Zion The Beauty Of Perfection

The Hundred Forty And Four Thousand On Mount Sion — Who are they? “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their forehead”. “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:” “And they sang, as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth”. “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”. “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” -

Rev.14:1-5.

Preface DURING THE APOSTOLIC PERIOD, the saints lived anticipating the coming of the Lord. This is the hope of the New Testament Church. St. John the apostle says, “... every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” implying that this hope enables us to purify ourselves (I Jn. 3:3). Therefore the saints of the 1st century looked forward to the imminent coming of the Lord and preached it. If they had lived with such a great hope and finished their course, how much more diligently should we, who are living two thousand years later, await that day? His coming is indeed at hand. Many signs announcing the coming of the Lord have come to pass and many others are being fulfilled even now. But He is yet to come. Though all the signs be fulfilled, He will come only after Sion is built up, for it is written, “When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory” (Psa.102:15). The Lord will come, when the sum total, namely the one hundred and forty and four thousand who are in Sion, is fulfilled and when Zion built up and finished. Therefore, it is imperative that those who have been called and anointed for Zion, purify themselves and make themselves worthy of that place. This being the case, the need to write about the 144,000 who stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion has risen, especially since there are many who interpret them in different ways these days. The dragon who is their arch enemy, has caused the fall of many who journeyed in this path, and even now he is continuing to work so that the purpose of the Lord in building up Zion may not be fulfilled. The purpose of this booklet is therefore, to make known how this spirit works and also how we may live keeping away from him. We give all glory to the Lord for His grace to write this booklet. May the Holy Spirit Himself be with everyone who reads this, and make clear this truth. The Voice of Pentecost

Zion

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HE WORD ‘ZION’ is mentioned throughout the Scriptures. In many places we read of expressions such as ‘Mount Zion’, ‘Fort Zion’, and ‘Daughter of Zion’. We read that king David captured the stronghold of Zion, made it his own city, and dwelt there. II Sam.5:7.

The word, ‘Zion’ also referred to the people of God of the Old Testament period. Moreover, it is likely that the Old Testament Church acquired this name since, ‘Zion’ adjoined the city of David, the greatest of the Old Testament kings. (Isa.1:8; 2:3; 49:14; Zech.9:9). When the Old Testament period as well as the period of the Gentiles which is the period of the Church ends, during the thousand year reign, the Jews shall be blessed and shall grow and multiply and they will be once again called ‘Zion’. This truth may be understood from the following the verses: “And many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of Hid ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa.2:3)

“Therefore they shall come and sin in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all” (Jer.31:12) “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2) There is a Sion apart from the above mentioned ones. Concerning this too, the Scripture is very explicit. The prophet Isaiah who prophesied about the New Testament Church speaks of a foundation. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, sure foundation ...” (Isa.28:16). Which Zion is referred to here? In this Zion, a corner stone was laid. It is a foundation stone. The words ‘corner stone’ and ‘foundation’ imply that a structure will be built upon these. What is this building? In the New Testament, the apostle Peter in his epistle writes, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious” (I Pet.2:6), referring to the verse in Isaiah 28:16. In Psalm 110:2, it is said, “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion”. This stone, which though rejected of men, was chosen of God, and became a precious corner stone, points to the Lord Jesus Christ (I Pet.2:4) Jesus also said, “.... the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner” (Matt.21:42). This stone when rejected by the Jews, the builders, became the corner stone and foundation of another building. Who can this stone be other than Jesus who was rejected and crucified by the Jews? Many have stumbled and fallen upon this stone. The Jews, who are the children of God, stumbled during the entire period of the Gentiles. They did not understand Him.(I Pet.2:7,8). This stone which was laid in Sion became "a stumbling stone and a rock of offence” (Rom.9:33). Not only they, but even today many misinterpret this stone that was laid in Sion. This is why many who have not received the revelation concerning Sion, destroy themselves saying that Jerusalem is built upon a mount called Sion, and that Sion is only a mount on the earth. This is a work of the fallen spirits that work against Sion. These fallen spirits are the angels, who were created to minister to those who shall inherit salvation. But as they contemned their office, they were cast down and they fell (Isa.14:12,13). We shall see later that it is they that work against Sion. St.Paul referred to this corner stone when he wrote, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone (Eph.2:20). Thus, we can clearly see that the corner stone spoken of by Isaiah, by the Lord Jesus, by David in Psalm 118:22, by Peter and by Paul are one and the same, viz. the corner stone in Sion. Where is this Sion that has Jesus as its corner stone? Before the Lord Jesus could become this corner stone, He had to be rejected by the Jews who were the builders. He was rejected by men but chosen of God. We know that He rose from the dead and is set at the right hand of the Father. Hence we read, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that He might fill all things” (Eph.4:10). This is rendered as ‘He has entered within the veil’ in Hebrews 6:19,20 and as ‘He entered into the holy place’ in Hebrews 9:12. So, we see that the corner stone that is laid in Sion, the corner stone laid in the most holy place and the corner stone set far above all heavens is one and the same. This clearly shows that Sion is not of this earth and that it is the habitation of God in heaven. So when St.Paul writes about this, he says that the building for which this stone is laid as corner stone, is the habitation of God. The habitation of God mentioned here comprises three parts viz., the corner stone, Christ Jesus, the apostles and prophets, the foundation, and the believers of the New Testament, the lively stones: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of

the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph.2:19-22). The Lord Jesus who ascended to Sion is constructing a new building which is the habitation of God: “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:2). For this purpose, He is working as the Mediator of the New Testament. Touching this it is written, For this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament..... that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Heb.9:15). In order to build up Zion, He who is set as the corner stone in Sion has received the Holy Spirit from the Father and sent it from there and He is continuing to send it even now. "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). Two groups of people come into existence by this anointing, namely, the apostles and prophets, who form the foundation, and the saints who are built upon it as the city or house. This is the New Testament Church. Christ is the corner stone and upon it a building, namely the Church is built. What is the reason for calling the place where the corner stone of this building is laid, as Sion? Before this Sion was built, as a shadow of it, ‘Zion’ was found on this earth. Wherever the word, ‘Zion’ is mentioned on this earth, it is in connection with the word ‘Jerusalem’. It is worth mentioning that here Mr. Young, a scholar in Theology says that the city of Jerusalem inclosing Zion, was built upon four mountains. The fort of Zion that king David captured was on one side of Jerusalem (II Sam.5:6,7; II Chr.11:4,5). David went to Jerusalem and captured the castle of Zion. The castle of Zion and Jerusalem were one within the other. But Jerusalem and Zion are not one and the same place. Zion was in Jerusalem. The ark of the covenant which was in Zion was brought and set in the temple at Jerusalem (II Chr.5:2). From this we understand that Jerusalem and Zion are not one, but two inter-related places. In the same manner, just as Zion and Jerusalem are together on this earth, their substance namely, Sion and Jerusalem are one within the other and yet are two distinct places. For this reason, St. Paul writes, " ... ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ... " (Heb.12:2224). This signifies the two groups of people who are now found in the New Testament Church by the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

