If you've ever been sent on a epic adventure in Scripture, then you'll completely understand how overwhelmed I was with the good, the bad, and the ugly of what I was finding as I turned over every possible rock of information to see if a gold nugget of revelation lay underneath. This really is exactly how it feels when you are in the completely unknown territory of a study and Holy Spirit is your guide. One piece of evidence leads to the next and then suddenly you see footprints in the mud and muck, you follow them until they seem to fade. He whispers "look over there, a broken branch - something went that way!". Since you then have nothing else to go on, you follow what seems like the grass having been beaten down a bit (by the few who dared pass that way before you) to find what your in search of. You ask yourself, "did they know or were they also in uncharted lands looking for something, but not even sure exactly what?".
Well, after months of looking and hours upon hours of reading, scouring the internet, looking at old out of print books on disks (one had over 10,000 resources to weed through), asking people who might know something, discussing it with those you respect hoping to get something/anything, praying and asking Trinity for help; I finally got to the place where I began to understand.
Reading The First 5 Parts of this is Advisable to
fully understand the context of this Chapter.
There is so much material floating around about the Ekklesia, and none of what I have read shows the very simple reality that the "Ekklesia" is Israel and all those who by the spirit of adoption have been grafted to her. Well, except Scripture. For me that seals it. I don't care how many theories I read now, Scripture says what Scripture says and the rest is moot. The problem is unweaving all the mess that we have accepted in order to make room for the purity of Scriptural teaching.
More now than ever we need to grasp that after the resurrection, those who are "Jews" and those who are "Gentiles" who follow Yeshua/Jesus are the Ekklesia. Honestly, I am still processing that those who are Gentile followers of Yeshua, are not the Church by Biblical standards (since "the church" appears to be an institution of humanity and not God's invention after all); therefore Gentile believers are not spiritual Israel, nor have we replaced her as the apple of God's eye. Yes we are the apple of our Father's eye, but because Salvation came first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, so all who follow Yeshua/Jesus are our Heavenly Father's delight. Had Israel accepted the offer at Mt. Choreb (Horeb) back in Exodus 19, things would have been very different. Abba, was not surprised though, they did exactly as He expected and He had already made provision for their rejection. The Son, who was slain before the foundations of the world, was ready to step in and take His role as the Savior of humanity through the Covenant People, so that we of the wild olive tree could be grafted to them and the offer to become a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a peculiar people - just as Israel had been chosen to be before us and then became the vessel by which it was made possible for us.
But, what does it mean to be a "Royal Priesthood" or a "Kingdom of Priests"? That's where "what the Ekklesia can/will do begins... I believe a good place to start is to explain the perspective from which Naphtali and I perceive Scripture. You may remember from the last chapter that I mentioned perception is everything. Here is why it is so important. We believe Scripture from a perspective I've come to refer to as "Messianic Restorationism". In a nutshell we believe in the "whole counsel of Scripture", and that Hebrews 6 and Acts 3 hold a proper lense through which Scripture should be examined. More on this as we go, so hold that thought.
Hebrews 6:1-5
Tree of Life Version
Therefore leaving the basic teaching (first principles of the Doctrine) of the Messiah, let us move on toward maturity (completed understanding)—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of trust in God, of teaching about immersions (Baptisms), laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Now this we will do (move forward in understanding Doctrine), if God permits. For it is impossible for those who once were enlightened—having tasted of the heavenly gift and become partakers of the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit), and having tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the olam ha-ba... (power/authority which is still to come)... (Parenthetical Inserts and emphasis mine for clarity)
Acts 3:20 & 21 Bible in Basic English
And that he may send the Christ who was marked out for you from the first, even Jesus: Who is to be kept in heaven till the time when all things are put right (some translations say restored), of which God has given word by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been from the earliest times. (Parenthetical Inserts and emphasis mine for clarity)
So, where did all the misunderstanding come from?
