THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES TO EARTH

May 2001

The kingdom of God is coming "down" from heaven to the earth to change everything in and of this old earth. As the kingdom of God comes down to the earth in parts or in segments from the heavens of God's Spirit, we will see that the will of God in the earth is increasing and spreading. His kingdom is increasing from the mustard seed stage to the greater fullness of the reign of Christ, becoming a great tree that will fill the whole earth with His authority and power, as well as His blessings and benefits. He Who is Lord of both the heavens and the earth will make it so (Lu. 10:21). The kingdom of God will continue to come to the earth from the heavens of His Spirit until the will of our Father is done in both the earth and the heavens, without one shred of hesitation, compromise, or resistance from anyone anywhere.

The coming of the greater fullness of the kingdom of God to the earth is the merging or the uniting of heaven and earth. It is the completion and conclusion of the grand and glorious kingdom plan of our Father. It is His sovereign plan and purpose to subdue all things everywhere, put them all under His feet, and establish His salvation, righteousness, peace and prosperity everywhere and in every circumstance. Then, the "end" will come, for Christ will have delivered up the kingdom to the Father, thus showing to all mankind everywhere that Christ has put down all other rule, authority and power, and that He is Lord and King of it all. Then, God the Father shall be all and in all everywhere and to every created thing (1 Cor. 15:24 & 28)!

What will it be like when heaven and earth become one in the Spirit?

Will heaven and earth cease to exist as separate entities, as they are now, in the glorious fullness of the kingdom of our Father? Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away" (Lu. 21:33, and Rev. 20:11). And John said he saw "a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away" (Rev. 21:1).

If the heavens and the earth, as they are now, do pass away, His throne and kingdom will replace them. We may have other questions, but whatever the future holds for the creation, we know that every part of our Father's creation will be cleansed, spiritually lifted up and exalted far above its present, corrupted condition. Every bit of Father's vast creation will be fully redeemed and gloriously restored to become perfect and complete, including ourselves! Nothing will be lacking in any part of the creation, for it shall all manifest the fullness of the Life of Christ. If this is true for the whole creation, including the heavens and the earth, and it is; imagine the possibilities and the potentials for everyone of us, when the full benefits and blessings of the kingdom of Love has fully occupied our lives, for His glory and honor!

Elements of the Kingdom of God Are Coming to the Earth

The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ gives accounts of the growth and manifestation of the Christ, in the full glory and power of His kingdom, as He is made known to those of earth. In the fifteenth chapter, seven angels are seen with the seven last plagues representing the fullness of the wrath of God, which are to be poured out on the earth. A company of saints were also seen who had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name. They are the elect and chosen saints of the Lord who have overcome all things of this world. Those overcomers were seen standing on a sea of glass, which represents all mankind and all nations. If the wicked are like the troubled sea (Is. 57:20), then the sea of glass shows all the people of all the nations of the world as being fully redeemed and delivered of all evil. Those overcomers were seen holding the harps of God and were undoubtedly playing them.

Harps were used in Israel during times of joy in the presence of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:5), and also for prophetic purposes (1 Chr. 25:1). But when Israel was in bondage, their harps were silent (Ps. 137:2). That the overcomers are seen playing the harps of God indicates the fullness of the joy of the Lord in their lives, as well as their prophetic, kingdom service to the creation. Their tests and trials are over, as well as all their former bondages. And now those victorious overcomers are seen celebrating the true joy of the kingdom of God, which only their Father could give them. They were experiencing the new Life of the kingdom of their Father, along with added understanding of the truths and the ways of their Lord and King. So they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest" (Rev. 15:3-4). Although this may be a part of our future, it is good for us to learn and understand this prophetic song now!

