From: Marilyn Agee
Hi:
I understand what you are saying. We can use the word foundation in other ways than the foundation which is Christ.
Luk_6:48,49 says, "He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
OR:
1Co_10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
1Co_3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Eph_2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone".
> on March the 17th, during my ‘journal time’ with the Lord’, He made the > following statement that relates to this subject. “A spiritual > confrontation is about to begin on the earth. Satan has lost the > heavenly confrontation (has been defeated by the archangel Michael) and > will be cast down in order to make his ‘last stand’ in the earth. Here > too, he will fail and will be cast into ‘the pit’ for 1,000 years.”
I sure am glad to hear that Satan has already lost the war in Heaven. When he is cast out, we will probably go up. Do you think we will be given the jobs the fallen angels held? We will probably need some training.
I just looked up the use of the word adoption. Here are the verses. We are sons of God by adoption. The angels are sons of God by creation."
Rom_8:15 says, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Rom_8:23 says, "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body."
Rom_9:4 says, "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the ADOPTION, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises".
Gal_4:5 says, "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the ADOPTION of sons."
Eph_1:5 says, "Having predestinated us unto the ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"
> Here is the crux of my viewpoint concerning these “sons of God”.
> “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for THE REVEALING > of THE SONS OF GOD” (Romans 8:19).
> “And not only this, but also we ourselves, have the first fruits of the > Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for > our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8: 23).
> Who are these sons of God that creation eagerly awaits? These are the > sons of God, those first-fruits, fully redeemed (spirit, soul and body) > saints of God that have been changed and caught up to the throne in the > first-fruits rapture. They are become full-fledged members of the Church > of the First Born - the Church without spot or wrinkle. They are the > Bride of Christ and represent the first fruits to come into the image of > Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, 4:10, 11). These redeemed sons of God (sent by God) > will appear (be revealed) in order to prepare those who were left behind > for the coming ‘main harvest’ rapture of the Body of Christ. Along with > other assignments, they will help them overcome and ‘successfully > navigate The Judgment Seat of Christ whereby they can receive their > inheritance and rewards. Those who may have missed being taken at the > rapture of the Bride will be given a second chance. God is good!
> As one puts it; “As Jesus multiplied His anointing through His apostolic > witnesses, so these (fully) redeemed sons of God will appear as end-time > witnesses to miraculously restore the light of the Church. The Bride of > Christ, arising and shining, is the beginning of Jesus’ return to rule > and reign in the earth during this new millennium”.
Here are all the places "sons of God" appear in the Bible:
Gen_6:2 says, "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."
Gen_6:4 says, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. "
Job_1:6 says, "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."
Job_2:1 says, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD."
Job_38:7 says, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
I sure like this one:
Joh_1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name".
Rom_8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Rom_8:19 says, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
Php_2:15 says, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world".
1Jn_3:1 says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
1Jn_3:2 says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is".
> Studies show that a large percentage of Pastor/Preachers today no > longer believe in the virgin birth!!
That's scary. I wonder how in the world they could preach the Bible and not believe in the virgin birth.
> Who are these sons of God that creation eagerly awaits? These are the > sons of God, those first-fruits, fully redeemed (spirit, soul and body) > saints of God that have been changed and caught up to the throne in the > first-fruits rapture. They are become full-fledged members of the Church > of the First Born - the Church without spot or wrinkle. They are the > Bride of Christ and represent the first fruits to come into the image of > Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, 4:10, 11). These redeemed sons of God (sent by God) > will appear (be revealed) in order to prepare those who were left behind > for the coming ‘main harvest’ rapture of the Body of Christ. Along with > other assignments, they will help them overcome and ‘successfully > navigate The Judgment Seat of Christ whereby they can receive their > inheritance and rewards. Those who may have missed being taken at the > rapture of the Bride will be given a second chance. God is good!
I'm glad you can see that there are two Raptures, "the firstfruits rapture" and the "main harvest Rapture."
I call them the First-Trump Rapture and the Last-Trump Rapture, but your names are good ones.
> As well, millions of believers have been ‘left in the dark’ with respect > to the rapture and what is to come…. and could be left behind as a > result. Teaching about the rapture and end-time events is “spotty at > best” among the Churches.
