Saturday, January 30, 2021

Revelation - A Book of the Past and the Future (Sermon)


Welcome. The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries would like to present our latest sermon via our YouTube channel:

Revelation - A Book of the Past and the Future

1:28:48

The Book of Revelation is a Book that connects all prophecies of God together. It's a Book of the past, present, and future!




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Tuesday, January 26, 2021

'If Thou Wilt'


Greetings once again friends and warm hearts! Welcome our friends in Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, as well as the United States of America! I’m your host Leonard V. Johnson and welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries in Spring Hill, Florida.

We wake this morning to a new administration in the White House. Already, just one day in Joe Biden signed a handful of executive orders –
January 20, 2021

Among the 17 executive actions U.S. President Joe Biden signed during his first hours in office Wednesday, two will strengthen frayed cooperation with the United Nations on boosting global health and combating climate change.

Making good on campaign promises, Biden halted the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and rejoined the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.

January 20, 2021

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed wide-ranging executive orders Wednesday to end travel restrictions from predominantly Muslim and African countries, initiate a halt to border wall funding and strengthen protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. The orders dismantled major portions of former President Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.

Travel restrictions

The Biden-Harris White House reversed proclamations that barred most people from several majority Muslim and African countries to travel to the U.S. In a conference call with reporters, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, described Trump’s policy as “nothing less than a stain on our nation” and “rooted in xenophobia and religious animus.” The former Trump White House had defended the proclamations as needed to keep America safe.

Sadly, the calm before the storm is over.

Yesterday I saw posted on Facebook –


Well, I had commented that there are others that are being taken down, not just from Facebook, but all around the internet as “against our community standards.” Such as –

Romans 1:24-27, 32.

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25) who EXCHANGED the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature [the created things] rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26) For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature [speaking of LESBIANISM].

27) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful [speaking of HOMOSEXALITY], and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error [speaking of very possibly sexually transmitted diseases] which was due.

32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Also –

Ephesians 5:22-25.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; … 24) Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25) Husbands, love your wives, …”

In response was -


Indeed, the apostle Paul, in Romans 1:32 is speaking of ‘sin leading to death.’ As in the second death – Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8; Romans 6:23; 7:5; 8:6.

Sadly, the greater majority of our peoples are afraid or ignorant of proclaiming the very words of the Eternal One! I recall not long ago I was asked by my sister-in-law why I didn’t believe in the “rapture.” And I began to slowly explain what God’s living word truly says and does not say concerning a “rapture” – along with the truth about death and what happens after death – of the fact that I didn’t want her to “be ignorant, … concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest [she] sorrow as others who have no hope.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NKJV. She believes in going off to Heaven – cf. John 3:13. I explained “the mystery [the hope of the gospel] which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” – Colossians 1:26-27 NKJV. Within that short discussion, I told her about the glorious hope of the gospel – the good news of the potentiality of eternal life, the great hope of the resurrection, and into the family of God. My sister-in-law’s best friend, who was visiting with her – and who had indulged in a lifestyle which God finds abominable - cf. Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:24-32 – just rolled her eyes and laughed. Sadly, her friend died 21 days later.

But friends, getting to the main message for today – ‘If Thou Wilt.’

The religious leaders of our Lord Jesus Christ’s day knew He was going to come. And they knew that He would be an heir of King David (Cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-13). This coming Ruler would be the King of Israel and heir to David’s throne that would establish the nation with judgment and with justice, just like His father David did before Him in ancient times! From the very seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Cf. Genesis 3:15; 12:3; 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:15-19) – they also knew that He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) by a virgin birth (Cf. Isaiah 7:14). They knew the method and the way in which He would come – because they had within their possession the Old Testament. They knew that He would heal the broken-hearted – as the prophet Isaiah prophesied and as He Himself announced when He stood up and read this very passage in the temple (Cf. Isaiah 9:6-7; see Luke 4:16-17)! That He would restore the nation of Israel (Cf. Jeremiah 23:5). That He would have a triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Cf. Zechariah 9:9). And that He would save them from their enemies (Cf. Isaiah 59:20, Jeremiah 31:31).

But they completely missed the underlying reason for WHY He came!

One of the reasons of WHY He came was to preach repentance and to set an example for us. He says this very thing while He was washing the disciples’ feet -

’ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you’” – John 13:15 NKJV. He gave us an example of how to live.

He also brought a Message with Him about the soon-coming future Kingdom of God! The very thrust of His Message was about the coming Kingdom of God! And, sadly, the majority of our peoples completely misunderstand this awesome Message even TODAY! It’s the same glorious Message I had proclaimed to my sister-in-law and her friend. They completely miss that our Lord and Savior is talking about a soon-coming kingdom that is soon to be established right here on Earth! And they are completely oblivious to this!

He also came to fulfill the very will of God. To perform a certain act or function – which the religious leaders of His day completely failed to understand and recognize, which they completely missed – even though it was hanging on a cross on Golgotha Hill!

Now, even nearly two-thousand years later, the majority still completely misunderstand the very purpose of this very act. And suppose that He came to do away with Almighty God’s Law altogether. And they assume that this expression of the greatest of love exempts a Christian from observing and remaining obedient to God’s eternal Law – which He put in place at very creation.

Friends, let us begin there – I’d like to start there.

At creation, the LORD our God – the very One we now know of as Jesus Christ – began to institute His Law for His creation to follow. And we know the story there in the Garden of Eden in Genesis the 2nd chapter the great Elohim commanded Adam and Eve to obey His commands – and if they did not, there would be a price to pay.


Genesis chapter 2

Verse 16 – “And the LORD God commanded the man [here the Hebrew word for ‘man’ is ‘ādām, meaning humankind], saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

That is a serious consequence – isn’t it!? That is a commandment from the LORD God which brings the death penalty – doesn’t it!?