The Lord our God, whom we lovingly and willingly serve, is indeed our King! He is the "King of saints!" By His power as our King, He is changing us and molding us into His glorious image and likeness! All His works are great and marvelous, and His ways are just and true. We fear and honor Him with Godly fear, for He alone is holy. We seek to glorify His great Name everywhere and in every situation. And now we know and understand, by the Spirit, that all the nations of this world shall come and worship before Him. When His judgments are made manifest in the earth, we will then have cause for rejoicing. It is by the Lord's judgments that all mankind will learn His righteousness and shall come to know Him. Thus, the prophet prophesied, "Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night (during this present prophetic night); yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Is. 26:8-9).

Following the appearance of the overcomers, as they sang their triumphant and victorious song, the seven angels were given seven vials full of the wrath of God. Those seven vials of the wrath of God were then poured out within the temple or the house of the Lord, filling His house with smoke from the awesome glory and power of God. No activity was allowed in the Lord's temple until all seven of those plagues were fulfilled within the house of the Lord. (The number seven is a prophetic number meaning completeness or fullness.) And those plagues are purposed of God to thoroughly cleanse and purge all who abide within His house or temple (Rev. 15:5-8).

A general housecleaning is desperately needed in the house of the Lord, and this is taking place now in the lives of the elect. The word of the Lord given in Peter's anointed epistle confirms this truth. Thus we read, "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange - unusual and alien to you and your position - were befalling you. But in so far as you are sharing CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, rejoice, so that when His glory (full of radiance and splendor) is revealed you may also rejoice with triumph - exultantly. If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you] - happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition - because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. [Isa. 11:2.] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or any sort of criminal; or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others - infringing on their rights. But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy] to suffer in this name" (1 Peter 4:12-16, Amplified).

Why Do the Righteous Suffer?

The judgments of the Lord have come to the true house of the Lord! Father is cleansing His house! The righteous ones, the overcomers, or the elect and chosen sons of God, are suffering at this strange time of transition. We are suffering as we are because we have been chosen of our Father to manifest the glory of His kingdom. He has called and chosen us to manifest His glory to all the people of all the nations on earth. Therefore, we are enduring the sufferings of Christ!

We are not suffering through this fiery ordeal of intense tests and trials because we have done something wrong, or because we have failed God. We are sharing in the sufferings of Christ at this time so that when His great glory is revealed within us and through us, we will be fully prepared to receive that glory and to manifest Him to the world, not ourselves. We will then manifest His glory, revealing Him and the glory of His kingdom in fullness to all mankind and to the whole creation. We are suffering according to the will of God! Therefore, the Spirit of glory or the Spirit of God is resting upon us, to bring us more into God's favor and also to the greater fullness of the complete salvation of the Lord for our whole being.

When the seven angels pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God within the house of the Lord, who is affected? Who are those who are led of the Spirit to endure the sufferings of Christ? It is the elect and chosen ones, the true sons of God, who are so led of the Spirit to suffer, not the average Christian. Generally, we are those who are called of our Father to walk through the sufferings of Christ, not most nominal Christians. Most Christians are bound in the religious systems of man, and know nothing of Father's call to sonship. When the average, religious Christian sees us suffering, they think we have done something wrong and that we have no faith to believe God for good health and prosperity, which they are blessed with and which they seem to relish with much joy and satisfaction. It is the righteous elect who are suffering, according to the will, plan, and purpose of our Father, not the average Christian. You will know the elect of the Lord by the intensity of their Christ-like sufferings, not by the vague, empty and high-sounding religious claims they may make.

Whenever there is a change in ages, as there is at this time, the Lord brings forth His corrective judgments within His house to prepare His elect to make the necessary transition. Peter, Paul, and other apostles of the Lord wrote and ministered during the New Testament era, or in the beginning of the church age. Much of what they wrote then applies to the elect of the Lord today, for we are in a similar time of transition as they were then. Peter wrote this to the elect of the Lord in the beginning of the church age: "For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? [Prov. 11:31.] Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right, and commit their souls (in charge as a deposit) to the One Who created them and will never fail [them]" (1 Peter 4:17-19, Amplified).

