Who Is Gog And Magog: What Is The Lake Of Fire?

And when the thousand years are expired, 

Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 

and shall go out to deceive the nations which are 

in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, 

to gather them together to battle: the number 

of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went 

up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed

 the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: 

and fire came down from God out of heaven, 

and devoured them. And the devil that deceived 

them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 

where the beast and the false prophet are,

 and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:7-10

     Satan having been bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years is now let loose and he goes once again to deceive. This deception is that he encompasses the saints. Why would he encompass those who are not saints? They are no problem to him, only those who believe in God, in the Only Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, in the redemption provided by Jesus Christ who will live forever with Jesus Christ. Satan is the enemy of God, of the saints, the Authentic Christians. Notice the term: "the beloved city?" The "city of God" is that city found in Scripture, a city that excels all the cities ever on this earth, that has divine authority, a city that has brought influence upon the minds of man, not by some intellectual movement, but by the express providential arrangement: "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Psalm 87:3). Furthermore more this city is mentioned in Scripture: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness" (Psalm 48:1). It is written: "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High" (Psalm 46:1). This city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High God, God is in the midst of her, shall shall not be moved as seen in Psalm 46:4. It is to this city that Authentic Christians are inspired with love, a love that makes us to desire its citizenship. This desirable city causes men and women to prefer it over their own city, that is, their gods for Authentic Christians know that God is the God of all gods. No one can enter this city except by redemption through the One Mediator, Jesus Christ. It is in this city, this camp, where the saints of God reside and it is this city that Satan attempts to thwart their faith, their love of God and to drive them out of the city of God. 

     Satan is loosed and is loosed to come to a battle with God. God now in the unfolding of time has allowed Satan to test His authority and having not to be able to do this then God has all right to use His authority and power to destroy Satan. The cleansing power of fire came down from heaven by God and devoured Satan and his followers. The Greek word is plain in its translation for "devoured" that is, to be plundered as it is  singular word and aorist in tense, indicative, so, this is an event that is seen as having happened and that event has lasting effect. 

     The Devil was cast into the lake of fire. What is this lake of fire? One must take the time to examine if there was ever a lake of fire, and there is, and that lake was just outside of Jerusalem, the Valley of Hinnom, a dump, a burning dump for trash, kept burning by sulphur and brimestone (this is a term for sulphur), and was a place where those criminals were cast who were not deemed worthy to have a burial. This lake of fire already contained the false prophets, the beast. Here in this lake of fire they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. The Greek word for "torment" is plural, future, passive and this means that after the defeat of Satan, false prophets, the beast, they will forever be tormented. The Greek word translated "torment" is a good translation but the problem comes when we do not understand the use of the word "torment." The dictionary gives this definition: 1. to afflict with great, use.incessant or repeated bodily or mental suffering. So what we learn is that "torment" is not just physical suffering, but is also mental suffering. So how can we understand this word? By Scripture, it use in Scripture. In the Bible "torment" never means literal physical torture. In fact, if a person was thrown into prison they were tormented by the tormentor because they could not get out of this prison. (yes, at times a jailer would allow a prisoner to get out to beg for money, but then return to jail), but this is were analogies fall short if we do not understand that Satan and all those thrown into the lake of fire cannot get out so they are in a spiritual sense, tormented. God who throws them into this lake of fire will not ever allow them to get out, for any reason. 

     Gog and Magog: here is where there is much speculation among theologians. Here are some Scriptural references to this:
"The sons of Japheth:  Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras." 
Genesis 10:2

And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 
"Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog,
the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him
and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, 
O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal."
Ezekiel 38:1-3
"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'Thus says the 
Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; 
and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of  the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel."
Ezekiel 39:1-2
    These two words have long been a challenge to Bible scholars and historians. We find that Magog is a grandson of Noah, and Ezekiel claims that Magog's descendants will some day attack Israel. It is also known that Gog and Magog are identified with many present-day cultures. Whoever they are in this account we know this: they come to attack the city of God and are destroyed. 
     Lesson: We have come to know that there are those who oppose God, His people and that we having come to understand that no matter what name they are called by, they are such that those who desire to be Authentic Christians, to be a child of God, to be the city of God, will flee from all who are of the such as Gog and Magog: the cults, and false teachers, those beasts who desire to devour you and to cause you to question your faith.
    Do not be caught up in speculation. A Christian, an Authentic Christian, is one who simply follows the commands of Jesus, to deny oneself and follow Him, to spread the Gospel wherever you are, and to avoid the pitfalls that Satan and his hordes are throwing at you as darts of poison. 

