

Watchmen on the Walls

By Tiaan Gildenhuys

Copyright 2013 Tiaan Gildenhuys

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Prologue: A letter to Father...

1. Introduction

2. Watchman on the walls

2.1. My personal instruction

2.2. Watchmen must warn of the motions of the enemy

2.3. Watchmen must display Godly fruits

3. Prepare the way

3.1. Wake up world!

3.2. Man was made to rule!

3.3. God wants a conquering people

4. Seek the truth

4.1. There is only one truth

4.2. The elect must beware

4.3. Do what Jesus did

4.4. Christians against Christians

5. The kingdom of God

5.1. The heaven of heaven

5.2. See the kingdom, enter the kingdom

5.3. Jesus preached the kingdom

5.4. Jesus instructed His disciples

5.5. Raise the dead

5.6. Seek and change

5.7. Rich man in the kingdom

5.8. The kingdom and iniquities

5.9. Where is the kingdom?

5.10. The key to the kingdom

5.11. The kingdom makes sense

5.12. The kingdom and the sower

5.13. What about heaven and hell then?

6. Time is running out for the world

6.1. The political Babylon

6.2. The religious Babylon

7. There is work to do

8. The promise of Israel

8.1. Gentiles may be spiritual Jews

8.2. But what about the real Jews?

9. Warn the people!

9.1. Playtime is over!

9.2. The righteous must also be warned

About the author

Prologue: A letter to Father...

Father God... Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, my spirit soars to You! Like an eagle! Soaring ever higher, and higher, on to Your throne room! My spirit longs for You, oh Lord, my body longs for You, my soul longs for You. Every fibre in my being calls out to You. Oh what joy it must be to bow and worship before Your mighty throne in all eternity! As the song says Father, I can only imagine what it will be like to stand before You for the first time... Will I stand? Will I kneel? Will I fall flat on my face? Will I shout? Will I sing? Will I jump for joy? Will I shout hallelujah? I can only imagine... But I can't wait for that day, Father. To experience Your glory, Your love, Your compassion firsthand. For ever...

Oh wow Father! How can any man, woman or child not want to know more about You? How can anyone NOT want to be in Your awesome glory for all eternity? How can anyone take the CHANCE that there is no such thing as heaven or hell? How can anyone not want to choose the best that creation and the Creator can offer? I know I have made my choice Father and I don't have to doubt about You and me anymore. EVER. Until such time as I may see and enter the gates of heaven myself, teach me to fly Father, teach me to soar higher and even higher on Your Ruach ha Kodesh wind – Holy Spirit wind! Teach me to look into Your eyes of fire, eyes of love, eyes of jasper, eyes of sardis, eyes of crystal, eyes of pulsating LIFE in normal everyday circumstances. Draw me ever closer into Yourself Father, because Your Word says You are IN me and I am IN You.

Please teach me more! There is so much more to know about You Father, how can we ever THINK to know enough? Everything here on earth is so temporary Father, while with You everything is eternal, true, beautiful and everlasting. The golden streets that await us will most assuredly not be cold and hard, the way we know gold here on earth. I believe they will be soft, like marshmallows, but that they will still shine with a glow that no human words can ever express. Warmth, goodness, holiness will fold around our ankles when we dance and walk, and skip, and romp around heaven on those heavenly streets.

Lord, teach me to soar ever higher in the place that You choose to use me, while still here on earth. To do everything I do, as if for You and not for man. If nobody else wants to know more about You Lord, I DO! You are no respecter of persons Lord, Your Word is clear about that. Teach me to see all people as equal too, just like You do. Please give me Your burden for lost souls Father, and teach me to WANT to be more and more like Jesus. Teach me the finest trade skills of Your watchmen Lord, so that I can make Your heart pound with pride for me. So that I can walk into heaven to the ring of the words: "Welcome, good and faithful servant, enter into the righteousness of your Lord!" Oh, Father... Father... Father of the poor, the homeless, the needy, the sick, the dying, the lonely. Father! Show us Your face Lord!

Teach me to teach Your Words to Your people Father, warning them of the motions of the enemy, and turning their hearts back to You. Teach me to turn the hearts of the fathers and mothers back to their children, and the hearts of the children back to their fathers and mothers. But I know Lord, that this can only happen if we teach both the parents and the children to first turn their hearts to YOU! I also know this can only happen when the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. Please Holy Spirit, convince Your children of their sins, of Your righteousness and the righteousness they can also live in, and of pending judgment, so that they may TURN AWAY from sin! Lock the gates of hell for Your children Lord! You have the keys Lord Jesus, please don't allow any single one of Your children to be pulled into destruction by the enemy anymore! Give me more of Your heart Lord, give me more of Your heart... Please Lord teach me more!

With this book I am standing in the gap for Your children Father! I am standing in the gap for Pretoria, for South Africa, for the WORLD! Even though they may kill me through lack of knowledge about Your goodness, still I cry out to You for their lives Father! Still I cry like Jesus: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!" Forgive ME Father, where I may still sin against anybody in any thought, word or deed. Show me the error of my ways Lord, so that I may repent and turn AWAY from sin!

Lord! Oh Lord, I'm calling out to You, please hear my plea! Touch me Lord, please touch me! Open my wings so that I may soar higher and even higher. Like Moses, I want to see Your face Lord, I want to speak to You face to face as with a friend, for that is what You are Father, the best friend anyone may ever have. Teach me to be HOLY Father! Your Word says that I must be holy, for You are holy. I believe it is possible for us to be so holy Father, as You would not have allowed those words to be written into the Bible if they were not true. Holiness! Holiness! Holiness! You are holy, holy, holy Lord!

Father, I glorify Your Holy Name! I exalt Your massive worth! Your kingdom shall reign for ever and ever Lord, and thank You for the wonderful privilege to be able to share that kingdom with You, for ever and ever, starting here on earth already. Lord Jesus, there is NONE like You. You are the most High God, You are the ONLY God, you are everything in my life Lord. Everything I have, I give back to You, as they were only loaned to me by Yourself in the first place. I can't get enough of You, and of a personal intimate relationship with You Lord. I so want to experience Your glorious holiness and presence on a day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute basis Lord! I cry out to You Lord Jesus, make me more and more like You! There must be less and less of me and more and more of You.

Thank You for my LIFE Father, thank You for my wife's life and thank You for my children's lives – all hidden IN Christ and IN You! I glorify Your Holy Name! I know there will be a day that we will all walk over into Your eternal glorious light Father. It will not be the end of anything, but really the beginning of eternal GLORIOUS LIFE!

This book I write for You Father, I dedicate it all to You, because I am so thankful for every little thing You do, and have done, for me. Thank You for the knowledge, Your revelations and spiritual wisdom that You are so willing to teach to each and every one of Your children – if we are just willing to shut up, be still and listen. Most of all I am thankful for the cross and the blood on that cross Lord Jesus, because without that, even this book will have no legal existence.

But in the meantime I have learnt from You that we have some very important things to do, so Father, MY Father, dear Father, teach us what You wish. And Lord, please touch the heart of every person reading this book. Let the anointing of Your precious Holy Spirit flow through every page of this book, so that every person touching these pages, will experience the presence of Your Holy Spirit like a perfume that will touch them and cause them to also become such a perfume in Your sight.

Blow, Ruach ha Kodesh Wind, Holy Spirit wind, blow through Your people in these last days, touch them with Your love like never before! Let Your FIRE fall Father! Let Your GLORY fall! Let Your PEACE fall!

Set up the watchmen Lord, like in the old days. Teach them to warn! Teach them to STAND! Teach them to PROCLAIM what they see! So that we may present Your bride to You the way You want her to be... spotless, without blemish. A VIRGIN WARRIOR BRIDE!

In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah – YESHUA HA MASCHIACH!! King of kings and Lord of lords, PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

1. Introduction (Back to top)

Funk & Wagnall's Standard International Edition Dictionary defines "watchman – (men)" as: "... one of a group of men appointed to keep watch or patrol the streets of a town or village at night. Anyone who keeps watch or guard; especially a man employed to guard a building etc., at night."

So what is the job description of God's appointed "watchmen", and who are they today? How and by whom are they so "appointed"? I found the following very interesting and clear description of who they really are, and what is truly expected from God's watchmen, in Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

"God's prophets and ministers are as watchmen in the city in a time of peace, to see that all is safe. As watchmen in the camp in time of war, to warn of the motions of the enemy.

After a long sleep in sin and security, it is time to rise, to awake out of sleep. We have a great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; it is time to be stirring. After a long dark night is there any hope of the day dawning? What tidings of the night? What happens to-night? We must never be secure.

But many make curious inquiries of the watchmen. They would willingly have nice questions solved, or difficult prophecies interpreted; but they do not seek into the state of their own souls, about the way of salvation, and the path of duty.

The watchman answers by way of prophecy.

It is our wisdom to improve the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it. Inquire, return, come. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is no time to trifle.

Those that return and come to God, will find they have a great deal of work to do, and but little time to do it in."

Shall we now proceed to see whether God's "prophets and ministers" are fulfilling their task as watchmen in today's society?

Are you wiling to look deep into your own heart to find out whether you may have something to do too?

2. Watchman on the walls (Back to top)

"God's prophets and ministers are as watchmen in the city in a time of peace, to see that all is safe. As watchmen in the camp in time of war, to warn of the motions of the enemy." (Matthew Henry)

Should you be of the opinion that Matthew Henry is only referring to ordained preachers, ministers or prophets in his quotation, quickly read the following verse with me:

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained THEE a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

"And hast made US unto our God kings and PRIESTS: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

So friend, you and I are in reality those "prophets" ordained by God. To "ordain" also means to enact, establish or appoint. So WE were so APPOINTED as watchmen! By whom? By God Himself! We, who have given our lives to Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, are those prophets and ministers.

Prophets who are as watchmen on God's city's walls, who must see that all is safe and who must warn the people of the present and future "motions of the enemy" – satan! The second scripture I quoted states that He made US kings and PRIESTS - in other words ministers - so that we may reign and live according to God's Word, here on earth.

The question is, are God's prophets and ministers - YOU AND I - really doing what we were appointed to do? With this book, I hope to come a step closer to fulfilling the instructions I received from my Heavenly Father. And you friend? What are you doing to fulfill yours?

2.1.My personal instruction

I cannot think of any better way to describe that which the Lord has put on my heart to write in this book, other than Matthew Henry's quotation which I gave in Chapter 1 above. It was very interesting to me to note that it took five years from the time God gave me the scripture I will now quote, to the writing of the printed version of this book (2005). In the Bible the number five refers to servant-hood but also to grace, and most assuredly the Lord has taught me to serve His children these past number of years, and He has taught me about His unmerited favor (His grace), and I am intensely grateful to Him for that privilege.

So, I will start with the scripture that the Lord gave me personally early in the year 2000, and work from there, from time to time returning to Matthew Henry's statements as quoted in Chapter 1 above. The quotations below are all from Ezekiel 3:17-21.

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them WARNING from me."

Is your heart ready before the Lord, Jesus Christ, to be warned, dear reader? Do you have a teachable spirit? Are you open to be taught from God's Word, no matter who you are and no matter how long you may have walked with the Lord? And no matter who the one is that is doing the warning?

"When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."

If you, dear reader, have as yet never given your heart to Jesus Christ, if you have never received Him as your Lord and Savior, this book may be your last chance to come out of a life of unrighteousness and wickedness. Who knows whether you will live to see tomorrow? Are you willing to gamble on spending an eternity separated from God, just because you are unwilling to heed the warnings contained in the Bible – or in this book? The choice is yours, but after holding this book in your hand, you will never be able to stand before God's throne of judgment and say: "But Lord, I never knew..." If you wish to rectify the situation in your life, please pray the short prayer I quoted after the scriptures below out loud, so that the whole world, including Satan and his demons can hear you make a choice for Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

"Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

And you, Christian reader, have you been walking a long road with the Lord, but feel that you have "backslidden" because of things that happened in your life? Have you "turned from your righteousness" too? If so, are you willing to be warned and turn back from those things, repent of your sins before your Lord, Jesus Christ, and return to a life of holiness and righteousness? If so, won't you also pray the following prayer out loud, so that the world - and satan - can hear you decided to return to the life of holiness that God wants you to live:

Prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I hereby confirm that I am a sinner and pray that you will hear my prayer. I know that without your grace and mercy I am lost forever Lord. Therefore I now confess all the sins I have committed to this day Lord Jesus, whether they were wrong thoughts, wrong words or wrong deeds, You know them all Lord.

Lord Jesus I believe with my whole heart that You came to earth and died on a cross as atonement for all my sins and I now accept and receive You as my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer and my King. Please teach me from Your Word Lord, and give me a new hunger for the Bible. Holy Spirit, please reveal the Bible to me, and teach me to live the holy life that Jesus wants me to.

Thank you Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, that I can now know that I am safe in your heavenly arms and that nothing can ever separate me from Your wonderful love. I glorify and exalt Your Holy Name! Amen."

Wonderful! You have just ensured that nothing can ever separate you from God's love ever again! So, let's proceed with this book.

The Lord repeated the instruction He gave to me in 2000 more than once in later years. Initially I just asked: "Lord, who am I that you want to give me such an important instruction? I am not a theologically learned man." The answer I received on more than one occasion was: "Tiaan, do you wish to be obedient to Me and My Word, or not?" Could I ever argue with that? So, I first started writing books during June 2000 and my prayer to our mighty Heavenly Father, is that each and every book I have written since then, will have an everlasting spiritual impact on some person's life, somewhere on earth. So, dear friend, whoever you are, and wherever you are at this very moment, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit of God will touch your spirit and your soul through the reading of this humble book.

I pray that you will have a teachable spirit that is open and willing to be advised, taught, and WARNED. May this book open new spiritual truths to you on your walk with Jesus Christ. In Hebrew He is called YESHUA HA MASCHIACH, Jesus the Messiah! Praise His Mighty Name!

2.2.Watchmen must warn of the motions of the enemy

In the first place, the watchman's purpose is to see that all is safe in times of peace, and to warn of the motions of the enemy in times of war. Question: Are we presently in a time of peace? I do not think anyone who knows anything about spiritual matters will contend that we actually are in a time of peace. No!

We most definitely are in a time of the greatest war of all times! And this war is a spiritual war. How do we know that we are in this great war? Because we all know that we are living in the end-times, and look what the Bible says about this time:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

I repeat, God's watchmen have to warn His people of the motions of the enemy in these times. What warning do we get from these scriptures? Let us look at these scriptures in more detail, in order to ascertain in what way they represent the "motions of the enemy" especially in our lives today:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

We all know that the times we live in today, are indeed perilous. People can't dare to walk alone in street at night anymore. Lives are not worth a penny to many robbers and thieves roaming the streets.

...For men shall be:

...lovers of their own selves,

Can there be any doubt today that men are "lovers of their own selves"? Status, material possessions and personal ability has become more important to most people, than what God really put them on earth for, namely to make disciples of all nations. To tell nations about Jesus Christ and what He did for us, and to do THAT in real Christ-like humility.

...covetous,

To be covetous means "inordinately desirious (of something – especially something belonging to someone else), avaricious, greedy". Man's greed is very clear in these last days, especially if we look at the fact that status and material possessions have become all-important to most people. The thousands of court cases where people are being charged with corruption also proves this point. In the same manner embezzlement of company monies is at the order of the day.

...boasters,

The "I am better than you"-syndrome is very clear. Or "my car is better than yours". Or "my house is bigger than yours". This is in direct contradiction to Jesus' instruction to deny the "self". Just listen to conversations around the barbeque, or at lunches, or at sports venues, if you need any confirmation of the statement that men most definitely are "boasters" in these times we live in.

...proud,

Pride and haughtiness flows from, and forms part of the boasting of people today. The Bible is clear that pride comes before the fall. We must never forget that pride is exactly that which made Satan fall from grace and from heaven. So it makes quite good sense that he will use the same weapon against man to this day. If it was good enough to make him fall from grace, it must be good enough to use against man in order to try and pull them away from God too. You see, Satan knows the Bible and he knows that Christ requires humility from us. If he can get us to be disobedient to God's word through pride, he may eventually get us to a place where he can pull us away from God, in the same way that he fell away from God.

...blasphemers,

You only need to listen to any conversation in the street, or watch any movie or video, to understand how big the problem of blasphemy has become. However, it is very interesting to note that only the names: "Jesus Christ", or "Oh my God!" is used in a blasphemous way on a daily basis all over the world. You never hear anyone say: "O Allah!" in a movie or video; or even "Oh Buddha!" Why not? Because there is no power in any of those names. There is only power in the one Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ. That is exactly the reason why Satan attacks this Name – the Name above all names - in such a public way all over the world, and tries to belittle, discredit and dishonor it. Obviously he hopes that in this way he will be able to reduce the power of the Name of Jesus. What Satan, and all other blasphemers seem to forget, is that the Bible states clearly that there will be a day when EVERY KNEE shall bow and EVERY TONGUE, including Satan's own tongue, will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Hallelujah Lord Jesus!

...disobedient to parents,

Children's behavior towards their parents or teachers proves this part of the verse. The reason for this also lies in the fact that Satan ensures, through so-called human rights, the breakdown of Biblical discipline in homes, schools, and even countries. Parents aren't even allowed to discipline their own children anymore, for fear that their own children may have them prosecuted by law. This leads to more and more anarchy in schools, towns, cities and even countries.

...unthankful,

People just accept that things HAVE TO be given to them, without even thanking the person rendering the service to them. Just ask any fuel attendant or waitress how many people really thank them for the services they render. People have the attitude of: "She is getting paid to do her job, so why should I thank her?" Well, one reason stays that it is only good manners, and the second reason is that Jesus instructs us to be thankful towards each other.

...unholy,

All the different false religions on earth today, including New Age, atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etcetera, confirm this fact that people have become "unholy". As only God is "holy", anything else claiming attributes of God, is unholy. Anything else is abominable, impure, cursed, polluted, wicked and worldly to God. In God's eyes ANY other so-called "god" is an idol. "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For ALL the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." (Psalm 96:4, 5) Very clearly then, every other religion is unholy in God's eyes, as are their gods. In the same manner people's attitudes have become "unholy" in these days.

...Without natural affection,

"Affection" means to have a good disposition, or kind feelings toward each other. With racism, hate, anti-Semitism and other similar emotions, Satan ensures that man has no "kind feelings" toward each other anymore. Of course all these things are opposites of the love that Jesus teaches us to have. Any opposition to what Christ teaches, is rebellion and the Bible is clear that such conduct effectively constitutes witchcraft. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23) As long as we live in opposition to Jesus' teachings, and reject His word, we are actually practicing witchcraft and will we also lose our appointment as kings and priests for God.

...trucebreakers,

All the so-called "peace agreements" between nations, that are broken nearly as fast as they are drawn up - after much pomp and ceremony -, is proof of this fact.

...false accusers,

People have no qualms at all to accuse others falsely about things they have not even done. This is found in families where kids blame each other from the youngest ages, but also in politics, in churches, in governments and all over the world. It is nothing new however, as Adam also falsely accused Eve – and actually even God - for his mistake in not taking up his authority against Satan's attack.

...incontinent,

"Incontinent" means: "exercising no control over the appetites, especially sexual passion; unchaste." Any person who watches present-day movies or videos can attest to the fact that people are most definitely "incontinent" today. Satan's sexual spirits of lust, adultery and perversion make sure that people think unchaste lives are acceptable, or even the norm, while it is most definitely not acceptable to God.

...fierce,

Most people today have violent and cruel or savage tempers, as a result of Satan's attacks on their lives and thoughts, which they don't capture to the obedience of Christ. All the incidents of road rage on many countries' national roads, also attest to this fact. Through videos and films this aggression and fierceness is built up even more.

...despisers of those that are good,

If you look at the slogans and pictures on clothes, cars, posters, etcetera, you will most definitely see that the trend today, is to despise those that are good. The more wicked, ugly or evil something can be depicted, the better, it seems.

...Traitors,

Traitors are people who betray someone else's trust. In other words, people who act deceitfully and falsely. Open any newspaper or magazine today, anywhere in the world, and the proof of this fact, is plain for all to see.

...heady,

"Heady" means to be headstrong, stubbornly bent on having one's own way, and obstinate. As a result of the fact that the world does not obey the Word's instruction to die to the "self", people are most definitely "heady" in today's society.

...highminded,

To be "high-minded" means to be haughty or arrogant, in other words prideful. We have already discussed this negative attribute earlier.

...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

If we need any proof of this statement, we need only look at the number of people attending sport venues on Sundays, in comparison with the people attending churches at the same time.

...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:

As long as our religion consists of dead rituals, traditions and form, instead of a personal relationship with the Way, the Truth and the Life – JESUS CHRIST Himself – we will most assuredly only have a "form of godliness" with no power at all. You see, the power flows directly from a personal relationship with our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. And Jesus Himself warned us against ever elevating traditions above the Word of God: "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition...Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:9 & 13) Traditions undoubtedly have a "form" of godliness, but no power at all. How can I say this? I am just reading what Jesus said. God's commandments and word bring power, and Jesus said traditions makes that power of no effect.

Now then, the question arises, what should we do with any of these people whose characteristics we have discussed so far. What does the Bible say?

...from such TURN AWAY."

Oh wow! This is truly a hard word! Can Jesus really be serious about this? I do believe if He wasn't serious about this, this Scripture wouldn't have been in the Bible. All the above most definitely represents the "motions of the enemy" today. Satan is still trying his best to pull away God's people from the Truth, and the watchmen must speak up and warn His people. That is why God's children must "turn away" from these people, because the characteristics they display are clear signs of enemy movements, and definitely not something God's children want to be part of.

If any of God's children may have identified themselves in what I wrote so far, it is time for them to take heed and STOP doing these things and return to a place of holiness before God.

2.3.Watchmen must display Godly fruits

Anybody displaying the above-mentioned characteristics most definitely do not have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The fruit that they bear are fruits of the kingdom of darkness and not the fruit which the Bible wants God's children and watchmen to bear, which are:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22, 23)

As we have done with the previous Scriptures, let us now also look at these two verses more closely:

"But the fruit of the Spirit

It is very important in the first instance, to note whose fruit this is. It is not from the flesh, it is not temporal, it is not mortal, it is not human, it is not organic, no, it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God – RUACH HA KODESH! In other words, it is God's own fruit, His own characteristics, which He wishes us all, who call ourselves His people or His children, to have and display.