The Lord's judgments came to the house of the Lord then, at that time of the beginning of the church age. So also have the judgments of the Lord come to His house at this time of the beginning of the new and more glorious age of the kingdom of God on earth. We are being judged of the Lord and processed before others (1 Co. 11:31-32), that we might attain to the high calling of God in Christ, which is purposed of our Father to bring us to the fullness of His salvation. Father's purpose in judging us now is to bring us to perfection and full sonship, and to save us in fullness in spirit, soul, and body. Those who are called of God to endure the sufferings of Christ now are walking in obedience, and in truth and righteousness, as the Spirit leads them, according to the higher principles of this new kingdom Day.

If we, as sons of God, are being purged of our Father and are enduring the sufferings of Christ, according to His will, then it is certain that we are finished with the old dead practices and programs of the obsolete church order. We no longer listen to the confusion of the voices of man, but are hearing instead the solitary voice of our beloved Father. And we are doing the right things according to the will of our Father, as Peter said we would. We have committed our souls and bodies to our sovereign King, Lord and Creator, with complete understanding and full assurance that He will never fail to fulfill His kingdom purposes concerning each one of His elect.

True, maturing sons of God are walking the sonship walk! They are living their lives in this world according to the pure and perfect will of their heavenly Father, knowing they will be judged of the Lord for the deeds done in this body of flesh and blood (see Ro. 8:13, 2 Co. 5:9-10 & Jude 15). They hear only the Voice and the Word of their heavenly Father! To walk in the old church order paths of the past and listen to the voices of man is a walk that parallels the dead, religious ways of the old city of Jerusalem, the city of this world that is in bondage with all her children (Gal. 4:25). It is a walk according to the old order of the past that is governed by the covenants of the past, such as the one given on Mt. Sinai.

When we walk in sonship, being obedient to the more perfect will and ways of our Father, we then become a free people; we are free in Christ - free to do all He tells us. And there is no freedom anywhere like the freedom we will have when we are fully IN CHRIST! We are then released from all the carnal ways of man and of the dead past, and are set free to walk with Him to the glory of His fullness and perfection. To walk in sonship in this new Day, means we will make the spiritual and literal transition from the outmoded ways of the old city of Jerusalem, which is the city of religious bondage that is of this world. We will forsake the ways of the old church order and will begin to walk with our Father up to the new Jerusalem, the heavenly, spiritual city of the greater Light, Truth and Glory of God.

Our spirits may dwell in that heavenly, spiritual new Jerusalem realm, but it is time for us to live in this world as if we were kings and priests of God. We must show, by our obedience to God, that we are seated with Him in that high and holy heavenly realm while we live in this world. This is the blessed hour when what we are spiritually must be lived and walked out on this earthly plane (1 Jo. 4:15-17). If we will do that, by the leading of His Spirit, we thus demonstrate with our lives the glorious increase in the earth of the kingdom of our Father. All who are called and chosen of their Father to walk in sonship will indeed fulfill this blessed sonship calling! Some must enter in and some are entering in, for this is the great Day of fulfillment!

The writer to the Hebrews told of the contrast between the old city and the new, and between the old covenant and the new. He wrote, "For ye are not come unto the mount (Sinai) that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded...) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly (spiritual) Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant (Heb. 8:10-13), and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Heb. 12:18-20, 22-24).

