...he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with
I am come to send
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
...Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?... Matthew 20:22
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. Zechariah 13:9
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Psalms 66:10
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Matthew 3:11
on the earth; and oh how I wish it were already kindled.
But first I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how straitened I am until it is accomplished.
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: Luke 12:49-51
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Peter 4:12-14
that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:6-7
Jesus said that the purpose of His coming was to send fire on the earth, and oh how He wished it were already started, but first He said that He had a baptism to be baptized with, the baptism of the cross. After His ascent back up to the Father He baptizes believers with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
He clearly said that He did not come in order to give Peace to the world, but to bring division instead. And all because of "His word"! The only people getting "Peace" in this world are the ones who Know Him, and through Him know the Father as well. This is the "Peace with God" that every bona-fide Christian receives when they believe.
In a nutshell the fire that Jesus is talking about is none other than the TESTING or TRIAL of our faith! It's one thing for a person to "SAY" they have faith, yet it's quite another when that faith is Tried By Fire and passes God's Litmus Test. It is this "Fire" that tests the heart and that tests the fortitude and willingness of the persons faith in Christ, both to see if the faith that they "say" they have is real or not, and how far it will go.
Let's face it, God knows that only those (and knows who they are) who are committed to Him and dedicated to the purity of His words have filled their lamps with enough oil (shall we say) to go... ALL THE WAY! Everyone else will simply burn out!
Some of these testings or trials by fire may and do include, persecution (especially by family members), slander, defamation of character, torture, etc. But this is always because of our no-nonsense stand for Jesus and/or our preaching the Gospel.
It's never because of us that we're tested, but it's always because of His word that we first received. It's because of our association with Him, for Who He is and our love for Him and His word. This is where He takes and places us into once impossible situations and in places where we don't want to go, and where;l without Him, we would flee every time.
He does this (if we are willing) so that we'll have and gain the strength and stamina necessary to stay the long run and do God's will. He does this so that the word of God becomes ALIVE in us, as it was in Him, a fire eager and ready to go and do God's bidding.
This trial by fire that we experience from time to time not only tests our faith but tests our faithfulness in handling the word of God and how we respond to doing God's will as well. I am so reminded of one of the sons in Matthew 21:28 that Jesus speaks of. The one that knew and weighed the costs and didn't go to work in his father's vineyard when prompted to.
But later on it shows him repenting of his sin, then he went, and in so doing he performed or acted upon doing his father's will. His "work" of going to do his father's will is one of... Love!
There is one thing about these "Trials" -- as bad as they may seem, if we remain in Him/His word, His grace will be more than sufficient to see us through all of them...
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
We can see what happens to those who don't pass these tests of faith in the parable of the sower. The main reason for this we see is because of their shallow committment...
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matthew 13:5-6
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. Matthew 13:20-21
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:4-8
As of this writing (Sept.28, 2005), I believe very strongly why many "professing" Christians fall away (being copies of the 'shallow ground' in the story of the sower), even though they aren't aware of their doing so, and even though some of them try and maintain a "religious" facade! It is because they do not remain IN Christ. "They no longer remain in Christ because God's word no longer remains IN them!" They have not allowed it ('the seed') to find a welcomed home IN them! (In other words, they no longer heed it!)
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation ("peirasmos". ASV = "trial"), which shall come upon all the world, to try ("peirazo") them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:10-11
3986. peirasmos
3985. peirazo
from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.
from 3984 peira; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.
This coming test or trial [Trying or Putting to Proof], is a putting of flesh and blood men to the test in order to see what we're made of and what kind of heat we can take. Like taking and throwing a dried twig in the fire and watching it burn. (In the presence of the Fire what else can it do??? Isaiah 33:14) I see no other recourse from the above Scriptures that it will be Jesus Himself who will be the one that will be doing the testing as a flaming fire! "Tested by Fire"!
He is not talking about keeping us from having to face that hour by way of some "Secret pre-trib. Rapture", as the teachers of this pre tribulation rapture nonsense believe and teach others, but of preserving us from having to face Him as the ungodly in His unquenchable fire.
Jesus is talking about a specific "hour" (i.e. a very short period), about a future "trial" that is about to come upon the whole earth, that will put all men to the proof, or test what they're made of. This is going to be a trial by... "Fire" (see 1 Corinthians 3:13 below). He is saying that those who are keeping the word of His patience in enduring to the end will avoid having to come and face this firey trial. That is the importance of keeping the word of His patience, or His Patient Word to the very end!
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try ("dokimazo") every man's work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:13
1381. dokimazo
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Over and over the word of God keeps us safe with Scriptures as Matthew 24:29-31 and these --
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:12
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: Malachi 3:2
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
He is not speaking here of some pre-tribulation rapture where we may "escape" all these things by leaving this earth, instead He is speaking of the day of His coming! There is only ONE WAY to Escape all these things and stand before Christ, and that is through keeping His word Patiently while eagerly awaiting His coming/parousia/appearing!
