Tag Archive: Bride of Christ



The Foundation of the Vision

One day, Pat and I received an invitation to attend a prayer meeting at the home of a couple who attended our church. In this meeting, I experienced being a part of the bride of Christ. I will share this experience as well as provide insight into biblical passages that support what I experienced. 

The meeting commenced with a socialization period in which we met several people who also attended our church. Afterward, the meeting leaders had us stand and form a prayer circle, and each member, in turn, had an opportunity to voice a prayer for the intentions of their heart. When the praying began, I started to hear foreign thoughts over and over again in my head. I believed that they were beautiful, and I promptly began memorizing them. Soon, I realized that I was receiving more than just random phrases. I perceived that I was experiencing the thoughts, memories, reflections, and feelings of the Bride of Christ on her wedding day.  

When it became my turn to pray, I spoke what I had recalled of this beautiful experience. The next day I wrote down what I had delivered in the prayer group meeting. Here is what I wrote: 

We were alone in a beautiful room. It was a quiet time, a time of preparedness, for there was a great event to which none can compare. There is joy and happiness. There is anticipation, for we are the source of celebration. We are the focus of attention. There is no sound in the room, just the song of rustling linen.23 

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The quiet time is good for reflection upon the images of the old world. There were trials, tribulations, and threats of war. In looking back there were wars, earthquakes, storms, floods, disease, famine, pestilence, and sin. The earth was fouled. There was the war with Satan and then the victory of souls. Eventually, confrontation came with the beast and the final victory—the deliverance and unity of the saved. 

We are a new creation! We are the culmination of saved souls.24 We are one, comprised of many in the perfect image and likeness of God, assembled like the atoms of the bodies we once knew.25 There is great unity and power in the new creation. There is ecstasy in the bride.26 Every soul that exists in the bride shouts with joy, for we all know that we confessed Him. We all know that we changed our sinful ways for Him. We all obeyed His commandments, and we all loved Him. We are so united when we think of Him.

How many times did He forgive us? How many times did He heal us? How many times did He save us from evil or keep us from harm? How endless is His love? Truly this is our hour. The preparation is complete.27 

Someone knocks at the door. It is the Father, and He is beaming. He holds out His arm, and we take it and walk arm in arm. We enter the great hall where the floor is as a single dark green emerald.28 In this room, the pews are crystal,29 the walls are gold, and there is no ceiling, just the sky. The seats are filled with winged angels dressed in white. They are all gazing at us while singing the wedding song in seven-part harmony. We look for Him, but the aisle is too long to see the end. We walk, and we walk. We see Him! JOY! JOY! He is very handsome as He smiles a big smile, and we see heaven in His eyes. We keep walking, and then we are there. The Father presents the bride. Jesus holds out His hand. Our heart sings as we take His hand. The angel, Gabrielle, conducts the ceremony, but we can think of nothing but Him. We say, I do. We hear You may kiss the bride. Anticipation! He comes closer, facing us. He lifts the veil, draws closer, and embraces us. 

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Cheers and celebrations! We turn to face the assembly and walk down the aisle. The angels are delirious. They sing, they fly, and they cause great explosions in the sky. A new sun rises30 over the altar behind us. A new world awaits.

References

23. Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen, is the righteous acts of the saints.

24. Ephesians 4:15 – 16 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

25. 1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

26. Revelation 21:9 – 11 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

27. Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

28. Revelation 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a Sardis stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

29. Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.

30. Revelation 22:16 – 17 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Revelation 2:26 – 28 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels; as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

The sun that rose in my story of the bride had to be the Morning Star. The sun rose but then stopped low in the morning sky.

Isaiah 60:19 – 21 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also, your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST DEFINED

The Bride of Christ is the collective of saved souls, where each one has a role to play in the proper functioning of the whole. In my prayer, I stated the following: 

We are the culmination of saved souls.24 We are one, comprised of many in the perfect image and likeness of God, assembled like the atoms of the bodies we once knew.25

I believe the following scripture magnifies this concept: 

Ephesians 4:15 – 16 But, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

This scripture implies a realization of oneness, where each soul is a viable and active member of the Bride of Christ. Jesus also spoke of this unity in the Gospel of John: 

John 15: 20-23 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

The Bride of Christ is pure and holy, perfect in every way: 

Ephesians 5:25 – 27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus also spoke to His disciples about the Bride of Christ in this passage:

John 14:2 – 4 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

So, Jesus states that He will come again and receive His disciples to Himself. What could this mean except that the Lamb and His Bride become one? 