If we were to rewrite this same passage in today's terms and according to today's needs and circumstances, we might say it this way: In coming to this new mountain in our present spiritual journey, we left that old mountain that burned with Pentecostal fire, with its healings, miracles, signs and wonders, in various churches and meetings. We have left that old mountain that had literal sounds of trumpets, choirs, many people praising the Lord, and preachers and teachers filling the air with a mixture of man's ways and God's ways. But we have come to another mountain, which is mount Zion, the city of the living God. On this new heavenly, spiritual mountain there are an innumerable company of angels, as well as the general assembly and church of the firstborn whose names are written in that glorious heavenly or spiritual realm. Here, on this new mountain, are to be found God the Judge of all, the spirits of just men made perfect, which we are becoming, Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than Abel's blood. The blood of Jesus Christ covers all who have come to ascend this new mountain and speaks of His mercy, grace, forgiveness and understanding, while Abel's blood called for immediate vengeance and retribution (Gen. 4:10). His precious blood upon the elect is their passport to the heavenly realm, where the blood of Christ has also been applied.

If we could see this new spiritual mountain as it really is and how it compares to the old religious mountains of the past, we would then make haste to repent of our former ways, and would change our spiritual direction. We would then gladly forsake the old mountains of the past and everything about them, and would begin to climb this new, spiritual mountain with all its exciting challenges and ongoing changes, along with all the new ways and higher principles of the kingdom of our Father. Those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. They are making this necessary transition, from the old mountains of the past, to the new and more glorious spiritual mountain of the greater presence and glory of the Lord. They are enduring the sufferings of Christ and shall walk with Him in garments of glistening white, which represents the fullness of the Life of Christ that shall completely cover and overwhelm them, both within and without!

The writer to the Hebrews continued the message of the new Day, by saying, "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: WHOSE VOICE then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And THIS WORD, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of those things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (Heb. 12:25-27).

According to the above passage, the Voice of the Lord once shook the earth, but will also shake not only the earth but the heavens as well. To bring about this new kingdom Day, the Lord shook both the heavens and the earth, just as He did in the beginning of the church age. We know that the heavens and the earth have been shaken, for there are many changes that have taken place, both in the heavens of the Spirit and in the literal earth all around us. Things are not the same as they once were! I have lived long enough to have seen many changes in this world! We may not like some of the changes, but every change that has come about in this present world is good and perfect, for it all came forth from the heart of Love!

A New Order by the Power of His Word

How did our Father change things in this world and bring about a new order? By speaking forth His Word! By the simplicity of His Word, God created the sun, moon, and stars, including light and darkness, in the beginning! By His Word He created the heavens and the earth and everything of it! By His Word our Creator-Father put the animals, the birds, the fish, and all creeping things on this earth. By His Word God also put man on the earth. Also by His Word our sovereign, creative Father abolished the old church age and that entire old order, and established the new Day and the new and higher order of the kingdom of God on earth. Those who are walking in the Spirit know that a new age has begun. They also know that this is the blessed era of the Davidic phase of the kingdom of God on earth. And they are responding to their Father's Word by repenting of the old order and walking in the new and higher order of the kingdom of God.

By the sovereign power of His omnipotent voice, our Father spoke forth His creative Word, which decreed that a new day had begun, bringing the next phase of the kingdom of God to the earth. And my Father gave me ears to hear that fresh, new Kingdom Word in 1991 in the midst of a very trying time of great physical and emotional pain for Emily and me. At that time, my Father "opened me up" to hear His Word, and then He told me that the next order of the kingdom of God had come "down" from God out of heaven to the earth. And I believe all my heavenly Father tells me! Those who have the hearing ears of the Spirit will hear that same anointed Word! He has never failed to fulfill His holy Word in the past, and He is not failing to fulfill His precious Word now! The Davidic phase of the kingdom of God has come to the earth. And the result of His reign at this time will eventually set the world free of all the enemies of God, including all the corrupt, man-oriented, Babylonish systems of this world.

The Spirit-led, spiritual-minded saints of the Lord are listening only to the Voice and the Word of their Father. They have been weaned of the old dead ways of the past, and are hearing only His pure Word from His pure mind. They obviously have those necessary hearing ears of the Spirit, which were given to them of their Father, and which enabled them to hear His Word! Those who are walking in union with their Head, Lord and King in true righteousness, obedience and holiness are hearing His Voice and His Word only. And they know the difference between man's word and God's holy, creative Word of kingdom power and authority!

