I've finally decided to write on this topic of Compromise - the Christian equivalent to the activities of Herr Quisling's government in Norway, or Marshall Petain's government in France, both during the Second World War, serving the occupying Germans. The name given to those who participated in what became known as the "Fifth Column" was simply "Traitor".
Writing it was only after much soul-searching, because there will be those who will get angry, and after all, it is they who really need to read what I have written (and not what they think I have written) because it is a message not intended "for the choir". It is claimed by some that the choir always understand. Having been in choirs, and having led groups of singers, I'm not entirely sure that last statement is actually true. Grin :)
You may consider these words overly harsh when applied to the Christian Church. At one time I would also have felt the same way. The reason I now believe it is important to recognise my - and other peoples' changed views - is because of the way the world is now heading, quite fast. Do you remember the expression "The Enemy Within"? Military people will tell you that the enemy within your own midst is to be far more concerned over, than the one you can identify easily..
In the case of the Second World War, it was very easy to identify, and refute what was said by Herr Hitler (the German Chancellor who became dictator), the Italian dictator Mussolini, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, the English-speaking Nazi radio propagandist "Lord Haw-haw", and others.
It was a while before it was realised that the British monarch who abdicated just before the war, King Edward VIII (by then known as the Duke of Windsor, and living outside the UK), was a fifth columnist himself. He had arranged a deal with Herr Hitler to be put back on the British throne when Germany won the war which they both - and many others - expected to happen within the first year. This was even featured in a BBC-TV fictional series called "An Englishman's Castle" back in the late 1970s. Interestingly there are few records available, about that series, no tape or DVD records of it, totally strange for the industry, and one has to wonder why.
Leaving out the historical mentions I have just made, we should also listen to points from not just the early church leaders, but Jesus Christ himself.
It was HE who first stated that wolves would come in, dressed in sheeps' clothing, and ravage the flock. After all, he made the point that HE was the Good Shepherd, who laid across the doorway of the stone-walled sheep corrales out in the Palestinian wilds. That was how shepherds protected their flocks from marauding would-be destroyers.
You may like to listen (while reading) to a song composed in the late 1980s, about this very topic, "I am the Good Shepherd - but where are my sheep?" here.
Let us, then, explore the degree of compromise that has been deliberately injected into the Christian Gospel by outsiders. Please note that I say it is outsiders who have brought it in. Those within who perpetuate the various different falsehoods taught in almost every group of saints are very likely genuine in what they believe to be correct doctrine, because they have accepted it from those they trusted, in the ecclesiastical colleges of learning. Very likely, they too were taught by well-meaning people, who also accepted the same changed gospel (for the same reasons), who in turn were taught by other well-meaning people...
I pay tribute to my well-educated and agnostic mother, who said on many an occasion when I was a young lad, the wise statement that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".
Read my lips, please. I am NOT saying that the people who present as gospel truth the part truths and untruths that have become knitted into the gospel of "cotton-woolly love and Father Christmas" have lost their salvation.
To be saved, and to keep that salvation, does NOT require you to understand everything perfectly. Merely accept and follow Jesus of Nazareth as both "Lord and Christ". That is to say the Lord of your life, and the Saviour of your soul, without adding anything to scripture - or subtracting from it, either. It is important the realise that man's "good ideas" and interpretations do not comprise any part of the gospel.
However, a point that needs making is this. A very good way to prevent someone employed to minister to others from continually studying God's word (to understand its meaning rather than the meaning ascribed by teachers in seminaries out of their obedience to their master, the denomination), is the ensure they are kept busy all the time with trivia, because they are "The Minister", and the parishioners' and denomination's expectations require him to do everything.
History relates that in the early days of the Methodist Church of Australia, ministers of the Word (as they were called) were discouraged from excessive mileage driving horse-and-trap (later on driving cars) around their parishes; because their circuit superintendant ministers required them to study scripture in their spare time. It is interesting to note that since that era, its successor denomination has taken on board many unbiblical teachings and practices..