Building on the scripture above, Jesus talks about the many mansions in his Father’s house. Could it be that these mansions exist in the spiritual New Jerusalem? The answer follows:   

Revelation 21: 9 – 10 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.

Keep Your Lamps Burning

The Bride of Christ, the great city, the holy Jerusalem, comprised of God’s anointed, has her lamps burning brightly, which means that she is prepared to enlighten the earth. To allow God’s illuminating flame to die results in being refused entry into the wedding feast and exclusion from the Bride of Christ as well.  

Matthew 25:1 – 13 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

In another parable of Jesus, those that follow Him shall walk in His light.  

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. 

Jesus brought the light that leads us into everlasting life with God. He provided a light that enables us to cast aside our walk in darkness and to live in the provision and bounty of God. In doing so, Jesus passes the light on to us to illuminate the world also. We, therefore, are to become like Him and carry on as He did until His return.

Matthew 5:14 – 16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The following scripture is a call to be visibly found doing good works. But what are these works? They are the works of Jesus. 

John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

The works of Jesus demonstrate His loving compassion for people because they enhance physical and spiritual well-being. The following scripture communicates the love and actions of Jesus. 

Luke 7:20 – 23 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One or do we look for another?’” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 

But what are the greater works identified in John 14:12? Could it be because we have so much more to give today than ever before? Are the sciences and technology of the modern world not vastly greater in every way than in the days of Jesus? If this is the case, then we have the opportunity to do even greater deeds than Jesus because we have so much more to give than ever before. Despite all these excellent improvements, the vast majority of people in this world still live in oppression and poverty. Consequently, we have a larger opportunity, as well. We must give to the world of what we have. Including the blessings from the Spirit of God, as well as our goods, know-how, and technology! I will now present a few scriptures that support and clarify these statements. 

1 John 3:16 – 18 By this, we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

We each have a distinct set of Spiritual Gifts. 

1 Cor 12:8-12 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Also, we have a call to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

Luke 10:30-36 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?

Works like those identified in the above scripture, demonstrate the love of the Christian community, which is taking action to better the lives of the less fortunate by sharing what she has. In doing accordingly, she keeps her lamps burning, and she remains ready for the coming of the Lord. 

The unity of the Bride of Christ is necessary for her perfection. This unity is required for the world to know that Jesus is the Son of God the Father. In support of this statement, I provide the following prayer of Jesus:

John 17:20 – 23 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

But we are not united today. How many denominations are there? How many sects of Catholics? How many factions are there inside these churches? And what about the Jews? Are they not included as a part of the bride of the Lamb? Please read this:

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

Rev 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Yep, the bride is comprised of the Jews as well. 

Do we believe that Jesus will return for a bride that is less than perfect? If the answer to this question is no, then the bride must be perfect. Therefore, this unity must be achieved before the Lord’s return.

Matthew 24:42 – 51 The bride is united in her devotion, direction, and commitment to doing the work that the Bridegroom left her to do. Watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

The bride is left behind to be the ruler over the Bridegroom’s household until His return. We are to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus to all of humanity. We are to feed them food in the due season which is the spiritual bread that came down from heaven: Jesus, the Bread of Life.

A vision statement presents the big picture of an end state to be achieved. With this in mind, let’s take a look at our vision statement from a spiritual perspective and then present supporting information to help us visualize and understand it. Our spiritual vision statement is: 

The bride is prepared for the marriage feast when Jesus victoriously returns. 


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

I thought it appropriate to start this book with my earliest memories, and then move through my life while sharing my spiritual experiences. At the time, it seemed to be a nice way for the reader to get to know the author and his background. The surprise was the earth-shattering discoveries that I uncovered while I was writing. During this process, I came to realize that God had been working in my life from the very beginning; I just did not know it. He gave me people like my mom and dad, who were good people who cared for me and gave me good direction. He issued warnings of danger in ways that could have only come from Him. He showed me the truth of spiritual good and evil at a very early age. He took me by the hand and led me in the steps that I would walk. He closed all the doors but the ones that He wanted me to walk through. In addition, He protected me from harm time after time and did it in such a manner that His divine intervention could be the only possible explanation.
 
