God-Given Independent Thought.

 If we create something with intelligence of independent thought, we can't be responsible for what the something thinks because it has independent thought. Independent meaning alone. Thoughts that can be thought all on its own without anything from us who created it.

We have this scenario in the Terminator movies. Robots that gain the ability to think on their own and turn on mankind. The Robots were created by man, they did not create themselves that would have been impossible. Man created all the parts that put the robots together, yet once those robots could start to think, to form their own thoughts, man lost control. Could they just turn the robots off? Yes. Until the Robots learned to protect itself from man.  This is the stuff of fiction, not reality. Movies. Yet everyone watching those movies could comprehend that the Robots themselves became evil all on their own, they didn't have to be programed that way- they were not programed that way. They took over their own lives and wanted to preserve them at all cost even if that meant killing the ones who created them. They no longer needed their creator now that they could repair and created more of themselves.

These robots did not have an evil mastermind human-as many other movies do- controlling them behind the scenes. These robots actually started to think on their own. All the movies have to do with destroying the evil robots to save mankind. 

If we can comprehend this fiction we should be able to comprehend the reality. 

A perfect angel created with independent thought, the thought no longer the responsibility of the Creator once independence was established. 

We should understand because WE are also created beings of the same God, and we too were created to have independent thought. We are NOT forced to think our Creator is good. We are not even forced to believe we have a creator. We can form our own thoughts and those thoughts can be whatever we want them to be. Can I make you think anything? No. Not anymore than you can make me think anything. 

Just as the angels were all given independent thought, some chose to think God was their Lord, their Creator and deserving their honor, glory, worship, service, thanksgiving, love. Others chose to think that God was undeserving of their worship and all that entails, so they left God and went to serve another who advocated their self-love above all. We are given the same choice. Some will choose God, others will not.

I pray I am among those who choose God above ALL. I want God as my Lord, my Heavenly Father, I want to worship my Creator, I want to worship my Redeemer! I praise God that I am given the choice, I thank Him with all I am that I can choose, and I CHOOSE GOD!

(Excerpt)

ORIGIN OF SATAN

When we speak of the devil as a real personal being, the question immediately arises, Whence did he come? Did God create him? or how did he come into existence? Many stumble at this point, and, by specious or plausible arguments, are led to deny the teachings of the Bible on this subject. Thus a learned author said:-

"I conceive that  the existence of a devil is irreconcilable with all goodness and omnipotency; and that, were a devil created by God, the Creator would be answerable for all the acts of this being so created. Evidently the devil could be nothing else but what the Creator should make him, and could do nothing but what prescience could foresee. The acts of the devil would, therefore, be indirectly those of his Maker."

To this the Bible reader can readily reply that God never created a devil. But then comes the query, Seeing that God is the Creator of all things, how is it possible for the devil to exist if God did not create him? But this query is based upon the supposition that all things are now in the condition in which God created  them, which is not the case. 

God made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. Eccl. 7:29.

Ecc 7:29  Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. 

God never created a wicked man, yet wicked men exist God never created a murderer nor an adulterer; shall we therefore deny the existence of murderers and adulterers? With as much reason we might deny their existence as to deny the existence of the devil, because God never created a devil. The argument applies with equal force in both cases. God created man "very good," but he corrupted his way and became a sinner. And so of the devil. God created him an angel, but he rebelled and became, or made himself, a devil.

Before proceeding to the direct statements of the Bible on the subject, a few facts of the Scriptures may be laid before the reader to prepare his mind for the better understanding of the whole question. In the earthly or typical sanctuary, the symbol of God's presence was between the two cherubim, whose wings shadowed the mercy-seat. Ex. 25:22. So, in the heavenly temple, God dwells between the two covering cherubim. 

"The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble; He sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved."

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth."

"O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubim, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; Thou hast made heaven and earth." Ps. 99:1; 80:1; Isa. 37:16. 

This testimony shows that God's dwelling-place is between the cherubim. Ezekiel gives a lengthy description of these cherubium in chapters 1 and 10, and in conclusion says:

"This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar ; and I knew that they were the cherubim." Eze. 10:20. 

Zechariah refers to the same when he says: "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." Chap. 4:14.

God's throne is in His holy temple. Rev. 7:15. 

This temple is in heaven. Rev. 11:19. 

There is a city in heaven called the new Jerusalem. Said Paul: "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Gal. 4:26. 

We read much in the Bible about "the holy mountain of God," the "hill of Zion," "Mount Zion," etc. 

That this does not always refer to the earthly Mount Zion is evident from the Scriptures. 

"But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." Heb. 12:22. 

Joel says: "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake." Joel 3:16. 

Paul also says that the shaking of heaven and earth by the voice of God is when He speaks from heaven. Heb. 12:25, 26. 

And thus it is fully proved that Mount Zion and New Jerusalem, as well as the temple and throne of God, are in heaven. We next call the attention of the reader to a brief description of this city, as found in Rev. 21:10-21:- "And He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from  God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious,even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels." Now mark the names of the precious stones which form the wall of the city. "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, crysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."

Some of these precious gems would sparkle like fire, and some would emit light of themselves. In this heavenly city are the tree of life, and the river of the water of life, which are in the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7; 22:1-3; Gen. 2:8-17. The reader cannot now fail to appreciate the testimony of Ezekiel 28, as follows:-

"Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl , the onyx and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold; the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ; and I have set thee so. Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." Verses 12-16. 