...is love,

According to Funk & Wagnall's Standard International Edition Dictionary, "love" is defined as follows: "A strong, complex emotion or feeling causing one to appreciate, delight in, and crave the presence or possession of another and to please or promote the welfare of the other; devoted affection or attachment." This dictionary definition refers to human love, which may be so "complex" in some people's eyes. The rest of the definition can also refer to the love we have for Jesus, as His love causes one to appreciate, delight in, and crave His presence or possession at all times. The love which flows forth as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is NOT complex at all, but a natural return of the love first shown to us by God Himself. The Bible is very clear that God IS love (1 John 4:8). He cannot give love, in the manner that we give love to our loved ones, no, He IS LOVE! It flows forth from His very being and He cannot stop it. The moment you REALLY enter into a personal relationship with Him, that same love starts to flow from inside you to the loveless world outside and you will start to experience that you cannot contain this love. Why? Because it is Godly!

...joy,

Joy is power! Joy is not just smiling or laughing or telling a few good jokes so that people may burst out laughing. NO! Joy is strength, as we very clearly see in Nehemia 8:10: "...for the JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH." It is interesting to note that in the ancient Greek, things were always stated or written in order of importance. This means the most important characteristic we should display is love, as we have now already seen, and after that, the second-most important characteristic, is joy. You see, pure, holy Godly love for Jesus and our fellow man, can do nothing else but produce the strength of Godly JOY in and around us, notwithstanding our circumstances. It doesn't take much to understand why Satan would try and steal our joy in a variety of ways, as he understands we have power in JOY. Have you found your strength in the Holy Spirit's JOY yet? Have you experienced the POWER of Godly JOY yet? If not, don't you think it is time to bear Holy Spirit fruit, so that you can also start to experience these wonderful attributes of God in your life? And what will follow this unfathomable joy?

...peace,

This most definitely does not refer to worldly peace. It is not the kind of peace we read about, where world leaders shake hands, sign a few papers, and then shoot the living daylights out of each other two days later. That is not peace, but a lie from Satan. That "peace" is the motions of the enemy. The peace referred to in this Scripture, is Godly, divinely spiritual. It is an inner peace brought about by personal relationship with the Prince of Peace Himself – Jesus Christ! YESHUA HA MASCHIACH – JESUS THE MESSIAH – KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! PRAISE HIS MIGHTY AND HOLY NAME! It is a peace that surpasses all human understanding, because it is spiritual. "And the PEACE of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7). See, this peace will even "keep" our hearts and minds, this means it will keep watch over our hearts and minds, so that the enemy does not pull us away into war, hate, aggression, or wrath.

...longsuffering,

"Longsuffering" means to be PATIENT. Patient when another motorist swerves into the lane in front of me. Patient when I have to stand in a long queue at the mall or bank. Patient when a client comes in late. Patient when my child messes up AGAIN. Patient in my love towards my fellow man. Patient with older people. Patient in all things I undertake. Patient toward myself if I make mistakes. Patient even with God, as satan so often wishes to make us angry with God because He doesn't let things happen as fast as WE would like them to happen.

...gentleness,

Gentleness is defined as: "considerate, generously inclined, mild in disposition, refined in manners, moderate, not harsh." A person bearing this fruit of the Holy Spirit, will always be considerate towards others, will most definitely be generously inclined, especially with his money, will have a mild and moderate disposition and will not be harsh in his attitude towards others. He will always put others before himself, as Paul advises in Philippians 2:3: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other BETTER than themSELVES."

...goodness,

Goodness is defined as: "morally excellent, virtuous, worthy, kind, benevolent", to name but a few of the attributes a person who walks in real Holy Spirit "goodness" will show. Can anybody doubt that all these are very positive attributes? Most definitely the "motions of the enemy" which we discussed earlier, are all negative in comparison.

...faith,

The faith that we bear as fruit of the Holy Spirit, is a substance, as we see in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith allows me to call things that be not, as though they were. Faith is not a feeling, it is a fact. The just shall LIVE by faith. When I dare call myself a disciple of Jesus Christ, I will speak faith, live faith, sleep faith, pray faith. It sounds something like: "Lord, I FEEL like a reject, but Lord, Your Word says I was crowned with honor and glory." or: "Today I FEEL so unworthy, I FEEL such a failure, but the Bible says I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves me." Or: "Lord, the facts say that I am ill, but the truth (Your Word) says by the stripes of Jesus I was healed!" Or: "Lord, the facts say I presently have no food in my cupboard, but the truth (Your Word) says you will supply all my need according to Your riches in glory." That is faith, not reacting to how I feel or what I see, but to what the Word of God says.

...meekness,

Meekness is humility. Jesus wants us to be humble just as He was humble. It is the opposite of pride and haughtiness. When Jesus was taunted and horribly scourged, He stayed meek like a lamb and did not say a word. Proverbs teaches us that before HONOR, is humility. Pride does not come before honor, but humility does. According to the Bible, pride comes before the fall. Pride and haughtiness eventually always leads to a person's downfall. For some people the fall comes earlier, and for others it follows later, but it always does come. How can I be so sure of this? Because the Bible says so and in my time as a businessman, before entering the ministry, I have seen this word come true on many occasions, including in my own life. As a very clear warning of this, take heed of the words of Isaiah 2:11,12: "The lofty looks of man SHALL be humbled, and the haughtiness of men SHALL be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts SHALL be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he SHALL be brought low..." Friend, take note that when God uses the word "shall" in the Bible, it is a promise. If you have not yet returned to the road of meekness, if you still deem yourself to be better than others, or if you feel exalted for whatsoever reason, RETURN to the fruit of meekness, before you are brought down!

...temperance:

Temperance is defined as: "calmness and self-control". God's children, who bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, have no problem to be temperate in everything they do, as the inner peace they have, makes them calm. Furthermore, as they are humble and not full of the old "self", they are able to control themselves. Children of God don't allow fear about what people will think of them, to control their lives, as they know the following verse: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) The Greek word for "sound mind", is "sofronismos", literally also meaning: "self-control". The moment we don't fear what people may think or say of us anymore, we enter a way of living filled with Godly "temperance". We then live from God's power, love and self-control and not from our emotions of bitterness, anger, hatred, unworthiness, inferiority, insecurity etcetera, all these coming from Satan and his demons' spiritual attacks.

Now the question about these Holy Spirit attributes are: Can anyone hold any of these things against us? What does the Bible say?

...against such there is NO law."

You see, against these Holy Spirit fruit and attributes, there is no law, no principle that can nullify them or make them of no force or effect. We can walk the road of life with people bearing such Holy Spirit fruit, from now until all eternity. We do not have to turn away from them as from the first group we discussed.

The first few Scriptures we discussed referred to the "motions of the enemy" in people's lives in our present day, both in unsaved, ungodly and wicked people, and even in Christians. The last Scriptures about the fruit of the Holy Spirit refer to the way God's true children should live to be safe.

God's true watchmen should warn the people about the motions of the enemy to this day, and urge them to bear the correct fruit, in order to be safe from the attacks from the enemy. They shouldn't try to appease people by only telling them things they WANT to hear! The world's people must be WARNED by telling them the truth as contained in God's Word. Any child of God who bears the mentioned fruit of the Holy Spirit, cannot be overrun by the enemy, as the nine attributes that we discussed above are a direct defense against any of the things we discussed from the first Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:1). Children of God not bearing these fruits, are open to attack and ambush by satan and his demon hordes in thousands of ways.

Are you also a watchman on the walls of God's cities?... Or do you still try to please the PEOPLE all the time? Friend, the time to be a "people pleaser" is over!

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

3. Prepare the way (Back to top)

"After a long sleep in sin and security, it is time to rise, to awake out of sleep. We have a great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; it is time to be stirring. After a long dark night is there any hope of the day dawning? What tidings of the night? What happens to-night? We must never be secure." (Matthew Henry)

3.1.Wake up world!

I have no doubt about the fact that the whole world has most definitely been lulled into "a long sleep in sin and security". By whom? Satan himself! There has never been a more defined time in history where man really has to rise, to awake out of sleep, than the present. Especially in this present time can we never be too secure or deceived into thinking there is no enemy or that the enemy has disappeared.

It is time for the watchmen on God's walls to NOT keep their silence, either day, or night.

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep NOT silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:6-10)

God's watchmen must now lift up a standard for the people. What standard? Well, for one, the standard of authority. The standard of living as the conquerors which they are supposed to be. The standard of rule, reign and dominion. Where did all this authority start? When Jesus came to earth. Jesus had to re-instate the authority God initially gave to man, and which man then gave away to Satan.

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44)

This scripture is found where king Nebuchadnezzar had the dream about the statue with the head of gold, torso of silver and down to the feet of iron and clay. As we all know, in the dream a stone came loose and grew bigger until it smashed the statue to pieces. That stone referred to Jesus Christ and His kingdom, which was set up here on earth, but which will continue for ever. Because of Satan's lies, so many people believe that they must just suffer through their lives here on earth, hoping that one day in heaven they will live as conquerors. They think or hope that at least they will rule in heaven one day. All this, while God planned for us to rule and reign here on earth, from the beginning of time!

3.2.Man was made to rule!

If we read the Bible carefully and slowly, we see that God's plan was that man would rule and have dominion right from the very start.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26)

Please note that this scripture refers to the "planning meeting" (with all due respect) God had with Himself to make man in His likeness and image. This was BEFORE He even formed man. And even in this "blueprint–stage" of the "planning meeting" it is clear that man was to RULE. It is also very clear from this that man is supposed to have dominion, in other words, to rule, or reign, over everything on earth – EXCEPT OTHER PEOPLE.

Just as a further confirmation that man is supposed to rule, let us look at another scripture:

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou MADEST him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put ALL THINGS under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas." (Psalms 8:4-8)

See? These verses repeat the fact that man is supposed to rule over everything – "ALL THINGS" \- here on earth, except other people. Also note that man was CROWNED with glory and honor. Who usually receives a crown? A king, or at least a prince! What do kings and princes do? They RULE! The problem is that man gave up his dominion and right to rule, when they listened to Satan in the garden of Eden. And Satan ensured that man tried his best to rule over other men from then onward. This has been the cause for centuries of anguish, hate, tragedy, wrath, pain, and tears. It is now time that man comes back to the place where he realizes he is only supposed to rule over the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, and that he is supposed to be the servant of his neighbors.

Jesus taught very clearly that he who wishes to be the first among men, must learn to serve, just as He was willing to serve His own disciples by washing their dirty feet. Friend, how ready are you to wash your own servant's feet? Because only then will you be able to really rule the way God wants you to. In true God-like humility.

3.3.God wants a conquering people

NOW, TODAY, is the time for the watchmen to prepare the way for God's conquering, victorious, reigning people who live in their true divine authority. The watchmen must lift up and carry the standard before God's people. They must be the example for His children. Can God's own children also be watchmen on the walls? Most definitely so! I believe they make the best watchmen, as they have a direct interest in the security of His kingdom and the expansion thereof here on earth. The time is past to play church. The time is past to tell people what they want to hear. The time is past to play into Satan's hands. The time is past for God's children to think they are unworthy, rejects, or failures. It is time they realize who and what they REALLY are. It is time for God's children to start saying of themselves what God says of them. And what does God say? He says we are kings. Rulers, MADE to have dominion!

"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath MADE US KINGS and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5,6)

"And hast MADE US unto our God KINGS and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

Do we need it any clearer than this? From Genesis 1:26 where man was planned by God, right to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, God's intention has never changed – God planned us, and made us, to have dominion, to rule and to reign. Where? Here on earth! We are not going to rule and have dominion in heaven one day, although we will eternally be living as conquerors with Christ. But we do need to rule and have dominion here on earth. Over what? Except the animals, fish, insects, and birds, as stated in the Bible, we are also to rule and have dominion over Satan and his demon spirits. Let us look at the following very clear scriptures about the authority we have in Christ Jesus:

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

When we take note of the fact that "serpents" are a symbol of Satan himself, and "scorpions" are a symbol of his demon spirits, we start to understand what kind of authority Jesus Christ gave to His disciples. Today those disciples are you and I, and anybody else who calls themselves children of God, or Christians. And if we choose to say of ourselves what Jesus said, we will proclaim with our mouths that we have the authority to TRAMPLE on Satan and his demons spirits. We do not need to fear them at all. We do not even have to FIGHT the war to try and win it, as Jesus has already completed that on the cross at Calvary. The only thing we must do is to realize that the victory has already been declared, and we must operate from that platform of victory. That is why the Bible says we are MORE than conquerors, as Jesus already did all the conquering on our behalf. Does this mean the enemy will now stop attacking us, even though they have been defeated? No, it doesn't.

If satan and his demons actually stopped attacking God's children after Jesus' victory on the cross, why do we still read the following scriptures many years after the cross?

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

James, who was Jesus' own brother, wrote this years after the cross. What is the instruction he gave to God's children under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as we must remember that the whole Bible was Holy Spirit inspired? (2 Timothy 3:16). FIRSTLY, he taught us to submit to God, in other words to ensure that our lives are subject to God's instructions, and SECONDLY, to resist the devil. Why then, do we have to resist the devil if he isn't attacking us anymore? If we read carefully however, we see a promise contained in the last words of this verse, namely that the devil WILL flee from us if we resist him and his demon spirits, AFTER having submitted ourselves to God. Why is the first condition that we must submit ourselves to God? Because then we will know the truth of the following scripture:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

The moment I acknowledge that I live no more, but that Jesus Christ lives within me, then I know why the devil will free from me. He does not flee from ME in that moment, but from CHRIST who lives within me. And the moment I accept that marvelous fact, I will realize the following great truth:

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is IN you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

Who is IN us? JESUS CHRIST! Who is in the world? Satan and his demon spirits. That is why we have overcome them, because He that is in us, as His children, is greater than any of satan and his fallen angels. After all, He was the one that initially created satan and his demon spirits, when they were still angels. The creation can NEVER be greater than its Creator. However, this does not mean they will stop trying until they are eventually all thrown into the pit of hell. To this day they are still seeking whom they may destroy.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:8, 9)

This epistle written by the apostle Peter was also written many years after the cross at Calvary. If it wasn't necessary to withstand satan and his demons anymore, why did the Holy Spirit inspire Peter to write this warning into the Bible? Why did the Holy Spirit – through Peter - deem it necessary to STILL warn God's children, over the ages, to be sober and vigilant against the devil? If the devil could not do us any harm anymore, why are we still reminded to resist him, steadfast in the faith? Obviously because that is what we are STILL supposed to do, according to God's own instructions! The question also remains: steadfast in what faith?

"And these signs shall follow them that believe (have faith); IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils." (Mark 16:17)

Clearly it means the faith to know that we do have the authority to cast out demons. However, it is always done in one Name only – the Name of Jesus Christ! But where do we get this faith from? From the knowledge that Jesus Himself instructed His disciples to go and do precisely that. The word translated "devils" in the Bible, actually refers to demons, as there is only one devil, satan himself.

"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7, 8)

It is very clear that Jesus Himself, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, instructed His followers to cast out demons. And after His resurrection and ascension into heaven, those same followers – through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - repeated His instructions over and over again, to those disciples following after them, up to and including you and I today, and also all those who will come after us. Why? Because, just as Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, so are Satan and his demons, and the way they work.

4. Seek the truth (Back to top)

"But many make curious inquiries of the watchmen. They would willingly have nice questions solved, or difficult prophecies interpreted; but they do not seek into the state of their own souls, about the way of salvation, and the path of duty" (Matthew Henry).

4.1.There is only one truth

The statement quoted above and made by Matthew Henry is as true today, as when Paul wrote a similar warning to his disciple, Timothy, many centuries ago:

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Looking at all the different religions in the world today, there can be no doubt that men can not endure the "sound doctrine" of the Word of God. That is why they seek out teachers that can soothe their "itching ears", who tell them what they WANT to HEAR, and not what God very clearly TELLS them to DO in the Bible. So what happens now? They turn their ears AWAY from the truth and TO fables. The universal question most probably asked the most, is: "But what is truth? Isn't truth a relative term? Aren't there a different number of truths?" The answer, very clearly, is NO! According to the Word of God, there is ONLY ONE truth, and that truth is not a principle, nor a doctrine, nor a human tradition. Truth is a PERSON, and His Name, is JESUS CHRIST!

"Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

Very clearly it is stated here that there is ONLY ONE truth. JESUS CHRIST IS the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! To any religion alleging that there is more than one "way" to God, to eternity, the last part of the scripture is the death knell. Jesus does NOT say that He shares the way to God with Mohammed, Buddha, Brahman or Shiva of the Hinduism, New Age, Bahai, Rastafarianism, Hare Krishna, Mother Mary, or any other person or icon in any other religion. He is very definite about His statement: "NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER – BUT BY ME"... Obviously He is not timid in His declaration. Why? Because He knows He is God Himself incarnate. And when the time comes, which it definitely will, whether you believe it or not, He will reveal Himself to ALL people as such, because the day will come that EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that He is Lord... THAT IS THE TRUTH! And that is the truth we must all seek. And what must the watchmen do?

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion." (Isaiah 52:8)

"For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God." (Jeremiah 31:6)

We, the watchmen, must lift up our voices and sing of the things God does and will do, because the Lord WILL set up His new city of the redeemed, as He promised. We must also keep on crying to the people of God to ARISE and go up to the throne of God, to seek the one and only truth, JESUS CHRIST, and not to be afraid to come before His throne of grace.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Why can we come so boldly before the throne of grace? Because we have the greatest advocate of all times, Jesus the Christ, appearing before that throne on our behalf. I can imagine God saying: "Just look at that sin Tiaan has just committed!" And then I can imagine my ADVOCATE stepping forward and saying: "Forgive him Father, for I died on the cross for that sin too! The penalty has already been paid." Wow! Isn't that wonderful? How can we ever think to be too afraid to approach such an awesome and loving advocate? He is the only One who is able to ensure our total freedom from sin and bondage.

Isn't it strange that when we have any problems on earth we always run TO the advocate or lawyer, but when we have spiritual problems we run AWAY from that awesome Heavenly Advocate? Why is this? Because satan has taught us over the years that God just waits for us to make a mistake so that He can kill us, injure us or maim us in some manner, or throw us into hell. Makes total sense doesn't it? Of course nobody will want to run TO such a person that only wants to hurt you! You see, that has always been the lie which gave us a crooked perception of who God and Jesus Christ really are. And that lie only keeps us bound. To whom? Satan himself!

The Bible is very clear that when Jesus sets you free, you will be free indeed. The first requirement however, is that we must KNOW the truth. That refers to personal relationship. Only if we enter into an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ, can we get to the place where He can set us free from all the bondages the enemy brings into our lives.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

As I said before, WHO is the TRUTH? Jesus Christ the Messiah, nobody else! Who is He? He is the Son of God!

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

Why will we be free indeed? Because we will have been made free by the Son of God Himself! He who is God Himself! The Highest Authority that exists in the universe! There is no higher authority that will ever be able to overrule His decision to free you and me. Isn't that wonderful to know? Why then, people of the earth, do we keep on searching for "other" truths, when the truth is so clear and so simple? Is it because we have been listening to Satan's lies for so long, we just don't want to hear the truth anymore? Is it because we have come to a place where we just want to hear what we WANT to hear, instead of what we SHOULD hear?

4.2.The elect must beware

The watchmen must warn the people, more than ever before, to heed the signs of enemy movement in these last times, and to go up to the Lord like never before. Seeking Him more than anything else in life. Jesus must be enough in their lives in everything they do or attempt. God's people must ensure that they intensify their personal relationships with Jesus Christ like never before, because the Bible says in these last times even some of the elect might be deceived.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. " (Matthew 24:24)

From this verse, and the following verses, we see Jesus' urgent warning that we must beware and not believe everything every man tells us, whoever that man, or woman, may be.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)

That is why I urge you, dear friend, don't just believe me either, don't just accept everything I write in this book as truth. Test me, try my spirit as well. How? By requesting the Holy Spirit of God to reveal and/or confirm the things I have written to you as well, directly from His Word. All things spoken or written by ANY man must be able to stand the test of the Word of God. If ANYTHING a person says or writes, no matter who he or she is, is in contradiction to the Word of God, decide for yourself who you are going to believe – that man or woman – or GOD?

For example, if Jesus – by repetition - says that we must cast out demons, but "pastor John says" there is no such thing as the casting out of demons anymore, who do you choose to believe? Do you believe the pastor, or do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? And if you do choose to rather believe the pastor, remember you are "denying the Lord that bought them", just as the apostle Peter warned in the scripture I quoted above.

4.3.Do what Jesus did

Is it not true that Jesus Himself said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

What "works" did Jesus do? Let us look at the things He did:

1.He preached the gospel of the KINGDOM of God

"And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent." (Luke 4:43)

Please note that He did not preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the gospel of love, or the gospel of grace, or the gospel of the Holy Spirit. He preached the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. He even states very clearly that that is the reason why He was sent to earth. In Chapter 5 I will discuss this in more detail.

2.He healed the sick and cleansed the lepers

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Matthew 4:23)

"And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:2, 3)

3.He cast out demons

"And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils." (Mark 1:39)

4.He raised the dead

"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:41-44)

5.He taught and warned His people. You see, He was also a watchman. And interestingly enough, let us compare the things He did, to the instructions He gives to His disciples – which include you and I today...

"And as ye go, (1) PREACH, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (2) HEAL the sick, cleanse the lepers, (3) RAISE the dead, (4) CAST out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7, 8)

Wow! Isn't this interesting? He instructs ALL His disciples... all His disciples... Friend, do you DARE call yourself a disciple of Christ today? Then this scripture contains YOUR instructions too. What does He instruct us from His Word?

5.1. To preach – the KINGDOM of heaven. Why?

Because that is exactly what Jesus did.

5.2. To heal the sick and cleanse the lepers. Why?

Because that is exactly what Jesus did.

5.3. To raise the dead. Why?

Because that is exactly what Jesus did.

5.4. To cast out devils (demons). Why?

Because that is exactly what Jesus did.

5.5.To make disciples of all nations. Why?

Because that is exactly what Jesus did.

Isn't it strange that Jesus Himself said we will do THE SAME WORKS that He did, and even greater things, and yet His followers DON'T believe Him? And why don't they believe Him? Because they CHOOSE to rather listen to the enemy's lies. They choose to rather listen to what some PEOPLE tell them – choosing for themselves teachers to soothe their "itching ears" as I wrote earlier – rather than Jesus Christ Himself. The FACT still stands, Jesus said we will do the same things He did. We have now noted the five things He did while He was here on earth. Keep these in mind as we proceed through this book.

4.4.Christians against Christians

You see, the moment certain PEOPLE tell God's children they can't raise the dead, or they can't cast out demons, or that demons don't attack them anymore, God's children choose to rather believe those people above Jesus, thereby "denying the Lord" as the apostle Peter stated.

