The White Throne Judgement

The Great White Throne Judgment is a trial, set in the future, for all people who have rejected God's call to salvation. Every person who has lived upon earth and has refused to accept God's way to redemption from sin, will kneel before their Creator at this time, and acknowledge that He is God--that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Who will not enter into the Kingdom of God?

Revelation 21:27 Nothing unclean, no one who does anything detestable, and no liars will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lamb’s Book of Life will enter it.

The Book of Life is a record written by God before the creation of the world, listing people who will live forever in the kingdom of heaven. It contains the names of God's elect. They will experience no condemnation or judgment. They are not among the dead, for they are alive.

Our physical actions may appear to be good works to those around us, but our thoughts in our minds and the feelings in our hearts are seen by God. 

Proverbs 12:22 Lips that lie are disgusting to the Lord, but honest people are his delight.

Mark 7: 21 Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person. 23 All these evils come from within and make a person unclean.”

Matthew 5:28 But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn’t have eternal life.

What will appear at the White Throne judgement?

Revelation 20:11-15 I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, but no place was found for them. 12 I saw the dead, both important and unimportant people, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened, including the Book of Life. The dead were judged on the basis of what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead. Death and hell gave up their dead. People were judged based on what they had done.14 Death and hell were thrown into the fiery lake. (The fiery lake is the second death.) 15 Those whose names were not found in the Book of Life were thrown into the fiery lake.

The "dead, small and great" refers to those who have lived throughout history and, regardless of their stature or position, died without acknowledging and accepting The Lord Jesus' payment for their sins. All remains of these deceased will be raised and united with their souls so that they can stand in a resurrected form before the Great White Throne. After death, the soul continues to exist. Before the resurrection, the soul of the believer is in the presence of God awaiting eternal reward. The soul of the unbeliever is in hades awaiting final judgment.

During our time on earth we have a choice! You can either be a child of the God or a child of the devil! 

1 John 3:8 The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has been committing sin since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God appeared was to destroy what the devil does. 9 Those who have been born from God don’t live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can’t live sinful lives. They have been born from God. 10 This is the way God’s children are distinguished from the devil’s children. Everyone who doesn’t do what is right or love other believers isn’t God’s child.

We were all sinners! There is a choice that can be made while their is breath in our bodies! 

1 Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, 10 or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11 That’s what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

There is no neutral area. There is right and wrong, there is life and death and there are blessings and curses. While God has created us in His own image and loves us all the same, He also gave us all a free will. With that free will, we each have to decide whether to choose God and eternal life with Him, or we turn our back to Him and choose eternity in The Lake of Fire. As parents, we love our children unconditionally, yet as they grow into adulthood, we cannot choose their path in life (even as much as we might sometimes like to). And that is the same way we all are as God’s children. He yearns and aches for us to choose Him, but He will not force us to.

On judgement day will you be innocent or guilty? Will your name be in the Book of Life or will you be cast into The Lake of Fire?

Created by:
Sis. Jocelyn Jones
Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

Applying the Blood

To experience the new birth, the blood of Jesus must be applied.
 

Applied Science

Struggling to cut firewood with only an ax, a backwoodsman went into town and purchased a well-advertised chain saw. Not having any better success at cutting wood with the chain saw, he returned to the store and complained. The salesperson gave him a demonstration of how to operate the chain saw. As the salesperson pulled the cord starting the gasoline engine, the woodsman said, "What is that noise?"The man had a good tool for cutting wood, but he failed to learn how to use it. Without its engine running it offered no more power to accomplish the job than his ace had provided. A fundamental concept is obvious in this anecdote: we must realize our responsibility to do something. Having a chain saw alone does not help us cut wood. We must start the engine. Some seem never to understand that salvation requires action. We have to do something. Jesus came in flesh and shed His blood, but that blood must be applied to be effective for us. Scripture gives a detailed step-by-step formula for the application of that blood. Carefully read the instruction book. The blood of Jesus Christ is efficacious, but it must be properly applied.

