FOREWORD

The knowledge of the truth is knowledge of eternal life.
If God is not the author of confusion; then why is there so much confusion about the correct time of the Passover? This question gnawed at me for a long time, so I decided to do something about it.  Using only a Bible and a Strong's Concordance, I embarked on an intensive study into the Passover. I knew that God cannot lie and scripture cannot be broken. 

After about six months the truth finally came. There was not one conflicting scripture in all the times the Passover is mentioned in the Bible. By now my wife had joined in the study and we realised that we were learning new truths about God the Father and Jesus Christ. We came to realise that we were being given the knowledge of the truth, which is the knowledge of eternal life. 

1 TIM. 2 v1 to 5.  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto of the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

We learned from the Bible that this was revealed knowledge. This was not new knowledge we were learning, it was a restoration of knowledge which had been suppressed since the time of Christ. The Apostles had this knowledge. 

This knowledge will not come accidentally. 

2 TIM. 3 v 7.  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The following scripture appears to say knowledge is not all that important. 

MAT. 22 v 33 to 40. 3And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

If love is the fulfilment of the law and the prophets, then we must know the law and prophets to correctly know what love is. The knowledge of eternal life shows that God has much more love for His creation than we ever thought imaginable. 

The whole of the Exodus from the Passover to entering the Promised Land is a direct type of our spiritual calling. This knowledge does not come by accident, as the following scripture shows. 

2 COR. 2 v 15,16.  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

Belief is required. 

JOHN. 5 v 46.  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

The knowledge of Jesus Christ begins at Moses. 

LUKE. 24 v 27.  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Old Testament Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land is a direct type of the New Testament Exodus from sin to Eternal Life. 

HEB. 3 v 5.  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

We learned that God the Father is God of the Old Testament. We learned that Jesus Christ is from the beginning, not from eternity. We learned from clearly stated scriptures that only one God has inhabited eternity. 

We were receiving answers to such questions as:  Why is Pentecost on a different date each year when the other Holy Days were on the same date each year?  What was the reason for the transfiguration of Christ?  Why is the Wave Sheaf ceremony not kept even though it is just as permanent as the Passover?  What is the significance of the man with the drawn sword in Joshua 5? 

Both my wife and I found that when we believed the bible, and accepted new knowledge, every scripture on the subject agreed with that knowledge. When we were wrong in what we thought we learned, it soon became very apparent and we went back to the subject till we got it right.  We have loved the truth as it has been revealed to us. 

The following pages give the knowledge of eternal life to anyone who will believe the Bible, and have the courage to follow that belief. We can make this truth plain but you must believe Gods Word. God is not interested in my thoughts or your thoughts, He alone has the words of eternal life. God tells us whom he will reveal truth to. The attributes He requires of us are defined in chapter one. 

Let me state very clearly; 

Do not believe me.. Believe the bibleThe bible is the word of the great God who cannot lie. 

CHAPTER 1. WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF HIS PEOPLE

God requires certain attributes from us before He will teach us anything. These attributes are clearly defined in the Bible. God will help us to attain them if we ask and put in the effort. 

We must fear God and keep His Commandments. To fear God is to be in awe and reverence of Him. The fear of God is associated with wisdom and knowledge. 

ECCL. 12 v 13.   Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

PROV. 1 v 7.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

PROV. 9 v 10.   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

We can learn to fear God. 

PSA. 34 v 11.  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

PROV. 2 v 3.  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, andliftest up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

We must be humble and tremble at the awesome power of our God. 

ISA. 66 v 2.  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor [humble or lowly] and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

God requires us to believe Him and to have the courage to follow that belief. 

REV. 21 v 8.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Notice that unbelief is on a par with murder and lying etc. 

We have found that most people will not believe the Bible if it differs from what they already believe. We must not only believe the Bible; we must love the truth. 

2 THESS. 2 v 10.  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We must move from the milk of the Word to the meat. 

ISA. 28 v 9.  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

The Great God of the universe dwells with those who are contrite and humble. 

ISA. 57 v 15.  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

By reading the above quoted Scriptures and any others on the subjects; it will become clear just how importantly God regards these attributes. God resists the proud, and the envious, and those who doubt His word. These people will not accept or believe new knowledge. 

When we first encounter new truth, it is difficult for us to accept something that is different from what we have always believed. God requires that we believe Him regardless of the physical cost 

The Philadelphian era of Gods church was not given the end time knowledge of the truth, they had the knowledge that God revealed to them for that particular era. That era had to hold fast 'to what they had.' Knowledge is to be increased at the time of the end. 

DAN. 12 v 4.    But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

There are many new things to learn in the end time. The end time church will be united in the knowledge of God. 

We, in no way wish to undermine the teachings of Mr. Armstrong;  what we are saying is, that the end time knowledge was not given to Mr. Armstrong because his commission from God did not include the end time days. The Philadelphian era was to be kept from the time of trouble which is to come on the whole world. 

Mr. Armstrong was given a great deal of knowledge including the key to the house of David. The knowledge of who modern day Joseph is includes the fact that House of David still has a royal line existing to this very day. The knowledge, that Great Britain and America are modern day Joseph [Ephraim and Manasseh], is the key to the House of David. 

Mr Armstrong has been dead now for many years, and Gods church must continue to grow in grace and knowledge.  That is why, many of these end time truths differ from what Mr. Armstrong taught. They are totally from the words of the bible, they are the truth, they are for this end time age, which we now live in. Whether or not these new truths are believed is entirely up to the reader.  Christ never forced anyone to believe Him. 

God requires that we prove all things. We are not to blindly follow the leaders of the church. We will all have to individually stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

In all of this vast universe, there is nothing which can be given priority over the Great God. 

We must become as a child. 

MAT. 18 v 2 to 5.  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

God expects his people to accept the truth like a little child, but he expects us to hold fast to that truth, even to the point of death. 

A massive key to understanding new knowledge is to realise that we do not have all knowledge. There is always something new to learn. 

CHAPTER 2.      THE  GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

The knowledge of God is part of the knowledge of eternal life, which makes this an extremely important subject. 

JOHN. 17 v 3.  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It is absolutely amazing how simple it is to know which God is the God of the Old Testament, if we believe the Bible. 

ISA. 83 v 18.   That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

The Most High God is God the Father, whose name alone is Jehovah. There is only one 'Most High' not two. Jesus Christ is the Son of the Most High God. 

MARK. 5 v 7.  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

In every instance in the Old Testament where the Hebrew word Jehovah; [3O68 in Strongs] is mentioned, it refers to God the Father. It is almost always translated 'Lord.' 

God the Father cannot be looked upon. 

EX. 33 v 2O.  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

JOHN. 1 v 18.  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

God the Father can be heard. 

