Theology
What is the biblical perspective on the future state of the United States of America?
The answer lies in the progressive degradation of the very foundation of the nation.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
There is a conspicuous absence in the biblical text of any specific reference to the future state of the United States of America. But what about the teachings of many biblical writers who have stated that the biblical text mentions the United States? These writers based their statements on speculation about certain biblical passages, including misinterpreting the biblical context of many passages. In essence, there is nothing written about it, and the only reference we can apply to the entire nation is the same result that was the cause of the collapse of other nations. What was the cause? The corruption that rotted away the very foundation upon which those nations were built. The United States of America, a nation founded on the principles of freedom, democracy, and equality, has unfortunately experienced a gradual deterioration from the ideals upon which it was founded. Throughout its history, the country has faced numerous challenges, societal shifts, and political changes that have eroded the very fabric of its foundations. In addition, partisan politics and ideological polarization have hindered cooperation and dialogue, further eroding the unity upon which the nation was built. Another critical aspect of this decay is the growth of income inequality and socioeconomic disparity. The wealth gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. This has led to a sense of disillusionment and despair among those who feel left behind by an economic system that seems to favor the privileged few. In addition, issues of racial inequality and systemic racism have come to the fore, challenging the notion of equal opportunity and justice for all. Historically marginalized communities continue to face discrimination and injustice, underscoring the need for comprehensive reforms to address and redress these long-standing inequities. While there is no doubt that the United States has achieved remarkable successes throughout its history, it is critical to recognize and address the challenges that threaten to undermine the core values of the United States. Secular and biblical history contain records of nations founded on similar ideas, but as time passes and societies evolve, the original ideals that once guided the nation can sometimes become distorted or manipulated by those in power. Leaders, driven by personal agendas or influenced by external factors, can stray from the original vision and put their own interests ahead of the well-being of the people. This deviation from the core principles that originally united the nation can have dire consequences. It weakens the social fabric and undermines trust and cohesion between the people and their leaders. The end result is their own downfall and either the replacement of the government by its own citizens or conquest by others. In the early stages of a nation’s development, these ideals serve as a unifying force, rallying individuals to a common cause. They provide a sense of identity and purpose, fostering a collective spirit that propels the nation forward. In some cases, this decline can lead to a seismic shift within the nation itself. The citizens, realizing the deviation from their founding ideals, rise up to reclaim and restore the original values that once bound them together. We have witnessed numerous instances throughout history where governments have been overthrown or replaced by their own people in a quest for true representation and justice. Or when leaders stray too far from the principles that once defined their nation, it opens the door for external forces to exploit these vulnerabilities. Conquering nations or competing ideologies may seize the opportunity to challenge and overthrow the existing government. Time and again, history has taught us this harsh reality.
As citizens of this great nation, we always want the best for our country, where its citizens can prosper. To achieve this, it is important to prioritize various aspects that contribute to the well-being and progress of our society. One very important aspect is the teaching of the Word of God. Strong and stable spiritual growth promotes emotional stability, law-abiding behavior, and even financial security for each individual. By encouraging obedience to biblical guidelines, respect, and love for one another, we can build a thriving system that benefits everyone. I ponder deeply the implications of the widespread corruption and moral degradation that seems to be spreading like wildfire throughout our beloved nation. It is a disturbing phenomenon that fills my heart with sorrow and concern for the future of our nation. Corruption, in its various forms, undermines the very foundation of trust upon which any functioning democracy is built. When those in positions of power and authority succumb to the temptations of greed and self-interest, it undermines the integrity of our institutions and tarnishes the hopes and dreams of ordinary citizens. As ethical standards are disregarded and ethical behavior takes a back seat to personal gain, it is disappointing to witness the deterioration of moral values. The consequences of such a decline can be far-reaching, affecting all aspects of our lives, from finance to education, from politics to the judicial system. A nation that neglects the interests of its own citizens and forgets to protect them is doomed to its own destruction. Here in the United States, we are no different from other nations of the past that once stood strong but failed to protect their own reason for being, their citizens, who are supposed to be led by men of character under the fear of the Lord. Allow me to give you the divine judgment for any nation that does not follow the divine guidelines for its conduct:
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17
The message conveyed by this scripture is undeniably clear and resonates with a profound sense of purpose and inevitability. It serves as a timeless reminder that the ultimate fulfillment of divine prophecy does not depend on the faith or unbelief of the wicked. Regardless of their choice or denial, the unyielding course of these prophecies remains steadfast, surpassing the temporal realm and echoing through the ages. Though some may choose to refute or dismiss the prophetic words, they cannot alter the unchanging course set by divine decree. The passage reminds us of the power of divine justice and the consequences that await those who reject or disregard it. It encourages self-examination and calls for reflection on the unchanging truths that prevail throughout time. One can contemplate the consequences of disregarding these divine principles by examining the idea of divine judgment. This idea serves as a warning of sorts, reminding individuals that their actions have consequences beyond the confines of their earthly existence. Once the corrupt elements reach the boundaries set by God, then judgment will be carried out on each individual, or as the passage states, “on every nation that forgets God”.
