Royce O. Kennedy
"ON EAGLES’ WINGS MINISTRIES"
“Faith’s Final Frontier.” August 2012. Part 4.
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20: 13, 14.
As we begin part four of this series, let me once again remind you to study with an open mind, and be ready to embrace truth that is endorsed and under girded by scripture. We are being cautious and treading lightly, because of the sensitive nature of the issue of death. But no matter what views we now hold as we ponder these provoking thoughts, the fact remains that scripture has declared unflinchingly and undisputedly, that death is an enemy that shall be destroyed.
However, here is the sixty four million dollar question: “When shall it be destroyed?” And it is to this point that we set our attention in trying to gather the truth of scripture, so as to keep ourselves well informed and abreast of current spiritual trends. The scripture headlining this chapter of our study affirms that death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire. So what does the word “hell” means? The Greek word used for hell in this particular verse is hah’-dace and it means, unseen i.e. Hades or the place or state of departed souls, or the grave. We continue to hear hell-fire and brimstone sermons being heralded from pulpits, and the statement is usually, “You are going to burn in hell forever.” But as the verse cited above clearly states, both hell and death are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Hell and death are no more!
But even if we think of this second death in literal terms, we must ask ourselves realistically if death is an ongoing process. Either one dies or lives! As long as there is one breath of life in the body, the person is not dead. Even a person on life support in ICU is not classified as dead until the life support system is unplugged. So the second death or any other kind of death cannot be ongoing as they say that we will burn forever and ever. Christ did not continue to die with no end in sight as he paid the price for sin. He died once to bear the sins of many! Another point for us to remember is that fire purifies, equalizes, consumes but does not destroy. Our God is a consuming fire that purifies, but it is never meant to destroy.
Fire only burns where there is fuel for it to burn. Adam walked up and down in the fire because at that time he was one with the fire. It is like the three Hebrews that were cast in the fire. The Son of God entered in the midst, and lo, all four were walking up and down in the fire unscathed or even having the smell of smoke. This kind of dynamic changed for Adam when he disobeyed God, and he became afraid of the fire.
We are told in Isaiah 33: 14, that sinners in Zion are afraid of the fire. The second death has no power over us because we have already died in Christ. But the transaction did not stop there. Praise your name Lord! We were buried with him in baptism, were raised up together with him, and we are now seated with him in heavenly places. As we have shown before in this series, many prophecies given in Old Testament times, took as many as eight hundred years to be fulfilled. In the garden the conflict between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman was foretold by God himself. But that was some four thousand years before Christ died on Calvary.
The main point is that time determines what gets fulfilled, by whom, and when. We must continue to remind you that the message that Christ gave himself a ransom for all was to be testified, or spoken of in due time. Or when the correct time to speak and teach it has come. So it is with the message of death being vanquished from the earth. If we take a backward look upon the ministries of the Christian faith as they occupied their own space and bore their specific messages, it will be clear to see that each period of time brought to the forefront a specific message. It is much like the waves of the sea. Each wave that breaks towards the shore is always a new wave.
But although each wave is a new one, some of the water from the previous wave comes back in the new wave. That is why some ministries continue to keep abreast of whatever the Spirit of Christ does among his people. They are always attuned to the mind of the Spirit and seem to say, “Okay, Lord, go ahead and do it; but you are not going to leave me behind.
These are saints of God who are sharp and alert, and most of all, they are ready and willing to adapt to whatever trend or message the Spirit of Christ brings to his Body. These saints do not stand in the way and declare, “Over my dead body” because that is exactly what will happen. God will either roll forward with you on board, or he will roll over you, and still get the work done. Nothing can or will stand in his way! I give him glory that he has kept me alive for this momentous day and time in human history and in the history of the Church of the living God. “Who hath believed our report?” Do you? Who shall declare [prolong] his generation?
As we emerged from the dark ages the Christian landscape became like a canvas bearing ever changing colors. From our vantage point we notice that the Pentecostal experience endowed with the gifts of the Spirit did not break over the horizon until the early 1900s. It has been said that this out pouring of the Spirit accompanied with the speaking in tongues and other gifts of the Spirit began in Germany; but here in America, it began in Topeka, Kansas, and in 1906 a prominent black brother named Seymour took the message to Los Angeles, California.
Brother Seymour was not welcome at the intended location where the meetings were to convene; but a few friends opened their doors to him. He ministered the word and the movement became associated in history with Azusa Street. It took even a longer time for baptism in the name of Jesus Christ to climb above the horizon. One group picked up that message and before long it splintered into another movement, then another. First of all, the prominent white members of the clergy broke away and formed what we later came to know as “Pentecostal Assemblies of the World” or P.A.W. for short. A group of black clergymen formed another group and set up their head quarters in Detroit under the leadership of Bishop G. T. Haywood, who died in April 1931.
Healing and deliverance came in like a flood and even to this day, many are still getting huge results from the deliverance ministry. Gradually, in the face of rigid opposition, the message of reconciliation has gained some footing, even though in many circles it is still being resisted and even outlawed. Without being cynical we can call our attention to the fact that the greater percentage of the Pentecostal Movement has not moved past the gifts of the Spirit. We see this all the time as people serge forward to receive divine healing for the body, while in another setting, many serge forward to be blessed by the laying on of hands to receive financial blessings in what is dubbed, “the prosperity message.”
It reminds us that Israel on their journey came to Elim; where there were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees, where they camped by the waters. Sure, this place and its provisions served as a perfect oasis, where Israel could have pitched their tents and go to rest. But this place was not the promise land by a long shot. Had Israel remained there, they would have fallen short of God’s promise. Paul offered us a sample of what spiritual growth is all about in his letter to the Hebrews.
“Wherefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permit.” Hebrews 6: 1-3. As we watch religious programs on television, visit some local Assemblies, and attend tent meetings under the big top tent, it is obvious that multitudes have set up camp and established their individual bases around the concepts and practices just mentioned in Paul’s letter. We see preachers still dabbing foreheads with oil, and people still “falling out” under the power.
Watching ministries operating on that level, gives me the impression that they have come to Elim with palm trees and several wells of water, and have decided to make camp and bask in that wonderful experience that Elim affords. But had Israel done that, they would have missed the land flowing with milk and honey. I used to say to folks falling out under the Spirit: “It is not you falling out that triggers my attention; it is what you arise with.” Do you bring a new song given entirely by the Holy Spirit? Do you bring a new vision that will edify the entire Body of Christ?
I remember in a north London suburb some years ago, we were in a Monday night meeting attended by saints from different Assemblies. Generally in these meetings people got slain by the Spirit, and on this night I remember that a sister fell to the floor and in the process she reached for her hat to try and keep it neatly in place. The pastor saw it and called for them to “pick her up—she isn’t dead.” That meant that she was not really slain by the Spirit. In recent years many have managed to evolve or grow from Deliverance, and Body Ministry, to full reconciliation to God who was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.
The general trend is that many more saints of God are getting comfortable with the concept of reconciliation. Many more ministers are now willing to emphasize the truth that Christ gave himself a ransom for all, and Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church saying, “If one died for all, then were all dead.” The general trend is that many are now grasping the truth of God being the God of all souls, and that Christ did say, “If I be lifted up from this earth, I will draw all men unto me.”
Many are finally warming up to the fact that John wrote in the Revelation, that all nations shall come and worship before God, for his judgments are made manifest. Indeed, the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11: 9. Many who are tuned to the mind and movement of the Spirit, are moving forward from one time frame to another, and in general terms we must begin to listen, believe, and join forces in putting that last enemy under foot as a conquered foe. We must constantly hold the truth before our eyes that Jesus showed John; the keys of hell and death; and as the scripture text for this chapter shows, death and hell gave up the dead that were in them, and they were both cast into the lake of fire. Sister Thelma Chaney who founded and operated Lighthouse Gospel Fellowship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was much like an apostle of the life message. She championed it across many countries, towns and villages.
After returning from Jamaica, where she spent a week in my mother’s home speaking at her church, she was involved in an auto mobile accident. We were told that water had gathered around her heart undetected by her doctor and she died. Her death sent shock waves across the religious landscape among those who embraced the message of life that she espoused. Even among my own membership in Norfolk, Virginia, many began to question the strength and truth of the life message. While traveling along I-64 between Norfolk and Richmond, a two hour drive away, a word stirred in my heart.
It said; “When a fort has been conquered; when a hill has been taken, it is not always the first advancing soldiers that accomplished the task. Many of these advancing forces died in making the way for others coming behind to accomplish the task.” I love the song we hear on television from time to time: “It is finished, the battle is over. It is finished, there’ll be no more war. It is finished, the end of the conflict; It is finished, and Jesus is Lord.” So, my Friend, whether or not we believe that death is being conquered right now, right where we live, the Holy Writ has already chronicled this event, and showed it as already done. Thank you Jesus!
It can be explained this way. The Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, but Jesus had to come on the scene and die four thousand years later. It is like Paul telling the Colossians that they are complete in Christ. After receiving that truth, they had to learn to walk as a perfected people; and to do so they relinquished the past, and entered the future by each step they made as being already made complete. God does not reckon or concern himself with the feeble steps that we take. He looks at the complete Son that serves as a pattern into whose image we are being shaped and molded. So every time God looks at you, in the shadow and likeness of his Son, he sees you as already complete, and you are passed from death unto life.
This is the final call for those who have not contacted us in the past year, but wish to remain on my mailing list. If this is your desire, please contact me; but if you wish to be dropped, do nothing; and your name will be removed. Thanks for your continued love and support. Be faithful in all things to the glory of God!
Royce O. Kennedy