There are several clear requirements for eternal life as required by God. At our baptism we have not fulfilled these requirements. My wife and I have gone to great lengths to correctly divide the word of truth. We ask you not to believe us; believe the Bible, which is the word of the Great God; He cannot lie.

Jesus Christ will build His church, and will give the keys of the kingdom. These keys have now been given by Jesus Christ, at the start of His building of His church. This is the start of the Laodicean era of God’s church. The new truth will be bound in heaven, and the knowledge of the Philadelphian era will be loosed.

Mat 16:19  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The keys of the kingdom have now been revealed by Christ: Each key is an individual requirement for eternal life, and each key must be accepted and kept.

[1] BELIEF.

Amazing as it may appear, we have found that practically no one believes the Bible. They believe church doctrine, which does not always stand up under close scrutiny. To believe the Bible will take us out of our comfort zone and alienate us from other members. When the church is given new knowledge it means we need to change from what we once believed to believe the new knowledge. This will take faith and trust in God. We will need to pray about it, be humble and ask God to reveal the new knowledge to us. This knowledge must be revealed by God. There is no other way.

Rev 21:8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

1Jn 5:13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Heb 3:17  Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The unbelievers go in the lake of fire, if they stop believing God after getting the holy Spirit of life; that shows how God looks on belief of His word. We can see from these scriptures that belief is a requirement of eternal life. Believing God is mentioned extremely frequently in the Bible.

[2] FEAR OF GOD.

To fear God is quite often mentioned in church sermons, when this subject is looked into it becomes apparent that very few have a correct fear of God. The correct fear of God is to stand in awe and reverence of the Almighty Creator God. The correct fear of God can not be feigned, we have to learn to fear God.

Deu 14:23  And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

Deu 17:19  And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes,

Deu 4:10  especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

Rev 11:18  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

The reward goes to those who fear God’s name.

Php 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Deu 5:29  Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

Solomon discovered that riches, possessions, and material possessions were of little worth, all that matters is how we fear God and obey Him.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

Ecc 12:14  For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

A person who fears God [is in awe and reverence] will tremble at the awesome power of our great God, they will be afraid to disobey God.

[3] OBEDIENCE.

Obedience to God is a requirement of eternal life. See Phil. 2 v 12 quoted above.

Act 5:32  And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Notice the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God.

2Th 1:8  in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 1:9  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Disobedience leads to the lake of fire.

[4] COMMANDMENT KEEPING.

Everyone in God’s church knows we must keep the Commandments. Commandment keeping is a requirement of eternal life. God’s people must keep all Ten Commandments both spiritually, and physically.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Mat 19:17  So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Jesus never quoted all the commandments in Matthew 19; but all the commandments are required, as mentioned below. The commandments, which are to be kept, are given in the same chapter: Deut. 5.

Deu 5:29  Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

Commandment keeping, both physically and spiritually is a requirement of eternal life. This is also showing love to God.

The Sabbath is always a contentious issue, but is ordained forever.

Exo 31:16  Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

Exo 31:17  It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”

[5] LOVE TOWARD GOD.

Knowledge is worthless without love. God the Father must be our first love. If we do not love God, we cannot have eternal life. Commandment keeping can be physical only; we must keep God’s commandments physically and spiritually to qualify for eternal life.

Jos 22:5  But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Jud 1:21  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Mat 5:27  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.’

Mat 5:28  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

[6] LOVE TOWARD MANKIND.

Love toward God and man is really covered by commandment keeping. I have separated the three to give emphasis on each phase of love.

1Jn 3:15  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1Jn 4:20  If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

If we love the brethren we have passed from death to life.

Joh 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Joh 15:14  You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Notice who Jesus’ friends are. We must love all mankind, but God expects a greater love for the brethren. We cannot love the brethren without loving God.

[7] DOING GOOD.

We inherit God’s Kingdom when we do good to others.

Mat 25:34  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

Mat 25:36  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Mat 25:37  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

Mat 25:38  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

Mat 25:39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

Mat 25:40  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

If we don’t do good we go to eternal death.

Mat 25:46  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Pro 3:27  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Read Mat. 25 v 34 to 46 to get the full story. We will go into the lake of fire if we don’t do good, when it is in our power to do so.

