God

We believe that there is one true and living God who exists eternally in three equally divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. We believe that God has revealed himself to all humanity authoritatively through the bible. (John 1:1, Matt 28:19, 1 Cor 8:6, John 14:26, 2 Cor 13:14, Matt 3:16-17, Deut 6:4, 1 Pet 1:2, Ex 34:6-7, Is 46:8-11)

God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the creator of all things, the omnipotent ruler of the universe, and the absolute sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. We believe that he declares the end from the beginning and works all things according to the counsel of his will. We believe that in his sovereignty, he is neither the author nor approver of sin but holds men accountable as moral and intelligent creatures. We believe that he is Father within the Trinity, and as creator he is Father to all men, but he is spiritual Father only to believers in his Son, whom he has adopted and given the right to be called children of God. We believe he disciplines those he loves, comforts all who turn to him in mourning, and shepherds his children with tender and unchanging care. (Gen 1:1-31, 1 Chr 29:11, Ps 103:19, 145:8-9, Hab 1:13, John 1:12, 8:38-47, Rom 8:14-15, 11:36, Gal 4:5, 1 Cor 8:6, 2 Cor 6:18, Eph 1:4-6, 11, 3:9, 4:6, Is 46:10, Heb 12:5-9, 1 Pet 1:17)

God the Son (Jesus)

We believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. We believe that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, is fully God and fully man, and is without sin. We believe he came in the flesh, died, was bodily resurrected, and ascended on high, where he reigns at the right hand of God the Father, and is interceding for us. We believe that he is coming again, physically, bodily to establish His physical Kingdom of righteousness over all nations. (Is 7:14, Matt 1:20, Luke 1:26-38, Gal 4:4-5, Rom 8:34, Col 1:15-23, 2:9, Phil 2:5-11, Heb 4:15, 7:25-26, 1 Tim 3:16)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is eternal and underived. We believe he is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes. We believe that he was sovereignly active in creation, the incarnation, the writing of scripture, and that he continues to be active in the work of salvation. He is deposited as a guarantee within every true born again believer and is active in the fulfillment of the great commission. We believe that the Holy Spirit came from the Father on Pentecost, as promised by Christ, to initiate and complete the building of Jesus’ church in all nations through the great commission. We believe he convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, seals the hearts of believers for the day of redemption, transforms believers into the image of Christ (the fruit of the Spirit), and empowers believers for Christian service, apportioning spiritual gifts as he wills. (Gen 1:2, Ps 139:7-10, Is 40:13-14, Joel 2:28-29, Matt 1:18, Luke 1:31-35, John 1:32-34, 3:5-7, 14:15-16:15, Acts 1:8, 2, 5:3-4, 28:25-26, Rom 8:9, 8:26-27, 15:13, 1 Cor 2:10-13, 1 Cor 12:1-14:40, 2 Cor 3:6-18, Gal 5:16-26, Eph 4:30, 5:18, Heb 2:1-4, 9:14, 2 Pet 1:19-21)

Bible

We believe that the Bible, consisting of all sixty-six books of the old and new testaments, is the Holy Spirit inspired word of God, is without error in the original manuscripts, is what God has declared about himself and his eternal purposes, and is the supreme and final authority for testing and determining what is true, right, and best in the sight of God. We believe that the bible should be treasured and obeyed as it is our final authority in all things. (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:20-21, 3:16, Mark 13:31, John 17:17, Ps 19)

Man, Sin, and the Fall

We believe that Adam, the father of our race, was created in the image of God, free of sin, and pronounced “good” by his Creator. When Adam and Eve sinned at the fall, they became sinners, and sin, death, and condemnation entered the world. We believe that the image of God remains in all men, but it has been marred by the fall, such that in Adam all (besides Christ) receive the penalty of spiritual and physical death, are born in sin, enslaved to sin, shut up in disobedience, subjected to futility, by nature children of wrath, incapable of honoring or treasuring God apart from the grace of God. Because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men of all ages, (besides Christ). All men are therefore sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration. Being dead in trespasses and sins and being justly under the wrath of God, we need a righteousness and justification that is impossible to accomplish or provide ourselves. We must be born again. We must be made alive together with Christ. (Gen. 1-3, Ps. 51.5, Jer. 17.9, Mk. 7.14-23, Jn. 1.9-13; 3.1-21, 8.44, Rom. 1.18-31; 3.9-31; 5.12-21; 8.7-8, Eph. 2.1-10, 1 Cor 15:21-22, 1 John 1:8, Ecc 7:20)

