We are based upon the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God. Our mission and our purpose is to follow the admonition of Jesus Christ, when He said, "'FEED MY SHEEP!'" - John 21:16.
Please note - Sabbaths and Holy Days begin the previous day at sunset, and end at sunset on the above dates. *Passover is to be held "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight (evening) is the LORD's Passover." This means that the glorious New Covenant ceremony should begin just after sunset (and just before it is dark outside) at the end of the previous day to the date shown above.
The LORD God's Sacred Calendar
God's sacred calendar goes back to the very first chapter of the living word of God - the Holy Bible - in which the sun and the moon were appointed to be for signs, seasons, days, and years - Genesis 1:14.
This is the very calendar that the children of Israel used when the LORD God (which is the family of God; at this time consisting of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. This sacred calendar has been in continual use for more than 3,400 years! It is also the very same calendar that was used from the earliest days of our patriarchs to the very exodus from Egypt.
Most call this sacred calendar the "Hebrew Calendar," however, it long antedated the Jewish peoples. It has its very origin in the days of Adam, Seth, and Enosh.
The photo above enlists the LORD God's Holy Days with the dates of the Gregorian Calendar. The Gregorian Calendar - the very calendar used in the majority of this world - was issued by the Roman Catholic Pope Gregory XIII which begins a new year in the DEAD OF WINTER! with its months (named after ROMAN gods and terminology) NOT in reference to Genesis 1:14. Instead, all in contrast to the LORD God's sacred calendar.
But, isn't the Gregorian Calendar of "Christian" origin!? Doesn't it have the approval of nearly every so-called Christian denomination and group!? Well, notice this from ThoughtCo. -
"The division of time was further refined (after the Egyptians) by another Alexandrian based philosopher, Claudius Ptolemeus, who divided the equinotical hour into 60 minutes, inspired by the scale of measurement used in ANCIENT BABYLON. Claudius Ptolemaeus also compiled a great catelog of over one thousand stars, in 48 contellations and recorded his concept that the universe revolved around the Earth. Following the [destruction] of the Roman Empire, it was translated into Arabic (in A.D. 827) and later into Latin (in the 12th century A.D.). These star tables provided the astronomical data USED BY GREGORY XIII for his reform of the Julian calendar in 1582."
Of course, further study brings one to the understanding that the entire Gregorian calendar is of pagan origins with the single exception of the original seventh-day-week feature. Interestingly, upon perusing through several Journal of Calendar Reform online books you come to realize that their "World Calendar" that they want adopted worldwide would have all men give up the LORD God's seventh-day-week altogether! Their proposed "World Calendar" contains one day each year (two in leap years) that is not counted as a day of the week! Therefore, the seven-day cycle of the week - which was implemented upon its creation by the CREATOR - would be broken!
the LORD God's Ordained Way
The LORD God ordained that a new sacred year begins in the beginning of SPRING in the northern hemisphere. Notice -
"Now the LORD [the same LORD God that all so-called Christians are supposed to be worshiping and obeying - right!?] spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 'This month [the month of Abib or Nisan] shall be YOUR BEGINNING OF MONTHS; it shall be the first month of the year to you.'" - Exodus 12:2.
The beginning of this month and all of our LORD God's months basically correspond with the appearance of the new moon in the west after sunset. The "day" was correctly observed by most of our peoples until only a few hundred years ago. The proper time to end a "day" and begin another "day" is at evening at SUNSET as the light from the sun begins to fade from the land. Notice the living eternal word of the LORD God in relation to the humbling of yourself and the sabbath (rest) of the Day of Atonement ─
"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Also the tenth day of the seventh month [the month of Tishrei] shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall [humble] your souls and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. ... It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall [humble] your souls; on the ninth day of he month AT EVENING [sunset] rom evening to evening, you shal celebrate your sabbath'" - Leviticus 23:26-32.
It was mankind that has changed to beginning a "day" at MIDNIGHT!
The division of "day" and "night" was correctly understood in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ. On one occasion, a holy Sabbath was drawing to a close. Those who wanted healing waited, and - "When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them" - Luke 4:40. Of course, He could also heal on the glorious holy Sabbath!
So, in brief - the LORD God's holy days are to be kept in the following way. On two of them, no work (as in a regular and official activity that you do and receive money - a salary - for your activity) is to be done. The weekly holy Sabbath (the seventh-day of the week; Saturday) and the Day of Atonement ( a day to humble youself before the Lord; many still fast (abstain from food and water in accordance with the Old Covenant). Onthe following six n servile work is to be done (however, food preperation can be) - the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15), the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day (Tishrei 22). The New Covenant Passover, Nisan 14, is to be observed with the ceremony of footwashing (if there are two or more people in attendance), followed by the symbols of unleavened bread and red wine. This is the only holy day not designated a sabbath.
For New Covenant Christians these glorious holy days ARE convocations (holy gatherings) that are commanded assemblies. Our early New Testament brethren recorded that these holy days (which are often misnamed "Jewish holidays") were kept by the true Church of God with the New Covenant understanding.
As I scrolled down my newsfeed this early morning, I was aghast at just how many news headlines boldly and confidently preach that there are aliens – as in little green men from Mars. And, when I typed into my search engine on the computer – UFO Religion – I was not aware that there is a whole religious subculture of the belief in alien life! Too numerous to list them all! From Aetherius Society of 1955, Heaven’s Gate of 1997, and even Scientology – from the early 1950s onward, Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard has published books, lectures, and other works describing what he termed “space opera.”
Of course, most of us are aware of the great “hoax” which was perpetrated upon a “mass audience”! It was October 30th, 1938 – “hundreds of thousands” of Americans experienced one the greatest scares of their lives. The Mercury Theatre on the Air, a radio series of live radio dramas created and hosted by Orson Welles ─ You know, the Orson Welles of the famous movie from 1941, Citizen Kane ─ with the famous two words, Rosebud. He suddenly interrupted his program with an announcer stating that several explosions of incandescent gas had been observed on the planet Mars. This supposed gas was somehow moving toward Earth with enormous velocity!
Then the regular program resumed without any further report. Listeners remained glued to their radios awaiting further announcements. Not long after, the music was again interrupted by another announcement. A supposed meteorite had fallen on a small farm in Grovers Mill, New Jersey!
“Thousands” were shocked that were listening! “Thousands” were greatly frightened! Well, according to a “Fact Check” by Snopes – Welles’ “War of the Worlds” broadcast was not a “hoax” sprung on an unsuspecting audience. Rather, the show was a regularly scheduled program of The Mercury Theatre on the Air. A radio program dedicated to presenting dramatizations of literary works – i.e. H.G. Wells’s 1897 novel of the same title.
The article goes on to say – the C.E. Hooper ratings service reported that only 2% of national respondents were actually tuned into Welles’ broadcast on the 30th of October 1938. The rest were either listening to something else or nothing at all. 1
Certainly, there was a small percentage of listeners that were frightened, and a few even panicked, by The War of the Worlds broadcast on Halloween night 1938! However, many of those listeners had actually tuned in late and missed the obvious clues that it was but a fictional broadcast (and a large percentage of those actually thought it was Germany attacking us, not aliens from Mars). But, it was not – according to the latest evidence – an instant national hysteria that overtook hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States of America!
