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The Holy Spirit In Different Dispensations

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times January 30, 2021

》 OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS

Old Testament believers looked forward to a coming promised Messiah who would be a final payment for sins. But because Christ had not come, those living under the Law of Moses had to make an animal sacrifice of an ‘unblemished’ animal as a temporary covering of their sins until Messiah came (Hebrews 9 and 10). The Holy Spirit was UPON believers of the foretold Messiah, but were not indwelled and sealed as Church Age believers are today.

King David himself prayed that God would not take the Holy Spirit from him following his sin with Bathsheba as we read in Psalm 51:11. This is showing that even they did not believe so.

Old Testament believers were never promised that the Holy Spirit would be sealed within them as a guarantee of their eternal destiny in Heaven.

》 CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS (The Bride Of Christ)

In the dispensation of grace we now live within (The Church Age between the cross and Pre-Tribulation Rapture), the Holy Spirit indwells and seals a person from the moment of belief on Christ (Eph. 1:13-14) and His blood atonement for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and His rising from death (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2). This belief seals a person and is our ‘earnest’ which means it guarantees our eternal destiny in Heaven. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique to The Bride of Christ (Church Age believers in Christ).

》 TRIBULATION PERIOD BELIEVERS

Israel, the Jewish people, as a group, have still not accepted Jesus as Messiah. They are still looking for the Messiah to come and unfortunately when Antichrist comes to power, many will believe he is the Messiah come. Yes, some Jewish people have come to salvation in Christ just as in the early church and to this day. Jew or gentile, a believer in Christ is saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit in the Church Age (Galatians 3:28). But Israel as a nation/group have not been indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Once Church Age believers are Pre-Tribulation Raptured, all left on Earth are unbelievers. I cannot find Scripture that makes an eternal security promise by an indwelling Holy Spirit for Tribulation believers. Scripture indicates that those who come to believe that Jesus, and not the Antichrist, is Messiah and who reject worshiping the Antichrist with the Mark of the beast must ‘endure until the end’. Endure how? Endure Antichrist persecution while not taking the mark, without which no one will be able to buy nor sell. This enduring is enduring in belief because they do not have the sealed indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will work as in Old Testament times, ‘UPON THEM’ , not sealed within them. The indwelling Holy Spirit will have already left when the Church Age believers were Raptured before the Tribulation Period starts.

We see this truth also in Matthew 25, when there will be 5 unwise virgins, who will not endure the Antichrist persecution and who will take the mark. (No this is NOT about the Rapture as some are teaching)

We need to understand that Tribulation believers are NOT the Bride of Christ.

In Matthew 25, we see that after the Second Coming event when Christ sets His feet on the Earth, there will be a judgement of nations. All Tribulation survivors will be placed as SHEEP or GOATS. We see works mentioned but really it is belief in Jesus Christ as the deciding point.

Those who endured Antichrist under persecution will have been helping their brethren to survive without taking the Mark of the Antichrist. Visiting their imprisoned brethren etc. It is their belief and rejection of worshiping Antichrist that moved them to produce these good works as SHEEP. They will repopulate Earth in mortal bodies in the Kingdom Age with Christ ruling for 1000 years of peace.

The GOATS are those who worshipped the Antichrist and took the Mark. They will have turned in their fellow Jewish (and gentile) family and friends who refused the Mark. They aided in not feeding those who could not buy nor sell. Etc. Jesus will say to them, “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25 KJV)

They will be put to death and await the Great White Throne Judgement to be condemned. Again, it was their unbelief in taking the Mark that had them commit these evil works.

Will Christ Be Ashamed Of A Believer At The Judgement Seat Of Christ For Believers (The Bema Seat)?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: Judgement Of Believers, Q&A: The Truth About... January 25, 2021

Jesus was the full payment for the sins of the whole world. Those who believe on Him and HIS blood atoning sacrifice on the cross and His rising from death, HAVE eternal life. All sins (future sins too, as all our sins are future from the cross) fully paid by Christ. As a full payment, we need not pay the wages of sin (death Romans 6:23) because He paid it all for us. Anything we may do wrong, including sin, is no longer a hindrance to your salvation. In fact, it gives us great gratitude to do good works in love to others and encourages us to live right.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 KJV)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28 KJV)

If you believe on Christ for salvation, you will not be ashamed!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.” (Romans 10:9-11 KJV)

But What About At The Judgement Seat Of Believers?

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.

Now if any man build upon THIS FOUNDATION gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s WORK of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive A REWARD.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.

Know ye not that YE ARE the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God DWELLETH IN YOU?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, WHICH TEMPLE YE ARE.

Let no man DECEIVE HIMSELF. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Therefore LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN. For all things ARE YOUR’S”;

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; ALL ARE YOUR’S;

And YE ARE Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3: 11-23 KJV)

Paul tells us here that there is no other foundation other than Christ. Only He is what saves us and keeps us saved. He paid it all! Believers should have ZERO PRIDE in the fact that God saved us when we believed on Christ. ZERO!! Did we do anything to save us from our sins and from our old fallen sin bent Spirit of Adam? No. Nada. Who did this for us? Who MADE US righteous? Christ alone! Look closely at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, look very closely at the words to see the truth.

“Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things ARE OF GOD, WHO HATH reconciled us to himself BY JESUS CHRIST, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then WE ARE ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For HE HATH MADE HIM to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God IN HIM.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

See the truth Paul is stating here? It is God alone who made our salvation possible by sending His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus to pay for our sins and when He did that on the cross, God through imputation (not by our deeds) MADE US the righteousness of God, in Christ. Oh the world needs to hear this truth! In fact, there are many many saved believers who know their sins were paid by Christ but yet do not know the other amazing part. A believer has BECOME a NEW CREATURE in the Spirit, at our core being, and WE ARE right now deemed as righteous as God. Think about that! When God sees His children (anyone who believed on Christ) , He sees His perfect Son! Heaven is a perfect place full of ONLY perfect people. Yes, a believer may fall into sin. Yes believers still sin. But all those sins were already [aid for by Christ. And yes, we strive to not sin by walking in the new Spirit God (Galatians 5:16) has made us. And yes, we renew our mind by God’s word (Romans 12, John 17:17), The Holy Bible. The fact is though, to God all He sees is that we are perfect. How amazing is that! Do we deserve it? NO WAY! And that is why it is called God’s GRACE. So, we should have ZERO pride and boasting about ourselves just because God saved us by His grace. In fact, it should encourage us to live our lives for God and in love toward others.

