(06/27/2013) When Does Judgment Begin?

Aspects of divine judgment are our topic, today, along with more on being lost without GOD.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “ubhannahh” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since April 11, 2007) posted the following:

Does god judge us while on earth right before we die?

The sinners

THE BATTLE AXE:  Lost Without GOD? (06/26/2013)—All men feel some degree of separation from GOD.  The Almighty must exercise authority and impartiality, yet, maintain exalted sovereignty, holiness, and sanctification.  There must be order, process, sequence and structure that, taken all together, appear as separation.  By contrast, the separation that results from defiance, disobedience, distrust, fear, guilt, shame, or willful persistence in sin is not permanent, and may be removed through divine operations that include forgiveness, rebirth, and repentance.  In this sense, GOD manages fellowship and intimacy for believers the same way a mother or father seeks to be their child’s confidant without losing their own proper place as an adult, their changing place as the child’s caretaker, protector and teacher, or their permanent place as parent.  See Isaiah 59:  1-21, John 17:  14-26 and Hebrews 12:  1-11, King James Version.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:  on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:  and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  (1st Peter 4:  12-19, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  To Find A True Christian? (06/17/2013); Unseen Sin? (06/18/2013); Teachings on Judgment (06/06/2013); Those Who Never Heard? (06/07/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013); Scriptures and Sayings (06/09/2013); Must We Really Die? (05/13/2013)

“ubhannahh”, here are some points describing divine judgment that are widely shared among Christian believers:

(1)  The sacred operation of judgment is eternal, and appears as an aspect of divine being, and sacred person.  GOD is a spirit who reveals divinity by imparting spirit matter to created beings and living creatures.  The “acts” and spirit substance of GOD establish awareness of divine power, possibility, and presence that includes creation, forgiveness, judgment and salvation. 

(2)  Judgment of those upon the earth (animals, mankind, spirit beings) has already begun, and is a continuing sacred process that is now focused upon “the household of GOD” meaning, those in covenant, those in adoption and rebirth through the imparted indwelling Spirit, and those entrusted who serve through the ministry of Jesus as Risen Lord.  Those who, in the end, are accounted as redeemed and saved, first, have also been regarded as sinners along with those who are wicked.  Instead of behavior and conduct, that frequently shifts and changes, the make-up and spirit content of all living persons will be examined.

(3)  In order to list the peculiar sequence of events that pertain to judgment believers include:  (a.) the law proclaimed (with its benefits, punishments and sanctions), (b.) the accomplishments of death (e.g., redemption, release from sin, and transfer of inheritance through the law), (c.) the completion of documents that serve as life-records with the conclusion of inquiry, investigation and truth-finding, (d.) rebirth and resurrection, (e.) the sanctification and perfection of those embracing salvation, (f.) examinations from the book of life, (g.) the destruction of the wicked, and (h.) a distribution of divine rewards.

There is no simple explanation, or abbreviated way to clarify the many profound truths of judgment.  There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example,  (4)  there are three events we think of as “final judgment.”  The first is when Christ returns to harvest the earth and receive all those who acknowledge him as Savior.  However, their judgment already will have been completed.  The “white throne” judgment, sees the wicked appear before Christ.  This occurs after Satan is cast into the lake of fire.  Because the process of divine judgment may only involve the living; the dead must be revived, and do not answer any angel, devil or human accuser.  They must acknowledge the record of their own deeds.  Finally, following the second death whereby all the wicked are destroyed, there will be a judgment for appointment of divine duties and privilege within the eternal kingdom.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(06/21/2013) GOD Grants License?

Today, how believers must center their focus upon themselves to accomplish spiritual growth, rather than upon Satan or others, is considered.  Also, there is more on provoking and testing GOD.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Diet Cola” (Level 7 with 29,730 points, a member since August 22, 2007) posted the following:

Why does God let Satan get away with so much?