Much of the presumed abilities, responsibilities, and privileges of the Ekklesia that is being taught today comes from a perspective of "Dominion Theology". Sometimes called "Christian Reconstructionism", Dominion Theology appears to have it's beginnings as "Kingdom Theology" with the late Presbyterian theologian R.J. Rushdoony. He emphatically taught that "Christians should take government back..." which is a totally acceptable goal as far as I am concerned, and it does not violate the US Constitution's "separation of Church and State" as its opponents may claim. That's an altogether different topic and I want to stay on course. The point in bringing this up is to point out that modern "Dominionism", as it it is often called, is riddled with bits and pieces of other doctrine and theology which are at best simple heresy and at worst a deception which will one day leave many believers bitter and angry at God. I'll endeavor to keep this as light as possible, but to truly understand what the Ekklesia can do now and will do in the future, we need to dispel some potential myths, which do not have their roots in solid hermeneutics (proper methods of interpreting Scripture - from chapter 2).
At its core, modern Dominionism teaches that believers are empowered to over take certain areas of society. Many have gravitated toward "taking over" the Seven Mountains from the vision/dream that Loren Cunningham and the late Dr. Bill Bright both received from God in 1975. At the time Dr. Bright called them "mind benders" - referring to how these areas each shape society by shaping the focus people have. In their own way, each of the 7 Mountains shapes how people think.
It began:
"In 1975 [when] Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham met for the very first time. It just so happened that God spoke to each of these leaders that very week about the importance of the 7 cultural spheres, or mind molders, as Bill Bright called them, if we are to affect the culture for Jesus Christ. These 7 areas were business, government, media, entertainment, family, education and religion. Unfortunately, their efforts did not really effect much change because their attempt to effect these areas was done through the religion mountain instead of the business mountain that effects all of the other 6 areas.
These leaders raised up young people as missionaries for evangelism, but failed to raise up business leaders or leaders in these other spheres. Another reason for the failure in my opinion is that the faith@work movement had not yet taken place. It was not until the mid-nineties that God's Spirit began to move among men and women in the marketplace to see their work as a ministry and calling worthy to be embraced as a spiritual calling. Many ministries were birthed in the mid-nineties, including my own. Yet, sadly, the combination of all of these ministries probably affects less than 1% of those believers in the workplace".
(copied from http://www.7culturalmountains.org/)
What began in a seemingly pure and selfless effort to create an environment of empowerment was unappreciated for what it was. It was seen as small beginnings which should be developed into something world changing and culturally influencing. Again we can honestly say, in and of themselves, these are also not bad goals or un-biblical. However, when the principles by which these things are born does not align with Scriptural intention, we inevitably end up with a Frankenstein Monster. The addition of extra-biblical theology and doctrine through the modern Dominionist view has tainted the original purity of vision from these two pillars of Godly Society - Cunningham and Bright.
"During the years 2000-2010 we saw men and women in the marketplace begin to realize their high calling. They began to realize they were not second-class citizens spiritually, but God had actually called them to manifest the glory of God in and through their working life. This was not embraced by local church leaders and to this day is still in its embryonic stage of understanding among leadership in the church at large."
(copied from http://www.7culturalmountains.org/)
Dominionism has been quietly growing in popularity and intensity in some circles. Since that time when God had spoken to both Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright, just before they met, a revival of the concept has emerged under the name "The 7 Mountain Mandate". I cannot say who or what the catalyst was, but with the shift came the advent of new ideas into this culture influencing vision. It has morphed into a concept of "Dominion" over these areas. Which sounds amazing and just the kind of lofty thing Abba would call His children to do - just as Caleb (in his 80's) took a small band of fighters into the mountains of Canaan to overtake and defeat giants hiding and living there. But Caleb went with pure and Biblical motives. The concern with the change in the 7 Mountain Mandate is the pieces of theology and doctrine I mentioned before. Dominionism has at its core a number of leaders who accept (to varying degrees) Praeterism, Futurism, Replacement Theology, Dispensationalism, and a host of other heretical teaching. I will briefly cover those relevant to this discussion so we can get to our real goal of knowing what we, the Ekklesia, are given to do and the role we will play as Scriptures' prophecies are fulfilled.
