…he beheld the city, and wept over it, Luke 19: 41
Today, Jesus dying on the cross, and the temporal nature of death are considered. While death has effect and presence, death appears as a condition (i.e., state of being) and mechanical life process that exists without person or self-will. There is no conflict of flesh against divinity involved in the sacrificial observance where the Lamb of GOD is slain for the sin of the world. The truth that GOD has always existed, and is without cause and origin requires acceptance that divinity may not be described as a result of specific purposes beyond those of being and existing, or manifesting as active presence. The flow of carnal reason and finite mind are disrupted by this enigma of GOD. Similarly, the character and properties for things that are material and social, including mankind, must be known and spoken of using frameworks of time and space that permit concepts of duration, elimination, and termination. GOD is not subject to death; death does not die of itself; however, death is subject to GOD, and may only continue through sacred law (the expressed will of GOD) and divine prerogative. One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers (Philippines)” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
How would've God DIED on the cross if he's ETERNAL?
Update: One dying defeats the purpose of being eternal.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st Corinthians 15: 50-57, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Redemption Through Ordinary Flesh? (04/20/2017); Dead While We Live? (02/02/2017); Divine Appearances Using Form? (12/20/2016); Divine Inheritance and Resurrection? (07/06/2016); The Dimensions of Death? (04/24/2016); The Cross a Human Sacrifice? (04/18/2016); GOD Known By Action Not Form? (03/18/2015)
“Anonymous”, life is GOD’s intent, death is GOD’s tool. The revelation of GOD (i.e., the acts and deeds whereby divinity makes himself knowable, known and visible) includes appearing in carnal form (we say, flesh and blood; Incarnation), becoming an embodiment of sin that can be destroyed on the cross, putting forth cause for new hope, showing the extent of human potential for relationship with Deity as well as providing correct sacred knowledge of the character, nature, and substance of death. Apart from the operations, processes, and eternal purposes of GOD, Death is not to be regarded as “almighty”, divine, or eternal. Just as the holy angels are temporal (i.e., endure for a limited time), and exist as neither mortal nor immortal, Death is temporal, is neither mortal nor divine, and is not to be obeyed as though having higher divine authority than the true and living GOD. As a function of Creation, death is to promote life, and serves as a condition of “sleep” that may be terminated through resurrection. As a function of Salvation, death promotes new life through rebirth, and serves as a condition of release from sin. Only as a function of correction that fulfills final Judgment is death a condition of annihilation, elimination or irreversible destruction (we say, the second death). The operations of death at the cross may be understood as having been in accordance with the authority of natural law. The operations of death at the tomb where Christ had been laid should be seen as in accordance with the authority of divine grace that oversees such features as being, healing, forgiving, imparting spirit content, resurrection, and translation. Consider again the following:
(1.) Romans 4: 13-17, King James Version (KJV): 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(2.) Romans 5: 17-21, KJV: 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
(3.) Revelation 20: 12-15, KJV: 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Isaiah 25: 8-9, KJV: 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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