Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
The last enemy destroyed is death. Paul focuses on this Truth right after he shared the sixteen attributes of Love, its pursuit and the desire of Spiritual gifts with their appropriate operation in chapters 13 and 14 of 1 Corinthians. After Paul speaks of the many witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, in chapter 15 he deals with the last enemy to be destroyed:
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
“Each in his own order” speaks of different groups being made alive at different points or time. Throughout Scripture, the three feasts represent the three “orders” of resurrection from death to life. The first eleven chapters of the book of Revelation focuses on the Order of Melchizedek. Those who are called and chosen to this Order will be among the firstfruits who put on the incorruptible replacing the previous state of corruption. These loved not theirs lives unto death and they are willing to fully set aside their will and its state of corruption for HIS will, the state of being incorruptible. Jesus is our example to be followed. He is the firstfruit of the firstfruits. We must not be disappointed when we minister to others and they show no interest in what has been revealed to us. This is an indication that they have not been called to walk out this path and that is okay. There is no criticism or condemnation toward them for Our Heavenly Father is the ONE Who determines our callings. Our responsibility is to plant seed and HE will provide any increase in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. HE is the ONE who opens and shuts eyes and ears as HE disclosed to Moses in Exodus chapter 4:
10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
Our trust in FATHER’S Divine Intent allows us to live in peace among the brethren knowing that HIS plan will come to pass and by those vessels of honor HE has prepared in these last times. Moses was selected and empowered for his calling. HE will bring forth those whom HE ordained before HE formed them in the womb. Relax! Let HIS vision be our vision thus we do not need to expend a tremendous amount of energy trying to do HIS will. Let us each submit to HIS Words daily and HE will navigate us through the time of perfection and commissioning. Once fully matured, we too will minister with signs following, similar to our elder Brother Jesus Christ. His pattern of ministry provides an expectation of fruitfulness in that He assured us that we would do “greater works”. We should expect nothing less for His Word is Truth! In order to do this we must put on incorruption and not let unbelief impair this outcome. Jesus spoke of this counterintuitive Truth of “dying” in order to live in Matthew 16:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
This Truth is all about trust. Do you trust your mind, will, and emotions or do you trust Our Heavenly Father? The world wants you to live in fear and scarcity without the notion that Love will intervene on your behalf. The ego promotes this idea in order to maintain control. Once you overcome your flesh and are willing to lose it, you will gain true life. You give up the counterfeit for the genuine and you no longer accept a half-truth but instead embrace the full Truth. You must have faith IN FATHER and HIS Divine Intent of Love. If GOD be for us, who can be against us? This is why we are told to be of good courage and we must forget about our ego’s empty promises of grandeur, never to be delivered but always kept just out of reach. We must set aside those cravings that come about at a time of weakness only to provide a temporary satisfaction but later demand more attention. We must not let the earth and the sea’s attraction deter us from “coming up hither”. Both realms assure us of a life of corruption and it is now being revealed to us that the life of incorruption is in our grasp. Yes, it is a narrow path shown to us by HIS Love but nonetheless it is now visible and accessible to those who will put on the incorruptible and lose their life in its current state of corruption. What a beautiful promise!
Psalm 37 speaks of this trust and contrasts those who trust in FATHER versus those who trust in their flesh:
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Jesus plainly laid it out for us: trusting Our Heavenly Father brings forth life, trusting in “self” brings forth death. Let this last enemy death be destroyed.