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He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. ”(Revelation 13:10)
Captivity is prison, Hell, removal from God: which Christ could not see except he had to put on corruption. Preaching even unto the spirits in prison, by the Spirit, the Amen is the true and faithful witness, even the discerner of the thoughts and intents of every heart.
When a man preaches, he preaches forth his mind, and tells his vision of God; his Heavenly Vision. So it is when Christ tells us his words “are Spirit, and they are life”: they fall as seed in the damp earth of the mind, and grow forth by the waters of our thoughts. Christ is the True Witness of God, the True Mind, the builder of the Heavenly Jerusalem; and the One who illuminates the upper reaches of mind, where man experiences the Heavens in Spirit:
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
(Revelation 21:23)
Those who steal visions of this city do so on the broad and winding way to destruction, through magics and sorceries, their minds darkened by that fallen one, the father of lies. This is drinking stolen waters, eating secret bread of harlots, committing spiritual fornication. But all who believe on Christ’s name will enter in the city, by the narrow way, through the gate: first in Spirit, then in truth.
Let us return to the Revelation, that we might understand the captivity of those without the City:
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He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. ”(Revelation 2:7)
We know that those without Christ are without the City.
Christ delivers his message to the churches, though we know that there is One Church, the body of believers. These are “the seven churches of Asia”, each of which represents a form of spiritual worship. Revelation calls for the mind of Wisdom, she of the Seven-pillared temple. Let the message be discerned: he that overcometh must overcome the errors of the churches.
A “church”, being a gathering, spiritually inhabits a city where a Priest or Ruler, and a form of worship, has reins over their minds. Like it is that Biblical cities were often named after their rulers, who would set themselves up as gods to the people, receiving worship as the same (first in spirit, then in truth).
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
(Romans 6:16)
In these spiritual cities, by example, tradition, and decree, men take the reins of others' hearts, becoming their shepherds, some fruitfully, others not. These men are then priests of those cities, but the Heavenly Jerusalem is above all spiritual cities, indeed the only: and in Mount Zion, the Heavenly Tabernacle, it has the Man of Heaven for its High Priest, the incorruptible.
“Why do the heathen rage,
And the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder,
And cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:
The Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
And vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”(Psalm 2:1-6)
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And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. ”(Revelation 2:23)
So it is that in one instant God’s Word shall pierce through every eye, every mind, every spirit, and every church. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. Those that lead into spiritual captivity shall be thrown into Hell — as they already are, scheming to hide a wicked heart from the One that sees all. And we know our relationship with God is symbolized by Woman, even the Woman of Wisdom, so we read how the captivity of the last days begins in the mind:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers... having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”
(2 Timothy 3:1-9)
We are commanded to seek the true Wisdom as virgins, with the sword of God’s Word, prepared with the Armor of God for the war in the Heavens, the war that is also fought in every heart. Logos is a liberator, light, and sword, dividing the Truth from the spirit of error. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him,
“the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ”.
(Romans 2:16)
