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Israelite House of David - Read It On-Line:
"The Key of the House of David"
Book of Wisdom for the Ingathering and Restoration of Israel
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To order a printed copy of
"The Key of the House of David"
by Brother Benjamin Purnell,
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In reading this little booklet, notice the keys in the Scripture - and rightly divide between life and death - between the soul salvation as a free gift without works, and the life of the body by faith and works. The first key is to see the life redemption of body, soul, and spirit. If a man keeps my sayings he shall never see death; as, In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Proverbs 12:28. So God willeth not the death of any man. Wis. of Sol. (Apoc.) 1:13. There is a way that seemeth right unto man, and yet the way thereof is death; (Prov. 16:25;) - which way to all Christendom seemeth right, and is for the soul salvation. But for the life of the body, in Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.
Another key is, He calleth those things that be not as though they were; (Rom. 4:17;) - spoken of as done, and yet to be accomplished. As proof, it said, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given! - yet it was not fulfilled till hundreds of years after. So what the Scripture says, it says for us upon whom the end has come - the Elect to whom the promise was made.
No prophecy is of a private interpretation, and, One day is with the Lord as a thousand years. Therefore the six days of creation signified six thousand years, as Jesus said, I work and my Father worketh hitherto. This shows during the six thousand years they were still working. And it is also written that Christ worketh in the creation - working all things after the counsel of his own will. There was a day and time of rest it is true - a day of a thousand years. And so it is written, God did rest - which was in the Sabbath, or seventh day of a thousand years; and will again in the coming Sabbath of rest that yet remaineth for the people of God; and that on the sixth day he made man. And we are now to be finished - conformed to the image of his Son - made immortal, now in the time of this sixth day of a thousand years, shortened for the Elect's sake in order to save flesh. Matt. 24:22.
In this book we wish to introduce the first rudiments of the -faith once delivered unto the saints, which was sealed till this the time of the end and day of Visitation; now unsealed, and the mysteries made known to the people of the saints-Israel, to whom the promise was made, which was given by God (who cannot lie) before the world began. And the kingdom shall be given to the peopleof the saints of the Most High. Therefore this Message will give a clear conception of what the kingdom is, and to whom it is given - which is Israel, the seed which was to come, to whom the promise was made, which promise is, the redemption of our body; (Rom. 8:23;) when then the kingdom shall be put within them - I am with you, and shall be in you; (John 14:17;) - i.e., when mortal shall put on immortality. And remember, this mortal signifies living people - whose vile bodies shall be changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body; and therefore shall be like him. Phil. 3:21.
These mysteries having been sealed, Blindness in part happened to Israel till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; (Rom. 11:25;) - which time has come; and the Lord has set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people Israel, and the mysteries are revealed to them. And so it says, Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh - which is the life of the body. So Jesus said, I will shorten the time for the Elect's sake, or no flesh would be saved, but for the Elect's sake I have shortened the days. Matt. 24:22.
Israel was scattered in the days of old, after Solomon's time. And Jesus did not gather Israel; nor did he restore the kingdom to them in his first coming, or why would there be a second coming? And so Jesus said, as a proof of this, How often would I have gathered you and ye would not. Luke 13:34.
When Jesus spoke of going away, they said, Where will he go? Will he go to the dispersed of Israel? Notwithstanding, he said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; but all are written for us upon whom the end has come. 1 Cor. 10:11. And so he said, If I go away I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,there ye may be also; (John 14:3;) - which was upon the earth. And he that scattered Israel shall gather them; and unto Shiloh shall the gathering of the people be. Gen. 49:10. And Jesus said, When the Son of man shall come, before him shall all nations be gathered, and kept as a shepherd keepeth his flock. Matt. 25:31, 32.
The Holy City - the kingdom of God - shall be trampled under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; who were grafted in for the soul salvation - a free gift of grace without works - beginning at Pentecost for a dispensation of Gentile times; when at their fulness, He, the Spirit of truth, that other Comforter, shall come and guide you in the way of all truth, and show you things to come; (John 16:13;) - unseal and reveal the mystery of the redemption of body, soul and spirit, without death.
The disciples asked if he would then at that time restore the kingdom to Israel; and he said, It is not for you to know the times and the seasons that the Lord has put in his own power - it being for the time of the end, when Israel would be gathered. How could he restore the kingdom to them in his first coming, when they were still scattered among the Gentiles, and who were not gathered at that time? And if that was one of the reasons then, how could it be restored now, while they are still scattered among Gentile and Jew, in the world? Therefore they must be gathered according to the Scriptures, and the kingdom restored.
And so it is written that the kingdoms of this world will be destroyed like as in the days of Noah and as in the days of Lot; and another kingdom established, which shall be an everlasting kingdom which shall not pass away. Therefore Israel must be gathered, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. Rev. 11:15.
A Difference Between Jews and Israelites It is claimed by both Jew and Gentile that the Jews are Israel; and yet the Gentiles contradict it by claiming they are Israel - spiritual Israel. There are no Scriptural proofs of either Jew or Gentile being Israel. There are three classes covered in Scripture - Jew, Gentile and Israel; and yet Israel are to be taken from both Jews and Gentiles - the Elect among them - to make up the third; two parts shall be cut off and die, and the third part left therein; and I will refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried; and in that day Israel shall be the third. Isa. 19:24.
The Gentiles claim the middle wall of partition is broken down between Jews and Gentiles; and so the Scripture does speak of it, but little understood. Yet the Gentiles claim the Jews are lost; and then we ask, Why do they boast of converting the Jews? But look! If the Jews are on the same platform with the Gentiles, and are lost, so are the Gentiles; and both go down, being on the same platform. But Scriptures say, Both Jew and Gentile are saved - one through faith, and the other by faith; which is the soul salvation - only they widely differ in faith; but are not saved by works, but a free gift of grace without works. The one believes in Christ through Moses, and the other believes in Christ through Jesus; but both believe in death - the one believes in a resurrection of soul, and the other believes in going to some sky-heaven at death.