Before I detail some of the twisting of Scripture which has occurred as a result of the hybridizing of Dominion Theology and heresies, let me ask this question.
-- How much of the world's strategy is too much? --
Another quote taken directly from 7culturalmountains.org:
"We realized that it only takes 3-5% of a leadership operating at the top of a cultural mountain to shift the culture's view of an issue. The best case study of this is the gay rights movement. They have literally shifted culture's view of that issue by infiltrating top positions in entertainment, media and government to embed their people with their worldview. They began writing scripts for sitcoms and movies to have gay characters seen in a positive light. Over time they have seen the culture become de-sensitized to the negative aspect of their lifestyle and it has now become mainstream. Their latest ploy is to get culture to see themselves as a discriminated class like the civil rights movement, which has really angered leaders in the civil rights arena. Christians can learn from their strategy." (bold added)
Many will say they are on the right track and justify it by quoting Luke 16:8:
"As a result the master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing; because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light." (Good News Translation)
To which I ask, "What if we read a different translation?":
The master praised his dishonest manager for looking out for himself so well. That's how it is! The people of this world look out for themselves better than the people who belong to the light. (Contemporary English Version)
It begins to take on a different meaning doesn't it? Let's look at just one more.
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
(Berean Study Bible)
If we combine the thoughts of the last two it becomes apparent that the people of the world are more cunning at dealing with one another than the children of God are at dealing with them. We are salt and light, in the world but not of the world, so we are not their own kind. We are different, bought with a GREAT PRICE! If we start down the slippery road of learning from the world's example and try to use it to win the world, what have we accomplished but dirtying our hands? When is enough enough? Where do we draw the line? How far is too far and how much is too much? Notice one very important detail in that Scripture above: the master praised his "dishonest manager"! Using the world's tactics as models of operation, make us a dishonest manager of what God has given to us.
Error Leaked In
As you may have surmised already, most who are involved with and/or teach Dominionism believe they are the Ekklesia. Frankly, that just doesn't hold up under the scrutiny of proper hermeneutics. Many of the current teachers of Dominionism have admitted being a "Partial Praeterist"; but what's interesting is they don't all agree about what part(s). It's difficult enough for the Body of Messiah to come into agreement on Scripture, let alone all the extra-biblical nonsense people pull into the mix. But, like so many over the centuries, the leaders of such movements have adopted what they feel they needed to in order to justify their worldview. The alternative to this is worse, that they chose to believe the deception first and are therefore committed fanatics to heresy!
There really is a lot more to this, but I am excited to get into the TRUTH of God's Word and see what it is we (as the Ekklesia) are empowered to do. So let's get through this quickly.
What do these People Teach?
- In the same way Eusebius put theology into place which would justify Constantine being named Pontifex Maximus (Greatest Priest) and Vicario Cristi (Replacement for Christ) over the fledgling Catholic Church, Praeterism justifies the means by which those teaching Dominionism choose to develop their methods for taking "Dominion". This hodge-podge of pieces from various heresies allows those operating by less than Godly means to do so without a doctrine requiring repentance. Some only influence from the pulpit by teaching that in this "Age" or "Dispensation" we are to begin ruling and reigning by taking over the 7 Mountains of Society using the same cunning the world does. Their justification, is that Adam and Eve failed to "subdue the whole earth" and so they are simply completing that very mandate. To further their point, they will say that due to the fact that all End Time Prophecies have been completed prior to Jesus' Return to Rule on Earth for Eternity (because they don't believe in any kind of Rapture under any name) we must "Restore the Righteous Rule" so heaven will release Him - a twisting of Acts 3:20 & 21 from above. The Jews didn't get it done as God's Chosen People, so when Jesus was resurrected, "The Church" was born at Pentecost and given power to get it done! --
This chart should help as a visual to understanding the timeline
most Dominionists believe is occurring or has occurred.
