave His only begotten Son. That has taken on new meaning to me, even after years of studying the Godhead message… it is so vital to understand that scripture – that truly is the heart of the gospel, and I pray as we go through this study, that verse will come alive to you even more than it already has.
I pray the book of Revelation comes alive to you even more than it already has, in fact, I pray you would take the time to go back, study the scriptures – spend time reading them, spend time gleaning over them, finding the nuggets of truth, because it truly has been written for those upon whom the end of the world is come. It is your book – it is your book to read, to see what you’ve been experiencing, what you’re going to experience to let the Lord make you perfect in every good work. I pray the Lord would bless this study – I pray you receive a tremendous blessing in this, that we might go forward as the army of Christ. Truly the banner over us is love – I’ve never seen it more clearly than I do now, and I pray God be glorified in every way.
DEAD TO SIN
“Dead to sin” is something I have read in the scripture all of my Christian life, but never fully understood what it meant until now – exactly what it means for us to be dead to sin. That’s what this segment of this study is on – death to sin of the believer. For me, it begins in 2 Corinthians, chapter 5… This segment in 2 Corinthians 5, is so important to me now because of the revelation of truth Paul wrote as the Spirit of Christ moved on him. 2 Corinthians 5, I want to begin reading at verse 18:
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 ... all things are of God, who [has] reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and [has] given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit [or to make known],... God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and [has] committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Now, first of all, what does it mean to be “reconciled to God”... because through my Christian experience, Christ’s death on that cross reconciled God to me – Christ’s death on the cross gave God a reason to forgive me if I would believe. But what I want you to see is that we are reconciled to God. Look at Colossians, chapter 1 – in Colossians 1, let’s go ahead and read verse 20 with this:
Colossians 1:20-22
20 ... having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were [sometimes] alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now [has] he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
We were the enemy... God was not our enemy, we were God’s enemy. We were enemies to God in our minds, manifesting wicked works. This is what the verse says – verse 21 again:
Colossians 1:21
21 And you, that were [sometimes] alienated and enemies [by] your mind [in] wicked works, [next verse... He’s reconciled in the body of his flesh through death.]
This is a key verse: It points out [that] we were the enemy; it points out that Him physically taking on a body and physically dying reconciles us to God. It doesn’t give God a reason to “forgive” you – it’s a wakeup to you [of] how much God loves you. Let me show you – Romans, chapter 5, this is the point that Paul is making... in Romans 5, starting at verse 6:
Romans 5:6-10
6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for [who? For...] the ungodly. [Again, remember John 3:16: God gave His only begotten Son because He loved the world. When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.]
7 ... scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God [exhibits] his love toward us, in that, while we were ... sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified [in] his blood, [we’ll] be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, [we’ll] be saved [in] his life.
Now listen, when you were an enemy to God, God allowed... He exhibited His love toward you in allowing His only begotten Son to die for you. That is the wakeup call that God loves you. The death on that cross is to manifest the love of God, so you can have no doubt that God loves you. There’s no reason for you to be an enemy at all to God – an enemy in your mind in wicked works - He has now reconciled you in His body on the cross. When you were an enemy, God exhibited His love toward you. See, He wasn’t your enemy, you were an enemy to Him, and when you were… for the ungodly person, God exhibited His love in letting His only begotten Son die.
Now, let me tell you what this means: If in my worst possible state of sin – now why do I say that? Well, for God so loved the world, you see. Now, when I think of the world, I think of people in China, people in the Middle East, people in Seattle, people in Australia, people in Rome, people in Africa, people all over the world – for God so loved the world. Romans 5, God exhibits His love, He lets the Son of God die for the ungodly, so that’s why I say: You and I in our worst possible condition – if I look at myself, and I look at the sin in my life, I’ll guarantee you I can find somebody else in the world who is doing something worse than me, and I can believe that God allowed His Son to die for that guy who is living worse than me. See, that’s the point I’m trying to make – God so loved the world. You might not be living up to what you think God would have you be – I’ll guarantee you there’s somebody worse than you, and that person who is worse than you, God allowed His Son to die for that person.
So you’ve got to be able to grasp the truth: God so loved me, He gave me His only begotten Son. I am the ungodly, I was the enemy – He gave me, He exhibited His love toward me in the very state that I’m in ...the very condition of my heart – in my worst possible state, He loved me so much [that] He gave me all of heaven. In my worst possible state... in your worst possible state, He gave you all of heaven – His most prized possession: His only begotten Son. What does that mean? Well, if in my worst state He was willing to do that, it’s kind of silly to think: Well, now that He has given me all of heaven, I now have to keep the law in order to please Him and make Him love me. See, in your worst possible condition, He gave you everything, so it’s silly to think now you have to go do something in order to make Him love you – He already loves you. God so loved the world – see how key that is? God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, and we see in Romans 5, for the ungodly to be reconciled, God loved them. He isn’t their enemy, we’re His enemy – we were His enemy in wicked works... in our minds in wicked works.
He was not your enemy – He is love and He so loved you, He gave His only begotten Son, so it is silly to think you have to do something now to please Him, hence, if you can be with me there, then you can accept this: You are now dead to the law – that’s what that means. You are dead to the law because you know the law – your law keeping and your trying to do everything right, and your trying to be holier than thou is not what is pleasing God. He loves you just the way you are. Now, think about it: If you can accept that, you’re now dead to the law. Let’s read some texts... let’s go to Romans 7, and let’s read some texts here. I want to begin with verse 1:
Romans 7:1-4
1 ¶ Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how ... the law [has] dominion over a man as long as he [lives]?
