The First and Second Great Commandments

Many Christians have memorized and can recite the Ten Commandments but they understand little about the significance of these commandments, especially the first and the second great commandments. The purpose of this thesis is to unfold to us the true definition and meaning of the first and second great commandments and why these two laws are regarded as ‘the great commandments’. These two commandments are the premier of all scriptural commandments and ought to be understood from the perspective of embracement (willing acceptance) rather than disinclination. These commandments should be obeyed; not by compulsion, although spiritual adepts, with a degree of importance, regard highly, and joyfully compel themselves to following strictly these commandments; having a foreknowledge of the manifold spiritual blessings bestowed on those who value with intensity these commandments. Psalms 119 was written solely to celebrate the commandments of the Lord and to show its importance to our Christian walk. Psalms 119:33-35; Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep thy law; yea, I will observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for there in do I delight. Psalms 119:72; The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

The difficulty with the embracement of these commandments is the lack of proper understanding of the reason these commandments were handed down to us. Jesus said, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I have not come to destroy but to fulfill (the law)" Matthew 5:17. This statement is the dream and aspiration of every spiritual adept: 'to know, understand and fulfill the law'. Psalms 119:80; Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. Psalms 119: 97-100; O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understood more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. Have we ever meditated on the reason Jesus said, "think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets (the channel through which divine laws are fed to us)?" Firstly, there is a tendency to break (destroy) the law, or not to obey (fulfill) it when one does not know or understand the true definition and meaning of these laws. Many Christians are with the notion that they obey these commandments, especially the first and the second great commandments. In truth, they are not exposed to the true spiritual reality of the true definition and meaning of these commandments, therefore they cannot obey them. Secondly, if a person destroys a prophet, he heckles the prophet, thereby crippling the channel through which the true realities of divine mysteries may be made known; consequently, letting ignorance (sin) prevail. The reason people mostly heckle the channel through which they could have learnt divine mysteries is that, the teachings of these channels many a time is in direct contrast and stand as opposition to the religious beliefs these people have faithfully embraced. If these people would open up their hearts, divine light through the knowledge of God's word will illuminate their hearts. Psalm 119: 130; The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.    

The usage of the term, "first and second great commandments" does not imply that these two commandments are the first and second commandments handed down to man, rather it infers, that these kind of commandments are great and important; the principal kind in the law. Some commandments are light and can easily be obeyed even by the religious class; but these two commandments bear weighty and ponderous nature, and only spiritual heavy weights may come to the true definition of these commandments and make it a goal to fulfill them. Some may indeed come to the true definition of these commandments after reading this thesis but the true test of their spirituality is the willingness to carry the burden (cross) of these two great commandments. 

To understand the weight of the cross and who can bear them; let us consider these scriptural verses in the gospel of Mark, chapter 10: A rich man approached Jesus and asked: Verse 17; What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied in Verse 19, "thou knoweth the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother". Some commandments are light and can be obeyed by various classes of people; the rich man's response in Verse 20 was: "Master, all these have I observed from my youth". These commandments that Jesus recited are commandments well known by various classes of people and even to the religious class. They can define each of these light laws and observe them to the latter. Verses 21 and 22; Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lacketh: go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. Jesus told the rich man that he lacked one thing, but before that which he lacked is given to him; firstly, he must devest himself of his material riches, that is 'putting no trust in material riches'. Secondly, he must be willing to carry the cross (burden) of weightier commandments by following the footsteps of Jesus, which is, 'to convert efforts used in the acquisition of material wealth into acquisition of spiritual treasures'. Only then can the rich man be given that which he lacked. Jesus said to him, "one thing thou lacketh", have we considered what the rich man lacked with regards to inheriting eternal life? We could find the answer in his attitudinal disposition when he was exposed to spiritual realities; his unwillingness to let go of "trust" in material riches, and embrace weighty ordinances which is the only answer to what he lacked. This man, though materially wealthy and a very religious person was a spiritual pauper, he lacked the only one thing that is needful to gain eternal life and that, is proper understanding and embracement of divine laws. 

The true meaning of these commandments hide their true form within the letters of the words used to convey them to humanity. They would not open up their true form except we are willing to convert efforts used in the acquisition of material wealth into the acquisition of spiritual treasures, only then will they show their true form. This is the only way we can attain true spirituality; as pointed out by the first great commandment. Mark 10: 23; And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. Did Jesus insinuate that the rich cannot enter the kingdom of God? No! Jesus paraphrased and said in Verse 24; Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. When one is unwilling to convert efforts used in the acquisition of material riches to spiritual riches, it is an indication of trust in material and physical existence at the expense of spiritual and eternal life. Matthew 6:33-34; But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore, take no thought of the morrow: for the morrow shall take thoughts of the things of itself. Of course, Jesus knew that the obedience of lighter laws could not guarantee eternal life; the intention of Jesus' recitement of these lighter commandments was to point to us the fact that almost every class of people can obey these light commandments. The rich man's response attest to this fact: "Master, all these I have observed from my youth". The rich man had observed all the light-weighted laws but could not obey the premier of all commandments: "to put the kingdom of heaven first and his righteousness" because that is what these two great commandments represent: 'the kingdom of God and His righteousness'. When we meet the standard of God's righteousness, we have come to the knowledge of the Will and Requirement of the heavenly Father of man and are willing to walk in the light of these knowledge. When we walk in the light of the knowledge of our heavenly Father's expectation of us, we are deemed righteous in the eyes of Heaven. Let us understand that righteousness is not moral uprightness. Many religious people are morally upright but are not righteous because they do not walk in the light of the knowledge of the heavenly Father's expectation of us. They cannot fulfill the heavenly Father's Will on earth, hence they are deemed unrighteous (unclean) in the eyes of heaven. For we to walk in the light of the knowledge of our heavenly Father's Will and Requirement for us on earth, we must first be exposed to true kingdom realities and divine interpretation of scriptural exaltations and edicts. There are religious and literal interpretations of every scripture on earth but only divine interpretation exposes us to heavenly mysteries and realities. 

Also to meet the standard of God's righteousness, we must understand the meaning of the phrase, "Therefore take no thought of the morrow: for the morrow shall take thoughts of the things of itself". This phrase signifies a total surrender to Heavenly Will. Many will say worryingly, "if I convert efforts used in the acquisition of my material well-being to acquisition of spiritual treasures, my physical existence will no longer be pleasurable". Jesus said, "how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God"; Mark 10:24. The scriptures from the spiritual perspective of the first great commandment says to, "trust not in material acquisition but to concentrate primarily on our spiritual well-being", because no one can serve two masters. We should not serve our material and physical well-being at the detriment of our spiritual well-being. Matthew 6:24; no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold on to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve (your) God(hood) and serve mammon (ego/personality). The scriptures verily address this part of our concern: Matthew 6:25-33; therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing? Behold the fowls of the air: for the sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have needs of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The reason I have carefully laid this premise before the discussion proper, of the meaning of first and the second great commandment is to prepare our minds, such that we will come to the understanding of these two great commandments from the perspective of the spiritual class; and appreciate the value and divine intentions of these commandments.