According to their deeds,
    accordingly He will repay,
fury to His adversaries, recompense
   to His enemies; to the islands He
will repay recompence.
                   Isaiah 59:18

You are the city of God: Live as such

Richard L. Crumb

 

Taking Part Of The Resurrection(s)

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, 

and judgment was given unto them: and I saw 

the souls of them that were beheaded for the 

witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, 

and which had not worshiped the beast, 

neither his image, neither had received 

his mark upon their hands; and hey lived 

and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

But the rest of the dead lived not again until 

the thousand years were finished. This is the 

first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that 

hath part in the first resurrection: on this the 

second death hath no power, but they shall be 

priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign 

with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4-6 

     With great caution I enter into an examination of these verses as there is major controversies as to what they mean and how they are to be applied. John now sees thrones, so what is meant by "throne?" Well, simply put a throne can be as simple as a place to sit, a chair, a literal object. Or, it can mean more and it does. I will use English tranliteration rather that the Greek lettering for the words. It will keep it simple to understand, if one wants to know the exact Greek, go to Strong's Dictionary, this is where I am getting my definitions. We must not confuse "bema" for "throne," they are connected but are different. Bema means several things, as a raised place, a place of assembly where orations were made. Bema is called the judgment seat of Christ to whom all judgment has been given (2Corinthians 5:10). Here at the Bema people will be judged according to what they have done both good and bad (I will cover this later in this chapter). Throne is by implication power or authority, a potanetate-seat. As a noun, and in this verse it is a noun. A throne is a place of authority (Matthew 19:28). John sees those who sat upon this seat of authority and judgment was given to them. The Greek word used here is "krima," and being used as a noun, it denotes a sentence, a verdict, a condemnation, the decision resulting from an investigation. Krima is used of a decision passed on the faults of others. It is used as a process leading to a decision and the pronouncement of the decision or verdict. The ones sitting on thrones, a place of authority who who know and acknowledge the decision of God are the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. This pronouncement of this decision was by their examination of the word of God. These are the ones who did not fall prey to the image of the beast, who did not have the mark of the beast, either on their forehead or the hands. This they will do for a thousand years, and this seems then to correspond to the thousand years that Satan is bound and thrown into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, chained by a great chain and by this binding Satan himself cannot go about to personally deceive. 

     Here is where this gets "dicey." It is a about resurrection, is there a rapture or not, and do some go to heaven by a resurrection before others are resurrected, or is there only one resurrection other than the resurrection of Jesus Christ who is The First Resurrection? We began this study of Revelation and one of the first things written was: "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead" (Revelation 1:5). In the year 96 A.D. Clement of Rome wrote: "God has made the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead." The first resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus. We must then, notice this, the word "but," for it has great meaning for us to understand that those sitting on the throne had already been killed, were dead, but now alive and are participants in the "first resurrection" and are pronouncing judgment for this thousand years and then after the thousand years the rest of the dead are given life. These on the throne cannot be affected by death any longer and they are priests of Christ, that is, they minister as priests for and with Jesus Christ. They participate in the judgement God is applying to those who will not follow Him. 

     Well, this brings us to the word "rapture." It is not in the Bible. Here is the famous verses that are used to support the word "Rapture": "We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain with be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1Thessalonnians 4:15-17). These verses do not speak of two resurrections. These verses do speak of an orderly arrangement in the resurrection: first the dead will be resurrected (you cannot be resurrected unless you are dead), and then those who are alive (they have not died) will join them (can you see that both are resurrected in the one resurrection?), in the air to be with the Lord. It is true that the Authentic Christians will be rise to be with Jesus Christ, but, what about non-Christians? Will they be resurrected? This will be answered as we continue in this chapter and the answer will be absolutely clear. Let me give you a hint, no, let the Bible give you a hint: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). 

