GOD S PLAN OF REDEMPTION

Transcription

1 GOD S PLAN OF REDEMPTION The church is destined for a tremendous revival in these end time, and it will come to the beat of the prophetic Word. Bible prophecy will usher in the most powerful move of God that the world has witnessed to-date. That is God s will. That is His promise. The church is going to be in the middle of a lot of prophesied activity, and it is imperative that we know what our God is about to do and how He is going to accomplish His goals. The outcome depends upon it because God is working His plan and Satan is working his plan. We cannot go into battle without an understanding of how to win the war. We need to know what is going on. We, the church, are the only ones who can believe and usher in this move of God. It is dependent upon what we do because God has entrusted the Gospel to the church. There is no back-up plan. We have the authority to preach the Gospel, and the end-time revival depends on us. Satan does not have veto power. We are the only ones who can sabotage the revival, and it seems as though many churches are poised to do just that. They have no idea what God has planned or how He plans to accomplish it. God s plan of redemption is a topic that draws yawns from many crowds. Oh, we are going to talk about that again, they may say. Yes, but from God s perspective, The Plan is the key to understanding end-time events. We need our eyes opened to what God has set in motion for these end time. Without an understanding of God s intentions, we would be lost in the details of what we see happening around us. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 11

2 Between now and the rapture, there will be so many things happening at the same time that an understanding of God s plan will be the anchor that will hold us steady. This understanding will bring things into focus for us. It will give meaning to what we see. God has big, big plans and He wants us to know what they are. It is essential that the church understands what our awesome God is doing. God is intensely focused. He has one major thing on His mind: The Plan. Everything He does is geared toward working His plan and making sure everything is on schedule and according to The Plan. His goal is to reconstruct the universe to where everything that can be redeemed, whether in the heavens or on the earth, is perfect, cleansed, and made new. He is going to make all things new; He is not making all new things. We call this process of making all things new redemption. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Revelation 21:5 This is how it works. Different Processes There is one plan of redemption, but it has different facets and each has its own process. There are different processes for the redemption of mankind, Israel, the animals, the nations, the earth, and the heavens. They are all being worked out at the same time, and all of them dovetail into completion just before the Millennium. God has given this whole end-time season a great deal of thought and planning. He is orchestrating all these things at the same time and He is managing them quite well, I might add. Although it might look to us that things are chaotic, our Jehovah God is very much in control of all things. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 12

3 God does not have to change The Plan to accommodate any earthly circumstance or catastrophe. The Plan is the driving force of all endtime events. We will look at each of these processes individually, so we can understand what God is doing. Salvation: Redemption of our Relationship to God When sin entered this planet, mankind lost his relationship with God, he lost his eternal body, and he lost dominion of the earth. Redemption means that everything that was lost will be restored. Mankind s relationship to God will be restored at the time of his salvation, his body will be restored at the time of the rapture, and dominion of the earth will be restored when Jesus returns as recorded at the end of the book of Revelation. First, we will look at the process for restoration of mankind s relationship to God. Perfect, sinless blood is required for the redemption of mankind. The sacrificial lamb in Old Testament times is a type of Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who willingly became a sacrifice for the sins of the entire human race. Jesus paid the price of death so we would not suffer the punishment for our own sins. He willingly laid down His life in our place. The prophet Isaiah said that the Lord laid our sins on Jesus and He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. He shed His blood for us so that we might be saved from an eternity in the Lake of Fire. Surely he [Jesus] hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 13

4 chastisement of [which obtained] our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity [punishment] of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6 [clarification added] To become a Christian is easy. First, we must recognize we have sinned and then, we must repent. When we pray to Jehovah God in the Name of Jesus, confessing that Jesus is Lord and that He has been raised from the dead, God promises that we will be born again. If we truly believe what we have prayed, our spirits will be born into the family of God and we will become children of God. Of course, each person must do this individually. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8-10 Here s the thing. In God s sight, all creation stands forgiven. Jesus has already purchased forgiveness for the whole universe. It is a done deal. From that perspective, He is more than willing to accept anyone who truly repents and believes. All we have to do to participate in that forgiveness is to receive it. Jesus has provided the way and we just need to ask Him to accept us into His family. He will come into our lives and dwell within us. God the Father will accept us as His children because of the righteous blood of Jesus. That is the process of salvation and our relationship to God is restored. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 14

5 should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 The way has been opened for everyone to be born again. Rapture: Redemption of our Bodies Not only did mankind lose his relationship with God when he sinned, he also lost his eternal body. Originally, our human bodies were meant to live forever. They were intended to never die, so God provided the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden for that purpose. As long as Adam and Eve ate of that tree regularly, their bodies would live. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9 In the form of a serpent, Satan approached Adam and Eve and presented them with a lie. He told them that they would not die if they ate the fruit of the tree. Eve answered him, but they both believed the lie. When they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, their bodies began the process of dying. Therefore, our bodies must die also, because we are their descendants and we have all sinned. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 In His love and mercy, God removed the Tree of Life from man s presence. If they had eaten of it after they sinned, they would live Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 15