GEN. 17 v 1.  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

MAT. 17 v 5.  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

God the Father walked in the Garden of Eden, He was in the burning bush, He gave the Ten Commandments, He spoke to Abraham, He appeared to Job. In all these encounters God was not directly looked upon. 

God the Father can be invisible, He has appeared in a cloud, in a fire, in a whirlwind, or in a vision. 

An interesting scripture which seems to contradict the above is: 

JOB. 42 v 5.  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

JOB. 38 v 1.  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said.

God the Father spoke to Job, He cannot be looked upon. The word 'seeth' in Job 42 v 5. Can mean literally or figuratively and is used in both senses in the Bible. God spoke to Job in a whirlwind. 

It is possible to see with 'eyes of understanding.' 

EPH. 1 v 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 

Job saw God with the eyes of understanding. We know that is how Job saw God as God the Father cannot be looked directly upon, and scripture cannot be broken. God spoke to Job 'in a whirlwind.' 

Every scripture in the Bible on the subject will agree with the knowledge that God the Father can be heard but not seen. 

The scriptures are very plain in the knowledge of which God is God of the Old Testament. God the Father is the main God. He appeared as Almighty God prior to revealing Himself as the Jehovah, to Moses in the burning bush.   Quite often, God the word is with Him. Using the word 'one' to mean 'two' does not stack up. Quite often in the Bible; One God is quoted and Jesus Christ also mentioned. 

JOHN. 17 v 3.  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

JOHN. 7 v 28,29.  Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 

The scriptures are very plain that God the Father, the Almighty God, the Most High, the Jehovah, is the God of the Old Testament. 

Almighty God revealed Himself to Moses as the 'Self Existent One' prior to the Exodus. This knowledge is restored as part of the knowledge of eternal life, which is a direct parallel of the Old Testament Exodus. 

An interesting scripture is found early in the book of Exodus. God [Jehovah] is talking to Moses' 

EX. 6 v 2 to 7.  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. 4And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Moses had to tell the Israelites that the Lord [Jehovah] would bring them out of Egypt. The Israelites would know that it was the Lord. 

The Hebrew word [Jehovah] is almost always translated 'Lord' in the bible. Strongs concordance describes Jehovah as follows: 
H3068

From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069. 

Right up to the time of Moses; God the Father was known as the Almighty God. Notice carefully that it is the Lord [Jehovah] who is speaking. 

GEN. 17 v 1.  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

God revealed himself to Moses as the 'Self Existent One.' This was done at the burning bush. 

EX. 3 v 13 to 15.  And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

[I am] means to 'emphatically exist.' It was at the burning bush that God revealed himself to Moses as the Lord [Jehovah the self existent one] This is proved in scripture where God told Moses that the Lord [Jehovah] would free the Israelites. Moses had to tell the Israelites that the Lord would bring them out of Egypt, the Lords name is Jehovah, not [I Am.] 

EX. 6 v 6.  Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments. 

The first thing that Almighty God did prior to freeing the Israelites, was to reveal Himself to Moses as the Self Existent One. Abraham and other people of God, prior to Moses, did not have this knowledge. The church of God, during Mr. Armstrongs time did not have this knowledge. During the Philadelphian era of Gods church we believed that there were two Self Existent Ones. 

Please note very carefully, it is of extreme importance to understand the following paragraphs.

Abraham is the father of the faithful: He, and other people of God prior to Moses did not have the knowledge of 'The Self Existent God.' This does not debase them in any way, this was part of Gods plan, and has nothing to do with righteousness. 

Moses was given this knowledge prior to the Old Testament Exodus, which is a direct type of our spiritual calling. The physical Israelites were given the knowledge of the 'Self Existent God' by Moses, at Gods command. 

The Philadelphian Church of God with Mr. Armstrong as the physical leader did not have the knowledge of the one God who has inhabited eternity. We believed emphatically that there were two true Gods. This was according to Gods plan. 

The knowledge of the One True God [The Self Existent One] has been restored with the knowledge that the physical Exodus is a direct type of our spiritual Exodus out of this world to the Promised Land. 

The knowledge of the truth begins with the knowledge that there is one God who has inhabited eternity. This is proved conclusively in later chapters in this book. 

CHAPTER 3. THE PASSOVER.

The emphasis on the Passover in the Old Testament is the preparation. In every scripture where the Passover is kept in the Old Testament, it means prepared. The emphasis is on the killing of the lamb because the Passover lamb was a type of Christ who would be killed in the future. The Old Testament Passover was kept [prepared] on the 14th Nisan.

NUM. 9 v 3.   In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
The lamb was to be killed in the 14th and eaten in that night. 

EX. 12 v 6.  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

EX. 12 v 8.  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Jesus Christ was killed on the preparation day, the 14th Nisan. This is the day before the Holy day sabbath, which is the first day of unleavened bread. 

MARK. 15 v 42,43.  And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 

Jesus Christ was crucified on the 14th Nisan. This was the same day of the killing of the lamb of the Old Testament. 

The Old Testament Passover pointed to Christ. 

1 COR 5 v 7.  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

1 PETER. 1 v 19.  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

The preparation was the day before the Holy Day. 

JOHN. 19 v 31.The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 

Every scripture on the Passover in the Bible backs up the fact that it is prepared on the 14th Nisan which is the preparation day and eaten in the 15th Nisan which is a holy day. The emphasis is on the eating in the New Testament. 

During His ministry Christ kept the Passover in the feast day, which is the 15th. 

JOHN. 2 v 23.  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 

  We know the Passover was killed on the 14th in the preparation day; so John 2 v 23. Has to be talking about the eating. 

MAT.  26 v 17.  Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

The word 'first' in this verse means 'before'. [a check of the concordance will verify this] We know clearly that Christ kept his last Passover before unleavened bread.

LUKE. 22 v 7.  Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

'Day' in this verse means 'approximate time.' This can be verified by a concordance. 

We keep the Passover in remembrance of the death of Christ and we accept the fact that Christ died for the sins of mankind. Christ kept the Passover on the Feast day during his ministry, the Passover was kept in the Feast day after his death. It is stated plainly in the New Testament, that the Passover is eaten in the Feast Day. Christ kept the Passover the night before his death, and introduced the New Testament symbols of his body. He did not change the date. The Passover ceremony was ordained forever, this fact is mentioned continually in the Old Testament. If Christ changed the date; then scripture would be broken. 

EX. 12 v 14.  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 

The lamb was selected on the 10th Nisan, killed on the 14th, eaten on the 15th. The lambs blood was put on the door lintels. 

Christ was killed on the 14th. He paid the penalty for the sins of mankind, and was buried just prior to sunset. 

