Part Eighteen

December 1998

THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

Part Eighteen December 1998

The present work of the Spirit is to change us, to conform us to the image and likeness of Christ and prepare us to inherit the kingdom of God. When we were saved, we were delivered from the powers of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:13). We are now IN the kingdom of God, but we must be processed and prepared of the Spirit to INHERIT His kingdom. Since we were saved and all during our spiritual journey in this life we were IN the kingdom of God. But now we are being prepared to enter the greater fullness of that kingdom and to inherit it by the continuing work of the Spirit in our lives. God is taking a people who are IN the kingdom in an elementary sense, and is bringing them to maturity. He is pro-cessing them that they might be prepared to INHERIT the greater fullness of the kingdom of their Father.

When the Son of man comes or appears in the glory of His Father to judge the nations, He will separate the sheep from the goats by a spiritual process known to Him. He will set the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Mt. 25:31-34). The Lord shall separate the sheep from the goats by judging them, to see if they gave meat and drink to the Christ, and if they clothed and visited Him. Some seem to think this means we should provide food, drink, and clothing for the needy of this world. But this is not what Jesus was telling us! The righteous ones asked Jesus, "When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" Jesus cleared the whole matter up, when He answered them and said, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these MY BRETHREN, ye have done it unto me" (Mt. 25:37-40). And Jesus told us who His brethren are, when He said, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Mt. 12:50).

Obviously, Christ's brethren does not include every Tom, Dick, and Harry, or Susy, Jane, and Mary whether saved or unsaved. Those who do the will of His Father are Christ's brethren! And they are my brethren also! All the others on the Lord's left hand shall be sent into the age-abiding fire of cleansing, which is the fiery presence of the Lord (He. 12:29), for further processing and preparation (Mt. 25:45-46). But the righteous, or those on His right hand, shall enter into eternal life to INHERIT the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the ages.

It is certainly good to feed and clothe the needy of this world. But our real interest should be to feed and clothe the Christ! Christ's brethren, or the body of Christ, are those saints whom I desire to give to eat of the Bread of God, to give them the waters of His Life, and help clothe them with the garments of His holiness and righteousness, as the Spirit leads. In the scripture quoted above, Jesus is referring to a spiritual service or ministry to His brethren, the body of Christ. As it was with Jesus, so it is with me! My brethren are those who do the will of my Father! Others are free to go their own way and do their own thing for the present. In due time, they shall all be delivered when the whole creation is set free at the manifestation of the sons of God.

Jesus said the poor and needy will always be with us (Mt. 26:11). And they shall continue to be with us until creation's full release. Little good is done when we attempt to feed and clothe the poor of this world. The greater good will come as we tend to the needs of the Christ of God, which includes His body, who are all sons of God, or those who do the will of their Father in heaven. Christ's true brethren are those who are chosen of the Father to be sons of God. They are those who must have spiritual food, drink, and clothing! They are being changed by eating of the tree of Life, which is the Bread, the wine, and the Life of Christ, resulting in changes in the world.

While the people of the world, including ourselves, are eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting and building in the natural, the Spirit of the Lord is changing us from our old, former glory to another, greater and higher glory. People the world over are all doing what is necessary to sustain their lives in this world. But while we are all doing the things that pertain to this life, the progressive work of the Spirit within is changing us into His image and likeness. We are not yet changed into His full image and likeness, nor are we fully perfected, but we are getting there one step at a time. The Spirit of God is doing the work within us for His glory, as only He can. Christ is appearing within us, by the Spirit, to bring about the necessary changes in our lives. Each revelation of Christ to us is not only changing us, but is also preparing us for our complete transformation, which will take place "in a moment" (as in 1 Co. 15:52).

The path to our full and complete transformation is set forth by Paul in his letter to the Romans. He wrote to tell us, "I plead with you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present all your faculties to Him as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to Him. This with you will be an act of reasonable worship. And do not follow the customs of the present age, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your minds, so that you may learn by experience what God's will is - that will which is good and beautiful and perfect" (Ro. 12:1-2, Weymouth). I am sure many of us understand what it means to present all our faculties, especially our bodies, to the Lord. Whenever we go through physical afflictions and trials, we are learning to present our bodies to the Lord, as a living sacrifice that is acceptable to Him. As we go through those afflictions, we soon learn not to claim our bodies as our own, or to demand that God heal us. And when the Lord chooses not to heal us, we then have no other recourse but to fully commit our bodies and our lives to Him.