Matthew 22:34-36; but when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? The Pharisees, who valued the letters of scriptural commandments over the spiritual and divine intentions of these commandments; could interpret these commandments to the satisfaction of the religious class, but from the perspective of the spiritual class, they were found wanting because the value of these commandments cannot be represented from the literal or religious standpoint. The Pharisee who posed this question to Jesus was a lawyer, a teacher of the law. This is my point: Pharisees were academic minds who could only absolve and teach from a non-spiritual point of view. Although they were highly revered by the religious class, they showed deficiencies in spiritual judgments because they were not tuned to the frequency of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit quickens our understanding and insights in the interpretation of scriptural edicts; this is what I'll like us to bear in mind as the spiritual and divine interpretation of these two great commandments unfolds before us.

Matthew 22:37-40; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Let us deal firstly with the last sentence of these scriptural verses, "on these two commandments hang all the laws and the prophets (channels through which divine laws are fed to us) ". The substance and vitality of all the other laws depend solely on these two commandments; and divine realities must be taught by prophets from the spiritual perspective of these two principal commandments. Every existing laws are active and owe their existence to these two most important laws; without which, there are no laws. This statement connotes that the existence of life in the universe or in the manifest world depends solely on these two commandments; without which, there is no creation, as we shall later see. When Jesus recited the other laws to the rich man, his response was, "Master, all these I have observed from my youth", these other laws could not guarantee eternal life. If they could guarantee eternal life, the rich man wouldn't have asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life; these laws can only ensure moral uprightness. The salient point is this: Without eternal life, there is no creation and it is only through the proper grasp of the spiritual definition and meaning of these two principal commandments; and the readiness to meet the demands placed on humanity by these two commandments that eternal life can be guaranteed. The creative force is active, and ready to carry out its duties, upon the obedience of these premier commandments.

I'll like to discuss firstly, the second great commandment, without which it is absolutely impossible to obey the first great commandment as illustrated in the scriptures in Isaiah 14:12-24 (Read my thesis on: Enigma of Lucifer, Son of the morning). Matthew 22:39; "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Let us be mindful of the phrase, "And the second is like unto it". This phrase is a referral to the first great commandment:  "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" This phrase simply emphasizes tenacious adherence and faithful obedience of the second great commandment the same manner we obey the first great commandment, "thou shall love thy neighbour with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; treating them the way you would like others to treat you". These two great commandments interconnect; without the Conscious obedience of one, we cannot obey the other. Conscious obedience connotes, "we are not compelled" (with an iron rod) to obey this commandment like the paradise dispensation. Obedience of these commandments is voluntary especially during an era that ecclesiastical laws do not encourage the obedience of these spiritual commandments.

These two commandments seem simple and easy to obey when viewed from the literal perspective, but when viewed from the spiritual perspective, less than 0.1 percent of the world population do adhere to these two great commandments; judging from the population census of seven billion people. When asked; who our neighbours are? Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. And so many people do believe that our only neigbours are other fellowmen sharing the earth abode with us. The ecclesiastical laws preaches adherence to this interpretation so much that it has become public belief that other fellowmen are our only neigbours. When we embrace this interpretation, we have only taken one step of the many steps we ought to take in the obedience of this great commandment.

Our neighbours are entities that have our Heavenly Father's breath and share the earth abode with us, simply put, "entities that breathes and have souls". The soul is the seat of consciousness, and the whole essence of creation is to ‘expand consciousnes'. Expanse of consciousness enables enlarged capability in spiritual operation. Without consciousness expansion, our Spirits cannot grow and enlarge its operation. We are spirit beings currently having a human expression (human soul); dogs are spirit beings currently having a dog expression (dog soul); rats are spirit beings currently having a rat expression (rat soul)... and so on. Humans have gotten to a consciousness level called, "self-consciousness". Animals are not yet self-conscious, but they are nevertheless growing in consciousness and may change their mode of expression when they meet the requirement for spiritual evolution. With all animals and humans, only the clean ones (those who meet the requirement for spiritual evolution) are offered unto the Lord. Acceptance of offerings of clean animals connotes a spiritual seal of admittance into a higher mode of expression of their Spirit. The Spirit is the Father's breathe in every living entity; therefore, every living entity with a soul evolves spiritually. Even Jesus was said to be an "offering" unto the Lord God after passing the spiritual evolutionary examination. Isaiah 53:10; when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin (ignorance). Paul, the apostle was also offered unto the Lord God: 2 Timothy 4:6-8; For now, I am ready to be offered, and my time of departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not unto me only, but unto all them also that love his (Christ's) appearing. Crown of righteousness as used here is the seal of admittance into the celestial or heavenly bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:48-49; As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Please pick up any advanced dictionary and look up the meaning of heavenly bodies or celestial bodies. The result of your findings is man's next state of being, 'we shall also bear the image (body) of the heavenly'.

Man's exam is simply to know and do God's will. Hebrews 4:7; Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy Will, O God. Man's sin is his ignorance, if he comes to the knowledge of what is required of him and he is willing to walk in the light of such knowledge, he is no longer a sinner, but he is deemed righteous (clean) in the eyes of heaven. When man comes to the understanding of what is required of him by the Heavenly Father, his soul is offered unto the Lord, having overcome ignorance (sin) of what is expected of him, thus he moves onwards and upwards in the spiritual evolutionary ladder. The Father, through the second great commandment simply enjoins man to treat every living entity with respect, with the conscious knowledge that every life is sacred and spiritually evolving; also all man's actions towards every living entity must be looked at, from the perspective of how he loves and cherishes his own life. If he loves himself and does not want anyone to hurt or kill him, why should he hurt or kill other living entities. The scripture does not support killing animals at all! Man's lack of spiritual understanding and his literal interpretation of the scripture is his biggest stronghold (enemy); the scripture enjoins us to wage war on ignorance, our spiritual enemy. Jesus, an epitome of spiritual dominion and power conquered all mental, psychological and emotional enemies and said, "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven". If we do the Father's Will on earth, we are an offering for sin (ignorance), we must then light the minds of others, to follow in our footsteps, so then we have died that others may also have spiritual life. Earlier, I wrote, "the true meaning of these commandments hide their true form within the letters of the words used to convey them to humanity. They would not open up their true form except we are willing to convert efforts used in the acquisition of material wealth into the acquisition of spiritual treasures, only then will they show their true form. This is the only way we can attain true spirituality; as pointed out by the first great commandment". When we are dead to the things of the world and focused only on heavenly things, we become exposed to divine realities. The truth we glean and feed others with, is an evidence of death to the human mode of expression and a readiness to put on a celestial or heavenly expression. We cannot know and understand the truth unless we are willing to die to the human dimension.

I'll like to produce conclusive evidences that God does not want man to kill animals or other fellowmen.