Christ had to take the Passover service one night early with His disciples, because He was the Passover lamb.  He had to die on the 14th the same time of day, and the same time of month, as the Passover lamb was killed.  This is why on that one occasion He kept it early.  HE DID NOT CHANGE THE EATING TIME FROM THE 15TH TO THE 14TH

THE PASSOVER MUST BE EATEN ON THE 15TH AS WAS ORDAINED BY THE FATHER THOUSANDS OF YEARS EARLIER. 

God the father calls us out of this world, we accept Christs death for the remission [deliverance or forgiveness] of our sins. 

MAT. 26 v 28.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Christ death reconciles us to the Father. Read this next scripture carefully. We are not saved by Christs death 

ROM. 5 v 10.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Keeping the Passover on the correct day unlocks the incredible meaning associated with the parting of the Red Sea. 

Also; the Church of God at this time have accepted Christs death for the sins of mankind, so they do not kill a lamb; but they have not yet accepted knowledge of the truth, so they still keep the Old Testament Passover meal under the guise of 'night to be much remembered.' This is according to Gods plan, but, to be Firstfruits, we must eventually accept knowledge of the truth. 

CHAPTER 4.  CROSSING THE RED SEA.

The full account of the exodus is in Exodus chapter twelve. The summary I give here can be verified from that chapter. The Israelites ate the Passover meal, they were dressed and prepared to leave immediately. God the Father passed over at midnight and the destroyer killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. Pharaoh told the Israelites to go and all the Egyptians thrust them out immediately. They left sometime after midnight on the 15th Nisan. The Israelites had previously spoiled the Egyptians. This spoiling was done prior to the Passover. 

EX. 11 v 2,3.  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

The Israelites camped the first afternoon at Succoth, the second afternoon at Etham, and the third afternoon on the bank of the Red Sea near Migdol. God parted the Red Sea all that night 

There is a parallel between the parting of the Red Sea and Christs resurrection. Notice the folowing: 

The start of the 15th Nisan to the start of the Red Sea parting was three days and coincided to the time that Christ would be in the grave. 

From the time  Christ was raised {Saturday afternoon at approx sunset} till the time he ascended to the Father {Sunday Morning at dawn} is typified by the parting of the Red Sea. This is the time the Israelites crossed from Egypt to where the promised Land was available, and is a type of spiritual Israel coming out of this world to where eternal life is available. The greatest physical miracle that has ever occurred typifies the greatest spiritual miracle that has ever occurred. [This was equalled when they entered the Promised Land many years later] 

Many Saints were seen at the time of Christs resurrection. 

MAT. 27 v 52,53.  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

This scripture is possibly, but not absolutely, a reference to some Old Testament prophecies being understood by many at the same time the knowledge of the truth is revealed. 

The crossing of the Red Sea typifies our baptism. 

1 COR. 1O v 1,2.   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

At our baptism, we leave Egypt [sin] and come to where the Promised Land [eternal life] is available. At our baptism and laying on of hands, we receive the down payment of Gods Spirit.

EPH. 1 v 13,14.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Note carefully, at this time the Israelites were out of Egypt but not yet at the Promised Land. At our baptism into Gods Church, we come out of this world to where eternal life is available. Eternal life, in the form of Gods Spirit of life, is not given at this stage. 

God gives the spirit to those who obey Him.

ACTS. 5 v 32.  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

At our baptism, we have not yet had a chance to obey God, so God gives us the earnest of the spirit so we can obey him. 

The Israelites have eaten the Passover, been protected from death by the blood on the door lintels, left Egypt in haste, and journeyed three days to the Red Sea. God the Father parts the Red Sea, the Israelites cross the Sea leaving Egypt and arrive at the wilderness, where the Promised Land is available. They are not yet at the Promised Land. 

After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites journey three days into the wilderness. This brings them to Marah, where God gave them a statute and regulation and He tested them. This was the last day of unleavened bread. God also made a healing covenant with them. 

EX. 15 v 25,26.   And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Christ is three days in the grave and is raised at the same time that the Red Sea had begun to part many years previously. 

We have accepted Christs shed blood, and begin to leave the ways of this world. God the Father has called us. We get baptised and receive the down payment of Gods Holy Spirit
called the earnest of the spirit. We do not have eternal life in the form of the Holy Spirit of power at this stage, just the down payment. 

At some time in the future, God will offer us the knowledge of the truth. This will show God who will believe Him and accept eternal life. 

.CHAPTER 5 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

God the Father gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites on the mountain. God the Word was also on the mountain at the same time. 

EX. 24 v 1,2.  and he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

Notice, Moses alone shall come near the Lord. 

The Elders saw the God of Israel, and were not hurt. They even had a meal in his presence.

EX. 24 v 9,10,11.  Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

The Lord [Jehovah] called Moses up into the mountain. Joshua went with him some of the way. 

EX. 24 v 12,13.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 

Notice that only Moses was allowed to come near the Lord, but he could not look at Him. 

EX. 33 v 20.  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

One God could be looked upon, one could not be looked upon. 

When God the Father gave the Ten Commandments, He said He would not go in the midst of the Israelites to the Promised Land. God the Word, [who would be born as Jesus Christ] went with them. 

EX 33. v 3.  Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way

EX 33. v 14.  And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

1 COR. 10 v 1-4.   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed [accompanied] them: and that Rock was Christ.

How plain the truth of God is, here in the above scriptures is the plain and simple truth, that God the Father gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites.  However because of their rebellion and stiffnecked attitude, He said He would not go with them, lest He consume them on the way.  So He would send His presence to go before them.  The presence that He sent was Christ. 

The whole exodus is an exact type of our spiritual calling. Just as God the Father led the Israelites out of Egypt and handed them over to Christ: so God the Father calls us out of this world [Egypt] then we are baptised into Christ. [The down payment of the spirit does not come at baptism, it normally comes at the laying on of hands, after baptism. This is not always the case.] 

GAL. 3 v 27.   For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

JOHN 6 v 44.  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

1 COR. 3 v 23.  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

God the Father gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, then handed them over to Christ for the duration of the time in the wilderness. Moses was still in contact with God the Father during this time. God the Father was the actual leader but He did not go in their midst. 

God has called us out of this world, we have been baptised, accepted Christs death, and given the basic knowledge of his law. We are baptised into Christ, and receive the down payment of eternal life. We are then in the spiritual wilderness. 

Satan is our God while we are in the world. Christ is our God when we are baptised and receive the down payment of eternal life. 

CHAPTER 6.   THE WILDERNESS

When the Israelites came out of Egypt they were not at the Promised Land. The Promised Land was still some forty years away. During this time the Israelites rebelled and grumbled and gradually came to disbelieve God. This coincides with Gods Church having the earnest of the spirit. We do not receive the spirit of life at baptism, we receive a small portion of the spirit so we can obey God. God will offer us the knowledge of eternal life when we obey Him. 