Things that have no explanation just kept happening to me, and they were always for my benefit even though that may not have been the perception at the time. I was blind to the fact that God was at the heart of these unusual events. This blindness made it extremely difficult for me to rationalize these experiences, even to myself. To me they were true mysteries. I rationalized them by thinking that perhaps I was just lucky to have escaped harm, or that I was smart for having the foresight to know a better course. In some cases, I could not come up with any rationalization at all so I pushed the entire incident into the back of my mind and kept my mouth shut. I thought that it was better than having the whole world know with certainty that I was out of my mind. These events would always take me back to the question: why were these things happening to me? Why me? I would discover the answer to these questions through the creation of this book. Writing this book enabled me to see the big picture of what God had been showing me over the fifty plus years of my life. It revealed that God was protecting me because He created me for a purpose. God created me to possess the vision.
 
When the time came and I turned my life back over to Him, He opened my eyes. Looking back on it now, I am amazed at all the things that He did to protect me or get my attention. The simple truth is that I had been dancing through life not paying any attention.
 
I did not recognize many of the wonderful truths that God had been showing me. In some cases I did not recognize them even after I returned to Him.
 
This book tells how God has communicated with me over the course of my lifetime. It is a story of the past, the present, and the future. It is a story that has value for everyone. In it you will learn the spiritual truths of this world and the next. This means that you will learn about the realities of heaven and hell, the angels and the devil, the portrait of the bride and even the judgment to come, just as I did. It is a story of God giving me a purpose that came to me in a line upon line, precept upon precept manner, just like the Bible tells us. I have no recourse but to pass these understandings on to you so that you will know the truth also.
 
So fasten your seat-belt. What you are about to read will include some of the most fascinating experiences you have ever heard.
 
Many of the stories in this book may be difficult to believe because they span beyond the laws of nature as we know them, and yet they are true. Many of the stories are parables. They communicate a true earthly narrative that is easy to understand but they also contain a heavenly message. So be warned, you will be stepping into the supernatural quite often as you proceed through this book. These events may shock you and leave you mystified but my prayer is that when you finish this book you will also know how to possess the vision.

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

An Introduction to the Journey of God’s People

This posting is the second in a series of communications that look at God’s deliberate actions to reunite with His people. In our previous posting we established that it is God’s desire to once again dwell with His people. In this regard, we see that God originally created the Garden of Eden expressly to be with us.

Adam and Eve in the Garden

His first attempt at reunification came when He instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle (as a place where God would dwell with his people on earth.) However, when the people choose to break the covenant of God’s law, God had to find another way. So He sent HIs Son to walk and dwelt with us on earth as a man. His Son was Jesus and He gave us a new pathway to the Father. His life was an example for all of to emulate because His actions and words reveal the heart of the Father. This pathway to the Father’s heart was sealed in a new covenant that included a promise that those who believe in the Son will dwell with God forever in paradise.

The Last Supper

All who can keep the covenant of love established by Jesus will see the Garden of Eden re-established once again. So, what we have established here is that it is God’s desire to dwell with us and that this is a proven fact, because God has repeatability worked toward this objective in the past.

We initiate this new section because we believe that the actions of God and the response of God’s people to His direction are prophetic of the walk of the Christian nation today. Therefore, we believe that they are prophetic messages are applicable to every church, ministry and individual seeking to carry on the ministry of Jesus. We believe that this is true because of our work in contrasting the Tabernacle built by Moses, its attributes and functionality, to the life, words and works of Jesus Christ. What we found was that in every respect that the Tabernacle was prophetic of Jesus. Every purpose of every object is prophetic of Jesus.

For anyone unfamiliar with our work on the Tabernacle and Jesus can find a wealth of information here on this site (the-tabernacle-is-prophetic-of-jesus). We believe that this study is of paramount importance because it literally proved that Jesus is the Christ. In our study of this subject matter we found ourselves understanding the nature and attributes of Jesus in  a much deeper and intimate manner. We found that the physical structure of the Tabernacle gives us a clear pathway to the Father, one that truly clarifies what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” It leads us to understand what true baptism is. It teaches us that conforming our nature and life attributes to His will lead us into positions of empowerment and even covenant with God. Well, if you’re interested we have about 50 postings on this subject. An index into them can be found on our homepage: https://possessthevision.wordpress.com/. In these postings we reveal great insights into the kingdom of God that truly have value to every Christian, ministry and Church. It is because of them that we have great faith that looking into the circumstances that surround them that many more great insights will be revealed to God’s people.