The first Hebrew on record was Abraham; and the origin of the Jew was taken from Judah - only one son of Jacob - and are known today as Jews. The descendants of the ten sons, called the ten tribes, were scattered - called Israel; and Judah remained with the law of Moses, and Benjamin with him till Jesus came - then a split. Jesus came unto his own - the Jews, he being born of that tribe - and they rejected him.
And the ten were scattered, and not gathered in Jesus' day.
The Scriptures in the Gospel show it in many places. Now among the whole, who accepted Jesus? Not Judah, nor the ten tribes; therefore it remains to be seen that it was the tribe of Benjamin. And Paul said he was of the tribe of Benjamin.
Jesus said, How oft would I have gathered you - showing he did not. And when he said he was going away, they said, Will he go to the dispersedof Israel? - showing they were still scattered.
But the promise is to gather Israel who are scattered, and the dispersed of Judah. Jesus said to the Jews in his day, Ye are not my sheep. And Benjamin as a tribe, and their descendants who accepted him, he reckoned as sheep of the fold; but said, I have other sheep which are not of this fold, them I must also bring; and I will give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish. These things spake he of the time of the end and day of Visitation; when first, the children of Benjamin being now gathered - as represented at that time - and a fold, or sheep gathered into the fold; and speaking of the ten tribes scattered, says, I have other sheep not of this fold. Them I must also bring, and give unto them eternal life; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand; for it is written, Unto the Son of man they shall be gathered; and he will keep them as a shepherd keepeth his flock.
But what about Judah? Well, they will come in at last; making up the twelve tribes - twelve thousand of each; making up the 144,000 of the sealed and the redeemed. And so it is written, I will gather Israel from whithersoever they have been scattered, and assemble the dispersed of Judah. Isa. 11:12.
They shall come together, and appoint to themselves one head; and great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:11.
The Two Ensigns The two Ensigns are spoken of in Isaiah 11, 10:12. The first was the first coming of Jesus Christ, unto whom the Gentiles shall seek. And has it not been so? Most assuredly! The Jews rejected the life of the body at his coming; and it was said, Lo, we turn to the Gentiles. And yet Jesus said, The Holy City they shall tread under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:24. Then the Lord would set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people Israel - which is the second Ensign; and it says, Unto it the tribes of Israel, and of Judah, shall be gathered; and unto Shiloh shall the gathering of the people be. Gen. 49:10.
The Gentile theologians say, in answer to the two folds, that the Jews were one, and the Gentiles the other. But this will not harmonize with Scripture. And why? Simply because he said to the Jews, Ye are not my sheep. And furthermore, if the middle wall of partition was broken down between Jew and Gentile, making them one fold, then it could not apply to them as two folds; as notice what he said, I have other sheep not of this fold, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish - whereas both Jews and Gentiles have perished.
They are dead; and the rest pray for death, and say they are waiting to welcome death; and they furthermore want to be taken out of the world, and say at death they expect to fly to beautiful mansions above. But notice the prayer of Jesus: I pray, Father, you take them not out of the world. He also taught that we pray, Thy kingdom come! And because we teach this, they seem to think we ought to be killed. And then they would not want to see us go to heaven. And indeed we have no desire to take such foolish flight; as it is imaginary. We would ask, then, What heaven do you expect to go to? Is there more than one? The Scriptures speak of more. Paul spoke of the third heaven. And it speaks of the heaven of heavens; and there are seven - but we believe in understanding it. And Jesus said, If you cannot understand natural things, how could you understand heavenly things? - as the visible things of the creation show forth the heavenly, and even the eternal power and Godhead. Therefore the visible body of Jesus saw not corruption; and in him dwelt the fulness of the Godhead - the eternal power and Godhead; and it was said by him, All power both in heaven and in earth was given into his hands. And we are to be made like him - our vile bodies changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body. And those whom he foreknew, he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.
Rom. 8:29. And what is this but the life of the body? And so he said, Reach hither thy hands and feel, for a spirit hath not flesh and bone as you see me have. Luke 24:39.
And we shall be like him if we attain unto this redemption of body, soul and spirit - Spirits of just men made perfect, and yea, more; and shall do the works that he did, and, Greater works than these shall ye do because I go to my Father. Therefore he promised to send the Spirit of truth, that other Comforter - not the one at Pentecost for the soul salvation, till the Gentiles' fulness, but that other Comforter, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive. And he shall lead in the way of all truth - not in part as did the one at Pentecost, by which they saw in part and as through a glass darkly; (1 Cor. 13:12;) but, said Paul, When that which is perfect is come, that in part shall be done away.
This other Spirit of truth like that Jesus had - the Spirit of life and immortality - shall guide in the way of all truth; by which we understand all mysteries, because it unseals it to us, and in this the day and time of Visitation, the Lord sets his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people Israel, and redeem them from among men. Rev. 14:4. And they shall be alive and remain - not dead. Nor do they wish to be taken out of the world - i.e., by death. Yet to be gathered, it means to come out from the world, and be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev. 18:4.
And Jesus said, The world will hate you because I have chosen you out the world; (John 15:19;) and to be at peace with the world is to be at enmity with God, as we cannot serve two masters. We cannot be heirs and citizens of both kingdoms.
We must love the one, and hate the other. Matt. 6:24.
Therefore he that will live godly must suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.
They who love death, hate me; (Prov. 8:36;) for God made not death, nor does he will the death of any man.
Therefore Jesus came to abolish death, and to destroy him who had power of death, which is the devil. He brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel; (2 Tim. 1:10) but it was sealed again till the time of the end and day of Visitation, when the seven angels should sound; and when the Seventh Angel sounds, the mystery shall be finished as declared to his servants the prophets. Rev. 10:7.
And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh - the kingdom in the body, called the temple of God. 1 Cor. 3:16.
Now if the kingdom of God is up in the skies, or space that knows no bounds, how could Jesus show forth the kingdom of God? He taught it and showed it in his own body; and when his Elect are born of God, the blood will be removed, and the Spirit enter, as with Jesus. We, being like him, shall do the works that he did, and greater works than these shall we do. John 14:12.