By R.L. Gilstrap

Because the blood of Jesus is sufficient for all human beings, no person need fear that any past sin, filthy depravity, or station in life can keep him from becoming cleansed by that blood. However, because God desires us to come to Him freely, of our own will, we may also choose to reject His atonement to live and to die in our sins. Still, Christ continues to call to all mankind that they might experience the new birth.


1. Applying the blood in the Old Testament

Unless the sacred furnishings and objects of the Tabernacle were sprinkled with blood, they were not acceptable for worship of God. Until the people had the blood applied by ritual sprinkling, they were not able to approach a holy God. Hebrews 9:13-14 tells us, "for if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

 2. Applying the blood in the New Testament

The clear answer of the Bible is that the blood is necessarily applied throughout our conversion and Christian experience. Without the blood of Christ applied to our minds, we could not initially believe the gospel, repentance would be of no effect, and baptism would just get us wet. Except the blood cleanse us, the Holy Spirit could not take up residence within us. Holiness of life and thought are impossible without His blood cleansing us moment by moment.
 

We are washed and completely cleaned by the blood of Jesus, but our feet still get directly just form our daily walk. This requires the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary to be applied to our lives daily. We appropriate the blood of Jesus for daily cleansing by daily repentance, reading, studying, and applying the principles of Scripture, praying, fasting, and following other spiritual disciplines.

Sinfulness has made us spiritually insensitive to the awfulness of sin and its penalty. But God has made a means through His own blood to simultaneously show us the cost of our sinfulness and pay that cost for us. No one need die in his sins. The price has already been paid in full and reconciliation has already been made. The only reasons the majority of people will go to Hell is because they have reject the price Jesus paid by failing to apply His blood to their lives. He has laid before us a new life in fellowship and peace with Him.

Every believer has authority over disease and sickness through the power of Jesus' blood and of His name.

Created by: Jocelyn Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Winter 2012-2013. Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 84-90. Print.

Integrity

In·teg·ri·ty - Moral soundness, an undivided or unbroken completeness.

Unlike the sinking sand of this world's system and ways, Jesus Christ is our solid foundation. We can build our houses upon him and know that it will be safe and secure. As Godly children we must reflect the attributes of our Father. He is the solid rock, nothing moves him. The scriptures give an account to his integrity and determination as he was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Although he was tired from forty days and nights of fasting all by himself, he still kept his integrity. We also see the incredible integrity of The Lord as he journeyed to the cross. 

Isaiah 53:7

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth".

It is easy to uphold your integrity in public. The real testing comes in your private life. It is easy to display your anointing and how approved you are of God in the public eye. But what about behind closed doors? Or maybe in light of peer pressure? Compromise of your Christian identity can most conveniently be sown in these areas of our lives. Joseph went through a private test that lead to public embarrassment when Potiphar's wife propositioned him to commit adultery with her. When he refused she proceeded to lie on him, resulting in his imprisonment. Yet through all this Joseph still maintained his integrity.   

Genesis 39:9
"How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" 

Jacobs answer is powerful and serves as an example for saints everywhere who wish to keep their Christian integrity. He simply loved The Lord and did not want to sin against him. The Lord was his foundation and his strength, how could he forsake the very God who had been keeping him all his life? His integrity was deeply rooted in the Lord.

The reward for integrity

Job received double for his trouble, Joseph was exalted to the second highest position in Pharaoh's kingdom. The Apostle Paul had this great testimony after keeping his integrity. 

2 Timothy 4:7-8

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing".

Not only do we give honor and glory to God by living with Christian integrity, but there is great reward in keeping our integrity. Let no one turn you away from this great salvation through compromise. As the scripture says "Stand strong and endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." God bless.

Authored by:

Min. John W Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

God Hates Sin

Would a loving God Judge Me?

