Rev 12:10 says: "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, NOW is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ..."
(Note the same, "NOW" used here is also used in conjunction with John 12:31 below, tying all three "NOW'S" together. This "NOW" happens at the moment Satan is cast down, ridding the heavens of evil as salvation in Christ begins!)
John 12:
In order for Rev.12:10 to be a fact in heaven, Satan must first be cast out of there... and he was -
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, knowing that he has but a limited amount time left to him.
And Jesus began His ministry, along with that of casting out Devils from men and from before His presence, nearly 2,000 years ago now! And one of those accomplishments of His was to destroy the works of the Devil. (1 John 3:8)
Luke 10:
31 NOW is the judgment of this world: NOW shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
More proof that the Holy Spirit has come and that Satan has been judged is seen here...
John 16:
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
So whenever someone says, "Satan is still in heaven and still accusing men before God" --- and believes that after all that was written and that Christ accomplished; this same Christ who died and ascended into heaven and became glorified, is EXACTLY the kind of stuff (i.e. "Unbelief") that falls short of giving the proper glory to Christ on the one hand and gives it to Satan on the other."
Now the word of God is VERY Clear that Satan has been cast out of heaven! Thanks to the Lord and the blood that He shed, Satan can no longer accuse men of their crimes against God. The blood drove him out!
Christ; now seated in power and glory on the right hand, has put an end to all that... "Seated FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" (Eph 1:21)
Matt 12:
And how do we overcome Satan today? The same way every Christian has been doing it for the past 2,000 years...
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
To believe that Satan is still in heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ - (who defeated Satan - who bound him up - and who shut his mouth before God - and who cast him out) - is EXACTLY the kind of belief (i.e. "UNBELIEF") I am talking about, the kind that robs Christ of His rightful glory.
There is ALWAYS a False Doctrine for every True Doctrine that touches upon the glory of Christ. And this is the kind of stuff that in turn takes and troddens down the Son of God!
All such doctrines and teachings against Christ and for the other are always false, and always take away the glory that is rightfully Christ's.
The doctrine itself may or may not be 'Directly' connected to the other belief it is giving glory to, but it is always connected to it nevertheless.
It's not the Belief in Michael and whether or not "he" is the restrainer that's the sin here. (Michael has absolutely nothing to do with it!)
Make no mistake, it is these kinds of false beliefs that takes away glory from God and from His Christ (Matt.12:30) -
So by teaching others the word of God - that Christ has removed Satan from his place in heaven when He began His ministry and ascended into heaven and took His power and reigned there, is not only rightly dividing the word but giving Christ ALL the glory that's due Him as well.
By our believing the word of God who tells us that Satan has already been thrown down from heaven to the earth, does its usual "double duty" -
He no longer has access to God's throne. He has been driven out! Christ has defeated him - NOW, TODAY, not tomorrow - He has stripped him of the power of death and hell which he held and used over men.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev 12:11-12
It can't live (subsist) without it! For instance, "How can "Michael" be the restrainer if Satan is no longer in heaven? Obviously he can't be! The entire foundation of Michael being the restrainer rests squarely upon keeping Satan still being in heaven as we speak, still waiting to be cast out from Christ's presence!"
Rather it is the Unbelief that caused Michael to be made into the restrainer in the first place... the kind of Unbelief that says that "Satan" hasn't been kicked out of heaven yet, he is still there hindering Christ's rule, and is still there justifiably accusing men before the throne despite the blood, that is the real sin here!
Chosing to believe that Satan is still in heaven as he was before Christ and still waiting to be cast out, is the kind of teaching that takes and troddens under foot the Son of God, counts the blood of the covenant, wherewith we were sanctified, an unholy thing, and does despite unto the Spirit of grace. (Heb.10:29)
And all for who??? For "Satan!" All to keep Satan enthroned in heaven against the teaching of God - Isaiah 14:12-14 - just the way Satan likes it.
1. it Exposes to the light all them who are teaching falsely on these things via their own games they play in denying the truth, - and
2. it Removes the false doctrine out of that part of the church where the light of truth is shining and is revered above all, and Replaces it with the Truth!
The Restrainer can't be "Michael"!
also...
#1. Paul (and the early church fathers) use the words, "Until he be taken out of the way", in reference to the removal of "The
Restrainer"!
Dan.12 says, "and AT THAT TIME Michael will STAND UP"! (not be taken out of the way)
#2. "At That Time" (in this case) *MUST* HAVE A REFERENCE POINT!!!