·         Genesis 1:29-30; And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food). And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat and it was so. Adam was the first man created according to the scriptures; God's commandment to the first man was to take for meat (food) every herb bearing seed and the fruit of a tree yielding seed. Furthermore, every beast, fowls and everything with life must take for meat (food) green herbs. Even from the literal angle, it is quite clear according these scriptural verses that God would not allow man to kill for food.     

·         Genesis 3:21; Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothe them. Again, we do not have any conclusive evidence here that God killed an animal and clothe Adam and Eve with animal skins as some literal interpretations of the scripture would suggest. In Eden (Delight), Adam and Eve were in a spiritual state, not in physical or material form. The human expression is the cloth of the spiritual man. When a spirit is dressed up, it is in a physical appearance and no more in a spiritual state. The coat of skin made by God was our physical form. The twenty-third verse says, "Man was sent forth from the garden", this means that man was no longer in a spiritual state but in a physical state.

·         Genesis 8:20; And Noah built an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and offered burnt offering on the altar. An altar is a symbol of communication and relationship with the higher spiritual world. Noah built a communication line where he reconnected to heaven. He then offered to God animals that were clean (that meet evolutionary requirements) through a burnt offering. Probably the phrase, "burnt offering" is the confusion here. Burnt offering connotes the mortification of a fixated flesh life. When an expression mode is well spent and a soul (seat of consciousness) is ready to climb up the evolutionary ladder, it must do away with the former mode of expression because it has been outgrown. To burn is to do away with; to put to an end to an expression mode since that expression mode no longer serves the growth of the soul. That expression is burnt or mortified so that God receives the soul and gives it a new and higher expression mode; the Spirit life is ever becoming, taking many forms and reforms as consciousness expands. What kills the Spirit is actually a fixated and stagnant material expression. Energy (spirit life) does not stay stagnant, it is against the heavenly Father's Will; the spiritual life of every soul entity either evolves or it diminishes. As consciousness expands, an entity must change his current expression for a higher one when its consciousness meet the right spiritual frequency and vibrational requirement. This is a called, 'quantum leap'; a step up of consciousness, resulting to a step up of energy level and spiritual capacity. What Noah exemplified here is the care of the animals until they began to climb the evolutionary ladder. We shall find in the next verses that God is very happy when this happens. Genesis 8:21-22; And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground anymore for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every living thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. The ground (our mode of expression) was not cursed anymore because of the faithful actions of Noah. Noah obeyed the second great commandment from the spiritual perspective, therefore, of a whole generation, he and his family were the only ones found righteous before heaven. Righteousness here connotes the willingness to do what God requires from man. Creation continues to prosper because of the faithful actions of Noah. Seedtime as used in these scriptural verses above means the giving of new and higher expression modes to souls and harvest connotes souls due for the next evolutionary ladder". The salient point about the first and the second great commandment is that while we help entities from a lower evolutionary ladder to climb up, we are in turn building a bridge so that entities from a higher evolutionary ladder would help us climb. The second commandments say, "to love our (earth) neighbour with all our heart, and with all our soul (consciousness), and with all our mind; with everything we have, treating them the way we would like others (the higher spiritual entities) to treat us" Sometimes we ask, what about mosquitoes, pests and noisome entities? And some animals can be bothersome; should we continue to tolerate them? Let us consider the ecosystem alone, what state is it? If the higher world would not tolerate the activities of men, we'll all be dead. These spirits clean up all our messes without complaining! I am sure we can think of many activities of man that is detrimental to both his physical and spiritual existence and to the existence of other entities. If our baby poo or soil our dress, do we kill our baby? Of course not! We tolerate our baby... that is what the second great commandment preaches; these animals are our younger siblings in the spiritual evolutionary chain, so we should tolerate them. When we relate with them, it must be from the perspective of, "earth neighbours". In doing that, we have achieved, "group consciousness" (Read my thesis on Cain and Abel for more on group consciousness).

·         Genesis 9:3-5; Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things (but) flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood therefore, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man; From the literal interpretation, these three verses clearly point out that God does not permit killing. Plants are alive although they do not have souls. They are never stagnant; they grow and die. Everything alive moves and is not static. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat (food) for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things! God did repeat the instruction given to Adam, the first man to Noah; Genesis 1:29; And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food). Let us consider why I bracketed the word, 'but' in Genesis 9:4. This word is used to introduce a clause that contrast with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence. It may also mean, "on the contrary", or "rather". But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood therefore, shall ye not eat. Both plants and animals are alive and moves, but the life of man and animals is the blood and must not be shed. Man can eat green herbs (plants) for food but he is not permitted to eat flesh as food because flesh contains blood which is the life of every living animal. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man. Please let us consider this statement carefully. God will require the blood of fellowmen from us if we shed it; and every beast is also accountable for the blood it sheds! If God wanted man and animals to kill, why require blood from them! To substantiate my stance on this matter, let us contemplate on the ninth and tenth verses of this chapter; Genesis 9:9-10; And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. God did not make covenant with plants because they do not have souls, neither are they conscious of their surroundings, hence they cannot grow consciously; but He made covenants with man and animals. If He wanted animals killed for food, why make covenants (agreements) with them, does it make sense! See (open and use your mind eye): the truth tastes bitter at first until we embrace it! The whole essence of creation is to expand consciousness! Every living soul is a Spiritual investment; it is bad business (spiritually) to end a life.

·         Exodus 20:13; Thou shall not kill. Religious fanatics would quickly point out that 'Killing' in this case only involves only the murder of fellowmen, and not animals. The word, 'KILL' and the word, 'MURDER' do not have exactly the same meaning. Murder is a deliberate killing of a human being; hence it is a societal crime. Murder could also mean, 'manslaughter'. The term, 'KILL', connotes, to put to death; to extinguish the life of any entity. The Scripture did not command, 'thou shall not commit murder', rather it commands, 'thou shall not kill'. If we say killing as used here specifically points to the killing of human being, then let us consider another scriptural commandment: Exodus 20:15; thou shall not steal. Does this scriptural law specifically point out what to steal and what not to steal? It simply commands, 'thou shall not steal'. The act of killing means, 'to put to death'. Does putting animals to death means killing them? Does extinguishing the life of animals mean killing them? The scriptures commands, 'thou shall not kill'. Killing, whatever form it takes, is disregard to scriptural commandment.

·         Acts 10:28; And Peter said unto them, Ye know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Many of us are conversant with the story preceding this statement. Wherein all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild animals were shown to Peter in a vision, and he was urged to kill and eat. This vision was a revelation to Peter not to call any man common or unclean. It had nothing to do with killing and eating animals.