Now, going back a few verses God’s living word also tells us during the creation week –

Verse 2 – “And on the SEVENTH DAY God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the SEVENTH DAY from all His work which He had done. 3) Then God blessed the SEVENTH DAY and sanctified it [in other words, He set it apart from all other days – creating a holy day], because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

So we begin to see these commands which the LORD God put in place – here in regard to the Sabbath day. Which most completely reject. Why I do not know. Right here it was instituted at creation. We have taught before on why Sunday became an observance from Emperor Constantine the Great of the “Holy” Roman Empire. And how they wanted to EXCHANGE everything having to do with God's living word - the Holy Bible -  and to include pagan beliefs and traditions. And so for a short time they had observances on both Saturday and Sunday. And then, in A.D. 325 convoked the First Council of Nicaea which produced their belief known as the Nicene Creed – changing the Sabbath to the first day of the week. Which now the greater majority of the Catholics and Protestants observe.



Turn with me if you will to Genesis the 4th chapter

In this chapter we learn even more about the LORD God’s Law which was extant even while our first parents walked the earth.

Verse 1 – “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have acquired a man from the LORD.’ 2) Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3) And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.”

So, where did this understanding of bringing an offering unto the LORD come from!? Understand, this was not long after creation, ‘in the process of time’ Hebrew, ‘at the end of days’ – some suggesting that Cain might have brought the offering on the Sabbath. 1

Verse 4 – “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. …”

Friends, we are centuries before the LORD God gave His Law at Mount Sinai having to do with the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant – the Mosaic law. And yet here Abel is bringing before the LORD God the firstborn of his flock and of their fat – which was a sacrifice.

Verse 5 – “but He [the LORD God] did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

And, look at what occurs –

Verse 6 – “So the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?’”

Cain did not bring any firstborn from a flock – he just brought a basket of fruit.

Verse 7 – “’ If you do well, will you not be accepted? …’” the LORD God here speaking to Cain. “ … ‘And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. …’”

Let us take a time out here.

We know in the Book of Romans the apostle Paul wrote, “because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.” Over in 1st John – under the inspiration of God’s Spirit – writes, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” So here the LORD God is telling Cain that if you sin you are transgressing the Law.

So here is the very possibility of sin for Cain – and he could not have sinned if there had not been a Law for him to transgress. And that is the point. The LORD God could not have laid sin upon Cain if there was no Law to transgress.

Turning to the 6th chapter of Genesis

Evil had begun to dominate in those early years of humanity. The moral depravity became overwhelming!

Verse 5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil continually.” – the whole world had become engrossed in wickedness and evil.

Verse 8 – “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

Friends, a good portion of this message today will be about this. I want to talk about grace.

Here is the very first mention of the word “grace” in God’s living word – that word being ḥēn, meaning, unmerited favor.

Verse 13 – “And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’” – and indeed what a magnitude was the Flood! It was a historical and global catastrophe! Most of our peoples around the world have never considered that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:37-39), the apostle Peter (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; 3:3-7), the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 54:9), and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:14) truly knew that it was a historical event which truly occurred! And, hundreds of flood stories from civilizations around the world (many of which have details matching those in Genesis 6–9) point to a real historical event in the memory of humanity. Only Noah and his family having been saved – by the grace of the LORD God. Having mercy, having unmerited favor, on the remnant of His people – of mankind. For Noah encapsulates the people that Almighty God will eventually save from the terrible and dreadful Day of the LORD because of mankind’s wickedness and evil! The LORD God’s grace will fall upon His people!

When the ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the mountain of Ararat – in the 8th chapter of the Book of Genesis – Noah did something.

Verse 20 – “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and every clean bird [see Leviticus 11:1-47], and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” – now, we are still centuries before the LORD God gave His Law at Mount Sinai having to do with the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant – of the Mosaic law. Here, Noah built an altar – and not only did he take of animals, but he took only of every clean animal. Evidently, some of the animals were not acceptable to the LORD God. And you know – so many children’s Bible books that I saw growing up, like “My Book of Bible Stories” by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society along with “The Bible Story” the complete book series by Arthur S. Maxwell – which so many doctor offices have in their waiting rooms – which has the story of Noah and the Flood every one of them claims that the animals went into the ark two-by-two. But if you read God’s living word it says, “’ You shall take with you SEVEN each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female.’” – Genesis 7:2 NKJV. Why do they leave that out!? Children miss out on a very important piece of the story which the LORD God wants us to know – that there are animals to Him that are acceptable, that are clean. And later – in Leviticus – the LORD God does indeed command that He doesn’t even want mankind to eat those unclean animals.

Over in the 13th chapter of the Book of Genesis

Verse 13 – “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.” – and of course we do know just what happened to those five cities of the plain. Almighty God allowed what I believe to be an asteroid (according to many scholars who have studied the ancient Sumerian “Planisphere disk”) to destroy those cities – with ‘fire and brimstone.’

Now, in the 14th chapter of the Book of Genesis

Abram gave Melchizedek – who was called the priest of God Most High – a tithe of all. Again, here is Abram long before he had Isaac, Jacob, Joseph – long before the LORD God gave His Law at Mount Sinai having to do with tithing as it related with the Old Covenant. The idea of tithing is seen.

Turning over to the 20th chapter of Genesis

Abram – whose name is now Abraham, meaning either “father of many” or (hamon) meaning “many, multitude” see Genesis 17:5 – disguised his own wife on one occasion. “And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

But then – verse 9 – “Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, ‘What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.’”

Because remember, Abraham had said of his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ And King Abimelech took her for his wife – but God came to him in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken.’ The point being – Abimelech came to realize that taking another man’s wife was a sin. Here was a leader who didn’t even worship the great and awesome Elohim (e-lo-HEEM), and he came to realize that God’s Law was about to be broken. Again, where there is no Law there is no transgression.

Now friends there are dozens of more examples I could go over which proves that Almighty God’s Law indeed existed and functioned long before Mount Sinai. God’s eternal and relevant Law was long before the house of Israel, before their captivity into Egypt and the 430-years which they were held there! And, God’s Law existed long before their release under prophet Moses which brought them to Mount Sinai where they were given the Law.

Turning to the Book of Exodus chapter 20 and the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 5 you see the Ten Commandments. This was the codification of God’s eternal Law – where the Eternal One Himself, with His own finger, wrote in stone the Ten Commandments. 

