Heavens - Earth - Sea | The Authority of Christ

At Matt.28:18, Jesus said; 
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.".

"And God subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head **over everything for the church**, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph.2:22-23). 
(1Cor. 3:16;  1Pet. 2:5;  1Cor. 12:17)
The heaven and earth over which Jesus has received authority, are symbolic and not physical. Heaven and earth, are not the sea, which is also symbolic. The symbolic sea is the realm of Satan (Isa.57:20).
Earth, comes from the Greek word "Gae", which more accurately means "land".. an owned plot of land... a homeland. 
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g1093
God has such a "field under cultivation" where he makes his home, such as referred to in Rev.10:2;  1Cor. 3:9; Luke 8:15 and John 15:1; 14:23.

The heaven and earth are being sorted, into a heaven and earth that will pass away, or a new heavens and earth, that will remain forever... depending upon a choice of faithfulness or unfaithfulness (2Pet. 3:7,13). The heavens are where God is king... his throne. The earth is his footstool... willing subjects to God's authority (Acts 7:49).
Neither the heaven nor earth, are the sea belonging to Satan (Isa.27:1; 57:20), which will fully pass away (Rev.21:1; Ps.37:10).

The point of these scriptures, is that the dominion of God and Christ, are not the dominion of Satan. The physical world is not what the Bible is talking about, when it speaks in symbolic terms of the heavens, earth, and sea.
Jesus was given authority as a king when on earth, just as he stated at Matt.28:18. He rules until all the unfaithful disciples, who have made themselves enemies of Christ, are subdued under his feet..... (Luke 22:69; Ps.110:2;  1Cor. 15:25)
.....through the clouds of heaven/Zion (Heb.12:1; Matt.26:64; Jude 1:14; Ps.110:2; Rev.2:26-27; Jer.51:20; Hosea 6:5).
The physical creation has been made subject to Satan (Luke 4:6; John 19:11).

All the chosen ones, who choose to imitate Satan, are twice dead, having chosen the Destroyer again as their father, inheriting sin and second death. 
Those who imitate and follow the example and path of Jesus, are given a new birth, a spiritual one. They are born again of spirit and endure in faithfulness, to receive righteousness and life. 
Those two groups are the ones over which, Jesus has been given authority... not over Satan's fallen creation. Those rightly disposed for everlasting life, are being gathered into the storehouse of Jesus Christ. The rest are condemned by the "fire" of God's word of judgment (Jer.23:29; 5:14; Rev.11:3,5; 20:9;  2Pet. 3:7). 
The unfaithful are abandoned, to the sin and death they have chosen, and the dominion of the one who holds the power of death within his dominion (Heb.2:14).

Armageddon is the conclusion of this sorting harvest. Those under the authority of Christ who belong to heaven.....
(Eph.2:6; Heb.12:22-23; Luke 10:20; Rev.17:14; 19:14,8) 
.....battle at his side, against the agents of falsehood (1Tim. 4:1; Rev.16:13-16; 17:14; 12:10-11;  2Cor. 10:3-5)

So yes... all authority in "heaven" and on "earth" is given to Christ, to discipline, refine, teach, and judge as faithful, or not (Mark 13:33-37; Matt.25:14-15; 12:36; Rom.2:6-8; John 12:48). 

All Jesus slaves (the heavens and earth), have a day of accounting with him. The unfaithful "heavens" and "earth", will burn up with "fire". The faithful heavens will remain forever... and the "sea" will be no more. But to really understand what Matt.28:18 means, we must have spiritual discernment according to interpretation by scripture.
For more information about the symbolic meaning of earth:
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2014/07/world-earth-home.html

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Who is the Destroyer ?

A QUESTION:

After reading the post on Armageddon...(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2018/01/armageddon.html), 
...it does make sense that Armageddon would be symbolic, which is in keeping with our loving creator. However when discussing this with the family today, we wondered about times in the Hebrew Scriptures when God caused the destruction of many men, women and children, such as the flood, the final plague on the Egyptian's firstborn, Sodom and Gomorrah as well as all the Israelite wars against enemy nations while settling the promised land etc. How are we to reconcile these events?
-  -  -  -  -  -  -
MY REPLY:

Please consider what happened in Eden, because there we learn how God handles sin. Did God kill Adam and Eve? No. But He did warn them, that death would be the result of their wrong choice. How would that death come about? Well, first, they would choose to make Satan their father and god. How did that happen? We are told in the Bible, that we are slaves to whatever we obey (Rom.6:16-17)----

"16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance."

How does this scripture apply to what happened in Eden? When Adam and Eve turned to Satan for guidance, and obeyed that guidance, they became Satan's obedient slaves, much as a child would obey his father. By eating fruit from a forbidden source, they left off taking their guidance (and obedience) from God as their father. They became children of sin and death (John 8:34; Rom.5:12). How? Satan, is the father of both, sin and death (Heb.2:14; John 8:44; Rev.9:11; Isa.33:1). 