THE TWO LOAVES It is astonishing that the Lord has ordained in the feast of the Old Testament period, a shadow of Sion and the heavenly Jerusalem. After the Israelites who were the people of God entered into Canaan, they maintained the practice of offering the sheaf that was first in their harvests as firstfruits unto the Lord (Lev.23:10). On the fiftieth day, numbering from the day after the sabbath, from the day on which they offered the sheaf, they baked two loaves from the corn of the firstfruits, and offered it to the Lord as firstfruits. This was called the feast of the fiftieth day or the feast of weeks or the feast of the Pentecost. This depicts a great truth of the New Testament. The Lord Jesus Who is the Word of God, the incorruptible seed (I Pet.1:23) lived on this earth, and was sown. When he was harvested, that is, when He rose from the dead, He was found having no earthly nature. By this we infer it that He is the sheaf of the firstfruits that was offered to God. "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have pre-eminence" Col.1:18. The Lord Jesus became the firstfruits and was accepted of God, and, on the fiftieth day namely, on the day of the feast of Pentecost, He shed forth the Holy Spirit. Like the two loaves that were baked on the

day of the feast of the Pentecost, the people who receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit are seen as two loaves. These two loaves are firstfruits. Even as the earthly Zion lies within the city of Jerusalem, the true heavenly Jerusalem and Sion are found as the firstfruits formed by the baptism in Holy Ghost. Here we find THREE FIRSTFRUITS. viz. Jesus, the corner stone of the New Testament Church, Sion, and the city which is the New Jerusalem. The two groups of people who are laid upon Jesus, the corner stone, should ardently wait in order to be caught up at the coming of the Lord. "Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb.9:28) refers to this. For this reason, St.Paul also wrote saying, "Not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom.8:23). We can see that this term "the firstfruits of the Spirit" is taken from the offering of the firstfruits on the feast of Pentecost. We must understand that until we receive the redemption of our body, which is the adoption of sons, ie. as long as we are on this earth, we remain as the heavenly Jerusalem and are not the New Jerusalem. The city that will descend, when we are caught up at the coming of the Lord, is New Jerusalem. For this reason, St.Paul too has written ‘Jerusalem which is above is free’, and that she is ‘the mother of us all’. In so saying, he refers to the New Testament Church or the firstfruits who have received the anointing, as 'mother' (Gal.4:26):

MOTHER The baptism in the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ in one Body. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Cor.12:13). Therefore, every one who has received the anointing, no matter to which group or church he may belong, is the Body of Christ. St. Paul, refers to the different churches that are being built upon Christ the foundation, when he writes, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (I Cor.3:11-13). Children of God who have received the Holy Spirit may be found in congregations such as depicted by gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble. But if these are to be caught up at the coming of the Lord, they should be tried by fire. That which remains unconsumed in this trial is the one Church that will stand like gold, silver and precious stones. The term 'gold, silver and precious stones' do not refer to three churches but to the three different characteristics seen in one church. Hence it is clear that though all Spirit-baptized people are the Body of Christ, none but those who remain steadfast in the midst of fiery trials will be caught up at the coming of the Lord. That will be one Church. This church alone will enter within the veil at His coming (Heb.6:19). This is the hope of the New Testament Church. When St.Paul speaks about this hope saying," ... even as ye are called in one hope of your calling", he also mentions of `one body': "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling"(Eph.4:4). All those who enter within the vail are to be found as one. Therefore, those who will be caught up at the coming of the Lord make up the one Church that will be taken up as a chaste virgin. Touching this, St.Paul writes, "Which is His body, the fulness of Him, that filleth all in all" (Eph.1:23). This Church will be far above all principalities and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in the world to come. So saying, he speaks of its excellency. THIS IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Rev. 21:9). A perfected body ! A group of people perfect in Christ! New Jerusalem! A manchild caught up to the throne ! Concerning the mother who brought forth this manchild, St.Paul writes "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Gal.4:26). Chapter 12 of the book of Revelation portrays this very mother as the woman who appeared as a great wonder in heaven. We read that she travailed in birth and brought forth a man child, and that that child was caught up to God and to His throne. Who is this woman? The Catholics interpret that this woman who is clothed with the sun is Virgin Mary, and that the man child she delivered is Jesus Christ. When did Virgin Mary receive the crown of twelve stars or bring the moon under her feet? Not only that. Unlike this man child that was caught up to the throne, the Lord Jesus was not caught up to heaven as soon as He was born. Also, Mary did not flee into the wilderness like this woman who fled to the wilderness for “a thousand two hundred and threescore days” immediately after the birth of the child. Therefore, this woman does not signify Virgin Mary. Some others say that this woman stands for the Israelites and that the man child she delivered are the Jews who were sealed as mentioned in Revelation Chapter 7. But it is said that the children of God, the Israelites brought forth the wind and not a man child.

"We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; (Isa.26:18). In this manner, these interpretations contradict one another. But when we search the truths in the Scriptures, it can be understood that this woman is none other than the Spirit-baptized Church of God. Referring to this woman who was found in heavenly places, or the Spirit-baptized people of God St.Paul writes, "And hath...made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). They are the Jerusalem which is above, or the heavenly Jerusalem. This church which is found in heavenly places is seen clothed with the sun, crowned with a crown of twelve stars and having the moon under her feet. All these are only shadows. 1. THE SUN How can a woman be clothed with the sun? Here the sun denotes the greatest of all lights. Its spiritual significance is the righteousness of God, which man had not received in the former ages. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Rom.3:21,22). The righteousness of God is far more excellent than the righteousness of the law. Righteousness has a brightness. "For Zion's sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth"(Isa.62:1). This can be understood from the saying, "The righteous shine forth as the sun ..."(Matt.13:43) . 2. THE MOON She had the moon under her feet. The moon, whether it waxes or wanes, remains in the sky as a sure testimony. This is a shadow of the seed of David of which we read in Psalm 89:37 that his seed is faithful as the moon: Who is this seed and a sure and faithful witness? It is the Lord Jesus. This woman standing on the moon signifies the Church abiding in the grace of Christ, Who is the faithful witness. She is ruled by Christ and stands on the grace which is His true testimony. 3. A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS We read in the book of Daniel that stars signify those who turn many to righteousness. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan 12:3). Who are they that turn many to righteousness? They denote the fellowship of the apostles, who, by their doctrines and ministry turn many to righteousness and continue to shine, set as the crown of this woman. This is the brightness of the apostolic ministry that is caused by the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Just like the sun, the moon and the stars, that are seen on the earth, which is the old creation, these three lights are found in a renewed state in the Church of Christ, which is the new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (II Cor 5:17). They are respectively the righteousness of God the Father, the true testimony of the Son and the ministry of the apostles that is of the Holy Ghost, which are seen in the New Testament Church. In other words, this is the New Testament Church found within the realm of the Triune God, Who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. She, travailing in birth and crying to be delivered reveals another truth to us. She is not the bride. She is the wife. Whose wife is she? Touching this, it is said in Revelation Chapter 19, that she is the wife of the Lamb. She is the one who is travailing in birth. The New Testament Church that has received the Holy Spirit should labour like a wife. Concerning this, in Ephesians chapter 5 St.Paul speaks of the relationship that is between Christ and the Church, comparing it to the relationship between a husband and wife (Eph.5:25 - 30). This shows that the anointed people of God, though on this earth, should live as citizens of heaven. Just as the wife loves and obeys the husband, the Church which is the wife should be obedient to Christ the husband, bear children and do various other chores such as nursing and bringing up the children and thus be a faithful wife. By thus leading a life like that of a wife, a ministry is executed on this earth. It is said that this wife has prepared herself, She has made herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb. The truth we study here is, this wife by preparing herself for the eternal marriage, has become the bride. For this cause, we read that the angel, after having said, "His wife hath made herself ready," in Revelation 19:7, says