While the exact nature and mechanisms of divine judgment vary in different forms, whether it is direct divine intervention [Genesis 19:24] or God allowing nature to bring about such punishment, the underlying principles often revolve around the idea that each person will be held accountable for his or her actions and will face consequences accordingly [Romans 2:6; Galatians 6:7-8]. The biblical view emphasizes the notion of individual judgment, in which each person is examined and judged independently on the basis of his or her own actions and intentions [Revelation 20:12], which are supposed to be consistent with divine guidelines.
So the main question remains: What will become of the future state of the United States? It will suffer the same fate as every other nation that once stood strong and fell. Can the United States change its course to such destruction? Unfortunately, no, because the people who are leading the nation have no character and in many cases no moral values. If you take a look at the people who have been put in place to govern this nation, they have changed the direction of the country to what they want. Some have been caught in their scheme to profit from it, while others have used their power to cover up their deeds, but all of them have forgotten that God will use their deeds to carry out a divine judgment. If God is silent on a particular question or subject [Deuteronomy 29:29], we should not speculate about it. What can we do then? We can determine the framework in which God has dealt with any nation in the past that is written in the biblical text. What does the biblical record tell us about this? It shows that when corruption rots the core of any nation or individual, then destruction is at the door. Throughout history we have records of many nations suffering such destruction, and yet we have failed to learn from them. Why are they corrupt? Because of the sinful nature that drives man [Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3]. As believers, we pray for our nation [1 Timothy 2:1-2] and ask God to bless it, but we cannot ignore the tolerance of sinful things encouraged by the civil laws passed by corrupt people.
Today we are witnessing the rapid growth of materialism [Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy 6:17], sexual promiscuity [Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9], violence, abuse, oppression, and corruption in our nation. This trend will eventually destroy the very reason this nation was founded. Do I wish for this? Never, on the contrary, I pray that God can save as many people as possible, but the downfall of this country is inevitable: the question is when. We read history and saw the rise of the Babylonians and their fall [Daniel 5:30-31; Jeremiah 51:11, 31, 39, 57], and also the Persian Empire [Daniel 8:20; 11:1-2], which followed the same fate. Then the Greeks [Daniel 8:21; 10:20] and the Romans [Daniel 2:40; 7:7, 23], who fell after reaching the boundaries set by God. Once a nation reaches these limits, a divine mechanism is set in motion and the consequences come upon them. Have you noticed what happened after all these great nations fell? All that remains are shards of what once seemed indestructible. We tend to forget what happened to these nations and learn from them. Even though we cannot find a direct biblical reference to what God has in store for this nation after it has become so perverted with materialism and sexual depravity, we could use the same structure that has been used for past nations.
