I believe Satan possibly fell from heaven AFTER the creation of the heaven and the earth! Does that sound different from what you have learned? The understanding of this view from scripture will help you answer many questions. Why do some churches believe in "election" to salvation? Why did God create us knowing that many would go to hell and suffer? What does predestination mean? Many more questions and false theories such as the "gap theory" can be answered by this Bible acknowledgment of Satan’s fall. There is an assumption that Lucifer fell many ages ago. Are we putting Biblical ideas into an evolutionary framework like many sinners do the dinosaur? The Bible does not put an exact date on when Lucifer lost his position, but many scriptures give ideas to ponder.
When God created the heaven and the earth, everything was good! The heaven (air or atmosphere) around the earth, of which Satan became the "prince of the power of the air," was called good. "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31). "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:2). If Satan had already been cast down to rule the air, this verse could not have been stated. Everything God had made was good. I believe that the creation of man, who began to receive fellowship with God, made Lucifer jealous. This may have been the event that enticed Lucifer to rebel against God.

Lucifer was in the Garden of Eden. God called him beautiful when he was there. "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." (Ezekiel 28:13-14). Notice in the surrounding verses that he was the special covering cherub. Compare this to jeweled descriptions of God’s presence and surroundings in other scriptures. A later verse says: "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." (Ezekiel 28:15). (The King of Tyrus could not have been in Eden. This is a dualistic prophecy against a king by comparing him to Lucifer or Satan is being called the King of Tyrus. Tyrus: a rock )

When the earth was founded, ALL of the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy! "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7). Lucifer was present to rejoice at creation!

In a passage that probably has a dual meaning and purpose, God tells Nebuchadnezzer that he is like Lucifer in his desires and designs and will suffer as he in the latter’s fall. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north." (Isaiah 14:12-13). While some use these verses to show the pre-adamic race that Lucifer weakened, it instead shows Lucifer’s (Satan’s) desire to exalt his throne above the stars of God. If these stars are the lights in the sky, they were created on the 4th day. If the stars are God’s people (Israel), that is a moot point since Nebuchadnezzer had already done this by conquering that nation and taking many as slaves. If the stars are angels, then Lucifer wanted to be as God above an angel status or role; and Nebuchadnezzer could never attain that since men were created lower than the angels. Lucifer was apparently above all the angels already, so why would he try to get above the other angels (stars of God) that he already controlled? This word "star" means: literal – a star (as round or as shining); figurative-a prince. (Satan is called a prince in John 12: 31, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.") Of course, Nebuchadnezzer did not fall from heaven.

Satan was not a murderer BEFORE the beginning, but from the beginning. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44). What beginning? Satan’s beginning? Did he work with God for eons as a sinful angel? No! He was a murderer FROM the beginning of OUR existence. "In the beginning…" His change of heart and action took place at our beginning. Scripture uses the term "beginning" as the start of the earth.

Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. There was no death in the world until sin. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12). A pre-adamic race or a formerly "cast down to earth" devil would eliminate the use of this verse. This earth was created perfect with no sin on the earth or in the heaven (immediate atmosphere). There was no death! Yet Satan is called the prince of the power of the air and thereby affects us to the point of being the "god of this world."

If God planned this world and knew man would fall, then He would have planned a Savior BEFORE the foundation (beginning) of the world. "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8). God planned a Savior FROM, not before, the foundation. At the beginning, it is possible that Satan’s jealousy, and tempting of Eve, caused him to fall from his position and God then immediately planned a Savior. The prior verse is often misquoted with a "before" instead of the "from." This Savior was already planned to fellowship with us. (Predestination and election) "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." (Ephesians 1:4). Then sin caused man to have blame, but lambs, and then The Lamb, has given us back to Him.

If Lucifer fell earlier (in a prior humanity; "gap theory"), why did God not put him away forever as He does in the Book of Revelation? Is God so mean that He would create man knowing the devil was out and about and that millions would go to hell? Many sinners are disturbed by a God that planned so much horror. If Satan fell after creation, then sinners can know God planned only good for them and Satan is the problem, not God!

