April 13, 2022
[Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:7-11
This “every knee” and “every tongue” verse has presented a lifelong puzzlement to some Bible readers. It is well-established throughout scripture that God draws, woos, and invites people into a love relationship with Him, but He never forces Himself onto us. Each of us is endowed with a will to exercise as we see fit. The verse above has caused many to buy into the false doctrine of universalism—that everyone will ultimately be saved—but to do so is to ignore a vast array of other scriptures. A firm grasp on the significance, purpose, and reality of the millennium chases away the puzzling aspect of our verse above. At the final sentencing of the unrepentant, everyone will agree that God is just and fair. Each unrepentant person will see the record of his or her own life; how God repeatedly revealed Himself to him or her—along with their obstinate rejections, each rejection hardening the heart by another degree. Their sin-hardened hearts will be fully exposed to demonstrate that their lack of love for God would make living with Him not only unhappy, but a terror-filled experience. Each will confess that God has done everything possible to secure their salvation. All who had full and unlimited access to the Truth will be more culpable than those who had little light. This is the basis for Peter’s statement:
For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
Peter was surely thinking of Ezekiel 9 as the Holy Spirit led him to write. God was speaking to Ezekiel about the rebellious Israelites, now in the middle of their 70-year Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel was to deliver a warning which, if heeded, would save them. In Ezekiel 8 we see God taking Ezekiel by a lock of his hair – in vision! – to show him the abominations taking place among the leadership of God’s people whose mission was to take the gospel message to the world. These offenses parallel the very same things going on today in the churches. The culmination of this catalog of abominations was: SUN WORSHIP! (see Ezekiel 8:16) Today, there is a massive, worldwide ecumenical movement that will center on this form of apostasy—with echoes from the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)—to unite all denominations of Christianity and also non-Christian religions into a single, “one-world” organization under the leadership of the unholy trinity: the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (Revelation 16:13). It is vital to understand the identity of these three entities. Millions of God’s people are again in Babylonian captivity—either by default or by their own willful choice. Currently there is still time to escape Babylon (see Revelation 18:4). We are in the countdown of the last days. I must ask myself if I take seriously the loving warning of Revelation 18:4: “Come out of her, my people…”
And [the LORD] called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after them through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Ezekiel 9:3b-6