If you've never studied architecture or civil engineering, you might not understand a set of blueprints. It takes some study to understand and apply God's
Biblical Blueprints. In many ways, Early Americans were better educated in this
task than we are. They believed the Bible was a textbook in every discipline of human life.
Here are some examples of attempts to apply Biblical Blueprints:
These attempts to apply the Bible do not always agree with the attempts made on this website. The next generation may get it right and disagree with both of us.
But we won't make it to the next generation if civilization is destroyed by atheistic communism or jihadism.
What kind of building is described by the Biblical Blueprints?
Starting from Scratch
America's Founders abolished their government. They said their government had crossed the line and become a tyranny.
If America's Founders could travel through time from their day to ours, they would be appalled at our government, and take immediate steps to abolish it.
John Quincy Adams, in an “Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier de la Fayette,” Delivered at
the request of both Houses of the Congress of the United States, before them, in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 31st of December, 1834,
said:
The
war was revolutionary. It began by the dissolution of the British Government in the Colonies; the People of which were, by that operation, left without any
Government whatever.
If we were starting over, creating a new society, what kind of constitution should we choose, seeing the current Constitution has been such a failure?
Adams was exaggerating. America was not "left without any Government whatever." Americans had "government" -- self-government.
James Madison, "the Father of the Constitution," isreportedto
have said this:
We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political
institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves ... according to theTen
Commandmentsof God.
Americans would be well-governed not because they had laws, statutes, executive orders, regulations, and Supreme Court opinions from a "civil
government," but because they had the Bible. R. J. Rushdoony wrote
the following:
This is what John Adams, later second President of the U.S., wrote in his diary on February 22, 1756:
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should
regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance,
frugality, and industry, to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to
piety, love and reverence towards Almighty God. What a Utopia, what a Paradise would this region be.
Nobody in government today would ever say what Adams said, not even in "hyperbole":
"We should take the Bible for our only law book."
That's too "radical." That's "extremist." It's "homophobic." Or something. Only a "domestic terrorist" would say
something like that.
Rushdoony authored a book called Institutes of Biblical Law [read]
[buy], explaining how the Bible had been used as a law book in John Adams'
day (and throughout the history of Christendom), and how the Bible could be used today. Rushdoony's "law book" is not the same kind of "law
book" as those found in a law library, containing statutes and decrees of government, enforced
by violent earthly enforcers. Rushdoony's book explains how to take the Bible as our only law book.
The reason we don't need a library of books on compulsion and violence is because there is no verse in the Bible that anyone can point to and say,
extort money from others to finance my acts of vengeance (Exodus 20:15), and
threaten violence against anyone who tries to compete with my monopoly system of
"justice,"
and be assured God will not hold me guilty of sin for doing such things."
Joe Biden cannot say that. Vladimir Putin cannot say that. No human being on planet earth in our day can say that. If you take the Bible seriously,
that claim has staggering implications. Can you find such a verse in the Bible that Putin can legitimately point to?
What Are We Building?
If we follow the Biblical Blueprints, we will transform the Garden into which we were planted into the
City of God. The City of God is the Kingdom of God. Some Americans speak of "The Trump Administration," or "The Biden Administration," but
in reality we are living under "The Jesus Administration." The "Biden Administration" is an insurrectionist rebel movement. The Bible is a
blueprint or constitution for a new Administration of a new Government. "The Kingdom of God" is "The Kingdom of Jesus," the Jesus Kingdom, or the
Jesus Administration.
It is the Job of "the Church" to "Build the Kingdom" through
"Political Action."
To prove this claim, all we have to do is define the key terms correctly.
When I say "It is the Job of 'the Church' to 'Build the Kingdom' through 'Political Action,'" am I saying it is "the Pope's" job to do
this? Is it the job of the "bishops" or "elders" or "pastors" to do this?
No.
Not exclusively.
When I talk about "the Church" I'm not talking about "the Institutional Church" (whatever that is).
Ephesians 4:11-12 says:
And
He
gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,12 to
equip the
saints
for the work of ministry, for building
up
the body of Christ,
It is "the saints" who are to "build." That means you and me. Not "the clergy." They were given to equip the saints to build
the Kingdom.
You might not agree with that last sentence. You may not agree that it is your job and my job to "build the Kingdom."
Verse 12 says you and I are to be equipped for "building up the body of Christ."
Is "the body of Christ" not a part of "the Kingdom of God?"
Of course it is.
Many people object to the idea that man builds the Kingdom of God. They say this is "humanistic," and that the Polis
of God must be created wholly by God with no participation by man, and then handed to man on a silver platter. Correct thinking on this issue requires a
"paradigm shift." Hal Lindsey represents the old paradigm:
There used to be a group called "postmillennialists." They believed that the Christians would root out all the evil in the world, abolish godless
rulers, and convert the world through ever-increasing evangelism until they
brought about the Kingdom of God through their own efforts. Then after 1000 years of the institutional church
reigning on earth with peace, equality and righteousness, Christ would return and time would end. These people
rejected much of the Scripture as being literal and believed in the inherent goodness of man. World War I greatly disheartened this group and World War II
virtually wiped out this viewpoint. No self-respecting scholar who looks at the world conditions and the accelerating decline of Christian influence today is a
"postmillennialist." Hal Lindsey, The Late, Great Planet Earth, 1970, p. 176
The idea that Christians would bring about the Kingdom of God "through their own efforts" is
a real red-flag for these kind of Christians. They say it reeks of "secular humanism."
We do not build the Kingdom of Man, we follow God's blueprints and build the City of God, under His Providential direction.
Let's look at how the Bible connects "church" and "building" and "kingdom"
First, let's get behind the English word "church" to see what the Bible itself is saying.
There are many Christians and even some denominations that get real hung-up on the word "church." They claim that the word is some kind of conspiracy
by King James.
Noah Webster’s first American dictionary (1828) defines “church” in this way:
CHURCH, n. [Sax. Circe, circ or cyric; Scots, kirk, which retains the Saxon pronunciation ; D. kerk
; G. kirche ; Sw. kyrckia ; Dan. kirke ; Gr. kuriakon, a temple of God, from kuriako~
, pertaining to a Lord, or to our Lord Jesus Christ, from kurio~, a Lord.
1. A house consecrated to the worship of God, among Christians; the Lord’s house.
This seems to be the original meaning of the word. The Greek, ekklesia, from ekkalew, to call out or call together, denotes an assembly or collection. But kuriako~ , kuriakon,
are from kurio~, Lord, a term applied by the early christians to Jesus Christ; and the house in which they worshipped was named from that title. So kuriaka signifies church goods, bona ecclesiastica; kuriakh, sc. hmera, the Lord’s Day, dies dominica.
2. The collective body of christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ,
and acknowledge him to be the Savior of mankind. In this sense, the church is sometimes called the Catholic or Universal Church. Johnson.
Encyc.
3. A particular number of christians, united under one form of ecclesiastical
government, in one creed, and using the same ritual and ceremonies; as the English church, the Presbyterian church, the Romish church,
the Greek church.
4. The followers of Christ in a particular city or province; as the church of
Ephesus, or of Antioch.
5. The disciples of Christ assembled for worship in a particular place, as in a
private house. Col. iv. [See No. 9]
6. The worshippers of Jehovah or the true God, before the advent of Christ; as the
Jewish church.
7. The body of clergy, or ecclesiastics, in distinction from the laity. Hence,
ecclesiastical authority. Encyc.
8. An assembly of sacred rulers convened in Christ’s name to execute his
laws. Cruden. Brown.
