No. 67 - PENTECOST 2005: A WATERSHED EVENT IN HISTORY By: John J. Blanchard Sunday, June 12, 2005 Just what is Pentecost? Is it just a day on the calendar which is to be observed? We counted fifty days from the day after the Sabbath during the days of Unleavened Bread to arrive at this designated holy day. The count we just calculated on the calendar represents far more than fifty days in the spring of 2005. Pentecost represents a two thousand year season of ingathering. That season is when God is gathering His firstfruits together within the body of Christ. It should not be difficult to comprehend that it designates more than one day, because all of the holy days represent varying lengths of time. Let us look at them just a little bit for some examples. Passover represents one day in the life of Christ, and in our personal relationship with Him it represents the day that we take His blood upon us as our Passover. Trumpets represents one day of Christ’s return. But on the other hand, the Feast of Tabernacles, a seven day period, represents one thousand years. Likewise during the seven day week the Sabbath day represents that same one thousand year period. The first six days of the week represent six thousand years. So it is not unusual to say that Pentecost would represent more than one day in time. It represents a two thousand year period. When you look at the meaning of Pentecost, you will find that it has three names: Pentecost, which means count fifty, the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks. Each of these names aids us in understanding what the full meaning of Pentecost is. If you will notice, two of the three names mark off time. We count forty-nine days from the day after the Sabbath during the days of Unleavened Bread and then celebrate Pentecost on the fiftieth day. That is seven weekly periods, seven weeks of seven. Seven times seven equals forty-nine. Traditionally on Pentecost we would go back to the Old Testament and we would look at the history behind this day. Many times we focus on the history and not too much on what it exactly means for our time today. Today we are going to focus predominately on the New Testament and the fulfillment for our time and its significance for us. A TWO THOUSAND YEAR PENTECOST SEASON That period of seven weeks represents a designated time that God has tested His Church (the body of Christ). He tested His Church in seven weekly periods, each representing a varying amount of time. It is as if the Church has gone through seven Church eras, each given an allotment of time in which they are tested and tried. Then God moves on to the next Church era. When this is all complete, we have the rest (the Millennium). Therefore we say, Pentecost represents a two thousand year period of time but each Church era given different amounts of physical time to complete its work. Now we all understand the era that preceded the era we are in, that is the Philadelphia Era. It lasted approximately fifty years. The Laodicean Era, the time we are in now, will last shorter than that. But there have been previous eras that lasted possibly several hundred years. All of this period of time forms part of the night in which the Church is working in darkness and supposedly reflecting the light of Jesus Christ, as a type of the moon. During the two-thousand-year period of the Pentecost season, we know that we are enacting spiritually what the first ekklesia went through physically. The first ekklesia (that is the Old Testament congregation of Israel) worked from their Passover when they killed a lamb, put the blood on the doorpost and lintels and were passed over by the death angel, until Christ’s first coming. Likewise, the second ekklesia works from Christ’s first coming (our Passover) until His second coming. This is a period of approximately two thousand years. The time in between Christ’s first coming and second coming is the season of Pentecost. It is the season of firstfruits or the season of weeks. It is the time allotted for assembling the body of Christ together, and it is also called the springtime because this is a spring harvest. God starts His prophetic year and His holy year in the spring in the month of Nisan. The springtime signifies new life on the earth, as it does in the physical creation. Therefore, Pentecost represents new life for mankind, the firstfruits, a first harvest of man. During the period of Pentecost, (this two-thousand-year season), we have a duality built right into it. Christ is the first of the firstfruits. The Church (the body of Christ) is the rest of the firstfruits. Therefore, you have a duality here because Christ goes through everything ahead of His brethren. He suffered and died, paid the price and was resurrected first. Then we know the rest of the body of Christ will be resurrected later. Now let’s look at a few scriptures to back that up. First let’s turn to Colossians 1:15. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” It could not be clearer. Christ is the firstborn of the body, the firstfruit. Turn, if you would now, to Romans 8:29. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Jesus Christ is the firstborn among many brethren, the rest of His body. The Church (the second ekklesia, the ekklesia of Pentecost) are also going to be firstfruits, but Jesus Christ must be the first of the firstfruits. Turn to Romans 8:22. “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” The body of Christ, the rest of His brethren, are groaning through the trials and tribulations of life and waiting anxiously for our adoption into the body. It will be our redemption; our resurrection to eternal life. Turn, if you would now, to Hebrews 12:22. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect…” So we see that when someone comes into contact with the body of Christ and especially when they become part of the body of Christ, they come into contact with a spiritual mountain (a spiritual city) and a general assembly of the church of the firstborn. This is what we are coming into contact with. If we are so fortunate as to be called and blessed with the Holy Spirit, we become part of that registered assembly. We become part of that numbered assembly that God calls the firstfruits. Let’s take a look at this number going back to Revelation 14. Revelation 14, verse 3: “They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” These are the firstfruits registered in heaven, and there is a specific number of them (one hundred and forty-four thousand) mentioned. Today we are going to compare Christ’s experience in becoming a firstfruit to the Church’s experience of becoming a firstfruit. First let’s go through the life of Christ and see what He fulfilled in order to become a firstfruit. CHRIST AS A FIRSTFRUIT (1) Christ was miraculously begotten. Turn if you would to Luke chapter 1. Read Luke 1:26-35. So this was truly a miraculous conception. Let’s look at the second point now. (2) Jesus Christ taught and preached as a witness. Turn to John chapter 5:36. “‘But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent Me.’” Jesus Christ and the works He performed and the things that He taught bore witness of His job from His Father (that He was sent by the Father). Jesus Christ taught and preached as a witness. (3) He was persecuted yet overcame the world. If you would drop back now to John 5:16. “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.” Jesus Christ was without doubt persecuted. If you would go to John 16:33 we are told: “‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’” In spite of persecution, Jesus Christ overcame the world, that is Satan’s system. (4) Jesus Christ was mocked and beaten. Turn, if you would, to Matthew 27. Read Matthew 27:27-31. He was mocked, and He was beaten by His tormentors. (5) He was then crucified and forsaken by the Father. Continue in Matthew 27 and read verses 32-35. Jesus Christ was crucified. If you drop down to Matthew 27:45 we read, “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” This actually means why have You deserted Me and left Me behind? Why did you leave Me down? That is exactly what Christ was saying. (6) He did die with accompanying signs and wonders. There was an earthquake and rocks were split. We just read Matthew 27:44-45. Let’s continue in Matthew 27 and read verses 47-54. His death was accompanied by signs such as an earthquake and the splitting of rocks and the resurrection of some saints who were actually seen by the brethren. (7) As we understand, He was then in the grave for three days. (8) He then rose from the dead with more signs. We will continue in Matthew 28. Read Matthew 28:1-8. Jesus Christ was resurrected with some more accompanying signs. There was an angel, lightning and an earthquake. (9) He appeared to believers and taught them. Like the angel said, He followed this up to meet with the disciples and to talk to them. Turn, if you would, to Mark 16:12. “After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief, and hardness of heart…” The first thing Jesus Christ said when He saw His disciples again was why didn’t you believe and why are your hearts so hard? Continue reading in Mark 16:14. “…because they did not believe those who had seen Him after he had risen. And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’” Christ is telling them certain things that would then happen. You are going to have greater understanding. You are going to have certain signs that follow you. You will be able to cast out demons and speak in tongues. Turn, if you would, to Luke 24 because this sheds more light on this particular meeting with His disciples. Read Luke 24:36-41. In other words, He is trying to prove the point: I am right before you physically, right here, right now. I am hungry. Continue reading Luke 24:42-45. He is fulfilling what He said He would do. I am going to open your minds so you understand. Continue reading Luke 24:46-49. He said you are going to preach the gospel of the kingdom, but I want you to hang around here for a little while. I want you to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit which will come upon you. Then you will be able to cast out demons, speak in tongues, and many signs will follow you. You will understand the scriptures. You will have a better understanding of what was prophesied of Me. (10) This promise given right here was fulfilled just a few days later in Acts at the first Pentecost of the Pentecost season. Turn to Acts 2 and read verses 1-4. Christ is fulfilling His promise. Continue reading verses 5-13. In other words, they were saying they were drunk. Most of those present realized a remarkable miracle was taking place. All of these different nationalities could hear these men speaking the wonders of God in their own language. This brings us to point 11. (11) A fulfillment of Joel chapter 2. We will keep reading in Acts chapter 2. Peter wanted to explain to these people what was going on. Read Acts 2:14-21. We see a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophesy in Joel in which Peter could explain what had transpired with the death of Jesus Christ. He explained how the men of Judea and the Romans had put Jesus Christ to death, making the sun go dark. He explained how His death had now become the Passover blood for the disciples, so the moon (the Church) could now receive the blood of Jesus Christ. The moon, thereby, turned to blood. He also could tell them of the fire and the smoke. The fire had descended upon them, and the wind of the Holy Spirit brought them knowledge of the truth and power. This increased understanding of the disciples was a momentous event in time, because they could now