OBSERVATIONS

DISCOVERING THE MYSTERY

2008-12-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
- Winston Churchhill

It was in the early 1980's that I first stumbled over the bible definition of the Mystery. While studying the Bible one day, the word "mystery" popped out at me. I knew a mystery was something not normally understood, and wanting a Bible definition, I began looking for any scripture that contained the phrase "the mystery is". I just couldn't find one. I did find "the mystery of" in several places: the mystery of God, the mystery of Christ, the mystery of the kingdom, the mystery of his will, mystery of the gospel, and several more. But, I knew that whatever the mystery "IS", is what made each of these other subjects a mystery themselves.

I eventually discovered what the mystery is by searching out every scripture that had the word mystery in it. I finally found out that it was the way the sentence was constructed that caused it to elude my search. Here it is, the first scripture that pointed me in the right direction:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Colossians 1:27

In reading this verse, I noted that the "mystery" is the very object of the statement. Then my eyes fell upon the phrase "which IS Christ in you."

"What is?", I asked myself, thinking. Looking back through the verse again, "the mystery is", I thought.

Putting it altogether the answer came as: "The mystery is Christ in you."

"You have got to be kidding", I thought, Is that it? Is that all? Everyone already knows that. That's no "mystery"."

But, during subsequent bible studies I noted that this subject was one that Jesus commented on several times, even expanding it, and opening it up further. Not only was it that the mystery is Christ in us, but also that we are in Him. And beyond that, He was in the Father and the Father was in Him!

John 14: 19-20:

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

John 17:21:

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

I once heard a minister give a sermon centered around the idea that wherever we go, if Christ is "in us", we take Him along with us. He had a good point, and was focusing on how others see us as we may be entering places of lesser reputation such as a Honky Tonk bar for example.

Now the Bible does say to avoid the appearance of evil, and if we are known to be a Christian, one might wonder what kind of example that might be setting. This minister was showing that we should be concerned about what others think of us.

Without getting into a long discussion on what may, or may not be evil, I want to focus on something completely different.

Almost all who profess to be Christians can grasp the significance of what it means to have Christ living within you. I have heard the saying, "let Jesus into your heart" come from the mouths of so many religious people, that it's almost nauseating .... especially with the pious, hands clasped together in a praying gesture. I'm sure everyone's experienced that one. But, the weight of the mystery hangs on the inverse of that.

There is a tremendous significance attached to the other side of the coin. That's the one I want to look at. And, here it is: Not only is Jesus in us, we are in Him!

Now think about what that means. Everywhere Jesus goes, we go with Him. And, who do you suppose has been looking at Jesus for the last 2000 years? You can bet it's not Mrs. Bertha Betterthanyou watching the bar door on her way home from prayer meetin'. No, Jesus has been surrounded by the Elohim, the heavenly host, and God the Father for the past 2000 years. If you can understand, God the Father considers that you were baptized with Christ when He was baptized, died with Him on the cross, raised with Him at His resurrection, and now sit with Him on the Father's right-hand. It is a legal condition that you have with God concerning all the law. He cannot see you without looking at Christ ....... because you are IN Christ. You were in Jesus AT THE TIME He was judged before the throne of God after His assention on the Mount of Olives. In fact, this has ALWAYS been the plan of God for you thousands of years before you were ever born. This is the planned destiny of all mankind. It cannot ever be anything else because it is the WILL of God.

Here's how the apostle Paul explained it in Ephesians 1: 3-5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

And here in Ephesians 2: 4-6:

" But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

I Timothy 2:4:

" [God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Now the word "profane" means to make something common as opposed to sacred. And I have heard so many preachers plead with others to "accept Jesus into their hearts" (as if Jesus were standing behind them begging them to do so), that it caused me to overlook the INCREDIBLE significance of what the other side of the coin means ... to be IN Christ!

I was almost afraid to believe it, for you see, this makes a bold declaration, that if we are "legally" sitting next to God within Christ, we now legally have all the rights and privileges of being an Elohim! Therefore, we cannot sin. No matter what we might do, it cannot be called sin and has absolutely no bearing on eternal life whatsoever. Oh, we may be punished for things we continue to do that are not right, just as the Sons of God were as shown in the previous post: ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD. Because we are NOW considered the Children of God. Our citizenship is not of the earth, but of Heaven. No longer are we considered members of mankind, but we are an altogether new "creature". It's as good as done! All we need is to have our physical bodies changed into celestial ones through the process that Christ will initiate at His return to this earth.

I John 3:9: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."[because of WHO he is -Elohim]

I John 3:2: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, "

Philippians 3:20: "For our conversation is in heaven;
The word "conversation" above is translated from the Greek word "politeuma" meaning, "citizenship, one of a community" See Strongs concordance # 4175.

II Corinthians 5: 17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: "

Galatians 3: 25: " But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster [the Old Covenant Law ].

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

I have included a lot of scriptures for your ease of study, but it would be good to get your own Bible out and hunt them up if you wish. There's something good about a person seeing them in their own Bible.

If you are reading this for entertainment because it may be interesting, you may get bored by the large amount of scriptures I have included. However, if you are one who finds this as food for a hunger you have about the things of God, then you may enjoy the scriptures made available here.

I said that because of the next set of scriptures. Please slow down. Read them a half verse at a time, then think about it. Ponder what is being said. Don't hurry. See yourself as included in what is being said here.

"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Now, let's go through it again with some clarifying comments:

"Now I say, That the heir [mankind], as long as he is a child [spiritually immature], differeth nothing from a servant, though he be [his potential] lord of all; (see Rev. 21:7 - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

But is under tutors [Law, the schoolmaster] and governors until the time appointed of the father. [The Father is actively guiding His plan for mankind.]

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:[Spiritual forces]

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,[Christ became subject to the Law]

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.[He did this by fulfilling the Law, but dying anyway. Therefore, the Law of God owes Christ the payment of LIFE. And, we are now IN Christ]

And because ye are[Are now, not future] sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more [the mankind thing is over, now.] a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." [As an heir of God, you are destined to become Elohim and legally, are considered one already. You are to inherit the universe.... ALL things.

Revelation 21:7:

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

As I said at the beginning of this post, it was in the early 1980's that I first looked into the "Mystery". As a member of the Worldwide Church of God, I was stuck somewhere between the fifth and sixth levels of spiritual maturity. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong had pieced together an entirely unique covenant, taking pieces from Israel's Old covenant and Israel's New covenant.

In the latter part of the 1980's I was asked to be a speaker at Sabbath Services. Having been the president of the church's Spokesman's Club , I didn't refuse. Soon the church leadership stopped all other speakers except the local minister in the two-church area. For about two years, it was just the minister and me. In all that time, I did not try to injure anyone's spiritual growth by teaching anything contrary to the church's established statement of beliefs. However, while trying to stick to things we understood in common, I often spoke on things they had never heard of, and had no established doctrine on. The congregation hungered for such things. I know because they never failed to tell me after services were over.

I just couldn't understand why they stopped all other speakers, and put me before the congregations. It still baffles me.

One day I spoke on the throne of God .... where it is now, and what it would be like to go there and see it and the outlying topography of heaven. It was at an annual Holy Day service with about 700 people in attendance from several surrounding states.

After the service was over, the minister in charge, pulled me aside, complimented me for doing what he had asked before the beginning of services. He had asked me to wake them up a little. It was rather warm in the building, and it looked like some might doze off.

I guess I woke them up. However, he also cautioned that I should try to adjust my speaking so it would not be quite so abstract in the future. He suggested that I gear my speaking so even the little ole grey-haired ladies in the audience could understand it.

As he walked away, Mrs. Pretorti (a little grey-haired lady in her 80's) stepped up to me and said, "I want to thank you Mr. Rockwell. That was the most exciting sermon I ever heard. I don't know why more sermons can't speak to those things. It has made me want to go back and study my bible like I did years ago."

The minister thought the things I spoke on went over the heads of those in the audience. We should never underestimate the minds of those we speak to. When we look down to others, it merely indicates that we think we are already above them.

My sermons must have shaken things somehow however, because at the subsequent Holy Day service I was asked to speak again. But this time, the local elder of a neighboring church introduced me as "a special guest speaker from headquarters in Pasadena .... Mr. Dennis Luker." It felt rather uncomfortable having to correct him as I arrived at the lectern.

In 1990 as I was slowly growing away from the sixth level of maturity, I found it necessary to separate from the Worldwide Church of God. Soon afterward, others left also. Now I had the intellectual freedom to study the Bible like I wanted to. But, as it would be, others began contacting me to see if we could get together on the "Sabbath."

The subject of the "Mystery" was put aside as I got swamped with setting up places where they could come for fellowship. They needed it. They didn't know where to go. Annual Feast sites were requested. Prayers for sickness, etc.
I began producing the weekly Voice From Afar radio broadcast on cassette tapes, and sometimes in person at the radio station. I had a mind full of things to say, but was too busy to study into the things that I wanted to.

As a few years went by, I did find some time to pursue certain things I wanted to in the bible. Eventually, I guess I must have matured spiritually to the point where I began to become uncomfortable with the observance of the Old Testament Holy Days. Not that they were wrong in any way, but that they were for someone else. They were now an identifying sign of spiritual immaturity that I knew wasn't appropriate for my place in life.

In this whole walk toward spiritual maturity, I had never seen any of Ernest L. Martin's work. None. Then one day, I came across it on a computer search. I was absolutely dumbfounded. Here was a man who had left the SAME church 20 years before I did, for the same reasons I did ..... and he was teaching profound things about the MYSTERY of God!

But he was no ordinary man such as I. This man had been a Theology professor in the Worldwide Church of God's Ambassador College. I could write a whole paragraph on his credentials, but I won't. You can see for yourself by visiting the website that continues to carry on his work even though he died in January 2002.

Here is an encyclopedia article about Dr. Martin: Dr. Ernest L. Martin

Here is a link to the Bio of the man that is carrying on with the work God started through Dr. Martin: David Sielaff.

Here is a link to his website: ASSOCIATES FOR SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE

Now, the radio programs, the Sabbath meetings, Festival days are all history. I have never had so much freedom to study in all my life. It is wonderful. I decided to make this website just in case it might be what someone else out there is looking for. It may be helpful. I do not know if I agree with everything presented on the ASK website, but I'll bet the majority of it I do. Besides, time is the only thing that keeps me from disagreeing with myself, as it is for anyone who is growing as time goes by.

Initially, I planned on posting information on many different subjects of life besides the Bible. And, I still intend to. But, it may take a little longer, till I get this subject out.

Thanks for dropping by,

Ken Rockwell

P.S. For a one hour video presentation of this subject, go to my DVD page and request "The Mystery".

NINCOMPOOP

2008-11-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

Nincompoop is one of the many synonyms listed in the thesaurus for the word fool. Here are some others: halfwit, ignoramus, imbecile, ninny, twerp, jughead, numbskull, goofball, dingbat, and moron among many others.

The reason I looked up the word "fool" in the dictionary was because of what King Solomon wrote as recorded in Proverbs 18:13

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
it is folly and shame unto him."

The lesson of that statement is this: If we approach any question, study, or subject, with our minds already made up as to what the true answer is, we are foolish. Preconceived notions are the halmark of a foolish approach to learning truth.

Do we have "favorite" doctrines, that we accepted years ago, that we just cannot let go of, even in light of substantiated evidence to the contrary? Do we approach new understanding with a set of old rules that it must conform to before we will accept it. If so, it is an exercise in folly. We assume the identity of a fool who resists growth. We then find ourselves on the path to becoming a halfwit nincompoop.

Most bible students have a list of things that they previously accepted as truth on their journey toward spiritual growth. In most cases, not one of these precepts were something they learned themselves. Instead, it was told to them by someone else (usually older than them) who themselves put pieces of information together from other sources.

Most people are followers. They will follow a person that gets their attention more than others. After a while they develop an allegiance to that person. Soon, they will believe whatever that person teaches.

If there is a central theme that one believes, it is much better and safer, to have come to that conclusion from several sources. It is better to have read widely; to have studied widely, and then to "search the scriptures to see whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11).

Instead of simply worshipping God and studying the Bible, nearly all people line themselves up on the foolish path of "organizing" into a group. Such groups determine what their collective set of beliefs are, and thus the individual disappears.

How in the world can everyone believe the same thing at the same time? Imagine a foot race of sixty people where everyone is running flat out as fast at they can, and everyone is neck to neck. Sooner or later some are going to fall behind. A religious group is just like that.

But if you ask those who fall behind, they will say they believe what the ones out ahead of them believe, even though they haven't understood it yet! They have an answer to a question they haven't even understood yet, simply because the leaders of the "organization" have one.

By definition, such a person is a nincompoop, exercising a life of religious folly.

I have been a nincompoop. Years ago, the wit and mannerisms of certain teachers of a religious organization caught my attention. To my own satisfaction, I proved several of their precepts were undoubtedly true. And, they still are!

As the years went by, I accepted several other of their precepts as true without doubting. I was building on the confidence I had in that organization.

Reading literature outside those of that organization was frowned upon, and even forbidden. So, I really only had the Bible itself as "outside" literature. I studied, and I studied. Inconsistencies arose, even as infighting and arrogance blossomed between leaders within the organization. It was self-destructing.

After separating myself from that organization, I found that many of the true precepts, might infact be true, but they had nothing whatsoever to do with me. They were given by God for another people of another time. They made their own covenant by mixing God's old covenant with Isreal with His new covenant with Israel. And, since Moses was dead, they themselves sat in Moses' seat.

Being no longer a halfwit, I now enjoy the research work of many independent scholars who love searching out the truth of God.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:
but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2

If we have been deceived, it's our own fault for not being true to ourselves! To come out of self deception we must first admit that we DO have preconceived notions. Do I need to repeat that several times, or will you just please sit back and contemplate on it?

It's ok to have opinions, but (now listen), are they your OWN, or have you been packing around the opinions of someone else for years? They may be your opinions now, even though they started out as someone elses. You may have proven them in the past to your own satisfaction. That is just the danger. I'm saying now is the time to go back and reprove everything to yourself. Can you do such a thing? Is it possible to discard "cherished" errors? Only you can tell.

Don't be a nincompoop. Don't be foolish. There should be no one, no one, between you and God, except for Jesus Christ. Now's the time to jettison all the poop others have told you to believe. Now's the time to wake up and do the work necessary to learn, and to grow spiritually!

Can you see God, or is there someone standing in front of you? How's the view?

If you haven't read the article CHURCH GRADUATION, now would be a good time to read it.

Good luck my friend.

THERE IS A SPIRIT IN MAN

2008-10-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

THERE IS A SPIRIT IN MAN

Animals know things. And, different animals know different things. Take a cat for example. In our back yard there are two large pine trees just twenty five , or thirty, feet out our back door. Since the first limbs are about fifteen feet off the ground, I keep a small table with about four chairs placed under one of the trees where I will often enjoy a cup of coffee with my wife as we talk and take in the panorama of the surrounding meadows and forested hills. Several cats have adopted us, and have taken up uninvited residence in the buildings at the perimeter of our yard.

On different occasions, while sitting quietly, I have observed that a cat knows if it will creep stealthily toward an area on the ground beneath our bird feeder, and conceal itself beneath the rhododendron bush, chances are good that sooner or later it will be provided with an opportunity to ambush a fresh meal.

This is something the cat knows. It knew this before it left the building, and it expends the effort needed to sneak to it's hidden position. There is a spirit in the cat that empowers it's little brain to know this.

But alas, the birds have a different spirit that empowers them to suspect a cat might be hiding in the bushes, therefore they avoid landing on the dangerous ground. If they visit the ground to recover a morsel of fallen food, they do it in haste, and immediately wing it back up into the safety of the branches.

All animals have a spirit that empowers them to know the necessary things of living in their respective reality. Yes, animals know things.

Man, on the other hand, not only knows things, he knows that he knows. Man's intelligence is so overwhelming that it scares all the other life forms around him. Man is unique. He has an extreme spirit. The spirit of man.

Solomon spoke of these spirits, and differentiated between them, in Ecclesiastes 3: 21 -

"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward,
and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

The apostle Paul reflected on the uniqueness of the spirit that empowers the mind of man in I Corinthians 2:11 -

"For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?"

Old English can be hard to read sometimes. The word "save" in the above quoted verse can be difficult for some. It merely means "except for". The verse is simply saying, if it wasn't for the fact that mankind has a unique spirit within him, he would not be unique in knowledge. He would react to the world around him like the animals do, with mere instinct. The spirit of man is special.

"For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save [except for] the spirit of man which is in him?"

What would happen if a human being did not have this unique spirit, but instead, had the empowering spirit of, say a cow, or a bull? His body might be as complete and functional as any other person's, but his "mind" would be that of a mere animal. The mind is what results from the combining of the material gray matter of the physical brain, and the non-physical spiritual component of what is simply referred to as "spirit".

Actually, we don't have to imagine this. We can read about it, for such a thing is recorded as happening in the book of Daniel. It happened to the great Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar.

Here it is in Nebuchadnezzar's own words as recorded in Daniel 4: 4-16 -

"I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house,

and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream

which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed

and the visions of my head troubled me.
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise

men of Babylon before me, that they might make

known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers,

the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told

the dream before them; but they did not make

known unto me the interpretation thereof.

But at the last Daniel came in before me,

whose name was Belteshazzar,

according to the name of my God,

and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods:

and before him I told the dream, saying,

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,

because I know that the spirit of the holy gods

is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee,

tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen,

and the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions

of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a

tree in the midst of the earth, and

the height thereof was great.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height t

hereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof

to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair,

and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat

for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it,

and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof,

and all flesh was fed of it.

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed,

and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down

from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus,

Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches,

shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the

beasts get away from under it, and

the fowls from his branches:

Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth,

even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender

grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of

heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the

grass of the earth: Let his heart be changed from man's,

and let a beast's heart be given unto him;

and let seven times pass over him."

The word "heart' used here, is from the Hebrew word "lebab" and is defined as one's mind and is not referring to the fleshly organ that pumps blood through one's body. The spirit of man was taken from Nebuchadnezzar and he was given the spirit of an animal. This gave him the mind of an animal and he reacted as an animal. This continued for seven times, which refers to seven years.

This was done for a reason. Previously, Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue fashioned as a god and commanded that all show bow before it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, saying they worshipped only the true God of heaven; and because of this they were thrown into a furnace from which they were miraculously rescued by God.

God decided to show Nebuchadnezzar just Who was Who in the universe. He snatched the spirit of man from Nebuchadnezzar's body and replaced it with the inferior spirit of an animal. Talk about an attitude adjustment! Look at Nebuchadnezzar's attitude once God restored his spirit of man seven years later:

Verses 33-34: "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar:

and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen,

and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs

were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine

eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me,

and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that

liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom is from generation to generation:"

There is even a Bible account of the inverse Nebuchadnezzar's experience. It's a scientific fact that animals see light and hear sounds of different frequencies than man can. Some can see into the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and they can hear ultrasonic frequencies also. In short, they can see and hear things present that we cannot.

Balaak, the king of Moab, wanted a prophet by the name of Balaam to pronounce a curse on the people of Israel. So, he sent messengers to get Balaam. But God did not want Balaam to go with them. Nevertheless, when the morning came, Balaam saddled his donkey and started his journey. As Balaam traveled he approached an area where an angel stood with sword drawn to prevent their passage. The donkey saw the angel up ahead, but Balaam couldn't. So the donkey walked off the path and entered the field to circumnavigate around the angel.

