Author: Tim

I only provide my name that you know these things are written by a real person. Who I am is irrelevant. Save for the fact that Jesus saved me and changed me. These are nuggets He shows me, and leads me to post here. My hope is that you believe. And that believing, you serve Jesus.

Proving a Son of God

On By TimIn Baptism, Resurrection, Romans 01, The Divine CouncilLeave a comment

In our excursion, we have witnessed the Bible identify the stars as angels and angels as messengers and the army of heaven. In that, we also took the time to examine another way angels are identified by their appointed service. These are some of the sons of God. The Bible also tells us that they failed to be faithful in their assigned duties. Surprisingly, the Bible also reveals how God intends to fix that failure forever.

As circular as it may sound, the Bible proves the Bible. What I mean to say is that each of the doctrines one holds from the Bible is proven true by other doctrines. And each of these doctrines proves others to be true. Paul opens his epistle to the Romans with some interesting language that demonstrates this

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 1:1–4

As we’ve focused on angels and their identification in the Tanakh as sons of God, we also see the expansion of what it means to be a son of God. Sons of God are creations of God.

There are sticking points, and one of them is going to be Jesus. Jesus taking on the physical form of humanity shows that something happened that God is God and God is man. That is a work of God defined by how Mary became with child. I don’t know the workings of that, but know that God did it. I’m not saying God created Jesus as a person. Or that God the Son came to be at conception. The Bible describes Jesus as unique. Some translations use the words only begotten Son. I think in the biblical usage of the phrase son of God, Jesus especially fits being born of the seed of David. Only God could do that.

It’s that last phrase I want to examine. Jesus is, “declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead.”

Paul is saying that the resurrection proves one a son of God. The Tanakh showed us who the sons of God were, what they were tasked to accomplish, and their abject failure.

Our Enemies Are Real

The hybrid progeny of these sons of God spoken of in Genesis 6 decimated the creation. The problem was so bad that only eight humans escaped the judgment. They rode it out above the flood waters with animals personally selected by God. All living things left on the earth were wiped out.

Imagine the scenario from the perspective of the fallen sons of God. They had to watch their own progeny drown in the flood waters. Perhaps that is fanciful speculation. But then, maybe it is not.

Suppose that the souls of those hybrid humans that perished in the flood are the disembodied demons that attack and beset humanity today. This is not my imagination, but it is the work of many scholars, one in particular. (See this article in Christianity Today.)

Those that brought death to humans now watch as their progeny die. Their spirits become disembodied, and without a proper place have no home. Just as Jesus said:

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”

Matthew 12:43–45

These spirits have no place. They seek places… Bodies… Whether human or not, just to have a place. Remember Legion who asked permission to go into a herd of pigs. Those were unclean animals… And what happened to the herd of pigs?

We don’t mess with these or give them a foothold. These have no hope and tremble.

Really, It’s Resurrection!

It is the resurrection that reunites the body and soul. Paul writes extensively on the resurrection. He cites it as of the utmost importance to a Christian in 1 Corinthians 15. He makes his case plainly and succinctly. It’s the resurrection.

When Paul writes to the Colossians, resurrection is part of a major theme. He likens our life in physical bodies as dead to our old selves and made alive in Christ… As if we are resurrected already. We are dead to the elementary principles; meaning these enemies of ours have no real claim to any believer.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

That is the freedom every believer now has. The authorities and powers are disarmed. They’ve got nothing.

Do Not Give a Place

They trick us all by deception. And not thinking clearly or knowing any better, we entertain and eventually embrace that deception. In so doing we extend rights and privileges to those enemies of ours. Paul told us how to live.

Do not give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

It’s emphatic. If the Spirit is witnessing to you now of any foothold or right you may have extended to the devil… Renounce it and revoke it. Do it out loud and in Jesus’ name. The enemy has no business with any believer at all. That is the freedom given to humanity at the cross.

Put your focus on Jesus instead of what (or who) besets us.

If you then were raised with Christ, desire those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also shall appear with Him in glory.

Colossians 3:1–4

Peter offers us help in like manner that would put us all in the same mind. One that ought to change our behavior.

Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious, and be kind. Do not repay evil for evil, or curse for curse, but on the contrary, bless, knowing that to this you are called, so that you may receive a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?

1 Peter 3:8–13

Just like Paul, we are given instructions for how to live. It is a likemindedness in the family of God. It is not good enough just to turn away from evil, but with it to pursue doing good. Look closely, Peter says to whom it is God watches and listens. Conversely, God opposes those who do evil things. If you are doing the right things, who will harm you?

Nobody. The enemies have no rights, and God has nothing against those doing right.

But even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. “Do not be afraid of their terror, do not be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and fear.

1 Peter 3:14–15

Even when we do the right things and suffer, the enemy still has no rights. And we do not need to fear them. Peter is speaking about those same principalities and powers of whom Paul spoke. These are fallen angels and demons which our own testimonies expose as powerless.

Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,

1 Peter 3:16–18

You are in great company!

by whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who in times past were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1 Peter 3:19–20

Woah! What?

Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison, what is that?

Remember Genesis 6… Angels left their domain.

Likewise, the angels who did not keep to their first domain, but forsook their own dwelling, He has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

Jude 6

The Greek word is oiketerion, Paul used the word in one other place to describe our bodies. It’s in 2 Corinthians 5:2. The lesson is God will destroy the unfaithful. (This is not annihilation.)

But how is it we know that this is speaking of the fallen sons of God and that they are locked away?

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities in like manner, gave themselves to immorality and went after different flesh, they serve as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 7

The sin of those sons of God who are chained away is carnally sensual in nature,l; they sought strange or different flesh. It compares to the sin of those infamous cities who sought different forbidden sexual satisfaction.

Saved Through Water

The apostle Peter unites all of these ideas together. He has laid out an apologetic of significance that may confuse some. That is the idea of being saved through water.

Noah and his family were safely saved through the waters of the flood in the Ark. they floated above; while the giants of old perished in the waters. Those giants never came out of the waters alive.

An Important Aspect of Baptism

Figuratively this is like baptism, which also saves us now. It is not washing off the dirt from the body, but a response to God from a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:21–22

The word figuratively tells us Peter is going to give us a type or analog. He is not telling us that baptism saves us. He is using it as an example. It is not cleansing sins, per se. But is a response of a good conscience. That response is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptism is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection. The antitype is the progeny of watchers that perished in the waters never to be brought out. Baptism says, “Here is another one appointed to resurrection!” It’s a pledge of belief done publicly.

On a deeper level, the ones chained in gloomy darkness watched their children die in the water, helpless to do anything. Now, they watch God’s children come alive out of that very same water, fully noting these are appointed to resurrection!