understand that prophesy of Joel and what was meant by the sun going dark, the moon turning to blood, fire, signs and wonders. They also received the gift of tongues. It was a new way of using language. All that occurred at the first Pentecost. This fulfillment of the first Pentecost initiated the entire season of Pentecost, that two thousand year period that we are now approaching the end of! We want to look at the duality that the body of Christ portrays as it relives some of the experiences of Jesus Christ. The body of Christ actually relives some of His experiences in a special fulfillment of Pentecost! Spiritual history is definitely repeating itself during that two thousand year period. Now we are going to compare some of the experiences of the body of Christ as firstfruits to Jesus Christ as first of the firstfruits. THE BODY OF CHRIST AS THE FIRSTFRUITS (1) The Church is miraculously begotten. Turn, if you would, to I John 5:1. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…” That should say “begotten” of God. “…and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” This term begotten (gennao in the Greek) means to procreate of the Father but by extension of the mother. So the body of Christ is begotten in a miraculous way, receiving the Holy Spirit of God but in a different way than Christ received the Holy Spirit in that miraculous conception of Mary. That was strictly the Father working through a physical woman. Now from that point forward when Jesus Christ gave the Holy Spirit to His Church, that seed goes from person to person using the mother, which is the Church. It is procreating the seed of the father and enlarging the family. Turn, if you would, to Galatians 4 to confirm this point. We will read Galatians 4:26 and 4:31. “…but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” That is the spiritual Jerusalem. Verse 31: “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” You can read the entire set of scriptures surrounding this, and you will see the comparison between physical things and spiritual things. But the main import we want to notice is that the Church (Jerusalem) is a type of a woman which is the mother of us all. That is what was referred to in I John 5:1. Now let’s go back to Ephesians chapter 1:3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…” The Father was the initiator of giving the seed to mankind and giving us the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ. Here Paul is saying blessed is our Father who gave us this Christ and our heavenly places. Continue reading Ephesians 1:4-14. In this set of scriptures we see that the body of Christ is drawn to Jesus Christ by the Father, down through the full dispensation of times as we are told in verses 9 and 10. This full dispensation of the times is the seven Church eras. The seven Church eras each fulfill part of God’s testing to bring together the body of Christ. This is done by the sealing of certain individuals with the Holy Spirit, giving them an earnest (or down payment) of a future promise, an inheritance to come. Then we will be inheritors with Jesus Christ as His brothers. This fullness of the dispensation of times corresponds with the two thousand years of Pentecost. (2) The next point we want to look at is that we are crucified with Jesus Christ. Turn to Galatians 2:20. Paul says here, “‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’” Every descendant of Jesus Christ who receives that Holy Spirit to become part of the body is crucified with Jesus Christ. (3) They also go on to be witnesses for Him and of Him. Turn back to Acts 1:8. “‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” In the beginning of the full dispensation of times, starting in Jerusalem, Jesus Christ told the disciples tarry here in Jerusalem until you receive this power. Then you will go through Jerusalem witnessing of Me. You will go through the surrounding territories witnessing of Me. Then you will go through the entire world witnessing of Me, which, of course, they never did. It took two thousand years to accomplish that! That is the full dispensation of the times (the seven Church eras). That was accomplished by Mr. Herbert Armstrong in the Philadelphia Era when the witness went to the whole world. That took up until that point in time to get that done, which was the full dispensation of the times. Turn, if you would, to I John chapter 5. We are going to read this correctly because there are some words injected here that are not in the original writings. I John 5, verse 7: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” Your Bible should not say, “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit” Continue reading I John 5:9-12. He who has the Son (Jesus Christ) dwelling in them has within them the seeds of eternal life! It is a bit of that guarantee of the Holy Spirit that will be fulfilled at Jesus Christ’s second coming in the resurrection. Here we have the Church being the witness for Jesus Christ, just as Christ was a witness for the Father. (4) The fourth thing we want to notice is that the Church was told by Jesus Christ that it would be persecuted and must overcome the world as He overcame the world. Go back to John 15:20. “‘Remember the word that I said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.’” Christ is telling them if you are going to follow me and be My servant, you are going to be persecuted just as I am persecuted. Now turn to Romans 12:10. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” Verse 17: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Christ says in the face of persecution, in the face of trials and difficulties from our fellow man and sometimes from our brethren within the body, go on to overcome evil with good. Do not persecute and revile back or seek vengeance. Turn now, if you would, to Revelation 12. Of the seven Church eras this is what was written. Revelation 12, verse 9: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’” Speaking of the rest of the firstfruits who would have to face Satan’s wrath, his accusations and his temptations, we are told they are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb while they continue to testify by word of Jesus Christ and the truth of God. They loved that truth and Jesus Christ more than they loved their own lives. The Church is told you will face persecution, but you must overcome, and you will do so by the power of the blood of the Lamb. (5) The fifth thing that we want to take note of is that the Church is mocked and beaten. Turn, if you would, to Matthew 24:9. “‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.’” Starting with the disciples right on down to our time we are warned that we will be hated. Let’s back up to Matthew chapter 10. Read Matthew 10:16-23. It is obvious that those who will follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps will be mocked and beaten in a variety of ways and persecuted terribly as Jesus Christ foretold. (6) The sixth thing we want to note is that Christ uses His body to carry its cross for two thousand years. We are going to continue in Matthew 10 but dropping down to verse 37. “‘He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.’” Christ is telling His disciples be willing to lay down your lives (physically if necessary), but be willing to be crucified with Me, and let Me live in you. Pick up your cross and follow Me. Go now to Luke 9:23. “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.’” Christ said to fulfill our calling we must pick up our cross and follow Him daily. We must be willing to bear any burden, to preach the gospel, to be a witness to all mankind, and not be ashamed of the calling that we have been given. (7) This leads us to the seventh point which is that we are living sacrifices. Turn to Romans 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” It is expected of us to be living sacrifices for God, and we will see in I Peter chapter 2 that we are living stones for Him to use in His great work. Read I Peter 2:1-5. Our reasonable service, brethren, is to sacrifice ourselves as living stones in the service of God as He goes about this remarkable building project. It is a remarkable assembling together of the eventual government of God in the form of the firstfruits. (8) The Church is to continue doing this until it is exhausted and until it has finished the work assigned to it. It must complete the job through seven harsh testing periods (carrying its cross just as Jesus Christ did). We must be willing to lay down our lives for our fellow man. We are nearly finished, brethren, and there are accompanying signs to the end of this work. We have already read a little bit about those signs, but let’s back up to Matthew chapter 24. We know that there were accompanying signs when Jesus Christ laid down His life. The rocks were split. Let’s go to Matthew 24 for some accompanying signs when the Church is in distress. Matthew 24, verse 1: “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’” Christ saw that fulfilled. He saw it fulfilled ahead of time for the brethren in their time, shortly thereafter in 70 A.D. when Rome threw down the physical temple. It would be the last time the physical temple would get thrown down. But Jesus Christ has also prophesied in the latter days that the spiritual temple would get thrown down and broken into many parts and the rocks split apart so they are no longer joined together when the Church goes down. Turn, if you would, to Revelation chapter 3. This occurs in the same manner as when Jesus Christ laid down His life and said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” Why, Father, have you abandoned me? Why have you left Me alone? Revelation 3:16 is speaking of our era, the Laodicean Era. We are told: “‘So then, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.’” It is a type of being abandoned by Jesus Christ at the end of the work. It is at the end of the period of time where the firstfruits carry their cross. At the very end when the Church goes down in exhaustion, the rocks are split and the Church is temporarily abandoned by Jesus Christ just as He was abandoned by the Father at His death. Now this may sound unusual or strange, but it is not when you consider the history of the Church. Turn, if you would, to Jesus Christ’s final words. John 19, verse 30: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” When He had fully completed the work that God had assigned to Him and was hanging on the cross and after He had been given sour wine, Jesus Christ said, “It is finished!” He gave up His spirit and died. This is a remarkable conclusion to the life of Jesus Christ and His work. It is a very similar conclusion to the life of His body, the Church, when it concludes its work! Turn, if you would, to Daniel 12:7. “Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” We see that time when the Church goes down and when the power of the people is shattered. Other versions and definitions would say scattered as well as shattered. When the temple rocks are shattered and the power of the people taken away, it is finished, just as when Jesus Christ gave up His spirit from His physical body. The Church has done its work at the end of the age and is overcome because Jesus Christ has stepped away from it for a short time. It is overcome and goes down. When we see that happen and we see the scattering of the rocks and the shattering of God’s people’s power, we know it is finished. So it is nearly over, brethren! The time of trial, the Pentecost season and the seven testing periods are almost done. Turn, if you would now, to Revelation chapter 13 as we cross reference this point in history. Revelation 13, verse 5: “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” That means to gain victory over the saints. “And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” Because once he has the Church, he has the entire world under his dominion. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” It is the words of this beast power under the direction of Satan at the end of the age when he conquers the Church and overcomes the saints. It is the words (the false doctrines) that do it! It wears out their patience, leading some into captivity back to Babylon (pagan worship). It leads some to be killed with the sword (the word of God). It is actually convicting and destroying people. Others will maintain through endurance the patience and the faith of the saints by not allowing a false or misuse of the sword to kill them. Let’s put it this way: when those who preach false doctrines from the word of God are wielding the sword incorrectly and not properly dividing the truth, it does the body of Christ much harm. So you have there three things that are happening to the Church, but some will endure patiently through it all. THE TWO WITNESSES If you would now, turn to Revelation 11 and we will cross reference this with the two witnesses. Revelation 11, verse 7: “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” God’s Church does not torment people, brethren, but we do torment the demons. We have been tormenting the demons and causing them fear for two thousand years now, as they watch God’s plan inexorably move forward to their utter destruction at the end. If you were to look it up in Hebrew, these nations are also representative of locusts of demons and their power which have devoured and harmed the body of Christ. That is why this is a spiritual collapse of the Church. Continuing in Revelation 11:11. “Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.” THE CHURCH WILL STAND UP When the Church has been down for this three-and-a-half year period (as we also read in Daniel 12), God will breathe the breath of life (His Holy Spirit) back into the Church and re-enter those who open the door and let Him in. This will give them strength to stand up. This is what is being done now, brethren. Turn, if you would now, to Daniel chapter 7 where we find another way to cross reference this point. This is speaking of the time that we have just come through and that is just ending. Daniel 7, verse 25: “‘He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.’” Satan, as the power behind this, working through those he has deceived with his pompous words, has gone against God’s people to persecute them. In the King James Version it means to wear them down. In the Hebrew it is a mental, emotional and spiritual wearing down of the saints with a constant drumbeat of false signs and wonders, false doctrines and false prophecies. It destroys and saps the strength of the Church and scatters it far and wide. When you see this happen, know that it is finished! It is just about over, and the court in heaven is being seated getting ready to tell Satan you have gone too far! Then Jesus Christ and Michael the archangel will stand up. Jesus Christ will blow breath back into the Church! Michael will fight for the Church, and the Church will rise up! It will have enough time to trim the wicks before the resurrection to do the immense battle with Satan’s power and destroy Satan and his kingdom forever. I would like to turn now to Matthew chapter 25. We will not read all of Matthew 25 (the foolish virgins) because we have read it many times, but we want to just look at them standing up. Read Matthew 25:1-7. The cry is now going out that Jesus Christ is near. The time of His return is at the door! It is time to let Him in and let Him help us put the true doctrines back into the Church. Let Him help us trim our wicks so that we are saying the correct things to bring hope to the world. It is a fitting conclusion to the work of God just before His return to get that breath of life back into the Church. Just as wind makes a flame grow brighter, His wind and His breath breathing back into the Church will get our lamps to glow more brightly. Then we can help one another get ready for Jesus Christ’s return. Whoever has enough oil (enough fuel) left in their lamp has this opportunity waiting for them right now! What are we preparing to do? We are preparing to speak a new language, brethren. We are preparing to speak in new tongues to an awaiting world. It is a world who does not understand the Bible, but a world that is anxiously awaiting for deliverance from the trials and tribulations (the misery) that they have been under for six thousand years. The conclusion of the Pentecost season is in effect the beginning of the next harvest. We are sowing the seeds for an innumerable multitude, and they need to be taught in their own language. They need to be taught in the things that they understand. The Church will be given a new language at the end of the age. It is not new in a sense. It has always been in God’s word, but it is being opened up as a type of understanding that the world will be able to grasp to apply to their own lives and become part of the innumerable multitude. We want to examine the time and the seasons now in the Book of Revelation. Instead of it being a confusing book, it will be like its name: revelatory. Then we can grasp the seriousness of the time we are in and the point of time we are in. Turn, if you would, to Revelation chapter 6. SIX SEALS Revelation chapter 6 starts with the four horsemen of the apocalypse which we will not read through. But you have the first, second, third and fourth seal representing war, pestilence and all the misery that has been on mankind for a long time. These seals have been opened for a long time. These enemies of mankind have