Peace.
All flesh is as the grass which withers under the heat of the arising sun of God’s wrath upon man who turns all men to destruction so that the children of men may return to Him.
Our mortal bodies break down…they are crushed …. as our mortal flesh withers away under the sun of His wrath and then we perish from off this earth. Our God is a consuming fire.
He gives man a chance to “Return” to Him.
Psalms 90:3 KJV (3) Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest,
Return, ye children of men.
He is not willing that any should perish but should come to repentance…to “Return”…for a 1000 years in His sight are but as yesterday when it is past.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(4) For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, and as a watch in the night.
In the morning we are like grass that springs us. We flourish and grow up….but in the evening it is cut down and withers.
(5) Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in
the morning they are like grass which groweth up. (6) In the morning
it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and
withereth.
Again, our God is a consuming fire as our iniquities are before Him and our sins in the light (such as the sun is a light) of His face.
(7) For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we
troubled. (8) Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret
sins in the light of thy countenance.
All our days are passed away in His wrath….under the sun of His wrath.
(9) For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years
as a tale that is told.
Our mortal flesh withers away “under the sun” of His wrath that is revealed from Heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
We may live a while but the latter years are with labor and sorrow and then we are soon cut off from the face of this earth and we “fly away” as the spirit goes back to God who gave it. We suffer loss: our mortal body.
(10) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by
reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength
labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (11) Who
knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is
thy wrath.
All of man’s works that are done “under the sun” of His wrath are emptiness and a grasping after the Spirit.
Yet, God has not left Himself without witness in that He does good and gives rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, filling man’s heart with food and gladness. He allows man to enjoy his empty labor done under the sun.
Acts 14:16-17 KJV (16) Who in times past suffered all nations to walk
in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless he left not himself without
witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and
fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
He allows the rich man to rejoice in his meaningless works….even though his flesh is withering away to the grave and is soon cut off from this earth.
No mortal flesh can glory in His presence as even the rich man in this world fades away in his mortal body. God has not left Himself without witness that He is good and did good to the rich man.
James 1:9-11 KJV (9) Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he
is exalted:
The rich is made “low”….depressed, humiliated….as his mortal body withers away to the grave. Yet, God allows him to rejoice in the meaningless works and riches that does nothing to save his mortal flesh in this earth.
(10) But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of
the grass he shall pass away.
The sun….the sun of God’s wrath arises with a burning heat and withers the mortal flesh which is as grass and the glory perishes. The rich man fades away in his ways…but God allows him to enjoy his works which are done “under the sun” that arises with a burning heat.
(11) For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it
withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of
the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in
his ways.
God has allowed him to rejoice in his labor…even as his mortal body fades away to the grave. God has left a witness to the rich that He is good.
Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 KJV (19) Every man also to whom God hath given
riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to
take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of
God. (20) For he shall not much remember the days of his life;
because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
God has given the sons of man “sore travail” to be “exercised” with….that is, to be depressed, humiliated, made low as the mortal body of all withers away to the grave. God allows men to enjoy their labor even while their mortal flesh withers.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 KJV (12) I the Preacher was king over Israel in
Jerusalem. (13) And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom
concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail
hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. (14) I
have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all
is vanity and vexation of spirit.
The wisdom of this world is foolishness. God has chosen the foolish things of the world (that is, foolish in the sight of God) to “confound” (to depress, to humiliate, to make low) the wise of this world as they perish from off this earth.
The things that are highly esteemed by men in this world are foolishness to God….and He uses those base things to shame down their mortal bodies. He gives them “sore travail” to be “exercised” …..humiliated …with. They only seek after the base things of this world in their pursuits...and yet God allows them to enjoy it even though their end is death.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 KJV (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
He brings them to nothing as no mortal flesh can glory in His presence. All of their mortal flesh perishes from off this earth no matter their earthly wisdom or riches or strength. They perish “under the sun” of His wrath.
(28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought
things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.
What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes “under the sun”….as one generated passes away….and another comes? Man perishes from this earth. Riches cannot prevent one from dying.
