The Parables of Christ no. 15
The
Throne of Mercy and Judgment
Rev. Brian Kocourek
Now, this morning we will
continue in our study of the parables, and today we will study the Throne of Mercy
and Judgment. Now, many who have preached on this parable have entitled it the
unmerciful servant, but it goers beyond the servant. The servant was just an
example, not the main thought that Jesus is brining out in this parable.
MATTHEW 18:23
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, (Now, notice, after reading 14 parables so far we
finally have one that is speaking about the Kingdom of God and this One has a
King as the central figure. Now, remember all these parables so far Jesus has
likened the scene to the
Now, we know this is not speaking of the son of God
for when he comes forth from his fathers throne there will be no more
mercy. Now, there are some who still
teach a false doctrine that was perpetrated back in the 60’s and 70’s that say
the Lamb has left the mercy seat, but that is wrong. They take it from a
statement brother Branham made concerning the seals and another from Souls in
Prison, and they teach error concerning the Mercy Seat. Less than one month
before brother Branham died he said the Throne of Mercy is still open. But
these brothers take an obscure passage from one of his messages and try to make
it a chronological order of events, when it is not that at all. When the seals were opened was not the same
time they were revealed. There is a difference between opening and revealing
what has been opened.
WORKS IS FAITH EXPRESSED
65-1126 69
We set this night for that purpose, Lord. May those who are not saved, above
all things, be ready; get ready now, while
the doors of mercy still open. We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Notice that the doors of mercy
are still open. Therefore
when the seals were opened Jesus did not step off the mercy seat. He stepped up
onto His Father’s Throne of Mercy and is still making intercession for our
confession.
Again in this next quote we see William Branham say the same thing in
1965.
God who
is rich in mercy 65-0119 P:10 Dear
Jesus, we are approaching NOW the great Throne of Mercy,
through this all-sufficient Name. "For there's no other Name given among
men whereby we must be saved, but only this Name of the Lord Jesus." And
we're coming in His Name.
Now, I ask you, what
good would it do to approach an empty throne if Christ has already left that
Throne of Mercy. Do we believe the Prophet or these brothers who have no vindication?
Again let’s review the
quotes that Brother Branham said about the Mercy Seat.
THE
BREACH 63-0317E107-2 {269} He
leaves the throne to be an Intercessor as a slain Lamb to be a Lion, King, to bring
the world to judgment who has rejected His message.
He's not a Mediator. Remember the Old Testament
teaching now, as we hurry. When the
blood went off the mercy seat, what was it? Judgment seat. And when the Lamb slain walked forward from
eternity out of the Father's throne and took His rights, it was a judgment seat. Then He become not a Lamb,
but a Lion, King.
And He calls for His Queen to come stand
by His side. "Know ye not the saints shall judge the earth?"
Now in this quote we hear brother Branham tell us the
Mercy seat becomes the Judgment seat after Jesus steps off from it and comes to
claim his own and become King. We know that the saints shall crown Him King of Kngs
and Lord of Lords. And since we have not done that yet, He is still on the
Throne of Mercy. Notice what Brother Branham tells us in this next quote.
THE FIRST SEAL 63-0318 161-3
{301} Notice,
and when this Holy Spirit that we have, becomes incarnate to us, the One that's
in our midst now in the form of the Holy Ghost, becomes incarnate to us in the
Person of Jesus Christ, we'll crown Him
King of king...?... That's right. See?
WEDDING SUPPER 56-1006 E-9 I
hope that in that great glorious jubilee day when the saints of God crown Him the King of king and the Lord of lords
and the Angels stand around the earth with bowed heads while we sing the
redemption songs, …
Now, from the 4th Seal brother Branham
tells us the Throne is still open…
FOURTH SEAL THE 63-0321 332-3
{394} While I believe, with all my heart, the seat's still open. I believe He's still on the throne of God, but soon He's going to
rise now and come forth to claim what He
has redeemed. He's doing the work of Kinsman Redeemer while Ruth is
waiting. But soon, you know, after Boaz done the kinsman work, then he come and claimed his possessions,
and that's exactly what the Bible said He done. He come forth and took the
Book; then intercession is over. He's off the throne. There's no more Blood on
the mercy seat, and then what is it? Judgment seat.
Now,
check out this quote with the next one brother Branham preached in November,
half a year after the seals were opened.
Souls
in prison now 63-1110M P:78 But you see, in this Book was what was
redeemed; it was the Book of Redemption.
