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SECRET SOCIETIES CONTROL THE RISE AND FALL OF RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS 

(The Religious “Beast From The Earth,” Rev. 13:11-18.)

Part 2: MARTYRS AT THE GATES OF HADES; JESUS’ BAPTISM WITH FIRE

Renette Vermeulen 

 

At Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ personally born again body of believers to evangelize the entire known world.   The true Baptism of Fire is a lesson in obedient service.  What does the ‘gates of Hades’ mean?  The stoning of the first martyrs, Stephen, and THE FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY.  The religious binging on blood had begun.  The Followers of The Way fled with the Gospel.  Since Nero, the political world joined in the persecution of the disciple/followers of The Way for the truth of Jesus.  

 

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Continued from Part 1, “The Kingdom Now Beast that Crucified Jesus” 

PART 3, The Roman Catholic Assault from Within

PART 4, Christian Giants, Fairy Godmother Mary and the Church Ring

PART 5: The Way or Ecclesia Converted to Roman Catholic Christianity 

 

THOSE WHO FEARED AND ABANDONED JESUS AT THE CROSS, NOW SUDDENLY PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL   

What happened in the hearts and minds of Jesus’ disciples that they abandoned Jesus at the cross, but after Pentecost, they fearlessly preached Jesus’ true Gospel to both the Hebrew and non-Hebrew (heathen) world and did great miracles in the Name of Jesus despite persecution? 

Was it because they could speak in tongues and do miracles since Pentecost, as Pentecostal/Charismatics say? 

Certainly not. 

The gifts of the Holy Spirit did not make the first disciples bold; the resurrected Jesus’ full blood-atonement in their place and the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit at, and since Pentecost, made all the difference. 

· Only at Pentecost, as described in Acts chapter 2, did the Holy Spirit come to constantly indwell believers for the first time in all of history. 

· Before that, as described in the Old Testament and also during Jesus’ ministry on earth, (which was still under the Old Testament Covenant before the cross and Pentecost,) the Holy Spirit only ‘came upon’ believers to give them the boldness to speak God’s Word and to do miracles in His power, (Jn. 7:39.) 

The Biblical truth of speaking in tongues is that the Holy Spirit’s miraculous gifts cannot ‘save’ or “make us bold.” 

The gift of tongues, as all the other Scriptural gifts of the Holy Spirit such as prophecy, is a sure reality — but speaking in tongues remains ‘merely’ one of the wonderful, Scriptural gifts, which the Holy Spirit gives as “He wills,” (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Mark 16:15-18.)  And of course, the Spirit does not only give His gifts as “He wills,” but also according to His specific calling on the life of every individual member of the body of Christ.  1 Cor. 12:27-31, “You are all the body of Christ together and members individually...  But are all apostles, prophets, teachers...? Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret?” The answer: “No, each individual member’s gifts fit his or her place of ministry in the body of Christ.  Read in 1 Cor. 12:4-31 how the body of Christ minister to one another through the Spirit’s different callings and gifts.  The assemblies of the body of Christ is not the hierarchical “church” at all.  The gatherings of believers function in a completely different way and on another level of Holy-Spirit leading and power as we were taught to accept in churches of all sorts.]    

 

Jesus promised the following “power” through the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit after the cross and since Pentecost, (1 Cor. 6:15-20; 1 Jn. 2:27.)  He explained the reason and reality of the immense power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you [after My ascension, that day at Pentecost when I will send the Him to fully and continually indwell you.]   And [the main purpose of His indwelling will be so you can be] My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

So, the main reason for the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not to do miracles, but to be the “witnesses” of Jesus globally.  Hence, all true believers have [present tense] the indwelling Holy Spirit to fulfill the commission of Jesus, as He promised and then commanded in Mt. 28:18-20, “...All authority [power or anointing] has been given to [you as My true disciples, as it was given to Me when I was on earth in the flesh of a mere man.] 

“Go, therefore, [in My authority or power] and:

1. Make [personally believing, spiritually born again] disciples of all the nations [by preaching My Scriptural Gospel to them.]  

