THE KEY OF THREE

Please note: This article is an addendum to Breaking Spiritual Strongholds, and the reader may find that some of the concepts presented in that writing are prerequesites to fully understanding this one.

We find the key of three throughout the Bible, as seen in the following perspective:

God the Father              God the Son              God the Holy Spirit
spirit of man               soul of man              body of man
grace                       mercy                    power
Eternal Kingdom             Millennial Kingdom       Present Kingdom
sin in general              transgressions           iniquity
belief in trust             faith in action          obedience
baptism                     covering                 communion
justification               sanctification           redemption
Lake of Fire                Gehenna                  Tribulation Period
White Throne Judgment Bema  Throne Judgment          Rule of Believer's Heart

God the Father gives us the gift of grace to save our spirit. The Son gives us mercy before the Bema Judgment Seat if our soul is aligned, and the Holy Spirit gives power to align the body to the ways of God. The reward for the salvation of the spirit is eternal life unto the Eternal Kingdom of the Father (the kingdom through w hich we are ushered into eternity). The yielded soul is rewarded with entrance to the Millennial Kingdom without enduring Gehenna, and the overcoming of the flesh in this Present Kingdom yields inward joy and  the warranted expectation of being taken home in the first of the two Raptures so as not to have to endure the Tribulation Period.

Sin in general is the sin which we all commit, indeed are born with in our very nature. No man is without it except Yeshua, because He was born of the Holy Spirit rather than a descendant of Adam. died so that this sin nature could be broken and we could be restored to the Father and His Kingdom. Romans 3:25 tells us He was a:

This is the forgiveness we receive when we become Believers, and our spirit is sealed. Our past sins are erased as though they never existed, and our spirit is justified before the Father.

This does not mean His sacrifice was not sufficient for our soul and bodies as well. However, just as the Hebrews were to apply the blood of the Sacrificial Lamb to the lentils of their doors, we too must do so with our souls. If they did not, death occurred. Likewise, it is for us. Isaiah 1:18 refers to the two types of blood coverings. The red "as crimson" is as old blood that has aged. It is the blood which covers our spirit and cannot be removed. We shall be seen as wool. A study of wool in the Scriptures is interesting. It relates to the Believer's justification of the spirit before the Father. Scarlet relates to new blood, indicating the application of blood daily in confession as we walk with God in faith, His way. It is in this way that we will be seen as "white as snow" before the Bema Judgment Seat. He will see us without spot or blemish. Sins we commit after belief are transgressions (we transgress against the rights of God's property, as we were bought with a price per I Corinthians 6:20). When we harbor ill will toward God in the soul, it is iniquity against His way, and grieves the Holy Spirit.

Once we believe, the gift of eternal life is given by unconditional grace. However, the gift of life in the Millennial Kingdom deals with the conditional factor of mercy. Check it out. Do a word study on mercy. The soul must be properly sanctified in order to enter this seventh day (millennium) of rest. The obedience we exhibit through the power of the Holy Spirit while as we allow him the rule in the throne of our heart in this Present Kingdom bears evidence before Christ of our yielded soul at His throne, the Bema Seat Judgment. The perfected Believer will then stand before the Father at the White Throne in the Eternal Kingdom, and be ushered in to their new heavenly home.

We are given three ordinances to help us achieve these goals. The first is baptism by immersion, an act of obedience related to the saving of the spirit. It releases the power of the Holy Spirit to begin the consecration of the Believer. Secondly, we were given the covering, which shields the soul from deception. Thirdly, the ordinance of communion strengthens the body.

The alternative for the Eternal Kingdom is the Lake of Fire. The alternative for the Millennial Kingdom is Gehenna. The alternative for deliverance to the Bridegroom by the Holy Spirit is to endure the Tribulation Period on earth. We are doomed to the Lake of Fire if the spirit is never justified through Belief upon Yeshua Christ. Gehenna, however, will be the fiery consummation for Believers who have no proof of repentance or confession, who stand before Bema with a souls that are in a state of rebellion. Some will have committed to the yielding the soul, but the evidence of the obedience of the flesh will not indicate that this has been fully accomplished. Outer Darkness is a temporary measure, to determine for better or worse which will be the Millennial home, the Kingdom, or Gehenna.

