What is meant, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat'?

by Leonard V Johnson

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COJCOM · Think About This... What is meant, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat'?

In this THINK ABOUT THIS… let’s talk about what is meant, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat’? Because there are a great number of people worldwide who were taught and believe that the apostle Peter, along with the other apostles, ate meats that were unclean according to the law which the LORD God gave to Moses. Let’s examine God’s living word concerning this subject.

Back in 2017 a Roman Catholic proudly announced to me ── rather anti-Semitically ── when he heard that I do not eat pork, “Oh, that’s a Jewish thing!”

I then proceeded to remind him of the LORD God’s food laws in Leviticus 11:1-8, 47, as well as Deuteronomy 14:1-29. But, since a large majority of Catholics don’t read the Old Testament (and I’m sure this doesn’t apply to all Catholics), it’s possible he was referencing Acts 10 ── especially that part concerning the apostle Peter’s vision.

There was a centurion, a commander in the Italian Regiment of the Roman military. He lived in Caesarea. His name was Cornelius. It was in Cornelius’ home that the LORD God opened up the door to His living word to the Gentiles. In a vision, he was told to send to Joppa for the apostle Peter, who would tell him what to do. And, as Cornelius’ messengers were on their way to get Peter, Peter also had a vision. While Peter was on the roof of his house praying he became very hungry and wanted to eat; “but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.” He saw the atmosphere open and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners that descended down to him. Within the bounded sheet were all kinds of four-footed beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. Then, a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ── Acts 10:1-13.

Was this the instance that my mother-in-law’s neighbor was referring to in which the apostle Peter was supposedly now allowed to eat pork?

But, did he?

Notice the apostle Peter’s response to the voice ──

“ …’ Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean!’” vs. 14.

So, if our Lord Jesus Christ had made unclean meats clean, the apostle Peter would have not only begun eating any meats deemed unclean by the law of God, but ── and pay close attention to his answer, he had not eaten even up to that point any meats deemed unclean by the law of God!

Also, the apostle Peter was told by a voice THREE TIMES, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ – vs. 15. He was instructed about what the LORD God has since cleansed, he was not to think of it as common. Here, there was no reference as to what was considered common and what was unclean.

The apostle Peter “wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant,” since he knew and believed that God’s living word plainly FORBIDS His begotten children to consume meats that are deemed unclean. Because God’s living and immutable word nowhere contradicts itself. While he pondered the meaning of this vision, ‘the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood before the gate.’ Then the Spirit of God came to him and said, “Behold, THREE men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” – vss. 19-20.

Peter’s Vision Made Clear

The following day the apostle Peter traveled with the three men, and some brethren from Joppa to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. As he talked with him, “he went in and found many who had come together.” And he said, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” – vs. 28.

The LORD God had never forbidden Jews to keep company with or go to one of another nation ── that was a man-made law by the Jews based upon their wrong understanding of God’s living word! Truly, until that time the apostle Peter was wrongly following Jewish traditions and customs. Do you recall the apostle Paul getting onto Peter concerning this very thing? Paul confronts Peter concerning his hypocrisy. “for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself.” – Galatians 2:11-14; in approx. AD 45.

But, NOWHERE in God’s living word, do we find that the apostle Peter ate pig meat or any other meat deemed unclean by the law of God. A great number of people are wrong, though I doubt many would admit it even if it is proven to them beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Has Our Lord Jesus Cleansed All Meats?

Still, again, multiple millions are taught and believe that God’s law concerning clean and unclean meats has been “done away with.”

Our Lord Jesus’ living words in Mark chapter 7 have been purported to have “done away” with His law concerning unclean meats ──

“When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18) So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19) because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?’” – Mark 7:17-19 (New King James Version).

Now, something to think about ── if our Lord Jesus truly meant by this clear understanding: What had He just been discussing with the Pharisees and scribes? “’ Why do Your disciples not walk according to the TRADITION OF THE ELDERS, but eat bread with unwashed hands?’” And our Lord Jesus answered ── it doesn’t matter if you eat with unwashed hands, because what you eat doesn’t enter into your heart, but enters into your stomach, which eventually is eliminated – thus, whatever was unclean on your food has now been “purified” ── that all meats that were unclean are now clean (of which, sadly, multiple millions believe), then obviously the apostle Peter still didn’t understand our Lord Jesus’ clear teaching years later!

Let us briefly go over a little about the law concerning clean and unclean meats. (We have several articles concerning this important subject, i.e. “Is God's Biblical Food Laws Still In Effect!?” and “An Abomination to Eat Pork!”). This law was well-known even before the Great Flood. A verse that a great many children’s Bible Story books actually won’t properly quote ── “’ You shall take with you SEVEN each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female.’” – Genesis 7:2.

When it becomes clear to you just who the “LORD” of the Old Testament was, you will come to see that this subject is so much more important in receiving the glorious gift of eternal salvation than you might think it is. Truly, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT… Because throughout God’s living word is made clear that the One who later became our Savior Jesus Christ was the very same being known as the “LORD” in the Old Testament. For reference be sure to read and study Colossians 1:13-18; as well as John 1:1-5. The very God who would later become “flesh and dwell among us” – John 1:14.

The Word had personally said to the children of Israel, “’ distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’” – Leviticus 11:47.

Have you ever asked yourself ── “Why did the LORD God make such a law?”

Well, our Creator always has a good reason for the things that He does. When one comes to the knowledge that all unclean meats can have dangerous bacteria, that can cause foodborne illnesses, then there’s our answer. The LORD God says to us, “’ But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, … I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease [such as a cancer] and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart.’” – Leviticus 26:14, 15, 16. The Eternal our God’s living word makes clear which animals are clean ── “’ Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud ── that you may eat.’” – Leviticus 11.

All the meats that were deemed by the LORD God as unclean are still unclean in this 21st century! They all can still have dangerous bacteria, which can cause foodborne illnesses in human beings.

Can We Eat Whatever Is Set Before Us?

Yet another passage in God’s living word that is often misunderstood and misconstrued, and is taught and believed “done away” or “nailed to the cross” with God’s law against consuming unclean meats is 1st Corinthians chapter 10 ──

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake.” vs. 25.

Here again, one must properly understand what is being talked about ── we must include the whole context and not just one verse.

What was it that he was speaking about?

“Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19) What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20) RATHER, that the things which the Gentiles [or heathen; Someone who is not religious] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; …” – 1 Corinthians 10:18-21.

He goes on to say that people will tell themselves, “All things are lawful for me.” And he answers, ‘but not all things are helpful, and not all things edify’ the person.

In verse 27 he says, “If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for conscience sake.”

Does the apostle Paul mean that you cannot ask questions about how the meats were prepared, or its source? No. Logically one would ── not everyone can eat the same foods. As noted earlier, the whole context should make it clear what the apostle Paul was actually speaking of ── he was addressing people offering animal meats as sacrifices to other gods. The apostle Paul had a clear understanding of God’s food law.

