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Letters of Truth - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Redemption . . . All in AllJUBILEE--AND THE RETURNING FIELD
Chapter 15"In the year of jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong." [Leviticus 27:24].
While it is true that the letter of the law cannot be explained but by the gospel, it is no less true that the gospel in its breadth and depth cannot be set forth except by the figures of the law, each jot of which covers some blessed mystery.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." [Matthew 5:17-18].
What first appears to be just the "letter of the Word," with parables, records of past dealings, etc. is suddenly discovered by the Spirit's illumination to be a hidden truth of rich magnitude and blessing. There is depth upon depth which is hidden from the unsanctified gaze of the wise and prudent of this world's system, and revealed unto those who are walking softly before the Lord. For many the law and the prophets are relegated to the past, discarded as unnecessary for this day, while traditions of men, and newfangled carnal concepts are substituted. But Jesus plainly declared that every part of the law and the prophets would be FULFILLED, brought to the full. The fact that many years have passed by, even an age or two, make no difference. The message is sound, the prophecy is true, and in God's own appointed time every particle, dot and comma, and all that is in between shall be completely fulfilled.
In the previous chapter we pondered the triumph and victory which is connected with "the potter's field" and the ultimate recovery of every individual vessel, though for a time it was scarred, marred, and had to be cast out, buried in this particular field. Now we would go on and consider the whole earth as the field which is returned to its owner in the consummation-the great jubilee. So first, let us refresh our memories with some good background scripture.
In the parable of the man who has a field wherein he sowed his grain, and during the night an enemy came in and also sowed tares in the same field, when it came time to explain the parable, Jesus said, "THE FIELD IS THE WORLD..." [Matthew 13:38]. The Scripture is its own best interpreter, and the natural mind need not inject its own reasonings, but with careful study, as the Spirit of Truth guides onward, other passages will give the necessary clues as to the correct meaning of the usage of a word. Therefore, to find the needed application here for the field, Jesus plainly stated, "the field is THE WORLD." There can rightly be the smaller, more individual applications, as pertains to our own little world, personal being, but for the general scope, we can take it to apply to the whole world.
We read, "What is man, that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?-You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." [Psalm 8:4, 6].
In reference to this "dominion" given unto man, we read, "but now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus..." [Hebrews 2:8-9]. We know that Christ has full power and dominion, but as for the rest of mankind, we have not yet entered into this realm of completeness.
There was, in the beginning, a time when man did receive a dominion and then lost it. And the promise is given, "and you, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto you shall it come, even the first dominion." [Micah 4:8]. Obviously one cannot restore what is termed "the FIRST dominion" unless there had been that original state. But all through the scriptures are the truths which speak of a RE-storing. And it was by Divine planning that circumstances were so arranged that man forfeited and relinquished his title deed to the dominion given him, and he became a servant of sin, to obey the lusts thereof.
"Know not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" [Romans 6:16].
How pitiful that the myriads of things which appeal to the flesh can become so important that man will "serve them" to the satisfaction of the flesh, and immediately place themselves into the servant position, while that thing becomes their master. To whomever, or whatever we yield ourselves as servants to obey, his servant we are. The application of this can take many forms and cover many things, but the principle of it is true.
"In time past you 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."
[Ephesians 2:2].
Servants of corruption, servants of the negative realm, having lost the dominion given to Adam, and rather than being "lord" over these things, man became a servant to them. So then it was necessary for Christ to come and REDEEM, to buy back that inheritance which was forfeited.
The ministry of the FIRSTBORN is to redeem the brother in debt, to redeem the inheritance if it be lost, to avenge the blood of the brother, and to raise up seed unto the dead. This was the responsibility given to the first born in every Israelite family during the Old Testament times. To enable him to fulfill this position, there was given to him a double portion, so that he would have enough for his own personal needs, and a supply to take care of all these other needs, should they arise.
