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August 21, 2008God gave the human body five senses to procure information for analysis and review by the brain. The Holy Word of God tastes, smells, looks, sounds, and feels the same throughout the Old and the New Testament. In our humanity, we sometimes read something in the Holy Word of God, whereby our lack of perception makes it appear that there is contradiction. Know that it is a lack of our understanding. If a Scripture is not in compliance with the total of all other Scriptures, it is because of misinterpretation on the part of you or the translator.
Other than our five physical senses, the only other possible avenue for gaining information is through a spirit (You've heard of the "sixth-sense"). We as humans have a sixth-sense because we are created in God's image with a spirit. The sixth-sense is for our spiritual communication and is how we may communicate with the spirit world. It is how we may communicate with God. If we listen intently, we are actually able to hear the voice of God.
Revelation 3:20 (NIV) "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Because of sin, all of Adams's descendants were born physically alive, but spiritually dead. Even the spiritually dead can hear the voice of God call to them.
John 5:25 (NIV) I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Angels are "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation", consequently in addition to hearing the voice of God through our sixth-sense, we are also able to hear the voices of spirits, also known as angels.
Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
A good spirit may communicate with you through your sixth-sense for your benefit and impress you, "Don't go down that dark alley."
Through our sixth-sense, we may also communicate with fallen angels. In their lawlessness, fallen angels have rebelled against their original designed purpose. Fallen angels are no longer trying "to serve those who will inherit salvation"; fallen angels are now trying to devour and destroy whomever they can. An evil spirit may accuse you as in, "You are an awful person, because of all of the heinous things that you have done in your life, God will never forgive you"; or "You are not a Christian, you might as well quit trying to be a Christian and live how you want to live." In other instances, an evil spirit may communicate with a person through their sixth-sense and direct them to, "Go throughout the house praising Satan and/or some demon."
Some people think that they are hearing the voice of God, but the voice gives ignorant, confused, or criminal commands. Consequently, we must always test the spirits to know whether they are from God.
1 John 4:1 (NIV) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Some people have become very spiritual by spending time in prayer, reading their Bible, seeking God, but possibly holding on to some secret sin; and then they appear to become insane by reversing their course and committing some heinous crime. The crime occurred because these deluded people were actually communicating with and moving close to the spirit world; the deluded people were trying to please the spirits that they were communicating with, but the deluded people were not testing the spirits that they were communicating with by the Word of God. So when a spirit commanded the deluded person to kill someone because that someone is the antichrist, the deluded person did not judge the evil spirit's command by Exodus 20:13 - "Thou shalt not kill." Because the deluded person believed that the command was from God, or "an angel of light", the deluded person lost their ability to know right from wrong. The legal definition for insanity is the inability to know right from wrong. Consequently the deluded person, like Eve, was deceived into sinning.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Not every form of mental illness is a spiritual problem. There are chemical imbalances, hereditary problems, sinful lifestyles and physical damage causing mental problems. However, when a person interacts with the spirit world and appears to have a mental problem, it could very well be a reflection of the spiritual war referenced in Ephesians 6:10-18.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
If you judge all sixth-sense communications by the Word of God, you can tell whether it is a good spirit, or an evil spirit that is trying to communicate with you.
John 10: 2-6 (NIV) The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
There is a clear threshold crossed, and the spirit world is gaining better control of a person when they begin to act upon the commands of the voice or voices such as, "Become a missionary and go feed the starving children in Calcutta," or "You would be better off if you would kill yourself, and/or someone else." The more righteous a person becomes, the more compelling the voice of God will become.
John 10:27 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
The more wicked a person becomes, the more compelling the voices of Satan and/or the demons will become.
One of the functions of the Holy Spirit of God is to dwell in and counsel man. When Adam sinned, he was banished from the Garden of Eden and the physical presence of God (Genesis chapter 3). At that time, he also lost the Spirit of God as man's Counselor. The Spirit of God cannot dwell in an unholy being. Consequently, the Spirit of God could not dwell in, or counsel a man until Jesus Christ came, and was crucified as a substitution punishment for man's sin, thereby enabling man through faith in Jesus Christ to live a holy life. Man lost the counsel of the Spirit of God at the Garden of Eden. Man did not get the counsel of the Spirit of God back until the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and only when man is living a holy life. Because man lost his Counselor, man was steeped in spiritual ignorance:
Acts 17:30 (NIV) In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Since the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God is now able to dwell in a person who is living a Holy life, and consequently the Spirit of God is able to counsel or guide that person. When founding your faith on the Holy Word of God, and in those instances where you perceive a contradiction in the Holy Word of God, you must ask the Spirit of God to lead you into all truth:
John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 14:26 (NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV) I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Luke 11:9-13 (NIV) "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Ephesians 3:4-5 (NIV) In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
Luke 24:45 (NIV) Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
As you read and study this message and the Holy Word of God, I ask you to prayerfully consider these Scriptures. Request the Spirit of God to open your heart to His truth.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
Daniel 2:21b-22 (NIV) He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Daniel 10:12 (NIV) Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Amos 3:7 (NIV) Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
John 15:15 (NIV) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
1 John 2:27 (NIV) As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Many of the truths of the Scriptures are visible only to those filled with the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Matthew 11:25 (NIV) At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Daniel 12:10b (NIV) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
From a theological position, there is little that a person learns while being separated from the Spirit of God that is worth knowing.