Hopefully, you can see that this answers many doctrinal questions and misconceptions about God. We were ALL predestined to serve God, but Satan ruined it for many since Eden. We were ALL elected to be God’s children and serve His Son, but the fall of man diverted God’s plan for a while. (though He made plans for those who had a heart for Him) "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Ephesians 1:5). To know we would sin would be to create us predestined to sin. Anything that He knows has to happen. If Lucifer fell AFTER creation, then the doctrines of predestination and election are even more understandable. Many hyper-Calvinists struggle with these doctrines because most feel that Lucifer fell in ages past BEFORE the earth and heaven were created. This possible understanding of Lucifer’s fall allows "whosoever will…" to coincide with election very easily. Otherwise, much confusion results. I cannot conceive God making a plan knowing it would fail. He only knows what He wants to know. Just as He can forget my sin, He could create earth with all great intentions and plans. SATAN WAS THE MESS-MAKER. It seems odd that God would create us knowing sin would develop. But maybe God only knows what He wants to know. Does He remember your sin? Not if your sin is washed away by faith in His Son and the power of His blood to cleanse! So God could have possibly created the heaven and the earth with full intention of having us as His children (predestined) by the fellowship of His only begotten Son. Even now, all have been elected to be His, by virtue of His breath (spirit) in us. Many refuse and God uses them to accomplish His plans (such as Pharoah was raised up for Him). There is no need for a gap theory to prove time for dinosaurs (large reptiles) or to provide a space for Satan to fall. "In the beginning…" means just that. We don’t even know that angels were created very long before the beginning. Why have we assumed millions of years for angels? Maybe angels have been around for most of eternity. Why did it take so long for Satan to reveal his true nature? The creation of man for God to love and receive love from must have been the catalyst to cause Lucifer to take self-willed action to mess up God’s plan. If Satan fell before the beginning, then it is easy to see why sinners think God is playing some type of game with mankind. God did not plan death of any type, because He planned "the green herb" and fruits for man to eat. Meat was allowed after the flood. God’s plan was good. He has won the victory over Satan and you can win with Christ! THINK ON THESE THINGS!

It is unthinkable to suggest that the Holy Ghost will not be removed from the earth at the Rapture of the Bride. The whole idea of the Pentecostal outpouring was the empowerment of the church for evangelism and the purifying of the Bride. The Holy Spirit has wooed from the harvest field of souls and prepared from the harvest a Bride for His Son. The Holy Spirit is indeed the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ and cannot be separated from any event or action that affects the church of Jesus Christ.

The "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" is a crowning event of the church dispensation. The Vicar of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit and this divine person of the Godhead will be a guest of honor at this Wedding Feast. In fact, the Holy Spirit will be more than just a guest of honor. The whole attire of the Bride and her removal to the wedding chamber cannot be assigned to anyone other than the Spirit of Christ. The very term so familiar in the Second Testament, Spirit of Christ, indicates that all the work of redemption and sanctification is of the office of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. This divine person is inseparable from redemption, righteousness, and readiness for the day when a glorious church shall be crowned victorious.

First Testament Shadows
I’ve got some wonderful friends that can never see the church of Jesus Christ prefigured in the First Testament. Their theological system is so rigid that it has built a fence around their minds. They could not be more wrong. It does absolutely no harm to good Biblical dispensational truth to see prophecies in one dispensation that speak of truth in another dispensation. The whole Bible and History, plus prophecy is clearly played out by different dispensations, but they do not have to be antithesis to each other. Our God never does anything without first revealing it to the prophets, and the church is no exception. One of the greatest shadows of the Bride and her preparation and marriage is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Let’s review that beautiful prophetic picture. "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24:2-8). "And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels." (Genesis 24:15-20). "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." (Genesis 24:64-67).