You know, a solo minister in a typical 21st Century congregation looks very much like the pre-Christ Jewish rabinical order which still prevails in Judaism, supplanting the Melchisedec order of the Apostolic era, which is discussed in Hebrews chapters 5, 6 and 7 where the writer emphasises the necessary change in the order. Where there is a visible division between clergy and laiity, the loss of a genuine priesthood of all believers exists.
Without disparaging the effort put into undertaking an university course and qualifying for a degree by a would-be pastor, one wonders where were the "necessary" seats of learning for leaders of the early New Testament church organisation.
We read what the worldly professions of Jesus' disciples were (fishermen, tax-collectors, and others), but their understanding of scripture and the Gospel (which all came from Jesus' personally teaching them) was acquired, to a major degree by spiritual input.
After three years of being with Him as teacher - about as long as an university course - we need remember they all still denied Him and ran away at the time of his crucifixion. They would have been a total hindrance to the people they ministered to at that time - at any time in history, actually. They were actually a liability to their flock, having gone to pieces, and there is no way they could be classified as material for the office of presbyter.
This is not a criticism of them. God's timing was still working out.It was not until the Day of Pentecost, some weeks later, that they were rooted in their fearless faith, as we can read from the early chapters of Acts. The Holy Spirit was their teacher from then on. Should not the Holy Spirit be the teacher of modern-day ministers?
Man has to keep on organising things, and setting his own rules and requirements, doesn't he?
You may also like to listen (while continuing reading) to another song, which followed next in sequence in the composer's magnificent modern (yet classical) oratorio song he composed in the late 1980s, entitled The Jerusalem Passion. The piece has three "movements" if you will, a flute solo introduction, which leads into a "Processional Anthem or March", and followed by a Chorale, and we present the 1991 version where the chorale was repeated at a faster tempo. Click here to listen.
The book was an almost autobiography of the musician Keith Green by his widow Melody, using all their personal papers for resource material. Called No Compromise it is very well work reading how much was compromised and corrupt in the Christian church of the 1970s. I have made some comments here which you may find useful. Because the book became dog-eared while in my possession, I bought another copy to give my brother, but we lost contact. I still have it in the hope that our paths will cross again.
One of the things that Wilderness Christians realise is the proliferation of wierd programs, teachings, and ideas that some specific churches, and some specific denominations, seem to attract. Perhaps the first that this author realised as existing was what became known as the Toronto Blessing, named after the teachings and behaviour at the Toronto Airport Vineyard assembly (church) in Canada.
We should explain that the word "Assembly" is perfectly acceptable to use interchangeably with the word "Church" in this context, both being derived from the Greek word ekklesia meaning an assembling of people.
At the time this happened (early 1990s), the internet was far less well established as a repository of information, and this author personally canvassed several mainline church ministers for their views, maybe a year after details of the Toronto activities were publicised. He was quite surprised to find that none of them were aware of much detail, nor had their denominations given them any direction regarding their heretical teachings, and those of the Howard-Browne - Copeland - Hinn leadership in other areas. Link
It was at this time that Assemblies of God in Italy came to their senses, cancelling Hinn's speaking at a conference. Link
The Alpha courses were also being promoted, and again nobody felt any problems with encouraging them, despite there being several very well-written critiques of the failings of the Alpha course from a scriptural and evangelical (in its true meaning) basis. Link
So, this author having studied at great length the facts about the Latter-Rain Revival of 1948 at Saskatchewan, and discovered the huge number of what are best described as "excesses" that sprang from it, the same ministers were asked what they knew about it. A lack of knowledge on the subject was expected, but certainly not the reason they gave as to why. Link
It seems the main-line denominations' teaching of church history in their university courses to fit lay people for the ministry, particularly where there is a sharp distinction made between clergy and lay people, ceases with the era of Luther, Zwingli, Knox, and other brethren - in other words the Reformation in the mid 1500s, some four hundred years and more ago. This is apart from a few denomination-specifics like Wesley and his 40-odd sermons, et cetera.
