Reciprocity or Faith - Rumor notes 110

 Revelation 13

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (NKJV)

If any man sends others into prison, into prison he will go: if any man puts to death with the sword, with the sword will he be put to death. Here is the quiet strength and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10 BBE)

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity

For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)

I believe it is important to challenge some of our initial reactions when we read things like this. It can be easy to assume that God is behind many of the things described in the Bible, which is why He is so readily blamed for nearly anything and everything, even creating evil. What we need to come to appreciate is the design of how God made creation itself based on principles that have inherent power and that govern how reality functions. We often call them laws, but I prefer to differentiate them from artificial laws that too often work mischief and lead to death. 'Laws' are empty when it comes to self-enforcement power which is why additional law-enforcement measures have to be added in order to provide incentive to keep laws, while principles are self-enforcing so there is little question as to the cause of pain or death if one chooses to violate them.

What is described here is a principle. Threats are what artificial laws rely on to intimidate people into compliance. Threats are counterfeits of warnings. God warns people of the consequences of violating principles while those immersed in the counterfeit system invented by Satan use threats of violence as punishment against those who fail to comply with the demands of society.

What we are seeing here is a description of the operation of a principle, the principle of reciprocity, but not to be mistaken with the disposition of retaliation or revenge. Since God never takes offense of any kind, the fear of God punishing us is misplaced and immature. That is not to suggest there is no real dangers, for there are extreme dangers in violating principles. But God does not rely on artificial law enforcement as the means by which to gain compliance to His principles; the principles themselves are inviolable, meaning that natural consequences are unavoidable unless God intervenes to suspend them or use other principles to override them. The reason it is important to make this distinction is because what we believe about the cause of such things affects what we believe motivates God's decisions towards us. That is why Christ is who He is and how He does things.

Woe to you who destroy, but you weren't destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed. (Isaiah 33:1)

But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.

Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. (Matthew 18:28-30, 33-34)

This story is most often misunderstood to imply that this lord forcibly caused this debtor to come under the power of the tormentors. Yet the truth is that the word used in the Greek means just the opposite. It indicates a releasing, not taking control and forcing someone but a letting go and allowing natural consequences to take place without interference or intervention to prevent it. When this story is understood correctly in its context, the truth revealed here is that it is our own sins that come back to impose their punishments on us with a vengeance and without mercy when we choose to authorize them to have control over our lives rather than live under the protection of God's love and mercy.

The peoples will take them, and bring them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in Yahweh's land for servants and for handmaids. They will take as captives those whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. (Isaiah 14:2)

The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

This last passage contrasts the two systems we must choose between. Satan's system involves pressure, force, quarreling, fighting and trying to control others against their will. When we relate to others in this way we are giving authority for the forces in charge of that system to enforce their rules and are exposed to the dark justice of Satan's kingdom that scorns mercy and honors law-enforcement.

On the other hand, if we choose the path of gentleness in the face of evil, force and violations of God's design, we embrace the principles revealed clearly by the Lamb who is the champion of gentleness, kindness and compassion to the point of allowing Himself to be violated and even slaughtered brutally while never deviating from the principles of unconditional love and forgiveness. This is the kingdom of heaven that has infinitely more power than the forces of darkness that seek to make us afraid to bring us under their control. In short, our only real choice is which kingdom with its principles of operation will we choose to embrace, trust and live under – the kingdom of law and force and punishment, or the kingdom of humility, kindness, compassion, vulnerability and intimacy? There will be suffering no matter what we choose, but the long-term outcomes will be opposite each other with one leading to eternal joy while the other ends in eternal non-existence.

he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword

If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (Revelation 11:5)

The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)

But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise. (Exodus 21:23-25)

I will surely require your blood of your lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image. (Genesis 9:5-6)

It shall happen, when they tell you, Where shall we go forth? then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity. (Jeremiah 15:2)

He shall come, and shall strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death shall be given to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword. I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in peace. (Jeremiah 43:11-12)

Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. (Matthew 26:51-52)

Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double. (Revelation 18:6)

This disposition inherited from our fallen nature is so deeply rooted in our psyche that its removal requires infinite patience on the part of God and long endurance until we finally come to the full maturity of Christ. Throughout Revelation we see this desire for revenge emerge again and again even among those maintaining allegiance to heaven. This spirit of payback in kind infected the thinking of heavenly intelligences so that they too need fuller exhibitions of truth about God's heart just as we do. This is the point of the New Song, for the disposition and focus of this Song is the full restoration of the complete light of love with no darkness at all remaining in it just like God. This seems irrational and extreme to many, but only because our standard of measure and reasoning is itself so infected with the subtle ideas invented by Lucifer and propagated far and wide that has darkened the light of truth.

