The Christian Mind Leading up to the Appearance of The Lord Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION

As the end of this present Administration of God's Grace approaches, God has told those who faithfully trust Him, how their obedient minds should be established in order to withstand the organised evil and deceitful pressure brought to bear upon them when leading up to, and during, The Evil Day.
It is described in The King James version of the Bible as follows:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. [Ephesians 6:10-20]

GOD’S PURPOSE
A study of the conditions prevailing during the Period of The Last Days, reveals that, God intends at that time to establish His Kingdom in Israel. We are told by The Apostle Peter that these prophesied days were present at Pentecost in 29ad having begun at the birth of Jesus Christ. [see By Grace leaflet No. 5]
The Christ's ministry had begun during the year of the 30th Jubilee in 27ad when He announced His commission in the synagogue of His hometown, Nazareth. [Luke 4:16-21]. Towards the end of The Apostles' ministry, the approach of the 31st Jubilee in 76ad had become recognised as the time when The King of Israel would establish His Kingdom.
In about 60ad The Apostle John tells the members of the diaspora :
It is the last hour...........we know that it is the last hour
In about 57ad, The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian church....
brethren, the time is short.......
they that have wives be as though they had non.
However God had a secret plan in mind which would postpone its fulfilment at that time. As He explains, He needed to establish the full witness to His Grace, and in order to do this He introduced upon all peoples the new Administration of His Grace [Ephesians 3:8-9]. This He did in 62ad. when He had halted the establishment of His Kingdom in Israel by Spiritually blinding The House of Judah [Acts 28:27].
This present period of The Administration of God's Grace is set to last 1960years, ending in the year 2029ad when those who have the Life of The Christ at that time will be manifest with Him in Glory. [Colossians 3:4]
According to the 'signs of the times' to-day we are rapidly approaching the year when The Last Days will be re-introduced in 2022ad, 1960years after they were postponed.. This re-introduction is described by Paul to Timothy[2Tim ch.3]. The 70th Jubilee in 2036ad is the probable date of the re-introduction of God's Kingdom in Israel. This is the time which The Lord Jesus Christ had in mind when he told the disciples
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,
which The Father hath put in His own power.
Before the Kingdom is introduced, many other acts must take place, not the least of which is the resurrection and then the gathering of the Whole House of Israel in the wilderness before its entry into The Land.
In 62ad, when the Last Days were postponed, God made The House of Judah Spiritually blind and deaf. When The Last Days period is reintroduced in 2022ad, this condition will be reversed [Isaiah 35:4-5] in preparation for the gathering into The Land [Isaiah 35:8-10]. The House of Judah will have been without Spiritual sight and hearing for 1960years.
In the year 2027ad it is probable that God will again call His people, The House of Israel, 'You are My people'..AMMI, as promised long ago [Hosea 1:9-10][see By Grace No:12]
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one head and they shall come up out of the land [Hosea 1:11]
Thus saith The Lord God: 'And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them and he shall be their shepherd' [Ezekiel 34:23]
Thus saith the Lord, 'The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool' .......... [Isaiah 66:1]
It is probable that the Apostle Paul will be resurrected in a special act of God shortly after 2022ad in order that he can continue to make known the secret of the good message, that in it I may be speaking boldly as I must speak. This will be his third commission which he referred to when describing to King Agrippa his experience on the road to Damascus many years before [Acts 26:16]…….’those things in which I will appear unto thee.’ [’I will appear’ i.e. to be seen with the eyes]
He defines his second commission, which began in 69ad, as follows :
The Administration of The Grace of God given for you according to revelation made known to me........To me, less than the least of all saints has this grace been given to evangelise among the Nations the untraceable riches of the Christ, even to enlighten all as to the Administration of The Mystery, of that hidden away from The Eons in God... [Eph 3:1-9].
This present unique and generous act of God's Grace upon all nations will come to an end in 2029ad, having lasted for 1960years. Its end is marked by the manifestation of The Life of The Lord Jesus Christ upon all those who have faithfully trusted in Him throughout those years. They will have His esteem and all men will know that He is Lord.

