May 2000

By Carole Forde

[6 of 8]

Consider how there has never before, in all human history, been such an open display of what the church calls the Gospel of LIGHT; yet there has never before been greater DARKNESS on the face of the earth of selfishness and self-destruction. This is because the tiny flame of Truth in their Gospel of "God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that the world through Him might be saved." (Jn 3:16-17) is hid under bushels of fleshly doctrines that dare to deny His Love for all humanity (the majority of whom they condemn to an endless hell) and declare His Love for an elite few (including themselves). We should not be surprised God is allowing darkness to cover the earth; and gross darkness to cover the understanding of religious-minded ones; for this has been God’s way for each age of Creation. At the beginning of each new day in Gen 1, "FIRST came the EVENING then SECOND (and last) came the MORNING! According to Jewish Law, the Sabbath begins and ends at sundown (Lev 23:32). Christ’s Lifeless Body had to be removed from the Cross before the onset of Sabbath (the 7th day; and 7 = Perfection; signifying when "God rested from His Works on that Day"; and Christ did "rest" in His tomb on that day; before rising on the 8th day (8 = New Beginning; New Creation; Hebrew males are circumcised on the 8th day)!
                 All believers need to know that Heb 4:11-"Labor to ENTER INTO THAT REST"- means that after we die to self, there is a time before our Resurrection Life we must "REST IN CHRIST’S TOMB"! That is the dark place where we"WAIT UPON THE LORD (for our Resurrection Life); RENEW OUR STRENGTH TO MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES" (Isa 40:31) and then "Fly away, O glory" to a greater measure of the Christ Life here on the earth! Each outworking of our Salvation begins with a painful death to self as we surrender each area of human weakness to Christ; followed by what seems like an interminable length of time in the "waiting room (tomb)" as our faith is sorely tested!! Here is where we suffer the greatest onslaught of dark spirits of hopelessness, futility, and abandonment to invade our rest! Here we are completely helpless to defend ourselves! Here Christ-in-us descends into our lowest hell and releases all thoughts being held captive therein! And when we are divested of all those "Spirits of heaviness"; our spirit becomes lighter than air and able to ascend like a hot air balloon!! (Ec 3:21)
                 Noah (whose name means "REST") was made to enter into an ark; as every son of God must do; for "As in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be!" (Lk 17:26) The tomb where Christ was "laid to rest" was as the "ark" of Noah in many respects. Here the Noahic family of 8 (meaning: "new beginning; new creation") is shut up by God’s own hand, with two of every beast of the earth (2 = witness & martyrdom) which also were redeemed. Together they were subjected to a long "WAIT" for the fruition of God’s Promise as life’s storms raged all about them! Here was surrender to God’s sovereign Will. Here no Court of Human Appeal could arbitrate. Here man entered a New Covenant of TRUST with His Creator and Savior of all! The best part thing about this holy Rest is that the SABBATH is also the determining factor for each YEAR OF JUBILEE (Lev 25:8,9) which is that unique time when:

"ALL EARTHLY DEBTS ARE CANCELLED!"

                This singular event of jubilant deliverance and restoration from sin bondage should look anticipated by all men as an unequaled time of victory, increase and blessing!! Hear these thoughts from Paul Mueller’s Aug 1993 "Living Word", "The years from 1986 to 1996, and beyond, may be the period of the 40th Jubilee from the crucifixion of Jesus; and the 120th Jubilee from (the first) Adam. As part of that Jubilee blessing, the Lord is now doing a hidden work by His Spirit, a work that is not seen outwardly. He is removing the veil or cloak of darkness that covers the spirits and minds of His elect; and He is doing it by His Spirit with few, if any, outward manifestations." (Isa 25:6-7)

[TO BE CONTINUED]