Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program (#131) was placed on Google Video and on our StandingWatch website. It is titled: “Chaotic Weather in Europe–Why?”

In the program, Norbert Link addresses the following:

While England and Wales have been suffering from the wettest weather since records began in 1766, Western Europe has been plagued by unprecedented heatwaves. What is wrong with our weather–and will it get much worse in the near future?

A special letter was sent this week to the first 80 people in the USA, requesting our booklet, “Mysteries of the Bible,” as advertised on the Internet. The letter explains briefly some of the projects of the Church.

What is meant with the prophesied "famine of the Word," as alluded to in Amos 8:11-12?

Amos 8:11-12 reads:

“’Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord God, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of HEARING the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.”

Some have concluded that this passage tells us that in the future, God’s Word–the gospel of the kingdom of God–will NOT be preached anymore to the world. However, that conclusion would be inconsistent with Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14, which says: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

In addition, we read that at the time just prior to Christ’s return, the Two Witnesses will preach God’s Word (compare Revelation 11:3-7), and finally, we are told that the third angel has the everlasting gospel to be preached to all nations (compare Revelation 14:6-7). Christ commissioned His Church to preach His Word and to make disciples of all nations, and He promised to be with His Church and its efforts until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

Therefore, these passages don’t seem to allow for the concept that in the end time, just prior to Christ’s return, the preaching of God’s Word will cease.

How, then, are we to understand the above-quoted passage in Amos 8:11-12?

God says in that passage that they – the people – will suffer from a famine of HEARING the words of the LORD. This does not necessarily say that the words of the LORD are not going to be preached or taught any more, but, rather, that those people will not be able to HEAR or understand them – they will not recognize them as God’s Word, which is binding on them, and which needs to be obeyed. The people will have allowed their minds or hearts to harden so much that none of God’s words will find entrance into their minds. This would most certainly include those who once knew and understood God’s Word, but who decided to turn their back on God and exchange His words of truth for the lie (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Romans 1:24-26).

Oh yes, they will still wander from sea to sea to find the Word of God, but, confused as they will be, they won’t recognize it. Remember that Christ taught the people, but many were unable to listen to His words. Their hearts were closed, hardened, incapable of accepting the truth. Many were like sheep, scattered, insecure and uncertain, not knowing where to turn.

God warns us not to look at His Word as a source for a big entertainment–like the people did, when they came to Ezekiel, to listen to him (compare Ezekiel 33:30-33). They did not want to learn from him; they did not want to accept the concept that they had to change their lives for the better. They just wanted to be entertained for a while. They wanted to have a “good time in church,” where they would get cozy and warm feelings. However, God wants us to listen carefully to His Word, with the attitude of wanting to learn, and then we must DO what we are taught.

They heard the words, but they did not do them. They did not think that they had to actually obey what they were told. In other words, they heard with their ears, but their minds, their hearts and their spirit did not accept and retain the words of God. Both in the passage in Amos 8:11-12, and in the passage in Ezekiel 33:30-33, the word for “hear” or “hearing” is “shamea” in the Hebrew.

Note how this word “shamea” is used in other passages:

Proverbs 13:1 reads, in the Authorized Version: “A scoffer does not HEAR rebuke.” The New King James Bible says, “… a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” In the Hebrew, the word for “hear” or “listen” is “shamea.” The scoffer hears rebuke with his ears, but he does not heed the rebuke, so that he might change and do what is right.

Isaiah 65:12 states: “… when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear…” Compare also Isaiah 66:4.

So, God DID speak, but the people did not HEAR [“shamea” in the Hebrew]. For them, there was a famine of HEARING the Word of God. But it was their fault. THEY had allowed their hearts to be hardened, so that they would not hear or listen to the Word of God, and repent, and obey.

Jeremiah 6:10 explains: “To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear [“shamea” in the Hebrew]? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.”