Balaam smacked the donkey with a whip and turned back onto the path. It occurred in the area of a vineyard where the trail had a wall on either side, so in an effort to avoid the angel, the donkey swerved to the side and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam smacked the donkey again.

The angel then went down the trail further to a narrow place where there was no way Balaam and the donkey could pass on either side. As the donkey approached the angel, it stopped and laid down on the trail with Balaam on it's back. Again, Balaam whipped it. God then worked a miracle with the donkey. It turned to Balam and began to do a very human thing. It began speaking!

"And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass,

and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee,

that thou hast smitten me these three times?" - Numbers 22:28

Spirit is important! In fact, James 2:26 says a body without a spirit is dead. When a person dies, the spirit of man returns to God and he keeps it, takes care of it, and can return it to that body, which has been restored to excellent physical condition through a resurrection, anytime He wants to. Just like He did for Nebuchadnezzar.

And, there are different kinds of spirit that empower the brain to have different kinds of minds just as the experiences of Nebuchadnezzar and Balaam show.

Adam was formed (not created) of the dust of the ground. At that instant, his body existed, but he was not living yet. He was a body without a spirit. Next, God did not merely breathe a breath of air into Adam, but the "breath of life." This puff of air had "life" in it! There was spirit in this breath of air.

Remember, James did not say a body without "air" is dead, he said a body without "spirit" is dead.

But, God did not personally breathe this spirit (breath of life) into you. He did not breathe it into me either. In fact, He did not breathe it into anyone after Adam. This spirit, this "life" is passed on from Adam, from generation to generation, as a component part of the human sperm cell.

The human egg, on the other hand, has no life of its own. If it is not fertilized by human sperm, it is not given life. It passes out of the female never having begun the growth process. The spirit of man you have within you now has come directly from God Himself, but it was passed on to you from generation to generation. The air, however, is different. You gulped it in yourself the instant you were born.

This is one of the wonderful acts of God.

"The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel,

saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens,

and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth

the spirit of man within him." - Zechariah 12:1

Think of the things the mind of man deals with: Rockets, computers, planning a garden, driving a car, constructing artwork, building a building, developing a substance called concrete, writing a book, inventing a microscope that peers down into the inner workings of a living cell. These are things the mind of man deals with. Compare that to the mind of a cat, a frog, or a chicken. What a VAST difference.

Now, as you think on that difference, realize that a similar difference exists when comparing the mind of God to the mind of man!

Near the beginning of this article I quoted I Corinthians :

"For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save the spirit of man which is in him?"

That was only the first part of the verse. Now, let's see the last part:

"even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

Now a new subject is brought up. The spirit of God. Without this spirit, mankind cannot understand the things of God. Even with the incredibly unique spirit of man, an atheist (though he be a rocket scientist) simply cannot fathom the existence of intelligent life beyond the physical realm of things he can see, hear, and touch. It is beyond his comprehension. Hearing the religiously deceived speak, he perceives their beliefs for the fairy tales they truly are. For even their doctrines are generally formulated without the divine influence of the spirit of God.

The real truth of God lies beyond the reach and understanding of those who lack the spirit of God. Rather than try to explain it further, once again it is better if I let the recorded scripture do it. Here it is in verses 12 through 14:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,

but the spirit which is of God; that we might know

the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which

man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost

teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things

of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness

unto him: neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned."

Physically, you started out as a human egg with the potential to have life of your own. However, that did not occur until life was imparted to it by sharing in the spirit of man carried by the life-giving messenger of the human sperm cells carried down to you from Adam.

In like manner, when you were physically begotten, the spirit of mankind within you itself had the potential to have a life of it's own as an individual spirit being .... an entirely new creation. Once begotten and born, it would begin to grow. You would be able to learn, and understand, of the things of God. At first, like a physical baby, you would have needed to feed on the milk of the word of God. The basic precepts. Later, sometimes a considerable time later, you would have matured to the point of even understanding the deepest mysteries of God.

There are different views as to what being born again means, and when it happens. It is a very tricky subject. One that I personally have understood and believed two different ways at different times. The basic questions is this: Can one be born again, that is, born of the spirit, now? Or, does being born again mean being changed into a spirit being at the resurrection?

I will not try to change your mind here. And the reason for that couldn't be said any more succinctly than Yogi Berra put it:

“There are some people who, if they don’t

already know, you can’t tell them”

However, here are a few reasons why I believe a person who is born again, is born again now.

1) The apostle Peter said Christians are "born again" by the word of God - I Peter 1:22-23

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth

through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,

see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible, by the word of God,

which liveth and abideth for ever."

This statement means to be born again, and not merely "begotten" in this life, as some have tried to teach. This is made clear in Peter's next statement in I Peter 2:1 - 2 -

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile,

and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk

of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"

The analogy cannot be a simple conception within the womb, as one who is begotten. Rather, the Christian is as a "newborn babe" that needs to be fed on the milk of the word. The context of these verses shows that Peter considered Christians as already "born again." A person simply cannot take of a mother's milk until they are born.

Furthermore, just think, if we are to be born again at the resurrection, are we then to be spiritual infants at that time? No, we are a new creature NOW. We are born a new being NOW. We need to do our growing NOW. That new creature needs only to be changed at the resurrection. Unlike a newborn baby, it needs to already be mature and ready to serve in the purpose of God's great plan.

The apostle Paul comments:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:

old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

And so does the apostle John:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he

power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

Which were [past tense] born, not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man, but of God."

Much more could be cited here, but I don't want to belabor the point. My main objective is to point out that the spirit of man elevated the mind of man to an unfathomable position above all other forms of life on earth. And just like that, the spirit of God recreates mankind as a new creature with a mind to understand the things of God to an unfathomable position far above even those who have only the spirit of man.

IS GOD A CUBE, A CLOUD ... OR WHAT ?

2008-08-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

IS GOD A CUBE, A RECTANGLE, OR IS HE MORE LIKE FOG

I have heard people say God is a shapeless cloud of spirit.
Others say you can't imagine what He looks like.
Some think He is a shapeshifter with a tri-polar personality they call the trinity.

Does anyone really know what God looks like?

As I sit here writing this article something invisible is moving outside my office window. My home office is in one room of an old farm house on a hillside in southwestern Pennsylvania. As I glance up from my computer and look out the window, I can see the boughs of a large pine tree swaying back and forth in the wind. I see the effect of the wind, but I cannot see it.

I wonder, is this invisibility a property of the air? Or, is it a property of the human eye? I know the wind is real. Yet, I can't see it. My thoughts return to the computer monitor in front of me. It is a flat panel LCD manufactured by KDS, and it displays for me all the information I keep stored in my Mac Quicksilver computer. It lights-up in color, displays beautiful graphics; and I can see it easily, although my eyesight has been fading somewhat in recent years. Like the wind outside, that gives motion to the limbs of the big pine tree, there is something invisible coursing through the circuits of my computer system that gives "life" to it.......electricity.

There are a lot of invisible things in this life. Thoughts are invisible. And yet, thoughts are what I am writing here. Through these invisible thoughts I hope to disclose some of the nature of the invisible God.

The Bible openly says that God is invisible. Here are a couple verses:

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" - Col. 1:15

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." - I Timothy 1:17

"By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." - Hebrews 11:27

The visible things of this world around us (trees, rocks, clouds, animals, vegetation of all kinds, lakes and rivers, etc.) are patterned after previously existing things of the place where God resides that we cannot see. To us ...they are invisible.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" - Romans 1:20

But just what does the word invisible mean? It simply means you cannot see something from your position. The word invisible simply means not visible. It can be "not seen" simply because light is not able to bounce off of it and back to your eye. It can be hidden out of sight. It can be camouflaged to blend in, or it can be transparent.

Air is invisible because it is transparent. Electricity is invisible because the electrons (real matter in motion) are so small that you cannot see them. God (as well as the place he resides) is invisible because it is out of sight in a direction in which we cannot travel.

Please read the article YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE to get more understanding on this subject.

Before we get into the nature of the place where God lives, let's look at the nature of where we are. We live in a four dimensional, physical reality. God designed it, and it works very well.

Our consciousness peers out at the world around us through two amazing windows called the human eye. Although we may see a tree on the distant hillside, our eye has no direct contact with it. Instead, light from the sun bounces off it and carries information about the tree to our eye. Let's say it is mid-autumn and the tree is a brilliant red sugar maple. As the light strikes the tree, its chemical composition is such that it absorbs all the colors of the rainbow except red. It does not have the ability to absorb red, so the red light bounces off making the observer think the maple is red. However, think about it, red is the only color it is NOT. It kept (absorbed) all the other colors! However, such a system works for us in daily life as we need it.

There is a region of the brain that converts incoming information into images. This causes us to "see" the world around us as various frequencies of light bounce off objects and enter our eyes. However, that region of the brain never sees the light. Instead, immediately after entering the eye, the light is converted to a tiny electrical impulse which travels down the optic nerves and on to the "seeing" region of the brain.

A similar process operates our senses of hearing, smelling, touching and tasting. Each input is converted to an electrical impulse and carried to various regions of the brain that allow us to hear, smell, feel or taste.

Technically, an electric impulse could be applied to the optic nerve causing a person to see things that weren't there. And they would be seen with the same impression of reality that any other REAL thing has ever been seen by that person. Reversing this process in a selective manner would prevent a person from ever seeing "certain" things that were really there.

There exists a "power" in the air. Technically it's called the electrostatic field. This field makes it possible to transmit radio waves. Marconi was credited for the discovery of this field, until relatively recently when that honor went to Nikola Tesla who discovered it before Marconi.

But way before Marconi and Tesla there was another one using that power, and he still does. He can bypass the normal route of eyes and ears and cause a person to REALLY hear things and see things that don't exist. Apparitions and things that go bump in the night. His transmissions influence one's thoughts, moods, attitudes, and even things they think they see and hear. The verse below is a direct reference to Satan - "the god of this world".

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" - Ephesians 2:2

Never think God does not have a specific shape just because you are not able to see him. All celestial beings have a definite shape and form, including the topography of the heavenly realm.

God is not a cloud of formless spirit. Let this sink in: Mankind was made in God's own image. he had the shape FIRST.

God has:
An arm: "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?" Job 40:9

Nostrils: "By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."
Job 4:9

Bowels: "Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?"
Isaiah 63:15

Hands and Feet: "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet." - Luke 24: 36-40

When Christ returns it will be a witnessed event. The world will see it. Mankind has seen a lot of things, but since the beginning of the world no one has ever seen anything like this! It will have more impact on our senses than any science fiction movie Hollywood has ever put out.

This will be VISIBLE! Some people will have a heart attack just seeing it!

"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." - Luke 21:26-27

God is only invisible to us now because He is not moving about in the same dimension as we are. Or, God does not reflect light. Or, God is transparent like the wind. Who really knows?

What we do know is that the Bible describes his shape. It tells us that, even though this is the case, He cannot be seen by us in our current condition. But, it also informs us that that condition will change in the future:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - I John 3:2

Until then:

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - I Corinthians 2:9

Think on this. Jerusalem is a real city. It is to be replaced with another real city that already exists, New Jerusalem. Instead of just building a new city here, God wants to bring the one he already has.

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." - Revelation 21:2

The Bible goes to great extent describing the foundations of this city. FOUNDATIONS!
It speaks of gates and gemstones. There is a RIVER flowing through it TREES growing on either side of it. These trees produce FRUIT to be EATEN.

This is future, however concerning things of the past, God told Moses to construct the Tabernacle after the pattern of the one then existing in heaven, as he was shown.

The sons of God were called before God for correction, as we read about in Psalm 82. Do some really think several shapeless clouds of spirit appeared before another single cloud of spirit that was in authority over them?

Psalm 82 -

"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations."

Read the articles THE FAMILY OF GOD, THE SONS OF GOD, GENDER IN THE GOD FAMILY.

Yes, to us now, God is beyond our vision. But, instead of stopping there, even though God describes himself to us through His very inspired words as being a Father, living in a city, surrounded by an innumerable company of celestial beings, we have "religious" teachers telling us that we cannot imagine what He looks like. DUH! What Bible are they reading?

I don't think the Bible message is really real to them. They are in pursuit of a Fantasy Land, the likes of which only Walt Disney could describe to them. It's not REALLY real to them.

After His resurrection and ascention to God's throne in heaven, He returned to earth and spent a considerable amount of time here visiting with the disciples. During those times, He would often just appear in their midst. He talked with them, sat with them, and ate with them.

The laws of nature do not have control over a God-being. In fact, just the opposite is true. Those who exist in a Celestial body, have control over the material. They can travel about the dimensions as a spirit being then manifest as a physical one whenever they wish.

To those who are manifested as spirit, everything and everyone else manifested as spirit, are just as tangible to them as physical things are tangible to us now. If a Celestial being were to manifest into our limited physical reality, they too would be just as tangible to us as the next person.

God may be invisible to us now, but He is tangible wherever He might be at any given time.

For more information, please visit the ASK web site for this article: The Geography of Heaven.

Order the DVD: THE CITY OF GOD that is listed on the Bible Study DVD's page.

THE GOSPEL BEFORE THE BIBLE

2008-08-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

For the first couple thousand years that the earth existed, there was no written word about God, God's plan for mankind, or instructions on the right way to live. Then, as most theologians believe, Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. He reached back in time and recorded history , from the creation of the planet, the creation of mankind, and on to events of and beyond his time.

An additional point: since Job lived before Moses, and many think Job penned the book that bears his own name, the book of Job may actually be the only written record that predates Moses' writings.

That still leaves a couple thousands of years without any written witness to mankind concerning the things of God. So, what was the apostle Paul talking about in Romans 1:20:

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

The subject of what Paul is talking about is shown in the verses leading up to this statement. It's the "good news", the gospel of Christ. Here's what it says in verses 16 - 17:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

The righteousness of God is revealed in the faith of the Jews and of the Gentiles. Without any written record .... man knew. They knew what was, and what was not, righteousness. It was "shown" to mankind from creation. The operative word is "shown." And yet, mankind insisted on making "things" (idols) to worship instead of God, who is invisible. They worshiped the created instead of the Creator.

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." (verse 25)

How could mankind possibly be without excuse? How could he plead ignorance because of never being taught about the instructions of God? Especially since the apostle Paul says we have been able to understand it from the creation of the world.

But wait a minute! Where? Where's the witness he's referring to?

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" (verse 18)

Verse 18 says this message originates from heaven.

As we try to get a grip on what is going on in these statements of the apostle Paul, our search leads to a person Paul often quoted: King David. Here's what David said as recorded in Psalm 19. The quoted scripture is in bold print, whereas my comments are in regular print.

"The heavens declare ["speak, tell, or show forth" -Heb. "caphar" - Strongs #5608] the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth [pictorial in form] knowledge [a teaching].

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard [graphics transcends language barriers].

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom [symbol of Christ] coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit [circular path] unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned : and in keeping of them there is great reward."

The revealing of righteousness, law, conversion, judgment, warnings .... all these things, says David, were shown forth EVERY NIGHT from the foundation of the world. They are written in the sky!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a dynamic group of pictures can be worth millions of words. There is such a thing in the sky above you. In the Hebrew language it's called the Mazzaroth. It is found in Job 38:31 - 33:

" Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?"

Look at those verses. Pleiades, Orion, and Arcturus are all constellations. Mazzaroth is the zodiac.

Here's what Strong's Concordance says about the Hebrew word, Mazzaroth -

"4216 mazzarah maz-zaw-raw' apparently from 5144 in the sense of distinction; some noted constellation (only in the plural), perhaps collectively, the zodiac:--Mazzoroth. Compare 4208. see HEBREW for 05144 see HEBREW for 04208"

So, what we've come to know as the Zodiac actually is a message from God. It's component parts, the constellations, are "signs" of things in God's plan. We should have known! Because, the Bible begins by giving the reader a heads-up about this information. (Genesis 1:14)

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"

The problem is, however, mankind has perverted the use of this information. They've worshiped the creation (Sun, Moon, Stars and the Zodiac) in place of the One who created them. A parallel would be those who so venerate the Bible, that they worship it as a holy thing instead of using it as the tool God intended. A well used Bible will be full of notes, will have dog-eared pages, and will need to be replaced from time to time when it wears out. Many homes will have a family Bible lying on their coffee table throughout the two decades of the children growing up, without ever getting a stain or blemish on it. It isn't used. It just lies there for others to see. It has turned into nothing more than a "good luck charm." A Christian Talisman. This is approaching perversion also.

The signs of the Zodiac are mentioned elsewhere in scripture also. Here are a couple if you wish to investigate. The "crooked serpent" most likely is the sign Draco: (Job 9:9, Job 26: 13, Job 38: 31-32, Amos 5:8) In all these places, their movements are assigned to the glory of God; as something He controls.

God even used the movements of the Zodiac to inspire the patriarch Joseph in a prophetic dream. It is found in Genesis 37:9-10.

Joseph was the eleventh born out of thirteen children. There were twelve sons (fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel) and one daughter, Dinah.

Joseph seemed to be Jacob's favorite since he was born in Jacob's old age. The older brothers resented it. But that resentment turned to hate when Joseph told them about a dream he had. He had dreamed that he and his brothers were all out in the field harvesting wheat. They would bind the stalks into sheaves and lay them on the ground as they went expecting to gather all the sheaves once the harvesting was done. But his sheave stood upright on the ground and all of the other sheaves gathered around and bowed down to it.

His brothers said, "Are you kidding? You would rule over us? You would have dominion over us? And, they hated him more.

But then, Joseph dreamed another dream and told them about it. Here is it: (Genesis 37: 9-11)

"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. [Joseph himself was the twelfth star] And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying."

God even instructed the twelve tribes of Israel to camp in the formation of the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

In Exodus 28:15 - 21 God gave the Israelites instructions for making a breast plate that the high priest was to wear as part of his ritual ceremony. On this breast plate were twelve stones (gems). As the Mazzaroth (Zodiac) was perverted by pagan religions into the pseudoscience of astrology, these precious stones symbolizing the tribes of Israel, came to be known as birthstones. However, these stones were assigned by God to the respective tribes of Israel.

"And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes."

Most of this information is completely new to the average fundamentalist Christian. Yet, these are some of the doings of the God they worship. The reason for this is fear, and misunderstanding by those that teach them. They are afraid of the subject of the Zodiac because they've only heard of it in a pagan context. However, the pagans stole it!

What is really dumbfounding however, is that Christmas and Easter has taken the exact opposite route. The pagans owned them first, conceived them first, and observed them first a thousand years before Christ was even born ...... and the apostate, self-appointed leaders of early false Christanity stole them from paganism! These things they fear not to teach without researching.

Compare the information given in these links:

MAZZAROTH (given originally by God, then Paganized)

CHRISTMAS (given originally by Pagans, then mixed with Christianity)

EASTER (given originally by Pagans, then mixed with Christianity)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge."

(Psalm 19:1-2)

Here are some excerpts from articles by others on the subject:

"It has long been suggested that the constellations are God-given illustrations of gospel truths. Indeed, constellation names go far back into mankind's history. The Jewish historian Josephus says they were named by Seth, the third son of Adam, but perhaps even Adam had a part, since he named the animal world (Genesis 2:19). The Bible says that God assigns His own names to the stars (Psalms 147:4). If so, He may have revealed them to early people.

