The narrow gate

Matthew 7:13-14

13Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.14For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.

We often talk about the narrow road yet we don't talk about what being on the narrow road actually means. The above passage where Jehoshua says to enter into the narrow gate is within the context of His teachings on the sermon on the mount. Many Pastor's leave this out when quoting this passage. Why is this? Because entering the narrow gate is specific to keeping Jehoshua's commandments here in the sermon on the mount. The narrow gate is not about agreeing to certain facts about who Jehoshua is but rather it is actually picking up your cross and following His teachings.

Today many Christian's don't believe that keeping the commandments of the Son of God are a requirement to remain in the faith. Why is this? Jehoshua tells us in the verse right after the above passage:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep`s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves."

Jehoshua warns people to beware of false prophets within the context of His teachings. These prophets may look and smell like Christian's but they are actually wolves who sre trying to steer people away from the narrow gate of Jehoshua's commandments.

Matthew 16:24

"Then said Jehoshua unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

This statement by Jehoshua eliminates the false dispensaltional teaching that Paul was given a different revelation for the Gentiles that excuses them from having to follow the commandments of the Son of God. Anyone who comes after the Son of God and claims to represent Him must deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Jehoshua. We are faced with two options, either Paul did what Jehoshua said to do here or he is one of the false prophets warned about in Matthew 7:15.

Thankfully brother Paul did indeed deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Jehoshua. Paul even warns against false prophets who do not consent to the words (doctrine) of Messiah.

1 Timothy 6:3

"If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;"

The doctrine (instructions) of Jehoshua are according to godliness and Paul goes on to say if any man does not consent to the doctrine of Messiah they are proud, knowing nothing.

Matthew 10:37-38

37 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.38 And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

Jehoshua demands absolute loyalty even above family relationships. Our loyalty to Jehoshua will often look like hatred towards our family members. Most professing Christian's simply don't have the stomach for this yet Jehoshua doesn't let them off the hook and even says that they are not worthy of Him because they don't take up their cross which in context is loving Jehoshua more than your children, parents and spouse.

Matthew 11:12

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force."

Entry into the narrow gate of the Kingdom is done with force and it is not a passive type intellectualism. Those who to be part of the Kingdom must step into it with violence and willingly forsake all, pickup their cross and obey the teachings of Jehoshua.

Luke 12:8-9

8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.

To confess Jehoshua is to obey His commandments, to deny Him is to disobey His commandments. To refuse to pick up your cross & follow the teachings of the Son of God is to deny Him.

New Jerusalem, our hope!

Hebrews 12:22-24

22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,24And to Jehoshua the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

With so much emphasis on earthly Jerusalem by much of the church including the Hebrew roots and Messianic Jews, it's often forgotten that we as new covenant believers are not to look to it at all. Infact, we are told by the author of Hebrews that we come unto the heavenly Jerusalem which is the real and only city of the living God Jehovah. Much of the book of Hebrews contrasts the old covenant worship system of earthly Jerusalem with the far better new covenant worship system which we are told is headqaurtered in New Jerusalem in heaven.

We are told in Hebrews that the true tabernacle is in heaven where the only legitimate High Priest operates His ministry. That High Priest is Jehoshua of the order of Melchizedek. The membership roll call of the church of the firstborn Son of God is in New Jerusalem. Verse 18 says "ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched" which is an obvious reference to the old covenant and earthly Jerusalem. In verse 24 we are told to look to Jehoshua who is the mediator of the new covenant which is signified by the sprinlling of His blood on the mercyseat in heaven and speaks better things than any of the sacrifices of the old testament.

Hebrews 13:12-14

12Wherefore Jehoshua also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

The author of Hebrews exhorts the believers to come forth spiritually out of earthly Jerusalem and it's outdated worship system and bear the reproach of Messiah who suffered without the gate of the Jersusalem temple. The author of Hebrews wants the brethren to leave the old covenant worship system and come unto New Jerusalem and the far superior new covenant. Infact, he says that we have no continuing city here (earthly Jerusalem) but we seek one to come (heavenly Jerusalem). The heavenly Jerusalem is what the Son of God promised the believers who overcome, He never promised them earthly Jerusalem:

Revelation 3:12

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

It is crystal clear that Jehoshua promises us New Jerusalem which will come down out of heaven to the earth after His second advent. If earthly Jerusalem was to be the home of the saints after Jehoshua's return then why doesn't He mention that as the city they will inherit if they overcome? It's quite simple, because earthly Jerusalem has no significance for the saints as we are told we have no continuing city here on earth but we seek one to come which Jehoshua clearly says is New Jerusalem in heaven.

Galatians 4:25-26

25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Paul says that earthly Jerusalem is in bondage along with her children who are still stuck in the old covenant which he eqautes to Hagar and is represented by mount Sinai. Paul says that New Jerusalem which is in heaven is free and is our mother. New Jerusalem represents the liberty we have in Messiah (Galatians 5;1) whereas earthly Jerusalem represents the yoke of the old covenant which tends towards bondage. Why is it that so many Christians and Hebrew roots folks are obessed and/or focused on earthly Jerusalem? Because they have been decieved !

The second advent of Jehoshua Messiah, Revelation 11:15-19

Revelation 11:15-19

15And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.16And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,17saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.18And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and [the time] to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.19And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Verse 15, The seventh angel sounding his trumpet coincides with the kingdoms of this world becoming the Kingdoms of our God and His Messiah. This is when the eternal Kingdom of God comes to earth and He will reign forever as the Kingdom will be handed over to Him from the Son (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

Verse 16, the 24 elders who are likely angels prostrate themselves before Jehovah God and worship Him. The sounding of the seventh angel and the Kingdoms of this world becoming the Kingdoms of God is a cause for the angels to bow to the Father in reverance.

Verse 17, they praise Jehovah God Almighty who art and who wast echoing Revelation 1:4; 1:8 and 4:8 that refer to the Father as the one "who is, who was and who is to come". This shows that the 24 elders are worshipping the Father as Jehovah God Almighty. The seventh trumpet brings in the Kingdom of Jehovah God upon the earth where He will reign forever.

Verse 18, prior to the coming of Jehovah's Kingdom the nations are angry and they have taken counsel against Jehovah and His anointed one (Psalm 2:1). Jehovah will vex the nations in His sore displeasure and pour His wrath out on them. This will be the great and terrible day of Jehovah where the dead will be resurrected and then judged. All the dead will be raised up at one time as Jehoshua states in John 5:28-29.

Those who are in covenant with the Son of God and His Father will be given rewards. Those who are not in covenant with the Son of God and His Father are those who destroy the earth as sins brings death and causes the land to be defiled. It will be those that fear the name of Jehovah God that will be rewarded and to fear Him means to keep His commandments.

Verse 19, in connection with the second advent of Jehoshua Messiah and the day of Judgment is the opening of the temple in heaven in which the ark of the covenant is seen. In the ark of the covenant is the 10 commandments and this is seen in connection being poured out on the nations. This picture is seen in the prophecy of Isaiah 24:

5 The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

We see that the violation of Jehovah's commandments is what causes Him to pour fire out on the earth and it's inhabitants. Contrary to the popular belief that God's 10 commandments are abolished the 10 commandments are seen in the holy of holies in connection with the saints being rewarded and those who destroy the earth being destroyed.

Revelation 22:14-15

14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

It is only those that keep God's commandments that enter into New Jerusalem and eat of the tree of life.