What a breathtaking story! This entire picture prefigures the type of the church, the servant (Spirit of Christ) that discovers the Bride and that removes the Bride from the world to deliver her to the groom. Abraham is called in the Second Testament the "Father of Faith" and we are clearly seen as the "children of faith" rather than the "children of the law" as the First Testament saints are called. Apostle Paul affirms this truth clearly, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16).

The Holy Spirit is clearly the "Servant" that was prefigured in this great event. The words used in Genesis were "Eldest Servant." Those two words carried a meaning far above that of a common person. This "Servant" was entrusted with the choice duty and possession of the "Abraham Estate." The wealth he carried with him was measurable and the business of the Son’s Bride was the most important matter facing both Abraham and the future promises given by God Himself. Every duty that this "Eldest Servant" fulfilled and manifested is the New Testament picture of the great office of the Holy Ghost. This helps to clarify why the person of the Holy Spirit is given the official title of the Holy Ghost. He clearly represents nothing of Himself and everything of Jesus Christ. That is perfectly what the title Holy Ghost suggests.

This "Eldest Servant" was instructed in such a manner as to carry a meaning far beyond the simple story. The question was asked of Abraham, "Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?" (Genesis 24:5). Abraham’s answer was emphatic. He addressed the question twice. He said, "Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24: 6). Again he said, "Only bring not my son thither again." (Genesis 24:8). The visit of Jesus Christ to this earth and His death was a completed task and never needed to occur again.

This truth had to be a part of this great prophetic story or truth would be marred.
Abraham and his family were sojourning in the land of the Philistines when God charged him to return to Mount Moriah and offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice. There is a strong indication that after that event, Abraham and Isaac visited Nahor, Abraham’s brother, and met the family of Nahor. (Genesis 22:26-24). Abraham’s words, "only bring not my son thither again," certainly confirm that visit. From those two visits, along with seeing the paganism of the Philistines and other Canaanites as well as the faith of Nahor, Abraham now chooses that his son shall have a bride from his brother’s family.

The spirit of Rebekah is a wonderful type of the Bride of Jesus Christ. She was pure, a virgin having no fornication in her life and was also possessed of a servant’s heart. Her response to the "Eldest Servant" was immediate. Everything he asked was fulfilled in her reaction. When she was told of this man’s purpose and the invitation to become his master’s bride, there was no hesitancy. The gifts she was given by the master’s vicar or representative compiled a perfect picture of the Spirit’s gifts to the church. She was ready immediately to leave for the master’s house.

The return of this "Eldest Servant" and Rebekah, the bride in waiting, was commenced the very next morning. Her readiness presents the very spirit that must possess the Bride of Jesus Christ. Her family blessed her with these words as she prepared to go. "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them." (Genesis 24:60). That is prophetically beautiful! As they left for the Promised Land, it was stated, "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way." (Genesis 24:61).

As this "Eldest Servant" and Rebekah approach the master’s house, the master, Isaac, was seen in a field. Notice that the Bride did not meet the master in the location of His dwelling, but in the "harvest" field. The Word says, "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel." (Genesis 24:64). The two words "lighted off" means to prostrate oneself or cast oneself down. She had asked the Servant who this man was. Immediately, Isaac received His bride and Bible said, "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." (Genesis 24:67).

The "Eldest Servant" did not stay in the vicinity of Nahor’s family, a type of the world; but returned with the bride to deliver her to the groom himself. It was the "Eldest Servant" that introduced the bride to the groom so that the wedding could commence. The joy of this "Servant" was to see the joy of the bride in the presence of the groom.

The Escort of the Royal Bride
The Holy Ghost is clearly the escort of the royal bride and the Psalmist David gives a wonderful prophetic picture of this bride. Often we sing about our Lord as having come from the ivory palaces in His first coming. This is clearly unbiblical for David was not writing of His first coming but of the future Rapture. Look at these beautiful words, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir." (Psalm 45:6-9). "The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace." (Psalm 45:13).

