Dear Associates, Students and Friends:
The article by Ernest Martin for this month is “The History of the Revelation of the Mystery.” It has been published before, but never put on the ASK Website. For those of you who have been long-time ASK supporters the review will do you good, because only a few of you still have this article in your archives. Fewer still have read this article since it was first published.
I want to try and relate to you the scope and scale of the physical creation to prepare you to read or reread Dr. Martin’s article on the Mystery.
Indulge me and try a little experiment. The next time you go outside, extend your arm out straight, put up your thumb and raise it to the sky. Note the small area of the sky that your thumb covers. It is a very tiny bit of the entire sky. Believe it or not, the area that your thumb covers is roughly the size of the moon as viewed from earth without aid of a telescope. 1 That size is about 30 arc seconds or about ½ degree in size. And, remember that the portion of the sky that you can see at any one time is but a small piece of the total heavens that completely surround the relatively tiny sphere called Earth.
In 2002 a survey was made by the large La Scilla Telescope in Chile. A tiny section of outer space about the size of your thumb at arms length above our heads was sighted in a long-term exposure study of a relatively “empty” region of space about the diameter of the moon. What the study revealed was amazing. Within that small area of space 100,000 galaxies (not stars, but galaxies) were seen. Each galaxy containing about 50 to 100 billion stars. 2 Remember that the heavens (all of them) belong to God.
“Behold, the heaven [heavens, plural] and the heaven [heavens, plural] of heavens is the Lord’s your God, the earth also, with all that therein is.”
Deuteronomy 10:14 (see Psalm 115:15–16)
What we call outer space is not just a vast expanse of pretty globes of matter circling around brilliant stars of light. The universe is populated with creatures, most likely non-physical beings. How do I know? I know because the apostle Paul received the revelation of “the Mystery” from God that talks about the ultimate purpose of mankind’s creation. It will be our purpose — yours, mine, and the purpose of all those who acknowledge and cherish the Mystery of God — to reconcile the heavens back to God.
While the teaching of universal reconciliation was taught before the revelation of the Mystery, the means by which that reconciliation would be accomplished was unstated and not understood by the apostles or the ekklesia of God. That was one of the purposes of the Mystery revelation that will be received by those saints of God who will receive the blessings and rewards spoken of in the Mystery at Christ’s return.
Many of us have long known that the Old Testament saints and the New Covenant saints will receive a terrestrial blessing, rule and control. A resurrected King David will rule Israel (see Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23–24, 37:24–25). The apostles will rule the tribes of Israel under him, under Christ:
“Then answered Peter and said unto him, ‘Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore?’
And Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’”
Matthew 19:27–28
Other disciples and God’s ekklesia (before the revelation of the Mystery) will have similar rulership positions. This can be understood in the discussion with the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30 and the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11–27.
If only a small fraction of stars and other objects in the heavens are populated with beings, it will be a big job for us to get to know, relate to, and communicate with these beings that have had great powers since their creation by God. We will surely travel the stars and view wonders that we can only get the tiniest glimpses of even through the greatest telescopes. They show us that the heaven of outer space is beautiful.
But that is not all. We will also reconcile the heaven where God has His throne (Psalm 11:4, 89:6, 102:19, Isaiah 63:15, 66:1). Angels in heaven will be judged, “Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly [error]” (Job 4:18). The heavens are in fact “unclean” (Job 15:15–16). 3
Inanimate objects do not need and cannot receive reconciliation with God. Inanimate objects cannot be enemies to God and man. Human beings need reconciliation, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Non-human intelligent beings that sin need reconciliation. This includes every living intelligent being except God the Father and Jesus Christ who cannot sin. Living beings that have intelligence and a capability for moral decisions need reconciliation with God. Animals do not need reconciliation. Your pet dog and cat do not need reconciliation.
Paul mentions the need for reconciliation of all intelligent beings in creation several times, but he does not go into great detail as to how that reconciliation will be accomplished by us. This is likely because
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven [heavens plural in Greek]. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled.”
Colossians 1:20–21
Note that Paul specifically states that you are reconciled NOW! (Of course legally you were reconciled from before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4.) You are at present reconciled to God. It will be your job, as the Father’s representative to reconcile the heavens. Note how in Colossians Paul distinguishes the two groups, one which he calls “things in earth, or things in heaven” and then he compares them with those of Paul’s audience. Both groups were “alienated and enemies.” Both groups require reconciliation to God. The phrase “things in heaven” must refer to intelligent beings and not the physical universe of stars, atoms and chemical processes. After all the physical universe will pass away as Peter says,
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ... Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.”