As an example: If your host is a practicing Islamic, and he and his family pray over the meal being served, then, for their consciences' sake, you should not eat it ── notice verses 28 & 29.

Understand, the god they worship, Allah, is not the Creator God that true Christians worship in truth and in Spirit!

Is All Meats Now Considered Clean?

Another so often misunderstood and misconstrued passage is Romans 14:14.

“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; …”

What is he talking about?

Again, we must include the whole context to see what it is that the apostle Paul is addressing. Notice that this chapter's subject is mentioned in verse 2 – “ … one man will have faith enough to eat all kinds of food, while a weaker man eats only vegetables.” – (New English Bible). In other words, some people ate meat and vegetables, while others ate only vegetables. The apostle Paul in this chapter is saying that true Christians should not judge another if they only eat vegetables ── are a vegetarian. Rather, a true Christian should not say or do anything that would cause another true Christian to stumble in faith ── “it is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” – vs. 21.

So, now that we properly understand what he is speaking about ── what about verse 14?

We see the answer when we discover the original Greek word for “unclean.”

The word in Greek is koinos, meaning common #2839. It is usually translated into English as “unclean.”

The Interlinear Bible Hebrew/Greek/English Bible translates this verse – “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing by itself is common, except to the one counting anything to be common, it is common.”

Note that the Greek word for “unclean” is not used ── akathartos #169.

Sadly, the improper translation from Koine Greek to English in this verse has caused a great many people to wrongly conclude that this statement by the apostle Paul permits all Christians to eat meats that even the LORD God has deemed unclean. □

Giants On Earth In Those Days (Sermon)

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COJCOM · 2-22-2025 ── Giants On Earth In Those Days!

Greetings again Brethren, Friends, and Co-Workers around the world. Welcome our friends in Altoona, Iowa; Prineville, Oregon; Forest City, North Carolina; and even Johannesburg, South Africa! Welcome. This is Leonard V Johnson with the Word of God, the Truth of God, and helping in understanding the LORD our God’s ultimate Plan for the redemption of all mankind!

       The last few weeks we’ve been talking about angels. About cherubims, seraphims, and angels – messengers, and agents for our LORD God, the family of God ── which now consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

       And the subject we’re going to talk about today is a subject that a great many people around the world appear to believe in ── falsely I might add. And, I briefly mentioned in the last message to you, that I have in my library a series of fictional books entitled “Earth Chronicles” by author Zachariah Sitchin. I had a friend back in the mid-90s ── who has since died ── who wanted me to read this series of books. And, I believe he took them to be what the back cover of the first book called, “a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity’s extraterrestrial forefathers.” Yet, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT! They are simply an author’s fanciful imagination of what God’s living word calls “There were giants on earth in those days.” And a person who mixed ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Hittite, Canaanite, and other ancient texts and intertwined them with God’s living word regarding the Nephilim ── or what this author called “visitors to Earth from the heavens.” If you have a chance to ever read them, go ahead, he designed it as though it’s a sci-fi story! Because it is! So, we brought up the subject of Genesis chapter 6 in the previous message. And, I want to ask ── did fallen angels have sexual relations with the daughters of men and marry them?

       When you search on the Internet for this subject matter, a whole plethora of websites and online articles are devoted to the belief that Satan the Devil had sexual relations with Eve and that Eve gave birth to Cain – whom they call “the Serpent’s Seed.” Just outright blasphemous teachings, ideals, and ideas that are being taught around the world!

       Turning to the Book of Genesis, the 6th chapter we read ──

       “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2) that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” – Genesis 6:1-2.

       I’ll get to answering the question ── who are the daughters of men? ── in a moment, but first, it says a little further down, “there were giants on earth in those days.” The assumption is that, and sadly a great many people believe and teach, that these were fallen angels ── these “sons of God.” And that they had sexual relations and married the daughters of men, and the result was children that became giants.

       Continuing here ──

       “And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive [or rather, abide] with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’” – vs. 3.

       Now, there has also been much confusion regarding this verse as well. What is meant, “one hundred and twenty years”? Well, it’s not the length of years a man of that era was to live, it’s referring to how long patriarch Noah had to build the Ark. So, the LORD God’s reference here to 120 years was a countdown until the Great Flood.

       “There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” – vs 4.

       Now were these “men of renown” those “giants on earth in those days”? Were they the children of the sexual relations between the fallen angels and the daughters of men? Let us settle those questions right here and now! Sadly, also as well ── I also had another friend, the very one who had been one of the youngest ordained ministers with the Open Bible Church organization at one time, fall into this false doctrine of “the Serpent’s Seed.” A person who was ignorant of a great deal of what God’s living word truly says.

       We’ve been going through the Book of Hebrews, beginning in chapter 1. And the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ is now “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels.” And of “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord” Jesus! So, we’ve been delving into the subject of cherubims, seraphim, and angels. Are there any angels? Are they but superstitions? Are they simply mythology?

       Again, you more than likely never saw what a cherubim, seraphim, or an angel actually look like. God’s living word ── the Holy Bible ── speaks a great deal about them. And many of you watching or listening have never heard a great deal about them. Yet, you find that God’s living word does indeed speak concerning them.

       We’re going over ── What Are Angels? Why Are Angels? What is their purpose? What is it that they do? What are they actually like? What are they made of? All of these things ── some of which we’ve already covered. All of which I would like to answer for you ── from God’s living word.

What Is Meant “Sons of God”?

Again, there are a lot of people who believe, teach, and preach, that those sons of God were fallen angels. Well, let’s study this more thoroughly. First ── if a man or a woman has received the glorious gift, and is led by, the Spirit of God, as you read in the Book of Romans chapter 8, verse 14 ── we are considered “sons of God.” There are many Scriptures in the New Testament that explain that a person is not a begotten son of God (and I’m using the word “son” here – normally I use the word “child” from the Greek word υἱός. Does not become a begotten son of God until the time when he has properly repented, been properly baptized, and had hands laid upon him receiving the glorious gift of God’s Spirit, been truly reconciled to God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, by the blood of our Lord Jesus, by the death of our Lord Jesus, and by the glorious resurrection unto life of our Lord Jesus.

       Indeed, my Brethren, Friends, and Co-Workers in Christ, there are several Scriptures in the New Testament of God’s living word where there were regular ── carnal minded ── men and women who were very important people within this present evil age, they were very upstanding and fine men and women, i.e. Joseph of Arimathea. But, unless they have within them the glorious Spirit of God, they are none of His. And, we see this in the Book of Romans, the 8th chapter. Notice verse 9 – “ … Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” This means, that if you do not have the glorious Spirit of God within you ── you are not a true Christian. And, I don’t mean to offend you in any way ── this is simply what God’s living word says.