9. The collective body of christians, who have made a public profession of the
christian religion, and who are united under the same pastor; in distinction from those who belong to the same parish, or ecclesiastical society, but
have made no profession of their faith.
The word “church” was used to translate the Greek “ekklesia” because “church” was often found in phrases like “kuriokon
doma,” the “house of the Lord.” Some people think of a specific building when they think of the “house” of the Lord. But the Bible speaks of God’s
House in more cosmic terms. Plus, the first Christians met in their own homes.
They didn't have a separate "house of worship."
In some modern languages, the word currently used for the church did derive from the Greek word
ἐκκλησία (ekklesia). For example, the French word “église” and the Spanish word “iglesia” derive from the Greek
word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) through the Latin “ecclesia”. This does not mean that “église” and “iglesia” are
always used in the same way that the New Testament authors used the word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia).
So, it
does not matter what word is used to reference the church in the New Testament. We can use “church”, or “community”, or “église”, or “iglesia”.
It is not the word itself that is important. Instead, it is important how we use those words. Do we use them to refer to buildings or organizations or
denominations or clergy? If so, then we are not referring to the same thing that the New Testament authors were referring to when they used the Greek word
ἐκκλησία (ekklesia).
God’s House = Church = Kingdom
I do not defend ecclesiastical authority or ritual and ceremonies. I object to the distinction between clergy and laity. All the laity should be
active priests and kings (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). We should all be functioning as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Christianity is not a spectator sport. Nor is it a
ritual. “Worship” means service, obedience to God in every area of life.
The basic meaning of the word “worship” is service. To “worship” God is to put every area of one’s life under the His
Law. As The New Bible Dictionary puts it, “[T]he essential concept in both the Old and New Testaments is ‘service.’” John Murray writes,
[Worship in the] generic sense is the devotion we owe to God in the whole of life. God is sovereign, He is Lord, having sovereignty over us and
propriety in us, and therefore in all that we do we owe subjection to him, devotion to His revealed will, obedience to His commandments. There is no area of life
where the injunction does not apply (I Cor. 10:31). In view of the lordship of Christ as Mediator all of life comes under His dominion (Col. 3:23,24).
Worship in the generic sense is thus service to God in every area of life; total slavery to Him Who is Lord of all. Worship cannot be
limited to a “church,” or the building Christians go to once a week.
I don’t have any objection to Christians getting together in a house, rented hall, or arena to sing, pray, and listen to an entertaining
motivational speaker. The question is, when they leave “the church” will they be an obedient church.
The Greek word usually translated “church” is ekklesia, which has reference to a governmental body, such as a City Council or House
of Representatives. It is a decision-making body that puts the law of the civil sovereign into effect. It is a public, civic, governmental body, not a warm-fuzzy
escapist retreat from life.
When Caesar visited a local area, he was preceded by a herald [khrux,kerux] who would proclaim, [khrussw, kerusso] the Good News [khrugma, kerugma]
of the coming of the Emperor, the one who brought peace, prosperity, health and welfare [soteria, soteria] to the conquered
nation.
Christians denied the claims of Caesar. They claimed their own heralds, or preachers, their own Gospel, or Good News, and their own Savior, who
brought salvation, restoration, and regeneration to the world without regard to the claims of Caesar.
According to scholars, the coins of the Emperor Tiberius carried a “bust of Tiberius in Olympian nakedness, adorned with the laurel wreath,
the sign of divinity.” The inscription read, “Emperor Tiberius August Son of the August God,” on the one side, and “Pontifex Maximus” or “High Priest”
on the other. The symbols also included the emperor’s mother, Julia Augusta (Livia) sitting on the throne of the gods, holding the Olympian sceptre in her right
hand, and, in her left, the olive branch to signify that “she was the earthly incarnation of the heavenly Pax [peace].” (Ethelbert Stauffer, Christ and the
Caesars (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1955), p. 124.) The coins thus had a religious significance. Religion was a political affair. Caesar was a false god.
Christians would not worship this false god.
Caesar claimed to the world’s soter, savior, who brought soteria, salvation to the oikomene, the inhabited Roman world.
Caesar’s herald, kerux, preacher, announced, “There is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved than the name of Caesar Augustus.” Christ’s
kerux announced, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts
4:12).
Christ vs. Caesar. It was a conflict of two religions, two saviors, two Kingdoms. Pax Romana (the peace of Rome) or Pax Christi (the
peace of Christ).
Therefore Christian action -- action which exalts Christ as Lord -- is always "political action." Life is a war between the
"City of God" and the city of man. The Greek word from which we get our word "politics" is polis.
The City of Man: anthropolis
The City of God: Theopolis
η πόλη του ανθρώπου
η πόλη του θεού
Every human being is ethically obligated to be a part of the City of God. If a mother is preparing to kill her child, a Christian takes action, because that
human being should be a part of the City of God, and the city of man says the Christian is engaged in "political action" for opposing abortion.
The Biblical word for "salvation" is yasha, and it means "health," "welfare,"
"deliverance," "wholeness," "victory," and "security." Only a small fraction of the occurrences of this word have to do with
where you go when you die. They have to do with the City of God.
The City of Man claims to be our savior. The City of Man claims to give us "salvation." That's why the
City of Man has a "Department of Health," a "Department of Welfare," and a Department of Homeland Security. All of these are elements of the
Biblical definition of "salvation."
Who is Lord? Christ or Caesar? Who is Savior? Christ or Caesar? Whose is the true City: man or God? Who is the true King? Whose is the true Kingdom?
Who builds the True City? Who builds the Lord's House?
The Jews were friends of Caesar. They had been bought off.
(Luke 7:2-5) A [Roman] centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. {3} When he heard about
Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. {4} When they came to Jesus, they appealed to Him earnestly, saying, “He is
worthy of having you do this for him, {5} for he loves our people, and it is he who built [oikodomeo:G3618] our synagogue for us.”
When the Apostle Peter challenged Roman Caesar worship, he announced the building of the true empire, the true Kingdom, the True City.
(Acts 4:10-12) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,
which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved.
A new building is being erected. It is Christ’s Kingdom.
The Bible pictures the earth as a house, as in Job 38:4-6. Moreover, the Bible pictures the earth as an altar, with four corners, in Revelation 7:1;
9:13-21. All of this goes back to the Garden of Eden, which had four rivers flowing out of it to water the whole earth, headed for the "four
corners." The word for ‘corner’ in Hebrew is kanaf, which literally means ‘wings.’ The cherubim have four wings (Ezekiel 1). The garment
worn by each Hebrew male was to have four wings or corners, so that his garment was analogous to a house or tent that he carried with him at all times
(Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 22:12; Haggai 2:12).
What this gives us is a series of analogous models: The Garden of Eden is like a house, and they are like an altar, and they are analogous to the human
person (who is the temple of the Spirit), etc. For an extended treatment of this subject, see the discussions in my book Through
New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World.
So, when the Bible uses language that indicates that the earth is flat, that it has ends, and that it has corners, we are to understand such language in
its Biblical context. And that Biblical context is the house-model of the world, seen in the glory cloud, the Garden of Eden, the Tabernacle, the Temple,
the holy land, the entire earth, the human body, the clothing of the human body, the cherubim, etc. We are not to try to stretch this language to
answer cosmological questions that it was not intended to address.
Heaven As a Fortress
Just as the earth is pictured as a house, so is heaven. Heaven is a separate house from earth, and is the model home that earth is to imitate. We pray,
therefore, "Thy kingdom come on earth as in heaven; Thy will be done on earth as in heaven." The goal of
history is for heaven to impress itself on earth, so that eventually heaven and earth are one, and there is one house.
