A Wicked Heart
It has taken me some time to write this chapter of my blog. My heart is a wicked heart and it is hard to deal with a subject that concerns yourself. My induction into the False Prophet movement was through deception but my heart is wicked all of its own accord.
How can I know that? The Bible is absolutely clear on the subject --
I am always astounded when I hear someone justify their behavior by saying they are not as bad as the next person. Really? Is that what you're hanging your hat on to get you to heaven? You're not as bad as the next person?
I don't advise trusting in yourself to get to heaven. Or trusting that you are doing what God called you to do to get to heaven. No, there is only one way to heaven and that is the blood covered narrow way. The narrow way is covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The only way any of humanity is getting to heaven is in the unrecognizable state of being covered from head to toe, inside and out with blood. Not just any blood but only the Blood of Jesus Christ. If you were planning on arriving at Heaven's Gate with you hair combed, your teeth brush and your best Sunday (or Shabbat as the case may be) go to meeting clothes on, then you are not going to gain entrance. However, if you were planning on arriving in an unrecognizable condition covered in the Blood of Jesus Christ then you will find yourself joyfully welcomed through those beautiful gates.
Why bring up the wicked heart? It is a state that all of mankind exist in, the state of a wicked heart. And it is a state that all of mankind has the ability to escape from, but only through one avenue. Yes, you should know by now -- let's all say it together -- the Blood of Jesus Christ.
I bring this up because of the church of Thyatira and my concern over those who will be cast into great tribulation Revelation 2:22 unless they repent of their deeds. It's the repentance aspect that just bothers me so much. If the members of the last days church of Thyatira do not repent will they go into the tribulation? Will they ruin any chance of gaining eternal life?
Let's explore another section of scripture that has always bothered me - Matthew 25 The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. Before we start let's just remember one thing the Word of God is written to His people -- it is foolishness to those who are perishing.
This word is written for the ones who believe in Jesus Christ
Those who have not received the Light of Jesus Christ cannot understand His Word. And it is not understandable to those who choose to remain in darkness.
The speaker of this parable is Jesus Christ the same speaker in Revelation. Why does He keep talking about those that come in and those that are left outside or cast into great tribulation? Do you think He is joking?
Let's analyze this passage. To begin with we have ten virgins that are invited to a wedding. I don't know about you but I don't go to weddings unless I have received an invitation. There is a cost involved with a wedding. First there is the gift. Then of course being a modern woman, every wedding requires new wedding attire including accessories to match the new outfit. If the whole family is attending that can be quite an outlay of money to go to one wedding. If the wedding is out of town then there is the expense of travel - gas or airline tickets which will include the gas or fare to the airport and the parking fees to leave your car. Then if there is no relative to stay with there is going to be a hotel bill and you will also have to eat. To RSVP a wedding invitation can become quite costly. Only a fool would attend a wedding they were not invited to and only a fool would miss a wedding that they had already invested all the above to go to.
I think we can safely conclude then that all of the above mentioned virgins had received and invitation to the wedding. But what happened along the way? In American culture everything is set in stone but in ancient Jewish culture the bride did not know when the bridegroom would come to get her -- thus our virgins in Matthew 25 fell asleep and slumbered while waiting for the bridegroom to return. I think it is safe to say that in our Christian walk we have times and seasons were we slumber and sleep. And other times when we are on fire with our Christian message. But what is the difference between those who go the distance and those who fall by the wayside? It's what is in our vessels that makes the difference.
All the virgins had lamps. The Word of God is our lamp.
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of God.
All ten virgins had the Word of God. To five it was just something that sat on a shelf gathering dust. But to the other five it was more than just a book gathering dust. Why, why, why was/is it different for the two groups. Can it be that five had truly repented and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and become His bondslave. Therefore, those five had been sealed by the Holy Spirit?
It is the sealing of the Holy Spirit or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is the oil in our vessels and keeps us until Jesus comes to redeem what He purchased with His Blood.