#3. Michael is named the prince which "standeth" for thy people.
#4. I see Michael's "fighting against" Satan in the war in heaven (Rev.12) having to do with "Opposing" (not "Restraining") Satan!
According to the early church father's The Restrainer was "Rome". (and I believe it may also be some of the "Religious Government(s)" that came forth from it, (RC for one) and are still ruling over "many" nations (or "waters") today)
They knew that as long as the government or empire of Rome was in power that it; just by what it was and did, was sufficient to "quench" all phonies from joining the church in those days because of the heavy persecution Rome dished out for anyone just professing to be a "Christian", and thus deny as God the great Caesar (along with a hundred or so other "gods"). In those days (as we see in some Mulim and Communist controlled countries today), it was, "Deny Christ or die!"
Paul knew and taught (2 Thes.2:1-3) that the Apostacy had to come first, and the AC to be revealed before the Lord came and we were gathered unto Him. As long as Rome was in power and persecuting Christians for just being Christians, he knew there could be no Apostacy until Rome (and all that it represented) was first removed from power!
Earthly Rome (Dan.2:33 - the legs of iron) has long since fallen from power (like the other empires had before it) and is no more. But what Rome once was "spiritually": (it's gods, venerations, glories, statues, Caesar's, etc.), never fell, but was merely "transferred".
The Vatican State: The Roman Catholic Church, (i.e. "spiritual Babylon") symbolizes The Great Harlot of Revelation 17:5... For she is seen drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Christ. She cannot repent nor change her spots! She always was and is a "Whore", pretending to be the "spiritual chuch" founded by Christ: even calling herself, "The Bride of Christ!"
The first Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar's time and the Rome that ruled during the Apostles' time (aka "Babylon" by the saints) has long since fallen. But the second Babylon ("spiritual" Babylon), the "Roman" Catholic Church and all other apostate religions today; claiming to possess or wanting to be the ruling spiritual power and authority for God over the rest of us on this earth, will lead the way in uniting herself to like-minded others (i.e. Muslims, etc.) in ushering in the new Antichrist to his throne, and "temporarily" rule with him as his wife.
The restrainer, however, seems to be pointing to the word of God and the church!
Once the salt has lost its savor it becomes useless! (Matt.5:13)
So the more muddied it/we become through welcoming antichrists, false teachers and prophets inside to take and change the truth of God into a lie, the greater and the faster the apostacy grows, until it becomes full blown!
Why? Because Michael is the defender and protector of Israel which already "standeth for" that nation, and he will arise and defend them in their time of great trouble (Dan.12:1), and not "stand aside" or "be taken out of the way" to allow them to be exterminated.
Paul says, "until he be taken out of the way"!
Now, "Taking yourself out of the way by "standing still" is one thing, while BEING taken out of the way (like a wrap that covers an
object); in it being no more, as Paul is saying it, is quite another.
And it does have one in 12:1.
The reference is pointing back to something that was already told to Daniel... and the AT THAT TIME reference that Daniel refers to is seen in Daniel 11:21-45 with "the AC coming to power", and that whole scenario.
By seeing him "standing up" *AT THAT TIME* simply means it is time for him to do what he always did, as their prince: Because it is now time to "Stand Up" and do the job assigned to him.
He isn't "taken out of the way", rather he is "getting in the way" - getting in the way of AC from putting an end to all the Jews.
Ditto, I see his role on earth (Dan.12) continuing in this same opposition... only now on earth!
As an "Opposer" of the accuser, yes, a "Restrainer" no!
"Rome" was "Mystery, Babylon" to John (Rev.17:5). Peter (1 Peter 5:13) called Rome, "Babylon". (There was no church in Babylon!) In those days; with heavy persecution going on, to voice out that it was Rome who was the Harlot, was committing suicide. The church knew that it was "Rome". It was spoken of in a "mystery", and as "Babylon", so their enemies wouldn't get the meaning.
It has been taken over, kept alive and given a new "religious" name by the New Church State, in order to "cover-it-up" under the guise of Christianity.
This gives it a place to grow, breed and fester, as it ("the apostacy") started and began to move away from the mainstream of God's word in order to begin it's steady ascent of iniquity and whoredoms.
The more the iniquity the more the love of many will grow cold! (Matt.24:12)
The Bible teaches that the word of God will be "rare" one day.