Not only do the fallen sons of God watch, but the disembodied spirits of their children also watch. When a believer is baptized, it’s like saying aloud, “Here is another one to be raised!”

It’s Proclaiming Resurrection.

Baptism points to resurrection. Resurrection validates the children of God. Baptism points directly to that validation.

Baptism is the portrayal of the epic triumph of the children of God!

In Conclusion

I don’t want to place guilt or shame on anyone, but I have an encouragement. What stops you from getting baptized?

Seriously, if you’ve not yet been baptized in water, I encourage you to get it done. You don’t need it to be saved, but it certainly celebrates Jesus in more ways than we can ever understand. It is certainly active spiritual warfare proclaiming a believer’s triumph through the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection proves the children of God.

The old Divine Council is powerless to affect the affairs of men. They try through deception, yet God’s ultimate plans will succeed. Their efforts are futile.

The members of the new Divine Council are being identified daily by baptism… Wherever in the world it happens.

Be ready for the next post.

Sons of God in the New Testament

On By TimIn Luke 03, Resurrection, The Divine Council2 Comments

In the last post, we learned of the Divine Council and the members that comprise it as it is explained in the Tanakh. These are specifically called the sons of God. We also learned that the sons of God are angels.

As always, the Tanakh provides hints to a yet future reality. Such things are often labeled as prophecies. There is part of one from Daniel that lends itself as a perfect place of transition.

Daniel was given a panoramic vision of the future. Some minute detail was given and as we’ve witnessed in history, matches exactly. In that vision, there is a group of people called the wise. This seems to be a euphemism that applies to believers. The wise will instruct many, and be persecuted for what they do. This activity will continue until the end at the appointed time. It culminates here:

Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

Tuck this away as we move forward in our studies. Perhaps what is said might have a deeper meaning than it does now.

Son of God

Now let’s turn our focus onto the same term sons of God as written of in the New Testament. With it, our understanding is going to become even more refined.

We will begin in the first words of the New Testament. It is the first chapter of Matthew where he records a genealogy of Jesus, the Anointed One. He is the Seed of the woman that the fallen angels worked to stop. Matthew writes after the fact to establish the identity of Jesus as that Seed. The genealogy starts with Abraham and ends at Jesus through Joseph.

In like manner, Luke provides a similar genealogy of Jesus. One that differs from Matthew’s in many ways. It is found starting at Luke 3:23. Luke begins with Jesus and works His ancestors all the way back to Adam. It is how Luke describes Adam that is essential to understand.

who was the son of Enosh, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.

Luke 3:38

Adam, the son of God, stands out as a contrast to what we know from the Tanakh. Luke calls Adam the son of God. It’s almost as if what is written in the Tanakh didn’t matter. Perhaps it is better understood as a clue to a new reality.

Back to the Beginning

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was created that was created.

John 1:2–3

The introduction of Jesus in John’s Gospel contains many truths. Some are overt, in that Jesus is not a created being. Others are subtle, Jesus could not have been created because He is the One creating. The things that exist that are not God have been created by the Word, Jesus.

He is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of every creature. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:15–17

Paul uses similar language to describe Jesus. He also tells us Jesus created spiritual beings. The Tanakh seems to use the word elohim as a catchall type for spirit being. At least, I understand it that way. Elohim are sons of God, and by the witness of the New Testament they are direct creations of God. Just as Adam is a direct creation of God. It’s not too difficult to think that the term son of God means one created by God. Can that be tested?

Born of God

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:10–13

I love that text. It pretty much needs no other explanation. He came into the world, even to His own portion, the people He chose. He was rejected by those.

But… To any who received Jesus, these He gave authority to become sons of God. This was to those who believed, and are born of God. This is where the term born again has its foundation. A believer is reborn as a son of God.

It also occurs to me that the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) all use the first instance of Son of God as a title or descriptor of Jesus Christ. Luke (the Gentile) applies the same descriptor to Adam after applying it to Jesus. I think there is some highly technical meaning there, in that Jesus had to also be a Son of God like Adam.

John calls Him the unique Son of God. The term son of God couples Jesus and Adam.

John ventures from that applying the term not to Jesus, and not to Adam… But to born of God believers. Aren’t sons of God then direct creations of God?

New Creation

It’s the Bible that best explains the Bible. Angels and Adam are called sons of God. The trait they share is being direct creations of God. Believing humans have been given the right to become sons of God. Let the Spirit lead your mind ahead.

And He died for all, that those who live should not from now on live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
So from now on we do not regard anyone according to the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we do not regard Him as such from now on. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:15–17

Paul brings us full circle. A born again believer is a new creation. The text I cited has the word creature. Other texts use new creation. The idea is the same. We are made new creations when we believe.

Therefore, a born again believer is a direct new creation of God. This satisfies the idea of meaning intrinsic to what a son of God is. And it answers both questions.

I don’t mean to exclude any of the ladies from this by the language used. My goal is to laser-focus the terms to avoid ambiguity. What God has given is open to all. Though the text is silent, Eve is also a daughter of God being directly created by Him from His son Adam.

Anyone who so desires to become a child of God can be one. Children of God, male and female, are newly born-direct creations.

New Heavens and New Earth

It is throughout the Bible that we learn the corruption of creation came through human doing, but not without seditious acts and interference by some of the sons of God. Certainly, we know that the members of the old Divine Council failed. Others did not procreate, yet failed in other ways. The ones that fell all failed God. They failed themselves. They failed creation itself. But that does not mean that God failed.

Interspersed through the Bible is the promise of renewal. The New Yesrament is not excluded from that. Creation is to be restored to the way God had originally intended it to be.

But, according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:13

That restoration is to happen at a particular appointed time.

Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the One who previously was preached to you, Jesus Christ, whom the heavens must receive until the time of restoring what God spoke through all His holy prophets since the world began.

Acts 3:19–21

It will be at the end of the age which Jesus spoke to in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24.) It is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures.

The Appearance

Believers are new creations. Believers are sons of God. Paul gives us a glimpse into the future renewal of creation. But before that, he helps us to identify the sons of God. It is not only the fact of being led by the Spirit, but that we’ve received Him inside of us. This is the same language that is used throughout many passages as it pertains to being saved. It is a new birth and new creation with a new identity.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.

Romans 8:14–17

The Holy Spirit is the Means of adoption. It is He that brings us into that intimate relationship of a father and his children. One in which we can know our Heavenly Father just as we know our own dads.