A Real Invasion From Outer Space Is Coming!
When the real invasion from outer space comes ─ it will frighten billions!
Friends, there is a term that has developed within the last century among some fundamentalist type churches of this world’s so-called Christians – that term being rapture. But this is simply not a correct theological teaching. Also, many times when people use the word, they say, “the secret rapture.” Well, there won’t be any secrets when our Lord Jesus Christ is returning to the Earth! Notice what He says in Matthew 24 –
“’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man.’” – verse 27.
Surely, when the throne of God – when New Jerusalem – begins to return to this earth, at some point it will be a tiny light in the night sky. And then the next night it will be a little larger and brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious in the night sky – “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes [all the nations, countries, and provinces] of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen” – Revelation 1:7.
Our Lord Jesus says of this prophesied event – “’ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, …’” – Luke 21:26.
The greater majority of our peoples will believe ─ and they truly will ─ that this object that is heading for Earth is an invading alien force! Because the Western nations –and returning again to one of the earliest proclamations of aliens from outer space, the 1897 novel The War of the Worlds – has been inundated with “little green men from Mars” for over a century-and-a-half!
Indeed, aliens are coming from outer space, but the aliens will be our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father and all the holy angels of God! New Jerusalem!
Let’s give this an honest look!
God’s living word – the Holy Bible – is not a book of fiction. It is a Book of facts! It contains history in advance. It is a volume of revealed knowledge that would be impossible for mankind to know by any conventional means. In fact, it is our Creator’s “Instruction Manual” for all mankind!
And, this glorious and holy Book contains an account of a soon-coming alien invasion from outer space that will far eclipse anything that Isaac Asimov or H.G. Wells could ever write. And, even more amazing – its writing was inspired by this soon-coming Invader!
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” – 2 Timothy 3:16.
Do you know precisely when this invasion will take place!?
No. And, if there is anyone who is telling you that they know precisely when – you should pack up your bags and run! Our Lord Jesus clearly says –
“’ But of that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’” – Mark 13:32.
And, of course, we have to assume that by now Jesus Christ does indeed know. And I do not even presume to know when His second coming will occur – except to say that an astrological age, at least by a great consensus, requires 2,160 years to complete. If indeed this has anything to do with an “age.” No human knows precisely when this prophesied “invasion” will occur.
The Glorious and Powerful Return of Jesus Christ!
One of the earliest known prophets, Enoch, had prophesied – and certainly taken by the Apostle Jude from the real Book of 1st Enoch –
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied … ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, …’” – Jude 1:14.
Speaking, of course, of His Second Coming!
The Apostle Paul writes that this return will give us “who are troubled [troubled about this present evil age] rest with [them] when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven [the atmosphere] with His mighty angels, in FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes in that Day [speaking of the Day of the LORD], to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because of our testimony among you was believed” – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
Powerful words that you probably don’t hear in your Sunday-go-to-meeting church!
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be seen by “every eye” in low earth orbit – cf. Revelation 1:7. Within God’s living word there are three distinct “heavens.”
The first heaven is the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth. The second heaven is the known universe – starry space. But, there is a third heaven The Apostle Paul refers to it – 2nd Corinthians 12:2. He explained how he was taken there in vision by the LORD God. It was so vivid that he was unable to discern whether his experience had been actual or merely a vision.
The Third Heaven is the present residence of God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His holy angels – this Third Heaven is referenced as where Satan the devil tried a coup d'é·tat of the government of the LORD God’s –
“For you [a reference to Lucifer – now called Satan] have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [a reference to all the holy angels of God];I will also sit on the mount of the congregation [the government of God] On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” – Isaiah 14:13-14.
Even the Preacher – the son of David – King Solomon knew of a Third Heaven – “ … For God is in heaven, and you on earth; …” – Ecclesiastes 5:2.
“What does God need with a starship?”
One of the greatest lines ever uttered by Captain Kirk of the spaceship USS Enterprise comes from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. The film features the crew of the USS Enterprise as they journey with Spock’s half-brother, Sybok, to allegedly find God. The quote comes near the end of the film. The USS Enterprise does manage to get to the planet that holds “God.” This seemingly all-powerful being requests to board the starship that brought them to the planet. This is when Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) delivers the line – “What does God need with a starship?”
Well, a very careful study of the 20th chapter of the Book of John reveals that our Lord Jesus Christ and His angelic host are capable of extremely rapid space travel – surely faster than the speed of light! 2 The USS Enterprise can travel,according to technical consultant Michael Okuda, at some warp 9.995 – whatever that is. 3 According to Hypnosifl of scifi.stackexchange.com – “warp 9.9 would correspond to 3,053 times light speed.” 4
Our resurrected Savior Jesus Christ had said to Mary of Magdala, “’ Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My Father. …’” – John 20:17, NET. Yet, on the very same day, our Lord Jesus had been able to travel to our Father and return! “But as they were going to tell His disciples, all at once Jesus Himself met them, saying, ‘Hail!’ And they came to Him, and held His feet, and worshiped Him” – Matthew 28:9, NET.
Spirit is not hampered by any material universe.
But, getting back to the question posed by Captain James Tiberius ─ how does the LORD God, the family of God, normally travel throughout Their universe!?
In the Book of Ezekiel, we are given a mind-boggling glimpse of a glorious and amazing vehicle!
“And, so here Ezekiel, he’s seeing things also! And it’s really, sort of, out of this world! Because it comes from the throne of God! And he doesn’t quite know what to call it, and he just attempts to describe it from what he knows about life and his world around him. Verse 4 – this has given birth to… and I don’t really suggest you turn on your TV and watch channels that talk about aliens from outer space. I really think that does a person a disservice, it gets your mind off of the return of Jesus Christ and gets it on highly materialistic things, which… if you wanna know, do I think there are such things as UFOs!? No. Do I think there are lights, sounds, and weird things that happen in the sky!? Yes. Because I’ve seen a few. But do I think these are “little green men from Mars”!? No, I don’t. Or any other planet. I’m actually one who believes – and I will believe this until God Almighty or His official representative tells me differently – that the EARTH is the one place in this great big wide universe where God has created life and has created conditions in which life can exist. And often you hear TV shows refer to the events in the first chapter of Ezekiel. And they want to say that Ezekiel saw a spacecraft from outer space. And, in one sense, sort of, he did. Ezekiel describes a “spacecraft” inhabited by “alien” beings which came from deep outer space – yes – it did. But it was from the throne of God! And this is from God!
“Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind …” So, he was beholding quite a scene! “A whirlwind of fire!”
… I must confess, I don’t exactly understand the image that Ezekiel is seeing, but it’s sort of like, whichever direction they went, one of these four faces was facing forward. Verse 10 – “As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion …” We read the same thing in the Book of Revelation. At, or near, the throne of God is a being that also has the face of a cat. Now, again, I don’t quite know if they’ve got one head with four different faces. This verse, sort of, implies maybe they do!? Or, I don’t know if they can change their faces!?