·         Matthew 14:19-21; And Jesus commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. Many religious folks would readily quote these scriptural verses to support their claim that God supports the killing of animals because Jesus fed the multitude with two fishes and five loaves of bread. We should seek to know and understand the divine intention of scriptural edicts and messages rather than embracing the letters used to convey these spiritual messages and commandments to us. The generation of Jesus was known as the Piscean age. We are currently in the Aquarian age. Jesus, throughout his ministry on earth was associated with fishes; he said to his disciples, "I will make you fishers of men"; again he told Peter to catch a fish and take a gold coin from the mouth of the fish. The symbol of the Pisces is two fishes joined, one going upwards and the other going downwards. It is a symbol of internal and spiritual struggle for emancipation. The fish going upwards connotes "an evolving self towards spirituality" and the other fish going downwards connotes, "a devolving self towards carnality". Fishes in the scriptures are symbols of realities or information; these realities may be guided or misguided. When we come in contact with guided realities, we evolve spiritually; but when these realities are misguided, we devolve spiritually. When one has an epiphany and there is a heavenly revelation which leads to an illuminating reality of the first great commandment, the fellow is said to have caught a fish in the sea (of confusion because of the many misguided realities) and the reward is liken to a gold coin; gold being the highest value of currency in Jesus' generation. Silver coin is likened to the reality of the second great commandment – ‘the silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of host’ Haggai 2:8. The number seven stands for perfection (two fishes (realities) and five loaves of bread (doctrines)); Jesus fed the multitude until they came to perfection. He places the devolving fish (misguided reality) on the ground as the first step and then placed each of the five loaves of bread (divine doctrines), which stood for spiritual creeds on the devolving fish thus making six steps; he then placed the evolving fish, which is the unadulterated word of the Spirit to complete the seventh step. This means that, he took them from what they embraced, which were misguided realities to the understanding of heavenly realities, until they were satisfied and in turn began to speak them in fragments (Spiritual tongues). Let us consider this illustration: If five thousand men, apart from women read this thesis and come to the understanding of my message, they can also disseminate this message although the messages will be fragments of my message. If this happens, I have successfully brought these five thousand men out of a mental state in which they embraced misguided realities (devolving fish). I have communicated with them at the level in which they were comfortable but were misguided, which is the first step; fed them with bread (divine doctrines) continually until their minds can assimilate the unadulterated word of the Spirit. Finally, I fed them with divine realities (the evolving fish). The twelve baskets of fragments gathered were symbols of their understanding of the word and ability to disseminate what they have been taught. If we take this scripture literally...why would the disciples gather the left-over, to eat them? Some religious folks may quickly point out that the scriptures condemn astrology and that it is satanic especially the zodiac signs. Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies (stars); it is a science that deals with heavenly bodies, their motions, magnitudes, distances, and physical constitution. Matthew 2:10-12; When they saw the star, the rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Why would God speak to star-gazers (astrologers) and why did they obey God, if they were evil and satanic men? Astrology in itself is not evil, but we should shun every evil and satanic practices associated with it. The scripture does not condemn astrology but it condemns the evil people and practices associated with it. Let us consider these scriptural verses: Luke 22:8-10; And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house he entereth in. I'll like us to go on the internet and type on the search engine, "a man carrying pitcher of water", you'll find among many options: The Aquarius. I mentioned earlier that the generation of Jesus was known as the Piscean age, symbol of the fishes; and that we are currently in the Aquarian age. The above scriptural verses depict the Piscean handing over the baton to the Aquarian at the Passover. At the end of the Aries age comes the Piscean age; Abraham's offered ram was the symbol of the beginning of the Aries age. Aries symbol is the ram. (To know more on Passover: read my thesis on Jesus, Barabbas and the two thieves).

·         Luke 24:41-43; And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, Jesus said unto them, Have ye here any meat (food)? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. I have mentioned earlier that fishes in the scriptures are symbols of realities or information; these realities may be guided or misguided. When a fish (a reality) is broiled or cooked, it is consumable and can be safely absolved. It is not every (fish) realities that is consumable or can be absolved. After he resurrected, Jesus appeared to his disciple, wanting to know if they understood the things he taught them when he was with them. When he asked them to feed him, they gave him a broil fish (reality), that is whole and safe to absolve spiritually, he knew then, they had understood because the broiled fish was of honeycomb, which is a symbol of illumination: 1 Samuel 14:26-27; And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with an oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. Jesus further enriched their understanding as the next verses depicts: Luke 24:44-45; And Jesus said unto them, these are the words (alluding the broiled fish which was of honeycomb) which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

·         Matthew 3:4; And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4; And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey. Locusts as used here are not grasshoppers. To explain what locust and wild honey means, let us dissect this scriptural verse for proper understanding. 'Raiment of camel's hair': raiment or clothe as used here is figurative. For example, we can say, 'God is clothe with glory'. Raiment connotes the innate characteristics and nature of John's baptism, distinguished from the other two baptism; the other two baptism being the Holy Spirit baptism and the fire baptism. These latter baptisms comes after the grassroot or foundational baptism also knoen as John's baptism. Matthew 3:11; I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me (the Holy Spirit baptism and the Fire baptism) is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire. 

      Camel is a beast of burden and hair as used here connotes 'strenght'. For example, the regrowth of Samson's hair is symbolic of the return of his strenght. Camel's hair as used here therefore connotes, 'burdenous or weighty' (one saddled with a weighty responsibility to birth a process).


     Therefore, if we paraphrase this statement: And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair; we may say: And the same John, whose innate and distinctive nature is saddled with a weighty responsibility to begin the burdensome process (of baptism or illumination). John is representative of a necessary birthing process of illumination; the tearing off of the veil or matrix, so that a spiritual aspirant can see, feel and hear like the very first time. John is representative of the door which opens to myriads of sensitive and fragmentary information, within and outside our realm and dimension. This is the allegorical Fore-runner, a prelude to the Christ consciousness. 

    'And a leathern (tough) girdle about his loins'; Leathern, means made of leather. Anything made of leather is tough and is difficult to cut through. Girdle, 'that which girds or encircles'. Loins as used here connotes, 'lower area or premise' (of illumination). To paraphrase, this statement may mean: 'Toughness or complications encircles the lower area or premise (of baptism and illumination) and it is difficult to cut through'.

    ‘And his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey’; Locusts are very destructive to roots of crops and plants. Eating Locusts symbolizes, ‘consumption of grassroots knowledge’. Honeycomb is a symbol of illumination or enlightenment: 1 Samuel 14:26-27; And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with an oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 

    The consumption of myriads of sensitive and fragmentary information within and outside one's realm and dimension is the root and foundation of spiritual illumination. This is called grass root knowledge, but this may result to immoderate and unrestrained shine of light because the truth is scattered in these grass root information. The description of honey as wild means immoderate or unrestrained illumination or enlightenment. Honeycomb also means to infiltrate outside realms and dimensions thoroughly, in order to obtain information about these realms and dimensions. 

