Thursday, April 30, 2015

Foolish Virgins

Hello again dear Pearl,
I hope you are finding the strength to endue & are not suffering too much. I keep you in my prayers.
I have a question with regards to the "foolish virgins" they are of the anointed who fall short of becoming part of the bride of Christ. So does the Watchtower put the foolish virgins in the second death, which condemns the Foolish Virgins to Second Death?
In Matthew 25 with regards to the parable it doesn't seem to indicate that they receive eternal destruction but it does say at Matthew 25:11,12, "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ "
So are the foolish virgins being rejected just as part of the Bride of Christ, when Christ says, "I do not know you" or is he rejecting them totally? Does this sit harmoniously with 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 where the foolish ones who build wood, hay and stubble on their foundation in Christ are “saved so as by fire.” It seems they are not destroyed.

love,
Darren
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Your question also relates to 1Cor.5:5.
When we are overcome by Satan, due to unfaithfulness in all that Christ commands,
we are disciplined by our heavenly Father. (That discipline is depicted in the four horsemen of Rev.6, and again in the symbolic dramas that follow in Revelation.) Yet not all repent when God attempts to train them (Rev.9:20,21). Only the one third (who are killed in association with their repentance -Rev.11:7; 6:9,11), do repent (Rev.9:18; Zech.13:9).
I had wondered myself, the final condition of the unrepentant, since their lot is also described as an everlasting abhorrence, being "beaten severely with many strokes", or an eternal enduring of shame (Dan.12:2; Isa.66:24; Luke12:47). This alone does not conclusively point to either a living or dead shame.
We know that the building materials made of Gold, etc. (lasting materials - 1Cor.3:11,12,13,14,15), are the same as the "lasting fruit" / teachings, that the faithful witnesses of Christ and God, declare (John15:16).
Fire and water can only save, if they cleanse the heart (Ps.66:10,11,12; Job 23:10; 1Pet.1:7; Zech.13:9; Rev.3:18) (Eph.5:26; John15:3).
Otherwise, there is fire that can destroy, and waters that can sweep away (Matt.25:41; Rev.12:15; Ps.18:4; 69:2; 124:5).
Those not producing fruit from a refined heart (Luke6:45,44), are lopped off the vine of Christ (and so, do not partake of the marriage feast),
and are "thrown into the fire" (John15:2,6; Matt.7:19). This fire is termed, "the second DEATH" (Rev.20:14).

What we are sure of, is that those "virgins" who look to the Beast's "commerce" for spiritual provisions and light (Matt.25:9,10; Rev.13:17; 6:6; Eze.7:12,13; 14:10), are barred from the provisions of the marriage feast (Luke12:37; Rev.3:20), within which Christ blesses the faithful virgins with "more" (Matt.13:12; 25:10 B). That blessing is a full image of Christ (John14:21; 2Cor.4:6; Rev.1:16; Rev.22:16; 2:28; 2Pet.1:19) as he reflects "the true words of God" (John16:15; Rev.19:9). --- Our earth's sun, is a star. The earth's "morning star", is, the rising sun (Luke1:78; Acts3:20; Mal.4:2; Rev.22:16; 2:28; Hosea6:3) (Rev.1:16; 2Cor.4:6; 2Pet.1:19).
This is given to the virgins who enter the marriage feast with Christ. It is a full knowledge of Christ, and all the "light" his "face" possesses. This is why he is compared to a bridegroom. When the time for the marriage arrives, he gives himself completely, to his bride (John14:21; 1Cor.6:17; Eph.5:28,29,30; John17:21; Col.2:2,3,6,7) by means of the spirit of truth (John16:13,14,15; 14:3,4,16,17,18,20,23,26).

Yet, those who have turned aside to "fornicate" with
"uncircumcised" "Gentiles"
            [Isa.1:21; Jer.2:20,21; Eze.23:29,30; Ex.34:15; Rev.2:20;
             Hosea5:4,6; 7:11; Isa.36:6; 31:1 -Harlots rely on Egypt)
            (Sodom and "Egypt" --used to persecute the faithful in the
             time of the end -Rev.11:8)]
...or the Harlots above them (1Cor.6:15; Rev.17:2,3), will never see the full light of Christ. He does not know them.
I think it is appropriate now to remember, that without the light of Christ, there is no life. (John1:4; 8:12; 6:63; 1John5:11)
Adam and Even lost God's spirit, and life along with it. True, they endured for a time (Gen.5:5; 2:17; 2Pet.3:8), but eventually expired.
When a chosen virgin rejects the authority of Christ over her (Eph.5:23; Col.2:8,19; 2Cor.11:2,3,4,20; 1Tim.4:1; Rev.16:13,14,15,16),
"she" has sinned unforgivably (see Heb.10:26,27,29,30,31,39; 6:4,5,6; 2Thess.1:8,9).

The unrepentant unfaithful will suffer "destruction" and "everlasting fire" and "the second death".
I guess it depends upon how you define those terms. According to my own Bible understanding, this is non-existence (Ps.37:10,20,35,36,38).
There are those who accept the discipline (Mal.3:1,2,3), are refined and forgiven, and made righteous (Heb.12:6,11; Eze.33:11).
There are those who do not repent (2Thess.2:10,11,12; Rev.22:14,15; Matt.8:12; Rev.21:8).
These are not given the provisions for life. They are consigned to the dominion and agents of Satan's abyss of spiritual darkness and death (Eze.32:18-32 <click on) (Rev.9:1,2,3,10,11) ("Sea" is "abyss" Rev.13:1,7; 11:7) (Isa.57:20)
(pearl-leviathan.blogspot.com).
Only the repentant will be saved out of that captivity (Rev.2:10; 13:10,7; Ps.40:2; 49:15; 69:2,14; 103:3,4; 107:20).

The "Watchtower" does not put the foolish virgins anywhere, because their most recent doctrine about them states that they are not a reality, and that this parable is not a prophecy.
They assert that the foolish virgins will never actually exist, but that this is merely a story with a moral, because "Christ has full confidence in his slaves, and knows that they will all be faithful."
I believe this lying statement to be a part of the fulfillment of their foretold declaration of a false "peace and security" with God (1Thess.5:3; Rev.18:7).

If Christ does not open the door to us, and says he does not know us....
See...
(Rev.3:7,8; Luke24:45; Matt.10:33; Luke12:9; Mark8:38; 2Tim.2:12; 1John2:23; 2John1:9; Matt.25:10) (1Pet.1:23; Rom.8:6,13).
There are requirements to gain the approval of the Master, and to gain his truth which leads to life (John17:3; 6:63), and so, to gain that life.

The question is, what becomes of living spirit creatures that lose God's spirit?
This would include Satan, the demons, and unfaithful Chosen ones.
Will they be destroyed and not exist anymore? This is what some of these scriptures convey.

Will they be conscious in the pits of dense darkness, never to rise again? This is also depicted, but this is symbolic.
I do not feel confident at this point, to assert decisively how God will dismiss and dispose of those hopelessly wicked,
but my own inclination is to believe that if they do not repent while there is yet time to do so,
they will be gone.
As Adam and Even lingered for a time, and suffered the indignation and despair that accompanied their moral and spiritual failure...so too will the unfaithful (Luke 13:28). This is because it is not God who directly kills. The Destroyer does (John10:10; Isa.33:1; Rev.9:11). God removes His Spirit of life and truth, and in time, they expire without it's support (Job 34:14,15; Deut.31:17; Ec.12:7; 7:12) (John5:21; 6:63) (Isa.5:13; 3:1; 65:13; Amos 8:11; Gen.3:22,23,24).
("Two Trees")

I'm sorry if my response is not as definitive as you wish.
I have always left this judgment in God's hands, and never asked for more detail.
I trust that God is Justice, and if my fallen brothers prove to be like the Prodigal Son, I will not resent my Father's rejoicing over their repentance and salvation, just as I am so grateful for His forgiveness toward me (2Pet.3:17; Rev.8:10,11) (Matt.18:35; Luke15:32).
Yet the Prodigal Son humbled himself, and repented. God's forgiving love does not rejoice in wickedness (1Cor.13:6).
Only those who repent, are accepted back into His household.

Perhaps God does not threaten with a full and plain disclosure of looming death,
because He desires the basis of forgiveness to be more about love, than of selfish fear.
This is as far as I have ever inquired of my Father, and I do not feel right about expecting more.
After all, God has a right to be the judge of each individual, and what they will reap.
Why should we, like Jonah, set ourselves up for a particular expectation? (Jonah3:1,2,4,5,9,10; 4:1,11)
Note: Nineveh repented.

If it turns out differently from what I expected, what of it?
Yet the wicked will reap what they have sown (Gal.6:7,8). But who am I to judge an individual's heart as wicked?
While we are sure that the Harlots and their mother will be "completely burned with fire" (Rev.18:8);
there may be an individual within that identity, that might repent.
If so, such a one should be welcomed with love (2Cor.2:7,8).

Our concern is rightly with our own faithfulness.
I hope the cited scriptures have met your need.
Love,
Pearl
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