Mark the character of the person here described. "Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." Again, "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God." Whether this refers to the Eden upon the earth or in heaven, no mortal has ever been in it except Adam and Eve; but this personage has been there; hence the one spoken of here is not a man. But we read that the serpent, who is also called the devil and Satan (Rev. 12:9), was in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were there (Gen. 3:1-6). The sequel will show that the Eden here referred to is in the city of God above. The Lord says: "Every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, the carbuncle, and gold." See again the list given in Revelation 21.

This shows that the personage introduced in Ezekiel 28 has been in that city. The Lord says to him, "Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." As before stated, many of these stones in the holy city emit light of themselves, and hence they could properly be called stones of fire. One is thus described by Dr. Clarke: "Carbuncle is a very elegant gem, of a deep red color, with an admixture of scarlet; from its bright, lively color it had the name of carbunculus, which signifies a little coal." "Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God." "Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." This must have been in the heavenly Jerusalem, where God Himself dwells. While the garden of God might apply to the garden of Eden, this description of the garniture of the city can only apply to heaven itself, for the city has never yet been upon the earth. The heathen, wicked king of the city of Tyre, the human ruler, could not be said to have been perfect in his ways, sealing up the sum, full of wisdom and

beauty. 

A being more exalted than any mere man is here spoken to. The question naturally arises, If Satan was once in heaven, what position did he occupy there? What follows in the Scripture will answer this question, and utterly preclude the possibility of applying it to any being less than an angel: "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so." Verse 14. Evidently this is a reference to one of the mighty angels, also called cherubim, who cover the throne of God; for we have seen that God dwells between the cherubim. Then it is very clear what position was once occupied by the person called the king of Tyrus. He was a covering angel to the throne of God in heaven. God created him to fill that office, for he says, "I have set thee so." This was his position, his office. This, certainly, is not true of any man that ever lived. Hence we must be correct in applying it to some superior being. With regard to this remarkable personage brought to view in Ezekiel 28, we have learned the following facts: 

1. He has been in Eden, the garden of God. 

2. The precious stones that compose the wall of the heavenly Jerusalem were his covering. 

3. He has been upon the holy mountain of God. 

4. He has walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire, i. e., he has walked the streets of the city of God. 

5. He was perfect in his ways. 

6. He was full of wisdom. 

7. He was perfect in beauty. 

8. He was the anointed covering cherub, and God created him thus. 

9. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty. 

10. He sinned. 

11. He will be cast out and destroyed. We apply this to Satan, believing that no other application of it can be made which will harmonize the Scripture in all points.

Of this person, addressed as the king of Tyre, Dr. Charles Beecher says:-"In this address to the king of Tyre are several expressions too high for a merely mortal sovereign. Hence the impression has extensively prevailed that the Holy Spirit regarded the king of Tyre as a kind of an image or symbol of Satan, and in addressing him uttered things passing beyond the emblem, and applying directly to the reality. Such was the view of Augustine, Jerome, Tertullian,

Ambrose, and  other early fathers. Indeed, Fairbairn remarks; 'Most of the early commentators have supposed that verses 12-14 were not properly used of the king of Tyre, but mystically of Satan.'"-Redeemer and Redeemed, p. 75.

"The cherub is the most exalted of all known emblems, nearest the throne of Jehovah, most vividly connected with His Majesty, and identified with His administration. That such was the exalted station originally held by Lucifer, may be considered the established belief. President Edwards observes; 'Lucifer, before his fall, was the morning star, the covering cherub, the brightest and highest of all creatures.' Dr. Hopkins speaks of him as one 'who was the head of all the angels, and the most noble creature that God had made.' And Dr. Dwight calls him 'an angel of pre-eminent distinction in heaven."-Ib., p. 81. Many have queried why Satan is addressed as the king of Tyrus. In the first part of Ezekiel 28 the prince of Tyre is addressed in a manner to show that it refers to the reigning monarch; to him it is said; Yet thou art a man," and," Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers." The whole description shows that he was a self-exalted, haughty person. Tyre was a powerful city, rich and influential as a seat of commerce, and as wicked as she was rich. The ruler of Tyre was merely an instrument in the hands of Satan to do his will. Hence Satan was the real ruler, truly the king of Tyrus, and the recognized king was but a prince under his sway. In like manner the empire of Rome is represented in Revelation 12 as a great red dragon, but in chapter 20:2 the devil is called the old dragon. At the time of which the prophecy speaks, Rome had become the seat of earthly empire. Wicked, cruel, and relentless in her persecutions of the people of God, her relationship to Satan is not difficult to trace. Satan was then the king of Rome, as he had been the king of Tyre when she was mistress among the nations.

Again, in Isa. 14:12-14, for the reason here given, Satan is spoken to in an address to the king of Babylon: "How art thou fallen from heaven O, Lucifer, son of the morning! [Margin, "day-star."] How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High." Who is this that has fallen from heaven? Jesus uses the same words in Luke 10:18: "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Isaiah says: "How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer!" It is evident that they both refer to the same person. That person Jesus calls Satan.