       Also, additionally ── and you might remember that I spoke of this in 2023 in a Letter to our Friends ── the ”sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 are the descendants of Adam from his son Seth. Also, the “daughters of men” were the descendants of Cain.

       The Jamieson Fausset and Brown write, “Mixed marriages between parties of opposite principles and practice were necessarily sources of extensive corruption. The women irreligious themselves, would as wives and mothers exert an influence FATAL to the existence of religion [the very religion of the LORD God] in their household, and consequently the people of that later age sank to the lowest depravity” 1

       A Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament I have in my library also speaks of this ── “The ‘sons of God’ (Elohim) mentioned in Gen. 6 … more likely the godly line of Seth.” 2

       And yet again, additionally ── all of mankind is considered “sons of God” in the sense that we are creations of one Father as we find in the Book of Malachi chapter 2, verse 10 – “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? …” Notice also, Luke chapter 3:38 ── going through the genealogy of the son of Joseph (our Lord Jesus Christ) ── going all the way to “ … the son of Seth, the son of Adam, …” And Adam being “the son of God.” And of course, Adam was a son of God only in the fact that the Lord GOD created him, but NOT IN ANY OTHER WAY! We are all naturally born sons of Adam. But, when you are begotten of the LORD God through our Lord Jesus Christ by conversion, you become ── spiritually speaking ── a son of Abraham, as well as a child of God, One of the very children of Abraham.

       Another point on this topic here, “sons of God,” turn in your Bible to the Book of Job chapter 38 ──

       “When the morning stars [meaning, angels] sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” vs. 7.

       Again, spoken of earlier, the “godly line of Seth.” And you will notice that the children from Seth’s righteous lineage began to call upon the LORD God; cf. Genesis 4:26.

       Returning again to the Book of Genesis chapter 6, we can now better understand what our LORD God is speaking ──

       Verse 2 the antediluvian period or pre-flood period ── “ … the sons of God [the righteous lineage of Seth] saw the daughters of men [descendants of unrighteous Cain. By marrying these women, the sons of righteous Seth turned from God, leading the LORD God to say that the entire world was then corrupt] that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.”

        

Angels Are of Lower Rank

So, even though cherubims, seraphim, and angels were created by the LORD God, again, where at any place, any time, and to which of the angels did Father God say: ‘You are My Son, …?’ Nowhere! So, this truly means that Job 38:7 is speaking not of angels, but of the righteous lineage of Seth, beginning with his son Enosh.

       No, our Eternal Master and Creator, the LORD God, never said, ‘You are My Son,’ to any cherubim, seraphim, or angel. They are not begotten sons or daughters of God. They are often called “stars” in God’s living word – cf. Job 38:7; Revelation 6:13.

       Turning again to the Book of Hebrews chapter 1 ── we read this also, I believe, in last week’s message to you ──

       “ …’ And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’? …’”

       In other words, this is back from another passage – I believe the Book of Psalm 2:7. Speaking of our Lord Jesus of Nazareth. Our Messiah!

       Verse 6 – “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’” – Hebrews 1:6.

       Now, our Lord Jesus Christ was made a little lower than angels when He was a human being ── but, of course, He had always been higher than any angel, as He is now in His glory, as the One and Only resurrected Savior in His glorified state!

       Verse 7 – “And of the angels He says …”

       Including cherubim’s, seraphim’s, and all angels.

       “ … ‘Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.’”

       The vital key word here ── “makes” ── meaning, He created His angels. And, as we learned in the first of this series of messages, they are created out of spirit. They are spirits. Yet, not one place in all of God’s living word will you find that man is a spirit. Now, in the Book of Job chapter 32, we are told that “there is a spirit in man,” but …. I don’t want to cover this but briefly here …

This human spirit enters the human embryo at conception. The spirit is like the “hard drive on a computer” – it stores information. The spirit essence is NOT an immortal soul or an eternal spirit. The spirit in man is NOT the man. It is something in the man. It has no life of itself.

So, nowhere does God’s living word say that man is a spirit. But, angels are spirits. Mankind is mortal, “ … the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, …” (Genesis 2:7), “ … we have borne the image of the man of dust, …” (1 Corinthians 15:49). But, continuing in that same verse there in 1st Corinthians chapter 15, we can THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST “bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

       Verse 8 – “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’”

       And of course, He is worthy of worship of all the angels.

       Angels ── which include the different cherubims and seraphims ── are completely separate beings, creations. Again, they have never been considered “sons of God.”

An Ultimate Potential For All Of Mankind!

Yesterday I spent several hours watching documentaries on Voyager I and Voyager II. Watching what is known as “the Golden Record” that was included aboard the two Voyager spacecrafts launched in 1977. I have known of these two spacecrafts ever since I was eight years old. I remember watching on television the launch of the Titan III-Centaur lifting off for the heavens with bated breath ── even at eight years old! And, even though the LORD God had not yet touched my heart in calling me out of this present evil age ── my parents and my grandmother were trying their best to ‘train me up in the way that I should go so that when I was older I would not depart from it’ – Proverbs 22:6, paraphrased. I knew even at that young age ── almost instinctively ── that mankind has a most wonderful and glorious future potential. But it wasn’t until later that I would read and study the glorious words of our Creator – such as ──

       “’ But I am the LORD your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared – The LORD of hosts [meaning, an army, divisions of angels] is His name. 16) And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, …’” – Isaiah 51:15, 16.

       Man was created and placed upon this planet Earth for a grand purpose! God [the Elohim; the family of God] is reproducing Themselves! Recall, “’ Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …’” – Genesis 1:26. God has blessed mankind with a mind that is like God’s ── and, of course, man’s mind is a material mind that is very limited by comparison. God’s mind is spiritual, all-encompassing, perfect. Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that there will come a time when we shall be perfect, “’ just as your Father in heaven is perfect’” – Matthew 5:48. And a man can eventually become perfect if he would only yield and surrender his whole life to the LORD God. If mankind would come to realize and understand that they don’t need to waste money and resources sending probes out into deep space, or even to the outer heliopause, or interstellar space, or wherever these two probes might end up, looking for their creator, or their “extraterrestrial forefathers,” because what all mankind is truly and actually looking for isn’t far away. Our Lord God says, “’ … Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him? … Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ …” – Jeremiah 23:23-24. This is the very word of the Lord!

       The apostle Paul says in the Book of Acts chapter 17 ──

       “And He [the LORD God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

       Why?

       Verse 27 – “So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” – Acts 17:26-27.

       Mankind is not complete in his creation. We NEED GOD! We NEED THE VERY MIND OF GOD – of HIS SPIRIT! We read in such passages as the Book of Philippians chapter 2 ──

       “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:5.

       And, as we’ve been teaching in messages for some time now, “CHRIST IN US!” the hope of glory! – Colossians 1:27.