Now we know that the word of God is "Powerful" - easily capable of tearing down strongholds (i.e. long established false doctrines in us we've nursed and took care of) if we will but sit at His feet and seek to HEAR/UNDERSTAND the word of the Lord!!!
If we take the word of God seriously when it comes to the plain text then there can be no doubt as to the simple meaning of (for example) John's words in 1 John 4:2 and 3.
John begins (v.1) by warning us not to believe every spirit we hear but to test them to see whether they are of God or not, because a whole slew of "false prophets" (some of whom you may even be accepting right now as fellow Christians) have gone out into the world.
Never forget, Satan's job is to deceive. He is superior in cleverness and more cunning than a man, and if he can just "appeal to our flesh" and get us to listen to and believe his voice instead of Christ's, we're going to be in serious doo doo! Remember too that his "ministers" as well are also transformed as ministers of righteousness... the wolves in sheeps clothing: ravenous wolves!
So it's not the cult, or the disobedient or the hateful or the athiest we are to discern and test (for they already reveal what they are without saying a word), rather it is the guy you and I might be rubbing shoulders with who sincerely believes that he is a Christian (and he may well be) that needs testing in order to see just what spirit he is of....
I John 4:
This is HOW we "test the spirits"!
Again: What is the word of God telling us?
John (under the inspiration of the Spirit) also tell us -
#2b. ...while every spirit that does not confess him as coming in the flesh IS NOT of God, and in fact is of the antichrist!"
Now I'm no rocket scientist, but it is all too simply clear to me that "ALL MEN" (you and I included) COME IN THE FLESH!
I know "athiests and agnostics" who believe and even confess that there once was a man called, Jesus, and that he "CAME (was born) IN THE FLESH" (just like every other man comes), him being JUST a man anyway! They would have no trouble confessing that!
According to John's "TEST" wouldn't that: "Yes I believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh", mean that the athiests and agnostics are of God too??? They MUST be of God as well, if they passed the test! NO!?
"IF" all men come (i.e. are born) in the flesh (and we all are), and Jesus Christ was merely a "man", then the majority of Jews, Arabs, Mormon's, J.W.'s, Atheists, Agnostics, Cults, Perverts, etc., must all belong to God as well because it is NO BIG THING for any of them to believe and even confess that Jesus Christ was a man who CAME (was born) IN THE FLESH! Thus the "spirit" in them must be "of God"!? NO!?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
But what if it was not just a "man" but "GOD HIMSELF" who is the One who came in the flesh???
1 Timothy 3:
Now we have a whole new ballgame!
For one, that would eliminate all those groups I just mentioned above.
They would or could NEVER confess that Jesus is both God as well as was always with God, meaning that it was "GOD" who came in the flesh, shed His blood, laid down His life, and rose again, whose name was JESUS CHRIST!
Obviously John "KNOWS ABSOLUTELY" that Jesus Christ is God (John 1; and 1 John 1), or else you can take and throw out his epistles because they have no relevance in revealing to us who Christ is, and we could then rightfully say that God's word is a lie!
But His word is not a lie and is very powerful and full of the knowledge of THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH... the "SAME SPIRIT" that John is talking about in verse 2, the One who revealed Jesus to him as being... "GOD come in the flesh"! (1 John 1)
So John knows EXACTLY who and what he is talking about, writing his vision of Christ under the inspiration of the Spirit, the same One in him that witnessed to him that Jesus Christ is indeed God, and therefore it was "GOD" (John 1:1, 14) in the Person of Jesus Christ who became flesh!
Verse 2... The WITNESS/SPIRIT that confesses that 'GOD' came in the flesh (1 Tim.3:16) by becoming flesh, is the same WITNESS (The Spirit of Truth) that proclaims that 'JESUS CHRIST' (God - the Word made flesh) came in the Flesh, IS of God!!!
Verse 3... And the WITNESS/SPIRIT who confesses otherwise has not the Spirit of Christ in him that testifies to Jesus coming as God in the flesh and therefore IS NOT of God at all but of the Devil!!!
These spirits and ministers have but one purpose: "To destroy the Christian by destroying (hiding from him) his God!"
Pretty cut and dried? It usually is!
So be sure and... "Test the spirits", by these "simple" tests:
IF you have the John 1 and 1 John 1 witness in you of the Holy Spirit then you know, confess and witness absolutely that Jesus Christ become flesh is God become flesh (the Word of God= John 1; 1 John 5:7 - The Son of God = Matthew 16:16; Romans 8:3) and therefore God indeed came in the flesh!