The Bema Judgement Seat For Believers is about gaining rewards for the good works we have done after we were saved by our belief on Christ. Some eternally saved will be at this event who have had nothing but DEAD works. They had a DEAD faith as James 2 reads. But the dead faith is not about being saved or not. James is writing to already saved believers, the Brethren, as we see in the very first verse of James 2. In 2 Corinthians 3 above, in Verse 15, we do see that there will be believers who lived carnally after accepting the free gift of salvation. They will have no eternal rewards. Are they still saved? Well, yes! They are already in Heaven in their perfected glorified bodies.

What about the believer’s sins? Well, do you see the word ‘sins’ or ‘transgressions’ even mention in 1 Corinthians 3? We do not because Christ ALREADY judged our sins on that cross and God has no need to judge our sins again. The Father accepted Jesus’ blood atonement fr our sins 100%. Will they have remorse for having no rewards? Yes they will. They have missed great opportunities during their Christian life on Earth. And now in their perfected glorified bodies, with perfected minds, they will see so clearly what they have missed out on.

This English translated word ‘ashamed’ in the Strongs Greek concordance is G2617, the word kat-ahee-skhoo’-no; from G2596 and G153; to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush:—confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-)shame(-d).

Is It God’s Will For Believers To Be Ashamed Of Them For Believing The Gospel At His Coming For His Bride?

Every believer is sanctified and so to God, He has MADE YOU PERFECT FOREVER.

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath PERFECTED OR EVER THEM THAT –ARE– SANCTIFIED.” (Hebrews 10:12-14 KJV)

When Is A Believer Sanctified? Is That Something W Do or Something God Made U?

To understand the truth about a person being sanctified we need to first understand what the word ‘HOLY’ is defined as. What does the Bible mean when it uses the English translated word ‘HOLY’. This is a matter of great importance in interpreting passages about a believer and how they are SANCTIFIED. Is sanctification a life long process, where we are moment by moment becoming more and more Holy? Or does a believer’s sanctification happen in an instant, from the very moment that they believe on Christ and His finished work on the cross, having in the past, PAID the just penalty for all our sins?

When we look up the English translated word SANCTIFY in the New Testament in the Greek , what do we find as the definition of the word? What we find is Strongs G37:

G37: ἁγιάζω hagiázō, hag-ee-ad’-zo; from G40; to make holy.
( Strongs Concordance)

So, the word Sanctify literally means to MAKE HOLY. So we see that how we define the English translated word HOLY matters much in seeing the truth about being sanctified as believers. So, when we further look into this in Greek, we are pushed to look into the word ‘Holy’ which is, as G37 tells us, G40:

G40: ἅγιος hágios, hag’-ee-os; from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred (physically, pure, MORALLY BLAMELESS or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), SAINT.
(Strongs Concordance)

In essence, the meaning is ‘most holy thing, a saint’.

Let us first look at this word Holy as it is used whenever the ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘Holy Ghost’ is mentioned.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY Ghost.” (Matthew 1:18 KJV)

The Holy Ghost is GOD right? So how Holy and set apart is God from all of His creation? Hugely set apart! He is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. The one and only God of all that exists! So when the word HOLY in ‘Holy Spirit’ is used in the Bible, it is basically saying that God is completely SET APART from all of His creation. He is the almighty God who always existed and always will. Now, THAT is definitely a set apart being! Yes? The word HOLY in the name ‘Holy Spirit’ is Strongs G40 in Greek.

You see this word HOLY is used by many in so many different ways by believers today that it has become a pivotal part of how they believe about Salvation and justification with God. This is something we must get right! To be Holy is basically to be PERFECT and SET APART. Understanding this as the proper definition of the English translated word for HOLY, we now return to the word SANCTIFY (G37) in the New Testament because it references the very same word ‘HOLY” in the ‘Holy Spirit’, which is G40.

Apostle Paul used this word SANCTIFY many times in his ministry such as,

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST.” (Romans 15:16 KJV)

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but YE ARE SANCTIFIED, but YE ARE JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV)

This last quoted Scripture from 1 Corinthians 6 is a real eye opener. Sanctified by what? It states by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD and when you look that phrase up in the Greek, it literally means the HOLY SPIRIT.

The word ‘sanctified’ is G37 and again, it is not defined as believers striving to become more sanctified by living more holy lives, as if we can even do that in our own efforts. Yes, of course a believer is to live right outwardly in love towards others and in good works. But regarding this word SANCTIFY that is not we see as the meaning. The word Sanctify literally means ‘TO MAKE HOLY’. Does that mean we have to make ourselves Holy to be sanctified by God? Not according to Scripture!

“And THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be PRESERVED BLAMELESS unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)

In this verse, it is GOD who is making the believer HOLY. And it is God who keeps us in this state of being called ‘HOLY’. It is not our work; it is God’s work to make a person HOLY! That is in fact how we are saved is it not? Apostle Paul taught so,

“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:9-10 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews also states so,

“Wherefore Jesus also, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY the people WITH HIS OWN BLOOD, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12 KJV)

Do we read, in any of these verses, that a person is sanctified by our works and right living? NO! A person is sanctified by God through belief in Jesus the Christ (God in the flesh, who is God!)

“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, BECAUSE GOD HATH from the beginning chosen you to salvation THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV)

Again, we see that it is GOD who is setting a believer apart and making them Holy, which is the very definition of the word sanctification (G37), ‘TO MAKE HOLY’.

“But of him ARE YE IN CHRIST JESUS, who of God IS MADE UNTO US wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption:”
(1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

It is God who sets us apart in sanctification and not something that we do. We do have an ongoing sanctification while still on Earth but this is really renewing our corrupt Fleshly mind to God’s truth of the Scriptures by guidance of the Holy Spirit. But that is about the beliefs in OUR MIND, not our Spirit. Our Spirit was already perfected the moment we believed on Christ and rose WITH HIM, and we are right now, in The Spirit COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Read Colossians 2 for a great blessing to see what happen to anyone, the moment they believe on Christ Jesus.)

Does Any Of These Truths Mean We Just Do Nothing For Christ?