What, then, can be gathered from these examples of the past and applied to the future state of the United States? That after the collapse of these nations, all that will remain are the scattered fragments of what once was [For example, in Daniel 8:22, After the death of Alexander, in the very prime of his life and at the peak of his conquests, his brother and his two sons were all murdered; and his kingdom was divided among four of his generals, that is, Antigonus, Cassander, Ptolemy, and Seleucus]. So the same thing is going to happen here in the United States, it is going to be an inevitable moment when the nation will break up and small pieces of it will remain. Just as it happened to the USSR, the Ottoman Empire, the German Empire, the British Empire, and many others. Here is what the biblical structure placed in the biblical text indicates the United States will experience: Because of the size of the country, the United States will be divided into small groups of states that will form an “alliance” that will maintain their own existence as citizens of these small alliances. For example, the northeastern states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will form an alliance, as will other scattered states. Since each state has its own constitution, it can establish a form of individual government [e.g., California and Texas], or it can join with others to form such alliances, just as nations have done in the past. Let us not forget that the reason for the Civil War was to become independent of the other states.
One very important thing that cannot be overlooked: As powerful as the United States is now, it cannot be when the Antichrist comes to power [Revelation 6:2]. This means that when the time comes for the Antichrist to rise and become a public figure, the United States will already be breaking into small alliances. Are you telling me that the United States will not exist as a powerful nation when the prophetic time comes? That’s exactly what I’m saying in this article. The prophetic scenario does not foretell any involvement of the United States as a powerful nation when these prophecies come into motion. Will the same thing happen to the Russian government? No, because for the Russian government, as well as for the Chinese government and many others, the biblical text has drawn a different prophetic scenario, which is described by Daniel in chapter 11:44, which says:
"But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him [Antichrist]: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many."
I should point out that when Daniel 11:44 refers to “But tidings out of the east and out of the north,” it has a reference point, the kingdom of the Antichrist, which at that time will be over the 10 kingdoms [Daniel 2:40-43; 7:7-8, 24; Revelation 17:12-17] that will form in western Europe, northern Africa, and eastern Asia: where the old Roman Empire once existed. After the Antichrist has conquered these nations, which are “east and north” of his kingdom, he will move his seat of government from there to Jerusalem, as predicted by Daniel in the following passage, which says:
"And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between [Zechariah 14:8] the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." Daniel 11:45
After the Antichrist has conquered Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and every other nation that is “east and north” of these 10 kingdoms that will arise at that time. This is how God will judge the Russians, the Chinese, and the others who are in this geographical area. Many biblical writers have erroneously extended the kingdom of the Antichrist beyond the boundaries set by God in His Word, causing great confusion among all biblical students. But the Scriptures limit the time [Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:2; 13:5] and extent of the Antichrist’s kingdom [Daniel 7:25 “the ten horns out of this kingdom (The territory of the old Roman Empire) are ten kings that shall arise”]. You should study the Scriptures more closely instead of listening to the nonsense of ignorant people. There will be no United States involved in opposing the forces of the Antichrist when he enters the prophetic scenario.
Abraham Lincoln said, “Democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people“. Is that really the motivation of the people who are supposed to govern this nation? Unfortunately, this is not the motivation of these elected officials. Sometimes we look the other way and pretend that the person we elect to lead this beautiful nation is not a corrupt person. Not realizing that every time we elect such a corrupt person, we ourselves are harming the same nation we love. We get caught up in playing a political game and promoting the ideas of such a corrupt person, only to find ourselves facing the consequences of our decisions. No politician can undo the damage done every time we elect an incompetent leader. Take a look at what is going on in the various branches of our government, can you honestly believe that this nation can survive under the current way of governing? If we think so, we are fooling ourselves. Congress is polluted with people who only like power and to profit from it. The Supreme Court is no exception to this corruption, as many of them have been placed there to further the hidden agenda of the President’s political party that elected that person. Every time we have an elected president, he has filled his cabinet with people who also have their own hidden agendas, which in most cases only benefit that person in particular. After the president’s term ends, many things are left broken and unfinished that are either ignored or simply buried by the incoming new administration. This nation is moving further and further away from God and the divine principles that we proclaim to have, but do not reflect in our actions.