IF you don't believe this then you won't confess Him as God... in fact you can't.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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. "That Jesus Christ ("GOD") is come in the flesh!"
#2a. "That every spirit that confesses him ( i.e.:"witnesses to Him" ) as coming in the flesh IS of God...
"JESUS" coming in the flesh would be no exception to this rule!!!
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1 Timothy 3:16
"Is Jesus both GOD and man?"
Then... "According to John 1:1-2 and 1 Timothy 3:16, it was "GOD" who came in the (became) flesh!?" Yes or no.
1 Cor 12:
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord (i.e. "The Lord God come in the flesh"), but by the Holy Ghost.
(Match the YELLOW with the YELLOW and the PINK with the PINK in order to see the similarities)
1 Corinthians 13:
Now, take Special Notice of what "Jesus" said....
John 16:
9. For we Know IN PART, and we Prophecy IN PART.
10. 
But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12. 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 (see Matthew 11:27).
12. I have yet many things to say unto you, BUT YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW.
13. Howbeit when he, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, is come,
he will guide you into ALL truth
14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Now, compare the above two Scriptures with this one....
Hebrews 5:
11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (i.e. "Perfect"), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Again, compare the above three Scriptures with this one....
1 Corinthians 3:
1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Again...
Galatians 3:3:
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made PERFECT by the flesh?
Again...
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT.
1 Corinthians 2:
6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are PERFECT: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: because they are spirituallydiscerned.
15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Again...
John 6:63:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Again...
Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...
Again...
Revelation 3:20:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
John 14:23:
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Once more...
1 John 2:
20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Our Knowing and Prophesying "IN PART" happens BEFORE we are anointed with the Spirit of Truth.
While our Knowing God and Prophecying "IN FULL" happens to us AFTER we are anointed with the Spirit of Truth.
None of this has to do with the finalization or coming of the "Complete Book of the Bible", or the KJV, as some falsely believe. The coming of The Perfect has nothing at all to do with a book - John 6:45 - and everything to do with our coming and yielding to Jesus and knowing God first hand through The Holy Spirit: aka, "The Perfect"!!!
For further study, on how this "meaning of the Coming of the Perfect" further applies to Jesus' second coming (i.e. "parousia") go to: Hard Saying 17.
Also Study: When The Perfect comes
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19
It is obvious (at least to the born-again Christian) that the very first thing needed in order to have "Spiritual" Discernment (in order to test the spirits and know what is and what is not of God) is to have a "Personal relationship (one on one encounter) with the Living God"!
For example, take someone who's eyes are opened for the first time and they see light. Now they can describe it! Or take an experienced person who has been trained in observing and pricing fine jewels. They handled the real thing long enough and can't be fooled by imitations simply because of all of the "hands-on" experience they have. They know what they're looking at.
They are "Familiar" with the real McCoy! They have handled their wares and have been trained by other "experts" to know the real from the false, and the low from the high valued gemstones. They, in turn, have become the "experts" in their trade.
These have "hands-on" experience in learning the differences between what is valuable and what is not, even though there may be several items that seem the same to the undiscerning eye. Not only can these, "professionals" sort out the valuable from the cheap but the true from the false as well.
However, having "Spiritual Discernment" does not begin with studies or lessons about the differences between true and the false (or the real and the fake) from another or from some book, but begins with God Himself.
It begins with the "hands-on" revelation of God! In order to know what is NOT God and is NOT of God you have to know what and who He is first! The ONLY way to know Him is through knowing His Son, Jesus Christ - the Living Word of God made flesh....
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27
God is a Spirit! In order to know Him one has to know Him as He is, in Spirit and in Truth! With "men" this is IMPOSSIBLE", but with God (or should I say: "with the Spiritual Knowledge of God"), all things are possible.
It is this "New Beginning" (shall we say), through this brand new encounter with or revelation of the Living God, that causes us to KNOW Him in a personal way as we never could have before nor since, and Know Him as He is! It is in the Knowledge of Him (as He is in Spirit and in Truth) whereby we gain Eternal Life....
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3
Before we come to Know Him "Personally" even the Bible contained just a bunch of "words" that anyone could memorize if they so wished, but in them we had no personal knowledge or learning of God, therefore (except for the obvious good and evil) we were unable to discern that which was of God from that which wasn't.