I recall traveling with my wife to St. Augustine, Florida back in 2015 – which was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers. The oldest continuously inhabited establishment in the United States. We went and visited the cemeteries there with their very old tombstones from the likes of 1791 even to 1884. Some were difficult to read, but you could still see their name and the date on which they died. God wrote His eternal Law in stone. Because He wanted them to be preserved – forever.

Now, did the apostle Paul – who was converted in approximately A.D. 34 - 36 2 - come along after the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and reveal that God’s eternal Law had been “Nailed to the Cross” – as I’ve heard this terminology used before!?

After all of God’s meticulous instruction in the Old Testament by the servants of God – under the instruction of the LORD God – was His Law somehow “done away” by the teachings of the apostle Paul!? Now, with the greater majority of our peoples, this is where the ‘narrow gate’ (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-25) takes an abrupt fork.

Friends, let us see just what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has to say about His eternal and very relevant Law.

Let us begin in the Book of Matthew the 4th chapter

This passage alone should ring loud in everyone’s ear when they read it! This is what Jesus had to say to Satan the devil himself. By the way – have you seen this demonic commercial!? A television commercial for Match, a website on the internet for dating (written and directed by Ryan Reynolds, and is he a devil worshiper? It certainly makes one wonder), depicting a red demonic looking man with these huge black horns – hooking up with a young lady and bonding over both being from hell, getting a montage of them sharing all sorts of romantic 2020 moments!? It truly flabbergasted me, and a sickening feeling came over me when I saw it! The thought which came to my mind was – Satan the devil is truly ramping up his influential airwaves over the populous of this world! Indeed my friends – “’ Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and to the sea! For the devil … having great wrath, … knows that he has a short time.’”

Our Savior and soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords – when He faced Satan the devil – told him point-blank –

Verse 4 – “ … ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ – He indeed meant the whole of God’s Law! ALL OF IT!! You can not rip part of it out and throw it away! Sadly, there are growing around the world – New Testament Only churches! That’s all they believe is in effect. But we know – this same Jesus Christ was the very One that was there at creation when His living word says, “’ Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” This same Jesus Christ (known as the Logos or Spokesman; see John 1:1-3, 14) was the very One that allowed – what very possibly could have been a natural calamity, called the “Hydroplate Theory” to occur! 3 Allowing the worldwide Flood to take place! This same Jesus Christ was the very One who spoke to the prophet Moses from a burning bush saying, “’ I AM WHO I AM.’” And later, in the New Testament saying, “’ Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” And, this same Jesus Christ was the One who wrote – with His own finger – the very commandments of the great Ancient of Days!

Indeed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork”! When we look at creation – I once had stopped in an old long-ago closed down truck stop out in the middle of Texas, it was pitch dark – no lights anywhere – got out of the truck and just gazed up at His distant stars! I saw at that one time more stars than I had ever seen before! And that truly floored me! It truly made me feel small! Friends, this same Jesus Christ created all things – John 1:1-3!

The apostle Paul – under the inspiration of God’s Spirit writes – over in 1st Corinthians the 10th chapter

Verse 1 – “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers [in other words, the children of Israel] … 3) all ate the same spiritual food, 4) and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” – showing us that Jesus Christ was indeed there!

In the Book of Matthew the 5th chapter

Our Lord and Savior made a statement which even to this day the greater majority of our peoples do not understand!

Verse 17 – “’ Do not think …’ – in other words, ‘DO NOT THINK THIS!’ “ … ‘that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets [meaning, the first five Books of the Bible, including the Books of the prophets]. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.’

And, sadly, I have personally heard many a minister say that that word ‘fulfill’ means that He did it all for us and that we don’t have to it at all. That word ‘fulfill’ actually is plēroō in Greek, meaning “to do them.” Because someone had to completely do Almighty God’s Law perfectly. And He certainly did. They had to be obeyed perfectly.

Verse 18 – “’ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away [a reference to Matthew 24:35 and Revelation 21:1], one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.’ - Jesus elevated God’s Law to a spiritual plane.

And, He gives us all a WARNING – including the one who responded, “Well, I guess I don't deserve to live. ” - who breaks God’s Law!

Verse 19 – “’ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom [from] heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom [from] heaven.’ – so there are those who keep and teach others to keep His eternal and relevant Law, and those who do not keep His Law and teach others that they don’t have to.

Verse 20 – “’ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness [the self-righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom [from] heaven.’

Now, our Lord Jesus goes on in this chapter to actually mention some of His commandments that were given at Mount Sinai – about murder, about stealing, about adultery. And He actually elevates God’s Law to a spiritual plane as I said earlier. So, if one has murderous thoughts in their heart, they are just as guilty in God’s eyes of committing murder! I’ve actually heard one of my own brothers say to me before, “You’re dead to me! ” And I’ve had others say, “Just drop dead!” When one has hatred in so-much of their heart that they just simply wish for someone to drop dead – they committed murder! And God’s Law has been broken!

When I was a guest for God’s holy Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this last year, I actually heard a man say that the majority of the churches of God do not teach that only they are right and that everybody else is wrong! Yet, their very tenets – which stems from their founding church – indeed shows this to be true! A great majority boldly proclaim it on their “fundamental beliefs” website page! They appear to be masters at being self-righteous. They don’t seem to take the mirror and turn it towards themselves and go, “O’ now I see just what kind of church we actually are. We should admit that indeed we could very well be wrong.” Or, “We should ask God for forgiveness.” They – for the most-part – justify themselves and condemn all other churches in the world. Friends, I state here – that I will not intentionally mislead you. And if I come to find out that I’m wrong, I will apologize and change. But I will not state that only we – the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries – have God’s living truth. Because Almighty God has many servants. We are only a cog in the wheel – or rather, but servants in God’s great army.