2. [Water] baptize [these personally believing disciples] in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [as I Myself demonstrated by My own water baptism, and commanded you to do.]

3.  Then, teach [these baptized disciples] to observe all things that I, [Jesus not church dogma,] have commanded [and taught] you. 

And I Am with you always, [to fulfill this commission through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,] even to the end of this world,” (1 Jn. 2:27.) 

Scripture makes it completely clear that the authority or anointing of the Holy Spirit, Who lives inside the born again human spirits of all true believers, (1 Ths. 5:23,) was primarily given by Jesus Himself to evangelize the whole world.  Yet, His power or authority is not for that purpose only, but also to water-baptize these new disciples, and then to teach these disciples the Truth of Jesus’ entire Word, so that they will be equipped to go and fulfill Jesus’ threefold commission themselves, (Acts 1:8; Eph. 4:11-13.)  That is why Paul declared in Acts 20:27, “I have not neglected to teach you the whole counsel of God…”  Jesus’ New Covenant Commission, in a nutshell, is “the whole counsel of God,” which nobody must deny, change, or ignore. 

Therefore, the manifestation of all the Holy-Spirit’s powerful gifts directly pertain to fulfilling the threefold commission of Jesus.  As true disciples “go into the world to preach in Jesus’ authority or power; as they baptize the new disciples, and as they teach these disciples the Truth of His Word, the different gifts, (and signs,) which the Spirit Alone gives “as He wills,” (1 Cor. 12:4-11,) will be the powerful, supernatural, miracles (and signs) that “follow” them, (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 1 Cor. 14:22; Mark 16:15-18.) 

Believers do not actually “do” signs and miracles; true signs and miracles “follow” them ‘naturally,’ (Mark 15-28.)  Thus, sincere believers who live obediently in the Truth of Scripture, and are wholeheartedly submitted to the will and leading of the Holy Spirit, cannot “get away” from miracles — ever.  Miracles, as God Alone wills and as situations necessitate, are a ‘natural’ part of the lives of Jesus’ authentic body of believers

Supposedly “doing miracles” is mostly abused for self-glorification.  Being “followed” by Holy-Spirit miracles “as He wills” only glorifies God. 

We must understand that Biblically and practically, speaking in tongues is just one of the gifts that is a “sign to unbelievers that follow sincere believers,” while the gift of prophecy, (interpretive of the situation and God’s Word; not predictive or ‘new revelation’ as in fortune telling,) is for believers, (1 Cor. 14: 22; 2-5; 24-25; Heb. 1:1-3.) 

And this is why all the Scriptural gifts of the Holy Spirit are important to the body of Christ. 

 

WHAT ABOUT THE ‘POWER OF THE HOLY-SPIRIT BAPTISM ’ - THE PENTECOSTAL ‘TONGUES AND FIRE-MIRACLE BAPTISM?’ 

Pentecostal/Charismatic churches teach the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, (which they say is “fire that falls,”) is to do miracles.  However, only once, when the Holy Spirit came to indwell His disciples at Pentecost, and not since, did He manifest Himself “as the sound of a mighty wind and as fire” - not literal wind or fire, (Acts 2.)  Then, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, followed His once-off indwelling, (Mark 16:16-18.)  The genuine signs of wind and fire has never manifested again, because there will never be another “Pentecost” or “outpouring” of the already indwelling Holy Spirit as Pentecostal/Charismatics teach.  The Holy Spirit always, until “the end of the world,” indwells all His sincerely believing, Scripture-obeying disciples as His spiritual temple here on earth, (1 Cor. 6:15-20; 1 Jn. 2:27; Eph. 1:13-14.)  This is so because a temple of the Holy Spirit can never be empty or ‘half-filled with the Spirit’ as they also say. Paul declared in Rom. 8:9, “If anyone does not have the Holy Spirit [continually living in him,] he is not His.” 

