Saturday, November 3, 2012

(11/03/2012) The "Lake of Mercy"

Judgment, the lake of fire, and divine mercy are topics, today. (No BATTLE AXE appears.) A regular reader at thoughts.com using the ID “Southern_Grace” responded to (11/01/2012) After the Rapture? and posted the following:



The lake of fire will become the mercy of God. That is an interesting statement. Would you expand on your thoughts?



THE GOLDEN ARROW: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14: 13-20, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Does GOD Feel? (10/05/2012); How Was GOD Known Before Jesus? (10/06/2012); Life and Death (09/26/2012); Doom (09/20/2012); Contradictions? (09/21/2012); Mercy is Just? (12/17/2010); The Lord’s Prayer (12/18/2010)



The idea of a “lake of mercy” wherein wickedness is destroyed, and the idea of rain from heaven that destroys wickedness by completely covering the earth, are ways of describing divine judgment against sin while further revealing the surpassing love of the Creator for created beings and living creatures. Correctly understood, salvation and judgment are sacred processes to accomplish the purposes of GOD, not those of mankind. The intent of GOD revealed in Creation has not changed, and through Creation GOD is known as immutable, invisible and unchanging. The need for peace throughout Creation is recognized and provided for. Peace, and the resolution of conflict are not the outcome of war; rather, they are the outcome of judgment (i.e., the end of contention and quarrels, and the settlement of disputes through law). Created beings and living creatures endowed with self-will continue in conflict with their Maker, and with one another calling for a reconciliation of flesh and spirit made present as both divinity and matter. The grace and mercy of GOD invested within the law are made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ, who is anointed as Judge and the primary overseer of divine judgment. Just as GOD is revealed in the sacred process of Incarnation, GOD is made visible through the sacred process of judgment that displays grace, justice, mercy, righteousness, wisdom and wrath against sin.

Throughout the Scriptures, language that speaks of burning, fire from heaven, holy fire, and the wrath of GOD are used pertaining to judgment against sin. Fire from heaven as a device in divine judgment is first reported in the book of Genesis, and appears as “a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3: 24, King James Version). Immediately, we grasp that this flame is not produced by common fire, such as we use to cook and warm ourselves. We next understand the appearance of holy fire in judgment of mankind by the account of sacrifice from the sons of Adam. Both Abel and Cain were granted the instruction from GOD as heirs to the priesthood from heaven that was demonstrated to Adam upon the earth. Adam was shown how to prepare an altar as the holy table, and the point of connection between heaven and earth. Also, he was taught the correct way to transfer sin to a living creature, kill, eviscerate, portion and present the lamb, sprinkling the blood for atonement and thanksgiving. Almighty GOD then introduced holy fire to consume the sacrifice, that could, all at once, destroy the sin laid upon it, and release to GOD the divine spirit substance from both the innocent substitute, and the priest making sacrifice. While both Abel and Cain built altars, and made offerings based upon their labor, only Abel’s sacrifice was performed in obedience to the pattern from heaven. The Scripture reports, “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:” (Genesis 4: 4, KJV). Holy fire from heaven is understood as the device that was used by Almighty GOD to acknowledge the obedience of Abel, and to indicate divine pleasure.

In the same way that law existed in heaven long before creation of the angels and sacred beasts, holy fire existed as the tool of GOD in Creation of the heaven and the earth long before lightening and natural fire. Judgment existed as an aspect of divine person and (before sin) continued as assessment, evaluation and the weighing of alternatives in decision-making and accomplishing sacred process. The holy angels, who are neither mortals nor immortal beings, were completed as finished spirit-beings along with their spirit-place (the celestial heavens), and were not given the same ability to change through growth and learning that was bestowed upon Adam. More than this, angels and others were not made capable of spiritual repentance. When sin became known among the holy angels, holy fire first became a tool for judgment against rebellion and willful behavior by created beings, and is called “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” by Jesus (Matthew 25: 41, KJV).

The idea of fire from heaven having a form similar to that of water comes into view in the account of judgment against the cities of the plain, when the Lord rained brimstone and fire (Genesis 19: 24, KJV). This is similar to the accounts of flood waters used for judgment against mankind in Noah’s day as well as hail and fire used in judgment against the One World empire of Egypt at the time of Moses. Many suppose that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by common fire, and because of idolatry, fornication, and perverted sexual practices. In fact, Scripture declares: Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16: 49, KJV). The phrase “lake of fire” first appears in Scripture at Revelation 19: 20 describing the destruction of the false prophet and beast that were instruments of Satan. This second death is first described as a second harvesting of the earth commanded by an angel that comes out from the altar in heaven having power over fire, and in service to Christ (Revelation 14: 18-20, KJV).

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, mercy is exclusively an artifact of divine judgment: No judgment by GOD, no mercy; no mercy from GOD, no perfect judgment. Such elements as balance, impartiality and righteousness characterize divine judgment through its inclusion of mercy. Judgment that results in the second death is both the eternal release from sin, and the eternal release from divine displeasure and punishment.) 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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