|
Freeme2.co.za |
|
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free |
|
(Previous page) © COPYRIGHT NOW UNBANNED PUBLICATIONS
WHAT ABOUT FEMALE ANGELS? The notion of holy female angels is a pagan doctrine. Neither the Hebrew Scriptures, (the Old Testament,) Rabbinic literature, nor traditional Jewish liturgy, nor New Testament Scripture declare that God created female angels. Contrary to the false portrayal of angels by paganism and the media industry, God created only male angels. Daniel 9:21 refers to “the man Gabriel,” and of course, we know of the archangel Michael, who is the commander of God’s angel armies. In the apocrypha or non-Biblical books, angels called Raphael, Seth, Jeremiel, Uriel, Sariel, Jeremiel, Samael, and Raguel are also mentioned. None of the ancient Scriptures mention the possibility of ‘female’ angels, nor do they really describe a single encounter with a ‘female’ angel, because female angels simply do not exist. Contextual Bible Scripture refers to all the angels as ‘the sons of God.’ Of course they are not literal sons; this merely explains their gender and close affiliation with their Creator. Angels, and therefore, fallen angels or demons too, can also take on human form. The angels, who came to lead Lot out of Sodom, were so humanlike that those gays demanded to sodomize them. Angels also took on human form in Gen. 18, where they had dinner with Abraham and prophesied to him. So, Heb. 13:2 commanded, “Do not neglect hospitality, because some have entertained [real supernatural] angels without knowing it.” All the angels of God, fallen angels included, are male spirits. So, why did God create male angels if there are no female angels, while they are capable of committing fornication with humans, as described in Gen. 6?” We just do not know. Bible believing, Scripturally born again believers in Jesus Christ will rest in what God did reveal through the full context of His Word, because the “entirety of His Word is Truth,” (Ps. 119:160.) True believers will never intentionally misinterpret, omit, or add to the Word to make up their own facts about anything.
Yet, someone wrote to me saying that the Bible does indeed refer to female angels — and the person quoted one verse from the whole of Scripture, Zechariah 5:9. Always be wary of once-off verses and passages that do not fit into the full context of Scripture. As all other prophetic visions, this one also consists of symbolic language and images. Ţ Throughout Scripture, God identified His holy angels as the ones who dispensed His prophesies and visions. The two visions in Zachariah Chapter 5 are no exception. Here is the context of those so-called “female angels.” Verses 5-11 states, “The angel who talked with me said, “...See what [is happening.] There were two women, coming with the wind in their wings… [Very fast...] They had wings like the wings of a stork, [not angel wings,] and they lifted up the basket, [with the “woman” named ‘Wickedness’ inside,] and carried it forth [not away] to the land of Shinar [or Babylon — which describes the world system of evil and idolatry, to put Wickedness there on a pedestal to be worshiped.]” What might seem like female angels carrying away another female angel in a basket, is actually a description of a prophetic vision. These ‘women’ on ‘stork’s wings’ were demons of great perversion, as God’s holy angels will never take on female form to dishonor God’s marvelous creation. What’s more, they will never disperse and venerate wickedness in any way. They are completely holy spiritual beings; solely under the control and direction of our Most High and Holy God. Ţ These “women” on “stork’s wings,” (not angel wings,) are not ‘female angels.’ Such passages do not identify the so-called ‘gender’ of spirits. In Scripture, ‘female’ spirits are always metaphors, which either point to the kingdom of darkness, (such as the Harlot of Babylon in Rev. 17-18,) or to God’s Kingdom of Light, (such as the five foolish and five wise virgins, Mt. 25:1-13.) Another example is the ‘woman’ Jezebel in Rev. 2:20, which is not really a “female” spirit that allegedly enters into sinful women, but the symbol of false spirits of prophecy, sexual immorality and idolatry that enter into both male and female leaders of the “corrupt church system.” The same principle applies to references in the Old Testament to Israel, God’s “unfaithful wife,” (Isa. 54:5; Hos. 2:2,) and to the holy bride of Christ, (Rev. 21:9.)