By the anointing of the Spirit, Paul advises us not to follow the customs of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we fully understand the truth of this scripture, we will then see that the customs of this world are diametrically opposed to the new order of the Spirit and of the kingdom of God on earth. This means that all who are walking the narrow pathway to the fullness of the kingdom of God are turning away from the customs of this world and its systems. Our faith and our vision is fixed on the Lord and His kingdom, for Christ and His kingdom are the only hope of the world. The systems of this world and its corrupt customs have no attraction for us. Man's attempts to judge and govern are vain attempts at best.

We who are spiritual fully understand that the systems of this world are corrupt, useless and vain; and to continue to participate in its systems and follow the world and its customs is hopeless and leads to darkness. The path to the fullness of the kingdom of God also is the path to sonship fulfilled and the manifestation of the sons of God. It is the path of righteousness leading us away from the customs and practices of this world and its corruption, toward the most holy realm of the greater fullness of the kingdom and glory of our Father. Paul's message seems to indicate that the renewal of our minds can only take place when we no longer participate in the customs and practices of this worldly order of man. Christ the King and the kingdom of God, and nothing else, will then be that in which we have placed all our trust and confidence.

We believe the Lord has risen in the Spirit "to shake terribly the earth." As this great shaking takes place, we are advised by the anointed prophet, Isaiah, to "cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Is. 2:21-22.) The elect, who are being renewed in their minds unto their ultimate transformation, are ending their association with the customs and practices of this worldly order of man's corruption. The elect have ceased the ways of man! They have no place in the systems of this world! They are called to inherit the kingdom of God, and are led by the Spirit of their Father. They worship the mighty, omnipotent King of kings and Lord of lords, and have discontinued their association with the systems of this world, as much as is possible. Many of us expect the Lord to deliver us out of this worldly order. And the Lord may be doing that now by leading us to have nothing more to do with man's corrupt political order.

Those who are following on to know the Lord in greater fullness are being transformed by the renewing of their minds. They are regularly receiving new truths. Their minds are being renewed as their carnal minds are being replaced with the mind of Christ. The ultimate and complete transformation and manifestation of the sons of God is their goal; it is the supreme purpose in God to which they are called and for which they are striving. To do the will of their Father is their utmost desire! They have discovered that His will "is good and beautiful and perfect." Their hopes are fixed on Christ and on the kingdom of their Father. They know that all else is vain and useless! The necessities that pertain to this life are seen as vital but temporary distractions that turn them away from their spiritual pursuit of the fullness of God. They regularly seek the Lord, ascending in the Spirit to heavenly places in Christ. They know that God and His kingdom are their true and real inheritance, not anything of this world.

In his epistle, Peter refers to our inheritance, and then clearly tells of the sovereignty of God in the lives of the elect. When we understand the sovereignty of God, we will also understand that God chose us in Christ before the foundations of the ages were set forth. He chose us beforehand to be His elect remnant at this time. And He also fore-ordained that we should have an inheritance in His kingdom.

The Amplified Translation gives this account of Peter's message, "Peter, an apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion (scattered Israel) (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithynia, Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance - that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions and moral conflicts. Praised (honored, blessed be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay (imperishable), unsullied, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time" (1 Peter 1:1-5, Amplified).

When we understand the sovereignty of God in our lives, we will then know that in all the events and circumstances we go through, it was God all the way! No longer will we consider our own efforts or religious works as having anything to do with our high calling in God. Our Father chose us as His own before the foundation of the world! When our Father chose us, He also sanctified us. Even though our sanctification may be a life-long process, it is a purpose in God that was established before the foundation of the world. By the boundless mercy and grace of God we were begotten again to an ever living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We can take no credit for our salvation! God and God alone determined that we would be saved. He determined when and where we were to be saved, and then He brought it to pass, by His Spirit. It is God Who has given us an incorruptible, imperishable inheritance that is reserved in heaven, or in the realm of the Spirit, for each and every one of us. It is also by God's power that we are kept, guarded, and preserved, as if we are being defended by an army (garrisoned), until we shall inherit that final salvation, even the transformation of these bodies, which is ready to be revealed FOR US AND IN US in the last time.