Again, it is not God who is in the payback enforcement business, even when His loyal followers are demanding it. He patiently works with us to raise us above this dark view of justice until we finally come into full alignment with the reality defined by the hero of the war, the Lamb's version of justice.

Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

The enemies of the Lamb are the contradictory methods of maintaining cohesion in God's creation that violate the principles of freedom, truth and selfless love. Ruling over others with a mindset of hierarchy is contradictory to the spirit of the Lamb. Authoritarian control is opposite to how God relates to His family, and power used to force and compel others violates the will and destroys capacity to enter into relationships of intimacy and trust. Christ reigns not by force or threats or domination but through serving and loving and demonstrating how God's design can operate from within our context. When at last everyone has fully aligned themselves with one kingdom or the other, then the universe can be restored to purity, meaning that all dissonant spirits have been defeated by the principles of love alone, and all who cling to those false principles choose eternal death rather than to live by the principles of love. That is what it means that Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God. He takes all the hits and absorbs all the ill effects of everyone else's violation of the principles of design until there are none left. Then the unified creation can be brought fully back to the sweetness and unity of love originally enjoyed before sin ever began, and the Father's heart once again is the only Source of guidance and the ultimate object of affection and worship by everyone remaining.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints

We need to be clear here that this faith is the faith of Jesus living inside the saints, not a faith they work hard to produce through their own efforts or willpower. Saints are those who come to live as humans were designed to live originally, as reflectors of God's heart. As they focus on the faith of Jesus, faith is reflected and awakened within their own hearts as is patience and every other virtue. They finally fulfill the stated purpose for which humanity was created as expressed by the Godhead before any human ever existed – to create humans in Their image and to develop a character in Their likeness so that the glory of Their love might be fully expressed and enjoyed in the more physical realm in which they were created on this planet.

Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; (1 Peter 2:21-23)

looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don't grow weary, fainting in your souls. You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin; (Hebrews 12:2-4)

I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. You have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary. (Revelation 2:2-3)

I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first. (Revelation 2:19)

Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don't fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. (Psalms 37:7)

For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

By your endurance you will win your lives. (Luke 21:19)

But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:" to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; (Romans 2:5-7)

Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: (Romans 5:3-4)

not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; (Romans 12:11-12)

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; (Colossians 1:10-11)

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:13-15)

For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. "In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait. (Hebrews 10:36-37)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Saved Passenger Manifest - Rumor notes 109

 

Revelation 13

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed

I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12,15)

He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)

The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:8)

There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin--and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written." (Exodus 32:31-32)

Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalms 69:27-28)

The reason it is called the Lamb's Book of Life is because the Lamb is both the Creator of all humanity as well as the Redeemer of all humanity. In both roles the Lamb has the full authority to assign identity to every human being, and He has done so from both directions. But as we have tried to make clear, agape love means each one remains free as to whether they will embrace their identity from Christ or whether they will cling to sin and believe lies about themselves and God that twist and distort their perspective so tragically that they exchange the truth of God for The Lie and come to despise the very beauty of God's kindness that alone can lead them to repent and be transformed in order to enjoy the bliss of paradise in God's presence of intense love.

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:4-5)

What we are witnessing in this chapter are outlines of what it looks like to despise the riches of God's kindness, goodness and love while wondering after power and in doing so worshiping the beasts and the dragon who represent God as being more like us and Satan than like Jesus.

Clearly this Book is a list of the righteous. Yet how do we define who is righteous? Is this in reference to our condition or our identity? When and/or how do those two converge? These questions need to be understood by those serious about keeping their names in this Book of Life.

