Page 118 - THE REVELATION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN and THE MEAT OF THE WORD

no recollection of living either of these lives! As the Porter is also the Messenger
of Malachi 3:1-3, I also choose to believe that I am this Messenger and that
therefore I am a refiner and purifier of silver and a purifier (not Redeemer or
Saviour, still less their Lord or God) of the sons of Levi (Mal 3:1-3).

Appropriation is the phenomenon of Christians receiving the blessing of returning
to and/or staying in the flesh of their youth (Job 2:1-2, 33:18-25, Psalm 49:8-9 ‘see
corruption’ 103:5), as near perfect as possible, indefinitely until the second coming
and is described as the 'manifestation of the sons of God' (Rom 8:19). God
attempts this process with every man (Job 33:23-30). Righteousness under the
Law, which is never ever achieved (Rom 3:10), would provide for appropriation
(Deut 30:15, Psalm 37:27-29). The words ‘vanity’ (Rom 8:20) and ‘corruption’
(Rom 8:21) refer to physical death and decay respectively and mankind is earnestly
awaiting the evident overcoming of these forces in the here-and-now (Rom 8:19-
21). This process is additional to Salvation as such, a spiritual process, which is a
process independent of the physical flesh body’s limitations (Rom 2:7, 8:21-24).
Redemption of the body occurs at the adoption which is the resurrection or
changing of that believer (Rom 8:23). Obviously the natural process of ageing and
vulnerability to physical damage is ‘natural’ but, as such, it is also an expression of
the sinful nature of the individual’s flesh, not just Adam’s parabolical sin (Psalm
39:11), which is ‘vanity’. Thus far Christians have obviously not been seen to
receive this appropriation as the graveyards are full of dead Christians and the
nursing homes of ageing Christians (2 Cor 4:16). Although as free from the
judgement of sin, despite their sins, they can potentially appropriate this blessing
(Job 33;18-30, Psalm 39:11, 49:9, 103:5, Luke 20:36, John 8:51, 1 John 2:1).
There is a natural reluctance also for Christians to remain in the flesh which makes
appropriation motivationally difficult (2 Cor 5:8). This is less than fully counter-
balanced by the desire to live (2 Cor 5:2-8).

Christ wants a church comprised of believers that achieve/receive this status (Job
33:23-26 - ‘ransom’ and ‘righteousness’ refer to Christ’s blood which if fully
appropriated confers the promise of Job 33:25-30 , Eph 5:27, 2 Pet 3:14). Such
believers would demonstrate in a new way the fact that Christ has overcome the
world (John 16:33) and has power over all flesh (John 17:2) which would have
positive evangelical implications (Rom 8:19) by way of actual manifestation (2
Cor 4:2). Believers acting as stewards for the temple of the Holy Ghost have the
power to prevent this temple falling into disrepair and decay by reason of ‘old age’
(Psalm 39:11, 1 Cor 3:21-23, 4:2, 6:19, Eph 6:10-11).