"Come, hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev.21:9). That is, while remaining a wife, she is prepared and becomes a bride. This signifies the church remaining as the heavenly Jerusalem and being sanctified and getting filled with glory and thus becoming the New Jerusalem. These are the ones who were babes in Christ, and have now grown up to attain the perfection in Christ. This is the experience we will receive at the coming of the Lord. This woman travailed in birth and brought forth a man child. The Spirit-baptized people who are on the earth are now in a period of travail. It is written, "She travailed and brought forth a man child". This is explained in Romans 8:23, "Ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body". The Church, the Body of Christ should groan and travail and thus bring forth a man child. This is the group comprising victorious saints. To show that all the overcomers are found together as one, and that they humble themselves like little children, the term, "a man child" is used. This is the Church that has been tried by fire and kept preserved. This is indeed the New Jerusalem that is sanctified and made new. This is the Church, His Body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all. It is clear that this is the Church that has not only been formed by the baptism in Holy Ghost, but one that has also been perfected by the gospel. How can this be?

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE We saw that the Lord Jesus ascended up to heaven and that He is set at the right hand of the Father as the Mediator of the New Testament. Therefore, He received and shed forth the Holy Ghost upon all those who were tarrying. Thus the New Testament Church was formed. To lead the New Testament Church and make them perfect in Christ, it became necessary to give the gospel to them. For this cause, He manifested the grace that was not made known in the former ages. Together with that, the gospel that gives life and immortality was also manifested. This gospel abolishes death and makes all one. This death is the gulf that came into existence when man committed sin. The moment he ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he died as God had said. He lost his communion with God. He who had been one with his wife was separated. The communion that was between him and God was broken. The fellowship that existed between him and the beasts and among the beasts was destroyed and enmity came into existence. The family that had been one, became divided. Therefore, the Lord by His gospel makes God and man and all creatures one. For this very purpose, the Lord bestows the gospel of reconciliation to His ambassadors, the apostles and others. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (II Cor.5:18-20). Therefore, first of all this gospel takes away schisms and makes the Church which is the Body of Christ, one. It is the Church that is made one in this manner that shall be caught up at the coming of the Lord. This is the experience that is obtained at the redemption of the body at the coming of the Lord. For this cause, St.Paul says that we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption of sons, to wit, the redemption of our body. Not only do we groan, but it is also written that every creature groans and travails in pain with earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God. So when man receives redemption, all other creatures too will receive glorious redemption (Rom.8:19-23). Death will be abolished in this manner, and the one Church that has obtained life and immortality through the gospel shall be caught up at the coming of the Lord. For the making of a Church of this sort, the Lord sends not only the Holy Ghost, but also the gospel. The Lord chooses a few to give this gospel to the Church. They are the five kinds of ministers viz. apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers. For this reason Saint Paul says, "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle ..." (II Tim.1:11), referring to the relation that exists between himself and the gospel. Hence the Lord chose apostles, both while He was on this earth and also thereafter. From this we understand how indispensable the apostles and other officers are for the Church. The Lord has to raise apostles for the sake of His Spirit-baptized Church, in order to fulfil His eternal purpose in them. And this is exactly what He is doing.

WHO ARE APOSTLES? They are called the 'gift of Christ' unto the Church. (Eph.4:7).

For the sake of the Lord's ministry, they have forsaken and hated their all. Like their Master, they have no place of their own to lay their heads, they are those who have hated their own life too. These who are separated in this manner, receive the revelations concerning the hidden mysteries in order to take the Church to perfection. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH IS A MYSTERY (Eph.5:31,32). BEING CAUGHT UP AT THE COMING OF THE LORD IS A MYSTERY TOO (I Cor.15:51). There are many such mysteries in the New Testament. These are not revealed unto the ordinary man. They are revealed only to the apostles and prophets." ... the mystery of Christ, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph.3:4,5). The ministry of this New Testament as well as the perfection of the New Testament Church were not revealed unto the sons of men in the former ages (Eph.3:6). Hence, the saints who are pursuing the perfection of the New Testament times, do not live a life or execute a ministry similar to those of the Old Testament saints. Abraham and the saints of the Old Testament were in possession of all manner of earthly riches and blessings (Gen.24:35). But the ministers who lead the New Testament Church are not be like that. For this reason, the apostle James said, "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith ..." (Jas.2:5). The Lord has not only made them poor on this earth, but also made them rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has prepared for those who love Him. The Lord Jesus, too was poor, but rich in faith and It is those who tread this same path that are apostles. Their calling is a sublime one. They not only remain on this earth as having nothing, but they also do not know anyone after the flesh (II Cor.5:16). These are they that prepare a bride that befits Christ and that is like unto Him. What is required to create a Bride that is like unto Christ? For example, a man who knows what a clock is, and the one who manufactures it cannot both have the same measure of knowledge of the article. One has the knowledge to identify the article as a clock, another may be able to read the time by the clock, and yet another may have the knowledge to mend it. But for one to produce a clock similar to it, he should have a greater knowledge than all the afore said persons. He should possess a perfect knowledge of the clock. Every one has a general knowledge of a clock. In the same manner, if the Church, which is the Bride of Christ is be made like unto the Lord Jesus and made ready for His coming, those who prepare it should not only have a knowledge concerning Christ, but also have a perfect knowledge concerning Him. Only such can make the Bride, or the ‘perfect man’ that is like unto Him. For this cause, St.Paul wrote saying, "Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ " (Eph.4:13). What do we understand from this? Those who make the perfect man who is like unto Christ, ought to have a knowledge of Christ that exceeds the knowledge of all others. That is, the gospel that is bestowed to the Church, the Body of Christ in order to make it like unto Him, ought to have the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. St.Paul who received this gospel, not only had a knowledge concerning Jesus Christ, but also the excellency of that knowledge.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST? Concerning Jesus Christ, some say that He is able to save sinners. Some others say that He is One Who did the will of God. Others say that He is a Healer Who imparts divine healing. Still others say that He is One Who anoints. Though all the above have a knowledge concerning Jesus Christ, they do not have a perfect knowledge of Him. It is those who have a perfect knowledge of Him who are those who have received the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Only those who have the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ can make men like unto Him. Paul is an apostle of this sort. Hence he says, " . . . I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ..." (Phil.3:8-11). He counted his status, caste, creed, education and everything else as dung. Like his Master, he lived in poverty, not possessing anything on this earth, and not knowing anyone after the flesh (Matt.12:50). All these experiences were unknown to the saints of Old Testament. For that reason, we find that they lived separating themselves from the Gentiles in communal bigotry, possessing earthly riches and having carnal relations with one another. But, THE PERFECTION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. Though many are saved and are children of God, and though they have received the baptism in the Holy Ghost, their growth is proportionate to the measure of their knowledge of Jesus Christ. When their growth has attained perfection, they will be like Christ. To lead them in the way to this perfection, the gospel and saints who preach it are indispensable.

CALLING The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews writes, "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron"(Heb.5:4). Aaron did not ordain himself. Since the Lord called him, he entered the ministry. Had he not been called, he would not have come into the ministry. Some preachers are unable to comprehend this verse in the right perspective. They say that they are called like Aaron — was with a family. True, Aaron, Moses and many other prophets had families. Until the appearing of the Lord Jesus in this world, almost all the saints were like this. Nevertheless, when Moses went to the mountain to receive the revelation concerning the tabernacle, he did not take his wife and children with him. Similarly, when Aaron entered the holy place or the most holy place, he did not take his wife with him. Who can assert that Enoch took his wife along with him when he was translated? The Lord Jesus, while addressing His disciples, said, "IF ANY MAN COME TO ME AND HATE NOT HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN AND BRETHREN AND SISTERS, YEA, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO,HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE" (Lk.14:26). Why? If a man fails to hate any one of these and begins to desire them, his discipleship ceases. When the Lord Jesus says, "He cannot be my disciple " how can he possibly be one. He meant what He said when He said, "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Lk.14:33). How can one be a disciple if he starts earning riches? Many who do not know the excellency of this ministry have fallen into the snare of the flesh, as well as into the pit of covetousness and have perished. In an effort to establish a doctrine of their own, they are preaching and living a life that is contrary to a life of consecration, thereby destroying themselves as well as those who are anointed and heading for perfection. It is indeed true that many of the disciples of the Lord Jesus had families. They were leading a family life like the Old Testament saints before they met the Lord Jesus and before they received the anointing. But after they received the anointing of the Holy Ghost and when they executed the ministry of God, we do not read of them taking their wives along with them; nor do we read of them having reared children nor of their children guiding the Church as apostles after them. This is not mentioned either in the history of the church, or in the tradition. It is not the righteousness of God to lay on the present day apostles that which did not exist in the days of the early apostles and which contradicts the life of Christ. The Lord Jesus came into the world. preached of the discipleship, and after His disciples were anointed by the Holy Ghost, they gave their life for the sake of the ministry and did not live to nurture their wives and children. Likewise, after the day of Pentecost, those who were baptized in the Holy Ghost and were called as apostles, received deliverance from carnal and worldly ties. Therefore, apart from the apostles who were married before coming to know of Jesus, those who were called being unmarried did not marry. St.Paul too hated everything for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Had he not lived hating the flesh, how can he say, "I know no man after the flesh. "Even now we find some who reveal their ignorance saying that such a sacrificial man as he, was married and that his wife had died. They say, he was a member of the Sanhedrin and therefore he should have been over thirty years of age and that being a member of the Sanhedrin he must have been a married man. Having no insight in this matter, and not bothering to search into it, they conjure up a wife for him in their ignorance. How can such a thing be said of one who received the anointing of the Holy Ghost and was drunken with the love of God? While writing to the church at Corinth, why did he say, "It is good for man not to touch a woman (I Cor. 7:1). The Greek word KALOS interpreted as `good' means `very good'. If he who had received this revelation, had married, would he not have done it against his own revelation? If he had written thus, being married, is it not deceit? How can such a person be an apostle? What ignorance it is to say that a man who had received the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, and who had said, "I have not known any one after the flesh", would do a thing like that ! Besides, Timothy, his disciple, though a young man, did not marry. He writes to him saying, "Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (II Tim.2:22) and "... intreat ... the younger as sisters with all purity" (I Tim.5:1,2). Hence, it is obvious that Timothy was unmarried. Titus, Barnabas and Clement too, like Paul, did not lead a family life. But they did not oppose marriage. For this reason, it is said, “marriage is honourable in all” (Heb.13:4). During the apostolic period, married men did exist in the ministry. I Timothy 3:2 says that a bishop should be the husband of one wife. But they did not marry after entering the ministry of the Lord. St.Paul who wrote to Timothy about the bishoprick wrote to Titus saying, "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife" he may be ordained (Tit.1:5,6). What does this mean? It is clear that it refers to the state of a person at the time of his ordination and not to a latter state. Many, not knowing the right interpretation of these verses and without understanding what Christian perfection and the New Testament ministry are, make marriage a big affair. Not being able

to absorb rightly in their mind the doctrinal revelations concerning these, and not having a right understanding concerning the truths of the Scriptures, they break the consecration they had made with the Lord through the anointing and through the doctrines and thereby become slaves to the flesh. Once again, during the apostolic period, ministers were found in different states. They were FIRSTLY, apostle Paul and other apostles like him; SECONDLY, Timothy who ministered to him and who had received the authority to appoint bishops. Titus, Tychicus and many others come under this category. THIRDLY, the bishops who were married and lived blameless lives. FOURTHLY, the unmarried deacons: FIFTHLY, unmarried women: (Phil.4:2;Rom.16:1) In I Timothy 3:11, although in the English translation it is written `their wives', St.Paul is not referring to the wives of the deacons, but to the women in the ministry or deaconesses, as we see in the original. "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" Rom 16:1. "I beseech Euodias and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" Phil 4:2. "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things" I Tim.3:11. SIXTHLY, the married deacons and other servants of God: (I Tim.3:12). Each one lived up to the measure of revelation he had received. But we find them all having ministered, being in subjection to one apostle and his helper. Therefore, it is not right to command those who cannot enter into the apostolic consecration to not get married. Even today we can find some in our midst who are subject to the apostles as they were. Therefore, it is wrong to think that the ministry of the Lord is a ministry whereby we earn and amass riches. Some dispute that if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God? This can be said that of a man who has a family and not of one who has no family. For otherwise how could St.Paul being an unmarried man, have led the church? How could Timothy have led the Church? How strange it is to lay this burden of a family upon all ministers of God! This is like a man, who on one occasion went to a court of justice. There he saw a notice exhibited at the entrance saying, `Please leave your footwear here'. As he had no shoes on, to obey the order, he went to a shop, purchased a pair and left it there before entering in. Who will justify this act of his? It is therefore right to lay this burden on one who does not have a wife and children. Those who lived as apostles gave their lives for the sake of the ministry and did not spend their time on anything else. Likewise, in order to be caught up at the Lord's coming, it is most essential that we, servants of God also follow those who have the apostolic consecration. From all that has been discussed thus far, we gather what a New Testament Church is, and how its ministers should be. What is the relation between this and Sion?

SION We have seen that the New Testament Church is built upon the corner stone called Sion. A building has two parts. One part is visible, and the other invisible. The corner stone and the foundation cannot be seen. But the building that is above is visible. Saint Paul says that in the same manner, a corner stone was laid in the most holy place, the foundation of the apostles and prophets laid upon it and the believers built upon it as lively stones. The corner stone is set in Sion. Therefore, the foundation which is laid upon it should also be there. For this reason, when New Jerusalem descends from heaven, we see that the city has twelve foundations. "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" Rev.21:14. The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were written on these foundation stones. We do not know the length and breadth of them. But the building upon it has a wall measuring an hundred and forty and four cubits. It is a great city of length, breadth and height each of twelve thousand furlongs (1500miles). Though it appeared to be one city, it is actually a city having two great parts. In this, the corner stone, which is the Lamb and the twelve foundations laid upon it are in Sion. The building that is upon this is called New Jerusalem.

The New Testament Church which is the body of Christ is in this state. Just as the foundation of a house is invisible, Sion which is one part of the bride cannot be seen. But New Jerusalem that is upon it can be seen. That is why when the Apostle John saw New Jerusalem in a vision, he says that he saw no temple therein. It is not that there was no temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple (Rev.21:22). This is an invisible temple. New Jerusalem as a whole is a temple too. "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" Eph.2:22. Within that large temple, there is a temple that is not visible to the eye. It is the Almighty God and the Lamb. Why can't they be seen? This is like the unseen corner stone in an ordinary building. Just as the Lamb, Who is the Corner Stone in Sion cannot be seen, the twelve foundations that together with the Corner Stone cannot be seen. All these put together make New Jerusalem. This is the New Testament Church built together with the corner stone and the foundation. This is the manchild that is caught up to the throne. From this we understand that not all who have received the anointing of the Holy Ghost will be caught up at the coming of the Lord; but that only those who have the apostolic consecration and are built together with the Lord, as well as the perfected congregation who stand together with them, will be caught up to the throne. This is the Bride. There are two sides to a man. For example, take a man called John. By outward appearance he is described as is 5 1/2' tall, having a dark complexion, short hair and good teeth. But none can deny that there is another part that is within him, the inward man that manifests his characteristics. Of these who is John? Is it the inner man or the outer man? Both parts together is John. Of these, the outer part can be seen. And the inner part cannot be seen. Similarly in the Bride of Christ too, there is one part that can be seen and another that cannot be seen. The part that cannot be seen is called Zion and that which can be seen is New Jerusalem. In the Old Testament period, both the sheaf and the two loaves were made of the corn of the firstfruits, Similarly both Jesus, the Corner Stone and Sion, the foundation, and the part that is invisible as New Jerusalem are together called firstfruits. As concerns the order of resurrection we read that Christ is the firstfruits and that afterwards His own will be resurrected at His coming. "But every man in his own order. Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." I Cor 15:23. From this we understand that Sion and New Jerusalem will be caught up as the victorious church at the coming of the Lord. THE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR THOUSAND ON MOUNT SION Just as the corner stone is in Sion, the twelve foundations too are found in Sion. Concerning this Sion, John says, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads” Rev.14:1. Together with Jesus Who became the corner stone by resurrection, are standing an hundred forty and four thousand having their Father's name written in their foreheads. Since the Lamb is the corner stone that is laid in Sion, the hundred and forty and four thousand standing with Him are also of Sion. As one hundred and forty and four thousand are found in the twelve foundations, in each foundation are twelve thousand of them. As they are in Sion where the Lamb is the corner stone, they cannot be the saints who lived in the former ages that is, saints of the Old Testament period because before the corner stone is laid, other stones cannot be laid upon it. The corner stone is the beginning of the building. Therefore these are the firstfruits from among the firstfruits who are together caught up at the coming of the Lord. The saints who died before the resurrection of Jesus Christ are not included in this. Many say that these 144000 and the 144000 sealed Jews mentioned in Revelation Chapter 7, are one and the same. The 144000 mentioned in Chapter 7, unlike those mentioned in Chapter 14 do not have the Father's name written on their foreheads. In the original (Greek) tongue the term used for ‘name’ and that used for ‘seal’ differ. The word for ‘name’ is ‘ONEMA’ whereas the word for ‘seal’ us ‘SPHRAGIS’. The sealed one hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel mentioned in revelation chapter 7, are those who will be sealed towards the end of the first Tribulation Period.

Why are they sealed? When the vials of the wrath of God are poured during the Great Tribulation that will come to pass in the latter three and a half years, destruction shall befall both the earth and the people who dwell on it. These 144000 Jews are sealed to be preserved from this destruction. “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev.7:2,3). We know that the one hundred and forty and four thousand of the twelve tribes are thus preserved from destruction so that they may grow, multiply and replenish the earth during the thousand-year reign which will take place after the end of the Great Tribulation. But the one hundred and forty and four thousand who stand on Mount Sion are caught up to the throne as the manchild even before the start of the first three and a half years of tribulation. Those who are forsaken at that time are the seed of the woman and during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation, they will die as martyrs. Therefore, the one hundred and forty and four thousand standing on mount Sion, and the one hundred and forty and four thousand of the children of Israel who are sealed to be preserved during the latter part of the Tribulation Period, are two different groups of people. While the one hundred and forty and four thousand who stand on Mount Sion, are found standing in their transformed bodies on Mount Sion, the sealed one hundred and forty and four thousand children of Israel will be on this earth in their physical bodies. Those who die as martyrs during the first three and a half year period are only a part of the remnant of the church that was caught up. Therefore it is written that the woman who brought forth the manchild, fled into the wilderness and was there for three and a half years or a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This wilderness depicts the state of this earth - void of spiritual experience. During this period, the Israelites and the Antichrist together will persecute the people of God who are left behind. Rev.13:8 reads: All who dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This refers to the events that will come to pass in those days. We should not forget that the BOOK OF LIFE and THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB are two different books. These people whose names are written in the Book of life of the Lamb will refrain from receiving the mark of the beasts, his name and his number. So they will undergo various kinds of tribulations and will die as martyrs. Being unable to buy or sell, they shall starve and will eventually die as martyrs of the Tribulation Period. They will be resurrected (Rev.7:13-17) and will reign in their transformed bodies together with Christ in the thousand-year reign. To understand this in its proper perspective, we should consider the order in which the various events are recorded in the Book of Revelation. The angel who spoke saying, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Rev.4:1) showed the state of heaven in eternity to John in Chapter 4; and in Chapter 5 he reveals the events that will come to pass in the Tribulation Period. The events mentioned in Chapters 5 to 11 are those that will take place during the two parts of the Seven Year Tribulation Period. All the incidents that are to come to pass before the thousand-year reign end with chapter 11. In Chapters 12 and 13 we read of how the manchild will be caught up, of how the dragon will persecute the woman who brought forth the manchild and of how the beast and the false prophet together will persecute the forsaken church during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation Period. Thus with Chapter 14 the events of the first three and a half years come to and end. After that upto the end of Chapter 18, we read of how the second three and a half years ends. We should understand that the Book of Revelation is viewed first by a Jew, and then from Chapter 12 onwards, by a Gentile. For this reason those who are seen as martyrs in the eyes of a Jew in Rev.7:9-15, are described in Rev.14:14-16 as viewed by a Gentile. If we carefully study this, we can find the same matter being mentioned twice. But the incidents contained in Chapters 19-22 show the state of the thousand-year reign and eternity. From this we understand that those who died having their names written in the Book of Life of the Lamb, and the resurrected martyrs shall reign together with the Lord on this earth in their resurrected bodies during the thousand years. The one hundred and forty-four thousand referred to in Chapter 7, are neither the saints who did not receive the mark of the beasts, nor are they the one hundred and forty and four thousand found on Mount Sion. These are the sealed from among the twelve tribes. Before the latter three and a half years tribulation begins and before the vials of wrath are poured, the angel who had the seal of the living God said, “... till we have

sealed ... ” (Rev.7:2,3); Hence it is obvious that these were sealed from among the twelve tribes in order to be preserved from the destruction during the tribulation that is to come to pass. They are preserved so that they may grow multiply and replenish the earth during the thousand-year reign. These people, as well as the Gentiles who escaped destruction during the Tribulation Period, will form the subjects during the thousand-year reign. At the same time, the Church that was victorious and was caught up to the throne, and the saints of the Old Testament will reign on the earth in their transformed bodies together with Christ. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4). Therefore, it will be wrong to say that the one hundred and forty and four thousand standing on Mount Sion are the sealed children of Israel who are mentioned in Chapter 7. While they say so, they are unable to explain whether it is possible for the risen Lamb to be with them because they will be found marked or sealed and having been separated from the twelve tribes will be found living in their carnal bodies. As they will be in their carnal bodies, how can they accompany the risen Lamb whithersoever He goes? For the one hundred and forty and four thousand mentioned in Chapter 7, as well as their descendents will marry, build houses, and live on this earth (Isa.65:21) how can we say these are not defiled of women? Rev.14:4 Therefore, this one hundred and forty and four thousand and the one hundred and forty-four thousand found in Revelation Chapter 14 are two distinct groups of people.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 144000 STANDING ON MOUNT SION They are the firstfruits from among the victorious saints of the New Testament Church. They are the firstfruits from among the firstfruits who were caught up at the coming of the Lord before the Tribulation Period. Since the names of the twelve apostles are written on the foundation stones, the one hundred and forty and four thousand standing on Mount Sion, are the men and women who executed their ministry with the apostolic consecration and finished their course in Christ with a perfect consecration. They forsook their all for the sake of the Lord, and, not counting their own life precious, they stood for the Lord on this earth. 1. THEY HAVE THEIR FATHER'S NAME WRITTEN ON THEIR FOREHEADS: This shows that they had set their mind to do the will of God wholly. The victorious New Testament Church as a whole, comprises those who have surrendered themselves wholly to do the will of God. But these are those who have entered into a special deeper experience. ‘Name’ signifies character. To the question, ‘What is your name?’ Jacob replied ‘My name is Jacob’. The name ‘Jacob’ meaning ‘Supplanter’ was changed to ‘Israel’ meaning ‘A prince of God’. Likewise the name ‘Abram’ was changed to ‘Abraham’ meaning ‘Father of many nations’ (Gen.17:4). The names given to all the twelve children of Jacob are meaningful names derived from some particular instance. The name ‘Jesus’ has the meaning ‘saviour’. “He shall save His people from their sins.” So, the name manifests the nature of the person who bears it. Likewise the one hundred and forty and four thousand standing on Sion having their Father's name written on their foreheads, shows that they lived like the Father. When we read of the eternal purpose the Lord has concerning man, it is written, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” (Eph.1:4). A great mystery is contained in this. That is, God, for the sake of man, manifested Himself as the Father, and as the Son. In this, neither is the Father the former, nor the Son the latter. They are two personalities existing at the same

time, the Father manifesting the Son, and the Son, the Father. Just as one God was presented as two Persons in the Former Eternity, in the Latter Eternity the body of Christ which is the Church of God, comprises two groups. They are Sion, having the nature of the Father, and New Jerusalem having the nature of the Son. It is to be noted here that God is manifested as a Trinity to form such a group. In the Former Eternity, for the sake of man, God Who is the embodiment of love, manifested Himself in this fashion so that in the Latter Eternity the Church, which is the body of Christ, might reign manifesting His love. When God and man are at work together THIS ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND WILL STAND ON MOUNT SION MANIFESTING THE FATHER'S LOVE. THE OTHERS MANIFESTING THE SON'S LOVE WILL BE FOUND AS NEW JERUSALEM. 2. THEY SING A NEW SONG Their song is a special one. We see that it is a new song and that none but they could sing it. This song emenates from their character. Hence no one else could learn their song. They are more excellent than all those who are in heaven. IF THERE EXISTS SUCH A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH TODAY, only those who live like them can understand their life and their doctrines. Others will not be able to understand them. 3. THEY ARE REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH: The word ‘redeemed’ implies that they were formerly in bondage. They were indeed in bondage to the earth. They were in bondage to their native land and their mother-tongue. They were also bound to their homes. They were subject to their profession and to money. But for the sake of the Lord Jesus and in order to do the will of God, they offered themselves to to attain this glorious experience. So the Lord redeemed them from this earthly state. That is, He redeems them not only from sin, but also from their country, and from all that is associated with that land. Hence they are able to hate and renounce all that they own (Lk.14:33). Now they need no longer worry for their country. When the Lord redeems them from their country, and from their homes, He Himself gives that which is to be given in due of them. They have no authority over a man of this sort. So these people who are in Sion, will no more worry over earthly things, for the welfare of their land or for their language. Saying that the Lord will take care of all those things, they lay all the burden of the earth on the Lord. Therefore those who long to go to Sion, will not offer themselves to become either an ambassador of their country, or become ministers to do good for their country, nor will they labour for the welfare of their own community. As such, they are fathers to the whole world - they are ready to go any part of the globe, love any nation and they can live eating any kind of food. 4. THEY ARE REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN: They are redeemed not only from the earth, but also from among men. It is clear that they were indebted to men before they were redeemed. They were indebted to their father, mother, brothers, sisters, wife and children (Lk.14:26) The Lord Himself, while redeeming them, pays all their debts. Will the Lord Who spoke saying that whosoever shall give to drink a cup of cold water shall in no wise lose his reward (Matt. 10:42), refrain from doing this for the sake of those who have hated their all for His sake? He satisfies their father, mother and kith and kin by rendering all that is due to each of them. As these have hated even his own life, the Lord, not permitting them to be anxious for their own bodily needs, meets them all. He gives them a family that does the will of God on this earth and makes them live by faith (Matt.12:50). For this cause, saints consecrate their kinsfolk. Trusting the Lord to care for them, and not counting their own life precious, they are seen as firstfruits unto the Lord. As such they become fathers. If one offers himself to be a father to the whole world, and lives as a father, can he have a father or a wife? All are his children. He knows no one after the flesh; he cares for all in Christ as his own children. Can one who is so redeemed, strive for his own country? Can he build a house for himself? Are not all the houses of his children his own? And he will not labour for his livelihood by cultivating land or tending flock, cattle or poultry. He lives entirely by faith. Fathers of this sort alone stand on Sion. 5. THEY WERE NOT DEFILED WITH WOMEN:

Here the term ‘women’ literally refers to women. But some interpret it as the fallen churches and some others, the world. But if an interpretation is to be given to this, only those who live like fathers can do so. Jesus, while in this world, came across women such as the Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene and others. He went walking throughout every city and village and lived with His disciples and among various women (Lk.8:1-4). Since he lived considering Himself to be a father, though He was a young man of 30 years He was not defiled by them. He was the Father of the whole universe. St.Paul and many other saints too lived this way. If one considers the eternal purpose of God, and his privilege of standing together with the Lamb, will he stoop to this baser life? This does not pertain to all. Eternity will comprise men of different standards. When we say, they were not defiled with women, the question whether the one hundred and forty and four thousand are men alone may arise. It is not so. As it is written, “THEY ARE VIRGINS”, it is evident that among them were not only men, but also women. Not only that. When the Lord created man, we read He spoke saying, “Let us make man”, and “male and female created He them” (Gen. 1:26,27). He created them male and female and called them “man”. The Lord works in order to make the man who is found as male and female, the sons of God. The work of transforming the man and woman into sons of God is effected step by step. First, in baptism, they are manifest as the children of God through faith (Gal.3:26,27). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal.3:26,27). Then they are the sons of God by the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Rom.8:14). “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba. Father.” (Rom.8:15). Thereafter they are the sons of God when they are led by the Holy Ghost (Rom.8:14). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom.8:14). Finally after having grown in stature and made themselves ready for the coming of the Lord, they are manifested as the sons of God at His coming. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom.8:19). S.Paul says that even when this sonship commences, there is neither Jew nor Greek; neither bond, nor free; and neither male nor female (Gal.3:28). If this is so at the beginning, how will they be when they are finally manifested as the sons of God? Therefore this is not a matter for deliberation to those of Sion for this itself is victorious life. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28). 6. THEY FOLLOW THE LAMB WHEREVER HE GOES: When the Lord Jesus was in this world, the saints who renounced and left their country and kindred in order to walk with Him, became His disciples. This order which was seen in the early church should be found in the churches of the latter days too. So, even today the Lord continues to raise up saints who have left their all in order to follow Him. In order to live like this in the ages to come, these are living at present having hated and forsaken their all. For, not only for the present but in the ages to come too the Lord needs such men. Whithersoever the Lamb goes, they not only followed Him, but as said, they follow Him. Concerning these people it is written, “They shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev.22:5). Hence it is clear that they will reign for ever and ever. They will see the Father's face. At no time has any one on this earth seen God. In eternity also, none but these shall see the invisible God face to face. These are therefore more special than all the saints in eternity. God, the embodiment of love, chose them in order to manifest His love. When the love of the Father shines gloriously in eternity it will be manifest through the Son, permeate into Sion and from there, by way of New Jerusalem, it will shine and work throughout eternity. By this, those in eternity will discern the will of God and obey it. “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it” (Rev.21:21-24). God the Father governs eternity in this manner. For this reason, God the Father, God the Son,

the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were filled with the Holy Ghost and lived like fathers, as well as New Jerusalem, which is the New Testament Church that stands together with them, are essential.

SION AND THE FALLEN SPIRITS We have seen who the one hundred and forty- four thousand in Sion are. Now let us study who the fallen spirits are, and how they work against Sion. The word ‘fallen spirits’ indicates that they were in another state before falling. God works with an eternal purpose concerning man in His mind. Before He commenced working, having decided on the glory man should attain, He predestined for him the highest part of the eternal habitation. This is the heavenly Sion. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congretation, in the sides of the north ” Isa.14:13. “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king” Psa.48:2. Therefore, before God created man, He created all things that are essential for him. All these He created by His word (Jn.1:1-3). Genesis 1:1 reads: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Though both heaven and earth are mentioned together in one verse, we must understand that God created the heaven and all the living things (angels) in it before He created the earth. “Where was thou when I laid the foundation of the earth? declare if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it ? whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7. They were created in various states viz angels, the archangel and so on. “For by him were all things created, that in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or power: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” Col.1:16. THE ANGELS ARE ONLY MINISTERING SPIRITS (Heb.1:14). “Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His words. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasures” Psa.103:20,21. During the Old Testament period, we see them ministering to the Lord as well as the saints for the sake of the Lord. When the children of Israel departed from Egypt, an Angel of God went before them in order to preserve them in the wilderness (Exo.14:19). It was an angel who touched and woke Elijah and gave him cake and water I kgs.19:5-7. And it was an angel of God who shut the lions' mouths that they might not hurt Daniel when he was cast into the lions' den Dan.6:22. David declares in Psalm 34:7 that the angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them. Though the ministration of the angels of God was not witnessed for a number of years until the beginning of the New Testament period, we find them at work again at the very start of the New Testament period. Matt.1:20; 2:13-19; Lk.1:11-20,28-38; 2:9-14. The angels ministered unto Jesus also. Matt.4:11; Mark 1:13. Their ministration to the New Testament Church is of great importance. In Hebrews 1:14, saint Paul says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of

salvation?” Who are the heirs of salvation? This does not refer to the salvation received when one receives the forgiveness of sins. This signifies the salvation that is referred to in Rom.13:11, declaring “... for now is our salvation nearer.” “Salvation unto the redemption of our body ” refers to this. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom.8:23). “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:5). This refers to the saints who are of the very image of Jesus and have become the partakers of the salvation unto perfection, that was earned by Jesus, the Captain of their salvation (Heb.2:10). This is indeed the Church that has grown up in all things unto the stature of Christ Who is the Head (Eph.4:15). The sanctified Church, which is the body of Christ, has as much glory as Christ the Head has. The angels are spirits that minister for the sake of those who are to inherit this salvation. They minister with the purpose of making the New Testament Church one, to take them to the throne and to set them in the lofty place, Sion. THE FALL OF THE ANGELS Of the angels who were created for this purpose, one group of angels, having no mind to fulfill that purpose, but desiring to sit on the very throne intended for the perfected saints of the New Testament, contemned their ministry and were cast down Isa.14:12-14. Their leader is Lucifer or son of the say star. Another group of angels, headed by the anointed cherub, fell because they gloried in their comeliness and wisdom (Ezek.28:12-14). Yet another group are those who failed to keep their first estate, and having lost their own habitation, became naked. (Jude 6; II Peter 2:4). The leader of these three groups is the dragon, called the Devil and Satan. When man fell, the earth which was in his hand fell from his hand. It became corrupt. And the ruler of this corrupt world is the destroyer, Beelzebub or Satan. THE WORK OF THE FALLEN ANGELS Their work is to prevent the fulfilment of the eternal purpose of the Lord. For this cause, the chief among them, the dragon, called the Devil entered into Eden and brought about the downfall of man. He annulled the communion that existed between God and man. He corrupted the fellowship that was between man and man. He caused man to be driven out of Eden. He made man sorrowful and burdened. He made man selfish and caused him to live for himself. He also made man an enemy of God. In this manner throughout the Old Testament period, we can see him working continually against the saints who were called to do the will of God, and persecuting them through individuals and through the kingdoms. The fallen spirits working within Pharaoh made him persecute the children of Israel. They worked within the redeemed children of Israel, and caused many of them to perish in the wilderness. It is the fallen spirits that instigated the children of Israel in the wilderness to murmur, to gainsay their leaders and also to walk against the ordinances of God. It is they who made Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, take the children of Israel captives once again (Isa.14:4). The same spirit worked in the king of Tyre (Ezek.28:12-19) and in the Persian kingdom (Dan.10:13).These spirits are continually at work, afflicting the saints and preventing them from doing the will of God. In the New Testament times, not only are they working in kingdoms, but they are also working continually so that the saints may not be made perfect and made ready for the Lord's coming. These selfsame spirits worked in the kingdoms that rose against Christianity. They are now working within the Church as well in the manner they worked in Pharaoh, so that people may not receive forgiveness of sins and be delivered from the bondage of sin. Just as they worked among the redeemed children of Israel and caused their destruction in the wilderness, even now the selfsame spirits are working in the midst of the saved people of God. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of them who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” writes St.Paul (II Cor.4:4). Fallen spirits are at work within the people who oppose the deeper truths even after being saved. This is the reason for various divisions to be found even among the Pentecostal people who have received the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Some among them say that it is not possible to lead a perfect and holy life on this earth. Some work against the apostolic

consecration. Some deny the doctrined of Trinity. Some others advocate that after receiving the anointing of the Holy Ghost, one may continue to commit sin and fall in any sin, and be caught up at the coming of the Lord, since the Lord is one who forgives. To cover up their own fall they preach misinterpreting the verse, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Pro.24:16), and thus help make the people also to fall. Here it is only written, “For a just man falleth seven times” and not ‘Even is he falls in sin.’ If the righteous fall in sin, how can he come righteousagain? In the same verse, it is written, “but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (HEB-RA-EVEL_ that is ‘They will stumble and fall.’ From this we understand that this speaks of the righteous man falling into mischief. In Psalm 34:19, it is written, “Many are the afflictions (HEB-RA) of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all”; in Micah 7:8, it is written, “Rejoice not against me, o mine enemy: when I fall I shall arise.” This does not purport to show falling in sin, but this shows a saint passing through tribulations, afflictions and sorrow. Some others run here and there for the sake of the Lord and work for the winning of souls, but are careless and slothful about their own holiness, and the reason for this is the fallen spirits. Not only these, the Seventh day Adventists, the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the multitude having Jesus' name, and other groups though they appear to be working for the salvation of men, as they do not guide the people in the way to perfection, and as they preach wrong things, these fallen spirits are keeping their minds blinded. As these spirits are continually working this wise, they conscientiously ignorant that the way to perfection is hid from them. When the scriptures clearly state that the Lord is coming again to take up the New Testament church that is made one, namely the church (not churches) which is His body (not bodies), the fulness of Him that fills all in all, these spirits work continually so that man is not made ready for that place. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE FALLEN SPIRITS TO WORK IN THIS MANNER? We saw that these spirits have been at work against the eternal purpose of the Lord from the beginning. When the eternal purpose of the Lord is fulfilled, the Lord shall appear. Concerning this David wrote saying, “When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory” (Psa.102:16). And when the thousand-year reign begins, the devil will be cast into the bottomless pit for the thousand years (Rev. 20:2). After the expiry of the thousand years, he will be loosed and he will work for a little space of time (Rev.20:7,8). After his work is over, when the Lord begins the eternal reign with Christ and the saints, he will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev.20:10). All these events rest upon the appearing of the Lord. The appearing of the Lord rests on the building up of Sion. Since satan is fully aware that if Sion is built up, the Lord shall appear and that thereafter he will be dealt with, he and the other fallen spirits, are continually hindering the work of building Sion. As long as he causes the fall of saints who are making themselves ready for Sion, and causes schisms among the saints and hides the doctrines of Sion, he keeps gainning time. He knows this. This is why he has caused the falling away of many saints who preached of Sion, and who were journeying towards Sion. This delays the work of building up Sion as the Lord has to raise up other saints in lieu of them to make up the one hundred and forty-four thousand. As a result the coming of the Lord is also delayed. As many are not aware of this his craftiness, though they are saved, they are still groping in utter darkness unable to find the way to perfection. That which is written in Jude Vs. 5, “... the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not”, is fulfilled in them. THE FALLEN SPIRITS ARE ENEMIES OF SION As these fallen spirits are working primarily against Sion, although a great many in this world have been saved, they are not in the least moved. Even if there is a great revival caused by the pouring out and working of the anointing of the Holy Ghost resulting in the working of miracles and gifts of healing, they have no fear. But when these fallen spirits see a multitude of people who after receiving the anointing of the Holy Ghost, rise up as one holy temple built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph.2:19,20), they are troubled and dismayed. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” Eph.2:19,20.

Therefore, they work against them with all their might. For this reason, we must comprehend that the saints who are on the way to perfection have conflicts from all sides. Many have perished in these conflicts. In the midst of all these conflicts and oppositions, if they keep together with the Lord and with the martyrs who have forsaken their all, as well as with the saints who have been preserved thus far, and if they continue in their doctrines and make themselves ready for the coming of the Lord, they can escape these fallen spirits. From the words of St.Peter, “... your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ” (I Peter 5:8), we can understand how diligently these fallen spirits are working in order to devour the saints. As this epistle had been written to the strangers who are the elect, we may infer that this conflict will be seen in the midst of the elect who live as strangers and pilgrims in this world in order to get ready for the coming of the Lord. Therefore, dear brother, dear sister who is reading this, if you are journeying towards Sion, do not forget that these spirits are working against you. Be diligent, as this devil is working against the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are journeying to Sion and against the New Testament Church, the New Jerusalem, that is being built together with them! Take heed to be built up as the one Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Without being cast down by the fallen spirits, run your course and finish it worthy of the one throne. May the Lord help you to this end.