ARE ANGELS IMPORTANT TO US PERSONALLY, OR WERE ANGELS ONLY FOR ‘BIBLICAL TIMES?’ The entire truth of the Bible assures us of the irrefutable fact that the angels of God are always near to guard, help, protect, strengthen, and carry us. Sadly, denominations such as the Calvinist Reformed Churches, Methodist Church, etcetera, reject the Holy Spirit’s gifts such as tongues, (which they ridicule as ‘glossolalia,’) prophecy, healing, and the other supernatural works of the Spirit. They allege the Spirit’s miracles and gifts “were only for the time the apostles evangelized the earth.” So, they also reject the miraculous ministry, and even the existence of the holy angel spirits of God! Yet, it is a fact that God also sends His angels to us with messages of warning and guidance, (Mt. 2:13.) They still speak in some of our dreams. They definitely still fend off danger or pull us out of harm’s way. They still open spiritual and physical prison doors and bring us out of great calamities, (Acts 5:19,20.) More often than we can think, they still rescue us from the clutches of the devil and of death itself, (Mt. 26:53.) After Jesus withstood the temptations of the devil in the wilderness, “the devil left Him, and angels came to minister to Him.” All God’s promises in Psalm 91 is still a reality for every true disciple of Christ. God declared in verses 10-13, “No evil will befall you… For He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone…” Hence, we may boldly accept that God sends His “lights” to minister His truth, salvation, deliverance, protection, comfort, and healing to all His sincere believers! Yet, we become so easily discouraged and fearful. If only God would open our spiritual eyes to focus on Him as the omnipotent God of all creation; the One Who “holds our times in His hand!” How strong and spiritually unconquerable we would be if God would enlighten our carnal minds to understand His immeasurable might and incredible power through the ministry of His holy angels, who control His unseen spiritual world!
DO WE ALL HAVE PERSONAL “GUARDIAN ANGELS?” We must focus on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Sole Provider and Protector and never focus on the angels of God per say — or on so-called “personal or guarding” angels, although we can thank God for them and ask Him for their mighty ministry. Not a single contextual verse in the Bible tells us to seek out the company of angels, but to live in a personal relationship with Jesus. Still, it is wonderful to know that holy angels are the totally dedicated, supernatural servants of God. In this regard, Scripture does indicate that God assigns an individual angel to watch over every sincere believer in Christ. These angels “always see the face of the Father Who is in heaven” on our behalf, (Mt. 18:10; Heb. 1:14.)
SHOULD WE CONSULT, COMMAND, WORSHIP AND REVERE ANGELS? As holy angels are mighty, spiritual beings who are directly under the command of God Alone, we should respect the angels. Nevertheless, there are many who jest about angels; insult, belittle, and revile (or slander) the holy angels, and degrade the holy angels of God to the state of pathetic little ‘cherubs’ that shoot arrows at ‘lovers!’ Peter warned against this type of disrespect towards the awesome, holy angels of God in 2 Pt. 2:9-11. He wrote, “[...Such people] are presumptuous… and not afraid to speak evil of… angels… [which even the angels do not do to one another,]” (Jude v. 8-9.) When angels minister to humanity, (and they do, ‘for God gives His angels charge over you…’) they will only minister according to the directions of God and no one else, (Rev. 5:11.) But as seen on the previous page, God forbade us to pray to, (consult,) and worship anyone and anything except Him Alone, as that is active idolatry, (Ex. 20:1-6.) Consequently, contrary to what false teachers say, human beings cannot consult or command God’s holy angels in any way! If we meet preachers or anyone else who are ‘in charge’ of his or her ‘personal or guiding angel(s),’ we should flee from that person, because the truth of Scripture states that holy angels worship God and are under His charge. Therefore, holy angels will not and do not obey human beings directly, (Rev. 22:8-9.) If you believe you have command over a ‘guarding angel,’ ‘familiar angel,’ or any other kind of ‘friendly’ angel, you were deceived by Satan, who can change himself into the image of an angel of light to make you believe that you are in contact with a holy angel, while you are actually under the deception and control of a dangerous demon, (2 Cor. 11:14.) That is why Scripture clearly commands that we must “test the spirits to see if they are of God, and not believe every spirit.” This also goes for spirits speaking through people; preachers, prophets, and teachers, (1 Ths. 21-22; 1 Jn. 4:1-4.)
