by Pastor Mark Downey
I closed the sermon last time by saying, 'where's there smoke, there's fire and where there's fire, there's light". Today, we will look at light as it pertains to the Old Testament prophets. But first, let me put forth the words/picture of the 'fiery cross'; what the world calls a 'burning cross' and associates it with something evil. Regardless of the source, whether the Scottish clans or the Ku Klux Klan or rock videos or jewish propaganda docudramas, this image represents the light of Jesus Christ. The modern Methodist church and other denominations use electricity to illuminate the symbol of Calvary.
One of my favorite Old Testament prophets was Elijah and the story which could be construed to be a predecessor of the flaming Cross; about a contest between God and Baal as to which god could torch a pile of wood immersed with water. The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood . . . and licked up the water in the trench . . . and the people took every single one of those bastard Baal priests down to the brook Kishon for one last final 'baptism' (I Kings 18).
How the light of God is presented is up to interpretation, just as what everybody's opinion of what constitutes ignorance. We are beginning to establish a parallel between the shining light of glory and baptism, however, there's a poor interpretation of baptism and an unbiblical demand to immerse a person's entire body in water. I Thes. 5:19 says, "Quench (or extinguish) not the Spirit. " Think about literal water and fire. One cancels the other out, does it not? If baptism is more akin to spiritual radiation which lasts a lifetime, rather than getting piously wet for a few minutes, then we should not ignore the more precious admonitions which constitute what it takes to be a Christian.
Isaiah 5:20 sadly reports woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness. In other words, there will be those who misrepresent the shining, that which emanates from the light; the fruit, or byproduct of the Holy Spirit (i.e. separating ourselves not only from evil, but to and for God). We, too, can shine as did Moses, if our thoughts and motives are in accord with the Word of God. But as soon as man disagrees with the clear message of scriptures, our understanding is eclipsed with the darkness of ignorance. Ignorance doesn't mean stupidity; It's thinking you're smart enough to vicariously ignore or avoid obedience. It's the Age of Reason, rationalism and situational ethics. It's Talmudic. It's 'another gospel' that isn't Christian.
If Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), and we follow Him, we shall have the light of life. Therefore, those who willfully ignore the light, who extinguish the fire, or who don't even smell the smoke are dead to this life and eternity. "And the light shineth in darkness (Christians manifest their destiny in the world) and the darkness (the worldliness of materialism) comprehended it not" (John 1:5). The enemies of Christ just can't get a handle on what the Bible tells us brings about death (i.e. , the wages of sin). The wicked out there in the world are trying to take away the righteousness of the righteous. "Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their roots shall be a rotteness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despise the word of the Holy One of Israel" (Is. 5:23-24). They ignore the light of God's Word/Law. "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead? " (Is. 8:15, 18-19). Should we consult with the dead on behalf of the living? "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Is. 8:20). And if these characters don't have a glimmer of light "they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness" (Is. 8:22).
Isaiah 9 prophesies Israel's only hope. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. " (Is. 9:6). "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Is. 9:2). "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire" (Is. 9:5). And what is the fuel? It's people! "Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother" (Is. 9:19). This reminds me of the reapers putting the tares together and casting them into a furnace of fire (Mt. 13), and Rev. 18:8, where Mystery Babylon shall be burned with fire: "When they shall see the smoke of her burning" (Rev. 18:9). "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Mt. 13:43). You see, it's not denominational rituals which brings forth the Kingdom. It's militating a proactive response to the toxic rituals that either intentionally, or inadvertently extinguish the Spirit of God.
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And where there's fire, there's light. Amen. "The light of Israel shall be for a fire . . . and it shall burn and devour his thorns and briars in one day" (Is. 10:17). "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day" (Rev. 18:8). The god of Judeo-Christianity is the hippy sugar-daddy of an artificial saccharin love, but we know from Hebrews 12:29 that our God is a consuming fire. Unfortunately, the satanic angels of light teach the great majority of Christendom in II Peter 3:10 that the entire planet is going to melt away with a fervent heat and that they will be raptured away to an air-conditioned cloud in outer space. Thank God, He gives us illumination of this verse of mixed metaphors, so that the literal interpretation becomes absurd. The Word of God's promise in Hebrews 12:27 makes clear the removing of those things which can be shaken, that are created by man; in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain (Heb. 12:28). Therefore receiving an unshakable government, where we may serve God with reverence. I believe Christian Identity will eventually shake the ranting and raving proponents of occult based water baptisms in order that the shining light of glory may remain; that the unshakable baptism of Christian living will overcome each and every false doctrine. Thus, it is the dissolving of ungodly, unfit elements through the cleansing fire of God that will not enter the Kingdom.
Have you not heard of the baptism of fire? John the Baptist stated in Mt. 3:11 that he indeed baptized with (not in) water unto repentance, but that another mightier than him shall baptize you with fire. Do you think John was talking about full body immersion in fire? Some Christians assume that John submerged Christ in Mt. 3:16, because it says Jesus went up straightway out of the water. However, could it not be that the Lord was simply standing in His ankles along the shores of the Jordan, and then He walked up and out of the river? Baptism by fire is the trials of life. It's those challenges, obstacles and tests from God that strengthens our faith. God promises us that there won't be burdens greater than what we can bear. We will either be worthy of redemption or purchase, as a refiner's fire purifies the dross from the gold; or if we reject the washing and cleansing of His Word found in the symbolism of both water and light, we will face the fire of divine judgment and burn to a crisp, just like the tares thrown into an Auschwitz dream come true. This baptism of fire can be a blessing or a curse. That's why the Bible warns us in so many different ways as to how our faith can be polluted.
What is the light of Israel that devours the ungodly elements in the New Testament? Hebrews 1:7 tells us it's God's messengers, whose mindset God develops! "His ministers, a flame of fire. " I don't mean to be feathering my own nest here, but if somebody has some other scriptures that identify whom God has destined to reveal the light of the world, not of themselves, but as ambassadors of Christ, then I'd like to hear it. According to I Cor. 3:10-15 (Ferrar Fenton), our thoughts and actions are to be tried by fire. "I laid the foundation like a skillful architect, according to the talent given to me, and another built: but let every one take care how he builds; for none can lay a different foundation to what is laid, that is, Jesus Christ. But if any one builds upon this foundation gold, and silver, costly stones, wood, hay, straw - the work of each will be made known: for the day will show it when it is revealed by fire; and what the work of each is, the fire will prove. If one man's work stands, he will receive pay. If the work of another be burnt up, it will be lost; but he shall be saved, although as from a fire."
Jeremiah 23:28-29 says "He that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully, because my word is like as a fire. " Proverbs 26:21 makes the point that as wood is to fire, so is a contentious or argumentative man to kindle strife. James 5 warns about cheaters and economic fraud whose flesh will be eaten as fire, so that darkness, or the absence of light, will be an automatic mechanism of self destruction. So if you want to argue without cause against a message from God, or play the part of a con artist, you're going to be kindling. Lord knows that men of God, like Sheldon Emry or Thom Robb or Richard Butler get more than their fair share of flack from armchair critics. I even disagree strongly with a few of their positions, but I will never publicly denounce them with borderline slander, because they're missionaries sent by God for a purpose. And who am I to impede or disparage the holiness of one's reputation, or maturity in Christ; in other words, the glory of God and the glory of the custodians of His word? If I mess around with the shining light of glory, a spark just may fly off into my nest and I'll be toast.
I'll be honest with you. I prepared this sermon several years ago and had the names of Pete Peters and David Duke in there as reputable, who have since become icons of failure. It just goes to show you that alleged holy men can fall from grace and sit in darkness with other lost sheep. As long as a man of God is doing good, I'll not speak ill of him. But if a man shows himself to be evil, I'm compelled to shed light on the problem. That's what watchmen do. And I expect that same scrutiny of my own Christian walk, or lack thereof.
We see how the pulpit pimps of Judeo-churchianity might as well be Baal priests and disciples of satan, adversaries/false accusers. I smell the wrath of God and it's smoky. God rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire, and behold the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. We men of God are watchmen on the wall to warn of danger when society dangles on the edge of life or death because of a failure to believe and obey divine authority. God, in His enduring mercy provides all necessary warnings to free us from the slavery of the world; to save us from the condemnation of sin and to deliver us from our enemies.
If you think getting wet from head to toe is what it's going to take for your salvation, then go down to the river. But, if, after being dunked, standing there dripping, you realize nothing miraculous has happened, then you might want to dry off in the shining light of glory for the real baptism in life. Remember, that it was a light that guided and protected Israel in the wilderness. And it will be the Almighty power of God's presence today that will overcome the darkness and confusion that curses our race right now. "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house" (Is. 42:6-7). If you're blind, or your eyes are closed, you physically cannot see light, although your other senses may detect smoke and fire. God has chosen some people as a covenant to our race; as national watchmen, to lead us out of captivity both literally and mentally, as some of our people's thinking still dwells in the dark dungeons of their minds, not yet separated from evil and dedicated to God.
And here's the measure of what we think and say: "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; but the words of the pure are pleasant" (Prov. 15:26). Isaiah 49:6 repeats the theme that God will give thee for a light to the Aryan nations that you may be the Lord's salvation. Verses 3-8 adds the thoughts that we, the White race, are His servants, in whom He will be glorified; and we shall be glorious (of good reputation) in the eyes of God, even though we are despised and abhorred; He shall choose us to establish the earth (to restore the land) causing us to inherit the desolate heritages (the wilderness of America). And so, we need that pillar of fire in the dark wilderness of America. We need light bearers to lead us out of the racial quagmire that curses us.
You reap what you sow is ever so true when it comes to light with the halfhearted Christian who likes to play with fire, inventing his own light. Remember, not all light is good, as we read Isaiah 50:10-11, "Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant (God's messengers), that walks in darkness and has no light? . . . Behold, all you who kindle a fire, that encircle yourself with sparks (i.e. taking pot shots at the shining light of God's glory in all directions, being contentious all the time; remember the Proverbs that such a person is like wood to a fire). " Verse 11 sarcastically suggests you go ahead and "walk in the light of your own fire (if you don't want to walk with God) and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This you shall have from the hand of God (God will accommodate the desires of your heart, even if you're wrong), and you will lie down in sorrow and torment (no, not some future mythological hell, but rather the misery and sadness of this life). " And nobody has an excuse, or can blame God for their plight or state of affairs, because we have been given free will / free choice.
Isaiah 60:1-2 gives us friendly advice: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee and His glory shall be seen upon thee. " In the same chapter we read about the prophetic phenomenon of a supernatural miracle associated with light occurring in verses 19-20. "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. " I believe this is the most important prophecy the Bible has to offer mankind, because it's talking about the restoration of Paradise; the New Jerusalem of the Kingdom Age in which every knee shall bow to Jesus Christ and every tongue shall confess to God. Of course, this is talking about every name that is written in the book of Life, because we know that there are the children of light and the children of darkness . . . and what communion hath light with darkness? None. None whatsoever. "Give glory to the Lord your God (let the historical reputation of His word be exalted. Let the priority of God's power be amplified in your mind) before He causes you to stumble in the dark; while you are hoping for light (but not really looking), He turns it into death (the wages of sin) and makes it dark gloom" (Jer. 13:16). Verse 17 continues: "but if you will not hear it, my soul will weep for your pride, as the sheep of Israel become even more lost (under the yoke of ZOG's captivity)."
Just before our Kingdom Paradise becomes a reality of solar light being replaced by divine light, Amos 5:20 tells us about the day of the Lord; that great moment in time where judgment falls upon the earth. That day will be darkness and not light; very dark and no brightness in it. I think this is referring to a time when only a remnant of Israel have the light of truth and many will be deceived, even the very elect. Amos 8:11-12 also tells us "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. " They will not find the light or the truth because they did not heed I Thes. 5:19-20, "Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. " Darkness flaunts the appearance of evil. Nothing is proved, teachings are despised, and the Holy Spirit is rejected. How can there be any light? We'll move into the New Testament next time and find out.
