Greeting Letter, I
I thought it needful for me to write to you concerning the common salvation which we desire. In times like these all of us need a closer connection with God. Peter warned us that Satan would make havoc of the true church of God established at Jerusalem, I Peter 5:8-9 and II Peter 1:12-15. Paul was not negligent to remind the churches under his gospel of uncircumcision of the same thing, Galatians 2:4,7 and Acts 20:28-29. You, brethren, are an outgrowth and the last vestige of the "Seven Asiatic" churches because in due time the "great falling away" raped the true churches of God, Revelations chapters 2-3 and II Thessalonians 2:3. It is the purpose of this paper to share with you some new revelations on that "man of sin". Today he is revealed, and today he is going into perdition knowing he has a short time, Ephesians 6:11-12; I Peter 5:8-9. But the "mystery of iniquity is at work," II Thessalonians 2:2-12 and Revelation 17:3-5. From the text in II Thessalonians we find that the coming of Christ is at hand when understanding of such a mystery is revealed. At this time also God the Holy Spirit will declare the end of time and reveal the mystery of God, Revelation l0:5-11, I Timothy 3:16. It is these three subjects, the "mystery of God" and the "mystery of iniquity" and that "mystery Babylon" which we will discuss. Brethren, let us be like them, Acts 17:10-11. Let us study and search out this matter privately as learned men, John 5:39; I Corinthians 10:32; Galatians 1:16-18, 2:1-3; II Timothy 2:15. It pleased the Holy Spirit to give to us who keep the truth such understanding. If you will bare with me, we will go forward according to the footsteps of Paul, Philippians 3:17-18 and Isaiah 28:10; I Corinthians 2:13; Hebrews 6:1-3.
In preceding generations, we have attempted to follow our godly forefathers, but all our efforts have not led to perfection, I Corinthians 3:12-15. We have tried to match the footsteps of shepherds who led us, but before perfection, all leadership by men is partial at best, I Corinthians 13:9-12. God has always worked by time, Ecclesiastes 3:1; therefore, any doctrines which attempt to deal on the three subjects mentioned can only be partial, "knowing in part", because Christ has not come on the clouds of heaven, II Thessalonians 2:2-3,8 and Revelation 10:7. Wake up brethren; the time is at hand, Numbers 11:26-29; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 9:49-50, 11:21-24; John 10:12; I Corinthians 3:11-19; Galatians 1:10-12; Ephesians 2:19-22; James 3:13-16; I John 4:1. The "mystery of godliness" and of God is our first subject. Paul had a good reason for calling it a mystery in I Timothy 3:16, and Jesus let us know that knowledge of God is a mystery, Jeremiah 29:13; Mark 9:37-40,42, 16:17-18; Luke 10:21-22. It should be noted here that the twelve apostles were the weakest and blindest of all although they followed Christ. For that reason Christ kept them at his side lest they should be completely overcome. Even then a lying spirit was among them, John 6:70. Before this a stronger set of. seventy apostles were already casting out devils, Luke 10:17-20. The bickering babes who followed Christ had to receive the power of the Holy Spirit after Christ was risen during Pentecost, I Corinthians 3:1-6. Are you not carnal, when you exalt men as your leaders? Is it the Holy Ghost whom you offend? Isaiah 2:10-12; Jeremiah 9:23-25, 17:5-8; John 14:15-18, 16:13; Romans 2:27-29. Exaltation of men is idolatrous worship and breakage of the first commandment. You have not received the Holy Ghost power, because Satan has caused a stumbling bloc in this business of exalting men, even at the expense of pricking scriptures. Is it not hard for you ministers to kick against the pricks? I Corinthians; Galatians 1:12-17; Colossians 3:9-14 Chapter 13, 4:19-21, Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 60:16, 61:5, 63:16; Acts 17:30-31.
A lie has been perpetrated by the devil in the mouths of men who act as ministers, John 8:43-45; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Jude 1:16. It is not desirable that the devil should speak through us like he did Peter, using him as an amplifier, Matthew 16:21-23. Do not be surprised that the devil can and does do this at will, Romans 6:12-14; II Timothy 2:26. The carnal mind is under partial control by Satan, Romans 8:7; I Corinthians 3:1-3; James 3:14-18, and I Corinthians 2:12-15, 13:9-11. One of three big black frogs that came out of the mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet is racial prejudice, I Timothy 4:1-4; Revelation 16:13-14. As Christ put it, a house divided against itself cannot stand, Luke 11:17-20. Satan has used racial prejudice and strange doctrine to divide the children of God and the church of God into many races, nations, and denominations. Understand then Daniel 7:21-22. Your organizations have been overcome along with the rest of the saints, Romans 3:4, and the scripture cannot he broken, John 10:35. Now God counsels this, Psalm 66:19; Matthew 5:23-24; Revelation 2:5, 3:17-18. You must disavow publicly any lying doctrines that even appear evil or God will rebuke you in heaven before the whole heavenly host, Isaiah 43:5-7; Zechariah 6:1-6; Matthew 5:19-20; Mark 8:36-38; I Corinthians 12:18,27; I Thessalonians 5:22; I Timothy 5:20; Revelation 6:1-8.