Wonder of wonders! God is bringing forth a company of many-brethren FIRST FRUITS who shall share in this ministry, and the inheritance shall be fully redeemed. The AGE OF JUBILEE shall see the field, i.e. the world return unto HIM to whom it did belong. (Original editor's note: And God will be "ALL in ALL." End of Note.).
Now it is established that the field is the world. And again, "the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field." [Matthew 13:44]. And while there is the overall universal application, there is also that personal application, and our own little "earthen vessel" is also afield. And we sincerely desire that our field be fully restored to all that for which it was created, that the purpose of God might be fulfilled in us.
"There is a spirit in man." [Job 32:8], and it is now buried deep in this earthen vessel. The scriptures also reveal that God is "the Father of spirits." [Hebrews 12:9]. So this spirit now buried in an earthen vessel came from God, once being apart of His whole spirit realm. Now it is hidden in a small earthen vessel, a field. We are not always aware of the fact that we have a spirit, for man "became a living soul" and primarily operates from the soulish level, that is, in the realm of the impulses and emotions, the intellect, and the will, which then is expressed through the body. Until the "spirit of man" is joined again to the Spirit of God, it readily yields itself to the "spirit of the world," which in turn begins to dominate the mind, i.e. the soul realm, which then controls the body. So the whole realm is brought under the dominion of corruption and decay after the manner of this present cosmos. (Original Editor's Note: Cosmos; the order of things, and in God's order, the cosmos is perfect, nothing out of harmony to His purpose. End of Note).
Thank God, HE has purposed a full redemption, and our entire field, i.e. our whole being shall be fully redeemed. We are "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." [Romans 8:23]. "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." [Philippians 3:21].
God has not only purposed that our "spirit" shall return unto Him, for if this was all He was after, He need only release us all from our physical body by a death in the physical, allowing "the dust to return to the earth as it [Eccl. 12:7]. This is the process as we now know it, but it is not the final word. God has promised a FULL REDEMPTION.
But before the body is also totally redeemed, there is this inner work in the regeneration which begins with the quickening of our spirit, to become alive to the holy Spirit. Then a renewing of our mind, bringing that whole realm of the soul into conformity to our quickened spirit. And lastly it shall manifest this whole change in the body itself. Nothing lost, no part left in the realm of corruption. While the "spirit of man" might be termed the "treasure" in the field, HE BOUGHT THE WHOLE FIELD, spirit, soul, and body to be fully restored to the higher realm.
Likewise, The Christ, the Last Adam, the Son of God, became hidden in a body of flesh and blood, and for all practical teaching of the moment, was lost in the field. He came unto His own and they received Him not, for had they known Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Little did they know that when they buried Him in a tomb, that HE literally sanctified, set apart the whole earth in which He was buried, set it apart unto the hour when all creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, and released into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Then the heavens have received Him, "until the time of the restoration of all things" [Acts 3:21]. And He yet remains hidden from the view of man.
Now the first fruits whom He has apprehended are in the earth, but they also remain hidden even here. They possess anew life, a life from above, but that life is "hid with Christ in God," and all the earth can see is the same old "dust body" like unto their own, and outward appearances have not changed at all. Thus far it is only an inner work. But "when the Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory." [Colossians 3:4]. And "the whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own" [Romans 8:19, Phillips], for they know that this signals the hour of the beginning of the redemption for all creation, though it be "every man in his own order."
One really doesn't see much of this TREASURE today. "The earth mourns and fades away...the earth also is defiled (POLLUTED) under the inhabitants thereof... therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate." [Isaiah 24:4-6]. The whole earth lies polluted under its inhabitants! How much this verse speaks that which is echoed from all the reports of ecology minded men of today. "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a
drunkard ..." [Isaiah 24:19-20]. Ah, how desperately the whole earth cries out for that hour of redemption from the corruption which has been heaped upon it.