       Turn also, if you will, to the Book of Galatians chapter 2 ──

       “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, …” – Galatians 2:20.

       So, it’s not my faith in the Son of God ── a point that many people are confused about ── it’s not my faith in the Son of God, but the very faith OF the Son of God. As the Holy Bible In Its Original Order, the New English Translation properly translates it. “ … I live by faith ──that very faith of the Son of God, …” Which is placed within us! And that is the Way that you and I should be living.

       So, a true and real father-son relationship does not exist between God the Father and His mighty angels. And, for that matter, that kind of relationship doesn’t exist between any unconverted man or woman and God the Father. There are several passages within the New Testament of your Bible, that show us that an unconverted person is not a child of God. In the sense of a begotten child of God.

Who Were the Nephilim ── the “Giants”?

Returning once again to the Book of Genesis chapter 6. The prophet Moses also wrote, besides “the sons of God,” “the daughters of men,” which we just covered ── we come to, in verse 4 – “There were giants on earth in those days, …”

       The Hebrew word for “giants” is Nephilim, which simply means giants.

    Well, unlike the GOBBLEDYGOOK science fiction stories that are so plentiful ── even on supposedly legitimate documentary programs on television ── I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the truth from God’s living word! And, I hope you have your Bible handy, and you can open up your Bible right now and study this with me. The prophet Moses was inspired to write that long before the Great Flood occurred, there were giants that existed on the earth. “ … in those days, …” And then is added, “ … and also afterward, …” That was certainly placed there for a reason.

       So, “ … and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. …” Verse 4.

       Pay close attention to the fact that the giants were not the progeny of those sexual relations (which is what “came in to” means). It doesn’t say this! Sadly, a great many people have not been truly seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears here in Genesis chapter 6. Let’s go over it again – the first part, verse 4 – “There were giants on earth in those days, …” And then there is a comma.

       Then it interjects to say, “ … and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they [the daughters of men] bore children to them [meaning, the sons of God]. THOSE [the children of the sons of God] were mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”

       So, it’s like saying, there were giants that existed during the antediluvian period, and also AFTERWARD, “when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men …” And, we find this to be true with the likes of Anakim ── the descendants of Anak. Notice the Book of Joshua 15:13 that states “Arba was the forefather of Anak.” Their formidable appearance, as described by ten of the twelve spies sent to search the land, filled the Israelites with terror – reference Numbers 13:33.

       So, in Genesis chapter 6, here are the Nephilim.

       “There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, …” – Genesis 6:4.

       So, “and also” means, IN ADDITION. In addition to the fact that there were giants during the antediluvian period, “in those days,” also AFTERWARD there were giants ── or rather Nephilim on the Earth.

       So, also afterward ──

       “ … when the sons of God [referring to the descendants of righteous Seth] came in to the daughters of men [referring to the descendants of unrighteous Cain] and they bore children to them. [And these children became] … the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” – Genesis 6:4.

       But again, God’s living word doesn’t say that these children were the progeny of the giants, but rather the progeny of the sons of God.

Ancient Giants

Now, this also may surprise some of you. But, the remains of giants have been found by geologists and archaeologists. Giants have been dug up out of the earth, and a lot of people view it as mythical, or fake. Here is one such example ──

Scientists still baffled from giant human skeletons up to 10 feet tall decades after initial discovery.

April 4, 2024.

A series of mysterious giant skeletons up to 10 feet tall reportedly discovered in and around Nevada caves last century — dubbed the “Giants of Lovelock” — are still baffling scientists decades later.

The claims about supersized humans who roamed the area around Lovelock, a remote town 90 miles northeast of Reno, thousands of years ago are rooted in Native America lore, which tells of fierce, redheaded, pale-skinned giants who arrived from Central America by boat and attacked local tribes. …

Radiocarbon dating later placed human bone fragments and plant material found in the cave between 2030 BC and 1218 BC. …

The remains reportedly measured at 8.5 and 10 feet, respectively, and were described as having red hair.

Here is another one ── and reports like this are plentiful from all around the world ──

The 4000-Year-Old “Longshan Giant” Discovered in Shaanxi Province, China.

Cambridge University Press: 18 July 2016.

A human skeleton of phenomenal size was uncovered during the excavation of a prehistoric site located in the city of Shangnan, Shaanxi province, China, in 2006. The skeleton dates to … the Longshan culture (4400–4000 yr ago). The skeletal characteristics point to a young male 16–18 yrs old with a height of (6½ feet).

Notice this from the National Library of Medicine from 2014 ──

Hereditary Gigantism-the biblical giant Goliath and his brothers

Giants have been around since time began; they are first described in the Bible in the book of Genesis … After the great Flood, giants remained present in the scriptural texts, … Giants lived together as a number of separate races, before and after the Flood. … For example, the Nephilim (Numbers 13:32-33), appear to be present before and after the flood. The Anakim ── the descendants of Anak. [Recall that I mentioned them earlier]. … As well as a people called Rephaim (Deuteronomy 2:10-11), and they existed AFTER the great Flood. … The Anakim seems to be derived from the Nephilim. The Rephaim although similar to the Nephilim, appear to be distinct from them with respect to family lineage.

Now, I’ll be sure to leave links to these articles I’ve mentioned here down below in the information section.

       So, Brethren, Friends, and Co-Workers in Christ, there have been a great many things discovered that many people have never heard about. Giants of ancient times have been discovered and their bones have been dug up. So the terrible accusations that God’s living word is untrustworthy is disproved!

       Now, absolutely, there is ── and there has been all through the generations of mankind ── superstitious religions. I’ve mentioned this before, I have in my library a book entitled “The Illustrated Golden Bough” by author Sir James George Frazer. It’s a book of the study in magic and religion. In the very introduction by Robert Temple, it states that Mr. Frazer is describing “man as progressing from a belief in magic as a means of controlling his environment to religious belief, which propagated gods and spirits.” And yes, a great many religions around the world is a religion of superstition. And if you even remotely believe that you are involved in one, you’d better “GET OUT” immediately! But, the LORD God’s true religion is not, and God’s living word is not.

       Still, in Genesis chapter 6 we see that the LORD ── the LORD God ── again, the family of God, with mercy, and sorry that He had made man on the earth, was grieved in His heart. And said, “’ I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air; for I am sorry that I have made them.’” – Genesis 6:6-7.

       And sadly, as you know, in biblical prophecy direct from our Lord Jesus Christ, His word says, “’ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.’” – Luke 17:26.

       Well, today, in this 21st century ── what they call the Doomsday Clock has officially been moved by scientists to signal how close we are to the end of the world. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has once again moved its iconic “Doomsday Clock” to just 89 seconds before midnight. This marks the closest humanity has ever been to theoretical annihilation in the clock's 78-year history!

