Page 98 - THE REVELATION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN and THE MEAT OF THE WORD

operation and this included the 'thorn in the flesh' (not his spirit note), mediated by
oppression from a devil spirit, which was necessary for his continued salvation (2
Cor 12:7-9) by the unique interaction of Paul with Christ. This was, in part, the
agent behind the sufferings listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Otherwise Paul could
have lost his salvation in a process initiated by spiritual pride (2 Cor 12:7, 9).

Christian suffering that is on behalf of others (2 Cor 1:6, Col 1:24, 2 Tim 2:9-10)
has still to be justified and allowed by the prime principle in operation for that
individual and represents therefore the secondary will of God (Rom 8:28, 1 Pet
3:14, 17). A Christian can not be oppressed or suffer on account of another
person’s sins or needs, unless it is also necessary in their own walk with God as
they ‘work out’ their salvation (2 Cor 1:5, 7, 8).

The process above explains why Peter could say ‘in every nation he that feareth
him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him’. This verse does not refer to
the saved (Acts 10:35, Rom 4:5) so the Word is alluding to the process whereby
those who fear God will hear and respond to the message of salvation either on
Earth, in Hell or in Heaven. ‘Accepted’ means called and, if a suitable response is
made, eventually saved. This is shown in detail by the Word being ‘sent’, to
‘whosoever among you feareth God’ (Acts 13:26), which is not the same as being
saved (Acts 10:4). God knows aforetime those who will be saved and when, but
this does not mean that someone can't be saved, but rather that some, at any given
time, won't- the choice is up to each person to make (Acts 13:48, Rom 8:29-30,
Eph 1:5, 11). Not everybody who hears the gospel in a sufficient sense as judged
from God’s perspective, actually believes it at the time (Acts 13:48). The last verse
is in real time and is referring to those who, having heard, believe or not at that
specific time as may be the case; not those who will ever believe it (Acts 13:48).
The word 'ordained' refers to those ordained there and then at that time.

What was still in the ‘future’ 2,000 odd years ago (John 5:25) and the past then (1
Peter 3:19, 4:6) balance out in the tense sense of the Word. These preachings
mean that the Hell/Heaven preaching has always taken place so that everything is
fair whether you live(d) before, during or after Christ and have fully heard the
gospel in the natural sense or not (1 Peter 4:6). This merges in with the second
resurrection (John 5:28-29). Remember that Christ’s life and resurrection on
Earth happened according to a human time-line in our sense and therefore the
gospel preaching to the dead, although a past event (1 Pet 4:6), is described as still
in the future in John 5:25. It is also described as actually now present (1 Pet 4:6),
as well as in the past (1 Pet 3:19) and the future as well, which is a logical
contradiction to our minds, but God transcends our reckoning of time (John 5:25, 2