Amid all this rubble and ruin there is a "treasure" which the Son of man came to seek and to save. Buried in the darkness and fear, religious form and ritual, there is a treasure which belongs to the realm of the celestial. HE FOUND HIS TREASURE, but He did not immediately whisk it away to the "beautiful Isle of Somewhere," He left it here, to remain hidden for a time, for there is so much more to be worked out in the total plan and purpose. But He knows where He has hidden it, He is always aware of where it lies, and He is able to return to it immediately any time He so desires, it is lost no more, it is just waiting unto the hour of fulness. "You were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption (Greek, the loosing-away) of the purchased possession." [Ephesians 1:13-14].
The purchase has been made, His life was poured out at Calvary, and it is sufficient to redeem the whole earth, and all that dwell therein. It now awaits the divine timetable for the hour of its loosing.
"For JOY he went and sold all that He had" and bought that field. He emptied Himself, poured out His life for all, but He received the field. "Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." [Hebrews 12:2].
No wonder the songwriter penned the words..."Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me..."Paul caught a glimpse of that JOY SET BEFORE US, with the ultimate fulness of victory, and declared "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." [Romans 8:18]. And He was willing for his life to be poured out now as an offering unto the Lord as part of that great reconciliation process. "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." [2 Corinthians 12:15].
This is Calvary's kind of love, such as Jesus manifested, to freely give one's life, even though for a time such love is not returned nor accepted. There shall come a day when love will fully triumph, for "CHARITY NEVER FAILS."
God has already projected, extended His love thus far for us, may we not in turn project love also for all the rest of creation? Christ has both descended and ascended, and there is no place that God can send His servants but what love, HIS LOVE, has already blazed that trail, paving the way ahead for us.
Therefore, though grace may be rejected, scorned, ignored, trampled on and despised, still God's love can suffer it all and yet still further project itself to cover a multitude of sin. "Charity shall cover the multitude of sins." [1 Peter 4:8]. And again, "LOVE COVERS ALL SINS." [Proverbs 10:12]. Out of the mouth of these two witnesses let it be established, charity never fails, love covers all sin. That's why hell shall be invaded and ultimately emptied of all its inhabitants. The Conqueror will be LOVE.
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." [Psalm 24:1].
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...He sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." [John 3:16-17].
"And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." [1 John 2:2].
Again, the individual, personal application: When He bought back that treasure-that spirit in man, He also bought the whole field, i.e. the earthen vessel wherein that spirit presently dwells. At present time this body remains under much of the system of this world, subject to its pressures and afflictions, but God is very mindful of His possession, and not one thing touches His possession but what He has purposed it to work of His divine counsel and plan for that life.
No loss in the ultimate sense, for HE has sown the seeds of GAIN in loss itself, and out of the ashes of the old shall burst forth the life of the new, HIS LIFE in rarest glory and victory. Nothing can happen outside of God's will, therefore what HE allows to touch His possession at this time is allowed because of the ultimate gain which it shall produce in due time. He guards you as the apple of His eye, to visit and inspect you and to make sure that His plan for you is being fulfilled without interruption and without failure in any part.
Again the words of the songwriter express it :"Moment by moment I kept in His love,
Moment by moment I've life from above..."Why? Because the EARTH is the Lord's, and THE FULNESS THEREOF. All of it belongs to Him EVEN NOW, He bought it, and in the time of jubilee it shall ALL return unto Him to whom it did belong, and now is restored. And because it IS His possession He daily watches over His Word to perform it IN US, and in all creation." You visit the earth, and water it..." [Psalm 65:9]. He knows about the dry times and the deep inner cry for a refreshing, and He knows just how to use this "dryness" to cause you to reach out and earnestly seek Him for new life, and He knows just when you would faint and grow weary and lose hope, and then HE sends that refreshing which strengthens and confirms your life in Him.
"Having come to this settled and firm persuasion concerning this very thing, namely, that He who began in you a work which is good will bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus." [Philippians 1:6, Wuest].
There is healing, there is daily provision, there is all that is needed for this present time. All of the blessing which is needed to provide the resources for strength and development and growth, and all of the trials that are needed to test this development and mature it into tested character.