     Clement of Rome wrote in 96 A.D.: "there will be a future resurrection." Polycarp, a student of John wrote: "If we please Him in this present world, we will also inherit the future world. For He promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead (135 A.D.). I want to give to you hope, a reason to praise God, to have comfort by quoting from some early Church fathers and here is one from Irenaeus 189 A.D. (remember he was alive in the times of the apostles and was a student of Polycarp and John): "The Father did not exercise His providence only for the men who are now alive. Rather, He exercised it for all men who from the beginning (according to their capacity), in their generation, have both feared and loved God, have practiced justice and piety towards their neighbors, and have earnestly desired to see Christ and to hear His voice. For that reason, at His second coming, He will first rouse from their sleep all persons of this description. And He will raise them jup (as will as the rest who will be judged) and give them a place in His kingdom." 

      We must change from the inside/out our faith and to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, to be committed to follow Jesus Christ no matter the cost, to deny ourselves and pick up our cross. We have a congregation that we attend and we must be committed to it to do all that can be done to assure that all have food, clothing, money, and comfort in times of trouble. We must love our neighbor as ourselves as Jesus instructed us to do. This all can happen if we love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul. This was taught from the foundation of Christianity and it has not changed all these years. Jesus is coming, what part of the resurrection do you fit in? Your choice!

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

     and look upon the earth beneath:

for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke,

    and the earth shall wax old like a garment,

and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner:

   but My salvation shall be for ever,

and My righteousness shall not be abolished.

                      Isaiah 51:6

Having been born again, you will exist again

Richard L. Crumb

 

Learning How To Interpret Words, Symbols Using Good Grammar

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, 

having the key of the bottomless pit and a great 

chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, 

that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, 

and bound him a thousand years, and cast him 

into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set 

a seal upon him, that he should deceive the 

nations no more, till the thousand years should 

be fulfilled: and after that he must be 

loosed a little season.

Revelation 20:1-3 

     I will take a moment to digress into a subject that must be discussed: the lack of knowledge about our English grammar. This lack is due to the education system laying little import to this knowledge. This lack of knowledge causes people to accept what is written, or said, as fact, as literal. This is a problem with those who read or attempt to interpret Revelation. One problem, a big problem, is to not know what is a metaphor. A metaphor is he application of a word or phrase to an object or concept it does not literally denote, suggestion comparison to that object or concept. Therefore, a metaphor is used, or is regarded as, being to represent something else; a symbol. We must look at symbols and come to discerning as to it use as a metaphor and as a metaphor what does it represent. 

     John see this messenger, and angel come down out of heaven: does John see heaven? Can heaven be seen? Not with our eyes, but John is seeing a vision and this angel comes from a place where he resides to be used by God: from heaven, a place where we place God. God does not have a "place" in heaven. God is everywhere at all times and has no dimensions, therefore, heaven represents where God resides, not literally, but where He is at all times: heaven. Yes, when we get to heaven, this will be a place, for man is not changed into a spirit being, but will live as a man, created by God, flesh and blood, and will be as this angel who came from heaven where he does the will of God, we too will be in a different proximity to God: we will be in His presence as we today are not completely in His presence, but are spiritually until we are raised with Jesus Christ. 