With all of this said, our future postings will look at the Bible passages that record God’s promises to the people of Israel, namely, that they will live in peace in the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. We will follow the travels of the patriarchs to the promised land and then into Egypt, where they eventually become enslaved for 400 years. We will look at the life of Moses who is asked by God to set His people free.

Moses before the Burning Bush

We will investigate the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, who only consents to the release of God’s people after suffer from a barrage of plages that culminate in the loss of all the firstborn of Egypt. We will see how the battle between God’s people and the evil powers of the world ends with Israel departing with all the riches of Egypt.

Crossing the Red Sea

We will study all of the actions that take Israel from this point, to the time they take the Promised Land. We will look at their flight into the wilderness. We will study how Moses goes up to the holy mountain and is given the Ten Commandments of the Covenant with Israel. We will look at the Ark of the Covenant that became instrumental in leading the nation into the promised land.

The Walls of Jerico fall Befor the Ark

We will also see how the nation refused to enter into the land and as a result they were forced to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all the men who had refused to enter died off. We will see how God chooses a new leader, Joshua, to lead the people into the battle for the Promised Land and how the Ark of the Covenant was used to lead the Nation of Israel to defeat all its enemies.

Most importantly, we will correlate these passages with the life and words of Jesus and look for revelations of the future walk of the Christian nation.

God bless you,

Papa Joe


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

THE PROPHESY OF PROVISION

 Just a few days later, our new pastor once again pulled me out of the congregation and spoke the following words:

 And my son, what I have done is small compared to what I will do. It is but a seed compared to what I’m getting ready to explode. It is but an investment compared to what I’m getting ready to release. As I have talked to you again and again about the hundred fold, oh yes, and your carnal, analytical, add it, subtract it, divide it mind has said, God, but that is so much. But, my son, it’s not that much to me. But you have said, God I’m not looking for me. I’m not looking even for my family. Oh, I’m looking for the kingdom. And the Lord would declare there are even amounts of finance that you have asked Me for and you know it will take miracles to bring it. But, it shall be released, says the Lord. Because I have had an account for even a last day revival—the wealth of the wicked that has been laid up for my sons and daughters. And many do not even realize I’ve already set it aside. I’ve already done it, says the Lord. And the Lord would declare unto thee, limit Me not. Favor—favor is thy word. Favor is thy heritage. Favor is thy future. Favor will bring thy increase. New wine, new wine into new bottles!

I understood this prophecy as a promise of God’s provision for whatever resources are necessary to accomplish the vision presented in this book. I hope that you have enjoyed my stories and that you were able to see the wonderful future that God has for his believers. A new earth filled with Jesus at its core, forever blossoming into a beautiful flower.

I trust that this blog may have helped you to find God’s purpose for your life. If you have not found it then I suggest that you seek it, for the Bible states; seek and you will find. Chances are that you will discover like I did, that it was there all the time. I compel you to possess the vision of the bride of Christ prepared for the marriage feast when Jesus victoriously returns.

 


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime.

THE TRENCH TO THE GLORY OF GOD

It was at the time that we moved to Colorado that I started to have a number of visions, the first of which was the trench to the glory of God. In it I saw the outline of a darkened earth backlit by a wonderfully illuminated sky. The illumination came from the glory of God that was shining just below the horizon. It made the sky look like an enhanced version of the Northern Lights. They were enhanced because the colors were much brighter and more vivid than in our world. They were effervescent like the light from a neon bulb. In addition, the lights were presented in a panorama of intermixed colors. While they lacked a specific design, they were very pleasing and beautiful. They were also dynamic—constantly changing patterns of color. Slowly and gradually they changed from one indescribable, yet fantastically beautiful arrangement to another. I was very content to simply watch them change. In any event, this was the background upon which the earth was placed in my vision.

 

The darkened earth was illuminated only by the light on the horizon, and there was just enough of it to enable me to see the three-dimensional curvature of the earth. This sight was something like the dawning of the first day of the new earth when God returns to be its only light. 

 

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:23).

 

I could also see a perfectly straight trench40 that had been dug across the entire face of the planet.

 

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face (Psalm 5:8).