It doesn't take a lot of common sense to realize why satan would especially like Christians NOT to heal the sick, NOT to cast out demons, NOT to raise the dead, NOT to preach their authority and NOT to make disciples today. Why? Because then the world would realize there is really only ONE true God who so empowers His followers that they can actually still do all those things Jesus did – to this very day. So what does he do? He uses Christians to bring other Christians into deception. He uses Christians to stop other Christians from healing the sick, or casting out demons, or raising the dead, or preaching authority, as I will discuss it in Chapter 5.

So God's children stumble the one after the other, because they rather choose to believe what MAN tells them, than that which JESUS CHRIST Himself teaches in His unfailing Word. It is interesting to note that satan doesn't use Hindus or Buddhists to try and discredit Christians or Christian ministries. After all, who would believe a Buddhist that tries to discredit a Christian or certain aspects of the Christian faith? But many people will readily believe some "negative" Christians who try to discredit certain other Christian ministries. Why will they believe those "negative" Christians? Because it's easier for them to just believe what PEOPLE say, than to first study the Word of God, and what Jesus said, for themselves. If they did study the Word for themselves, they may have understood exactly how God is really using those other Christians that are so wrongly slandered by those first, "negative" Christians. They may then have understood for themselves that God in reality uses different people differently and they would not have been so quick to judge other Christians based purely on what the "negative" Christians said.

What is the problem here? God's watchmen are not crying out hard enough anymore! God's people in many instances are too lazy to pick up their own Bibles in order to read for themselves what Jesus said. They prefer to rather listen to the preacher or pastor, or any other Christian who has some knowledge of the Bible, unfailingly believing what that person says, without "testing his spirit" as the Bible instructs us to do. How dare I say that many people are too lazy to read God's Word for themselves? Because I was one of them, that is how I know. But praise the Lord that He is merciful and always willing to forgive us our laziness, and that He always reveals His Word to anyone who starts to ask Him for that. Seeing as how God, in His unbounded grace and mercy, decided to appoint me as a watchman too, I have to shout out this warning to Christians to stop allowing themselves to be deceived by other Christians!

The following warning pertains to those Christians causing other Christians to stumble, whoever they may be:

"Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken." (Jeremiah 6:17)

The watchmen's trumpets are sounding today for Christians to stop criticizing other Christians who just wish to be obedient to God's Word to the letter. The watchmen's trumpets warn Christians to open their spiritual eyes to the truth that the enemy would especially not want any Christians taking up their authority against their hordes and casting them out. In the next chapter I will explain the authority we have in the "kingdom of God", or the "kingdom of heaven" – right here on earth. Christians are so busy trying to prove other Christians wrong about THEIR opinion of the Bible, or about the question whether demons do still attack us as Christians today, or not, or about a thousand other little theological differences, that nobody really and truly withstands the enemy anymore.

And the devil and his demon hordes laugh themselves silly about our antics and arguments... We must remember that in these end-times the attacks against the elect will be fiercer than ever before, as satan wishes to deceive even the elect, as the Bible clearly warns. He is not very worried about young Christians, as he can easily fool or even stop them through some "negative" Christians. NO, he is after God's elect, God's champions, His generals, His ministers, His pastors, His preachers and His MATURE Christian children. Because if he can deceive THEM, he has won so much more... So he uses Christian ministers, pastors, and preachers to discredit each other, while in actual fact they have always been on the same side, just looking at the same thing from different points of view.

A friend of mine explained it to me very beautifully the other day, using his cellular phone as an example. God and His Word is like that cellular phone. Some people grow up seeing the face of the cellular phone and they think that is all there is to it. Some people grow up seeing only the back of the cellular phone, and they believe that is all there is to it. Others grow up seeing the left-hand side of the phone, and the others the right-hand side of the phone, and they believe that is all there is to it.

Now what happens, is that people who only saw the face of the phone meet people who only saw the back of the phone all their lives, and they start discussing the phone. To the people who only saw the back of their phone all their lives, the description given to them about the face part thereof, is an amazing revelation, and vice versa. Initially they refuse to believe the things told to them about the other, unknown parts of the cellular phone, but with time it becomes personal revelation to them, and they grow more familiar with the phone. And the same happens with the people who only knew one of the sides of the phone. It is an amazing experience to all of them to find they actually believed in the same thing all their lives, but that they all saw it from different angles. Suddenly they realize that this phone is now so much the more beneficial to them all as a result of their combined knowledge in respect thereof.

But what happens now, is that some of the people start digging into the intricate workings of the digital camera in the phone, and this confuses the rest totally. So what do those others do? They immediately condemn the ones going into the camera's workings too deeply. If only they will understand that that knowledge will lead them into an ever deeper understanding of the total package, which is the cellular phone, which will eventually benefit them all so much the more!

That is exactly what is happening to God's children today. Some were taught the Bible in this way, others in that way. Unfortunately they then automatically accept that ONLY their way of reading and understanding the Bible, is correct. If anyone dares to differ from their point of view, those people are immediately condemned, judged or criticized. If only they will start to realize that that new knowledge may actually lead them into an ever deeper understanding of God Himself! I recall that Jesus told His disciples when they tried to stop someone from doing things in Jesus' Name:

"And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." (Luke 9:50)

This is most definitely not the reaction we get from Christians today. The normal reaction these days is: "If he is not with US and OUR specific way of doing things, he is against us, throw him out!" It most definitely does not sound like Jesus' way of thinking, so whose way is it then? Anyone want to guess? Even Paul wrote:

"Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." (Philippians 1:15-18)

Hear the watchmen calling, children of the living God! Stop preaching Christ in envy and strife! Stop trying to discredit other Christian ministries when you do not even have knowledge of the way God may uniquely be using them. The fact that God may not have used you in any specific direction yet, or in the specific way He is using those other Christians you are trying so hard to discredit, does not mean it does not exist in God's kingdom. Rather be willing to learn from each other and grow together to the fullness of the maturity in Christ. Stop allowing satan to use Christian ministries to try and stop other Christian ministries!

Become AWARE of the "motions of the enemy" even in our Christian lives. I have found that Christians are afraid to acknowledge that they may have demons oppressing them, for the simple reason that they then believe they have lost their salvation through that oppression. That is not true! The only thing satan's demons can do, is to try and mess up your life, which they will most definitely be unsuccessful with if you really know who you are in Christ. But by denying that they even exist anymore in a Christian's life, is to deny Jesus' own ministry and His instruction to His disciples to go and do the same things that He did, to this day.

To me it is very interesting to note that satan uses Christians mostly to try and discredit those Christians or those Christian ministries, that specialize in helping to free people from the bondages of satan and his demons. Some people refer to this as the so-called "deliverance ministry", although there is really no such thing in the Bible. From the Bible it is clear that Jesus and all His disciples helped people to be delivered and set free from satan and his demons' bondage. That means they were actually ALL in the so-called "deliverance" ministry. So anybody casting out demons today is only obedient to God's Word and what Jesus Himself did and instructed us to do. Does it take a lot of logic to try and figure out why satan would specifically like the "deliverance" of people to stop? Or is it actually quite clear and simple why he would not want Christians to cast out his demons from other people? I give more details on how satan and his demons work to try and kill us in my book: "Passion for God."

The watchman's trumpet is sounding child of God – can you hear it yet? Or are you still allowing satan to stop your ears by making you angry with other Christians, or causing you to condemn other Christian ministries who do or say things different from you?

Christians, I BEG YOU, don't allow satan to use you to discredit other Christians or Christian ministries. If you may have reservations that what they are doing may not be from God, but you don't really know, rather pray and ask God to show you the truth, or open their eyes, whichever may be applicable. If what they are doing is from God, you won't be able to stop them in any case, which means you are only wasting valuable time which you could have used to lead other souls to Christ. If it is not from God, He will ensure that they are stopped in some way Himself.

Exactly the same warning that Gamaliel gave the council of Pharisees centuries ago, is applicable to you and I today:

"Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:34-39)

Take very serious note of the last two sentences dear Christian friend. If what those people that you are trying so hard to discredit is doing, is from man, it will also "come to nought". But if they are actually from God, you will also be found to "fight against God." Do you really want to go there?

"But Tiaan, the Bible says that in the last times false apostles and prophets will come! I just want to show the people who they are!" Friend, God Himself will show them out, as I explained above. But just ask yourself this question: While you are so busy trying to prove those other Christians or Christian ministries wrong, how much time do you spend on seeking lost souls, or helping other lost people get free from the bondages of the enemy? Ask yourself another question: Who benefits the most if you are so pre-occupied with trying to discredit other Christians or Christian ministries, or trying to prove them wrong, that you don't get to the point of making disciples of the nations? It doesn't take much to work that one out, does it?

5.The kingdom of God (Back to top)

"The watchman answers by way of prophecy" (Matthew Henry).

5.1.The heaven of heaven

In Chapter 3 we have already seen that God's kingdom is not only in heaven. It came to earth when Jesus came to earth. Now the question most people ask, is: "But if God's kingdom is on earth, where is it, and how do we see it?" The reason why we struggle to understand God's kingdom here on earth, is because so many people still believe that God's "kingdom" refers to heaven. You see, "kingdom" doesn't refer to heaven, but to our authority, our rule, reign or dominion, here on earth. How can I say this? Because the word used for "kingdom" in the New Testament Greek, is "basileia", which means "rule, or reign or dominion", whereas the Greek word for heaven, is "ouranos". To even the most untrained eye it is clear that there is a vast difference between the words "basileia" and "ouranos". The one does not even stem from the other. In Chapter 3 we have already seen that it was God's plan that we should rule, reign and have dominion, right from the very start in Genesis 1:26. Now let us look at the implementation of that rule in the New Testament.

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, REPENT ye: for the KINGDOM of heaven is AT HAND." (Matthew 3:1, 2)

Friend, if "kingdom" referred to heaven, John was saying here that we should repent because the heaven of heaven was at hand. Does it make sense? No, not really. But the moment we realize that he is ACTUALLY saying that we must repent because the rule, the reign, the dominion, yes, the AUTHORITY of heaven, is at hand, then something starts to make very good sense. Only the authority we have in Jesus Christ, can really help us to truly repent. To repent means to turn away from our old ways of doing things. So many people try to do this, only to fall back in their old ways time and again. This makes them feel unworthy or failures, which they most definitely are not.

The reason why they do fall back, is because they never knew that they must accept, appropriate and receive the "kingdom of heaven", yes, the authority of heaven, for themselves, which authority will then help them to repent and REALLY turn away from the old things. That heavenly, spiritual authority will help them to cast out the demons that still bind them in those wrong old things. The words "at hand" clearly refers to space and not to time. They mean that God's authority has come CLOSE to us, here on earth. It doesn't mean that HEAVEN has come closer to us in time.

Interesting to note, is the fact that it wasn't just John who used these words, but also Jesus Himself, when He came on the scene after being tempted by the devil.

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the KINGDOM of heaven is AT HAND." (Matthew 4:17)

Jesus very clearly repeats John's words. Why? Because they are so important. The word Jesus used for "kingdom" here, was "basileia", and after this scripture in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus used the word "kingdom" a further fifty four times in the King James version of the Bible. And each and every time the Greek word He used, was "basileia". Another very important point we shouldn't miss from this verse is that when Jesus BEGAN to preach He didn't preach love, or compassion or grace. No, He preached REPENTANCE and AUTHORITY!

5.2.See the kingdom, enter the kingdom

Let us now look at a very well-known scripture that many Christian people used over centuries to send millions of other Christian people to hell with.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5)

For centuries people said: "You see? If you aren't born again, you will not see heaven, nor enter into heaven." But interestingly enough, the word Jesus used here, was "basileia" in both instances.

In other words: "Nicodemus, if you aren't born again you will not SEE the AUTHORITY(rule, reign or dominion) of God, nor will you ENTER into the AUTHORITY of God. You may still be able to be a child of God Nicodemus, but you will be a child without any heavenly authority, compared to children WITH that heavenly authority."

Now how does this work, you ask?

Look at the following example: Let us say you have a three year old son. He toddles around your house and sees your car keys lying on the floor. He picks them up, walks out the back door and hands them to your hired help, telling him that he can have the car as a gift. Does your son have the authority to give away your car? I think I can almost hear you saying very adamantly: "Of course he hasn't!" But the question now remains, is he still your son? Oh, he is, you say. That means as such a toddler he doesn't have any authority to give away his father's things, but he still is his father's son!

That same principle applies to the kingdom of God. You get children of God who are totally without any spiritual authority, and who do not have a clue what gifts their Heavenly Father has to give away, and then you have children of God WITH full spiritual authority, who do know what heavenly spiritual gifts their Father has for them to hand out to the world. The first-mentioned children live lives of lack and are like waves tossed about on the ocean of faith, as they don't know what they have actually been endued with by their Heavenly Father. The second-mentioned children walk in faith, calling in their authority, standing on it, proclaiming it and using it for the furtherance of God's kingdom here on earth, just as Jesus instructed them to do.

So that means the well-known scriptures I quoted above, really has nothing to do with going to heaven or hell, but has everything to do with really seeking the rebirth, so that we can SEE, ENTER into, and LIVE in our full Godly authority. In fullness. In completeness. In POWER. HERE ON EARTH! And will that dominion we receive when we get reborn, ever end? No, it will last unto all eternity. We will still have it in heaven. Can you see that there just is no other way but to ensure with everything within us that we all earnestly seek after the rebirth, so that we may start to enjoy God's fullness here on earth already? There is just one choice – BECOME REBORN! Or else there will be no fullness, no completeness, no authority, but only a life of lack, of incompleteness.

5.3.Jesus preached the kingdom

As I wrote in Chapter 4, it is interesting to note that Jesus Himself stated that He was SENT to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Just look at those scriptures again:

"And he said unto them, I must preach the KINGDOM of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent." (Luke 4:43)

But then we read later that His favorite disciple, John, wrote the following:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

These two scriptures really sound like a contradiction. Jesus said He was sent to preach the kingdom of God, and compared to that His favorite disciple said He was sent to destroy the works of the devil. It really sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? So, which was it? Was He sent to preach the kingdom, or to destroy the works of the devil? But think again... is it really a contradiction? Most definitely not. It's both these things actually. You see, we cannot destroy the works of the devil in our daily lives, if we do not know what authority we have in the kingdom of God, here on earth.

That is why Jesus preached the kingdom ("basileia"), the authority of God, so that the works of the devil may be destroyed in His children's lives. So many people believe that they must only suffer through their years here on earth, in the "hope" that they will have dominion one day in heaven. May I ask you, dear friend, over what do you wish to have dominion in heaven? What we very well do need, is to have dominion here on earth, over all the powers of darkness that still attack us and wish to pull us away from Jesus Christ and His ETERNAL kingdom.

God made man to reign and rule and have dominion right at the very beginning. And He made them to rule and reign here on earth. He never said Adam and Eve were to rule in heaven. Then man gave his dominion away to satan in the garden of Eden. So God had to return man's heavenly, spiritual dominion to him. The only way He could do that, was to send His Son to come and teach man about his rule, reign and dominion again. He wanted to reinstate that which He meant man to have from the beginning. That is why Jesus said He was sent to preach the KINGDOM – the AUTHORITY – of God. He was sent to teach God's children about their heavenly authority again.

That is exactly why satan tried to ensure from the time that Jesus walked this earth that people don't understand the true meaning of Jesus' "kingdom" teachings. That is why satan tried to ensure that people initially believed the kingdom Jesus taught about actually referred to an earthly, physical, human kingdom.

Then, in later centuries, when human kingdoms were not the norm anymore, satan ensured that most people believed the "kingdom" Jesus spoke about, referred to heaven. All this in order to deceive God's people. He tried to do anything in his limited power to stop God's children from finding out what Jesus really meant about the kingdom. Unfortunately he was greatly successful in his deception.

As I said earlier, it doesn't take much to realize why satan would do everything in his power to ensure that God's children don't understand the TRUE meaning of the word "kingdom", nor their true authority in Christ's kingdom here on earth. Can you imagine how much of the earth could have been filled with God's glory already if His children had really lived in their true authority from the very time that Jesus and His disciples walked this earth, and preached the kingdom of God, to our present day?

Just look at the way Jesus taught His disciples (including us), to pray about the kingdom:

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)

We are not praying here for heaven to come, but for God's rule, His reign, His dominion, His authority, to come, HERE ON EARTH! The word Jesus used for "kingdom" here, was "basileia" in both instances. What will deliver us from evil? God's kingdom, His dominion, His authority, IN OUR DAILY LIVES. If we don't know what authority we have in Christ, we will not be able to walk in total freedom from the onslaught of darkness.

5.4.Jesus instructed his disciples

Do you dare call yourself a watchman on the walls of God's church today? Do you dare call yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ? Then you too, have the following instructions from Jesus Himself:

"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1, 2)

"And as ye go, (1) preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (2) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, (3) raise the dead, (4) cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7, 8)

Let no man ever tell you that these instructions were only for Jesus' disciples at that period of time. These are your instructions too. Including the "preach" part thereof. The "preaching" is not limited to the ministers, preachers and pastors, but is an instruction to ALL His disciples! If you do not do these things, you are disobedient to Jesus Christ Himself – no matter what any MAN tells you.

Jesus also warned people who may be trying to stop other people from entering the kingdom, or participating in the power flowing there-from, in the following verse:

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (Matthew 23:13)

Firstly this verse is another very clear indication that "kingdom" does not refer to heaven, as the scribes and Pharisees did not have the power to shut the gates of heaven before men, only Jesus has that power. But what they did do, was to shut up the authority of heaven before men. They didn't enter themselves, by not preaching or practicing their authority, and those members of their congregation that did want to enter, by praying for the sick, or casting out demons, they stopped from doing so. This is true to this very day we are living in.

Watchmen, sound the alarm about this! People are not taught about their authority in all churches today. In many instances they are taught about the prophetic, the gifts, the covenants, the sacraments, the love, the end-times, and everything else, which are all very important, but not much is heard on the authority they have in Christ – HERE AND NOW. And when certain congregation members are led by the Holy Spirit to start to DO exactly the five things Jesus did, as I explained them in Chapter 4, what happens? Their leaders and/or elders quickly try and stop them from doing so, by telling them that healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and casting out demons, was only for Jesus and His apostles' day. In so many words some of them actually say that signs and wonders passed away at some stage.

They usually use the argument that today we live by faith and not by sight. Strangely enough, the apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:7 also said that we walk by faith and not by sight, and nobody can deny that at the time he wrote that, he lived in a time of GREAT signs and wonders! In this same manner we can also walk by faith and not by sight today, and still experience the same great signs and wonders Paul did. These people that try to sow doubt and disbelief in God's children's hearts actually try to have people believe that signs and wonders effectively became "extinct" at some time or another. Maybe at the last apostle's death? These are all just thinly veiled lies from satan, who does not wish us to take up our authority against him and his demon hordes, they who are the ones that plague God's children, who cause diseases, tragedies, illnesses and who kill them.

And how does he do this? By again using Christians to deceive other Christians. The tragedy of the matter is that those Christians in many instances really believe that they are believing and telling the truth! People unfortunately get deceived and then they don't know they are deceived – because they are deceived!

How can I be so sure that satan is the one that causes all these things? I just look at the following scriptures in Isaiah which refers to satan's plans which caused him to be thrown from heaven. From these scriptures you will see what people will say about satan one day when he is thrown into the pit.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" (Isaiah 14:12-17)

From these scriptures it is clear that Lucifer's pride and haughtiness was the reason for him being thrown from heaven. His future is also described very clearly. And when he is thrown into that pit, people will then say: "O, is this pitiful being the one that made the earth to tremble for so many centuries? The one that made the world like a wilderness with sicknesses, famines, diseases and illnesses? Is he the one that destroyed the cities of the world and refused to let his prisoners go free from his bondages?" The tragedy is that people will only actually be willing to admit that he really was the one who did all these tragic things on earth, when he is thrown into the pit. Until then Satan will do his best to ensure that people blame God for all these things. In so doing he can pull many people AWAY from God

The further tragedy of it all is that satan uses Christians to further his deception in other Christians' minds, as I explained earlier. And it makes sense that he would, doesn't it? No Christian will listen to somebody who is known as a non-believer, as I said earlier.

So what happens, is that God Himself raises up His watchmen throughout the world to start to preach the kingdom of God again. If you listen real well, you will discern more and more men and women of God starting to preach "kingdom" principles, on the radio, on television, in books, all over the world. What are they talking about? Exactly that which I am writing here. So, it is really time to listen up, God's people!

Why must specifically the gospel of the kingdom be preached throughout the world by God's watchmen? Let's see what Jesus said to clear up this matter:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and THEN SHALL THE END COME." (Matthew 24:14)

Oh wow! I have no doubt in my mind that God's children have been taught long enough that they are worthless, unworthy, rejected, inferior or failures and that they should only "hope" to one day achieve eternal life. We are most definitely nearing the end and that is why we suddenly hear the gospel of the KINGDOM being preached more and more throughout the world. Why? Because the authority that God's children have, must produce a testimony unto all nations. A testimony of what? Of a living, omnipotent, all powerful, healing, resurrecting God! A God that all people will WANT to worship, for the fact that relationship with Him brings REAL POWER into your life.

The more people that see the sick healed, the dead raised, demons cast out and authority preached AND PRACTICED, the more people will realize that truly, God is the only living God. And THEN the end will come. The fact that I do hear "kingdom" preached more and more throughout the world, tells me the end is very definitely near. But the fact is, the kingdom must not just be PREACHED, it must be practiced as well. God's children must DO what they are supposed to do with their authority, namely healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead and casting out demons – UNTIL JESUS RETURNS! Otherwise kingdom preaching will also not avail much. Otherwise kingdom preaching will also just be so much another sermon.

5.5.Raise the dead

While on this subject, let us ponder the raising of the dead for a while. People usually ask me: "Do you think the Bible really means that we should raise the bodies of the dead? Don't you think it means to raise up spiritually dead people by leading them to Jesus Christ, thereby raising their spirits from the dead?" Yes, I do, and no, I don't, and the reason why I believe the Bible says exactly what is written, I find in 2 Corinthians 1:13:

"For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end..."

This scripture tells me that, if the Bible says Jesus' disciples will raise the dead, it means exactly that. It does not mean the spiritually dead, because then Jesus would have said so. And in any case, did Jesus only raise the spiritually dead? No, He raised the dead! Did He raise ALL the dead He came across? No, only the ones He was led to resurrect by His Father. In actual fact He just raised three people. In the same manner we will only raise those dead that the Holy Spirit leads us to. In spiritual magazines and testimonies we already read about thousands of people being raised from the dead across the globe today, people who have even been dead a few days prior to being resurrected. Why is this so important specifically in our day and time?