How many times have I heard individuals ask, “Would a loving God really send someone to Hell?” Actually, as I have heard some minister answer, it is more like “God allows them to choose that destiny.” It really is about personal choice, with which God has empowered all humankind. Hell is a real, eternal destination; and many people will choose to go there by choosing to live sinful lives on earth, separation from God’s will and purpose. Still, to suggest that God’s love and His judgment are incompatible aspects of His nature is simply untrue. God loves us all dearly, even those who choose to exclude Him from their lives and thereby choose Hell as their final destiny.

       In his article “Would a loving God judge me?” author Davis Wilson writes, “So what is God like? Well, most people today would happily declare that God is love, and this is indeed a biblical description of God … But that is not the whole story. The Bible tells us that God is holy … When Isaiah … heard the angels crying ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ he responded by saying, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone …’ (Isaiah 6:5).

       “The Bible also tells us that God is just … Unfortunately, this creates a major problems … because if God judges us according to His righteous standard, we would all be destroyed … The only way God can be just and forgives us our sins is if the penalty we deserve is borne by someone else …"

        Jesus Christ has paid the price for the judgment of our sins, but we must accept His gift and embrace the salvation He has provided.

By Richard M. Davis

God loves the sinner, but will not tolerate the sin. If anyone goes to Hell, it is because they earned their way there. Hell is their reward for living a sinful life while they were alive on earth.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Character

• God is jealous over His deity (no other gods before him). He is the only God that should be 
worshiped. There are no other gods beside him.

• God is jealous over His sovereignty (no other power above him). God is the creator of all things. There is no problem that he cannot solve.

• God is jealous over His own people. (We are His people). God wants us to love and trust him. He wants us to fully rely and trust in Him.

With God’s help

• All our sins are forgiven. When we ask God to forgive our sins they are forgotten, gone, removed, done away with and therefore nonexistence

• God gives us power to tread upon our enemies. God will fight every battle with us. During the battles He will never leave us. We will have the victory at the end. 

• Death cannot keep us from God's presence. The reward for sin is death. The FREE gift from God is everlasting life.

God’s ways are equal

Ezekiel 18:21-23 “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.

God does not want anyone to die in their sins, but He wants everyone to freely turn to Him for everlasting life. 

Matthew 24:14 “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.

Everyone will have the opportunity to turn to God at least one point in their life! Life is short, but eternity if forever! Where will you spend eternity?

Created by: Jocelyn Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Summer 2013. Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 48-52. Print.

The Promise

"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" Acts 2:33

In this dispensation of grace, believers in Jesus Christ started to receive the Holy Ghost in the inner man for the purpose of salvation, adoption, and ownership which comes by Jesus Christ. While you read this study, lets seek to be more than a "seer" or a "hearer" of this great promise but let us seek to be the very ones to experience the promise. 

The beginning

It is important to know that the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts is the inauguration of the church age. God personally christened his church (body of believers) with his very own Spirit. It was the beginning of his beautiful church. The Apostle Peter recounted this great event to the brethren in Jerusalem, affirming that it was "the beginning" or the start of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

^"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

Acts 11:15-17

It is evident that even the Apostle Peter acknowledges that the Pentecost experience was the beginning, mankind had never experienced such a phenomenon until then. The church, the body of Christ was no longer and empty shell, we can now be filled with his Holy Spirit. What a marvelous experience it is to not only be born of the water, but to be born of the Spirit as well, just as Jesus said in John 3:3-8.

Can we withstand God?

God is the coordinator of this biblical event called the baptism of the Spirit. The called out Apostles could not withstand what God was doing in those days, neither can we withstand what he is doing now. Jesus orchestrated it, he gave the Apostles instruction to tarry (wait) in the city of Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father (The Holy Ghost).

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me." Acts 1:4

It was Jesus who stood on the mount of olives and told his Apostles that they would be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days after his ascension and that they would receive power.