In Hebrews chapter one Apostle Paul quoted parts of the above prophecy and placed its fulfillment as redemption accomplished. The entire forty-fifth chapter of Psalms is a glorious picture of His triumph, the Lord Himself returning to earth to receive His Bride and literally coming out of the Ivory Palaces that He Himself said He was going to prepare. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2). The Psalmist David called the prepared place "Ivory Palaces." Isaiah called this heavenly place "the Chamber." "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." (Isaiah 26:20).

The picture of His future Bride as painted by the words of David, the master Psalmist, is breathtaking. The "Queen" is dressed in the "gold of Ophir," the purest gold of Biblical history. She is also seen as "all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold." "Wrought gold" is gold that a master craftsman has exquisitely designed to represent the most beautiful of handiwork. Her attire is further described as following, "She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework." The entire picture is of a bride who has been carefully prepared so that she can be presented to the King. The purification of this Queen and her delicate attire has been the incredible work of a divine power and person. Nothing is missing in her preparation.

Not only is she wonderfully attired; she is escorted by stately powers. She does not wander into the King’s presence but she is presented as royalty to the ultimate person of royalty. Note the Spirit’s words, "She shall be brought unto the king." Again, "with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought." There must be an escort that has royal connections. Biblical history is replete with the fact that only Divine Royalty can present or introduce another to royalty. It was the Father that introduced the Son in the First Testament and the Holy Ghost that introduced the Son in the Second Testament. It was Jesus that introduced the Holy Spirit in St. John’s gospel and the Holy Ghost was sent to introduce Jesus Christ in the church. Soon the time will come for the Holy Ghost to introduce the bride to her "Eternal Royal Groom."

Caught Up by the Holy Ghost
It had never quite dawned on me how clearly the Holy Spirit will be involved in the Rapture of the Bride. The Lord Himself taught us that the Holy Ghost would be sent to affect the entire world all at one time. In fact, Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away." (John 16:7). The work of the Holy Ghost was universal while the work of Jesus was individual. That has not changed. Listen as Saint Paul describes this event we have named the "Rapture." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The truth is very clear. The Lord Himself descends from Heaven. He shouts with the voice of the archangels sound, and the trump of God sounds. Notice how clearly the Spirit describes what happens. The Lord descends and then we are "caught up" to meet Him in the air. Our being "caught up" is clearly presented as connected but reflecting two different expressions of power. The very words "caught up" come from one word in the original language of Greek. They mean, "removed by force, snatched, or seized by force." Clearly the Lord descends, but we are "carried away" by the one who was sent to possess us for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The same word was used in Acts when speaking of Philip when he was "caught up" by the Holy Ghost and supernaturally removed to another location. "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39).

Again, the same word was used when Apostle Paul told of the man "caught up" to the third heavens. "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up (harpazo) to the third heaven." (2 Corinthians 12:2). Again, this was an act of the Holy Ghost that the apostle told us about. The same words was used in Revelation 12:5 where the man child "was caught up to God and to His Throne." (Revelation 12:5)

Jesus was Raised Up From the Dead by the Holy Spirit
The Son of God was clearly resurrected and raised up from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost. Throughout the Bible, the Spirit is the right arm of authority and power acting for the Godhead. This was the Father’s design and it is wonderfully true concerning the resurrection of the Son of God. Apostle Paul described the connection between the Spirit and Christ’s resurrection and our transformed life. He said, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11).

These words have tremendous bearing on both our present spiritual life and the quickening of our bodies at the Rapture or Resurrection. Everything that Jesus has provided in redemption, which certainly included our new resurrected bodies, is manifest in us by the authority of the Holy Ghost. All that Jesus is has been ordained to be manifest in us and the Spirit is God’s expression of power and triumph.

Our Resurrection is by the Holy Ghost
Our bodies are presently flesh and blood, and flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Apostle Paul called it a "great mystery" as he deals with this subject. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51). This change is one of the most spectacular truths of Holy Writ. Listen as Paul describes the intricacies of this future event. "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:35-44).

