A Morning Bible Study ── The RETURN of Our Lord JESUS CHRIST!

by Leonard V Johnson

Truly, this subject ── like no other ── brings joy to me! I feel so blessed and honored by the LORD God to be able to bring to you today this glorious, good news! No story around the world could be GREATER! THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST!

Yet, just before His murder, His death, and glorious resurrection unto life ── before His ascension to the upper heavenly realms more than 1,994 years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ announced, “’ I WILL COME AGAIN!’” – John 14:2-3. And only moments after His ascension, two divine messengers assured the apostles, “’ Men of Galilee, … This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” – Acts 1:11.

This glorious announcement has indeed been made! But sadly, this clear and plain ANNOUNCEMENT is overlooked by the majority of professing Christians around the world ── who don’t believe our Lord Jesus or His messengers ── the glorious and powerful Second Coming! They continue regurgitating their doctrine of a “secret rapture” in which they will be swept away with Him to the third heaven!

For this installment of The Morning Bible Study, let’s examine God’s living truth about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!

1) Until when does God’s living word tell us that our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ will remain in the third heaven before His powerful return to planet Earth?

This is pivotal and central in the greatest of Good News –

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven [speaking here of the third heaven, where GOD now resides] must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” – Acts 3:19-21.

Remember, the prophet Enoch - who was Adam’s great-great-great-great grandson (and Noah’s great grandfather) – prophesied of this coming kingdom long before the Book of Genesis was written – see Jude 1:14-15. Also, notice Isaiah 2:2-4.

Friends, this world as a whole doesn’t understand this awesome living truth that GOD is preparing for us. Let us thank Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ that They have blessed us with this great mystery!

Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming to establish the kingdom of God (the government of God) over the entire Earth! It was not established after the LORD God’s archangel Lucifer (now called Satan the Devil) was sent to the newly created planet to continue its beautification. Instead, because of his pride and lust for power, he ascended into the third heaven and tried to dethrone Jesus Christ and be like the Most High! – cf. Isaiah 14:12-15.

2) Will God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ intervene in world affairs before Their glorious and powerful Return?

Yes. They have intervened since the very beginning. Note Genesis 3:9-19. One of the LORD God’s latest interventions in world affairs is the miraculous physical salvation of President Donald Trump from the bullet of an assassin! Truly, as much as we dearly love the fact that our new President of the United States of America is Donald Trump, there will be grave unforeseen consequences because of his presidency very soon.

Will His Second Coming be globally expected?

No.

“’ And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth DISTRESS OF NATIONS, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26) men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27) Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.’” – Luke 21:25-27.

“’ For it will come AS A SNARE on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.’” – vs. 35.

Our Lord Jesus is saying there will be a great time of ‘great tribulation’ – and immediately after that, ‘the sign’ of Jesus Christ coming will appear in outer space. And I describe it this way - when the 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 is – and they really will – an invading alien force. The United States of America – especially since mid-1947 – has been fascinated with space aliens and extraterrestrials. In fact, in the Book of Revelation, John wrote – “the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every [bond] man and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, [think of such places as the Cheyenne Mountain Complex], and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” – Revelation 6:15-16.

3) To what age in human civilization's history did our Lord Jesus compare His glorious and powerful return?

“’ But of that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’” – Matthew 24:36-37.

What the world calls “The Second Age.” Sadly, as it was ‘in the days of Noah’ the majority of our peoples will be completely confused concerning the truth of the end-times. Or, they will completely ignore the loving gospel message concerning the end-time. 

Surely, we have to presume that our Lord Jesus Christ now knows.

The Apostle Peter also wrote of this TIME OF THE END – 2nd Peter 3:1-4 – “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3) knowing this FIRST: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4) and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation [or rather, in this 21st century phraseology, ‘from the beginning of the Big Bang!’].”

As our Lord Jesus Christ let us know, there would be several things to Watch and look out for. “ … ’ Take heed that no one deceives you [religiously and spiritually]. … you will hear of wars and rumors of wars [all throughout this present evil age]. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom [a reference to Daniel 11:40]. … famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.’” – Matthew 24:4, 6-7.