       Our Lord Jesus Christ gave this prophecy some 1,992 years ago, “ … unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; …’” – Matthew 24:22.

       As it was in the days of the patriarch Noah, the LORD God did intervene! He saved eight people. It was the LORD God’s great mercy that allowed the great Flood to occur. And as a great many of us are aware of now ── there is massive evidence of a great Flood. It wiped out the men on earth who were perpetrating the “evil continually.” The LORD God saved a man and his family ── a man who was still walking with God, obeying God, and preaching of righteousness ── of keeping and obeying the LORD God’s holy commandments.

       Well, let’s end this message today here. We’ve got quite a few more messages to give on cherubims, seraphim, and angels. Next week, I’ll pick it back ── because there are still some wonderful and astonishing things I want to teach you regarding angels from God’s living word!

       So, until next time, this is Leonard V Johnson for the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. Goodbye for now. □

1 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 22.

2 Harris L. R., Archer, L. Gleason, Jr., and Waltke K. Bruce. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1980, #254, pg. 114.

The Lie of the Rapture

The absolute man-made doctrine of the rapture is a complete lie.

by Guy C LaMar

This doctrine of an end-time rapture (what many call a “Secret Rapture”) came from the works of John Nelson Darby, who is considered to be the father of modern dispensationalism and futurism. Pre-tribulation rapture theology was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby.

This false doctrine was incorporated into Study Bibles, such as the Scofield Reference Bible.

The definition of the word “rapture” means a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. And, words and phrases related to this word “rapture” are as follows ──

Ecstasy, Bliss, Euphoria, Elation, Exaltation, Joy, Joyful, Joyousness, Cloud Nine, Seventh Heaven, Transport, Rhapsody, Enchantment, Delight, Exhilaration, Happiness, Pleasure, Ravishment, Top of the World, and Delectation.

In the early 20th century, a group of religious leaders of the Plymouth Brethren and the founder of the Exclusive Brethren adopted whole-heartedly this man-made doctrine of an end-time rapture. A false doctrine that teaches that there would be the “transporting” of believers to heaven upon Christ’s Second Coming. Or, rather, “taken away.”

This doctrine is nowhere found in God’s living word ── the Holy Bible!

Here are a few of the biblical references they use to try and prove their false doctrine ── 1st Thessalonians 4; Matthew 24; John 14; and Revelation 3.

Friends, let us closely examine these Scriptures ──

1st Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The very word “rapture” is not a biblical word – it’s not found anywhere in the Bible. The adherence to the idea has ceased upon a couple of Greek words to describe the second coming of Jesus Christ. Looking at their use of three Greek words that they’ve somehow concluded relate to the second coming of Christ, and are broken up into several “stages.” And, they teach – that He is first coming for the Church, a “secret rapture” – skipping by the earth and snatching away the saints and carrying them up to heaven, then second “the great tribulation” will befall all of those remaining on the earth, the chaos, the hurricanes, volcanoes, nuclear war, tsunamis, and ultimate extermination. And then, finally, He is coming with the Church – and I reckon that would be considered a ‘third’ coming of Jesus Christ. But they don’t use that term – they just teach that His second coming is broken up into two “stages.”

Matthew 24:29-31 – “’ Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars [Satan the Devil and his demons] will fall from heaven [the atmosphere], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30) The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, …’”

When the glorious throne of God ── when New Jerusalem ── begins to return to this earth, at some point it will be a little small light in the night sky. And the next night it will be a little brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious – and people will look up and go, “What is that!?” Now, most of the people of the world will think it’s – and they really will – an invading alien force.

“ …’ and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31) And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven [the atmosphere] to the other.’”

He will be gathering His saints from all around the world. So, much of the confusion among many is the prophetic order of events. It’s the end-time trauma, What our Lord Jesus calls an end-time ‘tribulation.” Then because of the tremendous ash and smoke in our atmosphere the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the “stars” will fall from heaven (Satan and his demons will be thrown to the earth). Then the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven [which in this case is outer space]. He’s not going to be a “near miss.” This is not going to be a “secret rapture,” skipping off the atmosphere, grab the saints and then leave in “secret.” Indeed, Jesus says, “’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’” And as the Book of Revelation says, “every eye will see Him.”

John 14:3 – “’ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’”

That’s the greatest promise in the Bible!! In fact, nothing comes close to that promise, and yet, many churches – so-called Christian churches – don’t even talk about this, don’t even think about it. It’s not even a part of their doctrine. But here He says, ‘I will come again!’ And some church groups believe that Jesus Christ will return. Again, there’s a lot of confusion about when, where, and how. “… ’and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’” – and where will He be? ON THE EARTH! Jesus Christ, someday, in the not-too-distant future, is going to return to this Earth, and when He does – or just before He does and as He does – there will be the Day of the Lord. It is a date in future history when Jesus Christ directly confronts rebellious evil sinful mankind and will punish this world, and quite literally, break it down, and then He will start over! Building a society which is often called the Millennium, the World Tomorrow, it will be the millennial reign of Jesus Christ!

Revelation 3:10 – “’ Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.’”

This is about an end-time prophecy about an end-time event about an end-time group of people! “…’ Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.’” Verse 12 – “’ He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, …’” – like an integral part of the internal leadership of the Kingdom of God. “…’ and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven …’” – this is upon the return of Jesus Christ, not a thousand years later. The setting up of the Kingdom of God.

All of these passages are speaking of when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to collect His saints. This is AFTER the tribulation!

1st Thessalonians chapter 4 speaks about those who are dead in Christ in their graves and those who are still alive and are remaining AFTER the tribulation of those days will be resurrected and caught up together in the clouds. This is speaking about those saints who are still alive on Earth, that Almighty God’s righteous hand of protection was upon to keep them from being martyred. Gathering of all the saints in the atmosphere. Note that our Lord Jesus Christ ── at this moment in time ── has not placed His feet upon the Mount of Olives yet.

He will be in Low Earth orbit with His saints. “ … in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.’”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is collecting His firstfruits. Those who died in Christ ── in faith and lived their life in faith ── survived the tribulation of those days. This time will be the glorious Feast of the Firstfruits, also called Pentecost. “ … thus we shall always be with the Lord” – meaning, we will be eternally with the King of kings and the Lord of lords from that point forward! And, we gathered together upon what is called in God’s living word, “the sea of glass” (Revelation 4), the transparent pavement surrounding the LORD God’s thrones!

Here we will receive our new name, our position, and our reward. We will participate in our Lord Jesus’ bridal supper. Many saints will be given a white horse to ride into battle upon His glorious and powerful return to Earth in full glory and power ── placing His feet upon the Mount of Olives! Our Lord Jesus Christ and His saints will return to EARTH from Low-Earth orbit to establish His kingdom! The war trumpet will be sounded! This will be the time of the Feast of Trumpets!