     The duty of the Holy Spirit, who comes after John’s baptism is to put this information into proper perspective and illuminate (baptize) the aspiring adept with it. The Holy Spirit, the carrier of the unadulterated word of God, sieves out the truth within these myriads of sensitive and fragmented information and feeds it to the spiritual aspirant, making him know and understand, fully and clearly the Father's expectation and requirement of Him. So then, when the spiritual adept speaks, he speaks in spiritual tongues (language). The language of the Spirit is not the tongues of the literal and ecclesiastic interpretation of the scripture; rather, it is the divine interpretation and spiritual intention of the scripture opposing every satanic and false doctrine. When the word of truth like a fiery two-edged sword goes forth, it destroys every false doctrine in the body of Christ. 

     To paraphrase the statement: 'and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey'; this statement may mean: And he consumes grass root information which gives wild (unrestrained and immoderate) illumination. As you can see, Locust as used here is figurative.


    Matthew 3:4; And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: And the same John, whose innate and distinctive nature is saddled with a weighty responsibility to begin the burdensome process (of baptism or illumination); and toughness and complications encircles the lower area or premise (of baptism or illumination) and it is difficult to cut through. And he consumes grass root information which gives wild (unrestrained and immoderate) illumination. This is the true tongues of the Spirit, broken down for consumption. I have gone this length to point out that Locust are living entities and must not be killed for food. For skeptics, let us consider this scriptural verses: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat (food): for hitherto ye were not able not bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Please answer this question: Is the 'milk and (meat) food', as used in these scriptural verses literal or figurative? If they are figurative, why argue that 'Locust' as used in the above scripture is literal?

·         I'll like to discuss what is expected of us at the dawn of the Christ consciousness, a time when the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon us, and the Spirit of wisdom and understanding shall be with us. I'll like us to read the passage of scriptures below carefully but our focus should be on from the sixth unto the ninth verses of this passage. Isaiah 11:1-5; And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of the ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breathe of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Isaiah 11:6-9; The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatlings together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea. The ending phrase of this scriptural passage says, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea". It should be clear to us now, that without true spiritual knowledge, we cannot obey the second great commandment from divine perspective. Even animals are commanded to eat plants, not other animals, "the lion shall eat straw like the ox". God commanded man to dominate creation; and animals look up to man for direction. Man is to lead a dominated world by example; when man comes to the proper understanding of the second great commandment and embraces it by respecting the life (blood) in the flesh of every incarnate soul, then animals will follow in his footsteps. Without man taking the first step, creation will continue to rebel against the Father's commandment, thus every blood (life) that is shed shall be accounted for, by both man and animals. Please note: I am not an advocate of contemporary vegetarianism, who do not eat the flesh of animals, and do not drink milk for reasons best known to them. If you do not eat the flesh of animals, but you kill or hurt them, you are not obeying the second great commandment. Milking animals or eating honey is not disobedience of the second great commandment because these practices do not hurt animals.

·         Ecclesiastical teachings postulate the literal killings of the enemies of God's people mostly in the Old Testament and religionists would eagerly point out that God supported and/or many a time ordered the killings of these enemies. Anything that constraints us mentally, psychologically and emotionally is our enemy. 

    PLEASE, let me digress a little for clearer understanding of this topic: Let us ask ourselves regarding the slavery of the children of Israel in Egypt: Historically, does the Egyptians or the nation, Israel have any record that provides evidence that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt? If biblical authors meant to teach literally, history will provide many evidences as proof that these events did take place: Genesis 2:13; And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. Let's take a look at the world map, does water encompass Ethiopia? Is Ethiopia an Island? This is one proof of many proofs that the scripture is not meant for historical or literal consumption? The allegorical meaning of Egypt according to the scriptures is, 'that which troubles or oppresses'; it may also mean, 'anguish'. This is not a referral to the nation, Egypt. Israel means, 'the spiritual people'; it is also not a referral to the nation, Israel. Jacob means, 'struggle or fight for spiritual emancipation'. The term, without Jacob, there is no Israel means, 'without struggle for spiritual emancipation, one cannot be spiritual'. Esau means, 'carnality'. Malachi 1:2-3; I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet you say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob. And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains (struggles) and his heritage (possessions) waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Romans 9:13-14; As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. Let us ask ourselves: would God hate or kill any man whom He created. The scripture says, 'God forbid'.

    Humans have the material or carnal aspects of being; also we have the spiritual aspect of us. These two aspects of us struggle and battle for supremacy in every man. To paraphrase, Romans 9:13-14 may mean: "I love it when you struggle for spiritual emancipation but I hate it, when you are carnal". God leads by example; He has no capacity to hate, kill or order the killing of any soul because that would be direct disregard of divine commandment, thus it is called unrighteousness. 'Is there unrighteousness with God? The scripture answers, 'God forbid'.

    Jacob and Esau are not historical or actual characters, but figurative characters representing the tendency to evolve or devolve spiritually. It is the birthright of every soul to take a quantum leap spiritually. Quantum leap is moving from a micro level of soul life to a macro level of soul life. Quantum leap happens when consciousness expands to meet the frequency and vibration of a higher spiritual state of being: this is a spiritual seal of admittance into a higher mode of expression of our Spirit. But we may lose that right when we chose materiality (a morsel of meal) over spirituality. When our struggle is towards spiritual emancipation, God loves it; but when our struggle is towards material acquisition (a morsel of meal) at the expense of our spiritual life, God hates it. As we can now see, God rightly loves Jacob (struggle for spiritual emancipation) and hates Esau (carnality).

     Galatians 4:22; For it written, that Abraham had two sons, the one is handmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who is of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an ALLEGORY: for these are the two covenants: the one from mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her people. Let us be mindful of the phrase, 'For Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia'. Does this scriptural phrase want us to take Agar or the whole story in Genesis literally or figuratively? I am sure you already know the answer: 'Which things are an allegory'. An allegory is a symbolic representation which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. Ephesians 3:9; To make men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Christ Jesus. As you can see, I am quoting from the scriptures, not from any other source to support this interpretation. If we read the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar; and their two sons in Genesis and take it literally, the hidden mystery of the story cannot be revealed to us. The seed or product of the fleshly and bondwoman, Hagar, the Egyptian, tends towards slavery or bondage... how? Mentally, emotionally and psychologically! John 12:40; He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Freewoman here, connotes, 'Mental emancipation', the ability to use the mind properly without constraint from physical and spiritual strongholds. Mental emancipation gives birth to a meditative and contemplative practice -- Isaac. The first time the word, 'meditate' appeared in the scriptures was a referral to the practice by Isaac: Genesis 24:63; And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. 

     The Freewoman gave birth to the seed or hope of promise -- Isaac (he who meditates or contemplates). Meditation is the practice of devesting oneself of all noises or misguided realities plundering spiritual heritages; the ability to free the mind of memes, acculturation and social practices standing as strongholds and hindering the entrance of the unadulterated word of the Spirit in our heart. Before the Holy Spirit (promise of the Father and the carrier and disseminator of the unadulterated word of the spirit -- pure water) can be operational in our life, the seed of promise (meditative and contemplative heart -- Isaac) must be the fore-runner. When Abraham's servant saw Rebekah, she was carrying a pitcher of water (word of the spirit) feeding her father's flock. Meditation paves the way for the operation of the Holy Spirit within us. A meditative spirit firstly marries the disseminator of water (realities, whether guided or misguided), and then the Holy Spirit, the carrier of the unadulterated word of God (pure water).