So far, we have established that all the virgins were invited to the wedding. We have established that all of the virgins had lamps. All the virgins slumbered and slept. But only five of the virgins actually had vessels which contained oil. Only five virgins had prepared for an extended or extensive journey.
What was the result of having vessels filled with oil versus having no vessel with oil? Those who had prepared for the journey were taken into the wedding by the bridegroom. Those who came late for failing to prepare were actually informed by the bridegroom that he did not even know them. In fact, he didn't even open the door, for the door had been shut! He just called out from behind a closed door.
Are we beginning to see a pattern that Jesus Christ is establishing? In the church of Thyatira those who repented from their involvement with Jezebel and her pernicious ways were simply told
And those that would not repent
And the ten virgins - five were taken into the wedding and the other five where informed "I do not know you." Do you think they were standing there looking at the invitation saying "but I have an invitation, it's right here!!!!!!"
Are you or have you been involved in deceitful false teachings by deceitful men and women claiming to be Prophets of God? Then please repent before the day is past and you cannot escape great tribulation. Is pride worth that? Is the deceitfulness of promised secret knowledge that is actually from evil sources worth the tribulation to you? It's not to late this moment to repent.
Are you just a Christian poser? You just chose to be a Christian because it seemed like a nice safe life were you could meet nice people? Did you say a simple sinners prayer but never really changed on the inside? Did you never develop an interest in the Word of God and having a personal relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ? Do you think you are a Christian because your parents are, or your grandparents are? The five foolish virgins could not get to the wedding on the oil of the wise virgins. Getting to heaven is a solo journey between you and Jesus Christ. It doesn't include you, because you knew a Christian, or were related to a Christian, or went to church on Sundays. I'm sad to say that many churches will be filled the first Sunday after the rapture by people who were there every Sunday.
If so, it is never to late to truly deeply repent. Don't you want to find yourself on the wedding side of the shut door. Don't be left outside, told by the bridegroom that he doesn't even know you.
How can I know that? The Bible is absolutely clear on the subject --
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"
I am always astounded when I hear someone justify their behavior by saying they are not as bad as the next person. Really? Is that what you're hanging your hat on to get you to heaven? You're not as bad as the next person?
I don't advise trusting in yourself to get to heaven. Or trusting that you are doing what God called you to do to get to heaven. No, there is only one way to heaven and that is the blood covered narrow way. The narrow way is covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The only way any of humanity is getting to heaven is in the unrecognizable state of being covered from head to toe, inside and out with blood. Not just any blood but only the Blood of Jesus Christ. If you were planning on arriving at Heaven's Gate with you hair combed, your teeth brush and your best Sunday (or Shabbat as the case may be) go to meeting clothes on, then you are not going to gain entrance. However, if you were planning on arriving in an unrecognizable condition covered in the Blood of Jesus Christ then you will find yourself joyfully welcomed through those beautiful gates.
Why bring up the wicked heart? It is a state that all of mankind exist in, the state of a wicked heart. And it is a state that all of mankind has the ability to escape from, but only through one avenue. Yes, you should know by now -- let's all say it together -- the Blood of Jesus Christ.
I bring this up because of the church of Thyatira and my concern over those who will be cast into great tribulation Revelation 2:22 unless they repent of their deeds. It's the repentance aspect that just bothers me so much. If the members of the last days church of Thyatira do not repent will they go into the tribulation? Will they ruin any chance of gaining eternal life?
Let's explore another section of scripture that has always bothered me - Matthew 25 The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. Before we start let's just remember one thing the Word of God is written to His people -- it is foolishness to those who are perishing.
I Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
This word is written for the ones who believe in Jesus Christ
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Those who have not received the Light of Jesus Christ cannot understand His Word. And it is not understandable to those who choose to remain in darkness.
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord open to us! 12 "But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The speaker of this parable is Jesus Christ the same speaker in Revelation. Why does He keep talking about those that come in and those that are left outside or cast into great tribulation? Do you think He is joking?