From 2022ad to the time of The Christ's manifestation in 2029ad, a period of Transition, The Evil One will become increasingly active. This one week period [seven years] ends with The Evil Day [one year referred to by Paul: Ephesians 6:10-20]. God requires the mind of the Christian to be conditioned by the following disciplines in order that they may withstand i.e. to set oneself against and to resist the action of The Evil One.

The Resultant Translation by Otis Q. Sellers details these requirements which are recorded in Paul's letter to the 'Ephesians'. This translation is the result of an intensive study of the original koinee Greek. :
In conclusion, my brethren, be empowering yourselves in the Lord, and in the might of His strength.
Put on the complete armour of God to enable you to hold your ground against all the stratagems of the adversary;
For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but with the sovereignties, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of this darkness, with the spiritual forces of wickedness among the most elevated.
Therefore, take to yourself the complete armour of God in order that you may be able to stand in the wicked day, and having done all this, to stand.
Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
And your feet shod with the readiness of the good message of peace.
In addition to all these, having taken up the great shield of faith by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one,
Also receive the helmet of the salvation-bringing message, even the sword of the Spirit which is God’s utterance,
With all prayer and supplication, praying in every season, in Spirit, and thereunto watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
And on behalf of me, that to me expression may be granted in the opening of my mouth with boldness to make known the secret of the good message,
In behalf of which I am conducting an embassy in a chain, that in it I may be speaking boldly as I must speak
In order that we should more exactly understand this passage, the notes that follow expand the meaning of many of the Greek words contained in this passage.
VERSE 10.. In conclusion, [A]] my brethren, be empowering yourselves in the Lord, and in the might of His strength.
The Gk. is loipon which means "in respect to the rest." "Finally" is a good translation, but I prefer "in conclusion."

VERSE 11. Put on the complete armour[A] of God to enable you to hold your ground against all the stratagems[B] of the adversary;[C]
"Complete armour" is panoplia, from which we get our word "panoply."
"Stratagems" are "methods," or "change of ways."
The adversary is the devil.

VERSE 12. For our wrestling[A] is not against blood and flesh,[B] but with the sovereignties,[C] with the authorities,[D] with the world-rulers[E] of this darkness, with the spiritual forces[F] of wickedness among the most elevated.[G]
The word "wrestling" indicates a personal, individual, hand to hand conflict. Don’t organize a team to fight these enemies.
"Blood and flesh" stand for men of all kinds and abilities.
The Greek is archE.
The Gk. is exousia.
The Gk. is kosmokrator, from kosmos (world) and krateo (to have strength).
"Spiritual" is pneumatika, which is accusative, plural, neuter. "Wickedness’ is ponEria, which is genitive, singular. These two words do not agree and cannot be used together.
The Gk. here is en tois epouraniois, same as in 1:3, 1:20, 2:6, and 3:10. It is a plural adjective. It means the most elevated ones." However, these are not "in Christ" as they are in 1:3, and 2:6.

VERSE 13. Therefore,[A] take to yourself the complete armour of God in order that you may be able to stand in the wicked day,[B] and having done all this, to stand.
Because the fight is with such powers, we need to take up and put on the whole armour of God.
We, as none before us, are living in an unusually wicked day, due to the fact that evil men and seducers have continually waxed worse.

VERSE 14. Stand,[A] therefore, having girded[B] your loins[C] with truth,[D] with the breastplate[E] of righteousness[F] in place,
God expects us to stand, and not surrender or lie defeated before the enemy.
The participles show that the armour is to be put on before we attempt to stand.
The Gk. is osphus, meaning hip, loins, the part of the body surrounded by the girdle. We are to surround ourselves with that which is the truth. "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).
The Lord Jesus said, "I am the truth" (John 14:6) and "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). This is first mentioned in this list of equipment, because the living Word and the written Word are of the utmost importance.
The word for "breastplate" is thorax which means both breast and breastplate. It always means the latter in the New Testament.
This the genitive of apposition and means "the breastplate which is righteousness." This is Christ Who is our righteousness.

VERSE 15. And your feet shod with the readiness[A] of the good message of peace.[B]
This word (hetoimazO) was used in Classical Greek in the sense of a firm foundation.
The good message that set forth the basis for a true and proper union with God.