ACTS. 5 v 32.  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

At baptism we have not had a chance to obey God, and the carnal mind is enmity to God so we can't obey Him prior to baptism. 

Christ's disciples did not receive the spirit of life at baptism, they received it on the day of Pentecost. 

At baptism we are guaranteed Gods Spirit as long as we do our part. God does not give the Spirit of life until He sees whether or not we will obey Him. The knowledge of eternal life is the perfect test to see if we will obey God regardless of the consequences. Remember, the Firstfruits follow Christ wherever He leads. 

The following scripture does not say that we receive Gods Spirit immediately at baptism. 

ACTS. 2 v 38,39.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Repentance and baptism usually do not take place on the same time. Receiving the Holy Spirit of life does not usually take place immediately after baptism. The disciples did not receive it at baptism and neither do we. 

Just as the Israelites in the wilderness found a leader to try to take them back to Egypt, so some in the church were led back to the ways of the world. Those of us who did not go back to the world have been prey for any person who wants to gain a following with their own interpretation of the Gospel. There are literally hundreds of breakaway churches, each one with their own slant on doctrine. 

We are truly in a time of spiritual wilderness, when everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. 

More than ever we need someone to say 'this is the way, walk ye in it.'

It is vitally important that we study to show ourselves approved unto God. It is wrong to blindly follow the church leaders. 

2 TIM. 2 v 15.  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must realise that we will be individually judged. 

2 COR. 5 v 10.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Following blindly will not get us into Gods Kingdom. 

LUKE. 11 v 52.  Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

MAT.  23 v 13.  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

We have to prove all things, and hold fast to what is good. 

1 THESS. 5 v 21.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Gods end time Church will be united. 

The Church will eventually be united in faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Read the following scripture, and believe it if you will. 

EPH. 4 v 13.   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

To know Christ means we will know the Father. 

JOHN. 8 v 19.  Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 

Consider this scenario: If we receive the Holy Spirit of life at baptism, anyone who dies after baptism would be in the first resurrection, whether or not they had developed any character. Imagine all the people in the Churches of God being firstfruits. What a disunited group that would be. What about any one who left the Church after being baptised. They would all go into the lake of fire. The more we learn about the Great God, the more we learn how much love and forgiveness he has. 

Let me repeat: just as the Israelites came out of Egypt and were not yet at the promised land, at baptism we come out of the ways of this world but do not yet have eternal life. 

The reason for the time in the wilderness is made clear in scripture. This is also the reason that we are in the spiritual wilderness. No writing could be more clearer. An interesting fact is the knowledge that even though God the Father did not go through the wilderness in the midst of the Israelites: he was still the one in charge. God the Father is in overall charge of his people even though we are baptised into Christ. 

DEUT. 8 v 2,3.  And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. 

Mr. Armstrong was the physical leader of the Philadelphian era of Gods church. This era was not given the end time knowledge of the truth. They were to be kept from the end time trouble, and they were to hold fast to 'what they have.' 

REV. 3 v 10,11.  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Mr. Armstrong held fast to what God revealed to him during the Philadelphian era of Gods church. No man could have been more loyal or obedient to God.  During this time Mr. Armstrong faced rebellion after rebellion, and was always surrounded by disloyalty. He survived underhanded plots to get rid of him, even from his own son. Since the death of Mr. Armstrong: there has been a concerted attempt to deny that he was Gods leader of  the Philadelphian church. The knowledge of modern day Israel was given to Mr. Armstrong. There is also a massive attempt to deny the knowledge that Great Britain and America are modern day Joseph. 

The following scripture is about the physical leader of the Philadelphian era. Compare it with the account of the Philadelphian church in Revelation ch. 3. 

ISA.  22 v 20 to 25.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. 24And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it. 

Mr Armstrong has a glorious throne waiting for him. The overcomers in the Philadelphian Era will be pillars in the kingdom of God. 

Just as Moses led the physical Israelites through the wilderness to where the Promised Land was available; so Mr. Armstrong led the spiritual Israelites through the spiritual wilderness to where the knowledge of eternal life is available. Just as Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land; so Mr. Armstrong was not given the knowledge of eternal life, which is now revealed. Moses was given a glimpse of the Promised Land. Perhaps Mr. Armstrong was given a glimpse of the knowledge of eternal life just prior to his death. He said a few times just before he died that he had some astounding things to say, but as far as I know, he never got a chance to say anything. 

During the time in the wilderness, the Israelites were fed on manna, which was food from Heaven. This is the milk of the word. We do not get the meat of the word during this time. When the Israelites wanted meat during the wilderness, God gave it to them and they could not handle it. Notice carefully that manna is food from heaven [Gods word] but eventually we need more. We need the food of the Promised Land, the knowledge of eternal life. 

The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness. They grumbled and griped, and rebelled against God and Moses all this time. The Generation that originally left Egypt all died before the Promised Land  was entered. The next Generation entered the Promised Land. 

Gods church has come through the wilderness to where eternal life is available. God will make eternal life available to those who believe Him. 

Will you accept the knowledge of the truth? 
 
 

CHAPTER 7. THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

There are several clear requirements for eternal life as required by God. At our baptism we have not fulfilled these requirements. My wife and I have gone to great lengths to correctly divide the word of truth. We ask you not to believe us; believe the Bible, which is the words of the Great God; He cannot lie. 

[1] BELIEF.
 

Amazing as it may appear, we have found that practically no one believes the bible. We believe church doctrine, which does not always stand up under close scrutiny. To believe the bible will take us out of our comfort zone and alienate us from other members. [For example the God who gave the Ten Commandments said he would have no other Gods before him. This can only apply to the Great God, not God the word. Do you believe it was God the Father who gave the Commandments ?] 

REV. 21 V 8.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The unbelievers go in the lake of fire; that shows how God looks on belief of his word. We can see from this scripture that belief is a requirement of eternal life. Believing God is mentioned extremely frequently in the bible. 

[2] FEAR OF GOD. 

To fear God is quite often mentioned in church sermons, when this subject is looked into it becomes apparent that very few have a correct fear of God. The correct fear of God is to stand in awe and reverence of the Almighty Creator God. The correct fear of God can not be feigned, we have to learn to fear God Deut. 4 v 10,14 v 23, 17 v 19. 

REV. 11 V 18.  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

The reward goes to those who fear Gods name. 

PHIL. 2 V 12.  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

A person who fears God [is in awe and reverence] will tremble at the awesome power of our great God, they will be afraid to disobey God. 

