Armageddon - Jezebel

Armageddon

The Morning Star and the Sceptre

The generation that is subject to the signs of the second com­ing of the Lord will also receive the Morning Star, and finally the Sceptre of Israel.

At the evening of the great day of the Lord, Christ Himself was personally the light that spread its illuminating rays on that generation. He was then the evening star. He also said to them:

"Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in dark­ness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." John 12. 35, 36.

At the closing up of the time, allotted to that generation, it met the Sceptre, but not that which finally shall rise out of Israel (Num. 24. 17). They met the Sceptre of the Roman army, and by that they were conquered and brought captive out of the land of promise. They became scattered among the nations and will continue in that condition until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. The darkness of the great long night overtook them, and that spiritual darkness continues until the morning of the day of the Lord comes.

Num 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

That morning is announced by the Star of the morning. It spreads the light about the coming King and His kingdom to be­come established in the earth. He does not this time come to suffer and die, but, as the anointed, He comes to rule and to bring the scattered house of Jacob under His Sceptre.

In order that we may escape the destiny that befell the Jews by the first coming of Christ, it is neccessary that we learn to un­derstand the Son of man better than they did. That name "The Son of man" means the word of God controlling the human nature so that it like a candlestick holds up the light of the word of God. Christ says about His disciple: "Ye are the light of the world." In the same meaning He says of those He calls His two witnesses in Rev. 11, that they "are the two candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth" — the Owner of the whole earth. They are so closely wrapped up with the prophetic word of God that, as a candlestick holds the light, they hold up the prophetic light, and by it is seen that the true Owner of the earth is coming to claim and to take His possession and put up His own kingdom thereon.

Christ, as the head of the eclesiastical body, is at all times the prophetic light that is shining, the dictator and inspirator, that controls the light-power. Those He then actuates, become to Him as the candlestick stand to the light it carries. Together they represent the Son of man.

From the testimony He gives to the ecclesiastical body of Thyatira, it is very plain that He will give to the overcomer there, both the morning Star and the Sceptre. But He requires that the receiver shall overcome or conquer the doctrine of Jezebel (the princess of Bel or Baal) that controls that branch of the prophetic church. That woman Jezebel is a rival to Christ, because He says: "She teaches and seduces" His servants and she "calls herself a prophetess," she deals with the words of prophecy.

By a false prophetic light she leads the people away from the Christ, the true light, and in that way she rivals with Him about the work of salvation. It is therefore He gives the following im­portant promises to the overcomer, the discoverer and revealer of the doctrine of Jezebel:

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star." Rev. 2. 26-28.

When we compare Psalm. 2. 8, 9 and Rev. 19. 15 with the testi­mony above, we become convinced that the special power God has promised to give to His Son, that same power will He confer on him that gains victory over the doctrine of Jezebel. But the same must then also keep, or do the work of the Lord unto the end, i. e. he must live and work during the time the signs of the second com­ing of the Lord are given.

The testimonies given to the four last branches of the prophetic people show, that those churches exist during the time of the last generation. To the Thyatirean branch He says: "I will put upon you none other burden" (than to give up and purify themselves from the doctrine of Jezebel), and then He adds: "But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come." Hold fast till I come indicates that they have heard the message of His second coming, it is thus the advent people, the virgins on the way to meet the bridegroom, He speaks to.

To receive the morning star means to get and to spread about the prophetic light leading the people on the way to meet the Lord,to be enlightened about His second coming and the way He comes. He gives a testimony in Rev. 22. 16 that explains the meaning of the Morning Star. He says: "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and the morning star."

"The root and the offspring of David" has reference to His coming as the Heir of the throne of David, to establish His kingly power in the earth and, like king David, gather the house of Jacob under His sceptre. It is that light the morning star shall spread about. The star spreads its light before the light of the morning breaks forth. It shines while it otherwise is dark. When the light of the morning comes, the realities of the things the morning star has revealed, become known and visible.

The Doctrine of Jezebel

According to the duality of the plan of God constituted the events and the imposing personalities, that developed during the old covenant, shadows of similar developments during the new covenant. We understand that to be the reason why Christ in His testimony refers to Jezebel and her doctrine. As there was a Jeze­bel that by her doctrine and priestcraft deluded the people of the prefiguring covenant, so is there a similar one in the new covenant, who by her influence and doctrine leads the people seeking to follow Christ, from the way of life to follow Baal.