God forbid!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6 KJV)

YE BECAME SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Christ lives within every believer right now ! Believers are a new Spirit of God at your core being as a believers. Strive to avoid sin at all costs. sin still has consequences, even though loss of salvation is not one of the consequences. A believer who steals is still going to jail right? They are an eternally saved believer who stole something in sin. Christ foreknew that sin and they are still saved. But we should not be wanting to sin all the time. We are a new being now, and we should be doing good works in love for others. That should be our goal. Helping others come to salvation through Christ Crucified. That should be ou goal in life. Focus on the world to come when Jesus returns and do not conform to this current corrupt world which will be passing away.

Apostle Paul tells us that we should be Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Jesus prayed the the Father not take us out of this world the moment we believe and get saved (John 17). He wants us involved for the Kingdom Of God!

Love God. Be thankful in great gratitude for what God has bestowed on us, His very own Righteousness and eternal life! Live in love for others as Christ loved us. Renew you mind by God’s Word. Believe it over any emotion you have!

BELIEVE IT ALL!

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

Does Daniel 12 show that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is not correct?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times January 18, 2021

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:1-2 KJV)

This is a Scripture passage from Daniel’s prophecy of human history and God’s timetable known as Daniel’s 70 week Prophecy. I will not expand on Daniel’s Prophecy in this article but it showcases God’s timetable for human history, even to the days we now live in.

At the time in our future, just after Antichrist will declares that he is god in the Temple in Jerusalem (which is soon to be rebuilt!), we see what comes next in Daniel’s prophecy. We know this because Daniel 12 starts with ‘At the time’. What time? Well, we have to go back into the previous chapters to see that.That is how we know the time frame. This passage tells us that at this time in human history, the Antichrist is ruling and when the Tribulation period is over, Christ is going to return to Earth to setup His 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is not in view in this passage. In Daniel 12:2, Daniel was being told that after the Great Tribulation (the last 3.5 years of the 7 year Tribulation period), at Christ’s physical return to the Earth, that the Old Testament believers will be raised up to everlasting life while unbelievers will awaken to shame and everlasting contempt.

This is not Church Age believers being resurrected who are The Bride of Christ from our current church age (The Dispensation of Grace) who at this point were already previously raised at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. It is clear by context that Daniel is speaking about the nation Israel and so, Old Testament believers who will rise and also those martyred for their faith by the Antichrist (Jew or gentile) during the 7 year Tribulation Period.

Now, those who became and remained believers in Christ and His true Second Coming after the Pre-Tribulation Rapture in the Tribulation Period (as the 144,000 and 2 witnesses will be preaching at that time) who die (most will be martyred by beheading from Antichrist) will be Raptured at the same time of Christ’s return and setting His feet on the ground.In Matthew 25, we also see what happens in this time frame when Christ returns to Earth at His Second Coming and the Sheep and Goats judgment will take place. The Sheep and Goat judgement of the nations at that time will be judged just after Christ returns.

Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Saints will be brought back to life and will serve/reign in the 1000 year Kingdom Of God on Earth.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4 KJV)

Survivors of the Great Tribulation will remain in mortal bodies with long lives and will repopulate the Earth during the 1000 year Kingdom Age to come.

Does Revelation 3:1-6 Show A Believer Can Be Blotted Out And Lose Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Revelation October 19, 2020

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the Seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:1-6 KJV)

There are many clear verses that support OSAS. Passages such as John 3:5-6,14-1,36, John 6:37-49, John 10: 27-30, Romans 5 & 6, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Ephesians 2:8-9, are just some. The Bible does NOT contradict on this. First, Jesus tells about 👉NOT👈 blotting out a persons name as an encouraging promise to BE SAVED.

Second, who is the person that ‘overcometh’ in this passage? Remember John penned Revelation. John was told ,

“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;” ( Rev 1:11 KJV) In the book of 1 John he also wrote about how a person “overcometh” and it is not by our works, “For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMETH the world: and this is the victory that OVERCOMETH the world, even 👉our faith👈. Who is he that OVERCOMETH the world, but he that 👉BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God👈?” (1 John 5:4-5 KJV)

Earlier in 1 John he wrote that Jesus on the cross paid for all sins of the whole world,

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of 👉the whole world👈.” (1 John 2:2 KJV)

He that BELIEVETH ON CHRIST IS the person that overcometh the world in Rev. 3. In Rev. 3, we see “The Book Of Life” mentioned. However, this is a different book than “The Lamb’s Book of Life” that is mentioned much later in Rev. 13. This is the other big confusion many have; these are TWO DIFFERENT BOOKS and not the same book.

Book Of Life (Book Of The Living)

Psalm 139:16 shows that every person was written in the Book of Life.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16 KJV)

The Book Of Life was translated from a more literal ‘Book Of The Living’. The names of everyone ever born are written in the Book Of Life. This Book of The Living is seen also in Exodus 32 when the Hebrew slaves made a golden calf idol to worship. Such a grave sin that the Lord threatened to put to death ALL the Israelites!

In Exodus 32:32, Moses intervened and offered his own life in exchange (a foreshadowing of what Christ did for us on the cross).

“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, 👉him will I blot out of my book.👈” (Exodus 32:32-33 KJV)

So a person’s sin can mean being blotted out of this Book Of The Living. However it is important to understand that this was long before Christ came and paid for all sins of the world. The Israelites were given The Law and Ten Commandments. They sacrificed animals as a temporary covering for their sins as to not be blotted out of this book. When Christ came as foretold, He became the FINAL ONCE FOR ALL blood atoning sacrifice for ALL SIN (Hebrews 10:10, 1 John 2:2). Unbelievers today can also be blotted out of this book due to their sins, if they were not ATONED FOR.

The Lamb’s Book of Life

This different book is specifically a book with all members of CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS. That is all believers from the cross until the Tribulation Period begins. This is the Bride Of Christ. Any person that believes on Christ and His once for all atoning blood sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2) have eternal life from the moment of belief (Eph. 1:13-14) and are written in both The Book Of The Living AND The Lambs Book Of Life.

Those who deny belief in Christ for salvation are not found in this book (Rev. 13:8). Therefore all believers from the cross to present are IN this book. It is the registry of church age believers; the dispensation of the age of grace in which we now live.

The Bride Of Christ are in this book. Eternally saved by BELIEF ON CHRIST. Secure forever. In Rev. 3, Jesus is giving the unsaved people in the church in Sardis, who were relying on their works for salvation, the opportunity to be eternally saved and secure. For them to REPENT (change their mind) and believe the true Gospel of grace for salvation by belief and trust on Christ which is how a person is born again in the Spirit and saved eternally (John 3). And promises 👉as an encouragement👈 to stop relying on works for salvation but to believe the Gospel.

