Prophetic Speculation

It is Monday, April 8 2024. It has been rainy and overcast where I live. That probably won't matter anyway, as I do not live in a town named Ninevah, or Salem, Jonah, or Jacob. In fact I am no where near the projected path of today's solar eclipse.

I watched a video presentation by one of these supposed prophecy "experts." While he used a scripture or two here and there, what I heard sounded more like astrology, numerology, and just plain old "divination." None of what this teacher stated could actually be backed up with a sound search of the scriptures. He fired information at you so fast it made your head hurt. There was no way one could possibly remember everything this guy said.

That said, here is the bottom line. If you teach the word, whether it's on a YouTube channel, a blog like this one, or from a pulpit, remember you will be held to a much stricter judgement (James 3:1). Your teaching can and will effect many. If you are in error, remember souls hang in the balance. Do you really want to stand before Jesus with blood on your hands?

If you, as we have seen far too many times, give a sensational, but false, prophecy, you bring a reproach upon the entire body of Christ. The Church is supposed to be the Pillar and ground if the truth (1 Tim3:15). The Bible warns of the time when mockers will come, making jest of the return of Christ (2 Peter 3:3-9). I will not repeat the one comment I read yesterday concerning this latest sensational prophecy surrounding this solar eclipse. It concerned the Bible and the prophecies contained within it. Safe to say, it was vulgar. The world looks at these sensational but false prophecies and makes a mockery out of Christianity. Teachers, make sure your teaching is backed up by the scriptures.

And for those of you who are quick to believe every prophecy you hear, remember no matter how convincing the guy might sound, or how exciting it might be, if it's not backed up by the word of God its not real. A few scriptures might be sprinkled in and make it more believable, but if you don't seriously dig into the Bible for yourself and make sure, it's on you when it proves false.

There is a story of a young shepherd boy who got bored and lonely out with the sheep every night. So, he cried "Wolf! Wolf!" Everyone came running to help him. It was exciting, and this boy got his kicks out of it, so he did it again, and again they came running. Well, he tried it one more time but no one took him seriously. Only this time the wolf had really come.

How many more times can we do this? We have seen 88 reasons why Jesus will return in 1988. When this failed to happen the same individual said he was off by a year, wrote another book and failed again. Harold Camping tried the same stunt a few years back. Of course he was wrong too. And he also claimed to be off, this time by a few months. Well here we are, we lived through the blood moon fad 10 years ago as well. How many more of these things will we run after without actually seeing for ourselves what Jesus says? 

Test all things by the word of God

(1Thess 5:21-22). Don't just accept everything you hear.

Solar Eclipse 2024: Should We Be Concerned?

There has been a lot of talk recently about the solar eclipse that is to occur on April 8, 2024. A lot of people are looking at this as a prophetic sign of the end. In fact, the Internet is buzzing with people claiming prophetic insight into this event. Are they right, should we be concerned about this coming event? 

My short answer is no. What is coming is a scientifically predicted eclipse, just like a host of eclipses that have happened in the past. I remember the "prophetic" world was ready for the end in 2017 when that eclipse was in the forecast.

But what about the signs in the heavens that Jesus mentions? Isn't this that?

Let's look at the passages found throughout the Bible that mention these cosmic signs that will precede the day of the Lord.

Surprisingly these events are mentioned quite often. By comparing these passages we can determine what signs we should be looking for, and when we should expect to see them.

Isaiah has this to say about the coming day of the LORD,

Behold the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

                        Isaiah 13:9-10, 13  KJV

And the prophet Joel says this concerning the day of the LORD,

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.

                               Joel 2:10-11 KJV

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

                                 Joel 2:30-32 KJV

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

                               Joel 3:14-16 KJV

I have just quoted several Old Testament passages that all refer to this same event. We have the cosmic signs, the sun is darkened, the moon turning to blood, and the stars not shining. All of this is happening before the Lord's coming in wrath to destroy the wicked, and to deliver His people.

