The Little Book that John Ate"
Chapter 5
All rights reserved The Body of Christ International, Inc. © 1997
THE WORD GOES FORTH INTO ALL THE WORLD
We know Christ's resurrection was the first. We have seen it in the
scriptures. We know that Jesus brought out others with Him. The
first resurrection is complete. The thousand years took place between
Jesus' resurrection and His upcoming return to call out His church. It is
during that thousand years Revelation 20:1-8 satan in chained in the bottomless
pit and also those souls reign with Jesus in heaven.
Revelation 20:1-8
1) "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8) And shall go out to deceive the nations
which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."
Now the question is what happened on earth during that period? So I asked
the Lord to show me. The leading of the Lord was to look in the history
books.
The first cursory search through the history volumes seemed to answer nothing.
However I was certain this was the leading of the Lord so I continued the search
prayerfully. I traced the footprints of the church across the centuries as
recorded in the history books trying to find one thousand years of peace.
The more I searched for a period of peace the clearer it became that there was
no such period. So I went back into the Word of God and prayed again. As I
read it said: "Think not that I have come
to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
Matthew 10:34.
I remembered Jesus gave us His peace. The peace of God is not the same
things as peace in the world. So I quit looking for peace as a signal of
the beginning of the thousand years. But one thing gleaned from the
records was an indication there was a time of transition. This time of
transition apparently began sometime after the first century.
The first century persecution seemed to gradually give way. They overcame
the antichrist as we see in Revelation 12:11. These martyrs of the
first century cleared the way. The transition away from antichrist
government began. Praise God!
Revelation 12:11
11) "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
The emperor Constantine accepted Christianity in 312 AD. This opened the
door for the Gospel to be preached openly in the empire. The transition away
from antichrist government is discernable. Another source described the
crusades carried out under the joint direction of the church and
government. This lion of government and the lamb of the church lay down
together. Together they brought forth fruit in the name of Jesus, but
there was no glory in it for Him.
Then a strange trend began to emerge. It was as though the evangelical
teaching "to go forth with the Gospel into all nations" shifted over
the centuries to zeal in extending government dominions, instead of the
Gospel. Almost everything I read spoke emphatically of how bad the church
was. All manner of violence, such as the inquisitions, indulgences, etc.
were noted in the history books.
I looked to the Lord in prayer and tears, knowing that no matter how it
looks God's Word does not return to Him void. God had sacrificed his own
Son and this was not to be for nothing. Then the Lord showed me this: the
historical texts I read were not written by spiritually discerning people.
Therefore the progress of Christian development would not easily be traced.
Now the Lord could guide me. He quickened to my mind Revelation 12:10:
"...Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and
the power of his Christ: for the accuser...is cast down..." And then Jesus'
words in Matthew 28:19-20 came. We are to go into the world and preach the
Gospel and that He will be with us always.
Revelation 12:10
10) "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before
our God day and night."
Matthew 28:19-20
19) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20) Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world. Amen."
So now I had a better idea of just what I could look for, at last. The
church grew over the years. As the church grew, she grew less like
Christ,with the reformation almost occurring too late. This however was
not my quest. I needed to know when souls were saved.
There actually was a time when nations were not deceived. There was a time
when the Gospel was freely taught. With the historical events fresh in my
mind now, I observed a distinction between the organized church and the body of
Christ. These two are not always the same thing. The Lord turned on
a whole new light in my mind's eye. This is the sum of it, then the details
follow.
The First Scene - The Early Century Church approx. 27 BC -395 AD
This scene was presented to me. First a snapshot view of the first century
persecuted, martyred and scattered band of Christians who were faithful unto
death under an antichrist government, in the Roman empire.
The Second Scene - The Church approx. 1000 AD
The second part was like another composite a thousand years later: the
Christians were not found in the arena as victims. They were in the
grandstands observing games. They were in government positions. Many
men's hearts were still evil, but the official position of the government was no
longer antichrist. The Gospel was being spread into the known world and
the nations were not deceived into an antichrist government position.