Heaven was created in Genesis 1:1, and so was the earth. Much of the book of Revelation takes place in heaven, so we have some idea of what it is like.
The glory cloud is a sort of portable heaven-house that operates within the earthly environment.
Genesis 1:2 tells us that originally the earth was without form and empty, dark and covered with water. Then, after making light, God created a ‘firmament’
to separate waters above and below (v. 6, 7). This firmament He called ‘heaven.’ Now there are two heavens, the one the dwelling place of God and the
angels, made on the first day, and the second created within the original earth as a reminder of the original heaven. The fact that the word ‘heaven’
is used for the firmament means that the firmament is analogous to the original heaven, is symbolic of it. But it is important to see that the
firmament-heaven is actually part of the original earth of Genesis 1:1.
On the fourth day, God placed lights in the firmament-heaven, to be symbols (signs) and to act as clocks (seasons, days, and years). This means that the
sun, moon, and stars are not part of the original heaven, but part of the original earth. The original earth is being differentiated into the globe on which
we live on the one hand, and upper waters and lights on the other hand. On the fifth day, God created birds to fly in the firmament-heaven.
What is the firmament-heaven? Dr. Hanson thinks it is "æther," because it is an environment common to both stars and birds. This won’t work,
however, because ‘firmament’ is derived from a Hebrew verb meaning ‘to beat out’ or ‘to flatten out.’ The idea is of a shell or surface cast
over the earth. A synonym for firmament (raqia) is aggudah (Amos 9:6), which means a vault made of strong bands.
Now as a matter of fact, there is no hard shell around the earth, nor do birds fly inside a hard shell. In fact, Genesis 1 does not say that birds fly
within the firmament, but across the face of it (i.e., below it). Thus, we need to see the language here as pointing to a symbolic structure. Heaven is like
a fortress, and the firmament-heaven that symbolizes the original heaven, presents an appearance of a hard surface, a wall, to the viewer.
After all, the Bible clearly speaks of ‘windows’ of heaven (Gen. 7:11; 8:2; 2 Kings 7:2, 19; Is. 24:18; Mal. 3:10). There are ‘doors’ in heaven
(1 Kings 9:35; 2 Chron. 6:26; 7:13; Ps. 78:23; Rev. 4:1; 11:6; 19:11). Heaven has ‘gates’ (Gen. 28:17; Lev. 26:19), and so does the house of hell (Matt.
16:18). Heaven has stories of stairs (Amos 9:6). A study of these passages will indicate that rain and food come through heaven’s windows, clearly
symbolic language.
What we have here is phenomenal language, language of appearances. The Bible frequently uses phenomenal language, as when it refers to rodents, reptiles,
and insects as "creeping things"; language not acceptable in Biology 101, but perfectly adequate for the Bible’s purposes. This is not at all to
say that the Bible is irrelevant for science; but it is to say that we must interpret the Bible correctly, on its own terms, if we are to make proper
applications to the questions of modern science.
Genesis 1, for instance, clearly tells us that God created the universe in six normal days. It tells us the order in which He developed things. It tells
us also that He made two lights, which we understand to be the sun and moon in Genesis 1. It tells us that these lights were made to function as symbols and
clocks. We understand that the sun is an energy source, a source of heat, etc.; but the Bible does not call attention to this in Genesis 1. We have to take
Genesis 1, and all the Bible, as it stands, and not try to force it to say things it does not intend to say.
We grievously err if we limit the meaning of “church” to a building that we attend only once (maybe twice) a week. The New Testament is
filled with allusions to the building of a church, a kingdom, a temple, a dwelling place for God, in which all the saints dwell, indeed, which is all
the saints.
The first occurrence of the word ekklesia in the New Testament is Matthew 16:18-19:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. {19} And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Note the following about “the church”:
It goes on the offensive against a rival kingdom, hell, but hell’s defenses (“gates”) will not be able to withstand the assault by Christ’s Kingdom.
Christ promises to build this kingdom,
Christ promises to give the keys of this kingdom.
“Church” is synonymous with “kingdom.”
The following verses bring together the following themes:
· Church
· Kingdom
· Throne
· Temple
· Dwellingplace, dwell
· Body
· Build, building
These relationships emerge:
· Body = temple
· Temple = throne
· Throne = kingdom
· The body/temple/kingdom is to be built
· We are builders
· We are being built up
· We are the temple
· We are the Kingdom
· We are to build the Kingdom
In fact, one of the central purposes of being a Christian is to build the Kingdom of Christ, a command repeatedly found in the New Testament.
Temple = God’s House = Kingdom
The temple is where God lives, or dwells. Throughout ancient world, “temple” = “palace” because the emperor (king) was divine.
So “temple” = “Kingdom.”
When you see the word “throne” you should think about the King that sits on the throne, and the Kingdom which He
rules. The word “temple” emphasizes the holiness of the place, while the word “palace” might emphasize its royal character. That’s why the Church
is a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9), because we serve in the temple of the King.
(Acts 7:47-50) But Solomon built him an house. {48} Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
as saith the prophet, {49} Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
{50} Hath not my hand made all these things?
(1 Kings 6:12-14) Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my
judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: {13} And I will dwell
among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. {14} So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
(John 2:15-16) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen;
and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; {16} And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house
an house of merchandise.
Temple = Throne
(Revelation 7:15) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that
sitteth on the throne shall tabernacle among them.
We are God’s House/Temple
(Hebrews 3:6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the
hope firm unto the end.
(Ephesians 2:19-22) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of
God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through
the Spirit.
(Galatians 6:10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
(1 Timothy 3:15) if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? {17} If
any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
(1 Corinthians 6:19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and
ye are not your own?
(2 Corinthians 5:1-4) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. {2} For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which
is from heaven: {3} If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. {4} For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that
we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(2 Corinthians 6:16-17) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as
God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {17} Wherefore come out from among them, and
be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(1 John 4:12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Building God’s House= Building the Kingdom
(Revelation 21:3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
No Physical Temple
(Revelation 21:22) And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Overcomers = New Jerusalem
(Revelation 3:12) Him that overcometh [nikao – think “Nike” - victory] will I make a pillar in the temple of
my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh
down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Overcome + Kingdom
(Revelation 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
(Luke 11:20-22) But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. {21} When a
strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: {22} But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all
his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
(Revelation 12:10-11) 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. {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.
(Revelation 15:2-3) And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory [nikao]
over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. {3} And they sing the
song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King
of saints.
(Revelation 17:12-14) And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but
receive power as kings one hour with the beast. {14} These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords,
and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
(Matthew 21:42-44) Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same
is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? {43} Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be
taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. {44} And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it
shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
(Matthew 24:1) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings [oikodome]
of the temple.
(John 2:18-21) Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? {19}
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. {20} Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple
in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? {21} But he spake of the temple of his body.
Kingdom = Mustard Seed = Temple
(1 Corinthians 3:6-17) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. {7} So then neither is he that planteth
any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. {8} Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man
shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. {9} For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
{10} According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. {11} For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; {13} Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. {14} If any man’s work abide which
he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire. {16} Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? {17} If any man defile the temple
of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
[The temple in Jerusalem was burned to the ground in AD70.]
Hill = dwelling place of God = Kingdom
(Psalms 68:15-16) The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. {16} Why
leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for
ever.
(Isaiah 4:5-6) And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies,
a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. {6} And there shall be a tabernacle
for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
(Micah 4:1-5) In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, {2} and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the
word of the LORD from Jerusalem. {3} He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more; {4} but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD
of hosts has spoken. {5} For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and
ever.