     Acts 1:4-5; And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem (quietude), but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Jesus told his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until the promise of the Father comes. Jerusalem means, 'city of peace'. A place of serenity, tranquility or quietness. The Holy Spirit operates within a noiseless city (mind). Noise here connotes, 'misguided realities'. When the mind is overwhelmed with noises, it is difficult for the Holy Spirit to penetrate such a heart. When we devest ourselves of all noises or misguided realities, the mind or city becomes quiet and the promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit) can operate within the environment of our heart. If you are led by others, the Holy Spirit cannot lead you. The Holy Spirit can only lead, when the mind is emancipated. Let us consider this illustration: If you revere and call someone your father in the Lord, which is against the spiritual principles of the Christed ones (the carnal ones may be led by the clerical class as Apostle Paul rightly pointed out); you are under the authority of that person hence the Holy Spirit cannot be operational within you. The Holy Spirit operates only within emancipated minds! The revered one continues to take the place of the Holy Spirit until such a time when the seed of promise comes; the seed of promise connotes the stamina to stand your ground, and meditate on the word of God yourself without any interference. Look at this example: How many wise men visited the baby, Jesus? Write the answer on a sheet of paper before checking your bible. If you are wrong, you will agree that your mistake was as a result of what you heard from your teachers and because you cannot read your bible meditatively. Your enemy is ignorance, not people. KILL IGNORANCE! You must learn to read the scripture as if you are reading it for the first time, in so doing, you get rid of all percolated and prelocated assumptions standing as barrier to the proper understanding of the word of God.  
 

Now away from digression: There are physical and spiritual strongholds that contributes to man's mental and spiritual constraints, hindering the understanding of the word of God. The scripture enjoins us to wage war against them. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapon of our warfare are not canal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. All the wars fought by God's people in the scriptures are these two (mental and spiritual) constraints represented by nations and people. These are the enemies of God's people. KILL THEM ALL!

Having produced, some evidences that God does not want man to kill animals or other fellowmen, let us shift our attention to the first great commandment. 

The First Great Commandment

I mentioned earlier, that the usage of the term, "first great commandment" does not imply that this is the first commandment handed down to man, rather it infers, that this commandment is great and important; the principal kind in the law. Matthew 22:36-38; Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. This commandment seems simple and easy to obey when viewed from a literal perspective, but when viewed from a spiritual perspective, only spiritual adepts can come to the understanding and fulfillment of this great commandment. How can we love an entity whom we do not see with all the graceful extremity of our heart (burning passion), with all the graceful extremity of our soul (active consciousness) and with all the graceful extremity of our mind (uptrend intelligence)? All, as used here connotes, 'graceful extremity'. The word, 'love' as used here goes beyond affection or attachment to someone; rather, it infers to 'extraordinary addictiveness'. Psalms 42:1-2; As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? To paraphrase, the first commandment may mean: Thou shall be addicted extraordinarily, with graceful extremity of burning passion; with active and concentrated consciousness and with elastically uptrend intelligence to the knowledge of who thy God really is.

Elastically uptrend intelligence connotes, 'stretching intelligence', almost to a breaking point or a course of thought which diverts from straightforward logic, which requires extraordinary belief'. If we merge these three phrases, 'burning passion, active consciousness and uptrend intelligence', we would realize that these phrases make up the state of being of evolved and spiritual entities operating beyond the borderlined-consciousness state of ordinary men; ordinary men concentrate existentially on self and the immediate and visible environment rather than an adaptable burning intimacy with the universe at large, which imbues one uniquely with divine intelligence, thus the Christ consciousness. 2 Timothy 2:15; Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The first great commandment urges us to reach beyond the ordinary capacity of human ability and readiness in knowing who the Lord God really is. Our inclination towards the knowledge of who the Lord God really is: must be with graceful extremity, intense and overwhelming zeal in copulative alliance with transitive and responsive sensitivity and maximum capacity of judgement. Without these attributes, we may not come to the true knowledge of who the Lord God, the Father of all Spirits really is. Eternal life is the reward of the true knowledge of who the heavenly Father really is. Some religionist may say, "absolute knowledge of the Lord God is impossible", if this statement is true, why did Jesus say: John 10:30; I and my Father are one. Also Jesus prayed: John 17:3; And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:25-26; O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: The phrase, 'that they might know thee the only true God' connotes that one may unknowingly take other entities, 'for the true God', as such, such a one cannot inherit eternal life. Without knowledge of the true meaning of the first great commandment, man has no divine future; right-hand Sonship is conferred on man upon obedience of this great commandment. 

The value and intention of this great commandment stems from the fact that the creative force is active and ready to carry out its duties upon the obedience of this premier commandment. When consciousness is aroused from its dormant state, higher intelligence blossoms. God consciousness is the copulative spiritual energy that births the creative force. Therefore, the birth of the creative force depends on an extraordinary addictive measure: and an utmost and engaging dependence in the embracement and obedience of this premier and important commandment; without which: man's futuristic progression divinely is impossible. Divine knowledge is absolute, not relative. Absolute knowledge is available only in the realms of eternal forms. The first great commandment in its true form and meaning simply impresses on man's soul, the God or universal consciousness and a deep knowledge of who man really is. 


A spiritual adage says, 'Man, know thyself and you will know thy God'. The begging question is, "who is Man?" The most accurate description of who Man really is, can be found in the scriptures: Genesis 1:26; And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness; Genesis 1:27; So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God did something very unique, and this uniqueness, most importantly separates man from all other spirit beings. Genesis 2:7; And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Let us consider the phrase, 'and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life'. The breath of life as used here does not mean, 'breathing through the nostrils'. All spirits without souls also breathe. If the breathe of life (the Father’s spiritual gene), which makes man a living soul is absent, man is spiritually dead. The breathe of life into the nostril of man depicts a transference of the innate characteristics of God into man; a predestinated conformity to the image and likeness of God, which makes him unique among all other spirits. Other spirit beings also have the breath of God that enables them to be alive and breathing, however, these spirits do not have, 'the breath of life', hence they cannot grow consciously into Godhood. The breath of life is the genetic seed of God's nature, implanted into the consciousness of man, with a promising future of divine characteristic. The breath of life is active only within the consciousness of the soul, therefore, a spirit without a soul cannot possess, 'the breath of life'. This statement means that man has the potentials (unrealized ability), to be characteristically imbued uniquely with divine intelligence if he obeys dutifully the first great commandment. This potential distinguishes man from all other spirits. To unearth this potential, man must be addicted extaordinarily, with graceful extremity of burning passion; with active and concentrated consciousness and with elastical uptrend intelligence (stretching intellect almost to a breaking point) to the knowledge of who God really is. Joshua 1:8; This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeth observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.