You may still be thinking that this sounds a lot like a major eclipse. One could make this assumption I suppose, but as I previously stated, eclipses have occurred in the past, and they have had no real significance spiritually speaking.

The New Testament also contains references to these same verses we have just looked at. In these passages we begin to see a timeline that will show us what kind of heavenly signs  we should be looking for.

In the gospels, Jesus references these same apocalyptic signs that we have seen in Isaiah and Joel. But He gives us time markers that should eliminate our speculation. In Matthew 24:29-31 we read,

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of 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.

Notice that these signs in the heavens that precede the second coming of Jesus follow a time of tribulation. Go back a few verses and see the timeline that Jesus sets forth. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet kicks off the great tribulation. This will be a time unlike anything the world has ever seen up until this point. (Matt 24:15-21, Daniel 8:9-12, 9:27, 11:31, 12:1).

A man who the Bible refers to as the Antichrist will invade Jerusalem, pollute the temple, and attempt to annihilate the Jews. Yes, Christians will be persecuted mercilessly at this time as well. This time of trouble preceeds the darkening of the sun and moon according to Jesus. He will not return until the end of this period of time.

Just think for a moment and walk this back a bit. In order for the abomination of desolation to be placed, and the sacrifices ended, a temple must exist in Jerusalem, and sacrifices have to be started. We don't see this today, so any eclipse or "harvest" moon cannot be a sign of the imminent return of Christ at this point in time.

One individual made a video where he quoted Luke 21:25-26. He mentioned the signs in the heavens and made a point to show that the nations today are indeed in distress. But look at the previous verse, (Luke 21:24), the time of the great tribulation, also referred to here as the time of the Gentiles. This is why the nations are in distress. All of the events of the final 42 months of this present world's existence are happening.These things must come first. On April 8, we might see an eclipse, but no second coming will occur yet.

In Revelation we see these signs mentioned again.

And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became  black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

                      Revelation 6:12-17 KJV

Just as we saw in Matthew 24, the events of the sixth seal are late into the final seven years of this present world. Five seals have already been opened. By this point we have experienced the false peace initiated by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27),  followed by believe it or not, wars and rumors of war (Rev 6:3-4, Matt 24:6-7, Isaiah 28:1-4, Daniel 11:23-30), famine (Rev 6:5-6, Matt 24:7), and the breaking of this seven year covenant paving the way for the great tribulation. The Antichrist has taken his seat in the temple and made himself out to be god (Daniel 11:36, 2 Thess 2:3-4), Christians have been martyred in unheard of numbers for almost three and one half years by this point (Rev 6:9-11), and Jerusalem has been utterly ravaged (Zech 14:1-2). None of these things have occured as of yet. 

The final seven year period before the return of Christ is described in the book of Revelation through the opening of seven seals, the blowing of seven trumpets, and the emptying of seven bowls of wrath. These events are happening concurrently, and terminate at the same point, the return of Christ on the day of the LORD. Here are a few more things that the world will see and experience before the return of Christ takes place.

When the first trumpet is blown hail and fire mixed with blood is cast to the earth, causing a third of the trees and all the green grass to be burned up (Rev 8:7).

At the second trumpet something like a great burning mountain is cast into the sea, turning a third of the sea into blood (Rev 8:9). This is similar to what we read in Revelation 16:3-6, where the second bowl of judgement is poured out upon the sea, and the third bowl is emptied upon the rivers, turning them into blood.

At the blowing of the fourth trumpet a third part of the sun is struck, a third part of the moon, and a third of the stars. This causes a dimness of these heavenly bodies, shortening the days to an eight hour period of light during the daytime, and likewise at night. It is my belief, although I am not dogmatic, that this occurs somewhere near the middle of the final seven year period, perhaps coinciding with the revealing of the Antichrist as he places the abomination of desolation. Imagine living in a time when the sun is dimmed that much, especially if it stays that way for any length of time. 