The eager expectation of the creation waits for the appearance of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Romans 8:19–21

God has a plan. He subjected creation to futility. To use a scientific term, creation was subject to entropy. That is the tendency of things to devolve toward chaos. He did it with the hope that creation would be set free from that bondage. Not that He hoped in something, but it is for all of creation to look toward the certain freedom for now which it can only anticipate.

So, there seems to be a new Divine Council in the future. One that is to do things rightly. There will be a new group of regents set with the task to watch and judge creation.

What Shall We Be?

I know that the apostle John wrote that it has not been yet revealed what we will be, but John says we shall be like Him when He appears.

Beloved, now are we children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2

That fascinates me that we do not know what we will be, as believers when that time comes… I think it is far beyond our imaginings. But these are some fantastically mind-blowing hints.

Concluding Thoughts

As always, when studying, so many connections come into the mind. I hope Daniel 12:3 has a bit of new meaning for you.

This whole series will culminate, I promise. What set out to be one post, then became three, then two plus two plus two. There will be one more additional post on proving a son of God before returning to the stars and angels.

The Divine Council in the Tanakh

On By TimIn Angels, Psalm 082, The Divine Council5 Comments

In the last post I introduced a term called The Divine Council. The members of the Divine Council are close advisors to God. Those are the ones that carry out the desires of God in the affairs of His creation. At least, that is what is supposed to happen.

We also know that there is none like God. He is El Elyon, the Most High God. He did introduce these lesser gods in His word.

God stands among the divine council; He renders judgment among the gods.
“How long will you all judge unjustly and accept partiality of the wicked? Selah
Defend the poor and fatherless; vindicate the afflicted and needy. Grant escape to the abused and the destitute, pluck them out of the hand of the false.
“They have neither knowledge nor understanding; they walk in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”
I have said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you, but you all shall die like men, and fall like a man, O princes.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit all nations.

Psalm 82:1–8

To review, the Hebrew in the first verse uses the word elohim twice. It’s saying: Elohim stands among the divine council; He renders judgment among the elohim. Some of us have been taught that Elohim is the name of God Himself. I think the term is much broader than the name of God. It is similar to the English word God. Meaning it is used as a proper title of the Most High and it is also a descriptor of a class of beings.

This practice is seen with a different word as a similar concept. It comes in another Psalm.

Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly sons is like the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the holy ones and awesome to all those who surround Him.

Psalm 89:5–7

As before, the juxtaposition of the word El translated to God and the word elim (the Hebrew plural of el) translated as heavenly sons is striking. It is also notable that there are many uses of the Tetragrammaton, that unspeakable name of God. Some say Jehovah, others say Yahweh.

Yet… This is where things start to get a bit blurry. It is not that they don’t make sense, but they tend to stretch the bounds of what we think we know.

As we saw in Psalm 89, Jehovah is in the midst of the assembly of the holy ones… The Divine Council. The text above provides us another descriptor of this assembly as heavenly sons. From these words, we bound off to a deeper truth.

Sons of God

Leave it to the Septuagint to help make a connection. The Septuagint was commissioned in the third century before the advent of Jesus. Tradition tells us 72 translators were tasked with transcribing the Hebrew Scriptures into the common language of the day… Koine Greek. Here is how those have translated this portion of the Psalm:

The heavens will confess your wondrous things, O Lord, and your truth in the assembly of holy ones. For who in the clouds will be likened to the Lord?
And who will be likened to the Lord among the sons of God?
God is glorified in the counsel of holy ones.
He is great and awesome upon all those who are around him.

Psalm 88:6–8 (Lexham English Septuagint)

The counting of the Psalms in the Septuagint is a bit different than it is in our Bibles. Those translators understood the Jewish mindset. The thinking at the time was Thai was an assembly of angelic beings. They were literally sons of God. In that Psalm, some of our modern translations use that exact phrase sons of God.

When examining the phrase sons of God in the Tanakh, the rare occurrences draw our attention. Those places where it is used have some importance in trying to understand what is being conveyed by the term. Many modern translations have incorporated the higher definition of meaning from an understanding of the Jewish texts. Texts and ideas which were in use long before the advent of Jesus.

For this endeavor, I am going to employ a different translation than I would normally use. It is the Lexham English Bible. This is a favorite study tool I use, because of the constant scholarship employed in translating it. The Bible is a product exclusive to Logos.

There are eight occurrences we will examine. So let’s go!

For who in the sky is equal to Yahweh? Who is like Yahweh among the sons of God.

Psalm 89:6 (Lexham English Septuagint)

This is our previous text. Let’s focus on the phrase sons of God. It is a literal translation from the Hebrew phrase bene elim. There is another, like it:

Ascribe to Yahweh, O sons of God,
ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.

Psalm 29:1 (Lexham English Septuagint)

This psalm again translates the Hebrew phrase bene elim into the English sons of God. The phrase sons of God is the binding tie leading us to a seemingly synonymous Hebrew phrase.

Bene Ha Elohim

The majority of the appearances of the phrase sons of God is translated from the Hebrew bene ha Elohim. (I’m not a scholar in ancient languages, and don’t think the capital letter applies but I added it for clarity.) It occurred five times. These passages are examined next.

We are introduced to the phrase sons of God by its first usage in the Bible. The writer did not provide any definition. It’s as if he expected us to know what he meant. It would be akin to us writing, “I wrote a text to a friend on my phone.” Someone who has not ever encountered cell phone would have no idea behind the meaning the author assumes his audience has. It is like that here:

And it happened that, when humankind began to multiply on the face of the ground, daughters were born to them. Then the sons of God saw the daughters of humankind, that they were beautiful. And they took for themselves wives from all that they chose. And Yahweh said, “My Spirit shall not abide with humankind forever in that he is also flesh. And his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were upon the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God went into the daughters of humankind, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty warriors that were from ancient times, men of renown.

Genesis 6:1–4 (Lexham English Bible)

The phrase sons of God appears twice in this citation. The Hebrew it is translated from is bene ha Elohim. The author writes assuming his audience knows who the sons of god are. There are three more times the phrase is used. They are in the Book of Job. And the usage there helps us to understand who the sons of God are.

And it happened one day that the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan also came into their midst.

Job 1:6 (Lexham English Bible)

And then one day the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan also came into their midst to present himself before Yahweh.

Job 2:1 (Lexham English Bible)

when the morning stars were singing together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 (Lexham English Bible)

These are the three places where bene ha Elohim appears in Job. From this, our understanding of who they are becomes a bit more refined. These sons of God are clearly angels. This is the pattern that develops, sons of God as used in the Tanakh, is a term applied exclusively to angels.

The Septuagint offers more corroboration.