 

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3 – 5)

 

 

It was about eight feet deep by four feet wide and tens of thousands of miles long. I marveled at the perfection of its straightness, thinking surely it must have been dug by a very special machine. It extended all the way to the horizon, where a notch appeared in the otherwise-perfect curvature of the earth. This notch on the earth’s horizon aligned perfectly with the source of God’s glory. It was at this position that the sky was its brightest. I could see the reflection of the brightly colored lights on the inside walls of the trench at this point on the horizon. I knew that the trench led to the glory of God! I also knew that I would enter into this trench, and once inside I would be led straight to God by following the light to the other end. The light would guide me in my journey. My walk would lead straight toward the magnificence of God! The trenched walls would keep me from the distractions on the earth.

 

This vision obviously is a projection of the new earth41 that occurs with the second coming of Jesus.

 

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea (Revelation 21:1).

 

It projects the dawning of the first day when Jesus, our Morning Star, becomes our light in the New Jerusalem. It is a call for preparation of the bride. An artists interpretation of this vision can be found on the image of my book cover below.

 

For more information about the bride of Christ please use the hyperlinks below:

 Publicly-Coming-to-Christ

The-Spiritual-Realm-of-the-Bride-of-Christ

Who-is-the-bride-of-Christ

The-bride-of-Christ-brings-Division

The-bride-of-Christ-sets-the-World-on-Fire

The-bride-of-Christ-is-Prepared

The-bride-of-Christ-becomes-like-Jesus

The-bride-of-Christ-does-greater-Works-than-Jesus

The-Vision-Statement-of-the-bride-of-Christ

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime.


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime.

Development of Course Ware in Support of Universal Christian Education

 

A few weeks ago we recommend that the universal Christian Community work together toward the deployment of a Christian Educational system. This system could be available to anywhere in the world by leveraging existing computer, communications and software technology.

A key component of all of this is the development of educational content. Content will be the very heart of the product that is to be delivered to the poor and disenfranchised peoples of the world. This course ware will be developed by Christians from across the world and then donated as a gift to all peoples of the world. In addition, processes will be established that enable continuous improvements to the course work as is appropriate. Educational materials will also be modularized such that good material can be reused in future course ware development.

The course ware will be displayed in a multimedia format much like television but will also have interactive components as well. Therefore, this material will require the interactive participation of subject matter experts to address student questions and needs for support. A major portion of this support is to come via on-line television that connects the student to the teacher via the Internet. The thought here is that subject matter experts can be made available much easier when travel and residency outside one’s native country are not a requirement. This strategy will also be very useful in areas of the world where Christian persecution is a problem.  

The Martydom of Saint Paul - Tintoretto in 1556


For cases where the physical presence of a subject matter expert is required, the recommended course of action will be to use local people who are trained to accomplish this mission. So, while I expect that there will be some cases which will require the physical transportation of subject matter experts and teachers, in all cases a plan to transfer this capability into the hands of local people must be carried out. Therefore, train the trainer programs will be developed to achieve this objective and in some cases practical experience must be achieved by transporting people to the host country.

In summary, the computer systems, networks and course ware will support existing missions with the capability to improve the living standards of the peoples of the world, while also spreading the word of Jesus where it is currently absent. They will be a demonstration of the love of the body of Christ for all people. It will help them be self sufficient, not relying on the handouts of others but rather instilling in them the confidence of their ability to adequately care for their families and lead their respective communities.

Undertaking such an initiative will require a tremendous amount of work. But we already have a treasure of religious educational services in place. Certainly there are educational programs deployed for child education that includes K-12 courses. There are religious colleges that specialize in both contemporary as well as religious programs. There are seminaries and religious programs designed to prepare people for ministry. There are also existing audio/visual materials that are teaching programs, bible studies and religious education. These are the places to start because much of the material is available, well though out and proven to be effective. The work to be required would be to transfer this existing material into a form where it can be made available to others through the facilities we have been talking about.  

One of the benefits of participating in such an effort is that there are several positive effects of developing such subject matter. First of all, it would enable these school systems to deploy this material in their own schools. This would provide teachers with a wealth of material to integrate into their own curriculum’s. This can provide the benefit of reducing the amount of time invested in developing this teaching material from scratch. This in turn could free teachers for other necessary activities like providing personalized tutoring, grading exams, preparing for future lesson plans or administrative paperwork.