So, maybe one might be forgiven for being skeptical about professional clergy, who by their own admission (and the admission of the curricula published by their theological college tutorial staff) are untaught about anything on recent ecclesiastical history, and likely therefore to be worse equipped in teaching about what needs to be known to keep the wolves outside the sheep corral than lay people with a desire to understand and who make themselves aware of these things.
Need to know is a basic concept in military security circles. It should also be in the Kingdom of God, for similar - and to me fairly obvious - reasons.
Wolves are entering now. Not in 1600 or some earlier cut-off date. Okay then, who is protecting the sheep within the sheep pen against the ravening wolves Jesus said would enter? Apparently some church and denominational leadership are convinced there have been none since 1600.
This started to worry me, as I was attending a Reformed church at the time, who did teach its people what had happened in history right up to the present day, in sufficient detail to be a warning. Jesus had said we should warn our brithren, after all.
I knew many lovely people, some of whom were shepherds, in main-line churches. So I asked myself - and still ask myself (the problem hasn't gone away) - If nobody is teaching the shepherds about the heresies that have sprung up like wildfire in the last couple of centuries, I repeat, who is protecting the sheep against ravening wolves?
Sadly, the answer has to be... nobody is protecting them
Here is a link to a page written in the late 1990's about herey, and here are my notes when in 2003 I preached my first of a number of sermons at a local Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation here, although I was repeatedly criticised by their oversight for teaching! Their pastor was also one of those I quizzed and found his knowledge wanting, although I didn't say that in a derogatory way, his training at theological college had not included the subect, like so many others.
When one considers that A. W. Tozer from Chicago was a long-time CMA minister whose works are widely read outside his denomination, it was disappointing to find this congregation had little interest in what the word said and why it said it.
A point I frequently make is that in the military, officers are taught to use intelligence. "Know your enemy" is a favorite expression in officer school, and I have heard it many, many times. If the pastors who believe no wolves are around are senior officers in God's army, and the rest of us are junior officers who could suss out where the wolves are, and what they are doing (by knowing our enemy), what on earth is the General Staff in the Synods doing?
Perhaps they are right when they say that God's army is the only one which kills its walking wounded with friendly fire. That is meant as a joke, but it sadly is true, sickeningly true.
I'm sorry, but one has to look with open eyes. I joined a cult in 1966, one which was started in 1830, 230 years after the end of the Reformation cut-off I mentioned.
When I came to the real Jesus in January 1987, the major denomination I was attending refused to allow me to be what they insisted was "rebaptised" because the cult had immersed me in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost. Not the real Trinity, but a psuedo one, starting with a "father in heaven" who was an exalted man who had worked his way there.
Part of the problem, apparently, was that they :"thought" - even though they knew absolutely nothing about the cult - that God's Grace would cover my surrending myself to be buried and raised to what really should be considered to be an occultic deity.
They even sent their chief theological expert from their synod in 1988 to tell the silly elders who supported me why they were being heretical! I tell no lie. That is exactly the way it happened. I was present at the meeting.
Begrudgingly I was allowed to have my previously "cancelled" infant baptism in the Church of Ireland "reaffirmed" using immersion in a baptistry but under penalty of who knows what, the word "baptise" was prohibited from being used. This is why the mp3 I have from the tape of the service uses the word "immerse" instead of "I baptise you..." and the immersion was also performed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ - which Paul did anyway - instead of the Triune Name (know ye not that this Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ ?).
Not a big deal, I make the point I could have asked a a Baptist, Church of Christ, or a Pentecostal pastor to do it, and they would have been happy to, given the circumstances, and because their theological hang-ups were not over that particular subject.
In this author's research into the "modern" wording of the Apostles' Creed the conclusion is drawn:
Credo (Latin) translates "I believe", much more personal than "We believe", and generally modern versions have removed considerable personal emphasis, and by changing tense and words have conveyed far less of the full import of the original than a language update should. Same goes for many translations of the Bible.
Although not suggested on that page, the author had concerns at that time that in a denomination where sloppy adherence to what the words say, a completely changed meaning may be delivered, either accidentally or deliberately.
