It is not unusual for conquering saints to despise the weak. When parents have a child that is handicapped in some manner, and several normal, healthy children, guess which child gets the most love, the most attention?

There are saints who are great mountains of fire, stars who will shine forever, ages without end. God loves them. He also loves His handicapped children just as much and devotes a great deal of attention to them.

Perhaps there may be those who will use the above paragraphs as an excuse for their sin and spiritual neglect and laziness, supposing God loves them in their sin. Such will not escape the anger of Christ.

God knows those who truly are bruised reeds and smoldering wicks, and then those who are arrogant, spiritually lazy, filled with their own ways, giving place to their lusts and self-will. The bruised reeds and smoldering wicks will be nurtured with the utmost love. But those who have been called to the Throne and then have wasted their time in the world, trading their inheritance for lentil stew so to speak, may lose their inheritance and never find a place of repentance.

Do not be misled! God is far, far stricter than one would suppose from contemporary preaching.

Who is it who will build towers of silver on those who are "walls," and enclose the "doors" with panels of cedar?

The one who herself is a "wall" and whose breasts are towers of strength and fruitfulness. She brings contentment to the Lamb and will be used by Him to "dress" His Bride.

What we are saying is that the Lord's firstfruits, His conquerors, His mighty men, will work during the thousand-year Kingdom Age to perfect the less mature of the elect. This model of the strong helping the weaker is found in the Jewish family, in which the firstborn son receives a double portion of the inheritance so he may assist the remainder of the family.

Notice the following two verses. My readers will remember these from former books and booklets because I often refer to them.

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 6:2—NIV)

He replied, "Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' (Luke 13:32—NIV)

No doubt the preceding passage can be interpreted to mean only that the Lord Jesus is going to cast out devils and heal the sick for two days and then be on His way to Jerusalem, passing out of Herod's jurisdiction.

But because of Hosea 6:2 (above) we tend to believe the Lord had a deeper meaning here. Perhaps He was referring to the two thousand years of the Church Age, and then the completing of His Body on the third day.

Otherwise, what is Hosea talking about?

To be continued.