Of special interest are the twelve zodiac constellations. This band of stars lies in the plane of the solar system. They appear high in the night sky, roughly along the same path traveled by the sun during the day. During the course of each year the zodiac constellations take turns in appearing: for example, Scorpius in summer, Gemini in winter. Job 38:32 makes reference to the bringing forth of these constellations (or "Mazzaroth" in the King James Version) in their season.

The idea of seeing the gospel message in the stars was popularized by the writings of E.W. Bullinger and J.A. Seiss during the 1800s. Here is a brief outline of the usual zodiac interpretations:" (from - ChristianAnswers.net)

"The Gospel in the Stars
by John Ensworth

We know that Job is the oldest book in the Bible and makes many mentions of the stars and constellations including Orion, the Pleiades and the star Arcturas plus ‘Mazzzaroth’ = the Zodiac constellations as a whole.

Job 38:31-33 Can you bind the chains of [the clusters of stars called] Pleiades, or loose the cords of [the constellation] Orion? Can you lead froth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide [the stars of ] the Bear with her young? Do you know the ordinances [laws] of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth?

He somehow knew of the coming savior: Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. (Isa 44:6, 48:12)

God/Jesus set the sky in place: Gen 1:14-16 And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens and separate the day from the night, and let them be signs and tokens [of God’s provident care], and [to mark] seasons, days, and years. (Gen 8:22)

God assigned His own names to the stars : Psm 147:4 He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.

Arabic tradition states that Seth (Adam’s grandson) and Enoch named the constellations.

Gen 1:14-16 (stars) … let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years

Psm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

Rom 1:20-23 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is , His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [ with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.

The skies might, in fact, proclaim the glory of God- the plan of salvation. Remember, that before street lights, TV, and indoor lighting, the night sky was deep, complex and a dominant form of night time entertainment. What a great way to communicate with the world. "
(CrossbowMinistries)

OTHER RESOURCES

Here is an audio file by Chuck Missler, titled "THE MAZZAROTH." Visit an index of Chuck Missler's audio tapes at this AUDIO LINK , and his website at this MINISTRY LINK.

YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE

2008-08-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Length, width and height. Those are the three dimensions that all of us perceive, and are used to manipulating rather easily . Science now believes there are many more dimensions around us that we cannot normally perceive, nor can we manipulate.

There's a problem with trying to explain the concept of other dimensions: It is usually so technical, so theoretical (other people's ideas), so convoluted with related concepts that it becomes super-boring, and tends to put the reader to sleep.

But it helps to have a basic grasp of the concept if a person (three dimensional, physical being) is to grasp concepts beyond the physical.

So, with that said, I will try to keep this as uncomplicated as I can. I think it will help many to understand the nature of the reality we find ourselves being part of.

The fastest moving thing mankind has been able to find is light. It travels 186,000 miles per second. An airplane traveling that fast would circle the earth almost 8 times in one second. One light-second equals 186,000 miles.

Imagine how far it would travel in a week, or a month. Some stars are separated by a distance that would take light 150,000 years to cross.

In Ecclesiastes 12:7, the scripture says, at the time of death, the body returns to the earth, but the spirit returns to God who gave it. Now, if heaven is out past the farthest stars (several billions of light years away), and if spirit traveled as fast as the fastest thing known to man, there must be billions of spirits zooming through deep space right now from people who have died thousands of years ago. My calculator shows they have several million more years travel time before they get there.

All this, just for the spirit to get back to God who gave it.

Yet the Book of Acts says this:

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:" (Acts 17:27)

What is wrong with this picture?

I'll tell you what's wrong. It's not the whole picture. And, more than that, we can't see the whole picture.

Let me put it this way. There is a "place", that is all around us. We cannot see it, nor can we go there. We, as we are now, cannot get there from here. It is the dimension God resides in. And; it is "not far from everyone of us."

It appears to be another physical reality. See ABOUT THE FAMILY OF GOD, and THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN (Ernest L. Martin - article), and THE GEOGRAPHY OF GOD (David Sielaff - audio)

One cannot get there by traveling through space. Instead, one must travel out of space to the dimension that exists "somewhere" all around us. You are either there, or you are here. You cannot be here, and travel through "here" far enough to get "there."

Nothing physical can leave this "place" where we all exist now. We must leave it (our very body) behind, and travel in the spirit to the other "place" where we once again materialize.

We are either with them, or we are with us.

Now, the reason I phrased that last sentence the way I did, is so you might immediately grasp the meaning of the next verse of scripture I want to look at.

It is a prophecy concerning the coming of a Savior into the world, born as a baby, with the mission to save mankind. it is found in Isaiah 7:14 :

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Matthew adds a little more light to the subject in Matthew 1:22-23. Look at what the name Immanuel means!

"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us".

Rocket propulsion to travel great distances is a crude concept. Based on the law of physics that describes equal and opposite reactions, it is not very cost effective, and takes us about eight months to reach the next planet out .... Mars. Imagine riding in your car for eight months before making the first stop!

Light can travel from here to Mars in a little over three minutes! But light speed represents a threshold.... a barrier. Laws of physics say that if matter attains the speed of light it will convert to energy. Imagine a traveler going "out" in a burst of light.

How on earth can mankind ever think of "visiting the stars" with a feeble rocket?

What we need is a portal. A portal that man simply passes through to other places and fore go all that traveling.

If you've followed me to this point you will be able to grasp the power of a spirit being. A spirit being has a portal. It appears to be in the form of apparel, although it may be an inherit part of the spirit body itself.

The apostle Paul talks about being resurrected, after which immortality is "put on", like a mantle or cloak. (I Corinthians 15: 53 - 54)

It seems that God once loaned Elijah a mantle that was later passed to his replacement, Elisha. (God may have all kinds of mantles). He used it for transporting him self around. The effect, of which, must have caused a whirlwind in the local area as I will show. This mantle seemed to provide a connection between the dimensions, as well as other unusual powers. Let's take a look at a few interesting verses:

I Kings 19:10-13: Israel had been breaking their deal with God. Elijah thought he was the only obedient one left and that they were going to kill him for it. So he prayed about it. He needed to be re-insured. So God told him to go stand on a mountain side to remind Elijah that he had nothing to fear from any mortal man.

God passed by, and the wind thus created, shook the mountain breaking rocks as it went. Then it says "but the LORD was not "in" the wind. He was next to the dimension of Elijah, but He was not "in" it. The same thing happened with an earthquake and fire.

Hearing a still "small" voice, he knew God wanted to communicate with him in a special way. Being in a cave, Elijah walked out to the entrance, took his MANTLE, wrapped it around his head, and heard the very clear voice of God say, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Here's the scripture: (I kings 19: 10 - 13)

"And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

At another time, Elijah separated the dimension he was in by smacking the surface of a stream with the mantle; at which time the water separated so he could walk across. (II Kings 2:8)

During the days of the ungodly Ahab, king of Israel, God stopped the rain for three years. Ahab, divided his men and went on a search for Elijah, to get him to call upon God for rain.
Obadiah, one of Ahab's officers couldn't believe it when he finally came upon Elijah. He told Elijah the situation and wanted Elijah to follow him back to Ahab. Elijah refused, saying, "you go get Ahab and bring him here."

Obadiah said, "Oh no. Please come with me. The king will kill me if he knew I found you and I didn't bring you back. For surely, after I leave, a whirlwind will pick you up and carry you to parts unknown, like it always does."

Elijah eventually left this mantle with his successor, Elisha. (I Kings 19:19)

Yes, a portal is the way to go. But, not any "fixed" portal. Not something that has control over your flexibility of travel, in that you must go to it's location before traveling as in recent science fiction movies. But, having all the abilities of a time / dimensional portal as an attribute of your very being. An inherit ability.

Imagine being able to walk to the boundary of your dimension, because you know where it is! And, furthermore, it really is no boundary to you at all. If you want, you can step across into any other dimension you wish.

Imagine if you were standing near a boundary where beings of a lesser dimension existed. Imagine being able to see them while they could not perceive any other dimension higher than the one they existed in. Imagine you can see them sitting together at a meeting, so you decide to "step through" and join them. Imagine the clean up job they might have!

"And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, [this was after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead]

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them." (Luke 24: 33-43)

Some things reaching down from a higher dimension into ours can be so startling as to make one's knees shake, or as in the case of Belshazzar, they "smote together."

"Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another." (Daniel 5: 1-6)

Through such a dimensional exchange, could pass manna, fish and bread, an entire spirit army, water from a rock, messengers (angels), hail, frogs, or any number of other things also mentioned in the Bible.

Not being able to perceive any higher dimension than the three dimensional plane we exist on, such things seem to appear out of nowhere.

Think about this. Germs, as you know, are very, very small. Imagine a colony of germs living on a flat piece of glass. Scouring their essentially two dimensional world, they travel this way and that way, back and forth looking for something to metabolize. They never look up.

So you pick up the piece of glass and slide it under the microscope that came with your child's science set. You watch as they move about. They do not know you are there. They can't see you, even though you see them. This may help to get a point across, but in fact, germs live in a three dimensional reality too. If they had intelligence, plus a little telescope, they could see you too.

So, to show that things are not always what they appear to be, we need to take this one step further. Now imagine some type of microscopic intelligent being that truly does live in a two dimensional reality.

I started this article with the words, "length, width, height". Cross the last one out. Imagine a reality that had only the first two, length and width. Imagine a two dimensional being living in this two dimensional reality. They cannot even see the concept of "up and down". Their world consists only of "back and forth", "side to side" and any combination of the two. Imagine they live on a sheet of paper.

If one were to thrust a pencil through the sheet of paper. How would they perceive it. As one of the denizens of this two dimensional reality approached the place where the pencil went through the paper, they would bump into it. As they traveled around the point of intersection, they would become convinced they had walked into a disk. Never understanding the concept of up or down, they would perceive the entire pencil as looking only like a circular disk that appeared in their world. Trying to crawl across the disk, they would, in fact, begin progressing up the pencil. Looking back, their previous world would have disappeared. If they traveled back, their world would appear again with the new found disk present once more. They simply would not be able to see the whole picture. They could not perceive both worlds at the same time unless they had a third dimension added to their reality.

Such a scenario is merely an attempt to understand things we normally do not think about. But I cannot help be reminded of the times when the Lord (speaking from His dimension) said,
"I will go down", or "Let's go down". This one involves the cities of Sodom and Gororrah:

"And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know". (Genesis 18: 20-21)

This instance involves the building of the Tower of Babel:

"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:7)

There is a lot going on in the place where the Elohim live. It is all around us, but it cannot be seen. Yet, it is just as real as this three dimensional reality we live in. Many times in the past messengers have been sent into our dimension for various purposes. On one occasion a messenger was delayed for three weeks because of a battle in heaven.

"And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. [This Persia is not on earth. See THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN]

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb." (Daniel10: 10-15)

After speaking with Daniel concerning things Daniel had been praying about, this messenger told him he had to return to the fight, but the Prince of Greece [heavenly Greece] would come. He then mentions a set of writings simply referred to as the "scriptures of truth", of which he, the messenger is an expert beyond all others except Michael (another Elohim). This is probably the "Bible of the Universe", a collection of instructions for the sons and daughters of Elohim to live by. The violation of which results in the wars of Heaven.

"Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince."

The "place" where the Elohim reside, you can't get there from here. But you, are destined to undergo a change. When that happens, after the resurrection, we will all be able to go there. We will see it as it really is.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:2)

BIBLE STUDY DVD's

2008-08-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

I personally made the DVD's listed here. They are all in slideshow format with music. They were made to play on your TV DVD player. They will also play on your computer if you have DVD player software installed.

I made them for personal use, and to give to my family and friends. I will send you any one you request for free. All I ask is that you cover the cost of the blank disk and postage. The disks cost me about 50 cents apiece. One to five disks should cost about $3 to mail. There is no set donation.

You figure it out, send me enough to cover costs, and I'll dub them from the masters I've made, and mail them out to you. Don't forget to include your mailing address, and allow me a couple days to do it.

These are very enjoyable and informative slideshows. I will Put them in a jewel case with a cover photo I made with AppleWorks. However, I will handwrite the title on the disk itself.

BIBLE STUDY DVD's
THE REAL JESUS - ( 56 min)
THE SONS OF GOD - ( 34 min)
FROM CREATION TO TOMORROW (20 minutes)
THE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND (About 1 hour)
TROUBLE IN THE GOD FAMILY ( A message for the replacements) 40 minutes
THE CITY OF GOD - New Jerusalem. (About 1 hour, 2 minutes)
EVIDENCE - Artifacts of ancient societies of the gods. Goddess In Exile? (55 min.)
ASTERA - Called Rahab in the bible. Exploded planet, Lucifer's original headquarters (36min)
PRELUDE TO THE ANTICHRIST - Why the world will welcome the Antichrist (36 min)
END OF THE AGE (part 1)- Global peace! Coming - the counterfeit kingdom of god. (33 min)
END OF THE AGE (part 2) - (38 min)
END OF THE AGE (part 3) - (48 min)
THE KINGDOM OF GOD (part 1) - (39 min)
THE KINGDOM OF GOD (part 2) - (44 min)
THE KINGDOM OF GOD (part 3) - (31 min)
IN THE BEGINNING (Part 1) (34 minutes)
IN THE BEGINNING (Part 2) (42 minutes)
THE MYSTERY (1 hour-5 minutes)
NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD (48 minutes)
BEYOND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (1 hour)
THE LAKE OF FIRE
MADE IN THE IMAGE
THE SECRET REWARD
BIRTH OF A NEW CREATURE
THE SILVER CORD

Mail your requests to:
Ken Rockwell
178 Sigsbee Road
Greensboro, PA 15338

Or, if you wish, you can email me at kvrockon@gmail.com. The disk and mailing cost you determine can be deposited in my regular PayPal account. I will then dub the disks you want, and mail them to you.

Later,
Ken

PS These DVD's are too large to upload to the OBSERVATIONS website, or else I would have done it already so everyone could see them. I barely got the YouTube videos to upload.

GENDER IN THE GOD FAMILY

2008-08-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

Why would the Creator inspire the Biblical record to refer to Him as the Father? The obvious reason is that Creator is not descriptive enough. Why do people wonder what God looks like? I've heard religious teachers say that God has no gender, that He is simply shapeless spirit energy.

To get a life-like example of what God looks like is really simple. Here's how:
1) Find a full length mirror.
2) Enlist the company of a human being of the opposite gender.
3) Stand side-by-side in front of it.
4) Now look.

And, there you are. As simple as that.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ..... in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1: 26-27)

It may be hard to believe, but we humans did not have this shape, nor the complementary genders FIRST.

Reading such a statement as Genesis 1:26 gives the picture of a male and a female member of the Elohim talking with each other as they are about to create a physical being that is shaped in their own similitudes. Now, some might think the main speaker here is surely God the Father. But it isn't. It is, in fact, the One who created all things, the entire material universe, at the direction of God the Father, and that is the One who came to Earth as Jesus Christ.

Check out this verse. It's a good place to start.

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" Ephesians 3:9

It says that all things were created by Jesus Christ. But, could that really mean ALL things? Well, I'm afraid so. We'd better get used to the idea, because it's repeated in several more places.

And, not only did He create all things material, He also created all energy, all things visible and invisible, all things in Heaven and Earth, and all positions of authority: thrones, dominions, principalities and powers.

"For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1: 16- 20

That should settle the matter. But, you'd be surprised how many religious people think God the Father created Adam and Eve Himself. But, beyond that, who is the female Elohim that is present at the creating of Adam and Eve? There had to be a female there, for mankind was made MALE and FEMALE in the likeness of the Gods present ... remember?

If it were God the Father, I'd have to guess that it was Sophia that was present with Him. But it wasn't God the Father. It was Logos, the Word of God, who later came into this world as Jesus Christ. So, who then was the female Companion?

But wait. I'm getting ahead of myself here. I should explain why my guess would be Sophia if God the Father had done the creating. Well, I cannot say with absolute certainty. But there is a place in the Bible where wisdom is personified, and given the characteristics of an Entity. And wouldn't you guess, this Entity is not only given the female gender, but .......wait. Here, you can read it for yourself: (Proverbs 8: 1-8)

"Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them."

Like God the Father, this Wisdom is righteous, with nothing forward, or perverse. In verses 22 through 29, Wisdom is speaking, and she tells a little more about herself.

"The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
(In the beginning of God's way; this is before Logos began His creating of the Universe. In fact, this was before Logos Himself was created, who was the First creation of God. Another name used in reference to Logos (Christ) is the Amen. In Revelation 3:14 it calls Him the beginning of the creation of God. But, don't miss an important observation at this juncture. Who was it that created Logos ? It was God, which is from the Greek Theos (Hebrew Elohim), a collective noun. This "God" represented more than one personage. Keep in mind, Sophia said she was with Him in the beginning of His way, BEFORE HE DID ANY WORKS, and that would include the work of His First creation ..... Logos. It was God the Father and Wisdom (Sophia) that created Logos!

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth"

Proverbs 8: 30:

"Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;"

The word "delight" means enjoyment or pleasure. It is from the Hebrew word - shashua (Strongs Concordance # 8191).
And, in case you're wondering, the word rejoice is from the Hebrew "sachaq", meaning "to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play".

And, look how long she has been with Him ... "as one brought up with him".

Listen, this is about as far back as I can go! When I read stuff like this, my mind starts to reason all kinds of things, like: God created us, but, did God Himself ( Oh no, I can hardly bring myself to think it) ......EVOLVE. There, I said it!

What did Wisdom say ..... as one brought up WITH him? Was God BROUGHT UP! Is Wisdom as old as God?

If we go on to the next chapter of Proverbs, chapter 9, we see more information about this One called Wisdom.

Proverbs 9:1:

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:"

These words bring Revelation 12:1 to mind:

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:"

Who is this woman? She appears to be God's household (church) in Heaven. The Heavenly pattern and counterpart for the earthly Church established by Christ in the physical. Interesting that there seven pillars mentioned in Proverbs 9:1.

When we apply Proverbs 1:1 to the original Hebrew language, it reads: "Chokmowth [Sophia in Greek] has obtained children to her family".

In the book of Revelation she is contrasted to the great false religious system found in chapter 17.

In the book of Luke, chapter 7, verse 35, Jesus was comparing the understanding of the people of the generation into which He was born. A great disparity was coming. He was about to put the capstone on the Old Covenant and usher in the New Covenant, and they couldn't recognize His authority from God, even at the witness of many miracles.

He said to them: "But wisdom is justified of all her children." (verse 35)

Applying this statement to the Greek, we read: "But Sophia is just and righteous because of all her sons and daughters."

So, not only do we find Wisdom personified in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, but we find her personified in the very words Christ spoke.

Here's another one found in Luke 11: 49-50

"Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;"

As applied to the Greek Concordance:

"Therefore then said the Sophia of Theos [Hebrew; Elohim] I will send out among them inspired speakers and messengers and some of them they will kill and pursue. That the blood of all the inspired speakers, from the time of creation, may demand a completion in this generation."

