We are continuing our observations of the divine pattern of how the number 2 is silently shouted throughout the 2 avenues of divine testimony (written word of God=Bible & spoken word of God=creation). We will also begin to highlight the danger of eliminating one of the two balancing aspects of every divine principle.
The 1st two of the 3 immortalization events into the Creator’s plan are separated by 2 millenniums. These also correspond to the 2 comings of our Messiah. Jesus came the first time as a mortal, issuing from a mortal mother impregnated by the power of the heavenly Father. This was at the end of the 1st Kingdom Age. He comes the 2nd time, after 2 days (divine days of 1,000 years each; Hosea 6:1-3) to preside over the 2nd immortalization event and to restore that Kingdom but as a heavenly Kingdom of God. That 1st Kingdom was initiated at Sinai under Moses. The 2nd Kingdom will be initiated at Jerusalem under Jesus Christ.
The word of God is divinely identified as both the water of the word (with its two atomic elements of hydrogen and oxygen) and also as a 2-edged sword. A sword has 2 basic purposes (defend and attack) and 2 basic applications (parry/defend & thrust/attack). In the same way that word of God will be our judge and determine which of the 2 judgments will be assigned to us: forever death or forever life. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (John 12:48). As we have noted, both of the witnesses of the word of God will be applied in our judgment. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Rom. 1:18-20). This phrase about creation being a witness when the wrath of God is revealed is often inappropriately deflected as applying to the unenlightened community, undoubtedly due to its condemning focus. However, the context specifically defines the application as being directed to those who “hold the truth”, which can only possibly apply to the enlightened community. One cannot possibly be describing as ‘holding’ the truth without enlightenment. The features of creation (the things God has made) declare the invisible things of God from the creation of the world. Those within the enlightened community who undermine the righteousness of Yahweh are ignoring the testimony of creation and will suffer the wrath of God. They will be without excuse, due to not only the written testimony of God but, secondly, His validating creational testimony.
Every divine principle has 2 aspects that have to be balanced. This is certainly true of the “fear of God”. However our enlightened community today is frequently and very inappropriately urged to eliminate the more unpleasant of the 2 balancing aspects of that divine principle. We know that the fear of God is a salvation requirement. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).
The two aspects of the fear of God that have to be correctly balanced for a hopeful salvation are 1) respectful reverence and 2) actually being afraid of the consequences of contradicting God’s righteousness. Unfortunately, this 2nd fear of God category is endlessly denied currently in our enlightened community. It is presumed we can take our salvation for granted and that grace and forgiveness are unconditional. False comfort is treasured by a corrupted understanding of John’s statement that: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). John is referring to a particular aspect of fear that is eliminated by a mature love. If this actually applied to ‘all’ categories of fear then this would mean that we don’t’ even have to exercise reverential fear, as that too would have to be eliminated by perfect love. Therefore, supposedly, one can be disrespectful to God without fearing consequences. That is absurd. Therefore there has to be a category of fear that is eliminated through perfect love but not all fear as that would be highly disrespectful to our heavenly father.
Presuming the enlightened community never has any reason to be afraid of divine consequences for encouraging our Creator’s disfavor is a direct contradiction of Christ’s warning: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28). Jesus advises us not to fear men, who can only kill us but have no power to keep us dead. Jesus strongly advises us to be afraid of the one who can not only kill us but keep us dead forever… which is God. The term “hell” is poorly translated from Gehenna, indicating the Valley of Hinnom where God promised to judge the highly disrespectful enlightened community (Jer. 7:30-34; 19:1-6). Since our savior advises us to be afraid of our potential rejection by God, why would so many Brethren in the truth so frequently recommend exactly the opposite?
Fear can have 2 effects, just like fire. A controlled fire is life preserving and enriching. We use controlled fire to heat our homes, cook our foods, light our path in the dark, temper metal, cauterize a wound and sanitize. The sun is a perfect example of controlled fire, with its perfect 93 million mile distance from Earth. The 8 eternal fires in the divine construction of the Tabernacle underscore the creational testimony of fire. The 7 golden lamps in the Holy Chamber were to be refueled twice each day and never allowed to stop burning (Lev. 24:2). That 8th fire, consuming the altar offerings in the Tabernacle Courtyard, was also supposed to burn continually (Lev. 6:12-13). God spoke to Israel from the burning mountain when they camped at Sinai. In the same sense fear can be a valuable safety mechanism, protecting us from potential danger.
But uncontrolled fire only destroys and kills. Similarly fear that is not throttled by courage or wisdom only destroys. The fear of God is supposed to encourage us to refrain from thoughts, words and behavior that are disrespectful to our Creator. But unfortunately, the waterless wells and fruitless trees and wandering stars within our enlightened community promote unconditional forgiveness and over-emphasize the promise of grace, thereby disengaging the safety mechanism of the fear of engaging our God’s disfavor. They do this for personal advantage and community elevation. This imbalancing of divine principles is a symptom of podium addiction, telling Brothers and Sisters what they want to hear instead of what God wants to hear from us.
Eliminating that 2nd aspect of the fear of God is extremely dangerous, disposing of a highly valuable safety mechanism in our pursuit of divine righteousness. We need to demonstrate both the more pleasant respectful & reverential fear as well as the unpleasant fear of the temporary and eternal consequences for contradictions to our Creator’s righteousness. Paul describes his fear of rejection at Christ’s judgment serving as a preaching motivation.
2 Cor. 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.
Both fear of God aspects are required for a hopeful salvation. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:28-29). We need to cultivate both the reverential aspect of the fear of God as well as the godly fear that understands our God is a consuming fire. We, as the branches extending from the true vine (Jesus Christ, John 15:1-8), must bear fruit to the glory of our heavenly Father or we are nothing more than fuel for that consuming fire (Ezek. 15). That fear of destruction should offer a motivating energy, as it did with the Apostle Paul to preach the truth.
If we diminish the dual aspects of the principle of the fear of God into exclusively reverential fear we imbalance that principle, thereby threatening our relationship with Yahweh and Christ. Every divine principle has 2 aspects that have to be balanced. This is why it takes 2 to go from 6 to 8 and from curse to blessing and from death to life. The divine emphasis of the number 2 in the context of salvation is a theme saturating the 2 avenues of divine testimony: the Bible and creation.