Friday, February 24, 2023

Letter to our Friends - February 22, 2023


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
P.O. Box 6458
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606



Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor and Founder

Dear Friends in Christ:

Greetings from Spring Hill, Florida.

Our Social Media Statistics

Having had our Soundcloud Radio channel up and running since March 5, 2019, with no marketing and no purchasing of followers, we currently have 32 followers!

Soundcloud Radio channel, search https://soundcloud.com/leonard-johnson-199529372.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023─

Followers: 32
Tracks: 92
Total Plays: 413
Likes: 55
Reposts: 43
Top Seven Countries: USA, Kenya, Ireland, UK, Mexico, Germany, Australia.

Analytics for this streaming server lists a great many more listening countries, including the Russian Federation, Venezuela, Lithuania, South Africa, and the State of Kuwait.

Top Three Tracks:

“Fall Holy Days – 2014 Part X” by Michael C. Garrett – 66 plays.
“4-22-22 – SEVENTH Day of Unleavened Bread” by Leonard V. Johnson – 16 plays.
“One God, One Mediator” by Leonard V. Johnson – 14 plays.

For our COJCOM YouTube channel, search https://www.youtube.com/@cojcom.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023─

Lifetime – June 28, 2015 – Feb. 21, 2023, the channel has received 5,252 views.

Total Subscribed listeners: 24
Total watch time: 416.3 hrs.
Top Four Countries: USA, Egypt, India, South Africa.
Subtitles and CC: Indonesian.
Top Three “Cards”: TI CCOG, Enoch Walked with God, and COJCOM.
Non-subscribers' views: 4,747. 288.0 watch time (hrs), w/an average view duration of 3.38 hrs.

Top Three Sermons within this period:

“One God, One Mediator” by Leonard V. Johnson – 232 views.
“Be Not Defeated” by Leonard V. Johnson – 111 views.
“Is There A ‘Secret Rapture’?” by Leonard V. Johnson – 80 views.

The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries website:

For our COJCOM website, search https://www.owensborocojc.com.

Statistics:

As of February 22, 2023; analytics from the website─

All time since January 10, 2019 – the website has received 143,387 views.

Top Seven Countries: France, USA, Indonesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Canada.

Analytics for our website lists a great many more countries, including Russia, Nepal, Egypt, Japan, Belgium, the UK, China, and the Netherlands.

Top Five Keyword search: civil unrest in america, enoch walked with god sermon, feast of unleavened bread 2020, was gods promises to abraham hard to believe, america collapse 2025.

Top Five Posts of All Time:


China and Russia Alliance?

Yesterday I was asked: does God’s living word mention, prophetically, a China-Russia alliance in these latter times!? And the answer is, NOWHERE, directly! We must remember that God’s living word ─ the Holy Bible ─ is concerned only with ISRAEL and JUDAH – and with the Gentile nations only as they come into contact with Israel. Russia and China are both Gentile powers. An alliance between them in these latter times is a great possibility. Keep in mind: there have been Sino-Russian alliances several times throughout history. Recall: In 1949, with Soviet support, the communists won the Chinese Civil War and established the People’s Republic of China, which made an alliance with the Soviets. An alliance between them would not be mentioned directly in Bible prophecy. In prayer this morning to Father God and our Lord Jesus, I was reminded of what our Lord Jesus has told us─ “’ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet’” – Matthew 24:6. There have been literally thousands of alliances and wars between Gentile powers that are nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy.

On the other hand, we have the very real prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 38. In the sermon “Ezekiel 38 – Gog and Magog” we teach── a great many falsely teach that the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 speaks of a soon-coming invasion of North America from Russia. But this is not correct. This prophecy comes to its fulfillment at the end of Christ’s Millennial Reign.

Some 1,928 years ago, the apostle John in a mighty and powerful vision─ which certainly must have lasted weeks or months─ saw powerful armies totaling 200 million strong – called the ‘king of the South’ in the Book of Daniel. We do believe this will be a confederation of Islamic nations –the Islamic Middle East, including great parts of North Africa.

Minister Michael C. Garrett─
“I’ve been saying this for several years – as we hear about various attacks – that around the family dinner tables, behind closed doors, around the office water cooler – the people of Europe are probably beginning to say to one another, “We have a problem!” “We tried to extend mercy and graciousness to these foreigners and yet the only thing they seem to want to do is to kill us!” And sooner or later the ire of the European people will turn very heated, very hot, very angry – against these foreigners! And when that happens – hold on, fasten your seat belt, tighten it down as good as you can get it – because this world is going to quickly spin out of control! And, I have said for years – and I’m going to say it again for all of you – Islamic terrorism is going to plunge the world into WORLD WAR III! I say that with absolute confidence because that’s what the Bible says! And that’s what this chapter is about. European people in prophecy, the British and American people in prophecy – they go down different roads, but the other part of it is the Islamic people.

The Book of Daniel talks about the “king of the North,” being EUROPE, and the “king of the South,” the Islamic Middle East, including North Africa. And there will be a World War III – and it will plunge the world into a day that the Bible calls ‘great tribulation.’ GREAT TROUBLES! The worst period of time in the history of mankind!”