I mean the words of the (modern) English language translation, not those in the original autographs which expressed concisely the thoughts of the original inspired writers in the context and setting in which penned.
At a regular church service at which such a liturgy as described is used, in which the words "We believe..." are projected on a screen for the congregation to read - and then recite aloud - the instruction given by the minister is concise, addressing both believers in Christ and unbelievers...
He says to the people "This statement of faith is that of the church, not the individual, so feel free to repeat them, along with all the other people - who also may or may not agree - even if you don't believe them yourself"
And this is exactly what followed, every "We believe..." is recited by rote, by each person there, without any consideration as to whether or not the individuals actually believed each clause they state.
You may like to visit a page about the changes in the modern-day version of the Apostles' Creed on this site. You can find it here.
We know of ministers and congregants who class the resurrection as difficult to believe in scientifically, and some will say (if asked) that the virgin birth is at best a biological unlikelihood - or even an impossibility. Some also denounce the creation as described in Genesis as stories which are better served by the explanations of the unproven THEORY of evolution promoted by unbelieving scientists Darwin and Dawkins et al.
If so, then, sin could not have caused death, could it? Certainly not under the psuedo-scientific unproven theory of evolution
If we accept evolution, as well as claiming to follow the Jesus Christ of the Bible, anyway. To claim belief in evolution does totally negate the biblical concept of death caused by sin, and therefore a need for salvation to be provided. You can't have salvation without there being sin in the first place, after all.
Millions of years of dead bodies and fossils are said to prove that death was in the world long before humans arrived after all. And sin, well that's not a word we like to use, so we don't, and whatever god there is may actually change his mind (maybe never made his mind up in the first place?) and take everybody into heaven regardless, with (or without) a slap on the wrist, and if we are honest, when we look closely, there's precious little difference between Father Christmas and Jesus, is there? They both did good, after all.
That is over-simplifying it.
But, you know, I have met a surprising number of ministers and their adherents over the last 25 years whose beliefs and non-beliefs include a mixture of those ideas.
It would be very unfair to throw the blame for their heretical beliefs at the individual ministers themselves; all of they have been well taught by their masters (not the masters' servants, necessarily, who did the actual teaching) who knew exactly what they were doing.
But what about the poor sheep they have conned into believing lies about a false god? That is another story, and I don't feel equipped to answer it at this point... but I will include notes further down the page in this regard, written about the prophet Ezekiel by a mentor of mine, Joe McKnight of Seattle.
However, there's precious little left of God and His Bible... of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the titular acknowledgement given to his execution as a common criminal in which my Saviour suffered at the hands of unbelievers and was murdered so that He might buy my sin and obtain for me "so great a salvation" as the apostle described it in scripture. .
After months of conflicting media mis-reporting, and public comment, about this person, I decided to write a page which I've copied to this server, which you can find here. Please read this link, thanks, and keep an open mind.
I'm talking about David Hicks, who was arrested, while in the possession of weapons he had been trained how to use in north-western Pakistan, then and subsequently associating with Afghani and Pakistani "freedom-fighters" who were waging war against his own Australian countrymen on active service in the region, and who was eventually caught, manacled, interrogated, and despatched to Camp Delta (Guantanamo Bay) by the U.S. military.
The ex-military people with whom I've discussed this appear to have been intimidated by the Politically-Correct "left" into keeping their mouths shut about what they (and I) thought about traitors in wartime. And it was (and still is) wartime in that region. If someone can blow your head off with a rifle or a rocket launcher, then that is war. No other word for it.
Around the time of Mr. Hicks' release from Guantanamo, a brother in Christ who ministers in an Australian denomination who state that the bible only contains some of God's word - so some obviously isn't - and God's word is also found elsewhere - in pantheism and other teachings such as "dreamtime" discovered that they proposed making Mr. Hicks their project for the year. They felt that "the poor fellow, didn't deserve all the nasty things being said about him".
Helloooo!
He was trained by the Islamic Jihadi to kill whoever he came into contact with, including Australian soldiers attempting to remove the Taliban's long reaching control within Afghanistan.