Kingdom-Building
The Biblical word “edify” is from the Greek,
3618. oikodomeo, oy-kod-om-eh’-o; from the same as G3619; to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (fig.) confirm:--(be in) build
(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.
3619. oikodome, oy-kod-om-ay’; fem. (abstr.) of a comp. of G3624 and the base of G1430; architecture, i.e. (concr.) a structure;
fig. confirmation:--building, edify (-ication, -ing).
3624. oikos, oy’-kos; of uncert. affin.; a dwelling (more or less extensive, lit. or fig.); by impl. a family (more or less
related, lit. or fig.):--home, house (-hold), temple.
1430. doma, do’-mah; from demo (to build); prop. an edifice, i.e. (spec.) a roof:--housetop.
Our English word “edifice” means building. To “edify” is to build an edifice. The Greek word “oikodomeo” is
literally “build a house.” To “edify” someone in the Christian sense is to build them up into the House of God on the Foundation of Christ and the Apostles.
The House of God is the Temple, where the King dwells. They become indwelt by the King. The church becomes the Kingdom. The temple is where God’s Throne is. The temple is kingdom
headquarters. The Body of Christ is His temple, His Kingdom.
(Acts 9:31) Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were Kingdom/House-built; and walking
in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
(Acts 20:32) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to Kingdom/House-build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which are made into saints.
(Romans 14:17-19) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[pax romana, or pax Christi?]{18} For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. {19} Let us therefore follow
after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may Kingdom/House-build one another.
(Romans 15:2) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to Kingdom/House-building.
(Romans 15:20) Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s
foundation:
(1 Corinthians 8:1) Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity oikodomeo,
builds the house of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things do
not oikodomeo, build the house of God.
(1 Corinthians 14:3-5) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to house-building, and exhortation, and comfort. {4} He that
speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. {5} I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye
prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
(1 Corinthians 14:12) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
(1 Corinthians 14:17) For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
(1 Corinthians 14:26) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue,
hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
(2 Corinthians 10:8) For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and
not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
(2 Corinthians 12:19) Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly
beloved, for your edifying.
(2 Corinthians 13:10) Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power
which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
(Ephesians 2:20-22) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded
together for an dwellingplace of God through the Spirit.
(Ephesians 4:12) For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ:
(Ephesians 4:15-16) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {16}
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of house-building,
that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(Colossians 2:7) Rooted and built up [ep-oikodomeo] in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(1 Timothy 1:4) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which
is in faith: so do.
(2 Timothy 2:19-21) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And,
Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. {20} But in a greathouse there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but
also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. {21} If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
(Hebrews 11:10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[The city is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12), which is the church.]
(1 Peter 2:4-9) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, {5} Ye also,
as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
{6} Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be
confounded. {7} Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner, {8} And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also
they were appointed. {9} But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(Jude 1:20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
(Revelation 3:12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I
will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will
write upon him my new name.
Levites serve in God’s House
(1 Chronicles 23:25-28) For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may
dwell in Jerusalem for ever: {26} And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. {27} For by
the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: {28} Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of
the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house
of God;
We are all Levites
(Revelation 22:3) 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:
The City of God claims jurisdiction over the entire creation. The City of Man resents this. The City of Man tells Christians to keep God's morality out of
[humanistic, secular] politics. Christians refuse to do this. Therefore Christians will always be accused of engaging in "political action" or
trying to "impose a Theocracy."
The kind of "political action" that Christmas commands has little to do with "voting" and "electing" "political"
"candidates." Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that, but it isn't what changes the world. It isn't what builds the City of God.
If you want to abolish the Department of Welfare, you must perform the "works of mercy" which the Messiah
commanded. The entire Church should follow your example.
The Secular Messianic State will always allege that your exercise of religion is "political," because politics is a substitute for true religion:
James 1:27 says
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted
from the world.
This verse, according to some churches, says true religion is "social action," and the "church" must not be involved in "social
action."
Politicians are happy to put up a façade of social action, because they do so with other people's money. But social action which is not an extension of the
reign of the Messiah, through His Body, is not real social action.
Our text here is "the Dominion Mandate," Genesis 1:26-28. Also, Genesis 2:15,19
Here we read the purpose for which God created Man. Human beings were created to "exercise dominion"
over the earth as stewards of God's property. This means growing and building the Kingdom of God, for the glory of God. This means transforming a wilderness
into a Garden, and the Garden into the City of God, the New Jerusalem, a city of unlimited
growth and wealth.
I have benefited from a book entitled, Images
of the Spirit
by Meredith G. Kline. Kline suggests that the physical theophanic Glory of the Holy Spirit, who hovered over the original earth creation in Gen 1:2, served as the
"divine model" for man's creation. In expounding these themes, Kline develops a system of typology where the Garden of Eden, the tabernacle, temple,
priest and prophet are all modeled after the archetypal form of the Glory-Spirit, which is a model of heaven itself. Jesus taught us to pray that God's will would
be done "on earth as it is in heaven." Comparing the first chapters of Genesis and the last chapters of Revelation suggests that man's original purpose is
nothing less than building the City of God, the New Jerusalem. Edenic motifs are clearly seen in Revelation.
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the treeoflife also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
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 treeoflife, and eat, and live for ever:
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the treeoflife.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the treeoflife,
which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the treeoflife, 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.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the treeoflife, and may enter in through the gates into the
city.
The "newness" of the "New" Jerusalem is the absence of the ceremonial temple, and the liturgical or restorative patterns of reconciling God
and sinners found in the Old Covenant. Just as man was to "dress and keep" the Garden, so he was/is to dress the entire world into the City of God.
Obviously, "anarcho-preterists" do not believe that
The City of God is created by a joint act of Congress. The New Jerusalem is not the handiwork of an ecclesiastical council or synod, or ecumenical one-world
religion.
Consider the "Division of Labor" (Romans 12; 1
Corinthians 12). There is not a single person on planet earth who can build a pencilfrom scratch. This is because all the labor and skills required to extract the raw materials from God's Creation and assemble them into a pencil are divided
among many human beings, no one of them possessing all the skills and knowledge needed to plant and harvest trees, extract and refine chemicals, and build the
equipment which fabricates a pencil. While Faber-Castell might get credit for making pencils, many other
companies had a hand in the task. Previous generations saw the global human economy as being overseen by an "Invisible
Hand." Also called "Providence," about which we'll see more below.
Ultimately, only God can get credit for building the New Jerusalem, but man is commanded to do the work.
Imagine a large apartment. I mean really large, like 432
Park Avenue, the tallest residential building in New York. Or five of the ten tallest buildings in the world, found
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. One of these buildings can house 25,000 human beings. Who gets "credit" for building one of these buildings? Maybe the
architect -- except it was a team of architects. Maybe the CEO of the Construction firm, but he personally does not know how to build a cement mixer. Suppose
your vocation is being a plumber, and you were hired to install a unique sink in one of the residences on the 32nd floor during the construction of one of these
buildings. Do you get credit for building the building? Of course not. You knew very little about what kind of building was being constructed. You were just
fulfilling your individual calling as a plumber. Should you say, "This is not my building, so I'm not going to contribute to its edification?" That would
be disobedient.
Man's divine purpose on earth is to create a flourishing anarchist society, overseen only by an Invisible Hand.
It is the task of "the Church" (The Body of Christ) to "build." We build the Body of Christ into the Lord's House. We build the earth into
the Lord's Temple. We tear down the city of man and build the City of God. And when the New Jerusalem is complete, Christ the Master-Builder will get all the praise
and credit.
The Empires of the world will say this interferes with their agenda. It violates "the separation of church and State."
The Empires are correct.
What Are Biblical Blueprints?
By Gary North
How many times have you heard this one?