(Garrett, M.C., God’s Promises To Abraham, Chapter 6 – A Coming Last Crusade! 2019, by Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ, pg. 88).
Certainly, a great many people have speculated in the past decades that these powerful armies totaling 200 million strong will somehow be an accumulation of China, Japan, and maybe Korea, maybe Mongolia – which is the heart of the Russian Federation! And, this certainly is a possibility! I will remind you of what Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15, he said, ‘We see through a glass darkly.’ And so, sometimes trying to understand prophecies before they happen becomes a little confusing. A little sort of blurry! But then, when the events actually take place and then following the events it becomes very clear what the prophecies always meant.

It is true that a lasting political and military alliance between China and Russia will have a profound and far-reaching effect on the entire world. Their relationships will certainly play a huge part in molding and partly solidifying (iron mixed with clay) a prophesied United States of Europe, rising to a global superpower. With China’s support for Russia – rooted in Xi Jinping’s close relationship with Vladimir Putin – along with the weakness of the United States of America, this has surely altered and hastened Europe’s calculations. The sense of urgency to protect Europe from authoritarian threats is now stronger than ever before! Surely, both China and Russia must be strong and free to deal with a soon-rising European force of political, military, and religious strength unmatched─ “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him’?”

This is certainly something in which we should be reminded of what our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, brethren: “’ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.’”

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

• TWO songs of praise. (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, is suggested, there is some Instrumental Accompaniment to the Bible Hymnal available on our website).
• Opening prayer.
• Announcements – from the deacon or pastor.
• Sermon – from the pastor or guest speaker. The one suggested for this week is “Faith Required for Salvation” Available on our YouTube channel Friday @ 6:15 pm est.
• Closing song.
• Closing prayer.

In case you do not receive a ‘Letter to our Friends’ for any week, remember that there are many sermon messages on the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries’ BitChute channel, as well as our Soundcloud Radio channel. Also, we post all ‘Letter to our Friends’ on our website - https://www.owensborocojc.com/search/label/Church%20letters.

Some World News In Relation To Biblical Prophecy

We are continuing to see and hear – and hear ever louder – calls for Europe to increase its military strength! (See: ‘DW - MSC 2023 closes with call for more German defense spending’).

Notice –
Germany’s ability to defend itself is at risk unless it reintroduces compulsory military service, Patrick Sensburg, the leader of the Bundeswehr Reservist Association, told local outlet Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung on Thursday.

The task of national defense “requires different material and a lot more staff” than the Bundeswehr currently commands, Sensburg said, arguing that even the most well-intentioned government efforts to fill in the gaps “will not work without conscription.”

He suggested that an active force of 350,000 soldiers and 1.2 million reservists would be required to adequately protect Germany. The country currently commands just over 183,000 soldiers, down from 317,000 two decades ago, and 100,000 reservists – 30,000 of whom train regularly.

“Germany needs a strong military that is well-trained but also has many reservists from all walks of life,” Sensburg told Deutsche Welle earlier this month. “We can only ensure that if we have compulsory military service.” …

Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Ruediger Lucassen agreed with the reservist leader, telling German outlet Junge Freiheit on Thursday that the Bundeswehr was “not capable of national defense because of its lack of personnel.” Those comments came after the AfD parliamentary group proposed a motion to discuss reintroducing conscription in the Bundestag next month.

Now, as far as the AfD party goes, it is increasing its political pressure in Germany. Notice the mood in Germany from the source Politico─
It’s the end of the world as we know it — and Munich feels nervous. 

If even the Germans are worried about the world’s perils, this could well be the moment to really start worrying.

MUNICH — Cut through the haze of hoary proclamations emanating from the main stage of the Munich Security Conference about Western solidarity and common purpose this weekend, and one can’t help but notice more than a hint of foreboding just beneath the surface. …

Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat like Scholz, called for even more, saying that “it will not be possible to fulfill the tasks that lie ahead of us with barely two percent.” … if even the Germans have woken up to the perils of the world’s current geopolitical state, this could well be the moment to really start worrying.

As I had stated earlier, what is occurring globally is altering and hastening Europe’s calculations. The sense of urgency to protect Europe from authoritarian threats is now stronger than ever before!

God’s living word teaches that there is soon coming a United States of Europe (or whatever name they will call themselves) ─ the prophesied “king of the North” with a mighty “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and with “many ships” (Daniel 11:40). German and other European shouts to increase their military strength is consistent with helping set the stage for those biblical prophecies to come to fruition.

Once this final European ‘beast’ power uses its full force to fulfill these prophecies ─ God’s living word tells us “all the world marveled and followed the beast”! – Revelation 13:1-4.

The German-European plan is for a united Europe to be a strong military power independent of NATO- led by the United States of America. A political, military, and religious force that is prophesied to ultimately defeat the USA – cf. Daniel 11:39.

Also in the news within Europe ─ the “Holy Roman Empire” is on the lips of some! (See: ‘maurizioblondet - Veneziani: per salvarci dall’UE c’è solo il Sacro Romano Impero’) I have translated this Italian article using Google Translate:
Venetians: to save us from the EU there is only the Holy Roman Empire.