During the time of the Gentiles the people is mystified by the mixture of Baalism and Christianity, and the cult, inherited from the heathens, has the control of the world. The building of mate­rial churches and similar institutions has always been the objects of the heathen cult, and that originated with Baal, the lord of the present world. He laid the foundation upon which all, that cast out the foundation stone God laid by Christ, are building their churches and similar structures.

Jehovah sent His angel to announce that a change should come at the end of the 2300 years, counted from the time the Jews were commanded to leave Babylon and return to their fatherland and build up Jerusalem and its temple. That long period ended in the year 1844 A. D., and it was at that time the advent movement cul­minated. It came to a standstill on account of the tarrying time that then entered in. That movement up to that time was like the apostolic movement, a separation from the world and its religious cult, and then those that took part in it followed the Founder of the new covenant and like true virgins were waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom. They held a position worthy of their profes­sion.

We have already shown whereof the temple of the new cove­nant consists. We will now only remind that

1 Cor. 3. 16 plainly states it: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" And then the apostle adds: "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Then again in 2 Cor. 6. 15-18 it is very plainly stated that Christ and Belial have nothing in common, and the apostle asks: "And what agree­ment hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said: I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Belial controls the temples builded on the foundation he laid. It is material and dead, but the foundation Christ laid is living and controlled by the Spirit of God. And the temple of Christ can not unite with the Babylonian foundation when the Spirit of God has power over it.

The material temple during the prefiguring dispensation exist­ed as means to draw and to keep God's people to Him. Such means Christ has taken away and He, instead, brings the believers in di­rect union with God, hence they constitute His living temple or dwelling place.

Of Rev. 1:20 we see that the seven churches that receive testi­monies from the Lord, represent light in the temple of the new covenant. They were prefigured in the seven churches in Asia, but, as is seen of the testimonies sent them, some of them exist at the second coming of Christ. They real branches of the new testament churhes, which they prefigured, continues successively and consti­tute the prophetic developments during the entire dispensation. During the Gentile time only few of them develop, because the temple cult of Baalism is then predominant. For instance, the branch called Pergamos, was the light shining forth during the Papal reign, indicated by the testimony: "And thou boldest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas (means against papacy). was my faithful martyr (collec­tive word embracing the martyrs slain during that time), who was slain among you, where Satan (the Opposer) dwelleth." It was a very long time that branch continued.

It is the Thyatirean branch that becomes subject to the doctrine of Jezebel. That branch develops as the sequence of the change that would be brought about at the end of the 2300 years. There would then be a restoration of the Sanctuary, i. e. the living temple of God would then begin to be brought to its proper place outside of the works of Baal. The proclamation about the Lord's coming brought forth that prophetic branch, and, as it is stated in Mal. 3. 1, that the Lord will come to His temple, that temple must be in its place when He does come.

The message that called forth the Thyatirean branch inspired it that the Lord would soon come, and it tried hard to hold its waiting position. And the Lord's testimony to it shows that it thus far was right. He says to it: "But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come." But He has against them that they suffer the woman Jeze­bel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce His servants. That they must overcome. "Hold fast till I come," has reference to His second coming and proves that they had received the message of His coming. And that they should continue in the same way, hold­ing fast the promises they had taken hold of. It is at this junction, the waiting station, they are captured by the doctrine of Jezebel. They were placed in a pass, they did not fully comprehend, and had need of some light or explanation concerning the tarrying of the Lord. Just then the spiritual enemy stepped in, like he did in the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and by a suitable medium began to explain the testimony of the Lord. Under the sign, that a new light came from Jesus, new and fresh prophecies that explained the mystery which had confused them, the woman rose up among them as a prophetess sent by God. Here thus the way opened for Jezebel's doctrine to capture their minds.

The testimony of the Lord in the parable of the virgins going out to meet the bridegroom, is very plain in regard to the tarrying time as well as the act following, but they did not then understand it and of course, no one of them would think that the tarrying time would last seventy years. Faith generally draws the objects it be­comes attached to as near as possible, hence an explanation that would clear up the obscurity, at once was welcome to the most of them.

In the parable they saw that a door was placed before them, but how or where they should pass through it, they comprehended not. Who could explain that? A similar impression took hold of the mind of Adam when he had heard the testimony of Jehovah concerning theforbidden fruit. He felt the need of an explanation, and it came.

The deceiving doctrine.