[3] OBEDIENCE.

Obedience to God is a requirement of eternal life. See Phil. 2 v 12 quoted above. 

ACTS 5 v 32.  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Notice the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. 
2 THES 1 v 8.  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Disobedience leads to the lake of fire. 

[4] COMMANDMENT KEEPING. 

Everyone in Gods church knows we must keep the Commandments and the Holy Days, so we will not dwell on this subject except to quote one scripture. 

MAT. 19 V 17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Jesus quoted some of the commandments, but there is plenty of scriptural proof that all the commandments must be kept as well as the Holy Days. Commandment keeping, both physically and spiritually is a requirement of eternal life. This is also how we love God. 

[5] LOVE Love of God, Love of the brethren, and love of all mankind is the fulfillment of the law, and is a requirement of eternal life. 

Knowledge is worthless without love. God the Father must be our first love. If we do not love God we can not love the brethren. 

1 JOHN 4 v 20.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 

1 JOHN 3 v 14.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

If we love the brethren we have passed from death to life. 

1 JOHN 15 v 13-14.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Notice who Jesus' friends are. We must love all mankind, but God expects a greater love for the brethren. We cannot love the brethren without loving God, 

[6] DOING GOOD. 

MAT. 25 v 46.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Read Mat. 25 v 34 to 46 to get the full story. We will go into the lake of fire if we don't do good when it is in our power to do so. 

[7] KEEPING THE PASSOVER. 

JOHN 6 v 54.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

By keeping the Passover we have eternal life. A careful study of this chapter shows that the Passover must be kept correctly. 

JOHN 6 v 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the   Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

To correctly keep the passover is to live by Christ. [Christ must be the one we emulate and obey.] The Passover must be kept on the correct day. 

It is extremely plain that the old testament Passover was kept [prepared ] on the 14th and eaten on the 15th. The new testament is very clear on the date of the Passover as well. 

During the time in the spiritual wilderness, we keep the Old Testament Passover meal under the guise of 'night to be much observed' When we accept the knowledge of eternal life, we will keep the New Testament Passover on the night of the 15th. 

[8] KNOWING GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON.

We all know that knowledge without love is useless; nevertheless there is knowledge required for eternal life. Love fulfils the law, it does not replace the law.  If you believe the bible: You will believe the knowledge of God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. 

A friend of ours had previously shown us, mainly from the book of Hebrews, that Jesus Christ had not inhabited eternity. He was from God ; 'from the beginning.' The implication of this knowledge was not apparent to me until I began my study into the Passover. It was only then that John 17 v 3 began to dwell heavily on my mind. It can not be quoted any clearer than the bible quote, and yet it seems that practically no one believes it. 

JOHN 17 v 3.  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It might be a good idea to read every word of that verse until it sinks in. We have been taught that there are two true Gods. 

IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF ETERNAL LIFE THAT WE KNOW THE ONE TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST. 

God the Father is the true God. Jesus Christ is the Son of the true God. 

1 THESS. 1 v 9,10.   For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Christ is from the true God.

JOHN 7 v 28.  Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

The following two verses call Jesus Christ true, not true as in being God, but true in how he teaches the way of God. The Bible says quite plainly in John 17 v 3 that there is only one true God.  The greek word used in the following two verses to show that Christ is true ; is different from the word that shows God the Father is true. 

MAT. 22 v 16.  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

MARK. 12 v 14.  And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

There is only one who has inhabited eternity. 

ISA. 57 v 15.  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The Bible says plainly that there is only one true God, there is only one who has inhabited eternity. The Bible also is plain that Jesus Christ [God the Word] has not inhabited eternity. It is extremely clear in the Bible that Jesus Christ is God, it is also clear that Christ is not from eternity. He is from the Father. This is plainly stated by Christ plenty of times in the Gospels. 

JOHN 7 v 29.  But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

Read the following scriptures carefully, they show where and when Jesus Christ came into being. 

Jesus Christ is 'from the beginning' Beginning means commencement, Christ had a commencement. 

1 JOHN 1 v 1 to 3.  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Compare John 1 v 1 with Gen. 1 v 1. We have no trouble knowing that the Creation had a commencement [in the beginning] we use the same words in John 1 v 1 to say that Christ has eternally existed. We have been wrong: Christ is from the beginning. He is also from the Father. 

Jesus Christ is the Son of God prior to Creation. This knowledge is revealed by God. 

MAT. 16 v 13 to 18.  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And 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.

God made the worlds by his son 

HEB. 1 v 1, 2.  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The son of God is mentioned in the Old Testament. Note carefully that Nebuchadnezzar is talking about the Most High God, God the Father. he is not talking about a son of a pagan God. 

DAN. 3 v 25,26.  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

[9] LOVE OF THE TRUTH Gods people will love the truth, as it is revealed to them. This love also is a requirement of eternal life. 

2 THES 2 V 10

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

[10] FAITH Faith is proof of our belief 

HEB 11 V 1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

EPH 2 V 8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

COMMENT. 

The firstfruits are those who follow Christ where ever he leads. Rev. 14 v 4. The knowledge of God and Christ is revealed knowledge. This knowledge has come to light in the Laodicean era of Gods church, the era least likely to accept it. The Philadelphian era was not given this knowledge. The overcomers in that era are kept from the tribulation. Rev. 3 v 10. Their reward is not as good as the Laodicean era. We are in the era that will go into great tribulation. You have just received the knowledge that God requires, to be a firstfruit. It is useless to have a zeal toward God without knowledge. This is revealed knowledge not academic knowledge. We must come to the knowledge of the truth. 

The bible states, dozens of times that Christ is from the Father, and that Christ is the Son of God, Christ is from the beginning, and there is only one true God. 

HEB. 10 V 26.  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
          This article has given the knowledge of the truth. To those with eyes to see, God is offering us the chance to be firstfruits. There can be no greater offer ever made. This is the knowledge of eternal life and also eternal death. God is not interested in part time or hobby Christians; he demands 100% commitment. 

It seems that the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God from the beginning has been hidden since the time of the Apostles. 

LUKE. 11 v 52.  Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

God chastised the first era mentioned in revelation for leaving their first love. God the Father is the first love. 

REV. 2 v 4.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

The Philadelphian era of Gods church had to hold fast to what they had. That era, which is passed with the death of Mr. Armstrong, did not have this knowledge of the truth. 

REV. 3 v 11.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The truth can be opened to any one who [figuratively] hears Christs voice. In the Laodicean era; Christ is knocking. We can let him in. 