The term "raised" which is used several times is the exact word Paul used in Romans 8:11. This action is clearly attributed to the Holy Ghost. We have no personal powers, regardless of how godly we live, to resurrect ourselves. This is part of the office of the Holy Ghost provided for the saints of God. Every saint will receive his or her own body gloriously provided with individual attention. The glory of these bodies will all be different and will reflect our personal rewards for surrender and obedience in kingdom activity. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Conclusion
To even imagine the crowning event of all ages, "the Marriage Supper of Jesus Christ and His prepared bride," without the Spirit of Christ is indeed unthinkable. The Holy Ghost never speaks of Himself nor will He allow anyone possessed of Himself to give Him the exaltation due only to Jesus Christ. He has given all glory to the Son and the crescendo of His office will be the escorting of those saints in which He has "raised up" with glorified bodies into the presence of the Royal King. He shall deliver the overcoming saints, "all glorious within," into the Ivory Palaces where eternal things shall occur.

He that raised up the saints shall then deliver each reward to every resurrected or raptured one as assigned to them at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Surely angels will act in perfect accord with the Spirit of Christ as the saints are now prepared to sit with Christ and reign with Him forever. The picture in Revelation as the twenty-four elders are before the throne, having just arrived from the Rapture or Resurrection, suggests this very fact. John wrote, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." (Revelation 4:5-6).

The twenty-four elders represent a multitude (24 being figurative) and joining them around the throne is the angelic company of four living creatures and the Seven Spirits of God. The "seven" is also figurative and suggests the fullness of the Spirit’s office and person. This is an immediate picture following the "catching away."

What a picture this provides! The third member of the eternal Godhead, having escorted the Bride to the Groom, is now present in regal expression. Our God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Ghost will then commence the Wedding Feast and provide for the final judgment. Our frail language is insufficient to describe the glory to follow.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Corinthians 4:7). One of the greatest mysteries in the Holy Bible is that the Heavenly Father has chosen human vessels of clay in which to manifest the glory of His kingdom. He could have used unfallen angels, cherubims or seraphims, but He chose to redeem the human family that had fallen into sin and to wear their sanctified flesh as His garments of revelation. There are many reasons we could give the Lord for expressing our disapproval of His decision. But, His wisdom is eternal wisdom that sees the end from the beginning. Eternity will certainly justify His choices and we that humbly obey His will, will rejoice as His jewels in the everlasting city of New Jerusalem.

The Bible never hides the truth about human frailties. Some of God’s greatest prophets made mistakes and were always judged with an equal judgment. Moses did not get to enter the Promised Land, because he struck the rock when God had said, "Speak to the rock." The kingdom of Israel was ripped from the House of Saul when his self-will caused him to become arrogant and disobedient. Some of the saddest stories in literature are found in the Bible. Families that could have known greatness, like Eli’s family, were judged and cast aside because the head of that family (Eli) did not restrain his sons.

If we are going to understand how God has chosen to put His eternal Spirit into clay pots and manifest His glorious presence in the process, we must first understand that it is not a cheap process. God does not show up on Sunday morning and choose some worldly preacher to speak eternal truths with authority and power to redeem. Our Heavenly Father makes His choices after carefully dealing with that soul and proving them under stress and chastisement. Before Abraham became the Father of God’s chosen nation, He required of him the readiness of an ultimate sacrifice. God had proven Abraham on several occasions, but now that Abraham had the promised son in his old age, a final test was important. God spoke, "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:2).

God proved David as he tended his father’s flock on the mountainside and later sent Samuel to anoint the lad as his replacement of rebellious Saul. Israel’s history has been spotted with men and women cast aside because the "clay pot" was too fragile to maintain the excellency of God’s anointing. The present day church has somehow concluded that broken clay pots can still contain the glory of God. It has never been true, nor will it ever be true in the future. Yes, He will send the potter to remake the vessel that, in humility, is presented for repentance and cleansing, but He will not use the haughty that continue in self-will.