There is an imperishable inheritance waiting for us! That inheritance is given to us by God, Who also shall keep us and make us worthy of that inheritance. If a person knew that a relative or close friend had given them vast possessions, including a beautiful home and extensive lands, as their inheritance, that person would do all they could to remain in close contact with that friend or relative and be worthy of that inheritance. Should it not be the same with our inheritance in Christ? Indeed, it should be our highest priority to regularly commune with our Father in the Spirit, hearing and doing all His holy will. Yet, our inheritance in Christ is not to be received by the works of the law or by attempting to make ourselves worthy. Our eternal inheritance (Ps. 37:18) in the kingdom of God is based on the promises of God (He. 9:15), and not on the law or our paltry works of the flesh.

Paul tells us that the true inheritance is given to "all them which are sanctified," or to all those who are made holy and righteous by the precious blood of Jesus (Acts 20:32, 26:18). When we were saved by the blood of Jesus, it was only the beginning of our processing and sanctification. The scripture tells us "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (He. 10:10, 14). But our experiences tell us that our sanctification has been an on-going process, which may not yet be completely fulfilled or accomplished. We may still have some little "foxes" within us that could spoil the "vine" that we are. If this is true, then we know we are not yet fully sanctified and prepared to receive our full inheritance in the kingdom of God. Inasmuch as "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (1 Co. 15:50), our process of sanctification will continue until we are changed from this body of flesh and blood into the incorruptible image and likeness of Christ. Our change shall take place by seeing Christ in the Spirit!

Paul also wrote of the plan and purpose of God, which he called, "the mystery of his will." He wrote further, to say, "[He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been fore-ordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will" (Eph. 1:10-11, Amplified).

We were called, chosen, and appointed of the Father before God's plan for the ages of this world began. And since we were chosen and fore-ordained in Christ from the very beginning, it is also true that we were also sanctified in Christ at that same beginning. When the time is fulfilled at "the climax of the ages," the entire plan and purpose of God shall then be completely fulfilled. It will take all the ages to fulfill every jot and tittle of the purposes of God. Our Father designated His purposes for each age when He set forth His plan in the beginning, before the ages of this world began. And while this verse sets forth God's ultimate plan and purpose, much of that plan must be walked out in the lives of God's people to be fulfilled. Our Father not only planned it all, He also "works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will," and as it pleases Him, including our sanctification in preparation for our full salvation.

Our Father takes the responsibility for preparing us and making us fit to inherit His kingdom. It was also Paul who wrote, "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light" (Col. 1:12, Amplified). In God's mind the work is already done! We are fully qualified to inherit the kingdom! We just need to walk it out to be changed into His image and likeness. And we walk it out by going through the tests and trials of this life. The word of God, which is His truth, is also a sanctifying factor in our lives (Jo. 17:17). Regarding our calling in God, Paul also wrote, "Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Knowing (with all certainty) that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your (real) reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ, the Messiah" (Col. 3:23-24, Amplified).

Abraham is set forth in scripture as our example of one who was given an inheritance in the kingdom of God. It is written of him, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (see He. 11:8-10). The elect of the Lord are walking a path similar to Abraham's. We were called out of the church system to inherit a "land" that is yet unseen and somewhat unknown. But we walked out in faith knowing that our inheritance was secure in Christ. Like Abraham, who was an heir of God, we consider the tents or houses of this world as only our temporary dwelling places, not our real inheritance. Whatever and wherever that "land" is, we knew we could get "there" by hearing His still, small Voice, and by doing all His will as He revealed it to us. Because our inheritance is not of earth or of worldly value, we know it is spiritual and of the high quality of the fullness of the kingdom of God. By faith, we continue to sojourn as if in a strange country, as Abraham did, looking for that same "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

