A Second Baptism of Fire

In this chapter, we’ll continue in our discussion of Seeing God the Son and consider a second Baptism of Fire.  Religionists have falsely interpreted the Baptism of Fire as an immersion of the Holy Spirit, when in fact it is a trial of faith. God tests our loyalty to Him to see what our core convictions are before He raises us to be more like Him.  And these tests get more demanding the closer we acquire His image and likeness. Those who are God's Sons/Daughters/Elect experience a second Baptism of Fire. In this review, we’ll introduce the concept of the Baptism of Fire, correlate the degrees of testing with Isaiah’ spiritual categories and then consider the Endtime tribulations as an opportunity to prove one’s loyalty to God.

The Process of Perfection
Our Process of Perfection looks like this:

Individual Salvation
Born of the Blood
Redemption
Born Again
Sanctified
Born of the Water > Born of the Spirit > Born of God >

Married Exaltation
Going Onto Perfection
Exaltation
Becomes Perfected > Reaches the Stature of Messiah > Sees God the Son

Made Like the Son of God
Obtain God’s Power  >  Does the Will of the Father  >  Bound with Heaven

Baptism of Fire Introduction
The Baptism of Fire is one of those New Testament concepts that was changed by religionists.  As a young Believer, I was taught that the Baptism of Fire was a bestowal of the Holy Spirit - religionists had replaced the true concept of the Baptism of Fire as a trial of faith with an immersion of the Holy Spirit, which was based in part on a poor understanding of Acts chapter 2.  The Apostle Peter properly teaches this concept,

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" 1 Peter 1:7

This concept of a Baptism of Fire being a test of loyalty or a trial of faith is consistent with Isaiah’s descent before the ascent.  This descent is a temporary test of loyalty -

“According to this pattern [ascending to higher levels of blessedness], we must temporarily descend into “humiliation” before we ascend. That descent is a part of God’s test of loyalty for all who ascend. God proves the measure of our covenant relationship, testing the level of our commitment.” (Isaiah Decoded, Gileadi, p.52)

This is how Moses states this concept in Deuteronomy.

"And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart," Deu 8:2​

Greater Tests for Greater Ascents
Another concept that we see in Isaiah, is that as one progresses to more like God the tests of loyalty become more severe.  Dr. Gileadi explains,

"According to Isaiah’s theology—which he develops systematically in his seven-part literary structure—every ascent to a higher spiritual level is preceded by a temporary descent. That descent phase consists of God’s trial of a person’s faith equal to the level of that person’s ascent. In other words, the higher one ascends, the greater the temporary descent that precedes it. Ruin may occur cyclically before rebirth to a higher spiritual level, as may suffering before salvation, humiliation before exaltation, and so forth—intensifying each time a person ascends. Even Messiah descends below all before he is exalted above all to sit on his Father’s throne. Trials of faith escalate as one ascends because the terms of God’s covenants on ascending levels grow more exacting, each representing a higher law than the one before." (Descent before Ascent, Ascent before Descent, http://www.isaiahexplained.com/resources/overviews-of-the-prophecy-of-isaiah) 

The table below summarizes the progression of severity of tests that can be expected as one ascends to higher levels of  blessedness.​

Isaiah’s Spiritual Categories and the Baptism of Fire

Beginning Spiritual Category	Baptism of Fire ​(test of loyalty) ​>	Examples ​>	​Target Spiritual Category
Jacob/Israel	Persecution from without. Persecution from within. ​Ostracized Excluded Excommunicated​	Persecution without and within the believing community. Believers who go against false religious traditions.   Matthew 5:10,11 Matthew 10:34,35,37 ​	​Zion/Jerusalem​
Zion/Jerusalem	Suffers near death (proxy salvation)​ ​ ​Trials/Afflictions	King Hezekiah contracts a fatal illness but recovers. 2 Kings 20:7 Isaiah 38 ​Isaiah 30:20 ​	Sons/Daughters/Elect
Sons/Daughters/ Elect	Tried under all conditions	Adam, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Endtime Servant/144,000   Revelations 2:26/21:7 ​Isaiah 54:17​/49:7/50:4-7/52:13,14	Seraphim/Joint-Heirs
God of Israel	Descends below all things. ​(ascends above all things)	Yehovah-Yeshua Ephesians 4:9,10	A Most High God