You cannot grow consciously into what you do not understand. Take for instance, before a bachelor degree is conferred by universities and colleges, there must be a specific branch of knowledge or learning attained; so also man; man remains a little god until the obedience of the first great commandment. To understand what little god means, let us consider the term, 'little man'. Little man is used to refer to a boy who is not yet a man but have all the potentials to become a man when the conditions are right. Every boy would one day become a man if the conditions are right. So also man, as a little god, the first great commandment enjoins man to create the right condition for the enacting process of his Godhood by diligently and dutifully setting his mind on the knowledge of who God really is, thereby unleashing his potentials, which imbues him with divine characteristics and intelligence. The first great commandment urges man to break through the matrix (womb), tearing off the veil that hinders him from the realization of his Godhood. Exodus 34:19; All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among the cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. Male here connotes, 'the will and strength to tear off the veil'. Just like in the physical world, every first born opens the womb (veil); so also in the spiritual, the Christed ones are the firstborn of God. Romans 8:28-29; And we know that all things worketh together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Although, there are many brethren, those who break the veil through perseverance and with extraordinary belief are called, 'firstborn'. We should see our relationship with the Lord God as the relationship of a little boy with his father. The little boy would one day grow and be like his father. As a little boy, he must show interest in the things of manhood and must be interested in becoming a man mentally, emotionally and psychologically. At the right time, there must be a willingness to step from boyhood (at the threshold) into manhood. When we say, 'man is different from God, and cannot become God'; we are saying, 'a boy is different from a man and cannot become a man'. James 1:17-18; Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. A fish begats a fish; a goat begats a goat; Only the Lord God can begat God like Himself: John 10:30; I and my Father are one (of the same kind); for we are the offspring of God; Acts 17:28,29. Please note: the small 'g' is used to represent: false gods or potential God. When man unleashes this potentials, he becomes God with a capital G. Just like there are no small human or big human; A human is a human. God is God. John 1:1; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word became God. As we can see, this scriptural verse does not have a small 'g' in the two God mentioned. The two Gods represents the Father (whom the word is with) and the firstfruits (those who received the word with extraordinary faith). These two Gods, the Father and the Son bear testimony of the Word of truth, which confers Sonship. John 8:16-18; If I judge (accurately), my judgement is true: for I am not alone, but I and my Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men are true. I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that bears witness of me. When man comes to the knowledge of the word of Truth and is ready to walk in the light of this knowledge, he is on the journey to Godhood! The Father begats us with the Word of Truth. The Word of truth in the soul or consciousness of any man confers on him the status of Christ. John 1:12; But as many as received him (the word), to them gave he power to become the sons of God. I wish I can expantiate more on this, but the scriptures enjoin us through the first great commandment to search for the word of truth tirelessly till we know who we really are and subsequently who the Lord God is. 2 Timothy 2:15; Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Joshua 1:8; This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeth observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.

At this time and dispensation, the conditions are right and man is at the threshold of his Godhood, although he does not realize this. If he can tear off the veil by obeying dutifully the first great commandment as defined above, man would move from the state of little godhood to the state of conformity to the divine nature of the heavenly Father. You cannot become what you do not love or crave passionately. When the veil is torn, man is free from the shackles and chains of ignorance hindering the penetration of the word of truth into his heart. John 8:32; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The obedience of the first great commandment should be the center point of our daily life. Our life's focus should be towards the attainment of our God consciousness. This is what the first great commandment is all about.

The apex of man's spiritual intelligence is the Christhood. Christ consciousness is the true knowledge of the Will and Requirement of the heavenly Father of man and a readiness to walk practically in the light of this knowledge through the obedience of the first and second great commandment. Jesus prayed, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. Christ consciousness is living the heavenly culture on earth. When our words and actions are from the perspective of heavenly realities; if we can bring 'heaven on earth' through our lifestyle, we have attained the Christ consciousness. Christ, as used here is not the surname of Jesus, rather, it is a title given to those who have come to the true knowledge of the Will and Requirement of the heavenly Father of man and have a readiness to walk practically in the light of this knowledge through the obedience of the first and second great commandment. Jesus is the model of who the Christ is, according to the scriptures. The scriptures enjoin us to, 'take up our cross daily and follow his footsteps', Luke 9:23. Shouldering our cross daily and walking in the scriptural footsteps of Jesus imbues us with the Christ consciousness. The Christ consciousness is the major step in obeying the first and second great commandments.

Let me recapitulate our discussion on the first and second great commandments, to enable us see how these great commandments interconnect. I stated earlier that without the conscious obedience of one, we cannot obey the other. Our discussion on the second great commandment centered mainly on man's relationship with animals, our other earth neighbours. We all know that man have not taken adequate steps in obeying this great commandment, regarding his relationship with animals as he ought to. This is because ecclesiological teachings greatly err and fail in its duty to show the true meaning of this great commandment; it wanders away from the spiritual perspective and intention of this great commandment. When we view the first and the second great commandment from a single perspective, we would realize that the connection between humans and animals is that both possess a soul, thus a kinship relationship in the spiritual sense. Other spiritual entities do not possess souls, except God. What is the connection here: Although animals cannot attain God consciousness, they can however attain human consciousness. By nurturing and helping them grow consciously, they gradually climb the spiritual evolutionary ladder until they can attain human or self-consciousness. When we do this, we are in turn building a bridge that connects us to divine consciousness. Let us consider man's closest friend and neigbour: Dogs; who live mostly with humans.  These are spirit beings currently expressing themselves as dogs, as such these spirit beings behave as dogs. Dogs, while living with human can observe human ways. Humans, many a time train domesticated dogs to carry out their wish. We should not forget, a dog have a soul (seat of consciousness) and its soul's consciousness can expand gradually to understand and imbibe the human ways and culture of life, hence when the conditions are right, the consciousness of the dog life begins to fade away till it meets the frequency and vibrational requirement of a higher consciousness. When this happens, this spirit (formerly a dog) is given a new expression mode or body and is now in a new state of being. Since death cannot exist without life, then life too is meaningless without death. Consciousness is absolute only in the realms of eternal forms and reforms: and humans, just like Noah, are the priests (guides) of God, who build the altar (connection) and ensures that animals climb the evolutionary ladder consciously. The old body, which the Dog's spirit did outgrow, is offered as a burnt offering. God is happy when this happens. This is the scriptural, 'clean animals that is offered'. Acceptance of this sacrifice connotes a seal of admittance into the higher mode of expression of their spirit. The salient point here is that the spiritual journey of every animal is to attain human consciousness, while man's spiritual journey is to attain God (or creative) consciousness. 


