FOR MANKIND: Only TWO --- simply 2 --- KINGDOMS !

The ETERNAL   CITY
DWELLING PLACE OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

1,500 MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION!

  There are two kingdoms dwelling side by side on the face of the earth. These two kingdoms occupy the same land space, eat the same food, breathe the same air, and walk and talk in similar fashion.

Other than these characteristics, these two kingdoms are TOTALLY  different, and in most cases, one of these kingdoms is COMPLETELY ALIEN to this world. In Spirit, ONE of these two Kingdoms has a totally Different kind of BLOOD+ flowing in the veins of its people.

  The Kingdom of The MESSIAH lives in the fallen world but is NOT controlled by it. Neither does it share the worldly kingdom’s values or principles. It “marches to a different drummer,” so to speak. Its values and goals are completely different than the kingdom of the world.

 Its Captain+, its Commander+ and Chief+,  is seated at The Right Hand of The Eternal GOD HIS+FATHER.  From HIM+ this Kingdom receives its marching orders, and from The Eternal RUACH ha Kodosh, The HOLY SPIRIT of YHWH, this Kingdom receivesStrength to Live and to follow the LORD+ MESSIAH.

   This Kingdom of the MESSIAH+ is aware that the world’s kingdom is in its “death throes” and thus, it is commanded to warn everyone to come into a place of repentance and truth and to flee from the Wrath to come.

 For this reason, people in the Kingdom of the MESSIAH+ spend much time in prayer for their neighbor in the world’s kingdom, for they are commanded to love their neighbor as much as they love themselves. To be in HIS+ Presence is the joy and delight of the children of the Kingdom of Light.

 In complete agreement with their Heavenly Father, those in MESSIAH’S+ Kingdom  do NOT wish to see ANY perish, but that all might come to Repentance, Salvation, and the New Birth, and filled with The Uncreated Light.

These peculiar people who populate MESSIAH’S+ Kingdom realize that to dedicate oneself  to the acquiring of many material possessions and building a personal fiefdom on this earth is FUTILE …  and a USELESS expenditure of one’s life. 

They have set their affection on things above, not on things of the earth, for they have died and their lives are hidden with CHRIST in GOD their FATHER.

 ( Colossians 3:3 )

They affirm that  “… We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out of it.” ( 1 Timothy 6:7 ).

  A very humble man named Francis once said, ” When you die, you can take nothing with you that you have received …  ONLY what you have GIVEN!”

 This is TRUE.

Therefore, the people of the Kingdom of Light spend their time and energy placing all Treasure in Heavenly Realms in the Protective keeping of their Heavenly FATHER. They also obey their Commander+ and take care of those who cannot care for themselves. 

They realize, having been taught by their Eternal Master+, that only ONE thing is necessary … and that Mary of Bethany long ago had chosen that ONE+ GOOD THING which shall not be taken away from her. They of this Kingdom choose that ONE+ Good Thing also. This is done out of a now-purified Heart of Love for their King+ and Bridegroom+.

The men and women of this Eternal Kingdom also treat each other differently than those who live in the world’s kingdom. They know that they are  sharers together in the Eternal Light and Life  that came from The Eternal FATHER and became Flesh for their sake, to guide them into The Eternal Kingdom. 

The men and women in this Kingdom treat each other with respect and honor, and they grant to each other the dignity due to a Created Being made — originally —  in The Image of GOD.  

They know that they must work together to continue on the earth. It is not like this in the other kingdom, as a quick glance across the world’s societies will sadly show.

 Man and Woman together are a type of CHRIST and HIS+ Bride, a Truth the worldly kingdom cannot understand. Male and female HE+ made them, to complement and comfort each other, NOT to use and abuse each other. 

Those who belong to the Kingdom of Light realize that they are in the world … but are NOT of the world.   They know that there is nowhere to hide, but that they must walk the path their MASTER+ has walked before them and marked out for them with HIS+ Own most Blessed feet ….. Therefore, they do not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life, so that they might please the ONE+ Who+ has rescued them from death and darkness.  ( 2 Timothy 2:4 )  

They accept that they were baptized into HIS+ Death, (Romans 6:3 ) that they have died with HIM+ and are risen with HIM+ to walk in newness of Life.