One time appears as a man, another time as an ox, another time as a lion, or as an eagle. Verses 11-12 – So, they are, sort of, a unit. They don’t go off on their own, they’re a unit. The Book of Revelation calls them, unfortunately, the “four beasts.” That’s a very unfortunate translation, should be “living creature.” Just like it says here in Ezekiel. Verse 13 – this was quite a show! If you were to come in contact with this group of living creatures, these angelic beings, it would be startling! It would really take you off your feet! Verse 14 – Again, I don’t know exactly what that means, but I guess if they want to they can move very quickly!? Verse 15 – here we’re talking about wheels, and you’ll hear many of these people who are fascinated by UFOs, they talk about a wheel within a wheel. And I think they get that terminology from reading Ezekiel chapter one. They say that Ezekiel saw a UFO. Like from outer space, like “little green men from Mars.” Now, these are living creatures, and they are from outer space, but they’re from the throne of God, and these are angelic beings. Verse 16 – “…The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.” - So, it’s sort of, when they’re all together, looks like some kind of machine!? Verse 17 – they move as a “block”!? Verse 18 – Again, I’m not perfectly sure just what this imagery is supposed to be. This is a very tall structure and dreadful – scary – for Ezekiel to see this! “…and their rims were full of eyes, …” – Now are these eyes as in eyeballs or are these lights!? Again, I don’t know for sure. Someday, those of us that are allowed the opportunity to be part of the Kingdom of God, I’m sure we’ll get to see this – this thing, this structure, this embodiment of four living creatures.”
So, according to God’s own living word, He utilizes some kind of special vehicle to travel with. Be sure to go and read the entire chapter 1 of the Book of Ezekiel for yourself!
This fascinating and mysterious vehicle with its wheels and multicolored precious-stone ornaments is occupied by a being “like” a man. And its crew is made up of spirit beings called “living creatures.”
It is a portable throne that is conducted throughout the universe by spirit power! The last part of the Book of Revelation, which Minister Michael C. made reference to above, pictures our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ coming to this earth – appearing in low earth orbit on a WHITE HORSE. His angelic armies, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on WHITE HORSES. Are these white horses but symbolic language – or will He and His military armies be literally riding a Pegasus-type creature!?
Our Lord Jesus Christ Will Be ATTACKED!
MOST people who profess Jesus Christ will not recognize Him when He returns!
WorldNetDaily founder Joseph Farah expressed in an interview with Paul McGuire –
“Who is Jesus and how is [H]e going to come back?” Farah asked. “You know, a lot of people missed Jesus the first time He came. Most of the Jews did not recognize Him as their Messiah. They had a misunderstanding of how the Messiah was going to come. And they were going a lot by man’s teaching rather than going back to the Scriptures. And I wonder, when Jesus does come back, if many people in the church are going to miss Him too.” …
Farah believes the form of Jesus' return is going to surprise many Christians. And he warned in the interview how believers need to be educated about what to expect so they are not misled into following a disastrous deception. …
Are they going to recognize him? Or are they going to be fooled by an imposter that we call the Antichrist who is going to do all kinds of signs and miracles, et cetera?” …
He mourned the average Christian's lack of knowledge about the Millennial Kingdom and the earthly rule of Jesus. …
"If you ask the average Christian about that, they have no understanding," he explained. …”
Indeed, very few who profess Jesus Christ actually believe in a Millennial Reign of Christ – even though His living word teaches it (cf. Revelation 20:4-6; see also A Book of the Past – And The Future). The majority who are looking for Jesus believe that He will be a “sweet” Jesus. As in “looks like a lamb” - cf. Revelation 13:11. But in fact, He will not be so sweet ─
For “’ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’”! – Revelation 2:27.
Sadly, even fewer people in this world understand the Good News of the soon-coming kingdom of God!
What about the Roman Catholics – with an estimated 1.2 billion worldwide, according to the Vatican figures!
Well, officially, they do not believe in a Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ – in spite of the fact that many of their “saints” taught the millennium. The Vatican strongly condemns this doctrine of the Church of God as blasphemous!
“676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the ‘intrinsically perverse’ political form of a secular messianism.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ in John chapter 5 verse 39 said that Scripture itself “’ testify of Me.’” He kept and taught the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath. He taught against the keeping of idols. He taught and WARNED against receiving a mark on your right hand or on your forehead – which is truly the giving of the sign of the cross across your chest or forehead, along with venerating the symbol and image of the cross with the wearing of crosses or the placing of the image of the cross above your doors or on your shield of armaments. Our Lord Jesus taught that those who held to church tradition (the ‘doctrines of men’) above His living word are but worshiping Him “’ in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” – cf Mark 7:6-13. Our Lord Jesus taught the keeping of all the Ten Commandments – “’ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom [from] heaven’” – Matthew 5:19. Which means they will have a degraded and contemptuous position in the kingdom of God. And I like the way the Jamison Fausset and Brown Commentary writes it – “they shall be reduced by the retributive providence that overtakes them, to the same condition of dishonor to which, by their system and their teaching, they have brought down the eternal principles of God’s Law.” 5 Our Lord Jesus was a Jew – cf. Matthew 1:1-16; Revelation 5:5. Our Lord Jesus kept “Jewish practices,” teaching us to teach all nations the things which He commanded, setting us an example – cf. Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 2:21-25. God’s living word does not teach the false concept of a Trinity – cf. John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Peter 1:3. God’s living word and our Lord Jesus’ true servants teach of His soon-coming Millennium Reign on Earth! – cf. Revelation 11:15; Revelation 14; Revelation 20:1-6. There truly will be a future opportunity for salvation – cf. Ezekiel 37; Revelation 20:11-13. Truly, just prior to our Lord Jesus’ Second Coming – there will be a great earthquake (surely the likes of which the history of this world has never witnessed) “’ the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light’” – meaning the prophesied Two Witnesses will be prophesying and witnessing for 3½ years, given power from God Almighty to shut the atmosphere so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; “… and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” – see also Revelation 8:7-12, and End-Time Prophets - a seven-part series.
Our Lord Jesus Christ prophesied that just prior to His Second Coming – the stars of the atmosphere (speaking about Satan the devil and his demons) will fall to the earth. Meaning that Satan and his minions will not even be allowed in the atmosphere of the earth! “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up” – truly meaning that just prior to our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming the atmosphere of the earth will be cleared of all the volcanic ash clouds and the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following nuclear blasts. “’ Then,’” as our Lord Jesus says, “’ the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [in outer space], and then all the tribes of the earth[all the nations] will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory’” – Matthew 24:29-30.
Then those dead in Christ will be resurrected, and we who are still alive will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; see also verse 31 of Matthew 24. God’s holy saints are resurrected – the SEVENTH TRUMP HAS BEEN BLOWN!!
Then, “the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every [bond servant] and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains” – Revelation 6:15.
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army” – Revelation 19:19.
Why!?
