Audio Download

Show us Plainly the Father

Study Aired April 13, 2008

Hello Mike,

When I was listening to your conferences about the purpose of the eons, I heard you talk about the millennium and what it will be like. I was wondering if you could elaborate. I am assuming that this is after the first Resurrection. Is it before or after the lake of fire.

Also, during the same talk, when asking “does everyone know where heaven is”, you were talking about the beast and the wound and all that stuff, but had to cut it short because of time constraints. I was wondering if you could talk a little about what you were saying with respect to the beast and what it meant. Sometimes when I look at these things it’s very hard to understand the spiritual implications of it. I don’t know the scriptures well enough yet. Any elaboration would be appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time, Mike,

Your brother in Christ,
B____

Hi B____,

You ask me what life will be like during the millennium. Your assumption that the millennium is after the first resurrection and before the lake of fire is right on target. What is so little understood about the millennium is that it is not even intended to be a time of bringing mankind to conversion. The fact that the world is being ruled with a “rod of iron” tells those with ‘ears to hear’ that this is not a time which is intended to produce “overcomers.” Overcomers “overcome the wicked one… at the time of harvest.”

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The fact that “the good seed are the children of the kingdom” does not change the fact that “if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy.”

Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

In other words, we are all part of “the lump” before we are part of “the firstfruit.”

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

“In time past you [and I] have walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. … We ALL had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

“The children of wrath” are the children of “their father the Devil” who want to kill Christ, and this is what we all are to begin with. We are all “of our father the Devil” starting out.

Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye mydisciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

That is why we all look exactly like the Devil to begin with:

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Who else looks exactly like this beast within each of us?

Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Where is heaven? Read the paper What and Where Is Heaven? Christ said He was “with you always.” He also said He was “in His Father.” He went on to explain that He and His Father are in us:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

“That day” is today for all who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear. These are not just ‘Will Be’ words. These are the words of our Lord, so they are primarily ‘Is’ words. “I am in My Father.” Then they are secondarily ‘Was’ words and last of all they are ‘Will Be’ words for all who cannot now receive these words.

Now look very closely at these next verses of scripture. Here is the key to understanding Christ’s parables and thereby understanding all parables:

Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Never forget the foundational purpose and function of parables:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them [the multitudes] in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Why parables? “To them [the multitudes who come to Christ] it is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” What is this parable, which if we know we will know all parables; what does this and all parables concern? Here is the answer. Here is what will give you the ability to understand the meaning of “all parables.”

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

All parables are concerned with “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven… which it is not given for the multitudes to know.”
In order for any of us to understand “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”, it is essential that we know where this kingdom of God is. When we come to see where the kingdom of God is, we will then understand that both the tares and the good seed are within that kingdom of God, growing together within that kingdom of God, also called the kingdom of heaven, “until the harvest.” Only at the harvest will the “tares be gathered together first to be bound into bundles and cast into the fire.”

Mat 13:25 But while men slept [And we have all “slept”], his enemy came and sowed tares [false doctrines] among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [It takes time for any of us to sort out what is false in Babylon]
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest [1Pe 4:12-17 “Now is … fiery … judgment upon the house of God”] I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

When is that separating of the tares from the good seed? When is this time of fiery trial in the kingdom of heaven/ God? When are “all parables” being understood?

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

So the parables are for the purpose of keeping the ‘many called but not chosen’ from seeing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The tares are part of that parable of the sower which is about the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The tares are to be burned before the good seed are gathered into God’s ‘barn.’ This all has to do with the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Where is this “kingdom of God?” Let’s allow Christ Himself to answer that question:

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Knowing this Truth makes it crystal clear why Christ tells us “I come quickly” and we must all “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand.”

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein : for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servantsthe things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The book of Revelation begins and ends with the same words: “keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand… [and] behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Did you notice where that great red Dragon was?

Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

That is right, Satan is in our ‘heavens’ which are within us. Knowing this should make this scripture make much more sense:

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens [the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament] should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves [God’s people] with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

God’s elect are referred to in scripture as His witnesses:

Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

God’s witnesses must all “tarry in Jerusalem until [they] are endued with power from on high.” At that point God’s witnesses “come out of Babylon… that great city wherein our Lord was crucified” and at that point in their lives, they begin their ministry of witnessing against Babylon:

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

What else are God’s witnesses called? What was Christ “received into” when He was taken up into heaven?

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The ‘cloud’ Christ was received into was a type of those who “shall be witnesses unto me.” As Christ’s witnesses, we are called in Hebrews 12:1 “a cloud of witnesses”, and He has promised that He would never leave us:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world . Amen.

“The end of the world” is the end of our age. The “end of the age” is the end of our time in these vessels of clay. Christ has promised to be with us without fail “to the end of this age,” or as long as we live in this dying flesh. Christ is in heaven and as such He is within His “great cloud of witnesses.” He is within His saints. “The kingdom of God is within you.”

With that understanding, you should now be able to read all of the parables of Christ and begin to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven which the multitudes who hate the doctrine of Christ, and therefore hate Christ, cannot understand.

Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be

You said:

Also, during the same talk, when asking does everyone know where heaven is, you were talking about the beast and the wound… I was wondering if you could talk a little about what you were saying with respect to the beast and what it meant.

The beast, like ‘heaven’ and the ‘bottomless pit’ [read What and Where is the Bottomless Pit on the iswasandwillbe.com web site] is within each of us. Being a beast is the marred, ruined natural condition into which we are born:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

We are beasts by nature…:

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

… and that is why we are told:

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind , and its number is six hundred sixty- six. (CLV)

So the ‘beast’ is “the first Adam” within us all. At the time of our calling this beast receives a “deadly wound” to one of his heads. This wound is accomplished by our first coming to Christ to hear His parables.

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

What was it that dealt the beast this deadly wound? It was the sword of God’s Word:

Rev 13:13 And he [the second ‘beast within’- the beast which comes up in us, not out of our ‘sea’, but out of our ‘earth’- our religious beast who has “two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon”] doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [preaches great fiery sermons and is given the power to perform miracles before men]
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

It is healed when we “lose our first love” and allow “that woman Jezebel” into our hearts, along with the Nicolaitans. While we think that we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing,” the Truth is that we are poor and wretched and miserable and naked and blind:

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

What makes these scriptures so sure of their fulfillment is the fact that the multitudes of “historical orthodox Christianity” will never discover the beast or the man of sin or the bottomless pit or heaven or the fire which burns up the tares. They will never see any of these things simply because…”

Joh 8:37 … because my word hath no place in you.

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

“Why do ye not understand my speech?” The reason we do not understand Christ’s speech is because he speaks in parables. The reason we cannot see plainly the Father is because we do not understand Christ’s parables. Parables are not parables when they are understood:

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

So, to “no more speak to us in proverbs but show us plainly the Father” Christ goes on to give us a plain “revelation of Jesus Christ,” who we all know is the “express image of the Father.”

Rev 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew [“plainly?”] unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

There is not a chance of any of the ministers of Babylon ever seeing or knowing that the beast, who they have been saying for decades is ‘out there’ in the world somewhere, is actually sitting smugly on the throne of Christ within each man who does not know that 666 is the number of mankind, and that we are all born with that number stamped in our foreheads and in our right hands. It is only those who “get the victory” over the beast and his number and his name, who will ever in this life know that the beast and the man of sin sits on Christ’s throne in the hearts and minds of each and every one of us.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

I hope I have answered your questions. I have written much more about life during the millennium and what is the purpose for the millennium and what is God’s reason for releasing Satan when the thousand years are finished. If you want to read more about this, then go to iswasandwillbe.com. Go to the ‘search this site’ box in the upper right corner. Type in the word ‘millennium’. There are many responses that come up when you type in the word ‘millennium’. You can see a whole lot more of what is revealed in God’s Word about this subject.

Mike