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Letters of Truth - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Redemption . . . All in AllGOD'S WONDERFUL VENGEANCE
Chapter 12"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." [Romans 12:19].
With the limited perspective of our circumscribed humanity, plus the interference of emotions, temperament and sentiment, it becomes quite obvious that we are not fully capable of doing our own avenging, and so Paul admonishes us that we need to "give place..." If necessary it is better for the moment to allow the wrong to usurp the upper hand, while we suffer the loss, than to involve ourselves in another one of these "do-it-yourself" kind of projects which will only compound the problem. Far too often our action in seeking to be avenged is connected to wrath, a tumultuous emotion which distorts the vision and causes rash words and actions. So--give place to this wrath, make room for it to be dealt with, subdued and controlled, until all of our inner agitations are dealt with and brought into alignment with the motivation of Divine LOVE. When LOVE is the sole motivation of our action, then whatever disciplinary measures are manifest through us, it will bring forth the right kind of results.
GIVE PLACE to God's operation, for it is so much better than man's, for He knows the proper timing, the proper methods, the proper instruments to use to accomplish the needed task. Yes, "vengeance is MINE, says the Lord."
The Greek words used for vengeance are: ekdikeo, ekdikesis, ekdikos. The prefix syllable "ek" literally means OUT OF, while the word "dikeo" means JUST, OR RIGHTEOUS. Thus it literally speaks of that action which is OUT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, OUT OF THAT WHICH IS JUST, and for the purpose of bringing everything else into alignment with that which is just. Only a just action can produce justice. Two wrongs never make a right. But aright and just action can be used to correct a situation and make it right. Since the Greek words listed have been translated as: avenge, revenge, vengeance, punish, let us note for a moment the meaning of these words, as given by the Dictionary. They are man's given meanings for these words.AVENGE-to inflict punishment for vindication or retribution. To exact satisfaction.
REVENGE-to inflict pain or injury in resentful or malicious retaliation.
VENGEANCE-punishment inflicted in return for an injury; often, passionate or unrestrained revenge, with great violence or force.
PUNISH-to afflict with pain, loss, suffering for a crime or fault, (and, it is added, incidentally, for reformation).
Thus the whole gloomy picture is one of unbridled fury to inflict pain and suffering on another because we feel we have been wronged, and so we want them to suffer also, only in greater measure than we have, as if this would compensate for the whole affair. How totally un-Christ-like! What a lack of love, forgiveness, and all the other virtues which would bring restoration rather than further destruction.
How much better is GOD'S VENGEANCE, for His actions are out of righteousness, to bring everything back into a just and right place. It doesn't necessarily imply any pain, suffering, or loss, although He may use these as a means of correction, but only in the amount necessary to bring the adjustment. For His mercy is such that "He sends the rain on the just and the unjust." [Matthew 5:45]. And while He would bring all things into a state of "rightness," yet in wrath He remembers mercy, and every action is motivated by His love.
Indeed, Christ gave Himself, "the JUST for the unjust..." [1 Peter 3:18], He, who was the JUST ONE gave everything, poured out His life for us who were just the opposite, unjust, unrighteous. This freely giving of His life was that we might be brought back into a state of rightness.
Now, at the time of the crucifixion, one thief told the other one, as they were also hanging on their crosses, "And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this MAN has done nothing amiss." [Luke 23:41].
It was the JUST, on the behalf of the unjust, pouring, out His life that we might come into new life. There were certain "due rewards" that were coming to the unjust, corrections had to be made, with a halt to the downward course of degradation, but for all this, rather than fiendishly exacting the toll, Christ poured out His life for them, so that, receiving His life they could come into alignment with a path of rightness, and thus end all the need for further correctional processes.
Before Moses was duly processed on the backside of the desert, till he was subdued and brought into a state of meekness, we find that he really illustrates the carnal nature of man. He went out one day to see how his own people were faring, " And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian." [Acts 7:24].
The Scripture doesn't say how great the wrong was that was being done to the fellow-Israelite, but obviously Moses went beyond an even and just score, for he killed the Egyptian. This was far more than even an "eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" which later was part of the law that was given to Israel. Even under the law there was to be a "rightness" to that vengeance which was allowed, and they were not to exact more for a penalty than was involved in the crime.
The New Covenant, however, is even far better than the law, for it does not impute sin against the sinner, but says, "LOVE your enemies," "DO GOOD to them that spitefully use you," and seek for reconciliation, not vengeance. Indeed, leave all vengeance to God, for HE knows just how to correct and bring forth rightness, and with a JUST BALANCE.