     The bottomless pit: My mom used to accuse me of being a bottomless pit. Why? Well I would come home from school, grab a loaf of bread, jelly, peanut butter, milk and make me a sandwich or two before dinner which was only a couple hours, at best, before we ate a meal. Seemed like, to my mother, that there was no bottom to my stomach. That was me, and we see and define this term "bottomless pit" in that way, a place that seems to have no end. We see the bottomless pit to be a place. Is that what is meant? Bottomless means lacking a bottom, or immeasurably deep, without bounds, unlimited. Also, without basis, cause or reason. The Greek word literal translation means abyss. Abyss means deep, immeasurable space, a vast chasm, the lowest or most hopeless depths. Pit, has meaning definitions, but the one that is an unpleasant depressing place, condition. We use the slang term: "its the pits," when we see something unpleasant. Abyss, or bottomless pit is a metaphor describing an unpleasant event. This bottomless pit has not bottom, it goes on forever, in fact we do not know if it has sides. All we know is that it is unpleasant and that whoever is in this pit, the abyss cannot get out of it as they are bound by a "great chain," not a small chain, but a "great chain." If bound and cast into this condition of not being able to move about as once was done, a time when what you used to do cannot be done, at least while in this abyss, then while in that pit there is no influence by the one in the pit. If a person decides to still do those things that are contrary to the will of God, they cannot say: "the Devil made me do it." 

     A "thousand years." If there was anything that brought about arguments is this term: "a thousand years." Premillenarianism, Postmillenianism, Amillenianism, all speak to this "thousand years." I am not here able to discuss these views as they are not apropos or germain to this discussion, it is "thousand, or thousand years." What is this word "thousand?" Is it a metaphor? Is it used literally? Peter gives us a way to discern this: "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2Peter 3:8). Is this to be taken that a day, a word that does not necessarily mean 24 hours, but a time period, and in this case this may not mean that: transliteral: "But this one thing let not be hidden from you, beloved, that one day with (the) Lord [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as day one" (2Peter 3:8). More English grammar: hyperbole: An obvious and intentional exaggeration, or an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally. Peter under inspiration is not given us a rule, some metric that we measure things or times by, but to give us that there is not time with God. For those in that day they would have understood this idiom, but some have decided that this is literal. Think about numbers in the Bible: When it was said that the angel of God killed 85,000 soldiers did someone go out and count the dead bodies? Maybe it was 84,999, or 85,010, or another amount. There is no mention that this number was to be taken as literal. But we do have this, it was a large number of soldiers, killed and this by the hand of an angel from heaven, from God. God protects His people no matter how large is the enemy. 

     We find that the serpent that deceived Eve was Satan. Could it be that we have made this term "serpent" to be a literal snake. But we do not even use this term this way, we use it as a metaphor, "this man is a snake in the grass." We know that this man is not a literal snake. Eve spoke to this "snake in the grass," and now we know that this "snake" is the Devil, Satan. It is Satan that goes about deceiving people, and now he is cast into the abyss and cannot go about deceiving people as before. People have time to repent and turn to God, but just as Adam and Even had to make a choice to follow God and not eat of the forbidden fruit, man once again having no Satan in their presence but is not allowed to roam once again must make a choice, Satan will once again go about deceiving. But not for long! God patience is not His permission and He has a time when He will act and when He does it is permanent. 

     Men ad women are being deceived now by those false teachers and preachers, those doctrines, and practices that are contrary to the Word of God, to His Scriptures. We must be on guard for we do not see the Satan cast into the abyss, but we can see the affects, and we can make a choice. Why wait? Maybe you will and maybe you won't! Now is the time to repent and simply follow Jesus. Not a Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible but the Jesus as revealed to us in Scripture, unadulterated Scripture. Study, pray, listen, discern by Scripture. Choose well: eternity is eternity, either with God, or without God.

Let hem be confounded and put to shame

    that seek after my soul: let them be

turned back and brought to confusion

    that devise my hurt.

                 Psalm 35:4

Do not be fooled by clever words

Richard L. Crumb        

Learning From History: Our Encouragement

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, 

having the key of the bottomless pit and a great

 chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, 

that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan,

 and bound him a thousand years, and cast him

 into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, 

and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive 

the nations no more, till the thousand years 

should be fulfilled: and after that he must be 

loosed a little season.

Revelation 20:1-3 

     We have come to the last three chapters of the Bible and the last three chapters of the Book of Revelation. All Scripture is important but some have a meaning that reaches deep into the heart of God and we have revealed to us the will and purpose of God. These chapters in a great way sum up the entire Bible. We are brought to the conclusion of this world and introduced to the new heavens and the new earth, and what that will mean for God's children. Before I begin this study, and I will return to these opening verses, at least in some way in this blog, but more so in the upcoming blogs to address what we have learned so far and how what has been revealed affects Christians today. We need to have a deep understanding of the history of the Church. No, I am not going into a intense study of Church history but to that which speaks to the events that are in our day and in the days to come. The beast, the false prophets have been addressed and we need to understand why they are false and are as a beast. 

