Knowing the Market

Certainly the circle itself as an image is never-ending, it’s a complete continuum. That’s not a value judgment, that’s the essence of what the form does. That’s a description of the form. Beyond that, it’s all you. It’s all what you put into it. And so, if you think about what you were talking about, the pot boilingand that’s the way the most of us are, we think that in order to transform I have to suffer, I have to burn myself, I have to face these things with great anxietybut really what happens is, what we’re learning is, you don’t have to suffer to transform. In fact, suffering doesn’t necessarily transform you, because it puts you into defense and so you’re running away again.
And then you’re into something my teacher called ‘rebound,’ where you’ve made some great breakthrough but, because it’s been so traumatic, then you bounce back into it.

So, what we’re really working with isand this is the peaceful, the Everyday Sanyasin, the Ease of Being waythat I’m creating a form, I’m creating a visualization that resonates with my heart. And because it resonates with my heart, my heart can open up to it, because I feel the resonation. So my heart opens up to it, and I’m sitting there looking at it, and I’m going, “Wow, I feel love.”

I can say, “Okay, I want to show some sense of manifestation, of the quality of love and the circle around it.” And it could become radiating waves of golden light. It can be flames, it can be all kinds of things. And then I say, “What does that form indicate to me in terms of qualities of manifestation?” I’m working with myself, but it’s all this wondrous discovery. We’re not in a pain of transition, of transformation, at all. We’re opening up our hearts, which is really a fun thing to do.

What we would tell our readers at this point is that, all this information we’ve discussed today and some of the experiences I’ve had with youtalking with you today, Seanit can have all these various elements. Radical change can have elements of nurturance, of taking one’s past and integrating it with the present, andas you said in your last phrase thereit can all be fun. And, you know, you’ve been a very fun fellow to talk with through these series that we’re doing. The fun part of it is the festive atmosphere that you create when we speak. I want our readers to really realize that that is a Direct Experience of the Everyday Sanyasin, and that is the kind of Deity practice that you’re teaching.

Yogi Sean is the student of Swami Ramananda and the author of Dancing in the Fire of Transformation and The Everyday Sanyasin.

Too often, we forget that the concept of transition, or spiritual revolution, is one that has been a mainstay of the Christian faith for it’s two thousand years of existence. The second Coming of Christ, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the New Heaven, the New Earth, the Millennium, and a return to an eternal state are basic doctrine in almost every Christian denomination. As is true with many other issues, there is a great divergence of thought regarding the biblical prophecies and the sequence in which the prophesied events will take place, but we can summarize by looking at the three predominant belief systems:

PREMILLENNIALISTS believe that the Second coming will precede the millennium.

AMILLENNIALISTS believe that when Christ returns, the Second Coming will immediately usher in the New Heaven and New Earth and the eternal state.

POSTMILLENNIALISTS believe that the world will get better and better as it becomes more Christianized through preaching the Gospel until it reaches a thousand years of a golden age, with Christ coming at the end of the period.

The question of whether to interpret prophetic Scripture literally or non-literally is the root of the controversy within the Church itself. Historically, the literal translation of biblical prophecy led to premillennialism. Non-literal interpretation led to amillennialism and has also tended to support the postmillennialism viewpoint. It is generally agreed by theologians and historians that the major division into these three belief systems are derived from differences in the theory and the application of “literal interpretation of prophecy.”

Paul described the Rapture to the Thessalonians as the Lord coming bodily from heaven to the air above the earth and issuing a loud command, accompanied by the voice of Michael, the Archangel. A trumpet from God will be the signal for Christians who have died to be resurrected. A moment later Christians still living will also be “caught up.” or “raptured.” with those who are resurrected to meet the Lord in the air. This rapturing is described as being “in the clouds,” a reference either to atmospheric clouds or to the multitude of those being raised in the sense of “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1). Once they meet the Lord in the air they go to Heaven to fulfillment of the prophecy of going to the Father’s house (John 14:2-3).

The human bodies of both those who have died and those who are living will be transformed instantly into bodies suited for heaven (I Cor 15:51-52). This passage makes it clear that our present bodies are not suited for heaven because they are perishable, or subject to decay (v.53), and afflicted with mortality. A further difficulty is that our present bodies are sinful and need to be transformed into bodies like Christ’s (Phil 3:21). Those who died and went to heaven left their bodies behind and will not be complete until they receive their resurrection bodies.

Some Bible scholars interpret Scripture as saying that the rapture is a phase of the Second Coming. Others regard it as a separate event that will occur several years before the Second Coming of Christ. While biblical passages are not specific regarding the timing of these events, the major prophecies point to the conclusion that only a rapture preceding the tribulation would be a literal fulfillment of Scripture, and it is this view that is held by the majority of Christians in this country today.

According to Scripture, the Rapture is a movement from earth to heaven, whereas the Second Coming is a movement from heaven to earth. This would seem to separate them into two separate events.