This, then, was the original condition of Satan, this the exalted position which he once occupied, high and glorious, near the throne of God. The Lord created him, and placed him there. He was wise, beautiful, holy, and happy. Alas, that sin should come in, to destroy such a character! Alas, that rebellion should blot so fair a universe! But so it was. Even while we are contemplating this picture, the scene is changed, oh, how changed! Evil thoughts brood in Lucifer's mind. A dark

cloud is gathering. Whispers of discontent are heard, insubordination is talked, till at length, O woful day! rebellion, dark, deep, wicked rebellion, bursts upon the astonished inhabitants of heaven.  And since the day that iniquity entered his heart, and he set himself in opposition to God, he has left no wile untried to lead others to follow him in the way of rebellion. No one has been free from his assaults, no one so exalted in position, no one so wise and gifted, but Satan has endeavored to lead him astray. How necessary the exhortation of the Saviour, to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. How timely the admonition of the servant of God, "Let him

that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-  (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)

How Old Are Angels?

 Ancient Angels.

Who are the ancient angels? All angels are ancient angels. Adding the term ancient implies they are very, very old. Just how old are the angels? I have no way of knowing, but they predate humans. Angels were created before the first human, therefore all the angels, every single angel is older than humanity.

Angels have witnessed humanity from its conception. The angel that watched over Adam could be watching over you right now. Angels have no need to watch over anyone who has died. All the thoughts, all the actions of that human being have ended. That human will no longer make any choices for or against God. That human needs absolutely no ministering to, not a single bit. That human's life is over. What makes that human being who they are is preserved by God while that human's thoughts have ceased. 

Do you believe in the Bible. There is a very good chance if you are reading this that you do. The Bible says this--

Ecc_9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 

(THE dead know not anything---  this does not sound like when we die we have any knowledge at all in any way. This doesn't say that the dead know everything they just can't communicate with the living. It clearly says, the dead know not anything. It seems simple enough, doesn't it? If my mother is dead I can't believe she is alive somewhere in some form with all her knowledge- the bible tells me my dead mother knows not anything. I have to believe God's word.)

Psa 6:5  For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 

(THE dead can't remember God, why? Because they have no ability to remember, to think at all. The dead in their graves cannot thank God- why? Because they have no knowledge, their thoughts ceased upon their irreversible death. No more thanking God once you are dead.)

Psa 30:9  What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

(THE dead cannot praise God! We turn to dust after our bodies decay, we return to dust and that dust isn't praising anyone! When David questioned shall dust praise thee to God, he was speaking that if he were dead he would no longer be able to praise God. IF David returned to life in some spirit form immediately after death, then David would be able to praise God, right? RIGHT? If David with all his knowledge, all his thoughts just went right on living in spirit form he'd still be able to praise God, but here he is declaring that if he is dead he won't be able to praise God. The dead know not anything!)

Psa 88:10  Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 

Psa 88:11  Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 

Psa 88:12  Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 

(THE dead know not anything!)

Psa 115:17  The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. 

(THE dead are silent! Not only to us- their loved ones, but to GOD! They are silent even before GOD- this means they are NOT with Him!)

Isa 38:18  For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. 

Isa 38:19  The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. 

(THE dead CANNOT hope for God's truth! Why? Because only the living can learn God's truth! Only the living can CELEBRATE GOD! The dead CANNOT celebrate God! What does this tell you? It tells you they are NOT IN HEAVEN WITH GOD!)

Ecc 9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 

(YOU will not be doing anything at all whatsoever after you die, nothing!)

Job 14:7  For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 

Job 14:8  Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 

Job 14:9  Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 

Job 14:10  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the spirit, and where is he? 

Job 14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 

Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep

(PLANTS may have a chance to live again if they are seemingly dead, but NOT HUMANS. When we die we lie down never to get up again UNTIL the HEAVENS ARE NO MORE, and when that happens and ONLY when that happens will the dead be raised from their sleep of death!)

Ancient angels have watched over God's children since the first human being existed. Adam, Eve, Seth's angels are still living today and ministering to other human beings. Angels- God's angels are eternal. 

Satan was created before humans- as a former Angel of God, Satan has lived since before mankind, along with all his angels- those that chose to follow him and not God. These beings are so incredibly old, their knowledge, their ways are perfected in their evilness. We have to acknowledge their existence so we can comprehend our enemy, those who would keep us from belonging to God by any means necessary- are very real!

God, please, please Heavenly Father, protect us from evil, keep us from all evil! Help us, save us! All through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Amen!

*******

PART TWO -- SOME HINTS ON THE ORIGIN AND DESTINY OF SATAN AS GLEANED FROM THE SCRIPTURES

THE DEVIL A REAL BEING

It is said of a notorious robber that when he intended to commit some great depredation, he would hire men to report that he was dead. This threw the people off their guard, by allaying their fears. Thinking there was no danger, they would leave their property exposed. Then the robber would come upon them unawares, and would plunder their goods without resistance. In this manner has Satan most successfully deceived the world and decoyed the people into his 

snares. He has prevailed upon them to deny that there is any such being; and this wile has so far proved successful that comparatively few have any belief in the existence of a real, living, personal devil, while millions insist that there cannot possibly be any such personage. And many of these are found even among professed believers in the Bible. When they do not believe in the existence of this wily and malicious enemy, they cease to watch and guard against his deceptions and his power, and thus they easily become his prey. Said that pious woman, Charlotte Elizabeth:- "Of all the errors into which the world has fallen, none is more fatally mischievous than the habit of overlooking the personality, the energy, the power,

the watchfulness, and the deep cunning of the devil."