At some point near the end, another bowl of wrath, the fourth one is poured out upon the sun. The resulting heat scorches men, who blaspheme God in their misery ( Rev 16:9). This is followed by the fifth bowl which, when emptied, plunges the kingdom of the beast into darkness (Rev 16:10).

The sixth bowl is a lead up to the battle of Armageddon, as the nations are being deceived, and gathered unto the great day of God Almighty (Rev 16:12-14). This is extremely late in time, the seals, trumpets and bowls are progressing swiftly to the end. It is at this point that Jesus interjects and says,

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

                      Revelation 16:15 KJV

Now the nations are gathered together at Armageddon and the seventh bowl is poured out into the air, a voice cries out it is finished. There is a great earthquake, the islands flee away and the mountains disappear, and the biggest hailstorm in history falls on mankind (Rev 16:16-21).

Likewise, in Revelation 11:13-19 we read of the same events at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Hail, a great earthquake, and the kingdoms of the world becoming the kingdoms of Christ. This is the day of the LORD, the thief like coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). It does not happen secretly at some earlier point in time, no, it is a highly visible cataclysmic event preceeded by major events that will be obvious to all.

I mention a lot in this short post to try to show that we must be diligent to try everything by the word of God. Not every "blood moon," is a sign of the times, and likewise not every solar eclipse is forewarning of Christ's return. Much has to happen, and will happen before that day comes. If you are alert you can't miss it. Paul tells us that we as Christians don't belong to the night, we can and should be aware of what is coming so that we are not taken by surprise. The world at large will be deceived and caught unaware when these things begin to happen (1 Thess 5:1-8, Luke 21:34-36).

If talk of next week's eclipse has caused anyone concern about the last days, I urge you to examine yourself and be sure you are right with God. While events like this come and go with no major repercussions, the time will come when the real thing begins to unfold. Make sure you are ready.

The Eschatological Focus of the Church.

I listened to a message given by Art Katz the other morning. It really challenged me to look at my life and what I was living for. In this message Art defined an apostolic Church as one that lives with the end in focus. This gives it a sense of urgency. All of it's efforts are ultimately aimed towards the return of Jesus and His coming kingdom. Like I said, it was challenging to say the least. We say "Lord, Lord," but is He really our Lord? So in turn, I would like to share some thoughts of my own.

It doesn't take long in reading through the New Testament to realize that the early Christians were looking towards the goal. They had their eyes on the end, the return of Christ and the coming of His kingdom, when all things would be made new. 

I think it would be good for us to spend time in the word of God, looking at these things, and allowing the Holy Spirit to challenge us to move up. It can be easy to drift into the every day routine. Many of us spend the week pursuing our careers, hobbies, college educations, and so on, yet faithfully attending church on Sunday. We devote the majority of our lives to temporary pursuits; our focus is in the wrong place.

I understand we have to provide for our families, and work is part of that process. However, there is a point when our focus changes from the eternal, from what is unseen, to that which is temporary in the here and now (2 Cor 4:18).

This is something that by God's grace we must all work out. Jesus tells us not to worry about the essentials of life. Instead, we are to make His kingdom and righteousness our life's ambition, and the things we truly need will be provided us (Matt 6:25-34).

Jesus is showing us where are hearts are at. If we are consumed by life's affairs, that is what we treasure, and that is what has captured our hearts. In the context of His second coming, Jesus warns us not to be weighed down with the worries of life. That day will come upon those who are like a trap (Luke 21:34).

The early Church lived as strangers in this world. They understood that this life with all of its pain and sorrow was only temporary. They looked towards the day when there would be no more pain, no more death,and the curse would be reversed. They understood that God would dwell among them and make all things new ( Rev 21:3-5, 22:3-5). Don't get me wrong, good times can be a blessing, but with the good comes the very real possibility of losing our focus, and slipping into complacency. The danger is real, prosperity breeds self sufficiency, and our focus settles on the comforts of the here and now.

They were citizens of heaven, and as such they eagerly awaited the Savior who would come to bring the final redemption of their bodies, transforming them into His likeness (Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 9:28). 