For those that do that Christ promises that He will NEVER BLOT OUT THEIR NAME from this book. Only a few members of the Church in Sardis will be saved and raptured. He was addressing the majority of unbelievers in this church who strayed from the simple Gospel of Grace and truth of salvation by belief alone in Christ’s finished work on the cross. To these unsaved, who think they are saved by works, He warned them to wake up and REPENT. Change their mind from believing on good works for salvation to BELIEF ON Christ and HIS finished work on the cross.

Just as Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21-23, ‘many wonderful works’ will save no one.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

Believing that your works and good deeds will eradicate your sins is FALSE belief. It is actually the same sin as Lucifer committed when he became our adversary Satan; the sin of pride. The only way to have he punishment for our sins removed is by believing that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, who is God, who came, never sinned and as the perfect Lamb without blemish, paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) on the cross as the once for all final blood atoning sacrifice for all sins (Hebrews 9 and 10). And as Jesus stated very clearly in John 3,

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:15-18 KJV)

UNDERSTANDING THE THREE FUTURE JUDGEMENTS BY CHRIST

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times September 30, 2020

There are preachers teaching that there is ONE future judgement for us all. Others, there are two judgments by Christ to all people. The Biblical truth though by proper context is that there are actually THREE FUTURE JUDGEMENT SEATS Of CHRIST and each one is for a different set of people!

The Bema Seat Judgement Of Believers Living In
Our Current Dispensation Of Grace;
The Cross to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

This is the rewards judgement seat for believers in Christ. At this judgement Christ will reward the good works since a saved person’s moment of conversion. Only the Bride of Christ will be at this judgement seat. All believers from our current dispensation of the grace of God. All those who believed on Christ from the cross until the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, which in the Greek is Harpazo, where all believers in Christ are given new bodies and we will meet the Lord in the air in the twinkling of an eye.

“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:13-18 KJV)

In this passage there were some who thought they missed the Rapture Event when Christ would come to take His Bride home to Heaven before the Tribulation Period, Daniels 70th week. Paul writes them in verse 14 to comfort them and to rebuke that false teaching. Dead or live, all who believe on Christ will be at the Rapture; the dead would rise and the living would be changed. Al believers dead or alive will be there. We are not missing this event as believers in Christ for the world folks!

Right after the Rapture, come the Bema Judgement Seat Of Believers By Christ. The word SIN is not even mentioned at the Bema judgement seat for believers in Scripture. Jesus already paid for the ALL the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and Jesus said that “WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM HATH ETERNAL LIFE” having been born again in the Spirit (John 3:5-6, 14-18). A believer’s sins were already, 2000 years ago on the cross, PAID IN FULL. A believer has become a new creation in the Spirit which has become the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST from the moment of belief on Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 1:13-14). A believer ALREADY ROSE AGAIN with Christ in the Spirit and is COMPLETE In CHRIST RIGHT NOW in the present tense (Colossians 2). But our body is still corrupt and will one day at the Rapture be changed into an immortal glorified body. Until then, our mind needs renewing still by God’s Word (Romans 12) and we have work to do for Christ, with Christ in us and us in Christ.

We see at this Bema Judgement Seat that the works of believers, since they believed and were born again, will be judged. Good works with the right intentions and loving motives will receive rewards and there will also be loss of rewards for missed opportunities. Some believers who lived carnally after their moment of salvation by belief in Christ and HIS finished blood atonement for their sins, will have no rewards and will experience great regret. This is why Paul is explaining this to the Corinthians who we see earlier in the chapter were still as babes in Christ.

Yet, no one at this judgment are going to be condemned nor lose salvation. They have ALREADY been Raptured and are in Heaven with Christ in glorified eternal bodies. Paul wrote that Believer’s works will be tested by a Holy fire. Some works done with wrong intentions or with self righteousness motives will be burned as wood, hay and even stubble and will not receive a reward. Other good works with remain as silver Gold and precious stones. Apostle Paul describes this future event as Christ told him. Writing to the worst example of a group of believers, the Corinthians, Paul is telling them that yes, they are saved by belief on Christ and His blood atonement for their sins but that also , how we live after our salvation and Spiritual rebirth does matter greatly! The Corinthians were living as babes in Christ when they should be off milk and living with better understanding and eating meat as more mature believers.

“8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to HIS OWN LABOUR.

9 For we are labourers TOGETHER WITH GOD: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man TAKE HEED HOW HE BUILDETH THEREUPON.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.

12 Now if any man build UPON THIS FOUNDATION gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; YET SO AS BY FIRE.” (1 Corinthians 3:8-15 KJV)

This fire is the Holy Spirit within the believer with intimate details of everything we did in our life since our moment of salvation by belief on Christ alone for righteousness and justification. We see in this passage very clearly that once a person believes on Christ for righteousness that they are saved eternally. Christ lives in us as the Holy Spirit and we do have our part in allowing the Holy Spirit to do good works through us. Even so, Once saved. Always saved!

Now there are many teaching that a believer can lose their salvation and most teaching this have combined the Judgement Seats together into the Great White Throne Judgment which will be explained below. That is very wrong. There are THREE Judgement Seats in the future. NOT ONE!

For the believer that always has God in mind and is about the work of helping others come to Christ and doing good and acting in love toward others this will be a celebration much like an awards ceremony.You know what? There are many good works we may have done in our lives that we just forget. We lose memory of having done them even right. We forget. But God does not forget what we did! And He will amazingly reward us for loving others. How gracious is that! I certainly know that NO GOOD THING comes from me without Christ working through my life! All glory to Him forever! Yet, He will give US rewards for or good works. The amazing grace of God indeed!

For the carnal minded saved believer who remained as babes in the faith, living carnally, they will see others getting rewards, while they may not receive any rewards except eternal life. It is better than eternity as an unbeliever but they will have great regret. My fellow believers in Christ; TODAY, more than ever, we need to be at work for the Lord who saved us! Be bold in love towards others and help others come to the knowledge of the truth to make a decision to accept the gift of eternal life through belief on Christ crucified died and risen.