THE BATTLE AXE:  On Testing GOD (06/20/2013)—In a certain sense, the love of GOD is demonstrated by “how much we get away with” (see 2nd Peter 3:  15, KJV).  The compassion, forbearance, forgiveness, longsuffering, mercy, and patience of GOD combine as a shield for those who are otherwise defenseless against righteous judgment.  The wrath of GOD against sin is not directed against created beings and living creatures.  Spirit substance from the person of GOD must continuously operate within before such features as awe, fear of the Lord, humility, respect, and reverence can appear in their most complete and balanced measure.  Much of the foolish and insulting behavior that is displayed against GOD derives from ignorance, immaturity, and underdevelopment that are acceptable as features of our human condition because they are “brief,” do not continue, cannot be spread to others as with disease, and do not endure.  Some behavior expressing defiance and rebellion is necessary for development of confidence, independence, integrity and self-possession.  In this, created beings and living creatures are like toddlers in the stage of early childhood we call “the terrible twos” where small children repeatedly challenge authority with shouts, and emphatic “No!”  In the child, behavior revealing inner conflict, fear, lack of knowledge for correct responses, and uncertainty also may be displayed; however, rarely is there continuing destructiveness, hostility, meanness, or malice.  GOD is goaded and proclaims his holy name, Jealous, when he is provoked to wrath by denial of his active presence, by worship of false gods, idols and vanities, or where the created are unresponsive to divine utterance.  (See Deuteronomy 29:  16-20, Zephaniah 3:  7-9, Isaiah 55:  7-11, Isaiah 42:  6-8, Romans 3:  19-23 and James 2:  18-20, KJV.)

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:  he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:  for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.  Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.  (Revelation 12:  7-12, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  To Find A True Christian? (06/17/2013); Unseen Sin? (06/18/2013); The Love of GOD (03/03/2013); Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013); When Does Gossip Become Sin? (01/08/2013); Understanding Hell (01/09/2013); An Attack Upon Creation? (12/08/2012); The Focus of Judgment? (12/09/2012); The Adversary? (12/05/2012); “Soul” Food? (12/06/2012); A Partnership? (11/05/2012); To See With New Eyes (11/06/2012); (08/26/2011)  Dispatch 18:  The Ally [Enmity]; (08/29/2011) Dispatch 19:  The Ally [Invasion]; (08/30/2011) Dispatch 20:  The Ally [Able to Stand]; Why Disobey? (03/18/2011); Two Opinions? (03/19/2011)

“Diet Cola,” here are some points to consider that come into view as part of spiritual growth for Christian believers:

(1)  The answer to many of our questions about GOD’s response to other created beings and living creatures are to be found through examination of our own experience, and testimony.  One must say, Why does GOD allow ME to get away with so much?

(2)  Divine judgment is an ongoing reality whereby all Creation continues under sacred scrutiny and review.  Judgment is revealed as truth-finding, the identification of patterns among truths, and the amassing of information as evidence (the books of life).  In the final judgment of mankind and the elimination of the wicked, there is no prosecutor or official accuser.  We must acknowledge a record of our own deeds that express the content of our spirit; and it is in this sense that neither men nor angels are permitted to “get away” with anything.

(3)  Given that accountability, duty, and faithfulness are aspects of personal expression, ones prayer should never be, “Oh GOD, change my wife (or husband, children, parents, Satan, etc.)” or  even “Oh GOD, change my circumstances (i.e., society, the world, other people, etc.).”  Instead, “Oh GOD, help me to help them achieve the change they need or seek; Oh GOD, grant of your Holy Spirit:  Boldness, courage, insight, longsuffering, patience, strength, wisdom, and understanding.”

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example,  (4)  There is only one revelation of GOD to all Creation, for divinity is immutable and unchanging.  The Divine Person does not alter from one relationship to the next.  Similarly, divine law, sacred operations, and eternal purpose does not vary from person to person.  All have been equipped to discover and realize a single set of interrelated truths.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(06/06/2013) Teachings on Judgment

Today, the description of final judgment as a shepherd’s separation of the sheep and goats that are both contained within his single flock generates a consideration of judgment for all mankind as an eternal expression of divine being.  Also, there is more on the Bible as literally reporting words spoken by GOD.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Micah” (Level 1 with 88 points, a member since January 10, 2013) posted the following:

Christians: what is Judgment Day to you according to Matthew 25:31-46?

the reason I ask is because when I grew up I was taught that judgement day is when Jesus is judges each person individually according to the wrong they have done. but according to Matthew 25 Jesus judges for righteous works and lack of righteous works, not necessarily sin that we have committed. As a kid I was taught that on judgement day we will watch a video of our life and review all the mistakes we have made. I find this very contradicting to what the Bible says concerning Jesus Christ and His blood shed for us. The Bible says that God forgets our sin and cast it as far as the east is from the west. And what about everything it says in the book of Romans about how Christ died for us while we were still sinners. as you know there are many more verses that are similar. please share your thoughts, use scripture to back it up. Thanks.