What if, in order to save ourselves from the European Union, from globalization, from Chinese and American power, we had to rethink the Holy Roman Empire? I have not gone mad, I am reporting with some complicity, a thesis of the most famous living Italian philosopher. …

The philosopher in question is Giorgio Agamben, who many have known for his critical positions at the time of the pandemic and vaccinocracy. I will not resume his thoughts on the liberticidal use of the pandemic but on something that is in heaven and not on earth. So the philosopher, once placed on the radical left, proposed the establishment of a "Latin empire" promoted by the three great Latin nations (France, Spain, and Italy), in agreement with the Catholic Church and open to the countries of the Mediterranean. His dream, he writes explicitly on the Quodlibet website, is even the creation of a European Empire similar to the Austro-Hungarian one or the Imperium dreamed of by Dante in De monarchia. Agamben was inspired by the philosopher Alexandre Kojève, but his idea of empire united him with other living thinkers such as Remi Brague, Massimo Cacciari, and even Alain de Benoist.

Agamben argues that in the extreme situation in which we find ourselves, such an ancient political model can find an unexpected topicality. The necessary premise for this rediscovery, explains the philosopher, is that the citizens of the European nation states find a link with their places and their cultural traditions and project themselves into the idea of a European citizenship, embodied not in a parliament or in obscure commissions, but in a symbolic power similar to the Holy Roman Empire. The question of whether or not such a European Empire is possible, says Agamben, does not interest us or correspond to our ideals: nevertheless it takes on a particular significance if we become aware that the current European community today has no real political consistency and has indeed been transformed, like all the states that are part of it, into a sick organism that runs more or less consciously towards its own self-destruction. So spoke Agamben on February 6.

Curious that this vision does not come from a Pope, a Father of the Church, a Prophet, a Thinker of Tradition but from a philosopher who writes on the manifesto. From Karl Marx to Charlemagne.
Also, notice the following call for a reorganization of Europe. (See: ‘Foreign Policy - Europe Doesn’t Need the United States Anymore’).

Europe is certainly in the process of changing.

In the United States of America, is domestic TERRORism rising!? ─ was the tragic derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials through East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent “controlled” burn EXPLOSION, initially, an act of domestic terrorism!? Well, our beloved FactCheck.org tells us that it is an emphatic ─ there’s no basis for any of those claims. Well, just like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know. Of course, the Left-leaning Washington Post claims - in a sense - that there is ‘nothing to see here, folks. Move along!’ But this we do know ─ back in 2020 two women with ties to an anarchist group was charged with a terrorist attack on train tracks north of Seattle, Washington. (See: ‘Fox News - Women linked with anarchist group charged with terrorist attack on train tracks north of Seattle’).


So, what about one of the largest egg factories in the United States EXPLODING! Was this an act of domestic terrorism!? Well, again our beloved FactCheck.org says ─ it’s not part of a conspiracy to trigger U.S. food shortages. Clever Journeys asks the question: Why Are America’s Food Processing Plants Suddenly Exploding?

Here is what I do know ─ egg prices in my area at Walmart are $5.24 a dozen!

On top of all that – the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ is presumably impacting poultry and eggs alike, and certainly their prices in the market. (See: ‘JusttheNews - World's poultry supply threatened as bird flu spreads, report’).

Whether one wants to believe that all of these troubles are acts of domestic terrorism or not ─ all we really can say is like Fox News’ slogan “We Report, You Decide.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us ─ 

“… ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” – a direct reference to the final holy war between the end-time ‘king of the South’ and the ‘king of the North’ (cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16). And the apostle Mark adds, “’ And there will be earthquakes in various places; and there will be famines and TROUBLES.’”

And even all this is but ‘the beginning of sorrows.’ EVEN MORE, IS TO COME!

All of these terrible happenings appear to be consistent with His living words.

Concluding Comments

Our Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned us─

“’ Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be [judged]’” – Mark 16:15-16.

Brethren, your loving support helps us in this commission of what our Lord wants.

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,


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Friday, February 17, 2023

A Morning Bible Study - What Is Repentance?


Leonard V. Johnson    About


Just what does it mean to repent? Is real repentance just an emotional feeling? Is it just merely feeling sorry for having made some mistakes in life!? What is God's definition of true repentance? Let us here in this Bible Study examine what true repentance is and is not, detailing what God's definition of real repentance truly is.
1) What is sin, defined by the LORD God?
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” – 1 John 3:4.

Has every human being since Adam sinned?

“Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death [the second death; see Revelation 20:14; 21:8] through sin, and thus death [the second death] spread to all men, because all sinned” – Romans 5:12.


Lawlessness against the Government of God!

From the very foundation of the world the LORD God’s Law was given to man – summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS – cf. Romans 4:15!

The transgression of the LORD God’s Law constitutes sin.

What is the ultimate penalty of sin?

“What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death [eternal death]. … 23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:21, 23.

The churches of this world teach as doctrine – you’ve all heard it many times – the immortality of the soul. Oh, do they love to talk about the immortality of the soul! And yet, not one place in the Bible can you find that concept! Not one! Now, you can find where Jesus Christ is the only One who has immortality within Him. And, obviously, God the Father has immortality within Him. But as far as us!? You know, Ezekiel 18 two times says, “The soul who sins SHALL DIE.” And, in the Book of Romans 1:32 – “…that those who practice such things are deserving of DEATH, …” Romans 6:16 – talks about a ‘sin leading to death.’ Nothing about immortality!