2 [If] the woman which [has a] husband ... [Now listen, as we read this, we, the church, are the “woman” in this. Why? Because in a marriage, the husband has dominion and for many years we lived with the law having dominion over us, you see. We are the woman in this. The woman which has a husband...] is bound by the law to her husband [as] long as he [lives]; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband [is living], she [marries] another man, [she’s] called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she [isn’t an] adulteress, though [she’s] married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, [you] also are become dead to the law [You see, you’re the “woman,” and the law is now dead... you are dead to it. You see, you’re the woman and you’re now dead to the law because you recognize: God loves me just the way I am; I don’t have to do something to please Him – He loves me the way I am.... You are become dead to the law...] by the body of Christ [Remember Colossians, what we just read – I was an enemy in my mind but, by Him becoming a human being, taking on human flesh, dying, He’s reconciled me in my mind to God. My brethren, you’re become dead to the law by the body of Christ...]; that [you] should be married to another, [you should be married] to him [that’s] raised from the dead, [so] that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Here’s where we’ve been in the past: We’ve wanted to follow Christ and, at the same time, we were in subjection to the law – you had two husbands. You had two things that had dominion over you – Christ and the law, and we justified it by saying God has given us this law, but as we entered the abiding truth, we began to understand hearing Christ and recognizing [that] we’re under grace. “Grace” is the impression of the heart – we are to be governed by grace, not governed by the law. And yet, when I realized this truth of being “dead to the law,” I felt a release. I didn’t realize how I had been held in this – I had been carrying that baggage so long that I, in my heart, still thought I was keeping or doing something right to please God, and now I recognize [that] I have become dead to the law by the body of Christ so I now can be married to Him who’s raised from the dead. Now, I can bring forth fruit unto God. Let’s go back to Romans 7, look at verse 6:
Romans 7:6
6 ... now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; ... we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Now, Romans 7, there’s two things that Paul is addressing here: One is the fact [that] you’re dead to the law and the other is the fact [that] the law is spiritual, it is not literal... and in fact, that is what started at verse 7 – he begins to address, and I want to read a few verses in this because it brings out the point of being dead to the law. Let’s go to verse 7:
Romans 7:7-9
7 ¶ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? ... [No], I [would have] not known sin, but by the law: for I [would have] not known lust, except the law had said, [You shall] not covet. [Now, get the next verse...]
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of [evil desire]. ... without the law sin was dead. [Now that verse jumped out at me, but I recognized I’m dead to the law. You see, if I am dead to the law, without the law, sin is dead.]
9 ... I was alive without the law once: but when the [law] came, sin revived, and I died [he’ll say…].
1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
What gives sin its strength? The law. What did the Lord do? He made me dead to the law. Fact is, the law shows us all of these things that, if you’re living perfectly in Christ, if all of these things are a reality, see, God would be pleased that you’re living so accurately. But He’s pleased with you just the way you are. How do I know? For God so loved the world and what He is trying to say is: I gave righteousness to Abraham by him simply believing what I said – the law came four hundred years later. The law has nothing to do with our righteousness. The law gives us a description of right and wrong, but even though you’re wrong, the Lord loves you just the way you are – He is love. This is the secret, the mystery that needs to be given to this world – God loves you just the way you are... do you smoke, do you drink, do you cuss? Where are you? God loves you just the way you are! We’re all crippled.
Recently at our campmeeting, I gave the example of a crippled man, and I thought, you know, what if this crippled man was before all of us and I went over and stood him up and said: “You need to walk,” and when I let him go, of course, he just falls down. Why? Well, he’s crippled. Well, I asked the question: “How many of you guys sitting here looking at this crippled man would condemn him or make fun of him, or jeer at him because he can’t walk?” Well, none of us would, why? Because he’s crippled … The Lord has looked at us as being crippled in our understanding – it’s called “iniquity” – crooked, twisted, wretched thinking... crooked, twisted, wretched understanding. We’ve been listening to the world and living according to our own concoction of “truth,” and the Lord has straightened us out by giving us a new heaven. He’s giving us a new heaven – He is showing us a new way to see Christ, a new way to look at this book, and now, recognizing: If He loved me so much where I’m at, I’m dead to the law.
Now listen, what about my sin? Well, I can be dead to sin, too. Follow this: If He loves me just the way I am, all of the things I’ve done, I can just be dead to that... I can quit feeling guilty about that, too: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their sin to them. I can be dead to sin, to my past sins, see... by looking at the cross and knowing He loves me so much He gave me His Son – He takes my sin from me and says: Scott, let’s lay this down, leave it alone. Quit being stressed out; quit feeling guilty – I love you the way you are. It’s true, He’s going to clean me up and change me, but first He has to get me beyond dead works (which is keeping the law), and He has to make me perfect according to the conscience.
1 Peter 2:24
24 Who his own self bare [or carried away, lifted away] our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to [sin], should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes [you] were healed.