And Noah lived five hundred years, and Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
And it happened, when humans began to become numerous upon the land, and they had daughters, the angels of God, having seen the daughters of humans, that they were beautiful, took for themselves women from all whom they picked out. The Lord God said, “My breath will not at all reside.in these humans for very long because they are flesh, but their days will be one hundred and twenty years.” Now giants were upon the land in those days, and after that, whenever the sons of God visited the daughters of humans, they fathered children for themselves; those were the giants who were from long ago, the people of renown.

Genesis 6:1–4 (Lexham English Septuagint)

The underlying Greek is literal in the English. The difference is in the first translation of the Hebrew bene into the Greek angeloi (from which we get the English word angel.) The Septuagint moves the idea of sons to angels. The second usage literally translates the word bene to the Greek huioi (sons.) The 72 translators of the Septuagint rendered a faithful glimpse into the third-century BCE Judaism. In that mindset, these sons were angels.

Going back to the passage in Genesis 6 with some better background information, it stands out as weird, angels procreated with humans.. The language in Hebrew is far more coarse than what is translated. The word translated took using women as objects (to the verb) always has sexual connotations. It is used in Genesis 34 to describe Shechem’s rape of Dinah. The word translated as wives can also be translated as women regardless of their marital status. These angels took women as they desired.

Here is where what we know may be a bit blurry. We know the sons of God are angels. We know some of the sons of God acted immorally. We know that some (maybe all) of these sons of God were part of the Divine Council. These are collectively called fallen angels.

Circling back to Psalm 82 we see that this is an account where God judges the fallen angels. Fallen angels that were His viziers failed. Judgment is pronounced.

“They have neither knowledge nor understanding; they walk in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”

Psalm 82:5

What happened with these fallen angels that were a part of the Divine Council had far-reaching consequences. The sin mentioned in Genesis 6 had ramifications affecting all of the Earth. There are other sins of other fallen angels that had the same far-reaching implications with the same consequences. All will be judged and more is said about this elsewhere in the Bible, that will come up in a bit. For now, we see God’s judgment toward these.

I have said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you, but you all shall die like men, and fall like a man, O princes.”

Psalm 82:6–7

There are things to note in the text here. The word fall is translated from the Hebrew word napal. The Hebrew language is consonantal. Vowels are inferred. Each word is based on a root word. In this case, our root for napal is the three transliterated consonants NPL. Looking back at the Genesis 6 passage, the Hebrew word nephilim is translated into the English giants. The word nephilim shares the same common root as napal. Nephilim are the hybrid progeny of angels and humans.

In Psalm 82 judgment comes. It seems as if God is saying something akin to, “Y’all caused humans to fall and die, now you will know what it is like to fall and die.” In other words, they will encounter the same bondage they inflicted on Adam’s race, from the garden on.

Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit all nations.

Psalm 82:8

This closing verse in this psalm leads us to the last verse on the series of eight connecting the term sons of God.

Bene Yisrael

When the Most High apportioned⌋ the nations, at his dividing up of the sons of humankind, he fixed the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (Lexham English Bible)

Here we have the final usage of the phrase sons of God. It is translated from the Hebrew bene yisrael. There are some versions of the Bible that render this as the sons of Israel. Again, the Septuagint helps us to understand. It translates the phrase to angels of God.

Using the immediate context of this passage, let us consider what Moses is saying.

Remember the days of old, consider the years of previous generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you: When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.

Deuteronomy 32:7–9

Moses admonishes the people to remember the days of old when God gave the nations their inheritance. He separated the sons of man and placed boundaries around them. But when was that?

The Inheritance of Nations

God gave the nations their inheritance after the flood when Noah’s sons had sons descendants. These are recorded in detail for us in Genesis 10. That chapter is referred to as the Table of Nations. It shows all people descend from Noah and his three sons. The Table of Nations is summed up with this:

These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations. From these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Genesis 10:32

As is often the way it works in the Bible, we are given a high-level overview, sort of like an executive summary. What follows the overview can contain details into the minutiae. This is the case here.

We encounter another one of those notable occasions where something weird happened. The people of one language and one accord were led by a world leader named Nimrod (which means we will rebel) to build a tower. God came to see what they were doing (that language is for us to understand, it’s not meant to be intimate He had to learn.) He came down to stop the work and scatter the people.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. From there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:8–9

That is how the nations got their inheritance. And this occurred long before Abraham was born. Which was long before Jacob was born. Which was long before God changed his name to Israel. It makes no sense for the term bene yisrael to literally refer to the sons of Israel when Israel did not yet exist. It seems as if those ancient translators knew this.

Now, some of us have a question. What is the inheritance?

It included the lands and languages given by God as already has been shown. There was another allotment to the nations.

Give good care to yourselves, for you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire, lest you corrupt yourselves and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth. And beware, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, you are led astray and worship them, and serve them, that which the Lord your God has allotted to all nations under the whole heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be to Him a people of inheritance, as you are today.

Deuteronomy 4:15–20

Wait, isn’t that saying there were stars of heaven allotted to other nations?

That’s like the earlier posts in this series on stars and angels which demonstrate that stars are angels. God allotted angels to the nations. The role they serve is inferred from many ideas, namely that angels are messengers. Most likely they were to shepherd the nations they had been allotted. This inference comes chiefly from God’s relationship to Israel. God chose His portion as Jacob (Dt 32:9.) He is the shepherd of Israel. It follows that His desire would be for goodness toward those people.

He assigned other angels to steward the other nations. These were called to mete out justice. They were appointed to represent God and do His work among the people they shepherded.

Something happened, though. It seems to have occurred quickly. At some point, these stars took on the worship of men. Instead of pointing men to the Most High God, they took that worship to themselves.

If there be found among you, within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you, man or woman, who has acted wickedly in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded,

Deuteronomy 17:2–3

It is this continuous polluting of Adam. First in the garden. Soon after it was by genetics which had to be rectified by the flood. Then it came by ritualistic workings to corrupt the seed yet again at the tower incident. It is probably through the same old lie, “You shall be as gods.” It’s a recurring theme.

Now, these beings are polluting Adams’s race with false worship. I’m assuming to know that God would respond. Polluting other nations by taking the worship of men would become a stumbling stone for Israel. (I cannot help but think Rachel stealing Laban’s teraphim is more significant than we think.) It would be to pollute the Chosen incurring God’s wrath on them. It is a ploy to stop the Anointed One, the Seed of the Woman.

Conclusion

I know this was long. It is necessary foundational information. What we know so far, the Divine Council failed. The Divine Council consists of sons of God… Angels. There are fallen angels who work to pollute the seed of Adam… Chiefly the Seed of the Eve.

In the next post, we will examine these things in the New Testament. The understanding of what makes a son of God will become clearer. There will be new members of the Divine Council. God’s Master Plan has not yet been thwarted.