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The LAST enemy that shall be destroyed is DEATH." (1 Corinthians 15:20-26)

If we read these scriptures carefully, we will note that Christ has risen from the dead, so very clearly this refers to the time we are living in now. According to these scriptures Jesus will reign in heaven UNTIL He has put all His enemies under His feet, and the last enemy that must be destroyed, is death. Now we all know that Jesus already conquered death on the cross when He passed by the first time. So, who must destroy death and put it under His feet before He will RETURN? We must! His children, who know who they are in Christ, and who know what authority they have in Christ. Jesus has no other way to put all His enemies under His feet, but through us, IN whom He lives and has His being, here on earth.

Because Satan knows the Word of God better than any of us, he also knows that the word for our times is: "Kingdom" – AUTHORITY! That is why he will do anything in his power to restrain God's children from taking up their spiritual authority in God's Kingdom. So what does he do? He ensures that not many Christians hear about all the people being raised from the dead across the globe, and if they do, he ensures that his demon spirits plant enough thoughts of doubt into the Christians' minds, so that they don't really take it seriously. After all, for so many years he has taught them, through the interaction of his demon spirits, that they are too unworthy to even get close to God, not to mention raising the dead!

In South Africa we had a very good example of the way he tries to stop Christians from trying to raise the dead, during the year 2004. A person died in a small town and a self-proclaimed "prophet" prophesied that the deceased will be resurrected on a specific date. My personal belief is that Satan himself sent a spirit of divination and a spirit of lies to speak through that "prophet", because he wanted to confuse God's people. This brought a frenzy of media attention to this little town and the family of the deceased. The whole world was watching this little town – and the deceased's coffin. But nothing happened and a few months later the deceased was eventually buried.

So what does Satan whisper into the ears of Gods' children through this? "Do you see that you can't pray for the dead? There is no such thing that the dead will be raised. So, if you thought you can pray for the dead, you just saw what happened in that little town. If you start to pray for the dead, your name will also be made a public spectacle. So rather refrain from praying for the dead! Sit down, and shut up!" And that is precisely what the Christians now do. They doubt the truth of God's word. They "deny the Lord" by doubting the fact that He said they will be able to raise the dead.

5.6.Seek and change

Friend, what are we really seeking here on earth? So many of us know the following scripture by heart:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

According to me, this is another excellent example of the fact that "kingdom" does not refer to heaven, as we cannot seek heaven first. Heaven is the thing that God's children will all receive last, when they die. But the moment we realize this verse states that we should first seek the AUTHORITY of God, and His righteousness, then we understand why "all these things" will be added unto us. When we FIRST seek His AUTHORITY in our lives, we will find that "all these things" will include a greater hunger for God's Word, greater fervor to preach that Word and the necessary authority to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons and so forth. Although there are still real lepers today, I personally believe the "lepers" of today's society are the AIDS patients. How many AIDS victims have you prayed for today to be cleansed? "Oh no! I can't touch them, I am too scared I might contract the disease!" And Satan laughs at us... Friend, are you willing to change your way of thinking about God's kingdom yet?

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted (CHANGED), and become as little children, ye shall NOT enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4)

If "kingdom" really did refer to heaven, I know of many more people going to hell than we think, because we find an attitude among many of God's children of: "This is the way I was made, leave me alone, I refuse to change!" Well, if kingdom was heaven friend, you are most definitely going to hell with that attitude according to this verse. But praise God for His mercy, grace and compassion! The word Jesus used in these scriptures for "kingdom", was also "basileia". In other words, if we are not willing to change and become as little children, we will not enter into God's authority. Is it possible that we may still be His children? Yes, but we will be children without authority, as I explained earlier.

Why did Jesus use little children as examples so many times in the Bible? Because little children do not question their father! They look up to him, love him, respect him, and believe everything he tells them. What do the "learned and wise" people of today's society do, even IN our churches? They question their Heavenly Father! The slightest excuse is used to try and prove that the Bible cannot be true in exactly the way and form it is written.

Christians doubt the virgin birth, they doubt the story of Jonah in the stomach of the fish, they doubt the healings referred to in the Bible, and they even doubt Jesus' own instructions as I wrote earlier. And as long as they so doubt the truth contained in the Bible, as long as they question their Heavenly Father, as long as they refuse to CHANGE and believe the things contained in the Bible like little children, they will NOT enter into the authority of God. But is it possible for them to still be His children, even though they don't have any authority? Yes it is.

Also look at the last sentence which states that he who humbles himself like a little child, in other words who believes his Heavenly Father's Word like a small child, who doesn't try to be a "learned and wise" man in men's eyes, will be the greatest in the authority of heaven. You see, God cannot work with pride and haughtiness, because that is a demon spirit from Satan in the first place, and God said pride is an abomination in His sight. But humility brings authority. We cannot have a better example of true humility WITH heavenly authority, than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He believed His Father to the letter, and He obeyed His Father's instructions to the letter. Why can't we do the same? Because we listen to the lies told to us by the "father of lies", Satan! He is very afraid that Christians will really start to believe the Bible just as it is written and be obedient to Christ to the letter, because then he and his demon hordes will have huge problems.

So he ensures that we Christians are kept so busy arguing with each other about the specific interpretation of certain scriptures or words, or the context it is written in, that nobody takes up their authority and actually DOES something in accordance with what Jesus teaches us about our heavenly authority!

5.7.Rich man in the kingdom

Take note of one thing, authority is never found in riches or wealth.

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:24-26)

In the first instance this scripture shows clearly that even His disciples, at that time, did not understand what the kingdom of God was all about. They also thought it had to do with their salvation. But when Jesus saw and heard their doubt, He explained it very clearly by saying: "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." You see, even when men think they are lost and cannot be saved, or that they must surely now be on their way to hell, God states that with Him it is still possible for them to be saved.

Let us now look at the meaning of these scriptures with regards to the fact that Jesus said a rich man will not very easily enter the kingdom of God. As a result of this verse, many rich people were condemned to hell by many well-meaning but poorly informed, Christians over the years. This verse in so many instances also led to the point of view that preachers and pastors had to be kept poor by the congregation, thereby apparently hopefully ensuring that they will then be going to heaven. God forbid that the pastor may drive an expensive German car, or live in an expensive home!

The moment that it only looks as if it is going too well with the pastor financially, some congregation members start to grumble about how the church is misusing THEIR money to buy new things for the pastor. In the first instance it is not their money but God's, and in the second instance, who are we to judge if God wishes to bless any specific preacher or pastor for the work he or she is doing in His kingdom? "But Tiaan, the pastor never visits us!" That may be true, but what may also be true, is that you don't even know how many hours that pastor or minister spends on his knees to pray to God for you and your family to be blessed and kept safe. Do you ever think to thank him for that?

God may be blessing him mightily for leading lost souls into His kingdom that you don't even know about, and yet you dare to condemn him. How many souls have you led to Jesus the past year? "But it is the pastor's job to lead souls to Jesus!" you say. No, it isn't. It is YOUR commission, your job, Christian, whoever you are. You see, Jesus gave the following so-called Great Commission to His disciples, long before we heard about a preacher or pastor for the first time.

"Go YE therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19, 20)

The above-mentioned instructions to go and teach all nations and to make disciples of men, were given to His disciples, not to the ministers and pastors, sixty two years before Paul wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus, wherein he referred to the five-fold ministry, as follows:

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:..." (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Very clearly then, we see that it is not the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who must go and make disciples, but Jesus' followers who walk in a personal relationship with Him on a daily basis. Of course the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers do also make disciples for Jesus, as they are also His followers, but if we read the verse I quoted above slowly, we will see that they have another function altogether, namely:

"...(1) For the perfecting of the saints, (2) for the work of the ministry, (3) for the edifying of the body of Christ; (4) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and (5) of the knowledge of the Son of God, (6) unto a perfect man, (7) unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..."

I count seven things in the quoted scriptures that the five-fold ministry is here for, and they all have to do with building up the body of Christ on earth to become mature in Christ. On Sunday mornings and/or evenings I go to church to be edified by what any of the five-fold ministry has been told by God during the previous week. But from Sunday evening to the following Saturday evening I ensure that I get onto my Heavenly Father's lap myself, and I ask Him to reveal His Word to me personally through His Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday morning I go to church again, hungry to hear what new revelations God has given to that pastor, minister or teacher. Revelations that will edify me even more, and will help me grow even stronger spiritually. To "edify" means to "build up or strengthen" something or someone.

The teachings I receive from the five-fold ministry is there to build me up, to strengthen me spiritually. Why? So that we can eventually all come in the unity of the faith, unto the measure of maturity in Christ. Unfortunately Satan succeeds in causing many Christians to so criticize and judge the people God called to the five-fold ministry, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors, and/or to ridicule them to such an extent, that we are not open to be built up by what God gave them to teach us any longer.

Enough said on that. Let us now return to why a rich man will not enter the kingdom of God very easily. For so many years we have kept each other so busy trying to interpret what Jesus "actually" meant about the camel and the eye of the needle - (they argue that Jesus did not actually refer to a needle, but to a certain door in the walls of Jerusalem that is so small that a fully laden camel cannot enter through it) \- that nobody thought about the implications of what He really said about the KINGDOM! You see, this is exactly the way Satan works. He keeps people so busy trying to interpret what Jesus said about other things - the needle, in this instance - that nobody tries to interpret what He said about the important things. The important part of what He said here is not found in what He said about the eye of the needle, but definitely in what He said about the kingdom.

Why then will a rich man struggle to enter the "kingdom", the AUTHORITY of God? Because in his eyes his "authority" so many times lies in his wealth, riches and possessions, even though the following scriptures are very clear:

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city..." (Proverbs 10:15)

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." (Proverbs 18:11)

"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." (Proverbs 23:5)

"He that trusteth in his riches SHALL fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." (Proverbs 11:28)

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let NOT the rich man glory in his riches..." (Jeremiah 9:23)

Very clearly then, riches are NOT something that we should put our trust, or our glory, or our authority in. According to these scriptures, wealth is only a "strong city" and "an high wall" in the rich man's own conceit, in his own mind. That is exactly the reason why a rich man will not enter into the kingdom of God very easily. You see, if his children become ill, why will he take up his authority and pray for them to be healed? No, he just calls the doctor, writes out a check and commands the doctor to heal his child. I have no problem with going to the doctor, as I believe with all my heart God really wants to heal us. My question however is, which doctor do you call first? Do you first call on the Heavenly Doctor by way of a prayer before going to the human doctor? Or do you call on the human doctor first? So many times, when we take up the authority we have in God's kingdom here on earth, and we pray for the sick - AS JESUS SAID WE SHOULD - it is not even necessary to call the human doctor anymore.

When a rich man's children get drawn into Satanism, or the occult, or witchcraft, why would he take up his authority and cast out the demons attacking and plaguing them? No, he writes out a check, calls the rehabilitation centre and commands the psychiatrists to "sort out" his son's "head". Unfortunately the problem in so many of these cases do not lie in the "head", but in the spirit. Again, God wishes to heal us in spirit, soul and body and that is why there are also many great psychiatrists and psychologists, but the question remains, who do you call first? The Heavenly Psychiatrist, or the human one? Because so many times, after having called the Heavenly Psychiatrist first by way of a prayer, and then using His authority to cast out those demons, it is not even necessary to call the human one anymore. These are the reasons why some "rich men" will hardly enter the kingdom, the authority, of God.

On the other hand, I personally know many rich people who sow their finances into God's work, into ministries where souls are gathered for God's kingdom, and they are blessed with millions more. Because that is exactly what God wants to do for His children who are obedient to His Biblical instructions on finances. These rich people have learned that their authority does not lie in their wealth, but in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which brings about the rest of the things that Jesus promised.

5.8.The kingdom and iniquities

Now let us look at what the Bible says about adulterers, homosexuals and the like. "But Tiaan, the Bible is very clear that adulterers, homosexuals, and idolaters will not go to heaven!" Really friend? Shall we look at the scriptures which are usually quoted to try and prove that specific allegation? In both the scriptures which I quote below, the word used in the Greek for "kingdom", is "basileia", in other words: "rule, or reign, or dominion".

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall NOT inherit the KINGDOM of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the KINGDOM of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall NOT inherit the KINGDOM of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

So, again, these scriptures has nothing to do with going to heaven, but has everything to do with living in authority, or not. None of the people doing any of the mentioned things will ever inherit the rule, or reign, or dominion of God – where? Here on earth. Because God's children were meant to rule, to reign and to have dominion, here on earth, as I have already explained earlier. Please take very clear note – I AM NOW REFERRING TO CHILDREN OF GOD WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO JESUS AND THEN FALL INTO ANY OF THE MENTIONED THINGS.

People who have not made a choice for Jesus in their lives will go straight to hell when they die. Hell is an eternal, fearsome reality which no one must ever try to deny. What Satan tries to do, is to use the things mentioned in the scriptures above, to try and cause God's children to turn away from God and thereby to commit the one unforgivable sin, namely eventually slandering the Holy Spirit. Using the above-mentioned things, he tries to draw them AWAY from God, to a place where they will eventually commit that one unpardonable sin.

But until they do, these things – which are definitely sins - cannot cause God's children to lose their salvation, although many of these things may most definitely cause them to die before the completion of the full life God planned for them. I have written in more detail about this in my book: "Passion for God". Take note that the things mentioned in these scriptures are NOT the sin against the Holy Spirit, so born again children of God who are caught in these sins have not yet committed that unforgivable sin, that will cause them to go to hell.

What is really stated very clearly in the above-mentioned scriptures, is that children of God doing the said things, will not inherit any of God's authority. They will be children of God with no authority, as I explained earlier about your three year old son giving away his father's car.

Friend, if "kingdom" really referred to the fact that people doing those things will not inherit "heaven", then millions more people will be going to hell than to heaven. Millions more than any of us ever thought possible. How can I say that? Because I know of MANY church-going Christians who are still "drunkards", who still live in "strife", or "hate" or "wrath", who still "covet" either the neighbor's wife, or his better car, or better house, who still have "envy" in their heart. So, if "kingdom" was "heaven" they are all going to hell, even while hoping and thinking that just maybe they may be going to heaven.

According to my personal experiences with the Lord however, I find that contrary to the grace and mercy I found the day when I met my Heavenly Father. In contrast to what I said in the previous three paragraphs, I read in the Bible that He does NOT want ANY sinners to go to hell and that is why He sent His Son to earth, so that the WHOLE EARTH can be saved.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should NOT perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the WORLD through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH on him is NOT condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

I also read the following very clear statement in the Bible:

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Do you see any indication in this verse that our Father sits in heaven just waiting for people to make mistakes so that He could send millions of them to hell? I don't. I see in this verse that He does not wish ANY of us to perish. Not a single one. He wishes ALL of us to repent, to turn away from our wrong way of doing things.

Now tell me, those church-going Christians who are still drunkards, who still hate, envy, covet, have strife and live in adultery, do they BELIEVE in Jesus Christ? YES, they do, otherwise they would not go near a church. It is exactly their BELIEF in Jesus Christ and their hope in His saving grace that keeps them going back to church, even though they may wonder on a daily basis whether they are actually going to make it to heaven or not, and even though they may feel as guilty as hell. Even though their consciences may be driving them up the wall. It is their HOPE IN CHRIST that keeps them clutching to their FAITH, even though they may not bear the fruit of repentance in their lives as yet. The following scripture is also very clear:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me HATH everlasting life." (John 6:47)

This scripture does NOT say: "He that believeth on me, and who does no sin at all, has everlasting life..." Also read the second- last scripture I quoted above (John 3:18), again, slowly: "He that BELIEVETH on him is NOT condemned..." Please tell me whether I may be missing some words here. Does it say: "He that believeth on him, and does NO SIN AT ALL, who does not fornicate, strife, hate, envy, covet and drink, is not condemned..."? Or does it say: "ONLY He that believeth on him, and ONLY he that really bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the fruit of righteousness, and the true fruit of repentance, is not condemned..." NO, that is not what it says.

It clearly states that anyone who BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST IS NOT CONDEMNED – THAT HE WHO BELIEVES HAS EVERLASTING LIFE. Period. And do those fornicating, drinking, envying, hating, striving, coveting, fruit-less, church-going Christians I referred to, believe in Jesus Christ? I have already answered that one. "But Tiaan, they may only say so with their mouths, but their hearts are not in it, so that means they are definitely going to hell!" Friend, I don't see that part in the above-mentioned scripture either. In any case, that is something only God will judge eventually, - whether it was genuine and from the heart, or not. Who are you and I to try and play God? The Bible is clear that God is the one that tests the hearts of the people – we certainly don't have that privilege.

So, let us now return to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21 as quoted earlier. What do the said scriptures mean then, in the light of what I have written so far about authority? Plain and simple, as long as you PERSIST in those mentioned sins, you will not have any authority over Satan and his demon spirits who bring about the things stated in those scriptures. May I give you an example. The two demon spirits that cause homosexuality, are the spirit of rejection and the spirit of perversion. Most homosexuals we have ministered to, became homosexual for one of two reasons. One is because their fathers never gave them any love (rejection), so they started seeking their father's love from another man; and the other is because they were molested as young boys. That is where the spirit of perversion enters.

I have never had any problem to disagree with the long arguments that most homosexuals or lesbians use that their "problem" is actually only genetical because they were born that way. If it really was genetical, I am personally of the opinion that all homosexuals would have been "extinct" within two generations, as they cannot have children. No, the longer I minister to people REGARDING spiritual bondages, and minister to people IN such spiritual bondages, the more I become certain that Satan's demon spirit of rejection and his spirit of perversion are the ones that cause homosexuality and lesbianism.

Then satan and those specific demons ensure that these poor people use everything in their power to try and prove, through court cases, marches, gay and lesbian days and whatever else, that it is anything OTHER than a spiritual problem, and that they have a RIGHT to be the way they are. In so doing satan can keep them away from really handling the root of their problem. No, homosexualism is still a sin, just as smoking, drinking, fornication, adultery and all those other things are also all sins.

It isn't a bigger sin than smoking, and it isn't a smaller sin than drinking. Sin is sin is sin. The problem with most Christians of our day is that they don't call sin by its name anymore. It is called a "slight mistake", or even an "illness" in some instances, or a "genetical disorder" etc. But whatever man may call it, the Bible still calls it sin. And sin must be stopped, repented of and turned away from! And sin CAN be repented from and turned away from, no matter what it is! All it needs, is for the root to be identified and pulled out and a real, heartfelt willingness afterwards to live in true Jesus Christ holiness.

But until you do that, you will have no spiritual authority. We must realize that to use the homosexuals' argument about their "right" to their way of life, this would actually mean that people living in adultery, fornication, strife, covetousness, hate, bitterness, unforgiveness, drinking and whatever other sin there may be that the Bible warns against, may now also start marching to gain the RIGHT to be the way they are! Friend, who are we all marching against, in the end? Against God Himself!

We don't have to try and prove to other PEOPLE that we have the "right" to do this, or to be this, or do that, or be that. In the end we have to justify ourselves before God alone and not before man! We are all going to stand before His mighty Throne one day, whether we presently believe it or not. The question that He is going to ask us is: "My child, why did you persist in your sin, while I very clearly told you to repent, turn away and sin no more?" Are you going to say to the Creator of heaven and earth: "But Lord, I had the RIGHT to sin! And actually it wasn't really sin. You MADE me that way!" Do you really think God in His HOLINESS will agree with that argument?

Satan tries his best to stir us all up in trying to justify ourselves before other MEN. We waste years of our lives trying to prove to other PEOPLE why we think we have the right to persist in our sins. But after all those years have passed, and we have wasted years of valuable time, or millions of dollars in money to fund campaigns, we will still all die and end up before His Throne. Have you really, really, really, really ever tried to sit still for just one minute and contemplate on what you are going to answer Him about those sins you tried to justify before men for so long? Do you REALLY think you will be able to appease Him with all the clever arguments we use against each other? Do you think God is human, in that He will accept all your human arguments about persisting in sin? I don't think so. He is holy, and He wishes us to be holy. Period.

Back to our example now, of how we will not have any authority if we persist in any of the mentioned sins: Pastor Paddy calls John, who prays for people to be set free from satan's bondages, to come and minister to Peter, who is homosexual and wishes to be set free from that bondage. What they don't know, however, is that John himself was molested as a young boy, so he also is oppressed by the spirit of perversion. What happens now, is that John starts to pray for Peter and then commands the spirit of perversion to leave his body. That spirit is going to laugh at John and will mock him with something like: "You want to do WHAT with me? I am also resident in you! You have no AUTHORITY to cast me out of Peter!"

This is exactly the problem such a person will encounter. May that gay or lesbian person still be a child of God, however? Most definitely so, as I explained earlier, but he or she will be a child without any spiritual authority. As I explained earlier too, through that specific sin satan and his demons will try their best to pull these sinning children of God away to the one place where they may sin against the Holy Spirit, thereby losing their salvation. But until they do, they are still children of God. Children without any authority, but children still.

That is what will happen to the Christians who still do the things mentioned in the quoted scriptures of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21. They will NOT be able to help any other people to be set free from those bondages and sins. A Christian suffering to get free from alcohol abuse will NOT be able to help anybody else be set free from alcohol abuse. The spirit of addiction and bondage, that brings about that alcohol abuse, or smoking addiction, or drug abuse, or whatever other kind of addiction, will not flee from any child of God who does not have spiritual authority and who is not himself pure before God. The reason for that is that the specific spirit has a legal right in that person's body. We will only have spiritual authority if we are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, and if we really bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit and if we are really pure and holy before God.

Going to heaven is one thing. That is the awesome "cherry on top" that waits for all of us who have chosen Jesus as Savior! Having spiritual authority here on earth is something totally different. Only if I am pure and holy and sanctified before my Heavenly Father, can He use me to help His other children who are not yet as pure, to be set free from their bondages. Take note that I can only become pure from those things by first ensuring that I am personally totally freed from any bondages from my past myself, and thereafter by appropriating the spiritual authority I have IN CHRIST, and then LIVING in that spiritual authority, DAILY, in God's kingdom here on earth.