The Third Scene - The Church approx. 2000 AD
Last of all, I saw the times of today. While the Gospel still goes out
from America into much of the world, there are many countries in which
Christians are existing under strict antichrist governments. There have
been more people martyred for Christ in this century than in all the centuries
before. People of this time are turning away from God again. We see
an increased movement among the nations to implement a socialistic one-world
type of government structure.
Time Period Type of Government What Happened to Christians? Remarks First
Century Roman Empire - antichrist Killed and martyred in the arenas. "And
they loved not their lives unto the death." 1000 AD (circa) Government no
longer antichrist. Christians held positions of power in government.
Non-believers were persecuted.
Government and Church worked together. Many new God-fearing nations were
formed. 2000 AD (circa) Antichrist influence growing in American
culture and government. Many nations are openly antichrist or push
the "one world government system" which is the antichrist socialistic
government philosophy. Gospel is proclaimed from America to the world.
Nations experience revival as the Word is preached via the media. In the US, the
government legally removed prayer and Bible reading out of US school systems in
the 1960's. This is an official and legal decision rejecting our Godly
foundation and heritage.
Detail of the First Scene - The Early Century Church approx. 27 BC- 395 AD
But now to recap in more detail what the Lord had shown. During the first
centuries, the Christians were persecuted by not only the Jews, but also by the
antichrist Roman government. Many were martyred in the arena to the lions
and gladiators amid jeering throngs, out for a day's amusement. Some,
betrayed by their own families, were torn from their loved ones. The
accompanying moral climate of the day is history, characterized by every kind of
self-indulgence, sexual pleasure and gratification. The same sins found in
Sodom and Gomorrah of old.
The Romans worshipped many gods. Roman emperors declared themselves to be
gods. This antichrist beastly government disintegrated rather slowly.
It came to world power in 27 BC and lasted till 395 AD. Martyring of
Christians in these first centuries was a policy of the antichrist government.
The preaching of the Gospel exacted a high price in those first days.
Detail of the Second Scene - The Church approx. 1000 AD
Then I saw with a sudden clarity a thousand years later. The people who
held the power in governments called themselves Christians. The heads of
the church were in close consult with those rulers in the countries. Then
there were the Crusades. The Christians were not persecuted. They
persecuted the unbelievers. A complete turn-around had taken place.
I said, 'Lord, I don't see how any glory for you in this.' There was
certainly no Godly love in these acts. There was not even peace between
the
so-called Christian nations. But surely the Lord was revealing something
to me.
The Gospel was being spread into the world! This Gospel of the kingdom was
taken to one place after another and to one country after another. It came
to the savage Vikings. The Word of truth settled in their hearts.
The Word of God does not return void. The Vikings became peaceful,
God-fearing people. The same thing happened repeatedly in other countries.
Nations were formed out of the many formerly heathen peoples. The nations
that they formed were founded on the principles of right and wrong based on
Bible concepts. Their legal structures were thus constituted. Praise
the Lord! I was beginning to see what the Lord meant. He certainly
does look at things differently than we do.
In spite of everything man was doing the same process was repeated in one
country after another. The Gospel was being spread through the barbaric
tribes and God-fearing nations were formed. The Kingdom of God was being
built.
We must never underestimate the power of God's Word on men. There was
freedom of the Word so that the teachings of Jesus could be introduced and then
become part of the nation. There were no overtly antichrist purposes set
forth in the governments. In the midst of that political climatesalvation
could be preached to the people. This situation continued with some
notable exceptions for hundreds of years. God's kingdom
grew in spite of sinful men.
Emerging out of that period, yet still standing to remind us of that era, are
great cathedrals. The very best skills and knowledge of the time went into
these magnificent structures. Though now empty of worshipers in most
cases, these have survived the centuries and were to bear silent witness to us,
'Men in this century once worshipped God.'
Part of our legacy from that time is the unmatched works of art glorifying God's
Son, Jesus Christ. Many of the artists gave their entire lives to God's
service. They lived under the divinely instituted authority of the
governments and they served Him in the light they had.
The forward momentum of the spiritual power growing out of the middle age period
brought great music to worship God. There has never been anything since to
compare with it. I think of one especially, Handel's "Messiah".