Matthew 13:10-17 (NIV) The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
If we were to use a small candle to look into a deep cave, we might conclude that there was nothing inside; when in reality just outside of the reach of our light, great treasures were stored that we simply could not see. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Light.
1 John 1:5 (NIV) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Only the Spirit of Light can reveal the great truths of the Scriptures. The world is blind to these truths.
Matthew 15:14 (NIV) Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Because the world cannot see these truths, their claim is that these truths do not exist.
"Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding." - Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld 1613-1680
The blindness of the world has influenced the church. The Laodicean Church referenced in Revelation 3:14 was an actual church in the city of Laodicea. Throughout the last 2,000 years of the Judeo-Christian era, there have been individual local churches that have reflected the basic attributes and character of one of the seven individual local churches referenced in Revelation 2:1 through Revelation 3:22. Additionally, the entire church as a world-wide whole, has reflected the attributes and character of one of the individual seven churches, during sequential dispensations across the last 2,000 years. The final church age, the one we are living in, is the Laodicean church age. One of the symptoms of this last Laodicean church age is blindness:
Revelation 3:17 (NIV) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
I do not allege that any person who is filled with the Spirit of God has perfect understanding. We can however, "See through a glass darkly." (I Corinthians 13:12)
In the Lord God's cause and effect universe, physical adaptations are constantly occurring - what you don’t use, you lose. What you use - you develop. We can readily see this among athletes who develop their bodies, and scholars who develop their minds. Jesus referenced this principal in the Holy Word of God.
Matthew 25:29 (NIV) For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
The Astyanax mexicanus is a species of fish that lives in caves where there is no light off the coast of Mexico. The eyes of the embryo start to degenerate soon after the egg begins to form, and the fish are born blind. On the surface, where there is light, the exact same species of fish develop normal vision.
Contrast the blind Astyanax mexicanus to the creatures who have eyes covering them referenced in Revelation 4:6-8, and Ezekiel 10:12.
Revelation 4:6-8 (NIV) Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Ezekiel 10:12 (NIV) Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.
The creatures in heaven are created beings who have adapted physically in order to comprehend more light. They have been in the presence of the Lord God their entire existence; and they constantly circle and stare at Him, in order to see more of Him. They have developed more eyes, in order to see the Lord God better. In their focus and worship, they constantly see new things about the Lord God that overwhelm them in His magnificence, and they cannot but cry out in awe:
Revelation 4:8 (NIV) Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
As the Astyanax mexicanus is born blind physically, so every human is born blind spiritually, but in humans it is because of a sin mutation.
Jesus is the light.
John 1:1-5 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
If you seek the Lord God (light) with all of your heart, you will find Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
When you find the Lord God, you will begin to develop spiritual eyesight in order to be able to comprehend the light.
Ephesians 1:17-19a (NIV) I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Then you too will cry out in awe:
Revelation 4:8 (NIV) Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Moses wanted to see the Lord God; not for entertainment, curiosity or sensationalism, but that he might KNOW and worship the Lord God. To KNOW God is to worship Him. We must also seek the Lord God in order to KNOW and worship Him.
Exodus 33:18-23 (NIV) Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."
If we do not continue to focus on the Lord God, we will lose our spiritual eyesight. Those who do not seek the Lord God with all of their heart will never be able to see.
Some blind, worldly, Laodicean "theologians" have alleged that there is only a single truth in any of the parables spoken by Jesus. Their inability to see manifold spiritual truth has forced them to draw the conclusion that none is there.
"They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea." - Francis Bacon 1561-1626
A rich panorama of truth can be extracted from everything the Savior said. One of the Scriptures where this is very quickly and easily shown is:
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) &= quot;When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Note that in the general grouping of the angels, sheep and goats referenced in verses 31 through 33, the Son of Man is only referenced as "He."