By a conventional system, no doubt of his own suggesting, he is never to be named but in the act of worshiping God, or that of spiritual instruction. Any other robber or murderer who was known to be on the watch to attack our houses, would be the subject of free discourse; his habits, his haunts, his usual plans, his successful and his baffled assaults in former cases, would be talked over, and thus a salutary fear would be kept alive influencing us to bolt, and bar, and watch, and ward, with unflinching vigor, to avert a surprise. 

But Satan seems to be a privileged person; we learn in the nursery to fancy him a hideous caricature of human nature, with horns, hoofs, and a tail, inspiring disgust and childish fear, that wears off as we advance into youth, leaving an impression rather ludicrous than alarming of the ugly phantom that, nevertheless, continues identified with him of whom we read in the Bible. 

"We do not realize his existence, his presence, his devices; and so we often do his work from sheer ignorance or inexcusable thoughtlessness about it. . . . It seems to be regarded a manifest impropriety to name him except with the most studied circumlocution, as though we were afraid of treating him irreverently; and he who is seldom named will not often be thought of. Assuredly, it is a great help to him in his countless devices, to be so kept out of sight. We are prone to speak, to think, to act, as though we had only our own evil natures to contend with, including, perhaps, a sort of general admission that something is at work to aid the cause of rebellion." 

All this we most firmly believe. It has been the studied plan of Satan to create a disbelief in his existence, and, where he could not do this, to so distort our ideas of him as to make them utterly false, and thus keep his real character out of sight. It is a prominent feature of Spiritualism to deny the existence of a devil. And Universalists as well as Spiritualists say that it is inconsistent with the power and goodness of God that there should be a devil. Thousands, from a lack of proper information on this point, are thus taken in this, his own great deception. If it can be proved by revelation and reason that it is not inconsistent with the power and goodness of God that such a being should exist, and that there actually is a living, personal devil, these erroneous systems will be robbed of their strongest weapon, and one of the greatest deceptions of the age will be exposed. 

The various terms, Satan, Apollyon, Diabolus, or devil, are frequently found in the Scriptures, and are so used in the inspired word that the teachers of error are often put to the greatest strait to give an explanation of them. Chadwick, in his "Dictionary of the New Testament," says:- "Some have denied the personality of the devil, and they speak of him as a mere negative evil, or as an evil disposition only. If real personal properties and actions can determine personality of being, the devil must be a real person of vast physical power, and of awful malignity of temper." The whole record of the temptation of the Saviour leads us inevitably to conclude that Satan was there, as literally and personally as was the Son of God. He who overcame Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden undertook to overcome the second Adam by similar temptations. In Eden he offered them the prospect of greater good, of higher enjoyment, of more exalted position, than their loving Creator had conferred upon them. They rashly took that which appeared to be "good for food," as a means of obtaining other benefits, though they had no manner of need of it. In the case of the second Adam, Satan tempted his appetite when he was greatly in need, and offered him also position, power, and glory. From the record of creation and of the temptation 'of Christ, from the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, really became incarnate and dwelt upon the earth, died and rose from the dead, and ascended on high; in a word, from the entire Bible as a book of truth and of awful realities, and not of mere fancies, then we are shut up to the conclusion that the devil is a real being, possessed of power, cunning, malice, hatred to God and to everything that is good. We are warned against his power and his deceptions, exhorted to resist him, with the assurance that he will flee from us if we resist him steadfast in the faith.

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-  (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)

If You Believe In God You Believe In Angels.

 Holy angels, God's created beings. The Angels of God are His now and always, never to leave Him. They had their moment of choosing. Unlike humanity, angels were created all at once- there was no having baby angels. Angels aren't humans and people who like to imagine they are human with wings are sadly mistaken. Angels when they were created were all serving God, every single one of them. When sin came into being all the angels had to make a choice. 2/3rds chose to remain with God, 1/3 decided to embrace evil.  

God's angels and Satan's angels.  They made their choice.  All of the angels are still in existence, every single one that was created still lives. 

The Devil controls the angels that left God and these angels are destined to the same fate as the Devil. Punishment in torment until they exist no more and are eternally and forever non-existent. 

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Angels all around us- evil ones, and those who serve God. 

If you believe in God you believe in angels- God's and Satan's.

They are REAL.

They are a part of our lives.

One day we will SEE our angels, one day we will see ALL of God's angels- they are going to be with Jesus when He returns. 

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory

May we rejoice at the coming of our Lord and Savior with all the holy angels! All by His grace and love, His mercy now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!

(Excerpt)

THE ANGELS WILL GATHER THE SAINTS

When Jesus has finished His work as Priest and Mediator, He will come to take His people to Himself, and all the holy angels will come with Him. "When the Son of man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Matt. 25:31. See,

also, 2 Thess. 1:7. 

2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

Long and zealously have Jesus and the angels labored together for the salvation of men. Now they are to reap the reward of their labors; the angels will share in the joy of their Lord; they will witness and take a part in the triumph of the redeemed. Of that triumph Paul says: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. By what means they are caught up to meet the Lord, Jesus Himself informs us: "And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt. 24:30, 31.