Sadly, those that are left upon the Earth ── some 10% ── those that are a godless people, will try to make war with our Lord Jesus and His saints. Yet, the armies of this world will be annihilated ── where blood will flow up to the horses’ bridles.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His saints will be teachers of His living Word, Truth, and Plan upon the establishment of the glorious World Tomorrow! His Millennial Reign!

NOWHERE in God’s living immutable word ── the Holy Bible ── does it speak of God the Father or our Lord Jesus calling Their begotten people to a place of safety, i.e. Petra. Almighty God can protect His people wherever they are at the time!

Clearly, our Lord Jesus calls all who are in their graves in Christ first and then calls His living saints to be gathered with them in the clouds of the atmosphere.

The whole “rapture” doctrine of “boom bing bang!” That you as a Christian will just be magically taken away upwards and straight to heaven ── IS NOT IN THE BIBLE! It’s a bald-faced lie.

Friends, let us get away from the lies that Satan the Devil and his demons continue to perpetuate upon a deceived world and embrace the LORD God’s living TRUTH taught to us by and through His Spirit ── within His living word ── and stop looking to man to give us an answer over what the LORD God truly teaches.

We are admonished to study God’s living word diligently and thoroughly. Let us not diligently embrace this world’s church organizations and their lying doctrines. □

Additional Information on this Subject ──

Is There A "Secret Rapture"? - sermon by Minister Leonard V Johnson. Will there be a "secret rapture"!? Thousands upon thousands are placing their hope in a coming rapture. Will it occur!? What about the utter destruction of the people on the Earth at the end-times!? Will that occur!? One major and influential religious organization teaches such a thing. Let's learn the truth of God and just exactly what the prophet Isaiah wrote, under the inspiration of God's Spirit.

What If the Dead Rise Not? - sermon by Minister Leonard V Johnson. Delivered by Minister Leonard V. Johnson of the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries on June 18th, 2022.

A 'Secret Rapture'? - online article by the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. Back in 2014, I came across a movie on television entitled “Left Behind” starring Nicholas Cage which was based upon a novel by the same name. It’s a movie concerning what many claim is the Biblical rapture. ... 

Are Protestants Wrong About a Pre-Tribulation "Secret Rapture"? - God’s living word – the Holy Bible – does not teach of a pre-tribulation “secret rapture.” Anyone who continues to teach this fallacy cannot be a ‘credible person.’ Any argument in favor of it is biblically disprovable. 

Personal From... A Coming Invasion! - 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! ...

Revelation - A Book of the Past and the Future (Part VI) - So, everything up to here has been most horrible! But now this angelic being is announcing, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” The last three are going to shake the world to the core! ...

Is This 'the Beginning of Sorrows'? - What I am very aware of is – just what are we, as ministers, going to give a message about!? And I say this because in my mind I’m sure that we, as servants of God, have a thousand messages we would like to give at once – because there is so much happening in this world today. As I gave a sermon not long ago entitled “The Calm Is Over!”, truly the calm before the storm is over! I know in my mind I have a million subjects that could be preached today. Certainly, messages that I have preached in the past along with others. ...

Angels Revealed

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COJCOM · 2-15-2025 ── Angels Revealed

What do angels, and you, have to do with each other? In our last sermon, I spoke concerning angels ── What Are Angels? I had mentioned that you probably have never seen an angel ── at least not what they actually look like. And I’ll get to that within this series. So, what are they? And, why are they?

       So, we’ve been going through God’s living word, because this subject of angels came up the other night for me in conversation with a friend. And I had asked him if he really wanted to know about angels. So, I took him to the Book of Ezekiel chapter 1 and began reading about the great beings that the prophet Ezekiel saw in the sky. That from within “a whirlwind was coming out … the likeness of four living creatures.” It was not, as I had mentioned to him, an Unidentifiable Flying Object (UFO)! And. It’s truly something that, either we believe the revelation of God’s living word, we believe that the Holy Bible is the divine revelation of knowledge from the Creator of the universe, the Eternal God ── and not just, as many more people are believing, Yahweh (as the Leftist-Wikipedia has in their article, “the ancient Levantine deity”) ── the very One who knows the end from the beginning, the very One who reveals some things to mankind that otherwise we could never know or properly understand. The knowledge that is completely otherwise inaccessible.

       Truly, we either believe that God’s living word is inspired writing, or we are nothing more than being deceived by some THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD HOAX! Because there is no other way to know the truth concerning angels.

       Within this series, I want to go through this subject to some extent. It’s an important subject. Because you’ve certainly heard about angels, but not too many people go into depth explaining about them ── from the perspective of God’s living word. Now, I have no doubt that if you’ve listened to Sunday morning televangelists you’ve heard some message about angels. But have you ever heard messages expounding and explaining What Are Angels? Why Are Angels? Where They Came From? How They Came To Be?

       Toward the end of our last sermon, I spoke of the fact that the LORD God’s angels are happy and joyous. And they are pictured as truly glorifying the LORD God ── the LORD God being the family of God; which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Full of faith, and shouting praises to the LORD God ── as I do often in my prayers to the LORD God, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is and is to come! Glory be Your Name!” I, like them, am a servant of our LORD God.

       So, once again, both the Hebrew and the Greek words for “angel” translate as meaning “messenger,” or “agent.” And the LORD God’s angels are a part of the glorious government of God – meaning, the kingdom of God. Truly, God Most High, the Ancient of Days, rules His kingdom from the highest of heavens. In God’s living word it’s known as the Third Heaven. See: 2 Corinthians 12:1-2. The Lord our God (now known as our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind) created all energy, force, and every power. The LORD God (the family of God) sustains this known universe with power.

       And the Third Heaven is the actual headquarters of the LORD God’s angels, and they can be dispatched from there. Angels are spirits ── they are not bound by any physical objects. And, each and every angel is a separate created being. And, I want to go into this here ── there are different classifications of angels. In God’s living word, cherubim are referenced some 69 separate times ── they are uniquely different from angels and seraphim. The Bible mentions three distinctly different types of cherubim. The four Living Creatures mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel are a very different kind of cherubim. They are usually in pairs except when they are physically with Almighty God. Cherubim (plural for cherub), as the prophet Ezekiel wrote, “appear to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings” – Ezekiel 10:8. Cherubim sometimes has two, four, or six wings. Seraphim has six wings. Angels (messengers) do not have wings, yet they can fly. They can appear and disappear very suddenly. They are all part of God’s heavenly hosts and all stand before the LORD God – the Creator of the universe! Be sure to go and read or listen to our article, “Revelation ── A Book of the Past and the Future Part III” where we go into even more detail concerning the four living Creatures.