By the omnipotent power of His Word, our Father has purposed to establish the next, or Davidic phase, of His kingdom in this world. And that creative Word of kingdom power and authority has established a new and more glorious spiritual order in the earth. This new kingdom order will begin to change things in this old world of man's corruption, iniquity and decay. The new order of the Davidic phase of the kingdom of God has been established in the earth, and this will bring many changes to the world. Those who are spiritual will be able to hear the Word of their Father, by which this new spiritual order has come to the earth.

Small changes have taken place and will continue to take place in the literal earth all around us. But first we must hear and see, in the Spirit, that the new order of the Davidic phase of the kingdom has come to earth, by the Spirit. Then, having seen it in the Spirit, we will also see some small changes taking place in the world all around us. The changes in the world will be minimal during this midnight hour of spiritual darkness. But when the morning of this new kingdom Day fully dawns in radiant glory throughout all the earth, we will see many, literal changes everywhere in every area of this world.

Our Father's progressive order of creation and deliverance was established in the beginning, when He created all things, and also when He delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage. In God's way of doing things, any new day always begins at sundown or at evening time and includes the morning! This truth was established and confirmed when the Lord set forth the creation days in the beginning (see Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23 & 31). Although both the literal and the spiritual day begins in the evening, not until the morning dawns will we see a manifestation of the glory of the Lord. That manifestation will bring many literal changes to this world. By the Spirit, Moses and Aaron said this to the nation of Israel when they were delivered out of Egyptian bondage: "AT EVEN (at sundown or evening time), then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: AND IN THE MORNING, then ye shall SEE the glory of the Lord" (see Ex. 16:6-7).

Those tired, weary, once enslaved Israelites knew at evening time that God had delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt. But they were in the wilderness and saw no improvement in their lives since leaving Egypt. The wilderness was so difficult for them that many in Israel wanted to return to Egypt. They had no country and no home; they wanted a better life, and to see God's glory. Then they could believe that God had delivered them from bondage. So it is with us! We may have heard His Word, declaring that the new Day of the kingdom of God has come to earth. But His Word is something spiritual, and often comes to us without evidence, confirming signs and wonders, and literal changes. This is of God, for all that now IS began with Him Who is the Word. God has purposed that we should hear His Word at evening time. But not until the morning dawns will we see the glory of the Lord and the confirming signs and wonders.

Because our Father has purposed to change things in both the heavens and the earth by the power of His Word, He gave us this particular word of warning: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." There is no one who speaks with such clarity and creative power and authority as our Father! And He will be heard and obeyed by all who have those necessary hearing ears of the Spirit! Our Father is revealing the new order of His kingdom to His chosen sons, along with the new principles of His holy, sovereign will for that kingdom. This will bring forth a new earth, in which the perfect will of our heavenly Father shall be done by all.

By the power and authority of the anointed Word of God the old church order has passed away and the blessed new order of the kingdom of God has taken its place. The Word of God, which we have heard, signifies the removing of all those things that can be shaken. And that which can be shaken are all the things of this world, including everything that was made and organized by man. All that can be shaken by the mighty power of the Word of God must be removed, for it is all being replaced with that which is unshakable, permanent and eternally abiding. The only elements that cannot be shaken, which are permanent and eternally abiding, are those things that are a part of the kingdom of God. It is the blessed kingdom of our Father that has replaced all the old inpart and temporary elements of the past.

To confirm the truth that the kingdom of God is that which has replaced the old obsolete, church order of the past, we only need to read the rest of the chapter. Thus, we read, "Wherefore WE RECEIVING A KINGDOM which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:28-29). If we are truly walking in obedience to our Father as His sons, then we have indeed received a kingdom, even the wonderful and glorious new order of the Davidic phase of the kingdom of our Father. We should not take lightly the things of the Spirit of God, especially that which concerns His eternal kingdom. Our Father is committing the power, the authority and the glory of His kingdom to us, and we should honor, revere and respect Him and all He has planned for us.