Because of what our Lord Jesus Christ said, “’ they will see [in outer space]the Son of Man [who they will mistake as an invading alien force] coming’”! “Fall on us and hide us,” they will scream, “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from THE WRATH of the Lamb! For the great day [the Day of the Lord] of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
So, friends, sadly there is a plethora of false prophecies, and false religions (including religions which proclaim that “little green men from Mars” exist) being propagated across the world! Surely this is Satan the devil’s plan! □
This world’s Christians believe that the LORD God’s Holy Days, including the Feast of Trumpets, were “done away” or “fulfilled” or “only for the Jews” ─ but nothing is farther from God’s living truth!
The majority of this world’s so-called Christians are under the impression that the LORD God – the family of God; which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ – uses what is called “planned obsolescence” when it comes to Their holy and immutable Law.
The estimated 2.38 billion so-called Christians worldwide 1 continue to believe that our Lord Jesus’ crucifixion “did away with” the need to keep the LORD God’s holy commandments – including the Holy Days – which picture Their Master Plan for the redemption of all mankind.
Now, it is true that the LORD God no longer requires animal sacrifices, or certain physical rituals – i.e. our Lord Jesus Christ’s ultimate torture and sacrifice eliminated any need for the LORD God’s chosen begotten children to perform animal sacrifices anymore! Notice the Apostle Paul –
“For the law [speaking of the Mosaic law], having a shadow of good things to come, and the very image of things, can NEVER with these sacrifices, which they offer continually year after year, make those who approach perfect.” – Hebrews 10:1.
There was NEVER any promise of eternal life within the Old Covenant!
“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3) BUT in THOSE SACRIFICES there is A REMINDER OF SINS EVERY YEAR. 4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats [and certainly sheep] could take away sins.
5) THEREFORE, when He [our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ] came into the world, He said:
‘Sacrifice and offering You [God the Father] did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7) Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come ─’” – Hebrews 10:2-7.
Sadly, because our Jewish brethren (for the most part) refuse to accept our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, they continue to believe that the LORD God requires and has pleasure in the sacrifice of bulls, goats, and sheep.
And, mankind has taken it upon themselves to declare obsolete other areas of the LORD God’s instructions and commands that the LORD God has not! Notice our Lord Jesus Christ’s very living words –
“ … ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8) For laying aside the COMMANDMENT OF GOD, you hold the tradition of men ─’” – Mark 7:6-8.
He even says to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear –
“’ Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18) For assuredly, I say to YOU, till heaven and earth pass away [speaking of Revelation 21:1 and the establishment of His kingdom upon Earth], one jot or one tittle will by no means pass away from the Law till all is fulfilled.’” – Matthew 5:17-18.
The word “fulfill” in this context means to offer the full measure of the perfect example of how to live in accordance with God’s Law.
Let us live by the perfect example of our Lord Jesus Christ. And know your audience in which you share this glorious Truth of God – the gospel of Christ – i.e., – our Lord Jesus “fulfilled” the Law. To “fulfill” means “to fill to the full” or “make complete.” That is quite the opposite of abolishing the Law! Indeed, our Lord Jesus “fulfilled” the Law by revealing its spiritual meaning – in how mankind relates to God as well as to others. The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ day thought for sure that they were adept at keeping the letter of the Law – but in their corrupt hypocrisy, they completely missed the spiritual intent of the Law.
The first four Books of the New Testament – erroneously called “the Gospels” – show us that our Lord Jesus focused solely on the spirit of the Law through His ministry. As evidenced in the Book of Matthew chapters 5 through 7, our Lord Jesus specifically established a new spiritual standard of the application of the Law for the New Testament Church of God. As compared to the letter of the Law under the Old Covenant.
The LORD God’s holy and immutable Law, including the commandments that concern the keeping of the LORD’s feasts – ‘The feasts of the LORD’ see Leviticus 23:1 – is commanded to be kept even in this 21st century!
And one of the LORD’s feasts is the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25) – which this year falls on September 16th. Sadly, the majority of so-called Christians have never heard of it. They have been blinded of this MOST IMPORTANT Holy Day of the LORD God’s. The glorious Feast of Trumpets pictures an important part of the LORD God’s Master Plan for all of us in this 21st-century world.
Trumpet’s Origin
The LORD God first introduces Their Feast of Trumpets to the children of Israel after their exodus from the land of Egypt, a perpetual command throughout their generations in all their dwelling places.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, …’” – recall that Jacob (the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham) had his name changed by God to ISRAEL (Genesis 32:28). And, we know also from God’s living word that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise [the promise of eternal life].” – Galatians 3:29.
So, “’ Speak to the children of Israel [the New Covenant Body of Christ], saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, A HOLY CONVOCATION. 25) You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering …’” – Leviticus 23:23-25.
Blowing of Trumpets Symbolize WARNINGS
God’s living word shows us that for the children of Israel, which anciently were heavily involved with conflicts and rebellion, trumpets (shofars) were used as warning devices to call to arms, or as a prelude to important announcements. As an example – the LORD God’s instruction to the Prophet Isaiah –
“’ Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And THE HOUSE OF JACOB [the children of Israel] their sins.’” – Isaiah 58:1.
Now, portions of the LORD God’s dire prophecy here were fulfilled. In type. By the children of Israel in that age. However, a great many of the LORD God’s prophecies here are dual in nature, having both an ancient and future fulfillment. And, such is the case with the dire prophecy message given by the Prophet Ezekiel.
Notice this from Minister Michael C. Garrett –
“Isaiah 58:1 – speaking again to a prophet of God; and whether it was way back when or in the very near future, God doesn’t change, same mentality, same approach – “’ Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, …’” – and again, are these the physical people of Israel!? In part, ... But I think even more dramatically, these are the spiritual people of Israel. The … churches which are supposed to represent the Way of God. ‘Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet.’ Well, in some small manner, to some small degree, that’s what I am trying to do. And we’re trying to blow the TRUMPET! And you might think, ‘Well, he’s sort of cruel on some of those guys, he’s sort of rough on them.’ Let me say this: There’s a very good possibility that if they do not wake up and hear that Message and hear that WARNING, that they may very well end up dying. I do not want them dead. I do not want them to suffer. And I also do not want their blood upon my head. And so we speak, we speak the truth, whether people like it or not. We speak what God says, from the Book – the Word of God! The Will of God! The Truth of God, the Plan of God! And to the best of our ability, we’re trying to feed the sheep of Jesus Christ!”
He continues –
“Verse 4; Ezekiel 33 – then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.’” – ‘he was told, he was WARNED, and he was too stupid or too stubborn, too rebellious, to listen to It. Too trusting in himself that he was righteous, too trusting in herself that she was righteous, not knowing just how dirty, and decerped.’ Well, how does He say that in Revelation to the one group!? Revelation 3 – to one group He says, Jesus Christ speaking to a portion of His … Church, “’ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…’” – a very SERIOUS OBSERVATION! And that’s what’s going on here in Ezekiel. Again Verse 4 – “…’ whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, …’” – because they think they're rich, they think they're increased with goods, they think they have need of nothing, and they do not understand just how miserable and poor and lacking in understanding they are! And one of the reasons they are lacking in understanding is because their religious tentacles are in the soil of the Old Covenant! Their roots are feeding off the Old Covenant! And they do not understand that they need to change and become adherents and practices, believers in the PROMISES OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE NEW COVENANT!”