Was His instruction to His disciples in Matthew 10:7, 8, as I explained it in Chapter 4, not to cast out demons? There is no doubt in my mind that ALL the things mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21 are brought about by satan and his demons. "Tiaan, you are wrong, those things come from my own self, from my own thinking, don't give the devil the blame for everything!" If that were true friend, why do we find the following verses in the Bible:

"NOT that we are sufficient of ourselves to think ANY THING as of ourselves..." (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Clearly then, we cannot think ANY THING as of ourselves. So our thoughts come from one of two places, from God's kingdom, or from satan's kingdom. Then we must CHOOSE what we want to do with those thoughts.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

These scriptures very clearly indicate a CHOICE that must be made. Why does the Bible instruct us to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? Because Jesus knew we will be getting thoughts that are not from Him, that are from satan. Thoughts that will tempt us to sin, and thoughts that will eventually draw us into sin. Are the things mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21 not sins? And where do those sins come from?

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the DEVIL SINNETH from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

Yes, sin is from the devil and if I sin, I am listening to the devil, NOT to my own thoughts. So I do have to STOP my sinning! But take note, dear friend, there is no such thing as: "The devil MADE me do it!" The devil can "make" you do NOTHING! He and his demon spirits can only place a thought into your mind, and then YOU CHOOSE what you are going to do with that thought. Are you going to execute that thought, or are you going to take it captive to the obedience of Christ? My fight is not against myself, my own flesh or even other people, but against satan and his demon hordes – and for that fight I need the spiritual authority which is only found in God's kingdom here on earth.

"For we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

The moment that I make myself available for God's kingdom I must know that there can be no looking back or retreating or running away.
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

Do you remember the song: "I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, praise the Lord no turning back." The "kingdom" is what it is all about. If you really want to live in your full spiritual authority there can be no more reference to the things we did yesterday. There can be no more talks about "the good old days". Jesus said He brings us a hope and a FUTURE, "an expected end". Satan is the one who keeps on trying to pull us back into our past, so that he can make us feel guilty about the things we did wrong in that past. No, children of God who have taken up their authority in the kingdom of God here on earth, do not look back. They live for that hope and future, starting right here and now.

5.9.Where is the kingdom?

After having read everything that I have written so far about kingdom, it may be that you have decided to rather stay a child of God without authority, as you aren't willing to heal the sick, or face satan to cast out his demons, etcetera. If so, as one of God's watchmen, I must unfortunately disappoint you. You are not allowed to go on any longer without your spiritual authority. Why? Because God Himself CALLS you into His kingdom here on earth.

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath CALLED you unto his kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

You have no excuse before God NOT to want to walk and live in His kingdom. He CALLS you into His kingdom. If we don't heed His call to enter the kingdom, we are DISOBEDIENT to God, and if we are disobedient to God, we are OBEDIENT TO SATAN! Again, it doesn't take much to realize why satan would rather have us not heed God's call to authority. He would like to ensure that we don't listen to God's voice to enter His kingdom - ever. For as long as we don't, he and his demons have nothing to fear from us. We are no opposition to them. But the moment we do take up our authority and start to resist them and cast them out of our, and other people's lives, we are definitely opposition to them. That is why satan would rather that we don't heed God's call to enter into His kingdom.

Where, then, is that "kingdom" of God and how do we enter into it? Do we have to do anything, or to produce anything, to earn it or to receive this kingdom? Not if I understand the following scripture correctly, as I read here that God already GAVE it to you and me.

" Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to GIVE you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)

What will help us to get rid of the spirit of fear in our lives? Our AUTHORITY in God's kingdom here on earth. Where do we find this authority? According to this scripture God has already GIVEN it to His disciples, we do not have to earn it in any way. But if He has already given it to us, WHERE is it? That is exactly what the scribes and Pharisees also wanted to know. But just look at Jesus' answer to their question:

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU." (Luke 17:20-21)

This is AWESOME! "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation..." confirms the fact that this kingdom is not a physical kingdom. Why not? Because it is ALREADY IN US! God GAVE it to us and He put it IN US. Isn't this STUNNING to know? What is more interesting to me, is who Jesus also tells this to – to the Pharisees. The same people that He also called a "generation of vipers". Now isn't it interesting to think that He tells the same people that He actually called a "generation of vipers" that the kingdom of God is WITHIN THEM too? If the kingdom of God was also in them, how much more in those church-going Christians that we spoke of earlier, who still fornicate, strife, hate, envy or live in adultery?

And most definitely this verse cannot mean that HEAVEN is within us, because that will mean that we will be going into ourselves when we die. NO! When we die as born again believers we will be going straight to heaven. But while we live here on earth as children of the kingdom, God's AUTHORITY is within us.

The question however, that remains to be asked, is: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT KINGDOM, THAT AUTHORITY THAT IS WITHIN YOU, child of God?" Are you using it to resist the devil and his demons, to cast out demons, heal the sick etcetera, or are you still hiding it behind a façade of religion, or behind an excuse of unworthiness, insecurity, inferiority or failure? All that is needed is for you to start to SPEAK your spiritual authority into life, by first appropriating that authority for yourself, and then by starting to pray for people for healing, deliverance and whatever else the Holy Spirit leads you to pray for.

5.10.The key to the kingdom

Now let us get to the key of this whole section about the authority we have in God's kingdom here on earth. What is the key? Being baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, nothing less, nothing more. How can I say this? Let us look what Jesus said after they accused Him of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub.

"And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, THEN the KINGDOM of God is come unto you." (Matthew 12:27, 28)

When is the kingdom of God come upon us? When we also start to cast out demons BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. We will not be able to do that, and we will not have any spiritual authority, if we are not FILLED with the Holy Spirit of God. You see, RECEIVING the Holy Spirit and being BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit are two very clear but separate moments in my walk with God. People who give their hearts to the Lord receive the Holy Spirit at that moment, but not everybody is also baptized in the Holy Spirit at that specific moment. Many times the baptism (infilling) only follows at a later stage. How can I say this? Well, as always I read the Bible and look at Jesus and His disciples as my examples. I don't listen to what people say, I choose to read – believe – and trust - what the Bible says.

"And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong IN SPIRIT, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." (Luke 2:40)

We read this verse before Jesus went to Jerusalem as a twelve year old. And what do we see? He already "waxed strong in spirit". What does this mean? It means He already had the Spirit of God within Him as a child of God. You may think so what, He was Jesus so He had to have the Spirit of God within Him. That is true, but it is also very clear from the Bible that Jesus didn't do any signs and wonders PRIOR to being BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit. If He already had the Holy Spirit of God within Him before He turned twelve, why did He have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit as well? Because the baptism in the Holy Spirit brings the "kingdom", the authority. If Jesus needed to be baptized in the Holy Spirit before He could start His earthly ministry, how much more you and I - as His disciples? Let us now look at the scripture confirming that He was actually baptized in the Holy Spirit more than eighteen years later.

"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove UPON HIM, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21, 22)

This event very clearly confirms the fact that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was a SECOND event in Jesus' life, so must it also be a second event in my spiritual life. And yours... How does it really work? You receive the Holy Spirit when you accept and receive Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12) and you are baptized in the Holy Spirit when somebody prays for you for the infilling (baptism) of the Holy Spirit. You can pray that prayer for yourself too.

Another way in which satan withheld God's children from really going out in their spiritual authority over all the years, was by letting Christians of different denominations argue about the words "baptism" in the Holy Spirit, or the "infilling" of the Holy Spirit. One denomination argued that we had to be "baptized" in the Holy Spirit, while another argued it had nothing to do with "baptism", but that we had to receive the "infilling" of the Holy Spirit. And through all these "theological arguments" about which word actually "correctly" described this wonderful spiritual event, many Christians over the years were left in the cold and never just went on their knees and asked God to FILL them with His POWER!

Again I ask you, is it difficult to understand why satan would try to keep us so busy arguing about the specific WORD to use, that not many people actually appropriated that power, that authority, for themselves? He KNEW that if they started to grow past the arguments about the specific word, and just asked God to GIVE THEM HIS POWER, whether by "baptism" or "infilling", that he and his demon hordes would have huge problems. So for ages he used Christians to limit other Christians, or to deny other Christians that awesome spiritual power, by ensuring that they are kept so busy with their arguments among themselves that not many came to the point of living in actual authority.

Enough about that, let us now look at the example of Jesus' disciples, to confirm that the infilling with the Holy Spirit, or in other words, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is a second event in normal people's lives too.

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost..." (John 20:22)

Jesus said this and breathed on His disciples just prior to ascending to heaven. What did they RECEIVE in that moment? Very clearly, the Holy Spirit. Now the question: Did they walk out and do mighty deeds and wonders after having received the Holy Spirit? Did they heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, etcetera, after this moment in the Bible? No, they didn't. What had to follow?

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, UNTIL ye be ENDUED with POWER from on high." (Luke 24:49)

Now, they had already RECEIVED the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them, but still they had to wait to be "endued" (Dictionary: "to provide or endow, as with some quality or POWER") with "power from on high". What did this refer to? The POWER they would receive when they got filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit! How do we know this? Well, read the following scripture with me please:

"But ye shall receive POWER, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come UPON you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Look sharply now! When were they going to receive that POWER from on high? AFTER the Holy Ghost came UPON them, as He also came UPON Jesus Himself. Very clearly and very definitely then, a SECOND event in their lives. The first event was when Jesus breathed on them before He ascended to heaven, when they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit, and the second one was to be when they were filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. A little later we read that they were filled/baptized with the Holy Spirit when they were all together in the upper room. And only AFTER that did they start to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, raise the dead and preach about the authority (kingdom) themselves.

The same man who earlier denied that he even knew Jesus Christ (Simon Peter), stood up under that POWER that he received when he was FILLED with the Holy Spirit and delivered a sermon that caused three thousand people to be saved in an instant. That sounds like a child of God without authority who suddenly took up his authority and did something with it. But when did this happen to him? Only after he was baptized with the Holy Spirit!

To confirm this fact that RECEIVING the Holy Spirit is something altogether different than being FILLED (BAPTIZED) with the Holy Spirit, let us read the following scriptures as a further clear example:

"And it came to pass, that... Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain DISCIPLES, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye BELIEVED? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost CAME ON THEM; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (Acts 19:1-6)

Here we see very clearly that Paul found some disciples in Ephesus, so they were Christians, new believers AFTER the cross at Calvary and Jesus' ascension. They were not believers under the old covenant, but under the new covenant, just like you and I are. He asks them specifically whether they received the Holy Spirit when they became believers. Their answer sadly reverberates to this very day, in that certain Christians, who are believers today also don't really appreciate, or acknowledge, that there is a Holy Spirit.

But praise the Lord for His love and Holy Spirit that is also available for believers to this very day who have not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit. So the believers Paul found in Ephesus all received the Holy Spirit when they became believers, but at this second event only were they filled with the Holy Spirit. Before this they were CHILDREN OF GOD without spiritual authority. If they died before Paul laid hands on them, they would most certainly have gone to heaven, because they were BELIEVERS. But they had had no spiritual authority before then. Note that the infilling of the Holy Spirit always brings about signs of power that follow believers.

The speaking in tongues is only one of the signs that some believers receive when they are so filled with the Holy Spirit. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I personally know many Holy Spirit-filled Christians throughout our country who do mighty deeds in the power of the Holy Spirit: healing the sick, preaching authority, casting out demons, but who do not speak in tongues at all. According to 1 Corinthians 14 the speaking in tongues edifies the speaker himself, and it is good for him. I dare say it is most definitely a gift of the Spirit to be desired and to ask the Lord for, but not to prove to anyone that you are Holy Spirit filled. No, it is there in order for you to enable your spirit to communicate with God's Spirit without anybody else knowing what you are saying. That is why you would want the speaking of tongues.

But it is NOT the (only) sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit!

So, if some well-meaning Christian made you stop wanting to do anything further for the Lord, because he or she said you were not filled with the Holy Spirit if you do not speak in tongues, please forgive them for their lack of knowledge. They most probably only grew up seeing the face of that cellular phone we spoke of earlier. I know of many Holy Spirit-filled children of God, who had a burning passion for Jesus and His gospel, who eventually lost all interest and left their churches just because someone in their church said they couldn't do anything for the Lord as they did not speak in tongues.

A very good friend of mine was even told he was going to hell because he didn't speak in tongues! Unbelievable! For a while that lie nearly stopped his whole ministry but praise Jesus he saw the deception for what it was and today he does great work in the missionary field, especially in neighboring countries. He heals the sick, casts out demons and preaches with authority. And he certainly does it in the POWER of the Holy Spirit. But to this day he still doesn't speak in tongues.

Friend, the true sign/s of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is POWER. In different people this power comes to the fore in different ways. Some people immediately start to preach the gospel of the kingdom with fire in their bones. Other start to heal the sick while others start casting out demons without any fear. Still others find that they have a sudden boldness to preach the Word of God without fear, something they never had before. Others testify to having peace over them while ministering to other people, a peace they never had before when having to speak to people about God. And others speak in tongues. These are all different signs that follow the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Please don't take just ONE of these signs of power and then try to make it the only sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. If you do, we are back to the same old square many people found themselves in regarding the speaking in tongues for ages.

Again it is very interesting to note that while so many people were looking for the "sign" of speaking in tongues to "PROVE" to their friends or peers that they were really Holy Spirit- filled, they never took up the POWER of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, even though they most definitely received that power when somebody prayed for them for that baptism the first time, they never went out to do the things Jesus said they would be able to. For years and years they felt so "unworthy" that they never even tried to heal the sick, or cleanse the lepers, or cast out demons, or even TALK about authority, because in their minds – through the deception they received - the ONLY sign of the authority of the Holy Spirit, was the speaking in tongues. This deception limited them in many, many ways.

Tell me friend, who gained the most by this deception? Is it not satan and his demon hordes? Because while these beautiful children of God, who were in many instances most definitely Holy Spirit-filled, felt so unworthy, or thought that they were NOT so filled because they could not speak in tongues, sat back in a spiritual despair, who benefited the most? Satan and his demon spirits. If many more of these children of God could have been taught earlier that the true sign/s of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was POWER, many more demons would have been cast out of people over these so many years! This would have led to so many more children of God walking out in their God-given authority, free from so many bondages. But the deception worked and many Holy Spirit-filled children of God believed the lie and sat down promptly, not doing anything other than praying year in and year out for the speaking of tongues. And in the meantime, while they were so occupied, doing nothing for the kingdom, satan laughed...

I may have sidetracked for a while, but it is important that the watchmen warn God's people to stop allowing themselves to be deceived, even by other Christians. Not one Christian has the full truth, as was seen by the example of the cellular phone. In any case, the Bible says so too.

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. .. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:9-13)

When you listen to different Christians from different cultures, or even just different denominations getting together, you will realize that the "part" that some thought they knew, differs from the "part" that the others thought they knew. But when all the "parts" are fitted together, we find that we are still all building the same jig-saw puzzle. We are still all busy with the same cellular phone. But one thing we must at all times beware of, is whether that which we are preaching may cause other Christians to stumble, or cause them to loose their fervor for the furtherance of the gospel of the kingdom. If so, we are playing straight into satan's hands.

The moment you hear any specific doctrine no matter where or from whom, ask yourself the following questions:

(1). Is it in line with God's Word, especially compared to the things Jesus Himself taught the people?

(2). In the long run, who will benefit the most if this doctrine is taught over the world, Jesus or satan?

(3). If this doctrine is correct, will it build up God's children with authority to rule over satan and his demons here on earth, or will it eventually lead to Christians starting to feel so unworthy that they don't want to do anything for God anymore?

The first time I heard someone mention the gospel of the kingdom and what it really is all about, I really got angry with that person. You see, he turned my whole "theological perspective" upside down and I thought: "How dare he!" Furthermore, up to then I also had the personal CARNAL attitude that only wanted to see as many people as possible in hell. But later the Holy Spirit started working within me and progressively revealed these things to me, to the extent that I have now written about the gospel of the kingdom in more than one book. I also have the wonderful privilege through the grace of God to teach on this subject throughout our country and also in other countries in Southern Africa. You see, I realized later that I was actually only looking at the bottom side of the cellular phone my whole life long.

If I should compare that which I am trying to teach you in this book about the gospel of the kingdom, with the three questions I stated above, I can answer them as follows:

(1). The gospel of the kingdom is very definitely in line with Jesus' own teaching.

(2). In the long run Jesus will benefit the most, because His children are taught to live in victory over the enemy in the authority they have in Him.

(3). This doctrine most definitely builds up God's children with authority to rule over the enemy and teaches them about their worth in Jesus Christ. Through this teaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God I find more and more Christians all over our country standing up in their new-found authority and doing mighty things for God. Things which they never did before as church-going Christians who were told that they were too unworthy, or not Holy Spirit filled.

5.11.The kingdom makes sense

When you grasp the truth about the gospel of the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven – here on earth, you will find that many scriptures in the Bible that didn't make any sense before suddenly fall into place. One of these scriptures can be found in Matthew 11:11:

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

For many, many years I thought this was a contradiction in the Bible, because, remember I also believed "kingdom" referred to heaven. So here is Jesus saying that no one that was ever born is greater than John the Baptist, and we all know that John is in heaven. Yet Jesus also states that he that is the least in (the kingdom of) HEAVEN is greater than he. How is it possible that John the Baptist, who is in heaven, can at the same time be the greatest but also less than the person who is the least in heaven? I tell you, this scripture baffled me for many years.

Until the Holy Spirit explained the "kingdom" to me, and also the following interesting facts: John the Baptist preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven and he baptized the people as we read in Matthew 3:2. There is no account in the Bible that he ever healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, or cast out demons. And the person that is the LEAST in the AUTHORITY of heaven, will be able to do those things, thereby proving himself greater than John the Baptist. Isn't this fantastic? So you can also be greater than John the Baptist if you start to live in the full authority of the kingdom of God, here on earth! Wow!

Another scripture that never made any sense to me prior to my getting to understand the gospel of the kingdom, was Mark 9:1:

"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall NOT taste of death, till they have SEEN the kingdom of God come with power."

For years I thought Jesus contradicted Himself here, too. Because how is it possible that some of the very people who were standing there that day that Jesus preached this message 2000 years ago, would still be alive when HEAVEN came with power? We all know that the new heaven hasn't come yet, so, if "kingdom" did refer to "heaven" it means that somewhere in Israel they are hiding some very old folks from us. Maybe in one of the caves near the dead Sea, where they found those Dead Sea scrolls...? But no, that is not what He meant! What did He mean then? He just said exactly what I have been writing all along.

Some of the people that were standing before Him that day, would not die before they saw the AUTHORITY of God come in their lifetime. Come with POWER. You see, some of them who were there the day when Jesus preached this message, were also there when He died on the cross, were there when He ascended to heaven, and were there in the upper room when they were FILLED (BAPTIZED) WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! The moment they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they SAW the "kingdom of God", the authority of God, come with power during their own lifetimes. They suddenly started preaching with, and about, authority. They personally started healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons... JUST AS JESUS DID, AND COMMANDED THEM TO DO... And is still commanding US to do today...

The final nail in my personal coffin about understanding the "kingdom of God" came from 1 Corinthians 4:20:

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in POWER. "

According to Strong's Dictionary, the word "power" in Greek, is: "dunamis" = specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself), might, miracle, power, strength, mighty (wonderful) work." In other words, the kingdom (authority) of God is not in word, but in "miraculous power". The kingdom (authority) of God is not in word, but, "by implication in a miracle itself". The kingdom (authority) of God is not in word, but in "might, strength and mighty (wonderful) work".

Now, with this new knowledge we have about the real meaning of the "kingdom" of God, let's look at two very well-known parables that Jesus used.

"Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Luke 13:18-21)

In the light of what I have written about the kingdom of God so far what do these two parables mean? Well, let's use Johnny as an example. After having read this book he suddenly realizes what authority he has in Jesus Christ and he really appropriates it, really makes it his own. Yet he just does not have the self-confidence to go and pray for hundreds of sick people yet. His authority is still as a tiny mustard seed within him. However, he does have the confidence to now go and pray for his sick mother, and the moment she gets healed, his confidence will bud and start to grow.

After that he will help somebody cast demons out of their lives and his spiritual confidence and authority will grow even more. Then he will start to pray for five people, then for ten, then for a hundred and then for thousands... And the "mustard seed" of "kingdom", of authority within him, will become a huge tree that gives rest to man and animal alike. People will know that they can come to him anytime for prayer or for help and in his spiritual authority in the kingdom of God, he will be able to help more and more people, thereby glorifying God.

So will the same thing happen to you, if you are willing to become obedient to God's Word about living in His spiritual authority.

Ladies who still bake bread will know that leaven goes through all the flour, until not even a small section thereof is left unleavened. This is the same with the authority of God. It will go through your whole life and touch everything around you. It will influence your marriage, your business, your relationship with your children, with your colleagues, with the people working under you, with the person working in your kitchen or garden. If any of them become ill, you will start to pray for them, because you know you have the authority. If any of them are still oppressed by any of satan's demons, you will cast them out. You will start to preach to people and teach them about the authority they have in Jesus Christ, and you will do so with His authority. Not one part of your life will be left untouched by the authority, the rule, the reign, the dominion of God in your life. Just like the leaven referred to above.

Still I find people coming to me saying: "But Tiaan,there is a scripture that says not everyone that calls Him Lord, Lord will enter into heaven!" So, let us read that scripture then.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the KINGDOM of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Clearly then, this scripture is also about the authority (kingdom) of heaven and not heaven itself. Most definitely you have millions of God's children who call Him Lord, Lord but who never enter the authority they have in Christ here on earth. Read very carefully that only those that DO the will of God will enter that authority. What exactly IS the will of the Father then? That one is very easy: - preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons... just as Jesus did...

"But Tiaan, just the next verse warns against prophesying, casting out demons and so forth!" Fine, dear friend, so, let us read that scripture together:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22, 23)

To me this scripture is very clear. It does NOT refer to children of God prophesying or casting out demons or doing miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns us about the false prophets who will try to deceive God's elect, and who will perform great signs and wonders. They don't know Jesus but still do great signs and wonders because they operate under spirits of the occult, just like Pharaoh's sorcerers in the Old Testament also changed their rods into snakes, or under a spirit of divination, just like the young lady that followed Paul and Silas until he became annoyed and cast the demon out of her.

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." (Acts 16:16 -18)

Before being freed from this demon this girl could have argued that she was "prophesying" about God's servants, because if you listen closely you will see that she really called out the "truth", but yet she did not know Jesus at all. If she died, she would have been one of those God would have told: "I never knew you: depart from me..." And to this day we have certain people enchanting others by ministering to them under the power of a spirit of divination.

