Kermit, a friend sent me your commentary about the 144,000 (FIREWALL OF GOD AS POSTED ON ETPV WEEK OF 8TH APRIL 2009) and the manchild and I couldn't help but contact you to say how deeply this had resonated with me.
Not through Scriptural study, but rather through revelation insight had the Lord painted a very similar portrait for me personally. You just say it better than I think it.
Let me share a bit about myself. I came Christ, under personal adversity in January 1980.
At first I only embraced the Lord having not joined any Body, until the Lord COMMANDED me to find a Body, even if there were just three of us meeting in a garage.
My first association with the Body came through finding a small Pentecostal church about 4 miles from my home. I even got a word from the Lord to join this Body through a sermon given in the first service.
I was quickly appointed as an Elder to this church, and it wasn't long afterward when I got baptized in the Holy Spirit in one of the services. Soon thereafter, I had resigned my position as an Elder, I was leaving this church.
The Pastor didn't accept my resignation and insisted I remain, so I had to tell him the truth. I cited that this church was spiritually 'dead', the Holy Spirit had left the services and neither he, the Pastor, my fellow elders, nor any within the congregation had noticed. They were too interested in 'playing church' and church social activities.
I found another multi-denominational church which was brand new. It was established by two young men who pastored this church. The Holy Spirit was strong initially in these services, but division and discord took place to divide the Body because both young men each were vying for total control of this church. So I left.
I went to the Lord and essentially said this, "You commanded me to find a Body and I made a sincere effort to do so, but now I'm going to close myself up in you alone to teach me. Overall I walked separately unto the Lord the bulk of my 29 year walk with the Lord.
Based on this background, what gave me insight to the credibility of your message was this. The 144,000 have NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH WOMEN. I KNEW this was not literally being virgins but in the context of being separate from the Harlot, the Whore, or as you characterize it, Babylon. These people had separated themselves to the Lord alone.
I would like to slightly embellish your message in this one context.
Revelation 2 and 3 describes the seven spiritual churches. Of note is what it says of the Philadelphia church. They are spared the 'hour of trial' (Revelation 3:10). It also says of them that they have held fast to the purity of God's word and that they haven't denied His name. It says also, a door is opened for them which no one can close. The 'door' referenced here can only be the door referenced to Revelation 4:1, a door opened to heave for John to enter through, to receive Revelations.
There is a clear parallel between the Philadelphia church and the 144,000. I'm of the belief that it is possible they might be ONE IN THE SAME.
Let me explain.
We know the 12 tribes. Only the tribe of Judah and Benjamin know their genealogical roots. The remaining lost '10' have been scattered throughout the world and they have lost their genealogical roots.
Bible scholars, who study such things, many believe that the tribe of Ephraim founded America. I don't know about that but I would like to share with you what the Lord revealed to me.
America was founded by a Christian remnant of God's people who had escaped the religious persecution of the church/state of England.
Literally the Mayflower charter, our Declaration of Independence, our Bill of Rights, and our own Constitution was a NEW COVENANT between the Lord and a remnant of His people.
As the Lord gave His people, Israel, a land of 'milk and honey', He have his Christian remnant a land of milk and honey, America.
Here in America, we, God's people, had since broken this covenant with the Lord In His own words we broke this covenant way back in 1950! Yes, 1950!
We can trace, decade by decade, America's decline. The rise of the Jezebel spirit took place in America, starting with woman's suffrage and continuing to when women started to abandon their natural role as housewives and mothers and began to compete openly with men in the job market, institutions and organizations.
In the '60's we experienced the great social and cultural rebellion against all which was godly and right in America. The Hippie movement began introducing 'free love', and drugs into the American culture. In addition, the homosexual movement came into being with many coming out of their 'closets' to become activists.
In the early '70's, Roe vs. Wade was passed, giving women full authority over their bodies, resulting in the murder of 50+ million babies.
In the '80's, they passed legislation like EEOC and Affirmative Action and feminism arose to combat every man oriented institution and organization, causing men to be muted, neutered, and castrated, losing their manliness.
In the meantime, a massive spiritual disconnect occurred between the Lord and His own people here in America. His people sat on their hands, rather to raise the banner of righteousness in this nation, to speak out against the sins of this nation.
Let me try to embellish what the Lord revealed to ME about holiness.
The root and core of holiness is the full measure faith of Abraham.