Turning over to the Book of Matthew chapter 23 Jesus stated –

Verse 2 – “ … ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3) Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, …’

They were actually speaking and teaching God Law out of the ‘Book of Moses’ – as they call it. And He actually told the multitude and His disciples to ‘observe and do’ what they were teaching in regards to God’s Law. “ … ‘but …’ He continues, “ … ‘do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.’ It’s like what I had heard a very ‘minister of righteousness’ (see 2 Corinthians 11:15) who became combative with me this last Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day say, “I am a watcher.” I’ve heard him quote our Lord Jesus Christ’s very words, such as, “’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, … By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’” But sadly, he does not have nor shows this ‘love for one another.’ This man is a two-faced liar – he talks out of both sides of his mouth.

The final one here is the 19th chapter of the Book of Matthew – an example which Jesus gave –

Verse 16 – “Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

Now, isn’t this a question that all religious people want to know – including for that matter agnostics and atheists!?

Verse 17 – “And He said unto him, ‘Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.’KJV.

This is another statement that even to this day the greater majority of our peoples – the peoples of the world – refuse to accept and do!

And He quotes some of them to explain which ones He is actually talking about –

Verse 18 – “ … ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19) Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

In your Bible turn with me over to the Book of Ephesians the 1st chapter.

The apostle Paul begins here with –

Verse 3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places [by] Christ.”

The New English Bible translates this a little differently, “ … who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.” God the Father has given us these promises by and through Jesus Christ!

Now, look at these nine points which the apostle Paul mentions –

Verse 4 – “just as He chose us …” – that’s one. “ … in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. …” – that’s two.

Let us remember the apostle Paul is writing here to God’s Church within a Gentile city within a Gentile nation. Paul was dealing with church groups that were being influenced by people who were trying to make them more JEWISH than CHRISTIAN. Or, the term Judeo-Christian. And to this day – within the Church of God – there are people throughout all of these congregations who believe that they want to become followers of Jewish tradition and that somehow that will make them perfect before God.

Verse 6 – “to the praise of the glory of His grace, …” – unmerited favor which was bestowed upon us, that’s number three. “ … accepted [by] the Beloved.”

Verse 7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, …” – that’s four. “ … according to the riches of His grace.”

Now, it wasn’t God’s eternal and relevant Law that was the problem – it was that people could never perfectly keep God’s Law. His Law defined just what sin is.

In Romans 7:12 the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore the Law [speaking here of the TEN COMMANDMENTS] is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”

Verse 9 – “having made known to us the mystery of His will, …” – number five.

Friends, Almighty God, after we are converted, gives us an insight into His Master Plan! He reveals to us that there is coming a future kingdom – and He allows us to understand a bit of this. Sadly, most of our peoples of the world are completely unaware of this future kingdom of God which is coming to the EARTH!

Verse 10 – “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, …” – a universal reconciliation, which is number six.

Verse 11 – “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, …” – number seven. We become co-heirs of the promises which He made so long ago! “ … being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

Verse 13 – “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” – that’s number eight.

Verse 14 – “[which] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, …” – number nine. Which is our assured salvation. We know that after we go through this process here – after repentance, are baptized and had hands laid upon us, the receiving of His Holy Spirit – we know that we have salvation! It’s guaranteed so long as we don’t turn back – cf. Genesis 19:26; Job 34:27; Matthew 24:18; Mark 3:28-29; 13:16; Luke 9:62; John 6:66; Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-27, etc.

Moving down now to chapter 2 of the Book of Ephesians – the apostle Paul speaking to our converted brethren there in the Church at Ephesus and by extension now to us –

Verse 1 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2) in which you once walked [walked in trespasses and sins] according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, …” – in other words, we were right there in this world and was walking and trespassing and sinning along with Satan the devil – with principalities, with powers, with rulers of the darkness of this age (Cf. Ephesians 6:12). “ … the spirit who now works in the [children] of disobedience.”

And friends, I truly believe that Satan the devil, and his minions control a great many people upon this earth through the airwaves, affecting peoples’ six basic emotions – love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness, and fear. And can work humans’ emotions up into a frenzy!

Verse 3 – “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as others.” – we were just like the greater majority of this world which is oblivious to the LORD our God – the great Most High God and Creator! Or, like my wife along with a growing number of our peoples who claim, “I believe in a God, but not religion” – known as Deism.

Verse 4 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5) even when we were dead in trespasses [in sins], made us alive together with Christ …” – He, in other words, raised us up from death – the death penalty. “ … (by grace you have been saved), …”

The question being – is it anything which we did which brought about this act of grace from Almighty God!? And, that’s always been an IMPORTANT question – hasn’t it!?

Let us read a little further.

Verse 6 – “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us [through] Christ Jesus.”

So, truly, only when in the future (see Revelation 20:10) – when, by the grace of God, we are in the glorious kingdom of God with our Master and Elder Brother – our Savior – will we truly understand the magnitude of what took place there on Golgotha Hill!

Verse 8 – “For by grace [again, unmerited favor] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, …”

Friends, the Pharisees, the Sadducees taught, and even a great many churches of God today which want to continue with Judeo-Christianity teach (the Jews having some 613 commandments) that one has to keep their laws meticulously (i.e. no eating at restaurants on God’s Sabbath, no alcohol, to physically circumcise all the males, not to travel on God’s Sabbath, etc.) in order to gain salvation and favor with God.

Verse 9 – “not of works, lest anyone should boast 10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [unto] good works, …”

You cannot gain salvation by keeping God’s holy Law for even a hundred lifetimes – perfectly. Because we have already broken His Law when we find out just where we stand in this life. As I said earlier - His Law defines just what sin is. When we finally understand that Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed in the upper heavenly realms and that They have a Law! And the very fact that we have already broken this great Law – already being guilty of death!

It was only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – and this sacrifice came through the grace of Almighty God! HE GAVE THAT TO US! Because we were in a situation we couldn’t get out of. But does this drop God’s Law!?