     I will begin with a man of God who lived 205-265 A.D., Gregory Thaumaturgus. In our world today there are two major religious groups, the Mormons, and the Jehovah Witnesses who have make Jesus to be a lower in rank or grade making Him to be a created being. One of the arguments is that the early Church did not believe in a Trinity even when men such as Tertullian who first coined the word Trinity somewhere in the year 200 A.D. and never introduce their followers to others who also taught the Trinity. The Trinity teaching is to be found with Gregory Thaumaturgus in his Declaration of Faith. In fact, the creeds that Churches follow today were given by this early follower of Christ, and others, but for him we have his words. "There is one God, the Father of the living Word, who is His subsistent Wisdom and Power and Eternal Image: perfect Begetter of he perfect Begotten, Father of he only-begotten Son. There is one Lord, Only of the Only, God of God, Image and likeness of Deity, Efficient Word, Wisdom comprehensive of the constitution of all things, and Power formative of the whole creation, true Son of true Father, Invisible of Invisible, and incorruptible of Incorruptible, and Immortal of Immortal  and eternal of Eternal. And there is One Holy Spirit, having His subsistence from God, and being made manifest by the Son, to wit to men. Image of the Son, Perfect Image of the Perfect, Life, the Cause of the living, Holy Fount; Sanctity, the Supplier, or Leader, of Sanctification: in whom is manifested God the Father, who is above all and in all, and God the Son, who is through all. There is a perfect Trinity, in glory and eternity and sovereignty, neither divided nor estranged. Wherefore there is nothing either created or inservitude in the Trinity, nor anything superinduced, as if at some former period it was non-existent, and at some later period it was introduced. And thus neither was the Son ever wanting to the Father,nor the Spirit to the Son, but without variation and without change, the same Trinity abideth ever." (Italics and bold are from me). 

     Is God divided so that He would give another version of Himself and of Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit? NO! God is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. He must be if He is God. So, those who give another gospel version and a theological bent on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are false teachers and are acting as beasts bringing unwarranted fear to those who will hear them. The men of early Christianity have the one thing that we do not have: The lived near to the time, and some in the time, of the apostles that were followers of Jesus Christ, literally, they walked and talked with Jesus and were instructed by Jesus. Let us look at two apostolic Church fathers: Ignatius (30-107 A.D.): A student of Polycarp who was a student of John the apostle,so we have as it is said from the "horses mouth" the words from a disciple of Jesus Christ. Here are some of his words: "For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practice things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs,w ho bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured.....They practice things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as wild beasts. for the righteous man who avoids them is saved for ever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden, and a subject of rejoicing." (bold and italics mine). 

     The practices and beliefs of those who have developed another doctrine, another gospel, and those who believe in a restorational theology saying that the early Church fathers, even the apostles, are now to be outdone with a new restoration of Christianity. The early Church fathers did not promote, speak about, or encourage gibberish utterings, or for Christians to go about and pray for healing, or to lay on tombs to get the spirit of the dead into their bodies (This was a practice by some in the mid 300's and was condemned by the early Church fathers. There is nothing new under the sun as the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote and this is certainly true when it comes to false teaching. False teaching has not changed over the years, but has put on new clothing, a new veil, but false teachers are teaching the same heresy that these early Church fathers had to contend with along with the persecution that came from local governments and in time by Rome. 

     John now sees and angel come down out of heaven ho has the key to the bottomless pit and has a great chain in his hand. We further learn that that serpent that Eve spoke with was Satan, that old dragon who is the Devil. In the next blog I will address the opening verses in more detail. Until then I hope that you will remember: we must know history and if not then we will repeat history, both good and bad. If you want more to read of the history of those who have gone before us, go to CCEL.org and press browse and pick a name, a time to read. Start with the earliest of men and then go forward into time. You will find that some have held to the faith and others in time did not hold as fast to the faith, but as a whole, the doctrine of Christ never changed. We are encouraged to study to show ourselves a workman of God. This is one was to study along with reading the Bible and praying to God for guidance. You do have the Holy Spirit within you as an Authentic Christian, so what is holding you back?