The material developed for online course work can also be used by new teachers to reduce their class ware. In addition, since the material will be modularized, there will be times when pieces of material from one course can be reused. In such cases teacher productivity is improved. Other productivity improvements will also be provided such as self grading tests, templates for lesson plans, and student collaboration.  

Read the truly amazing life story about how the forces of good and evil battle over a man and the vision that God gives him. Joseph W. Gordon’s Possess the Vision (Xulon Press, $12.95, 140 pages, ISBN 1-59781-205-6) tells about the mysterious spiritual experiences that occur throughout his lifetime.


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

CHRISTIAN TECHNOLOGY EXTENDS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

In our past several postings we have introduced the concept of using technology in support of Christian ministry. We have also introduced a mission statement to improve the living standards of the worlds poor through education and training. Such a technology certainly must be state-of-the-art and must deploy computer-based training that delivers courseware in an audio visual format, including full interaction with live advisors. The idea here is to leverage world class expertise in courseware that can then be delivered anywhere in the world. This courseware can be supported from anywhere. Such a capability can extend the reach and capability significantly. This world class courseware must be able to address any life skill. So courseware must be available to improve any job skill or prepare a person to improve their standard of living. For example, this courseware can address subjects like auto mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, sales, marketing, art, pottery, finance, farming, computer programming, management, home construction, business ownership, and all the rest. However, since the initial targets should primarily be the third world countries, preliminary establishment will focus on the skills needed most by these peoples. These countries have the poorest living standards and are the ones most in need of help.

An extension of this objective is to equip the poor children of the world to be the future leaders of their cities, regions, and countries. In achieving this objective, the Christian nation will build a foundation where future generations can work and live in dignity, respect, and peace. They will build an environment of peace based on knowledge and self-determination.

Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In (Isaiah 58:12).

Most of all, this technology and its capabilities are intended to be a blessing of love from the bride of Christ to the poor and hurting peoples of the world. It will show them that the bride comes with a compassion for them, just as Jesus did. Therefore, the people of the world will see the love that Christians have for them.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

The result will be a better world for everyone. When the people of the world come to know Jesus and can adequately take care of their families, they will reach out to others in love also. Putting this vision of a better world into place will replace love for hate, truth for lies, light for darkness, and the way of God for the way of the world. So, I compel you to posses the vision!

 


 


The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Read my story by ordering my book, “Possess the Vision”

A CASE FOR TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

This posting will present the rationale for establishing a technology base upon which the vision and mission statements can be accelerated. In addition, it will explore the capabilities necessary to empower Christian ministries around the world. The following capabilities are deemed advantageous for success.

TECHNOLOGY CONNECTS PEOPLE TO MINISTRIES

First of all, let’s address technology because it is a vital component in helping to unite the bride of Christ in ministry. The technology we are talking about should be able to reach every person in the world regardless of location. It should enable every individual minister to communicate with the people in their ministry from wherever they happen to be at the time. In a similar way it can provide every person seeking help with a way to get access to a ministry that can help them. Therefore, the technology established here should be designed to become the hub that connects people to ministries and ministries to people in a very flexible and dynamic way. Establishing a technology of this type produces a number of benefits. First of all, it brings all the people of the world closer together. In other words, ministers will be able to serve others all across the world in new ways without having to travel and without serious impact on their everyday schedules. This is because they will be able to minister to others from their home, church, library, or anywhere there is a computer connected to the Internet.

Secondly, this technology opens ministry opportunities to everyone. Therefore it is not to a tool that is just for pastors, priests and other clergy, but rather a tool for the people in the congregation as well. This should include people with mobility restrictions, physically limited, elderly, in a nursing home, a hospital, or prison. They all must be able to leverage this technology to minister to others. In a corresponding way, people in existing ministries must be effective in reaching them as well. Therefore, this technology broadens the opportunities for ministry by opening channels of communication in both directions. In addition, this technology will help to address the issues of unity that we discussed in a prior posting (http://posseUnity-and-Love-are-Required-in-the-Ministry-of-Jesus-Christ) as it will be able to bring people together from across any of the many of the currently segregated Christian religions.

Our future postings will drill down on the intended uses of this technology in Christian Ministries. The first are we will cover is that of education. This is a critical component of Christian ministry and in many ways is the primary mission of the bride of Christ. Certainly we are to educate others about Jesus Christ and the kingdom and nature of God.