These churchmen actually would never serve their country in the military, because they teach that there is always a way to talk the other side down. No, they are not the "Consciencious Objectors" of World Wars 1 and 2, who acted under fire as stretcher-bearers, unarmed, and of whom many died from gunfire.
From what I have read in correspondence, they don't even seem to believe in protecting their loved ones, which in my mind makes them cowards, rather than having lofty ideals.
It seems they support the view that all guns should be banned, and personal bravery of such as the heroine of the Colorado Springs church who single-handedly caused the attacking gunman to take his own life. You can read articles about that here on this site, btw. They don't understand that if all firearms are banned by law, it is only the crooks, villains and bullies who will have them.
My friend had put a counter motion up for the denomination to get behind, the plight of a bunch of CHRISTIANS - many of them FELLOW MINISTERS - in China, who were being brutally interrogated, and imprisoned without any opportunity to argue their case because they were automatically wrong by definition of Chinese law and its interpretors.
Unfortunately, this motion fell on the deaf ears of those who really wanted to get congratulatory handshakes and smiles. So much for a supposed Christian denomination that stands behind the sorta-socialist political party who's platform is officially human rights, anti-racism and all the other pet "isms" the politically-correct people are vocal about.
Sad, but it appears to be true.
One finds it so hard to understand people like that, but you know, some of them don't believe in God's judgement, because of the theory that all will be saved eventually. Saved by whom? Perhaps by Father Christmas. <<<grin>>>
However, THEY DO need your and my prayers, and because salvation doesn't depend on their (or your and my) personal works, their acrimonious expletives towards those of the rest of us who dare disagree, it is likely we shall meet at the end of time. It's not up to us to use their tools of hatred against their opponent... remember we are exhorted to encourage our brothers not seven nor even seventy times. Which appears to be different from their attitude towards us who they call names like "fundies".
The bible is fundemental to my belief in who the Lord Jesus Christ was and is, and in what He did to save me from my filthy rotten selfish sinful nature. Those beliefs are fundemental to my outlook on how to live. Yes, I am a fundie, and it goes with the territory of being a bond servant of Christ, with my ear pierced to the door frame with an awl. I would have it no other way at all..
Some decades before, there had been a rift within the Pentecostal church in Sweden, Pyngskyrken, into Elim and Filadelfia. Around the time I was there, the healing of the rift had been accomplished and again there was unity. The one and only pyngstkyrkan - literally "pentecostal + church + the" - in this city of about 2 million, was led by a brother Owe Carlsson with a team of about half a dozen other elders or pastors (or whatever you may choose to call them), and they provided an English language very staid sunday 8am celebration in an office block off the principal square in the city, stortorget. The congregation of about 40 or so were fabulous, and drawn from not just Australians working at Kockumsmarin, but also African students, would-be engineers, navigaring officers and ships' captains studying at the United Nations' World Maritime University.
Shortly after I returned to Australia, the effects of the very liberal thinking national givernment in Sweden passed more and more legislation making it impossible to actually preach some topics from the bible. This was not a problem to the statskyrken - "state church", which is a form of Lutheranism from Germany - but eventually a dear and quite elderly pastor from an island off the eastern coast made it clear he was going to preach about the serious physical ramifications of a homosexual lifestyle from both a medical viewpoint and from a godly viewpoint, with a very well taught understanding about "hate the sin and not the sinner".
Inevitably charges were laid and brother Åke Green was prosecuted in a lower court, and the buck-passing started - first by the heads of his own denomination who washed their hands of him because he dared preach God's word. The to-ing and fro-ing went on for a long time.
Eventually he was acqutted by their Supreme Court.
Not because he was right. But because the European Union had been very succesfully lobbied by Bro Green's suppporters, lawyers, barristers, and judges from around the world. And Sweden desperately wanted to join the European Union, having initially said "No"
If you would like to read some pages saved including an accurate English transcript of what bro Green actually said, these are saved on this website here along with supporting information, some of which is not widely understood
As we travel through this paper, and I ask you please to persevere, because each of these points with which I've had a personal association, greater or lesser, is serious enough on their own, but none (including many not raised) can be taken in isolation. There are plans working here, that are not of God, but of sinful man. There are many more than these, and I'm sure if you add your experiences you will see that there is a trend.