If God would cast aside a defiled "clay pot" in the First Testament, is it somehow different in the New Testament? No! The New Testament requirements are just as strict or even stricter. Apostle Paul spoke plainly in his letter to the people of Corinth, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (I Corinthians 3:16-19). What a joke the church has become to the world because we refuse to expect Biblical requirements for those who say they speak for God.

Holy Ghost Baptism – The Fragrance of Calvary
We must understand why the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is so very important today. Our generation has the same basic need as the first church as is recorded in the Book of Acts. The Lord Jesus promised the anointing of the Holy Ghost to His disciples to enable them to do the very same thing in their ministry that He had begun in His ministry. The Holy Scripture made it extremely clear that Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost without measure. He was divine in all His person, but also human in all His person. As the Son of Man, He received the anointing of the Holy Ghost that the Spirit in Him might affect the Kingdom of God in the world. As the Son of God, He would redeem man from all his sins, but as the Son of Man, He would set the pattern for His church to follow.

Here are His words to His disciples as He began to teach them of the anointing of the Holy Ghost and what it would accomplish in their lives. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:12-17).

It is absolutely clear that Jesus wanted His disciples to be filled or baptized in the Holy Ghost. It is also clear that He did not want them to begin to emphasize the Holy Ghost in some kind of separate way from Himself. The Baptism of the Spirit had one purpose and that was to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in their lives. The Lord continued this teaching, as told by John, in three chapters of his gospel account. Look at how Jesus emphasized the Holy Spirit as His vicar or representative. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-14).

The Biblical Holy Ghost baptism will completely flood the believer’s life with the presence and knowledge of Jesus Christ alone. The true Holy Ghost will not ever speak of Himself. The Holy Ghost comes to be the "vicar" of Jesus Christ. He is our intimate link with the Father and the Son and He receives from them and communicates it to us. Every word of truth that flows from the Holy Ghost is truth as manifested in the person of truth, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of Truth, but He is never called Truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).

Jesus Christ is the fragrance that is manifested by the divine action of the Holy Ghost. When the Lord gave Moses the formula for the art of the apothecary and the oil of anointing, there were five elements to be included. Four of them were principle spices, while one element was olive oil. The four principle spices were all types of the Son of God and only one type was an expression or type of the Spirit. The olive oil was that expression of the Spirit and the purpose of the oil was to combine and manifest the united fragrances of the spices. That presents a perfect picture of the Holy Ghost baptism. He comes from the Father to manifest all the fragrance and beauty of the person of Jesus Christ. The oil is obscure, as the fragrances of Jesus are manifest. (Read Exodus 30:22-33.) This kind of true Pentecost will still turn the world upside down.

Clay Pots Without the Anointing
Our church world is full of beautiful "clay pots" that are all decorated with the world and full of worldly wisdom. Worldly "clay pots" will create a church full of the same, while the revelations and miracles of God go unexperienced. Most of the church world is presently on opposing sides, the false anointing of a contrived "Pentecost" on one side and the cessationates, who deny any supernatural activity at all on the other side. The Charismatic world has created a "New Wave" of religious activity that is almost "Holy Spirit only" in emphasis. They speak almost entirely of the "power of the Holy Ghost" and seek that power with abandonment. The very words, "power of the Holy Ghost" is unbiblical. Apostle Paul said that the gospel is the power of God. (Romans 1:16). The Holy Ghost will anoint that "power of the Gospel," but He will not allow you to call Him the power.

The cessationates, those who believe all miracles have ceased, represent at least half of the Christian church world. These dear people are often extremely sincere, beautiful, and worldly "clay pots," but almost totally void of any anointing for the kingdom. They are very capable of showing what is wrong with the false anointing, but they have no anointing themselves. Many in the Classical Pentecostal Movement, of which I am a part, are ready to condemn the false anointing and the cessationate, but are nothing but empty "clay pots" themselves.