been marching through the earth destroying us and trying to destroy the Church for a long time, brethren. So we are through the opening of the four seals, and four horsemen are riding. The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs. Revelation 6, verse 9: “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” We cannot properly put this in its time frame until we look at the sixth seal. Read about the sixth seal now beginning in verse 12. Revelation 6, verse 12: “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” Brethren, this has taken place fulfilling Joel chapter 2. The sun went dark when Jesus Christ was killed, and the moon became blood. Peter already said this had been fulfilled. What happened? There was a great earthquake, and the sky was split like a scroll so that there was made room. Look up that term “receded” as a scroll or “departed” in the King James Version. Depart is actually a better translation. According to the Greek it is a cessation of a certain amount of Satan’s power and a split in his power to make room for the Church and the firstfruits to start assembling as the body of Christ (the government to come). This has taken place! That means the fifth seal has taken place. When did the fifth seal (the cry of the martyrs) take place? We already read it. But it is kind of obscure and people do not notice. Turn back to Matthew chapter 27, please. Matthew 27, verse 50: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice…” This is when He was dying on the cross. “…and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” That is the fulfillment of the cry of the martyrs. That resurrection could not be the firstfruits that are assembled after Christ’s return, because they are resurrected when Christ’s second coming takes place. But there were saints that worked in the first ekklesia up until the first coming of Christ. They were resurrected when He died: Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. They walked through the city and talked to the disciples. We are told that many saw them. When they saw them, what were they hearing from these people? Jesus, we prophesied about You. We gave our lives as martyrs for You. We were persecuted for Your sake. When do we get our reward? That is the cry of the martyrs. Christ said all I can do for you now is give you your white robes. Because now that I have died and My blood is available, I will clean you up. But you must go back and rest now for a while until the rest of the 144,000 is assembled during the full dispensation of the times (during the seven eras of the Church). THE POWER OF OBSERVATION How far along are we in all of this? We are so far along down the track. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t let false signs and wonders dissuade you. Don’t look for physical signs and wonders because the kingdom of God does not come by ocular evidence. Those who have spiritual vision understand. Let Jesus Christ put the eye salve on your eyes. Open the door and let Him come in and sup with you, so that if you have been called and have the Holy Spirit of God and begotten, you can fully partake of the inheritance God has designed for you. Continue enduring until the end, for something very fantastic is about to take place. If you were to start reading in Revelation 6 and go right into Revelation 7, you would see the assembling of the 144,000. The firstfruits are being sealed. From Jesus Christ’s first Pentecost two thousand years ago to the last Pentecost season (which we could very well be in right now) the 144,000 have been sealed, being accumulated as part of the body of Christ to finish the entirety of the martyrs that Jesus Christ needs to form the government that will replace Satan’s. Something truly astounding lies just ahead. Let’s go back to the Old Testament and look at a few scriptures as we conclude. THE CHURCH WILL RISE Turn to Isaiah chapter 60, verse 1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” First the Church is going to get on its feet and trim its wicks. That is the first arising. Then there is going to be an arising in the resurrection. Both are going to help us speak the new language to the world so the world can hear the truth of God and come to God. Continue in Isaiah 60:4. “‘Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.’” Mankind will be converted. The King James Version shows us that the term “turned” is converted. The world is about to be converted, brethren! Turn to Isaiah 61:1. “‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.’” Yes, the last couple thousand years has been a heavy burden for us to bear. The cross that we and our former brethren have borne has been heavy, and we have collapsed under the weight of it in the last days. But God is not slack in His promise. He will give us strength (and it will be miraculous strength), and we will go to the world with the language that God wants them to understand. Go to Isaiah chapter 62. Read Isaiah 62:1-4. Beulah means married. Continue in verse 5: “For as a young man marries a virgin…” (which means a builder marries his wife) “…so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” This is the future of the Church. Hang in there and persevere for just a little while longer. Read Isaiah 66:5-13 for our concluding set of scriptures. The entire world (the innumerable multitude) will be comforted in the lap of the Church, its mother (the mother of us all). This is the conclusion of the matter, brethren, and it is what God is about to go to next. It is the next phase of His work. We stand on the threshold of the greatest spiritual growth the world has ever seen! May nothing hold you back! Spring is ending and summer is starting. The growth in the world is going to be phenomenal. Soon it will be ripe for the harvest. See it, believe it and hang on to your inheritance!