Angel Lies

A lot of people think that, when we die, we all go to heaven and become angels. Both of those beliefs are false. Not everyone will go to heaven. And we DO NOT become angels.

It troubles me when I hear people, even alleged Christians, say these things because I know they are believing a lie. And where do lies come from? Satan. Satan is "the father of lies" according to Jesus.

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:44

Only those who have trusted in Jesus get to go to heaven. "Admit, Believe, and Forever Receive" is what we taught the VBS kids last week. If we have not repented, admitted our sinful nature, we don't get to go to heaven. Peter lays it out pretty clearly in the Book of Acts.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38

Now, regarding angels. Do we turn into angels when we die? Let's see . . . How can I say this gently?

NO!!

We do NOT turn into angels. Angels are created beings who serve God. We do not turn into angels. Yet a lot of people believe that, for some unknown reason. It's a lie. (See previous paragraph re: Satan)

Truth be told, we actually do get new bodies.

"It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." - 1 Corinthians 15:44

So, to sum up, not everyone gets into heaven and we do not turn into angels when we die.

The Bible must be our sole source of truth, not our feelings or movies or what someone else has said. Jesus told us that one of the signs that the end of things is upon us would be deception. We are living in those times right now.

"Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:4

"Do not be deceived." - Galatians 6:7

"Don’t be deceived." - James 1:16

Many are being deceived right now. Don't be one of them. Trust in God alone.

Who Will Go To Heaven? - Gotquestions.org

Do We Become Angels When We Die? - Gotquestions.org

4D Chess Anyone?

Chess is difficult enough to begin with but add a third dimension to the game and, well, you'd have to be a Vulcan to understand it. But what if there was even a 4th dimension?

There are a lot of things happening in our world right now. We've had fires in Maui and Canada, numerous hurricanes (we're half way through the alphabet), and there are wars (Ukraine) and rumors of wars (Israel). There was even an eartquake in Morocco the other day (2100+ dead). The economy is struggling and there is talk of another pandemic (It must be getting close to election season).

If all of these things happening around the globe were chess pieces, this would be one, big, crazy game of 3-dimensional chess.

I mentioned a 4th dimension - it's a spiritual dimension. Game pieces are being moved but we can't see who's moving them. Demons versus angels, and they're battling behind the scenes, but their 'chess moves' are only the beginning. Wait until the BIG pieces start to move!

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book." - Daniel 12:1

The only way to win at any spiritual chess game is to have a substitute play for you. You need an expert in overcoming ever move the enemy make. Our substitute is named Jesus. Let Him make all of the moved in your life. You'll be a winner in no time!

Heaven

We all have our own idea of what heaven will be like. Some think that they will be playing golf on their favorite course or spending endless amounts of time on a warm, sunny beach. Is that what it will be like?

The Bible does tell us a few things about heaven but not enough to satisfy our earthly curiosity. One thing we know is that we don't turn into angels.

"Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" - Hebrews 1:14

The Bible says that there will be a war - a big war - but the angels and the demons will fight it. And the angels win.

But as to the day-to-day happenings, things will be rather peaceful. All the believers will be living their lives much like the early church did. Loving one another. Giving to one another as there is a need. And worshiping God.

All those who believe in Jesus will be there. Most of them we won't recognize but it will be like we know them.

We will get to see some people from church, but others from church will be strangely missing.

There are going to be A LOT of babies. And they all will be loved and cared for.

I guess there's not much we can say about heaven with great certainty. But this one thing will make it all worth the wait. 

We get to see Jesus!

"And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” - Revelation 5:13

Empty Chairs

This story is libel to mess with your theology a bit. Today we are going to look at just one verse. But it could test your belief system. John 3:13. Specifically, the first six words of that verse. Written in red, these are the words of Jesus.

"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." - John 3:13

We hear compassionate words uttered at funerals about being in heaven. We see them written in Tweets and Facebook posts. Words like . . . 

"Well, they're in heaven now," or "Heaven gained another angel today," or "They're looking down on us from heaven now." These words, to be quite blunt about it, are merely someone's hopes, based on their misinterpretation of scripture.

"Heaven gained another angel." Nope. We do NOT turn into angels after we die. Angels are separate beings created by God.

"They're in heaven now." Are you sure? Can you back that up scripturally? Nope. Only Jesus decides who gets into heaven and who gets tossed into the lake of fire. And He doesn't do that until the Great White Throne Judgement AFTER the tribulation and AFTER the millenial kingdom.

One could argue, "What about the thief on the cross? Jesus told him, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.'"

That's true. Paradise, yes. Heaven, no.

"They're looking down on us from heaven." Nope. 