Therefore in Christ all of these shall be made alive. This mortal shall put on immortality at the sound of the Last Trump - which is the Seventh and Last Trump, by which the mystery shall be finished as declared to his servants the prophets; which mystery is God manifest in the flesh. Christ is head of the church and saviour of the body - raised with him higher than angels, crowned with honor and glory. Our forefathers of Scripture testimony died in the faith not having received the promise - the promise being the redemption of the body. Yet according to their own testimony they did not have the living faith for themselves, because it is written of them, They saw it afar off and were persuaded of it - seeing it for the seed which was to come to whom the promise was made; (Gal. 3:19;) Spirits of the just, Elect, foreordained and predestinated; as it says, Those whom he foreknew he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, (Rom. 8:29,) in this the time of the end and day of Visitation.
Jesus Came to Abolish Death Now in speaking of the old adamic world, beginning with Adam, it says, Was it not through the sin of one man that death came into the world? And death passed upon all because all have sinned. Rom. 5:12. In Adam (i.e., the works of Adam) all die; and so it says in another place, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Rom. 3:23. Therefore we see the cause. Now what is the glory they came short of? It was the glory to be revealed in the temple; as he cannot be glorified in a dead temple. And what is the promise they come short of? The promise which is the redemption of our body. So Jesus came to abolish death, and to destroy him who had power of death, which is the devil. Heb. 2:14. Those who die and go to the grave, see corruption; and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.
But some say the patriarchs and prophets will be raised bodily; but what about this Scripture, speaking of them and the Psalmist David: They saw corruption, but this man Jesus, saw not corruption. Yet it is true they will have a resurrection of soul like unto the angels, and equal to the angels, (Matt. 22:30,) as Jesus said. And the apostles on the day of Pentecost stood up and said, Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David: He is dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day, and he is not yet ascended into heaven. Acts 2:34. Then what think ye of these who now die and expect to ascend straight to heaven? But David waits resurrection for his soul.
Jesus, who saw not corruption, took not the nature of angels.
Then why do you expect to have the nature of angels, and yet expect to be like Jesus? Those who die and lose their body - which is sown in dishonor - see corruption; which cannot inherit incorruption - can never be made like Jesus, who took not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham for a temple, a body prepared for Christ; although he was made a little lower than angels, by taking part of the nature of sinful man - that part being the blood without the other part, viz., the evil, as he was born without evil - yet the blood being part of the nature of sinful man, he was willing to give it up on the cross, and therefore was raised higher than angels, crowned with honor and glory. And seeing the world has died and come short of the glory of God, Jesus, who brought life and the immortality of the body to light through the Gospel, said, Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name; ask and you shall receive! - they having not asked for the life of the body, in which he could be glorified. And he furthermore said, All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers - robbing God of the body. And did they not cry out and say, Release unto us Barabbas (a thief and a robber), and away with Jesus, the Prince of life, and King of Glory? Barabbas was a figure of the devil; and so they have had the devil loosed unto them to rule and reign with sin and death for these two thousand years more - less the shortened time, in which he shall be bound by the great Angel of light with the great chain of truth; and bind him a thousand years to deceive the nations no more, as he is the deceiver of the whole world, and would deceive the very Elect if it were possible. But for the Elect's sake I have shortened the time, or nor flesh would be saved.
I work a work in your day that ye will not believe though a man declare it unto you; (Acts 13:41;) - which work is for the life of the body, soul and spirit. Faith and works obtain it.
And he said, I am the bread from heaven, that if a man eat thereof he shall never die. And the Jews said, "Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness." But they are dead. I am the bread that cometh from heaven, that if ye eat, ye shall live for ever.
And when he said, Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood, ye have no life in you, even his own followers among the first seventy walked no more with him - stumbled at the Word of God which teaches the life of the body. And so he said, The words I speak, they are Spirit and they are Life.
In his day there was a fall of a tower, and killed eighteen people; and Jesus said, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. What was killed of these? Their souls? No. Their Spirits? No. What then? Their bodies of course. Very well; the judgments are coming on, and except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish - and this likewise means the bodies. But if they do repent and seek life, what then? They shall live. When the disciples wanted to call down fire to consume their enemies as Elias did, what was it they wanted destroyed by fire, like Elijah? Their soul and spirit? No; their bodies. Yes. But what did Jesus say? He rebuked them, saying, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are. I came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
The Creature Itself Also Shall Be Delivered from the Bondage of Corruption The Gospel truth is the life of body, soul and spirit - Spirits of just men made perfect without the loss of either part - spirit, soul or body. And so Paul prayed that your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved (not destroyed, but your body preserved) blameless unto his coming to change our vile body like unto his glorious body, that we be like him; he being the Firstborn of these many brethren, the Sons of God yet to be revealed. Rom. 8:19. And the creature itself also (as well as the soul) shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, (not after you have gone to corruption, but from the bondage of corruption), into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom. 8:21.
Jesus by inheritance obtained a much more excellent name than the angels; and therefore if you wish to die and be an angel and equal to angels, how could you be like the Son, and by inheritance obtain with him a much more excellent name than the angels? We are to enter into the purchased possession of our inheritance with him, and be like him - immortal; and shall judge angels, principalities and powers. And if we first judge ourselves, we shall not be judged; and shall be able to judge the nations to come, in the kingdom of God on earth - a thousand year's day of rest that yet remaineth for the people of God; when all tears are wiped away, and no more death; for the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death; for he that defileth the temple, him will God destroy, as he came to abolish death, (and will now in this his second coming,) and destroy him who had power of death, which is the devil.
Seeing he came to abolish death and to destroy the devil, we have already given you the reason why he did not do it at his first coming - because they chose a thief and a robber; signifying the devil to be released and rule and reign, and would not come unto him for life, And seeing Jesus did not give them rest, there remaineth a Sabbath of rest for the people of God; when Satan will be bound, and afterwards destroyed.