No wonder Paul wrote of the tremendous need for us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and be cleansed of all man's carnal-mindedness with its unjust demands. When we have brought "every thought to the obedience of Christ," then when your mind is in total alignment to the mind of Christ, you will be "in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED."
[2 Corinthians 10:6].
Paul was on his way to Rome, experienced a shipwreck, and then finally landed on the island Melita, with other shipwrecked survivors. Everyone was wet and cold, and it was raining and miserable, so they kindled a fire, and Paul helped them gather sticks. In the process a viper was picked up, and came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. The immediate reaction of the barbarians was in accord with carnal-minded vengeance, and they said among themselves, "no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live." [Acts 28:4].
Their whole thought was, beware, vengeance is out to get you, it will have its retribution. And this whole concept was further beclouded by the idea that if something evil was happening to you it was because you had surely sinned somewhere along the way, and now vengeance caught up with you. Just like when the disciples saw a man which was blind from his birth, and asked Jesus, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" [John 9:2], and how startled they must have been when Jesus answered, "Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: BUT THAT THE WORKS OF GOD SHOULD BE MADE MANIFEST IN HIM." [John 9:3]. And likewise, Paul shook off the viper, he did not become ill nor suffer any bad effects, and then they all marveled. How our minds need to be girded up to the truth, until we have been brought to rightness, so that every thought and action expressed through us might also be of a righteous nature. Not unbalanced, not perverted, not distorted, but righteously to move and to correct. There will be correction, there will be discipline, but it will be according to the need, not according to emotional impulses motivated by unholy carnality. Praise God, ''as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." [Isaiah 55:9].
Abraham was viewing the situation, praying earnestly for Lot and the sparing of the righteous, that they be not destroyed with the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah, and asked, "Shall not the Judge of all earth do right?" [Genesis 18:25]. Is this our confidence? While we are too limited to rightly assess the circumstances and mete out the disciplinary and correctional action needed, we are assured that the Judge of all earth shall do RIGHT. We can safely trust in the righteousness of God! And when the whole process is over, not one individual will be able to say that God did one single act which was not totally right and just.
"For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; HE WILL SAVE US." [Isaiah 33:22]. Praise God, what a vision! JUDGE, LAWGIVER, KING-for what purpose? TO SAVE US! This authority, dominion, power, and exactness is not against us, it is for us, to work out our salvation. Therefore, Isaiah goes on, He is "A just God and a Saviour." [Isaiah 45:21]. HE IS A SAVIOUR BECAUSE HE IS JUST! The whole operation of His saving grace is because He is a just God. His justice requires that He also be our Saviour. Since He was the One responsible for our subjection to the bondage of vanity, it is essential in the nature of the case that He also have the responsibility to redeem us from this corruption, and restore us again into the glorious liberty which rightfully belongs to the children of God.
"If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF." [2 Timothy 2:13]. Because of His own righteousness, His own essential character, His will bring forth salvation to all of His creation.
"The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth." [1 Samuel 2:10].
"He has prepared His throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness." [Psalm 9:7-8].
"He shall judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with judgment. (And what's the result of this process?). The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.--He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth." [Psalm 72:2-3, 6].
There is no need to lift a scripture verse out of its context here to establish a doctrine, but in reading these verses which speak of the judgment of God, and while you will find that He judges the nations, and brings an end to unrighteousness, it will always end with a declaration that He brings peace, a new life, with ultimate restoration and victory. Anything less than presenting the totality of the victory which follows the judgment is a perverted gospel, indeed, it isn't good news at all. True judgment speaks of the operations of God OUT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BRING FORTH A RIGHTNESS, THAT WHICH IS JUST. He sends forth His Word to correct, heal, and establish us in the right way. And praise God, His Word shall not return unto Him void, it shall accomplish that whereunto it was sent.
"When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."
[1 Corinthians 11:32].
CHASTENING--far too often this brings to man's mind the thought of a "whipping." But the Greek word here actually means CHILD-TRAINING, and while this may include a certain amount of whipping to correct and subdue, there is much more involved in proper child-training, for it covers the whole spectrum of instruction, guidance, example, and then a follow-through to make sure that all conforms to the standard. The standard is GOD's HOLINESS, and we are being brought into a fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ.
JUDGMENT DAY-is generally thought to be the last day, doomsday. But not so, it might bespeak of the "end of all flesh" in that there is a termination of man's downward course, but it is a time for a bend in the road, and the beginning of a restoration into righteousness. "When Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." [Isaiah 26:9]. Praise God!