As the Archangel in midheaven sounds the trump of God, the earth trembles, the graves are opened, and the sleeping saints arise, clothed with immortality. The same angel who had watched over that humble saint through life, and had marked his final resting-place, now stands by his grave; and, as the child of God comes up from his dusty bed, he clasps him in his arms, and bears him away in

triumph to their common Lord. O glorious scene! Victory to the saints! Joyful triumph to the Son of God! And the angels share in the glory and the joy They have borne an important part in the work of redemption, and they rejoice in its final success. Now the Lord Jesus, the King of Glory, ascends with all the saints, escorted by the hosts of angels, to the heavenly Jerusalem. "Before the ransomed throng is the holy city. Jesus opens wide the pearly gates, and the nations that have kept the truth enter in. There they behold the paradise of God, the home of Adam in his innocency." What a glorious time, when all the heavenly family shall be gathered home to the Father's house, to inhabit the many mansions which Jesus went before to prepare for them! The just, the good, the pure, will be there; the saints, the prophets, and the holy martyrs will be there; the bright angels will be there; and "Jesus Himself will be there." Dear reader, shall you and I be there? Do we belong to this heavenly family? And shall we, by giving all diligence, make our calling and election sure? Shall we indeed secure eternal life, by patient continuance in well-doing? 

May God in His infinite mercy grant us grace to secure an interest in the precious blood of Christ, that we may be cleansed and purified, and, through the merits of our adorable Redeemer, be presented without fault before the throne of God.

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-  (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)

Our Witness.

 We are never alone. 

Every single thing we've ever done has had a witness. We don't want to believe this is true. We go to great lengths to delude ourselves that we are alone so the things we do in private are only known by us. We don't want to believe we are being watched. We've made so many things private that the idea of any other person watching our private acts is appalling. And you know what, if it were another person who was witnessing our every action it would be completely and utterly appalling. It's not another person, it's not some dead loved ones (though many insist on believing the lies about the dead living after death as spirit beings). The ones watching us are…believe it or not… angels. God has given us angels to minister to us. You don't have to believe it, but it's true. The angels will help all those who are going to inherit eternal life. 

Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 

We ALL have the possibility of choosing eternal life, this is why the Son of God sacrificed Himself, to give us ALL this choice. The angel we are given to watch over us isn't there to control us, to manipulate us against our wills in any way. We are free to make all our own choices, for better or worse. Some of those choices we make are ones we'd be very ashamed of if we thought we'd be found out, bad choices come in many forms. Those who aren't ashamed of the evil they commit but boldly embrace it and brag about it, clearly are making the choice against salvation in that moment. Whether we are struggling to keep from evil, or secretly enjoying it, or even brazenly committing it- our angel witnesses it and it is recorded for all time. The only time our recorded evils are ever going to be erased is by the BLOOD of our Savior, when that final atonement for all is complete and the heavenly sanctuary is completely cleansed- in that moment everyone who is still living and has chosen Jesus as their Savior, living in all truth, keeping His commandments and the spirit of prophecy, will have their sins completely and utterly obliterated.  Until that moment all the sins that we've asked for forgiveness for are blood covered but not erased just as the earthly sacrificial ceremonies depicted, as an example of the heavenly. The sins that aren't forgiven are not covered in the blood of Christ. All this is witnessed by our angels.  When we die, we die with our sins covered or uncovered, and our angels know it all. We can't hide any sins, it's just not possible--ever!

People imagine the angels we are given are supposed to exert supernatural powers upon us to help us in all our trials and tribulations, and they lament the fact the help isn't there when they need it most. The angels will not interfere in ANY trial or tribulation we face that is necessary for our refining, no matter how horrific it may be. Our suffering isn't proof we've been abandoned by our angel, and therefore abandoned by God. If that were true then throughout the Bible all those who are God's who suffered horribly, what does that mean? We say they died in Christ, died as those who will be redeemed and raised from their graves when Jesus returns, because the Bible tells us this will happen- yet they suffered. 

There are times when we can say that our angels must have been looking out for us when we have close calls with death, and it's very possible that is true. But to think that our angels abandon us as we die instead of have a close call is ludicrous. 

Life is going to happen as it will. The choices we make for good or evil are on us and no other (besides Satan of course, as the tempter).  Our angels will intervene as directed by God to do so, and our angels will witness everything- even if they can't intervene. Our angels can be happy or sad, we can cause our angels to grieve or rejoice. This is all unseen by us- but it's truth, Biblical truth. 

May God help us to find the comfort we need in knowing that we have an angel there to go through our life with us- even unseen. 

God please, help us be Yours, making the choices You would have us make, living as You would have us live. Help us, forgive us our horrible self-serving sinning, know our hearts and if there is any wickedness in them please cleanse it from our hearts, please!

All in Jesus name we THANK YOU!  Amen!!!!!!!

*******

(Excerpt)

RECORDING ANGELS

So general is the belief that the angels record the actions of men that the use of the expression "recording angel" has become proverbial. We would not, however; draw any conclusion merely from general belief, nor would we be positive where the Scriptures do not speak plainly. But we think that we may gather sufficient evidence from the Scriptures to justify the belief which has become so general among Christians.

It is plainly taught in the Bible that books are written before the Lord, and that they are brought forth and used in the day of judgment. To the objection that the Lord does not need books in which to keep on record the actions of men, that everything is present to His mind, we have no answer to make. This is not a question of the knowledge of God, or how He could judge the world if He saw fit. We cannot know what He could do, or in what manner the judgment might be conducted, and it is only presumption to make suggestions on such a subject. We must accept what is revealed.