Again, God spoke His Word, through Jeremiah and His other servants, but the people would not hear, since they had uncircumcised ears. They did not take any delight in God’s Word.

Jeremiah 7:13 adds: “… I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear [“shamea”], and I called you, but you did not answer.”

God did speak – but the people did not hear. There was not a famine of SPEAKING of the Word of God, but it was a famine of HEARING, or understanding, or abiding by, the Word of God.

In Jeremiah 19:15, God says: “Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear [“shamea”] My words.”

God spoke His words — through His servants — but the people stiffened their necks, so that they would not hear or receive them.

Jeremiah 22:21 adds: “I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, ‘I will not hear’ [“shamea”]. This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice.”

God did SPEAK His words to them – and they heard them with their ears – but not with their minds and hearts. They refused to accept them as God’s words. They refused to obey them.

When calamity came, they did seek the Word of God; they did cry out to God; but He did not answer. Since they had turned their backs on God, God turned His back on them. God had given them His Word, but they refused to receive it. Now, although the Word was still being preached and available–through God’s servants, such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets–the minds of the people had become so much alienated from God, that they did not recognize any of God’s truth anymore. God says that they broke ALL of His commandments. God gave them over to their perverse minds, and He did not reveal to them the meaning of His Word–He did not show them at that time, where His words could be heard, and what they meant (compare Hosea 4:6). Jeremiah was still preaching, and so was Ezekiel, but most people hated Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and they wanted to see them dead.

The same will happen again in the end time–with global implications. The Word of God will still be preached by God’s Church – the gospel will still be proclaimed as a witness in all the world – but the people will not hear. They will not give attention to it. In their distress, they will seek for God’s Word and deliverance, but – deceived as they will be – they will look for God’s Word in all the wrong places. And there will be, as we read in Matthew 24:11, “many false prophets,” and they will “deceive many.” Unfortunately, this will include many in God’s Church.

We must take this dire warning to heart.

We must be careful that we will not be reckoned among those who will seek the words of God, without being able to find them, as they have shown through their disobedient conduct that they really don’t care for the truth.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness

On August 4, 2007, Norbert Link will give the sermon, titled, “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new member letter has been written and posted on the Web. In the letter, Brian Gale discusses the signs of the times, indicating the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The letter will be sent out by mail early next week.

Our new booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” has been posted on the Web. Hard copies will be sent out in the USA and Canada, together with the new member letter, early next week.

A new StandingWatch program (#130) was placed on Google Video by the end of last week. It is titled, “Are We Destroying Ourselves?”

In the program, Norbert Link made the following observations:

As we heard about this week’s terrible earthquakes in Japan and the radio-active damage which they caused, it became obvious how man, motivated by his greed, originally attempted to suppress and hide the full truth. However, such unspeakable nightmare scenarios can also happen in Europe and in America–and it stands to reason that they will soon occur. Are we facing the total extinction of mankind?

Our Internet ad campaign in the USA for our booklet, “Mysteries of the Bible,”  has received so far about 100 requests.

The Bible reveals that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Why is He also referred to as a "Father" in the Old Testament? Shouldn't the term "Father" apply only to the One who is said to be Christ's Father?

It is true that the Old Testament contains references to God using the term “Father.” It is also true that, most generally, the One who dealt DIRECTLY with Israel was the same Personage who was the Son, Jesus Christ–not the One known today as “the Father.”

However, in Isaiah 9:6, we find a notable prophecy about Jesus Christ that includes several of His “names” or “designations”:

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

On the other hand, there are several other instances in which the Old Testament uses the name or designation, “Father.” In those additional instances, the reference is NOT to Christ. Please note the following comments from our free booklet, “God Is A Family“:

“Did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, David, Daniel, and the other prophets understand that God, or ‘Elohim,’ is more than one person? The Bible reveals that they did know. “Acts 3:13 states that the ‘God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus.’ Abraham, Isaac and Jacob understood that their God was the Father, who would later glorify Jesus Christ, the Son. They also understood… that the God being who directly dealt with and appeared to them, was Jesus Christ—not the Father…

“In addition, we find a few Scriptures in the Old Testament that refer to Christ—the second being in the God Family—as the Son (compare Psalm 2:1–2, 7, 11–12; Proverbs 30:4).