Now, the Prophet Ezekiel’s dire warning never reached the House of Israel, because they had already been taken captive by this time! Notice that he began to see visions by God on the “thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar.” And, “on the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel.”
As we see in Chapter 3, the Prophet Ezekiel was sent specifically “to the HOUSE OF ISRAEL” – a term which refers ONLY to the people who were of the northern kingdom of Israel – of what would become known as the “lost” ten tribes. They were never referred to as Jews.
Ezekiel was a prisoner. His country, Judah, had been invaded, and he was among the prisoners of war in a prison camp next to the River Chebar in the nation of Babylon when he was writing this.
But the HOUSE OF ISRAEL – the very nation to which he was being sent to – had been taken captive more than a hundred and forty years before in roughly 734-732 BC! The HOUSE OF ISRAEL had been taken captive to Assyria on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Yet, here’s a twist – even before the Prophet Ezekiel was taken prisoner, the Assyrians themselves had been taken into captivity – together with the Israelites. Where the Israelites would eventually migrate and be “sifted” into other lands!
The lamentations, mourning’s, and woe of the message to be carried to the “HOUSE OF ISRAEL” never occurred in the Prophet Ezekiel’s lifetime or anytime later! Ezekiel - and not, as they say, “The Men of the Great Assembly” – merely received and wrote this warning message. It truly was a prophecy for this END-TIME!
For more information on who the modern descendants of ancient ISRAEL are, and how they are identified in the LORD God’s living prophecies – be sure to read Minister Michael C. Garrett’s FREE 116-page book, God’s Promises To Abraham. We also have the first six chapters FREE in audio for your convenience.
The LORD God’s dire warning Message is reaching our modern peoples of the children of Israel! According to Statcounter.com, the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries’ Website has reached within the last four years – 2.1k! Including our peoples within Belgium (4.9%), Kenya (2.7%), Ireland (2.7%), Canada (1.9%), the United Kingdom (1.0%), and France (0.6%)! We are continuing to be a modern-day watchman for the House of Israel.
The Trumpets Revealed by Jesus Christ
The Book of Revealing – the Book of Revelation – outlines the LORD God’s future use of trumpets. And this dire warning Message is for the entire world, and concerns tribulations which will occur just before the glorious and powerful return of our Savior – Jesus Christ!
“When He [Jesus Christ] opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” – Revelation 8:1.
Now, we believe that the first four of these trumpets are in conjunction with the prophesied “end time prophets” which are spoken of in the Book of Revelation chapter 11 – which finalizes with the “Two Witnesses.”
This ‘fallen star’ is Satan the devil and his demons being thrown into the ‘bottomless pit’ just before the glorious and powerful return of Jesus Christ, His saints, and His angels! – cf. Revelation 20:1-2. Back in the 1st chapter of the Book of Revealing, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that “stars” can represent angels – Revelation 1:20.
“And they [these 200 million strong Islamic soldiers, which is spoken of when the sixth angel sounds his trumpet] had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon” – Revelation 9:11.
Of course here referring to Satan the devil.
“One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.”
“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared” – Revelation 16:12.
The great river Euphrates – the longest river in southwest Asia, it is 1,740 miles (2,800 km) long, and it is one of the two main constituents of the Tigris-Euphrates river system – will be dried up. The river rises in Turkey and flows southeast across Syria and through Iraq.
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon [a reference to Satan the devil], out of the mouth of the beast [a final end time Catholic United States of Europe], and out of the mouth of the false prophet [a final end time great religious leader]” – Revelation 16:13.
Notice that these three unclean spirits directly influence the leaders of nations - verse 14.
“For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings [the leaders] of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty [the Day of the LORD]” – Revelation 16:14.
Satan the devil and two of his demons will especially work through human leaders. Such as a final end-time “beast,” a political-military leader of the 10-nation revival of the “Holy” Roman Empire. Also, through a final end time “false prophet,” a great religious leader who will have global appeal because “he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven [the atmosphere] on the earth in the sight of men” – Revelation 13:11-17. They work together and will spiritually influence this world’s political and military leaders to mobilize their forces!
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET!
“but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets” – Revelation 10:7.
The LORD God is speaking about a time here when there is NO MORE DELAY.
SEVENTH ANGEL, SEVENTH TRUMP! THIS IS THE RESURRECTION TRUMP! And you can turn to 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and 1st Corinthians chapter 15, and we can read about this very event! – “the mystery of God would be finished.” In fact, this is the culmination of the event which is depicted by all of God’s prophets down through history. Certainly, all of the prophecies we read about that is yet to be fulfilled, such as in the Book of Isaiah chapter 2, Micah chapter 4, and even in the Book of Habakkuk where it says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.” All of God’s prophets have looked to this moment in time! And here it is about to unfold! They have all thought about and meditated and pondered this very moment! There are even some of whom I know – begotten children of God who have since died – that looked for this very moment in time! In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul speaks of men and women, who lived by faith – some of which were “tortured, … had trial of mocking’s and scourging’s, yes, and of chains and imprisonment … stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented─ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And ALL THESE, having obtained a good testimony THROUGH FAITH, DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROMISE”! “These all died IN FAITH, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them.” – cf. Hebrews 11:13, 35, 36-39.
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven [the atmosphere], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ [our Lord Jesus Christ], and He shall reign forever and ever!” – Revelation 11:15.
The BLOWING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMP is that event where the saints of God – living and dead – are resurrected and brought into full-time eternal membership in the family of God!
The Meaning of the Feast of Trumpets!
The meaning of the LORD God’s Feasts of Trumpets, therefore, truly pictures terrible and dreadful events that will take place – surely beginning with the (possibly twelve) end-time prophets! See Revelation 11; Matthew 24:9-14.
The children of Israel under the Old Covenant had a limited physical understanding of the Feast of Trumpets. And, the spiritual Church of God in the 20th century, too, had a limited understanding of the Feast of Trumpets. Yet, we are told by the LORD God in the Book of Daniel that in ‘the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge [spiritual understanding from the LORD God] shall increase.’ – See Daniel 12:4.
We as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ – the very God of the Old Testament – are commanded each year to “proclaim” the LORD God’s feasts “at their appointed times.” And we do!
So, the LORD God’s holy Feast of Trumpets is not obsolete! The LORD God has placed great meaning to it! And we need to TRUMPET this dire warning each year and keep and celebrate this holy FEAST!
By doing so, not only are we obeying our beloved Master, Elder Brother, and Savior – Jesus Christ – our ultimate Judge, but we are also WARNING THE WORLD OF THE SOON COMING TRIBULATIONS following this time of the ‘beginning of sorrows’!
We, brethren, have been truly blessed by the LORD our God, our gracious and merciful Eternal God, in being given this glorious Feast of Trumpets! □
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We have had, so far, two parts of a series of sermons that talk about a song called Everyone. And that kind of blended into some ideas of a passage in 1st Corinthians 10:4. Near the end of the passage we read, “and that Rock was Christ.” And I’d like to finish up our notes – hopefully in this part three.