At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19-20)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him." (John 14:6-7)

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

Yes, I beg you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)

This Book of Life is a metaphor for something very real and central to the plan of salvation involving the good news about God and about our true identity in relation to Him. It is a metaphor but parallel to one found in Genesis 2 which was both literal and metaphorical simultaneously, the Tree of Life. Both of these represent the spiritual reality that the only safe source of saving truth and life is in the human demonstration of who God is and what His disposition is at its core.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies." (John 11:25)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." (John 14:6)

'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' (Acts 17:28)

When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)

The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

What is all this telling us? Every human being was put into Christ through His identifying with their sinful false identity that He put to death on His cross so that each one of us could receive His identity of perfect reflective righteousness of God as our true identity. This means every one of us is in Christ whether we accept and believe in it or not. This is one reason everyone's name starts out in the Book of Life, for that is the same as being in Christ, for He is the origin and sustainer of life.

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

It is vital to understand that the plan of salvation does not involve any partiality on the part of God. It is never God who decides who is saved or lost as most assume. It is not God who makes the determinations or enforces punishments against those who choose death rather than life. It is not even God who judges us in the sense of passing down sentences like we do in our twisted earthly versions of justice. Jesus said plainly that the Father judges no one, then later added that neither does the Son. God is completely impartial, meaning He desires more than anything that everyone be saved and does everything possible to bring this about. Yet respect for each one's freedom compels Him to release everyone to their own destiny they choose for themselves. What we are studying is how those who are lost remove their own names from the original passenger manifest list of the saved.

It is the father of lies, the original inventor of slander against God who has convinced us to imagine God is the dangerous one we need to be saved from, that God is the one we must convince in order to escape punishment. The gospel of Jesus Christ exposes these lies by revealing the truth about God's disposition towards sinners. All of the change in thinking and attitude needs to happen on our side of the relationship, nothing needs altering in God's heart of passionate love for us.

What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

This issue of whether or not our names are left in the Book of Life raises a most important lurking suspicion in the hearts of many of us. We either secretly or openly react to the seeming injustice of God making arbitrary decisions about whether we will live or die eternally. This is a very valid question that must be faced directly if the gospel is to gain deeper access to our heart. The entire war revolves around contention over God's fairness, justice and trustworthiness. What is the truth?

What we are finding here in Revelation 13 is a sad narrative that many will refuse to accept their true identity, resisting the Spirit of Life that that alone can transform their condition to match their new creation identity already given them in Christ. Their names are already written in the heart of Christ who is the Book of Life personified, yet when they resolutely reject His proposal for intimacy and reconciliation with His great heart of love by mutual consent, there is nothing more God can offer to win their trust and affection, so He is forced to respect their final decision and their names are removed from the list of those accept His love and are transformed to reflect it.

How does a person's name remain or get removed from the book of life? Each person themselves choose whether or not to believe and embrace their true identity as Christ defines it for them. Through trust in what God says about us and reliance on His promises to us, our likeness/character may become so aligned with our true identity that it reflects His identity. And this happens as we allow His Spirit to synchronize our choices with the heart and will of God.

Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

This is a principle as well as a promise. A principle works no matter what the application, meaning that the same principle is found operative in all who behold in wonder and allow their attention to remain fixated on the intimidating power of the beasts and the dragon. By beholding and admiring, or even reacting in fearful subservience, one inexorably becomes more and more like whatever the imagination dwells on. All those who dwell on the earth dwell on the mixed views of God promoted by the ancient serpent who insisted that God knows both good and evil. By continuing to behold such a version of God one becomes like that just as the serpent promised to Eve. "...for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)

By turning our gaze away from dwelling on things of this earth, on darkness, fear lusts and power, and instead feasting our imagination on the glories of heaven where the truth of God's character is most fully embraced, and especially on the explicit revelation of the Lamb, this beholding principle empowers us to be transformed from darkness, depression and fear to living in the light of freedom where truth and love inspire and unite all who surrender to its saving, healing influence.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Every person who has ever lived or will live have had their name written into the Book of Life, and Christ claims full ownership over all humanity, confirming and sealing that claim with His blood and His death on the cross. His first priority after His resurrection was to reassign His own identity to every human being to match how God has viewed us from before this world was even created. Yet even though each human being was written originally in the Book of Life, it does not override the freedom for anyone to spurn this gift. But doing so results in a warped character nearly opposite the identity assigned to them in Christ.