“Generally, however, this terminology is not used in the Old Testament, as God was not clearly revealed as Father and Son in ancient times.

“Christ, as the Son of God, had to come to reveal the Father. The Jews were under the misimpression that they were worshipping ‘the Father.’ They did not understand that the God being functioning as the Messenger or Spokesperson of the Father and the God Family, who had been dealing directly with the ancients, was actually Jesus Christ. (Compare Christ’s words in John 8:54, ‘It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.’)

“Still, there are Old Testament passages that speak about God as ‘the Father.’ References to ‘the Father’ in the Old Testament can be found in Isaiah 63:16; Malachi 1:6; 2:10; 2 Samuel 7:13–14; 1 Chronicles 22:10; and Deuteronomy 32:6. In those passages, Christ—the ‘Word’ or Spokesman for the Father—communicated to the people the words of the Father.”

We might also add the reference in Isaiah 64:8: “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

Also, God specifically instructs Moses what he should say to the leader of Egypt regarding the captive Israelites: “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn”‘” (Exodus 4:22).

Throughout His dealings with Israel, God has been a Father to them, fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Compare Deuteronomy 1:31; Isaiah 46:3-4; Jeremiah 3:19).

Israel as a nation did not seem to understand that it was actually the Son, Jesus Christ, who dealt with them directly–erroneously thinking that it was the Father who was in direct communication with Moses and other leaders. They did not realize that it was the Son, the Word of God, who communicated the words of the Father to their leaders and to them.

You might find our booklet, titled “Jesus Christ, A Great Mystery,” helpful for a careful study in this regard. In addition, we have written extensively in numerous Q&A’s concerning Jesus Christ, and these are available by searching on our web site, www.eternalgod.org.

Please consider what John stated: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). It is further explained that Jesus Christ revealed the heavenly Father–the God that Israel of old did not directly deal with. Here is the testimony of Jesus Himself: “‘Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father'” (John 6:46; compare Matthew 11:27).

In the New Testament, when the Father is spoken of, it is the One called God the Father, God our Father, our Father, the Father, etc. Unmistakably, the New Testament reveals more information about both the Son and the Father! Yet, Jesus challenged the Pharisees concerning their lack of true understanding about the Messiah–the Deliverer and Savior that they awaited.

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying: “The LORD said to my Lord,” ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool'”? If David then calls Him “Lord,” how is He his Son?’ And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore” (Matthew 22:41-46).

This exchange serves to highlight the terrible misunderstanding that both the Jews of that time had, and the strange Trinitarian description of the Family of God that has so deceived modern followers of “Christianity”–so called!

With this background, let us review the above-quoted passage in Isaiah 9:6. To cite from our booklet, “God Is A Family“:

“Since God [the Father] created everything through Christ, it is also said in Isaiah 9:6 that Christ will be called in the future—after His Second Coming—the ‘Everlasting Father.’ This statement proves, too, that Christ existed for all eternity. He is referred to here as the ‘everlasting Father’ or ‘the everlasting Source’ of everything—the ‘beginning of the creation of God.’ However, when the Bible speaks of the ‘Father,’ it normally refers strictly and exclusively to the highest God being in the God Family.”

Understand that the Son is without beginning of days (Hebrews 7:3); He has eternal life (Compare Colossians 1:15-18; John 1:1-3, 10; Revelation 1:11, 18); His roles relative to mankind have involved many different aspects, and that includes coming as Savior of the world as well as being God and “Father” or “Source” to Israel and all mankind–a role both of the past as revealed in the Old Testament and the future when He will establish God’s government on this earth and restore the nation of Israel, bringing peace to all peoples!

