The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Rebellion, #10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)

Religion can be used to elevate our first personality. Self-aggrandizement is common among the Lord's people.

But this is not the Christian redemption. The Christian redemption is the crucifying of the first personality so the new creation may live. We have borne the image of the first Adam. Now it is time to take on the image of the Lord from Heaven.

The male Child (Revelation 12:5) must be brought forth. The Son is the only One who is able to put down the rebellion against the Father. The Son can be brought forth only as God's victorious saints are willing to love not their own lives to the death.

The Son, and those in whom He has been formed and is dwelling, will rule all nations with a rod of iron. The rebellion dwelling in the nations of the saved will be broken in pieces as God's power comes forth through Christ—Head and Body.

The first stage in putting down all rebellion is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He always obeys the Father.

The second stage in putting down all rebellion consists of the victorious saints. They overcome the accuser by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and by loving not their lives to the death. They are brought down in travail of spirit and soul until Christ is formed in them. They are learning strict, stern, consistent, diligent obedience to God.

The third stage in putting down all rebellion will take place as soon as the warrior-remnant of saints are completely victorious. The Father will give Michael and his angels the power to cast Satan and his angels into the earth, hurling them down from their thrones in the air. What a glorious event this will be for those who dwell in the heavens; but what a horror for all those on the earth who are in rebellion against God! People enjoy the ways of Satan, but they are not quite ready for Satan to come down and live among them.

Here is the perfect justice of God. The rebellious of the earth have loved the person and ways of Satan and so God will give Satan to them. God opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. We receive what we truly desire.

Why haven't Michael and his angels cast Satan out of the heavens long ago? The reason is, the actions of the holy angels are related to the decisions made by the saints.

To the saints have been given the keys of the Kingdom of God. To the saints has been given the authority to bind and to loose. God will not act apart from the will of man in this respect. Man permitted Satan to enter his life. Man is responsible to drive out Satan from his life.

The rebellion will continue until the members of the Body of Christ overcome Satan. God has not given Christ to mankind as someone who will destroy Satan by Himself. Rather, God has given Christ to mankind so through Christ we may gain the ability to overcome Satan. God will crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20). The children of Israel had to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan. God did not do it all for them; rather, He helped them do it.

To be continued.