Romans 7:5 – talks about the ‘motions of sins, which did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto DEATH.’ And then, Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is DEATH.” I think you get the idea. The Bible, over and over says, if we don’t walk the correct path and have the correct relationship with God, that we are subject to death.

The ultimate penalty is eternal death─ a complete cessation of life forever.
2) Has the LORD God (the family of God, which consists at this present time of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ), in Their infinite mercy and love, provided the Way by which we can avoid paying this ultimate penalty─ eternal death?
“Jesus said to him, ‘I AM the Way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” – John 14:6.

“Nor is there [eternal] salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved” – Acts 4:12.

And of course a most cherished passage─ and it’s a beautiful passage!

“’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’” – John 3:16.

Again, perish – DEATH!

Our Lord Jesus Christ would become our Atonement – it was prophesied – we often read this during the Passover – or the Lord’s Supper – because it’s such a description of what Jesus endured – Isaiah 53:1-3.

The LORD God’s Master Plan is laid out before us!

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [atonement] for our sins” – 1 John 4:10.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” – Romans 5:8-10.

The LORD God explains to us in 1st Corinthians –

“For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23) BUT EACH ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER: Christ the firstfruits [Our Lord Jesus Christ HIMSELF], AFTERWARD those who are Christ’s at His second coming [a first resurrection of the dead – in Christ]. 24) Then comes THE END, …” – 1 Corinthians 15:22-24.
3) How can a person─ no matter where they are on this planet─ have their sins blotted out by our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice─ be completely forgiven of their transgressions against the Law of God, and be delivered from the ultimate penalty of eternal death?
First, let’s notice –

“But before faith came [speaking of the faith we have in our Lord Jesus Christ], we were kept under guard by the law [the Mosaic Law; the Law of Moses, in which the Ten Commandments is of a separate covenant], kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed [speaking of the New Covenant under our Lord Jesus]. 24) Therefore the law [the Mosaic Law] was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25) but after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26) For you are all [children] of God THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28) There is neither Jew nor [Gentile], there is neither [bond] nor free, there is neither male nor female; for YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS” – Galatians 3:23-28.

Jesus Christ would come from the descendants of Abraham – through Abraham. And friends, I have to say, that includes all nations. Not just a certain group, nationality, or race of people – but all nations. The apostle Paul next says, “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Those Gentile nations – God’s glorious plan all along was to allow for the Gentile nations to also see the light of Christ. Recall, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined” – Isaiah 9:2. God’s revelation – primarily through the apostle Paul – to all of those Gentile nations.

So, how can a person be completely forgiven of their transgressions against the Law of God, and be delivered from the penalty of death?

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s very first recorded words at the beginning of His ministry state, “’ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” – Mark 1:15.

The apostle Peter, filled with God’s Spirit, unequivocally says─

“ … ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” – Acts 2:38.

“Repent therefore and be converted [be changed through God’s love and graciousness and through His Spirit], that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing [talking about the resurrection and being a part of the Kingdom of God!] may come from the presence of the Lord” – Acts 3:19.

Or, you can continue living under your bubble of a world, with your own belief that if you just live behind an entrance gate you’ll be safe.

“Do not love the world OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16) For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. 17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” – 1 John 2:15-17.

You must admit to yourself the true conditions of this present evil age! STOP living in your own little bubble – believing that “things aren’t really that bad!”

Look into God’s spiritual mirror of His living word – and let His words reflect every rotting and putrefying sore you have – every evil, every deception, every resentment, every rebellion, or hostility of your mind and heart.

Then REPENT unto the LORD God!

Just what is real repentance as defined by the LORD God? What does it involve? What must be done in order to repent?

It’s one thing to say to someone, “you’re a sinner.” But it’s another thing to show that person why they are a sinner.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeō, which means “to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life; attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living.” 1

True repentance is exactly that. It is a complete about-face from the disobedience against the LORD God in not keeping the Law of God─ summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS. True repentance is far more than just a mere emotional experience or human feeling of remorse. It is “godly sorrow”─ notice –

“’ If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, … 12) I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people’” – Leviticus 26:3, 12.

“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ 19) So Jesus said to him, … 20) ‘You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ 21) And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’ 22) … ‘ … come, follow Me’” – Luke 18:18-22.

“So they said, ‘Believe on the [name] Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’” – Acts 16:31.

“’ If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that [it] may abide with you forever─ ’” – John 14:15-16.

“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.

Sadly, multiple millions of our peoples have been taught that Colossians 2:13-17 is teaching that the Ten Commandments were “nailed to the cross.” Well, He did take something out of the way, nailing it to His cross!─ but, what was it?

What are the ‘wiped out the handwriting of ordinances’!? It’s the Old Covenant. Right here Paul just plainly says, ‘Jesus Christ blotted all of the Old Covenant out.’ Not the Ten Commandments. But the Old Covenant – the old Jewish ideas!