The church at Corinth received a tremendous epistle from Paul to show them the wonderful anointing that must accompany the Gospel to give it wings of authority. The gospel is the fragrance of Christ’s death and victory, but the oil of anointing is intended to manifest that fragrance so the world can be affected. Listen carefully to these powerful words. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" (II Corinthians 3:5-8).

We are nothing but clay pots, making the "bump, bump" sounds of clay until the excellency of God’s presence is upon us for anointing. The Holy Ghost can take that vessel that has the truth in its care and manifest a glory that transforms the hardest sinner and breaks the most stubborn will. This truth is magnified by the words of Jesus to His disciples. They had the world’s greatest teacher for three years, but He told them not to leave Jerusalem until they were endued with anointing from on high. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

Notice that He said, "ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Many have transposed this to say, "when the Holy Ghost is come." No, He said, "after" because it was the glorious result of this anointing, combined with the "power of the Gospel," that set them ablaze for the Lord Jesus. Peter settled this a few days later when the crowd rushed to "hold Him" in esteem because of the lame man’s healing. Peter corrected them quickly, saying, "And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16). The power was not in the experience of Pentecost, but in the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" that this anointing made alive.

There is no life-changing effect in the Gospel until the unction of the Holy Ghost is combined with the Word of God. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17). The Holy Ghost is inherently as supernatural in His person as are all the members of the Triune Godhead, but He does not act in His own power, but in the power of the Truth, as revealed in the Words of the Gospel. It is Jesus that the Holy Ghost has come to glorify and manifest in the church. Our vessel is His "clay pot" or dwelling place. The Lord Jesus will be revealed when there is a vessel, set apart in purity of grace, available and yielded to His manifestation.

The Manifestation of His Gifts
It is so beautiful to read the inspirations of truth that were used to teach us about the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit." The Apostle Paul made it clear that we do not receive the "gifts", but rather the "manifestation" of the gifts. The gifts are resident in the Holy Spirit; they are His expressions of supernatural abilities that He manifests in the "clay pots" where He has been invited to reside. The expressions of those gifts in us are called manifestations. They are His gifts, but they are only manifest when a vessel is available for Him to use. Every expression of these gifts is administered by the will of the Holy Ghost as He receives them from the Father and the Son. He does not ever give His gifts over to the control of individual persons. He is a guest in our temple and we must willingly welcome every expression of His anointing in our life. The Apostle Paul expressed it like this, "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." (I Corinthians 14:32).

These gifts are supernatural in that they manifest the power and wisdom of the Gospel message with ability and authority that is infinitely superior to human ability. When a "word of wisdom" is spoken, those who hear those words will hear truth that inspires and strengthens their souls for the Lord Jesus. The same is true of all nine individual gifts. Listen as the "Spirit of Truth" teaches us about this anointing from the Lord of the Church. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (I Corinthians 12:11).

You will notice in verses four, five, and six that the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are intimately connected in this beautiful ministry of the Spirit. This is a picture of the Holy Ghost, acting as the Spirit of the Father and the Spirit of the Son. These gifts are manifest to give power and authority to the truth in the Gospel that our Father may be exalted in His Son. Every activity of the Holy Ghost will be a supernatural expression of the Word of God. To even suggest that the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost will ever act outside the perimeter of the infallible Word is absolute heresy. He is the "Spirit of the Truth" and His sword is nothing but the "Word of God."

The church world has never needed this authority greater than today. Nothing in Scripture suggests that these supernatural manifestations have ceased. The problem with much of our church world is that these gifts have been so utterly distorted and abused that most church people are fearful to invite these expressions of the Spirit. That will vanish when truth is clearly understood. Wild emotions have replaced the beautiful manifestation of His authority in the church. It is up to Bible believers to recover the high ground and then to invite our God to sovereignly visit us in His House again. The Feast of Pentecost did not end fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ; it only started on that date.