6 forever in sin with their diseased bodies. Imagine if one has a very painful disease, he would not be able to escape it through death. He would live with it forever. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Genesis 3:22-23 Because we also have sinned, our bodies will die. In order for our bodies to be redeemed, God has a unique process. We must have our relationship to God restored in order to participate in the redemption of our bodies. We must be born again. We call the process of the redemption of our bodies the rapture or the resurrection. The rapture involves Christians who are still alive when the event occurs, and the resurrection is for those who have died. The Bible words for rapture are translated, the adoption, and changed. A man named Enoch lived before the flood and walked with God. The Bible tells us little about him other than he was taken to heaven without passing through the experience of death. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 There is coming an event, the rapture, at which time we who are alive will be changed and taken to heaven instantly. Our earthly bodies will be changed into heavenly bodies just like the one Jesus had when He was resurrected from the dead. Those Christians who have already Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 16

7 died will be resurrected from their graves and will ascend to heaven along with those who have been changed. Here are a few scriptures for your perusal. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit [that is], the redemption of our body. Romans 8:23 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 [clarification added] For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20-21 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:13-17 [clarification added] Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 17

8 dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:19-21 Those who have not had their relationship to God restored must spend eternity in a state of living death in the Lake of Fire, alongside Satan and his angels. (Yes, alongside Satan. Satan will not have the privilege of ruling over the Lake of Fire; he will suffer in its hottest spot. He will not be rewarded with a satanic kingdom as we are being told.) Every person must make the choice while they are alive whether or not they want to receive the free gift of salvation. Unfortunately, many choose not to take advantage of God s offer of redemption that will restore their relationship to Him. Redemption of Israel As individuals, Jews can be born again just as any other person can be and spend eternity in heaven. If they have been born again, they are washed in the blood of Jesus, have received Him as their Savior, and are under the same covenant with God as other Christians. However, as members of the Jewish community, they would also be subject to the process of redemption for their covenant nation, Israel. That process has nothing to do with their salvation because this process deals with Israel as a nation. The pre-rapture process for the nation is about getting all of the Jews back into their homeland. God s plan for Israel involves three steps: 1) the establishment of their land, 2) the renewing of their covenant with God, and 3) the Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 18

9 revelation of their Messiah. Each step requires a different and unique process. Currently, the Israeli Jews are in the process of establishing their land. Then, all Jews will be brought back under the covenant with their God. After that, they will recognize that Jesus is their Messiah. Those things are necessary for them to possess and occupy their homeland permanently. Before the rapture, they will need to renew their covenant with God, and they must rebuild their temple. After the rapture, they will recognize their Messiah. Step 1: THEIR LAND And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. Ezekiel 34:13 Step 2: THEIR GOD I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 Step 3: THEIR MESSIAH And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me [Jesus] whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 [clarification added] Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 19

10 Redemption of Animals Animals do not have souls as people do, so they cannot go to heaven. When they die, they cease to exist. When God first created animals, they had breath and life. He did not breathe into them the breath of life that He breathed into man. That sets them apart from humans. We did not descend from them. They do not go to heaven when they die, nor are they judged. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. Genesis 1:24 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 When animals and that would include all kinds of birds, fish, etc. were created, they were not vicious in any way. They were not carnivorous, but were vegetarians. It was not until after mankind sinned that some of them became hostile. It was not until after the Deluge that they became carnivorous and began to see each other as either friend or food. God s plan of redemption for them is that peace will be restored, and they will again be vegetarians. The animal kingdom will be restored to its Garden of Eden condition. God will make a covenant with them. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. Hosea 2:18 Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 20

11 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9 Redemption of the Nations Throughout eternity, all countries will be under one universal rule as they will be a part of the Kingdom of God. The word nation refers to country, ethnic groups, and individuals. There are good people in all nations, so when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, He is dividing the people who will be alive on the earth at that time into two categories: the good and the bad. This separation will happen just before the Millennium begins, so these people will live the remainder of their lives during the Millennium. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25:31-34 After the Millennium, the holy city, New Jerusalem the heavenly home of the saints will descend from heaven and hover over the earth forever. The Tree of Life grows there. God has provided a means Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 21