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16) So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbath’s, 17) which are a shadow of things to come, [but let the Body of Christ judge you]” – Colossians 2:15. 2

Certainly, no man can prove this to you─ this truth from the LORD God is something you must prove to yourself, beyond any shadow of a doubt. We should all be as those people who lived in the ancient city of Berea in Macedonia─ they were “more fair-minded” who “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

What are we to repent of!?

The LORD God says –

“’ But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die [speaking of the second death]’” – Ezekiel 18:21.

“’ Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity [sin; wickedness] will not be your ruin’” – Ezekiel 18:30. 

Change your ways, change the way you think, change the way you act, change the way you speak, change the way you interact with other people, and change the way you interact with God. Just because you go to a church doesn’t mean your pleasing God. The only way you’re going to please God is if you’re doing, believing, and teaching, the things which He says. And that’s very difficult to get people to understand. If you truly want to honor God and to respect God and to love God, then it’s incumbent upon you to know what He actually teaches. And what He believes. And what He wants you to believe.

“’ Cast away from you all the transgressions, …’” – all of your mistakes. Be it mistakes in your own personal life, or whether it’s mistakes in your religious life – like false doctrines, or incorrect doctrines. “…’ and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit’” – Ezekiel 18:31.

Referring to the New Covenant! The New Covenant emphasizes Jesus Christ and the promise of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ being the Head of that Church, the ministry, the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. And it talks about having the Ten Commandments written on your heart and on your mind. And having the Spirit of God within you. And looking forward to the promises of God, the promise of forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life.

The LORD God’s holy commandments show us the Way to peace, prosperity, happiness, and true joy. And they are very much relevant in this 21st-century world! The ever-increasing and worsening evils that humanity is suffering from today are not caused by the Law, but because of the breaking of it!
4) Should true repentance be heartfelt, deep, and moving!?
“’ Now, therefore,’ says the LORD, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning’” – Joel 2:12.

However, sadly, a great many of our peoples believe that they should practice self-flagellation! The disciplinary and devotional practice of flogging oneself with whips or other instruments that inflict pain.

Our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will not accept those whose “repentance” is merely an outward show. The LORD God continues, “’ So rend your heart, and not your garments.’” Also, there are some who believe that repentance is merely a matter of understanding God’s truth intellectually. None of this is repentance at all. It is self-righteousness.

Every time that you start to think of yourself as doing something really well, you need to remember these words –

“But we are all like an unclean thing, [and at our best; I’m adding editorially] And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; …” – when compared to the might, the grandeur, the power, the righteousness of God the Father and Jesus Christ!

Truly by studying God’s living word─ and allowing our Lord Jesus Christ to lead us in all right understanding─ we begin to see and hear that we fall short of the glory of God! – Romans 3:23. And that we NEED His loving and merciful forgiveness and help.

Yet, how is it possible for a human to come to the kind of repentance that can begin to change one’s life!?

In truth, this repentance must come from the LORD God.

Notice here the living words of the LORD─

… “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, …”

People that conduct themselves this way – in the back of their minds somewhere know that this conduct will not go unpunished. They know about the judgment of Almighty God and Jesus Christ! Now, they may not understand the truth about the judgment of God – but they do know about it.

“ … that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” – Romans 1:18-32.

“But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3) And do you think this, O man [or woman], you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or do you despise the riches of His [the Lord God’s] goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” – Romans 2:2-4.

And, by the very inspiration of God’s living Spirit, the apostle Paul continues with a promise of the Eternal our God, “Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” – Romans 2:7.

Now, did you catch that!? A man must seek God’s free gift of immortality!

Why!?

Because it is only God Who has immortality to give. “Which He will manifest in His own time, He Who is the blessed and ONLY POTENTATE, the King of kings and Lord of lords [referring to our Lord Jesus Christ], 16) who ALONE has immortality.” – 1 Timothy 6:15-16.

PRAISE ALMIGHTY GOD THE FATHER!

The LORD God is patient, merciful, and loving in leading one to repentance.
5) So, does true repentance come from the LORD God!?
“in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” – 2 Timothy 2:25-26.

True repentance involves a complete and unconditional surrender to the LORD God─ placing the family of God above all else! Notice –

“’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me’” – Matthew 10:37-38.

In other passages, He talks about father and mother, children, lands, country, homes, your job, and your career. If you put anything BEFORE God you are committing a form of idolatry. And all of us – whatever spiritual “works” we’ve been asked to do that’s what we’re supposed to do. And do it to the best of our ability.

The apostle Luke adds – “’ If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple’” – Luke 14:26.

The Greek word hate is miseō, which means “to hate.” The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament helps us better understand the word “hate” and its root meaning. In Hebrew it’s śānē’, which means “hate, to be hateful.”
“The verb śānē’ and its derivatives have the root meaning “to hate.” It expresses an emotional attitude toward persons and things …

There is also a hating on the part of man which is acceptable to God. Man must have an aversion to and depart from evil, hence the Psalmist [King David] says, ‘I have hated the assembly of evildoers’ (Ps 21:5). This hatred is also in diametric opposition to a believer’s trust in the Lord, for the man of God says, ‘I hate them who regard vain idols but I trust in the Lord’ (Ps 31:6).” 3
In essence, if a person does not “hate” the way his unconverted father, mother, wife, children, brothers or sisters, and yes, even the way he himself is living, that person cannot be His disciple. Our Lord Jesus Christ is truly talking about giving one’s life entirely to the LORD God!
6) Did our Lord Jesus clearly say to us that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him?
“’ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” – John 6:44.

