Going Back to Go Forward

[TheManofGod]

The Original Design: where did it go?


Some of the most precious roots the Church has, have been lost or ruled out as outdated or legalism. However, a closer look at the old landmarks will give us an understanding of the original plan of God for His Church. Your prayerful consideration of this information is greatly appreciated.

Looking Back To Understand the End


Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

In the book of Exodus, before the 10 Commandments were given, God makes this statement:

Exodus 19:5-6 KJV
[5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The Elders, on behalf of the children of Israel agreed. Unfortunately the children of Israel did not last long in their agreement. It was after Moses came down from communing with God, being given the Tabernacle Plan, Judgments, Statutes and Sabbaths of God written on the Tables of Stone, by the finger of God, we find the children of Israel worshiping an idol of gold. The stone tablets were broken, the people judged, and Moses asks Who is on the LORD's side? The sons of Levi respond in the affirmative.

It was the Levites from that point forward who would bear the iniquity of their brethren:

Numbers 18:22-23 KJV
[22] Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. [23] But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

Hence the need for the tithe:

Deuteronomy 12:11-12 KJV
[11] Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: [12] And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.

Remember, it was the will of God from the beginning that ALL the children of Israel be a kingdom of Priests, not just one family. We see this reiterated in the last book of the Bible:

Revelation 1:5-7 KJV
[5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, [6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. [7] Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

and

Revelation 5:9-10 KJV
[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; [10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The Apostle Peter believed in the Original Plan of God found in Exodus:

1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV
[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.


Today's Church


What you see today in modern Churches is not what Christ is coming back for. Here are a couple items that stand out:

1. Why is it that we do not celebrate the Sabbath? Yet give tithes?
   
   Look at what the First Generation Church did:
   
   Acts 2:42-47 KJV
   [42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
   
   A tithe is 10%. It is clear that the first Church supported each other not just a ministry. We know that the tithe was instituted before the giving of the Law. However so, the tithe was specifically commanded to be given for the Levites, because they had no inheritance with the Israelites.
   
   Today's church does not have a money problem it has a distribution problem. It was not God's original plan that only the Levites serve in the office of the Priest. Had the Israelites continued in the covenant there would have been a much different financial plan as was reflected in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
   
2. I mentioned the Sabbath day not being observed. Let us look at the origin of the change that occurred in history:
   
   Some major things were changed for the church during the Council of Laodicea (remember this word) in 363 AD (or thereabouts). At this council they determined what would and would not be considered canon and what would and would not be included in the Bible or read at church. Here is one of the canons:
   
   Canon 29
   "Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ."
   
   The Roman Catholic leaders made it a point to profane the Sabbath and to honor the first day of the week as the "Lord's Day" in its stead. Notice the replacement of the Sabbath observation was "if they can", resting then on the first day of the week as Christians. They give not explicit command to rest and to remember and to keep the day holy. It not only was in contradiction to the word of God, the counterfeit looked nothing like the original in form or fashion.
   
   The opening statement and closing statement of the canon mentioned above gives us a clear picture as to "why" this command was given. For many leaders of that time period, even up until now, want nothing to do with their Jewish roots. Thus they commanded against judaizing. To judaize or to be a judaizer was when a person identified either in practice or in affiliation with a Jew or Judaism. For this one would be excommunicated, or anathema.
   
   If one changes the original plan let them be accursed (anathema):
   
   Galatians 1:8-9 KJV
   [8] 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. [9] 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.
   
   The church hasn't rejected ALL of the changes made by the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, we comply to the mass delusion of error and give in to the pressure of the popular and the norm.
   
   The people of the name reject the trinity and the idols instituted by the Roman Catholic Church, yet we do not reject all of its holy days that are rooted in paganism. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. We need to come to a place that we will love the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help us God!
   
   2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 KJV
   [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be ****ed who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
   
   Look at what Daniel prophesied about the end times:
   
   Daniel 7:24-25 KJV
   [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
   
   Notice this is already happened (changing of times and laws). The spirit of the antichrist is already at work.
   
   2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV
   [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
   
   So what was the command regarding the Sabbath? God instructed Moses to teach this concerning the spoken command (one of the 10 commands) "remember the sabbath day to keep it holy":
   
   Exodus 31:16-18 KJV
   [16] Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. [17] It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. [18] And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
   
   There also were three other Sabbaths: Passover (Pesach), feast of firstfruits (Pentecost), feast of ingathering (Tabernacles or Succoth).
   