REV. 3 v 20.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

My wife and I have gone to a great deal of trouble to correctly divide the word of truth. We are well aware of the penalty for putting our ideas into Gods word. We will not knowingly misquote a scripture. 
Do not believe me --------believe God--------He cannot lie. With this knowledge comes great responsibility. Don't let God down. We will look at some scriptures that are traditionally used to state that Jesus Christ has inhabited eternity with the Great God. I will quote the scriptures and then give a comment. I have shown these scriptures with Strongs reference numbers, to compare similar words. 

MICAH. 5 v 2.  But thou, BethlehemH1035 EphratahH672, though thou be littleH6810 among the thousandsH505 of JudahH3063, yet out of thee shall he comeH3318 forthH3318 unto me that is to be rulerH4910 in IsraelH3478; whose goingsH4163 forthH4163 have been from of oldH6924, from everlastingH5769.

PROV. 8 v 23.  I was setH5258 up from everlastingH5769, from the beginningH7218, or everH6924 the earthH776 was.

Everlasting can mean from the beginning. 

HEB. 13 v 8.  JesusG2424 ChristG5547 the sameG846 yesterdayG5504, and to dayG4594, and for everG165.

ACTS. 7 v 28.  WiltG2309 thou killG337 me, as thou diddestG337 the EgyptianG124 yesterdayG5504?

Yesterday can mean the day before. 

PHIL. 2 v 6.  Who, beingG5225 in the formG3444 of GodG2316, thoughtG2233 it not robberyG725 to be equalG2470 with GodG2316:

JOHN 14 v 28.  Ye have heardG191 howG3754 I saidG2036 unto you, I goG5217 awayG5217, and comeG2064 again unto you. IfG1487 ye lovedG25 me, ye would rejoiceG5463, becauseG3754 I saidG2036, I goG4198 unto the FatherG3962: for my FatherG3962 is greaterG3187 than I.

Christ is God, He is not equal in power or authority to the Great God. Just as a physical son is equal to his father; so a spiritual son is equal to his Father. Read Phil. 2 v 6. Again, Christ was in the form of God. Once he was born of the Father he was in the form of God. 

JOHN 10 v 30.  I and my FatherG3962 are oneG1520.

God and Christ are in complete agreement in everything they do. Christ speaks the Fathers words. They are separate Gods, one a Father, and one a Son. They are two Gods, not one God. 

GEN. 1 v 1.  In the beginningH7225 GodH430 createdH1254 the heavenH8064 and the earthH776.

JOHN 1 v 1.  In the beginningG746 was the WordG3056, and the WordG3056 was with GodG2316, and the WordG3056 was GodG2316.

We have no trouble knowing that creation had a beginning, but we use the word 'beginning' in John 1 v 1 to mean 'from eternity.' It does not mean from eternity, it means what it says. 

JOHN. 7 v 28.  ThenG3767 criedG2896 JesusG2424 in the templeG2411 as he taughtG1321, sayingG3004, Ye bothG2532 knowG1492 me, and ye knowG1492 whenceG4159 I amG1510: and I am not comeG2064 of myselfG1683, but he that sentG3992 me is trueG228, whomG3739 ye knowG1492 not.

JOHN. 8 v 19. ThenG3767 saidG3004 they unto him, WhereG4226 is thy FatherG3962? JesusG2424 answeredG611, Ye neitherG3777 knowG1492 me, norG3777 my FatherG3962: ifG1487 ye had knownG1492 me, ye should haveG2192 knownG1492 my FatherG3962 alsoG2532.

This appears to be a completely conflicting pair of scriptures, but they actually help clarify a great deal about God and Christ. In John 7 v 28. They knew that Christ was from God, but they did not know the true God who Christ was from. They knew Christ was from God, they did not know that Christ was the Son of God from the beginning. The people who Christ spoke to, in John 7 v 28. had the same understanding as the Churches of God have at the time of writing this account. 

John. 8 v 19. Clarifies the first scripture. We do not know Christ correctly until we know the Father. 

JOHN 8 v 58.  JesusG2424 saidG2036 unto them, VerilyG281, verilyG281, I sayG3004 unto you, BeforeG4250 AbrahamG11 was, I amG1510.

'I AM' means I exist. Christ is saying in this verse that he existed before Abraham. 

HEB. 7 v 3.  WithoutG282 fatherG540, withoutG282 motherG282, withoutG35 descentG35, havingG2192 neitherG3383 beginningG746 of daysG2250, norG3383 endG5056 of lifeG2222; but madeG871 likeG871 unto the SonG5207 of GodG2316; abidethG3306 a priestG2409 continuallyG1519-G1336.

This is talking about Melchisedec. Read it again it's talking about physical parents, physical ancestors and physical life. Melchisedec was not born of physical parents. He did not have beginning of days because he was created by God before days were in existence. Melchisedec is not Christ. Christ had end of days when He was crucified. 

The following scripture is the words of God the Father. he was working before the creation of day and night. Angels were created before day and night were created. 

ISA. 43 v 13.  YeaH1571, before the dayH3117 was I am he; and there is noneH369 that can deliverH5337 out of my handH3027: I will workH6466, and whoH4310 shall letH7725 it?

CHAPTER 8. CROSSING THE JORDAN.

As we have seen, the Exodus from Egypt is a type of our spiritual calling and coming out of the world.  Crossing of the Red Sea is a type of our baptism. Once the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, the Promised Land was available, this is a type of receiving the Holy Spirit of promise, and eternal life is available. The Spirit of promise will enable us to understand Gods word, grow in grace and knowledge, overcome, believe God, and obey, have faith and love. 

Just as God gave the Israelites all they needed physically to journey to the shores of the Jordan, so when God gives the Holy Spirit of promise, we are given all we need spiritually to journey to eternal life. 

The wandering through the wilderness for 40 years is a type of our lives as we have the day to day trials and tests, God tests us as long as He chooses to see if our heart is right and if we believe Him and are prepared to obey Him. 

DEUT 8 V 2.and thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

We see quite plainly by the above scripture why God had the Israelites wander for 40 years, now we must apply that to us, once we are baptised we are to wander for a period known only to God, for what purpose? to humble thee, prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, and whether thou would keep his commandments or not. 

This could take many years, this is up to God. It is also up to us. During this time of wandering, God fed the Israelites on manna, this is a soft food and is a type of receiving the milk of the word.  The people were not ready for strong meat.  So it is with us, we have only had the milk until now.The food of the promised land {Eternal Life} is available once we accept the knowledge of Eternal Life. 
JOSH 5 V 12.  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. The manna was food from God just as the teachings, until this time, have been from Mr. Armstrong, which have been inspired by God. Once we show God that we want the Promised Land, that we want the Holy Spirit and God is as sure as He can be, that we will believe and obey Him, He offers us the knowledge of eternal life. An extremely important factor at this point is that we BELIEVE GOD, this is stated over and over again through the scriptures. It is vitally important that we believe God, if we want Eternal Life.  Without belief we cannot enter the Promised Land. Notice what happened when the spies were sent into the Promised Land to spy it out. 