I know this to be true. Ed and I went to a certain church when we were trying to find a church in Riverside to join. I called the Pastor and asked him what he thought about the Rapture. He said, "I don't teach the Rapture", so I don't go to his church. Sometimes, people shy away from the Rapture, because they don't want to be wrong. That's ok. They don't have to set dates, just teach that there is a Rapture coming, so prepare yourselves in case it comes tomorrow. Get ready and stay ready at all times.
> All of the things mentioned in the previous two paragraphs tend to > weaken the foundation upon which the Church rests. Some of these things > represent minor damage to the foundation but taken together they > represent a "broken foundation".
I understand what you mean, but I feel uneasy if the word "foundation" is used. The following has to do with our judgment. I don't want to cause it to be misunderstood. As it is, it seems point blank.
1Co_3:10-17 says, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU? 17 IF ANY MAN DEFILE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, HIM SHALL GOD DESTROY, FOR THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS HOLY, WHICH TEMPLE YE ARE."
> Oh man, I have way overcompensated with my policy of being brief, with > this post. I’ll try not to be so ‘wordy’ in the future. I thank those > who have patient enough to ‘wade their way through this post’
Don't worry about being wordy. Some things require more words and some things require less. Let them fall where they may.
> “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow > citizens with the saints and are of God’s household, having been built > upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself > being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted > together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are > being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2: > 19-22).
This gives us more leeway. Thanks for giving me your views on this.
Agape,
Marilyn Agee
mjagee@verizon.net
prophecycorner.theforeverfamily.com
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Dear Marilyn – I appreciate your point of view and your willingness to respond.
The ‘post’ that I wrote about under the heading of “The Temple Must be Rebuilt” that appeared on the ‘Doves” on 5/21 included subjects that are quite extensive. I normally try to communicate as much as possible in as few words as possible. Obviously, I erred in my judgment in attempting to express my viewpoint while trying to be brief. Please allow me to try again. The two main points of my post deal with “the appearing of the sons of God” and “the broken foundation”.
The sons of God that I am referring to are not angels…fallen or otherwise. Let me try to identify them.
These are those who have put to death the deeds of the body and are being led by the Spirit of God. They are known as; the sanctified ones, the over comers, the wise virgins, the faithful and true, the called and chosen…the joint heirs of Christ and The Bride of Christ, along with other identifiers. You will please note the following:
“So then brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8: 12, 14).
“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.” “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called the sons of “The Living God” (Romans 9: 25, 26)
“He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be His God, and he will be My Son” Revelation 21:7).
Here is the crux of my viewpoint concerning these “sons of God”.
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for THE REVEALING of THE SONS OF GOD” (Romans 8:19).
“And not only this, but also we ourselves, have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8: 23).
Who are these sons of God that creation eagerly awaits? These are the sons of God, those first-fruits, fully redeemed (spirit, soul and body) saints of God that have been changed and caught up to the throne in the first-fruits rapture. They are become full-fledged members of the Church of the First Born - the Church without spot or wrinkle. They are the Bride of Christ and represent the first fruits to come into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, 4:10, 11). These redeemed sons of God (sent by God) will appear (be revealed) in order to prepare those who were left behind for the coming ‘main harvest’ rapture of the Body of Christ. Along with other assignments, they will help them overcome and ‘successfully navigate The Judgment Seat of Christ whereby they can receive their inheritance and rewards. Those who may have missed being taken at the rapture of the Bride will be given a second chance. God is good!
As one puts it; “As Jesus multiplied His anointing through His apostolic witnesses, so these (fully) redeemed sons of God will appear as end-time witnesses to miraculously restore the light of the Church. The Bride of Christ, arising and shining, is the beginning of Jesus’ return to rule and reign in the earth during this new millennium”.
Now, as to the subject of ‘the broken foundation’, I said in my post, “The temple (the body of Christ) must be rebuilt because the foundation is broken and the temple is therefore of alignment.” You replied, “The foundation of the Church, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, is not out of alignment.” However, I maintain that the foundation represents the ‘belief system’ upon which the temple is built. Let’s look at it.
We live in the time of the (Laocidea) Church, about which Jesus said “you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Regarding the (Thyatira) world-wide apostate Church, Jesus said, “You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” The (Sardis Church), about which Jesus said, “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
As if this were not enough, we have numerous ‘cult churches’ throughout the world. Taken together, the totality of this represents a very large percentage of the Christian world of today!