Thy testimonies are wonderful: 

    therefore doth my soul keep them.

the entrance of Thy words giveth light;

    it giveth understanding unto the simple.

                            Psalm 119:129-130

Flee from those outrageous false teachings

Richard L. Crumb

What Is This War Against God?

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, 

and their armies, gathered together to make

 war against Him that sat on the horse,

 and against His army. And the east was taken, 

and with him the false prophet that wrought 

miracles before him, with which he deceived them 

that had received the mark of the beast, 

and them that worshiped his image. These both 

were cast alive into a lake of burning with brimstone.

 And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him 

that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out 

of His mouth: and all the fouls were filled 

with their flesh.

Revelation 19:19-21

     Question: How does one make war with God? Satan is our example as to how to make war with God. Satan did not context the power of God for if he did he would have been destroyed by the power of God. This Satan did not due, rather he challenged the authority of God. This cast a different light upon this defection from God so that God needed to, by His judgment, defeat Satan must used a different approach than power. How? To allow Satan to attempt to rule God's creation, especially man, then when Satan could not cause all men to follow him, and showing that this attempt to be god was an offense that warranted death, God now could destroy Satan by His power. God cannot be judged as wrong to destroy Satan. God in all times gave to man revelations as to Who He is, how to understand Him, what to do to show allegiance to Him. Remember, man was made in the image of God, therefore, when nations are examined and their religions it is simple to understand that man has always had an idea of God, wanted God, developed a religion as to what they determined God to be. Albeit, their determination was not built upon God's revelation to them, but by the revelation given to them by men who followed after Satan and were in the image of Satan. 

     This false beast attempted to use that he used miracles, signs and wonders, even visions are included in those supposed miracles as to their allegiance to God. Is this not what is being done today by those who claim to use miracles, visions, and wonders as though their is a restoration within the Church? Yes! But, Jesus gave this to us: "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 they name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart form me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). These that do these things that Jesus condemned as false prophets, beasts, and are deceiving men and women. They will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire here represents the ever burning fire of the trash dump in Jerusalem, the Valley of Hinnon. Here trash, the unwanted trash, the criminals not thought worthy of burial were cast and there in this fire they were consumed into obliteration. Along the edges of this dump were worms eating that which the fire did not destroy. We have a picture of death. You do not escape this death. 

     The rider upon the white horse with the sword proceeding from His mouth destroys all who will not follow Him, and this following must be in accordance with the truth of Scripture and not some man-made doctrine or belief. God will now do what the earth groans to have happen: By His power destroy the destroyer: Satan. Along with the destruction of Satan are those who believe in a god that is not the God of the Bible, the true God of the Bible and not some interpretation as to who God. The Mormons say that God has a body making God to be anthropromorphized. Those who make Jesus to be a created being, no matter what state or position they make Jesus. 

     You must decide as to which camp you want to be in, Satan's or God's. Are you fighting God, that image that God put into you, or are you accepting the image of Satan? Do not change your mind out of fear of death. Realize that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Repent of your sins, those sins against a holy God and be saved. Repent, to turn 180 degrees from where you are now and return to God. Yes, a burning lake of fire is for those who will not repent. And yes for those who truly repent everlasting life is the reward. Choose well!

And Moses said unto the people, 

     Fear not: For God is come to

prove you, and that His fear may 

    be before your faces, that ye

sin not.

                  Exodus 20:20

Praise God! He loves His children

Richard L. Crumb

The Great Supper Of God Is Calling The Wicked

And I saw an angel standing in the sun;

 and he cried with a loud voice,saying to all 

the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, 

Come and gather yourselves together unto the 

supper of the great God; that ye may eat the 

flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, 

and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, 

and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, 

both free and bond, both small and great.