"For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." [Luke 21:22].
Whereas once we might have shuddered at the thought of the "days of vengeance," now, as our understanding becomes enlightened concerning the ways and workings of our God, we are ready to rejoice. It means that those things which were out-of-line will now be rectified, set to rights, and the action for this realignment coming directly out of that which is just and righteous.
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting (aionian) destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power."
[2 Thessalonians 1:7-9].
What a marvelous passage of scripture! To you who are all bent out of shape and distressed, REST with us, and abide the timing when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven. WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS. The word "angels" is literally the Greek word for MESSENGERS. Messengers from the heavenlies! "And I saw another angel (messenger) fly in the midst of heaven, having the gospel of the ages to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: AND WORSHIP HIM..."
[Revelation 14:6-7].
O, how we desire the ministry of these mighty messengers, declaring the GOOD NEWS, and what is apart of this good news? That the hour of His judgment has come! Praise God, now there shall be a righteous action which shall turn the tide of iniquity, and begin the establishment of righteousness in the earth. This is not to be feared, but we rejoice to know that such an hour shall come, yes, and is nigh at hand.
IN FLAMING FIRE-fire illuminates, and in that revealed light one discerns more clearly what is wrong and what is right, and is able to make a choice for the better. The dross will be consumed, and that which is right shall be illumined, and people shall be able to find their way into paths of holiness and righteousness.
Then also shall those who obey not the gospel begin to learn what it means to obey. With instruction, discipline, correction given which shall produce a willing obedience.
Then this verse--"vengeance ...punished with everlasting destruction" FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. Proceeding directly from the presence of the Lord shall come this righteous action which shall fully deal with every ungodly, perverted, distorted, corrupt situation. "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone IN THE PRESENCE of the holy angels (messengers), and IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB." [Revelation 14:10].
How different the truth of the Word of God is from the traditions of men, with their confused doctrines. Man teaches that this "hell-fire" and "lake of fire," etc. meant an eternal separation away from God. Oh. NO! All of this purification, correction process is accomplished IN the presence of the Lamb. Right there where the Lamb can impart of HIS LIFE and salvation, love and mercy, pouring in the oil and the wine, and bring a restoration, once the iniquity has been dealt with. And IN the presence of all His messengers who are there with the glad tidings, the good news of His judgments and glorious salvation resulting from the process. And as the Psalmist declared, "If I make my bed in hell, behold, YOU ARE THERE." [Psalm 139:8]. His presence is there to turn that hell into a heaven, once He has dealt with the thing that caused it to become your hell.
We read that "Sodom and Gomorrha,--are set forth for an example of suffering the vengeance of eternal (aionian) fire." [Judea 7]. Again we must note this word "eternal" or "everlasting," from the word AIONIAN, meaning of the age, or age during. Just because a punishment lasts for an age does not mean that it is eternal, that it has no end. This is a period of time designated by God for the bringing to nought that which is wrong, until all is subdued and made subject to the truth. The word "punished" means no more or less than TO PAY JUSTICE. We do reap what we sow, this is one of the laws of God. But God is just in all that He exacts, and one does not reap an eternity of torment and suffering for a short earthly lifetime of sowing to self (extra em. web ed). God will mete out exactly the amount of time necessary for the correction, but it will not be prolonged beyond that which is needed. Thus we read on, how that though Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of this visitation of FIRE, it is not without end, for Ezekiel, chapter 16, gives a beautiful prophecy of how God shall bring again their captivity, restore them to their former estate, and new life and victory shall be manifested. But in the process they have missed out on a whole period of time when they could have been enjoying the life of God, had they walked a righteous pathway.
"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
[Luke 12:48].
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." [Mark 6:11].
Those who have received manifestations of the power of God, heard the message of the gospel of the kingdom, and then rebelled, shall have more to give an account for, and shall be judged accordingly. "And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day." [Matthew 11:23]. Yes, God's vengeance is just, and shall be severe enough to correct every situation.
"And these shall go away into everlasting (aionian) punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (aionian)." [Matthew 25:46]. Here again we have a marvelous verse. Since "aionian" speaks more of a QUALITY than a quantity, our desire is to have that LIFE WHICH ENDURES THROUGH THE AGE TO COME. However, if the need requires, God also has prepared a punishment which is sufficient and equal to the need. God's life continues from age to age, its quality is age-during. He that has the Son has this kind of life, praise God for it.