A woman among the waiting company began to have dreams and visions and that was taken by some as an evidence that the Lord in that way would explain to them what theydesired to know. Yes, it came. Here follows a few of her explanations.

The reason why Jesus tarried was that He officiated in the Sanctuary in heaven. He had not finished His work there but would soon get through.

The door Christ refers to in the parable is in heaven above, and it divides the holy apartment from the most holy. She claim­ed she had a vision in which she saw Jesus clothed in priestly garments and that he stepped into a carriage, drawn by flaming horses, and thus He passed through the door into the Most holy place, where He remains until He has finished the mediatory act. He was cleansing the Sanctuary in heaven.

The thousand years, or Millennium are assigned to the celest­ial kingdom above the sky, while the earth is wholly left in the hands of Satan, who then will wander up and down on its surface, feeling lonely because there is no human being he can deceive. Jer. 4. 23 —28 she refers to as scriptural evidence that her "heavenly vision" corresponds with the teachings of the Bible. But by reading the following verses, it is plainly seen that, although the cities and the industrial centers are broken down and comparativly a general destruction prevails on account of wars and revolutions, there is still a population, but they flee to the woods and mountains to get away from the warriors and the persecutors. The last verse shows that the daughter of Zion brings forth her child, the man-child of Rev. 12, at that very time.

The Bible, to the contrary, teaches that the kingdom of Christ has the rule of the earth during the millennial age. He comes the second time to establish His kingdom and to put all enemies under His feet, preparatory to the coming of the great Father at the end of the Millennium. See 1 Cor. 15. 24-28.

The doctrine concerning the sealing of the 144,000, as it ap­pears in Jezebel's declarations, arose among the advent people while they, according to her "heavenly vision" were waiting for the high priest to finish His official work in the most holy in the Sanc­tuary above the sky. The fresh testimonies from Jesus said that the Sunday is the mark of the beast, but that Saturday is the seal of the living God. Thus all that keep Saturday as the Sabbath and receive the testimonies coming through the prophetess, they be­come sealed with the seal of the living God.

5. Concerning the new Jerusalem, to which she expected that Jesus at His second coming would bring her and her followers, she told that her guiding angel had brought her up to heaven and shown her the holy city. She describes it as being of solid gold and shin­ing pearls. She also saw it come down from heaven, at the end of the thousand years, on the very place where she and her followers stood gazing at its descension.

She claims to have seen both in heaven and earth all that is worth to be seen. Any one interested to see and to read her visions can easily find her books, for they have been canvassed in all countries during the last 40 years or more.

The Lord says that Jezebel, the prophetess, by her doctrine seduces His servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacri­ficed to idols. This must be understood in a spiritual sense. The great Babylon, christianized, is called "the great whore," with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. That woman is or represents the kingdom of Baal, the kingdom of brick and stone.

The prefiguring Jezebel allured the people of Israel by her churches and altars. According to the ways of Baal churches were built so to be facinating and attractive, and hence the people was allured by them. The altar of Jehovah, as is seen by the restoration of the altar Elijah made on the mount of Carmel, was very simple, and there were no alluring means to penetrate between God and the people, and no costly structures by which the people became enslav­ed. Hence whatever they sacrificed on the altar of Baal was a sacrifice to idols. And what they received in return from that altar was an abomination before the Lord.

So also in the case of the work and doctrine of the correspond­ing Jezebel in the new dispensation. The people that by the mes­sage of the soon coming of the Lord were separated from the works and doctrines of Baal were again drawn back into Baalism by the doctrine and practice of Jezebel. Churches and institutions, like the rest of the world, were by her testimonies placed in their way, and they were allured to return to the altars of Baal.

When Christ returns, He will certainly deal with Jezebel ac­cording to her deeds in teaching and deceiving His people. He says' He has given her time to repent. Her prophetic declarations have failed, and by that she has had chances to find out that a wrong spirit led her. He says that He will cast her into a bed, a sick-bed. The report is that she broke her thighbone and laid on her sick-bed several months and finally died. When He comes He will fulfill the rest of His words. She has proved to be His rival, and hence He will deal with her accordingly.

We said that by plowing up the seeded field of Jezebel "the treasure hid in the field" was found. It lies deep down under the sod, with the works of Baal on the surface. It could not be seen before a very deep furrow had been made, but then it was partly revealed. Undoubtedly did the work and doctrine of the prefiguring Jezebel cause Elijah a similar digging, before he reveal­ed the dept of her deceiving work and doctrine. It also required 31/2 years of drought to convince the people that they were deceived by them before they returned to Jehovah and Hi a altar.