Now we will see what godliness is. Paul wrote there is no man just in the eyesight of God, Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-19. Righteousness is a gift from God to all men, Romans 4:5-10, 5:6,17-19, 6:11, 8:33-34; II Corinthians 5:13,15; I Peter 3:18. Since righteousness is a free gift, which is given to all men, and all men were crucified with Christ on the cross, you may wonder how it happens. Christ was given an inheritance consisting of all his seed planted by God, Psalms 2:8, 22:27-28, 82:6-8; Ezekiel 34:31; Matthew 6:10, 13:37-38, 18:12-14; Luke 12:32; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 21:3. You may be interested in seeing how this happens to men who die without repenting. First, understand that it is God's will that men should be with Christ to see God's glory, John 17:24; II Corinthians 5:19.
The Scriptures have made it plain enough concerning grace, what it is, Romans 4:4-10. Grace is absolute absolvance from all sin. God winks at ignorance as it is written, John 9:41, 15:22,24; Romans 5:6; James 4; I Peter 3:18:l7. It is expedient that men and whole nations are already in glory as a result of grace, that the glory of Christ might be given to all men as a gift, Revelation 5:8-l0, Isaiah 2:2, 14:18; Romans 5:18; Revelation 6:11, 19:8. Obviously, all men preaching the gospel of condemnation do not know the meaning of this text, Matthew 9:13, 12:7-8, 21:13; Romans 8:34-35, 14:4,7-8; II Corinthians 5:10. Observe what happens when the spirit of the unrepentant man goes to God in death, Ecclesiastes 3:21, 12:7; Isaiah 57:16; Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 15:22-24, 20:38; John 6:39-40; Revelation 6:11, 21:3-4. Be absolutely clear on this matter, that grace is for men with no works, and they do repent and confess to Christ, as it is written, Luke 15:21-24; John 13:8-10, 15:3; Romans 3:4, 14:11. Now it is interesting who gets left behind when a man dies. Here are the scriptures, Proverbs 25:4; Ezekiel 20:35-41, 22:18-21; Amos 4:11-12. The rebels are evil spirits, the enemies of God, who make up what is known as the invisible world of tares, Genesis 3:15; Matthew 13:30,37-39. Now observe the power of the word of God, Ecclesiastes 3:21; Matthew 12:43; Mark 9:1; Luke 11:20-26, 16:22-25, 17:34-37; John 21:20-23; Hebrews 4:12, 9:21,28, 12:22-27; Jude 1:14-20. Truth explains the unexplainables, where false doctrine or partial knowledge leaves a man wondering, Ecclesiastes 3:21; Isaiah 28:9-13; Matthew 12:43; John 3:19-21, 12:35-36; I Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 5:13-15; II Timothy 2:15-16; Revelation 17:3.
God also knew that a root of bitterness might trouble some at this revelation, so he provided ample warning, Luke 15:25-32; John 15:13; Romans 9:21-30; Hebrews 12:12-21. For those of us who know Christ in faith, understand that the faith you have is not your own, but it was given to you as a gift by Christ, I Corinthians 12:4,9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9-10. Finally, eternal life is a gift, Romans 6:23. We should not be vexed because we have born the heat of the day, and others have done little or nothing, Matthew 20:9-15; I Corinthians 7:20-24, 9:16-18; Philippians 3:15-16; I John 3:15-19, 4:20. We conclude from all this that godliness is a mystery only to those preaching the gospel of condemnation, Romans 3:24-31, 14:1-4,17; I Corinthians 8:8-9; II Corinthians 2:15-3:18; James 2:12-15.
The "mystery of iniquity" is our next topic, II Thessalonians 2:7-12. Sin is a demon. If you are not in dogmatic hardness, you will find this written in the "New American Bible", a Catholic version, based upon the new manuscripts found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. It may help if you recall the purpose of Satan, Isaiah 59:13-19; Daniel 8:9-12. In the "New American Bible," look at Genesis 4:6-7. Sin is still a demon, as it is written otherwise, Daniel 1:21,22; Matthew 8:22; John 8:31-32,34-36, 14:2-4; Romans 6:12-13, 12:21; II Timothy 2:26; II Peter 2:19; I John 3:8. So the second coming of Christ will be to free all men from demonic captivity, as it is written, Isaiah 42:3-8; Luke 4:18-21. Satan will then go scrambling for the rocks and mountains along with his invisible children, Isaiah 14:16-27, 28:14-22, 46:9-13, 54:9-17; Jeremiah 31:18-19,31-37; Ezekiel 20:32-37; Matthew 13:41-43; Revelation 6:15-17. When men finally are able to see the invisible world of demons, they will understand these words, Matthew 13:27-29; Luke 24:39; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:7-11, 17:8, 21:3. Just as God called him an "old serpent" when he possessed the snake's body he is called the "man of sin" because he possesses man's body.
