FREE Material for download. Please use any or all
these studies to further the kingdom of God our Creator.
these studies to further the kingdom of God our Creator.
| ALPHA OMEGA ALPA Please!! Take another look at Revelation!! The past 50 years has drastically changed mankind's circumstances, but the prophecy of GOD'S WORD remains the same. Pray and consider: REVELATIONS: The Message From Throne of GOD!!! |
| THE MESSAGE OF THE FINAL WITNESS This book will explore and answer Who is Jesus Christ, Biblical account. Final witness to all mankind. Interpretation of Revelation. Gods message to all religions. The end time. The Millennium. The 7-sealed message from the Throne of God. 666. The 144,000 interpreted. The true religion of God the Creator. |
The audios are informal only partially edited teachings from
the final Book of the Bible, Revelation, by Don English.
Freely copy or use in any way that furthers and emboldens the study
and knowledge of the true Word of God, the Bible.
Study diligently, UNDERSTANDING:
If you seriously study Revelation, you will be blessed !!
If you seriously study Revelation, you will be attacked by the enemies of
God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The understanding of Revelation requires great diligence and much prayer
Built upon a solid foundation of the indwelling teaching of the HOLY
SPIRIT of GOD our Creator.
the final Book of the Bible, Revelation, by Don English.
Freely copy or use in any way that furthers and emboldens the study
and knowledge of the true Word of God, the Bible.
Study diligently, UNDERSTANDING:
If you seriously study Revelation, you will be blessed !!
If you seriously study Revelation, you will be attacked by the enemies of
God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The understanding of Revelation requires great diligence and much prayer
Built upon a solid foundation of the indwelling teaching of the HOLY
SPIRIT of GOD our Creator.
** To Read **
" THE ONLY GOD AND CREATOR "
( A message about creation )
Please scroll down past---
"THE MESSAGE of THE FINAL
WITNESS "
" THE ONLY GOD AND CREATOR "
( A message about creation )
Please scroll down past---
"THE MESSAGE of THE FINAL
WITNESS "
THE SUBJECT OF THE ABOVE BOOKS:
Interpretation of Revelation.
Interpretation of Bible Prophesy.
This interpretation is Biblical and references are taken from the Biblical context. It is primarily
interpreting word descriptions of visionary pictures and then arranging those visionary pictures into the
message of prophecy.
This Interpretation does not agree with many popular interpretations including the very popular "Left
Behind" series.
We would not agree with interpreters as they place the 20th century nation of Israel in the spotlight of
prophesy. The true Israel of God is clearly defined in the Holy Scriptures. This is not anti-semitic, but a
better interpretation of what the Bible says about "Who is Israel" in prophesy.
I would agree with the apostle Paul as he stated, "My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved." Romans 10 : 1.
This is not a criticism of other authors. Many have, in great sincerity, sought to understand Bible
Prophecy and proclaim it to a lost world. Their messages have been effective to bring attention to the
reality of the coming end.
Understanding Bible Prophesy is totally impossible outside of the Holy Spirit, and God's will, and God's
time.
In Daniel 12: 9, Daniel was told, ".....the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Thus, at that time Daniel had heard the prophesy, understood and wrote the words, but he did not
understand the message.
God sealed it---God must open it. And He will open it at the time of the end.
Interpretation of Prophecy Requirements:
l. Understand the words. (This is the easiest part.)
2. Divide the "words" into blocks or messages.
3. Place the "blocks or messages" into their proper place in Prophesy. (Time era and circumstance).
Thus, as we correctly understand, rightly divide and divinely interpret we see the vision of Prophecy.
" The Revelation " is a series of visions and messages from the THRONE OF GOD.
I (this writer) do not take or accept credit for correct interpretation. I accept responsibility for that which
is not correct, for I am not infallible and do not claim to know all prophecy. All the above was written
with great fear, with much, much prayer and with utmost conviction that the Almighty God and Creator
has begun to open the sealed message of prophecy. It did not come from education, the study of books
nor my expertise or intelligence. With no doubt in my mind, I declare that the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD
opened my mind and taught me.
When our Lord was in the flesh, He chose fisherman, a tax collector and other undeserving persons
through whom He worked. Sometimes, He continues that precedent. THANK YOU LORD!.
Interpretation of Revelation.
Interpretation of Bible Prophesy.
This interpretation is Biblical and references are taken from the Biblical context. It is primarily
interpreting word descriptions of visionary pictures and then arranging those visionary pictures into the
message of prophecy.
This Interpretation does not agree with many popular interpretations including the very popular "Left
Behind" series.
We would not agree with interpreters as they place the 20th century nation of Israel in the spotlight of
prophesy. The true Israel of God is clearly defined in the Holy Scriptures. This is not anti-semitic, but a
better interpretation of what the Bible says about "Who is Israel" in prophesy.
I would agree with the apostle Paul as he stated, "My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved." Romans 10 : 1.
This is not a criticism of other authors. Many have, in great sincerity, sought to understand Bible
Prophecy and proclaim it to a lost world. Their messages have been effective to bring attention to the
reality of the coming end.
Understanding Bible Prophesy is totally impossible outside of the Holy Spirit, and God's will, and God's
time.
In Daniel 12: 9, Daniel was told, ".....the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Thus, at that time Daniel had heard the prophesy, understood and wrote the words, but he did not
understand the message.
God sealed it---God must open it. And He will open it at the time of the end.
Interpretation of Prophecy Requirements:
l. Understand the words. (This is the easiest part.)
2. Divide the "words" into blocks or messages.
3. Place the "blocks or messages" into their proper place in Prophesy. (Time era and circumstance).
Thus, as we correctly understand, rightly divide and divinely interpret we see the vision of Prophecy.
" The Revelation " is a series of visions and messages from the THRONE OF GOD.
I (this writer) do not take or accept credit for correct interpretation. I accept responsibility for that which
is not correct, for I am not infallible and do not claim to know all prophecy. All the above was written
with great fear, with much, much prayer and with utmost conviction that the Almighty God and Creator
has begun to open the sealed message of prophecy. It did not come from education, the study of books
nor my expertise or intelligence. With no doubt in my mind, I declare that the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD
opened my mind and taught me.
When our Lord was in the flesh, He chose fisherman, a tax collector and other undeserving persons
through whom He worked. Sometimes, He continues that precedent. THANK YOU LORD!.
THE MESSAGE OF THE FINAL WITNESS
AND THIS GOSPEL (THE BIBLE) OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD AS
A WITNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS, AND THEN THE END WILL COME.
JESUS CHRIST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE.
II. WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
III. WHO IS ISRAEL?
IV. THE FIRST AND IMPORTANT
TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
V. THE SEVEN SEALS.
VI. "666" THE DREADED NUMBER.
VII. THE MILLENNIUM.
VIII. THE FINAL BATTLE.
IX. THE FINAL JUDGEMENT.
X. WHAT IS THE TRUE RELIGION?
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Every human being has wondered about life after physical death.
Every religion is the result of mankind's desire to obtain life after death.
Some of mankind, although a small minority, have concluded that there is no life after death.
The vast majority of mankind believe they are spiritual beings and that their spirit will live after the death of the
physical body.
This book is written to declare, with the strongest conviction that:
There is one God, who is creator of everything.
God is the creator of the eternal spirit in every human being.
God has given us His Word of instructions in the Bible.
God has explained to us the Way to Him through Jesus Christ.
This book is written, "IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE " !!
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Hebrews 6:19.
Through knowledge we learn about God!!!!
But knowledge alone does not know God.
Search and study - find and meet a personal God and Savior.
God gave the Bible, His Word, as instructions to life eternal with Him. The instructions when proclaimed or taught is
a witness from God of Himself. The witness is the evidence of and truth of the invisible God and creator.
"THE MESSAGE OF THE FINAL WITNESS ":
1). Must be thorough and understandable.
3). Must be to all humankind
4). Must be completed at the appointed time.
This book is not the final witness. It is, in part, the message that will be proclaimed to the last generation of
mankind. That final witness will include the correct interpretation of Revelation as the Holy Spirit reveals it to the last
witnesses. They will be anointed by God for that final witness. The final witness must be heard by all, yet it will be
rejected by all whose names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life.
The Message of the Final Witness must be proclaimed so --- " that all the peoples of the earth may know the
hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever. "
Joshua 3:24.
Also in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations,
and then the end will come."
Search for knowledge and find that hope in Christ that is steadfast sure.
The "FINAL WITNESS" will be proclaimed on time!!!!!!!!!
ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE
The origin of the Bible is found in God the creator of all physical things.
But--in modern Biblical studies and theological writings there is much study and emphasis made about the authorship
of the books of the Bible. In these Biblical Studies there is much about the men who wrote the Bible and very little
about the source of origin of the information.
In the above sentences are two words (origin and authorship) that set the format and is the understanding that is
needed in today's Biblical studies.
Origin;--American Heritage Dictionary, " The point at which something comes into existence."
A word, thought or message has its origin in the mind. Then, it must be transposed from the mind into a verbal or
written message. The one who gives the message is the author.
Author;--American Heritage Dictionary, (1)"The writer of a literary work." (2) " One who originates or creates
something."
Thus, to be an author, there needs to be two processes. The development of the message in the mind and then the
proclamation of that message.
This process is uniquely present and important in Biblical studies. Because, in regard to the Bible this twofold
process involves two different individuals. Every book of the Bible has an author-originator ( God ) and an
author-writer ( a man ).
From the mind of God came the origin of the message of the Bible.
By the writer's pen, as God spoke and as their spirits were inspired by the Spirit of God, men were the author -
writers of the Bible. This is of utmost importance to all mankind because if we believe the Bible to be the writings of
men, but miss the fact that the message is from the mind of God we have greatly erred.
If the Bible were the writings of men then it would be only man's opinions. On the other hand, if the message is from
God and we miss that reality, we have, with grave consequences missed our message from our creator.
The Bible from the beginning to the end declares that God is the author - originator. When a person looks at the
Bible with the intention of determining its origin and authorship the evidence is overwhelming. The following is some
examples that state clearly the origin and authorship of the Bible.
Note---The Torah or the first five books of the law, Genesis-Deuteronomy, in most all studies, is believed to have
been written by Moses. It can easily be seen that Moses would have written Exodus-Deuteronomy, as they are the
life and times of Moses. But the Book of Genesis is different, thus it presents a problem.
First--Genesis spans a great length of time. At least a couple of thousand years.
Second--Moses certainly was not a witness to any of the events in Genesis.
Third--Much of Genesis is written as if the author was there, with quotations and details of life events.
Fourth-- There is no record or oral history nor even oral tradition that is presently known of the time of Genesis.
Fifth--There is no other known source from that time era.
If a person accepts the Bible as being true and as the Word of God, then the above problems fade away completely.
But,-- There are many persons who do not accept by faith and believe the Bible to be true and the Word of God.
For all, there is clear evidence that God was the author - originator of the message and Moses was the author -
writer.
In Exodus 17:14, God says to Moses as the Bible states, " Write this for a memorial in the Book and recount it in
the hearing of Joshua. "
This occasion was very early in their 40 year journey. Within three months of the departure from Egypt there was
already a book in which Moses was recording the events that happened. Note-- That Moses recorded what God
told him to write in the book.
Then in Exodus 19: 1-2, " In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the
same day, they came to the wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the desert of
Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain."
We are told that in the third month after leaving Egypt they had left Rephidim and came to Sinai. At Sinai, Moses
received the 10 Commandments as recorded in chapter 20. In Exodus 20 and following through Chapter 23 are
other rules and instructions.
In Exodus 24, it is very clear that God has given instructions and Moses wrote those words from God. Verses three
and four, " So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people
answered with one voice and said, " All the words which the Lord has said we will do. And Moses wrote all the
words of the Lord."
Then, in Chapter 24:12, God says to Moses, " I will give you the tablets of stone, and the law and commandments
which I have written that you may teach them. "
Also in Exodus 32:16, " Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on
the tablets."
With the above verses as one example, it is easy to understand who the author - originator is and from whose mind
came the message of the Bible. God gave the message to Moses and Moses was to write it and teach it to the
people.
As the Book of Exodus continues in Chapter 32:19 the tablets of stone written by God are broken. Then in
Chapter 34:27-28 Moses is given the second set of tablets replacing those that were broken.
Between the receiving of the two sets of tablets, Chapter 32 and chapter 34, we are given a very important message
in Chapter 33:7-11. This is important because it shows us that within the first few months of a 40 year journey God
is speaking to Moses and instructing him to write in the Book.
Here we see that Moses pitched his tent outside the camp and whenever he went there the Lord talked with him "
face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend."
Moses had at least 39 years to receive from God the history of the Book of Genesis and to write it as a record of
the beginning of mankind.
As we put these verses and events together we see that God instructed Moses to write, God wrote the
commandments and God spoke with Moses face-to-face.
In Genesis 35:20, there is evidence that the record was written long after the events. " And Jacob set a pillar on her
grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day."
As we understand Biblical history it is well over 400 years from Rachel's death to Moses and the tent of meeting in
the wilderness. Yet in the context of Rachel's death, in verses 16, 20 and 21, there are detailed explanations of their
location, a quote from Rachel's midwife and how Benjamin came to be named. These details are written as though
the writer was present at the time of the events. This is one small example to illustrate that the Book of Genesis was
written as though the writer was present during all those hundreds of years of mankind's history. The Book of
Genesis is full of quotations, explanations of events, attitudes of people, and details of both physical and spiritual
events and circumstances.
Realizing that Moses wrote Genesis near 400 years after the last events of Genesis and that the story of Genesis
covered many hundreds of years before that leaves no doubt that God must have been the author-originator,
author-initiator of this unique history of mankind.
So, we can see and understand from Moses' writings that under God's instructions he wrote the Torah, the first five
books of the Bible.
---God was certainly present during all these hundreds of years and generations of mankind.
---God certainly heard what was said so as to recall direct quotations.
---God certainly understood the feelings and attitudes of those people.
---God certainly knew both the physical and spiritual implications of each event.
---God certainly knew those who followed Him and those who did not.
Certainly God was the only one who could have known and instructed Moses to write the Book of Genesis.
God spoke to Moses "face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend" for at least 39 years in the wilderness.
God is the author!
Moses wrote what God told him.
So ---,
--God dictated to Moses the history of Genesis.
--God wrote the 10 commandments.
--God instructed Moses what to write in the other four books of law.
There remains only a small question in Deuteronomy 34, that tells of the death of Moses.
" Then the Lord said to him, " this is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give
it to your descendants, " I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." So Moses
the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a
valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day."
Deuteronomy 34:4-6.
It was obviously written later because Verse 6 says, " but no one knows his grave to this day."
The person who wrote Deuteronomy 34 must have gotten the information from God, because ---
First--In verse four there is a quote of what God said to Moses, and yet there was no one there at that time and
place accept God and Moses.
Second--It tells of a place where Moses was buried, but no one knew the place.
Third -- " Moses -- died there, according to the Word of the Lord." Thus these events were according to God's
word, or testimony, or statement, or knowledge, not a man's knowledge.
In the same manner which God had spoken to Moses all those many years He spoke to the author - writer to
complete the Book of Deuteronomy with Chapter 34.
Only God could have known these things.
Also the books of the law of Moses were understood to be from God at the time of Nehemiah and the return from
the Babylonian exile.
Nehemiah 8:1, " And all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water
Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel."
Here in the Book of Nehemiah hundreds of years after the time of Moses is given the understanding which are
proposed in this writing.
First -- The Book of the Law of Moses is that which Moses received from the Lord, wrote and taught to the people
of Israel.
Second -- The Book of the Law of Moses was the instruction which the Lord God commanded Israel.
God is the author - originator.
God gave the message to Moses.
Moses was the author- writer.
The conclusion of the origin of Genesis:
Genesis is proof positive that God is the author - originator of the Bible, because, at the time of the writing of
Genesis:
1) It was impossible that any living human could have known the history of mankind back to the Garden of Eden.
2) No living human being could have known the many recorded quotations and personal events of those people.
3) No living human being could have known the intimate conversations between God and mankind.
4) No living human being could have known the spiritual implications that are explained in Genesis.
5) No living human being could have known the spiritual lessons that are taught in Genesis.
No living human being could have known.
Only God could have known!!!!!!!!!
Only God could be the author - originator of Genesis.
Whereas the first book of the Bible, could only have been authored by God, so also, the last book of the Bible,
Revelation.
The Book of Revelation is prophecy that approximately 2000 years after its writing, by John the Apostle, is still not
understood by mankind.
In the 21st century there is still no proof nor evidence of the message of Revelation. The seven years of tribulation
described in Revelation have not yet occurred and will not occur until God determines the end of all physical
existence is completed.
The proof of the message of Revelation, written by the Apostle John, will not be known until God's people are in
heaven and the rebellious in hell.
Thus,----No living human at any time in history could be the author of Revelation.
God is the originator-author,--John the Apostle wrote the message from God.
The above fact is borne out continuously throughout the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him,...."
Revelation 1:19, "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take
place after this."
Revelation 2:1, " To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ..."
Revelation 2:8, " And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write, ...."
Revelation 4:1, " After these things I looked, .... "
Revelation 5:1, " And I saw, in the right hand of Him .... "
Revelation 6:1, " Now I saw when the Lamb ....."
Revelation 6:5, " When He opened the third seal I heard the third living creature say, ...."
The above quotes are only a few of many in which John explains that what he wrote was that which he received
from God.
Thus, in regard to the last Book of the Bible, Revelation, the author - originator was and could only have been God.
Therefore concluding that, as in Moses' writing of Genesis and also John with Revelation, living humans could not
have, of themselves, known these messages.
There remains only one conclusion:
God the creator of all physical existence has from time to time communicated to those He chose. God gave them
His message to write down for His creation. In the same manner the other books of the Bible were written.
" All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, . . . "
II Timothy 3:16
" Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the
will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1: 20-21.
All mankind has the privilege and the right to believe, accept and follow the instructions from God their creator or to
reject His message.
Those who believe and obey His will, will receive life eternal with God.
Those who reject their creator's message will be separated from God eternally.
The message is clear--- the Bible is the Word from God.
The choice is yours!!!!!---
Believe, obey and live eternally with your Creator --- or ----
reject GOD'S Word and be separated from Him in hell forever!!!!
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ----- the most controversial of names.
The most loved name. --------------- the most hated name.
The name most greatly desire to understand. ---- the name most misunderstood.
Why is there so much dispute and controversy???
Why are there such varying opinions??
What difference does it make??
All three questions can be answered by this same statement:
If Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is, then every human being must and will determine "Who is Jesus Christ".
The Bible says in John 10:30 "I and My Father are One"; and John 14:10," I am in the Father, and the Father is in
Me".
Can it be that God, the Father, Creator of all and Jesus Christ are One and each One in the Other??
Yes,!! That is exactly what the Bible teaches.
This being true, then every human being must choose what their belief is about Jesus Christ, and what their
relationship is to Him. Because, He is your creator. You would not exist, except God gave you life. You are His
property.
Every human has a choice and must choose; each person WILL make a decision.
God guarantees, you the right to choose!!
1) You may choose to believe that Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is---
Or
2) You may choose not to believe.
There are only two sources through which a person can obtain evidence of "Who is Jesus Christ".
The first and only physical evidence is the Bible. The Bible contains prophecy of the coming of Jesus, the words
and teachings of Jesus and the recorded testimonies of people who were part of God's communication to mankind.
The second evidence comes from any individual as they experience, in their own spiritual search, the person of Jesus
Christ.
The first evidence,--The Bible
The Bible, although written with an elementary vocabulary, has been either understood or misunderstood causing
tremendous dispute and controversy between individuals, religious groups, nations and nationalities. The Bible has
been interpreted into all major languages with many different versions of the Bible in several of those languages. No
other existing book is so widely read or quoted. Countless numbers of humans have devoted their entire life to the
study of the Bible, and yet the Bible and its central personality, Jesus Christ, remain the greatest mystery and
controversy among mankind. Even religions who use the Bible as their basis of existence dispute greatly over "Who
is Jesus
Christ".
One example of what the Bible gives as evidence of who is/was Jesus Christ is found in the book of John. John 1: 1,
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2).--He was in the
beginning with God. (V.14)-- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ".
In these verses the Bible uses the term " Word " in reference to Jesus Christ. Within the context there is only one
reasonable interpretation;
"Word " = Jesus Christ. "Word " describes who Jesus Christ was, His purpose, and His work in coming to physical
earth. Jesus Christ was the " Word " (spoken message) of God to mankind. God's purpose in Jesus Christ was to
give His message in person by speaking His "Word ". Jesus Christ's work was to declare the "Word " from spiritual
God to physical mankind.
Each of these three statements are overlapping but uniquely point to the plan of God in giving His Word, to His
creation, the only and totally sufficient message-- the "Word of God ". God--Word--Jesus Christ, Who was " in
the beginning and by Him all things were created ". Then He came into the flesh of a man, the One in all, the One
and only Creator, the Almighty God.
In John 14:10 the Bible quotes Jesus Christ as saying, " Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in
Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the
works ". 11) "believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works
themselves ".
Thus, the Bible says that Jesus Christ was the Spirit of God in the body of a man. Although these things are stated in
a simple vocabulary, how do we understand them? We can understand that God as Spirit is able at the same
moment to be present in America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, etc. In the same manner, God placed His
own Spirit into an embryo and into the womb of Mary, which became Jesus Christ and still at the same time, God as
Spirit, was all present in all of creation.
We as humankind have a beginning. I began in my mother's womb and was born into this world on October 24th,
1940. Prior to that, I did not exist. I had a definite beginning date and was given an eternal spirit by God.
In Ecclesiastes 12:7 the Bible says that the body dies and returns to the dust from which it came, and the spirit
returns to God who gave it.
Science can prove that the elements of the body are the same elements that are in the dirt. Humans eat the produce
that grows from the dirt and grow bodies. So it is true, a scientific fact, that our bodies are made of the dust of the
earth.
The spirit is more difficult to understand. As a person is in the presence of someone dying it becomes easy to
understand, believe, and know that when a person dies, the spirit, or life, does not die but leaves the body. The
body dies as the spirit leaves the body. Both the person dying and those around them understand that. There are
many near-death experiences from which people have recovered and told of their experiences which substantiate
these statements. Thus we can understand that mankind has a beginning, and that our spirit will continue after death
of the body.
My wife and I have four children. In our case, through acts of love we produced four physical babies. Each of
these, now adults, have totally independent living spirits given by God in the womb of their mother, which is their life.
My wife and I did not create, nor procreate an eternal living spirit, but through a process created by God we human
beings supply the physical elements and then, God inserts into that physical union a living spirit that is eternal. In this
way we humans have a life-spirit, that at death returns to God who gave it.
This process needs to be fully thought through and understood in order to understand what God did in placing His
Own Spirit into the womb of Mary.
First, the following method of explanation may seem to be distasteful, but we believe it is needful. Needful because
many say, Mary, mother of God, others that Jesus was born a man and became a God, therefore they too can
become Gods as Jesus did. Even non-Christian religions believe that Jesus was born in an unnatural manner, but
they have no reasonable explanation.
Therefore, it is greatly needed to explain in detail what the Bible speaks of in broad, but definite terms. The Bible
states clearly that Jesus had no earthly father, that God was His Father. But, Mary had a baby.
Physically speaking there are two possibilities:
First possibility---Mary, through the natural process of ovulation produced an egg, which became half of physical
Jesus. Then God, through His creative power produced the male half of physical Jesus. This could not have been a
sexual union because God as Spirit is not sexual, neither male nor female. (reference, Galatians 3:28).
Nevertheless, God could have created the physical other half and inserted it, as well as His Own Spirit, into the
womb of Mary, resulting in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Second possibility---Mary, while obedient to the will of God's plan for her life had no physical input, nor part in the
conception of Jesus, except to receive as a surrogate mother the embryo of Jesus. God through His creative power
produced a physical embryo, placed His Own Spirit in it, and placed that embryo into the womb of Mary.
In modern medicine doctors can take an egg from a woman and a sperm from a man, unite them in a dish and place
them in a surrogate mother. That woman can then give birth to a baby for which she did not produce the egg, nor
did she have any contact with the father, nor did she receive any sperm, nor did she have any genetic input.
Considering that doctors can successfully cause babies to be born in this manner, then most certainly, God the
creator of all living could have placed an embryo with His Own Spirit into a surrogate mother.
God, without doubt, could have used either of these possibilities to bring Jesus Christ into this physical world, but I
strongly believe that the second of the two possibilities is the one God chose.
This will further be seen in Hebrews Chapter 7 and context. Here the Bible gives another explanation to better
detail " Who is Jesus Christ ". Hebrews 7:3 speaks to the reason why it is important that we discussed the above
conception and birth of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:3" without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but
made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."
As we look at this verse and its context we want to ask as the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:34," who is the writer
speaking of"? Is the writer, here in Hebrews 7 speaking about Melchizedek or Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:1, " For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of most high God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him ".
Most commentaries and interpreters conclude that the subject of the sentence is Melchizedek. Thus the following
descriptions in verses two and three would be about Melchizedek. But according to the sentence structure in
English (most English Bibles use the same words in verse 1, "For this Melchizedek") "this" could be the noun and
thus the subject of the sentence.
If "this" is the noun then the whole meaning of verse two and three is turned to be in reference to Jesus Christ. To
consider if " this " could be the noun, we have only to look at the previous sentence which is Hebrews 6:19- 20. In
this sentence we find that the subject is " this hope" ( 6:9) that is "even Jesus" having become a high priest forever (
6:20). Indeed the subject from Chapter one through Chapter 10 is Jesus Christ. So we believe that the subject in
Hebrews 7:1 is "this" which is "this hope" in 6: 19. "This hope" is "even Jesus" Christ. ( verse 20).
Jesus being synonymous with" hope", as used here and 6:18 and 19 and 7:19 and in many other New Testament
verses, is significant. Significant because "this hope" refers to the final reality of God's plan through Jesus Christ.
"Hope" because as living physical human beings we cannot see, touch, nor fully understand what God has prepared
for His people.
I Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered in the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him."
In a fuller sense that "hope" was a measure of the belief and faith of Melchizedek and Abraham.
Whereas in the 21st century, we have the Old Testament, New Testament and many centuries of written and
testimonial evidences to physically base our "hope" in Jesus Christ. Melchizedek and Abraham had nothing of these
physical evidences which we deem so important.
Melchizedek, somehow, (for the Bible gives no explanation) believed in God and was set aside by God to be a
priest by which, in "this hope" as a servant of God, he blessed Abraham and received the tithe given by Abraham.
(reference Hebrews 7:4).
Abraham also believed and in that same "hope" gave the tithes " to whom" (7:2)being "even Jesus" Christ. Thus
both men, Melchizedek and Abraham, hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, believed and acted in "this
hope" "even Jesus". How great was their hope, belief, faith, that a Savior-Messiah would come, even far in the
future. Yet their hope was secure and an anchor for their souls.
Therefore the subject being "this" in verse one and "to whom" in verse two being in reference to "this hope" in verse
19,which is "even Jesus" in verse 20, then verses two and three or descriptions of Jesus.
** king of righteousness:---Isaiah 9:6, Psalms 45: 6-7, Psalms 102:25-27.
** king of peace:---Isaiah 9:6
** without father:---Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-27 & 30-31.
** without mother:---Matthew 12:46-50, Hebrews 7:3
** without genealogy:---Isaiah 53:8.
** neither beginning of days nor end of life:---John 1:1, Hebrews 7:16-21.
** made like the son of God:---
Jesus Christ was not a son of God as we know and bare children. But "like" the Son of God. Jesus had no father
accept God, but was created by God with God's spirit as His Spirit and life. Thus Jesus was placed by God into the
womb of Mary and entered into this physical world.
** priest continually:---Hebrews 7:17-21, Psalms 110:4.
Having understood the above interpretation of Hebrews 6:19-7:3, there is only one who has ever lived who could
fulfill that description: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. ( John 1:1-5).
Jesus Christ :------was not a man who became a God,---was not a prophet,---was not half man half God, nor any
combination thereof,--was not a man who became God after baptism,--was not the son of Joseph and Mary, nor
was Mary the mother of God.
Jesus Christ:---- was God in a body of flesh,---was and is God,---was and is the one God and one Spirit,---was
revealed to us at His baptism through a visible evidence of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
His baptism and the coming of the Holy Spirit was to give evidence of how He would come into the hearts of those
who would be baptized.
In Acts 2:38, " Then Peter said to them, repent, and let everyone 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."
The Holy Spirit was His life and Spirit, thus the Holy Spirit's coming at His baptism was for the benefit of mankind
not for Jesus Christ Himself.
Also in First Corinthians 15:45-49, the Bible makes a statement about the First and Second Adam.
"And so it is written, the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life giving spirit. However,
the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the
second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the
heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly Man. "
This scripture referring to the first and second Adam is speaking of the first living human being as the first Adam and
Jesus Christ as the second Adam. As this comparison is made, it is clear that the second Adam was created as was
the first Adam, by God, without father or mother or genealogy.
Please note:
Jesus Christ did not have His beginning in the womb of Mary. Jesus Christ was already alive before Mary. Even in
the beginning, at the time of creation, He was God's Spirit. God placed His Own Spirit that pre-existed before all
creation into the wound of Mary.
Every human being, accept Jesus Christ, had a definite beginning. God places a living spirit into the union of a
sperm, from man, and an egg, from a woman, and life begins. There are only two exceptions to this life giving
process in all history: Adam, the first man and Eve, the first woman.
Genesis 2:7 States, " And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living being ".
Eve, the first woman was a little different.
Genesis 1:21-22 states, " And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of
his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a
woman, and He brought her to the man ".
These verses simply mean that Eve was an exact duplicate of Adam, illustrated by the stated fact that she was made
from his rib. If she was an exact duplicate, then God also breathed into her the breath of life and she became a living
being as was Adam.
Everyone else who has ever lived received their life in the womb of their mother except Jesus Christ.
The graph below is to be read in columns downward. It shows that Jesus Christ was first in the spiritual realm, then
entered the physical world, then returned to the spiritual realm.
Spiritual Realm
GOD----God the Father----
Jesus Christ---
Holy Spirit-----
This is not three Gods!! But three ways God has and does relate to mankind.
__________________
God's line between physical & spiritual
Physical World
Jesus Christ--- entered the physical world--lived and died--was resurrected from the dead and returned to the
spiritual realm.
Holy Spirit--- enters physical world, but remains spiritual in every way.
All Mankind--- born, with life beginning in the physical world, lives and dies, then spirit enters spiritual world.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the only being that was first in the spiritual realm, then crossed over
into the physical realm, lived and died, and then crossed again into the spiritual realm.
There are also angels in the spiritual realm. They remain spiritual even though they are sometimes revealed in human
form.
Second evidence--each individual.
The Bible is the Word of God. If we follow that " Word ", that is its instructions, the Word of God will point us to
the living God.
To the person searching for God, the Word of God teaches these points:
*God is the creator and only God.
*Sin has separated mankind from God.
*All mankind are sinners.
*Jesus Christ came to earth and died for sinners.
*All who believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord will be saved from their sins.
*All who open their hearts to believe and receive Jesus Christ will become God's children and receive eternal life
with Him.
To all who somewhat understand and follow these points of instruction, (somewhat, because God looks at the intent
of the heart and not the letter of the law), will receive the greatest and most convincing evidence of "Who is Jesus
Christ".
That greatest of evidences is the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, God Himself as He enters an individual's heart!!
The evidence becomes totally clear when the Holy Spirit of God enters a person's heart-- spirit. When a person
experiences the life giving, peace giving, Spirit of God in their own heart, all doubt disappears.
A person may think, why did I not see this before? It is so simple and clear. Yet this greatest of evidences cannot
be understood without the personal experience of an individual receiving Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit coming
into their heart-spirit.
The evidence is available to all who would seek God. If you reject God, He will remain a mystery.
Although God reveals Himself to all, He enters the heart and provides salvation only for those who seek Him.
The Bible gives the historical record and the words of instructions, which are proof enough for anyone who seeks
God. The Holy Spirit of God seals that proof beyond doubt as He enters a person's heart--spirit.
John 3:3 "---unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"---and John 1:12 says, " But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believed in His name ".
" Who is Jesus Christ " is spoken--written about in numerous places in the Bible. There are two major, but not all
inclusive, methods that God used to describe Jesus Christ in the Bible:
First---the use of analogies. The use of analogies is necessary because it is the description of spiritual things to
physical mankind. What you cannot see or touch must be explained by what you can see and touch.
Some of these analogies describing Jesus Christ are:
** Seed---Genesis 3:15,--Genesis 22:17-18,--Galatians 3: 16 & 19 & 29.
** Star and Scepter---Numbers 24:17,--Psalms 45: 6.
** Seed of Abraham---Galatians 3:16.
** Root and Offspring of David---Revelations 22:16.
** Son of God and---son of man---son of David--Matthew 1:1.
Second---The use of words and phrases that describes characteristics, work, or attributes of Jesus Christ. Some of
these are:---Your Throne,---Ruler,---Your Kingdom,---Prince of Peace,---Emanuel,---Man of
sorrows,---King,---etc.