In the same manner there are many people who call themselves exorcists even today, and who cast out demons, but who don't know who Jesus Christ is, because they have no personal relationship with Him. Yet they cast out demons. A good example in the Bible of such people is found in the following scriptures:

"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 19:13-16)

These sons of Sceva didn't know Jesus personally, but still they tried to cast out that demon in His Name. These men are an example of the people referred to in that scripture, who will be turned away by God. It DOES NOT refer to God's children who, in the power of the Holy Spirit prophesy, cast out demons or do mighty signs and wonders. For too long satan has used even Matthew 7:22, 23 as quoted above to stop many of God's children from seeking the power found in a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Thousands of people over the years chose to rather have nothing to do with prophesying, casting out of demons or other signs and wonders, or even with churches where the church members did these things, because they were afraid it would mean God would send them to hell for that. How sad. How tragic.

How can I be so certain about this? Because I suffered from exactly that same "fear" in the church that I grew up in. I used to call those churches where people prophesied or cast out demons or prayed for the sick, "sects" or "cults" and personally warned my friends to stay away from those churches, because if you got pulled in there you will most definitely be going to hell. Firstly I can't believe how satan actually deceived me for so many years of my life.

Secondly however, I praise the Lord for freeing me from that bondage as I now have the privilege to minister across denominational borders, and experiencing firsthand true prophesies, true healings and casting out of demons in the POWER of the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus Christ! Thirdly I pray that all those people I so deceived will forgive me for listening to those lies I believed, and even spread myself, as I know my Heavenly Father has forgiven me. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, Father!

Now let us measure this point of view that people who prophesy, cast out demons and do signs and wonders might be going to hell, to the three questions I stated earlier.

(1). This point of view is NOT in line with Jesus' teachings, as He Himself prophesied, cast out demons, and did many signs and wonders. Why then would He send His children who do these same things that He did, to hell? Is He such a MONSTER? Or were we actually believing a LIE all these years? A lie that kept us powerless and without any authority?

(2). In the long run, satan benefited the most through this teaching that prophecies, casting out of demons and signs and wonders will send people to hell. Why? Because thousands of Christians were too afraid to try and do any of those things, too afraid that it would mean they would then be going to hell. So they sat down, shut up and did not live in their authority, thereby pleasing satan and his demons immensely.

(3). This point of view did not build up God's children in their authority but rather broke it down, as they were too afraid to even think of taking up their authority to cast out demons or to minister in signs and wonders. This made them feel unworthy and afraid. Very clearly not from God.

Friend, can you see how any doctrine taught by man can be measured by the three plain questions I asked earlier? Please use them freely in future.

5.12.The kingdom and the sower

For many years I personally thought that the parable of the sower also referred to people going to heaven and hell. I was always very sad to think that that parable actually meant only one quarter of God's children would eventually make it to heaven one day, because three-quarters fell by the wayside according to the parable. Not long ago however, the Lord told me to read the parable of the sower again. And through His grace He revealed to me the following scriptures:

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is GIVEN UNTO YOU to know the MYSTERIES of the KINGDOM of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:10,11)

This is an awesome scripture! Jesus tells His disciples that He speaks to the world outside in parables because it is not given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to whom was it given to KNOW the "mysteries of the kingdom"? The mysteries of the authority? To His disciples, His followers! If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ it is also given to YOU to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, as I have explained it to you so far in these chapters.

Now look at the following scripture about the interpretation of the parable of the sower:

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the KINGDOM, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word (of the KINGDOM), AND UNDERSTANDETH IT; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23)

Oh wow! Very clearly then, the parable of the sower is also about the "kingdom", about authority, and not about heaven or hell. Does it take much to realize why "the wicked one", - satan -, would want to immediately "catch away", yes, to steal away, the "word of the kingdom"\- the word of authority, of rule, reign and dominion, the moment a person hears it? No, actually it makes very good sense that he would do all in his power to ensure that God's children do not take up their authority. Because he knows if they start to really understand the word of the kingdom, and they start to live in their authority, and they start to cast out demons, then he and his demons will have huge problems, as so many more people will be pulled out of his kingdom and brought into God's kingdom.

So, let us look at the explanation of the parable of the sower in the light of the kingdom...

He that hears the word of the kingdom (authority) and does not understand it, is barren. He may still be a child of God because he has given his life to Jesus at some prior stage, as I explained it earlier, but he is totally ineffective in God's kingdom here on earth. Satan has stolen away the word of authority the moment that he heard it. Friend, don't allow satan to steal the word of authority from you even while you are reading this book.

He that receives the word in stony places, refers to that child of God who hears the word of the kingdom and accepts it with joy when he realizes what it means. However, the moment that the persecution and tribulation from satan and his demons come, he does not STAND FAST in his authority, and he withers away. For a while he was a child of God WITH authority, and that time brought much joy to him. But when the persecutions became too much for him, he fell back into being a child of God without authority. You see, it takes GUTS to walk in the authority of Christ. It takes BACKBONE to be a child of God with authority.

He that receives the word in thorny places, refers to that child of God who hears the word of the kingdom and understands it but all the cares he has, and his status or material possessions, very soon chokes that word out of him. Then he becomes unfruitful in God's kingdom. Another child of God without authority. I feel that this section in the parable also refers to the "rich man" that we discussed earlier, whose authority is in his riches and wealth and not in Christ.

Then we have that child of God who hears the word of the kingdom, who accepts it, makes it his own, and starts to really LIVE in that authority. And what happens to that person? He starts to bear spiritual- and even natural fruit in his life, either thirty fold, sixty fold, or hundred fold. Just like I explained it earlier when I referred to the parables about the mustard seed and the leaven. They start to see the results of that authority in their normal daily lives. Some in smaller measure and some in greater measure. Let us return to a scripture that I have already quoted earlier, to explain this aspect a little better:

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." (Matthew 13:11, 12)

For many years people also believed that this last scripture referred to material possessions and that people who had much will receive more, while those who had little will lose that which they had. No it doesn't, it actually refers to the authority of the kingdom that God's children have here on earth. Jesus is saying here that those who have authority will receive even more authority, but he that doesn't have any authority will also lose that which he has. People who really take up and live in their spiritual authority here on earth will find that they will grow in that authority, while people who always think they are inferior and not good enough for dominion will lose any authority they may have had in the first place. So it is very important to GET OUT of that place of insecurity and inferiority and to start to LIVE in true authority, so that you can receive even more authority.

Watchman(woman) of God, my prayer is that you will now personally experience that many other scriptures about the kingdom will suddenly start to make sense to you too. Please ensure that you always pray to the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you on an ongoing basis.

5.13.What about heaven and hell then?

After explaining these aspects of the kingdom to people, I sometimes get the question: "But Tiaan, who will then be going to hell, if we look at it this way?" According to me, unfortunately still too many people. Every last man, woman or child (who has reached an age to make such a decision), who do NOT choose for Jesus Christ of Nazareth and give their lives to Him by making a definite choice, WILL be going to hell. As I said before, hell is a very definite, fearful, awe-inspiring reality.

But regarding God's children who don't sin against the Holy Spirit, I believe that they will all be going to heaven. I truly believe that the merciful Heavenly Father we have looks for the slightest excuse to ensure that His children are going to heaven, NOT to hell. Just as you as parent look for the slightest excuse to give your children the benefit of the doubt, so much the more does He. I really don't believe that He sits in heaven just looking for reasons to drop you into hell, or make you sick, or kill you. That is something which satan does.

If I look at the following scripture, I see that hell was initially not even made to contain man:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels..." (Matthew 25:41)

According to my reasoning this proves God's love, mercy and grace in that He didn't even plan or prepare hell for man. But because men make the wrong decisions they also do end up where only Satan and his angels were supposed to end up, from the beginning.

As I wrote earlier I also initially had the carnal attitude that just wanted to see other people in hell, Christians or non-Christians alike it didn't matter, as long as I could "feel" that I was just that little bit better than them. It was nothing other than spiritual pride and haughtiness on my part. Praise the Lord that He opened my eyes to His righteousness, mercy and grace!

Unfortunately there will also be Christians going to hell. Christians who started right, but through their persisting in the sins we spoke about earlier, eventually ended up in a place where they knowingly sinned against the Holy Spirit, thereby falling from grace and losing their salvation. Friend, take note that you cannot UNKNOWINGLY sin against the Holy Spirit. When you have committed that sin, you will most definitely know it, as it is something you will speak with your mouth.

Other than that, I truly believe that ALL God's children, even those who may still be caught in some form of sin or another at their death, WILL be going to heaven, especially if I read the following scriptures:

"For I am persuaded, that NEITHER death, NOR life, NOR angels, NOR principalities, NOR powers, NOR things present, NOR things to come, NOR height, NOR depth, NOR any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38, 39)

The apostle Paul names TEN things here that will NOT be able to pull us away from the love of God. According to me, these ten things encompass nearly anything we can think of in heaven or on earth. And none of these can pull me away from the love of God. Do you need it stated any clearer?

6.Time is running out for the world (Back to top)

"It is our wisdom to improve the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it. Inquire, return, come. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is no time to trifle." (Matthew Henry)

No doubt time is running out for the world. The things God spoke, will be so. In this same manner the things He spoke against Babylon, will be so.

"Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon." (Jeremiah 51:12)

Who are the inhabitants of "Babylon" then? Let us look at what the Bible says.

6.1.The political Babylon

Take note that Babylon has two different meanings in the Bible. One Babylon refers to the false religious system brought in by the antichrist and the false apostles, and the other Babylon refers to the political and financial system of the world.

Firstly, let us read the following scriptures to see how clearly it refers to the political and financial system of the world.

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Revelation 18:1-24)

This chapter in the book of Revelation very clearly refers to both the false religion and the political and financial systems of the world. I see a very clear warning contained in these scriptures: "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Why do you think does God urge us to come out of this false religious and political and financial system? Because these systems are sure ways that satan, through Mammon, and his spirit of (dead) religion, binds chains around God's children. Mammon wants to ensure that we increase our debts to such a point that we cannot be free from that load anymore. Why? Because through that bondage we start to fear, feel unworthy, become insecure and so forth. How do I know that debt is bondage to Satan? Because the Bible teaches very clearly that we must get out of debt as soon as possible.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

Just a cursory glance at the thousands of easy ways to acquire credit today, is enough proof of the fact that satan's attack upon God's children - through the workings of Mammon - is escalating. Further proof of this fact is the escalation in property and motor vehicle values. In South Africa property values have escalated to such an extent that many young married couples start their married lives with debts already in the millions of rands. Satan's whole marketing strategy is: "You just HAVE to have it!". No matter that God very clearly instructs us NOT to owe any man ANY THING. "But Tiaan, it is not possible today not to have debts!" Really friend? Why then did God give us the following PROMISE in the Bible?

"But my God shall supply ALL your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Would you be so kind as to define the word: "all" to me, please? Does "all" include a house, a car, food, clothes? If yes, then why be in a hurry to enter into that debt? Who do you choose to believe? The marketing strategy that says you "have to have it", or God's Word that says He will supply ALL your need? How does it work then to receive that "supply"? By starting to live according to His financial principles in the Bible. By following His principles regarding tithing, sowing and reaping and financial responsibility.

There are many world-class books on God's financial principles and I can personally recommend: "Wealth, Riches and Money" by Craig Hill and Earl Pitts. For purposes of this book I will not enter into any further discussion regarding this aspect but advise that you acquire some of these spiritual books on financial principles from any well-known Christian bookshop, in order to learn how to get to a place of financial freedom in God's kingdom, by living according to His financial principles.

6.2.The religious Babylon

Let us now look at the Bible's explanation of the false religious system Babylon.

"And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and talked with me, saying to me, Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot sitting on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and became drunk with the wine of her fornication, those inhabiting the earth. And he carried me away into a desert by the Spirit. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, filled with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet. And she was gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling. And the angel said to me, Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss and go into perdition. And those dwelling on the earth will marvel, those whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings; five have fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom yet, but will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones. And he says to me, The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues, and the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God gave into their hearts to do His mind, and to act with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words of God will be fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is the great city which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:1-18)

To confirm that these scriptures do indeed refer to the false religious system - with the Roman Catholic Church at its head - let us look at a few excerpts in more detail:

(1)...the great harlot sitting on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication

It is a well-known fact that there are many countries where church and state walked hand in hand for many years, or are still walking like that. Churches are sometimes even called "state-Churches". Churches in many instances implemented country laws through their system and ensured that their denomination members adhered to them. Jesus never walked hand in hand with the rulers of his country. He was never afraid to show them the error of their ways, but He also ensured that He and His disciples adhered to the laws of the country. So do we find the following very well-known scriptures about this fact:

"And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." (Matthew 17:25-27)

The "tribute" discussed here, refers to temple tax that people had to pay in those days. And although Jesus states here that God's children should actually be free from any such encumbrances, He ensures that He and His disciples do not offend the authorities appointed over them. So what does He do? He pays the temple taxes for Him and His disciples. He also teaches His followers to pay unto Caesar that which is due to Caesar and to God that which is due to God.

"Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:17-21)

There is no doubt whatsoever that Jesus wants His followers to adhere to the laws of the authorities that are placed above them, even though they may not necessarily agree with those authorities. A few years after Christ, Paul reconfirms this fact when he writes the following very clear instruction to God's children.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." (Romans 13:1-7)

These scriptures are sometimes confusing to God's children. "But Tiaan, you do not know OUR country's leaders! They are an antichrist government! You cannot for one moment dare say that they are from God!" That may be true friend, but the Bible states very clearly that the powers that be are "ordained" by God. That means they would not have had the power if it was not given to them by God. It doesn't necessarily mean that He approves of what they do, or the way they govern. In this same manner Jesus told Pontius Pilate that he would not have had any power over Him, if it was not given to him by God.

"Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above..." (John 19:10,11)

Did the fact that God gave Pontius Pilate power over Jesus mean that Pilate was a follower of God? That the Romans were suddenly rubberstamped and approved by God? Or that God approved of the way they ruled the Jews? No, but it did mean that for that moment in time Pilate's rule fit right into God's sovereign plan for His people. In the same manner any government anywhere on earth at any given time fit right into God's sovereign plan for that nation at that moment in time. The question that remains for God's children to answer is: Even though you may not agree with the authorities over you, are you willing to submit yourself to them, in obedience to GOD? Not in obedience to man, but to God.

"Tiaan, are you trying to tell me we should just accept everything they do as good and fine?" No, I'm not trying to imply anything of that kind. If the authorities over us bring in any legislation that is contradictory to God's Word, God's children must protest against that. The pro-abortion legislation in many countries is an example of something that Christians should stand against with everything in them. Jesus is our example, as always. Even though normally He did not wish to offend the authorities appointed over them, when He felt they were contravening His Father's Word, He acted immediately. Just think of His reaction when He chased the vendors out of God's temple.

Before I proceed any further, why do I single out the pro-abortion legislation as an example of something that must be withstood by Christians? Because no man has the right to terminate the life of a being that God formed. It doesn't matter what legal arguments we wish to use. Pro-abortionists try to argue that a fetus is not yet a fetus before a certain period of time hasn't passed and that its existence may therefore be terminated before that time. It has nothing to do with that at all. Look at the words of Jeremiah 1:4, 5:

"Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, BEFORE I formed thee in the belly I KNEW THEE; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

You see, God KNEW that child even BEFORE he or she was formed in his mother's womb. That baby was a spiritual, Godly ordained being BEFORE it was even formed physically. Therefore to try and use human logic and arguments before God's spiritual throne of judgment will not avail much. Abortion can never be legal. Period.

(2)....filled with names of blasphemy

In Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary International Edition, "blasphemy" is defined as: "Evil or profane speaking of God or sacred things; claiming the attributes of God." The hundreds of so-called "equal ways to eternity" are enough proof of the false religious system on the earth. All these religions claim certain attributes of God, while denouncing His Trinity. Therefore they blaspheme. Satan's attempts to unify all churches and/or different beliefs under one religious system namely the Roman Catholic Church, is very clear proof of the false religious system in the world today. What am I talking about? Christians, no matter what denomination they are from, CANNOT worship or pray together with unconverted Roman Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Hare Krishnas, ancestral worshippers, or whatever other religious beliefs. Why not? Because again, the Bible is very clear:

"Be ye NOT unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

What part of: "Be ye NOT unequally yoked together with unbelievers..." don't we understand? If we pray together on the same stage with those other religious systems, it means that for that one day, or that one specific event, we are "yoked together" with unbelievers. It doesn't matter what the cause for such "corporate" prayer is. Humanism – which comes directly from satan himself – is doing more and more to make God's clear instruction from His Word fuzzy in His children's minds, under the word "ecumenism". The false religious systems try harder and harder to suck God's children into gray areas where they have to compromise in order not to "lose face" to the world – and unfortunately it is rather successful in its attempts. Why? Because God's children don't stand up for God's Word the way they should anymore. I do not believe for one moment that it pleases God that His children share stages the world over with other religious beliefs.

We can't use the argument: "But Tiaan, they are praying to their "God" and we are praying to our God, at least we are all praying." This reminds me of the situation Elijah had with the Baal priests in 1 Kings 19 which you can read for yourself. That day the Baal priests called on their god to let fire fall on their altar, but nothing happened. Then Elijah called on his (our) God, and the fire consumed even the altar itself! In today's terms Elijah and those priests may have had a "corporate day of prayer for people of all religions". Was God pleased with their attempts? Most definitely not, because four hundred and fifty Baal priests lost their lives that day. Christians – who dare to call themselves followers of Christ - CANNOT participate in religious ceremonies with ANY other religion that denounces the Triune God of the Bible, or who don't accept Jesus as the only begotten Son of God or who denies that Jesus Christ was God that came in the flesh, or who denounces the Holy Spirit of God as God Himself.

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is NOT of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:2, 3)

Do you see, dear friend? ANYBODY who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ is God that came in the flesh, is NOT of God. How can you dare share an event with such a person, no matter what that "event" may be? "But Tiaan, it is for such a worthy cause, and we don't want to offend them. Maybe then we can reach them for Christ." Firstly, I will only listen to that argument if you can convince me that, while you are sharing that stage with those other beliefs, you will share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them and make an invitation for them to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. If not, you are not doing what Jesus gave His disciples instruction to do, by making disciples of the nations. "But that is not the time to share the Word with them!" What does the Bible say about the "time" to share the Word?

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:1, 2)

This scripture clearly instructs us to preach the word, "in season, out of season" in other words when the time seems right to us, and also when the time seems wrong. In any case, who do you wish to please in the first place Christian? God, or man?

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

I see here that I cannot be a servant of Christ if I still wish to please people. "People pleasers" are easily pulled into the gray areas of humanism. "God pleasers" do not compromise on God's Word. EVER. Period.

(3)...And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet. And she was gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication

Don't be too impressed with religious systems where its all about the golden communion cups, or altars, or the fancy clothes the members or priests wear, or whatever. This has never been God's way of worship, but most definitely something which man – through satan - brought in to dilute the truth of God's Word. Many people are so impressed with the gold, glamour and glitter in that specific place of worship especially as seen in the Roman Catholic Church they don't even realize Jesus has left the building. Or in some religions that He never was there in the first place. The gold, glitter and pomp is only another marketing strategy from Satan.

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14,15)

The "spirit of religion" which is a demon spirit from Satan, keeps people's eyes so focused on the material and physical things in their religion, they totally forget that we are busy with spiritual, eternal truths.

(4)...I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus

Remember, I am still showing you why I believe the Babylon in Revelation 17 also refers to the false religious system of the world. The false religious system that will do anything in its power to discredit, destroy or banish the true religious system of God from the face of the earth. And this part of the scripture from Revelation 17 is very good proof of that fact. How can I say that? Well, please tell me who is it that kill God's saints and who makes Jesus' followers martyrs – event to this present day? Is it the world? Or are the most Christians killed in wars against other religions, like the Muslims, for example? Like in Jesus' time, who is the greatest persecutor of God's true followers? The spirit of religion, in many different disguises! Just as Pontius Pilate, as a symbol of the world, found Jesus NOT GUILTY on the day of His crucifixion, so the biggest part of the world finds Christians not guilty today. But that is not the case with the false religious system in the world.

That system tries everything in its means to discredit Christians and if that doesn't work, to even kill them if they deem it necessary in their eyes. So, it is not the world that is drunk with the blood of the saints, or the blood of the martyrs, but it is most definitely the false religious system that is. Do you remember the testimonies of Christians who were persecuted throughout the ages, who were burned at the stake, who were declared as witches? By who? By their own churches in so many instances and especially the Roman Catholic Church. Many Christians were thrown out of their churches because they tried to follow Jesus to the letter of His Word. Jesus warned that this would happen.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." (John 16:1-3)

These scriptures refer to Christians being thrown out of, or in some instances even killed, by their own churches. Churches that they were members of maybe for many years prior to being so killed. Are those churches really God's churches then, doing God's things, even though they may be preaching the "Word"? Very definitely not! They are part of the false religious system because they don't know the Father or the Son. However sad it may sound, this even happens to our day that Christians are banned from their churches and sometimes in certain countries even killed.

(5)....These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them

This is the last part of the scriptures in Revelation 17 I wish to quote as proof that this Babylon really refers to the false religious system of the world. Any Christian whose eyes are on world matters can see that the false religious system is making war with Jesus Christ and His followers, albeit sometimes in very subtle ways. But they don't have any chance of a victory, because the Bible states very clearly that the Lamb WILL overcome them. PRAISE JESUS CHRIST THE MESSIAH! LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS!

What do we need to learn from these two Babylons? That we should get out of BOTH as soon as possible! That we must trust God for His supernatural provision in our daily needs, and ensure that we are not drawn into any form of false religion. If we don't come out of the present financial system and really trust God for His provision of our needs, and live financially free, we will be pulled into accepting the mark of the beast so much easier.

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666)." (Revelation 13:16-18)

God's watchmen must warn His children of the motions of the enemy through the workings of both these Babylons. And the watchmen's cry must remain: COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE! Do anything in your power to come free from the snare of debts, and ensure that you are part of the true, spiritual, UNCOMPROMISING, spotless, VIRGIN WARRIOR BRIDE church of God! A church that doesn't compromise on spiritual matters.

7.There is work to do (Back to top)

"Those that return and come to God, will find they have a great deal of work to do, and but little time to do it in." (Matthew Henry)

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

There can never be any doubt that NOTHING we do without God, will ever succeed. Anything we ever try to do in our own power, is sure to fail in the long run. If the Lord is not part of any venture you undertake you are building that venture in vain, no matter what it is. What am I referring to? Any business, organization, family home or personal life. ANYTHING! If you don't allow Jesus Christ to build it for you, you are sure to fail. Jesus Christ must be the FIRST ingredient in the building package. How? Through consistent prayer which will follow from an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray before you decide to buy any business. Pray before you buy a new home. Pray before you decide to build a new home. Pray about your family life. Pray about your personal life. We have to know and acknowledge Him in ALL things we undertake, as He will show us the right way to go, as the following Scripture clearly states:

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

If we keep on leaning on our "own understanding", we will find that our paths are usually going awry.