2 Peter 5:10, 12–13
The elements that pass away have no need to be reconciled. Righteousness however, has reference to intelligent beings that can (and will!) be reconciled to God through the resurrection of Christ. Paul, you, me and those who understand the Mystery shall deliver that reconciliation to those “beings” in the heavenlies. This is apparently a job that cannot be done by God’s messengers no matter how powerful. There is no record in Scripture of an angel ever reconciling a human being. In fact, we shall judge angels. Speaking specifically about judgment in the church, Paul wrote:
“Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world [cosmos]? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
1 Corinthians 6:2–3
Christ’s sacrifice applies to those in the heavens. Note the usage of the term “heavens” in the plural throughout in Hebrews 1:10; 7:26; 8:1; and particularly in 9:23 where Paul relates that the sacrifice of Christ,
“It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens [plural] should be purified with these; but the heavenly things [the celestials] themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
Hebrews 9:23
When he says “with these” Paul means the sacrificial sprinkling of the blood of the Mediator, Christ, spoken of earlier in Hebrews 9:18–22. By this act we are able to partake of a present enrollment for the future of:
“The general assembly [congregation] and church [assembly] of the firstborn, which are written in heaven [heavens, plural], and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.”
Hebrews 12:23
After the heavens have been reconciled, they will perish (Hebrews 1:10–12) and a new heavens and a new earth created (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; and Revelation 21:1).
In the resurrection you will have your first experience in flying in the air — without a vehicle like YHWH uses in Ezekiel or without a horse, as Christ will use when He returns to Earth. This flight will be your first step to going out to the universe,
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
1 Corinthians 15:51–53
The immortality you put on like a cloak will give you new abilities and definitely new experiences:
“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 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
You will travel in the heavens (all of them). You will travel among the billions and billions of stars. As a son or daughter of God, you will show and explain to them the glories of their redemption in Christ.
We cannot know how many “beings” are out there. We do know that they are enemies of God and estranged from God the Father and Jesus Christ (as you and I once were, as Paul says) and they need to be reconciled to their Lord and their God.
This will take place during the period when those who received the Old Testament and the New Covenant promises will restore the earth, and assist Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth during the Millennium and beyond. We who receive the mystery promises will be in the heavenlies, teaching, cajoling, explaining, censuring, judging, etc., those beings who inhabit the heavens between the earth’s atmosphere and God’s heaven.
This is what you will be doing for most of the Millennium and during the period of the Great White Throne Judgment, helping Jesus Christ subdue and reconcile 4 those beings in the heavens, up to the time when Jesus Christ returns the Kingdom back to the Father,
“Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
1 Corinthians 15:24–28
If you are not sure you understand what I am writing about, reread this Newsletter after you read Dr. Martin’s article for this month, “The History of the Revelation of the Mystery,” along with the full contexts of the biblical passages he cites. Then this Newsletter will make more sense.
While it will be our job to reconcile the heavens in the future, it is not our job or function to have any communication or contact with any nonphysical beings at the present time. No contact has been delegated to us at this time. While we may have legal authority, we have no power beyond calling upon God and Christ for protection. Though man is made,
“a little lower than the angels [elohim, gods in Hebrew], and hast crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.”
Psalm 8:5–8
It is not yet our time to exercise any power and authority. Man’s dominion at present is limited to earth and its immediate surroundings. It is extremely unwise, in fact dangerous, to exercise power that you might not have. (Remember the Sons of Sceva in Acts 19:14–20.)
The passage in Psalm 8 is quoted in Hebrews chapter 2. It compares our status with Jesus’ status to clarify what He did for us on our behalf. Note the phrase “But we see Jesus” which demonstrates the distinction between His authority and power when he was made a bit lower than the angels, compared to ours.
“But one in a certain place testified, saying, ‘What is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man, that you visit him? you made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of you hands: You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
Hebrews 2:6–10
Once we have received our resurrection bodies only then will we have the training and power to go along with our authority, so that we might justly judge and reconcile those beings in the heavens. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding idols and sacrificing to them,
“And that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven [singular in this case] or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge.”