In this study, the purpose is to better determine " Who is Jesus Christ ". We will look at those terms and analogies
that will best bring us to the conclusion of " Who is Jesus Christ ".
The first analogy referring to Jesus Christ comes in Genesis 3:15. This is not only at the beginning of the Bible, but
also at the very beginning of the history of mankind. This analogy compares the " seed " of Eve, the mother of all
living, Genesis 3:20, to the " One " " He " who is Jesus Christ, Who would bruise the head of the serpent-- satan.
This needs to be seen and understood in the context of all of God's creation, of all God's time and the entire Bible.
The word, " Seed", being capitalized in the Bible gives the word the proper spiritual connotation. Combining the
spiritual " Seed " with " He " gives us the correct prophetic understanding that Jesus Christ will come and die for
the sins of the whole of mankind, thus defeating satan (serpent) and his seed (offspring).
The seed or offspring of satan--serpent is mankind who are influenced by satan or by their own choice follow the
rebellion of satan.
The N. K. J. Bible interprets Genesis 3:15,---" And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
The N. I. V. Bible interprets Genesis 3:15,---" And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heal. "
Here the N. I. V. uses the word " offspring " with a footnote reference of "or seed."
In regard to Eve, the N. I. V. says " hers " implying " offspring " with reference to " or seed ". This is not a
contradicting interpretation, but the use of "offspring " broadens the understanding. The ultimate person of the
implied "Offspring---Seed " is Jesus Christ, spiritual. Jesus Christ ( born of woman), Offspring--Seed of Eve,
God in the flesh ( John 1:1) will crush the head of the serpant--satan.
The head of satan would be crushed through the death and resurrection of Jesus which sealed the judgment to be
carried out, casting satan into the lake of fire.
The offspring--seed of Eve would be all living, but all living would be divided spiritually into two groups. One group
, as did Eve, sinned, confessed and was--is restored to God as spiritual.
The other group, as physical offspring of Eve, are those of mankind who are sprouted from or fallen into the
rebellion of the serpent--satan. Throughout history there will be offspring--seed of Eve who will sprout from that
same spiritual " Seed " who is " Christ ", who will be in conflict with the offspring of Eve, who are seed of the
serpant--satan.
In the first generation of all mankind God tells us that mankind will always be divided into two groups that will fight
against each other throughout history in the same manner as satan will fight against God until the end that is
determined for him.
Both the spiritual " Seed " (Jesus Christ) and the spiritual, " seed " (the serpent) will have offspring that includes all
mankind who are descendants of Eve.
Indeed that conflict came about very quickly in the lives of Eve's two sons as Cain killed his brother Abel as a result
of Cain's own sin. (Genesis 4: 6-8).
Eve, although tempted and fallen, was of the spiritual " seed " and she would have descendants who would sprout
from that spiritual " Seed ", "Who is Christ".
The main point is that " her Seed " is not a seed which came from Eve, but the "Seed ", Jesus Christ, from which
Eve sprouted spiritually and there would be offspring--seed of Eve who will sprout from that same "Seed ".
Galatians 3:16, " and to your Seed, who is Christ."
Here is the direct statement Seed= Christ and that gives us the confidence to interpret the analogy.
Eve's offspring or seed is:
I. Offspring or Seed--spiritually--Jesus Christ.
A. Seed--that Eve came from.
B. Seed--that Eve--like, spiritual Offspring will come from.
II. Offspring or seed--physically--all living.
A. Spiritual family of God.
B. spiritual family of satan.
In Genesis 22:17-18 there is a clear example of this explanation from the covenant God made with Abraham. Verse
17 refers to the physical descendants and verse 18 speaks of the Spiritual Seed.
17) " blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the
sand which is on the seashore and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies."
18) ", in your Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice. "
Verse 17 refers to the physical offspring, verse 18 the Spiritual Seed.
This Seed in verse 18 is interpreted in Galatians 3:16 as, " Seed "= "Jesus Christ."
That "Seed " is unique in all of creation.
** that Seed is God who came in the flesh, Jesus Christ.
** that Seed was before creation and will continue throughout eternity.
** that Seed is God's Seed sown in the hearts of all mankind.
** that Seed takes root and bears fruit in all who receive Him.
There is another analogy that is used in the very same way. This one is best exemplified in Revelations 22:16. " I,
Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
the Bright and Morning Star. "
The word " Root " is used and interpreted in regard to David the same as " Seed " was in regard to Eve and
Abraham. David, was not the " Root ". Jesus Christ was the " Root " from which David grew and received his
sustenance.
In Revelations 22:16 " Offspring " is with a capital letter giving us again a more complete understanding of the
scripture. Jesus Christ, both the "Root and Offspring " of David.
David sprouted from the " Root " and grew from the " Root ". As David grew from the " Root ", he wrote psalms
and writings that taught what he had learned from the " Root ". These psalms in turn have taught others about their "
Root " from the time of David until the present, bearing much fruit, which is the offspring of David. But the "
Offspring " is not David's offspring, because David did not die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
Thus, all who would believe, confess their sins and be saved must go directly to the " Root and Offspring " of David,
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Peter 1:23, " having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which
lives and abides forever. "
That "Seed " of Eve, that "Seed " of Abraham, that " Root " and " Offspring " of David are all three, Jesus Christ.
The " Word ", in the beginning, in the flesh, in the end, Jesus Christ from Genesis 1--Revelations 22.
Jesus Christ is (the portion of, or part of) the spirit of God, who has related to mankind throughout history.
Jesus Christ is the portion of, or part of God, because, as Jesus Christ was relating to mankind " in the flesh " on
earth, the Father God was still Almighty God in heaven. Only God as Spirit can at the same time be God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is not three God's or even three entities, but one God as He
relates to His creation in three ways.
Who is Jesus Christ ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Creator---The Word---God in the flesh.
The Redeemer The Savior.
________GOD_!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONCLUSION
The " hope of eternal life " is the greatest possession a human being can possess!!!
This "hope of eternal life" in Titus 1:2 is conditioned upon Titus 1: 1. " According to the faith of God's elect and the
acknowledgement of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie,
promised before time began. "
The family of God through faith comes to the truth and are conformed to godliness and have " hope of eternal life ".
Also in Hebrews 6: 18-20 this "hope" is personalized as Jesus Christ.
We cannot see Him, but we know Him and have hope.
We cannot touch Him, but we feel Him and have hope.
Thus, what we cannot see or touch is the hope we have "as an anchor of the soul both, sure and steadfast".
The family of God stand solid " in the hope of eternal life " awaiting the final result which God has promised.
If you would like to become a part of the Family of God, please read the following explaination by Jesus Christ
teaching in John 3.
Please refer to John 3: 1-21 as you read:
In John Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler came seeking Jesus' council. He recognized Jesus as a "
teacher come from God; for no one could do these signs (miracles) that Jesus did unless God is with him." (John 3:2
)
Jesus answered Nicodemus' question even before it was asked. In John 2:25, it states that Jesus " knew what was
in man ". Thus Jesus being the Son of God, knowing all, knew the question in Nicodemus' mind and began
immediately to answer. Indeed the answer is universal and councils everyone in how to find peace with God. Jesus
gives the answer through the course of their conversation. Jesus says, " unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God ". (John 3:3). Also John 3: 6 says, " That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit."
You must be born again, spiritually, in order to enter the Kingdom of God. In order to be born spiritually, you must
have some understanding. Nicodemus was reprimanded by Jesus because he was a " teacher of Israel and do not
know these things? " (John 3:10).
As Jesus explained, we must understand that Jesus is the only One "Who came down from heaven." He was, at the
same time, on earth in a body of flesh and also"the Son of Man who is in heaven." (John 3:13) (Son of man= Spirit
of God in the body of a man ).
Please note that here in John 3:13 Jesus Christ is on earth. He is speaking in the flesh and says," the Son of Man
who is in heaven ". This statement is in present tense. Jesus Christ is on earth in the flesh and at the same time in
heaven.
So first, understand that Jesus Christ, as Son of God, was God in the flesh.
Second, understand that God's plan for mankind's salvation is through the death of His Son. That death on the cross
was payment for the sins of all mankind. Jesus Christ "must--be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have eternal life. " (John 3:14-15).
Third, understand that God loves all mankind--you-- and desires that all be saved. "God sent His Son that the
world through Him might be saved ". (John 3:17).
Fourth, understand that each person is responsible for his own choice to believe or not believe. " He who believes
in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already---" (John 3:18).
Fifth, understand that mankind is, each one, condemned by their own personal sin. In John 3:19-21, Jesus refers to
himself as the light which exposes evil--sin. " And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ". (John 3:19). " But he who does the truth
comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. " (John 3:21).
The person who does not accept the fact of his own sin denies the truth. He is a liar. He cannot come to Jesus, for
Jesus knows every sin of every person. Thus, by refusing to come to the light of truth in Jesus Christ, a person
condemns himself. Condemned by his own sins--separated from God.
Thus, by believing in the Son and coming to the light, Jesus Christ, exposing our sins (confessing our sins), a person
is born again, spiritually, into the Kingdom of God. It is "done in God, " for we believe in Him, bring our sins to Him
and He gives us everlasting life with Him.
In John 17:21 Jesus prays, " That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also be
one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. "
Thus, Jesus Christ, is the " Mighty God ", the " Everlasting Father " and has given us " wonderful counsel "that brings
us peace with Him.
Yes, God the Father through Jesus Christ will come into the heart of a human being and live with him. The Spirit of
God uniting with the spirit of mankind, which is the greatest experienced a human can have.
If you have not been born again spiritually, but desire to be, you may pray to Jesus Christ and become His child.
Do you believe:
that Jesus is the Son of God?? Yes________ No___________
that Jesus died for your sins?? Yes________ No__________
that you are a sinner?? Yes________ No__________
that you need to be born again?? Yes_______ No___________
If you answered yes to all these questions and sincerely desire to be born again, please pray the following prayer.
Please understand. this must be your prayer to our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died upon the cross to pay the penalty for
my sins. Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I am lost without You. Please, Lord, forgive my sins and save me. I
open my heart and life to You. Please come into my heart and teach me through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for
hearing my prayer and for Your promise of eternal life. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to be Lord of my life. I pray in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
WHO IS ISRAEL???
To ask this question, "Who is Israel?" has become a necessity for the 21st century citizens of the world. The
necessity of the question is seen through the facts of our modern world.
First---The nation of Israel and its relationship to its neighboring nations is a continuous threat to world peace and
stability.
Second---The nation of Israel occupies the place of origins and,or holy ground for three of the world's major
religions.
Third---These three religions, Christianity, Judism and Islam, have experienced centuries of distrust and mortal
conflict.
Fourth---Israel is the name of the people who were chosen by God, the creator of all, to be His people through
whom would come the Bible and Jesus Christ.
Fifth---The children of Israel are a major part of God's prophetic message.
Therefore---it is important not only to ask, but to answer the question,
"WHO IS ISRAEL??"
Origin of the name Israel
The name Israel was given by God, the creator, to Jacob the second of twin sons born to Isaac the son of Abraham.
It is extremely important to recognize the circumstances by which God renamed Jacob, Israel. We find these
circumstances recorded in the Book of Genesis.
God chose Jacob over Esau the older brother, before they were born. Genesis 25:23, "Two nations are in your
womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older
shall serve the younger."
The correctness of God's choice can be seen in the events and lives of Jacob and Esau.
Someone might say, God is not fair, as he choses one person over another. But as we understand God from the
Bible, we can see that from His infinite knowledge God knows the future and the heart of mankind and even before
we are born He knows the kind of person we will be. (Reference: Jeremiah Chapter 1). In the
lives of Jacob and Esau we can see that God made the right choice.
Jacob was not chosen by God because of his integrity. The Bible story tells of his manipulation of his brother, his
lies to and deception of his father Isaac. Nor was Jacob chosen because of his bravery. Without doubt, Jacob was
a sinner the same as all of us. But the correctness of God's choice of Jacob can be seen as Jacob, though caught up
in the troubles and sins of life, FOUND GOD.
On the other hand, Esau had his problems. Esau disregarded his birthright by trading it for a bowl of stew. He had
a serious anger problem and certainly made bad choices in the selection of his wives. But there is no record in the
Bible of Esau discovering or knowing God.
God's choice was Jacob!! Why??
While Jacob was running from his angry brother and sleeping on a rock, he saw a vision from God of a ladder
reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending. God gave this vision to Jacob not because of Jacobs
righteousness, but because of God's foreknowledge and Providence. He knew what Jacob's response would be.
Jacob's initial response and vow are found in Genesis 28:20-22: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be
with me, and keep me in this way that I'm going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, and this stone
which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you. "
First, Jacob makes this vow after acknowledging the presence of God in v. 16, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and
I did not know it."
Second, Jacob's vow did not come from Jacob's initiative, but was in response to God's promises to Jacob in
Genesis 28:13-15.
The conclusion of Jacob's response is in Genesis 35 which in time was many years later .
Genesis 35:1- 7 --- "Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to
God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. "---and Jacobs said to his household
and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign god's that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your
garments. "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will make an altar there to God who answered me in the day
of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone. " So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which
were in their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which
was by Shechem. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and
they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he
and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there at the place called Bethel, because there God
appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
Genesis 35:9-15...Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him and God
said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name. So
he called his name Israel". Also God said to him: "I am God almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a
company of nations shall proceed from you, And Kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave
Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land. " Then God went up from him
in the place where he talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of
stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured all on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where
God spoke to him, Bethel.
Thus, God changed Jacob's name to Israel. At the time of this name change Jacob-Israel was certainly a mature
man. He had two wives, 2 concubines, 11 children, many servants, and many flocks of sheep, camels, etc.
So Jacob did not become Israel until after he had met God at the vision of a ladder. Then years later,he returned to
fulfill his vow: to make God his God, destroying his household idols and commiting his life and family to God.
Please note the events:
1) Jacob received a dream with promise from God.
2) Jacob acknowledged and believed that the dream came from God. (Genesis 28-15).
3) Jacob understood the dream-promise and made his vow. (Genesis 28:20- 22) .
4) God's dream--promise and Jacob's vow were tested over a period of
several years. (Genesis 29- 35)
5) Jacob was instructed by God to return to Bethel, the place of the promise--vow. (Genesis 35:1).
6) Jacob fulfilled his vow as he put away foreign gods and prepared his family to meet God. (Genesis 35:2-7).
As we ask this question, "Who is Israel?",it was originally the name given to a man committed to God; having met
God, having correctly understood God, then he became obedient to God through personal commitment. Thus, the
Israel of God is defined, as God gave the name only after the completion of Jacob's vow. There is no prior record of
the name Israel. God initiated the name Israel and gave it only to Jacob after Jacob's vow and commitment were
fulfilled to God.
The above statements overlap and duplicate in order to emphasize the importance of the circumstances when God
named Jacob,--Israel. Important, because those circumstances define "Who is Israel". Throughout history "Israel" is
a person or people committed to God.
Please note--
In the Bible the nation of Israel is mostly called by the phrase "Children of Israel". This is important because this
denotes that they are not Israel, but Israel's children. Everyone can recognize that not all children follow the
conviction of their parents. So, all who are the "children of Israel" are not the "Israel of God" nor "Israel".
Who is Israel?-In the Old Testament:
Israel in the context of the Old Testament, are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All three, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob are named for the purpose of determining through whom God's promises and plans would be
fulfilled.
This was necessary because Abraham had more than one son, but the promises and plan of God was only through
Isaac. Isaac had two sons but the promises and plan of God was only through Jacob. But God's promises and
plans were through all of the 12 sons of Jacob.
Does this mean that Abraham's son Ishmael or Jacob's brother Esau, are rejected by God?? Does this mean that
they did not believe in God and could not become a member of, or part of the family of God?
By no means, nor in any way did God reject Ishmael or Esau, nor any other person who believed and committed
their life to God.
Examples;
Lott--Abraham's nephew was not a descendant of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob, but God sent his angels to remove this
righteous man and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction.
Melchizedek--was not in the blood lineage, but was declared priest of most high God.
Ruth--was not of the blood lineage, but chose the God of Israel and became the grandmother of King David.
Without doubt every human being has the opportunity and right before God to believe, commit their life to God and
become a part of the family of God.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were chosen by God to do a particular task. The results of that task
was greatly needed by mankind. The task was two fold:
The first task was to receive messages and prophecies from God which became the Bible.
The second part of the task was to receive Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who would personally bring God's
Word, and provide salvation for mankind.
We who are not descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- Israel should not be jealous, nor consider them
privileged because they were given a task by God. They were given a task by God that caused them considerable
hardship and heartache. For example, consider Mary and Joseph:
**They were chosen by God for a particular task.
**Mary excepted God's will for her life and was blessed.
**Joseph also accepted his role in that task.
But certainly the task was not easy.
**Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married and suddenly she was pregnant.
**Mary, great with child, rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because Jesus must be born in Bethlehem.
**Joseph was forced to flee with his wife and small child to Egypt then later returned to Nazareth.
**Mary experienced the agony of the death of Jesus in a way only a mother could understand.
The point is that Mary and Joseph were chosen and blessed by God, but the task was not easy.
In the same way, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were chosen by God to carry out a very difficult,
but necessary task for all of us as mankind.
Therefore, the Old Testament makes numerous references to "Jacob", "House of Jacob", etc. "Israel" and the
"children of Israel", "God of Israel", etc. All of these refer to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the
people or nation through whom God would fulfill His promises and plans for His creation.
The use of different names or phrases that refer to the same descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sometimes
have meaning. For example: "God of Israel": does this refer to Israel--the nation,or to Israel (singular) the man,
Jacob- Israel?
There are many Biblical references that tell us "Who is Israel", but in Isaiah 48,we see "Who is Israel", taking on a
different meaning.
Isaiah 48: 1-2, "Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth from the
wellsprings of Judah; who swear by the name of the lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or
in righteousness; For they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is His
name. "
The "House of Jacob " would be the descendants of Jacob and his 12 sons; Israel would be a subgroup from the
larger family group Jacob, and Judah being another subgroup under Jacob--Israel. The significance of this can be
made clearer in Isaiah 48: 12 --- "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called; I am He, I am the first, I am also
the last. "
Jacob is all the descendants (physically) of God's chosen linage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is a subgroup
out of Jacob who are called, (verse 12), by God and "Who swear by the name of the Lord." (Isaiah 48:1-2). Thus
in this reference, Israel is the spiritual, committed to God descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel; the
Israel of God. There are many other references to substantiate this, but we use Isaiah 48 as an example.
Therefore, Israel in the Old Testament prophecies are not all who are of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
but out of those descendants, those who are true believers and followers of the God of Israel. (Israel-singular;Jacob
-Israel). Those, who as their forefather Israel, believed God and personally committed themselves to God thus
becoming true believers and followers of the God of Israel. These are the true Israel of God.
Who is Israel?--In the New Testament:
Please note:
By no means nor stretch of the imagination does the Bible use the word Israel to refer only to those who are true
believers or born-again Christians. But we believe that there is clear evidence that the name, "Israel", is often used
to refer directly to those who have experienced the same life changing relationship with God, as was experienced by
Jacob, when God changed his name to "Israel". Thus " children of Israel ", in Biblical context, is used to name both
the physical descendants and the spiritual descendants of Jacob-Israel. Mankind must use spiritual discernment to
understand the correct interpretation in each Bibical use of the name "Israel" or "children of Israel".
In the New Testament, a very large portion of Jesus' teaching, as well as the teachings of the apostles, are devoted
to determining who are the true believers, the born again Christians, the family of God, who is the "Israel of God".
The Book of Romans gives the best discussion for our purpose of "Who is Israel".
First--the Book of Romans tells us who is not the true Israel of God.
In Chapter one, we are told that those engaged in the sins of this world are not the Israel of God.
In Chapter 2, we are told that those who "rest in the law, and make their boast in God", Romans 2:17, are not the
Israel of God, nor are those who look to their physical lineage, nor physical circumcision as a Jew, the Israel of
God.
Romans 3:23, tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And also in Romans 3:10 "there is
none righteous, no, not one "; so because of sin, they are not the Israel of God.
Chapter 4 tells us that because one is a blood descendant of Abraham, does not determine if they are the Israel of
God.
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7:21-22 -- "Not everyone who says to me," Lord, Lord", shall enter the Kingdom of
heaven , but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day 'Lord, Lord' have we not
prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name , and done many wonders in Your name?"
Also in John 8:39; ", They answered and said to him "Abraham is our father. " Jesus said to them, "If you were
Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. " and in John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and
the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer in the beginning, and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the
father of it. "
In John 8, the Pharisees, claiming Abraham as their father were severely reprimanded by Jesus. Certainly Abraham
was there physical ancestor, but Jesus says the devil is their spiritual father.
So, even those who seem to be religious, who seem to do the work of God, are not necessarily the Israel of God, or
the true believers, or the born again Christians. On and on the New Testament tells us, who is not Israel.
The Book of Romans also tells us "Who is Israel".
In Romans 10:9--the Scripture tells us that "Whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved."
Also Romans 11:5-6, tells us that those people who call upon the name of the Lord are saved by grace, that it is no
longer of works.
So," Who is Israel? " They are those who are saved by grace, not by what they do as works, nor traditions.
In Romans 11:7-8, the Bible explains how "saved " (10:13) by "grace" (11:5-6) pertains to "Who is Israel". In
verse 7 and its context, "Israel" are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is seen especially in
10:16-21 and 11:1-4.
In 10:21, God says to Israel, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people. "
Moreover verse seven says to physical Israel, that Israel has "Not obtained what it seeks ", but the elect have
obtained it. Who are these "Elect "?? Those who have called upon the name of the Lord and been saved by grace.
Those descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel who refused to call upon the name of the Lord and be
saved by grace were hardened (verse 7) and given a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should
not hear.
Thus, that part of Israel who rejected the grace of God through Jesus Christ were cut off and are not part of "Who is
Israel" nor the Israel of God, not the elect. But, the "elect" are people who have called upon the name of the Lord
and been saved, regardless of their ancestral lineage.
So then, Roman's 11:25-26, brings to conclusion "Who is Israel" in the New Testament, as it states, "when the
fullness of the gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved."
PLEASE NOTE:
Abraham was chosen by God and set aside so that "All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." Genesis
18:18.
It would have been impossible for Abraham to have understood all the future implications of his covenant with
God. But, today we can understand that all nations are blessed because the Bible and Jesus Christ came into this
world. They came through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob- Israel and their descendants. Their task was very great and the
opposition of the enemies of God very severe. (reference Revelation 12). But through the initiative and work of
God the tasks were completed.
Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection was the complete plan of God for the salvation of mankind.
The Bible, as God's written message, was completed with the writings of the Apostles, the New Testament.
With the completion of those two things (Jesus Christ's resurrection and the Bible), the task of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob- Israel and their descendants was finished.
Thus, Israel in the New Testament era until present 21st century are people of every language and nation, Jews and
gentiles, who personally commit themselves to Christ and call upon the Lord and are saved.
"Who is Israel?"---In the book Revelations.
Israel is mentioned only three times in Revelation. Two of them, 2:14 and 21:12, are not references which identify
"Who is Israel". Revelation Chapter 7 identifies "Who is Israel" at the final conclusion of God's creation. Chapter 7
is the second half of the two-part sixth seal. The first part of the sixth seal is 6:12- 17.
With the opening of the sixth seal, John sees a series of events that brings about the final destruction of earth. These
events (Chapter 6:12- 17) so closely resembled the events of the seventh bowl in Revelation 16:17- 21, that they
must be in time sequence of history, the same events; that is, at the end of the tribulation, the end of mankind and the
end of earth as we know it. This being so, then the sixth seal gives us a visionary picture of what is happening to all
mankind at the end. Those who are not part of the family of God are being destroyed on earth,(6:12-17),while all
the family of God is standing before the throne in heaven. (7:9) Revelation Chapter 7 then, gives us a visionary
picture of "Who is Israel": all Israel in heaven with God at the time of the end.
All Israel as sealed, Chapter 7, are two distinct groups, sealed and standing before God at the end of physical
creation.
The first group is "144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel." In Revelations 7:4, they are sealed by God and
are part of the family of God. If the 144,000 were to be interpreted literally, the day in history would come when
the tribe of Judah would have 11,999 persons in the family of God and only one more person would have the
opportunity to call upon the name of the Lord, and enter the kingdom of God. If this were true, it would contradict
Scripture that says "whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Thus, the 144,000 cannot be a
literal number, but a number with meaning and message.
We can see in the Book of Exodus, as the children of Israel who came out of Egypt were numbered, that there
were far more than 144,000 children of Israel in that one generation.
As we look, in the book of Revelation at the end of time, there are only 144,000 sealed and in heaven of all the
tribes of all the children of Israel. (7:4). Then there must be untold millions of the children of Israel that, as
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are not sealed and not in heaven with God. So God is giving in
Revelation 7 a very important and severe message to all the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel. The
message is: Not all, who are called Israel, will be there, only a remnant, a few from all the tribes of the children is
Israel.
The Lord prophesies in Isaiah 6:13, " But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a
terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.
Also in Joel 2:32, " And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the named the Lord shall be saved. For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord
calls.
This remnant,144000, is from the Old Testament era. In Revelation 11: 1, John is told to measure the temple, the
altar and the worshipers. This can be understood to mean a certain time period and a certain number of the children
of Israel who are of the family of God. During the Old Testament era, the time of the temple, there will be 144,000
(not literally-- many, but not all--a remnant) of all the tribes of the children of Israel who are saved.
Also, Revelation 11:2 says, do not measure the outer court (the only part of the temple were gentiles were
permitted) "For it has been given to the Gentiles."
Whereas there was a temple era, time of the Old Testament and the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel,
there is also a Gentile era from the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the end time. This time era is not to be measured,
nor the worshipers counted.
The saved people of the gentile era is the second group seen in the vision of Revelation 7 and the sixth seal.
Revelation 7:9 says that John saw, "A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people and tongues. " Included in this second group are the descendants of the children of Israel who during the
Gentile, New Testament era, "Have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb " (Revelation
7:14).
Who is Israel?? In Revelation 7: One group, a remnant, 144,000 from the Old Testament era, and another group
without number from every nation, language and tribe on earth. Each person in both groups being true believers,
true worshipers of God, and part of the family of God;--all Israel--God's people. A visionary picture of "Who is
Israel".
Please note: The name "Israel" is God's name for those who are commited to Him!!
Romans 11:26--"And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written. "
There is another 144,000 in Revelations 14. This 144,000 is not the same persons as the 144,000 in Revelations 7.
The 144,000 in Revelation 14 does not define "Who is Israel" and so is not part of the above discussion, but they
are part of "Who is Israel" and needs to be interpreted, to understand who they are in "Who is Israel". Through that
understanding, mankind can prevent misinterpretation resulting in grave and eternal consequences.
Why is this important in the 21st century?
1) There are certain religious groups who teach that the 144,000 are people who have lived and are living in the
19th and 20th-century. They believe that the 144,000 or individuals from their particular group. Their group did not
exist prior to the 1800's.
There are also teachers of the end time prophecy who interpret the 144,000 to be Jews, who are given a second
chance or saved after the church is raptured from earth. There are many variations of thought about "Who is Israel"
and who is the 144,000. The ideas and interpretations are as numerous as the teachers.
2) The Jewish people, Orthodox, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the 21st century could easily
suppose that even if they are proven wrong and Jesus Christ is the Messiah and returns, that they will have a second
chance because they are of the lineage of Israel. This is an extremely dangerous position. We, they, and I need to
rightly interpret Scripture so not to make a grave mistake on such an eternal question.
The interpretation of the 144,000 is: 144,000 is not a literal number, but a number with meaning and a message.
The meaning is: many, but not all, out of a much larger group, a remnant of the whole. This applies in both
Revelation Chapter 7 and 14 and allows the two groups to be different individuals.
The message is: to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not all of you will be there in heaven.
The 144,000 in Chapter 7 are very clearly 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
The 144,000 in Chapter 14 are with "A lamb standing on Mount Zion", and only they can learn a new song, they are
redeemed from the earth and from among men, they are the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, they follow the
Lamb, they are without fault before the throne of God.
These statements do not say that they had never sinned. Indeed it says twice that they were redeemed. The word
redeemed in biblical context is used to describe God's saving activity restoring mankind who have sinned. So the
144,000 have been saved, redeemed, confessed their sins through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the Lamb, then,
presenting them before the throne of God without guilt, as virgins, sin removed as for is the East is from the West
and remembered no more. As redeemed, they are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb.
The term "Mount Zion" is given to at least three physical places in biblical history. At each place called Mont Zion, it
was a place where mankind went to meet and worship God. So the understanding of Mount Zion, is the place
(temple, a church, altar, tree, premises,) where people meet God. When a pastor, evangelist, priest, or witness
proclaim the word of God, the Holy Spirit present, and people invite Jesus Christ to come into their heart, they are
standing on Mount Zion. Mount Zion, the place where mankind meets God.
So the 144,000 in Chapter 14 are God's ministers, many, but not all, 144,000, who stand with the Lamb, Jesus
Christ, to receive the family of God. They are uniquely holy, without fault, before the throne of God.
If the minister or preist, or religous worker, because they carry the name of a minister, supposes themselves to be of
the 144,000, they should closely examine their lifestyle, and not think more highly of themselves than they should.
Note:
In the parable of Jesus Christ about the 10 virgins in Matthew 25: 1-13--five of the ten good moral people of
integrity " virgins " were not allowed in heaven, did not have oil for their lamps, not prepared through Jesus Christ.
Interesting note:
The 144,000 of Revelation 14 were called virgins and are most certainly the servants of God. But, could it be that
one half of the good moral pastors and church leaders who think they are God's servants are not prepared through
true salvation in Christ??
Maybe the 144,000 are Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Matthew, Peter, Paul, the mortyrs, the great
evangelist, the individual who sits on the back row at church, people who has witnessed to and prayed with people
coming to Christ for salvation. Only God knows the names of 144,000. They are a limited number out of the much
greater family of God, who stand with the Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Zion receiving those who come to God, the
Father, to become part of the family of God.
Within the context of Revelation 14, we can see the time era from which came this 144,000. Revelation Chapter 12
and 13 give a history of the rebellious work of satan from the Old Testament era (Chapter 12), then changing in
Chapter 13, to the work of satan's beast during the New Testament era until all are forced to receive the mark of the
beast near the end of God's creation. Then in Chapter 14 the visionary scene changes to the same time era and a
quick history of what God's people are doing during that same time era.
The two scenes of Chapter 12 and 13, explain, spiritually speaking, what satan's group was and is doing. In the
same way Chapter 14 explains what God's family is doing during the same time era, spiritually speaking. God
gathered His family on Mount Zion; and satan gathered his bunch at the image of the beast.
Conclusion--"Who is Israel?"
"Israel" is the whole family of God. (Romans 11: 25-26), "until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. And so all
Israel will be saved, as it is written:"
** Old Testament era--- True believers who committed their lives to God.
**New Testament era---Born again family of God from every nation, language and tribe of God's creation, who
have come to the Lamb on Mount Zion.
Note: There are many difficulties in interpreting prophecy. Here in regard to the 144,000 is a number used in two
different places with two different descriptions of the people involved. Here is an example of interpretation from Old
Testament--to demonstrate the difficulty in interpreting prophecy .
God is the author of all prophecy. God sees all history and all time in one big picture. Mankind understands only
some of the past and sees only part of the present where he lives through a physical time frame. God sees all
creation, past, present and future without the limited time frame of mankind. As God gave us His prophecies, His
messages often spanned more than one time era, but the message contained a root message that transcends each
time era. The root message applies to each time era.
The Old Testament prophecies, as given from God, are sometimes most difficult to discern the time era to which
they apply. Often, in one block of scripture the prophecy pertains to a near future time, a distant future time and the
end of time.
Near future time---Old Testament era---time of the prophet
Distant future time---time of Christ---first century A.D.
End times---Last seven years tribulation and millennial era.
One example of this is found in Daniel Chapter 8. This is a complete vision and explanation given to Daniel in the
third year of the reign of Belshazzar. At the time Daniel received this vision, Belshazzar of the Chaldeans was king.
Daniel 5:30. The first part of the vision is of a ram which is explained as the kings of Media and Persia, who
conquered the Chaldean Empire and the known World during the lifetime of Daniel. ---near future time era.
The second part of the vision is of a male goat who defeats the ram (Daniel 8:5-7). The goat is explained to be the
Kingdom of Greece.
Alexander the Great who led the Greek conquest died a young man and his empire was divided among four generals
of the Greek armies. Chapters 8:8- 22). These events are told in world history and occurred 100 to 150 years after
the time of Daniel. The results of the Greek conquest uniquely affected the era of the time of Jesus Christ. ---distant
future time era.