It is interesting to see that the words, "we receiving," in this passage means to receive near, to associate with oneself; by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn (from Strong's Concordance). And I say amen to all the above! The true sons of God are receiving the kingdom of their Father! Our Father is bringing us nearer His kingdom; He is associating us with His kingdom and is giving us leadership positions in that kingdom. We are called to be kings and priests after the order of Melchisedek, and our new relationship with our Father and His kingdom assures us of that high and holy calling. Only those who are obedient to His Word and qualified of their Father for that high and holy calling will attain to it. When we come into this new relationship in our Father's kingdom, we will then begin to learn the great spiritual truths and heavenly mysteries of His kingdom!

We should not take lightly that which God is doing with His elect in this glorious new Day! We are admonished in His word to hear Him and be obedient. Rather than continue to play church, listen to man and do all those old religious things of the dead past, we should seek the Lord for His will, as well as His wisdom, guidance and understanding. In his excellent writing titled, "Becoming God's Will," the late George Hawtin wrote the following: "I greatly fear that the testimony in the early church and the testimony of all men today can be truthfully given in the sorrowful words of Paul, "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Phil. 2:21. You would not have to pay a dime a dozen for men who constantly use such worn phrases as "we want God", "we want God's will" , or "I'm seeking the will of the Lord about the matter," or "I think it's the Lord's will that we do this or that." But you will have to search the world over for a handful of men and women who have enough of the spirit of sonship to WITHDRAW FROM EVERY HUMAN EFFORT AND WAIT UNTIL GOD INSTRUCTS THEM though they should wait a lifetime. It is to this truth that Jesus was testifying when He said, "I can of myself do nothing," "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true," "I do always those things that please the Father," and many other such wonderful statements of consecration." (From his book, "When Saints Become The Will of God," page 80. According to my records this was first published in "The Page" in May of 1978. Have we made any progress since then?)

If we ever expect to do those "greater works," we will have to get back to the fundamentals that will make this possible, and that is DOING ONLY THE WILL OF OUR FATHER. That will also mean we will WITHDRAW FROM EVERY HUMAN EFFORT, as Brother Hawtin so eloquently wrote it. Some preachers have criticized Peter for going fishing when there apparently was so much spiritual activity and such a great need among the people at that time (Jo. 21:3). But those who criticize and condemn Peter for going fishing would better serve the kingdom of God if they too went fishing instead of muddying up the spiritual waters of God's purposes with their dead religious works, sometimes false doctrines and carnal-minded efforts. And the sad truth is, preachers today are doing some of the same carnal works while claiming sonship. They are attempting to deceive His chosen remnant. But the true elect of the Lord will not be deceived, for God will keep them true to Him and His purposes! How we need to repent and get back to basics, such as doing only the perfect will of our Father!

In Peter's case, the blessed Lord Jesus Christ did not give Peter anything to do, so the man simply went fishing. And it is better to go fishing than to do something on our own. So much religious work is being done today, even among would-be sons of God, that it would be better for all of them to shut down their empty, religious works and go fishing. The test of whether or not we are doing the will of God is simply this: did our Lord specifically tell us in no uncertain terms that we should do a certain thing. If the Lord did not tell us specifically to do it, then it should not be done at all. Many will say, "the Lord did not stop me or tell me `no', so it must be His will." But that is not the way we learn the will of our Father. To learn the will of God we will first "withdraw from every human effort." Then we will listen to hear His Word of guidance, by the Spirit! If we do not hear a word, telling us to do such and such, then we should not try to do something on our own. That is the standard Jesus established! Peter did not attempt to do anything in the area of spiritual work, for the simple reason that Jesus did not tell him to do something. So, correctly and with utmost respect for the will of His Lord and Master, Peter went fishing.