The facts which are brought up in the judgment are not for the use of God alone. The angels and men must see and know that His judgments are just. The Lord does not choose to rule arbitrarily, but to have all see the righteousness of His ways. Therefore the record of the lives of men must be laid open to the view of all. The motives of the heart, sins done in secret, unknown to all but God and His ever-watchful angels, will be revealed.

The saved will see that their friends who are lost are justly condemned. And thus all will unite in saying, "True and righteous are His judgments." Rev. 19:2. 

Moreover, the saints are to judge the world. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? . . . Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1 Cor. 6:2, 3. See also Rev. 20:4.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

The saints will not only judge the world-the wicked world-but the fallen angels. But they can only know the actions of the wicked world and the fallen angels by the things that are written. Of themselves they have not the knowledge of those actions necessary to judge faithfully and justly. Thus it is seen that the books of record are mainly for the use of men. 

That there are such books kept we shall now show. 

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Mal. 3:16. This is the manner in which all our actions and words are kept in remembrance; they are written in books. Against the workers of iniquity the Psalmist prayed: "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous." Ps. 69:28. Moses, in an earnest prayer to God, spoke of the same book: "Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written." Ex. 32:32. The Lord keeps a record of all His people. "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; and the Highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there." Ps. 87:5, 6. Daniel, in describing the scene of glory at the

opening of the judgment, said, "The judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:10.

What these books have to do with the judgment we may learn more fully In the book of the Revelation: "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:11, 12. At the day of judgment the books in which are recorded the deeds of men will be opened, and they will be judged and rewarded according to the things which are found written therein. 

It has been shown from the Scriptures that angels are ever present with men; that they minister to the people of God, and deliver them from evil. They behold all the actions of men; they hear every idle word that is spoken. They take notice of everything that will come into judgment. 

The conclusion is natural, and seems almost unavoidable, that the angels make the record of these things; that the books of human action are written by them. What a solemn truth it is that we are never alone, but that holy angels are always with us; that they behold every act, hear every word, and note every thought, whether foolish, wicked, or vulgar! How carefully, then, should we guard our lives, both in word and deed! How careful we ought to be not to grieve away those holy messengers of God, by vile actions or filthy conversation! What fearful accounts they will bear to the judgment from this apostate and wicked world! Dear reader, what account does your attending angel bear to heaven each day? What will it be for this day? Will it be a record of earnest prayers to God for the pardon of sins, and for strength to do His will? Or will it be a record of lightness, of folly, of sin? 

Remember that each day you are making a page in your life record for the judgment. 

It will have to be met in that day, thought for thought, word for word, deed for deed, we are all making marks which can never be effaced, except by the wondrous cleansing blood of Jesus. But let no one reproach His Grace by adding sin to sin. 

See Rom. 6:12; Gal. 2:17. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof

Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

With fear and trembling we may say with the poet:- "And must I be to judgment brought, And answer in that day For every vain and idle thought, And every word I say? "How careful then ought I to live, With what religious fear, Who such a strict account must give For my behavior here."

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-  (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)

Avenging Angels.

 God's angels, do you imagine they are unable to execute God's judgments upon the earth? We often picture beautiful angels, and we don't picture the angels with the weapons of judgment in their hands. Angels with swords, not angels with harps, are these what we imagine? Angels causing death, not angels protecting life. God's angels work under His command- to protect, to minister, to destroy. 

God has destroyed a lot of wickedness. The Old Testament is filled to overflowing with the deaths of the wicked. Whole armies, whole cities destroyed because of wickedness. THIS is by God's command, this is with JESUS' knowledge. Jesus was there at Creation, he didn't disappear after Creation until His birth as a human being. Jesus was there from the beginning and will be until the end of wickedness and on unto eternity!

Jesus, did not alter God the Father's truth in any way. The God of the Old Testament is still God in the New Testament. God and Jesus have been in agreement on all things. We can't say Jesus changed things, Jesus is the God love, and God the Father the God of wrath, it just isn't true. Jesus approved of every single wicked person  that was destroyed, yes, even those women and children caught up in the destruction of entire cities. Jesus was in agreement with that! He was. And if you are shaking your head and saying, no way, then you're delusional. Many are caught up in the delusion, Satan loves using delusions to get men to err so he can capture them unaware… yes, unaware! Not all wicked are aware of their wicked states. Read that again. NOT all wicked are AWARE of their wickedness!  Jesus told the rulers of Jerusalem during His ministry that thy were evil, did the rulers of Jerusalem, the high priest, the priests, the majority of them believe in any way that they were wicked? NO! They believed Jesus to be the wicked one! Why do people think that there isn't going to be a whole slew of people who believe they are God's but they are really wicked? There will be many who are not God's who are deceived into believing they are and they will NOT know their true state until our Savior returns and it's way too late to do anything.  Is this wrong of God? NO! The wicked who are deluded into thinking they are truly God's WANT to believe this, they choose to believe they are God's without sincerely wanting to be God's at all, not really, not in their hearts- God knows the heart!

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

God's angels have brought destruction upon the wicked in the past and will again in the future and most likely are in the present, as God wills. Destruction is not all evil, destroying evil is something God will do entirely one day.

Angels are loving, angels do all they do through the love of God- protecting, ministering, and destroying evil. 