Jesus is coming for those who are eagerly awaiting Him, who love His appearing ( 2 Timothy 4:8). Can we truthfully say we long for His coming? Or are we comfortable and happy with how things are? Of course we might give a mental assent to the fact that someday Jesus will return, but hopefully not now. Understand, I'm not intending to be harsh, but I want to challenge each one of us, myself included, to place our focus where it really belongs.

The fact of Jesus' second coming challenged the first Christians to live in anticipation, to be ready to see Jesus face to face. There was work to be done, and the fact that this world as it is, is only temporary, spured them on. Paul in describing the resurrection of the dead, and the transformation of the saints at the return of Christ, exhorted the Corinthian believers to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Likewise, Peter

Instructed his readers, in light of the end, to eagerly look for the coming day of God. This day will bring about the destruction of this temporal world with all of its sin. But, out of the ashes so to speak, a new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells is coming. So if this is true, how should we live today? If this is a reality in our hearts, we should live holy lives so that when Jesus comes He will find us spotless and at peace (2 Peter 3:10-14). John states that when Christ returns we will be like Him. In the meantime, those who have this hope fixed upon Jesus will purify themselves, just as He is pure (1John 3:2-3). Is this how we are occupying our time?

Again, I only desire to challenge us to examine our hearts, to determine what we are really living for. Our we happy and content with our temporal pursuits? Do our careers or plans consume our lives, leaving very little room for Jesus and His kingdom? Or are we living with a focus on the goal. The end of the temporary, and the ushering in of the eternal?

Some Things to Watch.

There is something potentially happening in the not too distant future that will be a notable signpost of the days that we live in.

The Temple Institute in Israel has recently announced that they have several red heifers pure enough for sacrifice. (See Numbers 19:1-22)

This might not be something most Christians are looking for, or even aware of, but it is an important link in the events leading up to the final days, and the return of Christ.

Something the Jews have not had since 70 AD. is a temple or the sacrifices associated with temple worship. This is something many of them deeply desire, as they desire to adhere to the Mosaic system of worship, but have been unable to do so for nearly 2,000 years now.

They are training men to be priests, and have plans for a temple already to go. However there are a couple of things that need to happen first, before a temple can be built and sacrifices resume.

The purpose of the red heifer sacrifice was to make the water of cleansing. This was sprinkled on anyone who became defiled by contact with a dead body. According to the Temple Institute website there have been 9 red heifers sacrificed from the time of Moses up until the second temple period. This sacrifice would be the first one since then. The purpose of the water of cleansing would be to purify the site where the temple would be built. So it is a necessary thing that would have to be done before a temple would be built and the sacrificial system reinstated.

They are tentatively planning to sacrifice one of these heifers sometime between Passover and the Feast of weeks (Pentecost). That's coming up quickly here in the next couple months.

People have asked me why God would want a temple in the last days. After all, Jesus is our sacrifice. The point is however, the Bible predicts it. Remember, the Jews want their temple and sacrifices to resume. They don't follow Jesus as Messiah at this  point.

The Bible predicts a seven year period prior to the return of Christ where a treaty is made with many nations. This treaty is confirmed by a man who will ultimately be revealed as the Antichrist. There are not a lot of details about this covenant in the Bible, but one can assume that is made with the surrounding Muslim nations and perhaps contains some kind of "two state solution" that would allow the building of a temple on the temple mount, perhaps next to the dome of the rock. This would fit with what it states in Revelation 11:1-2. If the temple was next to the  mosque there would be room for it without a courtyard, the area the mosque sits on would be "given to the gentiles who will trample the city for forty two months."

This would be the next necessary step in building the temple and reinstating the sacrifices. At the mid point of this seven year period the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices, place the abomination of desolation, and sit in the temple declaring that he is god. 

All of this is prophecied beforehand.

This is the point that the time of Jacobs trouble begins, finally ending three and one half years later at Christ's return.

This will be interesting to keep an eye on. These heifers must be spotless. If there is one discolored hair, that animal is rejected. As I stated, I believe they have three at this point that they can use. Time will tell, keep an eye on this, and be ready for what is yet to come.