Christ is quoting Wisdom here, and calling her the Wisdom of the Family of God, giving her a specific name that in Hebrew is Chokmowth, but in the Greek is Sophia.

Listen, if God is a Father, and furthermore, if He says He has Children ........... where in blue blazes did they come from?!! The written word of the Bible definitely adds gender to the Family of God. I didn't put it there. It was in the Bible when I first got a Bible and began studying it.

Why doesn't he tell us of all His other children on a myriad of other worlds He has strewn throughout the cosmos?

Why does He keep stuff from us? Who does He think he is anyway, ........ God?

Well ...... yes. He IS God isn't He?

"Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." (Nehemiah 9:6)

He doesn't have to explain anything to any of us. But He does; and mankind has shown over and over, that he is just not spiritually mature enough to handle what He has already given.

Back to the question. Who was the female Elohim that was present at the creation of mankind? If it wasn't the one referred to as Sophia when speaking of Wisdom personified, who was it?

If it was the One who became Jesus Christ that did the creating, who was the other female Elohim there with Him? When thinking about two members (male and female)of the Elohim being described as participating in something together, I reminded of Psalm 45 as previously shown in the post ABOUT THE GOD FAMILY.

Here is that information once again:

""My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

(Happy occasion.)

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

(Fairer than mankind. Blessed forever.)

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

(This person is called most mighty and has glory and majesty)

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

(This person is not human. This is a God being. Remember the phrase referring to the One who became Christ; "Thy throne, Oh God" that we read in the book of Hebrews?

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God[Logos], thy God[God the Father], hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Remember also, that Jesus was "anointed above thy fellows" in the book of Hebrews? Remember also, this occurred at the judgment described in Psalm 82.

All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Among Logos' past relationships were the daughters of Kings in heaven. This is not talking about anything on earth. If you need to, go back once again and begin reading these verses to set up the proper context.

At the time of this ceremony (He is the King remember), the Queen (female Elohim) is standing at His right side.

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

The above two verses are about the woman He is about to enter into a contractural relationship with.

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."

In this life, marriage automatically ends when one party dies. The Elohim have eternal life. Marriage-like relationships must be agreed upon for a period of time, or until the parties wish to end the relationship. It may seem odd to us that the King is entering into a relationship with another woman as the current Queen stands at His right side. But God's ways are not our ways. It may be beyond the comprehension of some folks today.

Some things are beyond our investigation, no matter how much we would be interested in finding out. However, here is one called a Queen. She is the Queen of a heavenly realm, the King of which is the One who became Jesus Christ; and Jesus Christ, as we have already seen, did the creating.

The chance of this Queen being the One he was talking to in Genesis 1:26 is very likely. However, her personal name is nowhere given that I know of.

Christ is referred to as the "King of Kings" because the Kingdom of God consists of many, many lesser Kingdoms, some of which, resurrected human beings are destined to rule. Some of these may be the very Kingdoms the wayward sons and daughters of God have shown they are undeserving to govern. (see ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD). And, therefore, many Queens exist also. And, on occasion, some of these Queens (Goddesses) have endeavored to usurp authority and worship beyond their established positions such as this account in Jeremiah:

"Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." (Jeremiah 7: 17-18, also Jeremiah 44: 17-18, 25)

The female side of the Family of God seems to always be equated with wisdom, and teaching. The Assembly (church) of God in Heaven as well as it's physical counterpart on earth is referred to in the feminine gender, and is sometimes called a Queen.

The great false church (Traditional, Pagan inspired christianity) is referred to as a great whore, who desires to be the Queen of Heaven.

Here is the Bible's prophesied judgment on her.

It begins in Revelation 17: 1-6:

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

It continues in Revelation 18:1- 20:

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."

The symbol of God's righteous assembly (His loyal group, or "church") is also symbolized as a woman:

Revelation 12: 1-5:

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."

Gender is used much in the writing of the Bible. How much of it is only symbolism we will have to wait to know for absolute certainty. Personally, I am already certain that if there is a King of Kings, there is also a Queen of Queens.
Both appear to be loyal and righteous while having to deal with those rebellious ones who would like to replace them.

These links from the ASK website may be enlightening to some. I've included them for your convenience:
GOD'S VIEW POINT. (Article by Ernest Martin)
DEIFICATION. (Article by Ernest Martin)
GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN. (Article by Ernest Martin)
GEOGRAPHY OF GOD. (audio by David Seilaff. This link takes you to the audio page at the ASK website. Scrool down to "Geography of God" to listen to a radio program on which Mr. Seilaff was the guest speaker).

Enjoy.

ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD

2008-07-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

This will be easier to understand if you have first read the page on ANGELS. If you haven't, I suggest you click the ANGELS link in the column on the left side of this page. After reading it, you can return to this page by clicking the link "ABOUT SONS OF GOD".

The bible makes a clear distinction between the Sons of God and the other spirit beings often used as angels. Study the verses below slowly. There's much information in them. I will reproduce the scriptures in BOLD print; and comment on them in italicized print.

" Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Previous verses show that the above statement is referring to Jesus Christ, the most loyal, most righteous, most accomplished, and therefore the most powerful Son of God.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

The answer to this question is NONE. God has never called any angel a SON. This statement makes a great distinction between the two. "Son", is the more excellent name referred to in the first verse cited above. It is the name the angels don't have.

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

The worship of angels by mankind is strictly forbidden in the Bible. Yet, even the angels are told to worship a Son of God. The Sons of God and angels are separated by a distance more vast than that existing between mankind and angels. Sons of God are not angels.

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Yes, the angels are powerful. They are a higher form of life than mankind. They are spirit-beings.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

But the Son is called God. He has a throne which no angel ever has; and, the Son rules the Kingdom of God.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Hebrews 1: 4-9)

Notice these simple words: "Kingdom of God". Although they are not in the particular verses cited above, they are referred to here. And, that phrase is simply strewn throughout the Bible.

Does it refer to a kingdom of angels that God rules over? Does God preside over a heavenly post office, where he constantly gives directions to a host of spirit messengers?

Note that the overlying context of the above verses is continually making a reference to the position of the Son of God. A secondary point is made that angels are not ever considered to be on the same level of existence as a Son. With those things in mind, the last verse cited once again focuses on the Son (Jesus Christ) of God, and says God (the Father) has anointed him with the oil of gladness above all his "fellows." That is, all his fellow God brethren. This is what Christ's throne currently rules over. This IS the Kingdom of God, of which other lesser spirit beings are merely messengers (angels). This is the Kingdom, in which, mankind will one day take part. It is not a Kingdom of angel beings, it is a Kingdom of God Beings.

One must admit that these verses clearly make a distinction between a SON of God and an ANGEL of God.

With that in mind, to whom do you think these verses are referring?

Genesis 6: 1-4

"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."

Within the realm of the Mighty Ones (Elohim), the Sons of God are far, far above any other life form made of spirit (energy). They have free moral agency. They have all the rights and privileges of God. However, they can be rebellious at times. They can do things that are not altogether right (unrighteousness). Yet, it cannot be called sin, for a God-being cannot sin. This is because sin is defined by law, and God is lawgiver. Whatever they do cannot legally be called sin because of WHO they are. It's that simple.

A human being can do the same act as a Son of God, and not being God, to him it IS sin!

To kill is a sin for mankind. "Thou shalt not kill". - the sixth commandment: (Exodus 20:13)

The God being that became Jesus Christ thousands of years later, once spoke these words in Deuteronomy 32:39:

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."

Kill? Would a God being do something that man is forbidden to do in the very ten commandments? Most of us need a paradigm shift in our thinking, and beliefs when it comes to the nature of God. Read this:

" I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

What about this:

"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6)

There exists nothing in the universe that is there apart from the will of God. All that is, is a result of the existence of the First Cause ... the Original Energy, Original Being, the Original Spirit, the Original Life. God.

Simply put, God is responsible for EVERYTHING!

Furthermore, He knows it. That is why God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice of his very own life to forgive the sins of a lesser being that was NOT God, so that that being could one day become God by being born into the very Family of God.

That's the purpose of this life. It's to make mistakes here. To learn here. To screw-up here, before we take on the very likeness of God as a God being within his family!

His current Sons and Daughters have caused enough trouble in the past. They have had to be punished in the past. They didn't have the advantage of going through "school" in the physical as we have (I think ....but, maybe they did .... I don't really know. This thought just occurred to me as I was writing). Anyway, some of them are now DEAD, and are also in need of a resurrection like mankind. Yes, a God being can die. Jesus did. That is how all of us got saved from death ourselves!

Chameleons have power over their color. Caterpillars have power to "morph" into a butterfly.

Elohim have the power to "morph" into the physical. And when they do, their total being is physical. They also have the power to "morph" back into the spiritual. It's a process, a transition that we cannot yet understand. But, if they are killed before they begin that process, they have died in the physical. They are dead! And, in order to live again they need the assistance of another God being. They need to be resurrected to the physical, and then "changed" back.

Back to Genesis chapter 6:1-14

"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

The beings talked about here, that mated with human females, were just what the verses say they were; Sons of God. They were not angels, they were the physically manifested Sons of God. Remember, the bible makes a clear distinction between the Sons of God, and angels. If it meant angels, that is what it would have recorded. No, these were none other than the Sons of God.

This was not adultery, nor fornication. There doesn't seem to actually be much wrong with this act. These "daughters of mankind" were married to them. They are called their "wives" by these very scriptures.

These marriages produced remarkable offspring, "men of renown", the "mighty men of old", even "giants."

Half man - half God, these were the men of legends and myths spoken about in nearly all cultures from the Romans and Greeks to the Aztecs of South America. Hercules, Thor, Goliath, Og and many others. Some were female: Athena, Cybele, Diana and Chicomecoatl. So familiar were the people of the first century, with these REAL, ancient gods, that because of the power given to God's apostles, they mistook Barnabas and Paul for Jupiter and Mercury !

"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker."

(Acts 14: 11-12)

During a council meeting and trial at God's throne in heaven, these Sons of God were judged and sentenced for their wrong actions in ruling over the nations that had been assigned to them. They were not cited in any way for choosing human females as brides.

The problem was this: Instead of helping mankind, they were cited for making unjust judgments, having respect of persons (discriminating), failing to defend the poor and fatherless. At times when they should have intervened to save the poor and needy from the wicked, they did nothing.

The sentence: They would eventually die. And, that is exactly what happened. They are still dead to this day. Once in a while we will see in the news where a skeleton of nine foot, or eleven foot, giant has been uncovered. It's a mystery. They don't know what to make of it.

Like Adam, they were sentenced to live out a physical life, die, and be in need of a Savior. They too needed to learn a lesson. Jesus' act of personal sacrifice not only saved every being in the universe who was found to be deserving of death, it also exalted Him above all in power and authority. All, that is, except for the One who resurrected Jesus Himself.....God the Father .....the Original Life-giver.

Let's step into that meeting and see what the Bible has recorded for us. It's found in Psalm 82:

"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations."

Read the above verses slowly, see if you can tell what is going on.

A couple points: The word "Selah" simply means there is a pause at this point. Verse seven says "Ye shall die like men". The word translated as "men" here is Adam. It means to die just like Adam. They were sentenced just as Adam was ... "you shall surely die."

The whole Psalm is about removing authority from the many Sons of God, and giving it to the One Son of God. This One Son has to be Jesus Christ, because He now has all power and authority.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28: 18)

" Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations." (Psalm 82:8)

This has been a small view into the reality of the Family of God. The very reason mankind exists is to be born into this Family of Elohim after a coming resurrection. This is your potential. There are those who understand now, and are putting forth the effort to develop spiritually enough to be of assistance to God once he has given them the free gift of eternal life after being physically resurrected. They will be resurrected physically, but will be clothed with immortality shortly afterwards by having their physical bodies changed to spirit bodies.

However, the majority of mankind has never understood these things. Many have never even heard of Jesus Christ. From those who practice Voo Doo to those who are atheists. Their training will come in a resurrection back to the physical a thousand years later after Jesus Christ and those in the first resurrection have assumed control of this planet. They will be given another lifetime to learn the way of life that brings stability, happiness, abundance and joy. They will learn the truth of God the Father's way of life for the first time.

For more information on the Sons of God, click on the LINK: ABOUT THE FAMILY OF GOD

LIFE AFTER THE FIRST FLOOD

2008-03-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

You are invited to walk through the first two chapters of the book of Genesis with me. This, as we've been told, is the account of our creation. The Sunday School stories of Adam and Eve. There's the Snake, the Tree and the Apple. There's the very first man and woman that ever existed ....... our Primal parents. We should accept it as it has been taught, 'cause those who taught it to us, went to school for it. Besides, if it wasn't for them, no one would ever believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus either.

Don't take my facetious remarks too seriously. I don't mean to offend anyone. However, we cannot gain the understanding of any subject if we are not serious enough to maintain an objective approach. So please, put the Sunday School story of Adam and Eve out of your mind for a few moments. Walk with me through the first two chapters of Genesis as if covering new ground. Let me show you what I see. Afterwards (just like me), we all will go on to believe whatever we choose to believe. That's just the way it is. Farewell my friend, until we meet again. No problem.

But, if you're still here reading, let's get going.

Some Bible students believe the flood of Noah's time was global in scope. Others believe it was more localized, destroying civilization just as far as it had spread. But, the flood of Noah was not the first flood; and the first flood definitely was global. In fact, planet earth was born in water.

Please bear with me. I walk through the Bible in the same way I often walk through the woods ... very slowly, stopping often, being sure to take everything in. I love the woods. And, I love the Bible.

Let's begin at the beginning: Genesis 1: 1-2:

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

In verse 2, we see "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Up to this point, we really do not know how much water was present. We only know that it is the first thing God is dealing with as far as earth is concerned. But that question is resolved in verse 9.

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so". (Genesis 1:9)

This statement lets us know that, up to this point, dry land did not even appear. The entire globe was under water. It was totally flooded.

As upheavals raised the land, mountains and hills left valleys and great basins to catch the run-off resulting in vast land-locked lakes and seas. A continent was born with internal bodies of water caught in the low lying areas. Beyond the boundaries of the continent lay a vast ocean that encompassed the entire planet.

Something else should be noted at this point. The rather modern science of plate tectonics says that all the continents fit together like the pieces of a colossal puzzle; and that there was a time in the past that they were all together in one super continent they call Pangaea (while visiting the Wikipedia link article on Pangaea, you can scroll down to a Pangaea animation). But first, below is a short video from another source.

The Bible supports this concept. Notice that verse 9 says "And God said, let the dry land appear". He did not say "let the dry lands appear". Only one land (singular) is mentioned here.

In verses 10 through 12, the seas and lakes collect in the low areas, grass and trees develop upon the land. The narrative continues on to verses 20 and 21 before the first animal life is mentioned. And it is surprising to see that birds were brought forth from the water.

In verse 12 we find the phrase "bring forth abundantly". Notice it doesn't say that God himself created the animal life by fiat, out of nothing. But, at His command, "the waters brought forth abundantly."

When this phrase is applied to the Strong's Concordance of Hebrew words, it reads :
"Let the waters [Hebrew -mayim "water as euphemism, semen"] bring forth abundantly [Heb. - sharats "wriggle, swarm, abound, breed"] the moving creature [Heb. sherets "swarm, active mass of minute animals] that hath [Heb. - nephesh "breathing animal, beast"] life [Heb. - chaykhahee "is alive].

Imagine witnessing this process. All the chemical components are already present. God instructs them to come together as His act of creating physical life. A fluid first appears in the water. Soon, something can be seen moving in it - wriggling, swarming and breeding to abundance. A swarming mass of minute "animals" - microscopic organisms breed themselves into view. Swarming, breeding, growing into view, developing in complexity before your eyes until a complex animal swims or flies away.

It is really amazing that this creating mechanism of God still surrounds everyone of us, and yet we don't seem to notice it.

In the area of Pennsylvania where I live, there are some very large trees. There are the Oaks, the Sycamore, Beech and Hemlock (our state tree). Many reading this will find the same trees growing in your areas. Now just consider the size of a great Oak tree. A large tree such as this can weigh several tons. It can smash a house if it were ever to fall on it. Now, consider where it came from. And also consider that it is a living thing.

Now imagine a grassy meadow with no trees in it. A traveling Fox squirrel, moving from the woods on top of the hill, crosses the meadow as it searches for new territory in the woods near the bottom. It looses the acorn it had been carrying while being chased by a Fox across the meadow.

Now the chemical components necessary to construct an Oak tree had always been in that meadow, however no tree had ever grown there. But now, a little packet of instructions from the mind of God had been placed in proximity to those components.

The Oak tree is not inside the acorn. All that will make up the Oak tree is in the ground. Only the instructions are in the acorn. The seed releases its "chemical message" as the sunlight and warm spring rains work on it. The earth is commanded to "build" an Oak tree. A stem rises above the ground. A leaf opens to use the sun to power photosynthesis that it might accelerate it's development. Water in the ground acts as a medium to carry the necessary nutrients and chemical components to the developing root system. Seventy five years later it shades the back yard of a new home where children swing on a rope hanging from one of it's massive limbs.

That same plot of ground could have just as easily produced a tomato plant .... or an onion. Or any thousands of different kinds of plants. But it could not have produced anything without instructions. That is what a seed is. Nothing more than Instructions. This happens every year in millions of gardens around the world. And we seldom think of what a miracle it is.

If one were to dig up the seed prematurely, he would find what appears to be a decomposing mass. He would not find a tree, a tomato plant, nor an onion. These things are not in the seed. They are in the ground. Only the instructions are in the seed.

THE AMAZING ACTIVITY OF A LIVING CELL

CLICK THE MENU BUTTON ON THE VIDEO CONSOL FOR MORE VIDEOS
This is the same process described in Genesis 1: 20-21 as referring to how God brought the first animals into being through the chemical components of the earth also.

Now things really get interesting as we travel through the last nine verses of Genesis 1.

Remember, this is the creation account of Genesis chapter one. It is distinct from the creation account of chapter two. And, as we move along, I want to point out these distinctions.

Notice that in verse 24, we come to the beginning of the sixth day. Now we move out of the area of the water, and the animals that were created by using it. At the beginning of the sixth day, we find ourselves on dry land; and what are the FIRST things that are created? They are the animals. Take note that the phrase, "of the field' is not seen anywhere in chapter one. The trees, fish, birds, and beasts created here, in chapter one, are not the domesticated kind intended for agriculture. These are the wild animals, plants and birds.

Furthermore, all the wild things of the plant and animal kingdoms were created before there was ever a man. We have not come to the creation of mankind yet. After the entire natural world is up and running, we finally come to verse 26.

In verse 26, we see two members of the Elohim [God]. One speaks up and says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, ......" (See ABOUT THE FAMILY OF GOD for more information on the Elohim].

Immediately following this statement, mankind is created in the image of the Gods present; and they (mankind) were created male and female.

Verse 27:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

These two human beings were created at the same time. Furthermore, there were two of them: male and female. They were given dominion over all other life forms on the earth, plant and animal. These people were not to be farmers. All things were to be food for them; and they were to hunt and gather it to themselves as needed. You can read about this in verses 28 through 30. Then in verse 31, God evaluated all that had been done, and at the evening came to the sixth day, He said, "It was very good".