Jacob/Israel > Zion/Jerusalem
Beginning on the Jacob/Israel categories of Believers, where most Believers begin, Yeshua and the Apostles warn of being persecuted or being harassed for one’s beliefs.  Most believers associate persecution with non-believers persecuting believers and indeed there is some of that,  but we also see persecution of one faction of Believers with another faction of Believers, and did we not see the Jewish leaders and brothers during Yeshua’s day persecute Him and His followers.  This persecution of one believing faction of another believing faction continues today.  Didn’t Yeshua teach that His Gospel would divide the truth from error and therefore divide people.

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matt 10:34,35,37

In the last chapter, Dr. Gileadi stated that when we start understanding the words of Isaiah, the false beliefs or man-made traditions that we once held would be replaced by the true doctrines of Messiah.  Consequently, this would lead to not only persecution of non-believers against believers but persecution of one faction of believers against the true followers of the Messiah. This persecution might manifest itself as being ostracized by ecclesiastical  authority, loss of friends and family, being excluded by brethren and excommunication. ​

Zion/Jerusalem > Sons/Daughters/Elect
For those who ascend to be God's Sons/Servants, Isaiah sees the example of King Hezekiah who suffers near death as their Baptism of Fire along with trials and afflications.

Dr. Gileadi,
“On the model of ancient Near Eastern emperor–vassal covenants, the king is answerable for his people’s disloyalties to their God if he is to obtain his people’s physical protection. In that case, there could be a heavy price to pay: “In those days Hezekiah became gravely ill. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said, ‘Thus says Jehovah: “Put your house in order. You will die; you will not recover”’” (Isaiah 38:1).”
“In recounting the event of his personal mortal threat from that illness, Hezekiah later writes: “I said, ‘In the prime of life must I depart through Sheol’s gates, deprived of the balance of my years?’ I thought, ‘I shall not see Jehovah in the land of the living; I shall not now behold Man among those dwelling in mortality. My tabernacle is being uprooted, carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. My life is cut off like woven fabric; he is severing me from the loom. Can I contain myself until morning, while like a lion he racks my whole frame? [Surely,] as night has followed day, you are bringing on my end! Like a mounting lark I twitter, like a dove I murmur. My eyes are drawn looking heavenward; I am utterly sleepless from bitterness of soul. O Jehovah, I am in straits; be my surety!” (Isaiah 38:10–14).”
“Lending substance to his intercession with Jehovah, the king’s suffering satisfies the requirements of justice for his people’s disloyalties to their God and Jehovah accepts the king’s petition: “Thus says Jehovah, the God of your father David: ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will protect this city’” (Isaiah 38:5–6). In other words, after king and people pass his test of their loyalties, Jehovah delivers the people and their proxy savior from their respective mortal threats. He sends his angel, who slays the besieging Assyrian army in one night (Isaiah 37:36).”
“In the pattern of King Hezekiah, end-time persons who ascend to the son/servant level similarly function as proxy saviors of those to whom they minister under the terms of the Davidic Covenant. For their intercession with Israel’s God to be effectual, however, their loyalty to him must likewise be impeccable, even in the face of severe opposition: “

"It is after descending into adversity and wading through afflictions that God’s sons/servants finally see God. (Isaiah 30:20.)"​

Sons/Daughters/Elect > Seraphim/Angels/Joint-Heirs
Those who are God's Angels are tried under all conditions.

Dr/ Gileadi,
“But before God responds and delivers his people, his servant/servants is “despised as a person” and “abhorred by his people”—they reject him as the Jews rejected Jesus. Yet he serves God at all hazards: “My Lord has endowed me with a learned tongue, that I may know how to preach to those grown weary a word to wake them up. Morning by morning he wakens my ear to hear, as at study; my Lord has opened my ear, and I rebel not, nor back away. I offered my back to smiters, my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I hid not my face from insult and spitting. Because my Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing I will not be confounded.” (Isaiah 49:7; 50:4–7.)”
​
“In the end, however—after they prove faithful under all conditions—God reverses their circumstances and empowers them over their enemies:”“‘Whatever weapon is devised against you, it shall not succeed; every tongue that rises to accuse you, you shall refute. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and such is their vindication by me,’ says Jehovah” (Isaiah 54:17); “Thus says my Lord Jehovah: ‘My servants shall eat indeed, while you shall hunger; my servants shall drink indeed, while you shall thirst; my servants shall rejoice indeed, while you shall be dismayed. My servants shall shout indeed, for gladness of heart, while you shall cry out with heartbreak, howling from brokenness of spirit. Your name shall be left to serve my chosen ones as a curse when my Lord Jehovah slays you. But his servants he will call by a different name’” (Isaiah 65:13–15).
 