The role of “father” is even applied by Paul to himself: “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).

This metaphorical usage of “father” reveals an effective key of understanding when we consider what is mentioned in the Bible–especially regarding the role of the Son, Jesus Christ, in following God the Father’s directive to choose Abraham and then making the nation of Israel from his descendants.

The fatherhood of God the Father is not just an implicit comparison! He is indeed revealed as the Father of Jesus Christ (compare Matthew 3:17; 17:5). God the Father is also revealed as OUR FATHER: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14; compare Revelation 21:7).

Jesus, who as the Son was also a “Father” or better “Source” in the creation of mankind–especially for the people of Israel–acknowledged the ultimate authority of God the Father: “…’My Father is GREATER than I'” (John 14:28). Paul makes this supporting statement:

“For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

Just as Jesus is subject to the Father, so must we be. Here is an admonition for us to consider from Hebrews 12:9:

“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”

Lead Writers: Dave Harris and Norbert Link

The Old Testament

On July 28, 2007, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “The Old Testament.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

A new StandingWatch program (#129) was recorded and placed on Google Video. It is titled: “The Pope Angers the World.”

In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that protestants are up in arms over the Vatican’s statement that only the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ. The Church of England stated that the Pope’s claim that he is the successor of Peter, and that he speaks on behalf of God, is ludicrous and not supported by the Bible or history. Still, according to Scripture, Church unification is coming, but this will be bad news for the world. View this program on Google Video.

Our new booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” has been printed and will be sent to our American and Canadian subscribers with the new member letter in early August– so as to give everyone an opportunity to use the booklet for meaningful preparations for the Fall Holy Day season. It will be posted on our Websites shortly.

Bouncy Ball

By Shana Rank

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting outside with my son, Gideon. Often times while he and I sit outside I watch him explore and play—giving him space to learn on his own.  At 14 months old, Gideon is fascinated with balls; one of his favorites is a bright yellow bouncy ball—about the size of a basketball.

One afternoon he was trying to push his yellow ball up a slight incline of grass to the patio. Since he is not yet a pro at walking, he was on his hands and knees pushing with the one hand and using the other to move forward. Three times he tried to get that bouncy ball to stay on the patio, and three times it bounced off of something and rolled back down the hill.  After letting out a grunt of discouragement he looked up at me, hoping for some help.  I told him he could do it, and to try again. 

That day he gave up on the bouncy ball. A week or so later, he succeeded with no problem—pushing the ball with ease and control up onto the patio. Even little toddlers try hard and get discouraged, but he didn’t give up.

At first glance, Gideon’s progress might be missed or forgotten, but his small steps are a beautiful process of growing! Each of us can recall an experience that taught us courage and left us with the gift of wisdom. Gideon’s efforts reminded me that I must never underestimate the achievements of daily life—even when trying to control a bright yellow bouncy ball!

Who is the "angel," referred to in Exodus 23:20-23?

Exodus 23:20-23 reads, in the Authorized Version:

“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.”

Much has been speculated as to the identity of the “Angel.” We should note, first, that these words are spoken by “the LORD” (compare Exodus 20:22). The Hebrew word for “angel” is “mal-ak” and means “messenger.” It can have reference to a human messenger, an angelic being, or God Himself, depending on the context. In Malachi 3:1, “the LORD” is referred to as the “Messenger of the covenant.” The specific reference in that passage is to Jesus Christ–not God the Father. The designation “LORD” can refer to both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son–again, it is a matter of context. In most cases, the Hebrew word for “LORD” refers to Jesus Christ–but not always.

In Hebrews 1:10, Paul cites an Old Testament Scripture, speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son, and calling Him “LORD.” On the other hand, Peter cites an Old Testament Scripture in Acts 2:34, speaking of God the Father and calling Him “LORD.”