The idea being – just how important that Jesus Christ is to our spiritual existence, and indeed, our spiritual health.
In the last part, we ended in the Book of Hebrews chapter 13, verse 1. But, there is another verse we’d like to talk about in chapter 13. It’s a verse that is really good to think about – for all of us.
Verse 20 – “Now may the God of peace …” And, think about this – the God of peace. “ … who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, …”
Our Lord Jesus Christ, for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS – keep in mind, our Lord Jesus for all intents and purposes is the God of the Old Testament. When we turn back to the Book of Genesis and we read about God re-creating the Earth and creating human beings. We’re actually talking about the personality which eventually became known as Jesus Christ. And, that is just truly proven throughout God’s living word. We even read a few verses within the previous parts that prove that beyond any doubt.
And, this great Creator being, who is also our great High Priest, who is also our Judge in the future – and I guess you could say that He is judging us to some extent now. He is certainly observing us. And, someday will actually be the being that holds up a Thumbs Up, or a Thumbs Down. In terms of do we have a chance at eternal life! Well, this being allowed Himself to be changed into a human sperm cell – according to the plan that He and God the Father had composed. He was born as a human baby. He grew up, and at age thirty, He began to preach the gospel of the soon-coming kingdom of God. And, at the age of about thirty-three and a half, He allowed Himself to be sacrificed – to be tortured to death – that we might have a Savior. And, for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS, He was dead.
That is what it says here. This time reading from the Authorized King James Version – “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, …”
Now, keep your marker here a moment – and very quickly let’s turn back to the Book of Revelation chapter 1.
Verse 18 – speaking in the first person; red letter edition – “’ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades [the grave] and of Death.’”
He has the keys to unlock the bondage of death.
Now, if you are reading this right now in this article, you have not reached that state yet. But, if the earth spins around long enough, someday that day will happen. And it will happen to all of us. It’s not something we like to think about – but it is reality.
And, He was dead.
Once upon a time, many years ago. I was down in Tyler, Texas speaking before a congregation. And the two leaders there in Texas, who are trying to convince this world that they know everything and that they are in charge and the ultimate authority in everything, after speaking they came up to me and said, “You said that Jesus Christ was dead!” And I thought – what is controversial about that? Yes, He was dead. Our Lord Jesus Christ was dead for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS. And, they appeared unable to grasp that. It truly puzzled me. How could they be that biblically ignorant!? As our Lord Jesus Christ says, “’ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth.’” He was dead in the tomb – the ‘heart of the earth.’ And then He was brought back to eternal life by God the Father.
Well, I’ve come to understand that a whole lot of the things I taught there in Texas, they simply did not have the spiritual horsepower to be able to understand.
Again, in the Book of Hebrews chapter 13 –
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, …” - Another one of His titles.
Not All Minds Are Created Equal
The great Shepherd of the sheep. Who are the sheep!? Hopefully, it’s people like you and me. And many other people down through the ages. And, yet into the future. Human beings that have been called of God the Father to know and to learn and to understand the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.
Now, this certainly is a baffling concept. People in this world’s religions just presume that all minds are created equal. And, friends, that is not the way it is. Now, certainly, there are some human beings that are smarter and sharper intellectually than others. But understanding BIBLICAL TRUTH – you’re never going to get there unless God the Father and Jesus Christ grant you some insight. They have to share with you the gift of the knowledge of God. Otherwise, you cannot understand what the Bible is saying.
There is a passage in 1st Corinthians chapter 2 that confirms this –
Verse 7 – “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, …”
Now, why did he say this!?
Because, quite frankly, if an individual has not had their mind opened up – or in the process of being opened – by God the Father and by Jesus Christ, they cannot understand the mysteries of God. Now, if you were to say this to these Sunday-go-to-meeting church people they would be insulted. I suggest you don’t say it – because all you will do is make them angry. But, this is what God’s living word says.
“ … the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.”
If all of the world understood God’s living word – now, get this – if all of the people of the world understood the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, there would be no regular Sunday-go-to-meeting church services! By any congregation, denomination, anywhere!
Because, understand, Sunday is not the weekly day of church service. So, think about what a vast percentage of people who have that one wrong!
If the people of the world – of these so-called Christian churches – actually knew the living truth of God, they would not say, “I’m going to heaven!” And, they would not say, “Well, someday, those people are going down to hell!” Because, understand, neither one is correct.
If these churches of this world truly understood the living word of God, they would not talk about God being a Trinity.
Now, we could continue like this for two hours – talking about the ideas that the church people of this world hold onto, which are complete contradictions of the living word of the Eternal One. Such as an immortal soul. Christmas, Easter, Saint Valentine’s Day, Halloween, New Year’s Day, the Day of the Dead – all of that false folderol. All of that stuff is not from the LORD God, but rather from human beings. Just traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation. And we as a culture have embraced it all presuming that it’s true.
Now, this past week I saw on television a man being interviewed who had lost his daughter in that horrible Parkland high school shooting back in 2018 – in which a former student at the school murdered 17 innocent people. His daughter’s name was Meadow, after the character Meadow of The Sopranos. And, this father became a very outspoken critic of everything – the police, the high school, the government. And he has written a book - Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies That Created The Parkland Shooter and Endanger America's Students. In this interview, he had stated that his daughter was initially shot four times, and in an awe-inspiring display of heroism and fortitude, after being shot multiple times, she crawled down the hallway to another student and laid her bullet-riddled body on top of the other student, in an attempt to protect the freshman. And, in turn, this evil and vile murderer pointed his assault rifle at her back and shot it five more times, piercing her back and into the child beneath her. He was being interviewed by Neil Cavuto of Fox News. And towards the end of the interview, Cavuto says, “Well, I know that Meadow is up there looking down on you, and she’s so very proud of you.”
Now, I know people say things like that – and they are trying to be comforting. But it is just factually wrong! Meadow is in her grave. She’s not conscious, she’s not breathing, she’s not thinking. She is completely and totally unconscious and will be until Jesus Christ brings her back to life. And, someday He will! That is part of the great Good News Plan of God.
But, this automatic reaction so many people have in our culture, saying such things as, “Well, they’re looking down from heaven.” No, they aren’t.
Our Lord Jesus Christ plainly says, “’ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.’” He was referring to Himself. Our Lord Jesus is the only former human being that now resides at the throne of God. No one else has.
The Apostle Paul was allowed to see the throne of God in vision. And he wasn’t sure if he was actually there or just saw it in his mind – it was so overwhelming. He makes a reference to this. But, no human being has ever gone to heaven. Yet, every Sunday, at establishments throughout this nation and other nations, countries, and provinces throughout the Western world, people are going to be told – “Well, you want to get to heaven!” Or, “Someday when you get to heaven!” Or, “You’re going to heaven!” Or, “I’m going to heaven!” Or, “Some of us are going to heaven!” It’s just over, and over, and over! And, people have heard it since the time they were in diapers. And people just presume, and assume, and suppose that all of that is true.
And yet, God’s living word DOES NOT agree with that. God’s living word simply DOES NOT say that.