1 Corinthians 8:4-7
Several weeks ago I was reminded of a short 1989 ASK article by Dr. Martin titled “The Beginnings of a Palestine State.” I originally thought that this article could be published because of useful information in the article. This was very true. However, I will not republish this article because the information contained within it does not represent the latest research that Dr. Martin had done. Nor did it contain unique material. The topic was covered in greater detail and in broader scope in a longer article already on the ASK website: “The Prophesied State of Palestine” at www.askelm.com/prophecy/p010401.htm. This later article from April, 2001 gives a comprehensive explanation of the 10 nations that surround Israel at the Time of the End and the Palestinians, who are the Philistines, are very much in evidence.
Other articles by Dr. Martin such as “Earthquake” from March, 2001 (that can be found on the ASK Website at http://www.askelm.com/news/n010303.htm), and “The Damascus Phase of End-Time Prophecy” at http://www.askelm.com/temple/t991101.htm from November, 2000, discuss further the devastating judgments upon the areas of the eastern Mediterranean Sea coastline. In fact all the waters of the seas will show devastation just before the Second Advent of Christ,
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Luke 21:25–27
The devastation in the oceans will be so great that a tremendous die-off of life will occur and the wave action so devastating worldwide that one third of all ships will be destroyed, 5
“The second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.”
Revelation 8:8–9
I do want to thank the good friend of ASK who located the article about Palestine. And I want to thank all of the long-time friends and Associates who took the time to search your personal “archives” for early articles by Dr. Martin. Others have brought to my attention tapes and articles that I did not know about. Some of these articles I have been able to edit and republish and present their vital information to new audiences. This is also the case regarding some old tapes I have been able to transcribe, edit into a coherent written form and use the excellent material contained in them. Dr. Martin’s speech patterns were very conducive to conversion to print and the messages come through clearly in most every instance. In fact I have another article request. Please do not send items, but notify me about what you think is important.
In the 1970s when Dr. Martin was with the Foundation for Biblical Research, he wrote an excellent in-depth article that described the connection between the Garden in Eden, Eden, and the land East of Eden as being a type of the later Tabernacle or Temple. This was Dr. Martin’s most complete exposition of this concept. I would really like to present the information in this article to you. I have since discovered much information that confirmed and expanded Dr. Martin’s evidence on this matter. I am amazed that several Christian and Jewish commentators allude to the connections Eden/Tabernacle/Temple, but none of them examine the elements or clearly explain the biblical proofs like Dr. Martin did. Once explained properly the evidence is obvious and cannot be viewed any other way.
Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the article. I recall that it had a diagram comparing the structure of Eden with the structure of Tabernacle/Temple. I loaned out this article out to a friend some years ago. If any of you have this article, please contact me and I will publish it along with additional biblical evidence.
It was my intention from the time that Dr. Martin died two years ago to reprint articles and create articles from tapes of material that had not been seen for a long time and particularly articles that have never been put on the Internet. Most of this information that we have published in the last two years since Dr. Martin’s death is new to the vast majority of you who read this material every month. It has been excellent material with great variety that opens up the Scriptures in so many ways, so we all can have a glimpse and a foretaste of the future when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). Remember that it is God the Father’s intention — in fact it is His will — for you “to come unto the knowledge [epignosis, full knowledge] of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
We want to express our gratitude for your gifts and contributions and purchases that allow us to continue to present back to you useful and important information from Dr. Ernest L. Martin that clarified the biblical message of the Gospel of Christ. Your contributions are highly appreciated and needed. We are totally dependent upon God for your graciousness to continue operations as you are led by God to do so. We trust we have been a benefit to you as well.
I want to encourage those of you who have gone “Internet” to understand that though this valuable information appears to be “free for the clicking” it is not free in the production and distribution. Remember us in your prayers and petitions to God as well as in your generosity so that others around the world may share what you are reading and studying.
David W. Sielaff
David@askelm.com
1 Of course that varies according to the length of your arm and the size of your thumb.
2 A billion stars would be 1,000 million. See the website http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/eso_images_020813.html where a report of this study is given. Our galaxy contains an estimated (no one knows for sure) 100 billion stars. Some estimate the number to be higher, some lower. Of course, some galaxies are smaller and others are larger, than our galaxy. For a simple explanation on how they calculate these numbers, see the “Ask Dr. Universe” website of the Washington State University at http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/stars.html. DWS
3 The specific details of how we will accomplish this, I do not know. The explanations of the Mystery do not give details of how we will accomplish our assignment after training. We would be unable to understand the details in any case.
[4] Subjection and reconciliation are not opposites, but are quite compatible when properly understood. You are subjected to the Father through Christ at the same time that you are reconciled to Him. DWS
[5] See the Article “The Astroid Destruction — Its Timing and Purpose” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p971105.htm for more information on this series of events.
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