So for you nothing of Scripture is physical, but rather all is mystical and spiritual?
Dear rwb,
You said:
So for you nothing of Scripture is physical, but rather all is mystical and spiritual?
Scripture is written in the spiritual language of Christ.
Isa 28: 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another language (Christ's spiritual language) will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Paul taught in this same language:
1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Scripture is written in Christ's spiritual language to keep its meaning concealed from all but those who have been given "eyes that can see". For carnally minded believers, they will not be able to understand scripture and as a result, they will "fall backward, and be broken".
After a person is called out from the world and has received the Early Rain of the Spirit, they will remain spiritually blind and controlled by their carnal mind. In this condition, they will not be able to understand and receive the truth of scripture.
Paul had this same issue with the churches Paul began:
1Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
It is only after a called out believer receives the
Latter Rain of the Spirit that they will be given "eyes that can see" and a new spiritual nature which the Holy Spirit gives them. After receiving the Latter Rain, they will finally start understanding the spiritual language of Christ and the truth it teaches. When this happens, the "truth" will cause a spiritual earthquake within them and their worldly paradigm will come crashing down.
The spiritual language of Christ teaches its messages by using spiritual symbols and by "types".
The spiritual symbols carry meanings which are different that what man's wisdom teaches. Paul says to understand those symbols, we must "compare spiritual things with spiritual".
1Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
If a believer applies the same meanings to the symbols as Webster's dictionary teaches, the message Christ is teaching will remain veiled.
To understand the meanings of spiritual symbols, we must look only to scripture and find out how those same words are used elsewhere. Then, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, their true meanings can be ascertained.
Also, the spiritual language of Christ teaches us by using "types". "Types" are sometimes historical stories found in scripture or they can be presented as parables. In those stories (historical or fictional), a spiritual message is taught by the events of the story. Spiritual symbols are also used in the story.
The Old Testament is full of historical stories which carry spiritual meanings. Even the laws and ordinances of the Old Covenant are "types" which teach spiritual messages. However, since the Old Covenant not a spiritual covenant, the Jewish Nation complied with those laws and ordinances in a literal and physical way. And just as a believer who is carnal, they, too, will apply the teachings of Christ in a literal and physical way.
Because of such, carnal believers understand the teachings of Christ and end-time prophecy has being literal and physical.
However, with "eyes that can see", the meanings of those prophecies and other teachings of scripture will be understood as teaching spiritual truths which apply "within" a person. Those teachings are usually teaching on certain aspects of the Pathway to Salvation. That pathway is a spiritual pathway and its steps are spiritual events which happen "within" a believer.
Here is on easy example of a "type". It is a literal event which uses spiritual symbols to teach its spiritual message:
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Does Christ really mean that if you use a sword to kill others, then you must likewise be killed with a sword?
Literally, that is what He is saying. However, if we understand this verse literally, that statement can easily be proven to be
false. There are countless examples of people who have used violence to kill others but then do not die from that same type of violence - it almost goes without saying.
Is Christ mistaken or is His message something else?
In
Matt 26:52, Christ is using the spiritual symbol of a SWORD to teach us a spiritual message. To understand what this spiritual symbol represents, we must look at how it is used elsewhere in scripture.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edge sword...
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword...
From these verses, it is easy to understand that the spiritual word SWORD represents the
Word of God who is Christ.
Christ’s hidden spiritual point He is making in
Matt 26:52 is that all who take up the Sword (those who have been “called out”, Early Rain), must perish by the Sword (death of the carnal nature). This spiritual death is a necessary part of the conversion process which happens when the Word of God (Christ, the Sword) comes to a person and gives them the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of Fire (judgment of the carnal nature):
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with Fire.
This conversion event is what the Apostles experienced on the Day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In the spiritual language of Christ, the Apostles took up the Sword and then died by the SWORD.
In light of what I presented above, do you understand what this verse below is teaching?
Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Fire is the spiritual symbol for Christ's judgment. The Sword is the Word of God/Christ. Like Mat 26:52, this verse above is also teaching about the conversion event. The “many” who are “slain of the Lord” is referring to the people who have just been converted & saved.
If a believer understands this verse in a carnal way, they will believe that Christ is going to physically slay most of mankind by His literal sword and by literal fire (in the Lake of Fire). By doing so, they make Christ out to be a murderous monster who has no love for mankind.
However, when this verse is understood spiritually, Christ is shown to be mankind's loving and merciful Savior.
I will respond to your other questions in a separate post or two.
Joe