It's good to be compassionate and to comfort those who have lost someone. But we shouldn't comfort them with words and concepts that aren't true. 

There are lots of "empty chairs" in heaven right now. The "dining room" is being prepared for the wedding feast of the Lamb. You don't want to miss it!

Who is GotQuestions.org?

Capital A

If you have seen the movie The Ten Commandments, then this is probably a familiar scene to you. Moses with his staff held high, a pillar of fire in the distance and Egyptians on chariots on the hill beyond. The Israelites are trapped against the Red Sea.

I'd like to show you some text from the Book of Exodus to see if you notice the same thing I did.

"And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them." - Exodus 14:19

Notice that the word "Angel" is capitalized in the NKJV that I am using. Just about every other translation uses a small "a" in the word angel. Why? DO the New King James translators know something the others don't?

Usually in the Bible when other words for 'God' and 'Jesus' are used they are always capitalized. A 'He' or 'Me' is always capitalized when the e=text refers to God Himself. Is the pillar of fire actually God? I don't think so. The verse refers to The Angel OF God. Is it Jesus then?

Think about it. What was the pillar of fire for? Let the Bible tell us.

"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." - Exodus 13:21

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

One final thing. The word LORD, all capital letters, is the Old Testament Hebrew way of not pronouncing the name of God. The Hebrew word is YHWH or Yahweh.

I think the pillar of fire was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. What do YOU think?

Christophany

Most of us think of Jesus being born as a baby, but He was around WAY before then.

Have you ever heard of the word "Christophany"? A Christophany is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. A pre-Baby Jesus, Old Testament appearance of Jesus on earth.

The word Christophany is a compound word of the Greek words christos, which means Christ, and phaino, which means “to appear.”.

"Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

Jesus appeared at least a dozen times in the Old Testament. Most people remember the first Christophany because we have all watched the movie The Ten Commandments. Remember the burning bush that Moses went to investigate? Do you remember when the voice told Moses to take off his sandals because the place where Moses was standing was holy ground? Of course you do. That was Jesus.

Fast forward to the Book of Joshua, Chapter 5.

"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped3 and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so." - Joshua 5:13-15

Sound familiar? Mhmm. Jesus again!

Jesus still has a couple more Christophanies to go, and they will be coming soon to a planet near you. He will return for His church and then He will return to reign for 1,000 years in the Millennial Kingdom.

Jesus always was and always will be. He is part of the Trinity. He is eternal. God has made an incredible offer to US, to be part of that kingdom. Jesus is returning soon. You don't want to miss His next appearance. We have until then to repent of our sins and believe in Him. BUt act quickly, He could return later today. Or tomorrow.

It has been said that God is a God of second chances. While that is true, we all have had multiple chances to place our faith in Christ already. He has already made the offer, but tomorrow may be too late to accept it. Trust in Him today.

Nephilim

"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown." - Genesis 6:4

There was a plot by Satan and his fallen angels to create a new race of people - bigger, stronger, more evil, more perverse, and totally devoted to worshipping the devil himself.

If you are wondering why God destroyed every living thing on earth (except Noah and his family) these Nephilim, which literally means "fallen ones," are the reason for the flood. They and the perverse offspring of these demons and humans.

There are many parallels between the times of Noah and the days we are living in today. So many similarities in fact that one could think that the flood was prophetic in nature for when Jesus returns to judge us all.

There are no giants in the world today, or are there? Perhaps instead they are giant corporations doing Satan's bidding. Like Planned Parenthood for example. A giant baby-killing machine to be sure. Killing off potential Christ worshippers just like King Herrod did back when Jesus was born, trying to kill off the coming Messiah.

And what about the United Nations? They too are a giant organization who seem determined to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. That sounds like something Stan would love as well. Eliminate God's chosen people? Oh, yes indeed.

There are many things that we have to look forward to when Jesus returns. One of them will be live without all these evil things in our lives. New bodies, no more tears or pain, no more suffering. Only love, and worship and peace. These are promises from God!

Until that day we must endure. We must endeavor to persevere. But, oh, what a glorious day that will be when Jesus returns! Until then, let us not become children of darkness like the Nephilim. We are children of God. We should act like it.

"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." - 1 Thessalonians 5:5

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." - John 12:36

Special thanks to Pastor Dave for inspiring this story through his teaching on Sunday. You can find his message on Calvary Chapel - Waupaca's website under "Teaching". To be posted 7-21-20

Calvary Chapel - Waupaca - Teaching

Look At Me

Have you ever been out walking by yourself and heard footsteps coming up behind you? That can be a little freaky. Your mind starts messing with you, telling you that you're about to be robbed, or worse. You finally decide to stop and turn around and . . .

No one is there.

Do you believe in guardian angels? The Bible does refer to angel visitations here on earth, therefore they DO exist and they DO make visits into our lives.

Several years ago I was driving to work when a deer ran out in front of my car. I was doing 70 miles per hour. The deer was killed, my car was totaled and I escaped injury free. The deer should have come right through my windshield, yet it went up and over the car. Angelic intervention?

"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." - Psalm 34:7

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 18:10

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" - Psalm 91:11"

There ARE angels and God DOES command them to protect us according to His will. So why should we be surprised? Has God been watching over YOUR life?

I heard this song the other day - an oldie but a goodie. It's secular in nature but, if you sing the opening words from Jesus' perspective, it makes perfect sense.

There is someone walking behind you
Turn around, look at me
There is someone watching your footsteps
Turn around, look at me

When we place our faith in Jesus we receive that "extended warranty" those telemarketers are always calling about. Only God's warranty lasts forever. God cares about ALL of His children. If you are not one of them, please consider His free offer today!

It can be quite comforting knowing that God is walking behind us in our lives. Turn around and acknowledge Him and He will make all your paths straight.

Turn Around, Look At Me - The Vogues

And She'll Be Gone

I usually write about our country's service men and women on Memorial Day. They are the ones who stand up for our country and often, too often, sacrifice their lives for us, for our benefit. Today, however, I am going to write about a different kind of soldier - my friend Ali.

Ali died this past Saturday after an eight-year battle with cancer. She left behind a husband and three daughters. Ali was an amazing mom. She was always looking out for her daughters, wanting them to do what was right.

Her husband Dave was, and is, an amazing example of a Biblical husband - a leader in his family yet a sacrificial servant to all. I have known Dave for 40 years and I have never known him not to be anything but a devoted husband and father.

I first met Ali when she came to see just what kind leaders her youngest daughter Sky had in the youth group she was attending. Not enough parents care that deeply. We must have passed muster because Sky kept coming and Ali and I became good friends. But then came the cancer diagnosis and our relationship changed. It grew stronger.

Ali and I had many amazing conversations, usually lasting an hour or two. She'd talk about her daughters, her husband, the treatments she was receiving. Hmm, you know, I think Ali's doctors feared her. I think that was because she knew more about her treatments, what was right and what was wrong, than her doctors did. That's not saying they knew nothing. It's saying Ali knew a lot!

Our favorite topic though had to have been Jesus. We talked about Him a lot. Now I find myself a little envious of my friend because she has gotten to see Him face-to-face. I can only imagine.

I have prayed with many people in my life. Ali was both the toughest one to pray with and the most enjoyable at the same time. We would pray for each other and for our families. It was always a special time, but the time we prayed after she told me she wasn't going to pursue any more chemo or radiation treatments was probably . . . the best of times and the worst of times.

I have never prayed more deeply or more intentionally with anyone. There is something powerful in holding a friends hands and praying for them, knowing they are going to be dying. Even now, the tears are blurring these words I am typing.

Those who knew Ali were blessed by her. I am grateful and blessed to be called her friend, as are many others, and I am excited for the day when I will get to see her again.

A few weeks before Ali died she sent me a text. She told me that she had had a dream about an angel paying her a visit. "It was so real!" she told me. I believe it seemed real to her . . . because it was.

As we walk through this life God places a wide variety of people in our lives. Each one is placed there for a reason . .  a purpose. I believe Ali was placed in my life to deepen my faith and relationship with Jesus. Our friendship is an example of how ALL friendships should end. Never.

"5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. ³ For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. ⁴ While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷ For we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him." - 2 Corinthians 5:1-9
I love you Ali. Can't wait to see you again, my friend. I don't know whether or not there are any hummingbirds in heaven but I'm sure there is at least one now. LOL! Miss you girl.

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe 
Cinderella - Stephen Curtis Chapman

Give Me Some Kind of Sign

Have you ever been unsure about whether or not to do something when all of a sudden something happens to help you answer that question? Is it some kind of sign? Has that ever happened to you? Because it happens quite frequently in MY life.

I'll be thinking about someone and reach for my phone to send them a text, but before I can pick it up, it lights up with an incoming text from that very same friend. Weird. But that happens often enough where In have noticed it.

Whenever I have made very important decisions in my life, after I have thought long and hard about something and finally acted on that decision, I have often seen a bald eagle flying overhead. Was that some kind of sign that I made the right decision? And if I made the wrong decision, would I see a vulture circling instead? LOL!

Recently I have been hesitating about acting on a project of mine - the building of some shelters for the homeless. All along through the planning stages I have thought, "God will provide" but now that it's time to spend some actual cash, I was getting cold feet. I was hesitating.

One morning as I was praying with my friend at work an idea popped into my head. It was a really strange idea about using a tow truck to move my tiny shelters from one place to the other. Could that actually work? Based on all of the previous "signs" I have encountered in my life, I gave it extra notice. I thought about it all through the day. looking at pictures of tow truck, trying to figure out how tall my shelter could be to legally go down the highway. My thoughts were consumed by the idea.

That night as we left work I was still thinking about it and talking about it with my friend. We got in our separate cars and left work. I pulled up to the stop sign and was surprised to see a tow truck slow and turn in front of me . . . so I could get a good look I guess. Was it a sign?

Does stuff like that happen to you? It happens often enough to me that I almost come to expect it. Are signs Biblical? Did they happen back in Jesus' day? The Bible is filled with them!

"Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven." - Isaiah 7:11

"So Gideon said to Him, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me." - Judges 6:17

"As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah." - Luke 11:29

There are so many instances of signs in the Bible, it HAS to be some kind of sign!! LOL!

The biggest questions I have about signs are, "Are they really signs?" and, if they are, "Who am I, that God would send ME a sign?" And while I'm asking questions, "What will happen to me if I ignore a sign?"

So many questions about signs, so little faith on my part. If we were sure these "signs" in our lives were real and true, and we acted on them all, what would the world look like? The angels spoke about the future of the world with a sign . . .

^"10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:10-12

Give me the kind of faith that acts and does not hesitate. Give me the strength to see things through. Lord, our very births are a sign that we are here to do something. Maybe it is to follow God's leading through His many and wondrous signs.

Keep your eyes open, my friends! It seems as if the world is filled with signs.

Give Me Some Kind Of Sign - Brenton Wood

Angels

"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" - Hebrews 13:2

Think about that statement for a moment. There are angels here on earth? Are you kidding me?Are they just walking around wherever they want? And they look like you and me?

Whoa . . .

If there are angels on earth, right now, umm . . . well, what are they doing here? And how can we tell them apart . . . from . . . us? Are they spying on us? Are they looking for bad people to waste? Or are they looking for situations where they can help someone? Are they walking among us, just to see how they are treated by us humans? Interesting questions.

So, have you met "a stranger" recently who you have interacted with? What did you do? What did THEY do? Did you say "Hi." Were you nice to them? Or did you ignore them, not even bothering to give them the time of day?

As a basis for my writing today I refer again to the 1828 dictionary . . .

AN'GEL, n. Usually pronounced angel, but most anomalously. [L. angelus; Gr. a messenger, to tell or announce.]
1. Literally, a messenger; one employed to communicate news or information from one person to another at a distance. But appropriately,
2. A spirit, or a spiritual intelligent being employed by God to communicate his will to man. Hence angels are ministers of God, and ministring spirits.

Based on that definition, I think I saw an angel or two this week . . . at work!

I had kind of a bad week. I received some bad news on Sunday and was struggling quite a bit. Monday was actually pretty good, but Tuesday got worse and by the time Wednesday rolled around I was feeling pretty miserable. That's when God sent two "angels" to deliver a message of hope. A message of His love.

Wednesday morning, one of my friends came into my office and, leaning in close, prayed over me in a whisper as I sat in my chair. Then later, another friend brought me some chocolate-covered strawberries as a gift to help make me feel better. That's when I lost it.

The tears began to well up in my eyes, never running down my cheeks but to the point where it was difficult to see. What did I do that God would send these two "angels," these two "ministering spirits" into my life? Well, quite simply, it was nothing I had done. I was simply the love of God, raining down on me from heaven. What a blessing friends are!

Is there someone in YOUR life who God has used to deliver a message? Or how about someone else, a total stranger perhaps, who has done or said something "heavenly" at just the right moment?

I am writing this blog today because someone came into my life seven years ago and delivered a message of hope to me - the hope of Jesus. I have seen signs of God's angels here on earth as something miraculous happened in my life. I have seen stories on the news, like this one, indicating that something WAY beyond "normal" happened.

Perhaps you have heard of guardian angels? When you see news stories like the one we just watched, it kind of makes us wonder, "Do they really exist?"

You know, one of the most popular reasons that non-believers give for their disbelief is, "I can't believe in a God who lets bad things happen to good people." They never stop to think about the good things that God does to undeserving, unworthy people, like us, seemingly every day.

It is my belief that God uses people to deliver messages, to miraculously pull people from raging rivers, to save poor undeserving souls, like mine, from an eternity in hell.

This morning, I am grateful for a loving God who loves us SO much that he provided a way for us to be rescued from the sinful raging river that is this world. We as a species are deserving of death, yet we are given life, through our simple belief (and repentence), in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." - Romans 5:6-11