Turning to the passage in Exodus 23, some claim that the “Angel” spoken of in that Scripture is the archangel Michael, the “great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people” (Daniel 12:1). Others claim that the “Angel” is identical with the “Angel of the LORD,” spoken of in many Biblical passages, for instance in Exodus 3:2, where the “Angel of the LORD” appeared to Moses in the midst of the burning bush. The “Angel of the LORD” is also referred to as the “Angel of God” in Exodus 14:19. In both cases, the reference is to Jesus Christ, the “Messenger” of the LORD, God the Father.

Let us consider who it was who accompanied the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:4: “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” We see, then, that it was Christ, the “Messenger” of God the Father, who led the Israelites. The “Angel,” as mentioned in Exodus 23, who was sent before them, appears to be none other than Christ, “the Messenger.”

It is noteworthy that Jesus said that no one has ever seen the form of God the Father, nor heard His voice (John 1:18; 5:37). However, the ancients saw the form and heard the voice of the second member of the God Family–that of the Son, Jesus Christ (Exodus 24:9-11; Numbers 12:5-8). Still, if the passage in Exodus 23:20 refers to Christ as the “Angel” or better “Messenger,” then the words which were spoken by the LORD to Moses were obviously the words of the Father, who said that He would send His Messenger, Jesus Christ, before the Israelites. But since no human being has ever heard the voice of the Father, the Father did not directly speak to Moses; rather, Jesus Christ communicated those words. He only spoke what the Father told Him to speak (compare John 14:24). Therefore, Christ communicated the words of the Father to Moses, when He told him that the Father would send His Angel or Messenger before the Israelites.

We find a similar account in the book of Revelation. We read that the Revelation came from God the Father, but He gave it to Christ “to show His servants… things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). In that case, Christ did not speak directly to John, but sent an angel to communicate the message of God the Father, which had been delivered to Christ.

Let us also remember what happened when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. We read in Matthew 3:17: “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'”

As we know from other Scriptures, this was not God the Father who spoke, but, in that case, an angel. However, it was what God wanted conveyed through His representative or messenger. This example shows that when God the Father is quoted, His words are spoken exactly as if He is personally being heard!

Consider as well the vision that Peter, James and John experienced with Jesus. In this account, a voice speaking in the first person is heard by these disciples: “…a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'” (Matthew 17:5). Peter later on made reference to this experience speaking of “such a voice” and “this voice” (compare 2 Peter 1:17-18). Again, it was an angel who spoke in that instance–not the Father–but the angel communicated the exact words of God the Father.

This Biblical pattern helps us to understand the passage in Exodus 23, as in this case, God the Father’s words were conveyed by God the Son–that is “the LORD.”

Let us note how many commentaries feel that the reference to the “Angel,” in Exodus 23:20-23, is a reference to the LORD Himself.

The Scoffield Bible states in a footnote to Judges 2:1, where the phrase, “angel of the LORD,” is used:

“He is named the ‘angel of the LORD…’ (Gen. 16:7), ‘the angel of God’ (Gen. 21:17), ‘the angel of his [God’s] presence’ (Isa. 63:9), and… ‘the messenger [angel] of the covenant’ (Mal. 3:1)… He is clearly identified with the LORD Himself… In Gen. 31:11-13 the angel said to Jacob, ‘I am the God of Bethel.’ In Ex. 3:2-6 the same angel said to Moses,’ I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham.'”

However, even though many commentaries understand that the terminology “angel of the LORD,” can refer to God Himself, some don’t seem to understand that God did NOT manifest Himself in or through an angel. Jesus Christ, the second member of the God Family, dealt directly with Moses and the Israelites. Christ is not an “angel,” but the divine Messenger of, or Spokesman for God the Father.

The Ryrie Study Bible states:

“Most likely the Angel of the Lord [was] the Lord Himself, though He was represented by His leaders, Moses and, later, Joshua.”