But notice this word "punishment" here, which comes from the Greek word "kolasis" and means TO BE PRUNED, or restraint. Why prune? That all the non-productive branches might be removed, and all the off-shoots might be trimmed back, and the whole brought into proper shape and design. Pruning brings a restraint, it holds in check, and channels the energy in the right direction to produce that which the husbandman desires. God has purposed an age of pruning, a stripping away all of selfhood's rebellion. While all creation shall have to face its pruning, there are those FIRST FRUITS which are being duly processed now, and they shall be ready to help others which shall face this operation later.
What mercy is revealed through the handiwork of the husbandman, as he trims and prunes, not too much at one time, but gradually shaping and purging, till the whole shall meet his specifications.
"So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish (RESTRAIN) them because of the people: for all glorified God for that which was done." [Acts 4:21]. This helps to illustrate the word punish. The religious leaders would have been delighted to prune, restrict the activities of the apostles, but at the moment they could not. The punishment they would have meted out, had they dared, would have been for the purpose of curtailing the ministry of the apostles.
God has "reserved the unjust unto the day of judgment to the punished." [2 Peter 2:9], for then shall He begin to prune, strip away the ambitions of self-will and carnal egos. He will place a restraint upon man's evil work, and bring a crisis which works a turning point, ending the path of sin, and establishing a way of righteousness.
Dare we trust God in His judgments? Jeremiah prayed, "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment." [Jeremiah 10:24]. He knew, for himself that this was the best way. He was sure that the Judge of all earth would do right in his behalf. But it is interesting to note his view-point towards the heathen, and that humanistic idea which still prevailed in his attitude towards them. "Pour out Your fury upon the heathen that know You not." [verse 25]. Jeremiah did not want God to turn His anger upon him, lest it would diminish him, bring him to nothing. But that was good enough for the heathen, in his opinion. But as one reads on through the book of Jeremiah, of the experiences and processings which he endured, we find his spirit is sweetened, and his revelation of God's mercy is enlarged, and he speaks of the great restoration, and how God is "the God of all flesh," and in the day of the New Covenant shall mercy flow out for all men.
How we need a revelation of the MERCY of the Lord, as did David. He had disobeyed the commandment of the Lord, numbered the people, and was being judged for his deed. The prophet gave him a message from the Lord, choose your punishment, shall it be seven years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of pestilence which God would send? David returned the answer, he did not feel the innocent people should have to suffer seven years of famine for his mistake. He surely did not want to be at the mercy of the enemies. So, Lord, "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord; FOR HIS MERCIES ARE GREAT: and let me not fall into the hand of man." [2 Samuel 24:14].
Vengeance? Yes. Punishment and judgment? Yes. But for all this, remember that the mercies of the Lord are very great. He will correct and discipline, prune and purge, but He also restores and makes whole again.
The definition of vindicate is "to set free; DELIVER: AVENGE: to free from allegation and blame: justify, etc. God's Mercies go far beyond our understanding. His vengeance [to lay claim to in order to correct and discipline, prune and purge, for the purpose of restoration], is a beautiful stone set in the bed rock of His LOVE.VENGEANCE UNTO VICTORY
How glor'ous is God's mighty hand,
In power to move,
His love to prove,
Through all expanses of our land.How terrible His holiness,
He shall impart
To ev'ry heart
The glory of His righteousness.He is indeed Consuming Fire,
To purify,
And draw thee nigh,
And work in thee a pure desire.In flaming fire and vengeance strong
To prune and purge
Rebellion's urge,
And birth a new submission song.'Tis not for loss, but for our gain,
We see His hand,
And understand-
That He in us as King shall reign.In reverence we bow before
His throne of grace,
To find our place
In mercies yet abounding more.Oh, yes, it's true, it's glorious,
He cannot fail,
He shall prevail,
His vengeance is victorious!Letters of Truth - Revelation-A Positive Book - Spirit of the Word -
1. The Law of Circularity
2. No Second Causes
3. The Fifth Dimension
4. Time--By Divine Degrees
5. The Scent of Water
6. Christ--Our Mercyseat and Intercessor
7. Christ--Our Advocate and Ransom
8. Not In Our Stead, But For Us
9. A Joint-participation
10. Therefore Choose Life
11. The Corrective Judgments of God
12. God's Wonderful Vengeance
13. Sufficient-The Evil
14. The Potter's Field
15. Jubilee---And The Returning Field
16. By Man Also
17. What Manner of Man Is This?
18. Till All Men Know
19. To The Uttermost
20. All Things Reconciled