John tells us in no uncertain terms...
It is through this... "ANOINTING" whereby one is able to distinguish what is of God (The Spirit of Truth) from that which is of the flesh, the world and Satan. This "Anointing" is given to protect ourselves from the evil that surrounds us, and it teaches us all things, so much so that we need no other to teach us of these "Spiritual" things. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher!
Ones ability to Know God is given the moment one receives... "Life". It is this receiving of... "Life"; in the form of the New Man they now are in Christ, who is then (and only then) able to distinguish that which is God from that which isn't (i.e. "Truth from error or The Lie")....
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
Until one knows "God" all they knows is "Death" as it is contained in their Old Man (or Adamic Nature). Until they come TO CHRIST for Life all they'll ever hold is "Death", even at their best. It is "sin" that separates man from God! Man will never know God until and unless he and his sin is first dealt with "Personally" through Jesus Christ, and put away at the cross.
Ye search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
So, if all one has and knows is "Death" (i.e. the knowledge of physical life and its carnal wisdom, as obtained through the powers of this world) then one has no "Spiritual Discernment" of any kind, no matter how much "Intellectual Kknowledge" of the Scriptures they may have. Such a person is completely unable to distinguish the truth from the lie, the light from the darkness, and remains... "Blind".
These are exactly the kind of "Professing" Christians we are not to listen to...
Similar to the experienced jeweler who has been trained in the observations of gems and precious stones, the experienced Spiritual discerner is able to judge ALL things as well based on sound judgement from their knowledge of God. But that's as far as it goes where the similarities are concerned.
If one personally has come to know the Lord, has the Spirit within, and understands the broad scope of the Bible, then (even without much experience) discernment operates, for it is the VOICE of the Living God to the heart, backed up by confirming evidence perhaps - maybe not. It is their Heeding this Voice that keeps them safe, as long as what is heard within is confirmed outwardly by the word of God.
What distinguishes the Christian from the rest of the world is their genuine and abiding Love of and for the Truth....
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
They will abide in no other teaching nor follow another voice. Jesus makes this all very clear when He says....
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. John 10:5
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23
The jeweler deals with gems and precious stones (in an earthly sense), while God's child deals with gems and stones of a different color (in a heavenly sense), namely their knowledge of and stand upon Living Word Of God and in what "HE ALONE SAYS"....
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Like his master before him, the Christian was not born again in order to pass judgement onto others who refused to believe the Gospel, but to save and have compassion on all the lost with the same Spirit that was in Christ Jesus while He was on this earth. On this note, to His followers Jesus says...
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
So how do we know them? We know them because they are keeping our words (which are no different than His) as they are keeping His. They are not keeping them by way of The Letter of the law, but by way of the Spirit of the law. However, if they go on refusing to hear and abide in what we say, then...
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Mark 6:11
Being a true judge, therefore, the Christian is able and capable of judging 'Spiritual' things in a similar manner as the professional jeweler is of judging gems and precious stones (i.e. the 'earthly' things). Only the Christian deals with handling ONE PRECIOUS GEM, and this has made him an expert on distinguishing what isn't a part of that Gem, that Pearl of Great Price. In a way similar to the jeweler, then, the Christian has been there, and done that as well, so they KNOW exactly what they're talking about and where they're coming from....
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Corinthians 2:15
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? Luke 12:56-57
Over and over in this world/life we see those who do not, will not and cannot respond to the Truth, because they have no love of it in them to do so! Though they may know how to discern the things of THIS world/life, they know nothing about discerning the times of Christ's visitation to them!!!
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14
The miracle of the new birth in Christ cannot be underestimated, nor can it be understood except by those who have been born again.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
It is this "Living Word Of God" within that enables the true Christian; rooted in Christ, that helps them to Avoid error, Love the Truth, and Hate every false way! This is the actual ENTRY or ANOINTING of the Living God into the Person who has been Crucified with Christ...
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.1 Corinthians 2:13
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17
In this world and in their trade they would have what might be called, "Professional Discernment".
What they do and how they do it is all very similar to what I am talking about.