SHEEP GOATS JUDGEMENT BY CHRIST TO TRIBULATION SURVIVORS

Some are teaching that this judgement seat is the same as the Great White Throne Judgement but they are in error in doing so. In fact, doing so may mean a person is believing that they can lose salvation and that they have to work to remain saved which goes against just about every salvation passage in the entire Gospel of Grace. It goes against Jesus own teaching in John 3:5-6, 14-18, 36, John 6:37-40 and Apostle Paul’s writings in Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2, Romans 5 & 6 just to mention a few. First it is very clear that this Judgement happens AFTER the Tribulation Period to come. The Bride of Christ is already Raptured and in Heaven before the Tribulation Period starts. This judgement seat is read about in Matthew 25. The very first word in Matthew 25 is the English translated word “THEN”. So we need to find out, WHEN IS THE “THEN”? For that, we go back into Matthew 24 (Matthew was written as one continuous work without chapter references) and that brings us back to the only timing verse in Matthew 24:29 which clearly states this is going to happen AFTER the Tribulation. The Sheep and Goats Judgement is the judging of Tribulation survivors ONLY!

TWO GROUPS OF SURVIVORS; THE SHEEP & THE GOATS:

THE SHEEP… are those who believed that Christ is coming. They came to believe the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists that God will send along with the Two Witnesses who will be preaching that the Antichrist is not the real Christ and that the real Christ is coming. Most Tribulation Believers will be martyred during the persecution by the Antichrist. Others will reject the Mark of the Beast , without which no one can buy nor sell and will survive the persecution under great distress. They will endure great persecution. They will be helping each other to survive. Helping the Brethren. Visiting those imprisoned, helping feed and cloth each other. Jesus will say to them, “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.” (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

To these Christ gives them the Earthly 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth. The Sheep will start repopulating the Earth in mortal bodies for 1000 years. PEACE ON EARTH for 1000 years.

THE GOATS… took the Mark of the beast in worship of the Antichrist as God, they turned in believers and Jews rejecting the Mark, to the Antichrist, they helped imprison people in great persecution. They did not give food nor shelter to the Sheep in desperate need. Jesus will say to them “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25:45 KJV) Christ will kill them quickly and their unsaved Spirits will go to the torments side of Hades to await the Great White Throne Judgment in a thousand years time.

“31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 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:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:31-46 KJV)

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT OF THE UNSAVED

The Great White Throne Judgement Seat is sometimes also said to be a Bema Seat in that it looks like a Bema Seat, a raised platform where the King judges from. However this judgement seat clearly has a DIFFERENT ROLE than rewards of a saved believer. A very somber role. This is a judgement of condemnation where an unbelieving person who rejected Christ in their lifetime will be shown EVIDENCE of why they are condemned and this is shown by their works and deeds as evidence for sins that MUST BE PAID and how they rejected the only way to have those sins forgiven; belief on Christ and HIS blood atonement. A lifetime of sin debt! Jesus gave stern warning in Matthew 7:22-23 about relying on self righteous “wonderful works” for salvation. At this judgement the proud boastful unbelievers will be in shock to hear Jesus say to them the scariest words ever, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” I hate thinking about this. I hate writing about this event but it is clear Biblical truth. Every person stands alone in deciding to accept the gift of salvation or to reject it.

A person either has their sins FULLY PAID by accepting the gift of salvation (Eph. 2:8-9) by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18) or they reject the gift of salvation and must pay for their sins themselves. At the Great White Throne Judgement, what really determines the reason why they are being condemned is not their works, but that they rejected the only way to be saved from paying for their own sins; belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross. They are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Every believer on Christ for justification in salvation is written in this book, the moment they believe on Christ. Those at the Great White Throne Judgement are not found in this book. That is why they are standing in judgment at the Great White Throne.

“15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15 KJV)

That is the pivotal deciding factor at this judgement.

NOTICE IT DOES NOT STATE THAT IF THEY HAD
MORE GOOD WORKS THAN BAD WORKS THEY WILL BE SAVED.

No! WORKS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION (Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 7:22-23,m Galatians 3, Galatians 5:4-5). Their works are just shown at this Judgement Seat as damning evidence. Apostle Paul is clear that, “…the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

So, my point is that a person’s works are not mentioned in this judgment seat, as a determination of salvation. Belief on Christ alone decides that!

“He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)

But rejecting the only payment for sins (The only begotten Son of God, who is God, Christ crucified died and risen) means paying for the sins yourself. All sin MUST be paid for; either by Christ on your behalf as a gift to be received OR by yourself in self righteousness and boasting in your own goodness.

Acts 2:17: Are we to listen to dreams and visions of others and act on them?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: The Truth About... July 11, 2020

What does the Bible say about personal visions and dreams of a prophetic nature and those having them teaching their dreams to other Christians as facts to come?

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in TIME PAST unto the fathers BY THE PROPHETS, 2 Hath in THESE LAST DAYS spoken unto us BY HIS SON, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV)

Is that not clear? We need to look to Christ and the Word of God. THAT is the truth now. God wrote His last days prophecies that will come to pass. You can read them, IN YOUR BIBLE. Does that mean God does not use Dreams and visions in helping people come to Christ? Not at all. God does. But these dreams cannot be relied on if they do not match the Word of God. We have an enemy. Paul says we are to ‘test the spirits’ to be sure it is from God. How do we do that? By reading God’s Word the Bible. Anything teaching against it is FALSE.

What about where Peter said in Acts 2, that in the last days that God will pour out His Spirit and people will have dreams and visions happening?

Well, look at the verses around verse 17 in Acts 2 to see the true context about this and we see that Peter is drawing a very long drawn out period of time. Peter gets very specific in verse 16 and that seems to be ignored by people regarding prophetic dreams and visions.

“16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;” (Acts 2:16 KJV)

When we actually go to Joel 2 we read this,

“28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for IN MOUNT ZION AND IN JERUSALEM shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” (Joel 2:28-32 KJV)

This about what will happen in Jerusalem when Christ first came and it was fulfilled. It is talking about what started at Pentecost. It shows an overview of what will happen and has now happened and continues happening in our Church Age, this dispensation of grace today. Anyone who calls upon the Lord in belief of His finished work on the cross will have the Spirit poured out on them, and if they believe on Christ and His finished work on the cross (1 John 2:2) , poured into them. Believers will receive a new Born Again Spirit and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (John 3:5-, 14-18, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 or, 5:17-21, Colossians 2).

Yes, believers do have visions and dreams but that does not mean they are for us to tell others as doctrine or for certain prophetic facts for others to believe and follow.

I have personally had dreams and I have had visions from God. Does that make me some special believer and a prophet to others? NO! I was given some very specific ones and I see some of it already coming to pass; but they are FOR ME. God gave them to me for a purpose for me. I will never teach them to others as Biblical facts.