       But, each is a separate being. Angels DO NOT have sexual intercourse. They are neither male nor female. They DO NOT reproduce. They are completely invisible to human eyes unless manifested for a specific reason. And ── and I will continue to teach this until it is divinely revealed to me differently ── cherubims, seraphims, and angels are IMMORTAL. And they have knowledge, understanding, and power far beyond that of mere mortal man.

       In the last sermon we were reading a part of the Book of Hebrews, let’s turn back there again. I want to review with you a few other verses of the first chapter of Hebrews. The very first is talking about God, and how He has revealed knowledge to us through the prophets, and then ──

       “In these last days [certainly meaning the last days when the apostle Paul was writing some 1,955 years ago!] spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things …”

       So, our Lord Jesus Christ is only an heir at this time. He hasn’t actually officially received ownership yet – See: Daniel 7:13-14. We believe this is still a future event that will take place just before His Millennium Reign.

       “ … through whom also He made the worlds; 3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, …”

       Speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, because “’ all authority has been given to [Him] in heaven and on earth’” – Matthew 28:18.

       “ … 4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” – Hebrews 1:1-4.

       So, our Lord Jesus is higher than angels in authority. And then, verse 6, “ …’ Let all the angels of God worship Him.’”

       So, truly, He is God. And every cherubim, seraphim, and angel worships Him.

A Little Lower Than the Angels

Hebrews chapter 2, verse 7 was originally speaking concerning mankind (Psalm 8:4-6), but here the apostle Paul is referencing it to our Lord Jesus Christ, there are other Scriptures which do reference this as well ──

       “’ You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor.’” – Hebrews 2:7.

       So, born of the virgin Mary, and now by the glorious resurrection from the dead ──

       “ … we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” – Hebrews 2:9.

       Exalted into the highest of positions in the known universe, has been given ‘all authority’ in heaven and on earth ── who is God, as well as the Father is God. And here we see the God family – the Father and the Son.

       Now, notice this here ──

       “For to which of the angels did He [God the Father] ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’?” – Hebrews 1:5.

       So, God the Father has NEVER said that about any cherubim, seraphim, or angel. They were created as servants to the LORD God. They are spirit beings. And, again, they are immortal.

       And, I am going to say something here that is considered heretical by many so-called Christian organizations ── and as I’ve said before, “As presumptuous or blasphemous as this may sound, your Bible reveals to us that we were born to ultimately help rule the LORD God’s vast known universe.” We are the co-heirs of Christ – cf. Romans 8:7.

       Verse 8 – “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”

       Also notice, still speaking about our Lord Jesus Christ ──

       Verse 10 – “And; ‘You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.’” 

       Verse 13 – “But to which of the angels has He [God the Father] ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’?”

       God the Father has never given cherubims, seraphims, or angels that preeminence that has come to our Lord Jesus Christ.

       Continuing ──

       Verse 14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Do Not Neglect So Great A Salvation

Again, what do angels and you have to do with each other? Well, a great deal if you are predestined. Let’s get to that.

       Angels are higher than we, they know a great deal more than we, yet they have been sent to minister to us as servants. Why? Notice ──

       Continuing into Chapter 2 of the Book of Hebrews.

       “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2) For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, …” – Hebrews 2:1-3.

       Now, we are told within God’s living word that a third of the LORD God’s angels followed Lucifer (who is now known as Satan the Adversary), they are now known as demons. The apostle Paul asks us here, “How shall we escape?”

       And sadly, my dear friends who are watching or listening, this truly is a question you need to take seriously! “How shall you escape?” Those demons chose not to escape. And it’s not that you are deliberately rejecting the Lord God’s gospel message, or rejecting the offer of salvation, or that you are purposefully rebelling against the LORD God ── you’re just neglecting it. You allow other things to come first in your lives. And, I highly suggested, dear friends, that you begin to sit a little straighter in your chair, perk up your ears, and listen to what the Spirit has to say.

       Notice verse 5 – “For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.”

       The LORD God never had any intention of putting the kingdom of God under the subjection of angels. The LORD God truly had – and has – a Master Plan from the very beginning!

       Verse 6 – “But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man …?”

       So, WHAT IS MAN?

       I truly believe every one of us ── at one time or another in our life ── has asked that question. What is man? And I’m not speaking of what a man is made of. But rather, why is mankind here on this planet Earth? What good is man being on this planet earth?

       King David originally asked the LORD God, “What is man that You are mindful of him, …?”

       Besides the utterly ridiculous and fanciful series of books by Zechariah Sitchin entitled, “Earth Chronicles” involving the Nephilim, in which beings of fiery rockets came down and had sexual relations with women. And, I’ll get more into this within the following sermon, WHY SHOULD THE CREATOR OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE BE MINDFUL OF MAN? Because ── truly ── and I know a great many of us have now seen this famous photo, called The Pale Blue Dot. A photograph of the planet Earth taken by the Voyager 1 space probe from an unprecedented distance of approximately 3.7 billion miles away! Again, in the vastness of the cosmos, we are minuscule.

       When a camera looking back at Earth is taking a series of photographs, human beings cannot be seen with the naked eye! NOTHING ON THIS PLANET CAN BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE! Earth appears as a tiny dot within deep space! How can we be significant to the Creator of the universe?

       And then when you consider that the known universe has been guesstimated at some 93 billion light-years in diameter, and our closest neighboring galaxy ── the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, about 42,000 light years from our galactic center, and even up some 220 miles above the surface of the Earth, human beings CANNOT BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE! Again, minuscule.

       And, to know that the LORD God created all the galaxies, planets, suns ── the whole of the known universe. God created all things through Jesus Christ! But why should the LORD God be mindful of man?

       “ … Or the son of man that You take care of him?”

       Referencing our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus took care of us. He was the pioneer of our salvation. But, what is that salvation? WHY SHOULD THE LORD GOD BE MINDFUL OF US?

       Well, continuing, we come to an amazing and glorious revealed truth ── that sadly so many Sunday-going churches have completely overlooked!

Mankind’s Ultimate Potential

Verse 7 – “’ You have made him [speaking of mankind] a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him [again, speaking of mankind; and our Lord Jesus was a man, also at that time lower than the angels] with glory and honor, And set him [speaking of mankind] over the works of Your hands.’”

       So, the LORD God set mankind over the works of Their hands!

       “’ You have put all things in subjection under his [speaking of mankind] feet.’”

       So, understand. This is not just talking about mankind ── this is also talking about our Lord Jesus Christ! This is talking about you, and this is talking about me ── talking concerning our ultimate potential. This is talking about what we can become. Talking about those who do receive the gift of salvation, who do not neglect so great a salvation.

       The LORD God ── the family of God ── has put all things in subjection under our feet. Yet, continuing ──

       Verse 8 – “ … For in that He put all in subjection under him [speaking of mankind], He left NOTHING that is not put under him. …”

       This is a fairly broad statement. But, actually right now, our Lord Jesus Christ has said, “’ all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’” All things are under His authority. He has all power ── yet, some things have not been completely conquered as yet, as far as our Lord Jesus Christ. But, in general, this is speaking primarily of mankind.