If we become his children, we come under his dominion of both, sin and death. Rom.6:17 quoted above, tells us that when we loyally obey the "pattern of teaching" from God, we become His slaves, we are granted righteousness and life, rather than being slaves to sin and death.

Can you see from all this, that our choice to imitate and obey Satan as father, results in being under the power of his dominion (much as a child put into a household under Satan)? When under Satanic authority, we are subject to his decisions. What befalls those under Satanic authority and dominion? Do you see from the Bible, that the consignment and destination of those belonging to Satan, is destruction and death?
God cannot righteously protect and defend... those who have chosen of their own free will, to disobey God as Father... and have chosen Satan... the provider and enticer of deceptive and corrupt desires, that end in death (James 1:13,14,15; Gal.6:7).

If so, then we can return to your questions....
God is ultimately responsible for universal justice. Under that righteous umbrella of divine justice, God either chooses to act, or to not act... to protect, or not protect, to guard against the wicked one, or to surrender to the wicked one. 
Whatever God's decision, it always respects our free will, just as in Eden. But after we have chosen our god and father, it is a righteous part of God's justice that we do, reap what we sow. We cannot change our mind, after we have "eaten the fruit" and acted out our sin.

As we learned by the accounts of Job and Jesus, even righteous ones can be subjected to Satanic test, and suffer his cruelty. But after proving loyal and faithful to God, God is justified in limiting what Satan can do. Not so, with those who have chosen Satan as father, who have rejected God's grace and guidance. In doing so, they have also forfeited God's protection.

So now, what of executions of death, that resulted from God's justice in BIble history? Did God deviate from what we have learned in the foregoing scriptures? Was it God Himself, that caused the deaths of the wicked?
There are two ways of answering this question.
Since God is the One who ultimately decides, what He allows to happen, then I suppose with that viewpoint... God is responsible for everything, isn't He? 
But if we concur with God's righteous sense of Justice... we accept that some of the things God allows to befall the wicked, who have exercised their free will to choose rebellion, are deserved, and that it is an exercise of God's righteousness, in allowing them to reap what they have sown.

Again... what of Bible history, and it's accounts of the executions of the wicked. Was it God allowing people to reap destruction from their chosen father?... or was it God, robbing Satan of his children.... taking Satan's children away from Satan, and then killing them?

I will use, one of your chosen examples to shed light on the answer to that question... that of the execution of the firstborn in Egypt. ---

God told His people His decision. See if you agree that it was Justice. 
God told His people, that if any desired God's protection, that they should paint the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. 
As God said... 
"13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (Ex.12:13)
Although at the end of that verse, it sounds like God is doing the "striking"/destroying, could this mean that it is God, who is merely responsible for, allowing it?
Go down to verse 23---
"23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and **He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.**"
We learn from verse 23, that God is setting a limit, based upon a household's obedience to God's instructions. Do you see that? 
Do you see, that it is "the destroyer" that enters a disobedient house, and does the "striking down"? 
Do you see God's justice at work... and do you see the Devil at work? 
It is crucial, that we discern the distinction between the works of God (protector of the obedient) and the works of the Devil (to destroy the unprotected).

God is candid and forthcoming. He does not shrink from His part, and often takes credit for the destruction of the wicked, ---because it is God who exercises His justice and power, when He decides in all righteousness, what each person should reap. He makes certain, that we reap what we have sown. His righteous justice will always dominate, because He is, a God of righteous justice, and deserves to be credited and praised for being such. 

Yet God does not take pleasure in either sin, bad consequences, or death. He desires that we desist from doing bad, and secure for ourselves a better outcome. 

(Gen.4:7; 2Pet.3:9; Eze.33:11; Isa.1:16,17,18,19,20; Jonah 3:8-9; Jer.26:13) (https://pearl-copingwithsin.blogspot.com)

To know God, is to understand His justice, and not to ascribe to Him or Jesus Christ the works of the Devil. Neither God nor Jesus, are murderers. They are Judges, and for this reason, we rightly fear them, and strive to gain their approval. If we abandon them as Fathers, we deserve the treatment meted out by the Destroyer... 
(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/11/who-is-destroyer.html)
...whose dominion and household, we freely chose.
"7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. 8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Gal.6:7-8).
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
I am confident that you would benefit from reading this post:
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/08/two-trees.html
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Who is the False Prophet who gives breath to the image of the Beast ?

From Rev.19:20...
"The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image."
What signs did the false prophet perform, on the Beasts' behalf?
Rev.13:14-17 tells us...
"14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to ***set up an image*** in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to ***give breath to the image of the first beast***, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name."