See, there’s that truth... it isn’t that God took my sin and put it on Him, on the cross, so He could forgive me – He shows me the death of His Son so that can lift away, carry away my sin in His body on the tree. I was an enemy in my mind, but by His body, He’s reconciled me by the death of His body. So I come to the cross and I let Him take away my sin, my guilt, my shame, my stress and I am now dead to sin. I am dead to my past sins, but now because I’m dead to the law and the strength of sin is the law – the sin has no strength anymore, and now that I am reconciled to God, He will give me all things. I will be saved by the life of His Son – I’m reconciled by the death; I’m saved by His life, as I trust Him and allow His Spirit to rule and govern my heart.
This is the gospel... this is the truth of the gospel, what it means to be dead to sin. Right now, if you can accept the truths I’m telling you, you are dead to sin. Maybe for the first time in your Christian life, you are dead to sin – sin has no strength anymore. You recognize [that] God loves you just the way you are. I’m not saying you’re dead to sinning, I’m saying you’re dead to sin – You are dead to your past sins and you are not going to let condemnation happen to you in what happens in the future. You may stumble, but you’re going to get back up, and you’re going to go forward in Jesus Christ. You see, this what he means in 1 John, chapter 2:
1 John 2:1-2
1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that [you] sin not. ... if any man sin, we have [a comforter] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 ... he is the [act of mercy concerning] our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the ... world.
Look at chapter 3, verse 6:
1 John 3:6
6 Whosoever [is abiding] in him [sins] not: whosoever [sins has] not seen him, neither known him.
Do you see what he’s saying there? It doesn’t mean you’re not going to stumble, it means you recognize the strength of sin is the law – I’m dead to the law, hence, in God’s eyes, being in Christ I’m not sinning. If you go to a Christian or to anybody on this planet and you say: “Do you sin?” And they say, “Well yes, I’m a sinner.” They don’t know God... they haven’t seen Him, they don’t know Him. They don’t understand what He has accomplished by allowing His Son to die at Calvary .
The Lord is crying out to us that He loves us – the Lord is crying out… be reconciled to Him. The Lord is crying out: I’m not imputing your sin to you. If He isn’t imputing your sin to you, how are you a sinner? If He wants you to be “righteous by faith,” which is something He gave Abraham more than four hundred years before the law and Abraham, then, is the father of our faith and we believe like Abraham – you are not “in sin.” It doesn’t mean you’re not crippled, it means you’re not in sin. He is not condemning you and you can be free from that guilt and stress, and now be “perfect according to conscience.”
NO MORE OFFERING
I want to talk about now, being “perfect according to the conscience,” and this is found in Hebrews, chapters 9 and 10 – I want to key on chapter 10. Hebrews 10 is so powerful, I pray that you get a sense of this too, as we read this, because the truth we’re getting ready to see literally is life-changing and it will help us see where we are in time. But I feel like I need to take this slow... a step at a time, to slowly go through it. I pray the Lord give you understanding of these words – Hebrews, chapter 10:
Hebrews 10:1-2
1 ¶ For the law having a shadow of good things to come, ... not the very image of the [thing], [the law] can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the [one bringing the offering – the comer] perfect.
2 For then [wouldn’t] they have ceased to be offered? because ... the [worshipper, the one bringing the offering] once purged should have ... no more conscience of [sin].
Now, already we have “no more conscience of sin,” and we have the word “perfect” – same thing. They have no more conscience of sin, and to be perfect. Perfect? Perfect – you mean I’m not crippled? Perfect understanding of God’s love. I’m saying “perfect”… what if we used the word “complete” – a complete understanding of God’s love... and you let that love grow in your garden, and your actions will be perfect eventually. Right now we’re talking about the understanding we possess – verse 3:
Hebrews 10:3-4
3 ... in [these] sacrifices [though] there is a remembrance ... made of [sin] every year.
4 [It isn’t] possible that the blood of bulls and ... goats [would] take away [sin].
From what? From the worshipper – do you see what he says? Take away sin, perfect... no more conscience of sin – perfect, see? Take away sin, make me perfect. The blood of animals could not take sin away from you – it was simply a shadow of what God was going to do. He is implying that Christ will do this for you. Let’s keep reading:
Hebrews 10:5
5 Wherefore when he [came] into the world, he [said], Sacrifice and offering [you would] not, but a body [you have] prepared me:
See, here we’re back to the body – why a body? We had to see Him die to be thoroughly convinced of our value to God – our value, just the way we are. Are you a human being? You have value to God… Are you a person living in the gutters on the street, pushing the baskets and having no money, having no roof over your head, living in soup kitchens – you know, who are you? You have value to God. You’re having the problems you’re having because you don’t know your value that God has placed on you – just the way you are. Verse 5:
Hebrews 10:5
5 Wherefore [Therefore] when he [came] into the world, he [said], Sacrifice and offering [you would] not, but a body [you have] prepared me:
... Because the blood of animals will never take sin away from you... will never purge your conscience, can never make you perfect. You have to see how much God loves you in order to be dead to sin and dead to the law. Verse 6:
Hebrews 10:6-9
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin [you’ve had] no pleasure.
7 ¶ Then said I, [I’m coming] ... to do [your] will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin [you would] not, neither [had] pleasure [in that]; [well, these things were] offered by the law;
9 [But] Then [he said], [I’m coming] to do [your] will, O God. He [took] away [that] first [covenant, or that first law], that he [might] establish the second [part].