Abraham was willing to OBEY God and sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, because Abraham foreknew that the Lord would 'restore' Isaac. Abraham DEMONSTRATED his faith by his actions. Of course, the Lord stopped him in time, Abraham had PASSED THE TEST.
One billion people profess to believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God. So, also does Satan and his hoards of demons and fallen angels.
So what's the distinction between those who 'profess' to be Christian and those who truly walk with the Lord?
Here is what the Lord revealed to me.
Full measure faith is the demonstration of such. Those who have such faith put ALL their trust in the Lord, especially to heal them and to be with them through the great adversity they face in their lives. The actual DEMONSTRATION of faith essentially tells the Lord that these people hold the Lord fast and to account for His word and promises to them, even at the risk of their own lives. Such faith pleases the Lord greatly as it gives Him much praise, honor and glory. Half measure faith only angers and insults Him.
The demonstration of full measure faith translates to 'dying of self' Dying of self is literal.
It goes back to Matthew 10:37-39, in the Lord's own calling to His people, and literally fulfilled by the Philadelphia church, who hold fast to the purity of His word and who haven't denied His name.
Peter denied Christ 3 times because he was fearful of loss of his own flesh, his most valued possession, due to his association with Christ. So, when the rubber met the road, Peter DENIED Christ.
All of this changed, of course, after Pentecost, when the Lord sent forth His Holy Spirit upon the early church and the Apostles, including Peter. ALL went out in boldness to spread the Gospel, under the greatest of adversity and persecution. Many were MARTYRED!
A clue about the 144,000 and also the Philadelphia church is this:
All have picked up their cross to follow Christ, putting HIM ABOVE ALL THINGS, including love of family, friends, and their own personal idols. And they all freely made the choice to lay down their very lives to serve the Lord.
This clearly is fulfilled by the Philadelphia church, and also the 144,000, by implication.
The 144,000 are FIRSTFRUITS. Christ was FIRSTFRUITS, first implying many to follow.
What did Christ do? His true selfless love was demonstrated by His works but our Lord freely chose to lay down His own life for the LEAST OF ALL MEN.
He was forerunner to the calling of His own people. Clearly, the Philadelphia church and the 144,000 fulfilled this calling.
It should not be forgotten that the 144,000 have already accepted Christ as their Messiah. It is His shed blood which has atoned for their sins. These element of God's people are already Christian, in stark contrast to the Orthodox Jews who will -re-institute their daily sacrifice. The daily sacrifice is performed for the sins of the people and can only be performed in the Holy Temple.
When Daniel 9:27 says that he (the Antichrist) abolishes the daily sacrifice in the middle of the 'seven', by implication this means that the daily sacrifice must be re-instituted in order to be abolished.
Israel is soon to enter into a 'peace accord'. Whoever the Antichrist is, he will be instrumental in this 'covenant peace', whether he be in the forefront, or working behind the scene through a surrogate (Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State). He will allow the Holy Temple to be rebuilt through negotiations of this covenant peace.
When we speak to the 144,000 they MUST ALREADY have accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah, as they accept His shed blood for the atonement of their sins.
Going back to holiness. the DEMONSTRATION of full-measure faith of Abraham translates to 'dying of self'.
Dying of self translates to the pure selflessness of Christ within us and EXPRESSED through us. Our needs, our wants, and our interests are no longer at play. It's not about us, but about those around us who we serve, even the LEAST AMONG US.
The true selfless love of Christ translate to HOLINESS in the Lord's eyes. This is the pattern the Lord revealed to me.
FIRSTFRUITS are taken because they are already holy in the Lord's eyes.
Yet, keeping to His word and promises to His people, He MUST ELEVATE His people to holiness, to be a worthy Bride of Christ, holy and pure, without spot or blemish.
This is the very purpose of tribulations. The Lord must draw His people out of their caves (cowardice) and the cares of this world (idolatry) and FORCE them to seek His face only.
The Lord must hold fast to a Biblical truism. He must JUDGE HIS OWN HOUSE before He can judge the wicked world. This actually is a 'timing to reveal the seven years of tribulation. The first half is when the Lord deals with His people, to 'restore' and elevate them to holiness. The second half of tribulations, the Great Tribulations are designed to judge the wicked world and also serves as a FINAL CALL TO SALVATION for the 'saints'. It is THIS ELEMENT of God's people which is spoken of in I Thessalonians 4:13-17.
The 'saints are those who are identified in Revelation 6:11, Revelation 7:9 and 7:14.