In their theology, "The Church" was born at Pentecost 50 days after the Crucifixion. Another topic not supported by the Bible unless we translate "ekklesia" as "church" which we have already shown to be incorrect. After the birth of "the church" the Church Age of Expansion began so the Body of Christ could get large and influential enough to make a difference. One basic flaw in this logic is that one then must believe that everyone who says they are Christian really is whether their heart and/or lifestyle changes or not. Even Yeshua told us we would know each other by our fruit. No fruit? No change. No salvation. Period.
They also teach the Church Age was solidified in 70AD (Dispensationalism and Replacement Theology) after the destruction of Jerusalem and this also began the "time of the Gentiles*". After "The Church" has reached sufficient dominion {because the Jews failed to} (more Replacement Theology) the "time of the Gentiles" will end and we will all rule together (Gentile and Jewish believers) as "One New Man**" This is supposedly The Golden Age, though some would say the Golden Age is still during the "time of the Gentiles".
*Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
**Ephesian 2:14 & 15 For he is our peace, who of both has made one, breaking down the middle wall of separation, abolishing in his flesh the enmity, which was the law of commandments in the order of rites, to edify in himself the two in one new man, making peace,
Their weaving of history into prophecy is quite alluring, because the events DO MATCH. They appeal to our need to know and understand, so it's easy to fall for it. But the real catch is that their timeline doesn't match with the order of the whole of Biblical End Time events. If it doesn't match Scripture - it AIN'T TRUTH! Partial or otherwise, this mess isn't Biblical because it doesn't line up the the entirety of Scripture folks.
Let me put this another way, in just one small example of their teaching we can find elements of Praeterism, Dispensationalism, and Replacement Theology. To the modern Dominionist, 70AD marked the end of the Great Tribulation. This stems from a Eusebian teaching that the 3.5 year ministry of Yeshua/Jesus*** was the first half of what we all call the Tribulation. Accordingly Eusebius' theology eventually led to a teaching that the 3.5 years Jerusalem was under siege, before being virtually burned to the ground, was the second half or "Great Tribulation". I am not belittling the suffering in either of those time periods. It was a strategy from hell for sure, but just because one set of events match the fulfillment of prophecy does not qualify them as THE fulfillment of a prophecy. Our current history shows we've now had 2 World Wars - which one was Armageddon? After all, that is exactly what Yeshua was talking about when He said "the end is not yet". The Hebrew idiom he would have used, and that actually shows through the Greek into the English as "wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24: 6 & 7) literally refers to Global Wars or wars and skirmishes happening simultaneously all over the planet. Something which only the modern era has seen. Using the Praeterist leaning Eusebian doctrine of modern Dominionism - which of the two World Wars were the final one? Which ones in our history qualify as the wars and skirmishes happening around the globe simultaneously? None can because THIS is the first generation seeing this phenomenon. There are a number of holes in the theology and doctrine of modern Dominionists and this is why many of them claim to be "partial Praeterists", once again I remind you that very few of them can agree on which parts they agree on. As far as can be determined, when putting this theology next to solid Biblical Theology, it's just another ploy of the enemy to cloud the already murky waters we've inherited from the guesswork used to interpret and predict End Times mysteries with man-made traditions, man-made theology, and man-made doctrine in place of good hermeneutics.
*** First Century "church" historian Tertullian (and others) commented that Yeshua/Jesus' ministry was 1 Year and a few Months. The 3.5 year ministry theory doesn't appear in records until about the turn of the 3rd - 4th Century (the time of Constantine).
From above - Matthew 24:6 & 7
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for it is necessary that all these things must take place; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.
Dominionism actually sounds really good. If it weren't filled with error from man-made traditions, I'd probably preach it myself. We have to so very careful about what is said and know the sources from which ideas are grown.