So who decided in whether or not our name is left in the Book of Life? Christ placed everyone's name there, yet all remain free to determine whether they will leave it there by embracing the truth about themselves from God's perspective, or whether they will reject His definition of their identity to cling to a false, variable version of identity. If they do, in effect they force removal of their name from that Book out of heaven's respect for their determined choice. It then is clear that they have totally spurned God's mercy, rejected His gift of perfect identity in His Son and permanently formed a character impossible to sustain in the presence of God's passionate love for them.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear

Are we listening? Will we commit totally to the principles of life and embrace the disposition of the Lamb, or be inexorably sucked into worship with those blaspheming God and His true identity as revealed by the Lamb. There simply is no other option, and the stakes are eternally high.

Missing Persons Report - Rumor notes 108

 Revelation 13

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

whose name has not been written

We will look more at what the Book of Life is about, but first I want to look into how, why and who is involved in whether or not names show up there as well as why they remain there or not.

Names involve identity and character as we have pointed out previously. When Moses asked to see God's glory up close and personal, it was His name that God declared, yet the words He used described what His character is like, not about physical characteristics or titles. The same applies to God's reflectors. What is most significant us, far beyond our physical condition or even our behavioral conformity to rules, is the condition of our spirit. It is in this way that we were designed to closely reflect and resemble God, for God is Spirit, and worship always involves our spirit.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

Our identity is perceived in our spirit, and the origin for our reflection is to be our Creator. This is how we worship Him in spirit and in truth, but it needs to be the truth about God that Jesus reveals. We must receive His truth about God before we can in turn reflect that same truth. In the process of reflecting the real truth about God seen most explicitly in Jesus Christ His Son, the likeness of God – a matured character like God – can become our permanent condition through the indwelling presence of God. Our condition/character/name, then comes to match the identity of what we experience as true about God. This is the same identity as what Jesus matured that perfectly reflected God's character, and our name/character is to be transformed to be the same as His.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

Yet who determines in the end whether or not our names are found in the Book of Life? In the verses we have examined previously, we learn that everyone's names are enrolled in the Book, for it is a record book of all humanity that God predestined as collective reflectors of His image, the purpose and reason for what it means to be a human. A name written in the Book of Life then simply means existing as a human reflector of God. So if we consent for God's Spirit to dwell in us, our name remains in that book as evidence of our willingness to continuously reflect God's glory.

What is unavoidably obvious however is that humans are not reflecting the true image of God but our lives are much closer to reflecting the character of the great apostate and accuser of God. So how do we reconcile this with what God designed for us to do but has been hijacked at the fall when our first parents chose to embrace a different identity/family name from what they were created to be? What principles were manipulated by Satan to subvert the design of God and turn it into a weapon against Him to amplify lies about God rather than reflect the true glory of God?

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness. He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. (Genesis 5:1-3)

This summary description has a discrepancy that is important to sort out in light of the underlying principles involved. Notice the difference from the original account in Genesis 1.

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion...." God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

How do we reconcile that apparently differing accounts? My perception is that the description found in chapter 5 may well be better understood as referring to the principle involving character development as well as the strong generational impact that character has to ensuing generations. In the Hebrew there is no word to be specifically translated as 'in' for the phrase made him in God's likeness. It seems clear enough in first account of this creation that the likeness was glaringly absent in verse 27 describing the actual activity of creating Adam while it was clearly the intent stated by God in the planning stage. For me, understanding the meaning of the passage in chapter 5 would mean viewing it as intent or the operative principle embedded into our very design that involves our participation in developing our own likeness/character by continuing to reflect God's true image.

This key operative principle is always present and active in all of our lives and is generational. The character, disposition and habits of thinking we cultivate and allow to shape our personality and character are unavoidably passed on to our children as a foundation from which they begin their own additional development. This may at first sound terribly unfair when we consider the horrific effects of the curse passed down to all of us by Adam's choice to join in Satan's rebellious spirit against heaven. The examples of babies born with predispositions toward alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual perversion and every other evil influence inherited from evil traits developed in our ancestors, all tempt us to feel resentful that such should be our state from no fault of our own. Yet it is part of the design of humanity for a reason, and that reason is more important than the ill effects of the curse it has become in plunging the entire human race into the abyss of evil propensities inherited from all the bad choices of generations before us.