VERSE 16 In addition to all these, having taken up the great shield[A] of faith[B] by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows[D] of the wicked one,
The word here is thureos, from thura, a door, because it was shaped like a door.
Faith is taking God at His Word and responding accordingly. An ever present faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is needed for victory over all the fire-tipped arrows of the wicked one.

VERSE 17. Also receive the helmet[A] of the salvation-bringing message,[B] even the sword of the Spirit which is God’s utterance,
"Helmet" is from two words, peri (around) and kephale (head).
The word which I have translated "salvation-bringing" is sOtErion, an adjective; and "message" is supplied because no adjective ever stands alone. For a full examination of this word, see Seed and Bread leaflet issue No. 8, a portion of which I repeat here: "In this passage ‘the helmet’ equals ‘the salvation-bringing,’ for they are appositional—one defines the other. And then by a further apposition, these are defined as ‘the sword of the Spirit’ which in turn is described as being 'a declaration from God.' In view of this, we should read here,

'And take the helmet of the salvation-bringing declaration (the gospel).'

And let it not be thought strange that the salvation-bringing declaration of God is both the believer's helmet and the Spirit's sword. There is no mixing of metaphors here, but two distinct metaphor setting forth two separate uses of the same thing. It is my firm opinion that the salvation-bringing declaration of God is the gospel according to John, the only book in the Bible that was written so that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing have life through His name (John 20:31). The one who is not securely grounded upon this message will not be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We need this helmet."

VERSE 18.. With all prayer[A] and supplication, praying in every season, in Spirit, and thereunto watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
Prayer is a believer’s weapon that is of prime importance. Constant, earnest, believing prayer is necessary for a victorious warfare against the enemy. The other weapons in our hands will not work well without it. Nevertheless, we should not make a religion out of prayer.

VERSE 19. And on behalf of me, that to me expression may be granted in the opening of my mouth with boldness to make known the secret[A] of the good message,
There is a secret truth related to the gospel, and Paul is making this known.

VERSE 20.. In behalf of which I am conducting an embassy in a chain,[A] that in it I may be speaking boldly as I must speak.
The truth revealed to him was indeed a strong chain that bound him to a duty that had to be performed.