Abraham Lincoln’s words are an old man’s dream that never came true. A nation that does not have God and His divine principles will always have its days numbered; just as it was the case with this wicked king:
“Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” Daniel 5:17-31
“Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting”. These are words of warning to this great nation and its citizens, but just as this wicked king and his subjects were polluted with sexual immorality, idolatry, boasting, and materialism, so their time came and there was no mercy for them. As Daniel’s prophecy came to pass in this biblical record, so it will be with every prophetic word yet to come. As believers, we should not cling to the materialism [Proverbs 23:5; 27:24; Ecclesiastes 5:13-14; Jeremiah 9:23-24] that will destroy this country, but rather set our eyes on what God has in store for us, things that are eternal in nature [2 Corinthians 4:18; 1 John 2:16-17].
Let us pray: “Blessed are You, Lord, King and Supreme Ruler of the universe, who has blessed this beautiful nation, the United States of America. Lord, we ask for Your mercy on those who are rebellious in obeying Your Word, even those who are elected officials and have neglected their duties. Father, we ask for guidance through Your Holy Spirit and cleanse us with the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Protect us from any harm that may come from Satan’s agents. We thank You for Your grace and favor upon this great nation and its citizens and persuade anyone from sin through Your immense mercy and love. Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen!”
I encourage you to continue in your walk with the Lord and never allow others to influence your divine calling with their polluted ideas.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
Rev. Jay Werman
The Kenosis of Christ
THE LIVING WORD CENTER, INC.
By Rev. Jay Werman
This is one of the most fascinating topic of the Scriptures. There are a lots of details that are explained in the Scriptures relate to the Kenosis of Christ but those that are revealed are very interesting. So, I will do my best to explain these details that are revealed to us in the Scriptures. Now, I have to make something very clear before I begin this subject. If you belong to a certain denomination or religion and already have a preconceived ideas about it, don’t waste your time reading this. In order for the seed to produce results, it must fall in good ground, otherwise the seed won’t produce as it was meant it.
"And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:8
This is the reason why so many believers are not growing in the knowledge of The Word of God. Preconceived ideas, human philosophies, satanic doctrines, religions, and dogmas, will make the seed ineffective. Lack of spiritual growth is the direct result of being ignorant of what God has revealed in His own Word.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6
So, What’s the meaning of the Greek word “Kenosis”? The Greek word is used in Philippians 2:7.
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men"
The Greek word is “Kenoo”, which means “to empty out of”, “to drain”. Thayer explain it as follow:
1) to empty, make empty – 1a) of Christ, he laid aside equality with or the form of God
2) to make void – 2a) deprive of force, render vain, useless, of no effect
3) to make void – 3b) cause a thing to be seen to be empty, hollow, false
Total KJV Occurrences: 8 – made, 2 Rom 4:14, 1Co 1:17; void, 2 Rom 4:14, 1Co 9:15; effect, 1 1Co 1:17; make, 1 1Co 9:15; none, 1 1Co 1:17; reputation, 1 Php 2:7
Now, observe how the expression “But made himself of no reputation” in Phil. 2:7 is located between 2 others expressions within the context of the text:
"Who (Christ), being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (v.6) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (v.7) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." v.8
Verse 6 states that Christ “Made Himself of NO REPUTATION, or EMPTY OUT Himself”. The question is “Of what did Christ empty himself? verse 6 filled the gap. “Who, being in the FORM OF GOD”. This is what Christ empty out of. In the Scriptures no specification is found in details of the Kenosis of Christ, but one aspect is very clear; one of the members of The GodHead became a man. Christ willingly laid aside his divine abilities and powers, and he was born as a sinless man. To rescue humanity from eternal perdition, The second person of The GodHead “Made Himself of no Reputation”, even though He was in the form of God.