   Exodus 23:14 KJV Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
   
   and
   
   Exodus 31:13 KJV
   Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
   
   Isaiah 56:4-7 KJV
   [4] For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. [6] Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [7] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
   
   Ezekiel 22:25-26 KJV
   [25] There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. [26] Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
   
   All three of feasts have a prophetic purpose and were given to the children of Israel to observe as a Sabbath.
   
   Christ observed the Passover and became the Passover Lamb. Christ also observed the feast of firstfruits, Pentecost, returning as He said He would (I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you! see John 14:18). Christ DID NOT observe the feast of ingathering (as pertains to prophecy):
   
   John 7:6-8 KJV
   [6] Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. [7] The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. [8] Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
   
   The time Christ was talking about was His return in the final harvest or ingathering.
   
3. One more thought, who is the Head of the Church? Christ is the head of the Church:
   
   Ephesians 5:23 KJV
   "… Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
   
   Colossians 1:18 KJV
   "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
   
   We have this observation that in many churches the ministry is ran by the people, while there are other churches headed by the ministry. Study what Christ says to the Seven Churches in Asia (see Revelations 2 and 3).
   
   You will notice that the "candlestick" or "lamp stand" symbolizes the church. To the angel of the church of Ephesus (the word Ephesus means "permitted"), Christ spoke of leadership that was able to judge between false apostles and the Nicolaitan doctrine hate, but forgot their first love, which was the first commands. The judgment for not repenting and remembering to do the first commands was that the Candlestick or Church would be taken from its place.
   
   The last church spoken of by Christ in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ was the church of the Laodiceans. By the time we get to this church it had fully accepted the deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitans. This church symbolizes the Apostasy. The word Laodicea means "justice by the people" and the word Nicolaitan means "conquer of the people".
   
   Paul said this about the end times:
   
   2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV
   "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
   
   The phrase "falling away" is apostasia (Greek), or defection from truth (properly the state), or in English apostasy. There are more churches, today, that claim rites to the truth, yet the majority are a defection from the truth. This was prophesied to happen both by Paul and by Christ.
   
   In the last days many will say Christ is who He says He is and many will say they are Christ (that they be of him):
   
   Matthew 24:5 KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
   
   Luke 21:8 KJV And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
   
   Christ identified the Nicolaitan doctrine with that of Balaam. Interesting enough Balaam in the Arabic means "glutton". In the Hebrew it means "devourer of the people". What Balaam taught Balak (the king of the Moabites) was how to destroy the Israelites without throwing one stone. He instructed Balak that if he could get them to fornicate (physically or spiritually) God will judge them. Balak listened to the instruction of a paid prophet and the judgment of God came to the Israelites.
   
   Let me say this God will not come and judge a sinful rebellious world before He judges His Church:
   
   1 Peter 4:17 KJV For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
   
   We need to repent as a body of Christ and hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. We need to go back to the original plan of God.

Let's go on to perfection:



Hebrews 6:1-3 KJV Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit.

What will God use to return us to the original design? He will use the gifts He gave to the Church:

Ephesians 4:11-15 KJV
[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
- Notice the phrase for the work of the ministry, this literally means, "to do the work of ministry". The Five Fold ministry, which is not presently active in all the churches, is for the perfecting of the saints so they can do what they were originally called to do.
- Exodus 24:12 KJV [12] And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them."
- The commands was to be taught by the leadership.
- God first spoke the 10 commands then gave Moses the recipe for instruction on how to observe the commands spoken in the hearing of all the people (See Exodus 20).
[13] 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: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

We are not all in the unity of the faith (doctrine). Hence these gifts are still needed for the Church.

Most importantly the fivefold ministry is for the perfecting of the saints who are the building blocks that make up the Church (the building):

1 Corinthians 3:9-10 KJV
[9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. [10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

and

Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV
[19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Jude 1:20-23 KJV
[20] But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. [22] And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We must go back to go forward!

 

[charisenexcelcis]

I chose none of the above. I believe that the point of the different returns is that you shouldn't worry about the return, only about being faithful to sow.