Then, "Peace on earth, and good will to men." The Old Heavens To Pass Away and All Things To Become New THE law and the prophets till John; since that, the kingdom of God was preached. By whom? Jesus. What is the kingdom of God? It is in the body of Jesus; and must be in his Elect when their bodies are prepared for it. Blood must be cleansed, (Joel 3:21,) and then washed away - the Word of life made flesh. Jesus said to a pharisee, Know ye not the kingdom is in you? It is by this they claim to be born of God, and the Spirit in them? If so, it proves you to be a pharisee, and understand not the key - that, He calleth those things that be not as though they were. Rom. 4:17. He said, I am with you and shall be in you - i.e., when the body is prepared for the change. Therefore he said, Watch, lest the thief enter the house, (body) and spoil the goods (by defiling it) and break up the house. Luke 12:39. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption. To be carnally minded is death. Then to preach death, would it not be the same carnal mind? But to the spiritually minded, it is life and peace. And it says. I will not only once more shake the earth, but also heaven; that the things which are shaken might be removed, and the things which cannot be shaken might remain. Therefore, Why will ye die, O House of Israel? as he willeth not the death of any man.
And they who love death, hate me. Prov. 8:36.
Why seek to go up to what you imagine to be heaven? If he shakes the earth, he also shakes heaven. And it speaks of the heavens and the earth passing away. They, not understanding it, claim the earth will pass away, but not heaven. But it says, There shall be a new heaven and a new earth. Now is it the new heaven you want, or the old one that shall pass away? Behold all things are to become new - the earth, new heaven, new Jerusalem, the Holy City. But do you understand it? Not that the planet is to pass away, which was made for Israel's sake, as the earth abideth ever - but it shall be purified; and instead of the brier shall grow up the myrtle tree, and the deserts bloom in roses.
We must rightly divide between the animate earth and inanimate earth, The bodies of men are called earth and land, etc.
It says, Hear the words of the Lord, O earth, earth, earth! and the heavens shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the heavens. So this is both heaven and earth that can hear. And it says, Rejoice, O land! This is a land that can rejoice and hear the words of the Lord - men and women, etc. And the new earth, by another interpretation, is the bodies of men made anew - a habitation of the Lord. And this is the promised land - promised redemption of the body. The new heaven is the Mother Spirit - the New Jerusalem who was seen coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, Christ the Bridegroom. Jerusalem above is free, the Mother of us all who are of the new world. And as Jesus said, I am the true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world - not the old, for he was a light that shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not; and darkness covers the earth, (i.e., of the old,) and gross darkness the hearts and minds of the people (of the old).
The Earth to Return to Its Eden State Now notice! As in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man. Matt. 24:37. How was it then? Did it destroy the earth? No! the same planet is here that existed then; but the wicked people, called the world, were destroyed.
And so shall it be in the coming of the son of man. Their heavens of worldly pleasures shall pass away with a great noise, as in the days of Noah and of Lot, etc.; and to Israel he saith, thousands shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. And they who are found aliveat Jerusalem shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. So the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; and he shall reign with them on the earth. Rev. 5:10.
No man hath ascended up to heaven save he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Note! Jesus was Son of man when he spake these words, and was inheaven - yet he was standing on the earth. Christ, by whom the worlds were made, rested upon Jesus - which was heaven, the Spirit of Paradise. And remember, it only rested upon him from his baptism at Jordan till his blood was shed, and then was put in him. And so he said, I lay my life down, (i.e., his mortal life,) and I take it up again. So he took up the immortal life - the temple of God, in which was the kingdom of God. Therefore he was called a king of his kingdom.
And he said, "My kingdom is not of this world," when he was speaking to the rulers of the old world, and its kings. But he is the King of the new world of righteousness and of peace - King of kings and Lord of lords. Rev. 19:16.
Moses was a figure of him who was to come; and the law a figure of the law of Christ - the law of the Spirit of life which shall set us free from the law of sin and death; and as it is written, If the ministration of Moses be glorious, how much more glorious is the ministration of Jesus Christ? (2 Cor. 3, 7:12;) as it is the glory of immortality - the glory of the sun; and the law of Moses as the glory of the moon, with its four changes - and which gives light for the children of the night, till the day dawns, and the Daystar arises in your hearts. Therefore the law was spoken of as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ - the light and glory of the day sun. And they who walk in the night, stumble.
Therefore the Jews stumbled at the noonday sun, not receiving its light and life; as it says, He was a light that shone in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.
But time rolled on, and Scripture fulfilled; and therefore the Gentiles were grafted in till their fulness; as it is written, He was a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel - who are to be gathered at the fulness of the Gentiles, when the Lord shall set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people Israel. Isa. 11:11.
The Holy City Trampled Under Foot The Holy City being trampled under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, (Luke 21:24,) therefore the mysteries of the things pertaining to the Holy City ter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, then be gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down into the pit, I have found a ransom; his flesh shall become fresher than that of a child's, and he shall return to the days of his youth. Job 33, 23:25. And it furthermore saith, I considered all the living which walk under the sun with the Second Child that stands up in His stead. This, remember, is speaking of the coming of the Son of man and his people - which is the living who walk before God in the light of the living.
The Coming of the Son of Man Jesus said, When the Son of man shall come, before Him shall be gathered all nations - which signifies, the children and seed from among all nations. And as the lightning shineth from the east even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be; (Matt. 24:27;) and where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered. Luke 17:37. The Spirit is as lightning to rest upon the body; and there shall be 144,000 of the redeemed as the capital city, by which the judgments shall set. And so it is written, Ye shall judge the world. And these are called saviours who shall come upon mount Zion and judge mount Esau; (Obad. 21;) and mount Esau shall be beautiful in that day. These are the nations who shall bring their honor and glory into it. Rev. 21:26.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the Redemption of the Body ACOMMAND is, to "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good," and rightly divide; and it would not be a command to rightly divide if there was no cause for it. Therefore seeing the Scriptures teach the redemption of our body as well as soul salvation, we therefore person, by whom the worlds were made. Therefore he went as he said he would, and sent the Comforter - the Holy Ghost - at Pentecost for the soul salvation; by which the Gentiles were grafted in; and by this they saw in part, and as through a glass darkly, etc. - the part being the soul saved by a free gift of grace; then at the fulness of the Gentiles, that other Comforter which the world cannot receive. Now the first has been received by the adamic world, or how could they be converted by it? But this other Spirit of truth is only received by Israel, to whom the promise was made - that promise being eternal life for body, soul and spirit. And this is the perfect thing, which Paul said would come. Now as to the first Comforter - if Christendom deny the world receiving it, then we ask why do they boast of converting the world? And furthermore, they strive for the ascendency in numbers; and claim to be converting the world, and say it is getting better.