NUM 13 V 1-2. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

NUM 13 V 25-29 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

NUM. 13 V 31-33.  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. The spies brought back a bad report of the Promised Land, they did not want it. 

We must be like Joshua and Caleb, and bring back a good report of the promised land, they wanted to enter the promised land do we? 

Notice the wonderful attitude that Caleb and Joshua had in the following verses 

NUM. 13 V 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

NUM 14 V 7 to 9. And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

NUM 14 V 30.   Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 

Now notice the rebellious and stiffnecked attitude of the Israelites, when confronted with the truth, they couldn't handle it so they wanted to return to Egypt..go back to the ways of the world. 

NUM 14 v 4. And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. 

This rejection of the Promised Land has again happened to Gods Church, as we have seen recently so many that once believed and followed God, turned back and returned to Egypt, like a dog going back to its vomit. 

Are we going to have a bad report about the Promised Land and return to Egypt or stay in the wilderness?  Or are we going to be like Joshua and Caleb, and be full of courage and strength and march on into the Promised Land? 

JOSH 14 V 7-9  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

God is extremely careful when He gives the Holy Spirit because once we have it, there are severe penalties if we fall away from the truth. 

HEB 6 V 4-6.  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

In Joshua Chapter 1 we read that Joshua was told three times by God to be strong and courageous.  This is then repeated again only this time the Israelites told Joshua to be strong and courageous in verse 18.  To continue our journey into the Promised Land requires strength and courage. 

We must make our calling and election sure. 

2 PETER 1 V 10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Note also. 

MATT 7 V 13-14.  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

JOSH 3 V 3-4.  And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

The Israelites were told to follow the Ark of the Covenant {which was carried by the Priests} because they did not know the way to go.  This is a type of Gods word leading his people for example. They would be lost if they did not follow the Ark. 

We will be lost if we don't follow God, where ever He leads. 

The Israelites had not entered the Promised Land before, so it is with Gods people, they have not been given access to the Promised Land, which is Eternal Life, before. God must show us, we must be willing to follow God where He leads us. 

The Priests were given the responsibility of carrying the Ark, just as today the Priests are entrusted with the words of God, and leading the people into truth. 

Once Joshua reached the shores of the Jordan River an amazing event occurred.

JOSH. 3 V 8-11  And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 

These verses say that the Priests and the Israelites could not cross the Jordan till they heard the words of God described in Josh 4 v 10.  The Priests and the Israelites had to hear what the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.  If we want to receive Gods Holy Spirit and enter the promised land, and receive Eternal Life, we must hear and accept the knowledge of eternal life. 

JOSH 3 V 13-16  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 

There will, eventually, be a famine of hearing the Word of God, this is represented by the waters closing after all the people had crossed the Jordan. 

JOSH 4 V 18. And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Just as the path to the Promised Land was cut off, so will Gods word be cut off some time in the future. 

ISA 55 V 6.  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

God will not wait forever, while we procrastinate, while we allow the cares of this world to come before our bible study, prayer and meditation.  Either we serve God or we don't. 

Once the people crossed over the Jordan they entered the Promised Land.  This is a type of us receiving the Holy Spirit and receiving Eternal Life. 

Note carefully, the complete Passover service is involved in entering the Promised Land. The Wave Sheaf ceremony is included for the first time when the Promised Land is reached. 

The following scripture shows some very amazing events. 

JOSH. 5 v 10 to 12.  And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. 11And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Firstly we see the Israelites keep the Passover, followed by the first celebration of the Wave Sheaf.  Verse 11 this was spoken of in Leviticus. 

LEV. 23 V 10.  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: This was not to be kept until the Israelites entered the promised land.  This is a type of how Gods people will keep the Wave Sheaf  ceremony when they accept the knowledge of Eternal Life, receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life. 

CHAPTER 9.  THE WAVE SHEAF

One of the mysteries of the Old Testament is the ceremony of the Wave Sheaf. The Wave Sheaf ceremony is a 'statute for ever' just as the Passover is, yet we have only kept the Passover. The reason for this is absolutely amazing, it is revealed clearly in scripture to those who love the truth. 

LEV 23 V 10-14.  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 13And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

The Old Testament Wave Sheaf pictures a sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest to be waved before the Lord [God the Father] to be accepted for the Israelites. There is to be no grain eaten in any form prior to the sheaf being offered. The actual fulfilment of the Wave Sheaf by Jesus Christ shows that the sabbath mentioned in Lev. 23 v 11 is the weekly sabbath after his crucifixion. 

The Wave Sheaf pictures Jesus Christ offering Himself to the Father on behalf of Gods people. 

The transfiguration mentioned in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 has never been understood until now. The understanding of the transfiguration will help us to understand the true meaning of the Wave Sheaf. 

MARK. 9 v 2 to 4.   And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

The reason that it has not been understood until now is given in Mark. 

MARK 9 v 9.   And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

The true knowledge of Christs resurrection is now revealed, so we can be told about the transfiguration of Christ. The one to tell us will be, either: Peter, James, or John. The Apostle Peter tells us. 

2 PETER. 1 V - 21.  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ, and Moses, and Elijah, was the time that God the Father gave Christ honour and glory, even though Christ had not yet been crucified; God made this promise in advance. The transfiguration is also a time when we are warned not to interpret prophecy, but to let God interpret it. 

Back to the Wave Sheaf. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Wave Sheaf on the Sunday morning following his resurrection. 

JOHN 20 v 1.   The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 

JOHN. 20 v 17.  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Read the above scripture carefully. This is where Christs God becomes our God. Christ ascends to the Father to be accepted for us. Remember that at our baptism, we are baptised into Christ. Christ is our God until he ascends to the Father. 

The Passover, which is kept, prior to the knowledge of the truth being revealed, pictures us being reconciled to God the Father. When the complete Passover ceremony is kept on the correct day, and includes the Wave Sheaf ceremony; it shows quite clearly that we are saved by Christs life. This ceremony is part of the knowledge of the truth. 

The Wave Sheaf ceremony will not be kept until we accept the knowledge of eternal life. 

ROM. 5 v 10.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

On the day of Christs ascension to the Father on behalf of the Apostles, Jesus breathed on them and said 'receive the Holy Spirit' They did not actually receive the Holy Spirit until the Day of Pentecost, fifty days later. 

JOHN 20 v 22.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Just as God gave honour and glory to Christ, prior to his crucifixion, so Christ promised the Holy Spirit to the disciples fifty days prior to them actually receiving it. 