Gospel

We believe that Jesus lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life, that he suffered and died in our place on the cross to fully absorb the wrath of God and pay the just penalty for our sins, that he was buried, and that he rose from the dead. We believe that all those who repent of their sin and believe in Christ Jesus are forgiven, cleansed, fully reconciled to God as his children, and have eternal life. We believe that Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, the only way to the Father, the author and finisher of our faith, and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We believe that the gospel is of first importance and is to be preached to believers and unbelievers. (Rom 3:23-25, John 1:12, 3:36, 1 Cor 15:3-6, 2 Cor 5:21, Gal 2:15, Eph 2:8-9, Col 1:15-23, 1 Cor 6:11, John 14:6, Heb 12:2, Mark 1:15, 16:15, 1 Tim 2:5, Rom 1:16)

Been, Being, Will Be Saved

We believe that those who are in Christ, have been saved from the penalty of sin (justification), are being saved from the power of sin (sanctification), and we will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification). (Eph 2:5,8, Rom 3:23-24, Rom 5:9, 1 Cor 1:18, Rom 6:22, Matt 24:13, Rom 15:11, 1 Cor 15:50-57)

Church

We believe that in this age, the church is the primary means by which the kingdom of God comes upon the earth, and that the church is God’s chosen vehicle for gospel advancement in the earth. We believe that every believer in Christ, both living and dead, became a part of the church universal at the time of their new birth, and that every living believer in Christ is to express the reality of the universal church, tangibly and practically, through commitment and submission to a specific, biblically based, local church expression. We believe the church is nothing more than biblically organized disciples gathered into the person, presence and purpose of Jesus Christ as Lord. It is never a building or an incorporated organization but made up of living stones called into family and assembled by Christ the Cornerstone. (Eph 3:9-11, Matt 16:18, Acts 20:28, 1 Cor 14:12, Eph 5:25, 1 Cor 12:27, Eph 2:19, Eph 4:25, Phil 1:12, Heb 13:17)

Leadership

We believe that churches are built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, led by a plurality of biblically qualified elders and equipped for the work of the ministry by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We believe that church leaders are given authority by God for building people up in their personal calling, restorative discipline and to maintain the integrity of the biblical calling Christ has given His church. We believe that godly leadership is to be marked by Christ likeness, love, and self-sacrificial service. (Eph 2:20, Eph 4:11-13, Titus 1:5, 1 Pet 5:1-5, 2 Cor 10:8, 13:10, Heb 13:17, Mark 10:42-45)

Missions

We believe that the apostolic church is God’s primary mission strategy to advance his kingdom in the earth by making disciples who make disciples of all people groups. We believe that biblical mission includes an apostle led team of people, including some who possess the biblical qualifications of an elder, that is sent by God to make disciple-making disciples resulting in a new church and the multiplication thereof. We additionally believe biblical mission can include a person or team of people sent by God to strengthen, help, and encourage existing churches. (Eph 3:9-11, Matt 28:19-20, Acts 13:1-4, Rom 1:1-6)

Apostles & Ascension Gifts

We believe that all five of the Ephesians 4:11-12 ascension gifts Jesus left His church – including apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists – are in operation within the church today. Their primary function is to equip the saints for works of service while building up the body of Christ. Apostles are spiritual leaders sent by Christ. They are marked by authority to do the work of making disciples, planting new churches and nurturing existing churches. We believe that apostles are builders, essential for bringing order and maturity to the church. We believe that modern apostles do not have authority to write scripture and that the unique apostleship of the original twelve eyewitness apostles of the Lamb will not be repeated. (1 Cor 1:1, Gal 1:1, Acts 13:2-3, Mark 3:14, Rom 1:4-5, 1 Cor 7:35, 2 Cor 13:10, Eph 4:11-14, Col 1:28-29, Titus 1:5, 1 Cor 9:1-2, Acts 1:22, 1 Cor 3:6-10, Gal 4:19, Eph 2:19-20, 3:5, 1 Cor 12:28-31, 1 Thess 2:11-12, Acts 14:14, 1 Thess 1:1, 2:6, 1 Cor 4:1, 6, 8-9, Matt 19:28, Rev 21:14)