The third part of the vision is of a little horn which grows greater than all, even reaching into the spiritual realm.
(Daniel 8:9-12). This is further explained by the angel in Chapter 8:23 -25. This part of the vision refers ultimately
to the end times, the last seven years of God's creation explained in the Book of Revelation. ---end time era.
Following is a list of references that places the little horn of Daniel 8:9 in the prophecies of Revelation. Although the
little horn had its beginnings in pre-creation, its greatness and power becomes full blown in the last seven years of
God's creation.
First, consider the meaning of the term horn as used in Biblical context. Horn, can be in reference to an individual as
in Daniel 8:21; the first king of the Kingdom of Greece. But from this one large horn comes, four notable horns, and
out of one of them, came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great. This makes us to understand the term horn, as
being much larger than one individual. Thus, the meaning of horn can be a movement, an ideal, a spirit, a conquest,
etc. In the context of Daniel's vision there is a common thread, or motivation or spirit that begins with the
Medio-Persian Empire and continues through the end times as prophesied in Revelation.
In the Encyclopedia International it says of Alexander the Great, that he had a "grand international conception". This
ideal or inspiration of Alexander was the fusion of East West into a Greek culture by intermarriage, transfer
population, and promote equality in political and military status.
Thus the horn is a visionary picture of a movement, an ideal, a spirit, a conquest that can be seen as the power that
drove the conquest of the Medio-Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, etc, and all other would be world conquerors.
This same horn spirit can be seen in the one world government of the end times, brought about and ultimately ruled
by satan and his beast.
Daniel 8 ---In Revelations:
Daniel Revelations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The little horn that became spiritual the beast with a horn
Daniel 8:9-12 Relations 12:3 through 13: 1-18
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Not by his own power given power
Daniel 8:24 Revelation 13:7 and 15
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Receives an army great army--200 million
Daniel 8:12 Revelation 9:15-16
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destroyed the mighty- killed 1/3 of mankind
also the holy people killed the two witnesses
Daniel 8:24 Revelations 9& 11:7
Thus we conclude that the third part of Daniels prophetic vision in chapter 8 is about the end times and also
visionarily seen by John in Revelation.
This gives us one example of the difficulty, but necessity to rightly divide the word of God as we apply the prophetic
message to the 21st century.
To all who suppose or propose that the 144,000 are the only ones going to heaven---note---- there is a great
multitude which no man can number in heaven, Revelation 7:9-17,who have washed away their sins through the
blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
The 144,000 of Revelation 14 are individuals, true believers, from all history who have uniquely stood with our Lord
to receive the family of God. They are not a group of self-appointed persons from the 20th-century who want to be
God's special people.
To those who suppose or propose that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will receive some special
revelation from God because of their ancestral lineage and will be part of a great millennial harvest of souls after the
true church has been raptured to heaven; beware the Bible does not teach this misconception.
Five of the ten good moral people of integrity "virgins " were not allowed in heaven--not prepared through Jesus
Christ.
THE FIRST AND IMPORTANT
TEACHINGS OF JESUS
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, " repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 4: 17.
Jesus taught many and varied teachings about all phases of life. He taught about farmers, shepherds and
professional people. He taught about life, pursuit of happiness, death and eternity. Jesus also gave warnings about
wrong choices, results of sin and the reality of eternity without Him for those who reject Him.
Here in Matthew 4:17 He began both to teach and to say, "repent".
Here is the implication that this is not a one time statement to "repent" but an ongoing teaching, " Repent for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is easily seen in the following chapters of Matthew as well as in the rest of the
Gospels.
First look at the context, of " repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ", in chapter 4. In 4:1-11 Jesus is "led by
the Spirit " and "tempted by the devil ". In verse 12 John is put in prison. Verses 13-16, Jesus leaves Nazareth to
Capernaum the beginning point of His ministry, as prophesied. Then in verse 17 we are given the theme of Jesus'
preaching " Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Then verses 18-25 gives an overview of what Jesus did throughout His ministry.
Verse 18-22 Jesus called His disciples. Verse 23, He taught in the synagogues and healed the sick.
Verse 24-25 " His fame covered the whole region and great multitudes followed Him. Then in chapters 5-7 is the
sermon on the mount, an example of what Jesus taught.
As we look at the sermon on the Mount, we find that it has a teaching that is of a continuous theme. That theme,
being stated in Matthew 4:17, is exemplified in chapters 5-7.
Example # 1:
5:3-- "blessed or the poor in spirit,"
5:4-- "blessed are those who mourn,"
5:5-- "blessed or the meek,"
Certainly in physical terms those who are "poor in spirit " and " those who mourn " and " the meek " are not
considered among the blessed. But on condition that they have repented and their sins are forgiven, they would be
considered among the blessed.
"Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "
blessed are those whose lawess deeds or forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the
Lord shall not impute sin. " Romans 4:6-8.
Thus, Jesus is giving in Matthew 5:3-5 the results of (the "blessedness") of a repentant heart.
Even though a person is not blessed in this world, yet if their sins are forgiven they are "blessed".
Example #2
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your award in heaven, for so they persecuted the profits who were
before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Were they blessed because they were persecuted?
Was their reward in heaven because they were persecuted?
I say no to both questions.
They were blessed because they had repeated. Even though persecuted they are blessed because their sins are
forgiven.
Their reward is in heaven, not because they were persecuted but because they had repented.
Example #3
Whereas in verses 3-12 Jesus speaks of those who have repeated, in verses 13 and following He speaks of those
who having been blessed by salvation through repentance, yet need to continue to repent of their sins.
Matthew 5:13a, "You are the salt, of the earth "; = repentant and blessed, born-again Christian.
" But if the salt, loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot by men. Matt. 5:13b.
So, if you as a repentant, born-again Christian have lost your " flavor "---saltness or fervor, you need to repeat.
Again in verses 14 and 15, if you " the light of the world " put your lamp " under a basket ", you need to repeat.
Again in verse 19, if you break " one of the least of these Commandments ", you need to repent.
Again in verse 22, if you have been " angry " with your brother without a cause ", you need to repent.
This same theme of repentance is throughout the teachings of Jesus.
For example in Luke 15, the prodigal son repents of his wayward life.
Also in Luke 15:7, Jesus speaks of " joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ".
Also in Luke 16's parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man understood that he was in hell because he had
not repeated.
" And he said, no Father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent ". Luke 15:30.
Again in Luke 17:3-4 Jesus speaks of one person repenting to another as a remedy to problems.
With the above discussion and examples from the teachings of Jesus we can see that a major theme of Jesus'
teaching is repentance.
What is repentance:
" To feel such regret over (an action, intention, etc.) as to change one's mind."
Webster's New World Dictionary.
In order to repent, a person must first become a sinner.
One must recognize personal sin and the results of those sins.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God ". Roman's 3:23.
The Bible tells us that all have sinned. For a person to know what the Bible says is one thing, but to recognize
personal sin and sins consequences for me personally is a completely different thing.
Personal sin--my personal sin-- carries a death penalty.
For the wages of sin is death. " Roman's 6:23.
Jesus' call to repentance in Matthew 3 is universal to the " poor in spirit "; and "those who mourn ", " the meek ",
and the "persecuted ", " the salt of the earth", " the light of the world", all who become " angry " at their brother ".
This message of repentance is to all mankind--every person.
THUS THE TEACHING IS:
#1-----Mankind must recognize personal sin.
# 2-----Mankind must be sorrowful for sinful condition.
# 3-----Mankind must confess sin.
# 4-----Mankind must stop doing that, turn from sin.
An example from life of these 4 points:
#1----- When I was a small boy I disobeyed my mom. Later I learned that God's fifth commandment says, "
Honor your father and mother ".
I had disobeyed my mother, but I had broken God's law. I was a sinner, condemned by God and separated from
Him. Because of my disobedience to my mother, I broke God's law.
#2-----I am sorry I disobeyed my mom. It is right and for little boys to obey their mother. But I greatly fear God
because by breaking his commandment, I am judged guilty and am worthy of the death penalty.
#3-----I confess my sins through prayer to Jesus Christ. My confession coupled with my belief in Jesus Christ
brings salvation and forgiveness of sin through His death. Jesus Christ death paid the penalty for my sins, but I must
repeat.
#4-----I become obedient where I had been disobedient. My obedience to mom, becomes the physical evidence of
my spiritual change.
True repentance brings change of heart.
Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of " the works of the flesh ". These can be further described as the characteristics
of an unrepentant person. Four of these characteristics can be the description of a disobedient child. They are "
contentious, jealousies, outburst of wrath, dissension. "
When a child truly repents of their disobedience to their mother, their "works of the flesh" change into "the fruit of the
Spirit " as listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
In varying degrees the childs characteristics are changed:
Contentions---become---kindness.
Jealousies---become---faithfulness.
Outburst of wrath---become---self control.
Dissensions---become---gentleness.
Through this type of process the person's heart is changed from beast-like to God-like.
Thus, we see the great importance of true repentance.
The Lord Jesus told us and taught us from the very beginning of His ministry that which was of utmost importance "
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ".
The place of repentance in salvation:
The following are key scriptures pertaining to salvation:
John 1:12; John 3:3; John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10 and 13.
In the above scriptures, there are certain key words.
1) Believe == I believe. But James 2:19 says " You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe-and tremble! "
So salvation, is more than just belief that there is a God.
2) Receive=== I want to receive Jesus Christ. But does Jesus Christ come into a life of sin.
Jesus Christ comes into a life of sin at and after true repentance.
3) I know I'm a sinner, but even after I'm saved I still cannot be like God.
The born-again Christian also must recognize and repent of sins.
4) Born-again== how? When does one know when he is truly born-again.
By the evidence of the changed heart reflected in " works of the flesh " becoming the"fruits of the Spirit ".
5) Faith== I believe. I have faith. Is my faith sufficient.
We may pray and ask for faith.
"looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
Heb.12:2.
6) Confession== what do I confess. I know I should confess that I'm a sinner. Is salvation a never ending
confession of sins?
" For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made and to salvation. "
Romans 10:10.
If a person is sincerely seeking salvation they should confess belief and sin.
Possible sinner's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father: I believe that you are God the creator. I believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as the only
Son of God--God in the flesh--and died for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. I am a sinner.
Dear Lord Jesus please forgive my sins and come into my heart. ---amen.
After receiving salvation, we confess our personal sins as they occur.
In Acts Chapter 2:38, Peter gives a quick summation of salvation; " repent--be baptized--you shall receive the Holy
Spirit. "
True knowledge of believe that Jesus lived, died, was resurrected and lives demands acknowledgment of personal
sin and repentance. Because He died for my sins, I must repeat.
True " believe " in Jesus Christ reveils the reality of sin. Knowledge of sin, demands repentance.
If I open my heart to receive him, my sin is exposed. When I repent He comes in and cleanses me from sin.
Born-again is the result of repentance.
Justification is the result of repentance.
As I confess my belief and sins in true repentance I become born-again.
Each of those key words is either a prerequisite too or the result of repentance.
Is it necessary that a person understand all those words and concepts to be saved?
No. --For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe that in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life ". John 3:16.
If a person has no opportunity to grow spiritually beyond true simple belief, they will be saved. But, as a person
truly believes, truly repents, truly receives, they recognize that they have been born-again.They are justified and their
faith increases day-by-day.
A person may believe and still be lost, without God forever.
(The demons believe but are condemned in disobedience.)
If a person believes and is obedient to repent, confess and receives the Holy Spirit they will be saved.
There are certain elements that are necessary for salvation and they are clearly defined, but the process and point of
salvation is reserved to the judgment of God.
Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.
"I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away"
Ezekiel 34:16.
" Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling "; Philippians 2:12.
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!!"
Jesus Christ
THE SEVEN SEALS
FROM THE THRONE OF GOD
Over the past 40 years, through the influence of prominent writers, the study and interpretation of Revelation has
drawn much attention. This is as it should be for we seem to be living in the end times.
Much of the interpretation from this era is built around the 20th-century current events. The establishment of the
nation of Israel in 1948, the atheistic Soviet Union being seen as the armies of the north coming against Israel, the
200 million Chinese army crossing the Euphrates River for the battle of Armageddon, the Middle East oil crisis, plus
the 10 nation European Common Market have enhanced the interest in the interpretation of Revelation. These
20th-century circumstances seem to fit well into the accepted interpretation of the seven seals.
Usually the seals have been interpreted somewhat as follows:
The conqueror embarks on a conquest, (seal #1), with a great sword, (seal # 2), which brings famine, (seal # 3),
which results in death, (seal #4). But can there be another interpretation of the seals?
The "seals"
"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven
seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to lose it
seals? " Revelations 5:1-2.
The seven seals, seal the scroll message from the hand of God. The scroll and the seals are very prominent in the
vision of Chapter 5. The seven seals, must be opened for the message from God to be read. The message is for all
mankind. The seals can only be opened by the resurrected Jesus Christ as explained in verses 5-14.
The fact that the seals can be opened only by Jesus Christ makes the seals different from the trumpets and bowls.
The trumpets and bowls were carried out by angels, but only Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain, "was able to
open", or "to look upon" or "read" the seven sealed scroll message from the hand of God. This is extremely
important as the seven sealed scroll contains the complete message of Revelations from God to mankind.
Please consider the following:
In the Book of Revelations there are five sets of "sevens". Three of the "sevens", (seals, trumpets, bowls), are
interpreted to be tribulation. Nearly all writers, interpret the seals to be tribulation. Everyone agrees that tribulation
is seven years divided into two parts of three and a half years each. Most everyone tries to interpret these three sets
of "sevens" into two time periods. But, three does not divide into two. So--- is there another way to interpret
this??? Yes!!!
The trumpets are tribulation, because, the result destroyers one-third of nature and one-third of mankind.
Revelations 8-14.
The bowls are tribulation, because, as result, all is destroyed. Revelations 16.
But the "seals" are different. The fourth seal with the pale horse and rider named death is the easiest to understand.
Death was part of the judgment declared by God to Adam and Eve upon ALL mankind. All mankind are physical
and have died, or will die, or will be translated in the twinkling of an eye at the rapture. The Bible states that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore death is not unique to the great tribulation era but is
common to all physical mankind.
With this easy to understand explanation we believe and interpret that the first five seals is that which God created
into His creation as guidelines for mankind. Seals 1-5, are guidelines, or parameters, under which we live and by
which mankind will be judged.
The sixth and seventh seals are different. They were from the beginning of creation, in the foreknowledge of God,
God's conclusion to His creation.
Thus the seals are that which was God's plan for His creation.
The message of the seven seals was experienced in the life and family of Adam and Eve and they are also the
judgments rendered against the woman on the Scarlet beast in Revelations 17 and 18. Thus the seven sealed
message opened in Revelation 6 and 7 is God's universal and eternal message to His creation.
Seal #1, --- Mankind was created with freedom of choice, as a king. ( The rider was given a "crown").
Genesis 3:6--- Eve chose to eat of the forbidden tree --- resulting in judgment.
Revelations 17-1, and 18-7, --- The woman represents those of mankind who chose to reject their Creator, as God
--- Resulting in judgment.
Seal #2, --- Mankind was created with the possibility to sin and the reality of being a sinner. The ultimate sin is to
kill. ( The rider was given a "great sword").
Genesis 4 --- Cain slew Abel --- resulting in judgment for sin.
Revelations 17:6 & 18:24-- The woman killed the Saints and all who were slain on the earth -- resulting in judgment.
Seal #3, --- Mankind was created to do business. A person must work for a living --- (The rider had a "pair of
scales").
Genesis 3:17-18 -- Adam's sin of disobedience --- resulted in judgment, " by the sweat of your brow."
Revelations 18:5-7 --- The woman's corrupt business --- resulted in judgment. " God has remembered her iniquities.
" 18 : 5.
Seal #4 --- Mankind was created physical and will die. (The rider was "named Death").
Genesis 3:17-19--Adam's disobedience resulted in judgment--" to the dust you will return".
Revelations 18:7-8, --- The woman's disobedience results in judgment --- death. "--- utterly burned with fire. "
Seal #5, --- Mankind was created within a spiritual conflict, --- (The message says they were "slain for the Word of
God ").
Genesis 8:13 --- Cain slew Abel, because Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God --- resulted in judgment of the
murderer.
Revelations 18:24 --- " In her was the blood of the prophets and Saints "--- resulted in judgment of the murderers.
Seal #6,--- A visionary picture of the division between the family of God and mankind who rejected God at the time
of the end.
Revelations 6:12-17,--family of satan at the end of time.
Revelation 7:1-10 --- Family of God at the time of the end.
Genesis 3:15 --- " Enmity between family of satan and spiritual seed of Eve ".
Revelation 18:4, --- "Come out of her my people ".
Seal #7 --- Judgments and explanations carried out in Revelation Chapter 18-22.
These explanations of seal # 7 describes the final destruction of God's creation as had been planned by God from
the beginning. In the beginning God knew there would be an end. Through the seventh seal He tells us of that final
destruction.
The seven sealed message is given from the hand of God to Jesus Christ, to the angel, to John, to the seven
churches, to all mankind.
With the above skeletal descriptive interpretation of the "seals" we see the final message from God tying together the
history of mankind from Genesis through Revelations. Adam and Eve were created under the guidelines set forth by
the sealed messages. They lived by those guidelines in either obedience or disobedience and were judged
accordingly. Every human being since Adam and Eve have been born and lived under those same guidelines.
The seals 1-5 address or speak to those things in which we are born. They are natural to us. They are understood
through living life.
For example:
Through the seals, mankind is given " freedom of choice " (seal #1), with the ability to kill, (seal #2). Mankind
knows from what is created in us that it is wrong to kill. Yet, throughout history mankind has killed each other. God
told mankind in his 10 Commandments, (Exodus 20:13), " you shall not murder. " So --- God created into us
certain guidelines through which we know right from wrong and then reinforced them through the 10
Commandments.
Those same "seal" judgments passed on Adam and Eve and their sons will be the guidelines for judgments against all
mankind who reject God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ as seen in Revelations chapters 17 and 18.
" Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me saying to me, " come I will show
you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters." Revelations 17: 1.
The seven sealed message from the hand of God sets mankind's perimeters and will be the basis of God's final
judgment.
With Jesus Christ as savior and Lord, sins are forgiven.
Without Jesus Christ there is judgment according to the guidelines set forth by the seven seals.
666
INTRODUCTION
There has been many things written and many discussions about "666''.
Many questions have been asked:
How to interpret "666"? Who is that man named 666? Is 666 the Antichrist? When will he appear? Where will he
be from?
Many have tried to calculate the " number of a man " supposing that the numerical equivalent number of someone's
name will identify the Antichrist.
First, look at the only Biblical reference of "666". This is in Revelation 13:16-18--"He causes all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may
buy or sell accept one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let
him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: his number is 666."
Facts from these verses:
"666" is a "mark" that is given to everyone of that generation.
"666" is the "name" of the beast.
"666" is the "number" of the "name" of the beast.
"666" is the "number" of a man.
Interpreting principle:
"6"---is interpreted to be incomplete.
"7"---is understood by everyone to be complete or all.
If "7" is complete then "6" is incomplete.
3x's in Biblical context means most or greatest. For example: holy holy holy = most holy; woe, woe, woe = greatest
woe;
"666" = most incomplete, cannot become complete.
Every human being is born into life incomplete, a "6".
Every human being has the opportunity to become complete, a "7".
As born incomplete, a "6", we are created by God but are not automatically a part of God's eternal family. A
person becomes a part of God's eternal family, thus complete, only by their own decision to beleive and receive
Jesus Christ into their hearts. They must choose through their God-given "crown of choice". They must call upon the
name of the Lord to enter into the eternal Family of God. Romans 10:13.
When a person has called on the name of the Lord " and received Him into their heart, only then, are they complete,
a "7".
Thus when Revelations 13:16- 18 states---" 666 " it means most incomplete, having rejected God, thus, without
God, never to be complete.
As we interpret, we must look at the context.
Although verse 18 states that " for it is the number of a man ", yet that phrase, as stated, does not demand that " a
man " be one single individual man. Because in verse 15 and 16 it states that everyone must receive the mark or he
will be killed. Then in verse 17 it states " no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the
beast ". " Except one who " is singular in the same way as " a man " in verse 18. But it is clear in verse 17 that the
singular " one " is in reference to anyone or everyone who must have the "mark" or the "name" or "666". So we
believe that " a man " is not referring to a single human, as per the often referred too, Antichrist, but is referring to
"all", as individuals, as seen in Revelation 13:16.
There is antichrist. There will be antichrist. There will be great leaders who will be part of the antichrist. There will
be a great leader whose "deadly wound " will be healed and he will be antichrist, or an antichrist. But the numerical
number of his name does not need to add up to 666. "666" is a "name", or the "mark", or that which signifies their
spiritual condition.
"666" is the mark ( emblem ) of the name given by God to a unique generation of mankind.
he (the beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive a mark. Revelation 13:16.
They are unique because every other human being that has ever lived on planet earth has had the spiritual freedom to
call on the name of the Lord and be saved. But judgment has been passed on this generation. They no longer have a
choice. They are the same as satan and the demons. Judgment has been passed. They no longer have freedom of
choice, spiritually. They are still alive, but cannot repent and be saved.
They are a whole generation of breathing, living human beings who have rejected God, (1st woe ), God's witnesses
are killed and gone, (2nd woe ), they are forced to worship an image ( idol ) as God, (3rd woe ). The doors of
heaven are closed and they are outside without God, without hope, without, forever---"666".
666
PROOF TEXT
woe, woe, woe = trumpets 5, 6 and 7.
Trumpts 5, 6 & 7 = "666".
Three "woes", three "trumpts" and three "6"s gives the explainations of judgment because of abuse of seals 1, 2 and
3 (Rev 6: 1- 6)and the results of breaking the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17).
The fact that the first " woe" and the fifth trumpet are one and the same is clearly seen in Revelation 8:13--9:12.
Rev. 8:13 -"Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth because of the remaining blast of the trumpet of the three
angels who are about to sound! "
Revelation 9:1-11 are the explanations of the fifth trumpet. Then in 9:12 it says " One woe is passed. Behold, still
two more woes are coming after these things."
Also at the end of the trumpet 6 explanation, it is stated that "The second "woe" is passed. Behold the third woe is
coming quickly ".
Rev. 11:14
The seventh Angel sounds the trumpet immediately in the following verse 15, but the following explanation is more
complicated or complex. The explanation of the third " woe " and the seventh trumpet begins at 11:15 and continues
through Revelation 14:20, because 15:1 begins to explain the coming "seven bowls of God's wrath".
So it can be easily seen from the physical scripture that the 3 "woes " and the trumpets 5, 6 and 7 are exactly the
same message. The 3 "woes" and trumpets 5, 6 and 7 are interpreted and understood as resulting in spiritual
destruction. The trumpets 1-4 are physical destruction of nature and trumpets 5-7 spiritual destruction of mankind.
Thus the result of the greatest 3 X "woe" destruction is "666".
Thus 666 is interpreted to be the most incomplete. 3 x 6 = most. "666" = mankind without God, most incomplete.
"666", as the last word of Chapter 13, is the conclusion of the trumpet messages to the family of satan. Chapter 14
is an ongoing part of the message of the seventh trumpet, but pertains to the family of God. Chapter 14 is an
explanation of the spiritual history of the family of God and events at the time of the seventh trumpet.
The results concluded in "666".
First woe and fith trumpet :
The first "woe" and fifth trumpet are interpreted to be spiritual destruction through business and personal
relationships, (mankind to mankind of the family of satan). They lie, cheat and manipulate each other for their
personal gain. They conduct themselves totally for their personal gain to the exclusion and rejection of God. They
break all the rules. With their crowns of choice, they have made the wrong choice, condemning themselves without
God.
In the message of seal #1 mankind is given "a crown " 6: 2. With this Crown they have the right, freedom, as a king
to do as they choose. This freedom is both physical and spiritual. Mankind may and must choose their spiritual
authority, God or god. Here in the first woe and fifth trumpet they have chosen their king. " And they had a king
over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek his name is
Apollyon. Revelation 9:11.
They have rejected God their creator and chosen the destroyer as their king. Thus they are a " 6 " without God,
without hope.
They have broken or disobeyed the message and intent of God that He created into mankind and described in Seal
#1. In seal #1 mankind is given "a crown" and they go out "conquering and to conquer". God's intent in the
message of Seal #1 is for mankind's good. The message is two fold. First, they have the freedom to choose their
lifestyle and their spiritual destiny. Second, they have the zeal, ambition or drive it to face and overcome the
difficulties of life.
The family of satan in woe # 1 and trumpet # 5 have " on their heads were crowns of something like gold".
Revelation 9:7.
Because the Crown is described as " something like gold " indicates an unclear picture or distorted. Unclear or
distorted, because they have used their freedom of choice and made a wrong choice. They have chosen the
"destroyer" as their king rather than the King of Kings, their Creator and GOD. They had been given, from their
creator, the guaranteed right to choose and they made an eternally wrong choice.
Also in seal #1 mankind is given a spirit of conquest. In Woe #1 and trumpet #5 they use their God given attributes,
9:7-8, and propel themselves in " chariots with many horses " as they attempt to conquer each other for their selfish
gain. This was not God's plan.
They have chosen "the destroyer " as their king and they have his desire to rule and to be king. Self has become
king, or, and their god; god with lowercase "g". Although the destroyer, the angel of the bottomless pit has been
chosen and is characterized as their king, yet in the truest sense each one desires to be god and rule their own life
and destiny. Self has become in the truthest sense, god. This is the same sin or rebellion, that satan chose as he
fought to rule in heaven.
satan fought to take the throne in heaven and was thrown out. satan was judged guilty and sentenced was passed
but that sentence will not be carried out until he is cast into a lake of fire at the end. satan in this state is condemned
and cannot repent and be restored. Thus he is without God, without hope, "666", incomplete and cannot become
complete.
The family of satan, as result of the first woe and fifth trumpet, has also broken God's law in the 10 commandments.
First they have broken the greatest commandment as declared by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22: 37, " You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
They chose the destroyer as their king.
They also broke the commandments that speak about mankinds relationship to mankind. Through their personal
relationships, they destroy each other.
" Their power was to hurt man five months. " (Revelation 9:10).
Thus, through their God-given attributes and gifts, they take upon themselves a "breastplate of iron" (rather than a
breastplate of rightousness) and with their competitive nature, (conquest), they self-destruct. They devour each
other.
In so doing it can be applied and understood that they break commandments seven through ten:
No. 7--They commit adultery--to satisfy their personal lust.
No. 8--They steal--to get what they desire.
No. 9--They bear false witness-for personal gain and self-defense.
No. 10-- they covet--desire the things of this physical world.
Therefore the family of satan is judged and found guilty of breaking five of the 10 Commandments through the
message of the first "woe" and the fifth "trumpet".
Interesting note:
They were not permitted to kill in the first woe and fifth trumpet.
" they will desire to die, and death will flee from them." Revelation 9:6.
The killing is reserved for the second woe and 6th trumpet which uniquely connects this to the 2nd seal and the 6th
commandment.
Second "woe"= 6th trumpet = "66" :
The second woe and the sixth trumpet or interpreted to be spiritual destruction as a result of rampant and
unrestrained sin.
The message releases the barrier angels bound (placed) by God " at the great river Euphrates ". The 200 million
man army then kills one-third of mankind and also the two witnesses of Revelation 11:7. The family of satan has
conquered earth and is in control. They have committed the ultimate sin by killing their
fellow humans and God's witnesses.
The message of this second seal states that mankind is created in such a manner that they all become sinners. There
are numerous sins not as terrible as killing, (lying stealing, etc.) but mankind is given by God a great sword " in Seal
#2. Mankind is given and has the ability to kill each other.
The family of satan has committed the greatest sin. They kill all who oppose or fight against them, including those
who witness for the true creator God.
Mankind at this time has experienced the greatest of all wars in killing one-third of all living. God, by removing the
barrier unleashes mankind upon mankind. God's intent, in removing the barrier, was that mankind through this
plague would learn that they cannot survive without God their creator. In spite of such a tremendous plague of war
they do not turn to God. Mankind should learn from such a plague of war that they cannot survive on their own
devices without God. But they still do not repent.
Revelations 9:20-21 "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, which can
neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality
or their thefts."
They did not repent, refused to repent and thus they are judged. They have broken the message and intent of God's
message of the second seal. God's intent was that mankind would recognize their sinfulness, repent and through
Jesus Christ be forgiven, thus entering the family of God. But the family of satan reject Jesus Christ as Lord and
King, do not repent and are judged and condemned.
They broke the 6th of the 10 commandments " thou shalt not kill " as they murdered one-third of mankind and then
added to that, the killing of God's witnesses. They did not repent, thus with the second "woe" and sixth "trumpet"
they become "66'.
Third "woe" = 7th trumpet = "666":
The third woe and the seventh trumpet are interpreted to be spiritual destruction as the family of satan is forced to
worship the image of the beast as God. By the miraculous powers, " great signs " and charisma of the second beast
" those who dwell on earth ", family of satan, are told to make an image to the first beast and then worship it. This is
the ultimate sin. All mankind " both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave," are forced "to receive a mark on
the right hand or on their foreheads". (Rev. 13: 16). They either worship the image of the beast or they are killed.
People make an image, (idol) with their own hands from things that are created, then fall down and worship the
things they have made as if it were the creator God.
All God's witnesses are dead. Thus the door of heaven is closed. There is no longer any opportunity to repent and
be saved. Judgment has been declared. They are without God, without hope, forced to worship an idol that is not
God.
They are "666".
The family of satan through their sins described in the "third woe" and seventh trumpet have broken and disobeyed
the spirit and intent of God's message of the third seal. The third seal has a twofold message.
The first message is business as indicated by the pair of scales " in the rider's hand. Through performing business,
(work), a person has the right, (freedom), to use their God-given abilities to provide the necessities for their family.
The payment for their work providing their daily bread. Revelation 6:6.
As the bread represents the necessities of life the "oil" and "wine" physically speaking represents those things which
are not necessary to sustain life but enhance and enrich life. The result of the third woe and the seventh trumpet
takes away from mankind the right and freedom to do business as they choose.
The second aspect of the two fold third seal pertains to the spiritual. " Oil " and " wine " are used uniquely
throughout the Bible in reference to spiritual things. They are also present in the context of the 3 woes and trumpets
5, 6 and 7.
" Oil " in Biblical context represents the anointing of God.
For example:
"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." Revelations 11:4.
The only other Biblical reference to the "two olive trees" is in Zachariah 4:3. Here the Bible speaks of the "two olive
trees" in verse 3 then in verse 12 it speaks of " two olive branches that drip golden oil ". Then verse 14 says " these
are the two anointed ones who serve the Lord of the whole earth."
Thus " oil " represents the anointing of God.
"Wine" in Biblical context very often represents the spiritual fruit of the earth. Jesus said, " I am the vine and you are
the branches if you abide in Me you will bear much fruit." John 14:5.
In the message of the third woe and seventh trumpet Revelation 14:18-19 says " thrust in your sharp sickle and
gather the clusters of the vine of the earth for her grapes are fully ripe. So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and
gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. "
Thus the "wine" biblically speaking, in the third woe and seventh trumpet, represents the spiritual fruit that are
produced of God's creation. There is both the spiritual produce of the family of God and also the spiritual produce
of the family of satan.
The message of the third seal says " do not harm the "oil " (anointing), "or the wine", (fruit). That message would
grant and guarantee freedom of religion. That freedom to worship God or gods has and will be guaranteed until God
releases the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates. That barrier released means that God has passed
judgment. Mankind, without God, has been condemned.
Therefore Seal #3 is interpreted:
First -- As God giving to His creation the right and freedom to work with their God-given abilities and provide for
our physical needs.
Second--God gives to His creation the right and freedom to worship and relate to him as they choose.
God anoints His servants and through the power of that anointing, spiritual fruit, "wine", is produced.
In application of the message of the third seal, God gives to His creation the right and freedom to pursue business,
(work), and worship, (religion).
In the message of the third woe and seventh trumpet it explains that all mankind's God given freedoms are taken
away. They cannot "buy or sell " unless they have the mark " 666 ". They are forced to worship an image as God.
Thus their freedom of life and the pursuit of happiness is taken from them. Religious freedom and civil liberty no
longer exists.
They have broken and disobeyed God's message and intent of the third seal.
In the message of, and time of the 3rd woe and seventh trumpet they have broken the commandments one through
four of God's 10 commandments given to Moses as recorded in Exodus 20.
#1---"You shall have no other gods before Me ".
They worshiped an image of the beast.
#2--- "You shall not make for yourself a carved image ".
They made an image of the beast.
#3--- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain ".
They were given power to blaspheme God.
#4--- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
They worshiped the beast on their holy day.
With the conclusion of the third woe and seventh trumpets the family of satan has broken, disobeyed God's message
of Seal #3 and 4 of God's 10 commandments. They have been judged and found guilty.