What’s more, “God does not give His Spirit by measure, [in part or in stages,]” because, as said, the Holy Spirit does not “come upon” believers like under the Old Testament Covenant, (Jn. 3:34.)  No one can get “more” of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Real disciples of Jesus already have [present tense] the full, steadfast anointing of the Holy Spirit inside them because they already have the Holy Spirit constantly dwelling in them “until the end of the world,” (1 Jn. 2:27; Eph. 1:12-14; Mt. 28:20.) 

Yet, abusing Scripture and fact, Pentecostals teach Jesus’ baptism ‘in’ the Holy Spirit is ‘evidenced’ by their ‘fire’ of speaking in tongues and the “fire” of their other “miracles.”  Neither the Holy Spirit’s manifestation “as wind and as flames of fire” like at Pentecost, nor the Holy Spirit’s power to obey Jesus’ threefold commission, (Acts 1:8; Mt. 28:18-20,) can be found in this chaotic picture, although some, like the false Kingdom-Now prophet and teacher South African Angus Buchan, calls up vicious storms to “bring about yet another Pentecost — one of their continual Pentecosts.”   However, God Jesus of the Bible calmed the physical storms.  He will never call up a physical storm to show His mighty powers as a satanic magician to try and replicate the signs of wind and fire at Pentecost — and lie about the One and Only Pentecost in the Bible. 

These people also lay hands on believers (or wave their clothing over them, make them fall down, kick them, spit or breathe on them, etcetera,) and so, allegedly ‘baptize them “in” the holy spirit with the evidence of “fire” such as speaking in tongues.’   As this “fire baptism falls,” incredibly chaotic, demonic manifestations of all sorts break loose among them.  Upsettingly, they believe this combined ‘holy-spirit-fire-baptism’  “saves” them” - and it also “saves the whole world through miracles” as they then impart this baptism of ‘miracle’ madness to others. 

However, 1 Cor. 14:23-33 unalterably states, “The [human] spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion [and chaotic insanity,] but of peace, [and a sound mind.]” 

 

Jesus’ real “baptism with the Holy Spirit” and “His baptism with fire” as explained in Mt. 3:11-12, have nothing to do with the Pentecostal “holy-spirit-fire-baptism of miracles.”  The Pentecostals clearly have demonic “fire” in their “spirit baptism.”  So, what is going on here?  

As with all other false dogma, Illuminati agents made a masterly move to ‘prove’ their “continual tongues and miracles baptism of falling fire’” dogma.  First, they ignore the fact that the Holy Spirit constantly indwells sincere believers since Pentecost and does not “come upon” them like before the cross, but works from “within” them since Pentecost.  Then, they simply sliced Mt. 3:11 to pieces to focus on the last part of this verse, “...baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Next, they melted the ‘holy spirit and fire’ into one baptism or substance by simply ‘annihilating’ the connecting verse in Mt. 3:12, which explains exactly what Jesus’ baptism with fire really is.  In this way, they screwed a false, combined meaning to the last sentence of the preceding verse: Mt. 3:11. 

However, functioning together as they were intended, these two verses, Mt. 3:11-12, give us the true meaning of what John said.  It states, “Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and [He will baptize you] with fire [for] His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 

Does Scriptural “fire” sound as if Jesus promised to baptize believers with mad spiritual manifestations when He baptizes them with the indwelling Holy Spirit?  Definitely not.  This genuine baptism of fire will prove what believers are ‘made of,’ to put it plainly.  After Jesus, at the moment of the rebirth through faith in and acceptance of Him, places the Holy Spirit inside believers, the refining fire will follow to show if they are really God’s ‘wheat’ - or if they will be destroyed as worthless ‘chaff.’ 

This has nothing to do with even the Scriptural gifts of the Spirit, which ‘naturally’ follow believers, (Mark 16:15-18.)  

An absence of Jesus’ purifying “baptism with fire” in the lives of believers is a very serious matter.  No wonder Satan deceived billions of believers through the ages to think they will never suffer for the sake of Jesus’ Holy Name and the truth of His Word. 