Revelation 19:17-18

     We must never forget that Revelation is a book of symbols and illustrations that give to us the meaning of why it was written and we must never attempt to make a symbol to be literal unless the context is absolutely clear that this symbol is not a symbol but to be taken literal. revelation is written in the style of other works that use symbols. We must understand a symbol, its possible meaning(s) before give it our blessing according to our definition. 

     John now sees an angel that is standing in the sun. This is important to know, the sun, for when the angel called the birds of prey, such as the buzzard or crow that we often see eating "roadkill," they are in midheaven, and midheaven is where the sun resides and it is a place where all in this heaven can be seen. This supper is a supper that I, for one, do not want to attend for I would be the dinner. God calls for this supper to be attended to be those, the birds of prey, to destroy those who will not believe in Him and are doing harm to His children: i.e., those that are teaching heresy, false doctrine. It is those who teach such practices that do not have Scriptural warrant: i.e., speaking in gibberish sounds, attempting to raise the dead, to go about and pray for healing, to have an esoteric religion, that is to understand that their practices are for a select few that have special knowledge or interest. In the circles of these so-called Christian Churches act as kings, mighty men and women who have special connection with God. These men and women wage a war against the truth of Scripture by using adulterated interpretations. These men lead astray all classes of men and women, both small and great. These men and women teach a gospel that is not Gospel. Sensationalism is the hallmark of these people, they teach that God is calling them now to a party and that the old ways are no longer to be used in the Church. They believe a restoration theology leaving behind even those who walked and talked with Jesus, those who in the early days of the Church taught the Gospel and that from those who were apostles and disciples of Jesus. This is the great supper of God where their flesh is eaten, destroyed by the fowl that eats that which is destroyed. These men and women are eaten, destroyed by the carnal things that they sent out into the world and this carnal thing, the birds of prey destroy them that teach heresy as truth, destroyed by their very own words. 

     This is a warning to us who desire to be Authentic Christians to leave behind, to deny the sensationalism, that which is false, that which is heresy and return to the faith once given: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of he common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We are not to look to men and accept all that they say or teach: "that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1Corinthians 2:5). We have a responsibility: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1Thessalonnians 5:21). We prepare for this war against the "faith once delivered to the saints," and to be able to defend our faith and this in truth: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1Peter 3:15). 

     Allow the word of God to admonish you to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow Jesus, not man. We have a warning, clear and plain, God is going to destroy all who will not follow Him. Which supper are you attending, the one reserved for the birds of the air, or the supper with Jesus Christ?

With Him is strength and wisdom:

    the deceived and the deceiver are His.

                    Job 12:16 

Supper will be served soon: Prepare now!

Richard L. Crumb

Who Is this KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS?

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; 
and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,
 and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. 
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head 
were many crowns; and He had a name written, 
that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was 
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His 
name is called the Word of God. And the armies which 
were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, 
clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of 
His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should
 smite the nations: and He shall rule them with
 a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress 
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And 
He hath on His thigh a name written, 
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
 Revelation 19:11-16 

     This vision of John given to him to show us what would occur in the future by God redeeming mankind who have placed their belief in the Messiah He sent to pay this debt they, you and I, owe to Him. He has come and died and now sits in heaven at the right hand of God. This does not mean that Jesus is a separate person except by His incarnate body that remains forever as the payment He undertook to pay this debt owed to God, the Godhead. Jesus is still God as He always was and will be, but we must remember that God sent His wisdom, that is Himself for Wisdom is God, and by the sending of Himself to earth for His wisdom to become incarnate does not depreciate His being God. God did not sever Himself making more than one God. Christianity is not a religion of plurality of gods as is the case with Mormonism, and Jehovah Witnesses. The Wisdom of God is also called the Word of God. John makes this fact plain and clear in his book of John verse one. The Word of God is also the Wisdom of God and by this Wisdom and the inclusion of the Holy Spirit all things that were created were created by God, through the Word of God empowered by the Holy Spirit. God, also called Father, represents the Godhead in asmuch as He, the Father determined all things and by His Wisdom and Holy Spirit all things then came to be as the Father determined the to become. Let us look at John 1:1 as a reminder:

     "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). First, notice that this verse is divided into three sections, each section divided by a comma. Therefore let us look at each section separately, then as a whole thought. First things first: What is the noun that makes the subject? This is clear: it is "the Word." There is another noun: "God." What position does this noun take grammatically? Well, there can only by one subject in a sentence when that sentence is not divided by a colon. There is no colon in this verse, but there is a comma. So what is this second noun? An adjective is a noun that describes another noun, so then, this second noun has the "job" to do and that is to describe the noun which is the subject: "Word." When this adjective, this second noun describes actively the first noun it is said to be predicate, that is it declares and affirms and is the main constituent of a sentence the other being the subject. Furthermore, this predicate adjective expresses the state attributed to the subject (Webster's Dictionary). This then places the word "God" in the third section of this sentence to be a predicate adjective.

     Now, the words: "in the beginning," makes clear that there was a "beginning." Never in Scripture is Jesus, the Messiah defined and described in the Old Testament said to have a "beginning." Therefore, this "in the beginning" is the beginning. Remember, God does not have a beginning. You cannot have a beginning without something, or someone to already exist. You cannot begin with nothing! Secondly, in this first section the Word is already there as by the word "was." The Word was in the beginning, not of or part of the beginning for the Word "was." "So when things began the "was" who must be without beginning, and this is only God, "was" present. In the next or second section the word "with" gives us this fact that the "Word" "was," was there when things began by being "with God." The Greek word, Pros, means pertaining to or which is the destination of relation for which it is predicated unto, so then it is more than just nearness. The Word was "with God," due to the fact that the Word is God. This then is the answer to the third section of this verse. The word "God" in the this section does not have the definite article before the word God. Why? Because this noun is acting as a predicate adjective and finalizes this verse by completing the sense of the subject. Who is this "Word" who "was," and "with," God? When the noun is acting as a predicate adjective does not have the definite article it is not to be translated with a definite article. This is a mistake taken by Jehovah Witnesses. The Word is now given for us as to who the Word is, and that is God: "and God was the Word. The Word is God, the Word speaks and declares that God exists and that He is God and by the power of God, the Holy Spirit the words of God given to us by His Wisdom, His Word, causes for the one who listens to be able to act upon the commands and presecpts of God. All three Persons, as we denote them, work in unison, not separately to fulfill the purposes of God. We cannot see or know God except by that which He gives to us so that we can see Him and know Him.

     John sees Jesus riding upon a white horse, denoting purity, and righteousness and this One riding upon the white horse is called Faithful and True. This can only be said of God and Jesus being God this can be said of Him. With this One on the white horse comes an army of others who too are clothed in white linen. This One on the horse clothed in white linen and called the Faithful and True also is the One who by a sharp sword smited the nations. Only God can rule and He does not give His rulership to another, therefore Jesus cannot rule the nations except that He be God. By His wrath the nations are treaded upon as in a winepress and the One pressing this wine is by the wrath and fierceness of Almighty God, the same is called: KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORD.

       The bride of Christ are those clothed in white linen, that is, in righteousness and purity given to them in all completion when they are with Him and come with Him when He comes to smite the earth. Until we are with Him, we wait upon Him and follow Him. We deny ourselves, that is we deny the pleasures of this world that are in opposition to God. We have, that is if we have truly repented of our sins and put our faith and trust in Jesus, have the righteousness given to us through Jesus Christ but that righteousness will not have it complete affect upon us until we are with Jesus. We must now say "alleluia" that is The Lord is God, and that He rules in heaven and will one day rule all those who are of His bride. Will you be one of His bride? Do not become a one unless you are willing to pay what it will cost to be one. Count the cost, but when you see that the cost that God did to save you then you have the cost that is best for you. God came, died, for you, and all He is asking of you now, is to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow Him. You have information to ensure that Scripture is true, that Jesus is God, and that Jesus is the promiesed Savior: What then are you waiting for?

But go thou thy way till the end be:

     for thou shalt rest, and stand 

in thy lot at the end of the days.

                  Daniel12:13

Start putting on white linen today

Richard L. Crumb