They have become a " 666 ".
They are without God, without hope, condemned forever with no possibility of repentance or redemption. They are
666 " = most incomplete--never to be complete.
Just as satan was judged and condemnd when he was cast out of heaven, the last generation of mankind will be
judged and condemned while still alive on earth.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who works signs in his presence, by which he deceived
those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the
lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20.
Some will be cast into the lake of fire, alive, before physical death, before the Great White Throne judgment of
Revelations 20:11. They will not be given the privilege of their day in court, but judged and cast out, by the decision
of God, prior to the final judgment of all mankind.
This unique generation is physically alive--but have no choice.
They are "666".
THE MILLENIUM
Introduction
The millennial is a 1000 year period of time. It will happen at the end of God's time table for His creation. The
millennial is the rightful conclusion to all mankind.
God created mankind in a perfect environment in the Garden of Eden. The sin of disobedience entered that perfect
garden. Ultimately at the end of time sin and rebellion destroyed the relationship between God the creator and
mankind His creation. At the end, after sin and rebellion had enveloped all living and the rebellious have destroyed
the last of God's faithful, God destroys His physical creation.
After that destruction God restores His faithful. They live with Jesus Christ in a restored, as the Garden of Eden,
world for 1000 years.
In that 1000 year reign of Christ, there is no sin or temptation, no satan or attempting spirits, no pain or death. It is a
time when the family of God lives with Jesus Christ in a perfect peace in a restored creation.
God's creation is concluded without interference from sin, satan, demons or rebellious mankind.
THE MILLENNIAL:
The interpretation of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ must of necessity be based upon the identity of " Who is
Israel ". Chapter 3 of " In hope of eternal life." Those who are " Israel ", both Jews and gentiles are also referred to
as the Family of God.
The whole Family of God is described in the seventh chapter of Revelation. In verse 3 it says that no destruction of
earth will occur until the servants of God are "sealed". Then the following verses enumerate those servants, or the
"Family of God". They are those who "stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and
with palms in their hands."
They are the 144,000 in verses 4 - 8, plus the " great multitude which no man could number of all nations, and
kindreds and peoples and tongues." (Verse 9). This is the second part of the vision of the sixth seal.
The first part of the vision are those who have rejected Jesus Christ as they attempt to hide from His face at the time
of the return of Christ. (Rev. 6 :12 - 17).
The second part, then, shows the family of God before the Throne praising God and the Lamb.
These two scenes of Seal #6 are in time sequence almost simultaneous. While the family of God is complete and
praising God at the end, those who rebelled against Him are hiding in fear of the coming destruction.
ALSO:
The 144,000 are those of a specific number who were counted at the altar in Revelation 11: 1. They are from the
Old Testament or Temple era of the history of mankind. They enter the Kingdom of Heaven prior to the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. They enter under the Old Covenant.
The Great multitude are from the New Testament or Gentile era of history. They enter the Kingdom of Heaven after
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They enter under the New Covenant. They are from every nation, language and
tribe as the gospel has gone to the ends of the earth.
Thus, from the sixth seal, we can conclude that the time will come when the family of God will be gathered before
the Throne, as the last generation of the rebellious are being destroyed. We find this same scenario in the
description of the end in Revelation Chapters 16-19:21.
In Revelation 16 : 12-16 we find that the kings of the earth are gathered to the place called Armageddon in Hebrew
for " the Battle of that great day of God Almighty."
Please note:
Those gathered to Armageddon are the kings of the " whole world", thus, all mankind.
It is "the great day of God Almighty ", thus, the day when God takes control of His rebellious creation.
They are gathered to a place called Armageddon. The root of the word "Armageddon" is Megiddo. We should not
think that the " whole world " is gathered into the small valley of Megiddo that is between the Jordan River and the
Mediterranean sea. Rather we should understand that Megiddo was the place where the enemies of God's people
were defeated by God. Thus, the enemies of God's people who killed the witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11 and
forced all mankind to worship the image of the beast in Revelations 13 are gathered to Armageddon for battle
against God.
After these things the seventh angel pours out the seventh bowl of God's wrath. The resulting explanation is the
physical destruction of earth as we know it.
There is from the pouring of the seventh bowl ( 16:17 ) a continuing time sequence of events thourgh 20:3.
Revelations 17- 19:10 are different explanations.
Chapter 17 and 18 explain the judgments of the visionary woman on the beast.
Chapter 19:1-10 explain the rejoicing of the Family of God as they say " Hallelujah: For the Lord God Omnipotent
reigns "
After the explanations comes Jesus Christ and the armies of Heaven. ( 19:11 ).
The rebellious army against God, are set for battle in Chapter 16. Jesus Christ and His army engage the battle in
19:11, after the explanations.
The battle of Armageddon is the greatest physical battle ever set and the shortest battle ever fought.
Jesus Christ comes to the battle with a " sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nation's ". (19: 15).
The beast and the false profit are cast alive into the Lake of fire and the rest are slain with the sword from Jesus
Christ's mouth.
The sword is the Word of God. Those of the rebellious are physical mankind. In verse 21, Jesus Christ speaks and
they all physically die.
The last phrase of verse 21 is a very interesting statement; " and all the birds were filled with their flesh."
First -- This declares and varifies that the ones killed are physical humans.
Second -- It is not about hungry birds.
Third -- This is an illustration that there well be no one to bury the dead. They will all be dead.
The above discussion was necessary to determine who reigns with Christ during the time of the millennium.
At the end of Revelation Chapter 11, the family of God, Jews and Gentiles, are no longer physically on earth. At
the time of Armageddon, the " whole world " is gathered to the battle and " all " are physically killed.
Please note:
Revelation 11:16-19 happens, in time sequence, at the same time as Revelation 13:11-18. These two time
sequence events correspond with Jesus' explanation of the end times in Matthew 24:15-42.
Then comes the millennial as the time sequence continues in Revelation 20.
Please note:
As we literally interpret the events of Revelations we find many difficulties. But consider, God is spiritual not
physical. God would not see physical death as we humans see it. Humans see life, death and then, eternal life. God
sees human live from the beginning of conception and continuing throughout eternity without a break at physical
death . To God, physical death is not a tragedy. Physical death, for a member of the Family of God is just one step
into the Kingdom of Heaven with our Spiritual Father.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalms 116 : 15
With the conclusion of Armageddon, satan is bound and sealed for 1000 years in the bottomless pit.
John, the writer is then shown a vision of the millennial. The explanation of the millennial vision is very short. It is
only three verses, but it requires much explaination.
There are two parts to the vision.
First---During the 1000 years there will be thrones with judges and judgments.
" And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. " (verse 4 a).
The second part of the vision, is a scene of the "souls" of mankind, "the Family of God".
" And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God,"
(Revelation 20:4 b).
References and explanations:
" For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end
of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly
and the sinner appear? "
(1 Peter 4:17-18.)
Judgment must begin at the house of God, with the family of God. That is, those who have obeyed the gospel of
God. Those who did not obey the gospel of God are not present at this first judgment. These of the millennial are
the souls that followed Jesus on "white horses " and " in fine linen, white and clean." (19:14)
Jesus told His disciples that they would be judges.
" But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My
Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. " (Luke 22:28-31)
Jesus says that because they have "continued through His trials " that they are made judges. Thus, those who are
judges at the first judgment of the House of God are faithful and proven to be worthy as judges. The disciples will
be judges of the " twelve tribes of Israel, " or the 144,000 as enumerated in Revelation Chapter 7.
Also in Matthew 19:28 Jesus said, " Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on
the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
"
In each reference those who are judges must be found qualified. The qualifications of these judges are the same in
the Old Testament.
In Zachariah 3:7 the Bible says, " Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My
command, then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of my courts; I will give you places to
walk among those who stand here. "
In Revelation 4: 4 it states, " Around the Throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four
elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads."
Whereas in the above references there were judges judging the twelve tribes of Israel, here in Revelation there are
twenty-four elders sitting on thrones.
In Revelation 4:10 they " cast their crowns before the throne " of God. Through that act they prove their worthiness
to judge as they give all the glory and honor to their God and Creator.
In Revelation 5:9-10 the twenty-four elders sang a new song saying, " You are worthy to take the scroll, and to
open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and
people and nation, and have made us kings and preists to our God; and we shall reign on the earth ".
The 24 elders sitting on thrones are made kings and preists to God. It would seem, although not clearly stated, that
the 24 elders would be among the judges of the millennial time. But, take note, that in the millennial vision Revelation
20:4 there is not a designated number of thrones.
The second part of the millennial vision shows to John " the Souls of those who have been beheaded for their
witness to Jesus and for the Word of God ".
Throughout history there have been many who were killed for their witness or testimony.
The first was Able the second son of Adam and Eve. Able was killed by his brother Cain. God had accepted
Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. Because of his brother's jealousy and anger Able was killed for his witness or
testimony that God had accepted his offering.
The last to be killed " for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God " are the two witnesses of Revelation
Chapter 11.
It seems in Revelation 20:4 that those who will sit on thrones judging the family of God during the millennial come
from among those who gave their physical lives for their witness of Jesus and the Word of God. This would be fitting
as they had a proven record of faithfulness and testimony of their witness.
In Revelation 6:9 in the vision of the fifth seal the Bible says, " When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. "
We can understand that these martyrs from throughout history are given a special place in heaven; " under the altar ".
" Under the alter" would not be a confining place, but a place of special protection and closeness to God's throne in
the Heavenly temple.
So,-- it seems that from the martyrs would be chosen the rightful judges.
John says in Revelation 20: 4, " I saw the Souls of those who had been beheaded." They would be the judges, but
they are not the only ones present as members of the Family of God. John saw, here in verse four, only the judges.
He did not see the Great multitude from which would be those who need to come before a judge. There is a similar
explanation in Revelation 7.
In Revelation 7 we are shown the whole family of God; the 144,000 and the great multitude from all nations, tribes,
peoples and tongues. In verse 13 , one of the elders says to John, " Who are these arrayed in white robes, and
where did they come from? "
Implying that he doesn't know, John answers, " Sir you know. "
The elders answers, " These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. " (verse 14).
The answer seems to point out only the last generation of Christians who have experienced great tribulation.
But the defining description is that they are " arrayed in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. "
This same defining " white robes " also clothed the "great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes,
peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm
branches in their hands, " (Revelation 7:9).
So, -- the whole family of God, fits the same description of being clothed with white robes.
Thus, with Chapter 7 as an illustration we conclude that, in Revelation 20:4, the "souls" of all the Family of God, are
present. Even so, the ones seen by John are those prepared and worthy to be the judges.
This judgment of the family of God, during the millennial reign is not a judgment of salvation. Their salvation had
already been determined or they would not be present at the millennial and 1st resurrection. The believer, the saved,
the born again christian, the family of God was clearly defined as they physically died and their souls were taken to
heaven. This is a judgment between members of the Family of God.
Mankind who are not of the family of God are not there. But their souls are in hell awaiting the second resurrection
and the Great White Throne judgment.
" And they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4 C -Revelation 20:5).
So,---the judgment of the Family of God during the millennial is a judgment between the family members of the
family of God.
Imagine---Two neighbors who have a very serious problem on earth.
Imagine --- That both of them are members of the family of God.
Imagine--- That they both die without reconciling their problem.
This happens every day on planet earth!!
In heaven---what kind of next-door neighbors would they be???
They must reconcile their problems so that heaven can be Heaven for the family of God.
In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus says, " Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother and then come and offer your gift. "
So,-- the judgment of the millennial reign with Christ will be the correcting of problems among the family. Those who
have had personal problems, unforgiven sins or any other circumstance that would hinder the peace and joy of
heaven will come before a judge. The judge will help to solve all problems. Thus, heaven will be a place of true
peace and greatest joy, without the problems that were collected in our physical lifes.
This 1000 year reign is also the first resurrection!!
The souls who are the family of God are also the armies of Heaven who followed Jesus to the battle of
Armageddon. These souls are the same souls that after the battle of Armageddon receive their bodies from the dust
of the earth. Their resurrected bodies are like the resurrected body of Jesus as He came out of the tomb after His
death. Jesus could eat, talk, touch, appear and disappear. He was spiritual, not physical, but He had a resurrected
body.
In Romans 6:5, " For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection. "
Therefore --- The millennial is a 1000 year span of time at the end of time when God restores His creation to its
original state.
Jesus Christ will reign, "face-to-face", with His faithful servants, the Family of God.
The Family of God are judged and restored to Godly relationships.
There will be perfect peace in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
" The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and
the fatling together; and the little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie
down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the
weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Isaiah 11:6-9
In the beginning the Garden of Eden---
In the end a millennial with Jesus Christ---
That is God's perfect plan.
THE FINAL BATTLE
The "final battle" is the greatest of all battles,. It is a spiritual battle and all the participants are spiritual beings. The
"final battle" includes every living being of all of creation and all of history.
God created!! God made all things that exist. Everything that can be physically seen, God made!! All physical
belongs to God. He made it.
You are God's property. You would not exist except God made you.
There are only two pieces of evidence for the above statement.
First---God said that He created all physical.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1.
"All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. " John 1:3.
Second---The reality of existence is strong evidence.
As a person looks at the stars, the sun, the moon, the earth, a tree, a flower, an animal or insect or looks into a
mirror they see an overwhelming evidence that God exists and created.
There is a theory circulated among mankind that teaches that there is existence through evolution. This evolution
theory begins with the existence of physical matter.
In the beginning of God's beginning, He created the physical matter that evolutionist's see as pre-existant.
The above statements are made to substantiate the following statement:
God created it---it belongs to Him---no one can take it from Him.
There are two groups, or entities, that have challenged and attempted to take possession of God's creation. Both
were created by God. Both are unique and central parts of God's creation. Both are spiritual and eternal beings.
Both have a beginning, when God created them, but their lives, after creation, are eternal.
One group is the angels. The other is mankind.
Angels and mankind are unique in creation because:
1). They are created in the image of God. In part that means that they are spiritual and after creation they live
eternally.
In the Book of Genesis the Bible says that God breathed into Adam the breath of life. That same " breath of life " is
given to every child and their mother's womb. Because---humans cannot create eternal spirits, thus our life / spirit
comes from God. This is part of being created in the image of God.
2). They have freedom of choice.
They may choose to obey or disobey, live in God's will or out of God's will, spend eternity with God or separated
from God. Having freedom of choice is part of being created in the image of God.
Mankind is somewhat different from the angels in that mankind may choose to believe or deny the existence of God.
Mankind must each make their decision to believe in God or not to believe
This is because mankind was created physical and cannot see God through physical eyes.
Angels are different as they were created spiritually in heaven, thus they cannot deny God's existence.
* * All Angels have freedom.
Many have remained faithful to their God and creator.
Many have rebelled against God their Creator.
* * All mankind have freedom.
Many have chosen to believe and remain faithful to their God and creator.
Many have chosen not to believe but to rebel against God their Creator.
Very early in the history of creation satan and many of the angels attempted to take over God's creation.
It was an organized rebellion against God, their Creator. Those who rebelled were cast out of their heavenly home.
They did not have the ability nor power to take over God's creation.
Therefore God separated them from Himself and will in the end separate those rebellious angels from His faithful
creation.
" How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who
weakened the nation's!" Isaiah 14:12.
Jesus said, " I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven." Luke 10:18.
Mankind also has the freedom to rebel against God their Creator. Those of mankind who rebel will also be
separated, by God, from Himself and His faithful followers
"All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life
was the light of men. He was in the world and the world was made through Him and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to
become children of God , even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor the will of man but of God." John 1:3-4 and 10-13
The final rebellion -- the final battle!!
"Now when the thousand years have expired, satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the
nations which are in the four corners of the earth, gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number
is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breath of the earth and surrounded the camp of the Saints and the
beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceive them,
was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever." Revelations 20:7-10.
The Biblical description of the "final battle" is very short. Indeed the "final battle" is very short.
Prior to the "final battle" satan is released from prison.
In order to better understand, note the following:
In the early history of creation satan with the other angels who rebelled were cast out of heaven. They were
confined to earthly realms.
"So the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he
was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelations 12:9.
Those rebellious fallen angels, or demons, continued their rebellion until they controlled earth. They deceived some
of mankind. Many of mankind chose the same rebellious path as those fallen angels. They refused to obey God.
Therefore, fallen angels and mankind alike are in rebellion against God their Creator. That coalition of the rebellious
is termed in the Bible, "the beast"`.
"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and
cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelations 13:15-17.
After satan and his coalition takes control, God destroys physical mankind and physical earth as we know it.
"And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great
earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and
the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of wine of the
fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from
heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague
of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great." Revelation 16:18-21.
In the above scriptures the battle of Armageddon is set and earth is destroyed or changed as we know it. The
mountains disappear and the Islands fled away. Armageddon is the last physical battle. The battle of Armageddon
is described in Revelation 19 with the conclusion in verse 21; " And the rest were killed with the sword which
preceded from the mouth of Him who sat on horse." After Armageddon all mankind are in their spiritual eternal
home. The family of God is in heaven. The family of the rebellious are and hell.
Satan is bound through the millennial reign of Christ. Then, he is released to continue his rebellion against God, his
Creator. With this rebellion satan has engaged the "final battle".
First--satan gathers his army as he goes out to "deceive the nations". He indeed deceives them. They are deceived
to believe they can fight God their Creator. This is an exceedingly great deception.
He gathers his army from the souls of the rebellious who are in hell. The army from hell is every demon and every
person from all of history who rebelled against God. God had removed them from heaven, from His presence and
from the presence of His faithful to that place prepared for satan and his followers.
The army of satan, in Revelations 20: 8, is gathered from " the nations which are in the four corners of the earth ".
This phrase, " four corners of the earth " is used in one other place. In Revelation 7:1 this phrase is used within the
context of the family of God gathered at the Throne.
"After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that
the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree."
Revelations 7:1.
We have with much prayer considered this phrase being used in the gathering of both the faithful and the rebellious
of God's creation. We believe that the "four corners, of the earth " is a spiritual place, not a physical place. Thus
they would be gathered from the entire realm of earth. There is a spiritual realm of earth, because, satan and his
fallen angels were confined there. (Reference Revelation 12:9-13).
Thus, those "gathered from the four corners of the earth " would be the souls of those who had lived on earth. Thus,
satan's army is the souls of the rebellious from earth who are in hell after physical death.
They and the devil who deceived them will be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false
prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Revelation 20:10.
" Tormented "---God is not doing the tormenting. God is not a tormentor. They are separated from God, thus
tormented.
1). God is the giver and sustainer of life.
2). Life without God is hell.
3). Life separated from God is a living hell !!!!!
So---as the armies of Heaven followed Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon, (19:14), so the armies from hell
follow satan to the "final battle "!!
This army from hell is Gog and Magog.
Magog is listed in the genealogies of 1st Chronicles as a son of Japheth. Biblical genealogies are in Genesis, 1st
Chronicles, Matthew and Luke.
In Genesis the Bible gives the genealogies from Adam to Noah and his three sons. Genesis 10 and 11.
1st Chronicles gives a partial genealogical list of pre-flood or Adam to Noah. Then 1st Chronicles gives partial
genealogies of the lineages of Japheth and Ham, with a more extensive genealogy of Shem.
These genealogies are given for a purpose. That purpose is so that all creation may know the truth of God through
real evidence.
These genealogies are evidence:
First---That all mankind may know the truth and source of the Word of God and that the Bible was given through
His true servants and prophets.
Second---That all may know the truth of who is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Thus, one evidence of the truth that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah is that both
came through the genealogy of Shem as was prophesied by God.
In part the spiritual lineage is as follows:
From the descendants of Adam came one who was faithful---Noah.
From the descendants of Noah came a faithful one---Shem.
" Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem. " Genesis 10:26.
From the descendants of Shem came a faithful one---Abraham.
From the descendants of Abraham came a faithful one--Isaac. From the descendants of Isaac came a faithful one--
Jacob/ Israel.
And then, came Moses to receive from God the first five books of the Bible.
And then came all the others who, inspired by God, wrote and handed down to mankind the Bible, the Word of
God.
And thus, Mary and Joseph whose lineages are traced back to those same persons were given the task of receiving
Jesus Christ into the physical world.
Thus, God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, gave to His creation proof-evidence that verifies His Word and
His Messiah and Son, Jesus Christ.
This is important to understand because:
There are religions, (plural), who claim that their founder was a prophet and that his teachings and writings are Holy,
or are from God, or are another Testament.
God declared from the beginning that His Word and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ would come through
His faithful as declared in the Bible.
Adam--Noah--Shem--Abraham--Isaac--Jacob / Israel, etc.
Therefore, the spiritual lineage of the faithful is evident. All mankind can trust that the Bible is God's Word and that
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, because they came as a result of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants
Isaac and Jacob/ Israel, etc. In every generation of mankind there have been faithful believers who have passed on
the Word of God, as given through God's spiritual lineage, to the next generation.
The purpose and necessity of this discussion is to better define, who is gog and Magog. Necessary, because, every
human being has the right and freedom to believe and call upon the name of the Lord or to reject God. Therefore,
each persons spiritual lineage is dependent upon their personal relationship with God their Creator.
Please note:
Jacob had 12 sons. The majority of Jacobs sons desired to kill their brother Joseph. This illustrates clearly that not
all of the descendants of God's faithful are God's faithful, or, not all fathful are faithful to God. The physical
descendants of Jacob / Israel are not all the Israel of God.
In the same way there is a lineage of Japheth--Magog that are those who are rebellious against God. But we should
not think that all physical descendants of Japheth--Magog are rebellious against God.
Because--- some of the gentiles of the descendants of Japheth--Magog are part of the " Great multitude " which no
man could number from every nation language and tribe of the earth. Revelations 7:9.
Therefore from the sons of Noah are two lineages, two families or two spiritual entities.
1).--From the descendants of Noel--Shem is a spiritual lineage of the faithful to God, their Creator. Through them
came the Word of God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. From them came the true church. From them came the Israel
of God. From them came the Great multitude of Revelation 7:9. From them came the two witnesses of Revelation
11. From them came the armies of Heaven in Revelations 20.
2).--From the descendants Noah -- Japheth -- Ham came the spiritual lineage of the unfaithful and rebellious against
God, their Creator. From them came all manner of religions. From them came the physical portion of the beast of
Revelations chapters 12 and 13. From them came those represented by the woman on the beast of Revelation
Chapter 17 and 18. From these came gog and Magog of Revelations 20:8.
Who is Magog???
Magog is the collective name given to the unfaithful and rebellious mankind of God's creation.
Magog is to the unfaithful rebellious of God's creation, the same as Israel " to the faithful family of God.
The man Jacob became the spiritual man Israel. The name Israel became the name of a nation of whom some were
the faithful servants of God. The nation of Israel became known as those who worshiped God the creator.
The whole house of Israel became the family of God from every nation, language and tribe.
In the end they are the armies of Heaven who followed Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon.
Thus the name " Israel " was a name given to one of God's faithful (Jacob) and the name ascribed to the whole
family of God.
In a similar way Magog is the name of the unfaithful.
Magog was the second listed son of Japheth, a son of Noah, as listed in Genesis 10:1.
Magog became a nation.
" From these the coastline peoples of the gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his own
language, according to their families, into their nations." Genesis 10::5.
Magog with his brothers and others are listed in Ezekiel 38 and 39 as being at war against God and God's people.
God says in Ezekiel "And say, thus says the Lord God: behold I am against you, O gog, the chief Prince of
Meshech and Tubal." Ezekiel 38:3.
In the end, Magog is the name given to the nation that is "gathered together" for the "final battle"!!!!
Thus, Magog in Revelation 20 is not only one of the sons of Japheth and one of the nation's called Magog, but also
representative of all the nations and people who have rebelled against God. Magog, in Revelation 20:7-9, is all
mankind from all of history who have been unfaithful and are in rebellion against God their Creator.
Please note!!:
Israel---spiritually = the Israel of God.
Israel---spiritually = the whole family of God.
Magog---spiritually = the whole family of satan.
Who is gog??
As Israel is to Magog---So David is to gog.
David was a leader, a king among the family of God.
gog was a chief prince, thus a leader among the family of satan.
The Bible differentiates between the leadership and the rest of God's creation.
Examples:
The 144,000 stand with Jesus Christ on Mount Zion. Revelation 14: 1-5. These are a group, ( 144,000, many
but not all ), from all the family of God who are spiritual leaders exemplified through their faithfulness and morality.
The false prophet is "cast alive into the lake of fire". Revelations 19:20. The false prophet, (with the wrong
message), are the leaders of the false church. They have been deceived and and have taught religions that are not
from God. They have deceive mankind. They are cast immediately into the Lake of fire. They were not allowed
their trial and judgment at the throne, but were cast out alive.
The false profit is cast out alive into the lake of fire, yet there are still leaders / gog, among the nations that are called
Magog in the end.
Thus, Magog / nations and their leaders/gog are gathered for the "final battle".
The souls of the rebellious family of satan, the last of whom have been in hell for 1000 years are gathered for the
"final battle" against God.
The Final Battle!!!!
Satan will be released. He will gather from hell the souls of his family. Those who, like Satan, rebelled against God.
Their number and name is 666. They will come and surround the Saints, the family of God, who are with Jesus
Christ in the millennial reign on earth. Immediately as they approach the "final battle " fire comes down from
heaven and the " final battle " is over and finished.
Please note Ezekiel 38 and 39 as further explanation of the " final battle ".
To better understand Ezekiel 38 and 39 please note these points.
Old Testament prophesy is glimpses, not the whole message of the future. Probably, prophesy is never the whole
story.
Old Testament prophesy pertains to three time periods:
1). Immediate future; 2). The coming and life of Jesus Christ;
3). The end times.
Old Testament prophesy does not clearly define or separate the times and space of prophesy.
In Ezekiel 38 and 39 there are glimpses and explanations of the reality that God is against and will destroy those
who have rebelled against Him and His faithful followers.
The explanations in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are descriptions of both Armageddon and the " final battle " in Revelations 19
and 20.
In the prophecy of God both battles are seen as the destruction of the enemies of God. In time and space they are:
1). The battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:19-21, is the final and complete physical destruction of mankind who
rebel against God.
2). The " final battle ", Revelations 20:7-9, describes the final defeat in spiritual realms of all the rebellious, both fallen
angels, (demons and satan), and the souls of rebellious mankind.
Also within Ezekiel 38 and 39 are statements about the millennial and the first resurrection, which had been
described and Ezekiel 36 and 37.
Thus, gog and Magog are gathered to the " final battle ".
" And fire came down from heaven and devoured them ". And the devil, who deceive them, was cast into a lake of
fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they were tormented day and night forever and
ever. Revelations 19:10.
At this point satan, demons, the beast and false prophet are in the lake of fire.
The end forever!!!!
Definitions:
Beast---The beast is an entity which, in part, is the leadership of the rebellious. Satan is the head, demons are the
spiritual powers and rebellious human beings are the body.
False prophet---The false prophet is the human leadership of the false church. They think they are worshiping God.
But they have been deceived by satan and demons. They teach others to follow that same deception. Thus the false
prophet. (Reference Revelations 13).
" Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he
deceives those who received a mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive
into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. " Revelations 19:20
" Cast alive into the lake of fire. "
This means that they are not permitted to stand before God's throne of judgment to receive their sentence. They are
cast out immediately into the Lake of fire.
This is correct, for they had led and deceived others to the destruction of their own souls.
It is also correct that the end would come in this manner.
Because; --- satan and the other rebellious angels:
---rebelled against God their Creator in heaven. They were cast out and confined to the realm of earth.
---rebelled against God in the earthly realm until they defeated and destroyed God's people. They conquered and
ruled earth and God destroyed them physically.
---rebelled against God and His faithful after the millennial in the eternal spiritual realm. After this third rebellion,
they are cast into the lake of fire forever.
Satan and all the rebellious have been defeated in every realm;
The Heavenly realm!!!
The Earthly realm!!! and
The Eternal realm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is God the creator and there is no other God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Satan rebelled in heaven.
He was confined to earth as a prison.
For bad behavior he was placed in solitary confinement for 1000 years.
He was on death row from heaven through the millennial. Then satan's sentence was carried out.
" And the devil ", who deceived them was cast into a lake of fire." Revelations 20:10.
The "final battle" of the ages is over and
Jesus Christ is Lord !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Final Judgment
The final judgment is a time when every human being who has ever lived on earth will stand before the Throne of
God.
" When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His
glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the
King will say to those on His right hand, come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world: "
" Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, unto the everlasting fire prepared for
the devil and his angels: " Matthew 25:31-34 and 41.
" Then I saw a great White Throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and
there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead,, small and great, standing before God, and the books were
opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their
works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and
Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then
Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written, in the
Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. " Revelations 20:11-15.
This is not a judgment about salvation.
This is not a judgment to determine ones eternal destiny.
Those decisions were made during physical life on earth. At the death of the body the soul of each person goes to
its eternal home. That place is determined by personal decision during life, and set forever at the time of physical
death.
In order to better understand the final judgment, some prior events needs to be in place.
* * The family of God are all physically dead and are in the spiritual place prepared for them by God. The whole
family of God is in their prepared place in heaven before the destruction of the seven bowls of God's wrath in
Revelation 16.
* *The whole rebellious family of satan has been physically killed and are in their eternal place prepared by God
after Revelation 19:21. This is after the conclusion of the battle of Armageddon.
At the conclusion of Revelations 19:21, (conclusion of the battle of Armageddon), there are no physical human
beings on earth. All mankind are physically dead. Their physical bodies are in the dust of the earth and their souls
are in the place God has prepared for them.
The whole family of God, as the armies of Heaven, had returned with Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon.
They receive their resurrected bodies, 1st resurrection, and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
The whole rebellious family of satan is, for that same 1000 years, in hell as God had prepared for them. Hell is
separation from God and God's people .
After the 1000 years satan is released, gathers his army from hell and all the rebellious surround " the camp of the
Saints ".
Immediately, satan is cast into the lake of fire. This is the end for satan. He is never to be heard from again.
Then, the Great White Throne judgment is set.
All mankind are together. God's faithful are in the middle with the rebellious surrounding them.
Then -- "THE FINAL JUDGEMENT ".
As Jesus described in Matthew; they are divided, with the faithful (sheep) on the right hand and the rebellious (goats)
on the left.
Salvation or eternal destiny had long before been determined. The names of the family of God had already been
written in the " book of life " and they are in heaven. The rebellious dead have been in hell for 1000 years.
"And the dead were judged according to their works", for their sins were "written in the books". Revelations 20:12 b
At the Great White Throne they are called " the dead ", because their destiny had already been determined. They
are separated forever from God their creator, the only giver and sustainer of life. In the eyes of God separation from
Him is death. In the eyes of mankind it is worse than death, because they are without the necessities of life forever,
yet are alive forever.
Also, at the Great White Throne, judgment is declared to them according to the records of their "works". They are
given a day in court. That day in court is not to determine guilt, but to declare judgment and carry out justice. These
"works" are their unforgiven sins. (Reference Matthew 25:41-46). They had rejected God's plan of salvation
through Jesus Christ and thus must be judged for their own sins. Justice will be served. They will be declared guilty,
because, their sins are recorded in the books. There will be no argument. The evidence will be clear and decisive.
Here at the Great White Throne is the second resurrection. This can be understood as John states that he sees the
"dead" "standing".
John said " And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened. And another
book was opened which is the Book of Life." Revelation 20: 12.
" The books" contain the personal sins of the "dead". The names of the "dead", are not in the Book of Life. From
the Scripture it is understood that as a person repents and invites / receives Jesus Christ into their heart, that their
sins are forgiven and erased from "the books" and their name is written, by Jesus Christ, in the Book of Life. For
those who do not repent and receive Jesus Christ, their sins remain in "the books" and their name is not written in the
Book of Life.
Thus, they receive their resurrected bodies only to be cast out into hell where their souls had already been for 1000
years.
Also with the judgment at the Great White Throne comes the second death. Revelation 20:14, " Then death and
Hades were cast into the Lake of fire. This is the second death. "
The second death is an eternal death. Marks 9:45 b - 46, " To be cast into hell, into the Lake of fire that shall never
be quenched- where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. "
The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual. They will exist forever and a state of death, (separated from
God), yet living.
The final judgment at the Great White Throne gives to every human being their own choice!!
Those whose choice was to reject God's plan through Jesus Christ, thus rebelled against Him, are judged guilty.
They are cast out and separated from God, heaven and the family of God, forever.
The family of God who had believed and received Jesus Christ, having been redeemed as they confessed their sins,
are judged worthy in Christ and given life eternal with God their Creator, forever and forever.
With the final judgment:
All is correct, --- All is in order, --- All is finished.
Justice has been carried out!!
TRUE RELIGION
Mankind is inherently religious.
This is a simple statement, but so very profound in the history and lives of mankind.