But this is a proof that they are not and cannot be the Elect few. Why? Because, in speaking of God's Elect, it says, Straight and narrow is the path, and a few there be that find it. And this few is numbered - 144,000 redeemed from among men. Rev. 14:4.
This Spirit of truth, that other Comforter, cannot be received by the world, neither by Jew nor Gentile in the main, but by the seed to whom the promise was made.
Notwithstanding, it is a remnant gathered from both Jew and Gentile, called Israel - the third part, to whom the mysteries are unsealed and revealed. And Jesus said, Henceforth ye shall see me no more till ye shall say, Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord.
Notice! He sends one to come in the name of the Lord; and so Jesus said, Except ye receive this Child in my name, ye receive not me. Does this not prove one was to be sent? And so it is written, If there be a Messenger, an Interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, then be gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down into the pit, I have found a ransom; his flesh shall become fresher than that of a child's, and he shall return to the days of his youth. Job 33, 23:25. And it furthermore saith, I considered all the living which walk under the sun with the Second Child that stands up in His stead. This, remember, is speaking of the coming of the Son of man and his people - which is the living who walk before God in the light of the living.
The Coming of the Son of Man Jesus said, When the Son of man shall come, before Him shall be gathered all nations - which signifies, the children and seed from among all nations. And as the lightning shineth from the east even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be; (Matt. 24:27;) and where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered. Luke 17:37. The Spirit is as lightning to rest upon the body; and there shall be 144,000 of the redeemed as the capital city, by which the judgments shall set. And so it is written, Ye shall judge the world. And these are called saviours who shall come upon mount Zion and judge mount Esau; (Obad. 21;) and mount Esau shall be beautiful in that day. These are the nations who shall bring their honor and glory into it. Rev. 21:26.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the Redemption of the Body ACOMMAND is, to "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good," and rightly divide; and it would not be a command to rightly divide if there was no cause for it. Therefore seeing the Scriptures teach the redemption must rightly divide between them both; as one is through and after death, and the other is without death. The soul is saved in resurrection - a spiritual body, celestial as angels and equal to angels; while the redemption of the body is to be a son made like Jesus, that he might be the Firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29. And it must be remembered there was a difference in Jesus and Christ - yet he became both Lord and Christ; and the Scriptures speak of our Lord and his Christ. Rev. 11:15.
In order to show you simple and plain, and the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus, I wish to say, the way is so plain, the wayfaring man though a fool could not err therein.
Notwithstanding, this is of no private interpretation. The way of the soul salvation, by the atonement - a free gift - makes this way so plain and simple, that a wayfaring man, though a fool, could not err therein. Simply believe, accept it, and it is yours - a free gift. Christ made the sacrifice for you; and the sacrifice was Jesus. Christ is the Spirit of God; who laid the body of Jesus down, and took it again and dwelt in it.
Therefore he became both Lord and Christ - Jesus being the temple.
Now again I will show the difference in another way; Jesus had an earthly mother; and therefore had descent - traced from the beginning; and was therefore called son of David, or seed of David. But Christ was without descent, having neither father nor mother of the earth, earthy. Therefore Christ said, I am from above - i.e., higher than they who were from beneath. And so the first Adam was of the earth, earthy. The Latter Adam is a quickening Spirit - the Lord from heaven; which rested upon Jesus at Jordan; and for three years by that Spirit he entered his ministry, and was High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; (Heb. 7:3;) while Jesus had beginning of days, and his mortal life ended on the cross; and he said it was finished.
Then by that Spirit of God, by whom the worlds were made, his immortal life began - i.e., the immortality of the body. And we are to be like him. This mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor. 15:53, 54. Before this can be accomplished, the Visitation by the foregoing messengers had to come, preparatory to the second advent of Christ (the Spirit of God) to prepare the place, or bodies. Therefore it is written, His reward is with him, and his work is before him; and he gives to every man according as his work shall be. Matt. 16:27.
Remember, as touching the dead, they suffer loss; (1 Cor. 3:15;) - i.e., the loss of the body, which goes to corruption.
They come under the atonement as a free gift for the soul - not rewards for work, but a free gift without works.
Therefore this quotation, "He renders to every man according as his works shall be," is to the living. He willeth not the death of any man. therefore the adamic world has been dying because of sin, or the evil in the blood. Now lest it may be asked, What men will there be to give according to their works, seeing the 144,000 are one class and receive immortal life alike, and to be like Jesus? To this we answer: There are three different classes of people to be alive, and to be taken over into the Millennium, as we have many times proved: - First, the Son of man, or Second Child, with the 144,000 sons of God made like Jesus with the glory of the sun - an hundred:fold; and secondly, the aliens, called mount Esau, to be plowmen and vine dressers; thirdly, the strangers, who shall stand and feed your flocks; and their destiny will be proven in the end, when Satan is loosed a little season, etc. Therefore with these classes he gives to every man of them according as their work shall be.
So there are the works that Jesus did, to be done by the Elect; and the works of the righteousness of the law, in which pathway there is no death; and reward for such works as Elijah's.
Prov. 12:28. These will all bring forth after their own kind during the Millennial Sabbath day of a thousand years, (Gen. 1:24,) that yet remaineth for the people of God. Heb. 4:9.