However, the immediate consequence for disobedience regarding the flesh is to endure the Tribulation Period. Our "blessed hope" as Believers is directly linked to obedience in the flesh per II Timothy 2:12-13. It reads, "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ". It is by this lifestyle of bringing the flesh into submission that we are blessed by the Holy Spirit with the redemption of the body. Indeed Revelation 14:3-5 speaks of those First Fruits who were "redeemed from the earth" and "redeemed from among men", and we should note that there was no guile found within their mouth, and they were without fault before the throne. The First Fruits will be taken home by the Holy Spirit prior to the Tribulation in the First Fruits Rapture. This was shadowed in the Old Testament passage of Genesis 24:3 when Abraham (typology of the Father) sends the servant who rules over all he has (typology of the Holy Spirit) to find a Bride for his son Isaac (typology of the Son). As the passage continues, we see that the Servant will deliver the Bride to the Son who will come out to meet her. Thus the body of the Bride (those who are found to be blameless in body (AND in soul AND in spirit per I Thessalonians 23) will be redeemed from the Tribulation to come upon man.

It is said that there are three facets to the birthing of a child. Step one involves the dropping of the baby into the birth canal. Secondly, the baby is turned within the birthing canal to position for the birth. Thirdly, we find the presentation of the head and body of the baby. Interestingly, the breakthrough of the head is called the "crowning". We would note that once the birthing process is begun, it must achieve its end. If the birthing proceeds as intended, the baby is born alive and well. However, if problems occur within the process, the child can be stunted, or possibly stillborn.

In relation to this, John 3:3 tells us, "... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." We would see here the parallel between the spirit, the soul, and the body. The first step of the dropping of the baby into the birth canal represents the dropping to our knees before our creator, and receiving the free gift of spirit salvation offered to us through the grace of God the Father through the atonement of the Son. When this stage has been initiated, the birth must achieve its end, i.e. the eternal life in the Eternal Kingdom of God the Father who provided this gift. Justification of the spirit has occurred, and there is no recourse but that this end will be met!!

In step two, the baby is turned within the birthing canal to position for the birth. This relates to the repentance of the Believer, as he sorrows over his past behavior and resolves to turn to God's way. It is a change of the will (soul), which (if maintained) will result in the sanctification of the soul. The third and final phase of the birth is the presentation of the head and body of the baby. As the breakthrough of the head is called the "crowning", when our bodies are properly presented before the Son, our heads will likewise be crowned. If all goes as planned in our birthing experience of the Believer's walk, we will be born alive and well, and "overcome" the obstacles along the way to stand in perfection before the Son to receive our rewards. However, if we are never properly turned within the birthing canal, (our souls are never turned in repentance toward the ways of God), we can be stillborn. Even after our bodies are turned within the birth canal, we can turn again, and be born breach, or suffer injury. Likewise, we must not allow our soul (once it is turned unto God) to return to the ways of the previous carnal existence.

Then we must allow that change in position to present a smooth and unhindered presentation of the body. Problems sometimes result in the "crowning" stage, and the presentation of the body which cause problems for the baby. Proper alignment of the baby after the turning in the canal will yield a healthy and beautiful baby at birth. Likewise, we must align the desires of the flesh to the submission of the soul in order to fully "overcome" as Paul taught and John spoke of in the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. When this is accomplished, the perfect baby is free from the confines of the womb (the body is redeemed), and the presentation before the Son is pleasing unto Him and worthy of crowning (good reward).

We may want to note that there are sometimes congenital defects in the baby. This would apply in spiritual sense when the Believer has to deal with sins of the previous generations in his/her heritage. Only God can intervene here, upon the seeking of the Believer to be released of such  traits.

Let me also assure the reader here, that most often the mother can not prevent birth defects, and is NOT, I repeat NOT responsible for them. Neither can the child prevent such problems by an active thinking process. No parallel is without some areas of diversity. However, as a general concept, the spiritual aspects of the above clarify much of the Believer's struggle to be "reborn" unto the Kingdom of God.

