Podcast : 11-11-22
How,Why and When Will God Open the Hearts and Minds of Men to Truth?
THE CONVERSION AND CALLING OF THE FIRST FRUITS
Last week we described why it seems that God is hiding the truth from the majority of mankind. When and why will God alter this pattern? Christ witnessed to the people in parables because their hearts were not truly sincere in seeking God.
Isaiah 29:13-15 NKJV 13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, 14 Therefore …the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"
The insincerity of the people was clear to God but the people led by suspect leaders were not ready to accept the truth.
Isaiah 32:1-4 NKJV 1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice. .... 3 The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those who hear will listen. 4 Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, ... be ready to speak plainly...15 NKJV 15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, …
Isaiah the prophet then revealed that this period of deceived people will come to an end. Full true justice is obviously not in our present world. True justice will come in the future. It will come in several stages. The first stage is those in the new covenant era who are called by God. Whose minds are beginning to question the false religions of this age. People in the present world are deceived until called by God. A small percentage are called now they are the 'elect or very elect'.
Romans 11:7-8 NKJV 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day."
If a person finds himself open to new truth and questioning a lot of mankind's religious traditions God maybe opening his mind. That person could be among those chosen first or elected if they respond to that calling.
2 Corinthians 3:13-18 NKJV 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face...14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
The Apostle Paul is writing to believers and prospects that the veil that covers the hearts of most people is lifted for them when they turn to the true Christ. When prospects repent and turn to God truth will flood into them. Veils will be lifted for them only - not the world. They will become part of the first fruits to God.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The spiritually discerned truth will be received in the hearts of the elect or chosen. If you are not sure of your calling, pray and ask God to open your minds even more to deep Bible truths.
THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTIONS REVEALS THE FUTURE
The two resurrections reveal the true fate of mankind. The second coming of the Messiah is the timing of the first resurrection, those being called now. When Jesus returns in power and glory those converted prior to his return will be raised to glory. Paul comforted the believers with this good news.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 NKJV 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
All those called up until that point in history will rise. However most of the world will still be deceived.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
God will put the law in the hearts of true believers as part of the salvation process. Note Heb.8:9-10. What happens to the billions not yet saved? Those not among the true believers at His second coming?
Revelation 20:4-5 NKJV 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.... who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the REST OF THE DEAD did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
It says plainly that the rest of the dead which would be in the billions, many never even heard the name of Christ no less gone through the salvation process would live again. This is the second resurrection. Further, the two resurrections are separated by a thousand years.
John 5:28-29 RSV 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
The first resurrection is called the resurrection to life, an everlasting life, and the second one to judgment. What is meant by judgment? It is like a boxing match with a long fifteen round struggle and the referee will judge the winner on the entire contest. They get points for each round. The conclusion is important also. People cannot be evaluated or judged if they are ignorant of the truth, the rules of the contest. Even infants raised will get an entire lifetime to convert and be saved by Christ. See Isa. 65:20.
THE WORLD WILL BE DELUGED WITH THE TRUTH
Jesus mentioned that some of the most pagan and perverted societies will get a chance at salvation in the next life and start ahead of some of the self righteous Israelites in their evaluation.
Matthew 11:21-23 NKJV 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 "But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 "And you, Capernaum, ….works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
All the world will know the truth with the deceiver Satan gone and have a period of time to be thereby judged.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
The book of life will be opened so God can add billions of new peoples names. The vast majority of mankind will be saved during this period. God will be victorious over Satan. A fair God will give all who died in varying levels of deception an opportunity for salvation with the Bible open to their hearts and minds and they will thereby be judged and saved.
Revelation 20:12 NKJV 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened (the Bible). And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books ( again the Bible).
Answer the call and strive for the best resurrection- the first one, and rule with Christ bringing justice and truth to the all mankind!