Verse 11 – “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision [they were called unclean] by what is called the Circumcision [ in other words, by the Jewish converts] made in the flesh by hands – 12) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens [strangers] from the commonwealth of Israel …” – as I said earlier, the apostle Paul is writing here to God’s Church within a Gentile city within a Gentile nation. Paul was dealing with church groups that were being influenced by people who were trying to make them more JEWISH than CHRISTIAN. “ … and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13) But NOW in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Verse 14 – “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one [speaking of both Jews and Gentiles], and has broken down the middle wall of separation, …” – recall that the Jews were allowed to access the temple, however the Gentiles were only allowed a certain section!?

Verse 15 – “having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from two, thus making peace.”

Now, there are so many ministers which will claim, ‘There it is! God abolished the Law of commandments!’ The question is – what law!? Friends, it is important that you answer the rest of this! God’s living word says that His knowledge within His word – the Holy Bible – is “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” – Isaiah 28:10 NKJV. One cannot just take one passage and use that only as proof. You must go to all the places within His living word which He provides on any given subject.

Verse 16 – “and that He might reconcile them both to God in ONE BODY through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

So, friends, in conclusion, let us turn briefly to the Book of Jeremiah the 7th chapter

Now, I had asked – what law!? Did Almighty God do away with His Ten Commandments!?

Verse 21 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat.” – the LORD God is being rather cynical here. God is basically throwing their sacrifices back in their face. Because they were offering sacrifices and then turning around doing evil.

Verse 22 – “’ For I DID NOT speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 23) But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’”

Now, the apostle Paul would indeed take big issue with this! He would say in Galatians 3 – “What purpose then does the law serve? …” Speaking of the Mosaic law, the law of Moses!? He goes on to say, “… It was added because of transgressions, TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME to whom the promise was made; …”

God had added this sacrificial system there at Mount Sinai which had to do with the sacrifice of bullocks, goats, lambs, and turtle doves. Along with the sacrificial lamb at Passover – these were all a symbol of redemption until the ‘SEED SHOULD COME’ – the one and only true sacrifice! God added this sacrificial system as a temporary atonement for His people until - cf. Hebrews 9:10.

The apostle Paul also wrote in Hebrews 10 – “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. “then He [our Lord Jesus Christ] said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sacrificed through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.”

Friends, that was the reason why Jesus Christ came. □

Bibliography:

1) Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary on the Whole Bible. Jamieson Robert, Fausset R. A., Brown David, Zondervan Publishing House, 1961, pg. 20.
2) Bromiley, Geoffrey William (1979). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Vol A-D. Wm. B. Eerdmans. P. 689.
3) See The video “The Hydroplate Theory – The Flood” by Dr. Walter Brown.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Our Top Ten Articles of 2020

Greetings! The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries is pleased to bring you our top ten articles of 2020!


Now, where did we get those things!? Why do millions observe them!? Why would one observe Lent!? Just where did it come from, do you know!?


God's living word has more to say about light - and the absence of it - than you may have thought!


A first-hand witness to some amazing miracles from Almighty God and our Lord God Jesus Christ!


Hello everyone! Welcome to Owensboro, Kentucky. Welcome to NOT a weekly church service of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ - but rather - welcome to an annual Holy Day!


Even in regards to clean and unclean meats (Leviticus 11:1-8; 47; Deuteronomy 14:1-29) let us PROVE ALL THINGS AND HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD (1st Thessalonians 5:21-23).


God and our Lord Jesus Christ set aside a commanded day of rest. A day to 'remember and to keep holy.' Not only is this day given to mankind to take a break from his six-days of labor, but it also serves as a sign between God and His begotten children.


The Old and the New Testaments indeed mentions the FEAST of Unleavened Bread. The great spiritual meaning behind the Days of Unleavened Bread can be found in John 6 when the LORD our God said, 'I AM the bread of life. ... Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [the breaking and eating of the unleavened bread and the drinking of the wine of Passover], you have no life in you.' Minister Michael C. Garrett explains this God-given gift of His knowledge in this wonderful and extremely educational sermon.


Are Christians to use fermented wine or grape juice for Passover?


I thought our very astute friends would enjoy this!


A greater amount of armed Americans could very well mean the greater possibility of civil unrest. It is prophesied within the living words of the Eternal God - the Holy Bible - of future violent civil unrest!

Monday, January 18, 2021

'Why Should You Die, O House of Israel?'

Greetings EVERYONE! Greetings, our friends in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Malawi, and Finland – and, of course, all our friends in the United States of America! Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, I’m your host Leonard V. Johnson.

There are a number of YouTube channels that we have that are available. We here are excited about Minister Guy LaMar’s great commission up in Athens, Alabama. The Independent Christian Church of God YouTube channel looks wonderful! Be sure to Subscribe and ring the bell on the channel to get notified about their latest sermons. And you have the option to be notified for occasional sermons, or all of them. And on your phone, make sure to go into your settings and switch on notifications. There is also the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ’s YouTube channel with literally hundreds of great sermons delivered by Minister Michael C. Garrett. Also, Trevor Koonce’s wonderful channel! And I am so truly proud and glad that we have this “open door” here in which all the before mentioned YouTube channels have God’s WORD, TRUTH, and PLAN! Each Sabbath I myself go on those YouTube channels and watch several sermons!

Good Morning America! We wake up this morning and discover that the Leftists and their agenda are pushing ever-stronger for their ultimate goal for America – revolution. Also, Iran escalates its threats and dire warnings to the United States of America! Continuing to call America the “Great Satan.” As Iranians bemoan the killing of one of their top generals – Soleimani – there in Iran. There has been a recent deployment of over 3500 U.S. military personnel to Iraq following the killing of this general. Let us dear friends think about the mothers and fathers of our soldiers who are being deployed into one of the most severe warzones of the world. We are continuing to see American and Israeli flags burned and stepped on in places like Iraq and Iran – chanting ‘death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’

What will be the response!?

Now, for the past few months, I have been posting dire warnings – not just for America, but also the little nation in the Middle East known as Israel. With such sermons as “Does God Have Your Attention?” and “God’s Master Plan – From the Beginning” and “’ Tell My People Their Sins’” – which received several negative comments.