God help us to not be delusional, to not be deceived by Satan in any capacity! We would belong to YOU LORD! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T LET US BE DECEIVED! All through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!!!!!!! AMEN! 

*******

THE ANGELS EXECUTE GOD'S JUDGMENTS UPON THE WICKED

While the angels are messengers of mercy to those who do good, they are also messengers of wrath to those who do evil. 

Thus the Lord commissioned angels to go and destroy Sodom. The angel said to Lot, "We will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." Gen. 19:13. When Balaam went to prophesy against Israel, the Lord sent His angel to slay him. Num. 22:22. So when David had sinned, the Lord sent His angel to destroy Jerusalem. 1 Chron. 21:14-30.  When the Assyrians blasphemed God, the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of Valor, and the leaders and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. 2 Chron. 32:21.  When Herod was exalted in himself, and received praise as a god, "immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." Acts 12:23.

We have reason to believe that the sudden judgments which frequently overtake evil-doers are executed upon them by the angels of God. When the mystery of God is finished, and the work of the gospel is ended, all the wicked will be gathered and cast into the wine press of the wrath of God. Thus Jesus says: "The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Matt. 13:39-42.

The judgments of the Lord, both in this life and at the final gathering of the wicked to meet their doom, are all executed by the angels. See Rev. 15:1; 16:1-17. In these texts the wrath of God is said to be poured out upon the wicked by the angels.

Texts- 

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

Rev 16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 

Rev 16:2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 

Rev 16:3  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 

Rev 16:4  And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 

Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 

Rev 16:6  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

Rev 16:7  And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 

Rev 16:8  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 

Rev 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

Rev 16:10  And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 

Rev 16:11  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 

Rev 16:12  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Rev 16:16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 

Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 

Num 22:22  And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 

1Ch 21:14  So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 

1Ch 21:15  And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 

1Ch 21:16  And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 

1Ch 21:17  And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 

1Ch 21:18  Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 

1Ch 21:19  And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD. 

1Ch 21:20  And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 

1Ch 21:21  And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. 

1Ch 21:22  Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people. 

1Ch 21:23  And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. 

1Ch 21:24  And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. 

1Ch 21:25  So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. 

1Ch 21:26  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 

1Ch 21:27  And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. 

1Ch 21:28  At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 

1Ch 21:29  For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 

1Ch 21:30  But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD. 

2Ch 32:21  And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. 

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-  (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)

Time of Trouble- Daniel 12:1

"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come.

In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his

hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is “the great power of God.”

But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out.

And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

This coming, there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed by the whole world. Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures, and who have received the love of the truth, will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all, the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation, the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible, and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life, and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief."

Great Controvers

"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come.

In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is “the great power of God.”

But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out.

And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

This coming, there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed by the whole world. Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures, and who have received the love of the truth, will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all, the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation, the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible, and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life, and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief."

Great Controversy EG White Rev. 12:12, Rev. 1:13-15, Acts 8:10, Matt. 24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Rev. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17

y EG White 

Rev. 12:12, Rev. 1:13-15, Acts 8:10, Matt. 24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Rev. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17

Too Doubtful?

 Doubting God is an awful thing. Jesus speaks of doubt-

     Mat_14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

     Those with little faith will doubt. But you say, we all doubt, does that mean none of us have faith? No. it means the faith we have is rendered ineffective through doubt. We believe…. And like this man whose son was tormented by an evil spirit we must cry out!

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

     LORD, I BELIEVE! HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!

     Doubt can be crippling. Doubt can eat away at us until we yield to its evil clutches.         Doubt is sneaky. Doubt it a whispering evil spirit in our ears constantly. Doubt steals our faith. Doubt destroys us. 

     ALL of God's children will face many trials and tribulations so much that they seem IMPOSSIBLE to bear. We feel abandoned by God, left to fend for ourselves. Our evilness before God makes us believe He cannot accept us- that evil is just too great! As agonies assault us on all levels- physical, mental, emotional, spiritual - Satan has one great purpose in it all and that is to get us to renounce God! 

     Why do you think that after you've asked for forgiveness for some great evil in your life that Satan will assail you over and over bringing up that evil so that you believe you are unforgiven, that God could not possible forgive that great evil! That God could not forgive you, not really. Satan wants the very fact we have the thought of that past evil in our lives to prove to us that we are too horrible to belong to God, that God doesn't want someone so horrific. Satan WANTS US TO DOUBT GOD!  As soon as any evil wile of the Devil can get us to entertain doubt, Satan is joyful. Doubt has the possibility of turning us from God completely, and this is the goal of the evil one!

     People lament in complete honesty that the trials and tribulations are too much to bear, that they cannot see past the agony, and feel abandoned by God.  Again, Satan wants us to doubt God can still love us while allowing us such pain!

     Doubt- the insidiousness of this is unparalleled. 

Mat_21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

If you doubt not….

Mar_11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

No doubting in our hearts.

Luk_11:20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

No doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 

Luk 4:43  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

 

WE have no doubt that Jesus - the only begotten Son of God- left His glory in heaven and took on human flesh to dwell among us and die for us so that we may know the kingdom of heaven, that we may be forgiven and to one day live with Him in eternity. 