So they embrace the Disciple’s Cross and count it a privilege to lay down their lives for their LORD+ as HE+, in a much GREATER way….

…laid down HIS+ Life for them.

      They know that at some point the world will hate them, as they also hate  The SON+ of GOD, their LORD+. They prepare themselves for this by spending much time in the Presence  of their LORD+, being immersed into The HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE.  This is the Breath and Strength of the Eternal Kingdom.

 They do expect this since their Captain+ has warned them of this event.

  However, since their treasures have been placed in the keeping of their Heavenly FATHER, their hearts are ALREADY THERE, as their LORD+ said they would be …  and they are glad to depart this sad realm and be in even closer proximity to their Beloved Bridegroom+ in Whom they delight.

   To which of these kingdoms do you belong ?

 We are only sojourners here,

… strangers passing through. We are a Bride lovingly looking forward to seeing The BRIDEGROOM+ Face to Face, looking forward to an indescribable Marriage Supper and an Eternity of JOY in HIS+ Presence. 

     I+ GO,

JESUS told us, 

TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU,

AND IF I+ GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU

I+ WILL COME AGAIN FOR YOU,

AND I+ WILL TAKE YOU UNTO MYSELF+,

SO THAT WHERE I+ AM

THERE YOU WILL BE ALSO.  

( John 14: 2-3 )

This is our hope, to be with HIM+ whereHE+ is, that we may behold HIS+ Glory.

The Glory which HE+ had with HIS+FATHER….

BEFORE THE WORLD EXISTED.

John 17:5 , 17:24

JESUS+ says,

" Come Beloved of MY+ FATHER and inherit the Kingdom  prepared for you 

before the foundation of the world."

+ + +

This post is by Bro. Brendon  + + + 

Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

3 DAYS... 3 NIGHTS... What Was HE+ DOING DOWN THERE... All That Time ?

RESURRECTION ! 

  When HE+ had received the vinegar HE+ cried with a LOUD VOICE,  

" FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I+ COMMIT MY SPIRIT."

 Having said this HE+ bowed HIS+ Head and released HIS Spirit and Descended into the Heart of the Earth, leaving HIS+ tired Body on the Cross.

     And the Earth SHOOK and the rocks were sheared and the Veil of the Temple was torn in TWO... from TOP TO BOTTOM !

 Where did JESUS go during the Three days and Three nights?

   The Scripture states plainly from our LORD'S own lips that HE+ would be Three Days and Three Nights in The Heart of the Earth., the Realm of the departed human soul and spirit, called in the Hebrew sheol.

   One thing we DO know is where JESUS our LORD+ went when HE+ left the CROSS and HIS Crucified Body there because HE+ said so HIMSELF+.

 Also... we can KNOW that HE+ went there as a Victor and a Conqueror!  HE+ did not go there as some cults, some  groups, and yes, witches' covens, teach to be tortured by satan. 

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

NO!  On HIS+ CROSS HE+ Broke satan's back and broke his head as well! JESUS said, "IT IS FINISHED!"  HE+ went into "sheol" in HIS+ FATHER'S STRENGTH, to the TERROR and HORROR of the Unclean rebel spirits.  ( Genesis 3:15 )

What did HE+ do during the three days and nights?  

.... WHATEVER HE+ WANTED TO DO !

 HE+ was CHRISTUS VICTOR!

CHRIST the VICTOR !

 Taking down the gates of Hell from the area called in Scriptures,  Abraham's Bosom ... only the dead could enter the realm of the departed human soul and spirit, but THIS ONE TIME... the Crucified , SECOND ADAM+ entered into it! 

For GOOD REASON Abraham "rejoiced to see HIS+ Day... He saw it ... and was GLAD ! 

  

GLORIOUS LIGHT FLOODED SHEOL!

Here are some quotes from Scripture from the Ancient Pre-Nicene Church Writings. They had the same Scriptures we do, and they knew how to use them and TO LIVE BY THEM.

...The LORD DESCENDED INTO THE REGIONS BENEATH THE EARTH PREACHING HIS+ ADVENT THERE ALSO AND DECLARING THE REMISSION OF SINS RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM+...