The doctrine of the rapture is a simple one. Prophecies make no mention of angels or attending hosts, and no mention of a judgment on earth to follow. The Rapture’s single purpose is to take the Church from earth to heaven. The Second Coming, on the other hand, is a very complicated event which will take place over many hours as a gigantic procession of millions of saints and angels move from heaven to earth (Rev 19:11-16).

None of the passages concerning the Rapture mention any preceding events, but those passages that describe the Second Coming prophesy many specific events that will come before Christ’s return. Jesus himself describes His Second Coming-and the events which will precede it - in Matthew 24, and chapters 6 through 18 of Revelation add many details.

The question of when the Rapture will occur is vital to the belief system of any Christian, since it determines what, if any, role they will play in The Tribulation - a time of great trouble that will last for three and a half years and immediately preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Revelation 6-18 reveals that there will be war, famine, pestilence, demon possession, stars falling from heaven, earthquakes, and a disruption of the ordinary course of nature. The result of all of these events will be the most of the world’s population will be destroyed.

Although some scholars have tried to interpret these prophecies symbolically, most Christians take them as a literal description of catastrophes that will occur in the natural work and will result in great loss of life and physical destruction of the earth. These events will be the result of God’s wrath, and will be directed toward Israel and those who chose not to believe and accept the way of salvation through Jesus Christ when it was offered.

From a logical standpoint, a Rapture climaxing the period of Tribulation would be “no great blessing.” The Rapture is offered to Christians as a “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), indicating that the Christians will be taken up into heaven before the period of Tribulation begins.

All who are living during the Tribulation period will suffer, but I Thess 5:4, God has promised that His church will not experience His wrath. Therefore, according to Rev 6:17, the church will be raptured before “the great day of His wrath” begins. The period of Tribulation will climax with a devastating worldwide earthquake (Rev 18); the cities of the nations will collapse (v. 16-19) and islands and mountains will disappear (v. 20). The judgment of the earthquake will climax in a supernatural hailstorm in which the stones will weigh a hundred pounds each (v. 21). The world will be in shambles, and its cities will be in ruins. It is to this scene that Christ will return with the raptured saints, as described in Rev 19:11-16, to establish a new world of order.

Following the meeting of the Lord in the air, the Church will appear at the judgment seat of Christ to receive her reward (2 Cor 5:10-11). The Church will return with Christ to the earth at His Second Coming and will reign with Him. Following the completion of the millennial Kingdom, the Church will share with the saints of other ages the blessings of dwelling in the new Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth.

There are as many perspectives of the changes now coming about as there are belief systems. It’s interesting to note, however, that - while the Christian interpretation of “the end times process” as defined in the Bible is specific to the Christian perspective and uses definitive Christian theological language - the process itself is in basic agreement with the prophecies put forth by every other philosophical school regarding the geological, political, socio-economic and spiritual changes being predicted for the end of this century.

If we are willing to look beyond the phraseology and focus, instead, into the concepts being presented, we can - with very little effort - bridge the gap between the Christian perspective of end time prophecy and the perspectives of other belief systems. As we explore the ideas behind the words, we will see for ourselves that - while God’s truth comes in many forms to accommodate the many spiritual levels of mankind - that truth is always the same.

Lois Grant-Holland is a Life Path Focus Counselor offering Life Path Focus Sessions, Karmic Astrology Charts, Channeled Guidance, Intuitive Readings and Classes and Workshops to spiritual seekers on all positive paths, and is the site facilitator at The A.N.S.W.E.R. - (The Seeker’s Resource Guide to Alternative, New Thought, Spiritual Growth, Wellness and Enlightenment Resources.) You can visit her website at http://www.loisgrantholland.com

Eph:2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us,

Firstly, it is important for us to know that we are greatly loved by God the Father. We can’t come into any kind of a close personal relationship with some one including our Heavenly Father if we think that person is a mean ogre out to get us. This is totally opposite of the truth, and not at all what our Heavenly Father wants from us.

1Jn:4:19: We love him, because he first loved us.

It is because He first loved us that He wanted to restore the fellowship that was lost in the Garden of Eden. After all He went to great lengths to redeem us. He certainly wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to redeem us if He wanted to just stick us over in a corner somewhere after it was all said and done would He? The answer is no He wouldn’t!!!