We have been proclaiming that we think two factors are going to cause a reunification of Europe - a seventh resurrection of the “Holy” Roman Empire.
  1. The threat of Islamic militarism.
And quoted from Minister Michael C. Garrett:
“You can call it Islamofascism or you can call it Radical Islam or you can call it all just a bunch of crazy people. … Make no mistake my friends, the leaders of that Islamic strain of Islam, their greatest goal is to conquer you or to kill you! Don’t be confused about that! I have to say I’m embarrassed by some of our political leaders in this country that wanna make nice. “O’ these are nice people!” they say. “It’s a religion of love!” And every time I hear it I wanna say, “It twernt Lutherans that flew the planes into the Towers!” It was Islamic terrorists! And that movement is growing! We have Hamas in charge of Palestine! We have Iran threatening with nuclear weapons! We have Pakistan – one bullet away, one assassination away – from becoming just like Afghanistan! A homeland of fanatics! Throughout the world we have problems!”

2. A revitalized Roman Catholic Church and a pope of magnificent stature.
Again, Minister Garrett:
“These two factors will be the tipping point that causes Europe to say, “We must have strong leaders again! We must have a strong military again! We must protect our borders! We must protect ourselves! We must unite! Even though we have differences!” Remember the image in Daniel, ‘partly clay, partly iron’!? - doesn’t always get along. But in the threat of a common enemy, I believe, that Europe will coalesce together. It will be Islamic terrorism and it will be led by a revitalized Roman Catholic leader. And it’s going to set up that seventh revival.”

(Read More: Ibid).
Indeed, in the United States, there has been a grave influx of home-grown terrorism – as in the bombing of Nashville, to the threat of explosive devices within Washington, D.C., and there may be even foreign terrorist cells of a radical strain of the religion of Islam within the United States ready to strike!?

This is America! An America I have not been witness to before! Sadly, this is the America we are living in today. We also just witnessed, and as Michael Snyder of the Most Important News pointed out – a massive riot that dealt a severe blow to any political future that President Donald Trump hoped to have. With one stone, the terrorist organization Antifa neutered the debate over the legitimacy of the election and devastated the Trump movement as well. 1 All of this has revealed just how truly divided we are as a nation. Also uncovering the devious plots and schemes – and the true character – of many of our politicians and those within leadership positions.

Also in the news, we notice that the Methodist Church is splitting right down the middle in regards to an impasse between two factions within the church that have not been able to agree on homosexual “marriage” and clergy. Over half of their members believe and accept homosexuality and homosexual “marriage” as well as homosexual clergy. It is difficult for me to contemplate this. Truly, a society like ancient Rome – the LGBTQ movement – should have equal rights with god-fearing American citizens!? As I say quite a lot – there is coming a time soon when those who have the “lifestyle” of pedophilia will want those equal rights – too. I never imagined growing up and then one day waking up in an America such as this! Where abortion, and even post-birth abortion, is legal! Basically – LEGAL MURDER!

Indeed there is, soon, coming a time when our government will no longer be using our national motto “In God We Trust.” I believe that within my lifetime we will see this occur! Already there are governmental officials that upon their swearing-in leaves out “so help me God.” And as Yahoo News writes:
“America’s socialists reckon they’re on a roll. But now it’s spreading across the Rust Belt, Midwest and South. At least 60 branches of the Democratic Socialists of America, the most prominent among a bunch of reinvigorated leftist groups — have sprung up in the past year, mostly in conservative areas where President Donald Trump did well with voters.” 2
Of course, as our Lord Jesus Christ said (cf. John 15:18-25), true Christians are often attacked, because they of this world insist that we should just accept all of these degradations as “our way of life.” And I’m speaking of our brethren all around the world that are victims – people who fear God, accept Jesus Christ and obey His commandments, accept the principles of the New Covenant, properly understand the kingdom of God, the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God! Our brethren who has been called of Father, repented, baptized, and has had hands laid upon them – receiving the glorious gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who indeed try – with the help of God’s Spirit – to live a life in accordance with God’s living Word – the Holy Bible. And this very concept is antiquated in America – today. This reminds me of a story –

One time my wife and I went out to eat at a Golden Corral restaurant, and while we were standing in line to pay I was still trailing the edge of a previous conversation I had been having with her earlier. And it just so happened that I mentioned the name of our Lord – Jesus Christ – in great reverence. And as we were getting a table to set down, a man behind us blurts out – as he turned to look our way – “Great, another Bible thumper!” And I remember thinking – he thought I was a fanatic!? And we’re talking about JESUS CHRIST! We’re supposed to be a Christian nation! An “In God We Trust” nation! And yet, I look like the oddball in the crowd! Our nation, friends, is in dire straits!!

Friends, while all these terrible tribulations are going on in the United States of America – and indeed I could mention the grave tribulation of COVID-19 – and could continue proclaiming, as many have accused me of, “You're Chicken Little - 'O', the sky is falling!'” and about how very bad things are in our nation –

Yet many Americans are truly UNAWARE of what is happening worldwide.

But friends, let us get to the main message today.

There was a prophet of God in which some called “sleeper.” His name was Jonah. I’m sure you remember the story.

Let’s turn there if you would. He was a prophet selected by the LORD God to go to the ancient city of Nineveh. Nineveh was a city outside of the kingdom of Israel. Gentiles. And, Nineveh was the capitol of the Assyrian Empire.

Ancient Nineveh


Sir Austen Henry Layard’s outstanding impression of the Assyrian palaces in ancient Nineveh is truly something to behold! And of course, most of us have seen photos of the restored massive Adad Gate prior to the gate’s destruction by ISIS in 2016! The city was near the modern-day city of Mosul, which is located approximately 250 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq – located on the east bank of the Tigris river, and indeed it was a mighty city with a mighty wall that surrounded it! Now Jonah would later state that the breadth of the city was a three-day journey – which gives you an idea of just how large this city was. Some of the archeologists who unearthed the ancient city of Nineveh believe that there may have been as many as 150,000 citizens within the city wall! There was a great palace within the city of Nineveh, and you can read about this city – I could go on and on speaking about this mighty powerful kingdom which subjugated their enemies. But I want to get to the main message today.