We are not looking for a literal city of this world built by man, but we are looking for a city "whose builder and maker is God." Since the "city" of our inheritance is built by God, it must be a spiritual realm in God that has in it all that is necessary for mankind's eternal sustenance. Therefore, we are looking for a heavenly, spiritual city, the new Jerusalem, which is above and which is free, and which is the mother of us all (Ga. 4:26). We are looking for that city to come from God out of the heavens to the earth. We are looking for that city, when it has fully come to the earth, to transform everything of this earth into the greater reality and life of the kingdom of God, bringing forth a new earth wherein dwelleth the righteousness of Christ. The new earth of our inheritance will be free of the carnality of man and the curse of sin and death. We are looking for a new earth without the ravages of sickness, disease, want, or poverty. We are looking for a new earth that has no sin, sorrow, or evil of any kind. We are looking for a new earth wherein all its citizens are constantly and continually fed and nourished by the tree of Life. And all who eat of that tree love and worship the Lord God of Israel, even Him Who has become the Lord of all and Who is in all.

All this and more is what our inheritance shall be. Our inheritance is God! It is all He is and all He shall yet be! We believe and know that God is the supreme Head, the King and Lord of all in the heavenlies now. We also know that He does not yet possess and control all things or everyone on this earth. But by the present reign of Christ in the earth, our God shall eventually possess and control, as omnipotent King and Lord, all that is in the earth and on the earth. His kingdom must increase until He is all and in all (1 Co. 15:28)! Since our inheritance includes all that God is (De. 10:9), our vision and understanding of Him will increase until we fully understand the vast potential of the kingdom of God and all that is included in our inheritance. Our vision and understanding of God and His kingdom has already increased! And it shall continue to increase until we are fully changed, possessing the mind of Christ in fullness, and arrayed in heavenly, spiritual garments of the Light and glory of the Lord.

Change is the Way of the Kingdom of God!

The entire story of God's plan of redemption and restoration is one of change! God Himself remains forever changeless and perfect, but every thing else must be changed. The Psalmist said, "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them (the whole creation) shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture (a garment or clothing) shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed (which we are) shall be established before thee" (Ps. 102:25-27).

God is changing the way His kingdom is being administered in the earth, we are being changed by His Life, and the world shall also be changed. Since "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," we must be completely changed into the image and likeness of Christ to inherit His kingdom. Only God can change us to make us what He wants us to be. Our Father can change us with the same simplicity and ease as if we were merely changing our clothes. It is just that easy and simple for Him! God may use the things of this world to change us, but only He can change us into His image and likeness. And we may be assured that He is doing it with the zeal of the Lord of hosts!

The changes the elect must experience to be transformed are shown in prophetic type in the prophecy of Zechariah. Joshua was the high priest then, and he is typical of the Lord's elect of this hour. The word of the Lord likened our carnality to "filthy garments" with which Joshua was clothed. "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment" (Zech. 3:3-4). What a wonderful and reassuring word from the Lord! We have all struggled with our own carnality, being troubled and perplexed by what were the little and brief manifestations of our carnal nature. Yet, those manifestations of carnality, whether large or small, seemed to be beyond our control. In every situation like that, God is training us and making us overcomers in that situation.

The Lord knows all about our struggles, and He is the answer for us. He is causing our iniquities to pass from us. In due time, when we have walked out the necessary processings that are preparing us for our change, the Lord will clothe us with a change of raiment. Instead of these bodies of corruption, we shall be clothed upon with a new body that is just like His. Our new body of incorruption will swallow up the old man of corruption, bringing forth the new man of the Spirit (2 Co. 5:1-4). Our ultimate change does not depend on us, for God shall bring it to pass! Our responsibility is to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, anticipate our change, submit our lives to Him, and be renewed in our minds by hearing and believing His word of truth.

The nations and peoples of the world shall also be changed. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied regarding the sins of the nations, including Moab. He prophesied of Moab's change and of the change of all other nations. He said, "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed" (Jer. 48:11). In this prophecy the Lord considered the state of Moab and its sinful condition, comparing it to inferior wine. The "lees" refer to the sediments or settlings of wine during fermentation. Those settlings, or lees, were sometimes left in the wine to improve the flavor. But the wine obviously needed to be poured or emptied from vessel to vessel to thoroughly mix the wine, thus improving the flavor of all the wine. Moab was as wine that had settled on its lees, without being poured from vessel to vessel to improve the flavor of the wine. The result was that the "taste" of Moab, following the type of wine making, had remained the same, and the "scent" or fragrance from Moab, as from wine, was not changed or improved. The Lord also interjected the related truth that Moab had not yet "gone into captivity."