"Mystery Babylon" is the next point to consider, Revelation chapter 17. If you can understand the depth of a parable, you can see this is an invisible, evil, female demon, who rules her house hold of evil spirits, Psalms 26:5; Proverbs 9:13-18. She is Satan's mother, Daniel 9:21-22, 10:21; Mark 4:13; Acts 8:29-31; I Corinthians 2:6-7,10-12. Paul told us a parable in which she symbolized Hagar and Satan as Ishmael, John 3:6; Galatians 4:22-31. Remember that Abraham and his family were prophets simply acting, Genesis 20:7. If you accuse your brethren whom you have seen of being a devil, it is a lie! I John 4:20; Revelation 12:7-9; wherefore, Christ taught us to love our flesh and blood brother, which is captured in the snare of Satan, Matthew 5:43-48. "Babylon" is the name of Satan's wife, and she has power to speak through a man as though he were a microphone and amplifier just as Satan spoke through Peter, Matthew 16:21-23; Jude 1:16. Just as Isaiah wrote of Lucifer in chapter 14, and Ezekiel wrote of Satan in chapter 28, even so, Babylon is written about in Isaiah chapter . Notice in particular verse 1 in chapter . Here she brags of her eternal life, and in verse 8, she boasts of her ungodly invisible children. Christ did not come right out and tell us of them directly, but he did it indirectly because of the weakness and fearfulness in his children, Mark 4:33; John 16:12,25; Revelation 2:20-25. It should be clear now, that "Babylon" was possessing and controlling Jezebel as though she were a robot or a puppet.
Demons still possess and control man in both mind and body as Jesus' works proved. Observe the boast of the true "man of sin", Isaiah 10:12-19,24-27; Ezekiel 35. Our bodies are still the possession of the Holy Ghost, but this devil and his adulterous mother have packed legions of devils in us by sitting in the temples of God as though they were God, Luke 8:26-39; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 11:13-15; II Thessalonians 2:1-4; James 1:15; Jude 1:16. Have you not heard the voice of devils speaking through men saying, "I am God," or "I am Christ"? Matthew 24:5,24-28. As a mother, "Babylon" rules over her house, which is why she sits on the body of the beast, Isaiah 47:1; Revelation 17:3. Men are described as waters treaded upon, Revelation 17:15. She rules by sex drive, and she has captivated dress designers and the public in general by making them naked or half naked as herself, Isaiah 47:2-3. Hot pants, mini-dresses, see -through garments, revealing tights, bathing suits, and suchlike are a part of her wares, Jeremiah 51:35; Ezekiel 21:1; Revelation 11:8, 17:8, 18:15-20. Notice on whom God the Father puts the blame for sin, Mark 9:49; I Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 6:9-11, 18:20-24.
Scapegoats have always been demons, John 6:70, 17:12. The Levitical atonement process taught us that, Exodus 30:11-16; Leviticus 16:15-28. Now our atonement money was paid by Jesus as he did for all men, Romans 3:23-24, 5:18; I Corinthians 6:19-20. What did Jesus say to temple-possessing demons? Revelation 11:8, 17:18, 18:4,24 and Exodus 3:18-19; Hosea 13:14; John 2:19; I Corinthians 3:16-18; Hebrews 2:14. As members of the body of Christ, we seem to die, just as the bodies of the bullock and goat for sin were burnt outside the camp, Leviticus 16:27-28; Romans 12:1-5; I Corinthians 12:18,26-27; Hebrews 13:10-13. Even as Christ rose to heaven, we rise in spirit, Ecclesiastes 3:21, 12:7. Therefore, Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this world," Matthew 17:25; Mark 9:1; John 18:36; I Corinthians 15:50; Hebrews 11:8, 12:21-24; Jude 1:14-16; Revelation 21:3. The scapegoats as stated earlier are the evil spirits that possess us. These have been living the eternal life having never tasted the chastisement of death. These escape into the wilderness, when the angels harvest men's spirits in death, Matthew 12:43, 13:27-30; Luke 17:34-37; Hebrews 4:12. This is when Christ treads grapes, if you please, Isaiah 4, 63:3; Revelation 14:18-19. God's word has two edges, one for men and one for demons, Hebrews 4:12. Verse 3 of Isaiah 63 shows that the stains on the garments of Christ are the blood that men lose in death because of their sins, and because Christ was made sin for us, Isaiah 53:10-11. Obviously, the blood of demons would stain his holiness. He would not call sin to him as he sits in glory, Haggai 2:11-14; Revelation 12:7-8. Blood is parabolic, meaning the spirits of men which Christ receives, Genesis 9:4; John 6:63; Hebrews 12:22-25. The children will then be claimed by God's wife, Jerusalem, Isaiah 7:14, 35:8, 49:15-18; Malachi 3:17-18; Galatians 4:26. I will discuss God's wife later.