[8] KEEPING THE PASSOVER.

Joh 6:54  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

By keeping the Passover we have eternal life.

Joh 6:57  As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

To correctly keep the Passover we must live by Christ. [Christ must be the one we emulate and obey.] The Passover must be kept on the correct day.

It is extremely plain that the Old Testament Passover was kept [prepared] on the 14th and eaten on the 15th. The New Testament is very clear on the date of the Passover as well.

During the time in the spiritual wilderness, we keep the Old Testament Passover meal under the guise of ‘night to be much observed’ When we accept the knowledge of eternal life, we will prepare the Passover on the 14th and eat it on the 15th.

[9] KNOWING GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON.

We all know that knowledge without love is useless; nevertheless there is knowledge required for eternal life. Love fulfils the law, it does not replace the law. If you believe the Bible: You will believe the knowledge of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

A friend of ours had previously shown us, mainly from the book of Hebrews, that Jesus Christ had not inhabited eternity. He was from God; ‘from the beginning.’ The implication of this knowledge was not apparent to me until I began my study into the Passover. It was only then that John 17 v 3 began to dwell heavily on my mind. It cannot be quoted any clearer than the Bible quote, and yet it seems that practically no one believes it.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

It might be a good idea to read every word of that verse until it sinks in. We have been taught that there are two true Gods.

IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF ETERNAL LIFE THAT WE KNOW THE ONE TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST.

God the Father is the true God. Jesus Christ is the Son of the true God.

1Th 1:9  For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1Th 1:10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Christ is from the true God.

Joh 7:28  Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.

Joh 7:29  But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

The following two verses call Jesus Christ true, not true as in eternally existing God, but true in how He teaches the way of God. The Bible says quite plainly in John 17 v 3 that there is only one true God. The Greek word used in the following two verses to show that Christ is true; is different from the word that shows God the Father is true.

Mat 22:16  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

Mar 12:14  When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

There is only one who has inhabited eternity.

Isa 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The Bible says plainly that there is only one true God, there is only one who has inhabited eternity. The Bible also is plain that Jesus Christ [God the Word] has not inhabited eternity. It is extremely clear in the Bible that Jesus Christ is God, it is also clear that Christ is not from eternity. He is from the Father. This is plainly stated by Christ plenty of times in the gospels.

Joh 7:29  But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Read the following scriptures carefully, they show where and when Jesus Christ came into being.

Jesus Christ is; ‘from the beginning’ Beginning means commencement, Christ had a commencement. Notice also that Christ [the Word] was with the Father in the beginning.

1Jn 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life

1Jn 1:2  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us

1Jn 1:3  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Compare John 1 v 1 with Gen. 1 v 1. We have no trouble knowing that the Creation had a commencement [in the beginning] we use the same words in John 1 v 1 to say that Christ has eternally existed.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We have been wrong: Christ is from the beginning. He is also from the Father.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God prior to Creation. This knowledge is revealed by God.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Mat 16:14  So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Mat 16:15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Mat 16:16  Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Christ will build His church on the knowledge that He is the born Son of God before creation………………and to this church are given the keys of the Kingdom……………

Mat 16:19  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

God made the worlds by His Son.

Heb 1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

The Son of God is mentioned in the Old Testament. Note carefully that Nebuchadnezzar is talking about the Most High God, God the Father. He is not talking about a son of a pagan God. This scripture is talking about Jesus Christ before His birth of Mary, who has been the Son of the living God from a time called the beginning. Ever since His initial birth He has been the Son of God.

Dan 3:25  “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

The following verse states plainly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God prior to being born of Mary.

Pro 30:4  Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

[10] LOVE OF THE TRUTH.

2Th 2:10  and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

2Th 2:12  that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

If we don’t love the truth; we will not be saved.

[11] FAITH.

Faith is a requirement of God, it is proof that God’s word will come to pass.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The grace of God, which is unmerited pardon, is received through faith.

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

1Pe 1:9  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

[12] ENDURE TO THE END.

To be in God’s kingdom; we must endure to the end while keeping all the keys of the kingdom.

Mat 24:13  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Enduring also includes overcoming.

Rev 3:5  He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

The keys of the kingdom are God’s requirements for eternal life. We will not be in God’s kingdom unless we believe and keep every one. They are, in no particular order.