Baptism

We believe that those who are in Christ should be baptized in water by immersion, not for justification, but in obedience to the Lord’s command. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward transformation after being born-again. It signals the commitment of the life-long pursuit of becoming like, and living for, the glory of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38, 1 Pet 3:21, Mark 16:16, Matt 28:19, Rom 6:3-4)

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that when the church comes together, those who are in Christ should regularly remember the Lord and proclaim his death, burial and resurrection through the Lord’s Supper, by eating the bread and drinking the cup. (1 Cor 11:17-27, Acts 2:42, Luke 22:17-20)

Gifts & Power of the Holy Spirit

We believe that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit, that all who are in Christ have been baptized into one body in the Spirit, and that anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. We believe that being baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit, is a distinct, separate experience from regeneration that is available as a gift to all believers in Christ and should be continually prayed for and received throughout a believer’s life for service, gospel witness, boldness, power, ongoing sanctification, and the spiritual gifts. We believe all the spiritual gifts are necessary for the building up of the church and have never ceased, and should be eagerly desired by all believers. (Matt 3:11, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:5, 1:8, 2:1-13, 2:38-39, 4:23-31, 8:12-17, 9:17-19, 10:44-48, 11:15-16, 13:9, 19:1-6, 1 Cor 12:7, 12:13, 14:1, 14:12, Joel 2:28-29, Eph 5:18, Rom 15:18-19, 1 Pet 1:2)

Kingdom

We believe that Jesus rules and reigns over everyone and everything, everywhere, for all time and eternity. We believe that his kingdom is unrivaled, uncontested, and is to be sought first. We believe the King of the kingdom has come, is coming again, and when He does the Kingdom will come in physical fullness to cover the earth. (Is 9:6-7, Matt 6:10, 6:33, 12:28, 13:31-33, Mark 1:15, Luke 12:32, 17:20-21, Heb 1:8, 2:8, 1 Cor 15:24, Rev 1:5, 11:15, 12:10, 19:16, Dan 4:3)

God’s Glory

We believe that God alone is within Himself glorious, that He reveals His glory through His Son, and that the chief end of man is to glorify God by obeying His Son. The glory of God will be enjoyed forever by those who love and obey Him. (Is 42:8, Heb 1:3, 2 Cor 4:4-6, Is 43:7, 1 Cor 10:31)

God Speaking

We believe that God speaks to his people and that his sheep hear his voice. We also believe that God will never speak anything that is contrary to the word of God. All revelations, dreams, prophecies, and interpretations should be tested by the word of God. (John 10:27, John 8:47, 1 Thess 5:20, 2 Tim 3:16, 1 Cor 14:1, 29)

Prayer

We believe that God has sovereignly chosen to partner with his people to accomplish his will on earth as it is in heaven. This partnership is accomplished through prayer. Like Christ, His people are to be devoted to daily prayer, a deep intimacy of two way communication between God and his people. We believe that prayer is a means of grace for communion with God, for warfare against Satan and sin, for the effectualness of gospel mission, for the receiving of strategy and instructions from Heaven, and for the building up of the church. (Matt 6:10, Col 4:2, 1 Thess 5:17, 1 Tim 2:1-4, Jer 33:3, Matt 26:41, James 5:16, Eph 6:18, 2 Chron 7:14)

Life

We believe that human life begins at conception and should be honored and esteemed regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or gender. (Ps 22:9-10, Job 31:15, Is 44:2, Jer 1:4-5, Gen 1:27, Ps 139:13-16)

Creation

We believe that God created all things by his will, and that all things were created through him and for him, that in everything He might be preeminent. We believe that God created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Therefore, the world was created by God to provide a context for the display of himself, that the nations may know that he is the Lord, that his glorious grace might be praised, and that all things might be brought to fruition in Jesus Christ. (Rev 4:11, Rom 11:36, Col 1:16, Eph 3:9:10-11, Eph 1:5-6, 9-10, Gen 1-3)