This statement that Adam became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image is an acknowledgement of this principle that both sin and desires for good are impossible to avoid being passed on to our children. The parents of Seth passed on their disposition, both good and bad to their children. Keep in mind that this came after the story of Cain and Abel, so that also impacts the meaning of this statement at this point in the narrative.

Cain and Abel also received predispositions from their parents. How much Cain's spirit of resistance to God's love was a result of the disposition of his parent's at the time of his conception may be very significant, but we don't have the information to know what condition of spirit Adam and Eve had at the time of Cain's conception except that they were experiencing extreme remorse for all the tragic developments ensuing from their choice to eat from the forbidden Tree as well as losing much of their authority to govern the world to Satan.

Yahweh God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. (this us is translated from Elohim meaning the gods or the supernatural ones. This could potentially include Satan as well as Satan had now become the god of this world and certainly was into both good and evil) Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever..." Therefore Yahweh God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. So he drove out the man; (compare the Holy Spirit who drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. See Mark 1:11-12) and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help." (Here we see the seeds of our penchant toward trying to save ourselves with God's help rather than resting totally in His love and care for us) Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. (Notice too how Cain is the reference point rather than Abel having a standalone identity) Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 3:22 – 4:2)

Cain was conceived when his parents were experiencing possible the greatest feelings of remorse possible. Additionally there were likely feelings of wanting to blame each other that began immediately when God came to the garden right after they sinned. Adam and Eve find solace in sexual intimacy which is one of the most powerful patterns repeated throughout history, and the resulting impacts on the babies conceived under such circumstances are far greater than most people realize.

In chapter 5 we are told that Seth was conceived in Adam's likeness and image. This is in contrast to Adam originally being created in God's image with potential to develop God's likeness. What this also alerts us to is that Seth inherited from Adam a partially formed character that was already defective because it was infected with the elements of selfishness and sin unlike how his father was created. Yet by this time after the tragic experiences involving the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, the realization of their need for redemption from heaven likely became much more clear in the parents of Seth and this helped to predispose the direction of his life toward more loyalty to God that was also passed down generationaly from him all the way to Noah.

This moves us into the next phrase of this passage in Revelation as to the meaning of what is meant by the foundation of the world. What world? Whose version of our world?

Start here

from the foundation of the world

What kind of foundation is this? Merely a physical one? Not entirely. What about the conceptualization of our world in God's mind and heart and executed as described in the first two chapters of Genesis? More likely. The foundation of our world includes God's foreknowledge of everything that would happen as the outgrowth of His creation. So as far as timing, when might this refer to? Let's gather more clues to see what might distill out of them.

Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me! "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who determined the measures of it, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:3-7)

Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn't speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:34-35)

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; (Matthew 25:34)

Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:28-32)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, (Ephesians 1:3-6)

This predestination is not about God preselecting some and pre-rejecting some as many mistakenly imagine. Our destiny by creation design is to reflect God's glory just as did Jesus while He lived as a human here on earth. His life defines our true identity we too may experience if we will only consent.

Sin defaces the image of God in us, yet our true identity does not come from our behavior, either good or bad, but is given us by the One who created us to develop a character reflective of His. The only way any name can be removed from the Book of Life then is when heaven has to respectfully acknowledge the determined choice to lock onto an identity foreign to the image of the God reflected by Jesus Christ. Thus the Book of Life is not composed of arbitrary selections by God of who will be saved, but it is simply reflective of the choices of each human deciding for themselves whose image they have chosen to shape their character and set it for eternity.

For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3)

The world as God designed and created it was very different from the hijacked world redefined and distorted through sinister mischief of the throne of iniquity.

Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; (Luke 11:49-50)

For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:24-26)

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ; who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of times for your sake, (1 Peter 1:18-20)

The ransomed of Yahweh shall return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. I, even I, am he who comforts you: who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who shall be made as grass; and have forgotten Yahweh your Maker, who stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and fear continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he makes ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? The captive exile shall speedily be freed; and he shall not die and go down into the pit, neither shall his bread fail. For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea, so that the waves of it roar: Yahweh of Armies is his name. I have put my words in your mouth, and have covered you in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and tell Zion, You are my people. (Isaiah 51:11-16)

This brings a fresh perspective to the instruction of Jesus.

Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

Worshiping the Blasphemer - Rumor notes 107

 

Revelation 13

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him

We have covered this first phrase in the past, so I will not take time to unpack it fully here again. This label or category shows up repeatedly in this chapter as it identifies not merely those who live on this planet, but all who choose to get their identity from how this world defines value and identity based on performance, compliance and relative worth measured against others. This is in contrast to the identifier, those who dwell in heaven, for both have to do with where one's focus is and the source they rely on to define their identity more than merely the location of their physical body.

Worship is our priority to who will define our sense of value and reason for life. Our god is who we trust or fear, and by presenting ourselves to serve their agenda, either from fear, respect or admiration, we idolize them which authorizes them to be our master. We have no choice about being mastered by one supernatural force or the other, just as a mirror has no choice as to whether it reflects or not. We worship because that's what humans do naturally just as a mirror reflects because that is it design and purpose. We do have a choice however, who is authorized to shape our thinking, living and perceptions of reality. This is the seat of true authority as God designed it to be, authority invested within each of us which is our freedom to choose for ourselves who will receive that authority to rule over us, in us and access our will and resources and allegiance.

As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately. He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, 'Conduct business until I come.'

But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to reign over us.' "It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.

Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief, for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.' "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow(?). Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?' (Luke 19:11-15, 20-23)

This parable highlights the reality that if we reject the noble man, the Lamb of God as the one we choose to serve, emulate, admire and imitate, we will hate Him and deny His ownership of all we have. This means we worship and admire the power of the beast and are conformed to the likeness of the dragon whose authority and character defines the beast and all its accomplices. We may do this purely out of fear or from desire for power ourselves. Either way, we align with the principles of this world which hates the light and the Source and Reflection of the light of love.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

Loving darkness means worshiping the dragon, the beast or any other entity sharing the same agenda. Loving their agenda and living either in fear or admiration of their way of controlling the world inevitable results in hatred and resistance to what heaven and the Lamb represents. There is no middle ground, for each must choose which system will define and motivate us.

Later in this chapter the issue of a mark emerges and where it is located. What we will see is there are two ways to receive the mark. Whether one chooses to embrace the theology/philosophy of this world's power as their source of identity, or whether they merely comply to its demands out of fear of losing advantages offered by these powers, both involve submission to the authority of the beast and the dragon, whether out of willing choice or from fear of losing rights and privileges.

This helps us understand why this war is all over worship, worship at a personal level of intensity yet also more expansive than we might realize. When we cling to a narrow, artificial segregation of the spiritual life from our secular life as largely unrelated to each other, our ideas about worship remain very shallow. Worship involves our hearts priorities, which in turn directs our will in the choices that over time produces permanent character.

Worship then is all about who we allow to define us, who we believe has the kind of power we want to save us from discomfort, suffering, loss and death. What we do in overt worship activities is only a small part of actual worship. Conflating worship with religious activities blinds us to actual worship. Many worship feelings they get during worship services without realizing they are not really worshiping God in heaven but whatever makes them feel good. This is one of the most successful schemes of the enemy keeping us blinded to the real issues involved in this war over worship.

We must keep in mind the context from the previous verse we studied. It is saints who are targeted by the beast, because the saints – those who follow the Lamb rather than allowing fear and intimidation to control them – present a serious threat to a successful takeover of the world. True saints embrace the principles of the kingdom of heaven which is governed by the Law of Liberty, not methods of force and fear. Freedom of choice is a mortal threat to the powers of darkness, for truth, love and freedom expose the fraud and weakness of the foundations of Satan's kingdom and will not be tolerated to remain. The very presence of people on earth who continue to maintain loyalty to the kingdom of love, kindness and freedom for all, induces judgment that undermines the effectiveness of Satan's attempts to unify the whole world under the principles of coercion and fear.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

It is this deep-seated animosity against the light of love expressed in truth and freedom that compels the beast to war against saints coming to the light to be transformed in it. They refuse to worship of the beast or the dragon because the principles of this world are foreign to the principles of heaven found in agape love. This must be our context to properly perceive what is being described here and how it relates to us. What we see here is the contrast between those living as dwelling in heaven, or merely existing on earth, trying to survive under the intimidation and compulsion of worldly powers bent on achieving absolute control over every human being.

everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world

There are several things we need to identify here.