Truly, religious deception, wars, violence, and an increase in lawlessness. Droughts, famine, and great earthquakes in various places around the world, along with other natural catastrophes, disease epidemics, and the rise and aggression of a radical Islamic power! The rise of a powerful United States of Europe, a final civic and military leader who seeks global supremacy! A great and influential false Catholic religious leader – an end-time pope.

Did the people of Noah’s day really expect great and untold devastation to come to them?

No. Notice Matthew 24:38-39.

“’ For as in the days BEFORE THE FLOOD, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39) and did not know until the Flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’”

Again, will the majority of our peoples on earth be expecting the LORD God’s intervention in these cataclysmic global catastrophes, and be expecting the powerful Return of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Again, no.

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, DID NOT REPENT of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, …” – Revelation 9:20.

“’ Therefore you also must be ready [speaking to those who truly follow and obey our Lord Jesus Christ], for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’” – Matthew 24:44.

Even a great many that truly worship, follow, and obey our Lord Jesus will not be expecting His Return at the hour He does!

4) Would only our brethren of the 1st century be unable to know the day and hour ── or does it apply to all people throughout this present evil age?

“’ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ 41) Then Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?’ 41) And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43) BLESSED is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.’” – Luke 12:40-43.

Notice that our Master’s warning is especially for the generation that will see all these things come to fruition. Those alive ‘when He comes’!

While this parable does indeed include providing physical food in due season, it is also speaking concerning spiritual food in due season. The ‘faithful and wise steward’ will not be focused mainly upon themselves but doing the work that our Lord Jesus Christ has assigned them to be doing. Cf. John 21:15-17.

5) Even though we cannot know the exact day and hour of our Master’s Return, are we able to know the season of His Return?

Yes.

“’ Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33) So you also, when you see ALL THESE THINGS, know that it is near ──at the doors! 34) Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION [the generation that sees all these things come to pass] will by no means pass away till all these things take place.’” – Matthew 24:32-34.

What “signs” did our Lord Jesus say we would see before His glorious and powerful Return?

Notice Matthew 24:4-7.

6) What major “sign” did our Lord Jesus say we would see to indicate that the end of this present evil age has come?

“’ THEREFORE when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), …” – Matthew 24:15; see also Mark 13:14.

I’m willing to accept the possibility that this is Jesus Christ suggesting the prophecy of Daniel 11. The king of the North vs. the king of the South. The Catholic European combine and the Islamic confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. I think this is an indication of the growing tension between these two groups of people. In all of this, it’s a step-by-step progress – over here something happens, over there something happens. And as you read and study God’s living word, you sort of get the feeling that it grows in intensity! The ‘abomination of desolation’ ── (a two-fold prophecy; notice Daniel 11) a soon-coming ‘man of sin’ setting himself up in Jerusalem (‘standing in the holy place’) ‘showing himself that he is God’ – cf. 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4. This is the major “sign” to watch for!

Yet, even BEFORE this ── the (possibly) twelve end-time witnesses come on the scene WARNING for 3 ½ years. As our Lord Jesus speaks of ──

“’ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” – Matthew 24:14.

They will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the subjugated elect of God, to a great religious leader and political leader – standing before the god of the earth (Satan the devil) – WARNING for 3 ½ years! Having the power from GOD to heal, to ‘shut up the atmosphere from rain, to turn waters to blood, and to strike the earth will all plagues as often as they desire’ (see: Revelation 8:7-12). And this ‘gospel’ is the announcement of the coming Kingdom of God! The Kingdom of God is the GOVERNMENT OF GOD! And, as these end-time prophets, under the direct inspiration of God’s Spirit, are proclaiming this soon-coming WORLDWIDE GOVERNMENT, ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet,’ will be set up ‘standing in the holy place’ – talking about Jerusalem. And this will come about when European forces invade the Middle East to put down Islamic resistance – to crush it militarily. ’For then …’ – when you see this great military force enter Jerusalem from the North – Europe – and take over Jerusalem, and a great holy man claims that he is now God – that is the ‘abomination that makes desolate’ – Jesus says, ’there will be great tribulation, …’ – many, many horrible globe- girdling problems! “…’ such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.’ ’And unless those days were shortened, …’” – except this end-time trauma be shortened, “…‘no flesh would be saved; …’” – and as some translations say, ‘saved alive; but for the elect’s sake …’ – a certain group of people who are very near and dear the hearts of God the Father and Jesus Christ – referring to the physical people of the House of Israel. Once named Jacob.