A fresh new move of the Spirit is coming "down" from God out of heaven! And that new move of the Spirit may be very near at hand! If we expect to have a part in what our Father is about to do in the earth, we will repent, do His perfect will and get down to business with God. These are serious times, but they are also times of unspeakable joy, abundant blessings, and bounteous benefits in the kingdom of our Father. The Lord's true elect, those who have paid the price in sacrifice, dedication, and consecration to their Father, will be given leadership positions in His kingdom, along with much of His authority and power. But that authority will not to be given to milk-fed babes, immature children, or undisciplined adolescents. Only disciplined and maturing sons of God shall share in the blessed mysteries, truths and responsibilities of the kingdom of their Father!

The next, or Davidic, phase of the kingdom of God has come down from God out of heaven to the earth to begin this new Day. A new move of the Spirit shall also come down from God out of heaven to the earth to bless the world with the riches, truths and spiritual treasures of the kingdom of God. We should seek the Lord for the revelation of His Spirit, which will prepare us for all that is yet to come to pass in the earth, and give us a better understanding of it all. In the beginning of the new Day of the church age, which parallels the events at the beginning of this new kingdom Day, Paul said this to the Corinthians, "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but IN UNDERSTANDING BE MEN" (1 Cor. 14:20). In other words, it is time for us to grow up and mature in Christ!

Paul told the Ephesians that he prayed for them, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what (is) the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints..." And also, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles (or as other Christians) walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart..." And again, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 1:17-18, 4:17-18, & 5:17, see also Col. 1:9).

Jesus also said this about the work of the Spirit within the believer, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (Jo. 16:13). Some of God's people today are being guided into all truth, and they are seeing things to come, by the Spirit. Obviously, the holy Spirit is working within them the way Jesus said He would. Others apparently do not know that a new Day has come to the earth, and what this new Day is all about. But Father has a chosen and elect remnant in the earth today who have ears to hear Him! They are hearing His Voice and His Word, and are getting spiritual glimpses of some wonderful things yet to come in the kingdom of their Father.

The writer to the Hebrews gave us a further word of warning concerning the kingdom of God. He told us that we are receiving the kingdom of God. He also told us how we should act spiritually and what our attitude should be when His kingdom comes. Of course, that writer to the Hebrews was referring to the first coming of the kingdom of God to the earth at that time of the beginning of the church age. Today, we are receiving the next phase of the kingdom of God, which is the Davidic phase of His kingdom. In this new Day, with the coming of the next phase of the kingdom of God to the earth, we are admonished of the apostle, "let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."

These are serious but also joyous and wonderful times! There never has been a Day quite like this wonderful new, kingdom Day! Nor has there ever been a people who have been so blessed as we have been, and who have come to such a high degree of spiritual maturity, by the leading of the Spirit. But our Father did not bring us to this "place" to let us squander away our spiritual abilities on the old dead things of the past, such as church order and man's ways. Our Father called us to be kings and priests after the order of Melchisedec, and His Spirit is ever urging us onward and upward, that we might attain to that high calling of God in Christ for which we have been apprehended.

Those who see this new kingdom Day at all will cease the old religious practices of the past, and will get serious with their Father. They will do as the writer to the Hebrews admonished; they will receive His free gift of grace and will also manifest His abundant grace in and through their lives. They will also serve their Father acceptably and according to His perfect will, and will do so with much reverence and godly fear. The faithful elect fear their Father, not with the negative fear of man, but with His positive, Godly fear and respect, for they know He is a consuming fire. They know their Father will burn all their old empty, religious works in the holy fires of His awesome and consuming presence. So they desire to do only His perfect will! They are becoming more spiritual and are able to HEAR His pure Word from His pure mind. Therefore, they have ceased all those old order religious, church works of man! They also see the positive side of obedience to their Father. They know He will reward them with the blessings of the overcomers, which includes the Life of Christ to transform them, giving them a new nature along with a new body.