In relation to the "born again" process of the Believer, a study of Revelation, chapters 2 & 3, should reveal much about the problems in the churches and speak boldly to us. All Believers deal with aspects of EACH of these churches during their lives, but lets focus for the moment on the first six. In Ephesus, we find patience, hatred of evil, trying the apostles, and labor without fainting for Yeshua's name's sake. However, they have lost their first love. We are told to repent and do the "first works". Our relation to Smyrna is through persecution, promised to every Believer who lives for Christ. We are told to be faithful through these times. The Believer's parallel to Pergamos is life in the "seat of Satan", and we are told to repent of his false doctrines. In Thyatira, we find charity, service, faith, and patience on an increasing basis, but are warned to repent of the acceptance of Jezabel (a false prophetess) among them who has led the brethren into fornication. Our relation to Sardis is our works, which indicate life, but we find there death. We are told to watch, and strengthen in order to be found perfect before God. Then we look at Philadelphia, where we see that we have "kept the word of His patience" (His work unto endurance), and kept His Word without denying His name, whereby we will be saved from the "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth". We will deal with Laodicea momentarily.

We should note, that Yeshua indicates the means and ability is there in which to overcome in each area of the Believer's life. We deal with all of these things, but our goal is to be a Philadelphian Christian. The other aspects discussed, are found in the walk of the Believer when en route to the goal of the Philadelphian life. It is when we have overcome the rest, and stand approved before God that our body is found redeemable, and we are spared the Tribulation Period through the Rapture. There are promises related to each of the churches as well, when we have overcome each of these areas of our lives. When we overcome the Ephesian problem, we are told that we will eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Overcomers regarding the Smyrna problems hold the promise of a crown of life, with a promise that the second death will not hurt them. Promises to the Pergamos overcomer are eating of the hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written upon in, which no man knows, except he that receives it. The Believer who overcomes Thyatira problems is promised power over the nations to rule with a rod of iron, and the gift of the morning star. Those who overcome Sardis obstacles will be few. (Most will cry Lord, Lord, but the door will be closed, per Luke 13:25, because their works will not be of the WILL of God per Matthew 7:21). However, those few who overcome are told here that they shall walk with Christ in white, for they have not defiled their garments. They are worthy, and their names will not be blotted out of the Son's Book of Life, and He will confess (acknowledge or profess, and according to Spiros Zodhiates, even give praise and glory to) each of them before the Father. The promise to the overcomers of the Philadelphians is an open door which no man can shut which will deliver us from the Tribulation Period via the Rapture. Because of the steadfastness Of this group, the Son will write upon them His new name and the name of the city of the Father in the new Jerusalem where they will be made pillars in the Temple. Note Believer, that NO such promises are made here to ANY Believers who do NOT OVERCOME.

Perry Stone has presented his research regarding the document (a deed of sorts) of Jubilee which is to be (according to Jewish history) sealed by seven seals. During the year of Jubilee, the original owner can claim inheritance to that deed, but the rings of all seven seals must verify the sealing of Œ}the document. This would relate to the seven seals of the book of Revelation. Only the Son is worthy to open the seals, because He has (unaided) overcome in ALL obstacles of the world. The  Believers who have likewise overcome (aided by the Holy Spirit and faithfully confessing and repenting daily to be cleansed by the Son) will be with Him now. They will represent the first six of these seven churches. The first six seals will be opened in their presence. Per our writing called "Sequence of Revelation", we show that the first seal initiates the first trumpet blast, then the pouring of the first vial before the second seal is opened; likewise it goes through the first six seals, trumpets, and viles. It is at this point we see the second Rapture ("Behold, I come as a thief" in Revelation 16:15) of the balance of the church (of the Laodicean traits). This is those which "are alive and remain" (behind) and are "caught up" together with those which were "asleep" (I Thessalonians 4:17), "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).