"In the beginning was the Word (Gr. Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:1-3
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14
The second person of The GodHead became of man the day His was born of Mary. God became of Father that day, and Mary became a mother that day.
"I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 2:7
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:18-23
Mary gave birth to a child, who was an eternal God. She didn’t have birth a god as many are teaching today. Before Jesus was conceived by Mary, He exist as one of the three members of The divine Trinity; An everlasting God.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
God became a Father that day and Jesus became The Son of The Living God. The titles of “The Father and The Son” were put in place for reasons to redeem humanity. In the Scriptures are 247 names and titles use to all the three members of The GodHead.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:8-11
"Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Following the question we placed in the beginning of this post, which is “Of what did Jesus emptied Himself? Which is refer in Phil. 2:6. Jesus couldn’t emptied out Himself of His Divine nature, for He was God manifest in the flesh according to The Scriptures. Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mat. 1:18-25; Jn. 1:1-2, 14; 1 Tim. 3:16. Before He “Took the form of a servant, and was made in the LIKENESS of men” Phil. 2:7, He was an eternal and everlasting God. Mic. 5:1-2; Jn. 1:1-2; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8-11.
According to The Scriptures Jesus emptied out Himself of the following:
- His EQUALITY with God. Phil 2:6-7; Jn. 14:28; 1 Cor. 11:3
- His God Form, which is His bodily shape or form. God’s body is spiritual in essence like there is any other in the spiritual realm. Every member of The GodHead have a spiritual body, Jesus is the one member of the divine trinity with a different body. Phil. 2:6-8; 3:21; Mat. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:35; Jn. 1:14; Lk. 24:37-40; Gal. 4:4; Rom. 8:3. In fact, Jesus’s body will always have the evidences of His sacrifice:
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Zech. 13:6
Jesus’s body is different than the spiritual body of The Father and The
Holy Spirit. Observe how in the same chapter of Zechariah 13 The Messiah is called “MY FELLOW”.
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." verse 7
The expression “My Fellow” in the context of the text implied “same kind and nature”. The Hebrew word used for Fellow is “‛âmı̂yth”, which in the context of the passage means “Fellow God, Another God, a Comrade God, An Associate God, a Kindred God”. Only in this passage is translated “Fellow”. The other passages where this Hebrew word is used: “neighbor” Lev 6:2; 19:15; 19:17; 24:19; 25:14-15; “Another” Lev 19:11; 25:17; The different meanings of this word still express the same idea, which is “Of ANOTHER PERSON of the SAME KIND and NATURE. Many different Scriptures shows behold doubts the doctrine of The Holy Trinity of The GodHead.
- Jesus emptied out of His Immortality. For God Cannot die, so the second person of The GodHead “Laid aside” His God-like body and took a human body. Phil. 2:7-8
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" 1 Cor. 15:3
"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Psalms 16:10
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" 1 Peter 3:18
- Jesus Laid aside His Divine Glory; The Glory He possessed with The Father, and before He was conceived by Mary by the power of The Holy Spirit.
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Mat. 1:20
"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." John 12:23
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." John 17:5
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Mat. 16:27
The same idea is expressed by Paul in Phil. 2:5-11.
The Union of the two natures in Jesuschrist:
The two different natures were both complete in themselves, and yet, it didn’t formed a third nature. We are forbidden to teach the contrary. Jesus was the perfect representative of God and man, Jesus was a Divine human being. Christ often spoke of Himself as a single person, and not as two persons. In fact, there is no interchange of speech between the two natures, between two parts of the attributes and powers of both natures, which are accredited to one person. These are use as part of a single person, there is no dual personality as many are teaching today. One single unit of characteristics of both the human and the divine; just as any father and mother to their offspring, making a single person with a characteristics of both. Jesus was unique in His kind, He represented God and man, which is the role of the High Priest. Every single ministerial office introduced in the Old Testament was a shadow of Jesus’s mission to re-unite God and men.