Now the question remains: is it all about the material things we build around us? Yes, and no. Yes, any venture we undertake without God's blessing and leading, is heading for disaster. And no, because it's also about bringing souls into heaven. What must we actually pray for first of all? For laborers in the fields. For laborers that will bring in the harvest. What harvest? God's harvest of souls.

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:36-38)

Everything else is temporary and of no importance in the long run. So, what must we work at? What "house" must we build? God's house of souls. We must work at bringing in souls into heaven. We can only do this if God's "house" – his hunger for lost souls - in our own lives has pre-eminence over our own little agendas, otherwise we will always have lack without actually realizing why.

We see this same warning from God very clearly in the book of Haggai as well.

"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." (Haggai 1:2-10)

To our very day people have an attitude of: "It is not time to build God's house in my life yet. I want to enjoy life first and reach MY goals and MY ambitions as soon as possible. Later on in my life will I think about becoming religious and seeking God, just before I die. I don't need Him in my life at this stage. I am too busy with my career and my life to worry about God or eternity." This is exactly what God was warning His people about. The principle was the same then, and it is the same now. As long as we don't learn to put God, and a personal relationship with Him, FIRST in our lives, we will also sow much but eat little, we will drink but will not become filled, we will clothe ourselves but not be warm and our money will disappear as if through holes in our wallets. Have you ever had this feeling in your life, child of God? If so, it may be time to take to heed of this warning God gave. It may be time to do some serious introspection about our priorities in life.

If a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is not the FIRST priority in our lives, we will always experience a life of shortage, of lack in one form or another. Even though some very rich people may not think so, as their wealth is their strong tower in their minds as I wrote in Chapter 5, many of them still lack happiness, joy or abundant LIFE. Some of them may not think they lack anything but when you start to really talk to them about their inner feelings, you find that in some instances they lack more than many other people. Why is this? Because their eyes are on their wealth to buy them what they need, and not on God, (YHVH) Yahwe Jireh our sole Provider.

Our life's list of priorities are always supposed to look like this:

1. Jesus Christ

2. Spouse

3. Children

4. Career / Ministry

5. Social life

Any other way, will definitely cause problems in our lives. Is this your list of priorities too, friend? Or does your list of priorities look like mine did before I met Jesus intimately, namely:

1. Career

2. Social life

3. Spouse

4. Children

5. Jesus Christ

Are you at work yet building God's house in your life first, in EVERYTHING you do? If not be warned that your fall is imminent. Be warned that there is work to do to change your priorities from your own agenda to God's agenda. The time for playing games with God is long past. Intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings a sense of urgency to build God's house FIRST, in whatever it is we do. And why so? Firstly because then we are fulfilling our commission as disciples of the living Christ and secondly because God's "house" of saved souls is the ONLY thing that will exist in all eternity. Just like his chosen people, Israel also have certain eternal promises applicable to them.

8.The promise of Israel (Back to top)

"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth." (Isaiah 21:6)

I see today that there is a certain truth contained in the Bible which many people don't even take note of. This is the truth concerning the nation of Israel, and its bearing on the end-times prophesied in the Bible. Some people don't realize that God's promises as contained in the Bible about the nation of Israel are true and will eventually all come into being as did all His other prophecies in the Bible.

Wimpie Liebenberg, a well-known South African- and international lecturer on Eschatology, puts it as follows in his book: "Verse by verse explanation of the book of Revelation":

"When discussing the signs of the times, signs showing that the return of Jesus Christ is near, and one refers to wars, earthquakes, plague-like diseases, the false Christ's, etc., then critics usually say that these have always taken place. For as long as can be remembered, there have been earthquakes, plague-like diseases, wars, etc., and therefore it cannot be accredited to our last days on earth.

I usually give such critics their way, except that these signs are occurring at a pace and magnitude that is unknown to man.

There is, however, one undeniable sign of the end of time, a sign that will only happen once, never to be repeated. Once this has been fulfilled, we will know, without a doubt, that we are experiencing our last days on earth and that the return of Christ is upon us.

The return of the nation of Israel to their homeland after being split-up internationally for their national and political restoration is the sign, which theologians and eschatologists deem to be one of the most definite and obvious of all signs that we are living in the last days."

So it is of very great importance to take note of the fact that Israel was declared a physical nation again on 14 May 1948, which was prophesied in Psalm 48, while the physical city of Jerusalem was again regained by the nation of Israel for the first time in approximately 2000 years on 5 June 1967.

In the Bible we find literally hundreds of prophecies concerning Jesus Christ and each and every one of them were fulfilled with unprecedented accuracy. Why then can there be any doubt that ALL the other prophecies, including those referring to Israel and the end-times, will not be fulfilled? Do you really think our God has the attitude of: "Well I have successfully fulfilled 90% of the prophecies in My Book, I don't have to fulfill the other 10%"? He will most definitely fulfill ALL the prophecies He had given to be written in the Bible, including all the prophecies regarding the physical nation of Israel.

As confirmation of this fact, let us first look at some scriptures about the difference between the spiritual and physical Israel. Then dear reader, you have to decide for yourself whether you still wish to ignore these "signs of the times" concerning your eternal well-being.

8.1.Gentiles may be spiritual Jews

Seeing that there are still some people today who argue that we are ALL physical heirs of Abraham, and therefore literally still ethnical Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel, I would like to refer you to a few verses, of which Romans 9:6-18 are some of the most distinct. Verse 24 especially defines:

"...For they are NOT all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham...That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. (Who then are the "children of the promise"?)...even US whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles..."

Firstly, do take note that "Israel" in the Bible definitely refers to the church of Jesus Christ in the spiritual as well. With "church" I certainly don't refer to the church building and/or the specific denomination that you currently belong to. I mean the true spiritual church, the "church of the firstborn", the church of Jesus Christ because that is the only church to actually ever belong to. And you and I, and every other reborn Christian, all make up that "church". On what do I base this, you ask? It is very clearly stated in Hebrews 12:22-23:

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and THE CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN which are written in heaven..."

Without a doubt this is the only TRUE church that anyone of us can ever belong to and that I personally ever want to belong to."The church of the firstborn WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN...!" Yes! The church of Jesus Christ! Praise Jesus!

However in solving this issue, let us take a look at the three words: Hebrew, Jew and Israel/ite. "Israel" is a word created by God, as opposed to "Jew" and "Hebrew", which are both man-made words. To confirm this I firstly refer to the words of Genesis 10:21:

"...Also to Shem, the father of all the children of EBER..."

The word Hebrew is denoted from Eber and includes all descendants of Eber. That name was chosen by a human. The word "Jew" is also a human word.

"In Shushan the citadel was there a certain JEW whose name was Mordecai..."

After the exile of Israel's tribes the word was used to refer to all descendants of the tribe of Judah. Therefore it is also a human word. But "Israel"...-..."Israel" is a word chosen by God personally! How can I say that? Well, do take a look at Genesis 32:24-32, where we read about the nightlong struggle between Jacob and God. In verse 28 God says:

"And He (God) said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

You will also notice in this narration in the Bible that God touched Jacob's hip joint when He could not gain the victory over him. Jacob's hip became disjointed, resulting in Jacob's (Israel's) permanent limping thereafter. What exactly happened to Jacob here? "Jacob" means one who undermines, a deceiver, a blunderer, one who schemes. Therefore he is an image of the old person of the flesh lurking in each of us before our personal meeting with God. Then God asks Jacob: "What is your name?". In that sentence He actually asked Jacob: "What is your nature?". What, indeed, had been his nature? An underminer, deceiver, blunderer, schemer... My dear friend, what is YOUR name (nature) at this very moment? Are you still a "Jacob", or have you changed to "Israel" yet?

What happens when he struggles with God and gains victory? He becomes "Israel". In other words he becomes a new spiritual person, an "overcomer", a winner, a conqueror, a prince of God! Even in this well-known story from the Old Testament it becomes clear that each of us must have a PERSONAL, face- to face meeting with God so that our natures can also change into God's image. So that we can also become overcomers, winners, conquerors, and princes of God.

But first something has to happen to me personally... "What is that something?" you ask. Something in me must break, like Jacob's hip joint was smitten to cause him to walk "differently". Yes, my heart of stone must "break" before God to enable Him to take it and replace it with a heart of flesh and blood, full of Godly love. Then I have to lay down my old nature and become a new SPIRITUAL person, a SPIRITUAL "Israelite"! Then what happens to me? I too, begin to walk "differently". Why? Because I have become a NEW, different person after that meeting with God, and cannot help but WALK "differently", and LIVE differently.

Have you noticed what verse 31 has to say?

"...The sun rose on him..."

God's light (His sun) went up for this new person – Jacob/Israel. In the same way God's light (His sun – His SON) rises over you and I when we part with the old person of the flesh and start to walk differently after our personal meeting with God. Everyone who has had a personal meeting with God, becomes a SPIRITUAL Israelite. Not in a physical, bodily, literal, ethnic or cultural manner! Christ's coming enabled us to become new creations and to become a spiritual unit, His church, His Israel. Galatians 6:15-16 clearly states:

"For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, BUT A NEW CREATION. And may as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, AND UPON THE ISRAEL OF GOD!"

This "Israel of God" refers firstly to the physical Israel, as I will discuss later in this chapter about the natural being first and then the spiritual, but it also refers to God's church, His spiritual church of unity, the "church of the firstborn", of Jesus Christ as I wrote earlier. After all He is the cornerstone on which that ONE TRUE church is built. Look at the distinct manner in which Ephesians 2:19-22 expresses this:

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Is this "building" merely a physical, brick- and mortar building? Definitely not! The building that is referred to is the spiritual church of Christ, of which He is the head and the chief cornerstone. If we decide to walk with Him we become part of the same "building" spiritually. What a wonderful knowledge! Likewise the heavenly Jerusalem, the huge city of Revelation 21: 9- 10 also refers to the true spiritual church, and not just to a physical city.

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

It is widely known that we, the true church of Jesus Christ, are repeatedly referred to as the Bride of the Lamb in the Bible. In this verse, the angel tells the apostle John that he will show him the bride, in other words the church of the Lamb. What does he then show John? The holy city Jerusalem descending from heaven! It therefore becomes clear that the "city" referred to here actually also refers to the members of the church of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5: 14 stipulates:

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

In this instance, the "church" is a reference to the church of Jesus Christ, to US who walk the road with Him. Therefore no person who has had an ACTUAL personal meeting with God, who is part of that spiritual "city", the spiritual church, can hide his or her light, because God's true church lies ON TOP OF that mountain, it is not hidden somewhere in a ravine! Where and how does your light shine? On top of the mountain, or deeply hidden in a ravine or crevasse to ensure that no-one, especially your friends, will ever notice that you are a child of God?

Do you also go "undercover" as far as your religion is concerned the moment you step out of church on Sundays? Or do you go from there, tackling each day with boldness of faith, authority, dauntlessness and fearlessness, in the way that God expects you to? Romans 4:17-18 refers to the promise to Abraham and clearly stipulates:

"As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations (regardless of their skin color)...who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations (again regardless of their skin color), according to what was spoken, So shall your descendants be."

"By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants AS the stars of the heaven...In your seed ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED, because you have obeyed My voice." (Genesis 22:16-18)

WOW!!! What a PROMISE! Did you know that astronomers have found that the solar system is still progressively expanding? What was the promise to Abraham? Your descendants will multiply "as the stars"! What then, is happening to Abraham's descendants to this day? They are multiplying daily! Therefore Abraham is PHYSICALLY the natural father of many nations, but even more important, he is also the SPIRITUAL father of ONE spiritual nation, the church of Jesus Christ, growing from ALL the nations on earth. What was the reason for this? The promise made to Abraham. Which promise? The promise of the coming of Christ! This promise was not made to different "seeds", no, only to ONE seed, as stipulated in Galatians 3:16:

"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say: And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to your Seed, who is Christ."

The promise of Jesus Christ is therefore NOT made to many "seeds" of different ethnic nations, but to only ONE nation, namely the TRUE church of Jesus Christ, the church that walks by FAITH and nothing else. Neither by laws, nor by traditions, nor by dogmas, nor by doctrines, only by FAITH!

This point is distinctly illustrated in Galatians 3:7- 9 where Paul says:

"Therefore know that ONLY those WHO ARE OF FAITH are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, In you all the nations (on earth) shall be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

At the same time verse 14 pulls it through to Christ by stipulating:

"...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we (who are of the Gentiles) might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Therefore, if we, as Gentiles, are of faith (in other words, if we believe), WE ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM! Does it refer to physical, ethnic children in our case? Definitely not. But it does refer to spiritual children. What further assurance for this fact do we receive in the Bible? Do look at Galatians 3:28-29 again:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Wonderful! I praise the Lord that I (and I am most definitely not a ethnical Jew) may also be Abraham's heir according to God's promises.

Romans 3: 29- 30 describes it even more clearly to anyone who might still be doubtful:

"Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also (the "Gentiles" include you and I, and people of all the other races, because we are not ethnical Jews), since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith."

Or Romans 9:25-26:

"As He says also in Hosea: I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they shall be called sons of the living God."

Already in Psalms, specifically in Psalm 82:8, the Psalmist calls out:

"Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit ALL the nations."

It is also distinctly mentioned in Ephesians 4:4- 6:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of ALL, who is above ALL, and through ALL, and in you ALL."

Therefore I have no doubt that we are NOT ethnic JEWS, but indeed spiritual Israelites, only because the Israel referred to in the Bible ALSO refers to God's total, true church in the world. Just as the Israelites had to move out of Egypt into a new Canaan, we as God's true church have to move OUT OF a WORLDLY "Egypt" and move into a SPIRITUAL "Canaan", a spiritual promised land.

Romans 8:14 and 17 clearly states:

"For AS MANY as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God...and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..."

Do you see? "...AS MANY as..." means EVERYONE who is led by the Spirit, including ethnic Jews who recognize Yeshua ha Maschiach, Jesus Christ the Messiah. It doesn't only refer to a geographical or ethnic group of people. What does being heirs with Christ mean to us? Let us see what Hebrews 1:2 has to say:

"...has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of ALL THINGS, through whom also He made the worlds."

Jesus Christ, the Son, has been APPOINTED as heir of ALL that had been made. And what about us? We are JOINT HEIRS of ALL that! We, even as Gentiles, who: "ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD..." have been appointed in that position by God Himself! Wow, what a wonderful thing to know, don't you agree? But, did you notice that there is a very specific condition attached to this - "...who are led by the Spirit of God..."? Are you led in that way yet, my dear friend? If not, won't you read Chapter 5 again where I discussed the baptism/infilling with the Holy Spirit?

According to Funk & Wagnall's New Practical Standard Dictionary, "appointed" also means "To name or select (a person for a position)" or "To ordain, as by decree, command..." God Himself has ordained Christ as heir of all and therefore we, His children, are fellow-heirs and fellow-owners of that "all" that belongs to Jesus Christ. Just look at the clear way Paul states the fact that we are heirs of God, in Galatians 4:5-7:

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Isn't this wonderful to know? Thank you, THANK YOU Lord!

Another verse that proves that we Gentiles are not physical Jews is found in Romans 2:28-29:

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

We must take extreme care not to be tempted or blinded into believing erroneous doctrines. There is only one truth and that truth is JESUS CHRIST! Any person, church, denomination, dogma or tradition that does not preach only the truth of Jesus Christ, His kingdom and His church, is false! There is no such thing as a Jesus-plus gospel. There is no Jesus-plus baptism, or Jesus-plus dogma, or Jesus-plus rapture, or Jesus-plus tradition, or Jesus-plus anything else! No, it is only JESUS! The rest of those things are all revealed to us and all follow from that intimate personal relationship with Him. It all starts with a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Look at the way in which Paul warns the Galatians in Galatians 3:1- 3:

"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"

Confirmation of the fact that we Gentiles are spiritual children of Abraham's and therefore spiritual Israelites, is also found in Galatians 3:7:

"Therefore know that ONLY THOSE who are of faith are sons of Abraham."

Why? Because Abraham also believed. Faith is the only thing which delights God, according to Hebrews 11:6. God is not delighted with doctrines, traditions and dogmas! Abraham already believed (in other words, he had faith) several centuries before the law of Moses came. Accordingly the law came a long time after faith. Four hundred and thirty years later actually. But why did it come? So that people could be shown their sins. Did you notice that Abraham himself was neither a Jew nor an Israelite? How can I say that? Because Abraham walked the earth LONG before Jacob's struggle with God and "Israelites"/Jews were only brought forth after that meeting. Thus the promise of Jesus Christ had been made to Abraham centuries before the "Jews" came. Contrary to popular belief in some religious circles, the promise of Jesus Christ is therefore not ONLY applicable to Jews. Let us take another look at the words of Genesis 22: 18:

"In your seed ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

These words certainly don't say: "...in your seed only the Jews shall be blessed..."

The true church of Jesus Christ to which I have referred in this chapter is not merely a parenthesis (a temporary part in brackets) of God's plan for the earth. No, God's plan for the earth, and for His true church, has stayed the same since the beginning of time! The law/s on the other hand were indeed that temporary parenthesis in God's plan. The laws were temporarily included to teach humans about sin. Temporarily? Yes, just until the descendant came. The descendant? Yes, Jesus Christ.

Friend, these matters that I refer to are without a doubt part of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can one test whether it is indeed true? An internationally acclaimed pastor and author explains it as follows:

"If it's truth, the more you examine it, the stronger it becomes. If it's tradition, the more you examine it, the weaker it becomes."

Is that not a fact? Are you searching for the truth? Do investigate it for yourself and let Christ (the Truth) Himself lead you towards it, then see how it becomes stronger in your life. Are you still looking for traditions? Then let the traditionalists around you lead you there. But don't be surprised if the questions that the Holy Spirit starts to ask you make you let go of those traditions because they seem to grow weaker very fast. The fact is that they do actually become weaker. With Jesus there is no easy mid-way between the truth and tradition. Truth will always prevail because truth is a Person, called Jesus Christ! Traditions, on the other hand, are man-made. The truth, as I wrote earlier, will always set you free, as is stated very clearly in John 8:32:

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

I am eternally grateful towards God that I may also be a child of the promise, and that His fantastic truth has set me free from the rule of sin and death! Traditions on the other hand, make the Word of God of no effect, as Jesus Himself warned:

"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:13)

Friend, BE WARNED! See how Galatians 4:28-29 explains it that we will be persecuted when we choose for Jesus:

"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now."

In this verse the Bible confirms once more the fact that, as in Jesus' time, the rigid, traditional, "doctrine-following" worldly church, the false religious system I wrote about in Chapter 6, will persecute the true church of the Spirit. My dear friend, where would you prefer to be? Safely part of the worldly, or part of the TRUE, (persecuted) exciting, spiritual church? The choice is yours.

8.2.But what about the real Jews?

Now you may ask how do I compare all this that I have written about God's spiritual church and we as "spiritual Jews", to the true ethnic Jews and the physical nation of Israel today. Very easily actually, if we look at the following scriptures:

"There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was NOT FIRST which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and AFTERWARD that which is spiritual." (1 Corinthians 15:44-46)

Please take very clear note of the fact that I DO NOT BELIEVE IN the so-called "replacement theology" that teaches that the church of today has "replaced" the physical Israel and that all the promises in the Bible pertaining to Israel are now only applicable to the church and not to Israel itself.

I have already referred to the fact that Paul stated that he and the other Bible authors wrote nothing other than what we read and understand.

"For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end" (2 Corinthians 1:13)

When I look at the history of God's chosen people (the physical Jews of Israel) then, as one of God's watchmen I cannot but declare to the world what I see today. I see very clearly that the Jews were the outcasts of the world right from the very beginning. Everywhere they went they were rejected, teased, cursed, sworn at, killed, spoken ill of, and mostly just plainly victimized. The same is true to this very day. Through the general knowledge I have obtained throughout the years, I have not seen the same kind of rejection or victimization displayed towards ANY OTHER nation's people by the rest of the world. It is just as if there is a GLOBAL hatred against the Jews! Why is this? Is it possibly because satan knows the truth regarding the natural Jews and wishes to try and stop the fulfillment of God's prophecies about them?

Every nation that they ever came into contact with, tried to annihilate them. In more modern times we can't find a better example of this than the well-known "holocaust" of the Second World War, where millions of Jews were killed by Hitler and his Nazi party. Why is this? Because satan has always wanted to destroy ALL God's chosen people, both in the natural and in the spiritual. Then he tries to ensure that all the atrocities are downplayed by people for example, "proving" scientifically that it's not possible that six million Jews could have been killed in the gas chambers for various "scientific" reasons. But have any of these attempts to destroy the Jews over the ages ever been successful? NO! Neither in the natural, nor in the spiritual. Why? Because God is ALWAYS true to His promises, both to His NATURAL chosen people, and also to His SPIRITUAL chosen people. And God promised Israel that He will always protect them.

You see, I believe with all my heart that we, as the so-called "Gentiles", are "children of the promise" but only in the spiritual, as I discussed it earlier in this chapter, while the Jews are "children of the promise" – and will always stay that \- in the natural. The more time I spend in God's Word, the more I am convinced that all the promises in the Bible became ours in the spiritual, through Jesus' death on the cross. But at the same time the more I become convinced that those same promises also pertain to the Jews in the natural, and that all those promises will also come into fulfillment for the physical Jews, the nation of Israel. It makes perfect sense to me why satan would not want any Christians to take note of the fact that these promises will definitely come into fulfillment. So what does he do the world over? As I explained in an earlier chapter, he again uses Christians to try and disprove the scriptures in the Bible referring to the physical restoration of Israel as a nation, thereby trying to disprove the truth of God's unfailing Word.

Let us look at a few scriptures as confirmation of this fact that the promises concerning the physical Jews WILL eventually come into fulfillment. First, let us again look at the promise God gave to Abraham:

"And I will make of thee A GREAT NATION (Abraham himself AND eventually referring to Israel as nation), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2, 3)

Abraham's history clearly proves this fact that he indeed became a great nation, as from him came the whole nation of Israel may years later. Even though he made many mistakes during his lifetime, sometimes being disobedient to God, he was indeed blessed. His name became great over all the ages because God's promises are always true. The fact that I now have the privilege to write about him too, just proves how true God's promises are, even thousands of years later. He hasn't faded into the mists of time like so many other "great" – worldly - people. He is deemed to be the father of Israel (the Jews), and of the Arabian nations (through Ishmael), and of the Gentiles (who include all the other nations of the world)(in the spiritual).