In verse 34, and verse 40, when "the sheep" are addressed exclusively, Jesus is titled "The King" in both instances.
In verse 41, and verse 45, when "the goats" are addressed exclusively, Jesus is titled only "He" in both instances.
To the sheep on His right, Jesus is "The King," but to the goats on His left, Jesus is only "He." Jesus is not the king of the goats.
In verse 40, where Jesus says "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine," "The King" references "the sheep" as His "brothers".
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
In verse 45, where Jesus says "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these," He does not reference the goats as His "brothers", because the goats are not brothers to Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:48-50 (NIV) He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
In nature, goats are independent and attempt to defend themselves. In nature, sheep are dependent on the shepherd and will not defend themselves. The devil is a roaring lion trying to devour goats and sheep.
1 Peter 5:8b (NIV) Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
What chance does a goat have of defending itself against a lion? It has no chance at all! What chance does a sheep have of defending itself against a lion? It has no chance at all! What chance does a shepherd have of defending his sheep against a lion?
1 Samuel 17:34-37a (NIV) But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 91:13 (NIV) You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Jesus is the Great Shepherd. The Shepherd moves His sheep into protective structure. The Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep.
John 10:1-16 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The Shepherd will go after His sheep when they are lost.
Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Jesus' last thoughts were of His sheep.
John 21:15-17 (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
There is a lie from the devil going forth that the Spirit of God will be removed from this world at some time during the Tribulation period.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
The Scripture phrase "taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7) printed above, implies that something is in the way. Who is in the way of what? In this case, the Spirit of God is in the way of "the secret power of lawlessness." The Holy Spirit has been restricting "the secret power of lawlessness." The Holy Spirit has been restricting some humans and some fallen angels from becoming as wicked as their heart's desire them to be. The Scripture does not state that the Spirit of God will be removed from the earth, but that He will be removed from being in the way of "the secret power of lawlessness". Only God the Father is able to move the Holy Spirit. At some point, God the Father will take the Holy Spirit "out of the way" of "the secret power of lawlessness". At that point, humans and fallen angels will be allowed to become as wicked as their evil heart's desire them to be. When God the Father takes the Spirit of God "out of the way" of "the secret power of lawlessness," the Spirit of God will still remain on the earth within the members of the Body of Christ who are here.
Is it possible to come to Jesus Christ without the benefit of the Spirit of God? John 6:44a, and John 3:5-6 printed below, and many other Scriptures answer this question:
John 6:44a (NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,
John 3:5-6 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
If the Holy Spirit was removed from the earth, there would not be one single Jew, nor one single Gentile drawn to God and redeemed after the Holy Spirit's removal. Redemption would be impossible if the Holy Spirit was removed.
Will the Spirit of God leave any member of the Body of Christ who is living a Holy life? Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6, and many other Scriptures answer this question:
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Will there be living members of the Body of Christ who are still on the earth when Jesus Christ returns? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and many other Scriptures answer this question. If there were no living members of the Body of Christ on the earth during the Tribulation, there would be no living members of the Body of Christ for Jesus to return for.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
If there are living members of the Body of Christ on earth when Jesus Christ returns, the blessed Holy Spirit will be right here, dwelling within, counseling, and supporting the living members of the Body of Christ. Where there is a single member of the Body of Christ, there you will find the blessed Spirit of God.
If you cannot be drawn to God and redeemed without the benefit of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God states that the Holy Spirit will never leave a redeemed person who is living a Holy Life, then we know that if there are then members of the Body of Christ on earth when Jesus returns, we can be absolutely sure that the Holy Spirit will be on the earth through the entire Tribulation Period.
The Spirit of God will be here through the entire Tribulation period, as there will be members of the Body of Christ here through the entire Tribulation period, and the Spirit of God has been given to the members of the Body of Christ forever.
Godly creatures are currently in a struggle with evil creatures.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
The Spirit of God has been constantly restricting evil creatures from the complete fulfillment of their evil desires. In the case of Joseph, referenced in Genesis chapters 37-50, his brothers initially desired to murder him. They were exhibiting that they were the spiritual children of the devil, and that they had the same desire as their spiritual father the devil has.
John 8:44 (NIV) You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The Spirit of God restricted Joseph's brothers from murdering Joseph, but the Spirit of God withdrew His restrictions on their evil desires to the extent that Joseph's brothers were allowed to sell Joseph into slavery. This was in order to accomplish God's plan for saving the Children of Israel during the seven year famine that was coming. Joseph was not harmed, he was only temporarily inconvenienced in order to save his family and nation.