These Laodiceans of the end days were neither hot nor cold, and were spewed out of His mouth (i.e. left behind to endure the Tribulation Period). Their view of themselves was overstated in their eyes, and they were told to anoint their eyes with eyesalve that they might see properly and to acquire gold tried in the fire (gold, silver, and precious jewels for the Bema judgment secured through trial, and fit for the refiner's fire) that they may be fit to sit with the Son in His throne (of the Millennial Kingdom). These are brought forth to the heavenly realm now to stand before the Son at Bema as the seventh seal is opened, the seventh trumpet (the last per I Corinthians 15:52) is sounded, and the seventh vile is spilled upon the earth.

At the completion of the Millennial Kingdom, we find the White Throne Judgment where the sea, death, and hell deliver up the dead which were in them. At this time, ALL will stand before the Father, Believer, and unBeliever alike. Here Books of Life are opened. Those who never dropped into the birth canal are judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire because they were not found in the Father's Book of Life. The Son however, will confess to the Father those who have overcome (as fore mentioned) because they are in His Book of Life. Their rewards will be in accordance with their works (Revelation 20:13). However, as we can see through the birthing process, that even those who are stillborn or deformed during their walk of this world will be allowed into the Father's Eternal Kingdom, because their birth was achieved due to the justification of the spirit when they fell before God to receive the gift of His grace through Christ. They will, however, have a rather different Eternal Kingdom existence. They were erased from the Son's book of life, and forced to endure Gehenna, therefore, they are now deprived of soul and body, these having been destroyed in Gehenna (Matthew 10:28). They now stand naked before the Father (Revelation 16:15). They are ashamed before Him, and the Son is ashamed for them as they are presented to the Father for entrance into the Eternal Kingdom. None the less, the Son has provided for their purification by destroying the soul and body they refused to purify in the manner intended, and they are allowed entrance to the Eternal Kingdom. They will not endure the Lake of fire as the group of unbelieving infidels found in Revelation 21:8, but they have reveled in like iniquity, and are kept from the Holy City in the midst of the Eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21:27). Only those who were still written in the Lamb's Book of Life (had not been erased) are allowed into this city per this verse! Those who had overcome will be considered His Sons, and inherit ALL things, rather than being seen as children of disobedience per Ephesians 2:2, whereby they are exempted from most of the privileges which should have been theirs.

The Temple in general terms is described, as being of three parts, the outer courts, the inner courts, and the Holy of Holies. These are often related to the body, the soul, and the spirit, as the body is on the outside, the soul lies just beneath, and the spirit is the realm inhabited by the Holy Spirit upon belief. In the heavenly realm, it relates as well, as the ones who have received the gift of the Father unto justification of the spirit, but never achieved sanctification of the soul, much less the redemption of the body are subject to the outer realm court of the Eternal Kingdom's Temple. Those who achieved sanctification of the soul, but fell short of redemption of the body are allowed into the inner court. They did not have to endure Gehenna, but had to endure the Tribulation (and possibly Outer Darkness) in order not to be erased from the Son's Book of Life. Apparently, they will be able to enter the Holy City. However, only those who had totally overcome to the redemption of the body are allowed to ABIDE in the Holy of Holies, or the Holy City within the midst of the Eternal Kingdom to be pillars of the Temple, because they CHOSE to ABIDE in Christ while in their earthly life.

Revelation 22:11 splits out our destiny for us for the Father's Eternal Kingdom age. He that is unjust (never justified in spirit) will remain unjust (burning in the Lake of Fire). He which is filthy, is filthy still (destined only to the outer courts due to his nakedness which speaks of his filth in the earthly life). He who is righteous will be righteous still. He will have overcome during the Tribulation, possibly even through the loss of his physical life for the sake of Christ, thus being given a white robe (representing righteousness) as reward per Revelation 6:11. He will be found in the inner courts of the Temple. Then we find that he who is holy will be holy still. When the body and soul are aligned to the justified spirit in proper rebirth, holiness is achieved. The spirit was justified unto acceptability, the soul was sanctified unto righteousness, and the body was redeemed unto holiness. This total testimony of overcoming will enable this one to appear as holy in a wedding gown of righteousness and to dwell in the Holy of Holies, residing with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In light of these things, it is interesting to note the writings of Paul in the passage of I Corinthians 16:8 which says:

Now I realize that Paul was writing about his personal experiences, but we must remember that all Scripture is breathed by the Holy Spirit for our understanding, and sometimes the most innocent Scriptural reference can hold depths of information for the seeking Believer. Let's look at this passage further, and focus upon what he is waiting for in Ephesus. He is waiting for Pentecost and a GREAT DOOR (as promised to the Philadelphian overcomers in Revelation 3:8 and seen in Revelation 4:1). This door will be opened in conjunction with "effectual" (active, operative, and powerful per Strongs, and "energy", capable of doing" per Spiros Zodhiates). We might want to note that energy is of the spirit realm, and of what THIS spirit, (the Holy Spirit) is capable of doing. We find, "and there are many adversaries". It is often said when we are raptured, there will be much warfare in an attempt to keep us from getting to the heavenly realm where our Bridegroom will meet us in the air. It is so comforting to know that our Holy Spirit escort is capable of taking us through the open door to the Bridegroom, and that He is capable of getting us there safely through the conquest of the spiritual adversaries who would try to keep from this end! Note that this door opens at Pentecost. It is what he is WAITING FOR. We might also note in this passage the reference to Stephanos (which means the crowned), which is the FIRST FRUITS of Achaia (which means the one who wails - as well the church who is left behind do). Thus we see that the crowned ones who are First Fruits of the church who is left behind in unbelievable spiritual anguish are referenced in this open door of Pentecost passage. It also tells us that one of their traits is that they had "addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints". (We might note here that it does not say "of the LOST", but "of the SAINTS"!) I presume that the awakened reader will get the drift of deeper meaning of this passage as it was related to Paul by the Holy Spirit!!!

Now, however, let's take a look again at Ephesus where the Believer is shown to be waiting for Pentecost. We are dealing now with repentance of our coolness toward our first works. We are told that if we overcome here we will eat of the tree of life (rather then enduring death in Gehenna). We have apparently dealt with the other problems represented in the other churches, and have come full circle back to Ephesians where He recognizes our zeal and prowess to achieve for Him, but we have grown cool toward our first love.

When speaking of the church of Ephesus, Yeshua says in Revelation 2:4-5, "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left (863) thy first (4413) love (26). Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen (1601), and repent (3340), and do (4160) the first (4413) works (2041); or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent (3340)". Let's take a look at the definitions for the Greek words used in this text as they relate to the Strongs numbers noted.

Love (26) Strongs indicates "agape" - "affection or benevolence", in relation to a "moral sense". (Spiros Zodhiates expounds further to add, "not shown by doing what the person loved desires but what the one who loves deems as needed by the one loved". "God's love for man is His doing what He thinks best for man and not what man desires. It is God's willful direction toward man. But for man to show love to God, he must first appropriate God's agape for only God has such an unselfish love." "Metaphorically, the effect or proof of love". It also shows significant relation to "love feast", "connected with the celebration of the Lord's Supper" (i.e. communion).

The word "first" is Strongs 4413 "protos", and means: "foremost (in time, place, order or importance)". Zodhiates adds, "chief, principal", "the former state or condition", "faith originally professed".

The word "left" is Strongs 863 "aphiemi", and means: "lay aside, leave", "omit". Zodhiates adds, "dismiss", "forsake", "leave or let alone", "omit or neglect", "metaphorically, to let go from obligation toward oneself, to quit", "to let go from one's further notice, care, attendance".

"Fallen" is Strongs 1601, "ekpipto", and means: "to drop away; specifically be driven out of one's course; become inefficient", "none affect", "be cast away" or "cast off". Zodhiates adds, "to fall out of or from their place", "to fall from any state or condition, i.e., to lose one's part or interest in that state; "to be without effect, to be in vain:, to render void, cancel", "destroy, pull down", "to render useless or inactive", "to make empty", "to come behind in or be inferior".