Eden Paradise Restored
The great ingathering and restoration has now begun, and a quick work will he make upon the earth, and cut it short in righteousness. Rom. 9:28. The children of Israel - or seed and Elect Spirits of the just to whom the promise of the redemption of the body is made - are to be sealed by the new covenant of his laws put within their inward parts, and stamped upon their minds. Jer. 31:33. And there were sealed twelve thousand of each of the twelve tribes of the children - twelve tribes according to the Scriptures. The keys are necessary - to understand them - in order to understand the unsealed mystery; and one key is, All are written for us upon whom the end has come. 1 Cor. 10:11. Therefore most all Scripture shows for itself that it speaks expressly of the great and notable day of the Lord, (Acts 2:20,) and the great and dreadful day, and a day of judgment of both the quick and the dead. But as to the living Elect, they are called sons of God, by using the key that, "He calleth those things that be not, as though they were" sons of God - as it says, To be revealed. Rom. 8:18, 19. These judge themselves - and not of themselves altogether, but by the Visitation they judge. And so it says, If we judge ourselves we shall not be judged. 1 Cor. 11:31. And as to the judgment day, or time of the end, all will be brought into judgment in Scriptural order. As to the world, As in the days of Noah, and as in the days of Lot, and other Scriptural events as ensamples, there must be a warning preceding the judgments; and the gospel preached - which means the Gospel of the kingdom - for a witness. then cometh the end - which means to say, judgments, and an end of wickedness by the seven last plagues. Preceding this, Israel must be gathered.
Now to prove what this gospel of the kingdom is, the difference between this and the soul salvation preaching, which we have had since Pentecost, must be shown, as but a few know the difference - although we cannot take all proofs, but will brief a few points upon this subject. Notice again - while we have alluded to judgment in a very brief way - that in the days of Jesus, he being a minister of righteousness, preached the kingdom of God, and told plainly the nature of it, yet afterwards sealed it with his blood. But even this must now be understood. After that, judgment followed, and fell on the Jews, and how severe was their judgment. Notice! The law and the prophets till John; since that the kingdom of God was preached. Luke 16:16. By whom? Jesus. What was it? It was the life of the body - the kingdom in, or to be in, man. And when this is accomplished, man with whom it is accomplished will be immortal like Jesus the Firstborn. Heb. 12:23.
Therefore Jesus preached the kingdom of God; and after being made immortal, both taught and showed forth the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3. And it being rejected - they putting him to death - it sealed the mystery; and the gates or door of immortality was closed till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; (Rom. 11:25,) and the things pertaining to the life of the body, or kingdom of God, was trampled under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:24. And since Pentecost, the soul salvation has been preached - a fountain filled with blood. But at their fulness, another fountain was spoken of to be opened: A fountain shall be opened in the House of David for sin and for uncleanness - which means a cleansing fountain to take away their sins, to cleanse their blood. Joel 3:21. This must be accomplished by a crucifixion of the old man with its affections and lusts; and this is done by faith and works. As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. This signifies the life of the body, soul and spirit.
Present your bodies a living sacrifice - not a dead body, as that is not acceptable, as he is not the god of the dead but of the living. And so, He willeth not the death of any man; but a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service; (Rom. 12:1;) - not unreasonable. So Paul prays for the whole spirit, soul and body to be preserved blameless, etc. 1 Thess. 5:23.
Know ye not ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost? and if the temple be defiled, it shall be destroyed? - but if not, then what have you to say? Therefore the kingdom would be put within you, and your vile body be changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body - flesh and bone less the blood. This would fulfill the saying, This mortal shall put on immortality at the last trump - the Seventh Trump, by which the mystery shall be finished, as declared the his servants the prophets.
Rev. 10:7. Therefore this is the day of Visitation spoken of to come. And at the end it shall speak and not lie; for this is that Spirit of truth - that otherComforter which the world cannot receive. John 14:16, 17.
An Everlasting Kingdom Which Shall Not Pass Away.
This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all nations for a witness, and then cometh the end, (Matt. 24:14,) and judgments, according to the Scriptures, and the door of immortal life closed. And it will be said to the angels, Go your ways and pour out the vials of judgment upon the earth, sea and air, etc,; (Rev. 16;) after which the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; which shall be an everlasting kingdom which shall not pass away; (Dan. 4:34, 7:27;) - a kingdom of peace and righteousness.
Mercy and love have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psa. 85:10. Christ shall reign with them on the earth. Rev. 5:10. Christ is the Spirit of God by whom the worlds were made. Christ has been in the creation working all things after the counsel of his own will; and his will is that man shall live and not die. His will is to make man in his image, and after his likeness; and those whom he foreknew he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Rom. 8:29. Christ was with the church in the wilderness; and Christ rested upon Jesus - by which he did the work; and after the blood of Jesus was taken away, Christ entered into that body, and then Jesus showed himself in the personality of Christ, with flesh and bone body to be handled and felt, as well as seen. And Christ returns to finish the creation according to his own will; and his promise is to come unto us and take up his abode with us; and furthermore said, I am with you and shall be in you; (John 14:17;) - I in you, and you in me. John 14:20. Christ was to walk in us, and talk in us; and it was said, Why ascend up to heaven to bring him down? or descend into the earth to bring him up? for he is nigh thee, even in thy mouth. Rom. 10:8. And Jesus said, He that seeth me seeth the Father; (John 12:45;) and the disciples said, This is he that made the world, and is in the world. John 1:10.
Christ is head of the church and saviour of the body; (Eph. 5:23;) and there will be 144,000 living bones and lively stones of the body of Christ - the general assembly and church of the Firstborn. He is from everlasting to everlasting - the everlasting kingdom which shall not pass away. He is from the Eden of Paradise, to the Eden kingdom to be restored - the kingdom restored to Israel. Luke 12:32. The Eden of Paradise was lost from man by sin. The transgression of Adam and Eve brought the fall of sin and death. Lust was conceived, transmitted and generated from the fall; and so lust when conceived brings forth sin, and sin when finished brings forth death. James 1:15. Therefore in Adam all die. But to his Elect seed to whom the promise was made, the old man Adam will be crucified with its affections and lusts that the body of sin might be destroyed. So in Christ shall all be made alive; (i.e., all of the new kingdom;) but every man in his own order. 1 Cor. 15:22, 23. Many mansions in my Father's house; if it were not so, I would have told you. John 14:2.
