CHAPTER 1

A Full and Complete Redemption

 

*"There shall be a total and full redemption by Christ. This is a hidden mystery not to be understood without the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is at hand to reveal the same to all holy seekers and loving inquirers. The completion of such a redemption is withheld and abstracted by the apocalyptical (or revelation) seals. Wherefore as the Spirit of God shall open up seal after seal, so shall this redemption come to be revealed both particularly and universally. In the gradual opening of the mystery of redemption in Christ doth consist the unsearchable wisdom of God; which may continually reveal new and fresh things to the worthy seeker. In order to which the Ark of the Testimony in Heaven shall be opened before the end of this age and the living testimony herein contained shall be unsealed. The presence of the Divine Ark will constitute the life of this Virgin Church, and wherever this body is, there must the ark of necessity be."

 

    The commonly held view of "redemption" by most of traditional Christendom is simply that we all go to heaven after believing on Christ . . . when we die. This is such a limited view of the glorious work of Calvary. There is much more to this salvation and it is much fuller and more inclusive than conventional religious teaching has given us reason to hope. But, as usual, error has run faster and yelled louder than truth. So today, at least in most places, truth must go outside the traditional circles of acceptance where the impostor is held to be truth.

    Thankfully, we have the ever-faithful Holy Spirit on hand to take the things of Christ and reveal them to us if we are really seeking and asking with right heart-motives. May He reveal His heart and purposes to you concerning the hour in which we live, as you continue reading these lines. God is, and always has been, interested in more than just keeping us from some hell. He is in perfect control of all things and never gets the least bit anxious about the way things are going, because they are going exactly the way He is ordering them in every least respect. Our God reigns.

    This prophecy clearly states that this mystery of Christ has been purposely withheld and obscured by God, Himself. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" --Daniel 12:4. And yet again in Revelation 10:4-- "And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." Seven being the number of fullness, completion, maturity, perfection, what the "seven thunders" had uttered was clearly a message concerning fullness. It was not to be revealed until the time of fullness.

    Obviously John and Daniel both saw something which was not to be revealed universally in their day, for they were told expressly to "seal up" those things. Paul also said that he had seen things about which it was unlawful (not permitted) to speak. But we have a further word from the Lord concerning the unveiling of these things, concerning a time when it would be according to his good pleasure to reveal these things to those to whom these things would pertain. "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets" -- Revelation 10:7. That is, in the days when the seventh angel shall begin to give forth the message of fullness, that which has been sealed and withheld shall no longer be a mystery.

    We have seen the actual opening of seal after seal within us particularly as well as in the Church generally, as truth after truth has been progressively restored to the Church. It has been rather sad to see that a law seems to have been at work concerning this progressive revelation of God's heart and purpose toward mankind. By "law" I mean, it seems inevitable that many of those whose hearts were set ablaze with the preceding revelation of Christ have fought those who have received the latest revelation.

    Just in our day, we can remember when those who had received the blessing of the baptism of the Holy Spirit have fought those who went on in the further revelation of Sonship. It seems that we are very prone to calling a part the whole. But we who have been the recipients of the glorious message of Sonship as it pertains to the resurrection of the dead, stand in danger of doing the same thing concerning the even more glorious truth of eternal judgement (See Heb. 6:2). Brethren, we are to go on unto perfection!

    And what is the purpose of God in opening seal after seal in such a gradual disclosure of the mystery of Christ? "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" -- Ephesians 1:10. There is and always has been an "appointed time" in which the Father would bring all into Christ, the glory of God, the divine Ark of God. It is because in Christ "... are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" -- Colossians 2:3.

    Christ Himself is the divine Ark, of which Moses' ark, behind the veil in the Holy of Holies, was but the type. In Him is life. In Him is the glory. In Him are the promises. In Him is the Law. In Him is the hidden manna/word. In Him is the inheritance. In Him.... who is the Resurrection and the Life. Therefore, only that which is of Him will be raised in the resurrection. Only that which is of the resurrection will have part in that first resurrection.

    This prophecy says that "the Ark of the Testimony in Heaven shall be opened before the end of this age and the living testimony herein contained shall be unsealed." Simply put, in our modern phraseology, the people of God will of necessity be moved into the very life and essence of what Christ is by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit upon them. No longer will men get by living in the realm of concept or doctrinal stance, but there will be an actual entering into the Inheritance, which is Christ; into the total and complete redemption that He bought and paid for concerning those who will follow Him wherever He leads them. Brother, sister, this world has never seen that which God has in store for this hour.

    There are in this present hour many places of religion where there is nothing of the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, nor even the slightest expectation that He might pay them a visit. They have so long run things and controlled things that they no longer even notice that Ichabod ("the glory has departed") is written over their doors. These are well able to do for themselves and neither need nor expect divine assistance. Not so with the Virgin Church.

    Like Jacob of old, whose name was changed when his nature was changed, this Virgin Church) has been so weakened in the way, so dealt with, so chastened and "trained," that they can do nothing of themselves. This is part of t he secret of their strength. They must have the presence and direction of their heavenly Ark or they are lost as to what to do next. They have come to the place where they have realized that they cannot live outside the presence of Him who is their life. They are irretrievably connected to Christ as an ever-dying man is connected to a modern life-support system. They cannot live without Him!