... The second covenant, which is Him doing God’s will – what was that? Manifesting His love toward you – why? To reconcile you to God – why? Because you were an enemy in your mind and you were living in wickedness, being an enemy to God, so He sent His only begotten Son to say, “Hey, wake up... I love you! Don’t be my enemy, I’m on your side – I love you just the way you are.” Verse 10:
Hebrews 10:10-13
10 [It’s by this] will [that] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus ... once for all.
11 ... every priest [stands] daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same [sacrifice], [these things] can never take away [sin from the worshipper]:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From [this point on, he expects] his enemies be made his footstool [or to be put under his feet – stomped on under the feet.].
He expects his enemies to be – why? Well, His “enemies” are the lies we carry – His enemies are the lies, the distrust, the iniquity in our hearts, and by offering this one offering saying God loves you – He expects those enemies to be put away. Verse 14:
Hebrews 10:14
14 [Because] by one offering he [has] perfected for ever [you guys who] are sanctified.
If you have stepped up on that platform and you’re dead to the law and sin, no one can take that away from you – you have that now forever... forever, for the rest of eternity you can say I know God loves me. I know God loves me, He gave me His only begotten Son and in my worst possible state, even for the ungodly, He gave me His only begotten Son to say that He loves me, and He’s made me dead to the law and dead to sin. He has perfected me forever – I’m sanctified forever by that one offering. Let’s keep going:
Hebrews 10:15-18
15 Whereof the Holy [Spirit] also [bears] witness to [this]: for after ... he ... said [what he said in verse 13, after that, he said...],
16 This is the covenant [I’m going to] make with them after those days, saith the Lord, [I’m going to] put my laws into their hearts [my laws, my teaching – I’m going to give them understanding of it], ... in their minds will I write them [I’m going to tell them what it means, in other words];
17 ... their sins and [this word is not “iniquity” – it is violations of the law. Your sins and law violations I’m not going to remember any] more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Stop. If I’ve come to the place where I’m dead to the law and in Christ I don’t sin, and I recognize now what that means, I see the purpose of Calvary was to manifest God’s love and I now see His love to the point that I’m dead to sin – I’m dead to the law... I get it now, OK? Why then, do you need to continue having an offering? What’s the purpose of it now [that] you get it – you’ve gotten the point? You see, for you personally, there’s no more offering needed – you’re now dead to sin... you are perfect in Christ. You’re convinced [that] God loves you – there’s no more offering for sin for you. Now you have it... now you get it. This is what He means: By this one offering He perfects forever you people who are sanctified by it. Once you’re sanctified by it and your mind is retaining that truth, and you’ve stepped up on the platform of death to sin, there’s no more offering needed for you anymore. That’s huge – that is huge! I know it only took one offering to be given to the world, but it only takes you to see it, and there’s no more offering needed anymore – you’re free in Jesus Christ. You are free in Jesus Christ. Let’s take the next step and let me show you where this leads so that we can see where we are in time.
70 WEEKS
I want to go back and take another look at the prophecy in Daniel 9 concerning the 70 weeks. Now remember, Daniel 9, the 70 weeks of Daniel is just a reiteration of Daniel 8 – the 2300 evening/morning prophecy, where the sanctuary would be cleansed. Daniel 9 is when Gabriel comes back to give Daniel understanding of the vision he had in the chapter before. I want to begin reading Daniel 9:24:
Daniel 9:24-25
24 Seventy weeks [or fulfillments – remember “7” is simply a fullness. A “week” is seven days – seven fulfillments. Seventy weeks... seventy fulfillments have been] determined [or cut up. Now, I’ve covered this in past studies and I don’t want to go into it really deep right here. I’ve got to make a point concerning where we are in time, but when I look at the seventy weeks of Daniel 9, it’s been divided into three parts. But listen to what it does. It finishes ...] the transgression, [makes] an end of [sin], and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, ... from the going forth of the commandment to restore and ... build Jerusalem [the holy city within the human heart] unto ... Messiah the Prince ...
You see, not to the point that you believe in Him, but to the point He actually becomes your Messiah and delivers you from sin, which is what I pray you’re experiencing right now. Remember “sin” isn’t erased in a big book in heaven – God isn’t imputing your sin to you. He needs to take it away from us and the Savior has become Messiah, the Prince....
Daniel 9:25
... shall be seven [fulfillments], and [sixty and two fulfillments]:
Now here are the first two divisions, then you’re going to have one fulfillment left – one “week” left. What are the “seven fulfillments”? Well, if I were to walk into the sanctuary, the first thing I see are the seven candlesticks – I see from Ephesus to Laodicea... each one is a fulfillment and I had to go through that process to come to the place, to the end of Laodicea – by the time I get to the end of Laodicea, I know Jesus is the Son of God, I understand the abiding truth and He has revealed to me the sin nature (my having no value and not knowing the love of God). Then He speaks to me: Revelation 4:1 – Come up hither, and I ascend out of the lie into the arms of God, knowing He loves me.
Now, knowing He loves you – it takes some time to understand exactly what that means, to know He loves you. The “seven fulfillments,” from Ephesus to Laodicea ... but what is the “sixty” and “two”? “Ten” is God’s understanding of a thing (if you’re sanctified) – God’s understanding of a thing. “Six” is man. What about “two”? The number for “two” is [8147], and I just want you to look in the Strong’s – [8147] is the dual of [8145]. [8145] is taken from [8138]. [8145] means “double” or “second” or “again.” It’s taken from [8138]... [8138] means “to fold or duplicate, to be given to change, to be different.” What is “two”? “Two” is the first number that can be divided – “two” can mean being together or being divided, being changed, returning, coming back.