Ecclesiastes 1:3-5 KJV (3) What profit hath a man of all his labour
which he taketh under the sun? (4) One generation passeth away, and
another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. (5) The
sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place
where he arose.
This is the whole (keeping body, soul and spirit together) of man: to fear God and keep His commandments so that we do not perish “under the sun” of His wrath.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV (13) Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the
whole duty of man. (14) For God shall bring every work into judgment,
with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
If we don't remember to fear God and keep His commandments then the “whole” of man suffers loss as the mortal body withers away under the sun of His wrath and perishes and the spirit returns unto God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7-8 KJV (7) Then shall the dust return to the earth
as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (8)
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
If we fear God and keep His commandments then we shall then abide under the “SHADOW” of the Almighty as we shall no longer be “under the sun” of His wrath. We enter into His rest….and no longer being mortally stricken “under the sun” of His wrath.
Psalms 91:1-2 KJV (1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will
say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will
I trust.
The “sun “ shall no longer “light” upon us nor any heat as we shall no longer be “under the sun” of His wrath in this earth as we serve Him.
Revelation 7:15-17 KJV (15) Therefore are they before the throne of
God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on
the throne shall dwell among them. (16) They shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat. (17) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
We are to labor to enter into that rest….under the shadow of the Almighty.
Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people
of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labour
therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief.
The heavens and the earth which are now are stored with fire for the destruction of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men as they perish under the sun of His wrath. The world and its lusts are perishing away as we speak as no flesh is being saved in this earth. All are dying.
2 Peter 3:7 KJV (7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by
the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
His wrath is revealed from Heaven NOW as our mortal bodies perish under the sun of His arising wrath in the day of our judgment for our ungodliness and unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18-19 KJV (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth
in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
The day of the Lord is the day that we “fly away” back to Him as our spirit goes back unto Him who gave it. No one knows when that day should come. Why wish for the day of the Lord for it is darkness and not light? (see Amos 5:18). Death is not a friend but an enemy that is defeated in Christ Jesus.
All of those things we know and worked for here in this earth disappear for us. The heavens will come near (they don't pass away but instead pass by) with a whirring sound (the whirlwind) and we are taken away from off this earth in the day of our mortal death.
2 Peter 3:10-13 KJV (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great
noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
But we do not have to go in that manner as we should be people who fear God and keep His commandments and be in all holy behavior and godliness so that the heavens that are stored with fire now for our destruction are dissolved for us.
We are to strive to enter into His rest in this earth so that the former things of death, sorrow, pain (all the old things that exist under the sun of His wrath) pass away for us in the here-and-now and all things become new as there will be no more death, sorrow, pain. These things....the heavens and earth stored with fire for our destruction (death, sorrow, pain)...shall be dissolved for us as all things shall become new. We do not leave this earth to see that change.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and
godliness,
We are to strive to enter into His rest where these things shall no longer have power to destroy us as they shall be “dissolved” from doing so. Again, we do not leave this earth but things get changed from the current system set up for destruction to the new system of no death, etc.
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness.
The “elements” ….the doctrines and commandments of men…make us perish by the using of them…but we are to rest from our “works” of the doctrines and commandments of men so that they have no more power to destroy us.
The “elements”...the "rudiments".. that burn us cause us to perish with the using of them. They are the commandments and doctrines of men that we keep and serve.
Colossians 2:20-23 KJV (20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from
the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye
subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22)
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and
doctrines of men?
They destroy our flesh and do nothing to keep us here. We must rest from our “works”…the keeping of man’s commandments and enter into His rest.
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and
humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the
satisfying of the flesh.
We are to look for the former things of death and sorrow and crying and pain to pass away. The heavens and the earth which are NOW stored with fire for our mortal destruction becomes "new" as there shall no longer be these things for us when we fear God and keep His commandments.
Revelation 21:3-4 KJV (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, and be their God. (4) And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away.
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation as the old things of death, sorrow, pain are passed away. The heavens being on fire for our destruction are then dissolved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.