To change Moab's bad taste and putrid scent due to unrighteousness, this is what the Lord said He would do to Moab: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence" (Jer. 48:12-13). The taste and scent from old Moab were not good; it was as bad wine. The nation needed to be changed, as all nations do, to improve its spiritual taste and scent. So the Lord said He would send wanderers who would cause Moab to wander. Those wanderers might have been roving bands of thieves who overwhelmed Moab and conquered the nation, thus symbolically pouring out and emptying their "vessels" and breaking their "bottles." In this way, the Lord was typically disposing of the bad wine the nation produced through disobedience and sin. It was His plan to judge them and bring them to repentance, resulting in a renewed nation that produced new wine that had the spiritual taste and scent of the righteousness of Christ.

Does God care about the people and the nations of the world? Indeed He does, just as He cares for us! He will do all that is necessary to cause a nation and a people to manifest the taste and the scent of righteousness. When a nation goes into captivity, or some other calamity takes place among them, it is for their ultimate good. God can change a whole nation, as He is doing with our nation now, with just one thought of judgment from His omnipotent mind. And when that nation and people are changed by the judgments of the Lord, the taste and the scent coming from them will be just like fine wine that has been mixed well by being poured from vessel to vessel, and properly aged with its lees. The judgments of the Lord may be difficult to experience, but the end result will be the righteousness of Christ.

In writing to the Romans, Paul revealed the iniquities in the hearts of the people, who changed the glory of the incorruptible and immortal God into images resembling themselves in their carnal state, as well as the animals. "For God's [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discernable in and through the things that have been made - His handiworks. So [men] are without excuse - altogether without any defense or justification; [Ps. 19:1-4.] Because when they knew and recognized Him as the God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God, or give Him thanks.

"But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking - with vain imaginings, foolish reasonings and stupid speculations - and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools - professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves. And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were changed for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their own hearts..., abandoning them to the degrading power of sin. Because they exchanged the truth of God and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen - so be it [Jer. 2:11.]" (Ro. 1:18-25, Amplified).

This passage of scripture clearly details the condition of people in this nation and around the world. Much of what is happening now has already taken place in Israel's Old Testament history. Paul declared this truth, when he wrote, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (or ages) are come" (1 Co. 10:11). During their disobedience and rebellion against God, Israel of old did many of the things that are written in the first chapter of Romans. Then, the people of Israel did not understand the wonders of the Lord in Egypt. They forgot the multitude of His mercies that He showed them. They provoked Him at the Red Sea, nevertheless He saved them that He might make His mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea and saved them from the hand of their enemies. Then they believed His words and sang His praises, but only for a short time. They soon forgot His works, and waited not for His counsel. They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls. All this took place before Moses was called of God to come up into the mount to receive the tables of the law.

Throughout their history, the Israelites of old listened to their carnal minds, often turning away from the Lord and His words and ways. But when the Lord judged them for their unbelief and rebellion, they turned to Him and trusted and believed His word - until the next test or trial, when they again listened to their carnal minds. This truth is seen all through the book of Judges. When Israel turned away from the Lord, He sent their enemies to defeat them and oppress them. This brought the nation to repentance, and caused them to return to the Lord. But again they rebelled against Him. So the Lord sent yet another enemy to defeat them and again they repented. This procedure continued all through the book of Judges, showing the infidelity of man. Then, when Moses went up Mount Sinai, to receive the law written by the finger of God on tables of stone, and he delayed returning to the people, they built a golden calf.

"They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. [Exod. 32:4.] Thus they exchanged Him Who was their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass - they traded their honor for the image of a calf!" (Ps. 106:19-20, Amplified). Most people do not realize they are doing it, but they are, in fact, making images fashioned after the likeness of the glory of God that is in their own carnal minds. Just as Israel in Horeb made a golden calf and worshiped it, so many today, including some Christians, are making images from their carnal minds, which they call God. They are perceiving God to be something other than what He really is. Like Israel of old, they are exchanging the true glory and the real likeness of God for the images of their own making. They are trading that which is the greater honor and glory of the Lord for the lesser images of their own making. But, in spite of man's unbelief and disobedience, the Lord shall bring the people of the nations to repentance, that He might remove their false images, and reveal Christ to them as HE IS in all His ascended glory and honor. And we are the firstfruits of that which our Father shall do for the multitudes in the kingdom of God!