The Angel With the Everlasting Gospel

While in the Spirit on the Lord's day, John saw the Lamb standing on mount Zion, and with Him were the one-hundred-forty-four thousand who had their Father's Name written in their foreheads. John also heard a heavenly voice that sounded like the voice of many waters, or many people. It was one voice coming from a multitude of the redeemed. They sang a new song before the throne. And no earthly man could learn that song but those one-hundred-forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. "These are they which were not defiled with women ("women" here represents all the religious denominations and other corrupt systems of this world); for they are virgins (having been cleansed by the Spirit of the corrupt, worldly, denominational influence and teachings). These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile (a falsehood, a counterfeit walk, a lie): for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Rev. 14:1-5).

Following this vision given to John, another angel was seen "flying" in the midst of heaven. The angel of this vision can be interpreted and seen as being a messenger (angel, from the Greek, means a messenger with tidings of good news), who was seen moving about in the realm of the Spirit. Or, we might also say there was spiritual activity in the heavens of God's Spirit. And that angel or messenger of good news was seen "flying" in the midst of heaven, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Rev. 14:6-7).

The word "everlasting" should not need any further explanation or interpretation, for it simply means "perpetual" or "eternal," including all that is of the past, present and future. And I firmly believe the "everlasting Gospel" is the message of the good news of our full salvation. It is the very Word of our Father that will change us from this corruptible "worm," to become the incorruptible and beautiful "butterfly" of the abundant, glorious, and eternal Life of Christ. An angel, or spiritual messenger, was seen by John "flying" through the midst of the heavens with the everlasting Gospel. John saw, by the Spirit, that the blessed hour would come, in the outworking of Father's purposes for this world, when that angelic messenger would begin the grand and glorious work of spreading the anointed Word of God to the earth, which would bring about our literal, bodily transformation. And that blessed hour may be nearer than we realize!

That heavenly angel or messenger declared "the everlasting Gospel" to all the people of all the nations on earth, including "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." But the Lord has an "order" for the salvation and transformation of all mankind in all the earth. And that divine order is, "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Cor. 15:23). The Lord has a firstfruits people on the earth today; they shall receive the power of the "everlasting Gospel" before all others. Then, when the firstfruit saints have partaken of the Life of Christ in abundance, all others shall receive of His Life also. It is not that the firstfruit saints, or the elect and chosen sons of God, are preferred above all other people. It is rather that God has purposed to use His elect to be the living example of His salvation to all others. It is that He has chosen His elect for the manifestation of the sons of God, which will demonstrate the Life of Christ to all people and to the whole creation. It is Father's plan to show them what the Lord has done with a people who have endured the sufferings of Christ, and who willingly and lovingly served Him throughout this life.

That angel, or heavenly, spiritual messenger, who had the everlasting gospel to preach to all them that dwell on the earth, also had another, preparatory message for the saints on earth. That heavenly, spiritual message was proclaimed with a loud voice, indicating the value and importance of that anointed Word. And this was his message: "Fear God, and give glory to him; FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

What a simple yet profound word that is! It begins by saying, "Fear God, and give glory to him." To simply fear the Lord, and Him only, should be easy for us to do, were it not for the fact that all of us have been spoiled by the leaders of the Babylonish systems, by the men and women of the religious systems of this world. The fear of pastors and elders has been placed upon the precious people of God. Many are accustomed to fearing man, so much so that they also give the glory to man that belongs to the Lord. But we are to fear the Lord only, and to give all the glory only and always to Him. We see this time as the hour of His judgments. It is possible that we are approaching the time of our change. So we will "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." He is our Creator-King Who is changing us. All who shall be transformed and changed into the image and likeness of Christ are withdrawing from every human effort and are listening for His Voice, that they might hear His pure Word from His pure mind! And they are doing only the perfect will of their Father in Heaven, as He reveals it to them! Amen and amen!

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