By the evidence of history, mankind is religious. All peoples worship something. It is built into us. We desire God,
or gods, or a higher being, or a spiritual experience or a psychic phenomenon.
Mankind has a spiritual god, either they God, or a god, or self.
All mankind is concerned with death, life after death, eternity or immortality. The whole reason for religious and
spiritual experience is the reality of death and the hope of immortality.
If a person has rejected God, and all gods, they depend upon self for immortality or eternity, thus self has become
God. For that reason we say, everyone has a spiritual God. God the creator is Spirit, satan and demons or spirits
and each human has a living spirit given to them by their creator at conception. Theirfore self can become God,
even the atheist is their own god.
Who has the power over death and immortality?
God, or gods, or self ?????????????
Humans at one time or another have worshipped and made images of most all of the animals, the sun, the moon, and
humans. This has been so prevalent in history that archaeologist may find a small clay figurine of in a dig and claim it
to be a god worshiped by the people of that civilization. Possibly the figurines were worshiped, but maybe they
found the kindergarten school of that people. It has been said that some primitive peoples made totem poles and
worshiped them. But maybe they were sign post warning strangers to stay away. We should not claim that
everything primitive mankind has made was their gods,. But the fact can be clearly seen, that people are naturally
and inherently religious.
Since humankind is thus preoccupied with religion and religious experience, what is the truth, what is reality, what is
fiction, and what is the true religion??
For this discussion we will place religion into three general categories:
!st----Religions that worship physical things.
2nd----Religions that worship great individuals and their teachings.
3rd----Religions that worship unseen spiritual beings.
Note---All religions whether small and insignificant or of worldwide influence are founded upon some phenomenon,
inexplainable event or some great leader-teacher.
All have a spiritual driver,---or---the power that makes it exist.
1). Worship of physical things:
Throughout history certain peoples have worshiped the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or members of the animal
kingdom or other physical things. They have made images of bulls, jaguars, great men, icons of Saints etc. Although
the sculptors, and artist may or may not have intended to make gods, people have worship their sculpture and art as
gods.
Most modern mankind would readily agree that images, idols, icons, etc. exist as a result of wood or stone or some
physical material being shaped by some artists. Also, most would agree that these images have no power in and of
themselves. People today understand that the sun, is a ball of fire, that the moon is physical material reflecting the
light of the sun and all other things seen in the sky are of a similar nature. Most would also agree, that there is no
magical power or spiritual phenomenon in fireballs or planets of physical material. But--mankind at one time
another has worshiped all these physical things.
Why has mankind made gods and worshiped nature and things made from nature? Why do people make things that
are physical with no power in and of themselves, gods that cannot see or hear or speak or walk? Why do living
human beings, make and worship gods that have no life in them? In fact, they are made of decaying physical matter.
Is it just lack of education, lack of scientific knowledge or just ignorance?
No!!---people have worshipped what they could see and understand.
Images, idols, icons, sun, moon and stars are lifeless things, not gods. They have no power, magic or life influencing
phenomena. But there are living beings, spirits, who use these physical things to influence mankind. They work
through a wide range of spiritual powers to influence and manipulate mankind to worship them through these various
physical objects. Mankind may be bowing down and looking to an idol of wood or stone, but the power and
AND THIS GOSPEL (THE BIBLE) OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD AS
A WITNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS, AND THEN THE END WILL COME.
JESUS CHRIST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE.
II. WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
III. WHO IS ISRAEL?
IV. THE FIRST AND IMPORTANT
TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
V. THE SEVEN SEALS.
VI. "666" THE DREADED NUMBER.
VII. THE MILLENNIUM.
VIII. THE FINAL BATTLE.
IX. THE FINAL JUDGEMENT.
X. WHAT IS THE TRUE RELIGION?
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Every human being has wondered about life after physical death.
Every religion is the result of mankind's desire to obtain life after death.
Some of mankind, although a small minority, have concluded that there is no life after death.
The vast majority of mankind believe they are spiritual beings and that their spirit will live after the death of the
physical body.
This book is written to declare, with the strongest conviction that:
There is one God, who is creator of everything.
God is the creator of the eternal spirit in every human being.
God has given us His Word of instructions in the Bible.
God has explained to us the Way to Him through Jesus Christ.
This book is written, "IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE " !!
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Hebrews 6:19.
Through knowledge we learn about God!!!!
But knowledge alone does not know God.
Search and study - find and meet a personal God and Savior.
God gave the Bible, His Word, as instructions to life eternal with Him. The instructions when proclaimed or taught is
a witness from God of Himself. The witness is the evidence of and truth of the invisible God and creator.
"THE MESSAGE OF THE FINAL WITNESS ":
1). Must be thorough and understandable.
3). Must be to all humankind
4). Must be completed at the appointed time.
This book is not the final witness. It is, in part, the message that will be proclaimed to the last generation of
mankind. That final witness will include the correct interpretation of Revelation as the Holy Spirit reveals it to the last
witnesses. They will be anointed by God for that final witness. The final witness must be heard by all, yet it will be
rejected by all whose names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life.
The Message of the Final Witness must be proclaimed so --- " that all the peoples of the earth may know the
hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever. "
Joshua 3:24.
Also in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations,
and then the end will come."
Search for knowledge and find that hope in Christ that is steadfast sure.
The "FINAL WITNESS" will be proclaimed on time!!!!!!!!!
ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE
The origin of the Bible is found in God the creator of all physical things.
But--in modern Biblical studies and theological writings there is much study and emphasis made about the authorship
of the books of the Bible. In these Biblical Studies there is much about the men who wrote the Bible and very little
about the source of origin of the information.
In the above sentences are two words (origin and authorship) that set the format and is the understanding that is
needed in today's Biblical studies.
Origin;--American Heritage Dictionary, " The point at which something comes into existence."
A word, thought or message has its origin in the mind. Then, it must be transposed from the mind into a verbal or
written message. The one who gives the message is the author.
Author;--American Heritage Dictionary, (1)"The writer of a literary work." (2) " One who originates or creates
something."
Thus, to be an author, there needs to be two processes. The development of the message in the mind and then the
proclamation of that message.
This process is uniquely present and important in Biblical studies. Because, in regard to the Bible this twofold
process involves two different individuals. Every book of the Bible has an author-originator ( God ) and an
author-writer ( a man ).
From the mind of God came the origin of the message of the Bible.
By the writer's pen, as God spoke and as their spirits were inspired by the Spirit of God, men were the author -
writers of the Bible. This is of utmost importance to all mankind because if we believe the Bible to be the writings of
men, but miss the fact that the message is from the mind of God we have greatly erred.
If the Bible were the writings of men then it would be only man's opinions. On the other hand, if the message is from
God and we miss that reality, we have, with grave consequences missed our message from our creator.
The Bible from the beginning to the end declares that God is the author - originator. When a person looks at the
Bible with the intention of determining its origin and authorship the evidence is overwhelming. The following is some
examples that state clearly the origin and authorship of the Bible.
Note---The Torah or the first five books of the law, Genesis-Deuteronomy, in most all studies, is believed to have
been written by Moses. It can easily be seen that Moses would have written Exodus-Deuteronomy, as they are the
life and times of Moses. But the Book of Genesis is different, thus it presents a problem.
First--Genesis spans a great length of time. At least a couple of thousand years.
Second--Moses certainly was not a witness to any of the events in Genesis.
Third--Much of Genesis is written as if the author was there, with quotations and details of life events.
Fourth-- There is no record or oral history nor even oral tradition that is presently known of the time of Genesis.
Fifth--There is no other known source from that time era.
If a person accepts the Bible as being true and as the Word of God, then the above problems fade away completely.
But,-- There are many persons who do not accept by faith and believe the Bible to be true and the Word of God.
For all, there is clear evidence that God was the author - originator of the message and Moses was the author -
writer.
In Exodus 17:14, God says to Moses as the Bible states, " Write this for a memorial in the Book and recount it in
the hearing of Joshua. "
This occasion was very early in their 40 year journey. Within three months of the departure from Egypt there was
already a book in which Moses was recording the events that happened. Note-- That Moses recorded what God
told him to write in the book.
Then in Exodus 19: 1-2, " In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the
same day, they came to the wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the desert of
Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain."
We are told that in the third month after leaving Egypt they had left Rephidim and came to Sinai. At Sinai, Moses
received the 10 Commandments as recorded in chapter 20. In Exodus 20 and following through Chapter 23 are
other rules and instructions.
In Exodus 24, it is very clear that God has given instructions and Moses wrote those words from God. Verses three
and four, " So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people
answered with one voice and said, " All the words which the Lord has said we will do. And Moses wrote all the
words of the Lord."
Then, in Chapter 24:12, God says to Moses, " I will give you the tablets of stone, and the law and commandments
which I have written that you may teach them. "
Also in Exodus 32:16, " Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on
the tablets."
With the above verses as one example, it is easy to understand who the author - originator is and from whose mind
came the message of the Bible. God gave the message to Moses and Moses was to write it and teach it to the
people.
As the Book of Exodus continues in Chapter 32:19 the tablets of stone written by God are broken. Then in
Chapter 34:27-28 Moses is given the second set of tablets replacing those that were broken.
Between the receiving of the two sets of tablets, Chapter 32 and chapter 34, we are given a very important message
in Chapter 33:7-11. This is important because it shows us that within the first few months of a 40 year journey God
is speaking to Moses and instructing him to write in the Book.
Here we see that Moses pitched his tent outside the camp and whenever he went there the Lord talked with him "
face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend."
Moses had at least 39 years to receive from God the history of the Book of Genesis and to write it as a record of
the beginning of mankind.
As we put these verses and events together we see that God instructed Moses to write, God wrote the
commandments and God spoke with Moses face-to-face.
In Genesis 35:20, there is evidence that the record was written long after the events. " And Jacob set a pillar on her
grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day."
As we understand Biblical history it is well over 400 years from Rachel's death to Moses and the tent of meeting in
the wilderness. Yet in the context of Rachel's death, in verses 16, 20 and 21, there are detailed explanations of their
location, a quote from Rachel's midwife and how Benjamin came to be named. These details are written as though
the writer was present at the time of the events. This is one small example to illustrate that the Book of Genesis was
written as though the writer was present during all those hundreds of years of mankind's history. The Book of
Genesis is full of quotations, explanations of events, attitudes of people, and details of both physical and spiritual
events and circumstances.
Realizing that Moses wrote Genesis near 400 years after the last events of Genesis and that the story of Genesis
covered many hundreds of years before that leaves no doubt that God must have been the author-originator,
author-initiator of this unique history of mankind.
So, we can see and understand from Moses' writings that under God's instructions he wrote the Torah, the first five
books of the Bible.
---God was certainly present during all these hundreds of years and generations of mankind.
---God certainly heard what was said so as to recall direct quotations.
---God certainly understood the feelings and attitudes of those people.
---God certainly knew both the physical and spiritual implications of each event.
---God certainly knew those who followed Him and those who did not.
Certainly God was the only one who could have known and instructed Moses to write the Book of Genesis.
God spoke to Moses "face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend" for at least 39 years in the wilderness.
God is the author!
Moses wrote what God told him.
So ---,
--God dictated to Moses the history of Genesis.
--God wrote the 10 commandments.
--God instructed Moses what to write in the other four books of law.
There remains only a small question in Deuteronomy 34, that tells of the death of Moses.
" Then the Lord said to him, " this is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give
it to your descendants, " I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." So Moses
the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a
valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day."
Deuteronomy 34:4-6.
It was obviously written later because Verse 6 says, " but no one knows his grave to this day."
The person who wrote Deuteronomy 34 must have gotten the information from God, because ---
First--In verse four there is a quote of what God said to Moses, and yet there was no one there at that time and
place accept God and Moses.
Second--It tells of a place where Moses was buried, but no one knew the place.
Third -- " Moses -- died there, according to the Word of the Lord." Thus these events were according to God's
word, or testimony, or statement, or knowledge, not a man's knowledge.
In the same manner which God had spoken to Moses all those many years He spoke to the author - writer to
complete the Book of Deuteronomy with Chapter 34.
Only God could have known these things.
Also the books of the law of Moses were understood to be from God at the time of Nehemiah and the return from
the Babylonian exile.
Nehemiah 8:1, " And all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water
Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel."
Here in the Book of Nehemiah hundreds of years after the time of Moses is given the understanding which are
proposed in this writing.
First -- The Book of the Law of Moses is that which Moses received from the Lord, wrote and taught to the people
of Israel.
Second -- The Book of the Law of Moses was the instruction which the Lord God commanded Israel.
God is the author - originator.
God gave the message to Moses.
Moses was the author- writer.
The conclusion of the origin of Genesis:
Genesis is proof positive that God is the author - originator of the Bible, because, at the time of the writing of
Genesis:
1) It was impossible that any living human could have known the history of mankind back to the Garden of Eden.
2) No living human being could have known the many recorded quotations and personal events of those people.
3) No living human being could have known the intimate conversations between God and mankind.
4) No living human being could have known the spiritual implications that are explained in Genesis.
5) No living human being could have known the spiritual lessons that are taught in Genesis.
No living human being could have known.
Only God could have known!!!!!!!!!
Only God could be the author - originator of Genesis.
Whereas the first book of the Bible, could only have been authored by God, so also, the last book of the Bible,
Revelation.
The Book of Revelation is prophecy that approximately 2000 years after its writing, by John the Apostle, is still not
understood by mankind.
In the 21st century there is still no proof nor evidence of the message of Revelation. The seven years of tribulation
described in Revelation have not yet occurred and will not occur until God determines the end of all physical
existence is completed.
The proof of the message of Revelation, written by the Apostle John, will not be known until God's people are in
heaven and the rebellious in hell.
Thus,----No living human at any time in history could be the author of Revelation.
God is the originator-author,--John the Apostle wrote the message from God.
The above fact is borne out continuously throughout the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him,...."
Revelation 1:19, "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take
place after this."
Revelation 2:1, " To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ..."
Revelation 2:8, " And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write, ...."
Revelation 4:1, " After these things I looked, .... "
Revelation 5:1, " And I saw, in the right hand of Him .... "
Revelation 6:1, " Now I saw when the Lamb ....."
Revelation 6:5, " When He opened the third seal I heard the third living creature say, ...."
The above quotes are only a few of many in which John explains that what he wrote was that which he received
from God.
Thus, in regard to the last Book of the Bible, Revelation, the author - originator was and could only have been God.
Therefore concluding that, as in Moses' writing of Genesis and also John with Revelation, living humans could not
have, of themselves, known these messages.
There remains only one conclusion:
God the creator of all physical existence has from time to time communicated to those He chose. God gave them
His message to write down for His creation. In the same manner the other books of the Bible were written.
" All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, . . . "
II Timothy 3:16
" Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the
will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1: 20-21.
All mankind has the privilege and the right to believe, accept and follow the instructions from God their creator or to
reject His message.
Those who believe and obey His will, will receive life eternal with God.
Those who reject their creator's message will be separated from God eternally.
The message is clear--- the Bible is the Word from God.
The choice is yours!!!!!---
Believe, obey and live eternally with your Creator --- or ----
reject GOD'S Word and be separated from Him in hell forever!!!!
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ----- the most controversial of names.
The most loved name. --------------- the most hated name.
The name most greatly desire to understand. ---- the name most misunderstood.
Why is there so much dispute and controversy???
Why are there such varying opinions??
What difference does it make??
All three questions can be answered by this same statement:
If Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is, then every human being must and will determine "Who is Jesus Christ".
The Bible says in John 10:30 "I and My Father are One"; and John 14:10," I am in the Father, and the Father is in
Me".
Can it be that God, the Father, Creator of all and Jesus Christ are One and each One in the Other??
Yes,!! That is exactly what the Bible teaches.
This being true, then every human being must choose what their belief is about Jesus Christ, and what their
relationship is to Him. Because, He is your creator. You would not exist, except God gave you life. You are His
property.
Every human has a choice and must choose; each person WILL make a decision.
God guarantees, you the right to choose!!
1) You may choose to believe that Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is---
Or
2) You may choose not to believe.
There are only two sources through which a person can obtain evidence of "Who is Jesus Christ".
The first and only physical evidence is the Bible. The Bible contains prophecy of the coming of Jesus, the words
and teachings of Jesus and the recorded testimonies of people who were part of God's communication to mankind.
The second evidence comes from any individual as they experience, in their own spiritual search, the person of Jesus
Christ.
The first evidence,--The Bible
The Bible, although written with an elementary vocabulary, has been either understood or misunderstood causing
tremendous dispute and controversy between individuals, religious groups, nations and nationalities. The Bible has
been interpreted into all major languages with many different versions of the Bible in several of those languages. No
other existing book is so widely read or quoted. Countless numbers of humans have devoted their entire life to the
study of the Bible, and yet the Bible and its central personality, Jesus Christ, remain the greatest mystery and
controversy among mankind. Even religions who use the Bible as their basis of existence dispute greatly over "Who
is Jesus
Christ".
One example of what the Bible gives as evidence of who is/was Jesus Christ is found in the book of John. John 1: 1,
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2).--He was in the
beginning with God. (V.14)-- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth ".
In these verses the Bible uses the term " Word " in reference to Jesus Christ. Within the context there is only one
reasonable interpretation;
"Word " = Jesus Christ. "Word " describes who Jesus Christ was, His purpose, and His work in coming to physical
earth. Jesus Christ was the " Word " (spoken message) of God to mankind. God's purpose in Jesus Christ was to
give His message in person by speaking His "Word ". Jesus Christ's work was to declare the "Word " from spiritual
God to physical mankind.
Each of these three statements are overlapping but uniquely point to the plan of God in giving His Word, to His
creation, the only and totally sufficient message-- the "Word of God ". God--Word--Jesus Christ, Who was " in
the beginning and by Him all things were created ". Then He came into the flesh of a man, the One in all, the One
and only Creator, the Almighty God.
In John 14:10 the Bible quotes Jesus Christ as saying, " Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in
Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the
works ". 11) "believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works
themselves ".
Thus, the Bible says that Jesus Christ was the Spirit of God in the body of a man. Although these things are stated in
a simple vocabulary, how do we understand them? We can understand that God as Spirit is able at the same
moment to be present in America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, etc. In the same manner, God placed His
own Spirit into an embryo and into the womb of Mary, which became Jesus Christ and still at the same time, God as
Spirit, was all present in all of creation.
We as humankind have a beginning. I began in my mother's womb and was born into this world on October 24th,
1940. Prior to that, I did not exist. I had a definite beginning date and was given an eternal spirit by God.
In Ecclesiastes 12:7 the Bible says that the body dies and returns to the dust from which it came, and the spirit
returns to God who gave it.
Science can prove that the elements of the body are the same elements that are in the dirt. Humans eat the produce
that grows from the dirt and grow bodies. So it is true, a scientific fact, that our bodies are made of the dust of the
earth.
The spirit is more difficult to understand. As a person is in the presence of someone dying it becomes easy to
understand, believe, and know that when a person dies, the spirit, or life, does not die but leaves the body. The
body dies as the spirit leaves the body. Both the person dying and those around them understand that. There are
many near-death experiences from which people have recovered and told of their experiences which substantiate
these statements. Thus we can understand that mankind has a beginning, and that our spirit will continue after death
of the body.
My wife and I have four children. In our case, through acts of love we produced four physical babies. Each of
these, now adults, have totally independent living spirits given by God in the womb of their mother, which is their life.
My wife and I did not create, nor procreate an eternal living spirit, but through a process created by God we human
beings supply the physical elements and then, God inserts into that physical union a living spirit that is eternal. In this
way we humans have a life-spirit, that at death returns to God who gave it.
This process needs to be fully thought through and understood in order to understand what God did in placing His
Own Spirit into the womb of Mary.
First, the following method of explanation may seem to be distasteful, but we believe it is needful. Needful because
many say, Mary, mother of God, others that Jesus was born a man and became a God, therefore they too can
become Gods as Jesus did. Even non-Christian religions believe that Jesus was born in an unnatural manner, but
they have no reasonable explanation.
Therefore, it is greatly needed to explain in detail what the Bible speaks of in broad, but definite terms. The Bible
states clearly that Jesus had no earthly father, that God was His Father. But, Mary had a baby.
Physically speaking there are two possibilities:
First possibility---Mary, through the natural process of ovulation produced an egg, which became half of physical
Jesus. Then God, through His creative power produced the male half of physical Jesus. This could not have been a
sexual union because God as Spirit is not sexual, neither male nor female. (reference, Galatians 3:28).
Nevertheless, God could have created the physical other half and inserted it, as well as His Own Spirit, into the
womb of Mary, resulting in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Second possibility---Mary, while obedient to the will of God's plan for her life had no physical input, nor part in the
conception of Jesus, except to receive as a surrogate mother the embryo of Jesus. God through His creative power
produced a physical embryo, placed His Own Spirit in it, and placed that embryo into the womb of Mary.
In modern medicine doctors can take an egg from a woman and a sperm from a man, unite them in a dish and place
them in a surrogate mother. That woman can then give birth to a baby for which she did not produce the egg, nor
did she have any contact with the father, nor did she receive any sperm, nor did she have any genetic input.
Considering that doctors can successfully cause babies to be born in this manner, then most certainly, God the
creator of all living could have placed an embryo with His Own Spirit into a surrogate mother.
God, without doubt, could have used either of these possibilities to bring Jesus Christ into this physical world, but I
strongly believe that the second of the two possibilities is the one God chose.
This will further be seen in Hebrews Chapter 7 and context. Here the Bible gives another explanation to better
detail " Who is Jesus Christ ". Hebrews 7:3 speaks to the reason why it is important that we discussed the above
conception and birth of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:3" without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but
made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."
As we look at this verse and its context we want to ask as the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:34," who is the writer
speaking of"? Is the writer, here in Hebrews 7 speaking about Melchizedek or Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:1, " For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of most high God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him ".
Most commentaries and interpreters conclude that the subject of the sentence is Melchizedek. Thus the following
descriptions in verses two and three would be about Melchizedek. But according to the sentence structure in
English (most English Bibles use the same words in verse 1, "For this Melchizedek") "this" could be the noun and
thus the subject of the sentence.
If "this" is the noun then the whole meaning of verse two and three is turned to be in reference to Jesus Christ. To
consider if " this " could be the noun, we have only to look at the previous sentence which is Hebrews 6:19- 20. In
this sentence we find that the subject is " this hope" ( 6:9) that is "even Jesus" having become a high priest forever (
6:20). Indeed the subject from Chapter one through Chapter 10 is Jesus Christ. So we believe that the subject in
Hebrews 7:1 is "this" which is "this hope" in 6: 19. "This hope" is "even Jesus" Christ. ( verse 20).
Jesus being synonymous with" hope", as used here and 6:18 and 19 and 7:19 and in many other New Testament
verses, is significant. Significant because "this hope" refers to the final reality of God's plan through Jesus Christ.
"Hope" because as living physical human beings we cannot see, touch, nor fully understand what God has prepared
for His people.
I Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered in the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him."
In a fuller sense that "hope" was a measure of the belief and faith of Melchizedek and Abraham.
Whereas in the 21st century, we have the Old Testament, New Testament and many centuries of written and
testimonial evidences to physically base our "hope" in Jesus Christ. Melchizedek and Abraham had nothing of these
physical evidences which we deem so important.
Melchizedek, somehow, (for the Bible gives no explanation) believed in God and was set aside by God to be a
priest by which, in "this hope" as a servant of God, he blessed Abraham and received the tithe given by Abraham.
(reference Hebrews 7:4).
Abraham also believed and in that same "hope" gave the tithes " to whom" (7:2)being "even Jesus" Christ. Thus
both men, Melchizedek and Abraham, hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ, believed and acted in "this
hope" "even Jesus". How great was their hope, belief, faith, that a Savior-Messiah would come, even far in the
future. Yet their hope was secure and an anchor for their souls.
Therefore the subject being "this" in verse one and "to whom" in verse two being in reference to "this hope" in verse
19,which is "even Jesus" in verse 20, then verses two and three or descriptions of Jesus.
** king of righteousness:---Isaiah 9:6, Psalms 45: 6-7, Psalms 102:25-27.
** king of peace:---Isaiah 9:6
** without father:---Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-27 & 30-31.
** without mother:---Matthew 12:46-50, Hebrews 7:3
** without genealogy:---Isaiah 53:8.
** neither beginning of days nor end of life:---John 1:1, Hebrews 7:16-21.
** made like the son of God:---
Jesus Christ was not a son of God as we know and bare children. But "like" the Son of God. Jesus had no father
accept God, but was created by God with God's spirit as His Spirit and life. Thus Jesus was placed by God into the
womb of Mary and entered into this physical world.
** priest continually:---Hebrews 7:17-21, Psalms 110:4.
Having understood the above interpretation of Hebrews 6:19-7:3, there is only one who has ever lived who could
fulfill that description: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. ( John 1:1-5).
Jesus Christ :------was not a man who became a God,---was not a prophet,---was not half man half God, nor any
combination thereof,--was not a man who became God after baptism,--was not the son of Joseph and Mary, nor
was Mary the mother of God.
Jesus Christ:---- was God in a body of flesh,---was and is God,---was and is the one God and one Spirit,---was
revealed to us at His baptism through a visible evidence of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
His baptism and the coming of the Holy Spirit was to give evidence of how He would come into the hearts of those
who would be baptized.
In Acts 2:38, " Then Peter said to them, repent, and let everyone 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."
The Holy Spirit was His life and Spirit, thus the Holy Spirit's coming at His baptism was for the benefit of mankind
not for Jesus Christ Himself.
Also in First Corinthians 15:45-49, the Bible makes a statement about the First and Second Adam.
"And so it is written, the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life giving spirit. However,
the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the
second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the
heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly Man. "
This scripture referring to the first and second Adam is speaking of the first living human being as the first Adam and
Jesus Christ as the second Adam. As this comparison is made, it is clear that the second Adam was created as was
the first Adam, by God, without father or mother or genealogy.
Please note:
Jesus Christ did not have His beginning in the womb of Mary. Jesus Christ was already alive before Mary. Even in
the beginning, at the time of creation, He was God's Spirit. God placed His Own Spirit that pre-existed before all
creation into the wound of Mary.
Every human being, accept Jesus Christ, had a definite beginning. God places a living spirit into the union of a
sperm, from man, and an egg, from a woman, and life begins. There are only two exceptions to this life giving
process in all history: Adam, the first man and Eve, the first woman.
Genesis 2:7 States, " And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living being ".
Eve, the first woman was a little different.
Genesis 1:21-22 states, " And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of
his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a
woman, and He brought her to the man ".
These verses simply mean that Eve was an exact duplicate of Adam, illustrated by the stated fact that she was made
from his rib. If she was an exact duplicate, then God also breathed into her the breath of life and she became a living
being as was Adam.
Everyone else who has ever lived received their life in the womb of their mother except Jesus Christ.
The graph below is to be read in columns downward. It shows that Jesus Christ was first in the spiritual realm, then
entered the physical world, then returned to the spiritual realm.
Spiritual Realm
GOD----God the Father----
Jesus Christ---
Holy Spirit-----
This is not three Gods!! But three ways God has and does relate to mankind.
__________________
God's line between physical & spiritual
Physical World
Jesus Christ--- entered the physical world--lived and died--was resurrected from the dead and returned to the
spiritual realm.
Holy Spirit--- enters physical world, but remains spiritual in every way.
All Mankind--- born, with life beginning in the physical world, lives and dies, then spirit enters spiritual world.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the only being that was first in the spiritual realm, then crossed over
into the physical realm, lived and died, and then crossed again into the spiritual realm.
There are also angels in the spiritual realm. They remain spiritual even though they are sometimes revealed in human
form.
Second evidence--each individual.
The Bible is the Word of God. If we follow that " Word ", that is its instructions, the Word of God will point us to
the living God.
To the person searching for God, the Word of God teaches these points:
*God is the creator and only God.
*Sin has separated mankind from God.
*All mankind are sinners.
*Jesus Christ came to earth and died for sinners.
*All who believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord will be saved from their sins.
*All who open their hearts to believe and receive Jesus Christ will become God's children and receive eternal life
with Him.
To all who somewhat understand and follow these points of instruction, (somewhat, because God looks at the intent
of the heart and not the letter of the law), will receive the greatest and most convincing evidence of "Who is Jesus
Christ".
That greatest of evidences is the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, God Himself as He enters an individual's heart!!
The evidence becomes totally clear when the Holy Spirit of God enters a person's heart-- spirit. When a person
experiences the life giving, peace giving, Spirit of God in their own heart, all doubt disappears.
A person may think, why did I not see this before? It is so simple and clear. Yet this greatest of evidences cannot
be understood without the personal experience of an individual receiving Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit coming
into their heart-spirit.
The evidence is available to all who would seek God. If you reject God, He will remain a mystery.
Although God reveals Himself to all, He enters the heart and provides salvation only for those who seek Him.
The Bible gives the historical record and the words of instructions, which are proof enough for anyone who seeks
God. The Holy Spirit of God seals that proof beyond doubt as He enters a person's heart--spirit.
John 3:3 "---unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"---and John 1:12 says, " But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believed in His name ".
" Who is Jesus Christ " is spoken--written about in numerous places in the Bible. There are two major, but not all
inclusive, methods that God used to describe Jesus Christ in the Bible:
First---the use of analogies. The use of analogies is necessary because it is the description of spiritual things to
physical mankind. What you cannot see or touch must be explained by what you can see and touch.
Some of these analogies describing Jesus Christ are:
** Seed---Genesis 3:15,--Genesis 22:17-18,--Galatians 3: 16 & 19 & 29.
** Star and Scepter---Numbers 24:17,--Psalms 45: 6.
** Seed of Abraham---Galatians 3:16.
** Root and Offspring of David---Revelations 22:16.
** Son of God and---son of man---son of David--Matthew 1:1.
Second---The use of words and phrases that describes characteristics, work, or attributes of Jesus Christ. Some of
these are:---Your Throne,---Ruler,---Your Kingdom,---Prince of Peace,---Emanuel,---Man of
sorrows,---King,---etc.
In this study, the purpose is to better determine " Who is Jesus Christ ". We will look at those terms and analogies
that will best bring us to the conclusion of " Who is Jesus Christ ".
The first analogy referring to Jesus Christ comes in Genesis 3:15. This is not only at the beginning of the Bible, but
also at the very beginning of the history of mankind. This analogy compares the " seed " of Eve, the mother of all
living, Genesis 3:20, to the " One " " He " who is Jesus Christ, Who would bruise the head of the serpent-- satan.
This needs to be seen and understood in the context of all of God's creation, of all God's time and the entire Bible.
The word, " Seed", being capitalized in the Bible gives the word the proper spiritual connotation. Combining the
spiritual " Seed " with " He " gives us the correct prophetic understanding that Jesus Christ will come and die for
the sins of the whole of mankind, thus defeating satan (serpent) and his seed (offspring).
The seed or offspring of satan--serpent is mankind who are influenced by satan or by their own choice follow the
rebellion of satan.
The N. K. J. Bible interprets Genesis 3:15,---" And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
The N. I. V. Bible interprets Genesis 3:15,---" And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heal. "
Here the N. I. V. uses the word " offspring " with a footnote reference of "or seed."
In regard to Eve, the N. I. V. says " hers " implying " offspring " with reference to " or seed ". This is not a
contradicting interpretation, but the use of "offspring " broadens the understanding. The ultimate person of the
implied "Offspring---Seed " is Jesus Christ, spiritual. Jesus Christ ( born of woman), Offspring--Seed of Eve,
God in the flesh ( John 1:1) will crush the head of the serpant--satan.
The head of satan would be crushed through the death and resurrection of Jesus which sealed the judgment to be
carried out, casting satan into the lake of fire.
The offspring--seed of Eve would be all living, but all living would be divided spiritually into two groups. One group
, as did Eve, sinned, confessed and was--is restored to God as spiritual.
The other group, as physical offspring of Eve, are those of mankind who are sprouted from or fallen into the
rebellion of the serpent--satan. Throughout history there will be offspring--seed of Eve who will sprout from that
same spiritual " Seed " who is " Christ ", who will be in conflict with the offspring of Eve, who are seed of the
serpant--satan.
In the first generation of all mankind God tells us that mankind will always be divided into two groups that will fight
against each other throughout history in the same manner as satan will fight against God until the end that is
determined for him.
Both the spiritual " Seed " (Jesus Christ) and the spiritual, " seed " (the serpent) will have offspring that includes all
mankind who are descendants of Eve.
Indeed that conflict came about very quickly in the lives of Eve's two sons as Cain killed his brother Abel as a result
of Cain's own sin. (Genesis 4: 6-8).
Eve, although tempted and fallen, was of the spiritual " seed " and she would have descendants who would sprout
from that spiritual " Seed ", "Who is Christ".
The main point is that " her Seed " is not a seed which came from Eve, but the "Seed ", Jesus Christ, from which
Eve sprouted spiritually and there would be offspring--seed of Eve who will sprout from that same "Seed ".
Galatians 3:16, " and to your Seed, who is Christ."