7) Will our Lord Jesus’ triumphant and powerful Return from low earth orbit be accompanied with a shout, with the booming voice of an archangel, and with trumpet blasts?

Yes!

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the atmosphere; recall, in God’s living word, there are three separate heavens. The atmosphere, starry space, and God’s dwelling place] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet [the SEVENTH TRUMPET] of God. …” – 1st Thessalonians 4:16.

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Coming will not be any “secret rapture” event at all. For the WHOLE WORLD will hear Him and see Him!

“Behold, He is coming with clouds [the atmosphere], and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even they who pierced Him [meaning, even the seventh and final resurrected “Holy” Roman Empire]. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” – Revelation 1:7.

“’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. … 30) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [speaking of starry space], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven [the atmosphere] with power and great glory.’” – Matthew 24:27, 30.

8) Will our Lord Jesus Christ Return to the same Mount of Olives that faces Jerusalem on the east from which He ascended?

Again, yes!

“Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations [See: Revelation 16:16; the Battle of Armageddon], As He fights in the day of battle. 4) And IN THAT DAY His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. …” – Zechariah 14:3, 4.

And when He returns to the Mount of Olives, He will not be alone! Notice who is coming with Him ──

“ … ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15) to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh [and blasphemous] things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” – Jude 14, 15.

“Now I saw a new heaven [a new atmosphere] and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. … 2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven [low earth orbit] from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven [the atmosphere] saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God [here, the word God is ho Theos, meaning God the Father when it appears without qualification or the Son, as in monogenēs Theos] is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God [ho Theos] Himself will be with them and be their God.” – Revelation 21:1, 2-3.

Notice also ── “ … for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” – Revelation 21:22.

We could point to twenty or twenty-four verses that say it implicitly or suggest it. God the Father is coming back with our Lord Jesus Christ!

“’ For the Son of Man will come in [or with] the glory of His Father with His angels, and then he will reward each according to his works.’” – Matthew 16:27.

9) Do the saints return from the third heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ, or just from “low earth orbit” down to the “new heaven” (the atmosphere) of the Earth?

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, … 15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep [meaning, those who are dead in Christ]. 16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [low earth orbit down to the atmosphere] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ WILL RISE first. 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. 18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 15-18.

Who gathers the saints from all around the world to be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air?

“’ 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.’” – Matthew 24:31.

ADDITIONAL MORNING BIBLE STUDIES IN THIS SERIES:

'Overcoming' Is Important ── God’s living word – the Holy Bible – speaks a great deal about overcoming. Let us understand just what it is and why it is so IMPORTANT. 

What do you mean... Born Again? ── Born again. A profound truth that even today still completely mystifies many people.

Are You Preparing For God's Kingdom? ── On our short Welcome video, we announce that the kingdom of God is coming soon – are YOU prepared!?

God's Definition Of A True Christian ── YOU'LL notice in our writings that we use the phrase “true Christian” quite a lot. Just what is a true Christian!? Many people certainly have their own definition of what a true Christian is, but let’s learn God’s definition.

God's Coming Kingdom ── Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended to the upper heavenly realms some 1,992 years ago! He came to Earth to announce the glorious, Good News of His soon-coming kingdom!

What the Feast of Tabernacles Pictures ── The LORD our God’s seven annual festivals picture the steps in which He is bringing about His Master Plan for the redemption of all mankind.

Are You Handling God's Test ── Do you realize that every one of us is being tested by Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ!? How are you handling God’s test?

Is God's Spirit Within You? ── Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tells us that we will know a true Christian by their fruits ... Is God’s Spirit within you? Are you a Spirit-begotten child of our living God – and how can you tell!?

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.

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. □

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. □