Because many resorted to ideas about God conceived in their carnal minds, God gave them up and abandoned them to the degrading power of sin for a season. In the fullness of time, when His elect remnant came to greater maturity, the wrath of God was revealed against all ungodliness of mankind to bring forth His righteousness in them all. We can see that this is taking place now, for His judgments are in the earth! When the Lord shows His wrath against man's unrighteousness, it is a sign of good things to come. It is an indication that the Lord is reigning and that He is moving in the earth to change the hearts of mankind. We should now rejoice, for the judgments of the Lord have come to the earth (see Ps. 105:6-10, Is. 26:9). By spiritual standards, which are the righteous standards of the kingdom of God on earth, conditions in the world are improving!

The word of God is being fulfilled: "The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: He hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness" (Is. 33:5). Things in the natural realm may be deteriorating, but God is using these conditions to establish His righteousness in the earth. The Lord our God, Who dwelleth on High, is exalted in the earth. True judgment and righteousness is seriously lacking everywhere else, but God has filled Zion, the realm of His elect, with His judgment and His righteousness. And we are beginning to see the results of Zion's spiritual influence in the world around us.

The economy may be in trouble, but violent crime is down. Wars and rumors of war may persist, but people and nations are learning the futility of war. Furious storms have pounded our country and troubled many of our people, but through it all the Lord will bring many to repentance. Teenagers and young people have followed the course of their carnal minds, resulting in pregnant teenage girls and diseased young people. But the trend is reversing and young people are learning to say "no" to sex outside of marriage. Does God know how to turn mankind away from sin and unrighteous deeds? Indeed He does! And He is doing it now without first saving them, even though that is His ultimate purpose and intention!

We have all seen and witnessed the negative results of unrighteousness in our nation and among our people. The prophet foretold the present condition, when he said, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are (spiritually) desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned (by the judgments of the Lord's fiery presence because of their sins), and few (righteous) men left" (Is. 24:5-6). The sins and iniquities of mankind have made the world what it is today. The curse is devouring the earth and most people have become spiritually desolate! But this is only a temporary condition! The Lord has taken action! He has raised up His elect remnant in the earth, who shall bring restoration to the whole fallen order of man, by the Spirit.

Using the type of wine as Jeremiah did, the prophet Isaiah said further, "The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction" (Is. 24:7-12).

Wine in prophetic type illustrates the spiritual condition of people or nations. When the new wine that comes from a nation or a people "mourneth," it is an illustration of the spiritual degradation of that people or nation. Those who attempt to drink of the new wine from that unrighteousness nation do not drink it with a song. How can anyone drink the "wine" of the nations of today? All that comes forth from the nations and peoples of the world at this time is as tasteless and bitter wine; it is "strong drink" that makes the merryhearted sigh. Still, there is a crying for wine in the streets, because the new wine is of inferior quality, so that the joy of the people is darkened and the mirth of the land is gone. This results in desolate cities, and the gates of those cities being smitten with destruction. Of course, this is a spiritual description of our people, our cities, and our land. And because the spiritual condition of our people and our lands is unright-eous, we are also seeing literal signs in the world now of that inner, unrighteous, spiritual condition.

But I repeat this great truth again for all to hear and understand. This is only a temporary condition! The Lord has taken action! As He said He would do with Moab, so the Lord is beginning to bring judgment on the nations. As the taste and the scent of Moab was not good, giving forth the scent of unrighteousness, so the taste and the scent of all the people of the nations of today give forth the scent of unrighteousness. The new wine from all the nations is like strong drink. It is unfit to drink! Therefore, the Lord has purposed to bring judgment upon the nations that will cause their wine bottles to break and the vessels of their new wine to be emptied of their wine that has become old, strong drink because of unrightousness. When the old, strong drink has been poured out, leaving empty vessels, the Lord will fill them with His righteousness. Then the people of the nations will give forth both the taste and the scent of wine that is new and fresh, manifesting the righteousness of Christ. The judgments of the Lord are in the earth, and He has raised up His elect remnant to bring restoration to the whole fallen order of man.