About 2 years ago I participated in a discussion and study on the topic of the 'rapture' with two spiritual friends. Prior to that, I had never given any thought or consideration in to the rapture event(so) as I viewed it as a distraction and an 'escape' clause to facing the trials and adversity of the tribulations.
As we researched and studied this topic, we tried to determine whether there was a pre-trib rapture, a mid-trib rapture, or only a post-trib rapture.
A lot of argument ensued as a result of 'interpretation' of what we've collective read from Scriptures, so I took this discussion to all of those on my list, 51 spiritual people, seeking all of THEIR VIEWS.
I receive tons of responses with a myriad of views, all of which was supported by the Scriptural word. Most believed there is only a post-trib rapture. Some had believed in a pre-trib and post-trib rapture while some actually believed in a mid-trib and post-trib rapture.
One, a stranger, sent a very long email with detailed description and Scriptural support of a pre-trib and post-trib rapture, but he INADVERTENTLY SUPPORTED three separate elements to one harvest.
Finally, I threw up my hands and went to the Lord directly to seek the answer. He told me that there is a reward/punishment system in place for the different spiritual levels of His people.
FIRSTFRUITS are taken in a pre-tribulation rapture because they are already found holy in His eyes. A friend of mine calls this the Barley Harvest.
The Main Harvest are those identified in Revelations 2 and 3, describing the seven spiritual churches. The main harvest must FURTHER OVERCOME to be holy and this is done through the early portion of tribulations. My friend calls this the Wheat Harvest.
And then there is the gleanings of the Harvest, called the Grape Harvest, or harvest of the 'saints'. These are those who go through the Great Tribulations, refuse the mark of the Beast and are chased down and overcome by the Antichrist. They must wash their robes during the Great Tribulation.
The KEY element to understanding the revelation and revelation timing is to understand God's own people. The Bible can be summed up in this one simple sentence. God wants a family, sons and daughter, kings of heaven, a worthy Bride of Christ.
The Lord MUST ELEVATE many to this level of holiness.
On May 9th, 2007 I awoke from a troubled sleep at 1:44 AM (note the time, it's relevant).
The Lord gave me a word that He was taking me home soon. I awoke, cleaned up and dressed and sat out on my deck in the dark (prayer closet) to seek confirmation. I communed all morning with the Lord and over and over again He confirmed to me that, "Yes, Ed, I'm taking you home soon. Get your affairs in order".
I didn't sit with this. I constantly asked the Lord if this was true and was it truly Him speaking to me. He constantly confirmed this.
One day later in 2007, I was so bold to ask for embellishment, asking Him "Would I die in my sleep, or merely be 'taken'. He told me I would be taken in the presence of others, without embellishing further.
The Lord got so sick of my constantly asking Him about this, He sent me a word through a friend. Here is the message:
Greater Death, Greater Depths
Deborah A. Gaston
Jan 3-2009
“By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. For it was attested before he was taken away that he had pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5 NRSV)
"My Child, you have prayed to be like Enoch. Many have prayed that same prayer, and many more shall; for, it is a desire that I have placed within those who hunger for Me. But few understand what it really means to "walk with God." Few recognize the level of dying required.
Greater depths require greater death!
It is one thing to say "I want to walk with God like Enoch did." It is quite another thing to die in order to not know death. It is quite another thing to surrender all for the Excellency of knowing Me, to be willing to "be not." You quote with joy that you want to know the power of My Son's resurrection. But what about the fellowship of His suffering and conforming to His death?
". . .and he was not found; for God had taken him."
And the same will be said of you, My Child. The enemy will not be able to find you; for, I will have taken you. The naysayers and scoffers will not find you. Those that envy you and seek to displace you will not find you. The arrows that they shoot to wound your heart will not find you. Those who seek to dishonor or destroy your name, destroy your reputation will not find you; for, you will be lost in Me. Death will not be able to find you; for I will have taken you!
And more importantly the enemy will have nothing in you (John 14:30b); for, I will have taken you!
Set your face like flint. Focus all on Me and My word to you! Make the choice "to be not" remembering that greater depths in Me require a greater death in you."
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When I received and read this message, I went into my prayer closet to ask the Lord if this was intended for me and He said, "Yes!"
The key element to this is to 'die of self', freely choosing to be willing to lay down our very lives to serve the Lord.
Clearly, the 144,000 and also the Philadelphia church has accomplished this.
God bless,
Ed Ergut