12 whereby the people of the earth can stay healed and live forever. The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2 That s not all. The kings of the earth will take their offerings and worship into the Holy City. How awesome is this? And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Revelation 21:24 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14 The nations, and therefore the people, will be healed after the Millennium when Jesus has set up the Kingdom of God on the earth. Not only will the nations of the world be healed, but King Jesus will restore them and all will become a part of the Kingdom of God. These are the people who will live forever and retain their earthly bodies just like the ones we have now. Yes, they will marry and have children. That the Kingdom of God encompasses the earth does not imply that anyone on the earth will obtain glorified bodies as we will at the rapture. All future generations will populate the earth, and no doubt, the rest of the universe. Because there will be no death and children will continue to be born throughout eternity, it would not take long for the earth to be overpopulated. The prophet Isaiah wrote, A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation Isaiah 60:22 Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 22

13 People will need to expand their horizons, so space travel is inevitable. That is why God made such an immense universe. He intends for it to be used to capability. If all of us, as resurrected Christians after the rapture, are to be kings and priests, we would rule over only one or two people each if the earth is the sole, eternal habitation of humanity. The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 11:15 Redemption of the Earth and Heavens The earth is included in the process of redemption. After the rapture, heaven will begin a serious program to clean up the mess Satan has made down here. The book of Revelation describes how it is done, but first let s go back to the Garden of Eden. The earth was given to mankind as an inheritance. Originally, God gave Adam dominion over the earth. All that changed when Adam surrendered his right of dominion through sin. Satan took the baton from him and began his reign of domination on the earth. With him came the curse. What curse? You might wonder. When mankind sinned, God spoke a curse over the earth that serves to curb the pace of sin. Constant work and responsibility would focus man s time on his livelihood rather than on ungodly things that would ultimately destroy him. That was not a problem in the Garden of Eden because there was no sin. But sin tends to take over and claims its victims quickly. Being occupied is a great equalizer; hence, the curse on the ground. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 23

14 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Genesis 3:17-18 The earth must be redeemed from the curse. God has a process to accomplish that also. It is a part of The Plan. The blood of Jesus was required to guarantee that all aspects of The Plan will be administered. I guess we could say that in God s mind the earth is cleansed. The manifestation just has not shown up yet. Because the earth is an inanimate object, fire is required also. Fire and blood are administered from heaven to work out the redemption of the earth. Everything unholy on the earth must be destroyed and fire will play the major role. The process that God has devised for the redemption of the earth involves fire, blood, hailstones, earthquakes, floods, and the things that we read about in the book of Revelation. Those conditions will be a direct result of activity taking place in heaven after the rapture. They are specifically said to target the earth itself, the bodies of water, and heavenly bodies such as the sun and moon. Four of the vials and trumpets include fire which will serve to destroy all things that the curse brought with it. And I [John] heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. Revelation 16:1 [clarification added] Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 24

15 The Earth Itself The first trumpet of Revelation targets the earth itself. From heaven s point of view, we hear the sound of the angel s trumpet and see fire with blood showering the earth. This results in the destruction of a third of all trees and grass. Now, that is going to cause some hardship for people on the earth. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Revelation 8:2, 7 Just seeing it from heaven is not such a big deal, but the people on the earth see this whole thing much differently. In addition to the fires, the fallout will have a direct impact on anyone who has received the mark of the beast. Something about that will cause their bodies to react with horrible sores. The people on the earth will not hear heaven s trumpet, but they will experience the results of it. To them, it would be perceived as judgment being poured down upon them. That might explain why John chose to use vial instead of the word trumpet that he used in chapter eight. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. Revelation 16:2 Taking the redemption of the earth to its conclusion, Revelation reports that the greatest earthquake of all time will occur just before Jesus returns to the earth to begin His thousand-year reign (the Millennium). Now, that has got to be a show worth watching. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 25

16 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. Revelation 16:18 No doubt, an earthquake of that magnitude would re-configure much of the surface of the earth. It certainly would cause it to reel back and forth like a drunkard as Isaiah 24:20 states. These things are all a part of The Plan. It is the process for the redemption of the earth. The purpose of the plagues is to cleanse the earth from the curse. Revelation says as much. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Revelation 22:3 No more curse is the statement that sums up the results of the plagues of the book of Revelation; hence, the reason for them. Bodies of Water The second trumpet to sound will have a profound impact on the earth also. It affects large bodies of water; such as, the oceans, lakes and seas. This time a huge fireball is thrown into the oceans and that causes some major damage: a third of all seafaring vessels and a third of all sea life will be destroyed at once. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8:8-9 The folks on the earth should not try to cool off at the beach, because that would mean they will die. Not that I think they would be tempted to since it will smell awful. Who wants to jump into something that Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 26

