In the first part of this two-part series, we began our review of Deuteronomy, chapter 17:14-20, where we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes.  We read in verse 14:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me’…”

But why did God talk about a future king when Israel was a theocratic institution?   We read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king.  In verses 1-4, we read that Samuel was old and that his sons didn’t walk in the ways required of them.   Then in verse 4, we see how this affected the nation:

^“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But…

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In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 reads as follows:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests,…

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We receive inquiries asking if we have an established congregation close to the person who is writing. This is usually the result of someone watching us over the Internet or responding to our published written materials. Our response is typically no, we don’t.

Then how can someone continue to follow up with their initial interest in what the Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates are teaching?

Becoming a part of the Church of God starts when God calls a person and gives him or her understanding about His Truth. Jesus Christ said: “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:44).

Being called out of this world and its societies really does present challenges. Jesus gave this powerful admonition to those who would agree to follow Him:

“‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law”; and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” He who loves father…

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Many think that we will go to heaven when we die, and that biblical references to “heavenly places” support this assumption. But this is a false conclusion.

Just to reiterate what we have explained so many times: David, a man after God’s own heart, did not ascend into the heavens, nor is he in heaven (Acts 2:29, 34); Elijah and Enoch are not in God’s third heaven either, as Christ said in John 3:13 that no one has ascended to God’s heaven (in fact, the Luther Bible 1912 says that no one ascends to heaven except for Jesus Christ who came down from heaven).

The concept of “heavenly places” does not teach something differently. Actually, as we will explain, the words “heavenly places” are not even in the Greek. The word “places” has been added. In the Greek, the word for “heavenly,” “epouranios,” is used several times in the New Testament. According to Strong’s, this word (Number 2032) means “above the sky:-celestial (in) heaven (-ly), high.”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says:

“… in heavenly places—a phrase five times found in this Epistle (of Paul to the Ephesians), and not elsewhere.”

In these five passages, the Greek word for “heavenlies” is used as a noun.

Let us note these five places in detail. We will see that the…

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To answer this question comprehensively, one must look at the historical events, as it is important to understand why we are referring to a third temple, and what this temple of God is all about.

Who built the first temple and why? What happened to this temple and what became of it? And finally, why should the third temple be a requirement for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

We can predict one thing with certainty: YES, this third temple is a requirement for Jesus Christ to even initiate His Second Coming! All of this is prophesied in the Bible, the Word of God; including the fact that there MUST be a third temple!

Some believe that the prophecy for the third temple is not about a physical temple made of stones, but only about a spiritual, inward temple. They link this to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, where he says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (Compare also 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19.)

Paul is saying here that our body, “spiritually speaking,” is a temple of God, in which God the Father and Jesus…

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We have published a booklet which deals with the origin and practices of the holiday known as Christmas (“Don’t Keep Christmas”). Secular history also fully documents the many aspects of worship associated with Christmas observance, and one of the most widespread traditions involves that of Christmas trees.

The use of an evergreen tree for religious observance was founded in pagan worship practices. Its origin far predates Christianity. From history.com, “History of Christmas Trees,” we find these comments:

“Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, many ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness…

“Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition—as we now know it—by the 16th century when sources record devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce…

“Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first records of Christmas trees…

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In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at some of the superstitions that are commonplace in society today.   Let us continue in reviewing this practice.

We read the following at gotquestions.org: “There are many types of superstitions in the world, ranging from the benign—such as not walking under a ladder—to the occult practices of astrology, black magic, divination, voodoo and sorcery. Scripture condemns those who practice astrology (Deuteronomy 4:19), magic, divination and sorcery (2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). Idolatry is also forbidden, and no one who practices it will enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:27). These types of practices are extremely dangerous because they open the minds of the practitioners to the influence of the devil.”

On the bible-dictionary.info, we read about superstition:

“An irrational belief or fear that an object or other factor has the power to affect a person’s life with some action bringing bad luck or occasionally good luck. There is no Christian, rational or scientific basis for such behaviour as putting confidence in a lucky charm or doing something to gain protection from misfortune or to bring good luck. God causes or allows everything in keeping with His divine plan (Isaiah 46:9-11; Acts 4:26-28; Ephesians 1:9, 10). 

“Any unbiblical,…

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In answering this question, let us first of all define what superstition is. Wordnik defines this as follows:

“1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

“2. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.

“3. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.”

“Therefore, a superstitious person is one who relates to, or is swayed by superstition.

“Superstition is irrational as can be worked out when reviewing some of these actions that are taken by superstitious people:

“… crossing fingers for luck; touching [or knocking on] wood; not walking under a ladder (although it would be sensible if doing that to check that it was safe to do so); throwing salt over your shoulder; a black cat crossing your path; a broken mirror bringing seven years of bad luck; Friday the 13^th being an unlucky day. Some countries won’t have a 13^th level on an apartment block. Don’t open an umbrella inside a house. Finding a horseshoe is good luck.”

And there are more of course. Lucky charms are another source of superstition thinking that a ‘rabbit’s foot,’ a…

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A relationship with God is important for us who have been chosen by God in this age to be involved in the preaching of the gospel to the world as a witness, prior to the return of Jesus Christ, as we read in Mathew 24:14: “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.” We are also admonished to grow in Christ’s grace and His knowledge which helps us get close to God the Father. 2 Peter 3:18 says: “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The key element for developing a close relationship with God is ODEDIENCE, which almost seems like a dirty word to some people.

How important is obedience?  Acts 5:32 quotes the words of Peter in this way: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom [better: which] God has given to those who obey Him.”

Failure to obey can prevent one from even being properly baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. And if they received it, they could lose it again if they consistently resist repenting…

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Many are under the misimpression that no matter what we do, God will always love us. Not too long ago, we published four Q&As on the concept of “unconditional love.” We follow up on them in this Q&A and add some clarifying comments, lest someone misunderstands.

In part 1 of our series (https://www.eternalgod.org/does-god-love-everyone-does-the-bible-teach-unconditional-love-part-1/), we stated the following, citing and then discussing Paul’s words in Romans 9:9-13:

‘”For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”’…

“In Romans 9:13, God explains that He CALLED Jacob, and that He did NOT CALL Esau at that time. We need to understand that God had decided to call or choose for salvation certain ones ‘before the foundation of the world’ (Ephesians 1:3-4).…

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