Stars: They Watch Over Adam’s Race

On By TimIn Angels, Isaiah 40, The Divine Council2 Comments

The wisdom gained from the scriptures in the last post witnesses to us that there is more to the glittering diamonds in the night sky than we may consider. The stars reveal information to us.

As cited in the last post, Isaiah 40 seems like a good place to begin here. Isaiah is loaded with prophetic references to Jesus. It also relates to us an important aspect of God… There is none like Him. In that sheer magnitude of strength, we encounter the tenderness of a shepherd with the weakest of the flock.

O Zion, bearer of good news, get yourself up onto a high mountain; O Jerusalem, bearer of good news, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord GOD will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; see, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice, and taught Him knowledge, and showed to Him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 40:9–14

We see clearly that God has no teacher. He reports to nobody. He is taught by nobody. In other parts of the Bible, the term used to describe Him is the Most High God.

Thus says the Lord the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts:
I am the first, and I am the last;
besides Me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:6

The prophet Isaiah continues this theme in another place. It is also witnessed elsewhere:

You alone are the Lord. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships You.

Nehemiah 9:6

It would be a difficult task to provide all of the Scriptures that attest to God’s position as above any and all of creation.

For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

Psalm 47:2

He is El Elyon, the Most High God.

The employment of that particular title hints to us that there may indeed be other lesser gods. Does the Bible tell us about lesser Gods?

God stands among the divine council; He renders judgment among the gods.

Psalm 82:1

The Hebrew in that verse literally uses the word elohim twice. It’s saying: Elohim stands among the divine council; He renders judgment among the elohim. This is an important concept to grasp. One that is a comprehensive theme that makes the Bible and what it says more clear.

I know Jesus cited this portion of the Scriptures in John 10. He used it as a defense of His own claim, which is obviously understood by the people who heard Him. They wanted to stone Him for likening Himself to God.

Suffice it to say… Yes, there are lesser gods. Not that Jesus is one of those. Yet those other gods were tasked with a distinctive service to the Most High God and to Adam’s progeny.

The Divine Council

As it were, these tasked with representing God are His imagers. (This term is borrowed from the late Dr. Michael A. Heiser. His work on what is called the Divine Council Worldview is extensive.) The term suffices for anyone tasked with serving God as His representative. Humans are also imagers. But the lesser gods, as imagers, were to mete out justice.

God stands among the divine council; He renders judgment among the gods.
“How long will you all judge unjustly and accept partiality of the wicked? Selah
Defend the poor and fatherless; vindicate the afflicted and needy. Grant escape to the abused and the destitute, pluck them out of the hand of the false.
“They have neither knowledge nor understanding; they walk in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”
I have said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you, but you all shall die like men, and fall like a man, O princes.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit all nations.

Psalm 82:1–8

These members of the Divine Council failed to properly image God to men. They were to watch over them to ensure justice everywhere. There are many places in the Bible that show the other gross failures of these gods. There is another title that hints to what they were called to do.

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and there was a holy watcher coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get away from under it, and the fowl from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field.
“ ‘And let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. Let its heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of an animal. And let seven periods of time pass over it. “ ‘This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills and sets up over it the basest of men.’

Daniel 4:13–17

These gods are holy watchers. They mete out decrees of justice. The task assigned was to be guardians of the creatures that bore the image of God Himself. Creatures that were made of dust.

Their failure has everything to do with what happened in the garden and the millennia after.

The next post will delve more into this Divine Council and why understanding it is important.

Stars: As Military and Messengers

On By TimIn Angels, Genesis 016 Comments

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons, and days, and years. Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:14–16

There is a thought rattling around my brain. It has it’s anchor here in the Bible. I thought I could coax it all out in one post, but alas… It will be in a series of I do not know how many.

God made the heavens. He set the sun and the moon to indicate seasons, days, and years. He made the stars also. That is the point from which to launch.

Kokabim

The Hebrew word for stars here is kokabim. It is the plural of the Hebrew word kokab. The total amount of stars created is never given, but it is referenced as a number that is uncountable (Genesis 22:17.) Yet God counts them and calls them all by name.

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.

Psalm 147:4

This is witnessed again for us in the prophets.

To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:25–26

We have these two portions of Scripture that testify to the vast number of stars. We also see that stars are personified; they are given names. The prophet Isaiah reveals to us a different way to describe stars. He uses the Hebrew word tsaba, which is translated into English as host. To understand, the word host is a word that primarily refers to many persons assembled and appointed for military purposes.

The word tsaba was introduced in Genesis.

So the heavens and the earth, and all their hosts, were finished.

Genesis 2:1

The Bible speaks to many references of the host of heaven, like a favorite in 1 Samuel 17:45 where David names Him Jehovah Tsaba (LORD of Hosts.) David is speaking of God) as the Lord of Hosts.

A Star from Jacob

The Bible also likens Jesus to a star in a prophecy given by Balaam.

“I will see him, but not now; I will behold him, but not near; a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the borderlands of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Edom will be a possession, and Seir, a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. One out of Jacob shall have dominion, and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Numbers 24:17–19

At His first advent, the birth of Jesus was heralded by His star.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:1–2

When they heard the king, they departed. And the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great excitement. And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9–11

I had to add that because of the phrase when they saw the star, it occurs to me that it may be a reference to Jesus as well as the star in the sky. That is my speculation… But back on topic.

The prophecy given by Balaam has a parallel with the one given by John.

I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. “He shall rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11–16

I jumped a bit too far ahead but wanted to establish this firmly. The kokabim are an army led by none other than Jesus Christ. They were created at the beginning. There is another term associated with stars that we must also consider. That is sons of God. Tuck all these things into your memory banks, as you will need them to understand the next posts.

Kokabim as Messengers

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has determined its measurements, if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it? To what are its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:4–7

I have not begun to exhaust the references of stars as angels. I will leave that for your own endeavors. As it is the glory of kings to search out a matter. Yet amongst all those different references to stars as persons with a military calling, they also serve another purpose.

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:19–20

This is not the first reference of the Greek word that is translated to angel here. It serves the purpose of connecting stars to angels. The Greek word translated to star is then translated in other places as messenger. Not only are stars the host of heaven, but they also serve as messengers doing God’s bidding.

It is not then too difficult to connect some dots. Let us consider what is said in this psalm:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night declares knowledge. There is no speech and there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run a race. Its going forth is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit extends to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1–6

The firmament is the home of the stars. It shows His handiwork and proclaims a message. It is one not spoken aloud. Note the change to the personal pronoun. Their line goes to all the Earth. In other words, the messengers of heaven are telling us something not using words. Something that is available to the entire Earth.