By the Spirit, the prophet continued, saying, "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea" (of man, as in Is. 57:20 and 60:5). "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high (the high spiritual powers of evil in the lower heavens of darkness), and the kings of the earth upon the earth. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in (the new) Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously" (Is. 24:13-14, 21 and 23).

By the Spirit, Christ and His sons are dealing with the source of all evil, which is the "the strong man" and his house. We are engaged in spiritual warfare! It is warfare in the Spirit and by the Spirit, that we learned in the former era, and which we used during our processing and preparation in the wilderness. But now we have matured in Christ, and shall bring forth 100-fold because of that greater maturity. We are in Christ in a greater way! Therefore, we are spoiling the house of evil and all his goods by first binding the "the strong man," which is old Adam in union with the devil (see Mt. 12:28-29). And when "the strong man" is bound and his "house" in the lower heavens is destroyed, all evil shall end until our Father's purposes for this period of "a thousand years" are fulfilled (see Rev. 20:1-3).

The unrighteous "in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative." Not only do the wicked of this world repress and hinder the truth of God and make it inoperative, but so do most Christians. Listening to their carnal minds, the unrighteous, including most Christians, "became futile and godless in their thinking - with vain imaginings, foolish reasonings and stupid speculations - and their senseless minds were darkened" (Ro. 1:21, Amp.). By their carnal minds, many have turned the glory, majesty and excellence of the immortal God into false images conceived in their unrighteousness. The whole religious system that now exists, which is prophetically called "Babylon," is the result of the false images created by the carnal mind of man. But things in the world are changing and getting better! The reign of Christ has begun and God is bringing forth His judgments in the earth. This shall bring mankind to repentance and to a spiritual knowledge and understanding of the true and living God.

Isaiah described the world at the time of the beginning of the reign of Christ. He described this world just the way it is now, for this is the time when the reign of Christ has begun in the earth. The greater maturity of the elect remnant, by the Spirit of God within them, brought about or caused the reign of Christ to begin in the earth. The Lord has faithfully brought us to maturity, and to His greater purposes for this time. And we may be assured that He will complete the work He has begun in us for His glory. He will also cause us to rise from this death to inherit the fullness of the Life of Christ, in due time. Christ is reigning now, and He is also bringing forth His judgments in the earth. When we see that the earth "is defiled under the inhabitants thereof," then it also is the time for the shaking of the olive tree, which will bring forth the harvest of the elect remnant, who are "as the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done." While the Lord has been shaking everything that could be shaken, He also shook the olive tree representing His people (see Ro. 11:17-27). And when the Lord shook that olive tree, the prepared remnant were harvested from that "tree," causing the judgments of the Lord to begin.

With the beginning of the reign of Christ in the earth, the remnant, who are shaken from that olive tree, are not doomsayers, messengers of gloom, darkness and despair, or grumblers and complainers. They are not filled with the darkness of man's carnal mind, but are messengers of the GOOD NEWS of the kingdom of God! They cherish the blessed truth of their Father's plan of redemption and restoration for all! They are the true sons of God, or sons of Light, who are dispelling the darkness of this long night of man's rebellion and unrighteousness. They are the sons of Zion who bring forth righteous judgment in the earth! By the Spirit, they are leading mankind from the depths of sin onto the new highway of the kingdom of God. They are lifting up their voices as trumpets in the Holiest of all, in the Spirit, singing the high praises of their King and Lord of all. By the Spirit, they shall cry aloud from the great sea of man, saying to all who shall hear, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"

The prophet described with accurate detail the fallen, sinful condition of the world when the reign of Christ begins. So also has he correctly detailed the attitude and high spiritual qualities of the elect remnant of this hour. The prophet said of them: "they shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea" (of man). The Light of Christ has shined within the hearts of the elect remnant, dispelling the darkness within them, and giving them a new song to sing. Seeing the many distressing problems as they look out at the great sea of man, the elect are beginning to dispel the darkness in the world, even as the darkness within them has been dispelled. They are the overcomers, and are overcoming all things!

Paul and Emily Mueller

P O BOX 25055, PORTLAND, OR 97298-0055