CHAPTER #6

Divinely Empowered Civil Justice

(i.e. The Kingdom of God)

The Vision Unfolded in Five Themes

 

God’s Ultimate, Sovereign, & Transcendent Rule of Israel via the heart by Spiritual Judgments: This means that, in other words, God reigned over and in all Israelites, for good or for evil [“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” – Isaiah 45:7]. God’s prerogative of justice existed to mortify all evil, this was true, but how or in what way did He “create evil”, you wonder? The answer is simple and profoundly complex. God’s sovereignty transcended all evil. This means that evil was instrumental to His righteous purposes. The Lord had a transcending Government over evil so that He might gloriously punish it, and in whatever way He ordained it, decreed it, and created it, He did it so that He might show His glorious and terrible anger against it (Rom. 9:22)! In other words, God used evil for righteous causes.

In the light of this component of Government, we need to understand how God led men into their punishment and condemnation by Spiritual Judgments (Ps. 35:6, 125:5). When God made a Spiritual Judgment of DAMNATION upon a man, the man was henceforth condemned already even if he was not caught by the Civil Justice of Israel yet (John 3:18). This means that the wrath of God did already abide upon him before Civil Justice found the man and punished him (John 3:36). Hence, after the Spiritual Judgment of damnation was made by God, before long… the man’s footsteps were led into God’s justice by means of Civil Officers (in ordinary circumstances) resulting in physical death. In Israel, Spiritual Judgments go before Physical Judgments, the invisible before the visible.

Oh my reader, consider the frightening reality! That a man can think that he was clean and right in his own eyes, according to his own conscience, “but the end thereof” was the way of death (Prov. 14:12, 16:25, 30:12)! God spiritually blinded men so that they could not detect their sin and or God, therefore, also, they were blind to the imminent enforcement of justice crouching just yonder. The curse of God robbed men of all wisdom so that, alas, in their simplicity, they staggered into the jaws of justice! When God said, “I form light and create darkness”, or, “I make peace and create evil” (Isa. 45:7), it was the same to say, “I bless men with prudence and curse men with simplicity”. The Book of Proverbs tells the reason why: “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished (Prov. 27:12).

Spiritual Judgments of Damnation via a DELUSION:

·   Strong delusions were given to the proud. - Prov. 18:12, 20:6, 9, 21:27 [see 2 Thess. 2:11-12]

·   They did not know that their course led them into the depths of hell. – Prov. 9:18

·   “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” – Prov. 14:8

·   They refused to go unto the wise so as to receive help. – Prov. 15:12

·   If they did go to the wise it was transient… they would not abide among the wise. – Prov. 15:31

·   They hungered for and fed on foolishness. – Prov. 15:14

·   “The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” – Prov. 19:3

·   Because they were destitute of wisdom they were joyful in folly. – Prov. 15:21

·   The LORD was far away from them and refused to hear their prayers. – Prov. 15:29

·   They found no good – Prov. 17:20

·   “A fool hath no delight in understanding” – Prov. 18:2

·   They entered into contentions and lawsuits to their own chastisement and eventual destruction. – Prov. 18:5-7

·   “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” – Prov. 18:7

·    “…the wicked fall into mischief.” – Prov. 24:16

·   They were never satisfied with sin. – Prov. 27:20

·   They praised the wicked. – Prov. 28:4

·   They didn’t and couldn’t understand judgment. – Prov. 28:5

·   They could not prosper because they were destined to fall into mischief. – Prov. 28:13-14

·   At the moment of apostasy they were spiritually judged by God and confined within spiritual fallenness. – Prov. 28:18

·   They trusted in their own hearts. – Prov. 28:26

·   They had no vision from God. – Prov. 29:18

It is important to note that these Spiritual Judgments happen to Israelites because they were the people who dwell in and among the presence of God Almighty as their KING. Historically and ideally, according to the scripture, status as a civilian of Israel meant status as an authentic convert to and follower of God (a genuine member of the Old Testament Church). To be a civilian of Israel meant that they were authentically united with God in saving communion, as is expected of the true Church in any age or dispensation. Therefore, it must be noted that, even after a Spiritual Judgment of damnation via a delusion was decreed upon certain civilians of Israel, this did not mean that they abandoned “the form of godliness” which they had before they fell under the wrath of God (spiritually speaking). At this time these individuals were judged spiritually, but not physically. Civil Justice had not yet visited them, and so, their sins had not been found out or publicized. Lurking among Israel they, in their wickedness, deceived themselves and others. They put on vain shows of religious piety by honoring God with their lips, but their heart was far from Him (Isa. 29:13, Matt. 15:8, Mark 7:6, 2 Pet. 2:18-19, 2 Tim. 3:5, 13). They appeared outwardly as those who were faithfully seeking God, this was true, but perhaps what is more shocking is that they had bold countenances as if they were truly believing in the Lord! This means that they appeared confident of their current standing with God!

A Form of Religious Piety is Maintained

·   Seeking God: They are still seeking God, this is true! But they are not granted the ability to find wisdom from God even though it was sought after (Prov. 14:6). This was because when God was seeking after them to give them wisdom, they did not hear Him. Therefore God made the Spiritual Judgment that, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But yet have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof… Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; THEY SHALL SEEK ME EARLY, BUT THEY SHALL NOT FIND ME: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD” (Prov. 1:24-25, 28-29). Though these men sought God and called upon God, He withheld grace from them. “Surely [God] scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly” (Prov. 3:34). Locked up under the delusion of God, the poor souls could not be forgiven. They were utterly unable to be forgiven even though forgiveness was diligently sought after via prayers, sacrifices, ceremonies, and religious observances (Prov. 21:27)! And yet, alas! They appear to be steadfastly believing and confident to the undiscerning public! …this is a delusion indeed.

·   Believing & Confident: Though their expectation of justification and salvation was never so bold and firm, they were eventually cut off (Prov. 23:17-18, 24:14). Though their sacrifices were never so numerous with lambs never so precious, they were unacceptable (Prov. 21:27, 15:18). Though their prayers were never so long with words never so fair, they were not heard (Prov. 28:9, Ps. 66:18, 109:7, Lam. 3:44, 56). Though their confidence is undaunted and their faces unashamed, it was false (Prov. 14:15-16, Isa. 48:1-2, Micah 3:11, Jer. 7:4, 8, 10). Isaiah gave an explanation to it all, “Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour” (Isa. 45:15).

My reader, this is the invisible Government of GOD through the Spiritual Judgment of damnation. The characteristics of those who are thus judged are evident, according to the scriptures. Therefore, now, secondarily, let us look at the invisible Government of GOD through the Spiritual Judgment of salvation.