“Two” [8147] is the dual of [8145] which means
“double” or “second” or “again”
[8145] is from [8138] “to fold” or “duplicate”
by implication to “transmute” (alter or change)
God’s understanding of man (6 x 10 or 10 x 6), God’s understanding of man changed [... in our minds – our perception of how God looks at man changed]. What does that do for you and how do I see that? Already, in talking about Calvary and why Christ died, we see where we have changed in our understanding of how God perceives us. What does that do for me? It gets me beyond the veil – the veil has been that thing standing between me and God. See, when I entered the abiding truth, I came into the “ Holy Place ” – but the veil comes down and I’m able now to go into the Holy of Holies. The “Holy of Holies” is knowing God loves me so much, He gave me His only begotten Son… The veil has come down.
Seventy weeks are determined upon Israel – there’s going to be “seven fulfillments” – a “sixty” and a “two” and there’s one fulfillment left – there’s one week left... the seventieth week of Daniel. It takes place after I get beyond the veil. Well, let me ask you a question: Who was able to get beyond the veil? The high priest was the only one who could go beyond the veil. Well, when would he go beyond that veil? Only one time a year could he go beyond the veil – that was the Day of Atonement. Each feast day is a happening in the heart of the believer as you grow in understanding and truth. We ascended out of the lie and in a short time span the Lord helped us see what that meant. When you ascend out of the lie, you’re sitting at the right hand of God, far above principalities and authorities. See, there are studies to go back and read, or go back and listen to, to help you understand these things – that is depicted on the Day of Pentecost. After Pentecost is Trumpets, and you begin to trumpet the love of God, which we have been doing, but the next feast after the trumpets is Atonement. The last week, the seventieth week – let’s read this in Daniel 9, verse 26:
Daniel 9:26-27
26 ... after [the sixty and two fulfillments, or after you get beyond the veil] Messiah [is going to die], but not for himself: [you see, the future] people of the prince [are going to] destroy the city and ... sanctuary; ... the end [of it will] be with a flood, ... unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 [But Christ is going to] confirm the covenant with many for one [fulfillment]: and in the midst of [that fulfillment he’ll] cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, ...
Stop. Do you understand what he is saying? If you understand the love of God to the point that you’re dead to the law and you’re dead to sin, the sacrifice has ceased for you. Hebrews, chapter 10: Once a remission of these things takes place, there remains no more offering for sin. See, once it happens for us personally, individually, there’s no more offering for sin. What does that mean? It means you’re half way through the last fulfillment – it means that we have half of a fulfillment to go, you see? James 2:22 says: Your works will perfect your faith. “Faith” is what God is revealing. What has God revealed? He has revealed He loves me; He has revealed I’m dead to the law; He has revealed I’m dead to sin; He has revealed the offering has stopped for me – I don’t need that anymore... I see it, I get it, I possess it. Forever I have that truth.
I know God loves me and I now have love to give. OK, that’s half the fulfillment... the other half is now [to] live it – let your works perfect what you understand. Do you understand what I’m saying? We are to the last half of the last fulfillment of Daniel 9 – the seventieth week. Three and a half days to go – not literal, spiritual. Let’s talk about what happens during that time.
A DEEPER MESSAGE
This message now, is getting deeper... it’s truly exciting to see where we are in time, and this truth for me is so real I feel like I can touch it. It impacts me so strongly; it’s almost tangible, what I’m feeling – I can get my hands on it and just hold it... get my arms around it. I’m dead to sin – I'm dead to the law. The sacrifice and offering has ceased for me – I’m in the last half of the seventieth week described in Daniel, chapter 9. The Lord is soon to come. As I said earlier, the truth the Lord has been giving has been coming so fast, there is so much of it and I know it’s been quite a while since I have made a video and recorded or mailed out an audio CD, but weekly I have been doing teleconferences and I would beg you to go online, go over to www.dtgministries.org, go to the Teleconferencing and start downloading those conferences because they contain so much of what you need to understand in order for us to continue progressing in this truth.
Let me tell you something about the seals of Revelation that dawned on me: I’ve been saying how the book the Lord is opening is our mind – it’s the book of our experience as we have understood it. And as you look at your experience, He shows you things in the past, of course... “White horse,” “red horse,” “black horse,” “pale horse” – crying out for God to deliver you, closing your heavens like a scroll. But as he is depicting what is to take place, when you get to that seventh seal, you’re no longer looking at things in the past – you’re beginning to see future things. This is where the “trumpets” come in – the sounding of the trumpeting of His love, and after the sixth one, you enter into the Day of Atonement (Revelation 10). How do I know that’s the Day of Atonement? I would beg you, go back – listen to the teleconferences. (Day of Atonement is pictured in: Leviticus 16; Isaiah 6; Revelation 10.)