When the fulness of time is come, this earthen vessel shall be changed in its whole structure, and raised to a higher realm, like unto HIS glorious body. It will be a personal time of jubilee for this vessel. Sinless and free from all that would corrupt, for this corruptible shall put on (be clothed with) incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality. This will be the FULNESS of the NEW BIRTH, that which was begun in the spirit of man, proceeding through the soul realm, shall ultimately be manifested in the bodily change. "We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not."
[1 John 5:18].
Free from sin, cannot sin--why? because being fully born of God, to possess the nature and character of God, and returned into HIM to whom he did belong, he is kept by the righteousness of God which abides within.
Furthermore, there is not only a restoration of the pristine glory of the past, which was before sin, and the bondage to vanity, but there will also be that addition of the acquired glory by contact with, and overcoming of evil, and it will be this combined effulgence which shall radiate throughout the universe to the praise of our Lord and Saviour. Thus the latter state is greater than the former, for when HE returns the whole to its former estate, He also has promised to do better unto us that at the beginning.
The whole process of the ages is not without purpose. God has a plan being wrought out through the ages, and we are a part of that plan. Our finite minds cannot comprehend its full scope and meaning, but as we are brought back into harmony with Him, we shall know, even also as we are known. The ultimate victory is beyond present comprehension, but we are assured by the Scriptures that the glory to be revealed is so great we dare not compare it to the present sufferings and travail.
What causes us great personal rejoicing, to know there shall be a time of the fulness of our redemption, our jubilee, when we return unto HIM, is also to be multiplied in the grandest of measures, until the WHOLE EARTH shall enjoy her time of jubilee, fully loosed from the tyranny of change and decay, and restored into the realm of His more abundant life. Every individual, and ALL MEN-- and then also the very ground upon which they walk, as thorns and thistles and briars, etc, are all purged out. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth." [Isaiah 42:4]. Which is also brought over into the New Testament, and worded this way, "He shall send forth judgment unto VICTORY." [Matthew 12:20].
Then shall "the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." [Habakkuk 2:14]. And "All the earth shall worship You, and shall sing unto You; they shall sing to Your name." [Psalm 66:4]. For "THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE BE CALLED." [Isaiah 54:5].
An array of verses like these can only cause great rejoicing and hope within us even now. And we would cry out with the prophet, "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord..." [Jeremiah 22:29]. There is a message of hope, there is a vision of victory to be fulfilled. The end thereof is secure, it was made certain at Calvary when LIFE was poured out for all mankind, and the field was redeemed, physical earthen vessels and the global earth whereon we live-all this creation shall be redeemed, and brought into the great jubilee. THE FIELD SHALL RETURN UNTO HIM TO WHOM IT DID BELONG. Praise God!
To accomplish this glorious return there must needs be an extensive correction and purification made. "The earth shall cast out her dead...and the earth shall disclose her blood..." [Isaiah 26:19, 21]. And there shall be a judgment ministered, and a time of reaping what was sown, and then a binding up of the wounds and a healing given. We would not try to minimize the extreme measures which will be used for correction, but we would point out that there shall be a jubilee which follows." The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." [2 Peter 3:10, 3].
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." [Revelation 21:5].A GLEAM OF LIGHT
Out of the dim, dim shadows,
Out of the lonely night,
There comes a ray of gladness,
There comes a gleam of light.And truth beams out in splendor,
And truth beams out with grace,
Grace for each weary pilgrim,
Grace for each tribe and race.Till lips which once were muted,
Till lips which once were still,
Are filled with God's own praises,
Are filled with God's own will.The hope of all creation,
The hope we've held so long,
Redemption's fullness hastens,
Redemption for the throng.While earthly kingdoms tremble,
While earthly kingdoms fall,
Shall Christ come forth triumphant,
Shall Christ be all in all.A jubilee shall follow,
A jubilee for man,
When earth shall be recycled,
And flourish once again.Returning to His glory,
Returning back to God,
A restoration climax
To end correction's rod.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