Revelation Part 15
MF Blume (mfblume@ns.sympatico.ca)
Mon, 27 Jan 1997 02:12:49 -0800
IN SUMMARY SO FAR
In Summary, the treasure is the heart endued with light from
Christ. But this treasure is in earthen vessels. Our hearts
are locked within fleshliness when we are first saved. That
fleshliness is the source of all our problems and weaknesses
after we are saved. We are indeed saved from sin, but we have
the flesh to contend with now. And that flesh prohibits the
godliness from shining forth.
Compared to Jeremiah's statement regarding the earthen vessel, we
must realize that such containment in an earthen jar was
necessary due to the fact that Babylon held the land. Though
Jeremiah redeemed the land, Babylon still held sway over it, too.
So the containment of the deed in an earthen vessel signifies
the complications of the property of our glorified hearts
that are held within the fleshly vessels of carnality. Paul
said this changed heart is a treasure. Then he said, "But..."
He implied a complication yet exists. "But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels."
So long as Babylon rules, the earthen vessel holds the treasure.
So long as fleshliness holds us in what we can certainly describe
as "confusion" (Interpretation of the name BABYLON), the treasure
cannot be fully exposed in outward victory.
Notice that the breaking of fleshliness is the rising into the
victory for which Christ redeemed us to rise back into. As
the seals break Babylon is threatened. Fleshliness is Babylon.
After God's people were freed from Egypt and entered the land,
their disobedience captivated them into Babylon.
In Revelation, we see mention of Babylon! We see fleshliness
ruling! Babylon depicts the rule of fleshliness. Nebuchadnezzar
cried forth his boast of dominion and was cursed to learn
that God sets up thrones.
They erected the tower of Babel with "earthen" bricks made from
slime and mud in Genesis 10. Rather than from rocks depicting
God's foundation, man built a kingdom for his own name based
upon sand from which man was made.
Revelation's mention of Babylon and the harlot represents the
fleshliness within all of us upon salvation. We all must COME
OUT OF BABYLON.
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.
Rev 18:4-5
The flesh will sin. We must see the treasure of our redeemed hearts
brought out of the earthen vessels of fleshliness. We must
come out of her. The earthen vessels must break. Babylon must fall.
When Gideon defeated the Midianites with 300 men, it was through
lamps being put within earthen vessels. These jars were
cracked and the light shone forth defeating the enemy of
God's people. This is the sword of the Lord and of Gideon.
The combined union of God in the heart of a believer and
man's agreement to break the earthen vessel, make a weapon
in God's hand to defeat the enemy.
Paul continues speaking about the needful breaking of the fleshly
vessel which houses the treasure.
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise
up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2 Cor 4:14
We shall be presented holy and unblameable in His sight if we
continue in the faith, and are fully opened. We are reconciled
to God, and are with Christ for a distinct purpose. Jesus said
we are to behold His glory. And Paul adds to that thought and
expounds upon it by saying:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the
body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue
in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;
whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:21-23
We are redeemed for the purpose of being presented holy and
unblameable in His sight. Paul mentioned this in 2 Cor 4:14.
We will presented with him.
That which is broken is the outward man that perishes.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2 Cor 4:16
It occurs day by day. Genesis 1 saw the earth of man's
devastation renewed day by day in six days. This typifies
the believer being renewed . Redemption opens the way for
renewal. The earthen vessel must break. The seals must
come off. We must undergo persecutions and troubles. If
we are true we will not be forsaken or in despair. We will
come forth as pure gold - His image!
The cherubim on the mercy seat were solid gold. They depict
redeemed and renewed man in the Garden, the holiest. We
are redeemed, but now we must be renewed. They rule and
reign with Christ on the throne, for they are seated
together with Christ above all principalities and powers
(Eph 1:20-21; 2:5-6). They have the restored and redeemed
authority of Adam's name and house!
The outward man perishes. Babylon falls. The seals are outward,
but they bind. And they are removed. And though the light
affliction of this breaking causes us to suffer, nevertheless the
inward treasure being exposed in glory is the far more exceeding and
eternal benefit.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory;
2 Cor 4:17
There is a glory in redemption, but we are changed from
glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). A greater degree and weight of
glory awaits those broken.
We must not be concerned with the outward, the earthen
vessel, the preservation of the seals. We must be concerned
with the heart - the inward. That which is unseen. The
inward man is not visible, and hence many do not concern
themselves over it as they do the outward visible man.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen: for the things which
are seen are temporal; but the things which are not
seen are eternal.
2 Cor 4:18
Our bodies and outward men will vanish away one day. But the
heart of a person is eternal.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this
we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with
our house which is from heaven: If so be that being
clothed we shall not be found naked.
2 Cor 5:1-3
The above verses prove that Paul spoke about the heart as opposed
to the flesh when he spoke about that which is unseen. Too
many glory in appearance (that which is seen - fleshliness) and
not in heart. Such glory is the spirit of Babylon. They value
the seals and the outward man. Many believers care less for
their further and necessary renewal. This is Babylon the
great. The fleshliness of the unbroken child of God. It is a
threat to God's people and must fall.
For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you
occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat
to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
2 Cor 5:12
Seek the heart's renewal. A greater weight of glory exists
than that which is in appearance. There is glory in appearance,
but it is temporal and not eternal. That which is unseen is
eternal, therefore the glory in the heart must be regarded
at the expense of the outward glory which must perish.
Look at unseen things. God's love even constrains us to
realize that Christ died for us so that we might not live
for ourselves (continue in Babylon). If He died for us, then
we are supposed to be dead. Let us behave like we are dead
to ourselves, and refuse to live for ourselves in preserving
the outward man and the seals of fleshliness. His glory is
made known by opened books. But if we continue to live for
ourselves, and glory in our goodness as Nebuchandnezzar gloried
in his kingdom, that glory will be short lived and never eternal.
Such self-glory, Babylon, is binding. If we please the flesh,
we will not be able to do the things that we would.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other: so that
ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:16-17
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages
to come he might show the exceeding riches of
his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:6-7
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise
up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2 Cor 4:14
Both of the above passages refer to the thought that we are
changed to the end that the praise of His glory is made
known. It moves heaven to praise God for such wonderful
mercy upon us!
Jesus died for us so that we may be changed into His image
and see renewal of the authority and dominion which Adam
lost. We are to live for Christ, since He died for us.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus
judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should
not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which
died for them, and rose again.
2 Cor 5:14-15
Preserving self pleasure and the seals and earthen pottery
of carnality only bars away from ourselves Christ's purpose in
dying for us. It keep our hearts bound in the Babylon of self
glory. Let us seek the inward man's exposure where the treasure
is! Bring Babylon down! Elsewise, the ministries in reconciling
us to God through men like Paul are wasted and are rendered
to have been given to us in vain. Without the seals being
broken, what good is it to be redeemed?
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 Cor 6:1
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In Christ,
Michael F. Blume
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/mfblume/mblume.htm
http://www.netdot.com/jwg7192/writings/mike.htm