In a nutshell, when you look at Revelation, chapter 10, you are supposed to take the “rest of the book,” the little book – it’s the rest of the story. What are we on now? Well, if it’s the rest of the story, it’s the spirit of prophecy. Look at that word “prophecy” – it literally is the spirit of prediction. That’s what we’re in now – we are looking at future things. Using the scripture, I can go back and look at events in my life that have happened. We’re now going to look at events that are going to happen, and in Revelation, chapter 10, that is the Day of Atonement. Real quickly, as you look at Christ come down in the cloud, His feet are on fire; He puts a foot on the earth, one in the sea... see, He’s cleansing the earth, He’s cleansing the sea.
If you go back to Leviticus 16, and you read the Day of Atonement, a bullock was offered and a goat was offered – both were sin offerings. Pick those up, go to Leviticus 4, and look at the sin offerings – four divisions found in Leviticus 4: The high priest, the congregation, the ruler and the common people.
Priest: Leviticus 4:3 Congregation: Leviticus 4:13
Ruler: Leviticus 4:22 Common People: Leviticus 4:27
For the priest and congregation you offered a bullock; for the ruler and common people you offered the goat. The priest and the congregation, see, are “self” – Aaron had to offer the bullock for “himself and his house.” (Bullock: Leviticus 16:11) The goat was for the people (Goat: Leviticus 16:15 ) – what do I have? I have the “earth” and the “sea” – a cleansing of the earth and the sea, putting a foot on the earth and one in the sea. Fire on the earth will cleanse the earth; His foot of fire in the sea will dry the sea. And what I have been told from the world has to go, and what I have concocted myself on the earth has to go. In Revelation 6, the sixth seal, He closes my heavens, see, He’s given me a new heaven – He turns my “sun” black, my “moon” red as blood. So He accomplishes giving me a new heaven.
On the Day of Atonement, Revelation 10, He gives me a new earth and dries the sea – there’ll be no more sea. Now listen to me, if He cleanses your earth and dries the sea, when I come to Revelation 13, the beast comes up out of the sea (out of the sea: Revelation 13:1) The second beast is of the earth (out of the earth: Revelation 13:11) For you and [me], He has cleansed the earth and sea, hence, you’ve overcome the beast, the image, the mark and the number. If you’re beyond the veil, you know the love of God to the point of being dead to sin – if that is true in your life, you’ve overcome the beast, the image, the mark and the number. How important is that? That is huge! The rest of the little book is the unveiling of our future. The rest of the little book – John, eat the book... come and take the book, eat it. So he comes and he takes the book – sweet to the taste, bitter to his belly after he eats it. You then go right in to Revelation, chapter 11: There was given me a reed, it was like unto a rod... a message of correction. I was told to go [measure] those who worshipped in God’s dwelling place, who worship at the altar. What is the “reed like unto a rod”? Death to sin, dead to the law – John 3:16.
The new message God has given us is: We are dead to sin; we are dead to the law – we understand what that means. When you abide in Jesus Christ, you don’t sin. If a person looks at themselves as “sinning,” they don’t know God. I don’t care what it is you’re doing, I don’t care what it is you’re doing¸ God loves you the way you are. Yes, He wants our lives cleaned up as He defines being cleaned up; Yes, you will begin to do that as this truth dwells in you – as you recognize, now listen to me... as you recognize where you are in time and what God has already done for you in bringing you to this understanding. I can’t imagine anybody knowing this truth and turning back. How close are you to the end? You’re in the last half – the last fulfillment. It’s the time of the “two witnesses” – who are they?
They possess the two truths: God has always loved me ( Israel is His firstborn)... God has always loved me as seen in Michael – He birthed a Son. Second truth as seen in Jesus Christ: He has brought me to a complete understanding, a “perfection” – perfect in my conscience... no more conscience of sin, and we possess death to sin. What’s left: Works will perfect my faith – living it is what is left to do, and you see the two witnesses in sackcloth. Remember on the Day of Atonement, the high priest is dressed in linen (Leviticus 16:4; Revelation 19:14 ). In Revelation 19, those on the white horses, the army of Christ, [are] dressed in linen. But when the atonement is made, the linen comes off (Leviticus 16:23 ), and now in Revelation 11, I see being dressed in sackcloth. I want to cover in more detail what that means in just a minute, but right now understand this... Here is your future: Possessing the message of the two witnesses, we go forward delivering this truth of the love of God; death to sin; death to the law – what Calvary really means, the message of correction – John 3:16. You go forward giving that message in Christ, knowing it’s going to be rejected, knowing people are going to reject it – why? Because it refutes everything every denomination teaches!
That’s why you cannot “buy” or “sell.” That reality is even more so now, and no one can take your “death to sin” and “death to the law” away from you. You possess life – what is “life”? To know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent (John 17:3), and now that you do, you’re dead to sin. You see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ – by looking at His face I see the love of God. He sent me His Son to reveal His love for me. My message is “God loves you,” and I now possess life – death to sin. I possess that – how did I get it? I know God by looking at Jesus. Just as God has life in Himself, He has given to His Son to have life in Himself, and we are joint heirs, and if you’re dead to sin, you have life. You can now give a message that brings life to those who hear it. It’s a torment to these people because it refutes everything they believe, but it is life. You have it; you know it’s going to be rejected – for how long? Let’s look at this in Revelation, chapter 11, verse 9:
Revelation 11:9-13
9 ... they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half [the last half of this fulfillment], and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and ... send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth [What does it mean to “send gifts”? I’ll cover that in just a second].