I can preach until I’m blue in the face and beg people to open their eyes and put aside their fluffy religious garbage, but UNLESS God the Father has called them, then they will NEVER know the REAL JESUS!

And then to make it even clearer─

“’ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and [ordained] you that you should go and bear fruit, …’” – John 15:16.

No, you didn’t pick the LORD God. You didn’t set out on your quest for God! If you ever did sort of, “I’m gonna look into the Bible!” It was God that put the motivation in you! Somewhere on that trip, He put you into contact with human beings or literature that had been produced by His people, by His Church, and that kept the process going and gave you the fuel to continue to learn.
7) How can YOU know that YOU truly repented before the LORD God?
“’ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” – Matthew 3:8.

God provides all true Christians with the WILLPOWER, the FAITH OF CHRIST, and MOTIVATION to do His good pleasure. God the Father and Jesus Christ have gone to great lengths to provide the grace – the unmerited favor of Their divine mercy – to help Their begotten children to succeed in their calling. But They expect results!

At John the Baptist’s preaching, the people began to ask him, “What shall we do then.” In other words, “What is this─ bearing fruits worthy of repentance?” And he answered them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” He also told the tax collectors who came to be baptized, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” He also told the soldiers, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely and be content with your wages.” Such actions were fruits worthy of repentance.

Spiritually what are these fruits!? The fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the attributes] is love [godly love], joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. … 25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:22-23, 25.

“but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” – Acts 26:20.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that a person who truly repented bears the fruits of the Spirit of God─

“’ You will know them by their fruits. 17) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’” – Matthew 7:16, 17-19.

Verse 20 translated from the NLT – “’ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.’”

That is the kind of repentance the LORD God will accept – that is the Way you must repent.

I pray that the LORD God will grant YOU repentance. □


1) Strong, J., LL.D., S.T.D., #3340 metanoeō – The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Zondervan, © 2001, pp. 1626.
2) Verses 16-18 do not abolish the dietary laws of clean and unclean meats, the festivals or the weekly Sabbath of God. Rather, Paul is clearly affirming that the Gentiles in Colosse were to continue to observe these commandments as they had been taught. Paul was instructing the Colossians to disregard the criticisms and harsh judgments of those outside the Church, because the observance of these days are a continuing foreshadow of the things that are yet to come in God’s Plan. By being faithful and keeping these commandments of God, they would always be worshiping the true God, be built up in Jesus Christ and never lose the understanding of God’s Plan. By true repentance to God the Father and Jesus Christ, they would not be deceived by vain philosophies of men, nor would they be seduced into the worship of fallen angels ─ Satan and his demons. The Holy Bible In Its Original Order A New English Translation by Fred R. Coulter. York Publishing Co., 2007, 2009, pg. 1199.
3) Harris L. R., Archer, L. Gleason, Jr., and Waltke K. Bruce. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1980, #2272, pgs. 879, 880.


Scriptural Index:

Old Testament - Leviticus 26:3, 12; Psalm 2:5; 31:6; Isaiah 9:2; 53:1-3; 64:6; Ezekiel 18; 18:21, 30, 31; Joel 2:12, 13.
New Testament - Matthew 3:8; 7:16, 17-19, 20; 10:37-38; Mark 1:15; Luke 14:26; 18:18-22; John 3:16; 6:44; 14:6, 15-16; 15:16; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 4:12; 16:31; 26:20; Romans 1:18-32; 2:2-4, 7; 3:23; 4:15; 5:8-10, 12; 6:21, 23; 7:5; 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Galatians 3:23-28, 29; 5:22-23, 25; Colossians 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; 1 John 2:15-17; 3:4; 4:10; Revelation 20:14; 21:8.
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Monday, February 13, 2023

END-TIME PROPHETS (Online Book) - Chapter 2


Greetings Everyone! The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches are pleased to bring you our latest free no-obligation online PDF booklet "END-TIME PROPHETS" by Minister Michael C. Garrett.


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0.04 - '‘in mighty signs, wonders, and deeds’


Minister Michael C. Garrett    About


Chapter 2: 'In Mighty Signs, Wonders, and Deeds'

Note: This book was created from a series of sermons starting in November 2016 by Mr. Garrett. This book consists of 6 chapters reflecting the eight sermons published of the same title. This book is for the convenience of having all eight sermons in one easy-to-read format and download. These sermons are on our YouTube channel - Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ - YouTube

If you would turn to Acts 2 – we covered this briefly in the last chapter. This is very important. Peter said in his powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost – verse 22 – “’ Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and sign which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – ” How do we prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Christos – the Messiah – the Anointed Son of God!? How do we know that!? Is it because the Bible tells us!? Well, we know about it because of this Book – but the proof (and it really comes down to two areas):