"Repent" is Strongs 3340, "metanoeo", and means: "to think differently", "reconsider" with relation to "transform", "change". Zodhiates adds, "to exercise the mind, think, comprehend", "change the mind, relent", "to repent with regret accompanied by a true change of heart toward God", "a change of mind consequent to retrospection, indicating regret for the course pursued and resulting in a wiser view of the past and future", "to regret because of the consequences of one's actions".

"Do" is Strongs 4160, "poieo", and means: "commit", "continue", "without any delay", "perform". Zodhiates adds, "to appoint, constitute", "to make; to endow a person or thing with a certain quality; to qualify", "generally of such things as are produced by an inward act of the mind or will", "used in an absolute sense, meaning to be active, work", "to do, expressing an action as continued or not yet completed, what one does repeatedly, habitually", "to make, form, produce, "bring about, cause spoken of any external act as manifested in the production of something tangible, corporeal, obvious to the senses, completed action", "expressing action either as completed or continued", "to do or act for a certain time, up to a certain time", "the object and end of an act", also "the means by which this object is attained", "doing once and for all, the producing }rand bringing forth something which, when produced, has an independent existence of its own".

Works is Strongs 2041, "ergo", and means: "toil", "labor". Zodhiates adds, "performance", "any object which one may have to do or attain", "accumulated labor and continued work", "those works to which Christians are called are designated", "acts by which man proves his genuineness and his faith (James 2:14)", faith is proven by its works (James 2:22,25)", "comprehensively what a man is and how he acts, "in reference to right and wrong as judged by the moral law, the precepts of the gospel".

Thus we see in these two short verses of Revelation 2:4-5 a remarkably concise wrap up of the Believer's walk as we await our Blessed Hope. We have become so engrossed in the "ministry to the saints" that we sometimes neglect our first works. We have laid aside or neglected to care for and attend our first love, i.e. our principal or foremost proof of love for the Father (and even daily  communion), leaving behind the former state or condition wherein we originally professed our "faith". We note also that this active form of faith is "proven" by such works as we have chosen to neglect! We have fallen, or dropped away, driven out of our course, and have become of "none affect" to be "cast away" per I Corinthians 9:27. In this verse Paul makes us aware that we can become a castaway (EVEN AFTER PREACHING TO OTHERS) if we fail to bring our bodies into subjection. (The body is the last and hardest of the three portions of our being to conquer!!!) We would also note that "falling" in this manner can "cancel or render void" our hope of redemption, and cause us to be destroyed, or pulled down, made empty (as is accomplished in Gehenna during the Millennial Kingdom of the Son), and to come behind or be inferior, (as in our status in the Eternal Kingdom of the Father).

In order to rectify this problem, we are told to "repent", i.e. to think differently, or reconsider and change the mind so as to be transformed per Romans 12:2. Then we are to "do", i.e. continue without delay to perform by this inward act of the mind and will in such a way as to endow ourselves with God's quality, bringing forth His work in His way CONTINUOUSLY, even habitually until such time in which our DOOR is opened unto us. This produces once and for all in us that which will qualify us to go through the door! The "works" we are to "do" here provide proof of our walk of faith, to meet this qualification standard.

We are instructed in Luke 21:36 to:

You see, he addresses two things here. First we see our worthiness to escape the Tribulation through the redemption of the body, and secondly, our worthiness to stand before the Son at Bema through the sanctification of the soul, as evidenced by the obedience over lust of the flesh (body). If we are redeemed in the body as the Bride, then our sanctification is also in tact, as it is the prerequisite of the obedience of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit will judge the redemption of the body, and will escort those who are qualified for such redemption to the realms of glory to meet the Bridegroom, just as the Son will judge the soul, and the Father will judge the spirit. (The Old Testament shadow of this is found in Genesis 24.) We must utilize the power the Holy Spirit provides in our daily walk to overcome the lusts of the flesh. How will we be seen by the Holy Spirit when the door is opened? Will we be Bride material, even as the servant in Genesis chose Rebekah, or will He reject us to stay behind and endure the Tribulation? May God guide you in preparation for that day!