 

THE BAPTISM WITH FIRE IS A LESSON IN OBEDIENT SERVICE 

In Jesus’ baptism with fire, just as with His baptism in water, Jesus set the example for all the sincere members of His body to follow, and announced, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, (the suffering of the cross,) and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”  (Lu. 12:50.) 

When James and John asked Jesus to give them places of great authority in His Kingdom, He answered, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism [of fire] that I Am baptized with…  “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism [of suffering] I Am baptized with, you will be baptized… (Lu. 12:50; Mark 10:38-45; Mt. 20:20.) 

James and John were thoroughly polluted by the Kingdom-Now theology.  As many others, they “have also been led into a snare by false notions of Christ’s Kingdom, as if it were of this world, and like the kingdoms of the rulers of this world…  It is folly to prescribe to God, and wisdom to submit to Him.  It is the will of Christ that we should prepare for sufferings, and leave it to Him to recompense us for them… He that exalts himself will be abased…  The Son of man submitted first to the greatest hardships and hazards, and then entered into His glory, and can we expect to come to it any other way; or to have more ease and honor than He had?” – [M.H. Commentary.] 

It is an indisputable fact that Jesus promised to allow the baptism of fire, or persecution for the sake of His truth for everyone who would sincerely accept Him as his or her personal Lord and Savior.  This is so because fire either purifies or destroys — and certainly proves the sincerely (or the lack thereof) in the hearts, minds and lives of those who confess Jesus as Lord, (Zech. 13:9.) 

Peter explained this baptism in 1 Pt. 1:76-9.  He wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, [not in the afflictions but in the outcome of suffering for righteousness,] though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the [return] of Jesus Christ… receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls [or your “renewed minds,” which, through a process of studying and obeying Scripture, understand “the will of God” for every situation,]” (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Ths. 5:23; Jn. 13:34; Jam. 2.) 

 

Biblical “baptism” always means “submersion.”  The baptism of fire speaks of being immersed in Divinely appointed suffering, just as sincere believers are immersed by Jesus’ baptism with the full, indwelling Holy Spirit, (or being “possessed” by Him as Eph. 1:12-14 declares,) and just as they are symbolically fully immersed in Jesus’ death and resurrection in the water baptism.  

To die or be crucified is always a painful process.  Paul was one of the disciples that suffered immensely for the Name and truth of Jesus.  He knew what he was saying when he wrote in Gal. 2:19-21, “I have been crucified with Christ, [by dying emotionally to the lusts and sins of this world through the terrible affliction I had to endure.]  It is no longer I who live [in control of my will and life,] but Christ living in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh [or in this body] I live by faith in the Son of God…”  The purpose of the “baptism with fire” is to wean us from the sinful control of the world, and to teach us humility, complete dependence upon God, and unselfish service.  “Jesus Is the High Priest forever, according to the Order of Melchizedek, Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death… Though He was the Son, yet, [while He was in the form of a mere Man,] He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to  all who obey Him,’ (Heb. 5:6-9.) 

All true believers will indeed experience Jesus’ baptism with fire, just as He Himself did.  Of course, just as our choice to either accept or reject Jesus as our Christ, we may also shy away from the baptism of fire and remain lukewarm church members — or we can choose to rise to the challenge to prove, in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus is our Highest, First, and Forever Love, and we will always remain totally committed to Him above all else.  So, the author of Acts 14:22 concluded, ‘We must through many tribulations enter, [and of course, extend] the Kingdom of God [in the hearts or born again spirits and renewed minds of sincere believing disciples of Christ.]’  The apostles and all the other true servants of the body of Christ “not only taught the joy and peace of the Kingdom, (Rom. 14:17,) it’s power, (1 Cor. 4:20,) and its present authority to cause the believer to triumph over evil, (2 Tim. 4:18; Rom. 16:20.)  They also taught that [sincere believers will and do] experience trial, suffering, and not always an instant victory, (2 Ths. 1:4-5.)  God did not promise life without struggle.  Victory only comes through battle, and triumph only follows trial…” – [S.F. Bible.] 