11 And after three days and an half [at the end of seventieth week] the Spirit of life from God [will enter] into [their understanding that we gave them], [this is going to stand on its] feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying ..., Come up [here]. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour [there was] a great earthquake [great conviction], [a] tenth part of [ Babylon ] fell [Isaiah 6], and in the earthquake [there] were slain ... seven thousand [margin: names of men]: [when] the remnant [saw this, they] were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
All right... Why would you be “affrighted”? Because look back at chapter 10, again of Revelation, verse 5:
Revelation 10:5-7
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and ... earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And [swore] by him that [lives] for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things [in it], ... the earth, and the things [in it], ... the sea, and the things [in it], that there should be time no longer:
7 ... in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he [begins] to sound, the mystery of God [is] finished, as he [has] declared to his servants the prophets.
The seventh trumpet takes place after the seven thousand names of men die. When we give this message and you torment these who dwell on the earth, and they reject you, that rejection helps you live what you know to be true. It helps you as you live love, in the love of God, and it confirms in you and strengthens you, and builds in you that truth you carry – the rejection they give you is a good thing for you to have to endure it. But then the day will come when some of them (spiritual number – “seven thousand”)... some of them will say: “My God, you’re right,” and they will cry out to God who will elevate that truth in their understanding, and when you see that, you are affrighted, why? Because you know it’s the end.
You see, what we read in Revelation 10, that the mystery of God is finished when that seventh trumpet begins to sound, that is the first prophecy of the end of the world given in Revelation. Think about it – when was it given? Atonement... where are we? Atonement. Spirit of prophecy? The Lord is revealing our future to us – He has just told you the sign of the second coming: We will give the message, it will be rejected. But when some of these people begin to pick it back up, the mystery of God is finished – that trumpet is going to sound, and we are going home. That is why these people are affrighted – the remnant are affrighted... they realize this is it. These people who will pick this truth back up are the ones who torment the world for the last time with the seven vials. It isn’t the 144,000 who do that; it’s the seven thousand names of men who pick this truth up and say you’re right. They are the ones who will go back to their churches and pour out the last plagues on this earth, and when we see that taking place, we will know time is up.
Let’s get ready for the next feast – tabernacles, and let’s get in our booth and stay there as the Lord brings the end of all things, the consummation of all things. What does it mean “they send gifts one to another” in Revelation 11? They rejoice over these dead bodies and they make merry and send gifts one to another. Already, if I were to walk in one of these churches, they would offer me their “gift of salvation,” you see. Our message is going to be: This is what death to sin is, death to the law... this is what Calvary means – this is John 3:16 – and our truth will torment them. Instead, they will slay that truth and give their gifts of salvation to one another. That’s what they do now, that’s what they’ve always done. Go into a Baptist church, and they will give you the gift of salvation as they understand it; go to a Church of Christ, they will give you the gift of salvation as they understand it; go to a Catholic Church – well, they will give you the gift of salvation as they understand it. They give their gifts one to another.
Listen, friend, we have been given a gift of salvation from God. We have been given the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. We are saved in Jesus Christ; we are free in Jesus Christ; we are dead to sin; we are alive unto Christ... we have begun the last half of the last fulfillment of Daniel, chapter 9.
TWO WITNESSES
Now I’m going to go a little long in this study because I want to get this in there – I want to talk about the message, sweet turning bitter – the two witnesses... our message to the world and our responsibility to give it. First of all, in 2 Corinthians 5, I want to turn back, and I want to read a description of the heart of the two witnesses – the people who understand this truth, who possess the two truths: God’s always s loved me, and He’s brought me to a complete understanding of His love. This is where our heart is and it’s a description of our message:
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
14 For the love of Christ [is constraining] us; because we thus [have determined or judged], that if one died for all, then [everybody was] dead: [all were dead]
15 And [in] that he died for all, ... they which live [now] should not henceforth live unto themselves, [they should live] unto him which died for them, and [then] rose again.
16 ¶ Wherefore [from this point forward] know we no man after the flesh: ... though we have known Christ after [our fleshly understanding], [from this point forward, we’re not going to look at him in that fleshly way anymore... we see Christ through God’s eyes, and when I do, I then see God – His Father.]
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ [abiding], [he’s] a new creature: [all of that old stuff has] passed away; [and now], all things are become new.
In Christ, I don’t sin... In Christ, I’m dead to the law. The law is the strength of sin. In Christ, I’m dead to sin; in Christ, I now have life; in Christ, the fig tree is bearing its fruit – the leaves are coming on, the leaves are developing on His church. The “fig tree” is Israel ... they’re those who know Christ is the Son of God and they’re listening. And that fig tree is beginning to bring on its leaves – it’s going to be bearing fruit, and you know when you see that happen, He’s at the door – the Lord is soon to come. If any man be in Christ, he’s a new creature, old things are passed away, everything is now become new—even your surety of the day in which you live... it’s now a new thing. You see it more clearly now than ever.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 ... all things are of God [now remember, this is our message... all things are of God], [who’s] reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and [he’s] given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To [make known], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses ...; and [he’s] committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ... reconciled to God.
21 For he [has] made him ... sin [in our behalf], who knew no sin; [so] that we might [come to] be ... the righteousness of God in him.