It says that when you die you’re dead. That you know nothing. You have no thoughts or awareness of the passage of time. But, God’s living word promises that there will come a time when some people who had lived and known the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, and had received God’s Spirit, will indeed – when our Lord Jesus Christ returns – be changed from death into eternal life! God’s living word also teaches that some people will be alive who have the Spirit of God, who have their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – and upon the return of our Lord Jesus Christ – they will be changed instantly in a twinkling of an eye from corruptible to incorruptible. To eternal.
And, God’s living word also says that there is a future time when everyone who has ever lived, who did not willfully and purposely reject the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, will be brought back to life and will live again. This is the great meaning behind the Last Great Day. And, this day is coming!
The people who are in their graves right now have no awareness of the passage of time.
Now, I’ve often thought – there were people who had gotten their automobile stuck on a railroad crossing – ever so often we hear of these tragic stories.
Their vehicle stalls and they continue trying to restart it. And a locomotive and its fully loaded cars are headed towards them. Its rumbling noise getting closer by the second, the wail of its blaring horn getting louder – as they continue trying to restart their vehicle. And sadly, they don’t get out of their vehicle in time before the 4,000 to 20,000-ton train smashes into their stalled vehicle! The person continued thinking that the vehicle was certainly going to restart. And they tried restarting it one too many times before the massive behemoth plowed their vehicle. And, the last thought that went through these people’s minds was seeing this huge locomotive barreling down on them. All that weight traveling about 50 miles per hour. Certainly, the people died instantly.
You also hear about people who were in an airplane that was flying at about 33,000 feet in the air. And tragically the airplane suddenly falls from the sky and crashes. And, the last thought that goes through those people’s minds is – we are hurdling towards the earth, and we are going to strike the earth, and we are going to die.
I imagine some of the passengers would be screaming, some might be calling out to God, and some might be clutching their loved ones sitting beside them. I suppose, if that is the way you have to go, that’s a good way – you’re with a loved one. But, that’s the last thought that went through their mind.
Think about the horrible tragedy we heard about last week – the sinking of MV Conception. When the 75-foot dive boat caught fire, and tragically 34 people were killed. It is the worst maritime disaster in California since the sinking of the Brother Jonathan in 1865. In the early morning hours, the second galleyhand awoke upon hearing the sound of a pop, discovering an uncontrollable fire on the main deck below, with the passengers asleep in their bunks on the lower deck, with its supposed two exits both blocked by the raging fire! Have you ever slept in a motel, and upon waking quickly, you are confused as to where you are!? But then upon slowly waking you remember that you’re in a hotel. Well, these passengers were in the lower deck of that boat, and upon waking came to realize that their rather small bunkroom was on fire! Conception, at less than 100 Gross tonnage and with fewer than 49 berths, was not covered under federal and international regulations for boats. The boat was constructed of wood covered with fiberglass, and it was built in 1981. And, the inside of the boat apparently caught on fire very quickly. And the two possible ways out of that small bunkroom were blocked by fire and smoke! And they died this horrible death. And, the last thoughts they had on earth was of this conflagration consuming them! Horrible, horrible! Our hearts truly do go out to those people.
Well, someday, all of those people are going to open their eyes, and realize that they are alive – they’re not going to immediately know where they are. Surely, some of them are going to think – wait a minute, I just got smashed by a train! Or, they’ll think – wait a minute, I was in an airplane that was falling to the earth from some 30,000 feet! How did I get here!? Now, certainly, a large majority of them will think – well, I’m in heaven. But, they will soon figure out that doesn’t seem logical. There are trees, mountains, and the blue sky. They’ll think – kind of looks like the earth.
And they will eventually be taught – someone will be sent to them; a representative of the LORD God – and they will be taught, “Well, you were alive at one time and you died. And now, after all these years, you have been brought back to life. And now, for the first time, you’re going to hear the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God. Including young Meadow. Who tragically died in the Parkland massacre down in Florida. Yes, even young Meadow is going to live again to learn the living truth of God.
Understand, you don’t learn the living truth of God unless the LORD God opens your mind.
Keep another marker here in 1st Corinthians chapter 2, and turn with us to the Book of John.
This is a very simple statement. A rather quick statement. But it speaks volumes. John 6. This is the living Word of God! Indeed, these are the spoken words of Jesus Christ.
Verse 44 – “’ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.’”
Last day, the Last Great Day. Do you see the connection there? No man, no woman can just voluntarily join a religion that has been created out of nothingness! Some human tradition – it just doesn’t work.
Returning again to 1st Corinthians chapter 2 –
Verse 7 again, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, …” the living truth of God in a mystery. “ … the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.”
Verse 8 – “which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
If Pontius Pilate had really understood what was happening, he would not have allowed our Lord Jesus to be sacrificed. But you see, it had already been preordained that Jesus had to be sacrificed. So that we would have a sacrifice.
It says in verse 9 – and we absolutely love and adore this verse; from the Book of Isaiah chapter 64 – “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’”
That’s the Old Testament comment. Now, notice what the Apostle says in verse 10 – the New Testament, New Covenant, reality. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. …”
Brethren, for those of us who know the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, who have had our minds opened to understand the living truth of God, we understand these mysteries of God, the wisdom of God, which no one else can understand.
Which is why we say – tread gently when you speak to a family member or a friend, a co-worker, or an acquaintance about the living truth of God. Explain very gently, because if you just start spieling off a bunch of things, this unconverted person to whom you are attempting to communicate, will not have a clue about what you are saying. And they often become agitated, irritated, and angry. And, in the end, you haven’t enlightened them at all. We suggest you ask more questions than you make statements. Such as – why do you believe this? Or, why do you believe that? Or, what do you think is going to happen? Or, how did that come about? Or, where did that doctrine come from – do you know? Well, let’s look it up! As an example – let’s go look up the origin of Christmas.
Now, even on the search engine Google, you can type in Christmas, and find out that it’s one hundred percent pagan! Pagan to the core! It has nothing to do with God’s living word.
Yes, our Lord Jesus was born as a baby. But, the story of Christmas, is simply loaded with errors! Riddled with falsehood! Maybe if a person reads up on Christmas on a search engine they’ll begin to question everything they’ve been told since childhood about Christmas!? Now, it’s pretty obvious just by the name – and we’re not trying to make anyone upset here – but Christmas is a creation of the Roman Catholic Church. CHRIST – MASS. The mass of Christ. It’s a Catholic celebration. The Western world just accepts it as being a reality – a truth.
When, in truth, our Lord Jesus Christ was, most likely, born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles! This year, 2023, the Feast of Tabernacles is from sunset on the 29th of SEPTEMBER to sunset on the 6th of OCTOBER. If you really want to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and be accurate, then come join us on the evening of the 29th of SEPTEMBER! Because that will be the true birthday of Jesus Christ!
If you really want to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ – don’t go to a nearby so-called Christian church on Easter, but rather, participate in the activities of the spring Holy Days! Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread! You’ll be much more accurate if you were to!
A Vast Difference Between Animals and Human Mind
But, going back to verse 10 – “ … For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
Verse 11 – “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? …”
Now, friends, I love my domesticated cats. I have three of them. And they are bright-eyed, fun, and mischievous at times. They are certainly entertaining. They are a great comfort to me. But, the overwhelming majority of the things I think about, my cats cannot understand. The three top priorities that a cat thinks about are – food, shelter, and safety. That is their world.