Jeremiah 16:19 (KJV)
O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
(bold added)
One more (and final) example of the lack of credibility in the Praeterist/Dominionist/Kingdom Now theology. I've had some of those who ascribe to these theological theories disagree when I concede that it might have been POSSIBLE the Abomination of Desolation which Daniel spoke of in 12:11 of his book was that of Antiochus Epiphanes the Greek. He did indeed march into the Temple and desecrate the Holy of Holies. But Yeshua/Jesus Himself spoke of one in the future to the time He was here in the Flesh - Matthew 24:15 and which He said was spoken of by Daniel. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD took place AFTER the Ark of the Covenant had been lost (or hidden). The Ark "disappeared" during the very assault by the Babylonians who carried Daniel away from Israel!! No Ark, no Abomination which Makes Desolate - it's irrefutable. The "man of sin" will sit upon the Ark of the Covenant and declare himself God. That is the "Abomination".
A Poison Root will always produce Poison Fruit!
In a nutshell, we can pretty much sum up the primary doctrine of Dominionism in these 6 statements:
God gave Adam dominion over the earth
Lucifer usurped man’s dominion over the earth through the fall of Adam and Eve
Jesus defeated Satan and took dominion back in his victory on the cross
He then gave dominion back to believers
The Church must gain control of the earth’s governmental and social institutions, and establish the Kingdom on earth
Then, and only then, can Jesus come
Once more before leaving this topic, each of these has some truth in it. However, the means by which the belief system itself operates and the heresy by which they justify these goals are what is totally unacceptable.
DISCLAIMER: Not everything taught about the 7 Mountain vision of Loren Cunning and Dr. Bill Bright is attached to modern interpretations of heresy. The purity of their mutual vision is still valid and if approached from a correct mindset and governed by Biblical character and integrity, and not the world's tactics, this vision will still come to pass exactly as they envisioned. Also, I cannot say for certain that those involved with 7culturalmountains.org are steeped in the heresies of modern Dominionism, but the examples they give on their site leave much to be desired from a truly Biblical worldview.
Enough has been said now, that I need to insert something quite personal and very important to me. I know one of my assignments in the Kingdom of God (not from a Kingdom Theology perspective), is to send up warnings whenever a foreign invader is making its way into our territory. By this I specifically mean any demonic influences. I NEVER intend to target a person, or a people group. I am targeting error and influence which is capable of harming the Body-Bride of Messiah through its ability to sway us away from the Plan Abba laid out in His Word and Yeshua/Jesus came to clarify. So I am not demonizing the people involved. It is my sincere hope that each of you who reads this will join me in praying for their full restoration to sound doctrine. To bind them to YHVH's truth and loose deception from them. To bind their minds to the Mind of Christ and loose the entrapments of worldly mindsets which have captivated and captured their curiosities. That their emotional state of being will be bound to and filtered by the Fruit of Holy Spirit and all other influences upon their emotions will be loosed from them. They are still children of God and I believe most are simply delusioned into believing things which have tickled their ears and caused them to follow a different path. These kinds of things are usually rooted in the soul. (See my writing on the Soul). Their spirit has been born again, and belongs to God. Their soul however, is their responsibility to train to follow their spirit which follows THE SPIRIT. If their soul has been bent in a way that leans away from Abba then that is the direction they will go. A number of years ago I felt heavily led to deeply study the relationship of the human Body, Soul, and Spirit. I found a fitting example as Holy Spirit revealed a great metaphor to me. Our Body is like a nation. It has vast abilities to reach out and touch other nations/people, positively or negatively. Our Soul and Spirit are always at odds for who gets to rule on the throne of the nation. Whomever wins makes the decisions and the Body follows. The issue often is that the war inside of us often puts us at odds with others who are struggling with the same internal war. If we can all learn to deal with our own soul, the enemy will have much less to work with and we'll find cooperating a much easier task.
A lot of what I am about to write has been directly impacted by a study I have put in our Info-tainment Video Player on this Site. Membership is free and only takes a minute or two. I strongly suggest watching "The Two Witnesses Movie" while this article is fresh on your heart. If you're reading this segment from a Blog on our site, you can see the player below. I don't agree with everything the video says any more than I suspect the presenter in the video would agree with everything I have said about the ekklesia. I do however think this information fits with the Restorationist views that Naphtali and I hold about the nature and character of God and of His Word.