In the Book of Jonah chapter 1

Verse 1 – “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2) ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’”

Now, this indeed appears to be an easy command to do – doesn’t it!? But imagine – today – going to Baghdad and testifying against that city!? Or, going to Tehran, or Amman!? Foreign nations that literally hate you – if nothing more than for being an American. That’s where Jonah was. This puts this in perspective – especially in the light of the world news today. Indeed, it would be terrifying to think – ‘I’ve got to go to a city that literally hates me and would love nothing more than to string me up or chop off my head and I’ve got to preach against them because God commands me to do this!?’




This great and powerful city which ruled over an empire and that within the city cradled the worship of Ishtar – frequently depicted as a naked goddess; flaunting her beauty and sometimes even depicted raising her skirt to reveal the lower parts of her body. A pagan goddess of sex which has come down to us today as Easter. Have you ever questioned – why are there eggs being used at Easter, or lilies!?

What does this have to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ!? Well, this is a very city that propagated this pagan observance of Ishtar/Easter.





Verse 3 – “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

Joppa was a town – known today as Jaffa – which was the main port of the coast in Israel as early as King Solomon’s time before the Israelis constructed the ports of Haifa and Ashdod. There is some debate as to where Tarshish was. We know that the apostle Paul was from Tarshish, which was up in modern-day Turkey. However, this Tarshish, according to the Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible states is “in Spain; in the farthest west at the greatest distance from Nineveh in the east.” 3 Called Tartessus on the Iberian peninsula. Some biblical scholars have said that it’s Tunis, which is the capital and largest city of Tunisia – which is in northern Africa. Either way, Jonah got on a ship to go as far away as he thought he could get from God – from YHWH! In the opposite direction which the LORD God instructed him to go!

Verse 4 – “But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.”

Surely, there has to be nothing more that gets your attention than acts of nature! The mariners were certainly used to storms upon the sea – this must have been extreme.

Verse 5 – “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, …” – they were all pagans who worshiped their own gods. Their gods were proving unable to help them. “ … and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.”

So, conscious of his guilt he shrunk from the presence of his fellow men into concealment - he goes and curls up in a blanket and he goes fast asleep. Regardless of what was occurring around him!

Verse 6 – “So the captain came to him, and said to him, ‘What do you mean, sleeper? …” – so, here’s where he’s called the name ‘sleeper.’ “ … ‘Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.’”

Verse 7 – “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”

Verse 8 – “Then they said to him, ‘Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?’”

Verse 9 – “So he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew; and I fear [YHWH], the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’”

Notice what Jonah knows about the LORD God!

Verse 10 – “Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, ‘Why have you done this?’ For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”

Jonah told them the story. ‘The LORD God told me to go to Nineveh, but I had decided to go down to Joppa and get on your ship and go with you to Tarshish.’ Even these pagan Gentiles realized – there’s something wrong with what Jonah had done.

Verse 11 – “Then they said to him, ‘What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?’ – for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12) And he said to them, ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.’”

Here, reality begins to strike Jonah. He realizes this is all because of his actions.

Verse 13 – “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, …” – they were in the Mediterranean Sea. “ … but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14) Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it is pleased You.’”

They were awed by the great power of God – even these pagans realized that they had upset Almighty God and that He was mightily angry!

Verse 15 – “So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16) Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.” – they offered some sacrifice of thanksgiving at once, and vowed more when they reached land. They promised to make additional sacrifices later.

Verse 17 – “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Now, a lot of people will say that this is an old folk tale passed down through history – but we know that this story was verified by our Savior Jesus Christ in Matthew 12:40 when He said, “’ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish [the Greek word kētos, meaning “huge fish], so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” So our LORD God actually verified this story about Jonah. I can’t imagine a more horrifying experience – to be alive and know that is happening to you!

Surely it was at this point that Jonah knew he had forsaken Almighty God. This toying that he did back in his hometown and debating within himself I think brought about anger against God. ‘It’s not fair’ surely went through Jonah’s mind. ‘I just can’t understand how God would want to save our pagan enemy!’ All of this had turned into fear and stiff-necked rebel against God and an absolute rejection of God’s direct command! Remember, God had told him directly to go do this. That, ‘I’m gonna give it all up’ attitude. Sadly, friends, I’ve seen this within the churches of God! Now, there was a guest once on the Aaron Ra show, a man that Minister Michael C. had gone to college with in Pasadena, who had later become a minister for some 30-years! Who now claims he is struggling with his faith! Eventually turning his back on EVERYTHING! And some of them have a difficult time even acknowledging Jesus Christ and giving Him the credit that is due! It truly saddens me! The prophet Jonah had a bit of that attitude – here.

But God didn’t see it that way. And God didn’t forget. And God didn’t let it go. God’s living word and His command was going to be fulfilled with Jonah – or without. But God also wasn’t finished with Jonah. Now, He could have just allowed the great fish to continue digesting Jonah. God was definitely angry with Jonah. But He didn’t completely cast him away. And we should find this very inspiring that Almighty God does have that kind of mercy. God made him fulfill his obligation.

So, here in chapter 2, is a story about the prophet Jonah, and it is written sort of like in the third person, but it is also written from the standpoint of a man who had gone through all this experience and actually survived to tell about it! So, he first describes his impossible situation, but then immediately just how Almighty God rescues him.

Verse 1 – “Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly.”

I tell this story here of when I lost one of my brothers. He was my oldest brother. We lost him to what we believe to have been a severe heart attack. He had been addicted to Crack cocaine and alcohol. It truly destroyed his body – eventually, he slowed down on all of that, but it was too late. His body had already suffered from all of the afflictions that he had placed upon it for well over 36 years! And one of the things that he had said to me, in the end, was – that one time while he had been praying that he had been knocked to the ground by an unseen force, and while he was lying on the floor a warmth had enveloped him and that he had begun to cry profusely. He said that it had scared him to death! And here I was hearing this from someone who had rejected God for most of his life. Sadly the very last time I had seen him alive he had called me every name in the book and had thrown me off his property – because I had come over without calling first. And as I was leaving I had said to him, “Don’t worry, It’ll never happen again.” On my way home I had asked Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive him – but that I couldn’t continue to try to be his friend anymore. Six days later he had died.