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:26-27
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5:39-40
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:13-14
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? John 3:11-12
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. John 15:19-21
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
What does the Bible (God's word) say about what a saved man is like, and of whom he has become in Christ, and of the way he now thinks and what he now does? How can anyone believe that they are saved yet remain so powerless to sin? How can anyone say they are holy who continue to sin? How can anyone who has been born again believe that they can (like some yoyo) just leave and come back to Jesus whenever they feel like it over a span of many years? What kind of Jesus is this? This is not the Jesus of the Scriptures! Is He too weak to change the person (sanctifying them) into a new creature with a heart after God?
There are so many who want to believe that they are going to heaven without any major change/transformation, no revelation of Lord Jesus taking place in their life before they die. A complete transformation - a complete new life must and will begin the moment you become born again through faith in Jesus Christ. You will never be the same! If you're not born again - if you're not a regenerated believer through the renewing of your mind, then how can you claim to be a follower/disciple of Christ? The only way to follow Him is to bring ourselves to the cross before a new and spiritual birth can take place. That is why we must be born again before we die physically. Not just our sin (what we do) but our Old Man (who we are) as well must be dealt with at the cross before our bodies die. Paul says it like this:
Galatians 2:20 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.
and again he says it like this:
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
What if I were to say that until and unless we have had our flesh crucified with Christ; regardless of anything else, then we cannot be Christians (i.e. disciples or followers of Christ)?! What if I said that no one can really KNOW who Jesus is in Power and in Glory, or even keep His commandments except in the new birth and eternal life given by the revelation of the Spirit?! Yet these are exactly what the Bible says.
Jesus also says:
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
In order to love the Lord above all we MUST be born again! If the Old is treasured and held onto then the New will never come. In order to know Him as He really is one MUST come to the Light in order to see that all they have and all they own is but dung compared to the beauty and knowledge of having Jesus! ...and for this - the Revelation of Him in Glory - it will cost that person everything they own including their own life as they gladly consider it all as being utterly worthless, when compared to the once-in-a-lifetime joy of possessing Him:
Matthew 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
If they would but set their flesh aside (i.e. the way they think, etc.) for a moment and look at this Christ who is saying this to them, then they will know the Truth and they will gladly sell all they own in order to possess the kingdom of heaven, and like Paul, they would gladly give it all away and consider it as no more than dung:
Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
What makes anyone think they can be a Christian without first laying it all down at His feet? It's impossible to follow Him without receiving a new life, one that loves and honors Him and His words! Look what He said to the rich man:
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
and what did the rich man do?:
Luke 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
and when Jesus saw his reluctance He said:
Luke 18:24-25 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
What good is any of it if it's going to cost us our life? Jesus says it so clearly in this Scripture:
Matthew 16:24-26 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
So whatever we consider as Valuable, too valuable to part with for His sake, is the very thing(s) that will keep us from being born again and keep us out of the kingdom. If we would only HEAR Him for a moment and listen to what He is saying; for the power to hear and understand are in the very words that He speaks. Then we would see and realize just Who it is that is talking to us, and upon seeing Him we would instantly consider everything else as being worthless next to Him and next to having Him to have and to hold, and gladly forsake all for His sake and His glory.
Not only did Jesus die instead of us for our forgiveness; He lives instead of us for our deliverance as well. Therefore all true believers have "TWO SUBSTITIONS": a Substitute on the cross who secures their forgiveness from sins, and a risen Substitute within who secures their victory over sin.
Paul gives us the summation of the total Christian Life: "I" have been crucified with Christ - therefore "I" no longer live - it is become "Christ" who is now alive in me" - Galatians 2:20. In other words - it is NOT enough to have Christ just come and die as payment for our sins - for It is written that: He died for every man - Hebrews 2:9). He was also raised from the dead, and if He is not Risen in you as well, then that means that you still haven't believed and obeyed. In other words - if Christ hasn't become the center of your life, then, according to scriptures as Galatians 2:20, you are NOT a Christian (I.e. A born again disciple of Christ).
There is a difference between "Sin and Sins". "Sin" (singular) is what all unregenerated men are without Christ. "Sins" (plural) are what men do. Men commit sins because it's their nature to do so. Unregenerated men are born for committing sins. We sin because we are born sinners (born in Adam, having his nature, through him we took on the nature of sin) - pure and simple.
When God's Holy Light first shines in my heart the cry is for forgiveness, realizing that I have committed sins before God. But once I come to know the forgiveness of sins and how precious He is to have laid down His life for me, is when I make a NEW discovery in me - the discovery of sin. This makes me realize more than ever that I have in me the nature of a sinner. I am unregenerated and I cannot help but to commit sins. I am powerless to stop, for I am still IN Adam rather than IN Christ. Oh woe is me! In order to please God, I find that rather than doing the good and right thing I do the bad and wrong instead. The very thing I hate! I find that "I" am powerless to do right. I find that in me dwells no good thing!