●     Jesus Christ said to the people of His era who were questioning Him, ‘How do we know who You say You are!?’ And He said to them, “’ 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’” Now, never, ever, had any other human being said that! Or even had the audacity to even think it! But He boldly said, ‘This is the one true sign!’ And He did it! And the people who were around Him and near Him, they recorded this historic document - and this spiritual document we call the Holy Bible the New Testament – to demonstrate.
     Now these men who had recorded it, many of them were themselves martyred. Do you really think that if they knew that story about Jesus was a fraud – that He had died and they stole His body and they hid it – they would have gone to the point of torture and death if they knew the story was a lie!? No, they knew the story was true because they saw it and they wrote about it! So, that’s one powerful proof that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah and the Messiah yet to come!
●   Now, anybody can claim anything. There are church people right now that say, “Well, we represent God!” Anybody can say that. And there’s really no way to disprove it other than to follow the fruit of their life. “’ You will know them by their fruits.’” And so when a group says, “Well, we represent God!” and yet they trash people and they tell lies and they make up stories – the fruit of their existence is very negative and false. And not to be believed.
      But the other fruit of their life is if the people involved in that religion were to have the power to give sight back to the blind, to give hearing to the deaf, to eradicate demonic possession and mental disease, to restore withered limbs, even to restore people who had previously been dead back to life, either now or in the future.
      I’m not talking about some fake people. There once was a man on television always dressed in white – an Israeli televangelist, known for his “Miracle Crusades” – and he would put on “a really big shew” as Ed Sullivan would say. He was a religious charlatan. And a part of his show – he would ask people to come up on stage and he would throw his hand out near their forehead and they would just fall away backward. And had attendants catching these people. And then he would claim they were healed. I saw a lot of showmanship, and games being played up on stage. Well, in 2017, federal investigators raided his Grapevine office with a search warrant for financial crimes. Also, in 2017, an article reported that he, sweating, had wondered how an actual handicapped person made it past security. Well, that was all show business folks! Not much more than a glorified magician's act.
     One way to see proof that a man truly represents the will of God is if God and Jesus Christ would grant that man the gift of healing. And that’s what God the Father did with Jesus – notice again, “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man [approved] by God ...” God the Father put His stamp of approval on Jesus Christ “to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know [to be true].”
     And that’s what is going to happen to the end-time prophets. They’re going to be granted the gift of miracles, and the gift of healing.
     To understand what the end-time prophets are going to do – to fully understand it and to fully appreciate it – you must understand what Jesus Christ did! And He said, ‘greater works than these he will do.’ You’ve got to go back and study every single miracle performed by and through Jesus Christ.
     And so the following chapter of this book is dedicated to going through five miracles that were a part of the life of Jesus Christ. And in doing so we will begin to understand the power that will be with these end-time prophets. And then we’re going to talk about what the Bible says specifically about the end-time prophets and the Two Witnesses – and what their job is going to be.

