No Torment Before the Appointed Time.

 

At His Appearing!

 2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

WHAT? Hold on, Jesus is going to do what?! Judge people when He returns? Who is He going to judge? Those living when He returns, and… those who are DEAD when He returns. So, hold on, He's judging everyone who ever lived in all of humanity, those still living and those who have died- which are all those not currently alive when He returns. That's the whole of humanity. 

Okay, that makes sense, everyone gets judged when Jesus returns. But wait, why does Jesus need to judge those who have died when He returns, aren't they already judged? Didn't they have to be judged to determine where they went after they died? How was the decision made on where the dead people would go if they weren't judged? And if they were judged then, why would Jesus have to judge them upon His return to earth? Aren't all those dead people where they need to be already? 

Do you see the conflict? Do you see the problem with the logic going on here with this situation? Logic dictates that IF you believe that when you die that a part of you goes on living and that part is immediately given heaven or hell upon the death of the body then your destination HAS to have been determined before Jesus returns- you were judged to determine where you were going to go- that is logical. UNLESS, you do NOT go to heaven or hell upon death, but rather you are truly just DEAD-LIFELESS until Jesus returns and then and only then you are given the determination of your judgment, that makes a lot more sense doesn't it? 

It goes along well with this…

1Th 4:16  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: 

1Th 4:17  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. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Upon His return, the dead that are judged to be HIS will rise….

We which are alive when Jesus returns and are judged to be HIS will be taken up after the dead -are to meet the LORD in the AIR and SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD!

Logical. Our life after being judged is decided for all of humanity ALL AT THE SAME TIME. 

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Do you see it!? The HOUR is coming when all the dead will HEAR the voice of Jesus! When that happens they will either rise to meet Jesus and ever be with Him, or they will rise to damnation. All judged at the same time! This is truth! BIBLICAL TRUTH!

We are told to KEEP the truth! We are told that we have to study God's word! We are told…

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

… to PREACH the WORD all the time! REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT no matter what using DOCTRINE.   This is doctrine…

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

THE TIME WILL COME… this is really going to happen, the time is really going to come when people will NOT want to hear truth- sound doctrine! Why, because after their own lusts shall they go after teachers that will tell them what they WANT to hear, rather than the TRUTH. People will want FABLES! People will not want the truth!  God's word tells us this!

People aren't going to want to hear this truth, especially because the world is caught up in one of Satan's grand delusions- that people never really die, that people have an immortal soul that continues on right after they die, that they go to heaven or to hell, but mostly heaven. I don't know of anyone who believes any of their loved ones have gone to hell, The truth is… the dead DO NOT GO ON LIVING after they die! They will NOT live again until Jesus returns, the BIBLE tells us this truth! Do you want to believe fables or truth, you will have to decide!

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(Excerpt)

WHY SUFFERED TO EXIST

The question has arisen in many minds. Why does God suffer Satan to exist?

God is almighty in power; He can destroy Satan; why, then, does He permit him to continue to exert so great power for evil?

To anyone who has carefully considered this subject, these questions present no difficulty whatever, although they involve the whole question of the existence of evil in any form. If we deny the existence of the devil, we cannot deny the existence of evil. Were there any difficulty, it would appear in regard to the 

existence of any evil-not alone with the greatest evil. As to the question of the possibility or impossibility of evil entering into a well-ordered and wisely-governed kingdom, one fact meets us at every step, as far as the universe is concerned, and that is, evil has entered. It is useless to theorize against a fact as evident as this. We may try to ignore its existence, but it will not try to keep out of sight. We are obliged to acknowledge its existence, and we know that whatever is, is possible. We have to deal with facts, not mere speculations.

There is really no more difficulty in admitting the existence of a devil than in admitting the existence of those qualities in others which make up the character of a devil. Evil in a man who was created very good is as incomprehensible as in an angel. In either case it is the perversion of naturally good qualities. We also

see in this world that wisdom, knowledge, and great opportunities, are no safeguards against wrong doing. Many of the ablest men of the world, of the brightest intellects, and the largest opportunities, are very wicked. And all know that the wiser and stronger a man is, the greater is his power to do evil, if his heart is set to do evil. In like manner, we should conclude that if angels sin, they will be capable of doing more evil than man, because they are a higher order of beings; they are possessed of greater intelligence and power. Even so, if the "covering cherub," a being created full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty, sets his heart to do wrong, his power, his wisdom, his beauty, all combine to give him influence over others, and enable him to become the greatest sinner of all. It is not surprising that such a being, having fallen, has earned the titles of

Satan, Apollyon, and devil, or Diabolus.