Establishment of God's Kingdom on Earth In Righteousness and Peace IT is verily claimed and believed by most all Christendom -- that Jesus established the kingdom at his first coming; but we would ask them, Why was there to be a second coming? Why were the Scriptures all written for us upon whom the end has come? Why then was the great day of judgment and time of the end spoken of? The kingdom of God is to be an everlasting kingdom which shall not pass away. Therefore if he established the kingdom on earth at his first coming, why do they teach that the world is to be destroyed, etc? Yet they teach it is getting better.
Why then is it to be destroyed as in Noah's day, and as in the days of Lot? - when the city was so wicked, and God would spare the city if five could be found who were righteous. And they could not be found, and so the city was destroyed. And Jesus said, It would be more tolerable for them, than for those of his day; as, if they had seen the things that they had seen, they would have long since repented. The Gospel teaches the world is to wax worse and worse; and darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the hearts and minds of the people; (Isa. 60:2;) - the great light and glory of the sun having been put out by them on the cross; and he was not to return, after leaving this planet of sin and crime, till the times of the Gentiles be come in. How could this be if he established it then? And why did he tell the disciples, "It is not for you to know the times and the seasons that the Lord hath put in his own power," when they asked to know if he would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel? Therefore all his teachings pointed to the time of his second coming, and after the fulness of the Gentiles be come; and that blindness in part happened to Israel till the fulness of the Gentile times. Then he would set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people Israel. And the promise is to Israel. He said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; (Matt. 15:24;) and said to the Jews, Ye are not my sheep. And Paul, speaking of both Jew and Gentile, said, None seeketh after God, no not one. But the remnant of the lost or scattered sheep of the house of Israel are to be gathered; and so all Israel shall be saved. And this Gospel of the kingdom which is to be made alive in their bodies, shall be preached in all nations for a witness, then cometh the end.
Now if the kingdom was then established, why cometh the end? And furthermore, If the kingdom was then put in man, why then should it be preached for a witness? And these who claim it to be in them, why do they desire to die and seek another place? Or, if Christ is in them, why look yet for his coming? They testify of themselves it is not the case. If the kingdom was then established, why look for the great and dreadful day of the Lord to come? It should be a time of peace and everlasting joy.
The Sabbath of Rest for the People of God Jesus said, I am going away; and whither I go, ye cannot come. How does this compare with their sky heaven? And if he was going away, and they could not come, how is it they claim he is in them, and the kingdom established? They said, Where will he go? - to the dispersed and scattered Israel? and teach the Gentiles? He did not gather Israel then, nor restore the kingdom to them. They are still scattered; and the promise still remains on record that he will gather them, and separate them from the world of unbelievers, as a shepherd divideth sheep from goats, and gather Israel as wheat into the barn, that they be not yoked up with unbelievers. But he entreats that we take hisyoke upon us, and learn of him, and he will give you rest. But Jesus did not give them rest in his first coming; (Heb. 4:8, 9;) but there remaineth a Sabbath of rest.
Through the sin of one man death came; and death passed upon all of Adam's fallen world because all have sinned. Rom. 5:12. So in Adam all die in disobedience, and reap the wages of sin, which is death; and the sting of death is sin. 1 Cor. 15:56. So it says, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God - by losing the temple; and become thieves and robbers; as Jesus said, All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, and said they were of their father the devil, and of his works will they do.
John 8:44. Therefore they all cried out, Release unto us Barabbas - a thief and a robber - and crucify Jesus! Could he then restore the kingdom to them? No! It is to be done in his second coming; and death abolished, and Satan destroyed.
Jesus said, The thief cometh not but to kill and to destroy; but I am come that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly.
But it was rejected, and the kingdom taken from them, and given to a people bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit (Israel), according to the promise, in this the day of Visitation and time of the end; (Hosea 9:7;) - that Spirit of truth, that other Comforter, which the (fallen) world cannot receive. John 14:17.
Adam and Eve transgressed the living Word of the Lord, and fell; and the first fruit of the crime was Cain - the firstborn of evil, and the author of the first death, against his brother. And when Adam sinned and hid among the trees, seeing his wickedness and shame, the Lord God came walking in the garden, saying, Where art thou, Adam? He knew where he was hid - but the word, "Where art thou," signified, through disobedience, he was in the fall; and therefore knew he was naked - i.e., unclothed of that immortal clothing. So Jesus, through obedience, was clothed upon by the Immortal Spirit, and became the Latter Adam with the quickening Spirit - the Lord from heaven; and which shall quicken your mortal body (not a dead body, but your mortal body) by his Spirit.
The Forbidden Fruit
What was the forbidden fruit and the crime? The serpent beast preacher - the devil transformed - preached to Eve, and deceived her; and they partook of that which was forbidden, and then gave it to Adam, and he did eat; and so fell to a mortal life of blood. And the first fruits of it was the murderer, who took after his father the devil; which we are commanded to leave (Matt. 19:5) by Jesus, and follow himin the way of righteousness - in which pathway there is no death; (Prov. 12:28;) and watch, lest the thief enter the house and spoil the goods as with Adam, and break up the house. Luke 12:39. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit; and a tree is known by its fruit. Man is called trees; and all bring forth after their own kind. But the axe is laid at the root of the tree; and every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit shall be hewn down, etc. Matt. 3:10. Jesus cursed the fig tree, because it did not bear fruit - a figure of mother Eve, throughout the fall, bringing no fruit; and like great Christendom, with leaves of profession, but no fruit; and like the mother of harlots who hath made all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication. Rev. 18:3. And Satan has transformed himself into an angel of light; and no marvel if his ministers be also transformed. And did not Jesus say of that kind, Ye serpents and generation of vipers? - offspring of the old serpent who by his subtilty deceived Eve; and is the deceiver of the whole world by teaching death, which God did not make; and which Jesus came to abolish, and to destroy him who had power of death, which is the devil; (Heb. 2:14;) and which came into the world through the sin of one man - Adam; and upon all because allhave sinned. And that sin and that death was to be upon the body; for which sin it was said, "Thou shalt return to dust," from which he was taken. And so it did within one day of a thousand years. 2 Pet. 3:8. Now comes the reprieves through Jesus Christ - the Latter Adam.