Now we move on to Genesis chapter two. Notice that the wording of Genesis two takes the first four verses to get across the fact that the first period of creation was complete. Now, in the fifth verse we encounter the phrase "of the field"for the very first time. This phrase does not refer to any of the wild plants, birds or animals mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis. This phrase refers to the agricultural types: Cattle, sheep, chickens, etc.

The man and woman created in chapter one were to be nomadic, following the season and animals as they migrated. They were hunter - gathers living off the fat of the land. Now, we are about to see the first agricultural type of man being formed. This is the second period of creating; and, it has some contrasting differences from the first.

This time, this strain of human beings is formed and made before the animals, which is the opposite of the creation period in chapter one. Also, the animals and plants created here are of the domestic type, "of the field". In addition, whereas the male and female were created in the same creating act in chapter one, here the man is formed first; and apparently existed alone for some time before the female was made.

Let's begin in Genesis 2:5 ....."and there was not a man to till the ground." This does not say there was no man. It says there is no man to till the ground ..... no farming type. The type that stays put and develops the land. In fact, looking at that statement, we can see that God is referring back to something that the reader should already understand. He is referring back to a "man". A man that was created previously. The hunter - gatherers.

Chapter 2, verses 7-8:

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed."

Here man is "formed" out of material that already existed. The Hebrew word for formed is
"yatsar". It means "squeezed into shape, moulded into form". In chapter one, the man and woman were not formed and made, but they were both "created" at the same time. This word is from the Hebrew "bara", meaning to "select as a formative process".

This man in Genesis two, was completely formed but not living. God jump-started him through artificial respiration.

Mouth to mouth resuscitation is accepted today as being far superior to all the other obsolete methods that used to be taught before the 1970's. If it is a baby, that is being revived, it is taught to place the mouth over the baby's mouth and nose. It is interesting that God breathed into Adam's "nostrils" and he became a living soul. The Bible doesn't say how old Adam was when he was formed. However, there is a passage of time indicated in the subsequent events after his formation.

Notice, God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and after that, when He placed Adam there, the "planted" garden was full of trees.

On to verses 18-20:

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him."

God has remarked that it is not good for man to be alone (tell that to the celibate priests) so He plans to make a woman of his type. But first, God forms the necessary farm animals and lets Adam give them names.

After all of that, God put Adam in a coma and used part of his very being to make (Heb. "build, repair; or [the ladies will like this], advance") a woman. That is, a womb (but maybe they won't be too excited about this one) man . Verses 21-25.

The story of the Trees, the temptation, the Serpent is too large in scope to cover here. Some of the information is touched upon in the article called "TREES".

For now, we will move on to some events that occurred after the two sons Cain and Abel were born. As time went by, the first born son, Cain killed his brother Abel.

Now we need to stop right here, and think about things up to this point. Put aside all you have read so far. Put it on the shelf and go back to the Sunday School lesson. Pretend you are not aware of the creation of the hunter - gatherers in chapter one. As far as you know Adam was the first man. Eve was the first woman. That makes only two people on the entire planet. But, eventually two sons are born, so that makes four people total. However, one of the boys kills the other one. So now there are only three people left. Right?

Ok, let's go on. God deals with Cain on this matter. He sentences him to a nomadic life outside of the garden of Eden in a land whose name means "the land of wandering" .... the land of Nod.

When Cain hears this, a certain fear ensues. He voices this concern to God thus:

" My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. (Genesis 4: 13-14)

Say what? What'd he say? Everyone that finds him will kill him? Who is he talking about? Besides himself, isn't there only his mom and dad left?

Ok. Now's the time to pull your understanding back off the shelf. You know who God and Cain are talking about. It's the hunter - gatherers that were created first, and have now grown in population to the point of having a region named after them ... the land of Nod.

God seems to understand his concern, however. So he gives Cain a "mark" : (Genesis 4: 15)

"And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him."

The Hebrew word for mark as used here is "owth". It means an identifying thing such as a beacon, a flag, or a medallion."

God knew Cain's concern was a real one. There were people "outside" the garden who probably would kill him without knowing what he had done. Cain wasn't concerned that they would be seeking justice. He knew they would kill him just for being there. And he would be immediately noticed because his appearance was different than theirs.

This is the way one should walk through the Bible. Slow down. Stop and consider. Contemplate. Notice everything, but take nothing for granted. Or, as the apostle Paul once said, "Be noble".

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Sometimes there is just too much to take in all at once no matter how slow we go. Often, when hunting ginseng in the deep woods of Pennsylvania, I will stop and look back at the area I had just walked through, just to see things from a different perspective. I try to notice things that stand out when looking back. These "snapshots" come in handy when walking back out of the woods. On occasion, I have seen a large four-prong ginseng plant hiding beneath a clump of greenbrier, that I had somehow managed to miss even though I traveled slowly and purposefully tried to notice everything.

Reading the Bible is like that. There's something way back there I want you to see. It just didn't seem right to point it out as we began this walk. But now, that you've maybe gotten used to the idea that there might have been someone living on this earth before Adam and Eve, it seems a good time to take a look at it.

In your mind's eye, turn and look back even beyond the hunter - gathers. All we expect to see is a global flood, or more probable, Pangaea. But there's a bit of information given to the hunter - gathers that causes us to suspect that there was even more to know. Life on earth BEFORE even that flood; and on Pangaea before the hunter - gathers. There were the dinosaurs, colossal vegetation and insects; and somewhere during those days , there was man.

There is also reason to believe there was a great period of time between the first two verses of Genesis, chapter one. The problem is how the Hebrew word "hayah" was translated. Nearly everywhere else it is translated as "came to be", or "it came to Pass" indicating a passage of time. Here, they translated it in such a manner that one is inclined to think God created it "without form and void".

Look at it:

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was [haya = came to be] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep."

Now, the reason I believe this is so, is because what the earth did come to be was "without form and void". Those words are from the Hebrew "tohu and bohu" meaning "in vain." Did God create the earth in that condition? Nope! That's not what Isaiah said: (Isaiah 45:18). He did not create it that way, but, through the passage of time, it came to be that way.

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [tohu - "vain"], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."

I am forced into thinking there was life on earth between verses one and two, until Pangaea split up, for several reasons. Let's take a look at a few of them before closing this article.

First, there are fossils. They do exist. Any sensible reasoning wouldn't place them anywhere within the last 5,000 to 10,000 years. Yet, as stark evidence of a remote time, they are on display in museums all around the world. Dinosaurs must have populated Pangaea before its break up because, as the video showed, matching fossils have been found on opposite sides of the oceans from where the plates have traveled. Following the dinosaurs, fossils of man have also been found. Some recent claims have it that man may have existed for part of the dinosaur era.

Second, what about the fossil bones of what have come to be called "cave man"? They don't seem to go back to the beginning of the dinosaur record, but they DO go way, way back. If it is not to them, that God is inferring in Genesis 1:28 (that I'm about to show you) , then who is it?

Third, I know what the prefix "re" means. And, when added to "plenish" it means (according to the Dictionary in my computer) to "refill, restock, restore, or replace". That is what replenish means. Now look at what God told the Pre-Adamic hunter - gatherers:

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth," (Genesis 1:28)

They were being instructed to restock it, refill it, to replace what had been there before the demise of Pangaea. That world, we know nothing about. It could have been inhabited by beings created by God, of which we know nothing. It could have been inhabited by the sons and daughters of God.

There have been wars in heaven. And, a watery grave seems to have been the imprisonment for some who needed to "cool their heels", learn a lesson, and wait for their salvation and release just like mankind.

A couple things to think on:

Remember reading of Jesus casting a legion of demonic spirits out of one man? They thought Jesus was going to destroy them. Instead, He sent them into a herd of pigs that happened to be in the area. He must have also commanded the pigs, for all of them ran head-long down a hill and into the sea where they died and the spirits were released. What was that for?

Imagine if you had been imprisoned beneath the waves for eons before Pangaea was raised because of a rebellion aimed at God and His plan. Jesus was a man, they were spirit. Even though they knew who He was, they felt superior and began to offer Him "conditions" concerning His command to come out of the man. That display of driving them once again beneath the waves drove home the point of just Who it was that was talking to them!

"Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars [stars symbolizes spirit beings], to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever [Forever = Gr."aion" which means "for an age", and not for eternity. " (Jude 13)

Also, there is a voluminous amount of physical evidence that demands the existence of intelligent, and technically capable, civilizations on earth before the presence of Adam and Eve.

Here's one article on the subject out of hundreds that exist on the internet today:
The Canadian National Newspaper - "A Pre-Historic Nuclear War?"

I hope you have found this walk interesting.

Keep studying. Go for the Mystery!

PERSONAL VIDEOS

2008-03-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

Below are a few videos I made, as well as a few that others have made.The first one is dedicated to all those who walk to the beat of a different drum.

This site is also full of articles on things a relative few have ever considered. They're at the lower part of the left column, under all the books and DVD's.

Just scroll down past all that stuff till you get there.

But first, check out the video. I hope you enjoy it.

Ken.

The next video is dedicated to those men who are good father, grandfathers, and fathers-in-law. It's called, "YOU'VE GOT TO STAND FOR SOMETHING".

The next video is for those interested in some bible truth; and may have had trouble
explaining why they don't allow their children to participate in school-sponsored, pagan based activities around the holiday season.

The following videos show the scientific logic of Creation.

Here are some videos on INTELLIGENT DESIGN:

AHEAD TO THE PAST - THE NEPHILIM

2008-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

AHEAD TO THE PAST - THE NEPHILIM

LUKE 21:25-26

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

What's coming? There is much in the Bible concerning the "time of the end." Yes, it's talking about the end of the "world". Such a statement can scare a person half to death! No more earth. A planet burned to a crisp. All living things now dead and gone. The silent darkness of space flows in to fill the void. GONE!

Well, you can get that scenario out of your mind right now. 'Cause that ain't happenin'. If what the Bible predicts is true, there will be some incredible events occur to planet earth in the not-so-distant future. No doubt, some witnesses may have a heart attack because of such things. Terrible things will happen. Thousands and thousands will die. But planet earth will remain. Civilization on it will remain, and flourish like never before.

Here is a key thing to remember: The world is not the planet. Earth is the planet. The "world" is the society mankind has built upon the planet. Remember these things also:

1) The plan of God culminates in Him making His future home RIGHT HERE ..... on earth! It will become the absolute most enduring location in all of physical creation.

2) Remember also, that it is "the world" that the Son of God came to save. The problem is, the world does not know HOW to govern itself.

Have you ever had a "know it all" friend? Ever have something you feel is very important to tell them, but every time you try, they interrupt you to interject, "I know it"?

Here's the record:
1) God created mankind.
2) God began to instruct mankind.
3) Mankind interrupted, "Ok, we'll take it from here".
4) "Alright, go ahead ........ LEARN", was God's answer.
5) Here we are now in the world we built!
6) Millennia later God comes back into the picture: "See, I told you, but you wouldn't listen. Now, stand back and watch this. I'm going to fix this world the way I intended .... and this time you WILL listen!"

He has had to intervene several times in the past just to preserve the world so it would survive to the end of His plan. Like a blackboard in school with a mistake written on it, He has had to erase a great portion of the world before letting mankind continue on. One was the second flood. The one that occurred in the days of Noah.

The Sons of God had polluted the gene pool of mankind to the degree that there came a time when only Noah and his family remained pure in their genes, their heredity. The children that resulted from physically manifested Elohim (sons of God) and human women were called the Nephilim. The giants of ancient times. The population of these beings reached a crescendo during the days of Noah. However, they were prophesied to appear ON EARTH again.

(Genesis 6:9)

"These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations [genealogy]".

(Verse 4:)

"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, "

This event is connected to the end times.

(Luke 17: 24-27:)

"For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."

The current world of man's rule over man is what is coming to an end. And, as that end nears, we will be living in a time that has a similarity to the days Noah lived in. It will be a time when the human blood line is being altered by certain sons of God resulting in the re-emergence of the Nephilim.

Concerning the time of the end, the prophet Daniel has this to say:

"And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2: 42-43)

The prophet Daniel was born about 620 B.C.; and yet God inspired him to record events that concerned the end times. The meaning of the things written in the Book of Daniel was to be kept from the understanding of man UNTIL the time of the end. At that time, during a hectic age, that understanding was to be opened for the first time, greatly increasing man's knowledge of things.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Daniel 12: 4)

In Daniel, chapter two, king Nebuchadnezzar had an unusual dream; and it really bothered him that he knew he had dreamed it, but he couldn't remember what it was about. So, the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans were called to help him figure out what it was.

They all stood before the king and said, "Tell us what it was that you had dreamed, and we will tell you what it means".

This really ticked him off. He replied to them, "The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill."

After saying there is not a man on earth that could tell him what he had dreamed, and then go on to tell him the meaning of it, they continued saying: "it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon."

Since Daniel was considered one of the "wise" men of Babylon, he too was sought out for destruction. As the captain of the king's guard approached Daniel, Daniel asked him why Nebuchadnezzar had decreed such a thing.

When Daniel heard about the dream, he and his friends prayed about the situation so they too would not be destroyed with all the wise men of Babylon. That night, God revealed the dream and it's meaning to Daniel as he slept.

The next day, Daniel told Arioch, the captain of the kings guard, that he shouldn't slay all the wise men of Babylon until he (Daniel) had a chance to talk to the king since he now knew what the dream was as well as it's meaning.

Arioch took Daniel before the king. Here, in a nutshell, is what Daniel told him. And; it's of utmost importance to our understanding also.

The king had a dream about a giant statue that represented the six governmental phases life on earth would go through before the final seventh phase, when God the Father brings New Jerusalem here to set up his new headquarters. The sixth phase is the return of Christ to establish His millennial reign with resurrected saints in order to prepare the earth for just that event. But, the preceding five phases, prior to Christ's return, represent the experiments of mankind with self-rule.

As you look at the statue, it progresses through the ages from the head (the most distant in the past) to the feet (the end-time age).

This end-time, final government of man over man, will be a hybrid union. Like iron mixed with clay, it will be partly strong and partly weak. Mankind is represented as clay elsewhere in the bible. So if mankind is the clay, who are the strong ones? They would be the mighty ones, the strong and powerful ones, that is certain sons of God in a future rebellion to him. This union will once again produce Nephilim upon the earth. They will father a mixture of "iron" and "clay". They will be running the end-time government. They represent the ten toes of the statue as a final ten state coalition.

In the days of this last government Christ returns like a Rock hitting the statue on the feet and toes, causing the whole system of man to crash to the ground. Nebuchadnezzar's Bablyonian Empire was represented by the head of gold.

This is not to say that there will be some single, world witnessed, event where sons of God will arrive here from the heavens to begin mating with earth women. Oh no, it is more subtle than that. They have already been here. They have already "fathered" those who will rise to the prophesied political positions by the time of the end. THEY PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO, OR WHAT, THEY ARE THEMSELVES!

They were on the scene thousands of years already. Even during the time of Christ.

John 8:38 -44

" I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

The books of Daniel and Revelation go hand in hand. Signs and wonders?

Maybe we better look at some of the things we may have scoffed at in the past concerning "alien abductions".

The average, level-headed person thinks such reports comes only from nit wits. Goofy people who will believe anything.

Well ...... that's not really a balanced approach considering who is among UFO witnesses. And that would include: President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronauts, police officers, military pilots, and yes, more ordinary folk like hunters, hikers, campers and back yard barbequers.

But, maybe the genes have come down to us today naturally. Are Nephilim necessarily evil? The Bible calls them "men of renown". That is "men", not monsters, or boogy men as some books and videos would have it. What's wrong with being half God and half man? Remember, the reason they were destroyed in the past is the same reason mankind was destroyed in the past (and will be in the future), it was a matter of gross unrighteousness and rebellion to God .....a very human trait.

One of the genetic codes that may indicate the presence of Nephilim DNA could be the presence of six toes and/or six fingers. Look, my grandfather had six toes; and I'm the one writing this article about the Nephilim.

Disobedience is disobedience no matter if it is found among the Cherubim, Seraphim, mankind, Sons of God, Principlaities, Dominions, Powers or any other life form created by God.

The six toe characteristic is mentioned by the prophet Samuel. Maybe someone you know has six toes. Maybe you do. So what!

What we need to do, is not to measure others against some genetic yardstick, but to measure ourselves against the yardstick of the fruit we are producing. And that yardstick is written down in Galatians 5: 22-23.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

II Samuel 2:19-20

"And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant."

I have written that some of the sons of God have been sentenced to live out a physical life, have died, and like the sons of Adam, are now in need of Christ's salvation through a resurrection. Understand, I was not referring to all the sons of God. Just those on earth that were judged before God, as seen in Psalm 82. There may have been some to whom that sentence did not pertain. It was just those in attendance.

And remember, they were not judged for selecting human women for wives at all. The ones who received the sentence received it for the way they governed mankind.

To make it as brief as I can, according to what I have learned over the years, God is going to intervene to save us from ourselves, and get on with His plan. Our mis-rule will threaten our very own extinction through global war. We will have proven, that given long enough, our way of life leads to the lack of compassion, increased selfishness, pride, envy, and finally DEATH for all.

To intervene, and stop such a hellish act, God will invade the Earth at the very last moment. It will be that close. No one will ever be able to say, "If He hadn't butted-in, we would have straightened things out in a few more weeks." Imagine that. God is an extraterrestrial, and He's going to invade earth!

In fact, many millions will witness the heavenly signs, and the coming of an uncountable number of what they perceive as ALIENS. But, in fact, it will be Christ and His armies from some other region of the Heavens.

We will be conquered. The government of God will be set up at this world's center .. Jerusalem. At Christ's return, certain people will be resurrected to help Him for the next thousand years. They are those ,who because of spiritually maturing in this life, will represent the First resurrection. This will include some from before and during Old Covenant times, New Covenant times, and the Mystery relationship.

After a physical resurrection, each will pass through a transformation process to have their physical bodies changed into Spirit bodies. Those of the Mystery relationship will ascend to God the Father and will assist with the affairs of God throughout the Heavens and Earth. All the others in the First resurrection will remain on earth. They will REPLACE the past rebellious Sons of God in their duties, while those past gods continue to sleep in their graves awaiting the second resurrection a thousand years later.

Revelation 20: 4-6 (with comments in italics)

" And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned (as Gods) with Christ a thousand years. (Those included here have a previous record of loyalty to Christ).

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. (Notice, not everyone will be included in the First Resurrection at Christ's return).
This is the first resurrection. (This statement is referring back to the things describe at first, above).

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

Under the direct supervision of Jesus Christ, they will spread the Kingdom of God around the planet until an unimaginable, veritable Paradise is established. In that world there will be real, genuine LOVE. Love that is not wishy-washy. But real out-going concern for everyone else. Never, never again will there be war. This will be a physical happening, overseen by Jesus Christ and Sons and Daughters of God (maybe you!) proven in their loyalty and love for others.

Revelation 5: 9-10

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou (Christ) wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

There will be joy, abundance, and purpose of life like never before.
After a thousand year beautification process, another incredible event will occur: The Second Resurrection.

The second resurrection is the initiating event that begins another long period of time called the Great White Throne Judgment.

It will also be a resurrection back to a physical existence. It will include every last human being that was ever born. EVERYONE. These are the people that need to be taught BIG TIME! Included in this group will be those who have practiced Voo Doo, those who were atheists, those who died as children, and those who thought they were Christians. There will be Muslims, Jews, Hindu's ..... and on and on, even including the deceased previous sons of God. In short, it will include all the dead on earth that were not in the First Resurrection.