God is so firm in loosening us from the world and our own desires and perceptions of spiritual reality, because, as long as there is something in our minds, (thoughts and beliefs,) and actions that can draw us away from God, the devil will never let go of the area that gives him a ‘foothold’ to control us.  The “casting out of demons from believers” is therefore a total moneymaking myth.  To live victoriously in Christ we must die to sin and self while standing our ground in “the blood of Jesus,” while testifying that Jesus eternally triumphed in our place, (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14.)  For instance, we all know that “we overcame [past tense] the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony,” (Rev. 12:11.)  This is absolutely true.  Jesus did it all in our place so we can constantly confess His full victory as our own, (Col. 2:8-15.)  However, most preachers never get to the rest of this verse in Rev. 12:11, “...And they did not love their own lives even unto death.”  This means, unless we obey Jesus’ commandment in Lu. 14:26, “If any man comes to me, and hate not, [in comparison to our love for Jesus,] his father, mother, [spouse, children, brothers, sisters, possessions, as well as his own life in this world], he cannot be My disciple.” 

Satan laughs at us when we try to withstand him with church dogmas and uncontextual verses from God’s Word.  If the laying down of our own spiritual, emotional, and physical lives is not in the picture when we “plead the blood of Jesus and stand on our Savior’s victory,” our battle is useless. If it is our own lives we love more than God — well, then it is our own lives we must lay down to gain victory over the evil one, (Gal. 2:19-21.)  This means, Satan must have nothing to use against us because all must be surrendered to God, (see Jam. 4:7.)  Whatever we keep to ourselves and do not submit to God, will defeat us in the end.  God’s Truth is the measure which we continually strive to obtain; imperfect as we all are, (Jam. 3:2.)  And knowing how imperfect we humans are, is the reason why full and sincere surrender to Jesus is the most basic and vital thing we must do to obtain everything, which He already did for us in our place. 

 

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He prepared His disciples for the baptism with fire which was to come, so that they “would not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try them, as though some strange thing happened to them.  They were to rejoice to the extent that they would gladly partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, [at His return to earth,] they may also be glad with exceeding joy,” (1 Pt. 4:12.)  Jesus warned, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth… but the sword.’ 

The Kingdom of God, manifested in the hearts of sincere believers, and extended by their obedience to Jesus’ commission to “go into all the world to preach His Gospel…” did not bring outward peace to this planet or to the lives of sincere believers, but separation, danger, strife, sorrow, and other distress, (Mt. 10:34-39.) 

So, when believers suffer trials and tribulations, Christians erroneously view this as “something strange,” shameful, or suspicious that is happening to them, as if they were false believers, cursed, in unrepented sin, unworthy, etcetera.  Yet, “suffering for righteousness” is a Scriptural and realistic fact in the lives of all real believers, (1 Pt. 3:14,) which “produces perseverance, character, and [real] hope,” (Rom. 5:3-4.) 

We can blame the false prosperity gospel for this ignorant, abusive mindset. However, since ‘church’ replaced the ‘ecclesia’ or  gathering together of the Followers of the Way, as the body of Christ was first called, believers have been suffering the dreadful loss of such vital truths of Scripture, (Acts 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14.)  As a result, especially those lukewarm believers living in the affluent West during our time, have no clue what the “baptism of fire” really means. 

Nonetheless, Jesus is the All-good God, Who does not  bring the sword of war, persecution, torture, death, and division.  All evil is the work of the devil, “who does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy,” (Jn. 10:10.)  Jesus Is the “Father of Lights, in Whom there is no shadow or turning,” (Jam. 1:17.)  He brought the “Word of God, which is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, [even] dividing soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, [physical family members from each other because some choose darkness instead of Light,] and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Confronted with this Righteous Sword, ‘there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account,’ (Heb. 4:12-13.)   

This is why the writer of Hebrews could say, ‘[You should] recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated…  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise [of everlasting life...]” (Heb. 10:32-39.) 

 

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