Paul quoted part of this psalm. In it he provides another witness to the personhood of the messengers.

But I say, have they not heard? Yes, indeed:
“Their voice went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 10:18

What is fascinating is that in this portion of Romans, Paul quotes a few other passages from the Tanakh. These passages are somewhat prophetic in nature as they speak of future truth that is revealed by Paul.

But I say, did Israel not know? First, Moses says:
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”
And Isaiah is very bold and says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
But to Israel He says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10:19–21

Your Bible ought to reference the source to all those quotes. They would be easy to find. I will leave that for those inclined.

Who has believed us, and to whom has the lovingkindness of the Lord been revealed?

That is an apparent lament by these messengers. What they have conveyed is not believed. Now, I know that this idea might upset some of what y’all know. Clearly, Paul connects the messengers to the host of heaven, the angelic beings.

Is it not by hearing that brings belief and hearing is by the word of God?

But from stars (angels?)

Messengers to Witness

The charge by Paul is that Israel ought to have known. Because they did not know, they rejected their expected King. Now the ministry of God is being taken away from Israel and given to a different body. That is the beginning of Romans 9 and continues in Romans 10 and 11. It is the body of Christ, who are not a nation. And the people that speak the truth will be taken as foolish by Israel.

God revealed Himself to those that did not seek or ask for God, He revealed Himself to Gentiles as was hidden in the prophets. The arm of the Lord revealed is His mercy in that He has stretched out His hands to a disobedient and contrary people. If that is not lovingkindness, I do not know what that is.

And yes, angels were (and are) always involved.

Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They have even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels, but have not kept it.”

Acts 7:52–53

How was the Law sent?

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? God also bore them witness with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and with gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His own will.

Hebrews 2:1–4

The inspired commentary from the New Testament tells us that angels are indeed the messengers to men. The stars are messengers. It is their witness that is plain to the whole earth. There are scholars who think that the position of the stars purposely relates a witness of the Gospel and the history of creation. This information was compiled long ago in an easily accessible work called Mazzaroth or The Constellations by Frances Rolleston.

Now the foundation has been laid. Taking what we now have gleaned, let us look back to the Tanakh.

Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

Do you see the witness of the heavenly host, and what it conveys?

Do you consider yourself as one of those wise?

Is it not the stars who turn the many to righteousness?

The many is synechdoche. It is used to mean Israel, and by extension in the New Testament… God’s people.

It is not my intent to shame any people. It is to show that the God portrayed in the Tanakh is the loving God of the New Testament. When I read the Tanakh, the tender mercies of God are everywhere. Just reading this song of Moses moves me to tears. It demonstrates the great mercies our Lord has extended to Israel. And by them, to all of us foolish Gentiles who believe Him, He calls wise.

He said: The LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir to them; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of holy ones; from His right hand went a fiery law for them. Surely, He loved the people; all His holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; everyone receives Your words.

Deuteronomy 33:2–3

Double Emphasis Tells us to Pay Attention

On By TimIn 2 Thessalonians 02, Last Days1 Comment

This:

For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His presence,

2 Thessalonians 2:7–8

Is this amplified:

Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Here is why. There is no object given to the Greek apostasia (falling away.) It means a falling away or abandonment, without an object one is assumed. Our English minds think leaving the faith, but that is not necessarily applicable here. It begs the question, falling away or abandonment from what and who or what is falling away?

That is when we must examine the immediate context. When we do, Paul amplifies what he is saying and provides greater detail. We get a clear idea that the abandonment is a “He” being removed.

The double-emphasis is just like Jesus saying, “Truly. Truly.”

The Day of the Lord, The Day of Christ, and the Great Day of the Wrath of the Lamb

On By TimIn Last Days, Revelation 06Leave a comment

I watched as He opened the sixth seal. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth made from goat hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when it is shaken by a strong wind. Then the heavens receded like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the commanding officers and the strong and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come. Who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 6:12–17

The Bible is clear and precise. As the seals on the scroll are removed… We come to the sixth seal. As it opens, unmistakable apocalyptic events come to earth. Many of these events seem to line up with what the world is preparing for now. Something happens to the sun and moon that impels the rich and powerful into underground bunkers. They implore those bunkers to fall on them… Why?

They tell us. It’s is the great day of the wrath of the Lamb.

Alas! for that day is great, so that no one is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Jeremiah 30:7

But is that great day the same as the Day of the Lord?

‘In the last days it shall be,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Acts 2:17–21

That is Peter referencing the same thing… Sun into darkness and the moon turns to blood. This is the harbinger of the Day of the Lord.

Already we derive some facts…

  • The Day of the Lord is when the wrath of the Lamb is poured out.
  • The Day of the Lord is the time when Jesus comes.
  • It is not limited to a single 24-hour day.
  • Even unbelievers recognize it for what it is.

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there regarding My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.
They have cast lots for My people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute; they have sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

Joel 3:1–3

It is a day distinctly Jewish in nature. It is the restoration of Israel. It is also a terrible time of judgment for unbelievers. Note that even the Holy Spirit drops a hint to the trafficking of children as part of the injustices.

Reading a bit further in Joel brings us to something unmistakable.

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of the decision.
The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their radiance.
The LORD roars from Zion, and sounds His voice from Jerusalem, and heaven and earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel.

Joel 3:14–16

The Day of the Lord is the Day of wrath and the coming of the Lamb. That is unmistakable.

Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as others do. But let us be alert and sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we should live together with Him. So comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Paul describes the Day of the Lord to the Thessalonians. It comes like a thief in the night. They say, peace and safety… These are not believers who are going to be surprised.

Paul then uses the idea of some escape from that day that these cannot do. The believers he is addressing are not in such peril. Why?

Because believers are not appointed to this time of wrath. That is, believers are removed as previously testified immediately before.

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

This means the above happens as a way of escape BEFORE the day of the Lord. Now, examining the second epistle we can clearly understand what is said.

Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled, neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming as though from us, as if the day of Christ is already here.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2

Paul uses the term “Day of Christ.” He is assuring his readers that it is not here. The “Day of Christ” is not the moment we are snatched away. That is spoken of as happening before the Day of Christ. Modern-day saints are snatched away before the wrath comes.

As we can see… The Day of the Lord, the Day of Christ, and the Day of the wrath of the Lamb… These are all the same period of time with different names.

If that is not enough to point to Who is taking vengeance… Let’s rewind back to Revelation 6.

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had held. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be completed, who would be killed as they were.

Revelation 6:9–11

The ones who are asking for vengeance are the folks who have died for their testimony in the tribulation. They ask for their blood to be avenged.