Sooner or later I sin, I must. So I seek forgiveness and then sin again, and on and on in a vicious circle - sinning and being forgiven - sinning and being forgiven. How so very many "Powerless Religions" fall into this trap! What I need is to be DELIVERED FROM SIN altogether! I need forgiveness for what I have done, yes, but I also need deliverance from what I am, as well. Without there being a deliverance there can be no Christian Life! Oh how I so thank God for His Son Jesus Christ that I may be delivered from this horrible condition that my sin has put me in, so that He may live and live His life in me.
Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
What Christ's death (the first part of our substitution) on the cross did, was to secure our forgiveness, BUT His death on the cross did nothing to secure our righteousness (i.e. My right standing before God). It did nothing to secure our deliverance from sin (from evil). "I" need top be delivered from the Power of Sin! It is only through His resurrection where we can be securely delivered from sin. Not only did God raise Jesus from the dead, but He wants to raise Him up in our hearts too. God wants to know and hear us say: "Thy will be done". Allow me to explain...
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Therefore, "Forsaking it all for Jesus' sake = Thy will be done!" He Himself says that that is the going price for becoming "His Disciple" (i.e. "follower")! So, until and unless Jesus Christ becomes number one, and the all in all IN our Life, AS our Life, then we will surely die in our sins. Such a faith that refuses to serve Him in this way (i.e. "Loving Him by Obeying His words") is no faith at all! God is not interested in saving someone who would like their sins to be forgiven only to remain in perpetual sin the rest of his or her life, because they remain powerless to resist it. God says that we are to become Holy (1 Peter 1 :16) , that we must be born again (John 3:3, 5), and that we become brand new creatures IN Christ (2 Corin.5:17).
Christ (in obeying the Father's will) already paid for the sins of all who would believe that He is and that He is sent from God... BUT until He becomes our all in all, risen in us through the same kind of faith that obeys Him, then we can have no part in Him. Christ remains DEAD (not alive) to and in us! Until we come and receive the Holy Spirit and have the risen Christ touch us, we remain in unbelief.
Unbelief is the one great sin that will keep us out of the Kingdom (Heb.3:12, 19). How can one believe (the way Jesus says how one comes to faith in Him: through the Spirit of Truth) that God has raised Jesus from the dead? How, without receiving the revelation of Him? When faith becomes Powerful enough to SEE Him raised from the dead is when we'll KNOW this. Believing isn't knowing, but knowing is believing! That is how POWERFUL the word of God really is! Where Jesus is concerned,
The Free Gift of God, and therefore the Instant Change in the person is so Radical (so absolute and mind blowing), that only those who know something of this for themselves have truly been born again. It is the Change that causes one to receive the New Birth In Christ, meaning the "I" (the "me" in me) has died, and the New me ("Christ" in me) is now alive and on the throne of my new heart.
Much depends on our adherance to the word (the Gospel) we received when we first heard, and through His word and our adherance to it will be the quality of the revelation we receive of Him. If it's of such a quality that seeing Him instantly causes us to want to forsake all in order for Him to become the all in all, the Lord of our life, and to follow Him no matter what, then it means our revelation of Him is and has been real and alive. If we cannot forsake it all for the sake of Christ, then it means that our revelation of Him is only partial at best and/or of a different Jesus (who is no Jesus) altogether, because we only want to undergo only a partial change, and pay only a partial price, in order to hang on to our Adamic Nature, i.e. our Old Life.
The only way one can receive New Life In Christ (i.e. the Spirit of Christ, who gives us Spiritual knowledge of God) is to believe on Him by adhering to His words (John 8:31-32), thus be brought to a place where there exists only us and God. Then, once we find ourselves in this Light (the Light of Revelation knowledge), it will be entirely up to each of us whether or not to forsake all and follow Jesus no matter the cost - or - leave Him, continuing in unbelief not bearing to part with the rags of our Old Adamic Life!
The strength of the revelation we receive of Him shows us if we can live without Him or not, and if He's worth it all or not! If He is then it will all flow like rain as we'll jump for joy and forsake it all to have Him... "THY WILL BE DONE!"
Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were once gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb 4:12