Revelation 11: 3 - 6
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
I mentioned above that the perspective Naphtali and I share on Scripture is known as "Restorationism". Essentially, we find that over and again, Abba's heart is to restore. Restore Israel back to their homeland, restore Job's losses, restore humanity back to Himself through the Cross. Even His calendar was developed to show His nature to recreate what is broken; each month begins with Rosh Chodesh (Renewed Moon) when the first sliver of the moon cycle is witnessed by "two independent witnesses" and they reported to the priests, their "reports" must match. If they do then the Shofar was sounded and the New Month began. I'd love to explain the entire calendar and how we have strayed from a dependence upon God because of the creation of new methods of reckoning time, but there simply isn't room for it in this work. But I do want to focus on how this fits into our view of Restorationism. Acts 3:21 & 22 clearly shows us that until everything is restored, Yeshua will be held back from returning. From a Hebraic context of the "New Testament", and understanding the ministry of Yeshua and the early believers in Him, we can see the errors of Dominionism more clearly. Based on the Dominionist desire to make events (which are now history to us) THE fulfillment of End Times events, it is only logical that they must make declarations that we are currently in the expansion phase of the Church Age. From a Messianic Restorationist view we are simply in the midst of God's Renewing of things lost during the "age" of Constantine and his man-made "church". If you put Hebrews 6:1-5 under a microscope, it is easy to see that since the end of the Dark Ages (Middle Ages) God has been restoring what is now an almost prophetic section of the book of Hebrews.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Verse 1 points out that we shouldn't have to lay again a foundation which consists of the "First Principles" of the doctrine of Christ. Remember, theology is what we think about God and doctrine is what we do based on what we think about God. So if our theology is messed up, our doctrine will be too. The first doctrine mentioned is "repentance from dead works", well what are dead works? James tells us (paraphrased) "you say show me your good works and I'll believe you have faith, but I tell you my good works are a result of my faith". It sounds like semantics, but what it really means is faith in Christ (salvation) is not accomplished by works but rather faith in Christ (salvation) causes good works to become a part of our expression of the change in us. In other words, they become a labor of LOVE because God's Word (literally Torah) is written upon my heart. It changes us from the inside out. It "restores" who we were designed to be. This doctrine was lost in Constantine's religion and salvation became a series of works based actions which supposedly led to salvation from hell and purgatory in the world to come - IF we did enough of them before entering eternity. Verse 1 also speaks of a Doctrine of "Faith toward God"; who else would faith be invested in? We find the answer to this during the period of Constantine as well. The institution of the Constantinian Religion brought with it the institution of a theology which required those who are not educated in the doctrine of "the church" to depend upon a priest to have access to God. It was taught and believed that the priest was the mediator for the local congregation/parishioner for the forgiveness of sin by way of following the advice and works of penance the priest assigned. Obviously this is contrary to 1 Timothy 2:5 and the entirety of Scripture.
I can continue, but the point in doing so would be moot because most of the list of things given in Hebrews 6 are items the Body-Bride of Christ lost but which God has been in the process of "restoring" since the early Reformation began (arguably with Wycliffe). All of these doctrines are found, in some fashion, in nearly every major "Christian Denomination" on the planet. We are encouraged to then go "on to perfection" by the writer of Hebrews, that is if you believe 2 Timothy 3: 16 & 17:
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Perfection is simply maturity. Being made complete and whole and capable of carrying the Word of God with the brevity and dignity it deserves.
Does this not sound like those who have had all of Hebrew 6:1-5 activated in their lives and have undergone a complete transformation?