They will be allotted a lifetime (Great White Throne Judgment period) to live in the physical, before being transformed into a Spirit being. They will build houses, have cook outs, mow their grass, go fishing ....... everything a physical person can do now. And, their minds will be changed. God WILL lead them all to repentance! Just like He has everyone else who call themselves Christian.

I know there are some who don't like this. They don't want everyone else having a chance. Especially those they personally have conflict with, or those "they" have judged as being undeserving of salvation. These are usually the ones who think they are "doing" things that earn their relationship with God. I didn't say their salvation, I said their "special current relationship". Somehow they think they've decided on their own to come to God. WRONG!

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

Man, as he currently is, is not capable of being the example of love. Contrast that with the fact that God IS love.

I John 4:8

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Imagine the extreme contrasts: Hitler hugging Ann Frank. Robert E. Lee and General Sherman fishing together in North Carolina. Moshe Dayan and Saddam Hussein walking together in the Garden of Gethsemane.

IMPOSSIBLE! Some would say. Yes, left to our own devices ..... utterly impossible. It would never, never, never happen. But friend, it is not left to us. Yet, that is the very thing God's intervention intends to do. That's it's purpose.

Because there is a God, IT WILL HAPPEN. Not because of us, but to us, and in spite of us!

GRADUATING CHURCH (Time to Move On)

2007-11-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

To their credit, church services put a positive moral pressure on society; and that's about it. On the other hand, they are the chief reason many Christians don't understand their bibles unto maturity. Religion is the organized worship of God. And, each organization has it's own "statement of beliefs"; and each has it's own set of human leaders that form the hierarchy telling you how to worship God.

Those who may be seeking knowledge of God for the first time can benefit from church services for a while, however, once they mature they need to "graduate" from school. A person may need to experience the teachings of several schools (churches) over several years to finally come to spiritual maturity. Yet, at some point, they still need to graduate. The very presence of a person going to church is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

I know, this might offend those who really like the church experience every Wednesday (prayer meetin' Christians), Friday (Muslims), Saturday(Jews and Christians stuck between covenants), or Sunday(Catholics and Protestants), because they like the singing, the pot-luck meals, the "sacrificial feeling" they get of pushing themselves toward being more righteous than those who "don't go to church" .... like Fred, the drunk who lives at the end of the street (Wish he'd move!).

They love old Fred (ha!), even if the infidel is headed to hell. 'Cause that's what Jesus would do. They don't love him enough to talk to him, or to check on him since his poor wife died last year, but they do look to see if he's out in the yard once in a while. Besides, they're just too busy, with being in charge of the fund raiser committee and all, to waste time talking to that old drunk.

Most people have gone to several different churches during their life times. There are the Baptists, Nazarenes, Methodists, Lutheran, Catholic, Mormon, Apostolic, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Church of God ....

Today, in America alone, there are more than 1500 different faith groups professing many diverse and conflicting beliefs.

Most of us really are rather myopic in our view of God, and religion. God's view, however, sees the entirety of mankind. The whole world.

John 1:29 "...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

To see what I mean, take the word "world" out of the above verse of scripture, and replace it with any religious denomination you wish. See how silly and self-centered it sounds?

In the "world", God has to deal with the presence of these religions also:
Link

Go ahead. Check the link out so you get a good perspective of religious life beyond what you are used to. You can return here by clicking your browser's back arrow.

God will work with every human being ever born before his plan is over. God has not formally introduced himself to most of the world. Yet, they've become convinced that a Higher power exists. On their own, they have offered worship and devised their own rituals and ceremonies. The Muslims know of God because of the unintended relationship that developed with Israel through Abraham and Haggar.

God chose Israel as a "template" for all other nations to use in the future. Such a stiff-necked, obstinate people were not of the proclivity to live in the world keeping a low profile. God needed a people who would be visible, at the forefront, and strong enough to take correction, and carnal enough to get into lesson-teaching trouble. He worked closely with Israel. He introduced himself to them while all others would have to wait until the historic examples were written for all to see.

In the meantime, indigenous peoples on the various continents around the world developed all sorts of religions on their own: Voo Doo, Hindu, ancestor worship, planet and star worship...and on and on as you saw in the above LINK.

As a result, there exists among mankind, several levels of spiritual growth. They range from worshiping spirit entities through magic, spells, and chants all the way through the accepted examples of Israel's TWO COVENANTS and on to the "Secret" relationship with God that was "hid in God from the foundation of the world." (Eph. 3:9) And, was revealed to Paul and the other apostles at a specific time some thirty years after the New Testament church was started. " Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:(Col. 1:6)

This "Mystery", or "Secret" has no covenant of any kind involved with it. It is not a "Deal". Instead, it reveals your destiny, and the destiny every other person who has ever lived, or will ever live. It reveals what future you WILL have, and not what you might have if you would just do certain things. You have no bearing on whether you will have eternal life or not. None.

" [God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
( I Timothy 2:4)

This has always been God's plan for all mankind. However, there are various levels of future reward beyond eternal life for those who expend the effort to grow spiritually now.

Those in the sixth level of spiritual growth (New Covenant relationship)are where the church was for the first thirty years after it began on Pentecost, 31 AD. During those three decades they looked on the followers of the Old Covenant as "spiritual children", still being lead about by a "School master." A school master whose ultimate purpose was to lead them to Christ. Spiritually they were even considered "small" children in need of milk. Actually, this implied that they were still "infants" as far as growth was concerned.

However, even they, the New Covenant church, was built around a "deal", a covenant that also belonged exclusively to one nation -- Israel. Even Gentile converts had to be "spiritually adopted" into the family of Israel.

But there is more. One final (7th) level of understanding and growth reveals that in this relationship with God, there is neither Jew, nor Gentile, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female. It is not a covenant. It is the God-designed destiny for all mankind whether they be white, black, yellow, brown, red or regardless of their current religious beliefs.

There are resurrections ahead in the future, in which God will reach down into the graves and raise all of mankind back to their feet in a physical condition to learn their lessons for the FIRST time. This will occur after Christ returns and those in the first resurrection help him prepare this planet for such mind-boggling events.

God's plan takes a LONG time. It doesn't center around our own little span of 70 years or so.

I intend on adding a links list to this page eventually for many different subjects. No doubt there will be some concerning Bible study subjects. Other subjects may have nothing to do with the Bible at all. Check back from time to time.

In the meantime, thanks for dropping by.

Oh yeh. I almost forgot. It's not currently possible to attend God's "true" church. The book of Hebrews tells us it is currently in heaven. Also, there is not a thing wrong with people of like minds to assemble to study their bibles, or to fellowship.

Organized church services are not actually "wrong" either. But, since the mystery has been revealed, they are not necessary for those who chose the relationship of the Mystery with God.

God will honor which ever of the covenants you attach yourself to if that's the relationship you desire, or the one you can "see." They are not done away with. See the article DEAL OR NO DEAL.

But, when one grows-up, God expects you to move on.

OUT OF TIME

2007-11-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

Perspective is important. You've got to look at things from all angles before making a decision on what you think you are seeing, hearing, or what you believe. In a conversation, speaking from two different perspectives on the same subject, can be confusing. It can sometimes lead to arguments; and other times it can be down right funny.

A man walked into the lumber company and told the clerk he needed about 80 two by four's.

" How long do you do you want them?", the clerk asked.

Looking up perplexed, the man answered, "A long time! I'm going to build a house out of them."

Obviously, both were not wrong in their thinking. It's just that they were not on the same page.

Check out the following short video, then we'll move on:

We need to not be in a hurry when deciding what, and what not, to believe; or, for that matter, what we think it is others believe. Consider this. The majority of Christians have heard of, and believe in, the resurrection of the dead. Most of that majority also believe that when a person dies, they go to heaven, or hell. Duh!

Where are they then? Are they in the cemetery or in heaven, or in hell? Do they need to be resurrected from the cemetery or not?

Because of the incongruous relationship of the above two ideas, some have come to see that a person does not go to heaven when they die. They do not look to any other alternatives except the opposite of the one stated above.

They think, that the only way anyone can believe a passed-on person can retain their consciousness after death (and, possibly go to heaven), is through believing in the erroneous concept of the "immortality of the soul" doctrine. Even though they are too quick to jump to conclusions, their understanding of the error of the immortality of the soul is based on solid evidence. Here is some of it:

"Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4 - note, a soul can "die")

Consider further. The scripture calls David, "a man after God's own heart." Surely such a man would go to heaven when he died if anyone ever would. Yet, the apostle Peter said these words hundreds of years after David had been long dead and buried: (Acts 2:29 , 34)

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day."

And, just in case we didn't get it, or didn't believe it, Peter repeats the idea rephrased thus:

" For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool."

The doctrine of the "immortal soul" is a Satan inspired doctrine of the Pagans, we are told.

Well, there is good evidence to believe just that. In fact, that was the very first lie told to mankind in the Garden of Eden: "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die"

And ... people have been believing it ever since. If you get hit with a Mack truck, you don't die. You just go to heaven. (wrong). What happens is: You do die. And, you need a resurrection.

But wait! I'm not done yet. Are these the only two choices for one to believe? Here's the scripture that got me thinking there must be another. I didn't know where it would lead, but I began looking into it.

Jesus had delayed coming to Lazarus long enough that Lazarus had died. Martha, Lazarus' sister, remarked to Christ, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again. "oh, yes", she said, "I know he will in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus then turned to her, and .....

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

(John 11: 25-26)

Roll them words of Jesus around in your mind a while.

"Whomever is alive (not dead yet), and believes in Jesus, shall never die."

Did He say NEVER die? Unbelievable! Maybe that's why He asked Martha, "Do you believe this?"

If you want to understand this, you have to be ready to shift gears. You need to review the article: YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE.

Are you back? Got the concept of dimensions fresh in your mind? Good.

Physicists have been looking into the existence of different dimensions for a long time now. Some think there may be ten different dimensions, some think eleven or more. But all will tell you that the math does not prohibit the existence of other dimensions; and that TIME is the universally accepted fourth dimension regardless of how many others exist.

Personally, I'm only interested in the first four. The others all exist on the sub-atomic scale. The first four exist on our scale. To correctly measure the position of anything, you must specify length + width + height + when. Two ice cubes, for instance, can be identical in length, width, and height, but they cannot occupy the same space at the same time. However, they can occupy the same space at different times.

Therefore, if time is the unseen, unreachable dimension that exists all around us, how do we travel through it? Can we travel through it? Here, see if this helps to grasp the concept:

If there were a real place, that existed all around us, but it was just one step out of time with us, we would never see it, nor bump into it. To travel in the needed direction to catch up to it, we (or our vibrating molecules) would have to move as fast as light just to get started to move.

To the observer, we would simply disappear.

Now listen closely, our lot is to travel down the space / time continuum in a serial fashion one step after another. That road is a long one. Behind us on the road lays all earth history. Alexander the Great is back there. Billions of human beings we never met are back there. Friends and family that recently passed on, are back there. Or, are they? Hold that thought.

Let's look ahead now. The road leads off into the distant future. Down there is the glorious prophesied events of the first and second resurrections. It would be great to just look way down there and see what is happening. But alas, we cannot see that far. It is beyond our sight.

Stuck with only being able to travel in three dimensions, we are destined to plod along, one step after another, in a serial fashion until we get there.

I hope you get this. Listen closely. Those who have died have had their spirits go back to God.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

And, I believe that occurs FASTER than the speed of light (which initiates travel through time - the 4th, and unperceived dimension that is all around us). Since Jesus said those who believe in Him will NEVER die, how could they die even for a second, let alone years. It seems most likely to me that at the time of death a person is projected down our timeline to the appropriate place. Which for some will be the first resurrection, while others will instantly go on to the second resurrection.

Those of us who are still living see their fate from our perspective. Forced to proceed through

time in a serial fashion, we can still walk over to their graves, just as Peter referred to David's grave; and no one has "seen" any resurrection yet. But, from their perspective, with their spirits now released from their bodies, things may be a whole lot different. If they were projected to the future, they would be alive without having to have been an "immortal soul." They would have already reached what also lies ahead for all of us. They would just have passed into the same dimension that Jesus himself stepped out of when He startled the disciples gathered together after His resurrection.

God created matter, and He created and manipulates time. Check out these verses of scripture:

Joshua 10:12-14

"Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel."

God told Abraham that he should call his wife Sarah, instead of Sarai, from that time on because she was to become the "mother of nations" through a yet-to-be born son that she would call Isaac.

When Abraham heard this he couldn't believe what he was hearing, for Sarah was 90 years old!

"And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?" (Genesis 17:16-17)

The story continues in chapter 18. Look at what the Lord told Sarah:

"Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (verses 12 - 14)

Sarah's internal organs were returned to a time when they were "fresh, alive", and able to go through the child-bearing process. Maybe, Sarah was completely returned to her youthful condition. The Bible just doesn't specify.

Christ's disciples were caught at sea in a terrible storm that threatened to capsize them when they saw Jesus coming to them over the water:

"And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." (John 6: 18-21)

The Greek word "eutheos" was the original word used in the above verse translated as "immediately"; and that is exactly what it means - immediately. The Greek Thesaurus gives another choice that means the same thing - "at once".

Finally, we need to consider the nature of God Himself. He is not merely "loving", He IS love (I John 4:8). Would God make a person wait, when through the inspired sayings of Solomon, he taught:

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Proverbs 3: 27)

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9)

Did Jesus also "taste death" for every man [mankind] so we don't have to?

Notice, He tasted (Gr. - geuomai - "experienced" Strongs # 1089) it FOR (Gr. huper - "instead of" Strongs # 5228) us. He experienced it for us.

Before I close this article, think on this verse one last time:

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

THE REAL JESUS

2007-11-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

THE REAL JESUS DVDWorking together, British scientists and Israeli archaeologists used scientific data to create what they feel is the most accurate image of the most famous face in history.

Beautiful scenes, enlightening information, with music in the background.

Use your credit card, or PayPal to purchase. DVD comes packaged in a jewel case, and is shipped within 24 of receiving payment.

COST: $ 7.00 plus shipping.

FROM CREATION TO TOMORROW

2007-11-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

FROM CREATION TO TOMORROW DVD
This is a beautifully made and inspiring slide show with scenes beginning with Adam and Eve. It travels through the ages of man to the return of Christ. Text slides are fitted in here and there between the scenes as a teaching aid while music plays in the background.

Use your credit card, or PayPal to purchase. DVD comes packaged in a jewel case, and is shipped within 24 hours of receiving payment.

Cost $ 9.00 plus the cost of shipping.

DEAL OR NO DEAL

2007-10-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Bible is a collection of books that tells a story about a plan that God has in mind. First, He created a spiritual reality and a physical reality. Oh how vast is the concept! But, for now, we are only going to look at mankind's part in this plan of God.

Starting point: Mankind is created; and the plan from the beginning is that all will be given eternal life. But, this part of the plan is kept secret for thousands of years, hidden within God's own mind until the time comes to reveal it some 30 years after the new covenant church is started.

Ending point: All of mankind has had God's full plan revealed to them. They have matured spiritually, and all have been given immortality in a celestial body that can also re-manifest in the physical as Jesus' example has shown.

During the multiple thousands of years that have transpired between the starting point and the ending point of God's plan, several "deals" were made concerning future rewards for the participants. Eternal life, however, was never a part of any deal. Eternal life was never considered a reward of any kind. You cannot deserve it. You cannot earn it. It has always been mankind's destiny as the very purpose and will of God's plan from the beginning.

Here's a few scriptures to illustrate what has been said up to this point:

At the direction of God the Father, the one who became Jesus Christ created the physical and spiritual reality that we are involved in: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" Colossians 1:16

The secret part of God's plan: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:"

I Corinthians 2:7

And: "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" Ephesians 3:3

This secret will of God involves our having eternal life: "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." - I Timothy 2:4

We were saved in Christ ,as part of God's plan, before the world began; and it has nothing to do with any action (works) we may have done: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" - II Timothy 1:9

Eternal life is NOT a reward. It is a GIFT.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" - Romans 6:23

Once we have received the free gift of eternal life, our works will be used as the criteria to determine what reward we will, or will not, receive. For example, those Israelites who strive to have a relationship with God by participating in Israel's new covenant will be given authority to reign with Christ during His millennial reign on earth. They will rule over the nations that physically make it through the great tribulation. This also pertains to those non-Israelites who desire to participate in this relationship with God as adopted spiritual Israelites.

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:10

That is a pretty good deal(covenant). Those of the sixth level of spiritual understanding and growth are striving for it. However, a thousand years is not forever. It comes to an end. They will then need to go on to the next level of spiritual understanding as all will have to eventually do. This is what awaits those of the new covenant "deal" after the millennial reign is over.

Now, let's take a look at the past several relationships people have had with God according to the "deal"(covenant) they were involved in.

COVENANT WITH NOAH

Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9 - 17 - God and Noah entered into a covenant. Noah agreed to do certain things, and God agreed to certain things for Noah. Noah and his family died within this covenant arrangement, being allowed to eat every living thing that creeps upon the face of the earth as food. (Isarel's deal with God forbade this)

Noah's covenant was extended to include the whole earth, and a rainbow was set in the sky as a token of it. Eternal life is not mentioned.

COVENANT WITH ABRAM

Genesis 15:18 - Abram and his descendants are promised physical blessings of land and wealth. He died within this covenant and is yet to receive those promises after he is resurrected. Eternal life is not mentioned.

HERE'S A FEW COVENANTS BETWEEN MEN

Genesis 21:7 - "And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant."

Genesis 31:43-44 - "And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee."

FORBIDDEN COVENANTS

Exodus 23:32 - "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods."

THE FIRST (OLD) COVENANT WITH ISRAEL

Exodus 24:7 - "And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient." Eternal life is not mentioned. In fact, the apostle Paul called this arrangement "a ministration of death."

II Corinthians 3:11 - "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:"

ISRAEL GETS A NEW COVENANT

Jeremiah 31:31 - "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"

Israel was told they had a new covenant coming; and it would not resemble the previous one. Yet, there are those struggling to mature ,who take precepts from both the old and new covenants and mix them into a strange covenant that exists only in their own minds.

Jeremiah 31: 32-33 - Jeremiah continues in the next verse saying the new covenant is :

"Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."

The "new deal" was not always available. It had a definite starting time. And that time was after Jesus died on the tree of crucifixion. Jesus operated through all His ministry under the old covenant deal. In fact, He was the last minister of the old covenant.

If you think self righteousness is visible among the "religious" today, you should have been around during the days of Christ's ministry! It was a physical covenant, with physical ceremonies, and the promise of physical rewards. Everyone strived to appear more righteous than his neighbor.

The rich and super pious would even hire a rag-tag band to go before them rattling tambourines, cymbals, and blowing horns, so attention would be drawn to them as they headed toward the temple to give their offerings.

This is not much different from those today who make a point of praying over their food in public, setting "right up front" at church services, or try to draw attention through bumper stickers.

Christmas displays, and Easter displays have also entered the arena of self-righteous competition among religiously deceived.

Some people were considered more or less blameless under the old covenant. Samson thought by tying a burning stick between the tails of foxes and letting them run to catch the fields of the Philistines on fire, that it made him more blameless than them for the treachery they had previously done.