Firstborn Among Many Brethren

But, what is it that we see now?

       Notice verse 9 of Hebrews chapter 2 once again ── “ … we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels [So, our Lord Jesus was made a little lower than the angels], for the suffering of death …”

       So, our Lord Jesus was mortal, so He could die ── and He did indeed die, as He says Himself, reference Revelation 1:18 ── now, cherubims, seraphims, and angels cannot die. So, He had to be made lower than angels to die].

       And now, “we see Jesus, … crowned with glory and honor, …”

       He was given ‘all authority’ and all power. And this is what He looks like in His glory and honor – He is clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair are white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes are like a flame of fire; His feet are like fine brass as if refined in a furnace. This is how He appears today in His glory, in His honor!

       “ … crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

       Verse 10 – “For it was fitting for Him [our Lord Jesus Christ], for whom are all things and by whom are all things [because God the Father created all things THROUGH AND BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!], in bringing many [children] to glory, …”

       No cherub, seraphim, or angel is His son. They are but created beings. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not created. Notice, staying here in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 7, beginning in verse 3 ── speaking here of the ‘king of peace,’ the ‘priest of the Most High God,’ Melchizedek ──

       Who was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God.” In other words, He was our Lord Jesus before He became Jesus.

       So, our Lord Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren. And, you and I can be a part of those brethren, if we wake up and take seriously just what the Spirit is saying to you this day!

       Continuing here ── “ … in bringing many children to glory, to make THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR SALVATION perfect through sufferings.”

       And, Brethren, Friends, and Co-Workers in Christ ── we and everyone have their own order in this (reference 1 Corinthians 15:23), are to be brought into that great and awesome estate as Sons and Daughters of God, in the glorious family of God, the very kingdom of God! Can your mind fathom what a most glorious and wonderous thing that is!? As our beloved apostle Paul writes, “’ 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.’”! What a GRANDEST THING SALVATION IS! We will be God! We will have a face that will shine like the brightness of the sun in its full strength, we will have eyes that shine like the flames of a fire. And all things will be put under our feet!

       Now, of course, this hasn’t happened yet! But what a marvelous destiny we have, brethren! That’s how great salvation is! So, it’s no wonder that the apostle Paul wrote ── under divine inspiration ── and again, the apostle Paul believed our Lord Jesus Christ when he was taught by Him personally for about three years in the Arabian desert! “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation.”

Ministering Spirits

Why are cherubims, seraphims, and angels our servants? And they are. They are higher than we, more knowledgeable than we, greater in power than we. Yet, they do not have even the greatest of power, knowledge, or importance, that shall be ours. Because we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

       Well, think of it this way ── it’s like a multi-billionaire who has a great many servants. He hires servants to watch over his only young son who is three years old. Now, his young son is going to inherit everything that his multi-billionaire father owns someday, his child is going to come into a great estate. Of course, this young child isn’t that old, and his servants have been on earth forty and sixty years ── they have greater knowledge than this young boy. Yet, this young boy stands to inherit all that his father owns. And, these servants were given charge to watch over his young son, so that an untimely death doesn’t come to him. Now, this young son, as he grows older may have some tribulations, some troubles, and maybe some very terrible things happen. But, just like with the story of the prophet Job ── the LORD God tells Satan, “ … ‘Only do not lay a hand on his person.’” So, these servants are to protect, to guide, and to serve his young son. Because this young man will be lord over them someday.

       Brethren, the LORD God’s cherubims, seraphims, and angels know this. They know this will come to be very shortly. God the Father is this great multi-billionaire. God the Father is the Creator of all things through Jesus Christ, and we are His potential sons and daughters. We can be begotten and then eventually born as very children of God. But, this is not the future for cherubims, seraphims, and angels ── their reason, their purpose, their function, is to serve the LORD God and those that were (and are) predestined.

Guardians and Messengers

This brings us to something I am going to say right here. And, the LORD God’s divine protection over me surely came even while I was being developed in my mother’s womb. And if you know my background and my medical conditions ── then you know what I speak. But, there was one time I was driving to Jacksonville, Florida early in the morning, and I had stopped at a gas station for some coffee. After exiting the building with the coffee cup in my hand, I opened the car door and quickly sat in the driver's seat ── and without thinking, I still had my left leg outside the door. Instantly this feeling came over me, and I heard a voice in my mind, “Look up ── now!” And, when I did, this evil-looking man was standing directly in front of the car staring at me! I quickly pulled my left leg in and locked the car doors. He continued to stare at me for a few more moments, then turned around and walked away. Again, a voice spoke in my mind, “See, all these many years, I have kept you safe.”

       Now, would you say that was a guardian angel, or not? There was nothing I could see that had spoken to me. However, I heard something in my mind. What would you say that was?

       Let me tell you another experience. I was traveling through the mountains of Nevada when I heard a voice in my mind that said, “Pull over immediately and rest!” I was unable to do so at that moment. This voice in my mind got louder, “PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY!” I looked around at the mountainous region, there was nowhere to pull over. Then, within a few miles, I came to a rest area. I pulled in and parked. I immediately began speaking with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Not long I was taken in the Spirit and saw in vision a green tanker truck driving along in front of me, driving recklessly, swerving aggressively. Then, the green tanker truck swerved too much, flipped over, and exploded ── bursting into a ball of fire! And then the vision was gone.

       After another thirty minutes of prayer, I got back behind the wheel. And the very next on-ramp that I came to ── there was that same green tanker truck that I had only seen in vision! I began crying and speaking with the LORD God! In hindsight, the LORD God divinely intervened, possibly saving my life ── He altered the seconds of my life by slowing me down and causing me to stop.

       And you know, God’s living word says ──

       “ … ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 10) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you with My righteous right hand.’” – Isaiah 41:9, 10.

       Brethren, “Whatsoever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and we do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” – 1 John 3:22; paraphrased.

       Another time while my wife and I were in Fayetteville, North Carolina, we had driven to the Cross Creek Mall. As we were just beginning to walk through the mall, I was lightly pushed to the left by an unseen force ── by something that wasn’t there. I began to feel within myself an overwhelming evil presence within the mall. And, the feeling became so strong, that I turned around and told my wife that I was leaving the mall. She turned around with me and we left immediately. It wasn’t until we got back to my sister’s house that we were told that back in November there was a shooting in that same mall that injured three. Apparently, and I looked this up on the Internet, there is a large amount of violence that has occurred even since then at that very same mall. So, evil is saturated there!

       Well, I could go on and on ── I have many such stories. But, let’s end this message today here. Cherubim’s, seraphim’s, and especially angels are to watch over the LORD God’s begotten people, they are sent as servants to watch over us. □