The True Light now shineth

~~ Baptism of Fire ~~

To understand the Baptism of Fire, we must see what the difference in the Holy Ghost and the Fire of God is. John the Baptist said, Mt 3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Mt 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Notice here, that John was baptizing with water, unto repentance. This is the start of our life with God. We must repent of sin and be water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, to get these sins remitted. After we have received this remission of sins, by the repentance and baptism, then we must go on to perfection. Next we need to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Jesus is the one who gives us this baptism. Everyone who is water baptized does NOT receive the Holy Ghost. Most of them simply do not believe in this Baptism of the Holy Ghost, so they never receive it. They bring forth no fruit to perfection.

Jesus said he would send us a comforter. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

So we see that this Holy Ghost is the Comforter. His job is to teach us all things and to lead and guide us into all truth.

Lu 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? Lu 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Lu 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village

The disciples had wanted to call down fire from heaven and consume those men who did not wish to receive Jesus. They mentioned doing as Elias had done, when fire came from heaven and consumed those Baal prophets. But Jesus rebuked them for this and said, Ye know not WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YOU ARE OF. See, the Holy Ghost is the spirit to save lives. But the Fire is the Spirit to destroy men’s lives. They are of a total different nature, opposites. Yet both Spirits of from God.

Jesus was showing here that these disciples did not have the spirit of FIRE, at this time. They had the spirit of Grace or saving men’s lives. The Holy Ghost is the Comforter, not the destroyer. Both spirits come from God. But the destroyer will not come until men have refused to obey God and receive the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and obey God. Notice how John shows this, when he said, the AX is laid to the Root of the trees and they are cut down and cast into the FIRE. Which trees were cut down and burned? He said, those which did not bear FRUIT.

So, we see that John did both a baptizing ministry and also a burning ministry. He brought in the people and made them ready for the Christ, or the NT Salvation, by baptizing them unto repentance. But at the same time, he was performing a judgment ministry against those of the old covenant, which would NOT turn from the law unto Grace. He laid his ‘spiritual ax�?to the root of their trees, which were bearing no fruit unto righteousness, and cut them down and cast them into the fire of God’s wrath and destruction. That old covenant of law and prophets, was cut off with the ministry of John the Baptist. All the law and prophets were until John. Since then, the kingdom of heaven is preached.

Now those who repented and accepted John’s baptizing ministry came into the New Covenant, receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. This brought them into the new heavens and earth, the City of God. Those who received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost were the ministers to bring in the new covenant and to translate the people out of that old law covenant, into the New Covenant of Grace. They laid the foundation of this New City of God, the NT Salvation. All who refuse to come into this New Covenant, obeying the message of the Apostles of Jesus, will be cut off and burned, at the end of this age. All who have refused this Grace Salvation, by obeying the Acts 2 message, will be cut down and thrown into the FIRE of God’s wrath, which will burn them and destroy them. Someone has to perform this ministry, as John did to that old law covenant people. These people are the ones who receive the Baptism of FIRE.

They must FIRST be water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of their sins. Then they must receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which they are now ministers of the New Covenant and have the wonderful Comforter in themselves. Those who go on to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, will then be given the Baptism of Fire, for the purpose of cutting down the trees of this old dead church and casting them into the FIRE.

So now, let’s see what the prophets told us about this ministry. First, Joel two.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

See, the TRUMPET is always associated with the judgments. Sound an ALARM. Why an ALARM? See this also has to do with judgments striking. Let the inhabitants tremble. Why? For the DAY OF THE LORD is nigh or near.

So what is this DAY OF THE LORD? Most people think it is the coming of Jesus to earth. But no, that is not the answer. The Day of the LORD is when He brings his wrath on the land for there sins and rebellion.

Who is he telling to sound this alarm? It is the ones who have the BAPTISM OF FIRE. It is the FIRE coming out of their mouths. See, they have to have the Baptism of FIRE for FIRE to come out of their mouth. So how does it come out of their mouth? It is the WORDS THEY SPEAK.

Verse two, see that he associates this day of the LORD with this great strong people. Who are they? Those who receive the Baptism of Fire. And who is that? Watch and see.

Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

See the above? That is the SIXTH Seal. Re 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

See. Compare those two verses. The earth quake before them�?lo, there was a great earthquake �?same earthquake. See the proof�?sun darkened.. moon dark, turned to blood.

Re 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Re 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. Re 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. Re 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. [Compare this with Psalm 149].

See here is showing the ministry of his Two witnesses. These two witnesses are the people of God, who had both the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and the Baptism of Fire. Only those who first obeyed Acts 2:38, then received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, will be given the power of the baptism of Fire. Fire is for judgment and destruction. So no one who is not fully able to listen to God and obey him, discerning spirits, and knowing the Word of God, will be given this power of Fire to speak wrath and destruction to the rebels against God. These are the same people who are in Joel two. They are the ‘locusts�?of Rev. nine. It is all the very same judgment ministry.

These people will bring the wrath of the Lamb on this evil whore church, just as John and the Apostles did upon that old whore of the OT, those who claimed to be followers of Moses.

Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Joel 2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Nothing shall escape this great group of people, who are sounding those trumpets. Notice that they make the land a desolate wilderness. Some wildernesses are exploring new territory. But this is not the case here. It is making them DESOLATE.

Where is that prominent in Scripture? When Jesus pronounced Jerusalem desolate. So Jesus was taking part here, in the judgment ministry. But who was it too? It was to the OLD COVENANT. See, something most people do not understand, all Scripture is for the past, the present and the future. It is always. It is eternal. It always true, no matter when you read it. It must be rightly DIVIDED.

Jesus had a dual ministry. He was bringing the OT to a close, or making them desolate. He was bringing in the New Covenant, or giving them life. One is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (life). The other is the baptism of Fire (death or judgment). He was life to the NT and death to the OT.

Noah was death to the old world, but he was life to the new world. It always works this way. Now this is an important principal to learn, if you are to fully understand what I am teaching here about the two different baptisms, or ministries.

Verse four is the horsemen in Rev. nine. It is the saints of God equipped with the baptism of Fire. Re 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. Re 9:17 "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. " Re 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

See, the fire coming out of these horsemen’s mouths? This is the same group of people in Joel two. Now I want to show you something. This is not only for the end time, which we are now approaching. It was also back in the days of Jesus Christ.

See, Jesus first, spoke desolation, to that old law covenant, or the OT. Then he sent his anointed witnesses, the apostle and that early church, with both the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire.

Only those who received the Holy Ghost, were eligible to receive the Fire. Now those Apostles did as Jesus. They bought life to the NT saints, via the Holy Ghost. But they also were those horsemen coming against that OT law. John had laid the AX to the root of their trees. But the Apostles chopped them down.

They did this with the FIRE coming out of their mouths. If they rejected the Holy Ghost and the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, they were set to destruction. So they did the dual ministry as did Jesus. It will be the same with the witnesses today.

We see evidence of this ministry of FIRE when Peter spoke and judgment struck Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, and they immediately died. Then we See Paul manifesting this judgment and destruction ministry as he stuck a man blind and other such occurrences.

We will do a dual ministry. We will be bringing life to those who listen and obey the GOSPEL. But we will be given the FIRE, to speak desolation to this evil church of our day. They will be desolate, because they have rejected the GRACE message, as the Jews did in the days of the Apostles.

Joel 2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Chariots in Scripture, are God’s angels. So these people are acting in capacity as the power of angels. What is the tops of the mountains? Mountains mean nations, or literally, churches, in our age. In Peter’s day, it was those old Jews and their priests and synagogues. This flame of fire is again the judgment ministry, or spirit of Fire, in these witnesses�?mouths.

Flame is said by Strong’s to be feminine. It shows fire to be the masculine. Rev. nine also shows these ministers to have hair like a woman (meaning the daughters of God) and face like a man, showing both male and female in this powerful ministry.

So, what is this flame of fire doing? Devouring stubble. What is stubble? It is the people who try to serve God by the works of the law, instead of faith/grace.

In Isa. 47, we see mystery Babylon being made desolate. This is that old covenant, for Jesus told them, those Jews of his day, you are guilty of all the righteous blood shed on earth. Same words are said to Babylon in Rev. 18. So they are one and the same. There are many more proofs in the Word, but I will not take that in now. Have shown it many times.

But see that she says I am and none beside me. That is those JEWS who think they are God’s only and chosen people. But they worshipped idols and are the very ones God is destroying. Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

See that here she is made DESOLATE. This is the very same one we are showing that Jesus and John made to be DESOLATE. And now the ministers of fire are carrying out that command, to make them desolate.

Now here is the proof that they are the STUBBLE: Isa 47:14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

Here is more proof that the wicked are the stubble.

Ob 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

[cont.]

Part two --Baptism of Fire:

Here Esau represents that first, or law covenant. Jacob and Joseph were not under law. Esau, being the first born, represents Adam/law. They are devoured as STUBBLE. (This is why Esau could not find a place of repentance = he is the same as the law. So those who try to serve God by law, cannot come to repentance, for Heb. Six says that it is impossible for them to come back to Christ, since they put him to open shame, by returning to LAW. So they are the stubble, those who return to law.)

So this same theme is carried out all through Scripture. It solidly proves that the saints of God will devour the sinners, as stubble is burned in fire.

Na 1:10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

Now I know the ‘law folks�?will deny this, but it is scripture just the same�?thorns in the Word, means LAW. So again, it shows they are the STUBBLE which the FIRE MINISTRY will devour.

And for the final proof: Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Arise is resurrection.)

See that this day that burns as an oven, is the very same day mentioned in Joel two, the Day of the LORD. See that it speaks the very same thing--- the stubble being burned up. Verse two shows turning to the NT salvation. The Sun of righteousness, with healing in his wings, is Christ Jesus and his apostles, the two witnesses.

Who went forth and grew up as CALVES? THE NT Saints of God. The ‘growing up�?shows bearing fruit. It is the very same thing.