"The Bible isn't a textbook of . . ."
You've heard it about as many times as you've heard this one:
"The Bible doesn't provide blueprints for . . ."
The odd fact is that some of the people who assure you of this are Christians. Nevertheless, if you ask them, "Does the Bible have answers for the problems
of life?" you'll get an unqualified "yes" for an answer.
Question: if the Bible isn't a textbook, and if it doesn't provide blueprints, then just how, specifically and concretely, does it provide answers for life's
problems? Either it answers real-life problems, or it doesn't.
In short:Does the Bible make a difference?
Let's put it another way. If a mass revival at last hits this nation, and if millions of people are regenerated by God's grace through faith in the saving work
of Jesus Christ at Calvary, will this change be visible in the way the new converts run their lives? Will their politics change, their business dealings change,
their families change, their family budgets change, and their church membership change?
In short: Will conversion make a visible difference in our personal lives? If not, why not?
Second, two or three years later, will Congress be voting for a different kind of defense policy, foreign relations policy, environmental policy, immigration
policy, monetary policy, and so forth? Will the Federal budget change? If not, why not?
In short: Will conversion to Christ make a visible difference in our civilization? If not, why not?
The Great Commission
What the Biblical Blueprints Series is attempting to do is to outline what some of that visible difference in our culture ought to be. The authors are attempting
to set forth, in clear language,fundamental Biblical principlesin numerous specific areas of life. The authors are not
content to speak in vague generalities. These books not only set forth explicit principles that are found in the Bible and derived from the Bible, they also offer
specific practical suggestions about what things need to be changed, and how Christians can begin programs that will produce these many changes.
The authors see the task of American Christians just as the Puritans who came to North America in the 1630's saw their task:to establish a
city on a hill(Matthew 5:14). The authors want to see a Biblical reconstruction of the United States, so that it can serve as an example to
be followed all over the world. They believe that God's principles are tools of evangelism, to bring the nations to Christ. The Bible promises us that these
principles will produce such good fruit that the whole world will marvel (Deuteronomy 4:5-8). When nations begin to marvel, they will begin to soften to the message
of the gospel. What the authors are calling for iscomprehensive revival-a revival that will transform everything on earth.
In other words, the authors are calling Christians to obey God and take up the Great Commission: todisciple(discipline)
all the nations of the earth (Matthew 28:19).
What each author argues is that there are God-required principles of thought and practice in areas that some people today believe to be outside the area of
"religion." What Christians should know by now is that nothing lies outside religion. God is judging all of our thoughts and acts, judging our
institutions, and working through human history to bring this world to a final judgment.
We present the case that God offers comprehensivesalvation-regeneration, healing, restoration, and the obligation of total social
reconstruction--because the world is incomprehensive sin.
To judge the world, it is obvious that God has to have standards. if there were no absolute standards, there could be no earthly judgment, and no final judgment
because men could not be held accountable.
(Warning: these next few paragraphs are very important. They are the base of the entire Blueprints series. It is important that you understand my reasoning. I
really believe that if you understand it, you will agree with it.)
To argue that God's standards don't apply to everything is to argue that sin hasn't affected and infected everything. To argue that God's Word doesn't give us a
revelation of God's requirements for us is to argue that we are flying blind as Christians. it is to argue that there are zones ofmoral
neutralitythat God will not judge, either today or at the day of judgment, because these zones somehow areoutside His
jurisdiction.In short, "no law-no jurisdiction."
But if Goddoeshave jurisdiction over the whole universe, which is what every Christian believes, then there must be
universal standards by which God executes judgment. The authors of this series argue for God's comprehensive judgment, and we declare His comprehensive salvation.
We therefore are presenting a few of His comprehensive blueprints.
The Concept of Blueprints
An architectural blueprint gives us the structural requirements of a building. A blueprint isn't intended to tell the owner where to put the furniture or what
color to paint the rooms. A blueprint does place limits on where the furniture and appliances should be put — laundry here, kitchen there, etc. — but it doesn't
take away our personal options based on personal taste. A blueprint just specifies what must be done during construction for the building to do its job and to
survive the test of time. It gives direction to the contractor. Nobody wants to be on the twelfth floor of a building that collapses.
Today, we are unquestionably on the twelfth floor, and maybe even the fiftieth. Most of today's "buildings" (institutions) were designed by humanists,
for use by humanists, but paid for mostly by Christians (investments, donations, and taxes). These "buildings" aren't safe. Christians (and a lot of
non-Christians) now are hearing the creaking and groaning of these tottering buildings. Millions of people have now concluded that it's time to: (1) call in a
totally new team of foundation and structural specialists to begin a complete renovation, or (2) hire the original contractors to make at least temporary structural
modifications until we can all move to safer quarters, or (3) call for an emergency helicopter team because time has just about run out, and the elevators aren't
safe either.
The writers of this series believe that the first option is the wise one: Christians need to rebuild the foundations, using the Bible as their guide. This view
is ignored by those who still hope and pray for the third approach: God's helicopter escape. Finally, those who have faith in minor structural repairs don't tell us
what or where these hoped-for safe quarters are, or how humanist contractors are going to build them any safer next time.
Why is it that some Christians say that God hasn't drawn up any blueprints? If God doesn't give us blueprints, then who does? if God doesn't set the permanent
standards, then who does? If God hasn't any standards to judge men by, then who judges man?
The humanists' answer is inescapable:mandoes--autonomous, design-it-yourself, do-it-yourself man. Christians call
this man-glorifying religion the religion of humanism. It is amazing how many Christians until quite recently have believed humanism's first doctrinal point,
namely, that God has not established permanent blueprints for man and man's institutions. Christians who hold such a view of God's law serve ashumanism's
chaplains.
Men are God's appointed "contractors." We were never supposed to draw up the blueprints, but we are supposed to execute them, in history and then after
the resurrection. Men have been given dominion on the earth to subdue it for God's glory. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created
him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth'" (Genesis 1:27-28).
Christians about a century ago decided that God never gave them the responsibility to do any building (except for churches). That was just what the humanists had
been waiting for. They immediately stepped in, took over the job of contractor ("Someone has to do it!"). and then announced that they would also be in
charge of drawing up the blueprints. We can see the results of a similar assertion in Genesis, chapter 11: the tower of Babel. Do you remember God's response to
that particular humanistic public works project?
Never Be Embarrassed By the Bible
This sounds simple enough. Why should Christians be embarrassed by the Bible? But they are embarrassed . . . millions of them. The humanists have probably done
more to slow down the spread of the gospel by convincing Christians to be embarrassed by the Bible than by any other strategy they have adopted.
Test your own thinking. Answer this question: "Is God mostly a God of love or mostly a God of wrath?" Think about it before you answer.
It's a trick question. The Biblical answer is: "God is equally a God of love and a God of wrath." But Christians these days will generally answer
almost automatically, "God is mostly a God of love, not wrath."
Now in their hearts, they know this answer can't be true. God sent His Son to the cross to die. His own Son! That's how much God hates sin. That's wrath with a
capital "W." But why did He do it? Because He loves His Son, and those who follow His Son. So, you just can't talk about the wrath of God without talking
about the love of God, and vice versa. The cross is the best proof we have: God is both wrathful and loving. Without the fires of hell as the reason for the cross,
the agony of Jesus Christ on the cross was a mistake, a case of drastic overkill.
Nothing in the Bible should be an embarrassment to any Christian.We may not know for certain precisely how some Biblical truth or
historic event should be properly applied in our day, but every historic record, law, announcement, prophecy, judgment, and warning in the Bible is the very Word of
God, and is not to be flinched at by anyone who calls himself by Christ's name.