Otis Q. Sellers. Bible Teacher.
Conclusion.
In 2022ad, the apostle Paul's prophetic statement to Timothy [2Tim.3:1] will become fully effective.[See By Grace leaflets No.10 and 22] The conditions of the present days, leading up to this 'perilous time', when the Last Days recommence, are enabling those whose Spiritual awareness has enlightened their minds to perceive a deeper reality of the meaning of many of these words.
Stratagems
These are based upon the Evil One's belief that to fulfil the Word of God will enable him to confirm his rule over the world. The order of mankind in the world is already his, if it were not he could not give it to The Lord Jesus Christ [Matthew 4:8-10]. His strategy has always been to counterfeit the prophesied actions of God. Long ago Satan chose his own people to rule mankind, Cain and his progeny. This has been a secret activity up to and including the present days. He chose Isaac's eldest son Esau in the face of God's choice of Jacob which lies at the root of most of the world's troubles in the past and the present. The antichrist is to be his supreme ruler to stand in the place of God's choice of The Lord Jesus Christ. He prepares a city, Babylon The Great, opposing God's preparation of The New Jerusalem. Each one of his choices is presented as that of God, being received by all those without Spiritual perception.
Paul tells Timothy that 'now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist The Truth'. The gods of Egypt counterfeited God's first three miracles enacted through Moses. Those who resist The Truth will do likewise following the reintroduction of The last Days in 2022ad, by attempting to introduce a world kingdom ruled by one man, thus attempting to counterfeit God’s Kingdom.
World-rulers
We are not looking here at world Presidents, Prime Ministers or any Country National Leaders that appear to decide the policy of Governments. There is an established hierarchy above these powers which determines the course of world events These sovereignties, a word which indicates archangels, and authorities who rule in power in the heavens are not flesh and blood. Its delegated line of command on earth includes many men and women who are not aware of the cause for which they are being manipulated. A headings under which these are recognised is The Illuminati, Many other secret societies are included which are based upon communication with these sovereignties and authorities. The higher echelons of this hierarchy take their orders from these spirit beings who follow directly the power who controls world events. The power whose world order governs this planet. This is the Mystery of Iniquity.
Truth
is one of the titles of The Lord Jesus Christ. When He goes to war against all the forces of evil, His name is: The Expression Of God. This constant war cannot be carried out successfully if those who adhere to their Lord do not give careful attention to all the many aspects of this Expression. They are told not to give place to The Devil, i.e. do not give him opportunity to attack you.
The Mystery or Secret of the good message.
The Good Message is well known[John 3:16]. Associated with this message is a Mystery which is open to be understood by all those who sincerely put their trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. Although the disciples recognised who The Christ really is [Thomas confessed: 'My Lord and my God'], He insisted that it not be announced during His ministry. When Paul writes to the Roman Church in about 58ad, he refers to this Mystery, The Messianic Secret:
Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:   Romans 16:25
and again when he writes to the 'Ephesian' Church in about 69ad
For, by revelation the secret is made known to me, even as I have written before in brief, By, which you, reading, are able to apprehend my understanding in the mystery of the Christ, Which, mystery, in other generations, is not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets:
In, Spirit the nations are to be joint-enjoyers of a portion, joint-bodies, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good message,
Of which secret, I became dispenser, in accord with the gift of God’s grace, which is granted to me in accord with His powerful operation.
Fiery arrows
These are missiles of lies made up to bring not only to discomfort but to turn those to whom they are aimed from their true course. To bring spiritual injury if allowed to hit their target.
The sword of the Spirit
This is the expression of God. The record of His activity over the years from 'In the beginning' to 'The Day of God', some 14,700 years. Having made available His Salvation for all men and women, those who have heeded Him are enabled to grasp the importance of His plan to establish a people for Himself and to utterly defeat all opposition to His rule. These people can wield the sword in defence of their faith.
The secret of the good message
During the ministry of The Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ, in 27-30ad, when He enlightened His people regarding the establishment of his Kingdom in Israel, He insisted that His disciples did not broadcast their recognition of the fact that He Himself is the very essence of The God Head. This fact was later recorded in the apostle John's gospel by many examples and statements. The name of this secret is The Messianic Mystery, details of which are revealed in the Gospel of John. This mystery is revealed in Spirit, only to those faithful believers who truly accept the atoning sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christian whose faith depends only upon the sincere milk of the Word will find it very difficult to grasp this reality. It is to be hoped therefore that following initial rejection, as 2022ad approaches, they will eventually turn to a responsible acceptance and the realisation of the need of our minds to become fully and deeply conditioned by the Spiritual requirements set out in the passages above.
The writer to Hebrew Christians tells them and us:

we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
In the preceding article Important dates are referred to. They have been arrived at recognising the following facts and Scripture events:

1. The Lord Jesus Christ was born in the year 4bc
2. The Genesis record tells us that 2678years elapsed from the sin of Adam to the year when the Israelites crossed the river Jordan to occupy the Promised Land. [Genesis ch.4 & 11]
3. The Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry by announcing His commission stated by the prophet Isaiah, during His visit to His home town of Nazareth. This occurred in the year of the 30th Jubilee at the commencement of the 70weeks prophesy of Gabriel to Daniel. [Luke 4:16-21]
4. Thirty Jubilees of 49 years between them cover 1470 years. At the start of which The Land was divided and seed could be planted. [Lev.25]
5. In 69/70ad Jerusalem and The Temple were destroyed. Therefore 42 years elapsed from the year of Christ’s ministry, making 1512 years from seed planting to The Temple destruction.
6. After the Israelites had crossed the river Jordan into the Promised Land, God gave them the task of eliminating all the various tribes which occupied it. These tribes were generated by the Nephilim who were present before and after the universal flood. They had escaped the flood because they were not living upon the face of the earth at the time. For ten years the Israelites attacked and killed most of the Nephilim and then each tribe was allotted a portion which they occupied. They then planted seed at the beginning of the first 49years which led to the celebration of the first Jubilee.