Satan & Demons

We believe that the devil is our enemy and that we are in a battle with him and his demons: the principalities, rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. We believe that Jesus disarmed them by triumphing over them on the cross, but that a person, culture, religion, etc can give the devil a foothold eventually leading to a stronghold through unforgiveness, habitual sin, believing lies, unbelief, rebellion, unrepented generational iniquities, or occult involvement. We believe that those who are in Christ have divine power to demolish such strongholds and to be set free in Christ. We believe that it is often helpful and/or necessary for the direct Spirit empowered authoritative prayers of other believers to obtain such deliverance and freedom. (1 Pet 5:8, Eph 6:11-13, Col 2:14-15, Eph 4:26-27, 2 Cor 10:3-6, John 8:31-32, 1 Sam 15:23, Luke 11:20, Gal 5:1, 2 Cor 3:17)

Gender Equality & Roles

We believe that there are only two genders, men and women,who are created equal in the image of God, with different but complementary roles. We believe that the value of a man or woman is not derived from or determined by his or her gender. (Gen 1:27, 2:5, 15, 18, 23-24, 3:9, 12, 17, 20, Ex 21:10, 1 Kings 2:1, Job 38:3, Prov 31:17, 25-26, 30, 31, Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40-41, Acts 1:22, Rom 5:12, 16:2, 1 Cor 11:3, 7-9, 14:34-35, Eph 5:22-31, 6:4, Col 3:18-19, 1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-5, 5:8, 10, 14, Titus 1:6, 9, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Pet 3:1-7)

Marriage

We believe that marriage is a life-long covenant between one man and one woman where God joins the two together and makes them one. We believe that the exclusive place for sex is between a husband and a wife in the context of marriage. (Gen 2:22-24, Mal 2:14-16, Prov 2:17, 1 Cor 7:2, Mark 10:7-9, Eph 5:31-32, Heb 13:4)

Homosexuality

We believe that the practice of homosexuality is a sin and that those in Christ who are tempted to practice homosexuality have sufficient grace and power to resist temptation and in some cases to be delivered from same sex attraction altogether. (1 Cor 6:9-11, Rom 1:26-28, 1 Tim 1:8-11, 1 Cor 10:13)

Israel

The everlasting covenant which God made with Abraham has Christ at its epicenter, however this does not dissolve the plan of God for the people or land of Israel. There are not two peoples of God, but rather one body in Christ, one holy nation, made up of Jews and Gentiles who have been called out of darkness into Christ’s marvelous light. The promises made to Israel in the Bible are still in force, and will one day be fulfilled when Israel is grafted into the people of God again through Jesus Christ. The church has not replaced Israel, nor is it the “new Israel.” It has been grafted into the Kingdom of God by the King of kings and Lord of lords. God’s Kingdom covers the whole earth, with Jesus Christ, not Israel, at its epicenter of worship and rule over all nations. Israel is God’s first born son of all nations (Ex 4:22). Hence, we have a calling to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations, so that the full numbers of Gentiles may come in and the partial hardening of Israel’s heart may be removed. In this, we do not merely pray for and preach the gospel to Gentiles but also to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. We must not become arrogant, apathetic, or indifferent to the Jewish root of the one tree, but look to the Israel of God’s (Gal. 6:16, the true sons of Abraham) faith, salvation, and fulfillment of promises in Christ alone. We long for the day when the whole house of Israel shall be saved when Christ physically and bodily returns to establish His governmental kingdom to rule and reign over all nations of the earth from Jerusalem. (Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-21, 17:1-27, Ex Is 11:1-16, Jer 30-33, Isa 9:6-7, Ez 37:1-28, Rev 7:1-8, Isa 66, Zech 12:1-14:21, Isa 4:2-6, Rom 9:1-11:36, Eph 2:11-22, Eph 4:4-6, Rom 2:17-29, Gal 3:7-9, Acts 3:13-26, Gal 3:28-29, 1 Pet 2:1-11, Jn 8:37-45, 1 Jn 2:22-23)

Death & The End of the Age

We believe that death is gain for those who are in Christ; that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We believe in the blessed hope, which is the personal, visible, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and with Him the coming of His physical Kingdom to earth. We believe the rapture of believers happens at the end of the seven-year tribulation period, meaning the church remains through the tribulation. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the judgment of every human who has ever lived. We believe the reception of Christ’s people to Himself, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell, and the fellowship of the redeemed in the Kingdom of God. We believe after the millennial reign of Christ’s Kingdom on earth, a new heaven and a new earth will be consummated and God will be with man forevermore. (Ps 22:27-31, 47, 89:19-29, 110, 132:13-18, Is 2:1-4, 9:6-7, 24:21-23, Ez 37:24-28, Zech 14:1-9, Matt 24:1-51, 1 Cor 15:1-58, Eph 1:9-10, 1 Thess 4:13-5:11, 2 Thess 1:5-2:17, Rev 20:1-22:21)