We must never doubt that whatever God did in the Old Testament era, the Second Person of the Trinity also did. God's counsel and judgments are not divided. We
must be careful not to regard Jesus Christ as a sort of "unindicted coconspirator" when we read the Old Testament. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and
My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels"
(Mark 8:38).
My point here is simple. If we as Christians can accept what is a very hard principle of the Bible, that Christ was a blood sacrifice for our individual sins,
then we shouldn't flinch at accepting any of the rest of God's principles. As we joyfully accepted His salvation, so we must joyfully embrace all of His principles
that affect any and every area of our lives.
The Whole Bible
When, in a court of law, the witness puts his hand on the Bible and swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God, he
thereby swears on the Word of God — thewholeWord of God, andnothing butthe
Word of God. The Bible is a unit. It's a "package deal." The New Testament doesn't overturn the Old Testament; it's acommentaryon
the Old Testament. It tells us how to use the Old Testament properly in the period after the death and resurrection of Israel's messiah, God's Son.
Jesus said: "Do not think that l came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. l did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven
and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19). The Old Testament isn't a discarded first draft of God's Word. It isn't "God's Word emeritus."
Dominion Christianity teaches that there are four covenants under God, meaning four kinds of vows under God: personal (individual), and the three institutional
covenants: ecclesiastical (the church). civil (governments), and family. All other human institutions (business, educational, charitable, etc.) are to one degree or
other under the jurisdiction of these four covenants. No single covenant is absolute; therefore, no single institution is all-powerful. Thus, Christian liberty isliberty
under God and God's law.
Christianity therefore teaches pluralism, but a very special kind of pluralism: plural institutions under God's comprehensive law. it does not teach a pluralism
of law structures, or a pluralism of moralities, for as we will see shortly, this sort of ultimate pluralism (as distinguished frominstitutional
pluralism) is: always either polytheistic or humanistic. Christian people are required to take dominion over the earth by means of all these God-ordained
institutions, not just the church, or just the state, or just the family.The kingdom of God includes every human institution, and every aspect
of life, for all of life is under God and is governed by His unchanging principles.All of life is under God and God's principles because God
intends to judge all of life in terms of His principles.
In this structure of plural governments, the institutional churches serve as advisers to the other institutions (the Levitical function), but the churches can
only pressure individual leaders through the threat of excommunication. As a restraining factor on unwarranted church authority, an unlawful excommunication by one
local church or denomination is always subject to review by the others if and when the excommunicated person seeks membership elsewhere. Thus, each of the three
covenantal institutions is to be run under God, as interpreted by its lawfully elected or ordained leaders, with the advice of the churches, not the compulsion.
Majority Rule
Just for the record, the authors aren't in favor of imposing some sort of top-down bureaucratic tyranny in the name of Christ. The kingdom of God requires a
bottom-up society. The bottom-up Christian society rests ultimately on the doctrine of self-government under God. It's the humanist view of society that promotes
top-down bureaucratic power.
The authors are in favor of evangelism and missions leading to a widespread Christian revival, so that the great mass of earth's inhabitants will place
themselves under Christ's protection, and voluntarily use His covenantal principles for self-government. Christian reconstruction begins with personal conversion to
Christ and sell-government under God's principles, then spreads to others through revival, and only later brings comprehensive changes in civil law, when the vast
majority of voters voluntarily agree to live under Biblical blueprints.
Let's get this straight: Christian reconstruction depends on majority rule. Of course, the leaders of the Christian reconstructionist movement expect a majority
eventually to accept Christ as savior. If this doesn't happen, then Christians must be content with only partial reconstruction, and only partial blessings from
God. It isn't possible to ramrod God's blessings from the top down, unless you're God. Only humanists think that man is God. All we're trying to do is get the
ramrod away from them, and melt it down. The melted ramrod could then be used to make a great grave marker for humanism: "The God That Failed."
The Continuing Heresy of Dualism
Many (of course, not all!) of the objections to the material in this book series will come from people who have a worldview that is very close to an ancient
church problem: dualism. A lot of well-meaning Christian people are dualists, although they don't even know what it is.
Dualism teaches that the world is inherently divided: spirit vs. matter, or law vs. mercy, or mind vs. matter, or nature vs. grace. What the Bible teaches is
that this world is dividedethicallyandpersonally: Satan vs. God, right vs. wrong. The
conflict between God and Satan will end at the final judgment. Whenever Christians substitute some other form of dualism for ethical dualism, they fall into heresy
and suffer the consequences. That's what has happened today. We are suffering from revived versions of ancient heresies.
Marcion's Dualism
The Old Testament was written by the same God who wrote the New Testament. There were not two Gods in history, meaning there was no dualism or radical split
between the two testamental periods. There is only one God, in time and eternity.
This idea has had opposition throughout church history. An ancient two-Gods heresy was first promoted, in the church about a century after Christ's crucifixion,
and the church has always regarded it as just that, a heresy. It was proposed by a man named Marcion. Basically, this heresy teaches that there are two completely
different law systems in the Bible: Old Testament law and New Testament law (or non-law). But Marcion took the logic of his position all the way. He argued that two
law systems means two Gods. The God of wrath wrote the Old Testament, and the God of mercy wrote the New Testament. In short: "two laws — two Gods."
Many Christians still believe something dangerously close to Marcionism: not a two-Gods view, exactly, but a God-who-changed-all-His-rules sort of view. They
begin with the accurate teaching that the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were fulfilled by Christ, and therefore that theunchanging
principlesof Biblical worship areapplied differentlyin the New Testament. But then they
erroneously conclude that the whole Old Testament system of civil law was dropped by God, andnothing Biblical was put in its place. In
other words, God created a sort of vacuum for state law.
This idea turns civil law-making over to Satan. In our day, this means that civil law-making is turned over to humanists.Christians have
unwittingly become the philosophical allies of the humanists with respect to civil law.With respect to their doctrine of the state,
therefore, most Christians hold what is in effect a two-Gods view of the Bible.
Gnosticism's Dualism
Another ancient heresy that is still with us is gnosticism. It became a major threat to the early church almost from the beginning. It was also a form of
dualism, a theory of a radical split. The gnostics taught that the split is between evil matter and good spirit. Thus, their goal was to escape this material world
through other-worldly exercises that punish the body. They believed inretreat from the world of human conflicts and responsibility. Some
of these ideas got into the church. And people started doing ridiculous things. One "saint" sat on a platform on top of a pole for several decades. This
was considered very spiritual. (Who fed him? Who cleaned up after him?)
Thus, many Christians came to view "the world" as something permanently outside the kingdom of God. They believed that this hostile, forever-evil world
cannot be redeemed, reformed, and reconstructed. Jesus didn't really die for it, and it can't be healed. At best, it can be subdued by power (maybe). This dualistic
view of the world vs. God's kingdom narrowly restricted any earthly manifestation of God's kingdom. Christians who were influenced by gnosticism concluded that
God's kingdom refers only to the institutional church. They argued that the institutional church is theonlymanifestation
of God's kingdom.
This led to two opposite and equally evil conclusions.First, power religionists ("salvation through political power") who
accepted this definition of God's kingdom tried to put the institutional church in charge of everything, since it is supposedly "the only manifestation of
God's kingdom on earth." To subdue the supposedly unredeemable world, which is forever outside the kingdom, the institutional church has to rule with the
sword. A single, monolithic institutional church then gives orders to the state, and the state must without question enforce these orders with the sword. The
hierarchy of the institutional church concentrates political and economic power.What then becomes of liberty?