ANF vol 1, pg. 499, Irenaeus Against Heresies, chapter 27, section 2

 Preaching Salvation to the Righteous Dead. The Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Ninevites who repented at the preaching of Jonah

( ANF vol 1, pg 7, chapter 7, First Epistle of Clement )

 From  I Peter ... 

3:18 .... 

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but Made Alive by the SPIRIT:

  

3:19 By Which ( HOLY SPIRIT/RUACH ha KADOSH,) also HE+ went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1 Peter 4:6  

 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

 

3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST:

( To the Ancient Church, baptism was not a "symbol" or an afterthought, but a SUPERNATURAL event of Rebirth into Light.) The SPIRIT of GOD, The Water ,and The BLOOD of The LAMB+ MESSIAH, agree to the ONE THING!  ( 1 John 5:8 )

 

3:22 Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

 Leading Captivity captive, away on HIGH, ...THOU didst not leave His+ soul in Hell... 

 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:10

 

 Preparing HIMSELF+ to raise His Earthly Body as a GLORIFIED BODY, being the Second Adam,  as The prototype of The NEW BODIES THAT ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM+ and OBEY HIS+ Voice shall have in the  RESURRECTION unto  Eternal Life  with HIM+.

 

As our LORD+ JESUS said,

"NO man can take MY+ Life from ME+;  

 I+ have Power to lay down MY+ Life, 

and I+ have Power to TAKE IT UP AGAIN! 

This Commandment 

I+ have received from MY+ FATHER"  

 John 10:18

 This is part of what our Precious LORD+ was doing in the Three Days and Nights in the Heart of the earth!  

        HE+ also took with HIM+ those Righteous dead ones from the area of Abraham's Bosom, and brought them with HIM+ after HIS+ Resurrection, and sent them into Jerusalem to appear unto many there. 

    Ancient writings state that what they said to many in Jerusalem was that: "YESHUA of Nazareth who was Crucified and rejected by the religious leaders, IS THE MESSIAH! We are only her for a very short time to tell you this. We must leave and go with HIM where HE+ carries us. 

      JESUS then assembled these dead ones to HIMSELF+ and ascended on HIGH, taking and leading the formerly captive ones away from the earth completely, and giving gifts unto the children of Adam who had died and waited in sheol/hades for HIS+ appearing.  ( Ephesians 4:8 ) 

Our LORD+ then CAME OUT OF THE TOMB ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, TOTALLY ALIVE AND TOTALLY GLORIFIED!!  BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT!

HE+ IS THE LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD!

NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!

AMEN 

+ + +

 

My son, GOD Will Provide Himself A LAMB+ .....

Meditation on the PASSOVER LAMB+  
~ ~ ~  Our PASCHA+

 ~  ~  ~  The Conclusion  ~  ~  ~ 

A Story About The GREAT EXCHANGE 

Adapted and condensed from James Ramsey Ullman's 

"TOP MAN"  short story, 1953

under the Fair Use Act

Not for profit... except as it may profit the soul. 

( Story continued from yesterday... )

"Paul, I'll hold out my ax. When I say 'JUMP,' grab the ax head and jump to my ledge," Martin said, gasping for air. “I will pull you. There is enough room for both of us.”

Paul nodded, tensing for the jump.

Focusing intensely, Martin steadied his ax horizontally and immediately called

 "JUMP !"

 ... and Paul landed onto the narrow ledge, crouching down, hugging the rock with his toes and gripping the ax in his hands. The snow crust on which he had been standing had disappeared without a whisper.

But, 

in 

a 

simultaneous 

flash .  .  . 

... as Paul landed, a blurred figure hurtled out into that vast blue space over the ledge. 

The rope tied around my waist jerked me hard into near convulsions... then suddenly... my pain was gone.  

Numbly, I saw our yellow climbing rope dangling in mid-air, the frayed end swinging freely to and fro... to and fro ... where Martin should have been.

 Paul, stunned, looked stupidly at the ax that only he held in his hand now.

I remained crouched down, pinned to the ground in numbness. Paul inched his way toward me, off the slim ledge.

Finally, Paul said flatly, "I'm going up. Do you want to come?" I shook my head and remained motionless, crouched for an hour? two hours? four hours?