How Satan fell we are plainly informed in the Scriptures. He became proud of his wisdom and beauty, and ambitious of greater exaltation. This led him into rebellion against the appointments of God. He aspired to be "like the Most High," where he should acknowledge no superior-perhaps the Most High alone excepted. God had declared that all the angels should worship His Son (Heb. 1:6), and this, to the proud heart of Lucifer, was too humiliating. But if the question be asked, Why did he thus rebel against the appointments of God, who had already conferred upon him such honor and glory? we readily answer, There was no reason. 

Sin is a causeless, unaccountable thing. His own being, his wisdom and beauty, his exalted position, and his capacity for enjoyment, all were evidences of the goodness and love of his Creator; and all must coincide with our answer: There was no reason why he should rise up in rebellion and thus risk the loss of all. Sin in every form is unreasonable. There is no reason why anyone should sin. On this subject Dr. Charles Beecher has some very sensible remarks. 

He says:-

"If such was the original condition of the universe, the question arises how sin could possibly enter. Some minds have felt the difficulty on this point so strongly that they have rejected the Bible account of the matter, and denied the existence of any such sinless state of the universe. But the answer to the question is simple. Sin is, in its own nature, anomalous, and therefore mysterious; it is, in its own nature, an  unaccountable thing; for, the moment that we admit that it is properly accounted for, i. e., the moment we have assigned a good and sufficient cause for it, that moment it ceases to be a sin. A good and sufficient cause is a good and sufficient excuse; and that which has a good and sufficient excuse is not sin. To account for sin, therefore, is to defend it; and to defend it is to certify that it does not exist. Therefore the objection that it is inconceivable and unaccountable that sin should enter into such a perfect universe, amounts to nothing but saying that sin is exceedingly sinful, inexcusable, and destitute of the least defense or

justification. Sin is a violation of all law, a departure from all original nature, a thing essentially lawless, anomalous, and mysterious. We can identify the fact of its existence, we can describe the manner, we can discover the occasion, but the cause, the good and sufficient cause, God Himself and the judgment seat will

demonstrate cannot be shown, for it does not exist."-Redeemer and Redeemed, pp. 82, 83.

Because Satan harbored evil thoughts, was tempted, and fell, it does not follow that God created him with an evil inclination. The Bible contradicts such an idea, for the Lord says of him, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." All intelligent creatures, capable of reasoning concerning right and wrong, are moral agents. It is impossible that God should confer a moral character on any of His creatures. He creates them perfect, endows them with full capacities to do His will, to walk in the way of righteousness, but He cannot so compel them to do right as to destroy their power of choice; for to deprive them of choice would be to destroy the moral quality of their actions. Deprived of choice, they would be mere passive machines, and machines cannot develop character. All acknowledge the force of this reasoning as applying to men, but it is equally applicable to angels and to all created intelligences. 

Were the present world and the present life the finalities of man's existence, there would then be difficulties attending this subject which do not exist. Angels and men were endowed with capacities to will and to reason; their actions have moral qualities, and they have responsibilities corresponding to these powers.

They alone can form their characters, and they must bear the responsibility of their actions. The fact, great and of infinite importance, is plainly revealed, that "God shall bring every work into judgment." Eccl. 12:14. The judgment day will make many things clear which have appeared mysterious in this world. Some have assumed the very dangerous position that God is the author of evil; that evil is a necessary counterpart to positive good, by which alone the good is made to appear good. The judgment day will correct this fallacy. God may be just and good, with the issues of the judgment in view, and temporarily permit evil to exist; but it would be impossible to set up a defense if He originated moral wrong, or perpetuated it,-if He gave it an eternal lodgment in a creation which included no evil . Sin is an intruder; it has no rights; it has no claim to favor; it is not entitled to an existence.

It may be said there is a difference between the case of Satan and that of man. Satan and his angels had all the joys of heaven in their possession; they had a high experience, a knowledge in the ways of God, that man did not possess; and they sinned by their sole choice, while man was tempted and beguiled into sin. There is some justice in this remark, and God has recognized it in the provisions of His grace. Salvation was provided for man, but not for the angels. But, though there was no provision made for their salvation, there may be good reasons why they should be suffered to still exist and continue to pursue their way of evil. We do not wonder why God does not destroy every incorrigible sinner here, even if they have done such despite to the Spirit of Grace that, as the Saviour said, they can have no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to

come. We may not understand all the reasons of the decisions made in heaven.