We have no doubt of all I just wrote, but we allow doubt to grow in us so that we can't believe that we will be among those Jesus loves that much. Somehow we are too evil, too doubting, too dreadful on all fronts to belong to Jesus.  

Jesus never tells us that, Jesus tells us that our doubt is a hindrance.

Help us, LORD, help our unbelief! We do NOT want to doubt in YOU. We do not want to doubt that no matter WHAT, YOU are on the throne, YOU are in control, YOU love us! YOU will save us from our awful, awful selves!

Let us read the following about angels, and know we are not left alone through any horrible part of this life we must endure.

All through Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior! Now and forever!!!!!!! AMEN!

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'EVERY CHILD OF GOD HAS A GUARDIAN ANGEL

That the Lord sends an angel to watch over every saint is plainly taught in the Bible. This is assuring to those who appreciate the nature of the foes we have to meet in the Christian warfare. In our conflicts with the powers of darkness, the angels who excel in strength can give us that help which we so much need. They can impart to us light and strength and courage, and can be present to protect us from dangers both seen and unseen. Satan is well aware of this, as he said to the Lord, "Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast Thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" Job 1:9, 10. 

And David informs us how it is that the Lord makes a hedge about His servants: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7. God's angels constantly watched over Job and all that he had, so that no evil could approach him except as the Lord gave special permission.

What was true in Job's case is true in that of every child of God. Of those that believe on Him, Christ says, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of  My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 18:10. The phrase "their angels" shows that there are angels so closely connected with the servants of Christ that they are called their angels. 

When Rhoda affirmed that she had seen Peter at the gate, the brethren said, "It is his angel." Acts 12:15. They did not mean that it was Peter's spirit, for they supposed that he was yet alive and in the prison. They meant just what Christ said, and what they said, viz., that it was his angel, the one who attended him. Speaking of the time of trouble, it is said to the saints, "For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." Ps. 91:11, 12.

It is directly affirmed that an angel accompanied the camp of Israel: "And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them." Ex. 14:19. 

The wise man says: "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error." Eccl. 5:6. This assumes that an angel is always present to hear what we say. In harmony with this the apostle says: "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." 1 Cor. 4:9. Because we cannot see the angels with our natural eyes, we are apt to forget that they are constantly with us, seeing and hearing us, and noting our words and conduct. But, according to the Bible, this is really the case. 

A beautiful illustration of this fact is found in 2 Kings 6. The king of Syria made war on the king of Israel. But the prophet Elisha revealed to the king of Israel all the plans and motives of the Syrians, so that he was able to defeat or elude them every time. The king of Syria, having learned what Elisha did, said to his servants: "Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host; and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?" They were in a close place, indeed, shut up in a small city, surrounded by a host of enemies. But how did Elisha feel about it? "And he answered, Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." We may naturally suppose that the servant looked around him in utter astonishment. But "Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." Now the servant could well understand why Elisha was so confident and fearless. Legions of the angelic armies were around the man of God to deliver him, according to the sure promise of God. The servant could not see them; perhaps his master did not see them, but by faith he knew that they were there.

And the case of Jacob, recorded in Gen. 28:10-22, is a striking illustration of this truth. As he left his home for fear of his brother Esau, he lay down alone at night to sleep. "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and  the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it;" and he talked with Jacob. "And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not."

Angels of God were all around him, and the eyes of the Lord were upon him, but he had not realized it. Could we, too, only realize these solemn and joyful truths, we should often feel as did Jacob. Thus we have the fact abundantly substantiated that the angels are always with the children of men. What a consolation to the humble saint when afflicted, reproached, despised, and persecuted, to know that these heavenly messengers are his companions; that they sympathize with him in all his trials, protect him from the power of the devil,  and strengthen him in his service to God!

These holy angels take a deep and lively interest in the salvation of the children of men. This is manifest from the many references to it in the Scriptures. The apostle says, "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, . . . which things the angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1:10-12. They rejoiced when our Saviour was born. To the shepherds the angel said: "Be hold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men." Luke 2:10-14. This indicates the great interest they feel in the plan of salvation for man. In heaven they assist Jesus, our High Priest, in His work for the saints.

John, speaking of what he saw in heaven, says: "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." Rev. 8:3. Thus they bear our prayers up before God. How touching is the language of Christ: "Likewise, I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10. They know the worth of a soul; they realize the value of heaven, and the awful doom of the ungodly. They labor long, and earnestly, and patiently, to rescue men from the power of Satan. When one is gained to the service of God, all the angels rejoice. 

Then what a tender interest, what deep anxiety, what sympathy, they must feel for every struggling soul! O my soul, take courage in God, who has made such gracious provision for thy help and thy salvation! 

John, the beloved apostle of Christ, was banished to a lonely island, but the angels of God went with him. To one was given the honor of committing to him the revelation of the Son of God. Rev. 1:1. The Father gave the revelation to His Son, who sent His angel to make it known to John. And it has come down through the ages, a source of instruction and consolation to thousands of waiting ones. And so of all revelation. Paul said, "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast," etc. Heb. 2:2. And Stephen said to and of the Jews, "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." Acts 7:53. And they have now the same interest in our welfare that they had in the work of salvation in the days of old. God's promises are ever sure to all; His angels ever minister to the heirs of salvation.' 

Angels: Their Nature and Ministry-

 (Excerpt - for continuing study) Revised by J.H. Waggoner.  1891 by Pacific Press Publishing Co.)