[1] Belief.

[2] Fear [being in awe and reverence] of God.

[3] Obedience to God.

[4] Commandment keeping. [physical and spiritual.]

[5] Love toward God.

[6] Love toward man.

[7] Doing good.

[8] Keeping Passover correctly.

[9] Knowing God the Father and God the Son.

[10] Love of the truth.

[11] Faith.

[12] Endure to the end.

The above keys of the Kingdom will bring peace, and holiness. The following verse is a combination of the keys.

Heb 12:14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

COMMENT

The firstfruits are those who follow Christ wherever He leads.

Rev 14:4  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

The knowledge of God and Christ is revealed knowledge. This knowledge has come to light in the Laodicean era of God’s church, the era least likely to accept it. The Philadelphian era was not given this knowledge. The overcomers in that era are kept from the end time trouble.

Rev 3:10  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Their reward is not as good as the Laodicean era overcomers. We are in the era that will see Jacob’s trouble and the Day of the Lord.

You have just received the knowledge that God requires, to be a firstfruit. It is useless to have a zeal toward God without knowledge. This is revealed knowledge not academic knowledge. We must come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Bible states, dozens of times that Christ is from the Father, and that Christ is the Son of God, Christ is from the beginning, and there is only one true God.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

This article has given some of the knowledge of the truth. To those with eyes to see, God is offering us the chance to be firstfruits. There can be no greater offer ever made. This is the knowledge of eternal life and also eternal death. God is not interested in part time or hobby Christians; He demands 100% commitment.

It seems that the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God from the beginning has been hidden since the time of the Apostles. There is a massive warning in the following verse. Do not let another take your eternal life.

Luk 11:52  “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

God chastised the first era of the church mentioned in revelation for leaving their first love. God the Father is the first love.

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

The Philadelphian era of God’s church had to hold fast to what they had. That era, which has passed with the death of Mr. Armstrong, did not have this knowledge of the truth.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

The truth can be opened to anyone who [figuratively] hears Christ’s voice. In the Laodicean era: Christ is knocking. We can let Him in.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

My wife and I have gone to a great deal of trouble to correctly divide the word of truth. We are well aware of the penalty for putting our ideas into God’s word. We will not knowingly misquote a scripture.

Do not believe me --------believe God--------He cannot lie.

With this knowledge comes great responsibility. Don’t let God down.

We will look at some scriptures that are traditionally used to state that Jesus Christ has inhabited eternity with the Great God. I will quote the scriptures and then give a comment.

Mic 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Pro 8:23  I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

Everlasting can mean from the beginning.

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Act 7:28  DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME AS YOU DID THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?’

Yesterday can mean the day before.

Php 2:6  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Joh 14:28  You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

Read this next verse carefully; The Jews said Christ made Himself equal to God, by saying God was His Father.

Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

Christ is God, He is not equal in power or authority to the Great God. Just as a physical son is equal to his father; so a spiritual Son is equal to His Father. Read Phil. 2 v 6. Again, Christ was in the form of God. Once He was born of the Father He was in the form of God.

Joh 10:30  I and My Father are one.”

God and Christ are in complete agreement in everything they do. Christ speaks the Father’s words. They are separate Gods, one a Father, who is the true God, and one a Son. They are two Gods, not one God.

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We have no trouble knowing that creation had a beginning, but we have used the word ‘beginning’ in John 1 v 1 to mean ‘from eternity.’ It does not mean from eternity, it means what it says.

Joh 8:58  Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

‘I AM’ means I exist. Christ is saying in this verse that He existed before Abraham.

Heb 7:3  without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

This is talking about Melchisedec. Read it again it’s talking about physical parents, physical ancestors and physical life. Melchisedec was not born of physical parents. He did not have beginning of days because he was created by God before days were in existence. Melchisedec is not Christ. Christ had end of days {His physical life came to an end} when He was crucified.

Christ is not Melchisedec: Christ is ‘another priest’.

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

A proper translation of the above verse is:

It is far more evident that another priest arises who is like Melchizedek.

The following scripture is the words of God the Father. He was working before the creation of day and night. Angels were created before day and night were created.

Isa 43:13  Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”