Angels vs Humanity

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Angels, Bible prophecy, end times, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, prayer, reading, truth

We’ve all heard it: “Be careful what you wish for”.

Just a few minutes ago I was reading a verse from the book of Revelation (in the Bible) only to become frustrated at not clearly understanding what I was reading; the frustration being mostly due to the varied differences of opinion “out there” which cause division and confusion for those of us trying to understand what to expect in regard to the fulfillment of “end times”.

So a few minutes ago I prayed for enlightenment to my mind, by way of the Holy Spirit, knowing it is by way of the Holy Spirit that we are given knowledge and understanding.

My prayer was for understanding of God’s actual truth from the pages of scripture. I could read and make educated guesses as to the meaning of the words written, just as I believe was done by a women I listened to yesterday, but I don’t want yet another “opinion” of what “it” means; I want to know what GOD is telling us by way of His word.

Since I was in the midst of following listed scripture via a daily devotional I moved along to other listed passages, and it was upon reading from Hebrews I felt compelled to share all of this. The scripture listed was Hebrews 2: 14-15, but I read 2:14-18.

What is written in verse 16 really struck me:

Hebrews 2:14-18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

¹⁶ For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

¹⁷ Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

¹⁸ For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

I realized, while reading verse 16, that we human beings are not the same as Angels.

I was of the impression Angels were basically the same creation as humans, and while I didn’t (and still don’t)  believe the following,  I’m aware a lot of people do believe when a loved one dies he or she becomes an Angel.

Scripture does not support this idea, thus I am confident we do not, and will not, become Angels, ever. My understanding is Angels are a different creation and Angels are NOT below/lower than humanity in status. (I was taught as a kid that if I didn’t acquire a certain status in mortality I’d be effectively “demoted” to the status of an Angel”. )

Along with the realization, as indicated in the above quoted scripture, Angels are not the same as human beings (the seed of Adam), I also see, in this passage of scripture, that Jesus “TOOK ON” the nature of a human being, i.e. the “seed of Abraham”.

And, He became human by way of choice. He did this so as to be able to become the sacrifice needed to redeem human kind; an act needful to save us all from eternal death.  Thru one man, Adam, we all become subjected to death.

Thru Jesus Christ we can be freed of the chains of death.

No other human being could be the needful sacrifice for sin because we are all born of sin nature as we, all of us, are from the seed of Adam.

Romans 5:12King James Version (KJV)

¹² Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Jesus, through being born of Mary, was able to take on the nature of humanity, but because He is also a part of God, (The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit), He, unlike all of us in humanity, was able to live a life free of any sin. Thus it is He was able to be the sacrifice for sin- which was achieved by  allowing His blood to be shed for sin.

Romans 5:19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience [Adam] many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Jesus Christ] shall many be made righteous. *

*Italics are my insertion for clarification

Through Jesus Christ we can be saved if we accept His sacrifice for us. Believe on Jesus Christ and be saved.

Romans 5:12-21 King James Version (KJV)

¹² Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

¹⁷ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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To whom else would I go?

Tags

Faith, Jesus Christ, Relationships, truth

^‘ Then Jesus said unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”

 Then Simon Peter answered Him,

“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life,

 and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” ‘

John 6:67-69

 

21st Century King James Version (KJ21)Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.

In the desert

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challenges, Death, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, serpents, snakes, trust

Because they had been protected they were unaware of the danger all around them. Just as we don’t, they didn’t see the dangers that were unseen and not yet felt, so they didn’t know what was there. Rather than be thankful for protection received and their many blessings, they instead, yet again, began to grumble and murmur about perceived unjustness; the extension of this being cursing and murmuring against the very one who was protecting and providing for them.

To teach them a very important lesson, the one who has long provided for and protected them, lifted that hand of protection. All a sudden the people realized that in this desert environment they were surrounded by deadly poisonous snakes.

The effects were swift and immediate. “Now there was terror and confusion throughout the encampment. In almost every tent were the dying or the dead. None were secure.”

The murmuring of past perceived trials completely ceased as what they previously complained couldn’t compare to the trial they now faced. How often do we do this in our lives; lack gratitude only to find ourselves in even less desirable circumstances only to wish we’d only recognized the blessings we once had .

The people were now, again, humbled. They approached their leader and pleaded with him to intercede for them and call upon the hand that had once protected them to do so again.

Their leader was instructed to make a serpent of brass resembling the poisonous snakes. He was then to raise this brass snake high in the air and let the people know that anyone who had been bitten by one of the poisonous snakes need only to look upon the brass snake and they would be healed.

Some refused to look believing it impossible to look upon a snake of brass and find healing. Others chose to look upon the brass snake.

Those who refused to look upon the replica died. Those who chose exercise faith in looking upon the brass snake were restored to health.

There was a time, in my life, when I thought stories like this sounded like science fiction. Stories of this nature do not get reported in our modern times, to my knowledge, so I was very skeptical, thinking perhaps such stories were created for the purpose of teaching allegorically.

As of this writing I have a deeper and thus vastly different understanding of this tale. I am no longer skeptical.

This is a story of an experience of the Israelites during the time they were being led by Moses to the Promised Land.

“The lifting up of the brazen serpent was to teach Israel…they could not save themselves from the fatal effect of the poison in their wounds. God alone was able to heal them. Yet they were required to show their faith in the provision which He had made. They must look in order to live. It was their faith that was acceptable with God and by looking upon the serpent their faith was shown. “

There was no power in the brass serpent; it significance was in that it was a symbol of Christ.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so was the Son of man ‘lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’ John 3:14, 15. All who have ever lived upon the earth have felt the deadly sting of ‘that old serpent called the devil, and Satan.’ Revelation 12:9. The fatal effects of sin can be removed only by the provision that God has made. The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent. That look implied faith. They lived because they believed God’s word, and trusted in the means provided for their recovery.

Jesus came to earth and took on a human body and then allowed his blood to be sacrificed for mankind so that now we can look to Him, Jesus Christ for salvation. Thus it is He is our “Savior”. Only through Him can we be saved from the poison that is in our lives, called “sin”. The wages of sin is death. Without a savior to save us, our fate is to die because of our sin. But if we trust in the merits of Jesus Christ, and thus we look upon Him in faith, just like the Israelites, who looked upon the symbol of their salvation from mortal death, we can be saved from eternal death.

I have come to recognize, in my study, that the Old Testament is full of stories that ultimately point to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. What once sounded like fantastical stories, so vastly different than the reality we experience in our time, I now recognize as God’s way for a time long before the arrival of The Son of God, who came to earth to redeem mankind.

For those who are skeptical, I appreciate how E.G. White summed it up:

“Many are unwilling to accept of Christ until the whole mystery of the plan of salvation shall be made plain to them. They refuse the look of faith, although they see that thousands have looked, and have felt the efficacy of looking, to the cross of Christ. Many wander in the mazes of philosophy, in search of reasons and evidence which they will never find, while they reject the evidence which God has been pleased to give. They refuse to walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, until the reason of its shining shall be explained. All who persist in this course will fail to come to a knowledge of the truth. God will never remove every occasion for doubt. He gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith, and if this is not accepted, the mind is left in darkness. If those who were bitten by the serpents had stopped to doubt and question before they would consent to look, they would have perished. It is our duty, first, to look; and the look of faith will give us life.”

Quotes taken from Patriarchs and Prophets Volume 2 by E.G. White

He is coming

Tags

despair, Hope, Jesus Christ, last days, natural disasters, peace, second coming, sorrow, terrorist attacks, war

So, on Facebook I’m seeing a lot of personal photos embedded into the French flag.

I’m wondering what flag folks will embed their photo into next; this assault on Paris is not a first and I’m very confident it will not be the last terrorist assault.

I truly believe we are entering the “last days” as prophesied long ago. Pay close attention to all the world events and the natural disasters that are coming in close and rapid succession. Put the pieces together and compare to Biblical prophecy and see if you see the same picture I am coming to see.

I’m not afraid; I’m excited. That said, please don’t misunderstand me. I’m NOT happy about natural disasters, I’m NOT happy about wars, rumors of wars and pending world war. I’m NOT happy about terrorist activity.
But my heart leaps with joy to see actual signs of HIS coming. I’ve long looked forward to the return of Jesus Christ.

My life has been full of sorrow, so my lifeline; my hope, has been placed in the promised joy that will come with dwelling in the presence of God.

I once had a personal experience, very short lived, of feeling peace beyond anything this life has to offer. I truly believe it was a gift from God; something I very much needed to give me Hope so I could find the strength to stay among the living.

I don’t exactly know what my life mission is, or why God wanted me to carry on, but having that glimmer of Hope was essential.

And just when I began to weary my hope was in vain; that maybe there really wasn’t going to be “last days”; that maybe Jesus was not really going to come again to earth, then, at last, the tide began to turn; things started happening world-wide.

And I’m not ‘gonna’ lie–I started to get real excited.

But, like I said before, I’m excited not for the sorrows; I’m very excited to meet face to face with our Lord!