Examine perfection from this angle, Yeshua/ Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with FIRE - Luke 3:16. In Deuteronomy 5:24 God's voice came from the FIRE. In Acts 2 the tongues of FIRE fell on the 120 and they spoke with new tongues (one of the Doctrine of Baptisms in Hebrews 6). Moses saw a bush burning with FIRE in Exodus 3, but it wasn't consumed, so it wasn't an earthly fire. Isaiah's lips were touched by a hot coal from the FIRE on the altar in Heaven - a symbol of his words being purified by his heart being cleansed. God's words were FIRE in the mouth of Jeremiah 5:14.
"Therefore, thus said YeHoVaH, God of Hosts, Because of your speaking this word, Lo, I am making My words in thy mouth become fire, And this people wood, and it hath devoured them." (Corrected from Young's Literal Translation - bold added)
Are you beginning to see a pattern which helps to clarify some of what is being said of the Witnesses in Revelation 11? Maybe... just maybe, the fire from the mouths of the Two Witnesses (Jewish and Gentile End Times believers) is the actual Witnessing they do; the power with which they preach; the weight of the words they share; the Glory of God pouring from them as they Proclaim His Kingdom! This certainly fits better with the rest of the context of Scripture from a Hebraic context. I know I harp on that a lot, but this is a Jewish Gospel from a Jewish Savior, who was raised by a Jewish Family and was Perfect according to a Jewish Torah. He is not the anglicized blue eyed, blonde haired Jesus we have seen so much of from Western Society. No we do not have to convert to Judaism first to accept Him and THAT was the debate of the First Century believers, NOT whether or not Torah was still a part of serving God. We are so guilty Generational Amnesia which has led to Consensus Theology that we don't even recognize the God of the Bible as the God He is. Instead we perceive Him through Western Gentile eyes and say, "well He knows my heart is in the right place". How do we not see that this is exactly the attitude Shaul was referring to in Romans 11:21 ?
"Do not be arrogant, but fear — for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you."
Will we really "KILL" People? Romans 6:8 & 11 seem to indicate believers are already are dead.
:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: :11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (both are KJV - bold added)
Verse 13 carries a slightly different tone
"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." (KJV - bold added)
Some would argue that this is a contradiction within Scripture. None of these, however, are referring to a literal physical death. They are obviously referring to life before an encounter with the Living God as a virtual death, and accepting His offer of "Restoration" from a dead spirit is a "New Life" indeed! So dying to self and the world is life in Christ and vice versa.
By now, I bet any of you who have ventured this far into this chapter have had explosions of Scripture and personal revelation come to memory. Isn't it amazing how this happens? When just one spark of truth hits the kindling Abba has had waiting in your spirit? One last thought before we move on to perfection. Let's go back to the "restoration" from Hebrew Chapter 6
"...and of resurrection of the dead,..."
If you haven't already heard, there are a number of ministries seeing the dead literally raised again. This is a "restoration" which isn't new, since it has been seen in some ministries of the past, but it fits that it is happening now. You see, part of the prophetic insight from Hebrews 6 is that it may also serve as a bit of a timeline. Each of the Doctrine listed, is listed in the same order it has been restored to the Body. With the Reformation we gained the knowledge lost that we are justified by grace through faith not by dead works so our faith toward God was also restored because we realized we didn't need a priest as a mediator. With the Anabaptists came a strong and lasting restoration of the Doctrine of Water Baptism of believers then with the Pentecostals Abba brought us a restoration of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire. The Healing Evangelists and "Voice of Healing" Movements restored the doctrine of the Laying on of Hands. Now that we are seeing ministries moving into the resurrection of the dead and that the Witnesses will also operate in a form of this by bringing in many believers, we may very well be standing on the precipice of seeing this literal raising of the dead becoming widespread among those who have positioned themselves through a correct understanding of God's Love Language and worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth. Something I will go into in greater depth in the next chapter.
What else will the Ekklesia Do?
Revelation 3
"These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."
Any Questions...?
In the next chapter we will look at how Scripture says we can position ourselves to be part of those who walk in all the "restoration" of Hebrews 6 and the "perfection" presented in Revelation 11.
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