I lost track of the time before I heard Paul --- haggard, spent, clothing shredded --- returning, without emotion, toward me from the other direction. 

"Did you reach the top?" I dully asked, not caring.

"No," Paul said, woodenly. "I didn't have what it takes."

With little talk, we grimly returned to camp 7 and camp 6 and all the rest of the camps until our expedition reached safety, minus one mountaineer. No more expeditions were tried that year for K3. 

In later years another expedition did strive to be the first climbers to reach the top of K3 … only to find a climber’s ax buried in the top of K3’s peak. 

Engraved on the old ax head were the words, 

"to Martin from John."

+  +  +

 The Great Exchange

Who was Paul?

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Paul... except when he snapped out criticism to Martin's well-tempered decisions. Paul, who chafed under the restraining decisions, only controlled himself with great difficulty. 

Clever and skilled and well-trained, Paul had not yet seen the Unconquered Killer of Man devour the best of climbers, the best of friends.

His character revealed the sins of being bright ... with impatience,   of being exuberant... with Self-will,   of being well-skilled yet unsubmitting those skills to one with better judgment.  

Paul had unswerving goals but was unmindful of whom they hurt. He followed those deep desires only to fulfill his own ambition and glory.  Paul wanted to win, to feel superior. 

Indeed, he FELT superior.

Now change ...

that fateful ax into a cross.  Put CHRIST on the ledge instead of Martin. 

It is CHRIST JESUS, now, extending His+ Cross to Paul.

Exchange ...  

Paul’s face to yours... to mine … and you will see what it cost CHRIST to save you…. to save me … from our sins.   

Always, always chafing at His+ restraints, we will not stop ourselves.

Our sins … our stubborn self-will, our foolish pride in what we know,  our earthly skills, our rational rationalizing, our well-touted talents, and our adroit abilities …  put us out there on a deceitful ledge, of evaporating snow.   

Yes, it FEELS solid and looks solid --- to us --- but  no solid rock underneath our feet exists. 

Unfortunately, we are too blinded with Self to see that for ourselves.  The unseen abyss awaits us momentarily.

And worse, that unseen abyss is Eternal.

Forfeiting His+ Life is what it cost CHRIST --- like Martin ---  to deliver Paul, to pull him to safety. 

Unlike Martin, however, The LORD knew ahead of time what it would cost HIMSELF+ to rescue you... rescue me... rescue everyone of us human beings. 

Yes... HE+ knew ahead of time that HE+ was going to EXCHANGE His+ life for yours, for mine, for all ... while we were yet angry, proud sinners like Paul ... when HE+ extended His+ Cross to us.  

HE+ did it anyway. 

This is what our deliverance cost JESUS. 

 Every time you sin… every time I sin … 

are we 

crucifying CHRIST afresh? 

Are we repeatedly putting HIM+ to an open shame before all ... before the eyes of others .... and also before the unseen Watchers in the Heavenlies ?

CHRIST, better than Martin, knew the strength of the enemy awaiting to devour men. 

+  +  +

CHRIST died for you, Scripture says.

HE+ gave HIMSELF+ for your sins, 

that HE+ might deliver you 

from this present evil world

... and an eternity 

in the lake of fire.

HE+ did it all for you.

GOD, be merciful to me, a sinner.

+  +  +

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

WHO+ taketh away the sin of the world, 

Have mercy upon me.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

BEARER+ of our sins, 

Have mercy upon me.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

SAVIOR+ of the world,

Grant me Thy+ Peace.

+

The GREAT PASSOVER EXCHANGE...

Meditation on the PASSOVER LAMB+  ~ ~ ~  Our PASCHA

Part 2 

A Story About The GREAT EXCHANGE 

Adapted and condensed from James Ramsey Ullman's 

"TOP MAN"  short story, 1953

under the Fair Use Act

Not for profit... except as it may profit the soul. 

( Story continued from yesterday... )

Camp 7 was only 200 feet ... yes, 200 treacherous feet with death in every step... from the top of K3, a peak never before conquered by man.

Then, suddenly what we dreaded happened: a snow-storm hit camp 7 and the peak of K3, only 200 feet above us! Vicious wind, stinging snow, and deep drifts hanging out at angles, deceptive, off the rocky ledges... and all this to endure in a thin-oxygenated atmosphere.