In our prior postings on the prophetic nature of the Tabernacle of Moses (The-Tabernacle-is-Prophetic-of-Jesus), we identified that each component found in the Tabernacle is prophetic of Jesus and His ministry. In our postings about the Brazen Laver (The-Tabernacle-Courtyard-is-Prophetic-of-Jesus-a-Review) we uncovered that prophesy of the Laver pertains to the true nature of Christian baptism.

Jesus, Moses Discuss the Fulfilment of Tabernacle Prophesy


The following high level discussion presents how this can be. The high priest back in the days of the Tabernacle was required by law to wash at the Brazen Laver prior to entering into the Holy Place of God for service to God. As the priest leaned over the reflective surface of the polished brass he saw his reflection through the water. Legend has it that the priests believed that they saw themselves as God saw them as they washed at the Laver. Since they were preparing to enter into the house of God, this vision through the water gave the pause to contemplate their worthiness to enter.

For Christians Jesus is our Brazen Laver. By looking into Him we can see ourselves as God sees us. We do this through the washing that comes through reading the word of God. More specifically, by reading the Gospels that communicate what Jesus did and said when he walked on the earth. When we read these accounts of Jesus’ actions, we who seek to walk as He did – must contemplate our worthiness to enter into His ministry. We must ask ourselves if we would do what Jesus did in similar circumstances. If it is not then changes are warranted by asking the Holy Spirit for help. In this way our hearts are conformed to His heart.

John Baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River

The bottom line is that this prophetic description of true baptism is in fact the core mission of Jesus, which is to baptize the nations:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt 28: 19.)

Therefore, education is a critical component of Jesus’ Grand Commission. Our next posting will explore the functional capabilities that should be present in the technology deployed to make education ministry an easier, faster, more effective and far less labor intensive. There a most likely many questions about this. Tune in next week to get the details, or drop me a line by entering a comment to this posting.

May Gods blessings be upon you are your family,

Papa Joe

Read my story by ordering my book, “Possess the Vision”



 

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

 


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Read my story by ordering my book, “Possess the Vision”

UNITY AND LOVE ARE REQUIRED IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST

One objective of this posting is to communicate the mission of Possess the Vision ministries. In presenting this mission however, we take a good look at the subjects of unity and love which must be at the heart of any ministry attributed to Jesus Christ.

A mission statement addresses the primary objective of the ministry by identifying the direction in which the people are to direct their activities. A good mission statement should also answer the question, what are we to do? The Possess the Vision Mission Statement is presented below:

Christians from all denominations and sects will work together (unite) to collectively deploy the tools, technology, resources, and support necessary to enable all peoples of the world to improve their lives and living standards through the knowledge and blessings of Jesus Christ.

As we mentioned earlier there are two major components of the mission statement. One component is unity and the other is love.

A major component of the mission is to create unity in the bride of Christ as Jesus commanded. It is clear by looking at the following scripture that Jesus expects us to as one in Him and the Father:

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17: 20 – 23).

The Power of Prayer

This means that we must work with all other Christians toward continuing the mission that Jesus left us, which is that we love one another. The vision and mission statements presented here lead us to do this in a organized way. This mission is like that of Jesus in that it is designed to spread His love across the planet. Therefore, we must act as one body in love just as Jesus prayed.

This means that we will have to work around many of the issues that are dividing Christians currently. Therefore, our focus must be on Jesus our savior exclusively, striving to do the things that He did while He was on the earth. Further, we must look past our differences by understanding that they stem from the inability of men to always understand the ways and words of God.

Conflicting interpretations of the Bible for example, only reveals that one of the parties are wrong. Such differences can only be attributed to the fallibility of man since there is only unity and peace in the body of Christ. Therefore we must realize that our differences regarding church doctrine, philosophy and dogma are nothing more than different styles. Often these things make no difference in getting into heaven. What I do know is that we must work together because Jesus taught us that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).

In addition, the mission started by Jesus is a mission of love.

Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, “Where I am going, you cannot come,” so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:33 – 35).