In the days of Christ's ministry, a priest named Zacharias, and his wife Elizabeth were considered blameless. In fact, they were very good people. But then Jesus came upon the scene. Beyond the paramount mission of paying the death penalty for all mankind, there was also another important mission He was to accomplish. He was to hold the Law of God under a microscope, to magnify it so everyone could REALLY see that they were incapable of being BLAMELESS!

After hundreds of years of participation with the old covenant, no one had ever yet measured up. Everyone had missed the mark. No one had qualified for anything more than death, and Christ was about to illustrate this to them.

Check this out.

Matthew 5: 17-18 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Jesus' words began focusing on the subject of the Law of God. He declared that as long as there is a heaven and earth, that the law of God would exist.

Now, the Pharisees and the scribes were considered by far the most righteous among the people. They were the teachers who explained and taught the way to righteousness. And next, Jesus said the students had to exceed their teachers in righteousness in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 20-21 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Notice this. Jesus inferred that a level of righteousness was required to enter the kingdom of heaven. It had to be a level of righteousness far above even that of the teachers ... the most righteous of the time!

He then gave a few examples. Here's one:

Matthew 5: 21-22 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

Do you realize what Jesus had just done? He took the commandment that said "Thou shalt not kill" and magnified it to read "Thou shalt not be angry with anyone". In explaining the spiritual intent of the Law, he had shown it was humanly impossible to keep.

He had complete authority to do this. In fact, he was prophesied to do this. It was an important commission he was to accomplish.

Those under the old covenant were purely physical. Thinking in spiritual terms was foreign to them. They thought they could see God's intent under the old covenant, but they couldn't. They had eyes and ears, but yet they were blind and deaf to the concept of real love and concern for others.

Isaiah 42: 20-21 "Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

The LORD is well pleased for his [Christ] righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable."

Jesus went on to give a few more examples to show that righteousness was required to enter the kingdom of heaven, but it was also IMPOSSIBLE to achieve, and no one had ever yet accomplished it!

In a few words mankind was backed into a corner with no way out. Everyone, even those previously described as "blameless" were, in fact, doomed!

With the sermon on the mount, Jesus sealed up the final teaching of the Old Covenant. Although perfect righteousness is required to enter the kingdom of heaven, the Old Covenant was a very effective tool to show mankind that no human being could ever achieve it. That was it's purpose. It proved that we ALL need someone to save us.

Now, we all know that in the end, when all is finished, God's will will be done.

Take a look at this statement about God's will:

I Timothy 2:4 "[God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

This will be done. It has nothing to do with any covenant, or deal with anyone. It has nothing to do with your righteousness, or my righteousness. Moses was a good man, but it has nothing to do with him either.

We all need to get this: It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that saves all of mankind, because, just as the sins of Adam were IMPUTED to all mankind, so the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be IMPUTED to all mankind. This is part of no deal! This is fact. This is your destiny as determined by God from the beginning!

Romans 5:6-12 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

This is the Biblical doctrine of IMPUTATION. It cannot be written any clearer. The sins of ONE man was imputed to all mankind. Now get this, even if you never sinned once in your life ........ you still have the death penalty hanging over you, because Adam's sin has been imputed to you! You think that's unfair?

Well, the fact is, it doesn't matter what you think. Nor, does it matter what I think. It is God who is doing the thinking here! And here's what He thought of next:

verse 18 "Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." .

This is also the Biblical doctrine of IMPUTATION. And this example couldn't be written any clearer. The Law of God owes Christ! He didn't deserve to die. Instead of holding that as some kind of "ace in the hole" over God's head, He pays your bill with it! Do you also feel that's unfair?

Paul understood where the needed righteousness came from:

Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

We all need to read this over several times, slowly: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Here's the quick version of what happened:

God created mankind. Mankind (as well as many celestial beings) screwed up. No one was found throughout history undeserving of death because the first man's screw up was imputed to all his descendants. The screw-ups in heaven maintained their individual records. Since God is their Father no sin was "imputed" to them. They did it on their own on an individual basis. However, their sins were probably imputed to their offspring. Eventually, heaven and earth both needed to be reconciled to God. The father of the Elohim (God) sent his son into the family of man. He lived a totally righteous life and still received the death penalty. The Law of God now stood unbalanced. The creator of all mankind and was now dead! Jesus paid a price for somebody, but it wasn't for Himself! This credit for paying the penalty of sin was then imputed to all He had created, and not just mankind. Now, things in heaven and earth are unscrewed!

Colossians 1:20 "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Apart from all this, there are the covenants; and they have nothing to do with reconciliation to God. They are merely "lesser deals" within the greater plan of God.

The new covenant is another covenant made exclusively with the nation of Israel. It has nothing to do with eternal life. It is focused on the blessings and rewards certain Israelites will receive as participants in this covenant once they have already been given eternal life at Christ's return.

Although you might not be Israelite by heritage, you can still attach yourself to this deal of God by becoming a "spiritual" Israelite. And that opportunity pertains to anyone whether they are English, Italian, Eskimo, Zulu, Chinese, Russian, Bohemian, white, black, half and half, red, yellow, blue or purple. All can become an adopted Israelite if they wish.

The promised reward for this covenant is really something to behold. Participants are offered rulership with Jesus Christ, for a thousand years here on earth, while a millennium long re-beautification process is carried out on planet earth. The deserts will be irrigated and blossom forth with verdant vegetation. Small farms will spring up all over the world. Wars will be outlawed. There will be no more pain and sickness. Handi-capped stickers will be a thing of the past. The pace of life will slow down. The true values in life will become more and more obvious to people. Friendship, outgoing concern for others, time spent with family and friends will become the important things.

People will then have time to learn of the truth of God's plan for them. Those who survive the coming Great Tribulation at the end of this evil age, will be taught by those who understand the truth of God now, and have participated now in the new covenant.

Here's a couple snap shots of that time:

Revelation 20:1-2 "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,"

Verses 4-6 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

These are some of the people who will be in the first resurrection. They include those who have attached themselves to the new covenant, the old covenant, or had no covenant but strived to work on growing spiritually in this life.

Some will have been dead for hundreds of years before the resurrection. Others will be living at Christ's return and changed into a spirit being at His return.

But the scriptures go on:

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [referring back to what was said in previous verses].

The rest of the dead include all those from the beginning of creation until the return of Christ that never heard of the word of God, all atheists, followers of pagan based religion, and all those who never had any chance by reason of dying as an infant. To sum it up, it includes all who were not in the first resurrection.

They will be brought back to life in a physical existence. They too will be taught. The earth, at the time of their resurrection, will look like a paradise. This is the period of the Great White Throne judgment.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. "

Verse 7 "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,"

Verses 11-12 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

There is a level of spiritual growth that contains the understanding that eventually everybody will be saved from death, and that even the condition called "death" itself will be destroyed. This is a very mature level, that also knows that legally, before God Almighty, we already have been granted the rights and privileges of God Himself as one of His very own family. And we must be very cautious of the things we say and do, because nothing we do can now be classified as sin because of who we are. This is a great responsibility.

Now we are the sons of God. We are now considered legally citizens of heaven, of the household of God, and as members of the God Family, whatever we do, it cannot be called sin.

I John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

I John 3:9 - "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Legally, we are NOW a member of the Elohim. All that remains is to have our physical bodies changed into a celestial one at Christ's return.

Those in this level of understanding are not looking for the rewards of Israel's new covenant. Although, they may visit the millennial reign of Christ and the saints on earth, they will be normally situated near God's throne in heaven, or carrying out instructions throughout the vast reaches of the Universe among civilizations we only suspected might be there.

A lot of teaching will be going on during the millennium. The Old Covenant with it's levitical priesthood will be reestablished early on. Most nations will be brought through this "school master" first just as Israel was. Next, they too will come to learn beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they need a Savior. All (in heaven and earth) will eventually come to see just who Jesus Christ is, even previously rebellious sons of God, and including Satan.

With the entire state of affairs corrected, Jesus Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father and He, the Father will come here to live.

I Corinthians 15: 22-26 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

Revelation 21:1-5 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

Yes, the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

If even one being in all creation (including Satan) remains dead at that distant future time, then death will not have been destroyed. But death is to be destroyed. It is the last enemy

of God's master plan for all creation. It will be destroyed. Satan will have his mind changed. And, he too will live.

The Great Plan of God supersedes the significance of any internal "deals" within that plan. And, you are free to choose any covenant you aspire to attach yourself to. However, taking parts of one and adding it to another to concoct your own, such as mixing the old covenant with the new as a display of the self-righteousness you deny you have, may head you straight into the school master of coming Levitical priesthood to teach you a foundational lesson to build on.

The new covenant is really the better of the two. It is easier, and even has better promises. But you will have to let go of the veneration of old covenant holy days, sabbaths, food laws and the like.

As for me, I thank God Almighty that He has allowed me the maturity to see the Mystery, and to see that I need not attach myself to any past "deal." I am swallowed up within the incredible, and magnificent scope of his Great Plan without any deals. I will not try to save myself. Though I know I may now come boldly before the throne of God in prayer, I can hardly look Christ in the face. I am so humbled by Him. I owe everything, everything to Him. I wish I could be more like him. I only hope that God the Father will notice me among his children. I would like to help.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" Job 13:15

"If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands." - Job 14:14-15

To have Job's frame of mind in the above verses is my prayer, not only for me, but for whomever may be reading this.

ANGELS - IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ?

2007-10-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Why is it, we can get certain concepts so entrenched in our minds, that it is next to impossible to change them even when presented with factual information to the contrary?

Could it be that we just don't like the idea of having been mistaken, or misinformed in the past? Or, might it be that the new information means we will now have to look into other accepted concepts to see if they too are not altogether valid?

I once heard a broadcaster say: "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." And, oh how true that is!

I don't know if it has something to do with ego, or laziness, but there seems to be a type of "mental inertia" prevalent in human beings. We resist change.

The subject of Angels is a very good example of what I am talking about. Whether it's old testament Hebrew, or new testament Greek, the word Angel does not refer to any kind of being. It refers to a job description. A title. And, that job description may conclude once the job is over.

The Hebrew word translated into angel in the old testament is Malak. It means to dispatch as a deputy, a messenger. In Malachi 2:7 it refers to a man, a human being, a priest: "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger[Malak] of the LORD of hosts."

In Exodus 23:20 we see the same word, Malak, translated as angel and is referrring to a spirit being being dispatched as a messenger, a deputy: "Behold, I send an Angel[Malak] before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared."

Two different beings. Man and spirit being [This is what they are]. Both are "Malak"[angel]. A job description: messenger, or deputy [this is the job they are both doing].

I am aware of nowhere in the Bible where, what is stereotypically thought of as "regular angels", as having wings. However, the type of spirit beings called Seraphim have six wings (Isaiah 6:2), but nowhere are they referred to as messengers, or deputies. Cherubim are very special spirit-beings that do have two wings; and, on occasion, they have been used as messengers(angels), or deputies. (Genesis 3:24) .

There is a category of life far above man. Ancient man referred to them collectively as the "Mighty Ones", or the "Strong Ones." However, a specific, single, one of them is the Almighty Father of the rest. The One who created all the others. But, even the least of them are mightier than man, and are referred to as the Elohim in the Hebrew language.

Within this category of Elohim, are Sons and Daughters of the Almighty Father. There are also other created beings, still mighty, but created as a lower life form than the Children of the Mighty Father. Messenger (angel) is just one of the job descriptions that exist among the Elohim. Others are simply referred to as THRONES, PRINCIPALITIES, POWERS, ELEMENTS, DOMINIONS.

EXAMPLES: 1)" For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16)

2) "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38)

3) "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery [Ed.- seventh level of spiritual maturity], which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" (Ephesians 3: 9-11)

4) " Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11)

ABOUT THE FAMILY OF GOD

2007-10-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

"In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.." Most people that have read this far on this web site probably already know that the word God is plural, and translated from the original Hebrew word, Elohim. You probably already know that it is a collective noun, like family, army, team. It can be singular or plural. Take the word "deer" for example. If someone pointed to a hillside and said, "Look at the deer", until you looked , you wouldn't know if there were several deer or only one.

In a similar manner, the Bible starts out saying, "In the beginning God created". It could be referring to an individual God, or it could be referring to a "team", a "group" or a "family" of God. We might wonder about this as we read on through the verses until we encounter verse 26, after which we should have no doubts at all:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: " (Gen 1:26)

God does not have a mental disorder. He is not schizophrenic. He is not having a conversation with himself in this verse. There are two or more individuals in this verse. "Let us make man in our image", one says to the other.

So, in the next verse it is recorded that "God" made man[kind] male and female.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen1:27)

He could have then stepped back, looked at the other member of the Elohim, and said, "There, that's done, and they look just like us."

Before reading beyond this point, you should go back and read ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD if you haven't read it yet.

As was discussed in the ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD post, The Sons of God were called before the judgment seat of God the Father and indicted for the unjust, unrighteous way they reigned over their respective kingdoms. But where were these kingdoms, and when did they acquire them?

To understand, one must first realize something. There are very few, if any, mistakes in the original scriptures. However, there are many mistakes, and misleading choices made in the translations from the original languages.

Check these LINKS to get a small example of what I'm talking about: TENTMAKER, WIKIPEDIA, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, BIBLE STUDY . ORG, A VOICE.

Ok. With that said, let's get on with it. The following set of scripture is focusing on a time way back in the dim, distant past. This is where mythology and legend were born.

Deuteronomy 32: 1-9

"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance."

The first verse demands the attention of those in heaven and earth. The attributes of God's way of life (perfection, truth, justice, righteousness) are then contrasted against the life-style of a corrupted and perverse generation.

But, the last two verses hold some very interesting information. It speaks of a time when God divided the nations (separating the sons of Adam). It goes on to say he set the bounds (established national boundaries) according to the number of the children of Israel.

We have just encountered a problem. But actually, because of the problem, we are prodded to study a little closer and it's amazing what we find.

The number of the children of Israel is, and has always been known as 12 if only the males are counted and 13 if the daughter Dinah is included. So, are we to believe that all of mankind descended from Adam were divided into nations according to the number of the children of Israel?

The whole world, 13 nations. This cannot be right? Genesis chapter 10 tells us that just the three sons of Noah had 70 nations divided unto them.

Besides that, the last verse goes on to say that the Lord's portion (the nation He would claim) was Jacob. But Jacob and Israel are the same person! Jacob's name was changed to Israel by God.

This is showing possession - ruler-ship. And the LORD God was to be the God of Jacob, of Israel.

Here's the mistake. The next to the last verse reads:

"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel."

It should read thus:

"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of God." [That is, the Sons and Daughters of God - the Elohim].

In fact, that is exactly the way the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls have it. And it is the way the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament has it.

Do you see what this is saying? This is the time when God gave various nations of men to the ruler-ship of other members of the God Family. They were the gods of those nations, and they were worshiped by those nations. These were the ancient gods of the Pagan nations. These Sons of God screwed up! And, there were no doubt some Daughters (Goddesses) among them too!

Instead of ruling in a righteous manner, they had the nations warring against each other. They were physically manifested among the people enjoying all the material pleasures a physical being could. They received worship. They influenced civilizations. But they screwed up, and were accused, judged, and sentenced as recorded in Psalm 82, as commented on in the post: ABOUT THE SONS OF GOD.

They were apparently sentenced to a physical life on earth, and, being locked into the physical, they could and would, die. Either they were killed, or they eventually died of old age. Either way, there was a final time when the last one reaped the very sentence placed on Adam " Ye shall surely die".

All the kingdoms of this world are now to be placed under the authority of their Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. And, they too are awaiting a resurrection.

Yes, they were prayed to. They were worshiped. They passed out judgments. They ruled.

Have you ever heard of the word oracle? It means, prophet, prophetess, or seer. It refers to a person who consults the "gods", often at the behest of others for answers to problems in life.

These gods of the ancient Pagan nations were the ones the oracles, and seers consulted in prayer. The oracles and seers were not the gods, but were the ones who consulted the gods on behalf of the people. What do you supposed happened when these gods died? Yep, the oracles ceased.

Ancient historians, writers and philosophers such as Eusebius, Plutarch and Josephus all wrote about a time when the Oracles ceased, when the gods became silent. They say the oracles gradually began to quit answering. Some called it a time when the "gods died". Some say they ceased at the coming of Christ into the world.

Here are a few excerpts from the book "Of the Cessation of Oracles" written by Sir Thomas Browne in 1646.

1) "That Oracles ceased or grew mute at the coming of Christ, is best understood in a qualified sense, and not without all latitude, as though precisely there were none after, nor any decay before."

2)"Plutarch enquiring why the Oracles of Greece ceased,^[3] excepteth that of Lebadia: and in the same place Demetrius affirmeth the Oracles of Mopsus and Amphilochus were much frequented in his days. In brief, Histories are frequent in examples, and there want not some even to the reign of Julian. What therefore may consist with history, by cessation of Oracles with Montacutius we may understand their intercision, not abscission or consummate desolation; their rare delivery, not total dereliction, and yet in regard of divers Oracles, we may speak strictly, and say there was a proper cessation. Thus may we reconcile the accounts of times, and allow those few and broken divinations, whereof we read in story and undeniable Authors. For that they received this blow from Christ, and no other causes alledged by the heathens, from oraculous confession they cannot deny; whereof upon record there are some very remarkable."

3). "A second recorded by Plutarch, of a voice that was heard to cry unto Mariners at the Sea, Great Pan is dead; which is a relation very remarkeable, and may be read in his Defect of Oracles.^[4] A third reported by Eusebius in the life of his magnified Constantine, that about that time Apollo mourned, declaring his Oracles were false, and that the righteous upon earth did hinder him from speaking truth.^[5]And a fourth related by Theodoret, and delivered by Apollo Daphneus unto Julian upon his Persian Expedition, that he should remove the bodies about him before he could return an answer, and not long after his Temple was burnt with lightning.^[6]"

The reader of the bible is constantly told that God, when referring specifically to God the Father, is a righteous God. Why are we told that over and over? It is to reassure us, and to make a stark distinction between Him, His way of life, His plans for us, and the unrighteous activities of other Elohim as has become part of the record.

Job 4: 17-18:

"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:"

Matthew 25: 41:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

II Peter 2:4 (a day of judgment is ahead for certain angels):

" For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"

Jude 1:6:

"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

God is different. He wants us to be different.

II Chronicles 12: 6:
"Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous."

Psalm 119:137:

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments."

It is so comforting to know that the Most powerful God being in the universe is righteous, is the very definition of Love, and cares about people.

I Peter 5: 6-7:

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

The universe of God's creation is immense beyond our understanding. It is full of life. It is busy, very active and developing according to plan. It is a place where judgments and decisions are constantly being made. A whole host of beings live among the stars. Some of those beings still cause trouble. There has been, and will be wars in heaven. The scope of activity in the heavens is simply mind-boggling. It was planned this way from the beginning.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1)

"And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven." Deut. 4:19

Jeremiah 33:22

"As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured:"

Acts 7:41-43

"And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them:"

Among the "host" of the heavens, are the Sons and Daughters of God.

"Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?" Exodus 15:11

" Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." Exodus 18:11

" But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels," Hebrews 12:22

"Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods." Exodus 23:32

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;" Exodus 34: 14-15

"For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth,(as there be gods many, and lords many,)

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."
I Corinthians 8: 5-6

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." II Corinthians 4:4

The Bible gives us glimpses of some of the activities of the place where God lives. It also reveals that place where God lives is a physical place with territorial divisions, cities, rivers, trees, etc. much like earth. In fact, God modeled mankind after himself, and it appears He also modeled this earth after the place where He lives. He even instructed that the tabernacle be made after the pattern of the one in His place in heaven. Let's take a look at the nature of some of the things in heaven.

Hebrews 8:5
"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."

Revelation 21:2 - God is going to bring the whole city, of where He now lives, here to earth.
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

Revelation 22:1-2 (A river, streets, trees, fruit, (monthly time cycle), nations.)

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

The Bible is an enigma. There is no end to the information one can discover in it. I believe that one book, contains more information than an entire library. I have been not only reading, but studying it, for 40 years and I still keep discovering things for the first time!

Here's a good example. This is the recording of a happy event that took place in heaven a long, long time ago. It is a wedding ceremony. But, before we take a look at it, we must get something else established first.

First of all, the One who came to this world as Jesus Christ previously existed as a glorious member of the God Family. His title was the Logos .... the "Spokesman" of the God Family ... the Executive Officer for the Father that saw that the Father's plans and designs were done. This is the Being that came to this world as Jesus Christ.

Here's Christ's prayer just before his crucifixion. Read it carefully: (John 17:5)

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

In these next verses, the Greek word "Logos" was translated into the English word "Word". Keep that in mind as you read the next verse, John 1:1:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Clarification: Elohim Old Testament Hebrew is Theos in the Greek, in which the New Testament was written. Elohim (Hb) = Theos(Gr) = God(Eng)

In the beginning was the Word [Logos] , and the Word [Logos] was with God [Theos =Elohim], and the Word [Logos] was God [Theos,Elohim].

Here we see the Spokesman of the God Family was there from the beginning. This goes back further than the record in Genesis 1:1. Not only was He there, He also was a member of the God Family (Theos, Elohim, God). This is the glory He was referring to in His prayer just before the crucifixion.

Now, while in the first chapter of the book of John, look at verses 2-5:

"The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

He was the creating Agent of the Father. He also became Jesus Christ as is obvious in verse 14:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

It's important also that we take note of the fact that the following verses in the book of Hebrews is talking about Jesus Christ. We need to establish that before going any further.

Hebrews 1:1-2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

This is Jesus Christ. Now, let's go on to verses 8 & 9:

"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

We have established that Jesus had a previous existence in heaven as a member of the God Family. That he had the unique position of creating Agent and Spokesman of the Father. That He was made flesh and dwelt among mankind. That He, in the last days of Paul's ministry, spoke directly to them (revealing of the Mystery) and by-passed any prophets. That He too, is a righteous God exalted above His "fellows." That He has been appointed Heir of all things (Creation itself). And the phrase, "Thy throne, Oh God" is referring to Him.

Now let's take a look at the wedding ceremony. It's found in Psalm 45. I will reproduce it along with clarifying comments. Scripture will be in bold print as before, while my comments will be italicized.

Psalm 45

"My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

(Happy occasion.)

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

(Fairer than mankind. Blessed forever.)

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

(This person is called most mighty and has glory and majesty)

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

(This person is not human. This is a God being. Remember the phrase referring to the One who became Christ; "Thy throne, Oh God" that we read in the book of Hebrews?

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God[Logos], thy God[God the Father], hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Remember also, that Jesus was "anointed above thy fellows" in the book of Hebrews? Remember also, this occurred at the judgment described in Psalm 82.

All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Among Logos' past relationships were the daughters of Kings in heaven. This is not talking about anything on earth. If you need to, go back once again and begin reading these verses to set up the proper context.

At the time of this ceremony (He is the King remember), the Queen (female Elohim) is standing at His right side.

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

The above two verses are about the woman He is about to enter into a contractural relationship with.

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."

In this life, marriage automatically ends when one party dies. The Elohim have eternal life. Marriage-like relationships must be agreed upon for a period of time, or until the parties wish to end the relationship. It may seem odd to us that the King is entering into a relationship with another woman as the current Queen stands at His right side. But God's ways are not our ways. It may be beyond the comprehension of some folks today.

However, let me point this out. At the time Moses delivered the Ten commandments to the children of Israel, He had two wives; and the 7th Commandment said: "Thou shalt not commit adultery".

This should teach us that we either better find out what the definition of adultery is, or we need to remember that no matter what God does it cannot be sin because of WHO he is.

If you haven't grasped the significance of those last three words in the previous sentence, you should go back and review the post: HAVE YOU GRADUATED CHURCH YET?

The rights and privileges of a member of the God-kind are not the same as the rights and privileges of Man-kind. Rarely is there ever a human being that is spiritually mature enough to even understand these things, let alone to accept them.

LINKS TO WORLDS BEFORE ADAM

2007-10-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

The story of mankind is HIS-STORY. The following links take you to websites researching data concerned with PRE-HISTORY. That is, links to research on a time before the record of Adam.

WORLDS BEFORE OUR OWN by Brad Steiger

PRE-HISTORIC NUCLEAR WAR

THE FOOTPRINTS OF ADAM AND EVE

VOICE FROM AFAR

2007-10-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

About ten years ago, I started a website called "VOICE FROM AFAR". It was linked across three different web hosts: Geocities, Tripod, and Free Yellow. I got the name for the site from the book of JOB.

"Suffer me a little, and I will shew the that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker."

(JOB 36: 2-3)

It was during a rather tumultuous time in life for me and my family. We had moved out of state and then back trying to get a business going.

While things were "up in the air" for about a year or so, Geocities was bought by Yahoo. When I got back to working with the website I found I couldn't get to my web page to edit it. A similar thing happened to the pages hosted by Free Yellow. They were destined to grow old somewhere in cyberspace.

Yesterday, I decided to search for them. Guess what? The ones hosted by Tripod are still there, growing older by the day. I still cannot access any pages formerly hosted by Geocities, or Free Yellow, but the ones on Tripod are reachable. However, I cannot edit them either.

If you would be interested in seeing where my head was at about 10 years ago, you can access a smattering of links by clicking here: VOICE FROM AFAR. Maybe you can catch up with it as it wanders silently alone, and unmaintained, somewhere in cyberspace.

Ken Rockwell

TREES

2007-10-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

TREES

JUDGES 9: 8 - 9

"The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"

Get out of here. Are you kidding? What kind of story is that? Trees going forth, looking for a king, having a conversation with each other. Trees can't talk. What in the world are we supposed to learn from these verses?

Obviously, this little tale is an analogy. It correlates to something. At this point, a person usually tries to figure out what the corresponding, intended lesson is. Then, having done that, they move on.

But, don't go so fast. Forget the lesson of the story for a moment and take a look at the corresponding "pieces" that make up the story. Look at the symbols that are being used. An important thing to notice here is this: Trees = people. Different kinds of trees = different kinds of people. A certain type of tree = a certain type of people.

Like a closed door, behind which lies heretofore unknown understanding, the knowledge of trees symbolizing people opens a small crack in the door and allows us to peer in. Other things we have not known, begin to be brought out into the light. As we search for more understanding by using this newfound knowledge, we arrive at Ezekiel, chapter 31.

It is a prophecy given to Ezekiel that he is to relay to the Pharaoh of Egypt concerning God's judgment of coming destruction. As we read through this narrative, we find that God labels Assyria as a "cedar of Lebanon" exalted above all the "trees of the field" (other nations). As we read on, we find reference made to trees in the "garden of God", such as Cedars, Fir trees, and Chestnut trees.

In verse 14, it talks about trees 'exalting themselves", a very human trait. Verse 16 mentions "all the trees of Eden."

The last verse of Ezekiel 31 ends this way:

"To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD."

What about the trees of Eden? When we think of the "garden" of Eden, it's easy to think of the kind of garden that produces vegetables. However, that is not what God's garden looks like. God's garden is, in fact a tree orchard, in symbolism representing the people of the earth.

With this in mind, go back and read the creation account of Genesis chapter 2.

Verses 8-9:

"And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. [God stuck Adam in the middle of all the other people that were already created. Adam was the "first man Adam", that is, the first fair complected, ruddy looking, able to blush, the first white man. See Strongs Hebrew concordance # 119 and # 120. More on this in the article called LIFE AFTER THE FIRST FLOOD.]

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

Verses 15 - 17:

"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Remember, we're getting deep into symbolism here. This may, or it may not be, what really happened. I'm just sharing this with you to help you expand your thinking. Besides that, it is the Bible itself that brought up the subject of equating the different peoples of mankind with the various species of trees.

Any way, the Adam type of mankind was told he could partake of every tree in the garden, but not to get involved with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This immediately makes me think of this scripture:

"That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose." (Genesis 6:2)

Could these particular "sons of God" be a wayward strain of God's Family Tree? Was mankind cautioned to avoid them? If so, Who did the Tree of Life represent? Mankind was not told to avoid the Tree of Life until after they had gotten involved with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Could the act of being involved with "trees" in any way, be even remotely associated with a love affair between people ....... or beings of any sort? Ok. Now you've got to deviate a little on your own, and do some homework. Get your Bible out. You need to read the entire eight chapters of the Song of Solomon (called the Song of Songs in some Bible translations). Read it slowly, contemplating as you go.

Wait a minute! I really don't enjoy reading articles that just quote verse after verse after verse. And, I imagine you don't either. However, this time, to make it easier ..... so you don't have quit reading to get your Bible, I'm going to copy and paste the entire book of the Song of Solomon in this article for you. Here it is; and notice how many times vines, shrubs, trees, fruit, and products of fruit (wine, etc.) are used to make comparisons:

Song of Solomon

Chapter 1

"The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir."

Chapter 2

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether."

Chapter 3

"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart."

Chapter 4

"Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
5 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits."

Chapter 5

"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."

Chapter 6

"Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.
7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded.
12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies."

Chapter 7

"How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.
3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.
4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;
9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.
11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved."

Chapter 8

"O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
8 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
14 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices."

You can draw your own conclusions on what has been shown so far concerning the use of Trees as symbols of something else in the Bible.

But, remember this: (Proverbs 14:)

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."

Over and over, the Bible uses trees to symbolize mankind. Here's one during the time of Christ. It's recorded in the Book of Mark, chapter 8, verse 24.

Jesus had just performed the miracle of the fish and bread, and now was on His way to Bethsaida when He encountered a blind man. Here, read what happened; and what the healed blind man said:

" And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking."

Israel, in prophecy, has been symbolized as a "fig tree" in Jeremiah 24:1-8 and Matthew 21:18,19

Others have noticed the connection to mankind and the symbol of trees in the Bible. Here are a few comments from the blog website Prophecy Network.

1) "The Bible starts with 2 trees by a river, and ends with 2 trees by a river. The tree’s dimensions penetrate every realm of God’s creation – branches to heaven, shades the earth, roots down to the abyss. Sin came to humanity as man partook of one tree, and we were expelled out of the Garden because of our access to the other. From here we see it as a significant metaphor through scripture, and our dear Lord was even crucified on a tree.

What interesting insights do you see from trees in scripture?"

2). "It's interesting how many times people are described as trees in scripture. The Jewish people are described like a garden that God was planting in Israel and this concept runs through scripture from Exodus 15:17 "Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established." to 2 Samuel 7:10 & Isaiah 5:7. The garden God originally planted was from good seed, but it had turned defective (Jeremiah 2:21), so God would uproot them and plant them in a foreign land (Ezekiel 17). However, God promised He would re-plant the people back in Israel (Jeremiah 24:6) if they pray (Jeremiah 42:9, 10) and would fear Him (Jeremiah 32:39-41).

Men are compared to trees in: Jdg 9:10, Eze 17:24, Zec 11:2, Luk 3:9, Rev 11:4 - which makes you wonder when the man healed of blindness in Mark 8, and seeing men as trees vs. 24, he saw more clearly than he should. We are body soul and spirit, and like a tree, our spirit reaches up to heaven like the tree's branches, our body is confined to the physical reign like a tree's trunk, and our soul . . . tainted by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, reaches down to the abyss like a tree's roots.

This makes the promise of Jesus to the thief on the cross beside him very interesting! There they were, three formidable trees contrasted with the arid Judean landscape, and Jesus offers the one man entrance into the “paradeisos”, or the “orchard of God”, the promised restoration of Edenic paradise predicted in Isaiah 51:3 and Ezekiel 36:35. So . . . If Israel is an orchard planted in the Promised land, and men are trees, and work of Christ on the cross re-opened Eden – access into the presence of God, who were the tree's in the original garden of Eden?"

3). "For those who are interested, I’m close enough to finishing my article on the two trees in the Garden to request your review and feedback. Here are the first two paragraphs, and the rest of the article can be read by following the link provided just below:

The instigation of the Biblical record regarding God’s relationship with man begins in a setting in which we see two trees beside a river, and from the beginning to the end of the long course of redemptive history, the Bible then ends once again with two trees by a river (Revelation 22:2). Throughout the many pages in-between we see trees used as a persistent and profound metaphor woven into its’ narrative, defining the very purpose and providence of the kingdom of God.

The status quo of ignoring these trees in Eden, considering them to be too esoteric in their meaning, or comparing them to a simple Law / Grace analogy is inadequate! The tree of “the knowledge of good and evil” was not an androgynous participant in humanities fall from grace, as the patrons who dinned upon this cuisine were infected by an invasive and implacable ailment. Sin, we will contend, is not just the result of disobedience towards God’s command, but is a reflection of the nature and character of the one who knew good . . . only to choose evil. To understand the roles of these trees, we’ll first investigate the imagery of various trees throughout scripture. Once an appropriate overview is prepared, we’ll tender a paradigm of Eden’s trees and their roles in the sovereign plan and purposes of God.

The two end-time witnesses are symbolized as the two Olive Trees as illustrated on the website Tribulation.Com.

We even refer to our ancestral heritage as "Family Trees". This exercise in seeing how trees has been used throughout the Bible is not intended to answer some great mystery. It is intended, however, to get you thinking. To get you interested in bible study, realizing that no one has learned it all. The Bible truly is a phenomenon. It contains more information than a municipal library. Just when you think there's nothing new to learn , along comes a new area of study completely new to your thinking.

Go see what you can find out.

OBSERVATIONS VIDEO

2007-10-21T05:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the OBSERVATIONS VIDEO PAGE

A collection of interesting videos will be presented here. They will involve a broad spectrum of subjects. Some of them, however, are intended to complement one or more of the Articles listed on the home page. A link will be included in those articles that will bring you here.

Click on the menu button on the video console. Scroll through the video selection to the appropriate video and enjoy.

MODERN & ANCIENT MYSTERIES

SECRET GOVERNMENT

HEAD LIGHTS

2007-10-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

What happens when you pray? Is there some kind of special activity going on within your head? Can God really hear you?

The human brain is the most remarkable object known to man. I've included a couple videos to illustrate that point. They're below in this article. But first, I'd like to tell you about a few things first.

If you are alive, then there is a constant light show going within your brain. Brain cells clustered in different regions of your brain are constantly firing electronic impulses at different frequencies. New pathways are constantly being created between trillions of cells. Each time you have a new experience a new pathway is created representing the pathway of a memory. To remember any specific event, you merely begin to think about it and an electronic impulse is sent back along the appropriate pathway and viola ..... you remember the event.

Attaching electrodes to a person's skull allows scientists to watch the light show inside one's head. These pulses of electricity are manifested on a screen as variations of light shifting back and forth from region to region. These are what this article is named for .... the lights in one's head, head lights.

This electrical activity represents your thoughts. It is information .... language. Ok, time to check out the videos. There are two short videos. Both will play through once started. Clicking on the menu button will bring them up on the consol if you would like to choose between them.

A human brain is a transmitter. When you pray, you are constructing specific thoughts. A light show representing your concerns, desires or just conversation with God. You have created something that He can receive and analyze. If anyone can understand the meaning of a light show, it's God.

In referring to God, James said this: (James 1:17)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

However, God won't hear all prayers. Attitudes and emotions affect our thought process. If we think of God as some magical "Genie", there only to grant wishes, or respond to requests born out of vanity ..... He will not hear us.

Job 35:13:

"Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it."

Through the prophet Isaiah, God has given instruction on what we need to do in order to be heard.

Isaiah 1:15:

"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

The breakdown in communication does not originate with God. It's our way of life that can set up barriers to communication so that our prayers aren't even noticed. It's not that He hears us, but answers with a "no". They just simply go no higher than our own heads to begin with. They don't get His attention.

However, the opposite of this is true. If a person has the right frame of mind, the right attitude and outlook on life; if they express an interest in a lifestyle like God does, they catch his attention.

These things affect one's brain waves.

In electronics there is such a thing as an "enabling pulse". It is used to activate a circuit designed to perform some task, but just sets there dormant until an electronic pulse activates it.

Isaiah 59:1:

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

James 4:3:

" Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Living the way of "get" turns things off. Contrasted to that, living the way of "give", meaning genuine concern for others, is God's way. It turns things on, enabling our prayers to be heard.

As powerful and wealthy as God is, here is the kind of person that catches His attention:

Isaiah 66: 1-2:

"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."

So the next time you pray consider these things that you might be heard. And believe in prayer, for something very tangible is happening. Your brain truly is a transmitter.

To have effective prayer follow these easy steps:

1) Adjust your lifestyle to please God.

2) Demonstrate it for a while to develop a "track record."

3) Your "head lights" should now be noticed. Your "enabling pulse"is active.

THE PURPOSE FOR THIS SITE

2007-10-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

This site was created in October, 2007.

There is only one purpose for this web site: To share my thoughts and experiences with you, with the desire that I may be of some help and encouragement ..... whomever you are.

There is no church here to join. There is no group of any kind here to join. In fact, I would caution you about joining any religious group. Having been through the "boot camp" of the Worldwide Church of God during the 1970's and 1980's, I feel I am somewhat qualified to make such a statement.

Fellowshipping with others, to openly study your Bibles is fine; and it can be uplifting. There may even be one or more people there who are proficient at teaching. That's fine too. However, if you ever are presented with a "statement of beliefs", it's time to hit the road.

Put no one between you and God. There is already someone occupying that position: Jesus Christ.

Until we meet,
Ken Rockwell

THE MYSTERY DVD

2007-10-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Introduction to the Mystery

Finding the truth about God, about why we are here and what is the ultimate destiny of us all, is like awakening far back in a lightless tunnel.

Beginning to understand the Bible is like finding a light. As we begin our journey out of the tunnel and into the light of life, we pass others along the way. Some are arguing over what the light reveals. Others found "deals" with the light Maker tucked into corners of the cave, and decide to remain as a participant in the deal. Others discover that there are yet other "deals" further down the tunnel, so they leave the deal they had, and move on. But there is a great mystery, a secret of the light Maker, that awaits all outside the tunnel. A few will make it all the way out on their own. They will have to be rescued, but, in the end all will come completely out of the darkness into the light, and all will come to understand and take part in the Mystery of God's incredible plan for all mankind.

Over a half hour long, this DVD has some slide show images, but being geared more to teaching a little known subject, the majority is displays of text with background music.

Use your credit card, or PayPal to purchase. DVD comes packaged in a jewel case, and is shipped within 24 hours of receiving payment.