The knowledge of eternal life gives an insight of the tremendous love that God has for his creation. Eternal death comes from blaspheming the Holy Spirit. At our baptism we receive the earnest or down payment of Gods Spirit, this means that if we leave the church at this time, we have not committed the unpardonable sin. God is far from pleased with those who turn back from him, and he puts them on a par with idol worshippers. These people will get a chance at salvation at some later date, it will be a much lessor reward than they were originally offered. Note verse six in the following quote. 

ZEPH. 1 v 2 to 6.  I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. 3I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. 4I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; 5And them that worship the host of heaven 6And them upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.

Those who have been promised Gods Spirit after believing the knowledge of the truth have fifty days before the Spirit actually comes. It seems obvious that if they decide not to go through with it, they can also pull out and go back to the world and have a chance for a lessor reward later on. I have found no scriptures to back up this statement, but I do know that we cannot blaspheme Gods Spirit if we do not have it. 

Also, the parable of the prodigal son proves that if you leave God and go into the world; you can come back to God. This is different from an apparent conflicting scripture that says if you sin wilfully after receiving knowledge of the truth there remains no more sacrifice for sin. 

HEB. 10 v 26.  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

The answer is plain, during the time in the wilderness it is possible to leave God and come back. After receiving knowledge of the truth, we cannot leave God and come back. 

God has a set date for all the Holy days, except the day of Pentecost. This is because the time of receiving the Holy Spirit depends on when God offers us the Knowledge of the truth. This time will vary and depends on our obedience and belief of Gods word. Jesus' Disciples received the Holy Spirit after about three and a half years from baptism.  The time of the Wave Sheaf is always on Sunday morning during the days of unleavened bread, this is not always three days from the Passover. The time that Jesus Christ is figuratively in the grave will vary for each person. When we accept the knowledge of the truth, we will begin keeping the New Testament Passover on the 15th nisan. 

The Wave Sheaf pictures the time that God the Father accepts us into his Kingdom. From that point it is imperative that we persevere to the end regardless of the physical outcome. The Apostles were mostly put to death, and that is quite likely what will happen to those who accept Gods Spirit. 

Once we receive Gods Spirit; THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.

The following scripture can now be understood. 

JOSH. 5 v 13 to 15.   And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

This is God the Word speaking. Joshua saw and worshipped the man. It was not god the Father as the Father can not be looked upon. 

When the Almighty God was revealed as the Jehovah, prior to the Exodus: God the Word spoke out of the bush [And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.]

When God revealed Himself as the Jehovah at the burning bush, Moses had to take off his shoes because it was holy ground. 

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Jehovah once again was in the midst of the Israelites, and once again God the Word said 'take off your shoes, this is holy ground.' 

Notice how the Father was going over before them.

Deu 31:3  The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. 
 

The man with the sword is God the Word, and is confirming that Jehovah is once again with the Israelites. 

Compare the following two scriptures. 

EX. 33 v 3.   Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

JOSH. 3 v 10.  And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

The same word is used for 'midst' in the first verse and 'among' in the second verse. During the exodus God the Father was not in the midst of the Israelites. When they entered the Promised Land God the Father once again was in the midst of the Israelites. 

Compare these two scriptures 

GAL. 3 v 27.   For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

At our baptism, we have Christ for our God. When we receive Gods Spirit, [or qualify to receive it by believing the knowledge of the truth] God the Father becomes our God. 

JOHN. 20 v 17.  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

CHAPTER 1O   THE CHOSEN ONES

The complete exodus is an exact parallel of our Christian journey to eternal life. The exodus makes plain the good news of the Kingdom of God. 

God the Father calls us out of the ways of this evil world. Satan is our God while we are in this world. We are baptised into Christ, our sins are forgiven and we receive the earnest of Gods Spirit, which is the down payment of eternal life. The earnest of the Spirit enables us to obey God which we cannot do in our carnal state. 

During this time; Jesus Christ is our God. 

God tests us during this time to see if we will obey Him. In Gods time we are offered the knowledge of the truth, which is the knowledge of eternal life. We must believe this knowledge to receive the Holy Spirit. 

By keeping the Passover we are showing God that we accept Christs sacrifice. The Wave Sheaf pictures God accepting us into His Kingdom, because of Christ offering himself to God on our behalf. 

In a nutshell, the Passover shows us accepting God: the Wave Sheaf shows God accepting us. 

This is when God the Father becomes our God. 

After receiving eternal life in the form of Gods Spirit, we must then persevere to the end. This is the time that we will be hated in the world. A lot of Gods Firstfruits will be put to death. This is when our biggest trials will come. This knowledge is given to the Laodicean era of Gods church, this era will see the tribulation and the Day of the Lord. 

This era will also see the watchman who gives the prophecies of Ezekiel  to the English speaking people, to forewarn them of the coming trouble. 

This booklet has given the knowledge of the truth, which is the knowledge of eternal life. God makes eternal life freely available to those who believe him and have the courage to step out in faith to obey him. 

There is nothing better in the vast universe that God can offer us, yet it seems likely that only the very few will believe the bible and accept this offer to be Firstfruits to God and Christ in the Kingdom of God.

This offer from God to those in the spiritual wilderness will not last forever. The Jordan river will close and the chance to be Firstfruits to God and Christ in the Kingdom of God will be gone forever. 

At the introduction of this booklet I quoted four scriptures that showed Moses is the key to the knowledge of the truth, I now ask you to read the following scriptures carefully. 

EX. 32 v 12. Is talking about the exodus. [A check of the chapter will confirm that.] 

EX. 32 v 12.  So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 

ISA. 43 v 10 to 13.  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 13Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

This scripture is absolutely breathtaking. The bible is telling us that the Lord [Jehovah] has been revealed as the only true God, and it also says that the Lord has showed the knowledge of the exodus [the time when there was no strange God.] 

It also shows who are Gods witnesses that there is one true God. Read the following verses: The chosen ones, Gods Elect, are the ones who know that there is one true God. 

The chosen ones are chosen from the called ones. 

MAT. 20 v 16.  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Gods elect are the chosen ones. 

MARK. 13 v 20.  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Gods chosen ones believe the truth. 

2 THESS. 2 v 13.  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

The called ones are not necessarily the chosen ones. 

REV. 17 v 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.

Gods elect have the foreknowledge of God the Father. 

1 PETER. 1 v 2.  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Gods elect are chosen from the called out ones. Gods called ones can believe the truth, and should believe the truth. We, who have been called by God, can be chosen, by accepting the truth. We then must be faithful, and persevere to the end. 

The knowledge of the truth has been revealed by the Great God.  He alone will decide what to do with it. 

There will come a time when the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. 

ISA. 11 v 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.
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