Turn to Romans 15. I would like to continue establishing some background. Verse 13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14) Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [instruct] one another. 15) Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16) that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17) Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18) For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient – ...” – he’s basically saying, ‘I’m just going to speak the things I know and of things which I have witnessed. Verse 19 – “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
     How was this great statement made!? Sometimes you have to have some miraculous power in order to get people’s attention. This is what happened to Jesus Christ, and this is what happened to the Apostle Paul.
     Notice if you would 2nd Corinthians 12, verse 1 – again, this is the Apostle Paul speaking. “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” – now, that within itself is a miracle – to be given a vision from God. To know things miraculously from God that nobody else knows through God’s Spirit – well that’s a miracle.
     Now Paul is speaking in the third person. Verse 2 – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago ...” – Paul is indeed speaking of himself. “ ... – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body [in other words, in the mind] I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” The third heaven is the throne of God. Again, the Bible talks about three different types of heaven. The heaven which is most often mentioned in the Bible is – what we would call the atmosphere. That’s what the word heaven normally means. There are also, in the Bible, times when the word heaven is referring to what we would call outer space. And it’s not used too often. And the third location and description of the word heaven is the present throne of God the Father and Jesus Christ. And here Paul labels it ‘the third heaven.’ Verse 3 – “And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows –” – whether it was happening in the body or happening in a vision – in his mind. Verse 4 – “how he [speaking of himself] was caught up into Paradise ...”
     Paradise is the throne of God – the third heaven. What we have here – Apostle Paul is describing a situation in which either he was actually there by his body being transported by the power of God, or it all occurred to him in the theatre of his mind. That he saw it like we would see a television show. Even though I’ve never been to Hawaii, many times I have seen Hawaii because of the means of television or movies. “ ... and heard inexpressible words, which is not lawful for a man to utter.” – he was hearing things that no human being normally gets to be a part of. A fantastic miracle! Verse 5 – “Of such a one I
will boast; ...” – he’s saying – ‘This was a powerful moment in my life! One which I’ll never forget! One which once again proves to me that I was serving the living God and the Messiah – the living Son of God Jesus Christ!’ “ ... yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities [my weaknesses]. 6) For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.”
     Paul is saying, ‘I’m being really careful how I tell you this story because I don’t want you to think that I’m special.’ What he’s saying is, ‘I’m the recipient of a miracle and it proves that God is very special.’
     Verse 7 – “And lest I should be exalted above measure ...” – recall in the previous chapter we talked about Acts 3 & 4? When the lame man was healed the people outside the gate called Beautiful began to look upon Peter and John as though they were “great holy men.” And Peter said, ‘Don’t look upon us as though we did this – we didn’t do this! We spoke the words, but the actual healing was done by Jesus Christ!’ And he wanted to disavow that he was somehow special. He was special in that God used him – but the power came from Jesus Christ! Paul is saying the same thing here. ‘Don’t look upon me as something special because I had this vision or this event. What is special is that I got to see it!’ “ ... by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
     What are the traits that can destroy the Spirit of God inside a human being? Well, bitterness will do it. Paul talked about, ‘lest a root of bitterness spring up from within you defile you.’ And bitterness can sour people. It can take them from having their name written in the Book of Life and having that name scratched out! And, jealousy. The petty jealousy which takes place within church groups is just astounding! Also, self-righteousness. As Jesus defined in the Book of Luke, chapter 18 – “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” They think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Righteousness does not come from a human being, righteousness is poured into a human being from the Spirit of God – the very presence of Jesus Christ! His words, His Spirit, His mind! Remember what Jesus says about the two great commandments? ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul [your life], and with all your mind.’ And He says the other is like unto it, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Now, do you see the problem there!? If you don’t love your neighbor as yourself, you’re not really following the will of God. And if you despise others – which self-righteous people do, they look down smugly upon others, they’ll trash them, tell stories about them, they’ll try to destroy their reputation, mock them, demean them – all the time thinking how wonderful they are. I meet people all the time and talk to people all the time who – because of their training and background they think that being uber-righteous is somehow pleasing to God. “I won’t keep the Day of Atonement for one day, I’ll keep the Day of Atonement for two or three days! I’ll be uber-righteous and God will love me even more!” Folks, there’s nothing you can do to impress God except the following:
     Submit wholeheartedly, completely, to Him and His will – with a humble and contrite spirit.
     Getting back to 2nd Corinthians 12. Paul has been describing this great event where he saw the throne of God! And I dare say that doesn’t happen too often to mortal human beings. But he says because this gift that he had been given was so great that God allowed him to struggle as he says, “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8) Concerning this thing ...” – and it was probably his eyesight. “ ... I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” And every time Jesus said directly to him – verse 9 – “ ... ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities [my weaknesses], that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong [in God’s Spirit].”
     That’s not the way most people think. Most people think – well I’m riding high and everything is going well, a good job, a family, a house, a career, good health, I’m being blessed by God. But in truth – for the true servants of Jesus Christ – often their life is filled with issues. Problems. And, the problems keep them humble. The problems keep them sort of tampered down so that they never forget that they need Jesus Christ every moment! “I need thee, oh, I need thee; Ev'ry hour I need thee!” A beautiful song! Every hour, every minute, every second, we need Jesus Christ! And sometimes we just need to be reminded of that. I know in my life there are things that keep me sort of – at bay. And the lesson to learn from all of this – is that while I’m still in this flesh I’m going to look to Jesus Christ and God the Father and the Word of God and the soon-coming Kingdom of God! That will be my focus.
     Verse 11 – “I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; ...” Paul is saying. ‘You guys don’t respect me the way you should.’ “ ... for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though [in your eyes] I am nothing. 12) Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” – Paul was saying, ‘I may have my sight problem, but you know from the miracles that God the Father and Jesus Christ is truly backing me.’
     That’s what these end-time prophets are going to say.
     John 14. This is one of the final sermons that Jesus Christ gives as a human being. It’s not going to be long after this until He is arrested and tried mockingly and He ends up dying on a cross. This is one of the last chances He has to speak to His disciples. In John 14 there is something that is utterly and completely remarkable! And it’s easy to read by it and not really ponder the significants of it. But I want you to see this – because it directly ties into the topic of the end-time prophets.
     He says in John 14:12 – “’ Most assuredly, ...’” – which means, in absolute truth! “ ... ‘I say to you, he who believes [on] Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.’”
     Then in verse 16, He talks about the Comforter – God’s Spirit. Verse 17 – “’ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees [it] nor knows [it]; but you know [it], for [it] dwells with you and will be in you.’” And, verse 21 near the end, “ ... ‘and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’” Verse 23 – “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word [he will believe My word]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’”
     John 15. Verse 26 – “’ But when the Helper ...’” – another name for God’s Spirit, the very mind of Jesus Christ is within you. “ ... ‘comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, [it] will testify of Me. 27) And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.’”

Be sure to read our booklet "Proving the Truth!" It explains that the Greek language didn't have a neutral pronoun and that the Holy Spirit is not a "He" - not a person, but rather the power which emanates from God the Father and Jesus Christ.

What these two passages point out – there in John 14:12 – ‘the things which I have done, you’re going to do the same – and greater!’ I believe that He’s speaking about the end-time prophets. And, He says in chapter 15, near the end, ‘I’m going to send you My Spirit – the Spirit of God is power and a part of that power is able to produce miracles – and you shall be My witnesses.’
     The end-time prophets are the end-time witnesses for Jesus Christ, for God the Father, for the Word of God, and for the Plan of God. And the final two will be called the Two Witnesses. Because their job will be the most spectacular of all!


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Publication Date: 2023


11-12-2016 - End-Time Prophets - Part B
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