Crowned heads (heads of government) bowed before the majesty of Jesus the
Messiah, and proclaimed Him, 'King of Kings' and 'Lord of Lords' at the
inspiration of the music.
Also during this time the last great wilderness was discovered. God had
held this in reserve for a purpose. This last great wilderness, America,
became the only refuge for God-fearing people could share the Gospel with the
native savages. These pilgrims also sought to worship God in the best
light they had. The United States grew and retained her role as refuge.
God has blessed her more bountifully for serving Him than the founding fathers
could have dreamed. Praise God!
Detail of the Third Scene - The Church approx. 2000 AD
The Lord then turned my mind another thousand years later. From this
perspective, it is easy to see that the Gospel did go out, according to the
great commission of Jesus:
Matthew 28:19-20
1 9) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Notice today that the Word of God goes out to the ends of the earth and that
most of the Christian television programs originate from the United States.
This is that last great wilderness fulfilling God's plan for her.
Also from the perspective of this day we can see many prophecies fulfilled.
But our purpose here is to note the contrast between Jesus' time, one thousand
years after that, and now, our time, which is another thousand years later.
Knowledge has increased greatly in electronics and telecommunication which now
makes it possible for this generation to finish the great commission to go and
teach all nations.
But glimpse with me again at the three periods the Lord opened to me: the
persecution following Christ's resurrection, then the slow transition from
antichrist to Christian philosophy of government and now to the situation of
this day. We can discern another transition in government this century.
Once again we see world leaders and governments actively antichrist. Our
own federal law restricted prayer and Bible reading in schools.
Even though a portion of this law may be reversed and return the ten
commandments to a place of honor, the initial legislation made a mark that
cannot be erased. An entire generation has been raised under non-Biblical
standards. America now reaps the fruit of her ungodly legal action.
This law had an eternal and spiritual impact and still stands today as a legal
and official turn away from God by our government.
In the spring of 1973, Iceland, another Christian nation, formally
recognized belief in the ancient Norse gods. These have been banished
since
the year 1000 AD. This paved the way for sacrificial feasts in which
sight-seers join believers and offer food and wine to the gods.
The government of Denmark rescinded and authorized contribution of thousands of
dollars which was to help pay for a pornographic movie about Jesus. Satan
is back in the business of deceiving nations again because he knows he has but a
short time.
Yes, while satan was bound for the thousand years, there was in reality about a
thousand years during which the Gospel message was carried to the nations with
little or no interference from the governments of the nations.
Once we observe the parallels between the first century and the twentieth
century and note the devil's activities in every aspect of life in both
centuries we detect satan's free hand. Then notice a thousand years ago,
nations were free to hear the Word of God and follow as they had light to see.
They were persecuted for deviating from the tradition established by man and not
because they believed in Jesus.
Jesus led captivity captive. But it is also clear that the moment satan
was chained all his power did not suddenly vanish from the earth. But it
didbegin to diminish. During this same transition period the power of the
Word of salvation began to grow in the hearts of men. Fixing dates for the
thousand years is not our purpose here. It may not easily be possible
since satan was only bound from deceiving nations. He was not
eradicated.
Then after the thousand years we note another transition period. The
world
did not suddenly turn away from honoring Christ officially to violent
antichrist policies over night either. A transition period is like
planting
a fruit tree. The seed was planted. The tree must have time to
grow.
Then after a period of time, there is a harvest. That harvest time is
certain and is almost upon us.
Jesus will come to gather in His harvest. He died for you. He is
actually seeking you. Give yourself to Him right now! Give Him your
sins and problems. Then if you have a friend who is a practicing
Christian, tell that friend what you've done. Ask that person to share these and
other Bible scriptures with you about this. Here are a few of the
scriptures:
John 3:16-17
16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17) For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved."
Romans 3:23
23) "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23
23) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Luke 18:13b
13b) "...God be merciful to me a sinner."
Romans 10:9-10
9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved,
10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation."
Luke 12:8
8) "Also I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him
shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God."
2 Timothy 2:15
15) "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
If you do not know a practicing Christian, search out a church that preaches
this same Christ that you just received. Tell them what you have done.
[ Back to If Ye Have Ears...Home Page ]