Second, escape religionists ("salvation is exclusively internal") who also accepted this narrow definition of the kingdom sought refuge from the
evil world of matter and politics by fleeing to hide inside the institutional church, an exclusively "spiritual kingdom," now narrowly defined. They
abandoned the world to evil tyrants.What then becomes of liberty?What becomes of the idea of God's progressive
restoration of all things under Jesus Christ? What, finally, becomes of the idea of Biblical dominion?
When Christians improperly narrow their definition of the kingdom of God, the visible influence of this comprehensive kingdom (both spiritual and institutional
at the same time) begins to shrivel up. The first heresy leads to tyranny by the church, and the second heresy leads to tyranny over the church. Both of these
narrow definitions of God's kingdom destroy the liberty of the responsible Christian man, self-governed under God and God's law.
Zoroaster's Dualism
The last ancient pagan idea that still lives on is also a variant of dualism: matter vs. spirit. if teaches that God and Satan, good and evil, are forever locked
in combat, and that good never triumphs over evil. The Persian religion of Zoroastrianism has held such a view for over 2,500 years. The incredibly popular
"Star Wars" movies were based on this view of the world: the "dark" side of "the force" against its "light" side. In modern
versions of this ancient dualism, the "force" is usually seen as itself impersonal: individuals personalize either the dark side or the light side by
"plugging into" its power.
There are millions of Christians who have adopted a very pessimistic version of this dualism, though not in an impersonal form. God's kingdom is battling
Satan's, and God's is losing. History isn't going to get better. In fact, things are going to get a lot worse externally. Evil will visibly push good into the
shadows. The church is like a band of soldiers who are surrounded by a huge army of Indians. "We can't win boys, so hold the fort until Jesus comes to rescue
us!"
That doesn't sound like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and David, does it? Christians read to their children one of the children's favorite stories, David and
Goliath, yet in their own lives, millions of Christian parents really think that the Goliaths of this world are the unbeatable earthly winners. Christians haven't
even picked up a stone. Until very recently.
An Agenda for Victory
The change has come since 1980. Many Christians' thinking has shifted. Dualism, gnosticism, and "God changed His program midstream" ideas have begun to
be challenged. The politicians have already begun to reckon with the consequences. Politicians are the people we pay to raise their wet index fingers in the wind to
sense a shift, and they have sensed it. It scares them, too. It should.
A new vision has captured the imaginations of a growing army of registered voters. This new vision is simple: it's the old vision of Genesis 1:27-28 and Matthew
28:19-20. It's calleddominion.
Four distinct ideas must be present in any ideology that expects to overturn the existing view of the world and the existing social order:
A doctrine of ultimate truth (permanence) A doctrine of providence (confidence) Optimism toward the future (motivation) Binding comprehensive law
(reconstruction)
The Marxists have had such a vision, or at least those Marxists who don't live inside the bureaucratic giants called the Soviet Union and Red China. The radical
(please, not "fundamentalist") Muslims of Iran also have such a view.
Now, for the first time in over 300 years, Bible-believing Christians have rediscovered these four points in the theology of Christianity. For the first time in
over 300 years, a growing number of Christians are starting to view themselves as an army on the move. This army will grow. This series is designed to help it grow.
And grow tougher.
The authors of this series are determined to set the agenda in world affairs for the next few centuries. We know where the permanent answers are found: in the
Bible, andonlyin the Bible. We believe that we have begun to discover at least preliminary answers to the key
questions. There may be better answers, clearer answers, and more orthodox answers, but they must be found in the Bible, not at Harvard University or on the CBS
Evening News.
We are self-consciously firing the opening shot. We are calling the whole Christian community to join with us in a very serious debate, just as Luther
called them to debate him when he nailed the 95 theses to the church door, over four and a half centuries ago.
It is through such an exchange of ideas by those who take the Bible seriously that a nation and a civilization can be saved. There are now 5 billion people in
the world. If we are to win our world (and these billions of souls) for Christ we must lift up the message of Christ by becoming the city on the hill. When the
world sees the blessings by God upon a nation run by His principles, the mass conversion of whole nations to the Kingdom of our Lord will be the most incredible in
of all history.
If we're correct about the God-required nature of our agenda, it will attract a dedicated following. It will produce a social transformation that could dwarf the
Reformation. This time, we're not limiting our call for reformation to the institutional church.
This time, we mean business.
The Biblical Blueprints Series is a multi-volume book series that gives Biblical solutions for the problems facing our culture today. Each book is written in a
simple, easy to read style and deals with a specific topic such as economics, government, law, crime and punishment, welfare and poverty, taxes, money and banking,
politics, the environment, retirement, and much more.
Each book can be read in one evening and will give you the basic Biblical principles on each topic. Each book concludes with three chapters on how to apply the
principles in your life, the church and the nation. Every chapter is summarized so that the entire book can be absorbed in just a few minutes.
As you read these books, you will discover hundreds of new ways to serve God. Each book will show you ways that you can start to implement God's plan in your own
life. As hundreds of thousands join you, and millions more begin to follow the example set, a civilization can be changed.
Why will people change their lives? Because they will see God's blessings on those who live by His Word (Deuteronomy 4:6-8).
Each title in the Biblical Blueprints Series is available in a deluxe paperback edition for $7.95 or a classic leatherbound edition for $15.95.
The Program 12 Days Bringing to Mind The Most Significant Event in Human History
Each day you'll receive an audio for your morning commute to work, and another audio for your commute back home. The morning audio will look at Micah's Vine
& Fig Tree prophecy, and in the evening we'll show how that vision began to be fulfilled at Christmas two millennia ago.
Day 1 - Jesus is the culmination of thousands of years of meticulous genealogical records preserved by "the Chosen People," Israel.
Day 3 - Jesus will be given "the throne of his father David."
• Luke 1:5-25 - John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah,
as prophesied of Elijah.
• Luke 1:26-38 - The Angel Gabriel announces the conception of the
Messiah: "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:33)
• Luke 1:39-45 - the unborn John the Baptist leaps for joy when he
encounters the unborn Messiah. Planned Parenthood attempts to sell them both for body parts. (That last part is "not in the earliest manuscripts.")
Mary sings a song of praise composed of Old Testament quotations, saying that the real meaning of Christmas is good news for the poor and lowly,
and bad news for the rich and powerful:
50And His
mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. 51He
hath shewed strength with His arm; He
hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He
has put down the mighty from theirthrones, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with
good things; and the
rich he hath sent empty away.
71That we should be saved
from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 79To
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the
way of peace.
Day 6 - Matthew 1:18-25 - the Incarnation is explained to
Joseph
"Jesus" means "salvation" "Immanuel" means "God with us"
The Prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in
Bethlehem. Jesus' parents lived in Nazereth. Therefore God predestined Caesar to issue a decree (probably
relating to taxes) that would bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. Evil empires serve God's purposes.
An army of angels announces the birth of the Messiah to lowly shepherds, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And
on earth peace to those with whom He is pleased!”
The most important family on earth could not afford the top-level offering required by the law of Moses. They took advantage of a provision for low-income
families.
Day 10 -
• Luke 2:25-35 - Simeon had been told
he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah. He says Jesus is "The One."
• Luke 2:36-38
- Anna the Prophetess is another well-known Godly person who acknowledges that Jesus is the Child promised by the prophets. (Christianity offered a view of
women which was quite unlike that of the Empire that occupied Israel at the time.)
Day 11 - Wise men worship Jesus
• Matthew 2:1-8 - "Wise men
from the East" (Babylon, perhaps) knew of Micah's prophecy that the King of the Jews would be born in Bethlehem.