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” (Revelations 2:26)
 
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelations 21:7)
​

God of Israel/Yehovah-Yeshua > A Most High God
Yeshua descends below all things.

​Dr. Gileadi,
“According to Isaiah’s theology—which he develops systematically in his seven-part literary structure—every ascent to a higher spiritual level is preceded by a temporary descent. That descent phase consists of God’s trial of a person’s faith equal to the level of that person’s ascent. In other words, the higher one ascends, the greater the temporary descent that precedes it. Ruin may occur cyclically before rebirth to a higher spiritual level, as may suffering before salvation, humiliation before exaltation, and so forth—intensifying each time a person ascends. Even Messiah descends below all before he is exalted above all to sit on his Father’s throne.”​

Endtime Opportunities to Ascend
The tribulations that take place at the end of the world affords Believers the opportunity to prove their loyalty and to ascend to greater levels of blessedness.  This ascent occurs  on all levels of blessedness.  Jacob/Israel who prove their loyalty will ascend to Zion/Jerusalem, Zion/Jerusalem ascends to Sons/Daughters/Elect and Sons/Daughters/Elect ascends to Seraphim/Joint-Heirs.  

In the Book of Isaiah, Isaiah outlines three Endtime tests that will provide the opportunity to ascend - see Isaiah Decoded, pg. 151.

​                             1. Modern Idolatry (Materialism and Sensual Gratification)
                                               2. A Worldwide Political Dictatorship.
                                                    3. False Ecclesiastical Authority 

Dr. Gileadi,
“Three tests of loyalty determine who will live into a millennial age of peace. As God tried the loyalty of his people in the past, so he will again. Isaiah structures his writings according to a Mesopotamian literary pattern that depicts the three tests. We find a similar pattern of three tests the hero Odysseus must pass in the Greek legend The Odyssey. Isaiah’s king of Assyria presents the first. Will God’s people give him their allegiance or will they remain loyal to Israel’s God even on pain of death? Idolaters and their worldliness present the second—an enticement God’s people may succumb to without being aware. Ecclesiastical leaders’ abuse of authority forms the third.”
“The order of the three tests may be reversed from their sequence in the Book of Isaiah. Certain “brethren” who exercise ecclesiastical authority “abhor” and “exclude” persons who are vigilant for God’s word (Isaiah 66:5). In the end, however, God appoints as his priests and ministers those who suffer “shouted insults” and “twofold shame” for his sake (Isaiah 61:6–7). Spiritual blindness—resulting from an entrenched culture of materialism—makes God’s people trust in “gods that cannot save” when trouble looms (Isaiah 42:17–25; 44:9–21; 45:20). Lastly, the king of Assyria may conquer the whole world, but he and his ilk don’t prevail for long (Isaiah 10:5–27).”
​
Mark of the Beast - A False Law System
There has been much speculation on what the Mark of the Beast is.  But if we make a simple comparison with Rev. 13:16 to Deu. 6:8, we can see that the Mark of the Beast is a false man-made system of law, which is tied to money - Rev. 13:17.  So we might say that in order to be able to buy and sell, we'll have to abandon living the law of God and accept this false law system - if we don't accept this man-made law system, we will be persecuted and oppressed.  Believers who expect to receive God's protection will need to discard their abhorrence of the Law.

Deuteronomy 6:8	.	Revelations  13:16,17
Law to be bound to one's hand and head	< >	Mark receive in hand and head.
God's Law (The Commandments,Statutes and Judgments)	< >	False man-made Law system tied to money.
Law that leads to life.	< >	Law that leads to death