The active force of creativity and the dawn of every existence is dependent, solely on the obedience of the first and second great commandment. Man should walk the creative right hand of the Father, not the destructive left hand. This salient point is heavenly reality and the Will and Requirement of the heavenly Father of man and animals. If both man and animals fail to walk in the light of this great commandment by shedding blood: the scripture says: Genesis 9:5; And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man. The whole essence of creation is to expand consciousness! Every living soul is a spiritual investment; it is bad business (spiritually) to end a life. God commanded man to dominate creation; animals, man's cosmic and spiritual younger siblings look up to him for direction. Man is a co-creator; a replenisher, the chief executive officer and managing director of the earth abode. He is a role model, the principal tutor of the different classes and families of the animal kingdom; and animals are the growing students who are to be led and mentored by man. Man, made in the image and likeness of God, is to lead a dominated world by example; but first, he must come to the proper understanding of the second great commandment and embraces it by respecting the life (blood) in the flesh of every incarnate soul, only then will animals follow in his footsteps. Without man taking the first step, creation will continue to rebel against the Father's great commandment. Let us envisage this beautiful future: Isaiah 11:6-9; The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatlings together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the cockathrice' den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea. The ending phrase of this scriptural passage says, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea".
 

What is the source and root cause of alienation from baptism with the pure water of the Spirit? And why is humankind fed with the corrupted and babel version of the unadulterated word of God? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat (food): for hitherto ye were not able not bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as (ordinary) men? These scriptural verses show the level of embracement and inclination of humankind towards the things of the Spirit. The unadulterated word of God cannot be received from the carnal perspective. 1 Corinthians 2:14; But the natural (carnal) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. There must be a readiness to walk in the light of the spiritual knowledge acquired if we do not want to be considered as the five foolish virgins without enough oil (zeal) to keep the lamp (illuminating knowledge) burning. When we sense that we are walking in error, there must be an immediate sense of repentance; a U-turn. Babel and corruption occurs, not because we make errors, but because the errors we make go uncorrected and extrapolate beyond the scale of correction. This thesis can be likened to a form of baptism: an immersion into pure water (unadulterated word of the Spirit); this connotes death to the human ways and acculturative tendencies. And then resurrection: a spiritual awakening to the things of the spirit. When we are baptized, but remain unrepentant, we allow errors of the past, to continue uncorrected, even to extrapolation. This is what the devil wants. 2 Timothy 2:24-26; And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil (satanic prophets of Babylon teaching babel or confused version of the scriptures), who are taken captive by him at his will. 


Repentance, unto the acknowledgement of the truth, and also the readiness to walk in the light of the knowledge of the truth we have received is the only way we can correct errors of the past. This enables us to be spiritually productive and to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Matthew 3:7-8; But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees (contemporary clerical class) come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet (or worthy) for repentance. And so many Christian may read this thesis and toss it aside. Ironically, it could have been better if they did not read it. Matthew 3:10; And now also the axe is laid unto the roots of the trees (expected to be spiritually productive): therefore every tree (conscious soul) which bringeth not forth good fruits is hewn down, and cast into the fire (destroyed). Good fruits can be produced only through diligent obedience of divine commandments. The roots of the trees as used in this scriptural verse connotes the root of our consciousness (likened to a tree planted) expected to be spiritually productive when saturated with water (the word of God). When we are conscious of, or have a moral sense of right or wrong and we refuse to do the right thing, we are destroying our soul. The word of truth brings about spiritual revolution. For us to evolve spiritually, we must fight our Armageddon. Armageddon is the spiritual battle for spiritual emancipation; the destruction of the false doctrines of the anti-Christ when we allow the illuminating light of God's word to shines unto our soul. The Anti-Christ (consciousness) are the manipulative and satanic prophets of Babylon, teaching the confused and babel version of the scriptures. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, Satan himself is transformed into an angel (or messenger) of light (; mistakenly taken for a divine messenger of light by the ignorant and the simple-minded). Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. They seek to enslave the minds of the religious populace and do not want the truth out; but we can revolt through devotion and dedication to the word of truth. When his disciples came to Jesus, the model of the Christ consciousness and asked for the sign of his coming: Matthew 24:3; And as he sat upon the mount of Olive (refreshing anointing), the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world. Among many things he said, Jesus mentioned specifically the sign of the coming of the Christ consciousness. Matthew 24:27; For as the lightning (a knowingness) cometh out of the east (illuminating knowledge), and shineth even unto the west (devotion and dedication); so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass (rich spiritual food) is, there will be eagles (anointed saints) be gathered together. To paraphrase, this statement may mean: For as light (knowingness) comes out of illuminating knowledge, and shines even upon our devotion and dedication; so shall the coming of the Christ consciousness be. For wheresoever there is rich spiritual food, there, the anointed saints will gather together. So here, we see the reenactment of the first great commandment. Devotion and dedication to the word of truth are the foremost requirement to acquiring true and illuminating knowledge, which leads us to the Christ consciousness. And the gathering of eagles as used here connotes the gathering of anointed saints, the spiritually enlightened ones or high flyers. The scriptures refer to such gathering as 'the general assembly and church of the first born, which are written in heaven; the spirits of just men made perfect'. Hebrews 12:23. And so, for us to evolve spiritually, we must embrace spiritual revolution. Spiritual revolution is a sudden, vast change in the way of thinking and behavioural pattern, due consequently to spiritual enlightenment, through dedication and devotion to the word of truth. The manifestation of this sudden, vast change entails mental and psychological discipline. Armageddon; the overthrowing of a unspiritual mindset, begins with a personal battle, and gradually extends to a general one. It is a battle that precedes spiritual awakening and the end of the human mode of expression, allegorically called, 'end of days'. The scriptures enjoin us to, 'put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (satanically wicked and dark forces)'. Ephesians 6:11. These satanic, wicked and dark forces work with conscienceless individuals to enslave the human mind, plunder their spiritual heritages and baptize them unknowingly into the worship of Satan, thereafter enthroning Satan in the hearts of the people. These satanic prophets of Babylon lure the populace away from the true worship of God in spirit and in truth. Jesus said the Samaritan woman, 'you worship what you do not know, but we do worship what we have knowledge of and understand'. John 4:22. The revolutionary hour is here; indeed it is here, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in the realities of the truth. John 4:23-24. To begin your Armageddon, you must stand on the word of truth, which is the whole armour of God: Ephesians 6:14-18; Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the word of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. When Armageddon is fought and we are victorious, we would come to the understanding of the caustic effect of the false doctrines these prophets of Babylon feed the general public with; we would see the antics used in making the people walk in darkness. The Christ consciousness is a healing to all nations; the consequence of the great increase of illuminating knowledge providentially shall grant the preparation of the Christ consciousness in the hearts of the people. When the glory and brightness of the Christ consciousness, as the luminary morning star arises in our hearts, Satan's head would be crushed and his dominion ended; men shall pull down his image in their hearts, thus freeing themselves of his deceptions. His prophets, who led the people captive would be put to shame, like the days of Elijah, they shall be put to death in the streets and minds of the people. The Christ life and nature is a sure antidote to the devises and wiles of the enemy.