When God promised the land to Abraham and to his seed, he said that he could not then inherit it, because "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." Gen. 15:16. The Lord would give them an opportunity to fill up the cup of their iniquity. This proves the long-suffering of God. And no sin was ever so great but that it

found sympathy somewhere. Satan so wrought upon the sympathies of the angels that legions of them denied the justice of God, and took their stand by his side. Had the Lord then destroyed him, it is highly probable that myriads more in the universe might have doubted the wisdom or justice of the action. Perhaps

they could not yet realize the enormity of his guilt. But at the final judgment, when every cup is full, and Satan has fully convinced every creature that he is the only personification of malignity and all that is evil and hateful, all will approve the justice of God in his destruction. And no doubt Satan himself, seeing the issue of many generations of rebellion, and the causeless ruin he has wrought, will realize that God is just, and that he was altogether wrong in his pride and ambition, and, above all, in instigating the murder of the meek and lowly Son of God. 

When Satan sees the city of God descend from heaven, and the hosts of angels with whom he once worshiped in blessed union, and the glorious Son of God, their loved Commander, at their head, and the millions of glorified ones from this world, purchased by His blood, even he himself will be compelled to

confess the utter failure of his ambitious plan, the goodness of Jesus in dying for His creatures, and the wisdom and justice of God the Father in exalting His Son over such a vicious spirit as he has proved himself to be. We verily believe that this will be the case, and that in this will be found the fulfillment of the words of inspiration: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:10, 11. 

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

You Don't Have to Understand.

 You do NOT war with yourself. You are warring against unseen entities. Yes, I suppose someone might read that and think I'm looney tunes. It's true though. Life isn't easy for any of us, not a single human being has an easy life- not the richest, not the healthiest, not the most beautiful, not the most popular, not the smartest, not the nicest, and so on. We can't have an easy life because that's just not how Satan works.

Principalities. Powers. Rulers  of Darkness. Spiritual Wickedness.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Doubts, fears, trepidations, anxiety, worry, stress - these terms are commonly used because they fill our lives. Just when you think things are on an even keel, that you have a handle on things, that you're dealing well with the everyday little mishaps of life-- right then -- along comes a very large thing that doesn't even have a handle for you to grab. Like a large bowling ball it strikes you, its human bowling pin, and knocks you over and boy do you wobble a bit as you're falling. This isn't an uncommon occurrence, in fact, it's what we call … LIFE. Yet, we chalk up all this LIFE- the ups, the downs, the sideways, backwards and so ons and so forths- to just LIFE as if it has no other real explanation.  It does have an explanation though.  Satan would have us believe it's just our lack of ability to handle LIFE well that makes us so volatile. That our particular mental short comings (through no fault of our own but rather the genetic short straw we drew) is the reason we can't get a grip on dealing with LIFE without constantly exploding- into tears, or anger, or well you name your particular explosive trait. I know I say I'm just not built that way, I just didn't get whatever it is that makes life easy for others.  (Yeah, I'm under the misconception life is easy for others- which isn't really a misconception- but rather a skewed view) You see, various things in life are easy for some, hard for others. Just because the majority find one thing easy, doesn't mean the minority is screwed up, it just means they find something else easy. Alright, we're going off on too many tangents here- time to reign it in. 

We are being attacked constantly. Every single weakness we possess is being exploited. Satan will harass us endlessly -each of us in our own personal ways. Satan has a tailormade plan for each of us that will keep us under His control. When we veer away from his plan, when we leave His control, he doesn't like that one bit and will attack us that much harder.  

Believing in the REALITY of Satan and his demons allows us to comprehend that WE NEED someone who can fight Satan and the demons for us. 

The truth is… it's our ETERNAL LIFE that is at stake here. 

We are allowed to be Satan assaulted, and that old popular saying…. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger … is true. Or rather… what doesn't kill you has the potential to make you stronger. And by stronger, it's a stronger faith I'm talking about. 

We won't understand- Satan wants us confused, completely and utterly confused by why we have to go through the things we do that make LIFE hard. He wants us to use that confusion to place blame on God for not letting us understand, to get us to despair. We won't understand, but we can admit to that lack of understanding and acknowledge God as being in ultimate control. We are thinking the next moment, day, month, year…. God has eternity on His mind, he has a much better grip on things.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and LEAN NOT unto your OWN UNDERSTANDING. Proverbs 3:5

He tells us right there! Don't do it! DO NOT LEAN UNTO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!

But…but…but…. BUT NOTHING! Don't do it! Understand that YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND!

Why aren't we to lean to our own understanding? Because it's very faulty. We don't have the big picture- we don't know how that particular trial in our life is going to increase our faith, we don't know when we're going to need the strength of having survived something horrible for our future, we just don't know. If we TRUST we are in God's control with all our heart then we have a reason for getting through all of the horrors of life, all of them. Even if we are facing death through disease or (insert death producing ailment here), and only have a short while left to live- it is for a reason we don't have to understand, we just don't.

Satan and his evil demons will torment all of us- you don't have to believe in them for them to torment you, you do have to believe in God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ if you want to be kept from the evil they will use on you to steal your eternal life. Then again, if you don't believe they are stealing your eternal life, because they aren't real to do so- and then it turns out eternal life is a reality -you've lost it. 

The truth is that no matter what anyone in the entire world has said, is saying, or will say…  only those with faith to believe there is an eternal life can have that eternal life through JESUS CHRIST. You definitely won't have eternal life if you don't accept Jesus Christ as Your savior, now and forever! 

(Excerpt)

THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS

Properly speaking, there is but one devil, though some translations of the Scriptures would make it appear that there are many. This name is from the Greek, Diabolos. The LXX., the translators of the Old Testament into Greek, uniformly used Diabolos for the Hebrew name, Satan. It signifies adversary. Of Diabolus, Liddell and Scott give the definition, "the slanderer, the devil." Schrevelius defines it, "a slanderer, the devil, Satan."

In Rev. 12:9, 10, "That old serpent, called the devil, and Satan," is also called the "accuser of our brethren." Satan was the adversary and accuser, or slanderer, of Job. See Job 1. And as the serpent he falsely accused God of withholding benefits from Adam and Eve to which they were justly entitled, whereby he deceived them to their ruin. Gen. 3:1-6. Well did the Saviour say of the devil: "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." John 8:44.

It has been shown that Satan, also called Lucifer, was once a very exalted being in heaven, one of the cherubim, whose place was at the very throne of the Most High. When he rebelled and fell, he did not go alone. He led others with him in his rebellion, and with him they were cast out of heaven. Thus Peter says: "If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment," etc. 2 Peter 2:4.

And Jude says: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Jude 6.

Of the judgment of these fallen ones Paul speaks thus: "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1 Cor. 6:3. The saints shall judge the world-the wicked world-and the fallen angels, the demons or evil spirits who have been the instigators of sin in the world, shall be judged at the same time and by the same judges.

But Satan was the chief, the leader of the rebellious ones. He originated the war against the government of God. He was higher in rank and mightier in power than they, and it was by his superior wisdom and influence that he led so many away from their allegiance to the Most High. And, therefore, names and titles are given to him which are never given to them. While they are uniformly called demons (in the New Testament), he is called the devil, Satan, Apollyon, Diabolus, etc. Because he is their leader and they have given themselves to follow him in his works of inquiry, our Saviour speaks of them together, as the devil and his angels. Matt. 25:41. The same is found in Rev. 12:7-9: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." "He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." This identifies the dragon as Satan. In Matt. 9:34 he is called the "prince of the demons;" in Eph. 2:2, "the prince of the power of the air;" and in 2 Cor.4:4, "The god of this world." Jesus also refers to him as "the prince of this world."

A certain writer has well said: "Daimon , in the New Testament, always means an evil spirit, who is under Satan's control, a demon. The word Satan means an adversary, an opposer; it is never found in the plural number, so that the sacred writers acknowledge but one being of that name." But the demons are many, even legions. See Luke 8:26-30. These are Satan's servants, his emissaries to carry on his work in all parts of the world. Against all these Paul warns us, as

follows: "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:11, 12. Not against the rulers of this world, but against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

We are accustomed to place too low an estimate on the majesty and power of Satan and his angels, making them like unto ourselves, or even lower. This is wrong. We naturally stand in awe of the mighty men of earth, such as a great king or a mighty warrior, but what are they compared with the devil and his angels. These are the enemies with whom we have to contend; so we ought to be acquainted with their character, and thus be better prepared to resist them.

But, mighty as they are, the angels who remained faithful to God have all the power of heaven on their side. The Psalmist says that these "angels excel in strength." Ps. 103:20. They are our helpers, our defenders against the powers of darkness. If we trust in God, and are faithful to the trust he has committed to us, we need not fear. For says Paul: "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:38, 39.

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

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.)