Remember back in Numbers, where Moses instructed the Israelites to make sanctuary cities to protect from the avenger of blood?

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you are crossing over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall designate cities as your cities of refuge, so that a manslayer who unintentionally kills a person may flee there. The cities will be for you a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer does not die until he stands trial before the assembly. The cities which you designate shall be your six cities of refuge. You will give three cities across the Jordan, and three cities you will give in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge. For the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the foreign sojourner among them will be six cities. These will be for a refuge. Everyone that unintentionally kills any person may flee there.

Numbers 35:9–15

The Hebrew word for avenger is goel. It is the same word used in the book of Ruth for the redeemer… The Kinsman Redeemer. That’s Jesus.

Jesus is the Avenger of Blood and the Kinsman Redeemer.

Apostasia: What Does it Mean?

On By TimIn 2 Thessalonians 02, Apostasy, RaptureLeave a comment

Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled, neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming as though from us, as if the day of Christ is already here. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4

That falling away has always been taught that is an abandonment of faith. In our text, the words of faith are assumed to be there. They are not. In fact, some scholars think it’s better translated as a departure. But from what is not specified. Nevertheless, this leaving comes first… Then the man of sin is revealed.

A lot of people are confused by this already. They’ve always been taught that apostasy is falling away from faith or orthodoxy. That is what the word has come to mean in English. In our text above, it’s there is no object supplied to the word that means abandon.

Many will teach that the order of events established here are… First, there is a great abandonment of Christianity. Second comes the revealing of the antichrist.

Is that right?

Let’s take a deeper look at what Paul wrote.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what restrains him that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His presence, even him, whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all deception of unrighteousness among those who perish, because they did not receive the love for the truth that they might be saved. Therefore God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie: that they all might be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:5–12

Paul elaborates on the timetable. I like to think that it is noting something important to understand, like Jesus saying, “Truly, truly.” It’s said twice. Pay attention.

The first thing that is important to note, Paul uses the word ‘He.’ It is a “He” that is to be removed. That is a pronoun pointing to a person. He has to be taken out of the way. Then the lawless one comes.

But… Who is that He?

It has to be God. Hod is the only one able to restrain this being.

How does God get taken out of the way?

It is God the Spirit working in the Body of Christ that must be removed. He is the One restraining evil, for now.

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

God works in us until a certain point when the work is finished. It’s the day of Jesus Christ. That verse has hints to our text that will be covered in the next post. What is important is that the work of the Spirit is in believers and will be completed at some point.

So going back to this section, it is the Spirit working in believers that is first removed. The Spirit can’t be removed or taken away from believers. Now, the Scriptures tell us in Acts 2:38 that the Spirit is a gift to believers. The Scriptures also tell us in Romans 11:29 that God does not take back His gifts. So it must be that believers are removed with the Spirit!

The New Testament body of Christ leaves this Earth. It abandons the authority of earthly rulers and structures. The antichrist then comes with power and signs to deceive. God, in removing the influence of the Spirit at work in and through church saints takes out His influences on the planet. This results in a hardening of the hearts to those remaining. Then deception comes, without God’s help people succumb to the deception.

This doesn’t have good tidings for their future conversion. For those not saved, it’s not gonna be good.

Yet we give God thanks for the heads-up.

The end to all of this is Jesus redeeming the Earth. That is the Day of Christ, when He returns.

One thing I had not ever noticed before… Jesus slays the antichrist with the breath of His mouth. It’s an interesting and thought-provoking phrase. It’s very down to earth… Only nephesh (OT word that includes all creatures with blood) have the breath of the mouth. He is kinsman with all humans, but this the very thing that makes Him kin to all earth-dwellers, breathing. By that very breath the creation is set free, too.

For the eagerly expecting creation awaits eagerly the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay, into the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now.

Romans 8:19–22 (LEB)

Creation is ready for the freedom of the children of God that comes the very moment creation is freed. These are the ones that ride with Jesus as part of the armies of heaven. The children of God are direct creations of God (not procreation by human reproduction.) Church-age believers are new creations. Born of God, children of God. The ones who availed themselves of the right given by God to become children of God.

Paneas and You

On By TimIn Matthew 16, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24

In as much as Jesus is talking to His disciples present at Banias, He is also talking to you and me. This is the walk of the Christian. We are to take up our own cross.

Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.

Hebrews 12:1–3

Jesus despised the shame of the cross… Yet endured the suffering. He is now lifted up and seated in glory. The writer of Hebrews uses this as encouragement. The idea of taking up the cross may come with an expectation of suffering. But I choose to think of it as an expectation of victory.

Jesus did not fear what would happen. He set His mind beyond the momentary suffering. Though I don’t think any of us could even begin to imagine the things He endured, it is not about death, but life.

This is Spiritual Warfare

Jesus has already told His disciples that the Gates of Hell will not prevail against His church. The church, which is built upon the resurrection of Jesus as the chief Cornerstone. We, as living stones, are told to take up our part in the building of the church. Not a physical building, but the activity of building up. We do that, just as Jesus did… By denying our desires and seeking to do the will of the Father.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16:25

Paul would put it this way.

Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11

If there is any that had the right to hold onto themselves and their position, it is the Creator of the universe. Yet as our working through Matthew 16 and the account at the Grotto of Pan shows, He took on the form of a servant. He became obedient to the curse of death. It was through that cross that He really had life.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

Here is that idea of binding and loosing spoken of before. It is iterated in a different way. One may continue to serve self and gain all of the wealth and power in this life. Yet cannot take the power and prestige into the next life. Such would be remanded to an eternity of languishing in the futility of self-pursuit. That one loses his soul in perdition hot, needy, and alone.

Yet if we loosen our grip on pursuing our own positions in life, just as Jesus did we gain our soul. Life is not living for oneself but for others. Those others include the Savior Who led by example.

It is exactly that mindset where the victory of the Gates of Hell is. There is a real battle for you and your soul. It happens in your mind and among your thoughts.

Paneas is about looking beyond ourselves and beyond our circumstances. It is about taking our thoughts captive. That means identifying those thoughts that come from outside our minds.

Peter provides a poignant glimpse into this. At the beginning he rightfully identifies the Son of Man. Jesus says this thought arose outside of Peter’s mind being revealed by the Father. In the same way, when Peter denied Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus attested to the origin of that thought.

Likewise, being born of the Spirit and with His help, we can identify the thoughts in our mind. These thoughts come from our own inner voice or a prompting of the Spirit.

And sometimes they come with a heavy dousing of brimstone. These are the ones that discourage, shame, accuse, and condemn. Throw them out. Don’t bring them inside. Don’t entertain them.