"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." Hebrews 8:6
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Tim. 2:5
This passage proves that Jesus is a different and separate person from God. A Mediator is “a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between”. Jesus was born for that specific purpose; to create a New Covenant through which He re-conciliated God and men. No one else could done such task.
The Greek word used for “Mediator” is “mesitēs”, which means;
1) one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant
2) a medium of communication, arbitrator
The word is used 6 times in the N. T. Gal. 3:19-29; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24
To be continue..!
Raptures Taught Throughout the Scripture
This is a very fascinating subject in the scriptures that will be explained in the context of each passage. It’s an essential knowledge to have today as we live in a chaotic and corrupt world.
Rev. Jay Werman, Director
Text based: 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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. 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.”
How many “raptures” are taught in the Scriptures?
There are ten different raptures taught throughout Scripture. We will identify each of them with their respective scriptures. For born-again Christians, the most important rapture is the rapture of the Church, which will end our probationary period.
First rapture taught in Scripture:
“And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:22-24
The Hebrew word used for “God took him” is “lâqach,” which means the following “to take, to get, to fetch, to lay hold of, to seize, to receive, to acquire, to buy, to bring, to marry, to take a wife, to snatch, to carry away”. The Greek word used in the passage below expands the meaning in Genesis 5:24. In other words, both passages complement each other to express the event that took place. The Hebrew word is used 975 times in the Old Testament.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5
The Greek word used for “translated” is “metatithēmi,” which means “to transfer, that is, (literally) to transport, (by implication) to exchange, (reflexively) to change, or (figuratively) to pervert: – to carry over, to change, to remove, to translate, to turn. Enoch was literally transported to the third heaven.
The second rapture is taught in the Scripture:
Elijah was translated to the third heaven. 2 Kings 2:11-12.
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” 2 Kings 2:3
The Hebrew word “lâqach,” translated here as “take away,” is used in the same sense as in Genesis 5:24. It’s repeated in verse 5. The Scriptures give details of how Elijah was caught up to the third heaven. God allowed Elisha to be able to see this event through the use of the “gift of discernment of spirits”; this spiritual gift is part of the group of spiritual gifts that must be manifested in anyone who calls himself a “prophet”. If this spiritual gift is not present, then such a person simply does not have the call to the ministerial gift of being a prophet. Perhaps this believer is manifesting some of the gifts of oral inspiration, which is “the gift of prophecy, or the gift of speaking in tongues, and the gift of interpreting tongues”. The fact that a person has manifested one of these spiritual gifts does not mean that such a believer is a prophet, as has been assumed by many to be the case.
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11
“Went up” from the Hebrew means “to go up, to ascend, to climb. Elijah was taken up in a “whirlwind” from the Hebrew word “se‛ârâh” which means “tempest, storm, whirlwind. God allowed Elisha to see this event through the use of “spiritual discernment”.
The third rapture taught in Scripture:
Jesus ascended to heaven to shed His blood and seal the covenant, and returned the same day.
“And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:14-20
In verse 17, after Jesus rose from the dead, He was taken up into the third heaven to offer His own blood for us on the day He would appear to the disciples.
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father”. Verse 17
Why couldn’t Mary Magdalene touch Jesus? When Jesus rose from the dead, He rose as our “high priest” who couldn’t be touched by anyone before the blood offering. In fact, the consecration and purification rituals performed by the High Priest were extended to the entire week before the Day of Atonement. Exodus 28, 29; Leviticus 8. The Holy of Holies was divided by a veil [the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Matthew 27:51], and no one could enter except the High Priest, and even he could enter only once a year on Yom Kippur [the Day of Atonement] to offer the blood of sacrifices and incense before the Mercy Seat. Jesus is mentioned as our High Priest in Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:5-10; 6:20; 7:26-28; 8:1; 9:11, 25; 10:21; 13:11.
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:11-12
After Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, Jesus, as our High Priest, went into the most holy place in the temple in heaven and returned the same day, as stated in the above passage and in the following passage::
“Then THE SAME DAY at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19
The fourth rapture taught in Scripture:
The translation of “captivity” where the saints or the righteous went after they died; also known as “Abraham’s bosom” in the story told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the third heaven, Jesus took this place and all the saints were transferred with Him to “Paradise,” which is located in the third heaven. Notice what Paul said in the following passages:
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 12:2
Notice the language used in the next passage;
“How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Verse 4
The captivity or Abraham’s bosom under the earth is emptied. All the saints of the Old Testament were raptured or translated to the third heaven when Jesus took them.
“Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8
Abraham’s bosom is now an empty space in the center of the earth, and it’s a reminder to those in hell that the righteous are in a better place. It’s a separation between the wicked and the righteous for eternity.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17
“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Psalm 37:10
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17
The fifth rapture taught in Scripture:
Jesus’ ascension into the third heaven in a literal cloud after His resurrection from the dead.
“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3
Notice that the same statements are made in the following passages:
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19
“And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:51
The sixth rapture taught in Scripture:
Paul was translated to the third heaven.
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 12:2
This passage uses the word “caught up”, which in Greek is “harpazō”, which means “to snatch out or take away,” “to seize, to carry away by force. The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in reference to the rapture of the church and in Acts 8:39:
“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
The seventh rapture taught in Scripture:
The rapture of the church, which is the universal rapture for which we are all waiting, as prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“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 Thessalonians 4:17
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:23
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
All of the saints of the Old Testament are involved in the resurrection of their bodies. bodies.
The eighth rapture taught in the Scripture:
The 2 witnesses of Revelation 11 will be caught up to the third heaven after their resurrection, as recorded in Revelation 11:3-12.
“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Revelation 11:12
The two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah, who have not died because they live in the third heaven since they were raptured.
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Revelation 11:3-12
Here is the context of the identity of these two witnesses:
“Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6
Enoch and Elijah, who were previously translated to the third heaven (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11), will again experience a rapture, but the difference in is that they will ascend to the third heaven with a glorified body. Notice the law established in Hebrews 9:27, which states:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Both men are living in the third heaven with a natural body, and they will come back to bring Israel back to God after they flee from Judea, fulfilling the prophetic word given by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-16. After that, they will both die and be resurrected with glorified bodies.
The ninth rapture taught in the Scripture:
The 144,000 Jews sealed by an angel [Revelation 7:2] in the first three and a half years of Daniel’s prophecy [Daniel 9:27; Revelation 7:1-8]. These are not “the Jehovah Witnesses” as their religion teaches. That’s just a fallacy. These are JEWS, NOT GENTILES, as expressed in the following passage;
“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of ALL THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.” Revelation 7:4
The judgment’s angels were told:
“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants (144,000 Jews) of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:2-3
What keeps these 144,000 from being harmed? is it keeping the Sabbath, as Jehovah’s Witnesses say? This is false and just another error. What keeps these 144,000 Jews from being harmed by the judgments is that they have “sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:3
They will be raptured as the man child, as expressed in the following passage:
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Revelation 12:5
How did we identify these 144,000 Jews as the man child? Well, according to 1 Corinthians 10:32, there are 3 ethnic groups:
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”
The Church is already gone when the Great Tribulation period begins, and the
The two remaining ethnic groups are the Jews and the Gentiles. The Gentiles are the ones who persecute the Jews, so they cannot be identified as “the man-child. The only ones left are the Jews, whose identity is confirmed in Revelation 12:1.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.”
This woman represents the people of Israel. Notice what the following passages say:
“And she [Israel] being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Verse 2
Repeating the passage from Revelation 12:5 (Compare Isaiah 66:7-8)
“And she (Israel) brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up [rapture] unto God, and to his throne.”
The Tenth Rapture taught in Scripture:
The great multitude of tribulation saints saved after the rapture of the church.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 6:9-11
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-17
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15:2-4
“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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
May our Lord give you strength according to His Holy Word!
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