I could spend a week just on this one verse. This word “sin” – He’s made Him sin – that is a noun, not a verb. When I go look at the cross, I can see what sin is: Thorns, nakedness, God separates, death – He made Him sin... the noun. He made Him to be ... as a description of sin, why? Because I can look at this and I can glean two things: I can see it from the earth; I can see it from the heavens. From the earth, this is what sin is; from the heavens, this is righteousness – it’s the only begotten Son of God who’s in perfect obedience to His Father. By Him performing this act at Calvary , I can now hear God’s explanation and be righteous.
The principle I see in Abraham, God told Abraham that you’re going to be the father of many nations – I’m going to bless the world through you. Abraham believed, it was counted for righteousness – He believed what? He believed God’s voice to Him. Well, now God’s voice to you is saying: This is my Son... I love you. Receive My love – I love you just the way you are, and when you believe that even as Abraham believed, you’re now believing God’s voice so that you can be made righteous. The principle as seen in Abraham, the message you’re believing is what is seen in Jesus Christ – the “seed” of Abraham. This is the message of the two witnesses: I beseech you, therefore, as though God did beseech you through me, be ye reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20 ) – two witnesses. Let’s take this back to Ezekiel, chapter 2:
Ezekiel 2:1-5
1 ¶ ... he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon [your] feet, and [I’m going to] speak unto [you].
2 ... the spirit entered into me when he [spoke] unto me, and [he] set me upon my feet, ... I heard him that [spoke] unto me.
3 And he said ..., Son of man, [I’m sending you] to the children of Israel , ... a rebellious nation that [has] rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. [I’m sending you to] them; and [you’ll] say unto them, Thus saith ... Lord [YAHWEH].
5 And they, whether they ... hear, [or not], ([because they’re] a rebellious house,) [they’re going to] know ... [there’s been] a prophet among them.
Listen to me, Ephesians 4: “prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher,” you see – the fivefold ministry. The 144,000 are all of that. The 144,000 are speaking forth life and you can minister now like never before. Do you want to be a prophet; do you want to be an evangelist? Be the two witnesses; let that come alive in your heart.
Ezekiel 2:5-10
5 ... whether they ... hear, or ... forbear, ... [they’re going to know there’s] been a prophet among them.
6 ¶ And [you], son of [Adam... remember it’s not the “mighty one” – Christ didn’t come in the nature of the mighty, He came meek and lowly, the son of Adam], [don’t ] be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with [you], and [you] dwell among scorpions: [don’t] be afraid of their words, [or] be dismayed at their looks, though [they’re] a rebellious house.
7 And [you shall] speak my words [to] them, whether they ... hear, or whether they [don’t]: [because they’re] rebellious.
8 But [you], son of man, hear what I say unto [you]; Be not ... rebellious like that rebellious house: open [your] mouth, and eat that I give [you].
9 ... when I looked, ... [a] hand was sent unto me; and, ... a roll of a book was [in it];
10 And he spread it before me; ... it was written [before] and [behind...King James put: “within and without.” See, before and behind... that’s the little book; that’s the seals. He has shown you the past, and He’s showing you the future]: [in this book] was ... [lamentation], ... mourning, and woe.
I know there’s lamentation, mourning and woe for us who eat the book because we see the rejection that’s going to take place, but there’s also lamentation, mourning and woe for those people we speak the truth to – in fact, it’s a torment to them.
Ezekiel 3:1-15
1 ¶ Moreover he said ..., Son of man, eat [what you find]; eat [the] roll, and go speak [to] the house of Israel .
2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat [the] roll.
3 And he said ..., Son of [Adam], cause [your] belly to eat, ... fill [your] bowels with [the] roll that I give [you]. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth ... honey for sweetness.
4 ... he said ..., Son of man, go, get [you] unto the house of Israel , and speak ... my words unto them.
5 For [you are] not sent to a people of a strange speech and of [a] hard language, but [you’re sent] to the house of Israel ;
6 Not to many people of a strange speech and [a] hard language, whose words [you cannot] understand [or you cannot hear]. Surely, [if I had sent you] to them, they would have [listened to you].
7 But the house of Israel will not [listen to you]; [because they’ll not listen to] me: for all the house of Israel are [strong] and hardhearted.
8 Behold, I have made [your] face strong against their [face], [your] forehead strong against [theirs].
9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made [your] forehead [that’s how sure of this truth we are]: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though [they’re a] rebellious house.
10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I ... speak unto [you] receive in [your] heart, and hear with [your] ears.
11 ... go, get [you] to them of the captivity, unto the children of [your] people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord [YAHWEH]; whether they ... hear, or whether they will forbear.
12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of [YAHWEH] from his place.
13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, ... the noise of the wheels ... against them, and [the] noise of a great rushing.
14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of [YAHWEH] was strong upon me.
15 ... I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar , and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished [for a fullness of] days.
Now I’m going to close. I wanted to make the point to you... the bitterness: It’s sweet to see how close you are to the end; it’s sweet to recognize who you are in Jesus Christ – but the lamentation, the mourning and woe are just before us as we deliver the truth of God’s love to a dying world. You can’t give something you don’t have – we now have it. The fig tree is bringing forth its leaves – the Lord is soon to come. I pray that we will glorify the Lord in all that we do, that this continue to change us... that we can accept His love and be made in the image of Jesus Christ.
***
Ascending from the east,
Having the seal
Of the living God