One is the issue of polarization, how this happens and the timing of when and why.

Another issue is the meaning of the word name and how it fits into this context.

A third is the issue of how, why and who writes names in or out the Book of Life.

And what does the foundation of the world mean.

The issue of polarization is involved both here and in prophecies of Daniel as well as elsewhere. It is found in the parables Jesus taught about wheat and weeds allowed to mature together. This principle is important to avoid confusion over why things dramatically change when the harvest comes. Time must be given for plants to mature without undo interference, for using force to separate them when it is not obvious what kind of plant is involved only reinforces accusations against God which would then perpetuate the problems throughout eternity.

God's wisdom indicates that evil must be allowed enough time to fully expose itself rather than resorting to force to attempt to stop it. Every insinuation about God being in any way complicit in the outcome of death caused by sin must be neutralized. This issue has to be settled in order to end the war effectively and permanently, yet this view is least popular with those craving a God who uses force rather than the God whose heart is reflected by the meek and willingly weak Lamb. We choose what kind of power we believe will effectively resolve the problem of evil.

Because God's strategy is the only way evil can be effectively purged from the universe, it is allowed to continue until every character is fully developed to the point where it is unmistakeable which side each person has chosen that defines them and shapes their character. This means there is a point in time after which there is no possibility of reversal, not because God arbitrarily blocks it but rooted in God's original design for character development itself.

There are various ways to describe this solidification of character. It is locking, sealing, settling or hardening of the heart until a permanent set condition is reached so that the mindset permanently defines one to the point they lose any desire to choose otherwise. This is never a decision made by God to determine what destiny others will experience. Rather it is the outcome of the principle of freedom itself in operation. Without freedom to choose whom we will serve and have our choices actually make a difference in the outcome of our lives, freedom is merely a sham.

Agape love requires freedom in order for it to even exist and thrive. God is agape love, and while love is stronger than evil, death and fear, this kind of love includes giving everyone else the option to choose not to love but to be destroyed by evil. Evil builds up internal resistance to love until finally one chooses eternal death rather than continuing to experience the torment that resistance to love inevitably produces in all who reject God's mercy.

...he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:36)

If God were to compel people to remain in their condition of utter misery and torment induced by exposure to those filled with His passionate love, such action would violate their freedom to choose and would vindicate Satan's insistence that God must admit that Satan's methods are necessary to retain effective control. But this would involve God denying people's freedom to choose death rather than life eternal. Any violation of anyone's freedom on the part of God would undermine all the principles of creation and lead to the collapse of the entire cosmos.

This is why God's 'law' is impossible to change, not because God is stubborn or inflexible in His supposed demands for perfect compliance to His rules, but because God's laws are descriptions of the entire matrix of principles defining how reality functions and interacts in perfect harmony providing external expressions of God's heart of love.

Let's look at more passages relating to the Book of Life.

The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:8)

Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)

He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)

There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin--and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written." Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." (Exodus 32:31-33)

Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalms 69:25-28)

At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3)

Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

In the spiritual realm, a name is not merely the word used as a label to address a person. It involves the disposition and character. This involves the element of choices over time that form character, for character is what develops by making moral choices that form habits that eventually become a permanent way of reacting to situations. This brings us back to the issue of identity and what we believe about who we are and who we identify with. Those who dwell on the earth define themselves by the standards of measure the world uses involving relative value and the rules of commerce thinking based on balance scales. This shapes their character into an artificial mold until they can never be able fit in or appreciate the intense atmosphere of heaven's selfless love.

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. (Romans 12:2 J.B. Phillips)

Despite the fact that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ redeemed all of mankind and gave every person an entirely new identity different from the one inherited after the fall of Adam, each person is given freedom to reject that gift and to cling to the false identities defined for them by the world. These are founded on what others think about us or or even our own feelings and emotions. If we continue to do this until it becomes permanently our habitual way of thinking and relating, God is required by love to respect our choices, for this involves the principle of freedom.

God is not the the business of imposing legal sentences against those defying His laws and spurning His truth, grace and mercy. Heaven's kind of judgment is simply allowing the natural outworking of the principle of cause and effect. When we cling to lies until they permanently set our character in the image/mold of this world, there is no longer anything God can do to salvage our condition and its final effects.