The flesh profiteth nothing in Adam, except it be quickened by the Spirit of the Latter Adam - the Lord from heaven - from Paradise.
Therefore, through sin, Adam and Eve were driven from the garden, and Cherubims placed with flaming swords to turn every way to keep man from the tree of life, while in sin and disobedience, till the seed and Spirits of the just (of whom Jesus was Firstborn) should come, to whom the promise was made. Therefore to him that overcometh as Jesus overcame shall I give to eat of the tree of life; and they will do the works that Jesus did - not the works of Adam, in which all die, but the works of Jesus, and greater works; and live. John 14:12.
He brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
And so this mortal shall put on immortality - having their vile bodies (cleansed) changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body; (Phil. 3:21;) he being made after the power of an endless life. Heb. 7:16.
A Cleansing Fountain Open in the House of David for Sin and Uncleanness. Zech. 13:1.
Adam by sin being driven from the garden of Paradise, it was said, speaking of them who had sinned and come short of the glory of God, If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came; they might have returned. Heb. 11:15. Yet the promise holds good to a people who fulfill the requirements; and he is faithful concerning his promises.
Heb. 10:23. And there shall be a day of rest for the people of God, when Satan shall be bound a thousand years to deceive the nations no more - when then the kingdom shall be established on earth in peace and in righteousness, which shall be an everlasting kingdom which shall not pass away. Dan. 4:34.
Then, and not till then, will the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; when all tears are wiped off all faces, and when there shall be no more sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more death. Rev. 21:4.
A deep sleep fell upon Adam; and the adamic world is still sleeping on. The first fruit of the crime was cast into the land of Nod - and they are still nodding on. God took a rib from Adam's side and made a wo-man - not being taken from God's side. Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of him (who deceived Eve) who hath come down unto you having great wrath! And he stood ever before the woman who brought forth the Man-Child, to devour the child as soon as it was born. Rev. 12:4. When God took the rib from Adam's side, he closed up the flesh thereof - i.e., he closed up the flesh works of Adam, instead of the Spirit (rib). So in Adam all die; and he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; and to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. If we live after the flesh instead thereof, we shall die; (Rom. 8:13;) but if after the Spirit, the law of the Spirit of life shall set us free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:2. Now while Adam - or the adamic world - is sleeping on, God is extracting a spiritual rib as the Bride, gathered from the adamic world, and separated, purified and refined - cleansed in the cleansing fountain now open in the House of David. Therefore, Go wash in the pool! for, In that day the House of David shall be as God. Zech. 12:8.
Jesus was the Root and offspring of David; the bright and morning Star. And therefore now a Branch springs from the Root - a Man-Branch, who shall grow up out of his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is the child he set by his side, and said, He that receives this Child in my name, receiveth me. This Man-Branch is Shiloh, unto whom the gathering of the people shall be. Gen. 49:10.
We are to be made like Jesus, the Firstborn; as it says, We shall be like him - not like angels, and only equal to angels, but like him who took not the nature of angels, A deep sleep fell upon Adam; and the adamic world is still sleeping on. The first fruit of the crime was cast into the land of Nod - and they are still nodding on. God took a rib from Adam's side and made a wo-man - not being taken from God's side. Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of him (who deceived Eve) who hath come down unto you having great wrath! And he stood ever before the woman who brought forth the Man-Child, to devour the child as soon as it was born. Rev. 12:4. When God took the rib from Adam's side, he closed up the flesh thereof - i.e., he closed up the flesh works of Adam, instead of the Spirit (rib). So in Adam all die; and he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; and to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. If we live after the flesh instead thereof, we shall die; (Rom. 8:13;) but if after the Spirit, the law of the Spirit of life shall set us free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:2. Now while Adam - or the adamic world - is sleeping on, God is extracting a spiritual rib as the Bride, gathered from the adamic world, and separated, purified and refined - cleansed in the cleansing fountain now open in the House of David. Therefore, Go wash in the pool! for, In that day the House of David shall be as God. Zech. 12:8.
Jesus was the Root and offspring of David; the bright and morning Star. And therefore now a Branch springs from the Root - a Man-Branch, who shall grow up out of his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is the child he set by his side, and said, He that receives this Child in my name, receiveth me. This Man-Branch is Shiloh, unto whom the gathering of the people shall be. Gen. 49:10.
We are to be made like Jesus, the Firstborn; as it says, We shall be like him - not like angels, and only equal to angels, but like him who took not the nature of angels, and who obtained a much more excellent name than the angels, and who was raised higher than angels, crowned with honor and glory. Heb. 1:4. Therefore by occupying and keeping the temple undefiled, it shall not be destroyed; but made like him - flesh and bone, quickened by the Spirit, Christ, by whom the worlds were made. Heb. 1:2.
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and All Things Shall Be Added Unto You
Therefore I write no new commandment unto you, but an old one ye had from the beginning; which command Adam broke - the first law, which was the Paradisical law of life which works by love; because God is love. Therefore love God with all thy heart, soul; mind and strength; and the next is like unto it - Love thy neighbor as thyself. And in the parable it shows the neighbor to be Jesus; and hereon hangs the whole law and the prophets - the substance of life and immortality - charity which never fails. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you; (Matt. 6:33;) for what would it profit a man to gain the whole world (of sin and crime) and lose yourself (Luke 9:25) by the death of the body - destined to be the temple of God. But if lost by sin, you suffer loss. The devil tempted Jesus by offering the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus rebuked him, saying, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And this is the only way by which we can inherit all things - with the life of the body; for the meek shall inherit the earth. Matt. 5:5. Therefore Satan shall be dethroned and bound a thousand years, and the kingdoms of thisworld become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. Rev. 11:15.
BENJAMIN
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