In addition, we have denominations that have (essentially) done away with the five-fold ministry and who have maintained that the gifts of the spirit were done away with after the 1st century Church. Studies show that a large percentage of Pastor/Preachers today no longer believe in the virgin birth!! As well, millions of believers have been ‘left in the dark’ with respect to the rapture and what is to come…. and could be left behind as a result. Teaching about the rapture and end-time events is “spotty at best” among the Churches. Finally, much (if not all) of this speaks to the source causing the fate of the “unwise virgins” who were ‘left behind’ because they were unprepared. I could go on and on (and I’m sure that you could add to the list as well) but I think that I have made the point. Something is very wrong and many who ‘sit on the pews’ every week know it, even though they may not necessarily understand the cause.
All of the things mentioned in the previous two paragraphs tend to weaken the foundation upon which the Church rests. Some of these things represent minor damage to the foundation but taken together they represent a “broken foundation”. The question becomes; what caused this? Although Satan has had a ‘heavy hand’ in this misguided effort, I believe that man’s desire to maintain control by doing things his way is part of the problem as well. Again, I’m reminded of the following verse of scripture that seem to describe this ‘state of affairs’ quite well:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is destruction” (Proverbs 14:12) and,
“Enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it” (Matthew 7:13).
All of this reminds me of the parable that Jesus spoke that ‘speaks’ to the necessity of building on a good foundation.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.
And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell and great was its fall” (Matthew 7: 24-27).
Marilyn, allow me to add another verse of scripture to the good one you quoted in your response. Paul the apostle, speaking to the saints at Ephesus and to the saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus, said the following:
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2: 19-22).
In summary (whew finally), I am in not inferring that the foundation Jesus laid, through the Apostles and Prophets, is broken. If I left that impression I apologize. What I am saying is that over the centuries some have abandoned ‘the ‘building blueprints’ that the apostles and prophets gave us and ended up building the house “on sand” instead of on “the rock”. This has resulted in a ‘broken foundation’ and ‘temples’ that, as a result, are ‘out of alignment’. Since we are the temples of the Holy Spirit and the condition of this “temple” is determined by the condition of the underlying foundation (what we believe or what we’ve been led to believe); it is of utmost importance that know that the house was built “on the rock” and not on the sand. If our foundation was built on “sand” (even if done unknowingly) we are out of alignment and therefore “out of the will of God”. We are in alignment when we are “in the will of God”.
Despite this, I am very optimistic because all of this ties together with (what I think) is God’s plan to send the “sons of God” to rebuild and restore “the temple”. These are the modern-day Zerrubbabels and Joshuas sent by God to restore and rebuild the temple. I think that time for this is come upon us. We’ll see!
The Lord has shared with me (as far back as 2001) that He is raising up an army that He Himself is training; that I believe to be “the sons of God’ that the creation eagerly awaits”. They will come as eye witnesses of heaven and with a kingdom message accompanied by powerful signs and wonders. Many of these will be unknown people in the Body of Christ that God has been preparing for years and who have been “hidden away” until the set-time of release. (Just an added thought; He is not likely to use those who have been ‘part of the demise’ in these end-time ministry assignments).
Look, this is only my personal viewpoint. It is not gospel per se. I am not trying to persuade anyone to agree with my view but merely posting to those who might have an interest in such things. Confirmation is the work of the Holy Spirit. If anything about this is true, He will give witness to it. If not, He will not and I will stand corrected, and will say so.
I apologize, Marilyn, for my initial post since it was way to brief to ‘tackle’ a subject as extensive as this. I can easily see how you could have misunderstood my intent. I should have known better. By the way, I agree with your viewpoint with respect to Satan being evicted (cast down) from his heavenly position of power over the earth, along with his accomplices, as it relates to the timing of the first trump rapture of the faithful. I might add that on March the 17th, during my ‘journal time’ with the Lord’, He made the following statement that relates to this subject. “A spiritual confrontation is about to begin on the earth. Satan has lost the heavenly confrontation (has been defeated by the archangel Michael) and will be cast down in order to make his ‘last stand’ in the earth. Here too, he will fail and will be cast into ‘the pit’ for 1,000 years.”
Oh man, I have way overcompensated with my policy of being brief, with this post. I’ll try not to be so ‘wordy’ in the future. I thank those who have patient enough to ‘wade their way through this post’…and thank you John. I appreciate your faithfulness to God. Tyler Cole