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Acts 1:5 

The Promises of God are sure! Ten days later they were all filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

 

This is that!
The birth of the church was so significant that even the prophet Joel prophesied about it. The Apostle Peter, seeing and experiencing this spiritual birth, understood what was happening and said...

"..this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" Acts 2:16-17.

A promised experience!
Jesus promised his disciples before he was crucified that another comforter would be sent in his name. This comforter would abide with his disciples forever. After Jesus made this statement he let them in on a secret "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you" John 14:18. Yes, Jesus himself would be that comforter in Spirit form.   

This same promise was reiterated several times during Jesus' earthly ministry, in one account he explains that the Holy Ghost would not come unless he departs John 16:7. He also taught his disciples that believing on him as the scripture says that "out of his belly shall flow rivers on living water" John 7:38. The proceeding verse sheds significant light on this saying. "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" John 7:39.

More good news!

This promise is for everyone that believes in Jesus Christ, Jesus said "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" John 7:37. Paul passing through the upper coasts of Ephesus seeing certain disciples asked "have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? This my friends, I ask you today, have you received the Holy Ghost in the same manner as they did in "the beginning"? Acts 11:15

Authored by:

Min. John W. Jenkins
Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

Holiness

Calling all to be Holy

     The Bible calls followers of Christ to a life of holiness, and stresses just how essential holiness is. 

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14 

   

 The new birth or being born again is the initial experience of salvation, but the process of salvation doesn't end there. There is also the work of sanctification-a process of becoming progressively more and more like Christ, this process takes place as we submit daily to the leadership and control of the Holy Spirit.

 

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." 

2 Thessalonians 2:13

    Just as sure as we must be born again to see the kingdom of God, as stated in the book of John 3:3-5, so we must pursue holiness, or sanctification, in order to see the Lord. The new birth will have no eternal value unless the born again person continues to walk by faith and live after the new nature of the Spirit, and allows God to complete the process that started with being born again.

       

      Holiness is not an option: it is a command that we are to put into operation in all aspects of our lives.  "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

What is Holiness?

   Holiness is the principal aspect of His nature, so in reference to God, it means absolute purity and honest nature. In reference to us as humans it means, conformity to the character and will of God, it  means thinking as God thinks, loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and acting as Jesus would, ultimately, having the mind of Christ. 

   It also means that we are not to love this ungodly world system, neither identify with it,  become attached to the things in it, or take part in the world's sinful pleasures and activities.

"know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4

Why live Holy?

      One reason for living holy is to please God, because we belong to God in two respects:

1. Creation
2. Redemption through the Cross

So as His people we do not have a right to live any other way, than by His design. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 God created us for His glory:

  "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." Isaiah 43:7

   

   He intended for us to love, worship, and commune with Him, but sin separated us from Him. So through the Cross He provided a way for redemption so that we can be restored back to our position in Him. 

   However, if we continue to live unholy and in sin, than we will continue to separate ourselves from His presence. Only by living holy can we fulfill the  purpose of  creation and redemption.  "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Peter 2:9 

  

   Another reason for holiness is to communicate Christ to others. People will believe our declaration that Jesus saves from sin only if they can see the saving power operating in our lives. Also people who are no longer satisfied with their worldly life, and the ones who are seeking salvation, will only be attracted to a people and a church that is clearly distinct from the world they are desperately trying to escape.

 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."Matthew 5:16

  The life of holiness brings great benefits in this life: physically, mentally, spiritually, and it leads to eternal life. It has always been  God's design for us to live by holiness standards, and when those standards are violated, significant harm results, for example:

  sexual immorality, rage, and bitterness can actually cause physical harm or illness. 

  Those who live godly and walk in holiness enjoy divine love, joy, peace, and hope. They truly have abundant life, now and in the life to come.

Authored by:

Sis. Brittany Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

Recommended Reading:
 Essentials of Holiness 
  by David K. Bernard

In Search of Holiness
by David K. Bernard