Rely on the Bible prophecies Only

Peter continues writing and when he writes ‘the last days’ it is not a specific time period he is describing, not just the very end of the Last Days of this Church Age time period we now live within. No. Peter describes a very long overview of time in human history from Pentecost to the new heavens and the new Earth.

That covers a 3000 year time span at least!

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:17 KJV)

Peter is also writing about the DAY OF THE LORD time period which to him is a long way in the future. It starts with Daniel’s 70th week, the start of the Tribulation Period and continues through the 1000 year Kingdom Age in which Christ will be ruling on Earth in the future, and ends with the destruction of Earth and a new heavens and Earth to come.

Through it all, whoever comes to belief on Christ for justification and righteousness shall be saved. It is encouragement for believers back then when he wrote this, for all in our current dispensation of grace, for those in great persecution in future Tribulation Period and beyond through the 1000 year Kingdom Age.

Does God give dreams and visions today to people?

Yes. Many. But it is the Gospel that saves by God’s truth; the Word of God by the Holy Spirit drawing people to the knowledge of the truth of Jesus as Lord.

Was the dream Joseph had of his brothers bowing to him for others or for him? How about Jesus’ step dad Joseph, the carpenter? Was his dream given by God telling him that what Mary said is true about her pregnancy and not being with another man for everyone around him to hear, or was it for him?

God is and does pour out his Spirit in all who believe on Christ. And dreams and visions are also happening but it is not as some are telling others that “God told ME this and you need to believe it.” NOR “God gave me a dream of prophecy and you need to believe it and act on it.”

We are not to follow the Law and the prophets now. That was all PAST. We are to follow Christ today. When Christ was transfigured we see this happened,

“2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM.” (Matthew 17 KJV)

Moses was given THE LAW. Elias was about the Prophets before the Law. Here we see The Law, the Prophets and Christ the Messiah. Peter was putting them all on equal footing. God, the FATHER audibly spoke out against that! FOLLOW and HEAR CHRIST! We must remember that today.

Stick to God’s Word by the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Otherwise, you can be swayed away from the truth.

1 Timothy 4:1-3: What are the Doctrines of Demons in the Last Days?

Don Gerrity 1 Timothy, Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times July 2, 2020July 18, 2023

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” ( 1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV)

Some are teaching that the Doctrine of Demons is that a person says they are saved by belief on Christ but that they need to make sure they are doing good works or they can lose salvation. My brothers and sisters in Christ, that is a LIE FROM satan himself! That belief is actually a Doctrine of Demons by the very context of 1 Timothy 1 and 1 Timothy 4. They take the first 3 verses and that is all they show to people and then they make the rest up! Let’s look at the full context of these first 3 verses to see the truth. And the truth is actually the very opposite of their false belief.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; FORBIDDING TO MARRY, and commanding to ABSTAIN FROM MEATS, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:1-5 KJV)

WHAT ARE THESE DOCTRINES OF DEMONS?

We live in the End Times. The Last Days. And so, it is important to understand what these false doctrines Paul is telling Timothy to work against in teaching believers actually are.

Paul goes on telling Timothy,

“7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For BODILY EXCERCISE profiteth little: but GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which IS TO COME.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of THOSE THAT BELIEVE.
11 These things command and teach.” (1 Tim. 4:7-11 KJV)

Who is the ‘saviour of all men’? That is referring to Jesus Christ, our Lord! Paul is telling Timothy to teach BELIEF ON CHRIST and TRUST IN CHRIST and HIS finished work on the cross and not these legalistic things which are the very Doctrines of Demons.

There were two huge heresies back then affecting believers in Christ; Gnosticism and Judiazers. Previously in 1 Timothy 1, Paul instructs Timothy to fight against the false teachers, Judiazers, that taught works are required for Salvation which is the same FALSE gospel that Paul rebuked in Galatians saying that such teachers are to be accursed. That those believing in works for salvation are foolish (Gal 3) and that Christ is of no effect unto them that believe they need to return to WORKS of the Law (Gal 5:4-5).

Here again, we see specific works are addressed, (i) forbidding to marry and (ii) refraining from eating meats; both of which are false SELF DENIAL beliefs to please God. These are RELIGIOUS legalistic works that today we do see being taught in many denominations and religious cults claiming to be Christian. They make themselves look good to others outwardly in religious rituals and works but inwardly are full of evil because they are not even born again IN THE SPIRIT by BELIEF on Christ alone. (John 3:5-6, 14-18, 36, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2).

These were the way the Pharisee leaders were during Christ’s Earthly ministry as well. Jesus addressed these legalistic Pharisee religious leaders of the Jews like this with very harsh words indeed,

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful OUTWARD, but are WITHIN full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27 KJV)

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33 KJV)

Strong words! Those believing on their own works to save them are headed for condemnation in hell! Jesus and Apostle Paul taught harshly against the false gospel of WORKS FOR SALVATION and WORKS REQUIRED AFTER SALVATION. They are the very Doctrines of Demons Paul is writing in warning to Timothy about. Satan does not care if you go to church service teaching the false gospel of works for salvation. That is his goal actually!! Deception. He is the FATHER Of LIES. Believing our works are required for salvation is like saying to Jesus… ‘ okay you paid my past sins, now i must work to keep my salvation’. IMPOSSIBLE! Who are we? Christ crucified?! They dare take the glory of Christ’s work upon themselves? This is pure boasting in self righteous pride. Do not do it!

This heresy in the early church is here today and in a big way in these end times. Gnosticism and Judiazers. The False Gospel Of Works For Salvation is something Paul taught hard against in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3 and 5 . And Jesus warned sternly against such false prophets teaching it in Matthew 7: 22-23. Salvation is only by faith and trust in Christ and HIS finished work on the cross. Our works to please God are not part of Salvation. Good works are, well… good! Yes! But they are from being saved not for being saved. Legalistic Works save no one.

Apostle Paul,

“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should BOAST. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS – UNTO- GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Once we are born again by belief on Christ God recreated our SPIRIT (2 cor. 5:17-21) and we were immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). We became ‘created in Christ Jesus’ in our Spirit and now with our new Spirit, UNTO good works. It is not works for salvation. It is works from salvation. And even the works from salvation are not required for our justification in salvation. And the devil and demons twist that into a works required false Gospel. Today we know it as Lordship Salvation and it is not the Gospel!