These comments allow for an additional possible explanation; namely, that the “Angel” or better “angel” is a reference to a human leader. Taken it in this way, God would have been telling the Israelites (Note that He used the plural word, “thee,” not the singular word, “thou”): “Provoke him not and obey his voice, because I will tell him what to say, and I will lead you into the Promised Land.”

The tragic story is that the Israelites did not obey Moses, and as a consequence, they did not enter the Promised Land. A similar incident, when the word “angel” could refer to angelic beings or human leaders, can be found in passages such as Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14. Please also note that the meaning of the name of the prophet Malachi is, “My Messenger.”

However, Clarke, in his commentary, explains the meaning of Exodus 23:20 as follows:

“Some have thought that this [reference to the Angel was a reference to] Moses, others Joshua, because the word ‘malach’ signifies an angel or messenger; but… it is more likely that the great Angel of the Covenant, the Lord Jesus Christ, is meant, in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. We have had already much reason to believe that this glorious personage often appeared in a human form to the patriarchs… Nor does it appear that the description given of the Angel in the text can belong to any other person.”

Gill’s Commentary agrees with the foregoing, stating:

“Not a created angel, but the uncreated one, the Angel of God’s presence, that was with the Israelites at Sinai, and in the wilderness; who saved, redeemed, bore, and carried them all the days of old, whom they rebelled against and tempted in the wilderness; as appears by all the characters after given of him, which by no means agree with a created angel… Philo the Jew… applies the word unto the divine Logos [the “Word,” Jesus Christ, compare John 1:1, 14], and says,”he (God) uses the divine Word as the guide of the way; for the oracle is, ‘behold, I send my Angel.'”

From all the evidence, it is very likely that the reference to the “Angel” in Exodus 23:20 refers to the uncreated God being Jesus Christ–the Logos; the Son of God; the Messenger of God the Father. (However, the explanation that the “angel” could refer to a literal angel like the archangel Michael or even to human leaders, such as Moses or Joshua, has some merit, because they also functioned in “messenger” roles.)

If the terminology of “angel” or messenger” in Exodus 23:20 applies to Christ, then Christ, when talking to Moses, communicated the words of the Father, telling Moses and the Israelites that the Father would send His Son, Jesus Christ, to lead them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The ancient Israelites failed, but the Church of God–spiritual Israel–must do better and follow their leader–Jesus Christ–to the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God, without provoking Him to anger, but rather, by obeying Him fully and completely.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Devolution

by

As we grow up, we like to think of ourselves as becoming smarter and brighter with each passing year.  As a race or a country we like to think the same thing, that we are better than those that preceded us 200 years ago.  Surely this must be the case; we have all the latest high tech to prove it!

But is this the true measure of whether we are actually wiser?  When we realize where people actually surf on the Internet and what they listen to on their iPods and what is watched on the high definition plasma TV, we might have to come to a completely different conclusion in many cases.

As we look at the world around us today, we see that we have legalized abortion, accepted homosexuality, glorified promiscuity, condoned murder and worshipped materials.  The list goes on, just fill in the blanks….

The reality is that most are currently taking part in a degenerative movement.  The reason for this is simple — we no longer retain God in our knowledge!  God is being removed from the institutions of learning and therefore, children and young adults are without the right foundation.  God has been all but squeezed out of the lawmaking and judicial process, so much so that a right way of life and true justice is becoming hard to find.  Because of this, God has allowed the carnal, reprobate mind within mankind to prevail (Romans 1:28).  It is a corrupt mind that resists God and any part of the Truth (2 Timothy 3:8).

As we move further and further from God, the condition of our collective minds will become worse and worse.  This is an immutable law.  It is imperative that we seek out and find God while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near (compare Isaiah 55:6).  Psalms 14:2 states,  “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.”  This understanding and knowledge comes from following God’s way (compare Psalms 111:10). 

Are we living by every Word of God; are we growing in the knowledge of God, OR are we opting to be a part of the devolutionary process?  The choice is up to us!

©2024 Church of the Eternal God