IS JESUS “THE MORNING STAR” LUCIFER AS SOME DENOMINATIONS TEACH? Contrary to common misconception, the Lord Jesus Christ is not an angel but God Himself. Paul wrote in Colossians 2:9, “In Him, [Jesus,] dwells [present tense; meaning resides, stays, have a home, inhabits, has settled permanently,] all the fullness of The Godhead, [the Inseparable, Omnipresent Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] bodily.” 1 Timothy 3:16 agrees, “God was manifest in the flesh,” or ‘God came to live on earth in the form of the Man Jesus Christ.’ From before time existed, Jesus has been the “Word” of God; being God Himself. The author of Hebrews testified, “God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past [the Old Testament era,] to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days [the New Testament era] spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed Heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds; Who, being the brightness of His glory and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power…” Hence, Jesus is neither the angel “Lucifer, the morning star, the [false] light bringer,” nor “Michael the archangel,” as some Charismatic churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and others allege. From the context of Scripture, it is absolutely impossible to confuse Jesus with Lucifer the devil and any of the archangels. So, what is happening here? Wikipedia, the factual online encyclopedia explains, “Lucifer (/ˈluːsɪfər/ or /ˈljuːsɪfər/) is the King James Version rendering of the Hebrew word הֵילֵל in, (Isaiah 14:12.) This word, transliterated [or interpreted not translated] hęlęl or heylel, occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible and according to the KJV-influenced Strong's Concordance means "shining one, morning star, Lucifer." The word Lucifer is taken from the Latin Vulgate, [the Roman Catholic Bible,] which transliterates ֵילֵלas lucifer, meaning "the morning star, the planet Venus", or, as an adjective, "light-bringing." The Septuagint renders הֵילֵל in Greek as ἑωσφόρος (heōsphoros), a name, literally "bringer of the dawn," for the morning star. In this passage Isaiah applies to an [evil human] king of Babylon [and a ‘star’ or angel is described in Job 38:4-7,] the image of the morning star [or rebellious angel] fallen from the sky...” The ‘morning star’ or Lucifer is Satan, (Col. 2:9-15.) Jesus created this “morning star,” described in Isaiah 14 and in Ezekiel 28, as His most perfect, most intelligent, most beautiful, and most powerful angel, who chose to fall from glory. Thus, he received the name Lucifer the devil, meaning the false “light bringer;” a name, which, according to the context of these passages, can never be equated to Jesus Who is God! Simply reading one of the verses in these passages is enough to clarify this deliberate and most blasphemous confusion between Lucifer the devil and His Creator, the Most High and Holy Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 14:12, “How you have fallen from heaven, [the Lord Jesus said he saw Satan fall from heaven as lighting, Luke 10:18,] O Lucifer, [the false light bringer,] son of the morning [or the morning star.] How were you cast down to the ground…” Two verses are found in the New Testament, (Revelation 22:16 and 2 Peter 1:19,) where the “morning star” supposedly equates to “Jesus.” However, because Jesus Is God Himself, He is not a ‘first-creation’ or ‘morning’ angel, (Job 38:4-7.) Jesus was BEGOTTEN NOT CREATED. Since Pentecost, Jesus fully indwells all true, New Covenant believers as the temple of God the Holy Spirit, (Rom. 8:9 KJV; Eph. 1:12-14; 1 Cor. 6:15-20.) So, it is impossible that the “morning star” can “arise in their hearts!” Angels do not indwell Jesus’ believers, and Jesus is not a ‘star’ or an angel. Angels or “stars” can never compare to God their Creator in any way. These two New Testament verses fit nowhere into the full context of Scripture. Therefore, these verses were either mistranslated, twisted, or added to deliberately to confuse “Lucifer” with Jesus.