Apostle Paul,

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE” (Galatians 5:4 KJV)

Self denial is a doctrine of demons. It is all about religious rituals and works to remain saved. It is today one of the biggest heresies called Lordship Salvation. We live in the Last Days, and many many many so called ‘christian’ organizations and denominations teach the false gospel of works for salvation. No one is saved by this Doctrine of Demons! If your church is teaching that, run from that church. Good works from salvation are to be done because it is right – but never to keep you saved. Only Christ keeps us saved.

Otherwise, they are teaching the Doctrines of Demons in the Last Days.

2 Peter 3: Earth Destruction Is Coming, But When?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times June 26, 2020

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12 KJV)

Bible prophecy is clear that this Earth and the Heavens will one day pass away. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 KJV) and here in 2 Peter 3, we see that Apostle Peter states the same event and he gives us more details about this event.

Most of the unsaved world of people have heard about ‘Armageddon’ but they do not understand nor have read the Biblical text about the events of the End Times that the Bible actually shows us. They watch movies and television showing how this Earth is going to be destroyed one day and that no one will survive on Earth. They think that every living thing on Earth will be destroyed completely and that God is going to wipe out humankind. They believe in prophecies written by humans like, Nostradamus and not the Bible. Nostradamus, by the way, does not have a good track record for 100% fulfillment! The Bible has fulfilled it’s prophecies with 100% accuracy and in great detail, with many prophecies coming to pass before our eyes today and more to come. I have even seen some religious people teaching that Jesus is going to come back and kill us all by burning the Earth like He did when He flooded the Earth in Noah’s day.

There are some half truths in all this wrong information being sent to the people of the world and you know who is very good at deceiving people against the Biblical truth by using half truths? Sound like anyone we believers know? Oh yes, that has the key markers of the father of lies (John 8:44); Satan. The ruler of this current world system (Ephesians 6:12) on the planet who seeks to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). Who blinds the truth from peoples eyes so that they do not come to salvation in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 12:9).

Many are using this one verse, while ignoring all the other verses of Scripture that describe the Second Coming of Christ and the 1000 year Kingdom Age to come, and the ruling and reigning of Christ ON EARTH after He returns. They see this phrase “as a thief in the night” and they apply it to mean that Peter is stating that one day, at a time no one knows, God is going to sweep in and destroy the Earth and everyone on it, without any warnings. And that, is what we call a bold face lie. They make God out to be a hateful God who never gives warnings and that is NOT the God of the Bible.

Peter is talking about ‘The Day Of The Lord’. Some people take this to mean a literal specific day, a specific date. But that is not correct. The Day Of The Lord is a span of time to unfold in the Last Days of this dispensation of God’s Grace. It begins after the Rapture of The Bride Of Christ, when a 7 year period of time known as the Tribulation Period, or Daniel’s 70th week prophecy begins and ends when the Earth is destroyed by fire. This is at least a time span of 1007 years, not a specific date. When Peter wrote this, he fully understood that to God, 1 day to Him is like 1000 years to us on Earth.

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4 KJV)

Peter even tells us specifically about the time spans from God’s perspective and by the calendar of Biblical Prophecy, in this very same writing describing this event a few verses previously. This was very clear to the Jewish peoples. Unfortunately, verse 8 seem to be ignored by false teachers and they only show verses 10 onward. That makes what they teach about this being a specific date, a bold face lie.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as A THOUSAND YEARS, and a THOUSAND YEARS AS ONE DAY.” (2 Peter 3:8 KJV)

Peter is writing that it is not going to happen with God destroying all human life on Earth. No. It is going to start out without much warning. Apostle Paul writes that to those who are not saved believers on Christ, that the Harpazo Rapture of Church Age believers (our current dispensation of grace) will comes as a thief in the night to whom? To all people? No. Only to those who have not accepted the free gift of salvation through Christ crucified!

“But of the times and the seasons, BRETHREN, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon –THEM–, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

BUT YE, BRETHREN, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. YE ARE ALL the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 2-5 KJV)

In 1 Thessalonians 4, the previous chapter, Apostle Paul is describing the event of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of believers in Christ. Apparently some false teachers were telling these group of believers that they had missed the Rapture event ! And believers were getting very worried because they knew what was coming next, The Day Of The Lord, and the prophecies about that time period are horrible! Apostle Paul is very clear here to reassure them that no believer in Christ will ever miss the Rapture, the bodily resurrection of all believers. He goes on in 1 Thessalonians 5 and explains by comparison, the truth, in order to end their confusion by the false teachers. He compares the BRETHREN (save believers) To ‘THEM’ (unsaved people).

To the unsaved, to them, the Harpazo Rapture will come as a thief in the night and without warning. Why Because they know nothing about this event as unbelievers. This is the same as Peter is stating in 2 Peter 3; The beginning of The Day Of The Lord time period will come as a thief in the night, to the unsaved. Once the Rapture happens, those left will be in major trouble on Earth. Chaos will begin pretty much immediately until the Antichrist takes over rule of the world trough some great deception which the Bible does not give us details about.

Paul then goes on to give great comfort and assurance to the believers that they will never miss the Harpazo Rapture event. Everyone who believes on Christ will be there! In comparison to what he just described about how unbelievers will be reacting, he then turns to the believers and states, “BUT YE, BRETHREN, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”

Believers should not be worrying about missing the Rapture event, we know it is going to happen. And when it does, this pause in the 70 week prophecy God gave to Daniel that we live in, this time period known as the Dispensation Of Grace / Church Age, will end. Daniel’s 70th week prophecy given by God for the Last Days, a 7 year span of time, will begin called Jacobs Trouble. Most refer to as The Tribulation Period in human history. This 7 year period is just the beginning of The Day Of The Lord, which continues from then until the end of the 1000 year Kingdom Age with Christ ruling on the Earth.

After the final rebellion on Earth, there will be a New Heavens and a New Earth. There are different types of ‘Heavens’ in the Bible. The Third Heaven is where God and the beloved City Of New Jerusalem is located right now. The Second Heaven is space with all the planets and stars etc. The Heaven, by context, that Peter is speaking of is the Earth’s atmosphere and some if not all of space. Humans have landed on the moon. Our technology with messages are out there.. way out there now with rovers and space craft! This all needs to be destroyed. Every tra eof sin must be eliminated.

All those on Earth that rebelled against God along with the devil and his angles were all killed by fire from Heaven as they attack the camp of Christ on Earth in Jerusalem (Revelation 20:9). All that are left are believers. The Earth and the Atmosphere will be destroyed by fire. A cleansing of all that is sinful is all burnt up completely and utterly and all things are made new.