17 smells like the blood of a dead man? Depends on how hot it is, I guess. Apparently some will, but it will cost them their lives. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. Revelation 16:3 Rivers and Fountains of Water Next the angels move from the oceans to where people live. They target a third of the fresh water supply. That is what people use for everyday life and for drinking. Not a pretty scene down here. It is one thing to see the ocean suffer; quite another to have your drinking water contaminated. I guess the good news is that there will still be twothirds of the water untouched. The problem might be finding it. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11 On the earth, people are having a hard time finding drinking water as so much of it has turned into blood. An interesting conversation takes place in heaven something about deserving what they got. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. Revelation 16:4-7 Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 27

18 Allow me just a few words on the subject of climate change. I am not a scientist, nor am I an authority on weather, so I cannot say whether the earth is warming or cooling. It does not matter. Here is why. Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Job 38:22-23, 30 That was God speaking to Job. God said that He has reserved the snow and frozen waters for His purposes in the end time. The poles are frozen. I wonder what He plans to do with them. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:5, 7 For millennia, the poles have been frozen, and it is the Word of God that has held them that way. God has them stored up for His purposes in the end time. So, if the Ice Caps are melting, God told them to. Seems the earth may know something we do not, because it is positioning itself to bring into manifestation God s plan of redemption. Redemption of the Heavens Having finished with the earth for the moment, the angels move on to clean up the heavens. They turn a third of the lights in the universe off. Now, that would cause some panic on the earth. Just think how cold it would be without any sun whatsoever for eight hours. Probably there will be panic because people may think the universe is dying. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 28

19 Following that line of reasoning to its conclusion, people would freeze to death. That is not to say that they will, but they could. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. Revelation 8:12 After eight hours of absolute blackness and freezing cold, the sun will come out. The people may be happy to see it, but they should not get too cozy. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter until it is like being in a fire. It is possible that even the ground itself will be the temperature of a red-hot stove. That cannot be any fun. But, hey! It only lasts eight hours. It is not like they were thrown into the Lake of Fire with no possibility of ever getting out. Eternity is a long time. What s with these people? They still will not repent. Oh, I forgot. They have taken the mark of the beast. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Revelation 16:8-9 There are many things in the heavens that are unclean: Satan, his armies, the things mankind has sent up, and who knows what else might be up there. The heavens will be cleansed. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:12-13 Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 29

20 The word translated dissolved is the Greek word luo that means loosed or freed. It is the same word that Jesus used when He sent his disciples to set loose the donkey upon which He would ride into Jerusalem. Dominion of the Earth Restored And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1 The little book that God the Father has in His hand is not the Book of Life. The description given makes it a title deed to a piece of land. It is sealed with seven seals on the outside and it must be opened in order to possess the property. (See Jeremiah 32:8-12 for a description of the Old Testament evidence of the purchase of land.) In this case, the piece of land is the earth. As each seal is broken, there is a specific impact on the earth, so the earth must be the land that has been purchased. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Revelation 5:2-5 Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb that was slain as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. He is the only One worthy to take the book and to break the seals. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 30

21 upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, Revelation 10:1-2 This mighty angel is Jesus. He must be, because the Mighty Angel has the little book and Jesus is the only One worthy to have the book. By this time, the seals have been broken and the book is open. The saints inherit the earth, so Jesus handed the book to John, who represents all saints. He was told to eat it, which he did, but it upset his stomach. That is probably because of the judgments attached to the seals that must be administered. The earth is pleasant to behold, but bitter to judge. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. Revelation 10:8-10 The earth belongs to God s people. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:9 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Psalm 115:16 The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will inherit the earth. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 31

22 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest [guarantee] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [the earth], unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 [clarification added] Completion of The Plan The end-time positioning that we see unfolding before our eyes means our God is on the move. We are witnessing the grand culmination of the redemption of the universe. All things are building up to the magnificent finale of the ages: the revelation of Jesus to all creation and His coronation as the King of Kings of the universe. Jesus will take possession of the earth and set up the Kingdom of God in its new headquarters, Jerusalem. This is the day that all creation has been anticipating. It is the day when heaven takes up residence on earth. All creation has been groaning in anticipation and positioning itself for the arrival of the King of Kings, Jesus. Everything that is happening is focused on this conclusion. The ceremony will take place at the beginning of the Millennium. And there was given him [Jesus] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:14 [clarification added] It s All About Redemption Redemption means to be restored to the original condition or better; i.e., our bodies will be better than the bodies we are currently living in. They will be like the one Jesus had when He was resurrected from the Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 32

23 dead. He could change His appearance, walk through walls, and ascend to the throne room of God. Everything will be made new. Not all new things; all things new. The Plan is the controlling factor for all end-time events. Satan s plans are of no concern to our God, for the enemy cannot do anything God has not anticipated. Satan is on the defensive. Everything that is happening on the earth is a reaction to The Plan. God is not changing anything; earth is adjusting to facilitate The Plan. Redemption is what s happening. It s all about redemption. Copyright 2013 Eleanor Schultz 33