IS ‘THE ANGEL OF THE LORD’ MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL OR JESUS?’ The Old Testament term, “the Angel of the Lord,” as everything else, can be confusing when we do not view these verses in the context of Scriptural truth. Uncontextual interpretations of Scripture are the roots of all the false church denominations; the sinful divisions of Christianity, (1 Cor. 1:13-17.) I promise you, dear reader, if we all seek God’s face in earnest prayer, asking Him to lead us “into all truth,” the Holy Spirit will show us the Scriptural and historical context of the entire church system, and every Christian doctrine, form, and norm. In this way, denominationalism, legalism, and churchism would fall away, so that true believers will really become “one [in The Truth, Who is Jesus Christ Himself,] being of the same mind…” (Phil. 2:2.) As God revealed Himself frequently as ‘The Angel [capital letter] of the Lord’ in the Old Testament, just one look at the context will clarify this confusion about Michael the archangel as well. Exodus 3:2-6 declares, “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in [the form of] a flame of fire from the midst of a bush… [V. 4,] So when The Lord saw that Moses turned aside to look, God [not Michael the archangel] called to him, ‘Moses, Moses…’ [V 6,] Moreover, He [capital letter] said, ‘I Am [YHWH or I Am Who I Am,] the God of your father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.” In this short passage, it becomes clear that undoubtedly, The Angel of the Lord is not Michael, but Jesus God Himself, (Heb. 1:1-14; Jn. 1:1-4.) The debate over this and other passages where The Angel of the Lord is mentioned, is totally unnecessary. So, why would God call Himself “the Angel of the Lord” while He is definitely not an angel? “None could see God’s face, for no man could see Him and live,” (Ex. 33:20.) Consequently, instead of showing humanity His face as He did in the New Testament Covenant through the Man Jesus Christ, (in Whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20,) God revealed Himself to humans in the Old Testament in the form of “the Angel of the Lord.”
WERE ELIJAH AND JOHN ‘ANGELS,’ AND WAS THE MAN JESUS GOD’S ANGELIC MESSENGER ? Those who confuse God’s supernatural angels with The Man Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Elijah, and other human preachers, made blasphemous statements concerning the Being of God, as well as the supernatural being of angels. God’s angels can never be God. Supernatural angels cannot be humans. Neither can humans be angel spirits, (Heb. 1:1-14.) However, the “Elijah turned John the Baptist turned angel” doctrine constitutes the confusion of the Old Apostolic Church and all her sister churches, (Pentecostals and Charismatics are also falling into this delusion,) who believe their pastors, preachers, ministers, and ‘priests’ are hyper anointed gods, christs, and supernatural ‘angels’ “in the flesh.” New Testament John the Baptist was not a supernatural ‘angel’ but the human ‘messenger’ or preacher that went before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry of miracles, (Mark 1:1-3.) Holy angels are God’s spirit messengers, who do not have physical bodies, (Heb. 1:7, 14.) Jesus, the Truth, Life, Light and Way, was, is, and always will be The Message, The Word of God, and The Gospel Himself, not the messenger! That is why, when John saw the Man Jesus, he brought God’s Message of Salvation to the Hebrews, stating, “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29.) There will never be another human “messenger” such as John the Baptist, who was merely a type, (not the human spirit, reincarnation, or resurrection) of Old Testament Elijah, who prepared The Way for Jesus, The Message. Jesus said of John, “[Just as Old Elijah the preacher or human messenger did,] John will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. John will also go before [Me] in the spirit of Elijah, [not as Elijah himself, but in the way, purpose, or mission of Elijah,] and power, [the anointing of the Holy Spirit] to turn… the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared [to accept the New Testament Covenant of the prophesied Old Testament Christ,]” (Lu. 1:16-17.) Hence, the so-called ‘angel’ and ‘god/christ’ “Elijah-spirit,” now allegedly living in the ‘hyper anointed,’ ‘mediating,’ five-fold clergy of the Charismatic/Pentecostal Movement, causes complete chaos. Despite the fact that all the human spirits of the deceased are either in heaven or in hell, (Luke 16:199-31,) and neither Old Elijah nor John