(See Daniel 8:9-12, 9:24-27, Matt 24:15-22, 2Thess 2:3-4)

The Exalted LORD

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven

                        Psalm 148:13 KJV

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that that his name is exalted.

                       Isaiah 12:4 KJV

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

                      1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV

That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

                           Psalm 83:18 KJV

YAHWEH, the LORD, is exalted over all. The scriptures are abundantly clear. There is no one beside Him. His name, as we have read in the above passages, is exalted above every other name. In fact it states that "His name alone is excellent (or exalted)."

  For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take council together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else besides me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

                      Isaiah 45:19-23 KJV

These verses make it clear. There is one God, the maker of the heavens and earth. All other idols and so called "gods" are nothing. There is no other God, and to Him every knee will someday bow, and tongue confess.

The above verse from 1 Chronicles 29 is a prayer of David given as Solomon his son was about to sit on the throne, ruling Israel. In this prayer he addresses the LORD God as "Our Father" (1 Chronicles 29:10). The language of this prayer is similar to Jesus' words in Matthew 6: 9-13. Jesus begins his model prayer with, "Our Father," and closes it almost verbatim with, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

The Father is exalted as God over all. He is worthy of, and receives worship as we have seen. There can be no doubt according to what we have seen so far. However there is more,

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 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 the Father.

                      Philippians 2:5-11 KJV

Here we see the passage we have just read in Isaiah 45:19-23 applied to Jesus. The Son of God, who existed as God from eternity past, humbled Himself, took on flesh, died on the cross, and was highly exalted above every other name. The same worship ascribed to the Father belongs to Jesus as well.

Shortly before His arrest and crucifixion Jesus prayed, "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). Jesus had humbled Himself, left His glory in heaven and lived upon this earth as a human being. Just like you or I, He faced the limitations of living in a human body. Now He was about to die, yet be powerfully resurrected and ascend to the Father, to receive back the glory he left behind.

Again we read of Christ's exaltation,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

                      Ephesians 1:20-21 KJV

We have read that the name of the LORD alone is exalted. This is applied to Jesus in these verses. Just as the Father is exalted and worshipped, Jesus is as well. They are both YAHWEH, one God. 

The Old Testament actually has much to say about this. It is not silent. These things are hidden in plain sight. The Spirit of Christ within the prophets testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow (1Peter 1:11).

Read a portion of the second Psalm,

Yet I have set my king up on my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel.

                              Psalm 2:6-9 KJV

Here we have God, the Father giving His Son, Jesus, the nations as an inheritance. Jesus will rule them with a rod of iron.

The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

                           Psalm 110:1-2 KJV

Again, the Father giving authority to the Son, who will rule the nations with an iron rod. The religious leaders in Jesus' day were ignorant of this. They could not see that David's Lord (Jesus) would become his descendant through the incarnation (see Matthew 22:41-46).

In Psalm 45 we read,

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.

Thou lovest righteousness and hated wickedness: therefore God, thy God hath annointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

                            Psalm 45:6-7 KJV

The author of Hebrews applies this to Jesus in Hebrews 1:8-9. This Psalm prophetically looks to the day when God's everlasting kingdom will arrive. It will be ruled in righteousness. God annointing God as per this Psalm refers to the Father exalting the Son, and giving Him the kingdom. Take note, the Father and Son are both referred to as God.

The author of Hebrews quoting Psalm 8:4-6 has this to say about Jesus as well.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put in under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

                          Hebrews 2:6-9 KJV

Jesus, the Son of man, humbled Himself and became flesh. The ultimate purpose was the redemption of a fallen world. He was obedient to the death of the cross, and as a result, crowned with glory and honor. This world is not yielded to the rule of God at this point in history, but the day will come when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign eternal (Revelation 12:15).

Jesus referred to Himself often as the "Son of Man." In fact this title is the one He used the most throughout His earthly ministry. Many commentators state that Jesus is placing emphasis on His human nature. I disagree, and believe that Jesus is actually making a bold declaration of who is really is, the divine Son of God, in the flesh, who receives a universal Kingdom.

 We find an amazing vision in the seventh chapter of Daniel. It is a vision of the final days of the gentile world power preceding the coming of the kingdom of the Most High. 

I beheld until thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books were opened.

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

                              Daniel 7:9-14 KJV

Daniel saw the events of the last days, the rise of the beast empire, the little horn (Antichrist) speaking arrogantly against the Most High God, the tribulation, and the ultimate destruction of the Antichrist, and the establishment of God's everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:21-27). 

Who is this Son of man who comes in the clouds of heaven? How can He approach the Ancient of days? Why does He receive an everlasting kingdom, dominion, and glory, and the worship of every tongue and tribe upon the earth? 

Jesus used the title "Son of man" around eighty times in the gospels. We could explore them all, but I will only pick two of them to make my point.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

                        Matthew 24:29-30 KJV

Jesus is speaking of His second coming in this chapter. He outlines the events of the last days, and makes a direct reference to the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. Jesus is stating that He is that Son of man seen in Daniel's vision. He is the one worthy to approach the Ancient of days and receive and everlasting kingdom.

When Jesus was arrested and brought before the high priest he was asked,

Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

                               Mark 14:62-64 KJV

Jesus' statement enraged the high priest. He tore his clothes in anger and accused Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus had just declared four things in His response.

1. He is the Messiah

2. He is the Son of God

3. He is the Lord sitting at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1).

4. He is the Son of man who will be exalted.

Four statements in one brief reply to the high priest, all pointing to one reality. Jesus boldly declared that He is indeed God. The high priest and the others at this sham trial all understood what Jesus said. They condemned him for what they perceived as blasphemy.

John saw a vision of the Son of man as recorded in Revelation 1:13-18,

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were a flame of fire;

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand up on me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.

Jesus, by declaring Himself to be the first and the last declares Himself to be YAHWEH, the King of Israel, and its redeemer, the LORD of hosts (compare Isaiah 44:6). John has seen the glorified Lord. Compare this with the description of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7:9.

If there is still any doubt that Jesus is worthy to receive worship, we have the testimony of John in Revelation,

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

                      Revelation 5:11-14 KJV 

Did you catch that? They worshipped Him who sat upon the throne, and the Lamb. Throughout these passages that we have looked at we have consistantly seen the Father and the Son together, both divine, both God. As Christians we understand the scriptures teach there is only one God and no other beside Him. We believe the Bible teaches God is a triune being, and again, what we have looked at today proves the deity of the Father and the Son.

               

    

More Passages Confirming the Triune God.

Jesus, speaking to His disciples, warns them of coming persecution. This will actually lead to opportunities for them to speak before the authorities in power. We read this in Matthew, 

"But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

           Matthew 10:19-20 NASB

Mark records this,

"When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit."

                       Mark 13:11 NASB

And Luke records Jesus' words,

"So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute."

                         Luke 21:14 NASB

Notice in Matthew we read of the Spirit of the Father giving the words at the right time, and in Mark it says the Holy Spirit. Luke's account records Jesus saying that it is He who will give the utterance and wisdom needed. 

We see here the unity within the Godhead, how the Father, Son, and Spirit work together to accomplish their purposes. In this case, providing the right words, at the right time, so that even in persecution the gospel goes forth in power.

It can be safely assumed that the Father's Spirit is in fact the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 we read that the Spirit reveals to us the things of God. Within this passage we see the Spirit also referred to as the Spirit of God. If the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, how can He not be divine? 

Peter also tells us that prophecy does not originate in the will of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:21).

Acts 4:25-26 records that the Holy Spirit speaking through David prophetically uttered what we read in Psalm 2:1-3.

Likewise Acts 28:27 attributes the words of God found in Isaiah 6:9-10, to the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophet Isaiah.

It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Christ. In 1 Peter we read that the Spirit of Christ within the prophets was revealing to them the future suffering and ultimate glorification of Jesus. These things were for our benefit, for us who have heard the gospel preached by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (1 Peter 1:10-12).

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

                        1 Thess 1:5 NASB

The gospel witness of Paul as recorded in the above verse came with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction (John 16:7-11). 

This same convicting power must attend everyone sharing the gospel, whether a minister in a church on Sunday or an individual suffering in prison, about to stand before the authorities. It is the convicting power of the Spirit attending the message that is necessary. In reality it is God (the Holy Spirit) speaking through an individual.

Read the example of Peter in Acts 2:14-41. He has just been filled with the Holy Spirit and now preaches a powerful message filled with conviction. Read the disciples prayer for boldness in the face of opposition found in Acts 4:24-31. The result? They were filled with the Spirit and began to speak the word with boldness. 

Jesus speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe in Him in John chapters 14-16.

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."

                         John 14:23 NASB

From this verse we see that the Father and Son come to dwell with those who love and obey Jesus. How is this accomplished? It is through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are in fact the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). He lives within us. 

One can clearly see the triune nature of God in these passages. We have seen the unity of the Father, Son and Spirit working together in the ministry of the prophets, in the witness of the apostles, and it continues for us today. The same Spirit that filled them, is available for us, bringing us into fellowship with the Father and Son. 

We have seen the Holy Spirit referred to as the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Father, and the Spirit of Christ. Isaiah 61:1 calls Him the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD. 

As Christians we absolutely believe in one God. Isaiah 45:5 declares,

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

This statement found in Isaiah and many others like it are absolutely true and I firmly embrace them. Yet as I have shown in previous posts many of these passages are applied to Jesus in the New Testament. We see throughout the Bible references to the Father, Son, and Spirit. Not three separate gods as many accuse us of believing, but one absolute God comprised of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

He Who Searches the Minds and Hearts.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

You understand my thought from afar.

You scrutinize my path and my lying down, 

And are intimately aquatinted with all my ways.

Even before there is a word on my tongue,

Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

                  Psalm 139:1-4 NASB

God knows everything about us. There is nothing hidden from Him. Even our thoughts are known to Him. The deepest secrets of our hearts cannot be hidden from the searching gaze of the Almighty God.

"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

"I the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds."

                 Jeremiah 17:9-10 NASB

This passage reaffirms what we read above. The LORD (YAHWEH) is the one who knows us inside and out. Again, nothing is hidden from Him. Our very thoughts, things we might think are known only to us, lie exposed before God. And we can rest assured that we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). God will repay us according to our deeds.

I would assume we all agree that no one really knows our inner thoughts, the intents of our hearts. We might know someone fairly well, and have a good idea what might be on their minds, but to truly know the deepest secrets, the hidden things of the heart, that is something only God can discern.

Again we read in Revelation 2:23,

"And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds."

This warning was given to the church in Thyatira. They were tolerating a so called prophetess who was leading them into immorality. If those involved in this sin did not repent, they would face severe judgement.

Here we see the same passage from Jeremiah quoted. However, this is Jesus speaking. Understand, Jesus is claiming to be the LORD who searches the minds and hearts. He is boldly declaring that He is YAHWEH. Make no mistake. Jesus is intentionally applying Jeremiah 17:10, a verse describing something only God can do, to Himself. 

Not only is Jesus stating that He is the God who searches the minds and hearts, but He is also the God who will give us what our deeds deserve. He is indeed the final Judge.

Compare these verses,

Behold , the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.

                        Isaiah 40:10 NASB

Ah Lord God! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of the fathers into the bosoms of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name. Great in council and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

                  Jeremiah 32:17-19 NASB

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."

                        Rev 22:12 NASB

Jesus cannot be clearer. He is making claims that only God can make. We need to pay attention to the things that He says about Himself, as there are so many false teachings out there that deny the deity of Christ. However, it is there before our eyes in scripture if we take the time to search it out, letting scripture interpret scripture.