“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Isaiah 43:1-7

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Who are the redeemed? Every born-again believer who comes to God through Christ Jesus are the redeemed, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

When our Lord Jesus came to atone for sin, the kingdom of God was taken from the Jesus culture and given to those who live for God through Jesus Christ, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” Matthew 21:43 “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

Who is Jacob? “This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.” Psalms 24:6 Who is Israel? “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed will be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed…And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 3:29

While God is the creator of all, through Jesus Christ we are a new creation, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

To be called by name means that each person’s born-again experience is unique to them. We are not born-again by belonging to the mainstream social culture, but we are born-again to stand apart in the Light of Jesus Christ, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.“ Isaiah 43:2-3

In the verses above, the waters and rivers represent something potentially harmful to we who live by faith in God through Jesus Christ. In Revelations, those waters are described as the global culture of the beast, “Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” Revelations 17:15 The beast gives breath/life to the image of the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living through masses of the global culture. The beast has power over physiology to give people what to say, do, think, and feel. Through those hostile waters, God is with us through His Holy Spirit, given by our faith in Jesus. The mainstream global culture will not overflow the faith we have in Christ as we remain on the narrow path.

The fire also represents a potential threat to the faith we have in God, through Christ Jesus, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Instead of the fire burning us, it works for our good through as the process of sanctification, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” 1 Peter 4:12-16

For Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba to be a ransom for Israel meant that the Lord God gave them to the wrath of His judgment in order to bring deliverance to His people. In that light, the culture of this world system is given up to destruction while eternal Salvation is given to everyone who lives for Christ Jesus, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.” revelations 11:1-2

“…we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.” Isaiah 43:4

The judgment that God brings to those of this present world system of the beast is for all of us who believe in Jesus Christ, “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due…For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Revelations 16:6, Zachariah 2:8

“…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

The Lord promised the Jewish people that they would be His special people, Exodus 19:5-6, unless they disobeyed Him, and that disobedience happened when they rejected His Son Jesus Christ, “Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You will not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 1 Kings 9:4-7

“He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—” Acts 13:20-23

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—” Isaiah 43:5-6

Referring to the redemption we have in Christ Jesus, and how the Jewish people reject Him, we are the descendants brought from east and west, but the Jewish people have been cast out from that gathering. We are His children who will be gathered into the eternal New Jerusalem from all parts of the world. The Jewish people are the “sons of the kingdom” who will be cast out into outer darkness, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12

“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7

“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Romans 10:13, 2, Corinthians 5:17

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1