the Baptist were ‘resurrected’ to indwell or control them, there can never be another Word, Message, or Gospel of Salvation, Redemption, Blessing, and Holiness — Who is Jesus Christ of the New Testament Covenant Himself — for Whom to ‘prepare the way,’ (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6.) Additionally, there can never be a ‘second’ outpouring of the Holy Spirit or a so-called ‘third or fourth’ Pentecost as these deceivers allege. At That One Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came once and for all to indwell all His sincere believes as His spiritual temple on earth “until the end of the world,” (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Mt. 28:19-20.) Ţ In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, (which absolutely refutes Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses who rewrote the truth of Scripture to supposedly ‘annihilate’ the certainty of eternal heaven and hell,) Jesus said, “[Even if a human spirit from heaven could go to warn their family on earth,] they will not repent. For if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, [the Old Testament Scriptures,] neither will they be persuaded though one rises from the dead,” (Lu. 16:27-31.) Ţ Jesus proclaimed that He does not speak to humanity through the human spirits of dead prophets or ancestors, but through His living, Scripturally born again, Spirit and Word filled disciples, whom He Personally commissioned to preach His Gospel to the world! Jesus clearly FORBADE us to try and speak to the dead! (Deut. 18:10-14.) The ministry of ‘John the messenger,’ who went before the Lord to declare Jesus as ‘The Message,’ will never be required again. John the Baptist was beheaded as a mere human and was buried as a mere human. He will be resurrected at the return of Christ like any other sincerely believing disciple of Jesus. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the one and only requirement concerning the spreading of ‘The Message,’ is to obey the commission of Christ Himself, Who commanded all His sincere disciples to preach “this” Gospel [or Message] to the whole world; making disciples of those who believe in Jesus, sincerely accept Him, and follow Him; to water baptize these believing disciples, and to teach these disciples everything This Message, (the Word of God, or the man Jesus Christ Himself and not church doctrines,) has said! (Mt. 28:18-20.)
IS JESUS OR MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL THE “CAPTAIN” OF GOD’S ANGEL ARMIES? Again, we only have to look at what is really written in Scripture to clarify this blasphemous “misunderstanding.” Jesus is God Himself, there is no question about it, (Jn. 1:1-14; Heb. 1:1-14; Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20 KJV…) The following perfectly demonstrate Who the Captain of God’s angel armies Is. Scripture declares in Joshua 5:13-15, “When… Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ [Joshua obediently ‘tested’ the origin and intentions of the spirit as God also commands His believers in 1 Ths. 5:21-22 and 1 Jn. 4:1-4.] So he said, ‘No, but as Commander [capital letter] of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ Ţ “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped Him, (the Commander of the angel armies,) and said to Him, ‘What does My Lord [‘YHWH’ or I Am Who I Am in Hebrew] say to His servant?’ (Ex. 3:14-15; 6:2-3, 8.) Ţ “Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Clearly, Joshua had the face-to-face encounter with God and Christ Jesus Himself, just as Moses did at the burning bush. Christ Jesus is the Commander-in-Chief, (the King not merely a captain,) of His angel armies! Joshua had to take off his sandals because He was standing on holy ground, just as God commanded Moses to do at the burning bush. Ţ Nowhere in Scripture did God ever require his servants to take off their shoes in reverence to one of His angels. In addition, Joshua would never have worshipped a ‘mere’ angel, as explained in Revelation 22:8-9, “When John saw and heard these things, [which the angel revealed to him,] he fell down to worship before the feet of the angel… Then the angel rebuked him, saying, ‘ See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant… Worship God…” A thousand year peace on earth; Satan’s capture and release? ► The Seven Ecclesias in Revelation show us How to Overcome Satan’s Traps
HEAVEN: A Real Place, or just a ‘State of Mind’? WITCHCRAFT—(pagan & Christian) WHAT IS THAT? Dreams, Visions, Nightmares, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit |