How will God’s Glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea?

Posted by: Rod on: July 30, 2010

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From Isaiah 11:9 we read…

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.

Then from Habakuk 2:4 we read…

For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea.

The title of this blog is a good question that was raised by a man involved with Bethel Church’s youth movement that is being concluded today in Redding – it is called “Jesus Culture.”

His answer is total heresy.  He says, “Through you and I! Through His presence-carriers!” There are many things that God accomplishes through those who are genuinely born again and have the Holy Spirit living in them.  They are constantly instructed in the Word of God, and convicted of in-dwelling sin, and also of the righteousness of God, and lastly of the coming judgment (see John 14:26 & John 16:7-11). They are given new life spiritually and have all received an anointing to understand the gospel – and to grow in their understanding of and appreciation for the glory of God in Christ and are continually learning to obey and live a life of sacrificial love and service for their Lord and His church.  They are daily picking up the cross and learning to abhor evil and forsake their fleshly, sinful ways and follow their Lord where He takes them.

But the answer given to the question, “How will God’s Glory cover the earth…?” is a trick of the enemy to sidetrack a whole generation into thinking ahead of God.  They are being lied to and sold into a trap.  The trap is an old trick of the enemy.  He used it successfully against Israel many times.  He used it against Moses…when he got ahead of the program and killed the Egyptian.  He used against it when the people of Israel got tired of “waiting” for Moses to come down the mountain – so they fashioned their own worship style – and it turned into a disaster.  Korah lead a rebellion when he wanted to get ahead of God’s plans and it cost thousands of his followers their lives as God’s wrath upon this rebellion came swiftly and violently.  It seems that God’s plans are not for us to complain about, but to humbly wait upon.

We are told repeatedly throughout Scripture to wait upon the Lord – for strength – (Psalm 27:41) – for help and protection (Psalm 32:30) – we are instructed to wait “patiently” (Psalm 40:1) – we are told to wait and trust in His Word (Psalm 130:5) and to those who desire “renewal” the most famous “wait” passage is in Psalm 40:30-31 that says even though strong, young people faint from exhaustion – those who “wait” on the Lord will have renewed strength and will soar like eagles.  So obviously waiting is important to God as He hammers it home over and over throughout the Scriptures.

But though we may all agree that some kind of “waiting” is a spiritual blessing – many who call themselves Christians have abandoned the idea when it comes to “end times” teaching. They want to soar like eagles but they are not taught to “wait” for it.  God gave direct revelation to Daniel and then promptly told him to seal it up for the prophecy was for another time – “many days in the future.”  (Daniel 8:26)  Daniel, a genuine prophet was told to wait!

In Daniel chapter seven another vision of the last days is given describing terrible beasts including one “small horn” that becomes a terrible, strong leader who makes war against the saints. (Daniel 7:21) This is a worldwide war of destruction lead by the satanic servant, the Anti-Christ.  It is spoken of in a future tense.  There isn’t great detail about exactly who this person will be but it is certain that this beast hasn’t arrived yet.  How can we be certain about that?  Well – because verse twenty-two has not happened yet either.  Daniel 7:21-22 is part of the interpretation of the vision of verses one through fourteen.  The climax of the vision was not the terrible anti-Christ monster and His destruction – it is the coming in the clouds of heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the final stage of the Lord’s dealing with mankind on this old earth…the second coming of Christ will end the earth as we know it – He will bring a new heaven and a new earth at that time – but it has not happened yet.  There were some who though that a Roman pope or general could have been the anti-Christ – or that “the Führer,” who started a war where fifty million died was the “beast.”  But Christ did not come back and crush these rotten eggs with the breath of His mouth.  They were anti-christ for sure but were not the “Beast” of Daniel seven.

Just in case you forgot – look out your window – the new earth is not here yet. Lions don’t lay down with sheep yet.  War has not ended yet.  Neither has corruption in the church ended either.  God is sovereignly on His throne – but there is a sense where everything that is meant to be under the dominion of King Jesus is not there yet.  We are told this in Hebrews chapter two “….But now we do not yet see all things put under him.”  Those who tell us that “dominion” is the mandate of the Church are lying.  Those who are teaching young people that they are the “New Breed” who are to take control over the seven spheres of society are so far ahead of God that they can only be classified as “False Teachers.”  Though they wrap their teaching in touchy-feely, sentimental, syrupy and cool conferences….it is still a pack of lies.

The earth has not seen an enemy like the terrible beast of Daniel seven – nor has it seen the outcome of Christ’s “nuclear option.” (II Thessalonians 2:8)  We have not seen Daniel 7:21 or Daniel 7:22 occur.  Yet many are ahead of God.  They proclaim that we will bring the dominion – we will bring the “Glory of God.”  “We will bring heaven to earth because we are Christ’s body,” they boldly cry.

The confused man who asked the question that is the title of this post says this in answer to his question….”Through you and I! Through His presence-carriers!”

We have not fought against the anti-Christ – but the Body of Christ has been under siege for some time.  We have fought the enemy from without – against monsters like Hitler and Stalin – against corruption like sensuality and greed and the ways of the world.  We have also fought against false teachers who corrupt from within.  It seems that in a precursor to the final battle – that satan has really ramped up his attack from the inside.  Right now millions of people are following a false christ that is conjured from the imagination of false apostles and false prophets.  This a sentimental image made from the tarnished gold earrings and bracelets of a harlot, false church. It is a false church filled with those looking for a good “dance” around the calf of existentialist philosophy instead of around the throne of Almighty God.

One thing always comes back to me in thinking about what to watch out for in my own life in these last days when we see the beginning markers of Daniel and the other prophetic warnings – the fact that in the last days people will abandon a love of the truth and that Paul tells us that until there is a great falling away there will be no Second Coming. (II Thessalonians 2)

It is interesting even in the question posed by the Jesus Culture movement…that in his quotation taken from the Bible  (and this is not being picky) he mis-quotes the scripture…if he is quoting from Habakkuk 2:14 this is what that passages says…

For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea.

It is the knowledge of the glory of the Lord that needs to fill the earth.  This knowledge is the revealed Scriptures that God has given.  Yet people want experience – they want to be dancing around things they can see….they want feelings and flags and “prophetic paintings” – the Bible calls this sensuality. For when we make an image we have made up into a god – we have fallen into idolatry and worse yet we have touched the glory of God for ourselves – we have gotten ahead of God and this is serious – because it is an abomination to the Lord.

Indeed His glory will cover the earth – but we will not have a hand in it.  Yes we are co-laborers with Christ – but we have not come yet to the Second Coming when all things will be in subjection to Our King – our job is to wait for the blessed hope.  This is our over-arching job as we obey all that the New Testament commands us to do in our witness as Christ’s ambassadors.  We are told to do as the church in Acts did…pray, be under sound teaching, fellowship with true believers, and celebrate the Lord’s death until He comes!  We are to wait, to eagerly wait, as Paul wrote from prison to the saints in Philippi….”knowing” very well that “… our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

Without sound teaching the church of Christ is in great peril. Without those who diligently study the Word and expound it faithfully we will all go off like sheep without a shepherd.  We will shipwreck our faith.  Who cares if “shipwrecking” is popular or sells t-shirts?  I implore you – buck the trend – search the Scriptures to see if these things are true.

God bless you all,

Rod

note: you can read the article this blog is questioning here