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7
Judgement begins in the church (1 Peter 4:17). It TESTS all who profess to be Christians (both true and false), and deals with each accordingly. Read the parable of the Ten Virgins and The Wheat and The Tares, for but two examples of what I am saying here.
In my estimation concerning the last days, there can be no greater danger that will affect "Christians" than the pre-tribulation rapture lie! This "false teaching" is what is giving these people a false hope that has them looking for a pre tribulation rapture by a Christ that will never come at the time that "they" say He will.
Also, this lie teaches them that there is no need to worry nor prepare for a long journey (by carrying extra oil with our lamps), because they say that the Lord will come at any second and rapture us out of here before the great tribulation even begins.
Therefore, these false prophets are teaching that there is no use for any of us to carry extra oil in our lamps if there's not going to be a time of great tribulation and a time of darkness for us to go through in the first place.
How nicely this lie fits in with the parable of the five foolish virgins and obviously why they weren't prepared in the first place. The true meaning of Revelation 3:10 (by patiently keeping "His" word, [rather than theirs] and enduring to the end) is lost to them, simply because they believed the lie!
They even have the great audacity to rule over God's word by saying that Scriptures as The Olivet Discourse, Revelation (after chapter three), etc. does not apply to the Christian but to the Jew. They claim that when the great tribulation begins it will be the Jew who'll be around then, and they will be the ones who have the testimony of Jesus! How blind! How ridiculous! It is clearly written that the Jews will not believe or know Jesus at all until His appearance...
Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they which have pierced him, and all the tribes of the land shall wail because of him. Yea. Amen. Revelation 1:7
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:35
It has never been the Lord's intention to take His church out of the world at the first sign of trouble or persecution but to preserve us through it all and make us more than conquerers through Him...
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
How is it possible for God to KEEP US FROM having to face THAT HOUR? Well according to the scriptures, we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air as He is coming down in flaming fire (1 Thessalonians 4:17) - where we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52) - and all of this happens so fast that it will appear that we (being glorified upon sight of Him) came with Him (Colossians 3:4).
Take a special note on the following...
But of that day and HOUR knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an HOUR as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an HOUR that he is not aware of, Matthew 24:50
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what HOUR I will come upon thee. Revelation 3:3
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the HOUR of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10
It becomes clearly evident that this "HOUR" that Jesus is refering to in Revelation 3:10 centers around the "HOUR" of His Coming! This is THE HOUR that Revelation 3:10 speaks of - this is the equivalent time beginning when the rain began to fall in the days of Noah (see Matthew 24 above) until the flood (aka The Wrath of God!) came to take them all away. When the rain began to fall only those in the ark were saved. For everyone else it was too late!
Notice too that twice we see "The Patience of the saints" mentioned...
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
Of course what we are looking at here is the saints who patiently endure through these hardships and trials keeping His word - the word of His patience, as shown in THE LAST DAYS when the antiChrist is on the scene. These "Patient Christians" are the same ones who are seen in those LAST DAYS patiently keeping His "PROPHETIC" word - of the testimony of Jesus - of the Gospel of the Kingdom - of keeping the word of His second coming/parousia/return and when that would be... intact to the very end!
Jesus Himself said this would all come about: ...Immediately after the tribulation of those days... Matthew 24:29
It is obvious that Jesus is refering to THE LAST DAYS and our not being found wanting in Revelation 3:10. Compare what He is refering to with these Scriptures...
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up
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;2 Thessalonians 2:3
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:17
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:17
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1
What Jesus is saying in Revelation 3:10 is simply this...
To those of you who keep the word of my patience, I am going to keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
NOTE: "To TRY THEM that dwell where?? ON EARTH!!" What is this HOUR that is about to come upon the whole world???
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Compare: "as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth -- watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass", with: "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world".
And how is one found "Worthy"? By Keeping the word of His patience, of course!
Paul says it like this...
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
You can see where all of this going, can't you?!
The way to ESCAPE "His Wrath" (the firey trial) is by enduring in the word of His patience to the very end. At the end, the moment He appears (immediately after the tribulation of those days and after signs in the sun, moon, stars - Matthew 24:29) is when we will no longer be on the earth to face His wrath, but caught up to join Him in the sky, thus avoid what is about to happen to the whole earth.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:--allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:31-36
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what HOUR your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:36-42
It will be the same when Jesus comes suddenly as a thief in the night... only His wrath and coming will be in the form of flaming fire instead of water!
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 2 Peter 3:10-11
Again, Jesus clearly explains what it is....
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of THE WHOLE EARTH.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:34-36
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
May God bless you in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Biff