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father OF US ALL, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of MANY nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:16-18)

There can be no doubt from these scriptures that Abraham is indeed the father of many nations. Not just the father of the Jews, but of US ALL, even the Gentiles as I wrote earlier in the chapter. Now let us return to 1 Corinthians 15:44-46 which I quoted earlier, wherein it is stated that the spiritual is NOT first, but the natural. So dear friend, EVERYTHING in the Bible and all the scriptures that I have quoted so far regarding the Gentiles (all the other nations who have faith) as "Jews" in the SPIRITUAL, is just as true of the ethnic Jews in the NATURAL. All the promises that I referred to earlier that are applicable to us as "spiritual Jews" are just as applicable to the real Jews (even more so), no matter what anyone else may think or argue. As we are heirs of Christ in the spiritual, so the Jews are heirs of Christ in the natural. From the very beginning God said that He will bless those that bless Israel and curse those that curse them. Look at the following scriptures about this fact.

"God brought him forth out of Egypt (the nation of Israel); he hath as it were the strength of a wild ox: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." (Numbers 24:8, 9)

"And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee." (Deuteronomy 37:5-7)

"Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them." (Jeremiah 30:18-20)

"Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem AGAIN." (Zechariah 2:7-12)

Throughout history it is clear that all the nations that blessed Israel were indeed blessed themselves, while those that cursed Israel were also cursed in many different ways. The demise of the Nazi's, and Hitler's suicide is a good example of this fact. God is ALWAYS true to His Word. The last sentence in the scripture quoted from Zechariah, states clearly that God "shall choose Jerusalem again". This refers to the physical Jerusalem, and nothing else. The fact that the word: "again" is used, is enough confirmation of this. It cannot refer to the spiritual or new Jerusalem that is still to come, as that spiritual Jerusalem has not been here before. So, the word: "again" does not refer to the new, spiritual Jerusalem, but indeed to the physical Jerusalem.

If we read the letter to the Romans slowly, we will find more clear-cut "evidence" from God's Word that there WILL BE a physical restoration of Israel in the physical one day. Firstly Paul explains how the Jews eventually lost their favor, even after disappointing God for years and years:

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:31-33)

What was the last nail in the Jews' coffin? The fact that they did not accept that "stumblingstone" the "rock of offence", YESHUA HA MASCHIACH - JESUS THE MESSIAH! But does this really mean that the nation of Israel is lost forever and will have no chance to regain their initial position or God's favor? Not if I read the following scripture correctly:

"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath NOT cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:1-5)

Throughout history God always ensured, no matter how tough the times were that Israel went through, that a remnant of his chosen people remained, so that they could keep God's promise to Abraham alive. And then in Romans 11:25-27 Paul refers to a "mystery" that we shouldn't be ignorant of, namely that ALL Israel shall be saved. I asked you this earlier, so I repeat my question now, what does the word: "all" mean?

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so ALL Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes."

From these scriptures I see that a "blindness" in part happened to Israel. Why? So that we as Gentiles, also had the privilege in the meantime, while Israel was so "blinded", to become His children and be a part of His promises in the spiritual. If the nation of Israel had had this Godly revelation at all times, and never disappointed God, but was the perfect nation, it might have happened that we Gentiles would not have received the same promise of faith. But praise the Lord for His compassion and righteousness, that gave us the same benefits and promises as the Jews. I really believe from these scriptures that God will be true to His covenants with them as a people and that He WILL save them ALL and that He WILL take away their sins. There is no "maybe" contained in these scriptures.

We as Gentile believers must actually be very, very thankful of the fact that God chose the Jews. Why? Because in John 4:22 Jesus Himself states:

"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews."

Do you understand yet? If it wasn't for the PHYSICAL NATION OF ISRAEL out of which Jesus Christ was born, there wouldn't have been any salvation for the rest of us at all! So stop trying to write Israel out of God's promises with clever "theological arguments"! Because if you keep on doing that, beware that you may not be bringing that curse I wrote about on yourself.

When will this day happen that Israel will all be saved? When "the fullness" has come, yes, when ALL the Gentiles that are supposed to become His children, have done so. In that moment I personally believe that the rest of God's promises regarding Israel will come into effect. It is clear that God has entered into a covenant with them, a "blood signed agreement" that He WILL take away their sins. This very clearly cannot refer to Jesus taking away their sins on the cross, because this letter to the Romans was written many years AFTER the cross. And note, it states: "...when I SHALL take away their sins..." – future tense.

And just look at the last sentence, which shows very clearly that the Israelites are the Gentiles' enemies for the sake of the gospel, but with regards to the election of His chosen people, they are still loved by God because of their forefathers.

I further believe that the story of Joseph and his brothers, is a "type" of the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Jews His physical brothers. It is not without reason that Joseph is seen as a "type" of Jesus Christ. Just as Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, Jesus' brothers "sold" Him into the slavery of death on the cross. However, God saved Joseph, notwithstanding anything his brothers planned for he had a higher purpose to fulfill. In the same manner God "saved" (just for the purpose of explanation) Jesus through the resurrection for He had a higher purpose to fulfill. What was that higher purpose that Joseph had? To ensure the future salvation of his brothers. What is also a part of Jesus' higher purpose? To also ensure the future salvation of his physical brothers as stated in the book of Romans.

When did Joseph reveal himself to his brothers? Only at their second appearance before him. In this same manner will Jesus truly "reveal" Himself as the one and only MESSIAH to His brothers, the Jews at His SECOND coming. Just as Joseph's brothers didn't recognize him the first time around neither did Jesus' physical "brothers", the Jews recognize Him the first time they saw Him. At His second coming however, they will be joyfully "reunited" in the same manner as Joseph and his brothers were reunited.

What is interesting to note, is that Joseph first sent out the Egyptian servants, BEFORE revealing himself to his brothers. In the same manner, Jesus will most likely only reveal Himself to His Jewish brothers, after having sent us, (the Gentiles – the church) "out of the way", most probably through our rapture. This will give Him time to reveal the fullness of the Word of God and the prophecies relating to Him to His "brothers", thereby giving them a chance to repent and receive His promises for themselves.

From the Bible it is very clear that not all the Bible prophecies have as yet been fulfilled, nor were they all fulfilled when Jesus came to earth the first time. The prophets of the Bible prophesied about days that would come under the reign of Jesus Christ the Messiah, when He would reign in Jerusalem with His nation. For example, there are promises that ALL wars would cease. Has this happened yet? Most definitely not, so it still lies in the future. Some further unfulfilled prophecies include the following:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp (snake; serpent), and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' (viper; serpent) den." (Isaiah 11:6-8)

Anybody can look around and know that these things have not yet happened, so it's still in the future. "Don't you think it refers to the everlasting peace that will be found in the spiritual realm one day, Tiaan?" No, I don't, because I have now said repeatedly that the Bible states clearly that what we read, is exactly what it means. I have no doubt that a day will arrive in the future that the wolf shall PHYSICALLY dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling will be together. How can I say that? Because I believe the words contained in my Bible. These things most definitely lie in the future, if I look at the following scriptures as well:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:2-4)

These scriptures cannot be any clearer. There will be days in the FUTURE, where ALL NATIONS will go to Jerusalem to be taught the ways of God. These scriptures don't refer to times that are past, as the "last days" written about here, have not yet come. We can find no better proof of this fact than in the last sentence, which states that swords will become plowshares and that nations will not rise against each other, or learn about war anymore. From our normal TV programs on war and preparations for war by many different nations, and our daily news programs, it is clear that those times have not yet arrived.

Sure this may also mean that in the spiritual there may one day not be any wars anymore, but I have no doubt at all, in the light of 1 Corinthians 15:45, 46 that it FIRST refers to the natural. In the natural swords have definitely as yet not been turned into plowshares, anywhere on earth as far as I know. Sure, in the spiritual we will one day all go up to the new Jerusalem to be taught the ways of the Lord, but so will it happen in the natural FIRST. But that day has not yet arrived in the natural, because satan presently ensures that the city of Jerusalem in Israel stays a cauldron of hate and anger and division. People are not yet safe to go up to Jerusalem presently to be taught the ways of the Lord, for swords have over the years made way to automatic weapons, tanks and landmines, and not to plowshares and pruninghooks yet. But I have no doubt that that day WILL definitely arrive in the natural. Why? Because my Heavenly Father says so in His unfailing Word!

If any Christian tells you otherwise about God's promises to physical Israel, again decide who you wish to believe, God, or that person. After all, Paul warned us that any person or being who taught anything other than what the apostles taught, may be cursed.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)

You see, if anybody tries to teach anything other than what the Bible clearly states, he or she will be so "accursed". The fact of the matter stays, God instructed all His children to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, so that they may all be blessed and prosper through that.

"Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem: they shall PROSPER that love thee." (Psalm 122:6)

That is what He said, and that is exactly what it means. World-renowned Bible scholar and author, Derek Prince, states it very clearly in his book: "Blessings and curses":

"We see then, that God has pronounced a curse on all who curse the Jewish people – who are anti-Semitic. Today, the effects of this curse are seen both in the lives of individuals and of whole nations. Each of us needs to examine whether we or any of our ancestors have been enemies of the Jewish people. Throughout many centuries the professing Christian Church has often been guilty of propagating flagrant anti-Semitism. Yet the church owes every spiritual blessing to the Jewish people; without them, we would have no apostles, no Bible and no Savior. When we recognize this and repent of the sin of anti-Semitism, the dark shadow of that curse will lift from major sections of the church and be replaced by God's blessing."

Where do you stand with regard to the nation of Israel friend? Are you still under the curse, or have you moved into the blessings yet because you, too, have started blessing Israel and have started to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? The last scriptures I want to quote, is also very clear about the fact that God had chosen Israel for Himself and that His promises regarding them will be true and righteous.

"But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:8-10)

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." (Isaiah 43:1-7)

The Bible is also clear that God has never changed, so that means when God tells Israel: "You are mine", it means exactly that. When the Bible says Israel was made for God's glory, it means exactly that. It is also clear that He has NOT cast away His people, and He WILL not. Ever! Neither in the natural, nor in the spiritual. Praise His Holy and mighty Name!

9.Warn the people! (Back to top)

"But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow NOT the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:6)

9.1.Playtime is over!

This is a very serious warning to God's watchmen! We HAVE to WARN the people! There is no maybe about this. There is no more time to play religious games. If we don't warn God's people and they get pulled away by satan and his deceptions and they die as a result of not being warned, we will be accountable before God for our lack of backbone. But what must we warn them about? About satan's lies and deception that is so part of everyday life that even Christians don't realize they are more often than not compromising with the kingdom of darkness. Also take note dear friend, that after having read this book you can never say you weren't warned about the specific aspects contained in this book.

We must preach God's Word whenever we can, wherever we are.

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

No doubt from this that we are CHARGED – COMMANDED - BEFORE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST, to do the following:

...Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;

"In season" and "out of season" I understand to mean ALWAYS, not just in the normal times that you would expect someone to talk about religion, or religious, spiritual matters. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will lead you to keep silent and just BE an example to others, and then we must also be obedient to His instructions. When I truly have a personal relationship with the living Creator God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I just cannot stop myself from discussing his Word with everyone, everywhere. At work, at sport, at home, at the barbeque, around the swimming pool... and not just at church for an hour every Sunday morning.

Somehow it just keeps on flowing out of me, like streams of living water, like a fountain bubbling up new water moment by moment. It is interesting to note that any man or woman will tell you that no relationship will ever have a chance of survival if the two parties in that relationship spend only and hour PER WEEK in each other's company. Yet, that is what so many of God's children still try to do with God in so many instances (on Sunday mornings), and then they wonder why their lives are in such a mess.

...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Clearly we have the right to reprove or rebuke each other if we find that our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ are not living according to God's Word. For too long we have been too afraid to "tell it like it is", because we thought if we reprove or rebuke, that we are actually critical or judgmental. That is not true. Another lie Satan brought into our heads over the ages, was: "The truth hurts". That is a LIE, as the truth is a Person, His Name is Jesus and He most definitely doesn't hurt anyone. The Bible says He sets people free! But as a result of this lie, people have been afraid to reprove or rebuke each other, too afraid that they will "hurt" that other person if they told them the truth. Please read the words of Proverbs 27:5 with me: "Open rebuke is BETTER than secret love."

What do you still have for the people around you, friend? A "secret" love, or a willingness to openly rebuke them when necessary? For too long God's watchmen have been too afraid to rebuke or reprimand the people. Ministers have in too many cases become too afraid to rebuke their church members for wrong lifestyles for fear that those members will be so offended that they will leave the church, taking their finances with them. Remember the Bible states that God did not give us a spirit of fear, so if any kind of fear enters our thinking however small and no matter about what, where does it come from? Do I really have to actually spell out the answer to that one? So through that fear of losing church members the doors were opened for Christians and/or churches or church leaders to compromise with the kingdom of darkness. This led to more deception being brought into God's church all over the world.

...For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

All the different religions on earth today, each claiming the "true way" to eternity, is enough proof of this statement made by Paul so many centuries ago. The devil ensures through all these different religions, which are not based on God's unfailing Word, that people do not want to hear "sound doctrine". The tragic part is that there are just as many so-called "Christian" cults who allege that their "doctrine" is also built on God's Word but who do not believe the Bible just as it was written. So what do they do? They change the Bible to fit their false doctrines, even though the Bible is very clear that anyone who does so, will receive all the curses mentioned in the Bible.

It goes beyond reason that people can really believe that God is so small and powerless that He couldn't ensure that the Bible and everything written therein is kept pure over the ages. That they could really believe that for ages God's followers believed in an impure Word, and that the Sovereign Creator God actually allowed this, allowing His followers to be deceived, waiting nearly two thousand years before giving a few "chosen individuals" NEW REVELATIONS in order to enable them to amend the Bible to tell the "real truth". This means that all the apostles and Christians from the beginning of the church age up to and including the Christians that lived the past two hundred years are all going to hell, because they never had this "revelation" about the "real truth". This means they lived all their lives in total deception! Can this EVER be true? NO! Never in a million years! That is not a righteous God who operates in such a manner! And our Lord Jesus Christ is, above all, a RIGHTEOUS God!

How small is the God you believe in, friend? I refer to certain "Christian" groups alleging that God is not a triune being, that the Holy Spirit is not a person, that Jesus is not really God's Son, or part of the Trinity, that certain race groups will not be going to heaven, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The different doctrines and viewpoints are legion. These are ALL FALSE doctrines! You see, they can't endure God's sound doctrine, so they start to produce new doctrines that allow them to manipulate their followers through fear, or that allow them to compromise with the kingdom of darkness, in so doing creating a nice "comfort zone" for themselves and their own group. God never works through fear, but satan does. So if you belong to a "Christian" group that manipulates you through fear in any subtle form, you are listening to a wrong doctrine. You are listening to the "father of lies". Jesus came to win the world by love, not by fear. Jesus sets us FREE from fear!

The following section also refers to the fact that people will NOT want to listen to God, will not want to conform to His instructions, will not want to be obedient to His Word, just as it is written, but will try to change it to fit their own agendas.

...but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Many people go from church to church, or from cult to cult, or from religion to religion, trying to find one that "suits" them and their way of thinking. They are not willing to accept God's Word just as it was written, and live in obedience and according to the principles contained therein. Why? Because satan ensures that they are snared by pride and haughtiness. They don't want to die to the "self" as Jesus commands us to do in Luke 9:23 and in Philippians 2:3. They want to do it THEIR way, not God's way, just as the rich young ruler that came to Jesus wanted to follow Jesus according to his own rules, not Jesus' rules. What does this spiritual pride and haughtiness cause? That people turn away from the truth contained in God's Word.

...And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

When people refuse to listen to the truth, they invariably turn to "fables". According to Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary, "fables" are defined as: "A foolish or improbable story; fabrication" while a "fabrication" is also defined as: "A contrived or trumped-up story; a falsehood." Quite obviously if people turn their ears away from the truth, they will turn to the opposite thereof, and the opposite of truth is lies, falsehoods. Who is the "father of lies", according to the Bible? Satan, the destroyer, the deceiver. He who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And he very definitely wants to devour and destroy the truth of and the truth about, God's Word. So any thing, any belief, or any religion that is contrary to God's Word, as contained in the Bible, is a fable, a falsehood, a lie. On what is God's Word built? On Jesus Christ the Son of God. Any religion not accepting and proclaiming Jesus as the Son of the living God, are FALSE!

"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:14, 15)

Very clearly then, whoever does NOT confess that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, does NOT have God dwelling in him, and he is also not found in God.

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:10-13)

There can never be any doubt to the scripture that I underlined here. Eternal life is ONLY found in God's Son, Jesus Christ and in NOTHING or NOBODY else. If you don't "have" the Son, meaning that you haven't accepted Him as your Savior and Redeemer, then you don't have eternal life. Period. Only when you believe in the Name of the Son of God, the Name of Jesus Christ, Yeshua ha Maschiach, can you KNOW that you do have eternal life. Do you KNOW this yet friend? Or are you still wondering?

God's watchmen must do their work to ensure that the people return to the truth, and there is only ONE truth – His name, is Jesus Christ! How should the watchmen do this? The way the Bible says:

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

No matter who we are, we are called as evangelists and ordained to be prophets for all the nations. We have to make disciples of all the nations and teach them all the things Jesus taught. In so doing, we will make "full proof" of the ministry that God called us to. The proof will be seen in the Holy Spirit fruit that we bear and the signs and wonders that follow us in our normal, day to day lives.

9.2.The righteous must also be warned

In the book of Ezekiel we see that the watchmen must also warn the righteous to stay on the pathways of righteousness.

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

You really can't find the warning any clearer than this can you? If we DON'T warn the people and they die in their sins, God will require their blood from our hands. Are you willing to stand back and take that chance friend? I most definitely don't and that is why I am warning the righteous and the unrighteous even through something as simple as this book. If you don't heed the warnings in this book and you die in your sins your blood is not on my hands.

Let us now read Colossians 3:1-15 to see how Paul admonishes the righteous. This epistle that he wrote, was directed at believers, so from this we learn what it is that the watchmen must warn God's children about.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

If we dare call ourselves believers, this section of the scriptures I have quoted contains some very clear indications that we should be dead to the world and the things the world does. We are dead to the world and we are hidden "with Christ in God". Isn't this AWESOME to know? But to stay that way we must set our minds, our thoughts and our actions to those things which are from above, from God and His throne. We must be dead to ourselves, and if we really learn to die to our old "self", we will stop – AND WILL REALLY WANT TO STOP - doing the following things:

"Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth;

fornication, (illicit sexual intercourse of unmarried persons)

uncleanness,

inordinate affection, (immoderate, extravagant, excessive feelings)

evil concupiscence, (lust, carnality, sensuality)

and covetousness (greed), which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."

To "mortify" means to kill off, to STOP DOING all these wrong things. Why? Because we as children of God don't want to be known as "children of disobedience" and incur God's wrath. When we really start to live a life of holiness, we must realize that we just cannot do things the way we did in the past anymore, things like:

"But now ye also put off all these;

anger,

wrath,

malice,

blasphemy,

filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"

Children of God have put OFF the "old man", the old ways of doing things, and have put ON the "new man", now doing things differently than in the past. And if you haven't yet put off these old things child of God, it is time to start. NOW! In Jesus' Holy Name! As I wrote in Chapter 5 only if you REALLY start to appropriate the authority you have in God's kingdom here on earth, will you be able to REALLY turn away from all these things.

Only if we are renewed in knowledge after Christ's image, will we find that we will be able to minister to all races in love, because we will then know that Jesus Christ IS all and IN all.

"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

But in order to do this, we as righteous believers must "put on" something first. We must actually start to wear these things as garments. What am I referring to?

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity (LOVE), which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

I realize now that we have come full circle in this book, from the warnings given in the first and second chapters, past the fruit of the Holy Spirit, to the warnings given to the elect in these last scriptures, and also to what the elect must "put on" which are almost a repetition of the fruit of the Spirit, as referred to in Galatians 5:22, which I discussed in Chapter 2.

Has the Holy Spirit whispered into Your heart about anything you need to change in your life, child of God? Please don't hesitate another second! Confess it NOW, repent thereof, turn away from your sin and RETURN to where you belong! Safe in your Heavenly Father's arms!

The watchmen are on the walls....

I would like to conclude this book with the words of a song that is sung by two Messianic Worship leaders, Barry and Batya Segal. According to my knowledge they live in Jerusalem. The words are from Isaiah 62:6-7:

Al chomotayeech Yerushalayim – On your walls o Jerusalem

"On your walls O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen

I have set watchmen.

On your walls O Jerusalem, who shall never

hold their peace.

Chorus:

Day or night, Day or night, day or night,

I have set watchmen on your walls

Until He establishes, and until He makes

Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

You who make mention of the Lord,

Do not keep silent

Do not keep silent

On your walls O Jerusalem

You shall never hold your peace.

YOU THERE!

Reading this book on your I-pad or Kindle or whatever other device, and who have never made a choice for Jesus Christ of Nazareth:

Are you still afraid of what people will think of you if you give your heart to Jesus Christ, friend? Ask yourself the following question: What will endure the longest? Those so-called "friends'" temporary friendship, or God's eternity? What weighs the heaviest in your scale? Eternal love, joy, peace, happiness and life... or temporary acceptance by people?

And YOU, righteous child of God: Are you calling out to the lost and the righteous yet, watchman (-woman)? Or are you still keeping silent about the motions of the enemy, watchman (-woman)? Who are you then trying to please? God, or people? Are you praying for the peace of Jerusalem yet? Are you praying for the fulfillment of God's promises to the Jews yet - so that your blessings may also increase?

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All the italics, underlining and highlights of Bible texts and other sources quoted, are those of the author.

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All the glory, honor and worship from now until eternity is due only to God the Father, my one and only true Daddy, to Jesus Christ, His only Son, and to the Holy Spirit, who lives inside me and every CHILD of God! Hallelujah, I glorify and praise the Name of YESHUA HA MASCHIACH, the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords and of Emmanuel, God with us and God IN us, and RUACH HA KODESH, the Holy Spirit of God!

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About the Author: (Back to top)

Tiaan Gildenhuys has been in full-time ministry as an evangelist across denominational borders throughout South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi since 2003. He has published 12 books in English and 21 books in Afrikaans and approximately 60 DVD's with different messages from the Bible.

To view or purchase any of this author's other material, feel free to visit his official website: http://www.oicb.co.za and check out "Shop tiaan".

Should you like to correspond with this author, feel free to send an e-mail to: mailto:tg@oicb.co.za