The second component of the mission is love. If we love one another we must find a way to work together so that we will not be a house divided and secondly, so that the world will know that we are the true disciples of Jesus. If we love one another we will carry on the mission that Jesus left us. We will seek with all of our heart to have the same impact on the world as Jesus. The people who followed Jesus were fed. The sick that came to Jesus were healed. The people who heard the words of Jesus received the truth about God the Father and His love for them. The mission of Jesus was a mission of love, and the people touched were much better off for the experience. It is in this way that our mission is also a mission of love. It is to this goal that we aspire: that the impact of our ministry will leave the lives of others in a much better state, both physically and spiritually. A mission based on love is supported by the first two commandments.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:18).

Moses and the Ten Comandments

In addition, much is expected of him to whom much has been given. This places a great deal of burden on us in the developed countries of the world, who do have the goods of the world at a time when there is much poverty and depression in undeveloped areas.

Jesus is also clear about loving unconditionally.

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:27 – 38).

Therefore, our goal is to love even those who hate us and abuse us. In addition, the love that we give is what we have and what we are. It is a love that will improve the lives to whom it is given. This love includes providing food, medicine, and clothing when needed. In addition, it includes telling the truth about Jesus, which should be evident, based on the demonstration of our actions. In today’s world, our love should show others how to better care for families. We must share our knowledge and technology and, therein, provide the capabilities necessary to achieve this objective. In this we will take them from the darkness and into the light.


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Read my story by ordering my book, “Possess the Vision”


UNITY AND LOVE ARE REQUIRED IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST

 

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

 

A Visit to Heaven

In several of my prior postings I have talked about I have used the Tabernacle to help us understand that there are three levels of relationship we can have with God. Recently I saw a video of a man who claims that he has made several trips up to heaven and returned. I believe that he describes these types of relationships rather well. Prior to showing the video I thought it may be good to review one of our messages that delivers a high level review of these types of relationships. Here it is:

So, if we have lost our direction Jesus is the Way. If our life is a lie, Jesus is the Truth. If we are acting in a way that leads to death, Jesus is the Life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, just as He claimed. He is the passage way to the Father and is the way through which every form of relationship with the Father can be achieved.

This foundation of Jesus being our spiritual Tabernacle paves the way for us to enter into the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.

This being the case, Jesus is also the veil (or passageway) through which we enter into all three types of relationships that we can have with the Father. It is through the Way (entryway into the Tabernacle Courtyard) that we enter into a relationship of grace with the Father. It is through the Way that we enter the Courtyard where Jesus is the sacrifice for our sin and where we are purified by reflecting on His life and seeking to become like Him.

It is through the Truth (or entryway into the Holy Place of the Tabernacle) that we enter into a relationship of enlightenment with the Father. The Truth leads us into the Holy Place where our pathways are illuminated with God’s direction. This illumination also leads toward communion with God and enables us to become victorious in spiritual warfare.

It is through the Life (or entryway into the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle) that we enter into a relationship of covenant with the Father. The Life leads us into the Most Holy place where we find peace from our enemies, talk with God directly, receive the protection of His angels, have His law in our hearts, become a royal priesthood and depend on God’s provision exclusively. It is hear that we can once again know only good, and in this regard we are restored to the garden once again.

So now that we have presented what we have said in the past, lets look at the video where the three types of relationship we can have with God in the spiritual realm are described:

So this is very consistent with our prior messages. Entering through the Way of the Tabernacle results in the development of a relationship of grace. In this relationship our sins are forgiven through our repentance and the work of Jesus on the cross. In this relationship we come to see who Jesus is and seek to become like Him in preparation for ministry. In the video we find that the reward for our choices in this regard is to enter a place of peace through Jesus. In this place everyone feel like they are next to Him.

Entering through the Truth of the Tabernacle results in the development of a relationship of empowerment. In this relationship our pathways are illuminated, we develop a closer relationship with the Father, and we become effective in spiritual warfare, or bringing down the bonds of evil here on this earth just like Jesus did. In the video the pastor described this area as belonging to those who worked for God.

Entering through the Life of the Tabernacle results in the development of a relationship of covenant. In this relationship we have a special pact with God that is based upon His promise to us and in turn, our promise to Him. In it we can talk to God directly, receive the support of his angels and become a part of the royal priesthood. In the video this place is reserved for those who walk with God and was wonderful, although indescribable.

So, that is it for today. I am thinking on expanding this topic as there are quite a few scripture that have relevance but have not been discussed to this point.

Until then, may Gods blessings be upon you.

Papa Joe Gordon