And everything that He had redeemed was written in that Book. All that He died for was written in the
Book, and He could not leave His mediatorial seat until He had thoroughly
redeemed, and He couldn't redeem it at the cross, because they were
predestinated in the Lamb's Book of Life, and had to stay on there to make
intercession until that last person was finished. Glory.
THE FOURTH SEAL 63-0321 292-4
{96}
Them names were put on the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of
the world, will come forth just as certain as anything. That's why Jesus sets right there and waits with His mediatorial work
until that last seed. He will know exactly when to strikes.
As Dr. Lee Vayle... (I guess he's still in the meeting somewhere; I
haven't seen him for days. I don't believe I've seen him... He is here.). Well,
the other day he sent me this about what Irenaeus said. I picked Irenaeus by a
long ways to be the angel of the age. That he was--that he said, "When
that last member of the Body has come in this last age, the thing would be
revealed at that time"; and here it is, just exactly right. See? We're in
the day.
Now the fact is that this same Mercy Seat is already
a judgment seat to those that would turn down mercy.
SIXTH SEAL THE
63-0323 441-1 {360} Notice,
the last verse of the Sixth Seal opened. Those who had laughed at the preaching
of the Word, of the vindicated Word of the living God... When them prophets
that stood there and performed miracles, closed the sun, and everything else,
and all down through the age... See? They cried for the rocks and the mountains
to hide them (See?), to hide them from the Word that they'd laughed at, 'cause
they seen Him coming. "Hide us from the wrath of the Lamb." He is the
Word. See? They'd laughed at the Word, and here the Word was incarnate; and they'd
made fun of It, laughed at them, made fun of them, and the incarnate Word had
dropped forth. Why didn't they repent?
They couldn't: too far then. So they knowed that the punishment... They
hear it. They've set in meetings like this and knowed about it, and they know
that the things that those prophets had predicted was looking them right in the
face.
441-3 {361} The
thing that they had rejected, they'd spurned mercy for the last time. And when
you spurn mercy, there's nothing left but judgment. When you spurn mercy...
Just think of it. And there they was. They had no place to go, no retreat. And
the Bible said here, "They cried to the rocks and the mountains to fall on
us, and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb." They'd tried to repent, but
the Lamb had come to claim His own. See? And they cried to the rocks and the
mountains, prayed, but their prayers were too late.
441-5 {364} My brother, sister, the goodness and
mercies of God extended to the people... While
QA ON THE SEALS 63-0324M 468-1 {76} Now,
but see, you can't say those things; best to just leave it alone. And you
remember the third pull; it said, "Don't tell nobody." What did I say
was that... How many remembers that? Oh, sure. Remember standing there trying
to lace that eyelet in that little shoe in the vision? He said, "You can't
teach Pentecostal babies supernatural things." And I said this will be the
third pull and it will not be known, so help me, by the grace of God. Now, now, we're right down at the end time now.
Won't be too long until mercy seat will be judgment seat.
HEBREWS 10:11 And
every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his
enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for
ever them that are sanctified. 15
[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had
said before, 16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18
Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. 19 ¶ Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh; 21 And [having] an high priest over the house of
God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for
he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke
unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much
the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without
mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and
hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that
hath said, Vengeance [belonged] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And
again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Now, in Getting back to our study, 24 And when he had
begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and
his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The
servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved
with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same
servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an
hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying,
Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and
besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he
would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31
So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came
and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had
called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desires me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion
on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was
wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due
unto him. 35 So likewise shall my
heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one
his brother their trespasses.
Now, we have to ask our selves the question. What was
it that the Lord was angry about. It was not that he had forgiven the man of
his sins, but rather the man learned nothing from the mercy he had received and
notice the words of our Lord toward the man. Then his lord, after that he had called him,
said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion
on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was
wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, …and so as in some of
th4 other parables, we see this man was cast forth into tribulation.
For you see he was expected to have the same mind as
His Lord but he didn’t and so he was
given over to the tormentors,
MATTHEW 6:14
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
Now, the Greek word for Forgive is aphiemi pronounced
af-ee-ay-mee and it means to let go, to let alone, or let be. In
other words you don’t pay any attention to it any longer. You just
simply disregard the thing, just leave it alone, don’t discuss it, Just let it
go, just give it up, and keep no longer, to give up a thing to a person, to go
way from, to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims
are abandoned, to leave so that what is left may remain.