Here is the direct statement Seed= Christ and that gives us the confidence to interpret the analogy.
Eve's offspring or seed is:
I. Offspring or Seed--spiritually--Jesus Christ.
A. Seed--that Eve came from.
B. Seed--that Eve--like, spiritual Offspring will come from.
II. Offspring or seed--physically--all living.
A. Spiritual family of God.
B. spiritual family of satan.
In Genesis 22:17-18 there is a clear example of this explanation from the covenant God made with Abraham. Verse
17 refers to the physical descendants and verse 18 speaks of the Spiritual Seed.
17) " blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the
sand which is on the seashore and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies."
18) ", in your Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice. "
Verse 17 refers to the physical offspring, verse 18 the Spiritual Seed.
This Seed in verse 18 is interpreted in Galatians 3:16 as, " Seed "= "Jesus Christ."
That "Seed " is unique in all of creation.
** that Seed is God who came in the flesh, Jesus Christ.
** that Seed was before creation and will continue throughout eternity.
** that Seed is God's Seed sown in the hearts of all mankind.
** that Seed takes root and bears fruit in all who receive Him.
There is another analogy that is used in the very same way. This one is best exemplified in Revelations 22:16. " I,
Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
the Bright and Morning Star. "
The word " Root " is used and interpreted in regard to David the same as " Seed " was in regard to Eve and
Abraham. David, was not the " Root ". Jesus Christ was the " Root " from which David grew and received his
sustenance.
In Revelations 22:16 " Offspring " is with a capital letter giving us again a more complete understanding of the
scripture. Jesus Christ, both the "Root and Offspring " of David.
David sprouted from the " Root " and grew from the " Root ". As David grew from the " Root ", he wrote psalms
and writings that taught what he had learned from the " Root ". These psalms in turn have taught others about their "
Root " from the time of David until the present, bearing much fruit, which is the offspring of David. But the "
Offspring " is not David's offspring, because David did not die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
Thus, all who would believe, confess their sins and be saved must go directly to the " Root and Offspring " of David,
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Peter 1:23, " having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which
lives and abides forever. "
That "Seed " of Eve, that "Seed " of Abraham, that " Root " and " Offspring " of David are all three, Jesus Christ.
The " Word ", in the beginning, in the flesh, in the end, Jesus Christ from Genesis 1--Revelations 22.
Jesus Christ is (the portion of, or part of) the spirit of God, who has related to mankind throughout history.
Jesus Christ is the portion of, or part of God, because, as Jesus Christ was relating to mankind " in the flesh " on
earth, the Father God was still Almighty God in heaven. Only God as Spirit can at the same time be God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is not three God's or even three entities, but one God as He
relates to His creation in three ways.
Who is Jesus Christ ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Creator---The Word---God in the flesh.
The Redeemer The Savior.
________GOD_!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONCLUSION
The " hope of eternal life " is the greatest possession a human being can possess!!!
This "hope of eternal life" in Titus 1:2 is conditioned upon Titus 1: 1. " According to the faith of God's elect and the
acknowledgement of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie,
promised before time began. "
The family of God through faith comes to the truth and are conformed to godliness and have " hope of eternal life ".
Also in Hebrews 6: 18-20 this "hope" is personalized as Jesus Christ.
We cannot see Him, but we know Him and have hope.
We cannot touch Him, but we feel Him and have hope.
Thus, what we cannot see or touch is the hope we have "as an anchor of the soul both, sure and steadfast".
The family of God stand solid " in the hope of eternal life " awaiting the final result which God has promised.
If you would like to become a part of the Family of God, please read the following explaination by Jesus Christ
teaching in John 3.
Please refer to John 3: 1-21 as you read:
In John Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler came seeking Jesus' council. He recognized Jesus as a "
teacher come from God; for no one could do these signs (miracles) that Jesus did unless God is with him." (John 3:2
)
Jesus answered Nicodemus' question even before it was asked. In John 2:25, it states that Jesus " knew what was
in man ". Thus Jesus being the Son of God, knowing all, knew the question in Nicodemus' mind and began
immediately to answer. Indeed the answer is universal and councils everyone in how to find peace with God. Jesus
gives the answer through the course of their conversation. Jesus says, " unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God ". (John 3:3). Also John 3: 6 says, " That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit."
You must be born again, spiritually, in order to enter the Kingdom of God. In order to be born spiritually, you must
have some understanding. Nicodemus was reprimanded by Jesus because he was a " teacher of Israel and do not
know these things? " (John 3:10).
As Jesus explained, we must understand that Jesus is the only One "Who came down from heaven." He was, at the
same time, on earth in a body of flesh and also"the Son of Man who is in heaven." (John 3:13) (Son of man= Spirit
of God in the body of a man ).
Please note that here in John 3:13 Jesus Christ is on earth. He is speaking in the flesh and says," the Son of Man
who is in heaven ". This statement is in present tense. Jesus Christ is on earth in the flesh and at the same time in
heaven.
So first, understand that Jesus Christ, as Son of God, was God in the flesh.
Second, understand that God's plan for mankind's salvation is through the death of His Son. That death on the cross
was payment for the sins of all mankind. Jesus Christ "must--be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have eternal life. " (John 3:14-15).
Third, understand that God loves all mankind--you-- and desires that all be saved. "God sent His Son that the
world through Him might be saved ". (John 3:17).
Fourth, understand that each person is responsible for his own choice to believe or not believe. " He who believes
in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already---" (John 3:18).
Fifth, understand that mankind is, each one, condemned by their own personal sin. In John 3:19-21, Jesus refers to
himself as the light which exposes evil--sin. " And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ". (John 3:19). " But he who does the truth
comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. " (John 3:21).
The person who does not accept the fact of his own sin denies the truth. He is a liar. He cannot come to Jesus, for
Jesus knows every sin of every person. Thus, by refusing to come to the light of truth in Jesus Christ, a person
condemns himself. Condemned by his own sins--separated from God.
Thus, by believing in the Son and coming to the light, Jesus Christ, exposing our sins (confessing our sins), a person
is born again, spiritually, into the Kingdom of God. It is "done in God, " for we believe in Him, bring our sins to Him
and He gives us everlasting life with Him.
In John 17:21 Jesus prays, " That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also be
one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. "
Thus, Jesus Christ, is the " Mighty God ", the " Everlasting Father " and has given us " wonderful counsel "that brings
us peace with Him.
Yes, God the Father through Jesus Christ will come into the heart of a human being and live with him. The Spirit of
God uniting with the spirit of mankind, which is the greatest experienced a human can have.
If you have not been born again spiritually, but desire to be, you may pray to Jesus Christ and become His child.
Do you believe:
that Jesus is the Son of God?? Yes________ No___________
that Jesus died for your sins?? Yes________ No__________
that you are a sinner?? Yes________ No__________
that you need to be born again?? Yes_______ No___________
If you answered yes to all these questions and sincerely desire to be born again, please pray the following prayer.
Please understand. this must be your prayer to our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died upon the cross to pay the penalty for
my sins. Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I am lost without You. Please, Lord, forgive my sins and save me. I
open my heart and life to You. Please come into my heart and teach me through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for
hearing my prayer and for Your promise of eternal life. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to be Lord of my life. I pray in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
WHO IS ISRAEL???
To ask this question, "Who is Israel?" has become a necessity for the 21st century citizens of the world. The
necessity of the question is seen through the facts of our modern world.
First---The nation of Israel and its relationship to its neighboring nations is a continuous threat to world peace and
stability.
Second---The nation of Israel occupies the place of origins and,or holy ground for three of the world's major
religions.
Third---These three religions, Christianity, Judism and Islam, have experienced centuries of distrust and mortal
conflict.
Fourth---Israel is the name of the people who were chosen by God, the creator of all, to be His people through
whom would come the Bible and Jesus Christ.
Fifth---The children of Israel are a major part of God's prophetic message.
Therefore---it is important not only to ask, but to answer the question,
"WHO IS ISRAEL??"
Origin of the name Israel
The name Israel was given by God, the creator, to Jacob the second of twin sons born to Isaac the son of Abraham.
It is extremely important to recognize the circumstances by which God renamed Jacob, Israel. We find these
circumstances recorded in the Book of Genesis.
God chose Jacob over Esau the older brother, before they were born. Genesis 25:23, "Two nations are in your
womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older
shall serve the younger."
The correctness of God's choice can be seen in the events and lives of Jacob and Esau.
Someone might say, God is not fair, as he choses one person over another. But as we understand God from the
Bible, we can see that from His infinite knowledge God knows the future and the heart of mankind and even before
we are born He knows the kind of person we will be. (Reference: Jeremiah Chapter 1). In the
lives of Jacob and Esau we can see that God made the right choice.
Jacob was not chosen by God because of his integrity. The Bible story tells of his manipulation of his brother, his
lies to and deception of his father Isaac. Nor was Jacob chosen because of his bravery. Without doubt, Jacob was
a sinner the same as all of us. But the correctness of God's choice of Jacob can be seen as Jacob, though caught up
in the troubles and sins of life, FOUND GOD.
On the other hand, Esau had his problems. Esau disregarded his birthright by trading it for a bowl of stew. He had
a serious anger problem and certainly made bad choices in the selection of his wives. But there is no record in the
Bible of Esau discovering or knowing God.
God's choice was Jacob!! Why??
While Jacob was running from his angry brother and sleeping on a rock, he saw a vision from God of a ladder
reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending. God gave this vision to Jacob not because of Jacobs
righteousness, but because of God's foreknowledge and Providence. He knew what Jacob's response would be.
Jacob's initial response and vow are found in Genesis 28:20-22: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be
with me, and keep me in this way that I'm going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, and this stone
which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you. "
First, Jacob makes this vow after acknowledging the presence of God in v. 16, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and
I did not know it."
Second, Jacob's vow did not come from Jacob's initiative, but was in response to God's promises to Jacob in
Genesis 28:13-15.
The conclusion of Jacob's response is in Genesis 35 which in time was many years later .
Genesis 35:1- 7 --- "Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to
God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. "---and Jacobs said to his household
and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign god's that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your
garments. "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will make an altar there to God who answered me in the day
of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone. " So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which
were in their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which
was by Shechem. And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and
they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he
and all the people who were with him. And he built an altar there at the place called Bethel, because there God
appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
Genesis 35:9-15...Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him and God
said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name. So
he called his name Israel". Also God said to him: "I am God almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a
company of nations shall proceed from you, And Kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave
Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land. " Then God went up from him
in the place where he talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of
stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured all on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where
God spoke to him, Bethel.
Thus, God changed Jacob's name to Israel. At the time of this name change Jacob-Israel was certainly a mature
man. He had two wives, 2 concubines, 11 children, many servants, and many flocks of sheep, camels, etc.
So Jacob did not become Israel until after he had met God at the vision of a ladder. Then years later,he returned to
fulfill his vow: to make God his God, destroying his household idols and commiting his life and family to God.
Please note the events:
1) Jacob received a dream with promise from God.
2) Jacob acknowledged and believed that the dream came from God. (Genesis 28-15).
3) Jacob understood the dream-promise and made his vow. (Genesis 28:20- 22) .
4) God's dream--promise and Jacob's vow were tested over a period of
several years. (Genesis 29- 35)
5) Jacob was instructed by God to return to Bethel, the place of the promise--vow. (Genesis 35:1).
6) Jacob fulfilled his vow as he put away foreign gods and prepared his family to meet God. (Genesis 35:2-7).
As we ask this question, "Who is Israel?",it was originally the name given to a man committed to God; having met
God, having correctly understood God, then he became obedient to God through personal commitment. Thus, the
Israel of God is defined, as God gave the name only after the completion of Jacob's vow. There is no prior record of
the name Israel. God initiated the name Israel and gave it only to Jacob after Jacob's vow and commitment were
fulfilled to God.
The above statements overlap and duplicate in order to emphasize the importance of the circumstances when God
named Jacob,--Israel. Important, because those circumstances define "Who is Israel". Throughout history "Israel" is
a person or people committed to God.
Please note--
In the Bible the nation of Israel is mostly called by the phrase "Children of Israel". This is important because this
denotes that they are not Israel, but Israel's children. Everyone can recognize that not all children follow the
conviction of their parents. So, all who are the "children of Israel" are not the "Israel of God" nor "Israel".
Who is Israel?-In the Old Testament:
Israel in the context of the Old Testament, are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All three, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob are named for the purpose of determining through whom God's promises and plans would be
fulfilled.
This was necessary because Abraham had more than one son, but the promises and plan of God was only through
Isaac. Isaac had two sons but the promises and plan of God was only through Jacob. But God's promises and
plans were through all of the 12 sons of Jacob.
Does this mean that Abraham's son Ishmael or Jacob's brother Esau, are rejected by God?? Does this mean that
they did not believe in God and could not become a member of, or part of the family of God?
By no means, nor in any way did God reject Ishmael or Esau, nor any other person who believed and committed
their life to God.
Examples;
Lott--Abraham's nephew was not a descendant of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob, but God sent his angels to remove this
righteous man and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction.
Melchizedek--was not in the blood lineage, but was declared priest of most high God.
Ruth--was not of the blood lineage, but chose the God of Israel and became the grandmother of King David.
Without doubt every human being has the opportunity and right before God to believe, commit their life to God and
become a part of the family of God.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were chosen by God to do a particular task. The results of that task
was greatly needed by mankind. The task was two fold:
The first task was to receive messages and prophecies from God which became the Bible.
The second part of the task was to receive Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who would personally bring God's
Word, and provide salvation for mankind.
We who are not descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- Israel should not be jealous, nor consider them
privileged because they were given a task by God. They were given a task by God that caused them considerable
hardship and heartache. For example, consider Mary and Joseph:
**They were chosen by God for a particular task.
**Mary excepted God's will for her life and was blessed.
**Joseph also accepted his role in that task.
But certainly the task was not easy.
**Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married and suddenly she was pregnant.
**Mary, great with child, rode a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because Jesus must be born in Bethlehem.
**Joseph was forced to flee with his wife and small child to Egypt then later returned to Nazareth.
**Mary experienced the agony of the death of Jesus in a way only a mother could understand.
The point is that Mary and Joseph were chosen and blessed by God, but the task was not easy.
In the same way, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants were chosen by God to carry out a very difficult,
but necessary task for all of us as mankind.
Therefore, the Old Testament makes numerous references to "Jacob", "House of Jacob", etc. "Israel" and the
"children of Israel", "God of Israel", etc. All of these refer to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the
people or nation through whom God would fulfill His promises and plans for His creation.
The use of different names or phrases that refer to the same descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sometimes
have meaning. For example: "God of Israel": does this refer to Israel--the nation,or to Israel (singular) the man,
Jacob- Israel?
There are many Biblical references that tell us "Who is Israel", but in Isaiah 48,we see "Who is Israel", taking on a
different meaning.
Isaiah 48: 1-2, "Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth from the
wellsprings of Judah; who swear by the name of the lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth or
in righteousness; For they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is His
name. "
The "House of Jacob " would be the descendants of Jacob and his 12 sons; Israel would be a subgroup from the
larger family group Jacob, and Judah being another subgroup under Jacob--Israel. The significance of this can be
made clearer in Isaiah 48: 12 --- "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called; I am He, I am the first, I am also
the last. "
Jacob is all the descendants (physically) of God's chosen linage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is a subgroup
out of Jacob who are called, (verse 12), by God and "Who swear by the name of the Lord." (Isaiah 48:1-2). Thus
in this reference, Israel is the spiritual, committed to God descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel; the
Israel of God. There are many other references to substantiate this, but we use Isaiah 48 as an example.
Therefore, Israel in the Old Testament prophecies are not all who are of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
but out of those descendants, those who are true believers and followers of the God of Israel. (Israel-singular;Jacob
-Israel). Those, who as their forefather Israel, believed God and personally committed themselves to God thus
becoming true believers and followers of the God of Israel. These are the true Israel of God.
Who is Israel?--In the New Testament:
Please note:
By no means nor stretch of the imagination does the Bible use the word Israel to refer only to those who are true
believers or born-again Christians. But we believe that there is clear evidence that the name, "Israel", is often used
to refer directly to those who have experienced the same life changing relationship with God, as was experienced by
Jacob, when God changed his name to "Israel". Thus " children of Israel ", in Biblical context, is used to name both
the physical descendants and the spiritual descendants of Jacob-Israel. Mankind must use spiritual discernment to
understand the correct interpretation in each Bibical use of the name "Israel" or "children of Israel".
In the New Testament, a very large portion of Jesus' teaching, as well as the teachings of the apostles, are devoted
to determining who are the true believers, the born again Christians, the family of God, who is the "Israel of God".
The Book of Romans gives the best discussion for our purpose of "Who is Israel".
First--the Book of Romans tells us who is not the true Israel of God.
In Chapter one, we are told that those engaged in the sins of this world are not the Israel of God.
In Chapter 2, we are told that those who "rest in the law, and make their boast in God", Romans 2:17, are not the
Israel of God, nor are those who look to their physical lineage, nor physical circumcision as a Jew, the Israel of
God.
Romans 3:23, tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And also in Romans 3:10 "there is
none righteous, no, not one "; so because of sin, they are not the Israel of God.
Chapter 4 tells us that because one is a blood descendant of Abraham, does not determine if they are the Israel of
God.
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7:21-22 -- "Not everyone who says to me," Lord, Lord", shall enter the Kingdom of
heaven , but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day 'Lord, Lord' have we not
prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name , and done many wonders in Your name?"
Also in John 8:39; ", They answered and said to him "Abraham is our father. " Jesus said to them, "If you were
Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. " and in John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and
the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer in the beginning, and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the
father of it. "
In John 8, the Pharisees, claiming Abraham as their father were severely reprimanded by Jesus. Certainly Abraham
was there physical ancestor, but Jesus says the devil is their spiritual father.
So, even those who seem to be religious, who seem to do the work of God, are not necessarily the Israel of God, or
the true believers, or the born again Christians. On and on the New Testament tells us, who is not Israel.
The Book of Romans also tells us "Who is Israel".
In Romans 10:9--the Scripture tells us that "Whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved."
Also Romans 11:5-6, tells us that those people who call upon the name of the Lord are saved by grace, that it is no
longer of works.
So," Who is Israel? " They are those who are saved by grace, not by what they do as works, nor traditions.
In Romans 11:7-8, the Bible explains how "saved " (10:13) by "grace" (11:5-6) pertains to "Who is Israel". In
verse 7 and its context, "Israel" are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is seen especially in
10:16-21 and 11:1-4.
In 10:21, God says to Israel, "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people. "
Moreover verse seven says to physical Israel, that Israel has "Not obtained what it seeks ", but the elect have
obtained it. Who are these "Elect "?? Those who have called upon the name of the Lord and been saved by grace.
Those descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel who refused to call upon the name of the Lord and be
saved by grace were hardened (verse 7) and given a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should
not hear.
Thus, that part of Israel who rejected the grace of God through Jesus Christ were cut off and are not part of "Who is
Israel" nor the Israel of God, not the elect. But, the "elect" are people who have called upon the name of the Lord
and been saved, regardless of their ancestral lineage.
So then, Roman's 11:25-26, brings to conclusion "Who is Israel" in the New Testament, as it states, "when the
fullness of the gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved."
PLEASE NOTE:
Abraham was chosen by God and set aside so that "All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." Genesis
18:18.
It would have been impossible for Abraham to have understood all the future implications of his covenant with
God. But, today we can understand that all nations are blessed because the Bible and Jesus Christ came into this
world. They came through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob- Israel and their descendants. Their task was very great and the
opposition of the enemies of God very severe. (reference Revelation 12). But through the initiative and work of
God the tasks were completed.
Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection was the complete plan of God for the salvation of mankind.
The Bible, as God's written message, was completed with the writings of the Apostles, the New Testament.
With the completion of those two things (Jesus Christ's resurrection and the Bible), the task of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob- Israel and their descendants was finished.
Thus, Israel in the New Testament era until present 21st century are people of every language and nation, Jews and
gentiles, who personally commit themselves to Christ and call upon the Lord and are saved.
"Who is Israel?"---In the book Revelations.
Israel is mentioned only three times in Revelation. Two of them, 2:14 and 21:12, are not references which identify
"Who is Israel". Revelation Chapter 7 identifies "Who is Israel" at the final conclusion of God's creation. Chapter 7
is the second half of the two-part sixth seal. The first part of the sixth seal is 6:12- 17.
With the opening of the sixth seal, John sees a series of events that brings about the final destruction of earth. These
events (Chapter 6:12- 17) so closely resembled the events of the seventh bowl in Revelation 16:17- 21, that they
must be in time sequence of history, the same events; that is, at the end of the tribulation, the end of mankind and the
end of earth as we know it. This being so, then the sixth seal gives us a visionary picture of what is happening to all
mankind at the end. Those who are not part of the family of God are being destroyed on earth,(6:12-17),while all
the family of God is standing before the throne in heaven. (7:9) Revelation Chapter 7 then, gives us a visionary
picture of "Who is Israel": all Israel in heaven with God at the time of the end.
All Israel as sealed, Chapter 7, are two distinct groups, sealed and standing before God at the end of physical
creation.
The first group is "144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel." In Revelations 7:4, they are sealed by God and
are part of the family of God. If the 144,000 were to be interpreted literally, the day in history would come when
the tribe of Judah would have 11,999 persons in the family of God and only one more person would have the
opportunity to call upon the name of the Lord, and enter the kingdom of God. If this were true, it would contradict
Scripture that says "whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Thus, the 144,000 cannot be a
literal number, but a number with meaning and message.
We can see in the Book of Exodus, as the children of Israel who came out of Egypt were numbered, that there
were far more than 144,000 children of Israel in that one generation.
As we look, in the book of Revelation at the end of time, there are only 144,000 sealed and in heaven of all the
tribes of all the children of Israel. (7:4). Then there must be untold millions of the children of Israel that, as
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are not sealed and not in heaven with God. So God is giving in
Revelation 7 a very important and severe message to all the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel. The
message is: Not all, who are called Israel, will be there, only a remnant, a few from all the tribes of the children is
Israel.
The Lord prophesies in Isaiah 6:13, " But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a
terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.
Also in Joel 2:32, " And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the named the Lord shall be saved. For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord
calls.
This remnant,144000, is from the Old Testament era. In Revelation 11: 1, John is told to measure the temple, the
altar and the worshipers. This can be understood to mean a certain time period and a certain number of the children
of Israel who are of the family of God. During the Old Testament era, the time of the temple, there will be 144,000
(not literally-- many, but not all--a remnant) of all the tribes of the children of Israel who are saved.
Also, Revelation 11:2 says, do not measure the outer court (the only part of the temple were gentiles were
permitted) "For it has been given to the Gentiles."
Whereas there was a temple era, time of the Old Testament and the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-Israel,
there is also a Gentile era from the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the end time. This time era is not to be measured,
nor the worshipers counted.
The saved people of the gentile era is the second group seen in the vision of Revelation 7 and the sixth seal.
Revelation 7:9 says that John saw, "A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people and tongues. " Included in this second group are the descendants of the children of Israel who during the
Gentile, New Testament era, "Have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb " (Revelation
7:14).
Who is Israel?? In Revelation 7: One group, a remnant, 144,000 from the Old Testament era, and another group
without number from every nation, language and tribe on earth. Each person in both groups being true believers,
true worshipers of God, and part of the family of God;--all Israel--God's people. A visionary picture of "Who is
Israel".
Please note: The name "Israel" is God's name for those who are commited to Him!!
Romans 11:26--"And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written. "
There is another 144,000 in Revelations 14. This 144,000 is not the same persons as the 144,000 in Revelations 7.
The 144,000 in Revelation 14 does not define "Who is Israel" and so is not part of the above discussion, but they
are part of "Who is Israel" and needs to be interpreted, to understand who they are in "Who is Israel". Through that
understanding, mankind can prevent misinterpretation resulting in grave and eternal consequences.
Why is this important in the 21st century?
1) There are certain religious groups who teach that the 144,000 are people who have lived and are living in the
19th and 20th-century. They believe that the 144,000 or individuals from their particular group. Their group did not
exist prior to the 1800's.
There are also teachers of the end time prophecy who interpret the 144,000 to be Jews, who are given a second
chance or saved after the church is raptured from earth. There are many variations of thought about "Who is Israel"
and who is the 144,000. The ideas and interpretations are as numerous as the teachers.
2) The Jewish people, Orthodox, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the 21st century could easily
suppose that even if they are proven wrong and Jesus Christ is the Messiah and returns, that they will have a second
chance because they are of the lineage of Israel. This is an extremely dangerous position. We, they, and I need to
rightly interpret Scripture so not to make a grave mistake on such an eternal question.
The interpretation of the 144,000 is: 144,000 is not a literal number, but a number with meaning and a message.
The meaning is: many, but not all, out of a much larger group, a remnant of the whole. This applies in both
Revelation Chapter 7 and 14 and allows the two groups to be different individuals.
The message is: to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not all of you will be there in heaven.
The 144,000 in Chapter 7 are very clearly 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
The 144,000 in Chapter 14 are with "A lamb standing on Mount Zion", and only they can learn a new song, they are
redeemed from the earth and from among men, they are the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, they follow the
Lamb, they are without fault before the throne of God.
These statements do not say that they had never sinned. Indeed it says twice that they were redeemed. The word
redeemed in biblical context is used to describe God's saving activity restoring mankind who have sinned. So the
144,000 have been saved, redeemed, confessed their sins through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the Lamb, then,
presenting them before the throne of God without guilt, as virgins, sin removed as for is the East is from the West
and remembered no more. As redeemed, they are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb.
The term "Mount Zion" is given to at least three physical places in biblical history. At each place called Mont Zion, it
was a place where mankind went to meet and worship God. So the understanding of Mount Zion, is the place
(temple, a church, altar, tree, premises,) where people meet God. When a pastor, evangelist, priest, or witness
proclaim the word of God, the Holy Spirit present, and people invite Jesus Christ to come into their heart, they are
standing on Mount Zion. Mount Zion, the place where mankind meets God.
So the 144,000 in Chapter 14 are God's ministers, many, but not all, 144,000, who stand with the Lamb, Jesus
Christ, to receive the family of God. They are uniquely holy, without fault, before the throne of God.
If the minister or preist, or religous worker, because they carry the name of a minister, supposes themselves to be of
the 144,000, they should closely examine their lifestyle, and not think more highly of themselves than they should.
Note:
In the parable of Jesus Christ about the 10 virgins in Matthew 25: 1-13--five of the ten good moral people of
integrity " virgins " were not allowed in heaven, did not have oil for their lamps, not prepared through Jesus Christ.
Interesting note:
The 144,000 of Revelation 14 were called virgins and are most certainly the servants of God. But, could it be that
one half of the good moral pastors and church leaders who think they are God's servants are not prepared through
true salvation in Christ??
Maybe the 144,000 are Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Matthew, Peter, Paul, the mortyrs, the great
evangelist, the individual who sits on the back row at church, people who has witnessed to and prayed with people
coming to Christ for salvation. Only God knows the names of 144,000. They are a limited number out of the much
greater family of God, who stand with the Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Zion receiving those who come to God, the
Father, to become part of the family of God.
Within the context of Revelation 14, we can see the time era from which came this 144,000. Revelation Chapter 12
and 13 give a history of the rebellious work of satan from the Old Testament era (Chapter 12), then changing in
Chapter 13, to the work of satan's beast during the New Testament era until all are forced to receive the mark of the
beast near the end of God's creation. Then in Chapter 14 the visionary scene changes to the same time era and a
quick history of what God's people are doing during that same time era.
The two scenes of Chapter 12 and 13, explain, spiritually speaking, what satan's group was and is doing. In the
same way Chapter 14 explains what God's family is doing during the same time era, spiritually speaking. God
gathered His family on Mount Zion; and satan gathered his bunch at the image of the beast.
Conclusion--"Who is Israel?"
"Israel" is the whole family of God. (Romans 11: 25-26), "until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. And so all
Israel will be saved, as it is written:"
** Old Testament era--- True believers who committed their lives to God.
**New Testament era---Born again family of God from every nation, language and tribe of God's creation, who
have come to the Lamb on Mount Zion.
Note: There are many difficulties in interpreting prophecy. Here in regard to the 144,000 is a number used in two
different places with two different descriptions of the people involved. Here is an example of interpretation from Old
Testament--to demonstrate the difficulty in interpreting prophecy .
God is the author of all prophecy. God sees all history and all time in one big picture. Mankind understands only
some of the past and sees only part of the present where he lives through a physical time frame. God sees all
creation, past, present and future without the limited time frame of mankind. As God gave us His prophecies, His
messages often spanned more than one time era, but the message contained a root message that transcends each
time era. The root message applies to each time era.
The Old Testament prophecies, as given from God, are sometimes most difficult to discern the time era to which
they apply. Often, in one block of scripture the prophecy pertains to a near future time, a distant future time and the
end of time.
Near future time---Old Testament era---time of the prophet
Distant future time---time of Christ---first century A.D.
End times---Last seven years tribulation and millennial era.
One example of this is found in Daniel Chapter 8. This is a complete vision and explanation given to Daniel in the
third year of the reign of Belshazzar. At the time Daniel received this vision, Belshazzar of the Chaldeans was king.
Daniel 5:30. The first part of the vision is of a ram which is explained as the kings of Media and Persia, who
conquered the Chaldean Empire and the known World during the lifetime of Daniel. ---near future time era.
The second part of the vision is of a male goat who defeats the ram (Daniel 8:5-7). The goat is explained to be the
Kingdom of Greece.
Alexander the Great who led the Greek conquest died a young man and his empire was divided among four generals
of the Greek armies. Chapters 8:8- 22). These events are told in world history and occurred 100 to 150 years after
the time of Daniel. The results of the Greek conquest uniquely affected the era of the time of Jesus Christ. ---distant
future time era.
The third part of the vision is of a little horn which grows greater than all, even reaching into the spiritual realm.
(Daniel 8:9-12). This is further explained by the angel in Chapter 8:23 -25. This part of the vision refers ultimately
to the end times, the last seven years of God's creation explained in the Book of Revelation. ---end time era.
Following is a list of references that places the little horn of Daniel 8:9 in the prophecies of Revelation. Although the
little horn had its beginnings in pre-creation, its greatness and power becomes full blown in the last seven years of
God's creation.
First, consider the meaning of the term horn as used in Biblical context. Horn, can be in reference to an individual as
in Daniel 8:21; the first king of the Kingdom of Greece. But from this one large horn comes, four notable horns, and
out of one of them, came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great. This makes us to understand the term horn, as
being much larger than one individual. Thus, the meaning of horn can be a movement, an ideal, a spirit, a conquest,
etc. In the context of Daniel's vision there is a common thread, or motivation or spirit that begins with the
Medio-Persian Empire and continues through the end times as prophesied in Revelation.
In the Encyclopedia International it says of Alexander the Great, that he had a "grand international conception". This
ideal or inspiration of Alexander was the fusion of East West into a Greek culture by intermarriage, transfer
population, and promote equality in political and military status.
Thus the horn is a visionary picture of a movement, an ideal, a spirit, a conquest that can be seen as the power that
drove the conquest of the Medio-Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, etc, and all other would be world conquerors.
This same horn spirit can be seen in the one world government of the end times, brought about and ultimately ruled
by satan and his beast.
Daniel 8 ---In Revelations:
Daniel Revelations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The little horn that became spiritual the beast with a horn
Daniel 8:9-12 Relations 12:3 through 13: 1-18
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Not by his own power given power
Daniel 8:24 Revelation 13:7 and 15
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Receives an army great army--200 million
Daniel 8:12 Revelation 9:15-16
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destroyed the mighty- killed 1/3 of mankind
also the holy people killed the two witnesses
Daniel 8:24 Revelations 9& 11:7
Thus we conclude that the third part of Daniels prophetic vision in chapter 8 is about the end times and also
visionarily seen by John in Revelation.
This gives us one example of the difficulty, but necessity to rightly divide the word of God as we apply the prophetic
message to the 21st century.
To all who suppose or propose that the 144,000 are the only ones going to heaven---note---- there is a great
multitude which no man can number in heaven, Revelation 7:9-17,who have washed away their sins through the
blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
The 144,000 of Revelation 14 are individuals, true believers, from all history who have uniquely stood with our Lord
to receive the family of God. They are not a group of self-appointed persons from the 20th-century who want to be
God's special people.
To those who suppose or propose that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will receive some special
revelation from God because of their ancestral lineage and will be part of a great millennial harvest of souls after the
true church has been raptured to heaven; beware the Bible does not teach this misconception.
Five of the ten good moral people of integrity "virgins " were not allowed in heaven--not prepared through Jesus
Christ.
THE FIRST AND IMPORTANT
TEACHINGS OF JESUS
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, " repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 4: 17.