He wants to have relationship with us, but He also wants to have true and lasting fellowship with us. Fellowship is based on getting to know someone and to be known by them. It is an intimate sharing one with another. This kind of fellowship doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time. Knowing and understanding a persons wants and desires is something that happens over a period of time. The same is true with our Heavenly Father, once we come into the kingdom we have to take the time to get to know Him. The number one way to get to know Him is by learning of Him in His Word. His Word is the written revelation of Himself. This is the very reason I have such reverence for the Word of God. He choose this method to give us a true revelation of Him. This is the beginning of fellowship, the beginning of getting to know our Heavenly Father. This is truly the desire of our Heavenly Father, for us to know Him and to be known by Him.
We can come to a place where we can know our Heavenly Father like this, but it first
starts with us coming unto a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Jn:14:6: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus is the only way. There is no other way to come to the Father. If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord then you can have no fellowship with the Heavenly Father. Relationship comes first.
1 John 1:3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

This is the message of the Gospel, this is the good news, we have been reconciled to God the Father through Jesus Christ.

We have been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, but in order to partake of this blood bought Covenant we have to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

2Cor:5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

If you have already come unto a saving knowledge of Him, then you must realize that His great desire is to get to know you intimately.

Fellowship is not the same as relationship. Relationship is another way of saying kinship, or family. Fellowship is the sharing of intimacy. You can be estranged from someone who is a blood relative of yours and not have real fellowship, even though you might be a blood relative. Fellowship is not necessarily the result of kinship.

W.E. Vines Greek expository of New Testament words say fellowship is sharing in common. It also denotes “a partaker” or partner. To have communion with. Meaning to have things in common.
Another dictionary says partnership, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse.
To share the life of God, to be a partaker of God’s very life.

Just because you are now born into the kingdom of God doesn’t mean you know and understand the desires of your Fathers heart or that you know Him intimately, or that you are a partaker and sharer of His life. You might say I am born again, that means I partake of His life. This is true up to a point, every person ever born has a mother and a father and that makes you a partaker of their life doesn’t it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you share their desires or are close to them. This is a reality we could all talk about. We all know of such cases to one degree or another.

True fellowship is vital to any healthy relationship. You can not build a trusting relationship with out it.

There are some very interesting things about fellowship that I want to look at. Let’s look at John’s first Epistle Chapter 1. He had much to say about fellowship and how important it is for us to walk in it, and for us to come to an understanding of it. He knew the importance of this and how vital it is for every believer. As you read this I want you to understand that John is writing to Christians, people who have already come into relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:1-10. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

John starts out by saying that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. The word eternal life is the Greek word translated from Zo, meaning the life of God. God’s very life was manifested to us, in other words we have been given the chance to be a partaker of the Zo of God. Then He goes on to say, that the purpose of this was so that we may have fellowship together, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. If the body of Christ could get a hold of this fact, it would dramatically change the way we act toward one another.

John was making the point that if we are fellowshipping together, then we are sharers of God’s life together, and in reality our fellowshipping of God’s life was started and initiated by Him, because that fellowship is truly with God and His son Jesus Christ. You can not be a sharer and partaker of the very life of God if He is not involved can you. I realize that sound kind of silly, but I want to make the point that without fellowship we are not partakers of that life and we are not sharing that Life!!! John goes on to say that the reason for this is so that we may have fullness of joy. In this Scripture John talks about light and darkness, and how they are separate from one another. There is no darkness in light at all. If we walk in darkness we break fellowship with God. This is not saying we have lost our salvation, it is saying we have stepped outside of that very Zo life that is sustaining us. I know this because of what he said in vs. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. He did not say the truth is not in us he said we are not practicing the truth.

He is saying that if we step out of that very communion that sustains our life then we have stepped into darkness. The importance of this is must not be minimized. The very life flow is severed. Sin is what causes broken fellowship can only be restored by asking forgiveness. The restoration of fellowship is what allows the blood of Jesus to cleanse us.

John said in vs’s. 7 and 8, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We are only in the light when we are in fellowship with the Father and with one another. In other words, if we have broken our fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ then we are walking in darkness. If we are not walking in life, then we are walking in death. That is a very sobering thought, and is truly too high a price to pay for some petty grievance. Nothing, is worth that. Then as John went on to say when we are walking in fellowship with one another, that is when the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. WOW!!! It didn’t say when we are walking in fellowship with God the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, it said when we are walking in fellowship one with another the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. They are all tied together, when we step out of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we step out of fellowship with the Father as well, and that causes us to step into a place of darkness and outside of God’s Zo life. As the Word says in…

2Cor:6:14. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

The answer to that is that there is none!!! But we don’t have to walk that way do we? We know the importance of walking in harmony with our brethren. In the light of this we can see the reason why Jesus said in…

Matthew 5:23-24. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24. “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

You restore your fellowship with your brother and you have also restored your fellowship with God. I hope this takes on some new significance now.

If you’re not sure that you are a child of God, then I would like to invite you to earnestly pray this prayer and come into relationship with Him, The first step you must take to true fellowship.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37), So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),
And I am saved! Thank You, Lord!
I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God!

Glory to God!!!! Amen.

I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God’s call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979, The Lord has called me to teach. I want to help other come to a knowledge of the truth and have started a web site for the purpose of teaching and discipleship called The Olive Branch;
Mark E. Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us