The battle in the mind can hinder. The prescription Jesus gives us to deny ourselves. Deny a focus on our thoughts, even looking to encourage and better the welfare of others.

Taking up your cross is not to focus on suffering. It is to focus on victory. It is about shedding the fear that comes with sin and death and look toward life, everlasting life.

Speaking to that, we do life with other believers, in fellowship. We encourage each other, being accountable. We do this in local bodies called churches. Remember Jesus’ words, the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against His church.

Looking for Jesus

For the Son of Man shall come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man according to his works.

Matthew 16:27

Our focus is always on Jesus. We look forward to His return when justice is delivered. This is the sure victory all will see clearly.

For some it won’t be a good thing… Especially for those waiting to be judged for their works.

Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 16:28

Now, this verse has confounded many. Some say this is about the transfiguration which happens on Mt. Hermon recorded in the next chapter of Matthew.

I think this is speaking to something a bit more practical. When Jesus was taken up in the first chapter of Acts, He gave instructions to His disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise or power.

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “ It is not for you to know the times or the dates, which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:6–8

The disciples ask Jesus if the kingdom would be restored to Israel. Jesus said it’s not for them to know the times, as if there seems to be a pause to the restoring of the kingdom to Israel. He promised them they will receive power and be witnesses to all. That was the calling to Israel, who failed to attain that. It’s not a far stretch to see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom is a reference to the birth of the church. The same church-kingdom to which the Gates of Hell have no way to answer.

John,
To the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:4–6

John attests that we have been made kings and priests. It is a theme repeated in Revelation.

And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals;
for You were slain,
and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
and have made us kings and priests unto our God;
and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9–10

Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

I encourage all to read a few verses before the last verse in chapter 20. There is a previous post explaining who the judges are. Keep in mind that the term first resurrection is probably not indicative of a one-time event. It is a classification, think first class, which doesn’t necessarily mean the first class of the day.

Back to the text… We see clearly that this New Testament body is peculiar in nature. It is a body of judges, kings, and priests who will serve in His Millennial kingdom. John said we’ve already been made kings and priests. It’s my contention that His kingdom did come with the birth of the church at Pentecost.

Peter seems to witness to this truth in his sermon, too.

God raised up this Jesus, of which we all are witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you now see and hear. For David has not ascended to the heavens, yet he says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Your enemies
Your footstool.” ’
“Therefore, let all the house of Israel assuredly know that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 2:32–36

That’s where we get a hint to what the kingdom. Jesus Christ did indeed ascend to heaven. He sat down, taking His seat as Lord and Christ. He sent His promised Spirit into those who believe. It is those who are of the kingdom of the Son of Man. One that has not yet been restored to Israel yet nevertheless exists in a body of believers now. That is the body of Christ.

The importance of Paneas is not to be taken lightly. The exact workings of the kingdom were revealed there. Jesus would die, and rose again putting His Spirit in believers. In that Hell is defeated now. It has no business with believers, including you.

Don’t give it entry into your mind, your life, or your church. Pray daily revoking rights and permissions given to any spirit other that that of God and Jesus, whether those are down intentionally or accidentally. You and I have that power, in Jesus’ name!

Paneas and the Cross

On By TimIn Matthew 16, ResurrectionLeave a comment

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things that are of God, but those that are of men.”

Matthew 16:23

There is more to be said in that last phrase you are not mindful of the things that are of God. Jesus was foretelling things that would soon take place. This is not the first time He spoke of this. Remember what Jesus said about Himself.

The Things of God

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but may have eternal life.

John 3:14–15

Jesus was speaking of this account from the Torah.

So the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many children of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, and He will take away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and put it on a pole, and it will be, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, will live.” Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the bronze serpent he lived.

Numbers 21:6–9

In that account, the Israelites had begun to complain and murmur against God’s provision. They refused to enter His rest (the Promised Land) and were remanded to wander in the wilderness of that sin. The circumstances of their present condition were of their own doing. Yet even in the midst of that wandering, God provided for their needs with manna from heaven.

God sent serpents to remind them of their precarious condition. They turned to God through Moses. Moses was instructed to make a likeness of the serpent from bronze, put it on a pole, and lift it up. Any who by faith, looked at the serpent to be healed of the poison would be cured and live. I can think that some in that multitude have thought that silly scheme and they perished. But to those who believed the declaration, they looked and lived.

It would be just like that for Jesus.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:56

Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men, because all have sinned.

Romans 5:12

Just as the sting of the poisonous serpent would bring certain death, we know that we have an appointment with death by the sting of sin. The serpent was the source of the sting that brought death to the Israelis in the wilderness. Mortality in humanity that came as a result of the serpent was the source of the sting that brought death to all men.

Moses made an effigy of the serpent, he did not put a real serpent on that pole. In like manner, the same would happen to Jesus. It is not that Jesus was not a real human. On the cross, the Bible tells us that Jesus became sin for us. He was like us in death.

The precision in these foreshadows is breathtaking. I am not saying Jesus was not human, or that something magic happened. His death is real. And His death satisfied the justice due for sins. He unabashedly spoke of His death.

Again, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself? For He said, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ”
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
They said to Him, “Who are You?”
Jesus said to them, “Just who I have been telling you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true. So I tell the world what I heard from Him.”
They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing of Myself. But I speak these things as My Father taught Me. He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

John 8:21–30

He also hinted at something more than just His death, but that was something most could not comprehend. We must also consider all the words of Jesus. Peter was not mindful of the things that are of God. Namely that Jesus would give His life and take it back up again to prolong His days.

Lifted Up

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I received this command from My Father.”

John 10:17–18

This idea of being lifted up is also connected to what comes after His death. It is the destruction of the Gates of Hell. Resurrection would prolong His days, and then He would be received into heaven. That is, He is lifted up from this Earth. As His physical human advent on this planet careened to the culmination of the plan, death was not the end.

“Now My soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? Instead, for this reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered, “This voice came not for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself.” He said this to signify by what kind of death He would die.
The crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. Why do You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

John 12:27–34

Thankfully, we do not just look to a dead Christ on the cross to live. The cross is empty because He lives. We look to the living Jesus in glory. He signifies the hope that we have. He signifies our own resurrection. He takes the sting from death.

Any that would want to live, that is escape perdition, need only believe and put action to that faith by looking to Jesus for salvation.

Real Life After Death

Jesus spoke consistently of His death. It was also fitting in this location at the Grotto of Pan. He also spoke consistently of more to come after His death. It was His mission to die and experience death for everyone, believer or not. Through that death, He would bring many to glory. Any that would want it can have it.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death, crowned with glory and honor, so that He, by the grace of God, should experience death for everyone.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:9–10