The last part of this chapter also shows the turning from the law of Moses, to the NT salvation. I know that many totally misuse this Scripture, to say we need to stay with the law of Moses. But if you closely read this, with some understanding, it is clear that it moves from that working to the NT Saints.

Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

So is it telling us to stay with the law of Moses? Not one bit. Look at it. He tells them to remember that law of Moses. Then he said, behold I will (future tense) send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE the coming of the great and DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD.

So this is speaking about the very same dreadful Day of the LORD, as is Joel two. What is this ’Elijah�?to do? turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Who is these fathers? It is those saints of the OT. Who is their children? It is the saints of the NT, those who received the Holy Ghost, on the day of Pentecost.

So this Elijah was to turn those OT Saints to the NT Saints. They were already commanded to EAT the flesh of their CHILDREN. What is that? It means they, (the OT Saints) had to come and eat the Spiritual Meat, or message of those NT Saints, the Apostles.

So why did he tell them to remember the law of Moses? He was telling them not to be rebellious as those who had to be put under law. Remember that it is DEATH. It is Condemnation. 11Cor. 3.

He is saying do not be rebellious when you should come into the NT and eat the message of GRACE or life. Eat the FLESH of your CHILDREN, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. What is that curse?

Ga 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Ga 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Ga 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Ga 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Ga 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

I truly do not understand how anyone could read the above verses and still think that we are to still be under that law? It was never of faith. They were SHUT UP under that law. It was a curse. It is not of Faith. How much more does anyone need to see that this is the curse which went over the earth?

Joel 2

1. Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

This is the ministry of the Second Witness, this True Jew ( true Christian) Church which is anointed with Power from High with the Baptism of Fire.

2. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Compare this with Isaiah 13

1. The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

2. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice (blow the trumpet) unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

3. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones (baptism of fire)for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

4. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

5. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

6. Howl ye; (blow ye the trumpet) for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

8. And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. (baptism of fire)

9. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

See it says the same thing: Notice also that this calls this group of people the strongest, greatest people who have ever been or will be. So it would HAVE to be God’s people with the baptism of fire.

3. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

This FIRE devouring before them is their power given them by the Baptism of Fire. This is the FIRE coming out of their MOUTH ( the Word of God)

2:27.And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (baptism of the Holy Ghost)

29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. ( baptism of fire) There is your baptisms spoken of in Heb.6

31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

Also. I would like to add this.

Luke 9: 51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, ( baptism of fire) and consume them, even as Elias did?

55. But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ( baptism of fire)

56. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. ( baptism of the Holy Ghost) And they went to another village.

We can also find the baptism of fire in and judgment ministry in

Psalm 149

1. Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

5. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; ( word of God)

what was the 2edged sword for?

7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

8. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9. To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

I hope you can see that the baptism of the Holy Ghost and baptism of fire are two different ministries.

Now to return to what we started with, as John said that the trees were cut down and thrown into the fire and burned. I have also shown you where the ‘Esau�?people are the tares or stubble, and that those with fire in their mouths will burn them up. Here is proof that this will happen again at the end of this age: Mt 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Mt 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Mt 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Mt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mt 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mt 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The angels will be working in the invisible world, as they do with God’s people, and the people with the Baptism of Fire, with the Fire coming out their mouths, will gather these tares of the whore church and cast them into a furnace of FIRE. This was revealed by Noah, as he brought that age to a close, with the total destruction of that wicked world of people. Then the Apostles with the Baptism of Holy Ghost and Fire, brought wrath and destruction to that old law age. Now, again, the true people of God, who have brought forth FRUIT to perfection, by obeying the Word of God all the way, will be anointed with POWER from on High, with the baptism of Fire, to bring a close or destruction to this wicked false church of our day. We will tear down all the false walls of “Babylon�?and again set back up the true Spiritual Walls of New Jerusalem.

Notice how Joel made a positive and clear distinction between the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, for salvation, and this Baptism of Fire, for the purpose of bringing the Wrath of the Lamb upon this world: Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

In verse 28, we are given the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. This went to the entire world�?to you and your children and to all that is afar off. This was that peaceful Spirit of the Holy Ghost, the mighty Comforter. But notice that then he speaks of another outpouring of his Spirit, to an exclusive group of people, for another purpose:

Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

See that this outpouring of the Spirit was ONLY upon the SERVANTS AND THE HANDMAIDS, not to all flesh. These people already HAVE the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and went on to perfection. This is the baptism of Fire, for the purpose of bringing the Day of the Lord, or the wrath of the Lamb. This is the group of saints described in Psalm 149. We will bind kings and bring upon them the written Judgments of the Lord. We will be praising our God and also have that two-edged Sword in our hands, by which we will be executing the wrath of the Lamb and burning up that chaff or tares/stubble.

The people with this Spirit of FIRE are always regarded with dismay by those upon whom they are sent. When we speak, it is like fire and brimstone to those who hear us, but can’t hear what the Spirit is saying. They have not prepared themselves for this battle, so they are the ones who will be cast into that furnace of Fire and destroyed. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the stars forever and ever. AMEN!

By: Jo Smith ~~ September 6, 2008

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