This may be just a destruction of Earth and it’s atmosphere, or it may be destruction of the entire universe. Humans have reached outward into space now with technology. The devil and his angels were also out there in space until kicked out of the heavens to Earth. They are all about SIN. So it may very well be the entire universe will be destroyed and a new one crated. Or it is in another dimension. The Bible is not clear about that specifically. Regardless of which, we will all be safe inside the New Jerusalem. It may be that we are all transported to the Third Heaven where the New Jerusalem is now located and ten the whole universe is detsroyed and a new one created. That also makes pefrect sense when we read Revelation 21:2.

At the end of the 1000 year Kingdom Age we see that the Earth is destroyed and then the New Jerusalem, that ‘heavenly city’, the eternal home for the Bride of Christ, and all believers in Christ, is seen coming down OUT of the third Heaven and to the Earth.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”(Revelation 21:2 KJV)

It is described by John as ‘a bride adorned for her husband’. We may all be in that city before the New Heavens and Earth are created and then the whole city, with us in it, will land on the New Earth. The City of all believers will come down out of the Third Heaven, where it is currently located. All believers are evacuated from Earth and the Earth is destroyed by fire. We are all safe and sound in the New Jerusalem. A huge structure of 1500 x 1500 miles cubed! Enough room for every believer from all of human history to have a huge property of space. This is the place Jesus said he went to prepare for us in John 14. The sheer size of this also is leading me to believe in speculation that the New Earth will be much larger than our current one. Place a cubed size object on our current Earth with this size of 1500 miles cubed. It would be too big to land on the Earth. So it may very well be a NEW EARTH in a NEW UNIVERSE where all sin is irradiated and does not exist. Hard for us sinful humans to grasp isn’t it?

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV)”

Nothing on Earth will compare to our eternal home with Christ. And once the Earth and Heavens are destroyed an dcleansed and all sin and effects of sin purged by fire, The New Jerusalem will land on the New Earth with the New Heavens (atmosphere and possibly the universe in space too). The Scripture does not tells us how long it will be before the New Earth and New Heavens is ready but whenever it is, the New Jerusalem will land on the New Earth and that is where we will live in eternity with God.

1 Peter 1:3-10: Encouraging Words About A Believer’s Heavenly Inheritance

Don Gerrity Peter, Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times May 28, 2020

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:” (1 Peter 1:3-10 KJV)

What an encouragement from Apostle Peter to us all who believe on Christ for righteousness, forgiveness and eternal salvation by belief on Christ crucified died and risen! Peter tells us that as believers we should have a “lively hope”! An exciting and hope filled life in Christ. He tells how about God’s ABUNDANT mercy for us. As believers we have an incorruptible inheritance. Some of this inheritance we seen in our Earthly life and other parts of it will start at the Rapture of the Church, our bodily resurrection.

Peter tells us that this eternal inheritance of every believer in Christ will never fade away. It is an inheritance ALREADY RESERVED for us in Heaven. And Peter states clearly that we are not the ones that keep ourselves saved; instead we “…are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. “ And even when we face hardships in this life, and persecution fro our faith, we should set our hearts and minds on this hopeful truth. God is WITH US in and through everything that happen sin our life. Peter also speaks directly to us today, in our generation; the End Times and Last Days before Christ returns. He mentions ‘ at the appearing of Jesus Christ’ and that is us! We are closer to the Lord’s Coming than ever before. All the countless people who have come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation and eternal life, who never actually seen Him as Peter did so intimately, and yet believe on Christ, need to keep he hope of what is to come for us when Jesus appears again! The end of our faith and the glory God has made us in the Spirit already will be COMPLETED in our bodily resurrection at the Harpazo Rapture of the Church. Peter tells us that it is all by God’s GRACE! Grace that the prophets of old foretold would happen to us believers today.

It is hard to even image what that day is going to be like. We cannot even fathom what God has in store for us fellow believers! Let this hope be in you! Christ is right now in you, the hope of glory!

Apostle Paul put it this way,

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV)

False Gospels Running Rampant In The End Time Generation

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: False Salvation Invitations April 5, 2020February 18, 2022

So many false gospels being taught by so many pulpits these days (not all of course). False gospels such as Works For Salvation, Works required after salvation gospel, Prosperity gospel, social gospel, entertainment gospel, social justice gospel, new age spirituality gospel, and so many more.

FAITH is BELIEF that Jesus is the foretold Messiah, the Christ, The only begotten Son of God, who is God come as human through the Virgin birth. Not born in sin, and who lived a sinless life and died on the cross paying for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and who rose again. FAITH IN HIS FINISHED WORK.

WRONG SALVATION EQUATIONS:

– Good Works=Salvation

– Faith+Good Works=Salvation

– Salvation Is Conditional On How We Live After Belief On Christ

***SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

John 3:14-17, John 6:36-40, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Ephesians 2:8-9 , Acts13:38-39, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:4-5. Romans 5:15-19, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:2, Philippians 3:9, Matthew 7:22-23, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 4:3., Galatians 1:6-8, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:1-12, Galatians 5:4-5 etc.

CORRECT SALVATION EQUATION:

– Faith+Nothing=Salvation+No Works Required To Remain Saved.

– Faith+Good Works=Salvation +Rewards For Good Works

***ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 1 Corinthians 9:24, etc.

CONCLUSION:

Salvation is a GIFT OF GOD, not a REWARD EARNED by our good works. By belief on Christ’s finished work on the cross our old sinful Spirit of Adam, Spirit of man, DIED on the cross with Christ and God, BY IMPUTATION, recreated us in The Spirit to The Spirit of God and forgave any sin in our entire life (past/present/future), and God MADE US the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Romans 6).

SALVATION IS ALL CHRIST’S WORK AND NOT NOT OURS

After Salvation, that is FROM Salvation, good works flow outwardly FROM our new Spirit being UNTO good works (Romans 2:10), not to remain saved, but from our NEW BORN AGAIN ETERNALLY saved Spirit (John 3).

Without Christ abiding in us, our works will not matter for the Gospel. Jesus said,”Now YE ARE CLEAN through the word which I have spoken unto you. ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. As the branch CANNOT bear fruit of itself, except it abide in THE VINE; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” (John 15: 3-5 KJV)

Do not take this as my opinion. Read the Scripture references.