To overcome the doctrine of Jezebel comprehends all false ex­planations mixed with the doctrine of Christ. But her doctrine, covering the prophecies referring to the coming of Christ, goes further than anything else. And it strikes especially the people of God on their way to meet the Lord at His second coming.

The prefiguring Jezebel had the kingly throne of Israel to back her up, but this one claims the authority of heaven, that Jesus is her inspirator and the power behind her words and actions. And because her doctrine is mixed up with the message of the coming of Christ and covers the prophetic way set forth in the book of the Revelation, it is more dangerous and ,deeper to grasp than any other false doctrine. And just there lies the snare. The dept of satan, as the Lord calls it, is hard to discriminate and it requires, a mind that by study and experience can detect the difference be­tween the operations of the Spirit of God and that of spiritualism.

Concerning "the door," which has been the object of so much speaking and writing, by following up the true testimonies of Christ it will be found that that door is placed on the kingly way leading to the new Jerusalem. The Lord says to the prophetic branch called the "Philadelphia", thus:

"These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strenght, and hath kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Rev. 3. 7, 8.

The doctrine of Jezebel has led the virgins, which were on the way leading to the door, and, like pure virgins, w bgrq, li.ec to the Bridegroom, to turn back to the baalistical world and there to become incorporated under strange names. By so doing those virgins have lost their connection with the Bridegroom; they have virtually denied His name by adhering to other names. Hence they are in darkness and can not see the kingly road to the holy city, nor the door the Lord says He will open for the Philadelphian branch. That prophetic branch has not defiled itself by such acts, hence the Lord opens the door by the kingly key of David for that people. It was the door to the kingdom of David that was closed against the Son of man by the crucifixion. His kingly movement was then and there stopped. The Gentile night entered in and, the kingly train was hindered to go forward to its goal. And until the key of David opens that door, it remains stationed in the camp of the Gentiles.

Luther, as the Herald of the four hundred years' period, realized to some degree that a door opened before him, when it seemed impossible to get any further. That we understand was a shadow thrown from the movement that we expect to take place at the end of the four hundred years, counted from the time Luther burned the banbull. As the Reformation then pressed its way through the door then opened, so the continuation will now start through the door opened by the key of David, and no power can hinder it on its way. The Bible will again stir the people, and the mission of the Messianic movement will push onward from country to country, as did the Reformation by Luther.

The Image of the Beast will do its best to shut that door, be,-cause it leads to the powerful throne of the Messiah, but the Lord says that no man can shut it. The synagogue of Satan, claiming they are Jews, but the Lord says they are not, will also do its very best to hinder the Philadelphians from passing through that door; but the Lord of prophecy will see to that the purpose of their enemies fail them.

Why do they claim to be Jews? They claim to be Gods chosen people because they keep the Mosaic commandments. They claim to keep the day of the Lord according to the old covenant, or dispen­sation. The day of the Lord of the new covenant, or dispensation, they know nothing about. Hence the Lord says of them, "They are not Jews, but do lie."

Why do they keep the Lord's day of the old covenant'? Because they call it the seal of the living God, and in keeping that, they lay claim to the following testimony: "They keep the command meats of God and have the testimony (given out by the prophetess) of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12. 17.

Now in order to show how the Philadelphian branch will pass through the door opened for it, we will follow up that prophetic train under the subject:

The Kingly Train on the Way to New Jerusalem

The key of David and the door placed before the Philadelphian branch, are so closely connected as any important door and its key are related to each other. The key opens and shuts the door. The key of David is a kingly key and opens the door to the kingly throne, and the place for that throne is in the city of Jerusalem. In the prefiguring development it was the kingly key of David that gathered all the tribes of Jacob together to the throne of Israel. Christ is the heir to that throne; and when He gathers the seed of Abraham to Him, He will use the key of David to open the way.

The gathering movement leads out from the kingdom of Baal, and if the door is not steadily kept open, the representatives of Baal and especially the followers of Jezebel will block the way. Hence the blessed promise: "Behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it."

The way through the door leads to the new Jerusalem where the kingly throne will be raised. Hence the Lord says to the Phi­ladelphian branch that he will write the name of that city on the overcomer. Before we follow the train through the door to the king­dom and its Capital, we will review the development of both the old and the new Jerusalem.