AN EXCERPT FROM OUR FOUNDING ELDER

Fifth Seal, the organization, and all elements of its makeup not found within the building materials of the New Covenant, including its 501(c)3 status, its name, its logo, its board, its bank account and the things that do not find their origin within God’s original design for His church, do not carry any more weight or value to us than a cardboard box. Nobody orders something from Amazon for the cardboard box it is shipped within. Only a blind fool marvels over the box once the item arrives. Where we live now, I put our cardboard boxes in a backroom to later be burned. Their burning makes a great fire starter for wood piles much bigger than themselves. To anyone with eyes to see, the cardboard box is of little value, however what it holds is precious. For those who are part of Fifth Seal, it is the presence of God, His word, and His people within that are the true treasure.

We will never attempt to preserve the organization of Fifth Seal at the expense of biblical integrity or obedience to Christ’s commands. Every work has a beginning and an ending. To each a time and season has been appointed by God. God fearing leaders of Christ’s Kingdom should know when it is time to plant and when it is time to pluck up what has been planted, a time for a work to be born and a time for it to die. There is no place for self-preservation within the Kingdom, much less the self-preservation of an organization. Jesus did not die for organizations, He died for the people that make them up. When organizations enter into self-preservation, it is the sheep who suffer. At the Lord’s appointed time, we will not hesitate to bury Fifth Seal as a seed for multiplication within the earth.

In the coming seasons at the end of the age, no man or ministry will be allowed to misappropriate God’s glory. He will not give His glory to anyone who attempts to use it to validate the ministry towers they have built to make a name for themselves. His glory will be reserved exclusively to usher in the holiness of His name alone. His coming outpouring will occur in times of great global terror as He swings His mighty harvest sickle over the earth in the outpouring of His greater glory. If people marvel over men or ministries in that hour, then they will not be able to marvel over the supreme worth of Jesus. As the fire on the mountain burned, a manmade calf of gold was marveled at below. Only fools worship idols on the day of visitation.

He is going to vindicate His own Holy name. The hour will come when His name alone receives all the glory. His glory He will not share with another. Zeal for His house consumes Him, a jealousy for His Bride as fierce as the grave. Nobody unclean gets to touch the ark and live. Nobody gets to lie to the Holy Spirit and continue to lead His house – Ananias and Sapphira were just a small New Covenant preview. In the days before His outpouring, He is going to sweep a dirty house clean. He is coming back for a Bride who has made herself ready for the marriage to come.

I want to see Him reveal His glory in the nations. More than anything else, I want to be used by God in that day. I could care less about a cardboard box and all of the frivolous idolatry and religious pomp that comes with it – what a heavy yoke that burns pastors, people, and churches out. We will not participate in nor propagate that nonsense, whatsoever. Even so, I believe the Lord said it is time to begin Fifth Seal in the eyes of man, “It is a necessary tool for the time of transition.”

Fifth Seal is not a brand to be built, a banner to be flown, or a ministry castle to be constructed. In the form of a mustard seed, in all humility, it is time for it to be born in the mangers of the barns of earth. It is not purposed to make a name for ourselves, but to become a new wineskin to usher in the greater glory of His. In the sense of what tangibly exists, it will be an IP address on the internet and a registration as a church with the government. At this time, that is it. We are fully committed to not rejecting the Cornerstone or His building materials of the New Covenant temple erected of living stones alone.

We will render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and entrust to God what belongs to Him. His church belongs to Him. It is His blood, not ours, that purchased His bride. If we are to communicate with the blind, we must become braille. If we are to give understanding to the deaf, we must become a visible expression of the written word. That expression is not a building or a logo, or a website, or an organization, it is the glory of God dwelling in us. If they cannot see God within us, then they will see nothing at all.

May the last days lampstand of the Lord be brought into the earth. May His Kingdom come. May every tribe, nation and tongue cry maranatha to the Lamb.

He alone is worthy.