Jesus taught many and varied teachings about all phases of life. He taught about farmers, shepherds and
professional people. He taught about life, pursuit of happiness, death and eternity. Jesus also gave warnings about
wrong choices, results of sin and the reality of eternity without Him for those who reject Him.
Here in Matthew 4:17 He began both to teach and to say, "repent".
Here is the implication that this is not a one time statement to "repent" but an ongoing teaching, " Repent for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is easily seen in the following chapters of Matthew as well as in the rest of the
Gospels.
First look at the context, of " repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ", in chapter 4. In 4:1-11 Jesus is "led by
the Spirit " and "tempted by the devil ". In verse 12 John is put in prison. Verses 13-16, Jesus leaves Nazareth to
Capernaum the beginning point of His ministry, as prophesied. Then in verse 17 we are given the theme of Jesus'
preaching " Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Then verses 18-25 gives an overview of what Jesus did throughout His ministry.
Verse 18-22 Jesus called His disciples. Verse 23, He taught in the synagogues and healed the sick.
Verse 24-25 " His fame covered the whole region and great multitudes followed Him. Then in chapters 5-7 is the
sermon on the mount, an example of what Jesus taught.
As we look at the sermon on the Mount, we find that it has a teaching that is of a continuous theme. That theme,
being stated in Matthew 4:17, is exemplified in chapters 5-7.
Example # 1:
5:3-- "blessed or the poor in spirit,"
5:4-- "blessed are those who mourn,"
5:5-- "blessed or the meek,"
Certainly in physical terms those who are "poor in spirit " and " those who mourn " and " the meek " are not
considered among the blessed. But on condition that they have repented and their sins are forgiven, they would be
considered among the blessed.
"Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "
blessed are those whose lawess deeds or forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the
Lord shall not impute sin. " Romans 4:6-8.
Thus, Jesus is giving in Matthew 5:3-5 the results of (the "blessedness") of a repentant heart.
Even though a person is not blessed in this world, yet if their sins are forgiven they are "blessed".
Example #2
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your award in heaven, for so they persecuted the profits who were
before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Were they blessed because they were persecuted?
Was their reward in heaven because they were persecuted?
I say no to both questions.
They were blessed because they had repeated. Even though persecuted they are blessed because their sins are
forgiven.
Their reward is in heaven, not because they were persecuted but because they had repented.
Example #3
Whereas in verses 3-12 Jesus speaks of those who have repeated, in verses 13 and following He speaks of those
who having been blessed by salvation through repentance, yet need to continue to repent of their sins.
Matthew 5:13a, "You are the salt, of the earth "; = repentant and blessed, born-again Christian.
" But if the salt, loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot by men. Matt. 5:13b.
So, if you as a repentant, born-again Christian have lost your " flavor "---saltness or fervor, you need to repeat.
Again in verses 14 and 15, if you " the light of the world " put your lamp " under a basket ", you need to repeat.
Again in verse 19, if you break " one of the least of these Commandments ", you need to repent.
Again in verse 22, if you have been " angry " with your brother without a cause ", you need to repent.
This same theme of repentance is throughout the teachings of Jesus.
For example in Luke 15, the prodigal son repents of his wayward life.
Also in Luke 15:7, Jesus speaks of " joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ".
Also in Luke 16's parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man understood that he was in hell because he had
not repeated.
" And he said, no Father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent ". Luke 15:30.
Again in Luke 17:3-4 Jesus speaks of one person repenting to another as a remedy to problems.
With the above discussion and examples from the teachings of Jesus we can see that a major theme of Jesus'
teaching is repentance.
What is repentance:
" To feel such regret over (an action, intention, etc.) as to change one's mind."
Webster's New World Dictionary.
In order to repent, a person must first become a sinner.
One must recognize personal sin and the results of those sins.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God ". Roman's 3:23.
The Bible tells us that all have sinned. For a person to know what the Bible says is one thing, but to recognize
personal sin and sins consequences for me personally is a completely different thing.
Personal sin--my personal sin-- carries a death penalty.
For the wages of sin is death. " Roman's 6:23.
Jesus' call to repentance in Matthew 3 is universal to the " poor in spirit "; and "those who mourn ", " the meek ",
and the "persecuted ", " the salt of the earth", " the light of the world", all who become " angry " at their brother ".
This message of repentance is to all mankind--every person.
THUS THE TEACHING IS:
#1-----Mankind must recognize personal sin.
# 2-----Mankind must be sorrowful for sinful condition.
# 3-----Mankind must confess sin.
# 4-----Mankind must stop doing that, turn from sin.
An example from life of these 4 points:
#1----- When I was a small boy I disobeyed my mom. Later I learned that God's fifth commandment says, "
Honor your father and mother ".
I had disobeyed my mother, but I had broken God's law. I was a sinner, condemned by God and separated from
Him. Because of my disobedience to my mother, I broke God's law.
#2-----I am sorry I disobeyed my mom. It is right and for little boys to obey their mother. But I greatly fear God
because by breaking his commandment, I am judged guilty and am worthy of the death penalty.
#3-----I confess my sins through prayer to Jesus Christ. My confession coupled with my belief in Jesus Christ
brings salvation and forgiveness of sin through His death. Jesus Christ death paid the penalty for my sins, but I must
repeat.
#4-----I become obedient where I had been disobedient. My obedience to mom, becomes the physical evidence of
my spiritual change.
True repentance brings change of heart.
Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of " the works of the flesh ". These can be further described as the characteristics
of an unrepentant person. Four of these characteristics can be the description of a disobedient child. They are "
contentious, jealousies, outburst of wrath, dissension. "
When a child truly repents of their disobedience to their mother, their "works of the flesh" change into "the fruit of the
Spirit " as listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
In varying degrees the childs characteristics are changed:
Contentions---become---kindness.
Jealousies---become---faithfulness.
Outburst of wrath---become---self control.
Dissensions---become---gentleness.
Through this type of process the person's heart is changed from beast-like to God-like.
Thus, we see the great importance of true repentance.
The Lord Jesus told us and taught us from the very beginning of His ministry that which was of utmost importance "
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ".
The place of repentance in salvation:
The following are key scriptures pertaining to salvation:
John 1:12; John 3:3; John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10 and 13.
In the above scriptures, there are certain key words.
1) Believe == I believe. But James 2:19 says " You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe-and tremble! "
So salvation, is more than just belief that there is a God.
2) Receive=== I want to receive Jesus Christ. But does Jesus Christ come into a life of sin.
Jesus Christ comes into a life of sin at and after true repentance.
3) I know I'm a sinner, but even after I'm saved I still cannot be like God.
The born-again Christian also must recognize and repent of sins.
4) Born-again== how? When does one know when he is truly born-again.
By the evidence of the changed heart reflected in " works of the flesh " becoming the"fruits of the Spirit ".
5) Faith== I believe. I have faith. Is my faith sufficient.
We may pray and ask for faith.
"looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
Heb.12:2.
6) Confession== what do I confess. I know I should confess that I'm a sinner. Is salvation a never ending
confession of sins?
" For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made and to salvation. "
Romans 10:10.
If a person is sincerely seeking salvation they should confess belief and sin.
Possible sinner's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father: I believe that you are God the creator. I believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as the only
Son of God--God in the flesh--and died for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. I am a sinner.
Dear Lord Jesus please forgive my sins and come into my heart. ---amen.
After receiving salvation, we confess our personal sins as they occur.
In Acts Chapter 2:38, Peter gives a quick summation of salvation; " repent--be baptized--you shall receive the Holy
Spirit. "
True knowledge of believe that Jesus lived, died, was resurrected and lives demands acknowledgment of personal
sin and repentance. Because He died for my sins, I must repeat.
True " believe " in Jesus Christ reveils the reality of sin. Knowledge of sin, demands repentance.
If I open my heart to receive him, my sin is exposed. When I repent He comes in and cleanses me from sin.
Born-again is the result of repentance.
Justification is the result of repentance.
As I confess my belief and sins in true repentance I become born-again.
Each of those key words is either a prerequisite too or the result of repentance.
Is it necessary that a person understand all those words and concepts to be saved?
No. --For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe that in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life ". John 3:16.
If a person has no opportunity to grow spiritually beyond true simple belief, they will be saved. But, as a person
truly believes, truly repents, truly receives, they recognize that they have been born-again.They are justified and their
faith increases day-by-day.
A person may believe and still be lost, without God forever.
(The demons believe but are condemned in disobedience.)
If a person believes and is obedient to repent, confess and receives the Holy Spirit they will be saved.
There are certain elements that are necessary for salvation and they are clearly defined, but the process and point of
salvation is reserved to the judgment of God.
Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.
"I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away"
Ezekiel 34:16.
" Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling "; Philippians 2:12.
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!!"
Jesus Christ
THE SEVEN SEALS
FROM THE THRONE OF GOD
Over the past 40 years, through the influence of prominent writers, the study and interpretation of Revelation has
drawn much attention. This is as it should be for we seem to be living in the end times.
Much of the interpretation from this era is built around the 20th-century current events. The establishment of the
nation of Israel in 1948, the atheistic Soviet Union being seen as the armies of the north coming against Israel, the
200 million Chinese army crossing the Euphrates River for the battle of Armageddon, the Middle East oil crisis, plus
the 10 nation European Common Market have enhanced the interest in the interpretation of Revelation. These
20th-century circumstances seem to fit well into the accepted interpretation of the seven seals.
Usually the seals have been interpreted somewhat as follows:
The conqueror embarks on a conquest, (seal #1), with a great sword, (seal # 2), which brings famine, (seal # 3),
which results in death, (seal #4). But can there be another interpretation of the seals?
The "seals"
"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven
seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to lose it
seals? " Revelations 5:1-2.
The seven seals, seal the scroll message from the hand of God. The scroll and the seals are very prominent in the
vision of Chapter 5. The seven seals, must be opened for the message from God to be read. The message is for all
mankind. The seals can only be opened by the resurrected Jesus Christ as explained in verses 5-14.
The fact that the seals can be opened only by Jesus Christ makes the seals different from the trumpets and bowls.
The trumpets and bowls were carried out by angels, but only Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain, "was able to
open", or "to look upon" or "read" the seven sealed scroll message from the hand of God. This is extremely
important as the seven sealed scroll contains the complete message of Revelations from God to mankind.
Please consider the following:
In the Book of Revelations there are five sets of "sevens". Three of the "sevens", (seals, trumpets, bowls), are
interpreted to be tribulation. Nearly all writers, interpret the seals to be tribulation. Everyone agrees that tribulation
is seven years divided into two parts of three and a half years each. Most everyone tries to interpret these three sets
of "sevens" into two time periods. But, three does not divide into two. So--- is there another way to interpret
this??? Yes!!!
The trumpets are tribulation, because, the result destroyers one-third of nature and one-third of mankind.
Revelations 8-14.
The bowls are tribulation, because, as result, all is destroyed. Revelations 16.
But the "seals" are different. The fourth seal with the pale horse and rider named death is the easiest to understand.
Death was part of the judgment declared by God to Adam and Eve upon ALL mankind. All mankind are physical
and have died, or will die, or will be translated in the twinkling of an eye at the rapture. The Bible states that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore death is not unique to the great tribulation era but is
common to all physical mankind.
With this easy to understand explanation we believe and interpret that the first five seals is that which God created
into His creation as guidelines for mankind. Seals 1-5, are guidelines, or parameters, under which we live and by
which mankind will be judged.
The sixth and seventh seals are different. They were from the beginning of creation, in the foreknowledge of God,
God's conclusion to His creation.
Thus the seals are that which was God's plan for His creation.
The message of the seven seals was experienced in the life and family of Adam and Eve and they are also the
judgments rendered against the woman on the Scarlet beast in Revelations 17 and 18. Thus the seven sealed
message opened in Revelation 6 and 7 is God's universal and eternal message to His creation.
Seal #1, --- Mankind was created with freedom of choice, as a king. ( The rider was given a "crown").
Genesis 3:6--- Eve chose to eat of the forbidden tree --- resulting in judgment.
Revelations 17-1, and 18-7, --- The woman represents those of mankind who chose to reject their Creator, as God
--- Resulting in judgment.
Seal #2, --- Mankind was created with the possibility to sin and the reality of being a sinner. The ultimate sin is to
kill. ( The rider was given a "great sword").
Genesis 4 --- Cain slew Abel --- resulting in judgment for sin.
Revelations 17:6 & 18:24-- The woman killed the Saints and all who were slain on the earth -- resulting in judgment.
Seal #3, --- Mankind was created to do business. A person must work for a living --- (The rider had a "pair of
scales").
Genesis 3:17-18 -- Adam's sin of disobedience --- resulted in judgment, " by the sweat of your brow."
Revelations 18:5-7 --- The woman's corrupt business --- resulted in judgment. " God has remembered her iniquities.
" 18 : 5.
Seal #4 --- Mankind was created physical and will die. (The rider was "named Death").
Genesis 3:17-19--Adam's disobedience resulted in judgment--" to the dust you will return".
Revelations 18:7-8, --- The woman's disobedience results in judgment --- death. "--- utterly burned with fire. "
Seal #5, --- Mankind was created within a spiritual conflict, --- (The message says they were "slain for the Word of
God ").
Genesis 8:13 --- Cain slew Abel, because Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God --- resulted in judgment of the
murderer.
Revelations 18:24 --- " In her was the blood of the prophets and Saints "--- resulted in judgment of the murderers.
Seal #6,--- A visionary picture of the division between the family of God and mankind who rejected God at the time
of the end.
Revelations 6:12-17,--family of satan at the end of time.
Revelation 7:1-10 --- Family of God at the time of the end.
Genesis 3:15 --- " Enmity between family of satan and spiritual seed of Eve ".
Revelation 18:4, --- "Come out of her my people ".
Seal #7 --- Judgments and explanations carried out in Revelation Chapter 18-22.
These explanations of seal # 7 describes the final destruction of God's creation as had been planned by God from
the beginning. In the beginning God knew there would be an end. Through the seventh seal He tells us of that final
destruction.
The seven sealed message is given from the hand of God to Jesus Christ, to the angel, to John, to the seven
churches, to all mankind.
With the above skeletal descriptive interpretation of the "seals" we see the final message from God tying together the
history of mankind from Genesis through Revelations. Adam and Eve were created under the guidelines set forth by
the sealed messages. They lived by those guidelines in either obedience or disobedience and were judged
accordingly. Every human being since Adam and Eve have been born and lived under those same guidelines.
The seals 1-5 address or speak to those things in which we are born. They are natural to us. They are understood
through living life.
For example:
Through the seals, mankind is given " freedom of choice " (seal #1), with the ability to kill, (seal #2). Mankind
knows from what is created in us that it is wrong to kill. Yet, throughout history mankind has killed each other. God
told mankind in his 10 Commandments, (Exodus 20:13), " you shall not murder. " So --- God created into us
certain guidelines through which we know right from wrong and then reinforced them through the 10
Commandments.
Those same "seal" judgments passed on Adam and Eve and their sons will be the guidelines for judgments against all
mankind who reject God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ as seen in Revelations chapters 17 and 18.
" Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me saying to me, " come I will show
you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters." Revelations 17: 1.
The seven sealed message from the hand of God sets mankind's perimeters and will be the basis of God's final
judgment.
With Jesus Christ as savior and Lord, sins are forgiven.
Without Jesus Christ there is judgment according to the guidelines set forth by the seven seals.
666
INTRODUCTION
There has been many things written and many discussions about "666''.
Many questions have been asked:
How to interpret "666"? Who is that man named 666? Is 666 the Antichrist? When will he appear? Where will he
be from?
Many have tried to calculate the " number of a man " supposing that the numerical equivalent number of someone's
name will identify the Antichrist.
First, look at the only Biblical reference of "666". This is in Revelation 13:16-18--"He causes all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may
buy or sell accept one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let
him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: his number is 666."
Facts from these verses:
"666" is a "mark" that is given to everyone of that generation.
"666" is the "name" of the beast.
"666" is the "number" of the "name" of the beast.
"666" is the "number" of a man.
Interpreting principle:
"6"---is interpreted to be incomplete.
"7"---is understood by everyone to be complete or all.
If "7" is complete then "6" is incomplete.
3x's in Biblical context means most or greatest. For example: holy holy holy = most holy; woe, woe, woe = greatest
woe;
"666" = most incomplete, cannot become complete.
Every human being is born into life incomplete, a "6".
Every human being has the opportunity to become complete, a "7".
As born incomplete, a "6", we are created by God but are not automatically a part of God's eternal family. A
person becomes a part of God's eternal family, thus complete, only by their own decision to beleive and receive
Jesus Christ into their hearts. They must choose through their God-given "crown of choice". They must call upon the
name of the Lord to enter into the eternal Family of God. Romans 10:13.
When a person has called on the name of the Lord " and received Him into their heart, only then, are they complete,
a "7".
Thus when Revelations 13:16- 18 states---" 666 " it means most incomplete, having rejected God, thus, without
God, never to be complete.
As we interpret, we must look at the context.
Although verse 18 states that " for it is the number of a man ", yet that phrase, as stated, does not demand that " a
man " be one single individual man. Because in verse 15 and 16 it states that everyone must receive the mark or he
will be killed. Then in verse 17 it states " no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the
beast ". " Except one who " is singular in the same way as " a man " in verse 18. But it is clear in verse 17 that the
singular " one " is in reference to anyone or everyone who must have the "mark" or the "name" or "666". So we
believe that " a man " is not referring to a single human, as per the often referred too, Antichrist, but is referring to
"all", as individuals, as seen in Revelation 13:16.
There is antichrist. There will be antichrist. There will be great leaders who will be part of the antichrist. There will
be a great leader whose "deadly wound " will be healed and he will be antichrist, or an antichrist. But the numerical
number of his name does not need to add up to 666. "666" is a "name", or the "mark", or that which signifies their
spiritual condition.
"666" is the mark ( emblem ) of the name given by God to a unique generation of mankind.
he (the beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive a mark. Revelation 13:16.
They are unique because every other human being that has ever lived on planet earth has had the spiritual freedom to
call on the name of the Lord and be saved. But judgment has been passed on this generation. They no longer have a
choice. They are the same as satan and the demons. Judgment has been passed. They no longer have freedom of
choice, spiritually. They are still alive, but cannot repent and be saved.
They are a whole generation of breathing, living human beings who have rejected God, (1st woe ), God's witnesses
are killed and gone, (2nd woe ), they are forced to worship an image ( idol ) as God, (3rd woe ). The doors of
heaven are closed and they are outside without God, without hope, without, forever---"666".
666
PROOF TEXT
woe, woe, woe = trumpets 5, 6 and 7.
Trumpts 5, 6 & 7 = "666".
Three "woes", three "trumpts" and three "6"s gives the explainations of judgment because of abuse of seals 1, 2 and
3 (Rev 6: 1- 6)and the results of breaking the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17).
The fact that the first " woe" and the fifth trumpet are one and the same is clearly seen in Revelation 8:13--9:12.
Rev. 8:13 -"Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth because of the remaining blast of the trumpet of the three
angels who are about to sound! "
Revelation 9:1-11 are the explanations of the fifth trumpet. Then in 9:12 it says " One woe is passed. Behold, still
two more woes are coming after these things."
Also at the end of the trumpet 6 explanation, it is stated that "The second "woe" is passed. Behold the third woe is
coming quickly ".
Rev. 11:14
The seventh Angel sounds the trumpet immediately in the following verse 15, but the following explanation is more
complicated or complex. The explanation of the third " woe " and the seventh trumpet begins at 11:15 and continues
through Revelation 14:20, because 15:1 begins to explain the coming "seven bowls of God's wrath".
So it can be easily seen from the physical scripture that the 3 "woes " and the trumpets 5, 6 and 7 are exactly the
same message. The 3 "woes" and trumpets 5, 6 and 7 are interpreted and understood as resulting in spiritual
destruction. The trumpets 1-4 are physical destruction of nature and trumpets 5-7 spiritual destruction of mankind.
Thus the result of the greatest 3 X "woe" destruction is "666".
Thus 666 is interpreted to be the most incomplete. 3 x 6 = most. "666" = mankind without God, most incomplete.
"666", as the last word of Chapter 13, is the conclusion of the trumpet messages to the family of satan. Chapter 14
is an ongoing part of the message of the seventh trumpet, but pertains to the family of God. Chapter 14 is an
explanation of the spiritual history of the family of God and events at the time of the seventh trumpet.
The results concluded in "666".
First woe and fith trumpet :
The first "woe" and fifth trumpet are interpreted to be spiritual destruction through business and personal
relationships, (mankind to mankind of the family of satan). They lie, cheat and manipulate each other for their
personal gain. They conduct themselves totally for their personal gain to the exclusion and rejection of God. They
break all the rules. With their crowns of choice, they have made the wrong choice, condemning themselves without
God.
In the message of seal #1 mankind is given "a crown " 6: 2. With this Crown they have the right, freedom, as a king
to do as they choose. This freedom is both physical and spiritual. Mankind may and must choose their spiritual
authority, God or god. Here in the first woe and fifth trumpet they have chosen their king. " And they had a king
over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek his name is
Apollyon. Revelation 9:11.
They have rejected God their creator and chosen the destroyer as their king. Thus they are a " 6 " without God,
without hope.
They have broken or disobeyed the message and intent of God that He created into mankind and described in Seal
#1. In seal #1 mankind is given "a crown" and they go out "conquering and to conquer". God's intent in the
message of Seal #1 is for mankind's good. The message is two fold. First, they have the freedom to choose their
lifestyle and their spiritual destiny. Second, they have the zeal, ambition or drive it to face and overcome the
difficulties of life.
The family of satan in woe # 1 and trumpet # 5 have " on their heads were crowns of something like gold".
Revelation 9:7.
Because the Crown is described as " something like gold " indicates an unclear picture or distorted. Unclear or
distorted, because they have used their freedom of choice and made a wrong choice. They have chosen the
"destroyer" as their king rather than the King of Kings, their Creator and GOD. They had been given, from their
creator, the guaranteed right to choose and they made an eternally wrong choice.
Also in seal #1 mankind is given a spirit of conquest. In Woe #1 and trumpet #5 they use their God given attributes,
9:7-8, and propel themselves in " chariots with many horses " as they attempt to conquer each other for their selfish
gain. This was not God's plan.
They have chosen "the destroyer " as their king and they have his desire to rule and to be king. Self has become
king, or, and their god; god with lowercase "g". Although the destroyer, the angel of the bottomless pit has been
chosen and is characterized as their king, yet in the truest sense each one desires to be god and rule their own life
and destiny. Self has become in the truthest sense, god. This is the same sin or rebellion, that satan chose as he
fought to rule in heaven.
satan fought to take the throne in heaven and was thrown out. satan was judged guilty and sentenced was passed
but that sentence will not be carried out until he is cast into a lake of fire at the end. satan in this state is condemned
and cannot repent and be restored. Thus he is without God, without hope, "666", incomplete and cannot become
complete.
The family of satan, as result of the first woe and fifth trumpet, has also broken God's law in the 10 commandments.
First they have broken the greatest commandment as declared by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22: 37, " You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
They chose the destroyer as their king.
They also broke the commandments that speak about mankinds relationship to mankind. Through their personal
relationships, they destroy each other.
" Their power was to hurt man five months. " (Revelation 9:10).
Thus, through their God-given attributes and gifts, they take upon themselves a "breastplate of iron" (rather than a
breastplate of rightousness) and with their competitive nature, (conquest), they self-destruct. They devour each
other.
In so doing it can be applied and understood that they break commandments seven through ten:
No. 7--They commit adultery--to satisfy their personal lust.
No. 8--They steal--to get what they desire.
No. 9--They bear false witness-for personal gain and self-defense.
No. 10-- they covet--desire the things of this physical world.
Therefore the family of satan is judged and found guilty of breaking five of the 10 Commandments through the
message of the first "woe" and the fifth "trumpet".
Interesting note:
They were not permitted to kill in the first woe and fifth trumpet.
" they will desire to die, and death will flee from them." Revelation 9:6.
The killing is reserved for the second woe and 6th trumpet which uniquely connects this to the 2nd seal and the 6th
commandment.
Second "woe"= 6th trumpet = "66" :
The second woe and the sixth trumpet or interpreted to be spiritual destruction as a result of rampant and
unrestrained sin.
The message releases the barrier angels bound (placed) by God " at the great river Euphrates ". The 200 million
man army then kills one-third of mankind and also the two witnesses of Revelation 11:7. The family of satan has
conquered earth and is in control. They have committed the ultimate sin by killing their
fellow humans and God's witnesses.
The message of this second seal states that mankind is created in such a manner that they all become sinners. There
are numerous sins not as terrible as killing, (lying stealing, etc.) but mankind is given by God a great sword " in Seal
#2. Mankind is given and has the ability to kill each other.
The family of satan has committed the greatest sin. They kill all who oppose or fight against them, including those
who witness for the true creator God.
Mankind at this time has experienced the greatest of all wars in killing one-third of all living. God, by removing the
barrier unleashes mankind upon mankind. God's intent, in removing the barrier, was that mankind through this
plague would learn that they cannot survive without God their creator. In spite of such a tremendous plague of war
they do not turn to God. Mankind should learn from such a plague of war that they cannot survive on their own
devices without God. But they still do not repent.
Revelations 9:20-21 "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, which can
neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality
or their thefts."
They did not repent, refused to repent and thus they are judged. They have broken the message and intent of God's
message of the second seal. God's intent was that mankind would recognize their sinfulness, repent and through
Jesus Christ be forgiven, thus entering the family of God. But the family of satan reject Jesus Christ as Lord and
King, do not repent and are judged and condemned.
They broke the 6th of the 10 commandments " thou shalt not kill " as they murdered one-third of mankind and then
added to that, the killing of God's witnesses. They did not repent, thus with the second "woe" and sixth "trumpet"
they become "66'.
Third "woe" = 7th trumpet = "666":
The third woe and the seventh trumpet are interpreted to be spiritual destruction as the family of satan is forced to
worship the image of the beast as God. By the miraculous powers, " great signs " and charisma of the second beast
" those who dwell on earth ", family of satan, are told to make an image to the first beast and then worship it. This is
the ultimate sin. All mankind " both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave," are forced "to receive a mark on
the right hand or on their foreheads". (Rev. 13: 16). They either worship the image of the beast or they are killed.
People make an image, (idol) with their own hands from things that are created, then fall down and worship the
things they have made as if it were the creator God.
All God's witnesses are dead. Thus the door of heaven is closed. There is no longer any opportunity to repent and
be saved. Judgment has been declared. They are without God, without hope, forced to worship an idol that is not
God.
They are "666".
The family of satan through their sins described in the "third woe" and seventh trumpet have broken and disobeyed
the spirit and intent of God's message of the third seal. The third seal has a twofold message.
The first message is business as indicated by the pair of scales " in the rider's hand. Through performing business,
(work), a person has the right, (freedom), to use their God-given abilities to provide the necessities for their family.
The payment for their work providing their daily bread. Revelation 6:6.
As the bread represents the necessities of life the "oil" and "wine" physically speaking represents those things which
are not necessary to sustain life but enhance and enrich life. The result of the third woe and the seventh trumpet
takes away from mankind the right and freedom to do business as they choose.
The second aspect of the two fold third seal pertains to the spiritual. " Oil " and " wine " are used uniquely
throughout the Bible in reference to spiritual things. They are also present in the context of the 3 woes and trumpets
5, 6 and 7.
" Oil " in Biblical context represents the anointing of God.
For example:
"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." Revelations 11:4.
The only other Biblical reference to the "two olive trees" is in Zachariah 4:3. Here the Bible speaks of the "two olive
trees" in verse 3 then in verse 12 it speaks of " two olive branches that drip golden oil ". Then verse 14 says " these
are the two anointed ones who serve the Lord of the whole earth."
Thus " oil " represents the anointing of God.
"Wine" in Biblical context very often represents the spiritual fruit of the earth. Jesus said, " I am the vine and you are
the branches if you abide in Me you will bear much fruit." John 14:5.
In the message of the third woe and seventh trumpet Revelation 14:18-19 says " thrust in your sharp sickle and
gather the clusters of the vine of the earth for her grapes are fully ripe. So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and
gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. "
Thus the "wine" biblically speaking, in the third woe and seventh trumpet, represents the spiritual fruit that are
produced of God's creation. There is both the spiritual produce of the family of God and also the spiritual produce
of the family of satan.
The message of the third seal says " do not harm the "oil " (anointing), "or the wine", (fruit). That message would
grant and guarantee freedom of religion. That freedom to worship God or gods has and will be guaranteed until God
releases the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates. That barrier released means that God has passed
judgment. Mankind, without God, has been condemned.
Therefore Seal #3 is interpreted:
First -- As God giving to His creation the right and freedom to work with their God-given abilities and provide for
our physical needs.
Second--God gives to His creation the right and freedom to worship and relate to him as they choose.
God anoints His servants and through the power of that anointing, spiritual fruit, "wine", is produced.
In application of the message of the third seal, God gives to His creation the right and freedom to pursue business,
(work), and worship, (religion).
In the message of the third woe and seventh trumpet it explains that all mankind's God given freedoms are taken
away. They cannot "buy or sell " unless they have the mark " 666 ". They are forced to worship an image as God.
Thus their freedom of life and the pursuit of happiness is taken from them. Religious freedom and civil liberty no
longer exists.
They have broken and disobeyed God's message and intent of the third seal.
In the message of, and time of the 3rd woe and seventh trumpet they have broken the commandments one through
four of God's 10 commandments given to Moses as recorded in Exodus 20.
#1---"You shall have no other gods before Me ".
They worshiped an image of the beast.
#2--- "You shall not make for yourself a carved image ".
They made an image of the beast.
#3--- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain ".
They were given power to blaspheme God.
#4--- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
They worshiped the beast on their holy day.
With the conclusion of the third woe and seventh trumpets the family of satan has broken, disobeyed God's message
of Seal #3 and 4 of God's 10 commandments. They have been judged and found guilty.
They have become a " 666 ".
They are without God, without hope, condemned forever with no possibility of repentance or redemption. They are
666 " = most incomplete--never to be complete.
Just as satan was judged and condemnd when he was cast out of heaven, the last generation of mankind will be
judged and condemned while still alive on earth.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who works signs in his presence, by which he deceived
those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the
lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20.
Some will be cast into the lake of fire, alive, before physical death, before the Great White Throne judgment of
Revelations 20:11. They will not be given the privilege of their day in court, but judged and cast out, by the decision
of God, prior to the final judgment of all mankind.
This unique generation is physically alive--but have no choice.
They are "666".
THE MILLENIUM
Introduction
The millennial is a 1000 year period of time. It will happen at the end of God's time table for His creation. The
millennial is the rightful conclusion to all mankind.
God created mankind in a perfect environment in the Garden of Eden. The sin of disobedience entered that perfect
garden. Ultimately at the end of time sin and rebellion destroyed the relationship between God the creator and
mankind His creation. At the end, after sin and rebellion had enveloped all living and the rebellious have destroyed
the last of God's faithful, God destroys His physical creation.
After that destruction God restores His faithful. They live with Jesus Christ in a restored, as the Garden of Eden,
world for 1000 years.
In that 1000 year reign of Christ, there is no sin or temptation, no satan or attempting spirits, no pain or death. It is a
time when the family of God lives with Jesus Christ in a perfect peace in a restored creation.
God's creation is concluded without interference from sin, satan, demons or rebellious mankind.
THE MILLENNIAL:
The interpretation of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ must of necessity be based upon the identity of " Who is
Israel ". Chapter 3 of " In hope of eternal life." Those who are " Israel ", both Jews and gentiles are also referred to
as the Family of God.
The whole Family of God is described in the seventh chapter of Revelation. In verse 3 it says that no destruction of
earth will occur until the servants of God are "sealed". Then the following verses enumerate those servants, or the
"Family of God". They are those who "stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and
with palms in their hands."
They are the 144,000 in verses 4 - 8, plus the " great multitude which no man could number of all nations, and
kindreds and peoples and tongues." (Verse 9). This is the second part of the vision of the sixth seal.
The first part of the vision are those who have rejected Jesus Christ as they attempt to hide from His face at the time
of the return of Christ. (Rev. 6 :12 - 17).
The second part, then, shows the family of God before the Throne praising God and the Lamb.
These two scenes of Seal #6 are in time sequence almost simultaneous. While the family of God is complete and
praising God at the end, those who rebelled against Him are hiding in fear of the coming destruction.
ALSO:
The 144,000 are those of a specific number who were counted at the altar in Revelation 11: 1. They are from the
Old Testament or Temple era of the history of mankind. They enter the Kingdom of Heaven prior to the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. They enter under the Old Covenant.
The Great multitude are from the New Testament or Gentile era of history. They enter the Kingdom of Heaven after
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They enter under the New Covenant. They are from every nation, language and
tribe as the gospel has gone to the ends of the earth.
Thus, from the sixth seal, we can conclude that the time will come when the family of God will be gathered before
the Throne, as the last generation of the rebellious are being destroyed. We find this same scenario in the
description of the end in Revelation Chapters 16-19:21.