The vicious snow storm finally ceased and then a worse condition hit: the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky.  

For three days it shone, melting down the top layer of snow, the deep temperatures forming a thin crust... a deceptive crust... on top of the snow. 

We three men waited out the storm and sunshine in camp 7. One day... two days... three days we waited more. Waiting and waiting for the snow to harden deeply or blow away, grown men used to laborious climbing daily, our nerves were on edge. 

During that time, we were barely able to talk due to the thin oxygen at that high altitude of 26,500 feet. We had to use our emergency oxygen canisters after a few sentences. Much movement was out of the question. After the third day, Martin realized the snow cover was receiving 12 hours of sun daily...  and still unsafe.   

Slowly, evenly, Martin said, "Men, we will have to return to camp 6 tomorrow. Our supplies are running low. The snow crust is still too unstable, with all this sun shine. We cannot wait any longer."

" NO !" Paul snarled, glaring at Martin, then gasping for air. “We are only 200 feet from the top and after all this time... return to camp 6... 200 feet from the top? Out of the question!  I am not returning now !"

"Paul, I am the senior mountaineer in charge. You have no choice. I have weighed the conditions --- I've seen them before --- and it is too dangerous to proceed," Martin said, before collapsing on his cot, heaving deeply for oxygen before finding his canister.

"Who said you knew all about this mountain? Are you infallible? What right do you have to tell me what to do?" Paul griped, hoarsely.

"The truth is, you are too old to do this climb. You do not have what it takes to be top man.

“So, if you are too afraid to climb it, you refuse to allow anyone else to do it, that's what!" Coughing and collapsing onto his cot, Paul was forced to stop throwing angry barbs at Martin.

The men ceased talking, beaten by a lack of oxygen and despair, and buttoned up for the night, the last night at camp 7.

Shortly after midnight, I awoke. Something was wrong. I flashed my light about. Martin was putting on his outer boots. "What is happening?" I cried.

"Paul's gone; I'm going after him," Martin said. "Wait.  I'm coming with you," I told Martin, as I removed myself from my cot and reached for my outer boots.

We roped ourselves together, and after about a hour of slow, laborious climbing, we saw Paul as he was starting up the peak. He did not see us, however, but in about 30 minutes more we had come close enough to hail him.

Suddenly, Martin tensed and pointed. I looked. 

On K3's peak, there were two ways to climb to the top. One was a laborious chimney-type climb up an ice-covered rocky face. The other way was around the rocky face, on treacherous, narrow cornices of crusty snow from the last storm.

Paul, unroped, had chosen to ascend by the snow-covered ledges. We watched him carefully put down his pole, test each step, and then move his body forward cautiously.

Careful as he was, however, Paul did not see what we saw from our vantage point: underneath his snowy ledge there was no rock.

He was only held up by the crusted snow which had melted then frozen during the night.  Underneath that deceitful crust was 10,000 feet of blue air.

Martin, weak from the climb in the thin air, called, "Paul, Paul, come back!"

 Paul turned, stopped, looked confused.  I hollered, " Danger! Come back." 

Paul lifted his pole for his next step, then ...  The snow where he was about to plunge his pole simply vanished. Blue sky was all that was left for his next step.

Martin found strength to holler, " Paul, don't move! Don't move an inch! "

Intense concentration wrote itself over Paul's face.

Meanwhile, Martin had edged forward finding toe-holds on narrow rocky ledges... some 5 inches wide or less.  He inched within 6 feet of Paul on one of those slim ledges.

"Paul, I'll hold out my ax. When I say 'JUMP,' grab the ax head and jump to my ledge," Martin said, gasping for air. “I will pull you. There is enough room for both of us.”

Paul nodded, tensing for the jump.

Focusing intensely, Martin steadied his ax horizontally and immediately called

"JUMP !" 

... and Paul landed onto the narrow ledge, crouching down, hugging the rock with his toes and gripping the ax in his hands. 

The snow crust on which he had been standing had disappeared without a whisper.

( Final part of the story to be continued tomorrow... )

+  +  +

O, LAMB+ of GOD

WHO+ taketh away

the sin of the world, 

have mercy upon me.