You know when you sin against Almighty God you go to God right then and there! You don’t wait till tomorrow, you don’t wait till next week, you don’t wait six months – or six days. You go to Him immediately! And you talk to God and say, ‘I know that I made a mistake, but I ask that You forgive me so that I can go on and relinquish this guilt and burden which is upon me.’

Verse 2 – “And he said: ‘I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol [meaning, the grave], I cried, And You heard my voice. 3) For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All You billows and Your waves passed over me.’”

There is a similar speech in Lamentations chapter 3 – “The waters flowed over my head; I said, ‘I am cut off!’” And, King David wrote, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.”

Verse 4 – “Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’”

Now he has this vision of being able to see God’s holy temple once again. He knew that he was going to see God’s temple again.

Verse 5 – “’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.’” – you could just imagine someone just being taken to the very depths of the sea inside a great fish! Truly terrifying! He was about to die!

Verse 6 – “’ I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.’”

Verse 7 – “’ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.’” – directly to God.

Verse 8 – “’ Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. 9) But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.’”

So, we close chapter 2 with prophet Jonah’s realization and his rescue from his prayer and his turning around from where he was heading.

Verse 10 – “So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

Let us be reminded here of men like prophet Moses who went in over and over again before (very possibly) Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) for his people – the house of Israel. Moses didn’t want to go either! “’ O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow to speech and slow of tongue.’” – Exodus 4:10 NKJV. The prophet Isaiah had told the LORD God, “’ Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, …’” – Isaiah 6:5 NKJV. And God had one of His seraphim’s place a live coal upon his lips and said, “’ Go and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And [convert] and be healed.’” – V 9-10.

Later the prophet Isaiah warned the house of Israel and the house of Judah of their sins and of their evil wickedness. He said, “’ The look on their countenance witnesses against them.’” – Isaiah 3:9 NKJV. The show of their face – the way they look. “’ And they declare their sin as Sodom; They DO NOT HIDE IT. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.’”

And indeed – today – the modern nations of Israel, as well as the modern nation of Judah declare their sin to everyone as Sodom and Gomorrah – i.e. migration headache commercials such as Aimovig which sneakily shows a gay couple getting cozy with each other on a couch.

It’s almost as if they have to have this homosexual factor in movies, television shows, and commercials. They cannot have anything without having some reference to that. And we read this passage here of the prophet Isaiah which states, “They DO NOT HIDE IT!” It’s out in the open, they are blatant and in God’s face! And, there was another time when the prophet Isaiah wrote – under inspiration – “’ As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. …” – Isaiah 3:12 NKJV. The apostle Paul spoke of this very thing – of women’s rights and of women over-ruling men and of the proper order of a family. And we can think of what is happening in our society today – the president-elect Joe Biden surely won’t be in the office too long, before the United States of America will have her first female president – Kamala Harris. It is completely turned around – completely opposite of what Almighty God originally intended for the family structure to be. And I only say this because – it is part of the reason for what is happening to the modern-day nations of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah. The disintegration of the family! I weep for my wife’s cousin who is being subjected to parents of multiple marriages, divorces, and relationships, and now being subjected to her mother’s lesbian “lifestyle.” What is this teaching her at only seven-years-old!? Well, Almighty God never intended for the family to be that way. But, because of this, we have a breakdown of our family structure, along with a breakdown in our societies. And it leads to a lot of the problems our nations have.

The prophet Isaiah asks the LORD our God, “’ Lord, how long?’ And the LORD God answered, “’ Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The LORD has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.’” – Isaiah 6:11-12 NKJV.

Recall, even the prophet Jeremiah had told the LORD God, “’ Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.’” And the LORD God said, “’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I AM with you to deliver you.’” – Jeremiah 1:6, 7, 8 NKJV.

Brethren, I don’t know how we WARN the modern-nations of Israel and the modern-nation of Judah – to get to the point where we can take Almighty God’s message (the warning messages which God gave His prophets) to nations which won’t allow anything on its public social media sites!? I don’t know how we’re going to do that! But I know that that message is going to go out! And I know that when the prophet Jeremiah was told by the LORD God to “’ take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day,’” and how eventually King Jehoiakim would take the scroll – which was a whole indictment of the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah – and cut it up with his scribe’s knife and cast the pieces into a fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed, God told Jeremiah, “’ Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll that this king has thrown into the fire!’”

And of course, the prophet Ezekiel, God says, “’ Son of man, I AM sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; … ‘As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse – for they are a rebellious house – yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, … though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are [most] rebellious.’” – Ezekiel 2:3, 5, 6, 7 NKJV.

The Lord GOD told Ezekiel to write, “’ An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end has come upon you, And I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations. … For the land is filled with crimes of blood, …’” – Ezekiel 7:2-3, 23 NKJV.

So, here we are back to the prophet Jonah again. Back to the prophet who was forced to turn around and forced to go to Nineveh – a pagan Gentile nation.

Jonah chapter 3

Verse 1 – “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2) ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’”

Verse 4 – “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’”

Verse 5 – “So the people of Nineveh believed God, …”

Unlike stubborn stiff-necked Israelites – My people of the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations, Australia, and New Zealand – who are supposed to be Christian nations, but who have rejected God’s New Covenant, His Law, His statutes and judgments! Rejected His righteousness! His living word! His WARNING!

O’ what a most marvelous outcome in the Book of Jonah – I wish we could see this happen again TODAY! In Iran, Iraq, in Afghanistan, in places like India, in North Korea – that desperately need to hear Almighty God’s word! I’d love to see today’s Gentile nations repent and turn unto the LORD God! And I would just love it if the modern-day nations of Israel and the modern-day nation of Judah would repent. □

Bibliography:

2) Dmitrieva, K., “Solidarity, Y’All: How Socialists Are Targeting Trump Country” Yahoo News, Bloomberg, 18 Oct. 2019. Retrieved 8 Jan. 2021.
3) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 806.