The Holy Ghost is God’s Restrainer in our world, but He will be removed to the Throne Room when the Rapture of the Bride is accomplished. The book of Acts and I Corinthians, chapter twelve and chapter fourteen, are just as relevant for today as they have ever been. Do not say too much about a false anointing until you have the true anointing. Remember that there was a manifestation of demonic spirits by the witch doctor of Egypt when Moses was being used to manifest God’s power. Moses did not need to cease his activity and the work of God’s supernatural power. The true anointing immediately defeated the false activity of evil spirits. That is a clear picture of the real anointing defeating Satan’s lying wonders. "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said." (Exodus 7:11-13).

Clay Pots Full of the Holy Ghost
We have this treasure in "earthen vessels." This statement is so incredible that my heart explodes with the joy of such a possibility. God is utterly depending on us for His kingdom’s success. His Spirit does not float around in the air or act independent of the human family. We have been created as His agents and family on this earth. Whatever He does to make our world a place of His glory He does in us. Apostle Paul said, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

The Lord Jesus redeems us from the enemy of our soul and immediately begins a sanctifying process to make us His dwelling place. There is no neutral ground in the believer’s life. We are either His or we are not His. The Christian life is death to our flesh so that His life might become the treasure of abundant living. Here is the picture of what must happen to the flesh life. "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." (II Corinthians 4:10-11).

Are you Ready to Surrender All?
What a life awaits the totally surrendered believer! The flesh dies hard. Sin has made "you" and "me" the center of ourselves. The Lord Jesus comes to change all of that and to make "Him" the center of all. It is not a matter of me trying to duplicate Him; it is a matter of Him duplicating Himself in me. When my "clay pot" is empty of me and yielded up to Him, He will come to reign at the center of my heart and mind. Treasures of His excellent beauty will begin to manifest for both His joy and my joy, but always for His glory.

The church is not yet the Bride but rather the espoused Bride. We are engaged to Him. The Bridegroom has prepared the wedding city and will soon come for His chosen and ready saints. He is jealous over us with a holy jealousy and will not accept unfaithfulness. The Holy Ghost was sent from the Heavenly City to call and nurture the Bride in great anticipation of the wedding. If we could only be half as excited about the Bridegroom as the Bridegroom is about the Bride, what joy would flood our souls!

Song of Solomon is a lovers’ paradise. The Bridegroom is pictured wooing and calling to His Bride, while the Bride is often seen as the reluctant lover. If He did not understand our fleshly weaknesses and passions, there would be no hope. But we must not excuse ourselves because of this fact but rather cast ourselves at His feet and yield to the nurturing work of His Holy Ghost. What we cannot be on our own the Holy Ghost was given to accomplish in us. Notice the wooing of His Spirit pictured so beautifully in this love story. "I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." (Song of Solomon 5:1-6)

Please notice His wooing and the Bride’s reluctance. The warning in this text is awesome for the espoused Bride, because some are seen as having missed His call for love and are left wandering in the dark and wounded by the enemy. What a realistic picture of so much of our church world that will soon be heartbroken at having lost the ultimate reward of Brideship. But there will be a great company of the overcomers, and the Holy Ghost is nurturing the faithful every moment. Apostle Paul warned Timothy, "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." (II Timothy 1:14) We are passionate people; every one of us dwells in nothing but a skin tent; but the Holy Ghost was given to fill and build us up in His power and might of Himself to be victorious.

Jude, a half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, gave us a powerful exhortation. He knew the weakness of flesh but he also knew the power of the Holy Ghost’s nurturing love. He said, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 20-21)

Our church world hates responsibility and wants a theology that is cheap on obedience. The Holy Ghost can only nurture that person that yields to Him. Your reluctance to surrender and obey will block His wonderful works of grace. At the same time, the weakest and the less endowed among us can cast himself on Him, and He will provide abundant grace. That’s why Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

The nurtured Bride that yields to His wonderful grace will soon be shouting in the Heavenly City before the throne of His Holiness.