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.

The Faithful and True Witness

Jesus makes a bold claim in His message to the church in Laodicea.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God says this..."

                          Rev 3:14 NASB

The recipients of this letter would have no doubt as to His divine being. Jesus is taking Old Testament passages of Scripture that apply to the LORD (YAHWEH) and applying them to Himself, thus declaring that He is indeed God. Let's look at them.

In Isaiah 65:16 we read,

"Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth; 

And he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth;

Because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My sight!"

The word truth can also be translated as "Amen". God is indeed the truth, the Amen. He is absolute truth with no wavering. He is unchanging. Men swore by God because He was God and there was no one higher. God swore by Himself as He is the plumbline, the truth, there is no one higher, it is impossible for Him to lie (see Hebrews 6:13-18).

In John 14:6, Jesus states that He is the way, the truth, and life. By claiming to be the Amen, the embodiment of truth, Jesus equates Himself with God, asserting His deity.

In Jeremiah 42:5 the people come to Jeremiah for a word of direction from the LORD. They swear by the LORD to be obedient to whatever He says.

Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us."

 Tragically the people did not obey, and ultimately faced God's judgement. Jesus is stating that He is that true and faithful witness. He is that one by which men swear an oath. There is no one higher, no one unchanging, no other standard of truth than what is embodied in God Himself. Jesus is not using poetic language to begin His letter to the Laodicean church. His words are calculated; He is intentionally making a bold declaration. 

Finally, Jesus, as God created the heavens and the earth. 

"Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called;

I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. 

Surely my hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens;

When I call to them, they stand together."

               Isaiah 48:12-13 NASB

We understand that God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). But how many of us realize that Jesus was there active in creation? John 1:1-3 states,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

As we read in Revelation 3:14, Jesus is the beginning or origin of creation. He was not created first, but as we see in John 1, He existed with God, and as God. This puts to rest the erroneous speculation of Jehovah's witnesses and others who believe likewise.

God, in the above passage in Isaiah declares that He is the first and last. Jesus as well claims to be the first and last (see Rev 1:17, 2:8, 22:13). So we see by looking at these passages that Jesus is indeed God, He leaves no doubt of His divine nature by His statements found within the letters to the seven churches.

The Faith of Enoch

     And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

     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 5:21-24 KJV)

We do not read much about this man known as Enoch, but what we read is amazing. He walked with God and God one day took him. Only two men have ever been taken up without experiencing death, Enoch and Elijah.

We see that Enoch walked with God for 365 years. We should ask ourselves what it means to walk with God. Walking with God implies fellowship, agreement. One must be in agreement with God if one is to fellowship with Him. Can two walk together unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3).

If we understand who God is-that He is transcendent, holy, sinless, then we also will desire to walk in holiness. We will love what He loves, and hate what He hates, and it will show by our attitudes and actions 

This is the message of 1John 1:5-7. God is light. There is no darkness in Him. Therefore if we say we have fellowship with God, yet are walking in darkness we are being dishonest, we stand in opposition to Him. Those who walk in light are the ones who are truly in fellowship with Him 

We read in Hebrews that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). A few verses later we read this about Enoch,

     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 the testimony, that he pleased God.

     But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

                      (Hebrews 11:5-6 KJV)

Ultimately it starts with faith. We read that it is impossible to please God without it. All of our efforts and intentions mean nothing without a firm trust in, and an adherence to God. Whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

If we are to come to God, we must believe that He exists. And if God exists, we must rid ourselves of ourselves and pursue Him. The above verse states that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. To diligently seek God goes far above the mere asking for things. To seek God in this context is to seek God Himself, because He is worthy. He must become our greatest treasure, the one thing we desire above all else. This is where are true contentment is found. We can be absolutely destitute but have God, and in that we have everything.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

                              (Psalm 27:4 KJV)

The Triune God in Isaiah 48

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am He; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

                      (Isaiah 48:12-13 KJV)

The individual speaking in these two verses can be identified as God. He claims to be the first and the last, something no one but God can claim. There is no one else besides Him. He is the uncreated first cause of all creation. In this passage He is shown to be the one who created the heavens and the earth. It is undisputable, this is God speaking.

As this passage continues God speaks of bringing future Judgement on Babylon who He will use as a chastisement upon His people, particularly the southern kingdom of Judah. When the time has come, God will raise up a Persian ruler named Cyrus to set His people free (see Isaiah 44:28-44:4).

It is still God speaking as we come to verse 16,

Come ye near to me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God and his Spirit, hath sent me.

                                ( Isaiah 48:16 KJV)

So notice that it is God speaking, who will be sent by the Lord God, and the Spirit. Here we have a clear view of the triune makeup of God. Again, it is obvious from the context that it is God speaking. No one but God can claim to be the first and last, the creator of the heavens and earth. That claim belongs only to God. Yet we see the Lord God, and the Spirit, sending the speaker who we have identified as God.

We can deduce from this portion of scripture that it prophetically speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who will be annointed by the Holy Spirit. 

This is foretold also in Isaiah 42:1-7, and Isaiah 61:1-3, and confirmed by Jesus Himself when He read this passage in the synogogue, and claimed to be the fulfillment of it (Luke 4:16-21). Lest there be any doubt in our minds, Creation is ascribed to Jesus as well as it states in Hebrews 1:2-3, Col 1:16, and John 1:3, which reads, All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

Notice the "There am I" statement denoting eternity. This is very close to Jesus' statement in John 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I am."

Here we have again seen Jesus portrayed as God, as well as another Old Testament passage which reveals the triune God.