Let's analyze this passage. To begin with we have ten virgins that are invited to a wedding. I don't know about you but I don't go to weddings unless I have received an invitation. There is a cost involved with a wedding. First there is the gift. Then of course being a modern woman, every wedding requires new wedding attire including accessories to match the new outfit. If the whole family is attending that can be quite an outlay of money to go to one wedding. If the wedding is out of town then there is the expense of travel - gas or airline tickets which will include the gas or fare to the airport and the parking fees to leave your car. Then if there is no relative to stay with there is going to be a hotel bill and you will also have to eat. To RSVP a wedding invitation can become quite costly. Only a fool would attend a wedding they were not invited to and only a fool would miss a wedding that they had already invested all the above to go to.
I think we can safely conclude then that all of the above mentioned virgins had received and invitation to the wedding. But what happened along the way? In American culture everything is set in stone but in ancient Jewish culture the bride did not know when the bridegroom would come to get her -- thus our virgins in Matthew 25 fell asleep and slumbered while waiting for the bridegroom to return. I think it is safe to say that in our Christian walk we have times and seasons were we slumber and sleep. And other times when we are on fire with our Christian message. But what is the difference between those who go the distance and those who fall by the wayside? It's what is in our vessels that makes the difference.
All the virgins had lamps. The Word of God is our lamp.
Psalm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of God.
Psalm 92:10 . . . I have been anointed with fresh oil. Psalm 23:5 . . . You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
All ten virgins had the Word of God. To five it was just something that sat on a shelf gathering dust. But to the other five it was more than just a book gathering dust. Why, why, why was/is it different for the two groups. Can it be that five had truly repented and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and become His bondslave. Therefore, those five had been sealed by the Holy Spirit?
Ephesians 1:13,14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
It is the sealing of the Holy Spirit or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is the oil in our vessels and keeps us until Jesus comes to redeem what He purchased with His Blood.
So far, we have established that all the virgins were invited to the wedding. We have established that all of the virgins had lamps. All the virgins slumbered and slept. But only five of the virgins actually had vessels which contained oil. Only five virgins had prepared for an extended or extensive journey.
What was the result of having vessels filled with oil versus having no vessel with oil? Those who had prepared for the journey were taken into the wedding by the bridegroom. Those who came late for failing to prepare were actually informed by the bridegroom that he did not even know them. In fact, he didn't even open the door, for the door had been shut! He just called out from behind a closed door.
Are we beginning to see a pattern that Jesus Christ is establishing? In the church of Thyatira those who repented from their involvement with Jezebel and her pernicious ways were simply told
Revelation 2:25"But hold fast to what you have till I come."
And those that would not repent
Revelation 2:22 . . . into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds.
And the ten virgins - five were taken into the wedding and the other five where informed "I do not know you." Do you think they were standing there looking at the invitation saying "but I have an invitation, it's right here!!!!!!"
Are you or have you been involved in deceitful false teachings by deceitful men and women claiming to be Prophets of God? Then please repent before the day is past and you cannot escape great tribulation. Is pride worth that? Is the deceitfulness of promised secret knowledge that is actually from evil sources worth the tribulation to you? It's not to late this moment to repent.
Are you just a Christian poser? You just chose to be a Christian because it seemed like a nice safe life were you could meet nice people? Did you say a simple sinners prayer but never really changed on the inside? Did you never develop an interest in the Word of God and having a personal relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ? Do you think you are a Christian because your parents are, or your grandparents are? The five foolish virgins could not get to the wedding on the oil of the wise virgins. Getting to heaven is a solo journey between you and Jesus Christ. It doesn't include you, because you knew a Christian, or were related to a Christian, or went to church on Sundays. I'm sad to say that many churches will be filled the first Sunday after the rapture by people who were there every Sunday.
If so, it is never to late to truly deeply repent. Don't you want to find yourself on the wedding side of the shut door. Don't be left outside, told by the bridegroom that he doesn't even know you.
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