Obviously, we as human beings think on so many levels higher than that.
Think about the animal world. We, as humans, are completely different than animals. Yes, like warm-blooded animals, we need to breathe. We have physical hearts, and we have blood. We require food. We need freedom from diseases. But, the things that an animal contemplates are nowhere close to what we contemplate.
Because human beings have a portion of something divine in them. Which the living word of God here calls “the spirit of the man which is in him.” So, there is indeed a difference between an animal brain and the human mind. Especially if that human mind has not been polluted and clogged by things like alcohol and illicit drugs. Now, again, we’re not saying that you cannot drink a beer or a glass of wine. We’re talking about people who drink way too much!
You can certainly take a human mind and greatly pollute it with chemicals – alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and you can really mess up that mind! We’ve probably all heard stories about a person who smoked so much marijuana, or different drugs, that they have completely wasted their mind! When people begin using marijuana as teenagers, the drug may impair thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. 1 In fact, isn’t it odd that the word used for getting drunk or stoned is called “getting wasted”!? There is a little truth in there!
Well, we suggest that you don’t do that to yourselves. The greatest thing that you own is your mind! And, when you lose it – you have nothing. Why would you want to destroy and pollute your own mind!? But people do it. It’s hard to understand.
Continuing, “ … Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” No one knows the things of God without the assistance of the Spirit of God.
Verse 12 – The Apostle Paul writes – “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, …”
If you’re truly baptized into Jesus Christ, and truly connected with Jesus Christ, you will not conduct your life the way the majority of the people in this world conduct their life.
“ … not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit [which] is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
Verse 13 – “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Notice at the end of verse 16 – the Apostle Paul says, “But we have the mind of Christ.”
If you have been called of Father God, if you have been granted repentance, gone through the process of baptism and the laying on of hands – of a qualified representative of the LORD God – you have been promised that you have a small portion of God’s Spirit.
And, if you dedicate yourself to serving the LORD God, that small amount of God’s Spirit will grow within you – giving you more spiritual horsepower as it were.
But, remember, we read that phrase, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Sheperd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, …”
And, ever so often, we have to go back and read this from the Book of Philippians – and we’re going to do it again this day –
This concept is as important to you – to your spiritual health, and to your physical health. As nearly any other concept! PEACE OF MIND.
Now, I read this someplace – have you ever heard of cortisol? A steroid hormone produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal gland. This hormone is released in response to stress, along with low blood-glucose concentration. But, for all intents and purposes, we’re talking about stress here. Cortisol is very useful in short-term applications. Cortisol has a permissive effect on the actions of hormones that increase glucose production, such as glucagon and adrenaline. Now, adrenaline is a hormone. And, the major emotion studied in relation to adrenaline is fear. The major physiological triggers of adrenaline release center upon stresses, such as physical threat, and excitement. But, too much cortisol, if prolonged, can lead to proteolysis (breakdown of proteins) and muscle wasting. High levels can have many detrimental health effects. Prolonged high levels of cortisol can reduce bone formation, favoring the long-term development of osteoporosis. High levels can affect your memory. Cortisol works with adrenaline to create memories of short-term emotional events – such as in the proposed mechanism for the storage of flashbulb memories. Exposure of fetuses to cortisol during gestation can have a variety of developmental outcomes, including alterations in prenatal and postnatal growth patterns. 2 When cortisol levels remain elevated, the following side effects may occur –
weight gain, high blood pressure, changes in mood, irritability, flushed face, thinning skin, difficulty concentrating, and insulin resistance.
When under chronic stress, it may be difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. 3
One of the greatest things you can do for your physical health is to not be under stress. Which causes your body to produce and to pump into your bloodstream high levels of cortisol. Now, we presume that the people who contributed to Wikipedia and the article from Healthline know what they are talking about. It’s not the first time that we have heard of health issues associated with high levels of cortisol. It’s interesting to note that people who have high blood pressure also have high blood sugar, along with high cholesterol – triglycerides. They sort of come as a package. You don’t tend to have just high blood sugar – you tend to have a conglomeration of problems.
But, what we are saying is – that one of the keys to losing weight is having about yourself a PEACE OF MIND. Not only spiritually speaking, but it also has a physical meaning.
In the Book of Philippians chapter 4, reading here from the Authorized King James –
Verse 5 – “Let your moderation …”
The word actually means gentleness. It has nothing to do with the drinking of alcohol. It has to do with an attitude and a spirit.
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Someone who was reading this in the year 330 could say, “The return of our Lord Jesus was over 300 years since He was alive!” Yes, but one day that person died. And the next thing he knows, our Lord Jesus Christ really will be on the Earth!
Verse 6 – “Be anxious for nothing, …”
Uptight, irritated, worried, demented, for nothing.
Those little aspects of human life, which people get so shaken up over – upset, angry – most of them are not worth worrying about.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, …”
Such an important part of this! You must have a thankful appreciative spirit when you go to God Almighty and Jesus Christ.
“ … let your requests be made known to God; 7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Verse 8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true [or rather, truthful], whatever things are noble [or honest and honorable], whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely [pleasant and decent], whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
Verse 9 – “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Undoubtedly, if you allow the peace of God – which means the Spirit of God – to flow more copiously through you, like going to the LORD God in prayer and Bible study, and prayerful thought – the way you conduct your life, and the way you treat fellow human beings – you will receive a tremendous spiritual benefit. But, we’re telling you – you will also experience a physical benefit.
Now, we’ve said the following before at different times. There are people – apparently a whole lot more people than we can ever conceive of – who do not believe in God. Do not believe in the living word of God. Do not believe in a promise of eternal life. We’re not quite sure what they think about as they go through life. But, let us just say – out of this example – that there isn’t any God.
A human being would still have a better life mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Physical health, if they lived their life as though there is indeed a God.
Now, understand – there is no doubt in our minds about the existence of God Almighty and Jesus Christ! We know They exist! We know, and we know that we know!
But, even if there weren’t, there are many benefits in living your life as though they truly do exist. And that God’s living word is indeed the Rule Book in which to follow.
Let’s return again to the Book of Hebrews and read again chapter 13, verse 20 –
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
Speaking of the New Covenant.
Again, we know a whole group of people whose church leaders would never mention the concept of the New Covenant. Yes, indeed, their leader won’t even say the name of Jesus Christ. Won’t say it, won’t write it, won’t talk about it, will not acknowledge it, will not honor it, glorify it, or praise it.
Again, we ask the question – why, if you are a member of that group, do you continue and remain in that group!? People who have that process, have a zero chance of making it into the kingdom of God!
What did we just say!? People, who in their minds, have no respect, appreciation, honor, and glory, for the name, the title, the job, the purpose, of Jesus Christ – if that means nothing to you. If you act as if you’re even ashamed of it, deny it, you have zero chance of someday being given eternal life. So why are some of you even a part of that!?
COME OUT OF THAT WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE!
Verse 21 – “make you complete [spiritually] in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
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