In a sermon I preached in about 2002, I remarked that the church of the AntiChrist will not have a sign over the door saying that it is. BUT the Antichrist will be welcomed with open arms by the Christian churches.
I'm serious. Scripture says it will happen that way, and that is nothing to do with the rapture, and many of us are convinced that teaching a Pre-Tribulation rapture is a gross misunderstanding of what scripture actually says.
There will be no escape clause in the form of a rapture. All those Christians - and all the unbelievers too - alive at that time will face the Tribulation. Notice the insidious way in which persecution is increasing - perhaps imperceptibly to some who call themselves believers.. think of the analogy of the frog in the boiling water. The "temperature" of tribulation is increasing steadily towards 100degreesC - the Tribulation will be here when it reaches that point on the thermometer.
The remnant left already knows. But the spiritually unwashed will probably not "come out of her" if biblical prophecy is fulfilled. That is so sad. Like so much about this generation.
There will be a rapture of all the remaining saints alive - and all the dead ones - at the time of Jesus' "Glorious Appearing" as one translation calls it, and in that rapture they will meet a fully visible Jesus about to descend from heaven. He only comes back once.
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The attitude of the people to whom Ezekiel was sent was one of polite mockery. They privately talked against him in their homes and in their streets but when it came time for him to prophesy, they gathered together as if though they had the greatest of interest in following the directions of the Lord contained in his prophetic utterances. In mockery, they gathered before him to hear the latest message.
They seemed to accept his instructions while in his presence but when they went about their daily business they completely disregarded them. Their confession was that of one who loved much but their hearts were far from the Lord, because of their sinful practices. The prophet had become but an entertainer to them. A means whereby they could pass the time.
It was as if though he played well on an instrument, and sang a lovely song. They heard the words - but refused to make them a part of their life.
They heard, but did not act upon what they heard.
Oh, how modern and up-to-date the Word of the Lord can be. Unfortunately, for them, the day would come when they would realize that a true prophet had been among them but it would be too late. Eze. 33:30-33
Now, his prophecies turn to the Shepherds of the flock, to those in ministry. This message would not be pleasing - and in some instances not be acceptable because of its negativity.
It is a message of dire warning addressed against those who are looking out for themselves and have little, if any concern of feeding the flock.
Most unfortunately, many modern day messages are made to appease, to please, and not feed or instruct with the whole of the Word of the Lord. The Lord was and will be greatly displeased with Shepherds who are self willed and use the flock for their own purposes. They fleece and do not feed the flock. They take but do not give.
They are self willed, and focus on their own well being, while ignoring the needs of the flock. Of such the Lord said that He would place the responsibility of the flock directly upon their shoulders. The Lord purposed and promised that He would deliver the flock from such as these. Eze. 34:1-10
The Lord will gather those who are His own. He will seek out those who are legitimately His. His sheep are those who hear His voice and follow Him. John 10:27 They are known by Him.
He is also the good shepherd, and He knows personally those who are His sheep. In return they know Him. John 10:14
Ed. note: You may like to revisit this musical link posted earlier.
The flock of the Lord is comprised of those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus are not included in His flock because of their unbelief. John 10:16
The Lord will search diligently for those who are the sheep of the Lord. They are to be gathered together. He calls them “my sheep.” His sheep know His voice (the Word) and any other voice is strange to them and they will run from it. John 10:4-5
Those who are His sheep are the chosen, chosen by grace and not race. They are the elect, who are saved by grace and not by works. Rom. 11:5-8
The prophecy of Ezekiel which pertained to those in captivity in Babylon was fulfilled when Ezra and Nehemiah returned and rebuilt the city of Jerusalem and the temple. Any reference to the end times must be limited to those who are born of the Spirit and made to be members of the body of Christ. Those who are truly His sheep will be granted an abundance of all that is needful to produce healthy sheep. Eze. 34:11-12
His sheep know His deliverance from bondage for He will bring them out of their bondage. They are to be fed in good pastures, the pleasant and wonderful things of the Word of the Lord. They rest in a good fold, a place of divine protection - on the mountain tops, exalted and lifted up in the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus Himself being the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11), the "Great Shepherd" (Heb. 13:20), the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4), the "One Shepherd" (John 10:16)
He is also portrayed as the "Gentle Shepherd" (Isa. 40:11), the prophecy is made to portray the coming of the Messiah who would be that one and only true shepherd (Eze. 34:23). He proclaimed Himself to be that Shepherd of the sheep as the Lord Jehovah.