When Herod got word of the birth of a rival king, he behaved in a perfectly logical way (for someone who wants to protect his
power): he massacred all male babies the age of Jesus. Herod recognized that Jesus was a threat to Herod's power.
Each day along the way, we will compare these historical accounts of Christmas with Micah's Vine & Fig
Tree prophecy predicting:
The message of the angels to the shepherds on the first Christmas:
And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And peace
on earth among men with whom He is well pleased. Luke
2:8-15
His lord said unto him, `Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make
thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.' Matthew 25:21
The Vine & Fig Tree Worldview
The phrase "Vine & Fig Tree" comes from the Old Testament Prophet Micah, the fourth chapter.
You can find out more about the Vine & Fig Tree Worldview on our home page:
During the next 12 days, you'll see the "real meaning" of Christmas in the Bible like you've never seen them before.
Many Christians today believe Jesus came to get us a ticket to heaven when we die. In the meantime, Satan rules the planet. Their story of the Bible goes like
this:
God created planet earth;
God put man on earth to be a good steward, and transform the Garden of Eden into the City of God;
Satan tempted man;
Man rebelled against God, choosing to be his own god instead;
Satan now controls the world;
Jesus came to pay the penalty for this rebellion;
Things are going to get worse and worse;
Since Satan and man are not playing God's game by God's rules, God is soon going to take his cosmic football and go home.
In other words, Satan wins.
Pretty dismal story, isn't it?
Sure, God sent His Son, who died on the cross, so that some of the players can be forgiven for their rebellion and go home with God, but God's original purposes
for man and the creation were thwarted by Satan, the ultimate victor.
Some of George Washington's favorite passages of the Bible were those that spoke of every man dwelling
safely "under his own vine and fig tree." Other Founding
Fathers also referred to this "Vine & Fig Tree" ideal.
(George Washington would recommend that you enroll in The 12 Days of Christmas
program. He read the Bible for an hour each morning, and another hour in the evening.)
George Washington was motivated by the Vine & Fig Tree vision revealed in the Bible. Washington's Diaries are available
online at the Library of Congress. They are introduced with these words:
No theme appears more frequently in the writings of Washington than his love for his land. The diaries are a monument to that concern.
In his letters he referred often, as an expression of this devotion and its resulting contentment, to an Old Testament passage. After the Revolution, when
he had returned to Mount Vernon, he wrote the Marquis de Lafayette on Feb. 1, 1784:
"At length my Dear Marquis I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, & under the shadow of my
own Vine & my own Fig-tree."
This phrase occurs at least 11 times in Washington's letters.
"And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree" (2 Kings 18:31).
Peter Lillback, author of a 1,000-page
study of Washington's life and thought,
has found more than 40 references to the “Vine and Fig Tree” vision in Washington's Papers. "Vine
& Fig Tree" is the original "American Dream."
The phrase occurs a
number of times in Scripture. These references are visual reminders of the Hebrew word for salvation,
which means
• peace,
• wholeness,
• health,
• welfare, and
• private property free from pirates and princes.
When today's Americans hear the word "salvation," they usually think about going to heaven when they die. When the writers of the Bible used the
word "salvation," they wanted you to be thinking about dwelling safely under your own Vine
& Fig Tree during this life -- much more often than they wanted you to be
thinking about what you'll be doing in the afterlife.
Vine & Fig Tree is also a phrase from the prophet Micah, the idea of everyone owning
property and enjoying the fruits of their labor without fear of theft or political oppression, of sitting peacefully under your "Vine
& Fig Tree."
Hundreds of years before Christ, the prophet Daniel spoke of the
first Christmas, the birth of the Messiah in the days of the Roman Empire. That barbaric, debauched empire was destroyed, and the Kingdom of Christ began growing
like a mustard tree, like leaven, like a field (Matthew 13). The Emperor Justinian began Christianizing the Eastern Roman Empire, and in the West kings like Alfred
and Ethelbert made the 10 Commandments the basis of new legal systems. The "Common Law" began, with a
Christian foundation, and eventually found its way into the Constitution of the United States, "a
Christian nation." From 12 dejected disciples, Christianity has spread across the world, and billions of people claim to be Christian. Though there have
been ups and downs, the progress of Christianity has been undeniable -- at least to those who have been taught the facts of history.
Most Americans in the 21st century have not.
If you enroll in this Home Study Program, you will learn the story of the "Vine & Fig Tree." You will
learn that the Bible says the purpose of the first Christmas was that "the knowledge of the Lord should cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah
11:9; Habakkuk 2:14). This has been
going on for 2,000 years now. This is a wonderful story that isn't being told.
And the story is really just beginning.
You're invited to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Join our online party and accomplish the following over the next 12 days:
read the historical accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ
discover "the real meaning of Christmas" by comparing the Gospel accounts of Christmas with a neglected Old Testament prophecy (Micah 4:1-7).
The "real meaning of Christmas" is:
Peace on Earth (Luke 2:14).
Everyone dwelling securely under his own Vine & Fig Tree (Micah 4:1-7).
Jesus is the Christ ("Christ" means "messiah,"
or "anointed King").
What we've already witnessed:
The prophet Daniel predicted that during the Roman Empire, a rock would crush the empire and turn
into a mountain and fill the whole earth. Jesus is the Rock. He has been reigning for 2,000 years,
ever since He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. His Kingdom is the Mountain, it's filling the earth, and the planet is being
progressively Christianized. Before He rose from the dead, He had 12 dejected and confused disciples. Today over two billion people claim to be
followers of Christ. The empire that executed Jesus soon collapsed under its own depravity. Christians
began Christianizing the world. Early kings like Ethelbert made the Ten Commandments the foundation of the "common
law" legal system in Europe. At one time the United States Supreme Court declared that America was "a
Christian nation." "Western civilization" is Christian
civilization. There have been ups and downs, but the progress cannot be denied. The Mountain is filling the earth.
Controversy:
Christ's Kingdom advances peacefully through works of service, not
the sword. A non-military, "pacifist" Messiah was not the
kind of Messiah expected by most Jews 2,000 years ago. (Nor by many Christians today.)
There are two groups that oppose this concept of Christmas:
"Premils"
"Pinkos"
"Premils" are "pre-millennialists" who believe the "millennium" (described by Micah 4 and
other passages) cannot take place until after a Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus returns and sets up a strong, military, "police-state"-style
centralized government, with armed believers dispatched from a throne in Jerusalem to put down unbelievers. "Premils" believe Christmas only secured for
believers a ticket to heaven when they die, or a ticket on "the Rapture" if they live that
long. Not global transformation.
"Pinkos" are those who believe that Jesus is not King enough to bring about the "millennium"; we need strong centralized government
for that. Pinkos call us "anarchists."
During the next 12 days, we'll find out why the Premils and the Pinkos are both wrong, and why you and I can and should work to bring "Peace on
Earth" so that everyone can dwell prosperously and securely under their own Vine & Fig Tree.
For more about the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision, see our
home page.
by Meredith G. Kline. Kline suggests that the physical theophanic Glory of the Holy Spirit, who hovered over the original earth creation in Gen 1:2, served as the
"divine model" for man's creation. In expounding these themes, Kline develops a system of typology where the Garden of Eden, the tabernacle, temple,
priest and prophet are all modeled after the archetypal form of the Glory-Spirit, which is a model of heaven itself. Jesus taught us to pray that God's will would
be done "on earth as it is in heaven." Comparing the first chapters of Genesis and the last chapters of Revelation suggests that man's original purpose is
nothing less than building the City of God, the New Jerusalem. Edenic motifs are clearly seen in Revelation.
,
has found more than 40 references to the “Vine and Fig Tree” vision in Washington's Papers.