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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Keys to the Kingdom/"Angels"

I recently wrote a post in response to a question, about the 12 apostles "judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt.19:28; Rev.7:4)
Twelve-Apostles-Judge-12-Tribes

This morning I was given more information by Holy Spirit about this subject, and wish to write it here now. (Psalm 119:147; 5:3; 143:8; 46:5; Matt.10:27; Luke12:3; Isa.50:4; 28:9; 8:16; Rev.19:10) (2Pet.1:19; Rev.2:28; 22:16) (Zeph.3:5; Lam.3:22,23)


Matt16:16-20
"Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ."

There is much that could be said about these verses, but I will only highlight that which directly associates with our subject today. I will approach all today's cited scriptures in this way.

"Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"
First we see evidence that Peter recognizes truth, and that he has faith. Why?
Jesus replies;
"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
Along with other scriptures (Matt.13:11,12,13; 19:11; John6:44,65; 1Cor.2:10; 1John2:20; 1Cor.12:28,29); we learn that the reason Peter recognizes the real identity of Jesus Christ, is because he was graced with that privilege of knowledge, by means of God's spirit.
 And I also say to you that you are Peter
Here Jesus calls Peter's attention to the reason why Christ changed his name. He tells him, that he is "Peter". "Peter" means "rock"/"stone"(Petros-male singular). Jesus is teaching Peter his place in God's Temple (Eph.2:20-22; 1Pet.2:5; Matt.3:9; Luke19:40; Rev.21:14; Exo.24:12; 2Cor.3:3), and how it relates to the other positions in that same temple.
"and on this rock I will build My church"
This time, the word Jesus uses for "rock"(Petra-female) is not the same word as Peter's name. This difference is significant. Jesus is telling Peter that he is a singular rock belonging to a present collection (Female church) of rocks . I believe that Jesus is referring to the foundation of rocks present with him....the apostles...Because Jesus follows by saying that on this rock, he will "build" (Greek-"build my home") his Congregation/Temple - 1Cor.3:16 (also his "Body" 1Cor.12:27).
Peter is here being told by Jesus, that Peter is a piece of the foundation of the spiritual temple to come. The fact that the apostles are the foundation of that Temple, is being highlighted to Peter.
Jesus then explains why this foundation, is sure...
"and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Jesus promises that the "gates of hell/Hades/death" will not be able to have victory over the apostles (or those firmly built upon them- Matt.7:24). These gates of Hades/Sheol include not only physical death itself, but also all that proceeds out from those "gates"...the lies and deceptions of Satan. Hades, Sheol, the abyss, the pit, the sea, the deep; these are all the realm of Satan. Satan has authority over this place. It is the source of all spiritual darkness, deception, and death. 
Although all 144000 will have a history of battle with the forces of evil; those anointed who are granted Holy Spirit and remain in union with it, are not overcome by these forces (Luke10:17-19). The apostolic foundation of God's Temple (which God Himself erects- not human hands) is sure (Heb.8:1-2; 9:11,24. These promises reside in hope. The day of realization is sure.


"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven"
The Greek for "keys", is "lockers". This definition contains the idea of being restrained, or "bound".
This is confirmed in the verse to follow:
"and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven"
Jesus tells Peter that whatever the "rockmass" "binds" on the earth, will be so bound in heaven.
This tells Peter that the foundation is being given an authority and power. Whatever they "bind" on the earth, will be respected by heaven. This is in perfect harmony with Matt.19:28; Luke22:30; Rev.20:4. The foundation is the "first" channel of the truth, after the "cornerstone" Christ. (1Cor.12:28). The twelve determine where Holy Spirit goes after being provided through them.

To be "bound", is to be restrained from the way of life (John20:23; Matt.22:13; 12:29; 13:30; Rev.20:2). All are already "bound" by Satan (1John5:19; 3:8; Heb.2:14). Those "bound" by the apostles, would remain so (2Cor.2:15,16). In this case, the apostles would identify those who have held back from them, the spiritual blessings of heaven (1John4:6; 2Cor.4:3). These abandoned ones would remain veiled, having spirit and Truth withheld from them (Luke 8:18; 1Cor.3:18), and would certainly not become sealed into a tribe of spiritual "Israel" (Luke13:24; Matt.7:14; Rev.3:11).
To be "loosed" and "taken along" (Matt.24:40,41,28; Luke17:35,37; Job 39:30,27,28; Rev.12:14), is to enter the feast of knowledge and understanding provided by God and Christ, and offered through the 12 tribe patriarchs of spiritual Israel and Christ's prophets. (Eph.2:20; Luke4:6; John1:14; 1Cor.15:57; 2Tim.1:10; Luke12:37; Isa.65:13)

Interestingly, the ones we may considered sealed as faithful, are the ones that we may consider "bound". But it is actually the opposite according to scripture.
It is true that those sealed while on earth, will be sealed in the heavens. But as it turns out, these are not the ones "bound", but these sealed, are the ones who are "loosed"
(John8:31-32; Gal.4:26; Gal.1:4; Matt.18:18; Luke4:18; Gal.5:1)

The apostles have 12 unique thrones in comparison to the thrones of the rest of the 144000. They are the foundation of the Holy City, given thrones to judge those sealed in the heavens (Matt.10:5,6; Eph.1:13; Col.1:5). Whoever they "loose" from the earth, will be loosed in the heavens (Rev.12:5).
What does it mean to be "loosed"? (John11:44)
All are captive to Satan's deceptions.....
captives of his abyss of lies and it's resulting death.
Only through the ransom and a "loosing" from those lies,
can anyone hope to be saved (Luke4:18; Isa.49:9; 61:1; John9:39; Rev.13:10; 9:14). That release depends upon the insight Holy Spirit grants.
But as we can see, the 12 apostles have a part in judging which Chosen ones receive it (Matt.18:18).
They determine who is "bound" and who is "loosed",
helping the master Christ to "reap" the harvest, gathering the "wheat", and "binding" the "weeds" for burning (Joel 2:5; Matt.24:16; Isa.5:24; 30:30; Luke12:49; Heb.12:29).

John4:36,37,38; James 5:4; Jer.9:22; Amos 9:13; 2Cor.9:6; Matt.9:37,38; Mark4:29; John4:35 all reveal that the anointed take part in "reaping" the harvest. How?
By preaching. 
However those who listen to the message respond to the truth offered, determines how the hearers are segregated (John13:20; Luke10:16; Matt.10:14-15). This includes the response of Chosen ones, to the message of the apostles and prophets (Eph.2:20; 1Cor.3:10). Both groups are the "foundation" because the apostles have made the permanent record of Biblical truth, and the true prophets help to reveal it's meaning and application at the right time. Both sources of truth must be accepted and received by those who are "grafted in" to the Temple of living stones. This "foundation" are the reapers of the anointed.
    Yet all anointed priests of truth, are reapers of all lovers of truth, as long as they help to gather according to revealed truth (Mal.2:7). In this way, all reapers help Christ, in gathering in those disposed for everlasting life (Luke11:23; 1John4:6; John8:43,47; 5:24; Matt.10:40,41; John13:20). This is how they are "reapers" of a "harvest".
If what they preach is not Truth, they "scatter" Christ's harvest to the winds 
(Eph.4:14; James 1:6; Jude 1:12; Matt.12:30).

Now it is important to learn something else from this.

Jesus also said, that his anointed reapers, were "angels". (Matt.13:39; Rev.14:15,19)
It is important to know, that the "angels" in the book of Revelation, are a symbol for anointed ones. The assignments and experiences of these "angels" are prophecies that apply especially to the remnant of  Chosen ones. (Angel means "messenger")
Rev.1:20 defines the "angels" as meaning "stars". These stars are also faithful anointed ones -- Dan.12:3; Phil.2:15.
You may have previously been taught that the "angels"/messengers in the book of Revelation are spirit creatures born in heaven, and that "stars" are Congregational Elders (or fallen angels/demons);
but the scriptural interpretation, is that they are BOTH the same identity-- anointed ones. The "stars" ARE the "angels". (Rev.1:20) (Link: who-are-fallen-stars-of-rev12:4.html)
With this new perspective in mind,
you may want to reconsider Rev.1:20; 2:1; 5:2; 7:2; 8:3,4,5,7,8,10,12,13; 9:1,13,14; 12:7; 14:6,8,9,15,17,18,19; 16:2,3,4,5,8,10,12,17; 21:17; 22:8,9.
Remembering that angel means messenger; Christ and Satan are also "messengers", and are also called "angels" in Revelation. (Rev.9:11; Isa.33:1) (John12:49; Rev.20:1-2).
    - who-is-destroyer?.html
Holy ones will judge the world, including each other, (1Cor.6:2,3) by their faithful witness and testimony to truth. As it was with Noah; obedient, loyal service for truth will condemn the unfaithful (Heb.11:7; Matt.12:37). Only those anointed who teach according to the apostles and prophets will be "loosed" from lies, and "acquitted" of the death that results from them. (Matt.12:36; Prov.18:21) Those lacking humility will find an un-scriptural reason to reject the Truth, refuse to listen to it's ignoble messengers, and perish as a result (1Cor.3:10,12; Mal.3:2; Dan.11:35; Rev.3:18; 16:15,9; 1Pet.1:7; Jer.5:3,4; 1Cor.1:27)

When we read Rev.7:4 and Matt.19:28;
perhaps we can think about the role of the apostles in determining
which anointed are deserving, and granted continued insight by Holy Spirit to aid them in becoming sealed. This is done impartially, with no regard to race or gender 
(Gal.3:28,26; Rom.2:28,29; Acts 2:16,17,18; 1Cor.12:11,18; Eph.4:7; Heb.2:4)
Only the twelve sit on these "12 thrones" to judge their fellow anointed to follow them.
In this way, they hold "the keys to the Kingdom". They preside over the 12 entry gates (Rev.21:12) to that Holy City.

You may also wish to consider, who today, have stolen this apostolic right to judge the anointed, (perhaps even deeming them worthy of beating and a condemnation of death), taking that right from the 12 apostles. (Rom.8:33; Isa.50:8; 2Pet.2:10; Jude 1:8,16,18)

2Thess.2:1,2; Luke12:45,46; Isa.66:5; Rev.11:7; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 22:19

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1 comment:

  1. Thanks for all your hard work ! I have to read it a few times but in the end,its worth the effort. Jah be with you !

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