The false prophet orders the inhabitants of the earth, to set up an idol that represents the beast. It "gives breath" to that image, so that the Beast can execute, any who refuse to worship its' image. Consequently, other symbolic restraints are also imposed and enforced.
How does the Bible itself interpret the meaning of giving the Image/Idol of the Beast, "breath"? 
John 20:21-23 tells us:
"21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

In the Bible, the word for breath is "pneuma" (Greek) and "ruach" (Hebrew). The same words are also defined as "spirit" (Gen.2:7; John 6:63).
Receiving breath, is receiving spirit... being sent forth by Christ (John 20:21; 13:20), and being given the power to judge... to forgive (or not forgive) sins (John 20:23;  1Cor. 6:1-3; Matt.18:18). 

Now that we understand the meaning of receiving breath/spirit, and the authority it bestows, let's consider an evil counterfeit of this.

Rev.13:15 reads;

"He (false prophet -Rev.13:11; 19:20) was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." (power to judge/condemn to death)

Do we see any "Beast"... any identity or group, being imbued with an image of such authority, by a false prophet?
At John 20:21-23, we saw that Jesus gave spiritual authority and power, to his anointed chosen priests (Luke 10:19; Mal.2:7; Rev.1:5-6; 5:9-10;  1Pet. 2:5). But who is it that actually appears to be authorized to exercise the authority and power of God's priesthood, today... even over the anointed Chosen? 

What image today, seems "spirit-directed" and as a result, the tangible representatives and enforcers of worship toward that image, can pass the judgment of spiritual life or death/forgive or not forgive sin...
(over those who refuse to accept that image as being spirit-directed), 
...even over the chosen ones? (2Thess. 2:4; Mark 13:14; John 16:2)
(Rom.2:28-29; Rev.2:9)

At Rev.13:7, we are also told, that this alliance between the false prophet and it's Beast, "conquers the holy ones". (Rev.13:10; Luke 21:24; Dan.8:12; Rev.11:2; Matt.5:13).
(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/09/trample-how-does-it-happen.html)

 Rev.13:15

Are you awake to recognizing the fulfillment of this prophecy?
It is in plain site, among "Jehovah's Witnesses".

I do hope that those interested, will learn more about Rev.13:14-17. The Bible's own interpretation of those verses are shocking to those under the influence of the harlots wine/wormwood. 
Please, use the search box for any questions that arise.

Any reader is also most welcomed to contact me with questions. There is a contact form on the right side column of this page.
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The Living Idol

From Rev.19:20...
 "The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image."
What signs did the false prophet perform, on the Beasts' behalf?
Rev.13:14-17 tells us...
"14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to ***set up an image*** in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to ***give breath to the image of the first beast***, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image, to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, (Mark-of-Beast) 17 so that they could not buy or sell (Buying-and-Selling) unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number (666) of its name."

The false prophet orders the inhabitants of the earth, to set up an idol that represents the beast. It "gives breath" to that image, so that the Beast can execute, any who refuse to worship its' image. Consequently,  other symbolic restraints are also imposed and enforced.
How does the Bible itself interpret the meaning, of giving the Image/Idol of the Beast, "breath"? 
John 20:21,22,23 tells us:
"21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Receiving breath, is receiving spirit. Those to whom Jesus gives holy spirit, are being sent forth to work for Christ, and are given the power to forgive (or not forgive) sins. 
At Rev.13:7, we are also told, that this alliance between the false prophet and it's Beast, "conquers the holy ones".

Do we see any "Beast"... any identity or group, whose image is being imbued with a facade of spirit-authority and power, by a false prophet?
At John 20:21,22,23, we saw that Jesus gave holy spirit to his anointed chosen ones, bestowing on them a commission to teach truth, and authority over the forgiveness of sin 

(John 20:23;  1Cor.6:2,3; Matt.18:18). 
But who is it that is actually exercising that authority and power today... even over the anointed Chosen? 
What image today, by declaration of a prophet, seems "spirit-directed", and as a result, the tangible representatives and enforcers of worship toward that image, can pass the judgment of spiritual life or death...
     (over those who refuse to accept that image as being spirit-directed), 
...even over the chosen ones? 

(Dan.8:11,12,24; 11:33; Luke 21:24; Rev.13:10,7;  1Cor.3:16;  2Thess.2:4; Dan.11:36,37,34; Mark 13:14)
(FLEE search results)
(https://pearl-disgustingthing.blogspot.com)
(trample-how-does-it-happen?)
(the-greatest-tribulation-why?)

I do hope that those interested, will learn more about Rev.13:14,15,16,17. The Bible's own interpretation of those verses are shocking, and fulfillment of  the details of that interpretation, are in plain sight. Please, consider the links in this post, use the search box, as well as the list of articles at the top-right of this page. There are also articles in my profile (just click on my name).

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