In Revelation 16 : 12-16 we find that the kings of the earth are gathered to the place called Armageddon in Hebrew
for " the Battle of that great day of God Almighty."
Please note:
Those gathered to Armageddon are the kings of the " whole world", thus, all mankind.
It is "the great day of God Almighty ", thus, the day when God takes control of His rebellious creation.
They are gathered to a place called Armageddon. The root of the word "Armageddon" is Megiddo. We should not
think that the " whole world " is gathered into the small valley of Megiddo that is between the Jordan River and the
Mediterranean sea. Rather we should understand that Megiddo was the place where the enemies of God's people
were defeated by God. Thus, the enemies of God's people who killed the witnesses of Revelation Chapter 11 and
forced all mankind to worship the image of the beast in Revelations 13 are gathered to Armageddon for battle
against God.
After these things the seventh angel pours out the seventh bowl of God's wrath. The resulting explanation is the
physical destruction of earth as we know it.
There is from the pouring of the seventh bowl ( 16:17 ) a continuing time sequence of events thourgh 20:3.
Revelations 17- 19:10 are different explanations.
Chapter 17 and 18 explain the judgments of the visionary woman on the beast.
Chapter 19:1-10 explain the rejoicing of the Family of God as they say " Hallelujah: For the Lord God Omnipotent
reigns "
After the explanations comes Jesus Christ and the armies of Heaven. ( 19:11 ).
The rebellious army against God, are set for battle in Chapter 16. Jesus Christ and His army engage the battle in
19:11, after the explanations.
The battle of Armageddon is the greatest physical battle ever set and the shortest battle ever fought.
Jesus Christ comes to the battle with a " sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nation's ". (19: 15).
The beast and the false profit are cast alive into the Lake of fire and the rest are slain with the sword from Jesus
Christ's mouth.
The sword is the Word of God. Those of the rebellious are physical mankind. In verse 21, Jesus Christ speaks and
they all physically die.
The last phrase of verse 21 is a very interesting statement; " and all the birds were filled with their flesh."
First -- This declares and varifies that the ones killed are physical humans.
Second -- It is not about hungry birds.
Third -- This is an illustration that there well be no one to bury the dead. They will all be dead.
The above discussion was necessary to determine who reigns with Christ during the time of the millennium.
At the end of Revelation Chapter 11, the family of God, Jews and Gentiles, are no longer physically on earth. At
the time of Armageddon, the " whole world " is gathered to the battle and " all " are physically killed.
Please note:
Revelation 11:16-19 happens, in time sequence, at the same time as Revelation 13:11-18. These two time
sequence events correspond with Jesus' explanation of the end times in Matthew 24:15-42.
Then comes the millennial as the time sequence continues in Revelation 20.
Please note:
As we literally interpret the events of Revelations we find many difficulties. But consider, God is spiritual not
physical. God would not see physical death as we humans see it. Humans see life, death and then, eternal life. God
sees human live from the beginning of conception and continuing throughout eternity without a break at physical
death . To God, physical death is not a tragedy. Physical death, for a member of the Family of God is just one step
into the Kingdom of Heaven with our Spiritual Father.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalms 116 : 15
With the conclusion of Armageddon, satan is bound and sealed for 1000 years in the bottomless pit.
John, the writer is then shown a vision of the millennial. The explanation of the millennial vision is very short. It is
only three verses, but it requires much explaination.
There are two parts to the vision.
First---During the 1000 years there will be thrones with judges and judgments.
" And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. " (verse 4 a).
The second part of the vision, is a scene of the "souls" of mankind, "the Family of God".
" And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God,"
(Revelation 20:4 b).
References and explanations:
" For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end
of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly
and the sinner appear? "
(1 Peter 4:17-18.)
Judgment must begin at the house of God, with the family of God. That is, those who have obeyed the gospel of
God. Those who did not obey the gospel of God are not present at this first judgment. These of the millennial are
the souls that followed Jesus on "white horses " and " in fine linen, white and clean." (19:14)
Jesus told His disciples that they would be judges.
" But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My
Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. " (Luke 22:28-31)
Jesus says that because they have "continued through His trials " that they are made judges. Thus, those who are
judges at the first judgment of the House of God are faithful and proven to be worthy as judges. The disciples will
be judges of the " twelve tribes of Israel, " or the 144,000 as enumerated in Revelation Chapter 7.
Also in Matthew 19:28 Jesus said, " Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on
the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
"
In each reference those who are judges must be found qualified. The qualifications of these judges are the same in
the Old Testament.
In Zachariah 3:7 the Bible says, " Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My
command, then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of my courts; I will give you places to
walk among those who stand here. "
In Revelation 4: 4 it states, " Around the Throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four
elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads."
Whereas in the above references there were judges judging the twelve tribes of Israel, here in Revelation there are
twenty-four elders sitting on thrones.
In Revelation 4:10 they " cast their crowns before the throne " of God. Through that act they prove their worthiness
to judge as they give all the glory and honor to their God and Creator.
In Revelation 5:9-10 the twenty-four elders sang a new song saying, " You are worthy to take the scroll, and to
open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and
people and nation, and have made us kings and preists to our God; and we shall reign on the earth ".
The 24 elders sitting on thrones are made kings and preists to God. It would seem, although not clearly stated, that
the 24 elders would be among the judges of the millennial time. But, take note, that in the millennial vision Revelation
20:4 there is not a designated number of thrones.
The second part of the millennial vision shows to John " the Souls of those who have been beheaded for their
witness to Jesus and for the Word of God ".
Throughout history there have been many who were killed for their witness or testimony.
The first was Able the second son of Adam and Eve. Able was killed by his brother Cain. God had accepted
Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. Because of his brother's jealousy and anger Able was killed for his witness or
testimony that God had accepted his offering.
The last to be killed " for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God " are the two witnesses of Revelation
Chapter 11.
It seems in Revelation 20:4 that those who will sit on thrones judging the family of God during the millennial come
from among those who gave their physical lives for their witness of Jesus and the Word of God. This would be fitting
as they had a proven record of faithfulness and testimony of their witness.
In Revelation 6:9 in the vision of the fifth seal the Bible says, " When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. "
We can understand that these martyrs from throughout history are given a special place in heaven; " under the altar ".
" Under the alter" would not be a confining place, but a place of special protection and closeness to God's throne in
the Heavenly temple.
So,-- it seems that from the martyrs would be chosen the rightful judges.
John says in Revelation 20: 4, " I saw the Souls of those who had been beheaded." They would be the judges, but
they are not the only ones present as members of the Family of God. John saw, here in verse four, only the judges.
He did not see the Great multitude from which would be those who need to come before a judge. There is a similar
explanation in Revelation 7.
In Revelation 7 we are shown the whole family of God; the 144,000 and the great multitude from all nations, tribes,
peoples and tongues. In verse 13 , one of the elders says to John, " Who are these arrayed in white robes, and
where did they come from? "
Implying that he doesn't know, John answers, " Sir you know. "
The elders answers, " These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. " (verse 14).
The answer seems to point out only the last generation of Christians who have experienced great tribulation.
But the defining description is that they are " arrayed in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. "
This same defining " white robes " also clothed the "great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes,
peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm
branches in their hands, " (Revelation 7:9).
So, -- the whole family of God, fits the same description of being clothed with white robes.
Thus, with Chapter 7 as an illustration we conclude that, in Revelation 20:4, the "souls" of all the Family of God, are
present. Even so, the ones seen by John are those prepared and worthy to be the judges.
This judgment of the family of God, during the millennial reign is not a judgment of salvation. Their salvation had
already been determined or they would not be present at the millennial and 1st resurrection. The believer, the saved,
the born again christian, the family of God was clearly defined as they physically died and their souls were taken to
heaven. This is a judgment between members of the Family of God.
Mankind who are not of the family of God are not there. But their souls are in hell awaiting the second resurrection
and the Great White Throne judgment.
" And they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4 C -Revelation 20:5).
So,---the judgment of the Family of God during the millennial is a judgment between the family members of the
family of God.
Imagine---Two neighbors who have a very serious problem on earth.
Imagine --- That both of them are members of the family of God.
Imagine--- That they both die without reconciling their problem.
This happens every day on planet earth!!
In heaven---what kind of next-door neighbors would they be???
They must reconcile their problems so that heaven can be Heaven for the family of God.
In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus says, " Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother and then come and offer your gift. "
So,-- the judgment of the millennial reign with Christ will be the correcting of problems among the family. Those who
have had personal problems, unforgiven sins or any other circumstance that would hinder the peace and joy of
heaven will come before a judge. The judge will help to solve all problems. Thus, heaven will be a place of true
peace and greatest joy, without the problems that were collected in our physical lifes.
This 1000 year reign is also the first resurrection!!
The souls who are the family of God are also the armies of Heaven who followed Jesus to the battle of
Armageddon. These souls are the same souls that after the battle of Armageddon receive their bodies from the dust
of the earth. Their resurrected bodies are like the resurrected body of Jesus as He came out of the tomb after His
death. Jesus could eat, talk, touch, appear and disappear. He was spiritual, not physical, but He had a resurrected
body.
In Romans 6:5, " For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection. "
Therefore --- The millennial is a 1000 year span of time at the end of time when God restores His creation to its
original state.
Jesus Christ will reign, "face-to-face", with His faithful servants, the Family of God.
The Family of God are judged and restored to Godly relationships.
There will be perfect peace in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
" The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and
the fatling together; and the little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie
down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the
weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Isaiah 11:6-9
In the beginning the Garden of Eden---
In the end a millennial with Jesus Christ---
That is God's perfect plan.
THE FINAL BATTLE
The "final battle" is the greatest of all battles,. It is a spiritual battle and all the participants are spiritual beings. The
"final battle" includes every living being of all of creation and all of history.
God created!! God made all things that exist. Everything that can be physically seen, God made!! All physical
belongs to God. He made it.
You are God's property. You would not exist except God made you.
There are only two pieces of evidence for the above statement.
First---God said that He created all physical.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1.
"All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. " John 1:3.
Second---The reality of existence is strong evidence.
As a person looks at the stars, the sun, the moon, the earth, a tree, a flower, an animal or insect or looks into a
mirror they see an overwhelming evidence that God exists and created.
There is a theory circulated among mankind that teaches that there is existence through evolution. This evolution
theory begins with the existence of physical matter.
In the beginning of God's beginning, He created the physical matter that evolutionist's see as pre-existant.
The above statements are made to substantiate the following statement:
God created it---it belongs to Him---no one can take it from Him.
There are two groups, or entities, that have challenged and attempted to take possession of God's creation. Both
were created by God. Both are unique and central parts of God's creation. Both are spiritual and eternal beings.
Both have a beginning, when God created them, but their lives, after creation, are eternal.
One group is the angels. The other is mankind.
Angels and mankind are unique in creation because:
1). They are created in the image of God. In part that means that they are spiritual and after creation they live
eternally.
In the Book of Genesis the Bible says that God breathed into Adam the breath of life. That same " breath of life " is
given to every child and their mother's womb. Because---humans cannot create eternal spirits, thus our life / spirit
comes from God. This is part of being created in the image of God.
2). They have freedom of choice.
They may choose to obey or disobey, live in God's will or out of God's will, spend eternity with God or separated
from God. Having freedom of choice is part of being created in the image of God.
Mankind is somewhat different from the angels in that mankind may choose to believe or deny the existence of God.
Mankind must each make their decision to believe in God or not to believe
This is because mankind was created physical and cannot see God through physical eyes.
Angels are different as they were created spiritually in heaven, thus they cannot deny God's existence.
* * All Angels have freedom.
Many have remained faithful to their God and creator.
Many have rebelled against God their Creator.
* * All mankind have freedom.
Many have chosen to believe and remain faithful to their God and creator.
Many have chosen not to believe but to rebel against God their Creator.
Very early in the history of creation satan and many of the angels attempted to take over God's creation.
It was an organized rebellion against God, their Creator. Those who rebelled were cast out of their heavenly home.
They did not have the ability nor power to take over God's creation.
Therefore God separated them from Himself and will in the end separate those rebellious angels from His faithful
creation.
" How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who
weakened the nation's!" Isaiah 14:12.
Jesus said, " I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven." Luke 10:18.
Mankind also has the freedom to rebel against God their Creator. Those of mankind who rebel will also be
separated, by God, from Himself and His faithful followers
"All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life
was the light of men. He was in the world and the world was made through Him and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to
become children of God , even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor the will of man but of God." John 1:3-4 and 10-13
The final rebellion -- the final battle!!
"Now when the thousand years have expired, satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the
nations which are in the four corners of the earth, gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number
is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breath of the earth and surrounded the camp of the Saints and the
beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceive them,
was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever." Revelations 20:7-10.
The Biblical description of the "final battle" is very short. Indeed the "final battle" is very short.
Prior to the "final battle" satan is released from prison.
In order to better understand, note the following:
In the early history of creation satan with the other angels who rebelled were cast out of heaven. They were
confined to earthly realms.
"So the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he
was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelations 12:9.
Those rebellious fallen angels, or demons, continued their rebellion until they controlled earth. They deceived some
of mankind. Many of mankind chose the same rebellious path as those fallen angels. They refused to obey God.
Therefore, fallen angels and mankind alike are in rebellion against God their Creator. That coalition of the rebellious
is termed in the Bible, "the beast"`.
"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and
cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelations 13:15-17.
After satan and his coalition takes control, God destroys physical mankind and physical earth as we know it.
"And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great
earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and
the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of wine of the
fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from
heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague
of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great." Revelation 16:18-21.
In the above scriptures the battle of Armageddon is set and earth is destroyed or changed as we know it. The
mountains disappear and the Islands fled away. Armageddon is the last physical battle. The battle of Armageddon
is described in Revelation 19 with the conclusion in verse 21; " And the rest were killed with the sword which
preceded from the mouth of Him who sat on horse." After Armageddon all mankind are in their spiritual eternal
home. The family of God is in heaven. The family of the rebellious are and hell.
Satan is bound through the millennial reign of Christ. Then, he is released to continue his rebellion against God, his
Creator. With this rebellion satan has engaged the "final battle".
First--satan gathers his army as he goes out to "deceive the nations". He indeed deceives them. They are deceived
to believe they can fight God their Creator. This is an exceedingly great deception.
He gathers his army from the souls of the rebellious who are in hell. The army from hell is every demon and every
person from all of history who rebelled against God. God had removed them from heaven, from His presence and
from the presence of His faithful to that place prepared for satan and his followers.
The army of satan, in Revelations 20: 8, is gathered from " the nations which are in the four corners of the earth ".
This phrase, " four corners of the earth " is used in one other place. In Revelation 7:1 this phrase is used within the
context of the family of God gathered at the Throne.
"After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that
the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree."
Revelations 7:1.
We have with much prayer considered this phrase being used in the gathering of both the faithful and the rebellious
of God's creation. We believe that the "four corners, of the earth " is a spiritual place, not a physical place. Thus
they would be gathered from the entire realm of earth. There is a spiritual realm of earth, because, satan and his
fallen angels were confined there. (Reference Revelation 12:9-13).
Thus, those "gathered from the four corners of the earth " would be the souls of those who had lived on earth. Thus,
satan's army is the souls of the rebellious from earth who are in hell after physical death.
They and the devil who deceived them will be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false
prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Revelation 20:10.
" Tormented "---God is not doing the tormenting. God is not a tormentor. They are separated from God, thus
tormented.
1). God is the giver and sustainer of life.
2). Life without God is hell.
3). Life separated from God is a living hell !!!!!
So---as the armies of Heaven followed Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon, (19:14), so the armies from hell
follow satan to the "final battle "!!
This army from hell is Gog and Magog.
Magog is listed in the genealogies of 1st Chronicles as a son of Japheth. Biblical genealogies are in Genesis, 1st
Chronicles, Matthew and Luke.
In Genesis the Bible gives the genealogies from Adam to Noah and his three sons. Genesis 10 and 11.
1st Chronicles gives a partial genealogical list of pre-flood or Adam to Noah. Then 1st Chronicles gives partial
genealogies of the lineages of Japheth and Ham, with a more extensive genealogy of Shem.
These genealogies are given for a purpose. That purpose is so that all creation may know the truth of God through
real evidence.
These genealogies are evidence:
First---That all mankind may know the truth and source of the Word of God and that the Bible was given through
His true servants and prophets.
Second---That all may know the truth of who is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Thus, one evidence of the truth that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah is that both
came through the genealogy of Shem as was prophesied by God.
In part the spiritual lineage is as follows:
From the descendants of Adam came one who was faithful---Noah.
From the descendants of Noah came a faithful one---Shem.
" Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem. " Genesis 10:26.
From the descendants of Shem came a faithful one---Abraham.
From the descendants of Abraham came a faithful one--Isaac. From the descendants of Isaac came a faithful one--
Jacob/ Israel.
And then, came Moses to receive from God the first five books of the Bible.
And then came all the others who, inspired by God, wrote and handed down to mankind the Bible, the Word of
God.
And thus, Mary and Joseph whose lineages are traced back to those same persons were given the task of receiving
Jesus Christ into the physical world.
Thus, God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, gave to His creation proof-evidence that verifies His Word and
His Messiah and Son, Jesus Christ.
This is important to understand because:
There are religions, (plural), who claim that their founder was a prophet and that his teachings and writings are Holy,
or are from God, or are another Testament.
God declared from the beginning that His Word and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ would come through
His faithful as declared in the Bible.
Adam--Noah--Shem--Abraham--Isaac--Jacob / Israel, etc.
Therefore, the spiritual lineage of the faithful is evident. All mankind can trust that the Bible is God's Word and that
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, because they came as a result of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants
Isaac and Jacob/ Israel, etc. In every generation of mankind there have been faithful believers who have passed on
the Word of God, as given through God's spiritual lineage, to the next generation.
The purpose and necessity of this discussion is to better define, who is gog and Magog. Necessary, because, every
human being has the right and freedom to believe and call upon the name of the Lord or to reject God. Therefore,
each persons spiritual lineage is dependent upon their personal relationship with God their Creator.
Please note:
Jacob had 12 sons. The majority of Jacobs sons desired to kill their brother Joseph. This illustrates clearly that not
all of the descendants of God's faithful are God's faithful, or, not all fathful are faithful to God. The physical
descendants of Jacob / Israel are not all the Israel of God.
In the same way there is a lineage of Japheth--Magog that are those who are rebellious against God. But we should
not think that all physical descendants of Japheth--Magog are rebellious against God.
Because--- some of the gentiles of the descendants of Japheth--Magog are part of the " Great multitude " which no
man could number from every nation language and tribe of the earth. Revelations 7:9.
Therefore from the sons of Noah are two lineages, two families or two spiritual entities.
1).--From the descendants of Noel--Shem is a spiritual lineage of the faithful to God, their Creator. Through them
came the Word of God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. From them came the true church. From them came the Israel
of God. From them came the Great multitude of Revelation 7:9. From them came the two witnesses of Revelation
11. From them came the armies of Heaven in Revelations 20.
2).--From the descendants Noah -- Japheth -- Ham came the spiritual lineage of the unfaithful and rebellious against
God, their Creator. From them came all manner of religions. From them came the physical portion of the beast of
Revelations chapters 12 and 13. From them came those represented by the woman on the beast of Revelation
Chapter 17 and 18. From these came gog and Magog of Revelations 20:8.
Who is Magog???
Magog is the collective name given to the unfaithful and rebellious mankind of God's creation.
Magog is to the unfaithful rebellious of God's creation, the same as Israel " to the faithful family of God.
The man Jacob became the spiritual man Israel. The name Israel became the name of a nation of whom some were
the faithful servants of God. The nation of Israel became known as those who worshiped God the creator.
The whole house of Israel became the family of God from every nation, language and tribe.
In the end they are the armies of Heaven who followed Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon.
Thus the name " Israel " was a name given to one of God's faithful (Jacob) and the name ascribed to the whole
family of God.
In a similar way Magog is the name of the unfaithful.
Magog was the second listed son of Japheth, a son of Noah, as listed in Genesis 10:1.
Magog became a nation.
" From these the coastline peoples of the gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his own
language, according to their families, into their nations." Genesis 10::5.
Magog with his brothers and others are listed in Ezekiel 38 and 39 as being at war against God and God's people.
God says in Ezekiel "And say, thus says the Lord God: behold I am against you, O gog, the chief Prince of
Meshech and Tubal." Ezekiel 38:3.
In the end, Magog is the name given to the nation that is "gathered together" for the "final battle"!!!!
Thus, Magog in Revelation 20 is not only one of the sons of Japheth and one of the nation's called Magog, but also
representative of all the nations and people who have rebelled against God. Magog, in Revelation 20:7-9, is all
mankind from all of history who have been unfaithful and are in rebellion against God their Creator.
Please note!!:
Israel---spiritually = the Israel of God.
Israel---spiritually = the whole family of God.
Magog---spiritually = the whole family of satan.
Who is gog??
As Israel is to Magog---So David is to gog.
David was a leader, a king among the family of God.
gog was a chief prince, thus a leader among the family of satan.
The Bible differentiates between the leadership and the rest of God's creation.
Examples:
The 144,000 stand with Jesus Christ on Mount Zion. Revelation 14: 1-5. These are a group, ( 144,000, many
but not all ), from all the family of God who are spiritual leaders exemplified through their faithfulness and morality.
The false prophet is "cast alive into the lake of fire". Revelations 19:20. The false prophet, (with the wrong
message), are the leaders of the false church. They have been deceived and and have taught religions that are not
from God. They have deceive mankind. They are cast immediately into the Lake of fire. They were not allowed
their trial and judgment at the throne, but were cast out alive.
The false profit is cast out alive into the lake of fire, yet there are still leaders / gog, among the nations that are called
Magog in the end.
Thus, Magog / nations and their leaders/gog are gathered for the "final battle".
The souls of the rebellious family of satan, the last of whom have been in hell for 1000 years are gathered for the
"final battle" against God.
The Final Battle!!!!
Satan will be released. He will gather from hell the souls of his family. Those who, like Satan, rebelled against God.
Their number and name is 666. They will come and surround the Saints, the family of God, who are with Jesus
Christ in the millennial reign on earth. Immediately as they approach the "final battle " fire comes down from
heaven and the " final battle " is over and finished.
Please note Ezekiel 38 and 39 as further explanation of the " final battle ".
To better understand Ezekiel 38 and 39 please note these points.
Old Testament prophesy is glimpses, not the whole message of the future. Probably, prophesy is never the whole
story.
Old Testament prophesy pertains to three time periods:
1). Immediate future; 2). The coming and life of Jesus Christ;
3). The end times.
Old Testament prophesy does not clearly define or separate the times and space of prophesy.
In Ezekiel 38 and 39 there are glimpses and explanations of the reality that God is against and will destroy those
who have rebelled against Him and His faithful followers.
The explanations in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are descriptions of both Armageddon and the " final battle " in Revelations 19
and 20.
In the prophecy of God both battles are seen as the destruction of the enemies of God. In time and space they are:
1). The battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:19-21, is the final and complete physical destruction of mankind who
rebel against God.
2). The " final battle ", Revelations 20:7-9, describes the final defeat in spiritual realms of all the rebellious, both fallen
angels, (demons and satan), and the souls of rebellious mankind.
Also within Ezekiel 38 and 39 are statements about the millennial and the first resurrection, which had been
described and Ezekiel 36 and 37.
Thus, gog and Magog are gathered to the " final battle ".
" And fire came down from heaven and devoured them ". And the devil, who deceive them, was cast into a lake of
fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they were tormented day and night forever and
ever. Revelations 19:10.
At this point satan, demons, the beast and false prophet are in the lake of fire.
The end forever!!!!
Definitions:
Beast---The beast is an entity which, in part, is the leadership of the rebellious. Satan is the head, demons are the
spiritual powers and rebellious human beings are the body.
False prophet---The false prophet is the human leadership of the false church. They think they are worshiping God.
But they have been deceived by satan and demons. They teach others to follow that same deception. Thus the false
prophet. (Reference Revelations 13).
" Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he
deceives those who received a mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive
into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. " Revelations 19:20
" Cast alive into the lake of fire. "
This means that they are not permitted to stand before God's throne of judgment to receive their sentence. They are
cast out immediately into the Lake of fire.
This is correct, for they had led and deceived others to the destruction of their own souls.
It is also correct that the end would come in this manner.
Because; --- satan and the other rebellious angels:
---rebelled against God their Creator in heaven. They were cast out and confined to the realm of earth.
---rebelled against God in the earthly realm until they defeated and destroyed God's people. They conquered and
ruled earth and God destroyed them physically.
---rebelled against God and His faithful after the millennial in the eternal spiritual realm. After this third rebellion,
they are cast into the lake of fire forever.
Satan and all the rebellious have been defeated in every realm;
The Heavenly realm!!!
The Earthly realm!!! and
The Eternal realm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is God the creator and there is no other God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Satan rebelled in heaven.
He was confined to earth as a prison.
For bad behavior he was placed in solitary confinement for 1000 years.
He was on death row from heaven through the millennial. Then satan's sentence was carried out.
" And the devil ", who deceived them was cast into a lake of fire." Revelations 20:10.
The "final battle" of the ages is over and
Jesus Christ is Lord !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Final Judgment
The final judgment is a time when every human being who has ever lived on earth will stand before the Throne of
God.
" When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His
glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the
King will say to those on His right hand, come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world: "
" Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, unto the everlasting fire prepared for
the devil and his angels: " Matthew 25:31-34 and 41.
" Then I saw a great White Throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and
there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead,, small and great, standing before God, and the books were
opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their
works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and
Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then
Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written, in the
Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. " Revelations 20:11-15.
This is not a judgment about salvation.
This is not a judgment to determine ones eternal destiny.
Those decisions were made during physical life on earth. At the death of the body the soul of each person goes to
its eternal home. That place is determined by personal decision during life, and set forever at the time of physical
death.
In order to better understand the final judgment, some prior events needs to be in place.
* * The family of God are all physically dead and are in the spiritual place prepared for them by God. The whole
family of God is in their prepared place in heaven before the destruction of the seven bowls of God's wrath in
Revelation 16.
* *The whole rebellious family of satan has been physically killed and are in their eternal place prepared by God
after Revelation 19:21. This is after the conclusion of the battle of Armageddon.
At the conclusion of Revelations 19:21, (conclusion of the battle of Armageddon), there are no physical human
beings on earth. All mankind are physically dead. Their physical bodies are in the dust of the earth and their souls
are in the place God has prepared for them.
The whole family of God, as the armies of Heaven, had returned with Jesus Christ to the battle of Armageddon.
They receive their resurrected bodies, 1st resurrection, and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
The whole rebellious family of satan is, for that same 1000 years, in hell as God had prepared for them. Hell is
separation from God and God's people .
After the 1000 years satan is released, gathers his army from hell and all the rebellious surround " the camp of the
Saints ".
Immediately, satan is cast into the lake of fire. This is the end for satan. He is never to be heard from again.
Then, the Great White Throne judgment is set.
All mankind are together. God's faithful are in the middle with the rebellious surrounding them.
Then -- "THE FINAL JUDGEMENT ".
As Jesus described in Matthew; they are divided, with the faithful (sheep) on the right hand and the rebellious (goats)
on the left.
Salvation or eternal destiny had long before been determined. The names of the family of God had already been
written in the " book of life " and they are in heaven. The rebellious dead have been in hell for 1000 years.
"And the dead were judged according to their works", for their sins were "written in the books". Revelations 20:12 b
At the Great White Throne they are called " the dead ", because their destiny had already been determined. They
are separated forever from God their creator, the only giver and sustainer of life. In the eyes of God separation from
Him is death. In the eyes of mankind it is worse than death, because they are without the necessities of life forever,
yet are alive forever.
Also, at the Great White Throne, judgment is declared to them according to the records of their "works". They are
given a day in court. That day in court is not to determine guilt, but to declare judgment and carry out justice. These
"works" are their unforgiven sins. (Reference Matthew 25:41-46). They had rejected God's plan of salvation
through Jesus Christ and thus must be judged for their own sins. Justice will be served. They will be declared guilty,
because, their sins are recorded in the books. There will be no argument. The evidence will be clear and decisive.
Here at the Great White Throne is the second resurrection. This can be understood as John states that he sees the
"dead" "standing".
John said " And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened. And another
book was opened which is the Book of Life." Revelation 20: 12.
" The books" contain the personal sins of the "dead". The names of the "dead", are not in the Book of Life. From
the Scripture it is understood that as a person repents and invites / receives Jesus Christ into their heart, that their
sins are forgiven and erased from "the books" and their name is written, by Jesus Christ, in the Book of Life. For
those who do not repent and receive Jesus Christ, their sins remain in "the books" and their name is not written in the
Book of Life.
Thus, they receive their resurrected bodies only to be cast out into hell where their souls had already been for 1000
years.
Also with the judgment at the Great White Throne comes the second death. Revelation 20:14, " Then death and
Hades were cast into the Lake of fire. This is the second death. "
The second death is an eternal death. Marks 9:45 b - 46, " To be cast into hell, into the Lake of fire that shall never
be quenched- where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. "
The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual. They will exist forever and a state of death, (separated from
God), yet living.
The final judgment at the Great White Throne gives to every human being their own choice!!
Those whose choice was to reject God's plan through Jesus Christ, thus rebelled against Him, are judged guilty.
They are cast out and separated from God, heaven and the family of God, forever.
The family of God who had believed and received Jesus Christ, having been redeemed as they confessed their sins,
are judged worthy in Christ and given life eternal with God their Creator, forever and forever.
With the final judgment:
All is correct, --- All is in order, --- All is finished.
Justice has been carried out!!
TRUE RELIGION
Mankind is inherently religious.
This is a simple statement, but so very profound in the history and lives of mankind.
By the evidence of history, mankind is religious. All peoples worship something. It is built into us. We desire God,
or gods, or a higher being, or a spiritual experience or a psychic phenomenon.
Mankind has a spiritual god, either they God, or a god, or self.
All mankind is concerned with death, life after death, eternity or immortality. The whole reason for religious and
spiritual experience is the reality of death and the hope of immortality.
If a person has rejected God, and all gods, they depend upon self for immortality or eternity, thus self has become
God. For that reason we say, everyone has a spiritual God. God the creator is Spirit, satan and demons or spirits
and each human has a living spirit given to them by their creator at conception. Theirfore self can become God,
even the atheist is their own god.
Who has the power over death and immortality?
God, or gods, or self ?????????????
Humans at one time or another have worshipped and made images of most all of the animals, the sun, the moon, and
humans. This has been so prevalent in history that archaeologist may find a small clay figurine of in a dig and claim it
to be a god worshiped by the people of that civilization. Possibly the figurines were worshiped, but maybe they
found the kindergarten school of that people. It has been said that some primitive peoples made totem poles and
worshiped them. But maybe they were sign post warning strangers to stay away. We should not claim that
everything primitive mankind has made was their gods,. But the fact can be clearly seen, that people are naturally
and inherently religious.
Since humankind is thus preoccupied with religion and religious experience, what is the truth, what is reality, what is
fiction, and what is the true religion??
For this discussion we will place religion into three general categories:
!st----Religions that worship physical things.
2nd----Religions that worship great individuals and their teachings.
3rd----Religions that worship unseen spiritual beings.
Note---All religions whether small and insignificant or of worldwide influence are founded upon some phenomenon,
inexplainable event or some great leader-teacher.
All have a spiritual driver,---or---the power that makes it exist.
1). Worship of physical things:
Throughout history certain peoples have worshiped the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or members of the animal
kingdom or other physical things. They have made images of bulls, jaguars, great men, icons of Saints etc. Although
the sculptors, and artist may or may not have intended to make gods, people have worship their sculpture and art as
gods.
Most modern mankind would readily agree that images, idols, icons, etc. exist as a result of wood or stone or some
physical material being shaped by some artists. Also, most would agree that these images have no power in and of
themselves. People today understand that the sun, is a ball of fire, that the moon is physical material reflecting the
light of the sun and all other things seen in the sky are of a similar nature. Most would also agree, that there is no
magical power or spiritual phenomenon in fireballs or planets of physical material. But--mankind at one time
another has worshiped all these physical things.
Why has mankind made gods and worshiped nature and things made from nature? Why do people make things that
are physical with no power in and of themselves, gods that cannot see or hear or speak or walk? Why do living
human beings, make and worship gods that have no life in them? In fact, they are made of decaying physical matter.
Is it just lack of education, lack of scientific knowledge or just ignorance?
No!!---people have worshipped what they could see and understand.
Images, idols, icons, sun, moon and stars are lifeless things, not gods. They have no power, magic or life influencing
phenomena. But there are living beings, spirits, who use these physical things to influence mankind. They work
through a wide range of spiritual powers to influence and manipulate mankind to worship them through these various
physical objects. Mankind may be bowing down and looking to an idol of wood or stone, but the power and