THE BATTLE AXE:  Words Spoken By GOD? (06/05/2013)—As a device to preserve a collective consciousness and various oral traditions among mankind, the Bible consists in ideas and understandings that may be presented through multiple systems of human language and words.  For this reason, when embracing the holy writings, believers are carefully directed away from human verbal expression to discern and realize their own spirit content, and the revealed spirit content of GOD.   (We see a similar process in the way Internet readers ignore typos to focus upon the meaning of what is intended by a written statement, or question that is posed.)  The highest content of Scripture is its sacred substance, rather than the peculiar accounts of judgments against sin, life principles and models for prosperity, and narratives of human events.  The Bible is to be embraced as holy based upon such features as its eternal aspect, details of divine operations, portrayals revealing sovereign person, sacred purpose, power to sanctify, and defining truth.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes:  the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee:  and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:  And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee:  and he saith, I am not learned.  Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:  Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder:  for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.  Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?  Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay:  for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?  (Isaiah 29:  10-16, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Repentance Must Come Before Resurrection (04/27/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013); GOD Hiding in Plain Sight (03/26/2013); The Love of GOD (03/03/2013); Why A “Spokesperson”? (01/14/2013); No Contradictions? (01/15/2013)

Micah, here are some points of understanding I am permitted to share, that are endorsed by many mature Christian believers, and that pertain to the teachings on Judgment.  Many agree wrath against sin and Judgment are permanent and perpetual aspects of divinity, and are not “one-time events”:

(1)  From the beginning of the Scriptures, where GOD is proclaimed as Creator of heaven and earth, divine tools of division and separation are described.  The Maker is revealed acknowledging a difference between light and darkness, assigning value, and establishing order that gives preliminary form to frameworks of time and space (see Genesis 1:  1-6, King James Version).

(2)  In the same way the description of GOD as Creator is to be accepted as an indisputable fact that is basic to all later information provided by the holy writings, GOD is proclaimed as Law Giver and Judge (see Exodus 34:  1-8, KJV).  Terms for the various covenant agreements between GOD and mankind all include acceptance of divine authority, obedience to sacred law, and submission to divine judgment appearing as both correction and as punishment.  Among them are covenants through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus Christ.

(3)  Before the appearance (we say, incarnation) of GOD in the person of Jesus Christ upon the earth, GOD continued solely as an invisible spirit having no dimension or material form (see John 4:  24, KJV).  When ousted from the Garden of Eden, mankind received instruction and guidance from GOD through prophets and spokespersons such as the Angel bearing a flaming sword who barred the entrance to Eden, the Patriarchs who served for hundreds of years as living witnesses to acts of GOD, the line of prophets, judges, and later, priests, kings, and apostles.  See Hebrews 1:  1-14, KJV.

(4)  Sin is an influence that opposes the existence of divine person, sacred law, and continued being for the Creation of GOD by operating upon self-will in created beings and living creatures.  Sin cannot operate upon the will of GOD.  Yet, sin was first recognized among the holy angels (see Jude 1:  5-7, Ezekiel 28:  12-18, KJV).  Where the revealing of GOD to created beings and living creatures proceeded through the force and process of the natural world, the worship of idols, flesh, and common objects in nature (e.g., bulls, the moon, stars, and sun) became widespread as a consequence of sin (see Romans 1:  18-23, Romans 5:  13-14 and Romans 3:  20-23, KJV).

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5)  Final judgment of the wicked is that aspect of divine revelation wherein the righteousness of GOD is most clearly and directly displayed (see Daniel 7:  9-10, KJV).  While the language used suggests a courtroom drama, there will be no accuser (e.g., Satan already will have been consigned to the lake of fire); and a person must respond only to the record of their own life deeds (see Revelation 20:  10-12, KJV).  The focus of this judgment will be the sacred substance of ones being (such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin).  The books of life are a primary tool in judgment.  Human behavior and conduct are recorded there that portrays the absence or presence of divine content within ones make-up.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC