Is Elijah In Heaven?
Why did Jesus say: "...No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he [Christ] that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is [John's day, And currently, In our day] in heaven." (John 3:13)
Then we have the testimony of Paul in Hebrews 9:27: "...It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
Jesus, who had come from Heaven, and who appeared in a human flesh body, said, plainly, that no man; Not Elijah, Not Enoch, Not any man; was in Heaven. Yet the Bible says: "...and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2 Kings 2:11)
Is this a "contradiction?" It certainly appears to be so! Surely Jesus did not tell an "untruth!" Yet He plainly contradicts what 2 Kings 2:11 seems to say! Where did Elijah go? What did Jesus mean? The prophet Elisha, who had followed Elijah doggedly, claiming he would never desist from following him, was absolutely "Shocked." For while Elisha was asking for a "double portion" of the spirit of Elijah.
"...it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2 Kings 2:11) Elisha saw this happen with his own eyes!
Down through the centuries thousands of impassioned sermons have been preached using this verse to underscore the "Hopes of Heaven" for the saved!
Who has not heard preacher after preacher, Judeo-Christian pastor after pastor, the Clergy of Organized Religion; wax eloquently about the proverbial "pearly gates," the heavenly city with streets of gold and glittering mansions; about being in Heaven, forever and ever? Millions believe that immediately upon death the "Souls" of Christians "Go to Heaven!" Without ever asking the question: "If this is so, the why is there a resurrection?"
So, this presents yet, another question: Why did Jesus say that Elijah [And Christians for that matter] had not? Why did He say, "...No man hath ascended up to heaven?" After all, He had been there, with the Father, and the 24 elders, and all the angels. He had just come from heaven to this earth, had He not? And he certainly knew whether Elijah or any other man had bone there or not. He should have known, shouldn't He? He had been there, with the Father, and the 24 elders, and all the angels.
Why do literally millions of church‑going, professing Christians believe Jesus didn't know what He was talking about; or that He lied? Do "you" believe Christ? Or do you prefer to believe, instead, what you have always been taught by men?
What Happened to Elijah?
Did Elijah die and go to heaven? No! Elijah was not even ill; he was still doing the work which God had set before him and was merely talking with Elisha, walking along engaged in conversation. When suddenly Elisha saw what appeared to be a fiery vision, and Elijah was taken, bodily, up into "heaven." No doubt Elisha watched him until he was taken out of sight!
Where did Elijah go? If it was a bright, clear day, how long could Elisha's eyes have followed Elijah as he departed? Probably, if Elisha had normally good eyesight, he could have seen Elijah, plus the blazing, glittering spectacle of the fiery chariot and horses, for several miles, perhaps even as much as 15,000 or 20,000 feet. But, eventually, distance would have seemed to "swallow Elijah up," and he would have no longer been visible to Elisha's startled eyes!
How many times have you had the experience of hearing the muted thunder of a jet airplane from very high overhead, only to look up into the sky and be unable to see the aircraft? Perhaps you remember an occasion or two when you have been able to see the vapor trail left by the engines of the aircraft, and perhaps could even see it forming, moving across the sky high above, and still the airplane was so high your human eye could not pick it out.
Yet aboard that airplane could be more than 100 people; flight attendants serving meals, pushing carts up and down the aisle, the flight crew at their places in the cockpit, an airplane so big that a 6‑foot man could stand up in the intake of only one of its big jet engines, and yet, because it is so high in the sky, you cannot see it! Now if it were a cloudy day when Elijah was "taken up into heaven," then Elisha could only see him for a few hundred, or a few thousand feet.
However, actually, Elijah was only taken up into the air. The word for "heaven" is "shameh" pronounced "shaw‑meh" (#8064: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) in the Hebrew language, which comes from a root word meaning "to be lofty." The word means "the sky" (as "aloft") and alludes to "the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher either where the celestial bodies revolve." The word means "air" as well as "heaven"
One or two examples of the interchangeable usage of this one word should suffice, although there are many such in the Bible. Notice! "And the windows of "heaven" were opened..." (Genesis 7:11); "The windows of "heaven" were stopped and the "rain" from "heaven" was restrained..." (Genesis 8:2); "...Whose top may "reach unto heaven..." (Genesis 11:4)
These are only three examples of literally dozens in the Old Testament where the word "heaven" is obviously referring to this earth's "immediate atmosphere." In the first few quotations, reference is made to the flood of Noah.
The "windows of heaven" refer to thunderous rainstorms, and are therefore dealing with the immediate envelope of air which covers this earth like a mantle and is, in fact, a literal part of our earth and its immediate environment.
The Scripture from Genesis 11 deals with the famed "Tower of Babel," when mankind attempted to construct the very first "skyscraper." Now, notice how the identical word (shameh) is used for the word "air." "The fowl of the air..." (Genesis 1:26, 28); "...and every fowl of the air..." (Genesis 2:19); "...gave names...to the fowl of the air..." (Genesis 2:20); "...winged fowl that flyeth in the air..." (Deuteronomy 4:17); "The birds of the air rest on them..." (2 Samuel 2:10); "The way of an eagle in the air..." (Proverbs 30:19)
In each of these, and in 21 separate examples in the Old Testament, the identical Hebrew word translated "heaven" (2 Kings 2:11) is rendered "air." Why? Because the translators knew that, when the Bible was referring to that "firmament" above the earth in which birds fly, it must mean “the air,” and not the Heaven of God’s Throne.
Actually, as we shall see, the Bible clearly speaks of three "heavens," but it does not positively identify the "third heaven" as the heaven of God's throne! "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." (2 Corinthians 12:2)
What Elisha saw, then, was the disappearance of Elijah, by a miracle from God, in a fiery chariot; up into the air, until he was taken up out of Elisha's sight! Elijah did not go into the “Heaven of God’s Throne." For Jesus Christ of Nazareth said so!
Which Heaven is Being Spoken of
In This Story About Elijah?
Let me repeat what Jesus says in Matthew Chapter Seven: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I [Christ] profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21‑23)
Perhaps we should pause here long enough to clarify Just which "Heaven" is being spoken of here. For we know by the Scriptures that there is more than one. "And God called the firmament Heaven." (Genesis 1:8) Then God created other Heavens: "Thus the heaven(s) and the earth were finished, and all the host [many] of them." (Genesis 2:1)
For a true understanding of the New Testament, it is essential that the "Word of Truth" should be "rightly divided" (2 Timothy 2:15) as to the various usages of the word "kingdom" in all the different combinations and contexts in which we find it. Each has its own peculiar and particular sense, which must not be confused with another.
As to the word "basileia," it denotes "sovereignty," which requires the actual presence of a sovereign, or king. There can be no kingdom apart from a king. We all know of countries which were once "kingdoms" but are now "republics," for the simple but sufficient reason that they have no "king," but are supposedly governed by the "public," which is sovereign. The countries remain the same, have the same peoples, the same cities, the same mountains and rivers, but they are no longer kingdoms. The common practice of taking the Kingdom as meaning the Church, has been the source of incalculable misunderstanding; and not "trying the things that differ" ( Philippians 1:10) has led to much confusion in the interpretation of the whole of the New Testament.
The following definitions may help you to more clearly understand many important passages:
1. "The Kingdom of Heaven." The word "heaven" is generally in this connection in the plural, "of (or from) the heavens." For the difference between the use of the singular and plural of this word. This expression is used only in the Gospel of Matthew, as being specially in harmony with the purpose of that Gospel. It is the dispensational term; and is used sometimes of Messiah's Kingdom on earth, and sometimes of the heavenly sovereignty over the earth. It is not from or out of "this world." This sovereignty comes from heaven, because the King is to come from thence. (John 18:36) It was to this end He was born, and this was the first subject of His ministry. That Kingdom (Matthew 4:17) was rejected, as was also the further proclamation of it in Acts 3:19‑26 [According to the prophetic parable of Matthew 22:2‑7]. Therefore the earthly realization of this Kingdom was postponed, and is now in abeyance until the King shall be sent from heaven. (Acts 3:20) The "secrets" of this Kingdom (Matthew 13: 11) pertained to the postponement of its earthy realization, on account of its being rejected.
2. "The Kingdom of God." Is the sovereignty of God, which is moral and universal. It existed from the beginning, and will know no end. It is over all, and embraces all.
3. "The Kingdom of the Father." (Matthew 13:43) is not universal, but has regard to relationship, and to "a heavenly calling," (Hebrews 3:1) and to the heavenly sphere of the Kingdom, in its relation to the earthy.
It is sovereignty exercised toward obedient sons, when the Son of man shall have gathered out of His Kingdom "all things that offend." (Matthew 13:41; See also Daniel 7:25‑27; Matthew 25:31‑46; Luke 20:34‑36) The way of entrance into this may be seen in John 3:3. It is going on now concurrently with "The Kingdom of His dear Son."
4. "The Kingdom of the Son of Man." (Matthew 16:28) This aspect of "the Kingdom of heaven" has regard to Israel on earth, (Daniel 7:13‑22) as distinct from the "sons" who, as partakers of "a heavenly calling," (Hebrew 3:1) will possess the heavenly sphere as sons of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34‑36; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Revelation 20:4‑6)
These two spheres are distinct, though they are one. "The Kingdom of the Father" concerns "the saints of the most high [places]." (Daniel 7:18‑24) "The Kingdom of the Son of Man" concerns "the people of the saints of the most high." these have their portion in "the Kingdom under the whole heaven," which has regard to earthly sovereignty, in which "all dominions shall serve and obey Him." (Daniel 7:27)
5. "The Kingdom of His Dear Son." Generally the Kingdom of the Son of His love, or of His beloved son, (Colossians 1:13) has regard to quite another sphere, above all heavens, and refers to the sovereignty of God's beloved Son is made the "Head over all things to His people, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:10, 20‑23; See also Ephesians 5:5)
This sovereignty had been "kept secret," (Romans 16:25) "hid in God," (Ephesians 3:9) "hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1:26); but after "The Kingdom of the Son of Man" proclaimed by the Lord and by "them that heard Him" (Hebrews 2:4) had been postponed, it was revealed and "made known" (Ephesians 3) for the "obedience of faith." (Romans 16:26) The subjects of this Divine sovereignty, on (or designated) for their inheritance, which is to be enjoyed with Christ. (Ephesians. 1:13)
6. "The Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:11) This has regard to "The Kingdom of His Dear Son," but was then future [not having been revealed when Peter wrote]; but it relates to the outward display of His sovereignty in millennial glory; while it relates to the inward position and experimental enjoyment of it in the present grace.
7. "The Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ" (or Messiah). (Revelation 11:15) This has regard to the end of the present time of abeyance of "The Kingdom of the Father" and "The Kingdom of the Son of Man," and the millennial manifestation of both by Divine power, and in glory. (See Revelation 19:10) Now, we have seen that the word "kingdom," like the Greek "basileia," has regard to sovereignty rather than territory, and to the sphere of its exercise rather than to its extent.
Using the word "kingdom" in this sense, and in that which is conveyed in its English termination "dom," which is short for dominion, we note that the former expression, "the Kingdom of heaven," occurs only in Matthew, where we find it thirty‑two times. Whereas "the Kingdom of God" occurs only five times. (Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31, 43)
But in the parallel passages in the other Gospels we find, instead, the expression "the Kingdom of God." (Matthew 11:11 with Luke 7:28) The explanation of this seeming difference is that the Lord spoke in Aramatic; certainly not in the Greek of the Gospel documents.
Now "heaven" is frequently used by the Figure Metonymy [of the Subject], for God Himself, Whose dwelling is there. (See Psalm 73:9; Daniel 4:26‑29; 2 Chronicles 32:20; Matthew 21:25; and Luke 15:21) ["I have sinned against heaven" is thus contrasted with the words "and in thy sight"]. (John 3:27)
So it would appear that in all the passages where the respective expressions occur, identical words were spoken by the Lord, "the Kingdom of heaven;" but when it came to putting them into Greek, Matthew was Divinely guided to retain the figure of speech literally ("heaven"), so as to be in keeping with the special character, design, and scope of his Gospel; while, in the other Gospels, the figure was translated as being what it also meant, "the Kingdom of God."
Thus, while the same in a general sense, the two expressions are to be distinguished in their meaning and in their interpretations, as follows:
I. The Kingdom (or Sovereignty) of Heaven.
1. Has Jesus Christ for its King,
2. It is from Heaven; and under the heavens upon the earth and was formed at Mt. Sinai,
3. It is limited in its scope,
4. It is political in its sphere,
5. It is regathered Israel and exclusive in its character,
6. It is national in its aspect,
7. It is the special subject of the Old Testament Prophecy,
8. It is eternal in its duration.
II. The Kingdom (or Sovereignty) of God.
1. Has God for its King or Ruler,
2. It is in Heaven, over the earth,
3. It is unlimited in its scope,
4. It is moral and spiritual in its sphere,
5. It is inclusive in its character.
6. It is universal in its aspect,
7. It is (in its widest aspect) the subject of New Testament revelation,
8. It is eternal in its duration.
Do “Souls” Go to Heaven?
But, some will argue, Jesus didn't say "no souls" ascended into heaven! Still others will argue, "...it isn't the man who goes to heaven; it is the "soul" of the man!" But wait! Eijah did not die. Elijah didn't even have a headache; he was not ill, or anywhere near death!
Where is Your “Soul” After Death?
A common teaching among the Protestant and Catholic Churches about the "soul" of man is that it leaves the body at death and goes either to heaven, if the person is "saved," or to hell, where the "unsaved" are tormented for eternity. Although there is less "hell‑fire" preaching today than in the past, the priests and preachers still insist, when pressed that "hell" is a place where unsaved "souls" suffer fire and torture for ever and ever, an eternity of indescribable pain without end.
Many people have rejected this idea of a torturing "hell." Some just ignore it and desire not to discuss it, although they accept the other side of the coin, i.e., the "soul" of the believer going to heaven for eternity if he has "confessed belief in Jesus Christ" while still alive.
Others, in rejecting this teaching of hell, reject the entire Christian religion, saying they cannot trust a God who will torture billions and billions of people forever just because those people, while alive, did not know or did not "confess" Him.
So let us examine this "hell," and search the Scripture to find the Bible Truth on: Where is your Soul after death?
Sheol
The English word "hell""sheowl" or "sheol" (#7585; grave, hell or pit; Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary) appears 31 times in the Old Testament, and every time it comes from the Hebrew "shoel," but "sheol" is also translated "grave" 31 times, and "pit" 3 times. To fully understand what the Bible "hell" is, we must understand what is meant by the Hebrew word "sheol."
The King James translators of over 400 years ago obviously felt both hell and grave carried the full meaning of "sheol." This is true when we realize from old English sources that the Anglo‑Saxon "helan" or "hell" meant "to cover" or "to hide out of sight." When ancient farmers and some modern ones put potatoes or other root crops in an underground cellars to prevent winter freezing, they called it "helling them," i.e., putting them into the ground and covering them up. Putting a roof on a new house was also called "helling." It was entirely natural for the translators to use either hell or grave for "sheol" since both words meant the same thing! "Hell" is very simply the "grave!"
Reading Scripture where the word "sheol" was used will prove it means "grave." Jacob expected to go to "sheol" when he died. "And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him: but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave [Sheol] unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him." (Genesis 37:35); "And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave [Sheol]." (Genesis 42:38)
Job, in his sorrow, wished that he had died at birth and gone to "sheol." "Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?...There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest...they hear not the voice of the oppressor...Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the GRAVE [Sheol]." (Job 3:11‑22)
In those same verses he describes it as a place where "the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest...they hear not the voice of the oppressor." this is hardly the description of a place of screams and torture and fire! Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us: "...there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave [Sheol], whither thou goest." And that: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything..." (Ecclesties 9:5); Psalm 6:5 says; "For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave [Sheol] who shall give thee thanks?" This is similar to Psalm 115:17; "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." "Sheol" is translated "grave eight times in the Psalms. (6:5; 30:3; 31:17; 49:14‑15; 88:3‑5; and 89:48)
Gehenna
In the New Testament the Greek word "gehenna" [#1067 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary of the New Testament] is translated "hell" 11 times. It is the name of the burning dump out side of Jerusalem where refuse and dead bodies of criminals were burned. Christ and the others used it as a demonstration of destruction, not torture! Sinners were not tortured there; they had already been put to death for their crime, and then their dead bodies were burned in the dump, because it was thought they had lost any right to be buried in a regular grave. It was all over in a few minutes and certainly cannot be compared to being burned alive in a conscious state forever.
Advocates of a tortured existence in a burning hell often use the Sermon on the Mount to "prove" their theology. (Matthew 5) Christ does warn of the "danger of hell fire" and of being cast "into hell" in verses 22, 29 and 30. In each case it is the word "gehenna." Reading the context, it is easy to see He was telling His listeners not to sin, for if they did, they would be in danger of being cast into "gehenna," i.e., being put to death as a sinner! And their bodies being cast into the dump or "pit," where it would be burned in the fire! This is the SAME exhortation we read from Peter; "For it is better...that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (1 Peter 3:17); "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer..." (1 Peter 4:15) In very simple words, Christians are not to sin and end up as criminals.
Hades
The Greek word "hades" (#86: grave or hell, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary) is translated "hell" 10 times in the New Testament. In Acts 2, Peter quotes Old Scripture of Christ, that God would not leave His "soul in hell [hades]," and therefore, "his soul was not left in hell [hades]" (Acts 2:27, 31)
The entire story of Christ overcoming death tells us He died and was put in the grave but did not remain there, but was resurrected. Yet priests and ministers would have us believe that "hades" is a place filled with billions of "souls" in horrible torment which will go on for eternity.
Some even tell of Christ going to this place of hellish sights and sounds and releasing the prisoners there and taking some to heaven with Him, and all sorts of weird imagined things which have no basis in Scripture whatever!
In Rev. 20:13 we read of the day of resurrection, "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it [These dead are still there; They are not gone some where else]; and death and hell [hades] delivered up the dead which were in them."
The margin in most Bibles has a note for "hell" there, saying, "or, the grave." The truth is in the Bible; why do people refuse to see the truth?
Molech
God's own Law prohibits the torture of men in fire. Israel was ordered not to do so: "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed (Children) pass through the fire to Molech..."; "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people." (Leviticus 18:21 and 20:1‑5)
Then God says that such a thing never came into His mind: "They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind." (Jeremiah 19:5)
In Jeremiah 32:35 He says burning their sons and daughters in "the fire of Molech" was an "abomination" and caused Judah "to sin"; "And they built the high place of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin." (Jeremiah 32:35)
These Scriptures and many other verses give the lie to the hell of the dark ages, which is taught by so many priests and ministers today. Hell is not a place of eternal torture where the damned scream in pain for eternity; it is a place of silence, of rest, a place where its occupants know nothing, a place where righteous Job said he would remain until his Redeemer, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)
Death
When we understand the Scripture penalty for sin is simply "death," (Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23 and others) we realize there is no foundation for this idea that the penalty is "everlasting torture." Christ paid the full penalty for our sins, that we might not suffer; What? Everlasting [permanent] death, not everlasting torture! "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15)
Christ: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3) If the penalty were everlasting torture, would it not follow that Jesus would have had to suffer everlasting torture to pay for our sins? Of course, it isn't, and He didn't. He paid the Scriptural penalty; death, for: "...He [Christ] is the propitation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
So we die once and then we are raised to everlasting life in the resurrection. Christ's death and resurrection set the pattern for all. And our resurrection is not a spirit resurrection at our death, but is a literal resurrection; "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:22‑23)
The "everlasting punishment" of Matthew 25:46 and the "everlasting destruction: of 2 Thessalonians 1:9 are very simply death, for God's Law is "everlasting." (Genesis 9:16; Habakkuk 3:6) Notice in Matthew 25:4 it is the fire which is everlasting, not the person’s term of punishment in it.
Heaven
In demolishing the "hell" of the Catholic and Protestant Churches by the Holy Light of the Bible, we find we have also exposed their false teaching that the "saved" dead go immediately to heaven when they die. Their condition is the same as the "unsaved" dead; Scripture makes no difference.
That some people go immediately to heaven is an idea taken from pagan religions that the "spirit" of man lives on after death and never dies. Man, naturally, does not wish to die, and this false doctrine gives him hope that he really will not die; just his physical body will die, but his real "self" will go right on living, now in heaven instead of on the earth.
But peter said on the day of Pentecost that David "...is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day...for David is not ascended into the heavens..." (Acts 2:29‑34) This was after Christ had ascended, and certainly if Peter had believed the "saved" dead were in heaven, he would have said that David was "now in heaven." But of course he was not; he was in the same place all the dead are; in the grave [hell]. They are referred to as "asleep." (2 Kings 21:17‑18; John 11:11‑14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13‑17; Peter 3:4 and 1 Corinthians 15:18)
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul wrote of the resurrection of the dead; "But if there be no resurrection of the dead...Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1 Corinthians 15:13‑18)
Where did Paul believe the "saved" dead were? Why, "fallen asleep" in the grave, of course. Where he said if there were no resurrection, they are “perished!" If the "saved" are all in heaven, as the evangelists preach, we would need no resurrection, and Paul was lying.
Why did our Lord Jesus say of the resurrection day. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth [from the grave]; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28‑29)
How can Jesus call us from the grave, if the Catholics and Protestants are right that we will all be in heaven or in torment in hell? Which will you believe, doctrines of men, or God's Holy Word?
The Soul
But some may still say, "Well, alright, so the body remains in the grave, but what about my soul? Can't it go to heaven, without my body?" Well, let's find the Scriptural definition of the "soul."
In the creation of Adam we read that God; "...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)
Then for a second witness Paul said: "And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul..." (1 Corinthians 15:45)
Adam was not given a soul; he became a living soul. The word "soul" comes from the Hebrew "nephesh," (#5315: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) which means a breathing creature, animal, beast, body, breath, man, person, self, etc. It does not mean a conscious entity separate from the body, in spite of the false teachings to the contrary.
What man received from God was "the breath of life," often referred to as the "spirit" in Scripture, from the Hebrew "ruach," (#7308: Which means mind, spirit or wind) or "neshamah," (#5397: Which means air, breath, wind, power, animation, etc.) or from the Greek "pneuma." (#4151:.It means air, breath, wind, power, animation, etc.)
Animals also have this "breath of life," (Genesis 7:21‑22) and it is the same as man's. (Ecclesties 3:19) It has no consciousness itself, but it is the power that enables the physical body and mind to function, to think, to act, i.e., to live. The combination of the "breath of life," the spirit, with the physical body makes "a living soul," whether man, animal, or other. This is not the same as the holy spirit; that is a different subject altogether.
When the breath of life is taken from a man, he dies, (Psalm 104:29‑30; 146:4; Job 34:14‑15) and the breath of life returns to Him who gave it. (Ecclesties 12:7) Being from God, this breath or spirit is indestructible, but the spirit is not the soul. It is not a conscious you. You die. You remain dead, until the power of Jesus Christ comes to resurrect you.
That the soul is the living body which can die or be killed is made plain in numerous verses such as. (Leviticus 5:1‑2; 7:20‑27; Psalm 78:50 and Revevelation 16:3) Psalm 89:48 says that man shall die and his "soul" goes to the grave [sheol]. "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his SOUL from the hand of the grave?"
Look up "soul" in any good concordance and follow it through the Bible, and you will see it cannot mean a separate existence apart from the living body. Either "life" or "person" can usually be substituted for "soul," and the correct meaning will still be there. Try it and see how clear it becomes.
Our Reward
You may still ask, "But my minister is always telling me my reward is in heaven. (Matthew 5:12) Don't I have to go to heaven to receive it?" It is there, all right, if your name is written "in the Book of Life," (Revelation 3:5; 20:12; Malachi 3:16) but if you have to go there to get it, WHY does Jesus say? "...behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give ever man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12)
All the writers of Scripture contemplated a reward at the end of the age, after their resurrection, not at their death!
Some have misunderstood Paul to imply that he would be in the presence of Jesus as soon as he died, but he knew the truth of death and the grave, that "the dead know not any thing." He knew that at the moment of resurrection it would be as if he had the previous moment "fallen asleep." The dead are not conscious of the passage of time, be it an hour or a thousand years!
The Great Deceit
So far you have seen from the meaning of the original words and verses that the doctrine of man's continuing, conscious existence after death is false. But there is a greater deception here than you perhaps might see upon casual examination.
Turn to Genesis 3 and read the story of the serpent's deception of Eve, and then of Adam. God had told them not to eat of a certain tree "lest ye die." But the serpent said to Eve, "Ye shall not surely die...your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods..." (Genesis 3:4‑5)
God's Word tells us today that all shall die and "the wages of sin is death," i.e., if you disobey, you shall die!
But the False Judeo-Christian ministers today tell us that only the body dies, and that the real us will just “Go right to heaven and be with the Lord." What are they saying? They are saying that “Ye shall not surely die...but your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods [alive in heaven]!"
If there is any teaching of the Catholic and Protestant Churches that creates an "I couldn't care less" attitude toward the condition of God's earth and its people, it is this false doctrine that is but the slightly altered original deception of our race! The Gospel of the Kingdom, the True Gospel of the Bible, teaches that men are to be resurrected "on the earth," (Job 19:25; 1 Corinthians 15 etc.) and shall "reign on earth" (Revelation 5:10) with the Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Timothy 2:12; Rev. 20:6) for: "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Plasm 115:16)
This "gospel" that we are all going to heaven as soon as we die is the very opposite of Bible truth. By deceiving men about the true nature of man and death, the false and traitorous ministers keep men’s eyes on a heaven and help the anti-Christs take control over the entire earth!
The entirely human desire not to "surely die," but to go on living in some form, is exploited by them to lead men to believe a lie today, just as Adam and eve's desire not to die, but to "be as gods," led them to be deceived in their day!
The doctrine that man's "immortal soul" is in danger of eternal torment unless it is somehow "saved" for heaven by the priests, gives that priesthood, through fear, domination over those who have succumbed to the doctrine of immortality.
Through hundreds and hundreds of years, we read of the successive, ruling dynasties of kings over these separate, individual nations until, finally, both Israelite Kingdoms [The Northern "ten tribes" with their capital city at Samaria, and the Southern Tribes of Judah, Benjamin and portions of Levi, with their capital city at Jerusalem] were taken into captivity.
Now that we have the historical setting firmly in mind, turn to and read Ezekiel's prophecy! "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." (Ezekiel 34:23‑24)
Here is a prophecy, given from God more than 120 years after the ruling king of 10‑tribed Israel went into captivity, hundreds of years after David died, plainly saying that David will be resurrected! He will be raised from the dead to become a prince in the nation of Israel. Peter spoke of David's future resurrection, and of his present state, in his famous sermon on the Day of Pentecost. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day." (Acts 2:29)
David is dead! He is utterly unconscious: unaware of the passage of time; he is in his grave! Notice how the apostle Paul reaffirms this: "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets." (Hebrews 11:32)
Notice it carefully. God tells us twice in this famous "faith chapter" that David is dead. They have not "received the promise." What was the promise?
It was the promise of eternal life; co‑rulership with Christ. "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39‑40)
Why have you not been told and taught the truth about Elijah and David? It is because the enemies of Christ have brought damnable heresies and Jewish Fables into the seminaries, and is thus taught to the Baal Priests; the Clergy of Organized Religion, to deceive our people; making is more easy to conquer them.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them...And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Peter 2:1); "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men [The Jewish Talmud], that turn from the truth [Do not understand? The Jews will turn you from the truth unto a lie]." (Titus 1:14)
Peter said: "For David is not ascended into the heavens..." (Acts 2:34)
Will you, therefore, believe the Word of God; will you believe your own eyes, and your own Bible, or will you believe the oft‑repeated fables of ignorant men and deceivers?
Since much has already been made about the false teachings of our "Ministers," we will present just one, of many, of those false teachings. "...for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem. There is probably more confused preaching in recent years on "Jerusalem" than on any other name from the Scriptures except perhaps for the word "Jew." Scripture such as that quoted above is used time and time again to mean the literal city of Jerusalem in old Palestine. They say God is going to restore His people Israel and will, indeed has, already began to set up His earthly kingdom, from which "Jewish" missionaries will go out to preach the gospel all over the world! Others claim this "Jerusalem" is a "heavenly" city, located somewhere else other than on the earth.
It is important that you understand "Historic Jerusalem is not Prophetic Jerusalem." For one of the major sources of confusion found in today's preaching comes from "Ministers" who are unable to separate historic Bible cities from Prophetic cities of the Bible. [That is not surprising as they can not separate the House of Israel, the House of Judah and the House of David from one another, either]. They do fairly well with Babylon, since the actual city has been destroyed and exists no longer. So when Babylon is used in prophecy, they realize it MUST be something other than the old city.
But with Jerusalem they are fooled and confused. Because the old city still exists and still carries its ancient name, they assume prophetic Jerusalem must have something to do with the ancient city of Jerusalem.
It was Voltaire who is credited with saying, "If you would speak with me, define your terms." He realized that words must have an understandable meaning to both parties in a conversation, or one would be confused or deceived. And so it is with "Jerusalem." Please follow us through the Scriptures to find God's true meaning of Jerusalem, when He says, "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
In the Book of Matthew, from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ we find: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:37‑39)
Here Christ was speaking to the city of Jerusalem, while He was standing and looking at it. Jerusalem, the city that had killed the prophets of Israel down through the centuries; and He said Jerusalem, "your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:38; Luke 13:35) Jesus could not have been speaking of prophetic Jerusalem; for it has a glorious future!
Following are some of the Scripture verses used by those who insist that the old city of Jerusalem will be the Jerusalem that will be "chosen" and "blessed" of God. From the first chapter of Zechariah: "...I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy...I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it...and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:14‑17)
Those who quote them, say they mean that God will set up the Temple [His house] at some future time in the old city of Jerusalem. However, there are other phrases in the same verses which must be considered. Those are: "...Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad...and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:17)
Since the phrase, "spread abroad" was spoken through Zechariah while he was in old Palestine, it must mean places other than old Palestine!
Jesus also gave us an indication that the "cities" of Israel would be in great number and cover much territory. In Matthew chapter 10 are found His well known instructions to the twelve disciples, where He tells them to: "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 10:6)
Then He said: "...for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (Matthew 10:23)
The disciples could have gone over the towns in old Palestine in a matter of weeks, and missionaries still could do so today [But the present day State of Israel will not allow Christian "Ministers" to preach to their citizens]. But if the cities were "spread abroad" and in great numbers, it could not be done so quickly.
It also must be taken into consideration that Zechariah, as a Prophet to Israel, spoke not only to those in the Babylonian captivity, but to the millions of Israelites who were at that time in the Assyrian lands and never returned to Jerusalem or Palestine.
That Zechariah's prophecy was not fulfilled by the return of less than 45,000 Israelites from Babylon under Ezra and Nehemiah will become clear as we go on.
Also, what the "Jerusalem" is that the Lord "shall yet choose" is made more clear by reading on in the next verses from the very same prophet. "I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein." (Zechariah 2:1‑4)
Boy, that's some description. "Towns" [plural; more than one] and many men and cattle were to be in it. This is the Jerusalem of prophecy, and it [Jerusalem] is so large it took an angel to measure it! Thus, it becomes obvious, this was because it had been "spread abroad" and was prophesied in Zechariah 1:17. In Chapter 8 of Zechariah [he has much to say about prophetic Jerusalem] we find: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, an I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem..." () So, you see, God says He will be in both Zion and Jerusalem. Zion is the seat of government; Jerusalem is the whole nation.
"...and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain." (Zechariah 8:3) This is similar to what can be found in Chapter 2 of Isaiah and Chapter 4 of Micah, "the mountain of the Lord." It will help you understand prophecy, if you know that "mountain" usually means "nation." Micah, Isaiah, Zechariah, and others are actually saying that prophetic Jerusalem will be "the nation of the Lord." Then we read: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness."
Now if we take these prophecies and attempt to put them in little old Palestine, we are in trouble! It is just not large enough. As these Scriptures show, the Lord will dwell there, Zion will be there, many from the east country and the west country, a multitude of men and cattle, and it will "spread abroad" and be so large that angels will have to measure it. It is sure that they could not dwell "in the midst of Jerusalem."
Some statistics on the Jewish occupied area of old Jerusalem and Palestine show it is not of sufficient size for a "multitude of people." Jerusalem, as it was set aside by the United Nations, has 289 sq. miles. It is about 20 miles long and 15 miles wide. Which makes it about the size of Phoenix, Arizona and its suburbs. Other comparisons would be Minneapolis, Minn. and its suburbs or about twice the size of Baltimore. The entire country of Palestine, as established by the U. N. Mandate, was 7,993 sq. miles.
Since the so‑called "war" in 1967, the area controlled has increased substantially, but even if they [the Jews] took control of several entire Arab countries, it would still be smaller than just one of the average American States! That is hardly fitting for Zechariah's prophecy, is it? This confusion among our "Ministers" is also caused by their mistaken belief that God chose the old city of Jerusalem perpetually as the place where He would place His Name. But like Shiloh, Jehovah's presence there was conditional upon Israel obeying Him. This is made very plain in Jeremiah, where we read: "The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Stand in the gate of the Lord's house [the Temple in Jerusalem], and proclaim there this word, and say. Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord." (Jeremiah 7:1‑2)
So God gave Jeremiah a commandment to speak to all those who worshiped at the Temple. Verses 3 through 10 give a promise that if they obeyed the Lord, they would then: "...dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever." (Jeremiah 7:7)
But then God accused them of disobeying and said: "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel." (Zechariah 7:11‑12)
Then God pronounced the fate of the Temple at Jerusalem: "Therefore will I do unto this house [the Temple], which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers [Jerusalem and Judah], as I have done to Shiloh." (Zechariah 7:14)
In order to see what God has done to Jerusalem, we must see what He did to Shiloh. Its history as the place where God had set His Name "at the first" starts in Joshua Chapter 18: "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there." (Joshua 18:1)
This continued for many years for we read in Judges Chapter 18: "And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gersham, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land [Philistine Captivity]. And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made all the time that the house of God [the Tabernacle] was in Shiloh." (Judges 18:30‑31)
Then in First Samuel we read the story of God's leaving Shiloh, as He was later to leave Jerusalem. This is quite lengthy and requires the reading of all of Chapters 2 through 7, we will quote only a few verses because of space limitation.
The story begins with the sons of Eli, the High priest: "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord." (1 Samuel 2:12)
Because of their abominations and the sins of Israel, the Lord appeared to Eli and among other things told him: "Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy fathers's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation [the tabernacle at Shiloh]...And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them." (1 Samuel 2:31‑34)
Then God tells Eli what will replace His "habitation." "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house..." (1 Samuel 2:35)
This was in reference to Samuel. God then set about to carry out this promise of punishment to Eli and removing Himself from Shiloh. In Chapter 4 the Philistines won a battle against the armies of Israel, and Israel made a decision. "And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines! Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies." (1 Samuel 4:3)
Instead of putting their trust in God, they put their trust in the physical ark. Then, we are told the results of that decision. "And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Pinehas, were slain." (1 Samuel 4:10‑11)
God's promise that the enemy would be in His habitation and that the sons of Eli would both be slain in one day had come to pass! Eli died when he heard the news, and Phinehas' widow was so shocked by the events that she was immediately delivered of her child. That she recognized the terrible disaster to Israel is shown in the name she gave the baby. "And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken..." (1 Samuel 4:21)
Here we can see; The Lord had departed from Shiloh! Then as we proceed on, we find that Chapter 7 shows that God then gave Samuel rule over Israel, but he did not worship at Shiloh. "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord." (1 Samuel 7:15‑17)
Psalms verifies this forsaking of Shiloh in the following manner. "When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand." (Psalms 78:59‑61)
Then verses 65‑72 refer to the placing of His Temple in Jerusalem under David and Solomon. Most Bible students know that story, so we will not recount it here. However, the Psalmist does verify that Shiloh was forsaken! So, if Jerusalem was to be "as Shiloh," and if God's Word is true, which it is, then the old city of Jerusalem is forsaken and deserted by the God of Israel forever!!! Contemporary history relates the following account of Shiloh: "Shiloh, now called Seilun, is located ten miles north of Bethel, '...on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem...' (Judges 21:19)
It is the place where Israel set up the tabernacle soon after they entered Canaan. Here the boy Samuel 'ministered before the Lord' [this was before God make him the judge over Israel and before the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant] and became the first of a long line of Hebrew prophets. 'In confirmation of His prophecy, the Philistines defeated Israel about 1050 B.C., captured the Ark of the Covenant, and left the town to sink into insignificance. Finally, fire reduced it to the scene of desolation pictured by Jeremiah' some 450 years later. (See Jeremiah 7:12])
The Danish excavation at Shiloh in 1922, '26, '29 and '31, under the direction of Dr. Aage Smith, found remains dating from the thirteenth to the eleventh century B.C., but none form the period between 1050 and 300 B.C. All of which parallels the Bible record that Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines after the battle of Ebenezer and the capture of the ark. (Revelation 21:9‑10) On the northern end of the mound the excavators found a rock‑hewn quadrangle 80 by 400 feet, which they felt confident was the site of the ancient tabernacle in which Samuel slept and heard the voice of the Lord calling him. Later, however, it was ascertained that these building remains belong to the Byzantine period [A.D. 323‑636].
The conclusion was then reached that Christians must have constructed a large church building on what had first been the site of the Hebrew tabernacle and sanctuary. Palestinian scholars concur in saying 'all that has been found by the Danes at Shiloh agree exactly with what is implied in the Old Testament.'"
But, just so that you understand with perfect clarity that God has forsaken the old city of Jerusalem and will never rebuild His Temple there, and in fact: Old Jerusalem is to be “a curse to all the nations of the earth."
Let's look where Jeremiah is ordered by the Lord to stand in the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem and say: "...Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not...hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; then will I [God] make this house [the Temple] like Shiloh, and will make this city [Old Jerusalem] a curse to all the nations of the earth." (See 1 Samuel 4:10‑11)
This is a double warning to the city and a promise of what the old city of Jerusalem would be at some time in the future. "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers." (Romans 15:8) The "fathers" mentioned here were the people of Israel, of course. And we find Christ confirming the end of the Temple and old Jerusalem as the place where His Name would be.
In Jeremiah we find: "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?" (Jeremiah 7:11) This was followed by the promise to make it as Shiloh.
In Matthew we read that Christ personally entered the Temple at Jerusalem, overthrew the tables of the money‑changers, and said: "...It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:13)
After spending some time teaching in the Temple, He then left the Temple and later pronounced on the city of Jerusalem: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:38‑39)
Two verses later we read His sentence on the Temple: "...There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matthew 24:2)
Christ never went back to the Temple, and it was destroyed and burned to the ground in 70 A.D. The Temple became "as Shiloh," and Jerusalem as "Ichabod." The promise of God through His prophet Jeremiah was confirmed by Christ, and history verifies its fulfillment!
In Ezekiel Chapter 11 we find where the inhabitants of Jerusalem told all of the House of Israel to go away from them. Then we see the Lord depart from Jerusalem, never to return. "Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house [the Temple], which looketh eastward...behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men...Then said he unto me...these are the men that devise mischief [they were developing a plan for world conquest and the destruction of God's people Israel], and give wicked counsel in this city...Again the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred...All the House of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, get you far from the lord: unto us is this land given in possession...and the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city [Old Jerusalem]..." (Ezekiel 11:1‑23)
The inhabitants of Jerusalem being spoken of are the Jews and they are the ones who told the House of Israel wholly to get away from them for unto them was the land; Palestine given, and the city God left was Jerusalem, and the lord the Jews were making reference to was not the Lord God Almighty; for He left the city [Jerusalem] "and the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city" as the lord, the god of the Jews is BAAL: See #1167 which shows the word lord as used in this verse is meaning "BAAL...horseman, husband, lord, man..." (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary page 22)
Not only is the Lord's Name not there anymore, but with much of the world intrigue and tensions centered in the Jewish State called "Israel," the old city is even now fulfilling prophecy and is becoming "a curse to all the nations of the earth," just as God foretold! "Ministers" who still insist the Jews will rebuild the Temple [which they may, with American money, to continue their masquerade as God's Chosen People] and that God will bless it [which He will not] have "seen a vain vision," and have "spoken a lying divination."
A great part of this absurd teaching about old Palestine is caused by the erroneous belief by our "Ministers" that the Jews are Israel and that the Jewish State of Israel is the "regathering" of the tribes of Israel.
Have you ever wondered how many "Ministers" have stopped to think that there are about the same number of Jews now in old Palestine as there were Israelites in the Exodus from Egypt over 3300 years ago!
And if there was any one thing God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was to multiply their seed! In the Book of Genesis God said to Israel, the father of the twelve men who became the twelve tribes of Israel: "...Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people..." (Genesis 48:4)
And later when speaking of Ephraim, one of Joseph's sons and Israel's grandson, Israel prophesied of this one man alone: "...his seed shall become a multitude of nations." (Genesis 48:19) Thus we have it that Ephraim's descendants alone were to become many nations! Which as anyone with any common sense at all will confess that that is one heck of a lot of people! Where are the many nations of the Jews???
In Genesis Chapter 28 we find God's prophecy to Jacob/Israel: "And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people..." (Genesis 28:3)
And to say that this means all of the people from the beginning of time to the end is this vast multitude of people is too stupid for words and belittles the promises and power of our God!
Moses, speaking to the two million or more Israelites in the Exodus [not to mention the mixed multitude], said to them: "(The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)" (Deuteronomy 1:11)
This would be over 200,000,000 people. It is estimated, Solomon had more than fifteen million Israelites in his kingdom over 2500 years ago; and yet our "Ministers" of today would have us believe the Jews of the world today constitute this "multiplied" seed of Israel. (14,334,195 is the 1976 estimate from the Jewish Statistical bureau, Dr. H.S. Linfield, Exec. Secretary, 1976 World Almanac, page 214)
Those who teach that the three million or so Jews in Palestine are "fulfilling Bible prophecy" and is the "regathering of Israel" are completely ignoring the Promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel of the immense numbers of his descendants who would be in that "regathering."
Their teaching is actually an affront to God, yet millions of Churchgoers, around the world, believe and support this foolish preaching. Jeremiah was truly right when he said of our day: "The prophets ["Ministers"] prophesy falsely...and my people love to have it so..." (Jeremiah 5:3)
After His resurrection, Christ taught the disciples, and it says in Luke 24:45: "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."
Solomon said: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Provervs 4:7)
Since we can now see how important "understanding" is: What was it that Christ gave the disciples to understand? Jesus went on in Luke to say: "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46‑47)
Here Jesus said that the preaching of "repentance and remission of sins" was to begin, not end at Jerusalem, and not beginning 2,000 years later when a people who call themselves "Jews" occupy the city, but beginning right then! "And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
This was then verified in Acts: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
In Acts 2, we find the great and wonderful story of the Pentecost, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Israel, beginning at Jerusalem. Peter called it: "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." (Acts 2:16) He then went on to quote, (Joel 2:28) which of course was a prophecy to Israel.
Let us now compare Christ's instructions after His Resurrection with the instructions He gave His disciples during His ministry. After His Baptism, Jesus instructed the twelve disciples to go: "...to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 10:6)
The word "lost" is translated from the Greek Apollumi, which means: apo #575 ["separation" or simply to "put away"] and "ollumi" #3639 ["punishment"]. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Holy Bible Greek Dictionary of the New Testament)
This signifies a voluntary losing, which of course is correct, as God deliberately put Israel away into the Assyrian captivity as punishment for their sins and transgressions. (See 2 Kings 18 and Hosea) Apollumi is used 13 times in the New Testament, and every time it is used in connection with the house of Israel!
Then after His resurrection, Christ told Simon Peter three times: "...Feed my lambs...Feed my sheep...Feed my sheep." (John 21:15‑17) Now if Peter and the others were to obey Christ and feed the "sheep of the house of Israel," they would have to go to where the sheep of the house of Israel were, would they not?
So, the question here is; and one cannot understand the difference between the old Jerusalem and the prophetic Jerusalem unless you have the correct answer to this question, Did the disciples obey Christ's explicit instructions to "go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" and "feed my sheep," First in Jerusalem, then in Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth, or did they not? I say they did!
But the Jews did no such thing, instead they sought to destroy Christianity on every hand. History and Scripture verify the disciples preached the Gospel first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then in Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth where the Israelites had gone. British, Roman and other European historical records show that some of the disciples who had known Jesus "in the flesh" went directly to the British Isles. Paul preached in Spain, France and England. Joseph of Arimathea established a church in England within 5 years of Jesus' death.
Others who went to England were Mary Magdalene, Mary; mother of Jesus, Maximin, Trophimus, Lazarus, Simon Zelates, Clements, Martial, Sidonius, Zacchaeus and Mary, wife of Cleaphas. Timothy, who had been ordained by Paul, baptized his own nephew, the British King Lucius, on May 28, 137 A.D. at the National Council at Winchester! [For a more complete study of this fascinating subject read "Paul and Joseph of Arimathea, Missionaries to the "Gentiles"].
Information such as that in the above paragraph, has been completely expunged from our schools, church and Seminary textbooks. So the White Christian people do not know our race's Christian history! If they did, they would begin to realize that we are Israel. That our race reacted just as Christ said His sheep would. "My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)
We heard His voice, and we followed Him. Our race became known as the Christian people and are now the great Christian nations of the world, including our own United States of America. We are the only race which has reacted to Christ in this manner.
It was not until about 1500 A.D., after the entire White Race had had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that the Lord moved upon Israel, the Anglo‑Saxon people, to then carry it to heathen lands, as He said they would. And they obeyed.
Teachers who preach "the Jews are God's Chosen People" defy the plain teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said "Jews" are "not of God." Speaking of the Jews, Christ said: "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:47)
And to make it very certain we understand the Jews are not His sheep, it is recorded in John where He said to the Jews: "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep..." (John 10:26)
Then after Jesus told the Jews they were not His people, He described how His true Israel "sheep" would react when they heard His Word: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." What race has followed Jesus to the exclusion of all other "gods?" There is only one; God's True Israel, the Anglo‑Saxon White Race. No, the disciples did not go to some "heathen" race. They obeyed their Master and went to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
There is another very serious side to this Un‑Scriptural teaching that we are not Israel. If your "Minister" is saying that all of the disciples disobeyed their master the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the Gospel prospered in disobedience!!! That is not Scriptural. In fact, it is a very poor way to demonstrate obedience to Christ!
And since error feeds on error, we find that almost all of their teachings built on the error that we are not Israelites, are also erroneous. This is why our "Ministers" do not understand the difference between old Jerusalem and Prophetic Jerusalem. This is why they think the "tribulation" is going to fall on Jewry instead of the White Race, True Israel.
This is why they teach the Jews are going to turn to Christ during the "tribulation," when the truth is that we of True Israel will turn. This is why they teach that Russia is going to invade Jewish occupied Palestine, when according to Ezekiel 38 and 39 [Completely ignoring the fact: To days State of Israel fit none of the descriptions of the country to be invaded When the truth is that Russia is going to invade the United States, the land of true Israel]! Thus, it is the initial error in the identity of Israel today which has resulted in making most of the doctrines of the church of today Un‑Scriptural. No wonder our people are confused.
To continue our study on "Jerusalem" turn to John Chapter 4 for a very symbolic meeting between Christ, the Redeemer of Israel, and a Samaritan woman. They met at a well, identified as "Jacob's well" in verse 6, and identified herself as a descendant of Jacob in verse 12 by asking Jesus: "Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well...Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 10:26)
She immediately answered: "...Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw." (John 4:15) This is not the response of a Jew to Christ; neither is it the response of the heathen. It is the RESPONSE of an Israelite!!!
Before we go on in John Chapter 4, I will quote what the concordance in the back of some King James Versions of the Bible says about the Samaritans at the time of Christ: "The Samaritans were a mixed race, composed of imported colonists and the Israelites who remained when the bulk of the ten tribes were carried into captivity. They had a temple on Mount Gerizim, their sacred mountain, they accepted Moses as their lawgiver and the Pentateuch as their law, but they rejected the traditions and rules of the Pharisees. They observed the rite of circumcision, the requirements of the Sabbath, and refused to accept Jerusalem as the one place where the temple of Jehovah should stand."
So, some full blood Israelites lived in Samaria, they worshiped Jehovah, the God of Israel, but knew enough about prophecy to refuse to accept the Jewish priesthood with its traditions or worship at Jerusalem! [Would to God our "Ministers" knew that much today!] This woman was an Israelite, and in this meeting she is symbolic of all Israel meeting Christ, their Messiah, and their response to Him. In verse 16 Jesus said to her: "...Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband (This woman represents True Israel, who, at that time and even today, has no husband). Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband..." (John 4:16‑18)
She had no husband; but she had had many husbands! Who, or what people in the Bible, had no husband, but has had many husbands? Israel, of course, who left her first husband, her God, and as Scripture says: "...they have gone a whoring from under their God." (Hosea 4:12) In Jeremiah we find: "...thou hast played the harlot with many lovers..." (Jeremiah 3:1)
When Christ told this woman, this symbolic Israel, that she was, in effect, a harlot, she said: "...Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet." (John 4:19)
Only Israelites recognize that when someone tells the Truth, either past or future, that it must come from God. Then she went on to ask Him to explain something: "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." (John 4:20)
Jesus answered: "...Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." (John 4:21)
This was testimony by Christ Himself that worship of God was to cease in old Jerusalem and old Palestine. Then Jesus explained how worship would be from that time on: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshiper shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23‑24)
Jesus said to her that old Jerusalem was not to be a place of worship, at some future time. As we read these Scriptures and look at old Jerusalem, we can see that that has come to pass. In fact, in the present day State of Israel a person cannot become a citizen if he is a professing Christian! It is written in their laws. It was tested by a "racial" Jew a few years ago. He went to Israel and applied for citizenship; proved his "racial" lineage, but stated he believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. His case went through the courts, and his request for citizenship was denied. Only atheists or followers of "Judaism: the religion of Satan, are granted Israeli citizenship! Recently, additional laws and regulations have been passed in Israel restricting or ending most Christian missionary work there. Jesus said the worship of God would cease in Jerusalem and in Samaria, and it has.
John 4:22 is not directly related to our study of Jerusalem, but it should be touched on here, because the wrong understanding of just what this verse says has probably caused more confusion than any other verse in the Gospel of John. So let's read it first and then go over it's part by part. Christ is still talking to the Samaritan woman when He said: "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews."
Multitudes of otherwise sensible Christians have read that and said, "Oh, isn't that wonderful, look how much we owe the Jews, because salvation is of the Jews." And it has become implanted in their minds that somehow the Jews have something to do with our salvation! Our salvation is from Jesus Christ: not from the Christ hating Jews. That is simple, provable theology, from Scripture after Scripture. So what does this verse mean?
The Greek word here translated "Jews" is "Ioudaios" and means: Judaean, i.e. belonging to Judaean #2453; "Iouda" "a part of Judah" #2448; "Ioudas" "Judas i.e. Jehudah, the name of ten Isr., also of the posterity of one of them and its region #2455; "Yhuwdah "also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory: Judah #3063; "Yuttah or Yuwtah" "a place in Palestine #3194. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew and Chaldee and Greek Dictionary of the New Testament)
Thus we can see it simply means, "of the country of Judea." So we see Christ is talking to a woman of Samaria, an Israelite, and telling her that the Saviour [Himself] has now "come." And where has He come from? The answer is in the same chapter: "He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria." (John 4:3‑4)
Not only was Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem of Judea, but immediately before talking to the Samaritan woman He had just come from Judea! When He told her that Salvation [meaning Himself] is of "Ioudaios," it was simply the Truth.
Jesus Christ is also called a "Nazarene," because He lived in Nazareth: "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:23)
But our "Ministers" don't give such glowing compliments to the people of Nazareth because of it and say "Salvation comes from the Nazarenes." He is also called a "Galilean" for the same reason. "When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean." (Luke 23:6)
Here again our "Ministers" don't cry to the heavens "Salvation comes from the Galileans." What a bunch of hypocrites our "Ministers" are! An awful lot has been read into this verse by pro‑Jewish people that is simply not there! Why? Because they have sold themselves and their ideals for money and prestige, which makes them what? "...to sell oneself, one's artistic or moral integrity, etc. for low or unworthy purposes...a person...who sells his services for low or unworthy purposes. (New World Dictionary of the American Language: Second College Edition, page 1141)
This is what our "Ministers" of today have become; nothing more nor less than a prostitute! The Ferrar Fenton Bible, translated directly from the Greek puts it this way, "salvation comes from among the Judeans." So did the King James Translation until about 100 years ago.
To confound Christians even further and to promote more pro‑Jewish sentiment among Christians, the paperback New Testament put out by the American Bible Society in 1966 is often quoted by our "Ministers," especially by so‑called "Christian" Jews.
It is called "Good News For Modern Man, The New Testament in Today's English." This same verse (John 4:22) is translated in it to read, "You Samaritans do not really know whom you worship; we Jews know whom we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews."
Notice: They have had Jesus Christ, whom the Jews hate, Identify Himself as a "Jew," an identification to be found no where in the original text. They have also changed it to say specifically that salvation "comes from" the Jews! But, of course, be not deceived, salvation comes from and through the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter how men, and the Disciples of Satan twist the Bible and God's Word.
In recent years Billy Graham has promoted a book called "The Living Bible." In its some 18 million copies the words "Jew" and "Jewish" have been inserted in hundreds of passages where they are not in the King James text, or many many of the other translations, thereby deceiving millions of readers.
In establishing where true worship is, we know that the Scripture says: "For where two are three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Our God is worshiped anywhere on earth where we gather in the Name of Jesus Christ: Fundamentalist "Ministers" had better get that into their theology and forget about their Un‑Scriptural Teachings that the "Jews" are going back to Jerusalem and there God will begin a great missionary work with them, to all the world.
For true Israel began this missionary work of carrying the Gospel of Christ, and of His Kingdom while Jesus lived among men in the flesh on this earth! That was about 2,000 years ago, and some of our "Ministers" are just about that far behind on their understanding of prophecy and the Scriptures! Let's read on about the Samaritan woman in. (John Chapter 4)
"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." (John 4:25) Here again she identifies herself as an Israelite waiting for the Messiah! "Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." (John 4:26) And what did this Israelite [Not Jewish] woman do? "The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (John 4:28‑29)
This woman, symbolic of all Israel, started on the missionary trail as soon as she met her Savior!!! And she had success: "And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:41‑42)
These were indeed, and in fact, Israelites! What had Christ said as to how Israelites would react to Him? "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)
There is only one race of people on this earth which react to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this manner; the White Anglo-Saxon people! The heathen react with indifference; the "Jew" with resentment and hate. God knows His Israel People, even if our so‑called "Christian Ministers" do not.
The missionary work the Fundamentalists believe will be done by the "Jews" out of old Palestine, began with Israelites such as this Samaritan woman, and the disciples; that work has been going on for over 1,900 years now! The Scriptures testify that God is not going back to old Jerusalem and start all over again. Now let's turn again to Zechariah: "The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of men within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem." (Zechariah 12:1‑2)
This is Jerusalem in prophecy, yet future, as we can see by the next verse: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zechariah 12:3)
In Matthew Jesus speaks to the "chief priests and Pharisees," and He says: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:43‑44)
This is the same terminology, as that used in Zechariah; the same thing is going to happen to the people who gather against prophetic Jerusalem, as will happen to those who fight the nation to which Christ will give the kingdom! And both the "nation" and "Jerusalem" are called a "stone," God's Stone Kingdom! Prophetic Jerusalem is the same as the Kingdom!
As we have seen, Zechariah said, "all the people of the earth be gathered against it." If this prophecy is about the present time, and we believe it is, and the people of the world are being gathered against this "kingdom," then the following question presents itself: who are the people of the earth being gathered against? Why Prophetic Jerusalem, of course! A Jerusalem, which is so big and large that it takes an angel to measure it, that has a multitude of towns, people and cattle, (Zechariah 2) where God dwells, the one He calls Zion: That is what they are being gathered together to destroy. And they are not all trying to destroy Jewish occupied Jerusalem! In fact, all the nations of the world, including the Communist nations, got together in the United Nations in 1947, and created the nation we presently know as Israel! And the idea, being presented almost daily by our "Ministers," that Russia is trying to destroy Jewish Israel, does not stand up to close examination.
It was the Russian Communist Jews who tricked the Egyptians into moving all their armed forces out into the Sinai Desert in 1967, where they were completely at the mercy of the Israeli planes! And, then, the Russians never raised a hand to help save them.
The nation that all the world is being gathered together to destroy; the only nation on the face of the earth which fit the descriptions, as outlined in Ezekiel, is the United States of America!
Even our so‑called "allies" like the governments of France and England [and even, believe it or not, the American Government itself] is helping the un‑Godly enemies of America and its people.
Yet our deluded "Christian Ministers" look at old Jerusalem and erroneously call its Jewish occupants "Israel." No, a thousand times, No, "all the people of the earth" are being gathered against the New Jerusalem, the United States of America, God’s Country, the land of the regathered of the True Descendants of the Tribes of Israel!
We have seen that Zechariah indicated that "all the people of the earth" would be gathered against prophetic Jerusalem. And we also read where Christ told the Jews, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation..."
As we read some specific descriptions of New Jerusalem, keep in mind that Jesus taught "the Gospel of the Kingdom," not just a Gospel of personal Salvation, as some think. All four Gospels make that plain in the beginning of His Ministry.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17); "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and The Kingdom of God is at hand..." (Mark 1:15); "...I must preach The Kingdom of God..." (Luke 4:43); "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see The Kingdom of God [this is telling you that unless you are born again you will not understand that The Kingdom of God is already among men!]." (John 3:3)
In John 3:3, Christ explains the connection between Salvation and the kingdom, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see [understand] the kingdom of God." Thus we can see: The ultimate purpose of Christ’s finished work on the stake was to provide man with the means to enter into and understand the Kingdom of God.
Christ said: "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven: for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King." (Matthew 5:34‑35)
Turn to Revelation 3:12, which links the Christian with the city of God, New Jerusalem: "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Revelation 3:12)
The new name of the "Holy One of Israel" is Jesus Christ. The name to be written on the inhabitants of New Jerusalem is His new name, "Christ man," or "Christian!" The "city of my God." New Jerusalem, will be a Christian place, a place of born‑again believers, where the Savior Jesus Christ is believed on and praised: Not an old city that has the same name, where Christ is both hated and denied!!!
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea ["sea" also in prophecy signifies human turmoil]. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven..." (Revelation 21:1‑2)
This is the same as Revelation 3:12. It is very clear that New Jerusalem is not in heaven, but that it "comes from" heaven! As can be seen, these Scriptures do not fit the teaching that the New Jerusalem or the Kingdom is somewhere other than on earth! Let's read on: "...prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2)
The "bride" of prophecy! These are the first 2 verses, but please continue through verse 8 for the beautiful description of the Kingdom. Then in verses 9 and 10 John relates: "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." (Revelation 21:9‑10)
The angel showed John the bride. And what and who was the bride? The bride is "The Holy Jerusalem," which, as we will see, is later called "Israel."
I would remind you the church is never called "New Jerusalem" in the Bible, yet our "Ministers" tell their congregations, almost every Sunday, that the church is the "bride."
And if you have been taught this, that the bride of Christ is some sort of "Gentile Church," you should read Revelation Chapter 21 over until you see the truth. John goes on to describe this New Jerusalem, the "bride" of the Lamb [Christ]: "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon..." (Revelation 21:11‑12)
And what were the names that were written on the gates to this New Jerusalem? "...which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 21:12)
Yes, you read it right, "Israel" is the "Bride," and will be purified of sin and corruption, for Israel is washed in the blood of her Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel shall no longer be a harlot, the divorced wife of the great Jehovah. Israel was made a widow with the death of her Husband [Christ], who took her punishment upon Himself on the Cross of Calvary [Study Isaiah 53 and 54]. Then, upon receiving the Holy Spirit and being Baptized for remission of sins, becomes the new, cleansed, and made ready virgin Bride of Christ. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah." (Jeremiah 31:31); "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." (Hebrews 8:10)
Yes, Israel is the Bride, not the Church, and it is most certainly not the Christ Hating Jews!!! Let's review a few more verses of Revelation 21 before turning to one of God's prophets to complete this study of the New Jerusalem.
"And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof." (Revelation 21:15) This is obviously the same angel referred to, in Zechariah 2, who was measuring "Jerusalem!" The Scriptures are always consistent; there is no discrepancy when the Word is used to interpret the Word! and that the New Jerusalem is ON EARTH, is verified by many Scripture verses including : "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." (Revelation 21:24)
At the same time Christians must understand the nature of the "temple" that will be built in New Jerusalem [and which God will bless!]. Every Christian should know this [but they do not], so that they will not be deceived by "Ministers" who preach "lying divinations" about old Jerusalem and the Jews. The Holy Word makes it plain of what substance this new "habitation" of Christ will be built. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?...for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16‑17); "...know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you...For ye are bought with a price..." (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20)
That the temple [Christians] is not to be defiled by association with unbelievers is made abundantly clear in 2 Corinthians, including the oft‑quoted "be ye separate," and God's promise: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...be ye separate...And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18)
That God's new "habitation" is to be made up of all believers is disclosed by Paul in Ephesians: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household [see "sons and daughters" above] of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets." (Ephesians 2:19‑20)
These are New Testament Christians, and please note the inclusion of the "prophets," or Old Testament Scriptures. "...Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:20‑22)
Is the New Temple to be one of stone and mortar and built in old Jerusalem? Hardly Jesus verified the substance of the new temple and its new location. See again Revelation 3:12, taking particular notice, the New Jerusalem was not IN heaven; but coming down from heaven and contains His new name: Christ! It is nothing more nor less than pure blasphemy to teach that the non‑Christian "Jews" are going to build a temple of stone in old Jerusalem, and that God will then bless it and make that old city His "New Jerusalem."
In fact, Christians died by the tens of thousands during the 100 years of the Crusades in a mistaken and vain attempt to return and possess the temple in Jerusalem. They were unable to because God prevented it. They did not understand, that, Old Jerusalem was forsaken! What we have just read is not yet complete, however. It will not be finished until after the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. So let us turn to one of God's prophets to see where we are, in present world history. God gave all of His prophets dvisions of His Kingdom, but we will finish this study with Micah.
"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the
mountains of the house of the Lord [remember "mountain" is prophetic for "nation," so Micah is speaking of the "nation" of the house of the Lord] shall be established in the top of the mountains [above the nations of the world], and it shall be exalted above the hills [small governments]; and people shall flow unto it [the great immigration to America is shown later]. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." (Micah 4:1‑2)
Remember; What did Zechariah say New Jerusalem would be called? "...and Jerusalem shall be called...The Mountain [nation] of the Lord of Hosts..." (Zechariah 8:3) Reading further in Micah 4, we find: "...let us go up to the mountain [nation] of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:2)
That is where we started our study, and we are not in the old city of Jerusalem! "And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation..." (Micah 4:7) Who was cast far off? Israel was cast off into the Assyrian captivity, and then was driven north and west into Europe to become the great Christian nations of Europe.
Then representatives of all the tribes were gathered into the great "melting‑pot" nation, the greatest nation that has ever existed in all of recorded history, the only one founded by those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the virgin‑born Son of God, the United States of America! God has fulfilled His promise, made in Micah 4:7, for He has made America a: "...strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion [not the old mother; the daughter], unto thee shall it come even the first dominion [And what will come?]; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." (Micah 4:7‑8)
Yes, that is right, the United States of America is that great nation promised to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Genesis 18:18 and others) [Proof of this will be given later]. It is that great nation spoken of by Christ, when He said to the Jewish priests in old Jerusalem, "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
Now, let us review a few of the names and Scriptural terms used to describe the New Jerusalem, or the Kingdom: the Bride of Christ, the Holy City, the City of the Great God, New Jerusalem, The Burdensome Stone, this Stone, a City that angels measure, the Towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein, the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the great Zion, a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, and on and on. Is that the old city of Jerusalem we see in Palestine under the Jews?
Is it that old city at any future time? NO! What you see in old Canaan land, in old Palestine, is the city "that killest the prophets," and the Lord Jesus Christ, the city that is now "as Shiloh!" With all we have read and studied in mind, and considering the present situation of the United States, surrounded by nations under the control of World Communism [which is just an extension of Judaism], and our own government which has been infiltrated by; and under the control of, anti‑Christ people. Let us read the rest of Micah 4. For in it we see that this prophecy is now America's current history. "Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counselor perished?" (Micah 4:9)
The American people certainly seem to be without good counsel in government! "...for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion..." (Micah 4:9‑10) Can there be any doubt? Something was going to be born out of all this trial and tribulation we are going through, as a nation, as a people. "For now shalt thou go forth and of the city [forsake God's laws], and thou shalt dwell in the field [in anarchy, civil disorders, revolution and violence], and thou shalt go even to Babylon." (Micah 4:10)
This always stumps those who do not know the correct identity of the "daughter of Zion." It simply means we will come under the control of the International Money Powers known in the Scripture as: "Mystery, Babylon...Mother of Harlots and Abominations of earth." (Revelation 17:5)
But, at the very time, when the Anti‑Christ International Conspirators think they have us in their grasp, we will be saved! "...and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shall thou be delivered, there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion." (Micah 4:10‑11)
Luke verifies and testifies of this: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people...As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us." (Luke 1:68‑71)
All the nations of the earth are being gathered against the United States, God's great Zion nation. But God continues on, through His prophet: "Now also many nations are gathered against thee...But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor." (Micah 4:11‑12)
Then we [America] are ordered to battle: "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth." (Micah 4:13)
We have seen that God was to make Jerusalem "as Shiloh." One of the things that was to happen to Shiloh was: "And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation..." (1 Samuel 2:32)
This did happen to Shiloh, and if God's Word is True, and it is, it must also happen to the old city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel saw the same thing: "Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains [nations] of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Because the enemy hath said...aha, even the ancient high places are our's in possession." (Ezekiel 36:1‑2)
Now, who possesses the places of worship of ancient Israel? Not the true Israel people, but the Jews. He then goes on to say: "...Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea [Edom: the Jews], which have appointed my land unto their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey." (Ezekiel 36:5)
The Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, page 41, 1925 edition says: "Edom is in modern Jewry!"
Again, who has possession of Old Jerusalem, Palestine, and the "ancient high places" in their possession? The Jews of course!
We will close this study of the two Jerusalems with this, for it is not my purpose here to describe the battle in which God's Israel people in New Jerusalem will be saved from their enemies.
But most Bible students know that all prophecy points to a time when there will be fought between Israel and Israel's enemies, between Christ and anti‑Christ, the great battle often called "The Conflict of the Ages." That that battle will be fought here on this great North American Continent is abundantly clear to those who understand both history and prophecy.
For we, the White Anglo‑Saxons, gathered here in the United States and Canada, are those Israel people. We believe that the victorious conclusion of that battle under the banner of Jesus Christ will usher in God's great Kingdom on earth, the millennium reign of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And, that, His Kingdom is not limited to any one nation, for when: "...out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3); "...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)
Realizing this Bible study has uncovered many things that you have never heard before, it must be made very clear that, while we disagree with much of the present day teachings on Israel and the two Jerusalems, we blame the erroneous teachings more on the Seminaries than on the "Ministers." While book after book used by the Seminaries and our "Ministers," are filled with thousands of pages of treatises, themes, essays, demands, arguments, studies and so‑called "proofs" that the people known today as "Jews" are "God's Chosen People Israel."
It is simply not so; but we cannot entirely blame a "Minister" who as brought up in a church that taught this error, then went to a Seminary that gave him hundreds of hours of instruction in this same error, and then turned him out to associate with other "Ministers" who have also been taught the same error.
Henry Ford, a great Christian layman, in his monumental and almost forgotten book, "The International Jew," wrote: "The reading of the Scriptures which confuse the tribe of Judah with Israel, and which interpret every mention of Israel as signifying the Jews, is at the root of more than one‑half the confusion and division traceable in Christian doctrinal statements. The Jews are NOT the Chosen People, though practically the entire Church has succumbed to the propaganda which declares them to be so"
He wrote that in 1921! Thus, it is obvious to thinking Christians, that most, if not all, of our Seminaries are the victims of: "...certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation..." ; "...there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies ..." (2 Peter 2:1)
Paul explained how we are to know the things of God: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
God makes His Word plain to those who ask Him for understanding, and Jesus Christ explained to us how we could understand future events through the Spirit.
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth [Holy Ghost] is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)
Future! Future history will be shown by the Holy Spirit. How? By visions and signs and wonders? No! God reveals Himself through His Word; interpreted by the Holy Spirit. So please ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, instead of asking a "Minister" who repeats only what he has been told and taught in the Seminary! Read the Bible yourself!
As Christians and parents, how can you convince your children of the Truth of the Bible, and the faithfulness of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, unless you teach them the truth of our Israel Identity? "Ministers" tell millions of our young people "the Jews are God's Chosen People," and that there are supposedly less Israelites today than there were over 3000 years ago, and that the Old Testament is about other people, the "Jews." They are totally unable to show the relevance of the Scripture to our race, our nation, or our time, when the truth of the matter is that the Scripture is primarily about our race, our nation, our time! "Hear, ye deaf: and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant..." (Isaiah 42:18‑19)
Let's teach our children the truth about Israel: That we Anglo‑Saxons, are the true descendants, of the twelve sons of Israel, and that our great nation and the great Christian Nations of Europe are the nations promised to the Children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel. Let's prove to them we have a covenant‑keeping God, that the Bible is the Word of God, that it is true, and we have been Redeemed by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What About the Transfiguration?
The transfiguration Was A Vision!
Notice how, just six days before the transfiguration took place, Jesus plainly said that "some" [not all] of His disciples would not "taste of death" till they "see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom!" (Matthew 16:28) The only way one can understand this plain statement of Jesus Christ is by the transfiguration: A Vision, of "the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom" which took place just six days later!
Otherwise, this would be a clear error ‑‑ and the very Word of God would appear to contain a colossal mistake. Because, every single one of the Apostles died without having seen "the Son of Man come into His actual Kingdom."
However, three of them did see "the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom," In A Vision, just six days later! Now let's read the account of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ in Matthew 17:1‑8: "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."
Notice that Peter understood that the translucent, glowing, radiant visage of Jesus Christ, Moses and Elijah was as if they were Spirit Beings, already in God’s Kingdom. Peter suggested that they might: "...make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias" (verse 4).
The Feast of Tabernacles [or "booths"] foreshadowed the Kingdom of God! And Peter had kept this important Holy Day season all his life. So had all believing Israelites of the House of Israel. After they heard a booming voice, they: "...fell on their face, and were sore afraid." Jesus then came to them, and told them not to be afraid, "when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." (verses 6‑9)
Now notice the absolute proof, from the Word of God itself, that what they saw was not real; but a miraculous vision! "And as they came down the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." (Matthew 17:9)
Now, Peter, James and John understood they had seen only a vision! They knew that they had not seen a literal resurrection; and, of course, they knew that what they had seen had taken place right there on the mountain, before their startled eyes. Knowing what the scribes said, and a fair amount of the Scriptures, they asked Jesus: "...Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." (Matthew 17:10‑13)
Note well this important discussion. The reason James and the others asked Jesus about what the scribes really meant concerning "Elijah must come first" was because they knew Elijah had not yet been resurrected! They knew what they had seen was A Vision! Because Jesus had plainly told them so! Unlike millions of professing, church‑going Christians today who assume Jesus literally brought Elijah and Moses "down from heaven" to be with Him for a temporary stay, and to let the startled eyes of James, Peter and John see these two great men who were allegedly already "up in heaven," the disciples knew they had merely seen a Vision! They believed Christ! Do you?
In the remainder of the discussion, one can see how Jesus revealed to them that John the Baptist was the prophesied end‑time prophet who is to come in "the power and the spirit of Elijah."
If you believe Christ, and not what you have "always assumed," or what you have "always been taught" by so‑called religious teachers, then you know, and you know that you know, that Elijah was not then in Heaven! You know that what the disciples saw was merely A Vision! You know that Elijah is dead. You know that he had "received not the promise" yet (Hebrews 11:13, 39‑40) and that, like David, Elijah: "...Is not ascended into the heavens!" (Acts 2:34)
Enoch is Dead!
Now let's look at what the Bible says 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 this testimony, that he pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5) Now read the entire chapter of Hebrews Eleven. Notice how many great men of God; sages, prophets and patriarchs, are mentioned. They include Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Gideon and Barach, Sampson and David, Samuel, and many other prophets.
Twice, in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, God's Word says, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off..." (Hebrews 11:13)
Again, "And these ALL, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise!" (Hebrews 11:39) Therefore, the Bible plainly says Enoch died!
We also have the further testimony of Jesus Christ who plainly said no man hath ascended into heaven. The sacred Word of God insists that Enoch and Elijah are dead.
Then what does it mean when the Bible says "Enoch was 'translated?'" The Greek word "metatithemi" (#3346 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) is used only in Acts 7:16; Galatians 1: 6; Hebrews 7:12; 11:5 [twice] and Jude 4. The word means "Carried over: removed."
Notice the identical Greek word as it is translated in the books of Acts, chapter 7 verse 16: "And were carried over [metatithemi] into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money..." Here, the very same word which is rendered "translated" is given as "carried over" concerning the bodies of Jacob and others of the fathers. Now notice the next example: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from [metatithemi] him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." (Galatians 1:6)
Actually, the expression should be rendered "removing," or that they were in the process of moving away from the original body of truth to a false doctrine. But notice the force of the Greek word metatithemi as it is rendered in the English expression in this verse: "Remove from." Now, note the next use of the same Greek word. "For the priesthood being changed [metatithemi], there is made of necessity a change also of the law." (Hebrews 7:12) This scripture deals with the change between the priesthood of the sons of Aaron [the Levitical priesthood] to the divine priesthood of Jesus Christ.
None of these expressions have anything whatsoever to do with being taken up to Heaven! One has to do with removing from true beliefs, from the body of truth of God's church. Another has to do with the change in the priesthood. Another had to do with the transporting of dead bodies from one place to another.
Now, note the example in Jude 4: "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning [Greek: metatithemi] the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." The word "turning" means changing, exchanging, substituting.
What does the word "to translate" mean to you? Notice we have avoided its usage when we spoke of changing a word from the Greek language into the English, choosing to use "rendering." This was to avoid confusion so we did not use the word "translation" twice in a row. Otherwise, we would have said, "The word 'translated' was translated as..."
When one "translates" one word into another, they are changing from one language to another, but are preserving the meaning. By no stretch of the imagination does the word "translated" in the Greek language mean that Enoch was taken to heaven!
Now, notice that the Apostle Paul said he "was not found." Why was he "not found?" Because there were those who were looking for him. Enoch was called the "seventh from Adam." (1) Abel: who was not counted because he fathered no children; (2) Seth; (3) Enos; (4) Cainan; (5) Mahalaleel; (6) Jared; (7) Enoch. As you can see Cain is not listed at all.
It was stated that Enoch "walked with God" after Methuselah was born. "And Enoch walked with God..." (Genesis 5:22)
There were two men named "Enoch" mentioned in Genesis, and the Enoch with whom we are concerned with was the second, the son of Jared, and the father of Methuselah. The Bible plainly says that, because Enoch "walked with God" [and no higher compliment could be given to this patriarch!], God "Took him." But where did God "take him?" That is the question! Remember what Jesus Christ plainly said. He plainly said no man had ascended into heaven!
David was a man after God's own heart; and Peter tells us, in his inspired sermon on the Day of Pentecost, that David is both dead and buried, that his sepulcher remains with us unto this day, and that David is not in the heavens! (Acts 2:29, 34)
The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us in the book of Hebrews that Enoch together with all the other prophets and patriarchs, including Enoch, died! However, Paul further tells us that Enoch "was not found!" Obviously, since Enoch was one of those few men during that pre‑flood period who truly "walked with God," there were others, enemies, going Satan’s way, who were looking for him! Why?
We are given none of the details, but it is interesting to note that, in the book of Jude, a quotation from a book written by Enoch concerning the Second coming of Christ is given. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these [Satan‑inspired false prophets], saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14‑15)
Enoch was one of God's faithful prophets. As one of the very few during that violent, sinful period, he was preaching the Gospel as a witness against evil, sinning, Satanic men!
While we are given none of the details, the Bible is explicitly clear that God decided to spare Enoch from murder at the hands of his antagonists, just like Elijah! So God "took him away," and he "was not found" [by those who were looking for him]. We are not told where God took him; but we know that it was not "into heaven," for Jesus Christ plainly said so. It is also just as obvious that, at some later date [In a land other than that covered by the Bible, because after one left a certain geographical area they were no longer mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. An example would be Jeremiah, for after he left Israel and went into Egypt, he is no longer mentioned in the Scriptures; yet we know that he traveled to Ireland from Egypt], and, hopefully, under pleasant circumstances, Enoch died!
Like David, he is "dead and buried," and, even though we do not know the location of his grave, he "received not the promise!"
The Greek word "metatithemi," which is rendered "translated" [inaccurately, and confusingly] on two occasions, should have been rendered "transferred; removed; taken away; transported!"
No, Enoch is not in heaven! Elijah is not in heaven! David is not in heaven! And to this date, the only human individual who has ever walked this earth to be assumed bodily or otherwise into heaven is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Can We Believe Jesus Christ?
It is absolutely essential that one understands this great principle! The Bible does not contradict itself! Do you believe this? For, if you do not; if you believe the Bible is filled with errors, mistakes, inaccuracies, or outright lies; then you have no basis for your belief in God! You have no basis for your belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and you have no basis for believing you can be saved! Furthermore you should remove yourself from the pulpit, if you are a "Minister" and enter into another line of endeavor.
If even one word of the Bible is untrustworthy, then all of the Bible is untrustworthy (But men do make mistakes in translating from one language to another; this however, does negate the Word of God). However, this does not mean that on occasions translators did not understand what they were reading and so chose the wrong word either by honest mistake or by a deliberate falsehood. Why are so many sincere, yet deceived, persons so ignorant of this great principle? It is because: "Then understood they how that he [Christ] bade them [Apostles] not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine [teachings] of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees [The Jews]." (Matthew 16:12)
Paul tells us: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the Tradition of Men [The teachings of the Jews], after the rudiments of the world [by the Jews through their bible The Talmud], and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
Paul warns us a second time: "Not giving heed to Jewish Fables, and commandments of men [Again do not listen to the teachings of the Jews], that turn from the truth [In other words the Jews will lead men away from Christ and God Almighty]." (Titus 1:14)
A third time: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines..." (Hebrews 13:9)
Peter said: "But there were false prophets also among the people [He is speaking of the Jews who were teaching false doctrines], even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them..." (2 Peter 2:1)
To prove what we are saying about the Jews, let's look at the following: "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews..." (Acts 19:13‑17)
Like the balky mule, or the horse you can "lead to water but cannot make him drink," there are people who, while seeing with their own eyes, in the pages of their own Bibles, the truth of God's Word, will still absolutely refuse to accept it, so long as there is some fuzzy, vague notion lodged in their minds which was put there by so‑called religious teachers; The Clergy of Organized Religion, parents, friends, or by their own misunderstanding of the Bible.
Review, in your own mind, what you have seen with your own eyes from your own Bible! Look at the accurate meanings of each of the Greek words used for "soul" which is "psuche" (#5590 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) in the New Testament!
Review what you have read about the state of the dead; the resurrection; the fact that Christ will return to and rule on this earth; and the plain statements that "no man hath ascended into heaven" given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!
Now, please come to understand one of the primary requirements of Bible understanding [What ever you have been told to the contrary notwithstanding].
First: Jesus Christ thanked His Father that the Father had revealed these things "unto babes." We must first become a "babe in Christ," like an innocent wide‑eyed child, hungering and thirsting for God's Word. We cannot want our own way; we cannot cling doggedly to preconceived notions, opinions or previous religious teachings. Rather, like an innocent little child, we must yield our heart and our whole being completely to God! We must ask Him to be our teacher. We must confess Jesus Christ, not only as our personal Savior, but as our Ruler, our King, and as our Boss!
Second: God says, "...to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)
Do you tremble before the divinely inspired, Holy and Sacred Word of God? If you do, then you would tremble in fear to reject God's truth. You would tremble in fear to doggedly cling to a preconceived notion, argument, personal point of view or opinion of your own; especially when those opinions are proven wrong by the divinely inspired Word of God!
Third: Jesus said, "...The Scripture cannot be broken." (John 10:35) Think for a moment. Jesus Christ is described as the word Greek: logos. (#3056 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)e is the Scripture, the Word of God personified. (John 1:1)
Will feeble, ignorant, deceived mankind presume to ascend up to heaven and pull Jesus Christ from His Throne? Can the preconceived notions and opinions of deceived persons nullify the very authority of the living Christ? Jesus Christ is absolutely supreme. He is untouched, aloof and inviolate; totally above the puny presumptuousness of man. "...Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)
Sarcasm, haughtiness, anger, rebellion at being told the truth; the petty emotions and resentments of human beings, are as meaningless and useless to Jesus Christ as a germ on the hind leg of a tiny spider lost in the vastness of the Mato Grosso of Brazil!
Petty, argumentative, human opinions simply do not count in God's sight. But how few are willing to face the Bible with that attitude. How shockingly few are willing to read Jesus' plain statement, "No man hath ascended up to heaven." and simply, humbly believe it.
Instead they become confused. They say, "But how can this be!" They querulously say, "But what about Elijah, what about Enoch, what about all the saints who were resurrected?"
Instead of believing Christ, they place greater weight on the oft‑repeated fables of the Jews and their religious upbringing. They remember the hoarse‑voiced preaching of the perspiring tent‑camp evangelists of their youth. They remember the hundreds of radio and television evangelists they have heard over the years. They remember their own "Minister" who, in all likelihood, belongs to the Clergy of Organized Religion, and his teachings over the years. They remember their parents' teaching and the so‑called "Christian" upbringing of their church.
Not so with the true Christian. The true Christian approaches the study of God's word in total subjection and humbleness. He will approach the study of God's Word in trembling and great humility. He will fear to misapply, misinterpret or attempt to read his own meaning into the Scriptures. He will realize that, even as Jesus Christ stands at the supreme position of the Lord of the Universe, so do the written Scriptures stand inviolable, untrammeled, unsullied, immutable and absolutely sure!
Therefore, when the True Christian sees his own Savior, Jesus Christ, saying, "For no man hath ascended into heaven." He believes Jesus Christ Himself, and will believe no other. Then, armed with that belief, he approaches other, apparently nebulous or ambiguous, scriptures from the point of view of that belief. In other words, he knows the Bible tells him that he needs to: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Because he trembles to misinterpret or misapply the Bible, he will use the plain, incontrovertible, impossible‑ to‑be misunderstood scriptures to assist him in under-standing the vague, or ambiguous, ones.
Are you such a person? Or does Almighty God or the Lord Jesus Christ need to tell you something twice? Three times? Twenty times? One hundred? Or are you a converted Christian and when your Savior, Lord and Master, High Priest and soon‑coming King tells you something He need only speak once?
Apply that concept to all you have read in this presentation. Carefully look up each scripture in your own Bible. Underline or make a mark beside the ones that are outstandingly important. Let them sink deeply down into your mind. Believe them; and do not confuse yourself by deceiving yourself into believing you are "disagreeing with Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Oral Roberts, or some other so‑called Judeo-Christian Pastor. What they think or even what we think has nothing to do with your salvation. Your salvation is between you, Jesus Christ and Almighty God. If we tell you the truth, quote it for you out of your own Bible, no amount of dogging or evading that truth; no amount of taking issue with us as human beings ‑‑ can nullify or make void that eternal truth. you have been told. Jesus said: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:32, 36)
When you know the truth, you become responsible for it. Each time you learn new truth from the Sacred Word of God, it becomes "Dangerous Knowledge!" For, once you learn new truth from God's Word, you become responsible for it. And God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ expects you to apply and to teach it. In fact, He not only expects you to learn His truth, He expects you to become so joyous at discovering new truth that you will eagerly and anxiously desire to share it with others. You should approach all your Bible study in this fashion. Never believe men, Always, always believe the Bible, but realize that the New Testament King James English is a modern day translation, and that it is sometimes necessary to obtain the precise meaning of the original Greek and other languages; it is necessary to do as Christ said and "rightly divide the word of truth!" (2 Titus 2:15)You need to remember and believe that: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
When Paul informed the young evangelist Timothy that some false teachers were claiming the resurrection was past already, Paul said: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure..." (2 Timothy 2:19)
Yes, regardless as to the petty disagreements, arguments and vanities of ignorant, deceived ,men, the foundation of God, the Holy Scriptures, stands sure! Jesus did not lie: No man has ascended to the heaven of God’s Throne! Elijah was taken up, by a miracle, into the air, and was transported safely away to some other location. Years later, from wherever Elijah was taken to a place of security, a letter was received by Jehoram, the New King in Jerusalem.
Notice carefully: "And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah..." (2 Chronicles 21:12)
Then followed a description of the horrible fate that Elijah, who was still alive, described would occur to Jehoram! Do you understand: Elijah was still alive, on this earth, years after he had been taken up by the fiery chariot, with which he had been taken out of Palestine to some other place! Some other country. Now you know! Elijah is dead. Enoch is dead. They await the resurrection upon the return of Jesus Christ!
As a second witness; Paul related: "...It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)
Read this scripture carefully: note it well: "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all `be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:16‑23) Elijah and Enoch have not yet received the promises. But they will. When? Christ is the "first-fruits" from the dead, and; afterward, they that are the "dead in Christ" [which includes Elijah and Enoch] will rise from their graves to immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:50‑52) At His coming, and not one second before!!!!!!!