The sick He will heal. The broken He will bind up. But, those who have taken advantage of the situation called the ‘fat and the strong’ will be dealt with severely. The Lord will judge and separate all other species of animal from His flock and keep only the true sheep. The sheep of His pasture. Eze. 34:13-17
It is interesting to note that Jesus in His teaching on His Second Coming made it very plain that there would be a time when the goats and the sheep would be separated one from the other. Mt. 25:31-34
There will be day when He will take to task the prophets who have prophesied of their own spirit and not the Spirit of the Lord. They have muddied the waters, trampled the grass of the fields until there is little left that is good and edible and His flock have had to eat the remnants. One of the signs of the last days, that is seldom if ever considered, is the fact of the itching ears of the people which demand an easy, watered down, muddied water gospel. 2 Tim. 4:3-4
A people of apostasy who cannot digest sound doctrine. Preachers of compromise who accommodate them with trampled grass, messages without inspiration or an anointing of the Spirit. There is a great division on the horizon where the Lord will expose those whom He called cattle and are not His sheep. Eze. 34:18-22
The Lord issued a proclamation that He would save His flock and surely He will in a great and grand fashion. Eze. 34:22 The true Shepherd, Jesus, of whom we previously made mention, was to be established as the descendent of king David, (whose name means, loving), as the eternal, everlasting King (prince) of His people. Surely Jesus is the greatest example of love and leadership to ever have existed and He is just beginning.
He is the righteous Branch, the King who will reign in righteousness bringing forth judgment and justice in the earth. In His reign all will dwell safely, be they Jew or Gentile. As king of all He is given a very special name and is called the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer. 23:5-6
Sharing in that Millennial reign will be His bride to whom is given the same name. Her character will have been made to be like His for she shall be called, the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer. 33:16 He will have a glorious church without spot of wrinkle. Eph. 5:27
One shepherd to lead and feed the sheep of His pasture. A man who was to be a servant of the Lord and king of the people. A descendent of David. Eze. 34:23 Both, Jesus (Mt. 2:1) and David (1 Sam. 16) were born in Bethlehem. Both Jesus (Luke 3:23) and David (2 Sam. 5:4) started their life’s work at the age of 30.
While the Lord did not condone the failures of David, in essence, he was a man after the heart of the Lord (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). When Jesus was baptized, the Father called out proclaiming that He was his beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased. Mt. 3:17 The similarity of type and antitype continues on and on. Jesus is the true David, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Rev. 19:16 Of the reign of His government there will be no end. His kingdom is eternal.
Jesus is the one and only true shepherd, the servant of the Lord, the root and off spring of David, the King/Prince and as such has made a covenant of peace with the sheep of His pasture. Eze. 34:23-25 It is an everlasting, unbreakable covenant which involves the certain mercies of David. David was constantly the recipient of the mercies of the Lord but the Lord Jesus is the one who imparts to His own, the positive mercies of heaven.
A portion of those mercies according to Ezekiel is to be manifest in a wilderness. The interjection of a statement such as this, involving the covenant of peace, are not circumstantial but deliberate and foreshadow an event which will take place under that covenant. Under the most difficult of conditions when we are living under the covenant of peace we find the Lord preparing a table before us, in the very presence of our enemies. Ps. 23:5 Situations in life do not alter the promise of the presence of the Lord.
Emphasis by the author of this page .