sunday March 31,2013
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14:1 KJV
What Happened When The Messiah Arrived In Heaven?
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven"
The ascension of the Messiah into heaven as it was documented by Luke in his second epistle to Theophilus (see The Epistles: Acts):
"1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus [see The Epistles: Luke], of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he
had chosen: 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after
his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God [see The Constitution Of The Kingdom Of God and The Church In The Kingdom Of God]:
1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence [see The Fruit Of Pentecost and Pentecost: Unto The Morrow After The Seventh Sabbath].
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of
him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel? [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Roman Judea; also Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel and Judah, Israel In History and Prophecy: The Zealots and Israel In History and Prophecy: Aelia Capitolina]
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power [see The Two Signs Of Christ's Return and the Fact Finder question below]. 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee [see also The Cities Of Lake Galilee],
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him
go into heaven.
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet [see When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin], which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey." (Acts 1:1-9 KJV)
The prophet Daniel was also given to see the ascension, centuries before
it happened. Notice how, while Luke recorded "he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight" for the departure, Daniel records the subsequent arrival with the same miraculous clouds, "the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven."
"7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
days, and they brought him near before him. 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him [see The Coming World Dictator]:
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and
his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV)
Daniel was given the prophetic vision of the Messiah's ascension within a
wider prophecy, of not only the "beast" power that killed the Christ,
but which will still exist on the day of His return - when His wrath
will come upon it.
"7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a
fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had
great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the
residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that
were before it; and it had ten horns [see What Is The Mark Of The Beast? and What And Where Is Babylon Today?].
7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among
them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first
horns plucked up by the roots [see The Little Big Horn]: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient
of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his
head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened [see The Roll Of The Book; also Is God Using Electronic Books Now?].
7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake [see Blaspheming The Name Of God]: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame [see The Lake Of Fire Into An Ocean Of Fire - When?]. 7:12
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken
away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." (Daniel
7:7-12 KJV)
As we will read, the authority that the Messiah was given after He
ascended to heaven and appeared before the Throne of God, authorizes Him
to do what he's going to do when He returns when faced with a defiant
world that will attempt to fight Him ("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," verse 19 below). The
"rules of engagement" are written in a scroll that the Messiah possesses
today.
"19:11 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.
19:12 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. 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God [see What Does Word of God Mean To You?]. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean [see Legions Of Men And Angels]. 19:15
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 [see What Is The Day Of The LORD?]. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
19:17 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 [see also Are We In Heaven Now?], Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 19:18
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.
19:19 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 [see A History Of Jerusalem: War And Peace].
19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him [see also What's The Bible Word For False Prophet?],
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,
and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone. 19:21 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 fowls were filled with their
flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)
"Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David , hath
prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof"
The fourth and fifth chapters of the "book" of Revelation (which was actually written as a scroll and an epistle; see The Epistles: Revelation)
document the Messiah's arrival before the Throne of God. The fourth
chapter describes God the Father on His Throne, awaiting the return of
the LORD God (contrary to the ideas of human artists, the Father would
hardly look like an old man with a white beard, as is typically
portrayed; God is ageless, never getting "old" - The Father could
just as well appear as a young man as an old one). Interestingly, John
seems to be describing a "speaker" when his vision begins i.e. "the
first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me."
"4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in
heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things
which must be hereafter.
4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a
sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald. 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting [see also What Did The Elders Of Israel Do?], clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:
and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are
the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was
a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and
round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast
like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth
beast was like a flying eagle. 4:8 And the four beasts had
each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and
they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come [see Who Is The LORD?].
4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 4:10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne,
and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns
before the throne, saying,
4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created [see The First Act Of Faith]." (Revelation 4:1-11 KJV)
In God's Hand was "a book written within and on the backside, sealed
with seven seals." It was a very special "book" (i.e. a scroll) whereby
it was to be given only to someone who accomplished the mission of a
Messiah.
"5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Roots and Branches], hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (Revelation 5:1-5 KJV)
The Messiah, known as the human Jesus of Nazareth, then arrived by His ascension, with the victorious Blood of His Sacrifice.
"5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of
the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had
been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts
and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one
of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of
saints.
5:9 And they sung a new song, saying,
Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every
kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation [see Day of Atonement: The Messiah's Deliverance]; 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:6-10 KJV)
The Messiah was then granted the authority for His return, and what He
was to do upon it; all of that was written in the scroll that the Father
gave to the one Who qualified Himself to receive it (see Day of Atonement: The Messiah's Deliverance).
"5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of
them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 5:12 Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing [see Nisan 14: The Sacrifice Of The Lamb Of God].
5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth,
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty
elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
(Revelation 5:11-14 KJV)
The Levitical high priesthood was established by Jesus Christ, "the LORD God" (see The Origin Of The Levite Priesthood)
for the sole purpose of portraying the prophecy of the Messiah's coming
Sacrifice and Atonement. Although the Levites later lost sight of their
purpose, the Messiah never lost sight of His purpose (see How Did The Messiah's Levite Priesthood Change?).
"10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and
not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which
they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto
perfect. 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be
offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no
more conscience of sins. 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins [see The Blood Of Bulls And Goats].
10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt
offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure
therein; which are offered by the law; 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (Hebrews 10:1-13 KJV)
So it will be that the Messiah will return, on the day that the Father
has decided, as written in the scroll that is sealed by seven seals. The
first four of those seals will be the famous "four horsemen of the
apocalypse."
"6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I
heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying,
Come and see. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he
that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went
forth conquering, and to conquer.
6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to
him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should
kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third
beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that
sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6:6 And I
heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat
for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt
not the oil and the wine.
6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that
sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and
with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
(Revelation 6:1-8 KJV)
Fact Finder: What is in the seven
seals of the scroll that the Messiah, the LORD God, now holds, as He
sits at the right hand of God The Father?
See The Seals Of Prophecy; also What Is The Day Of The LORD?
This Day In History, September 27
1066: William the Conqueror and his forces set sail from the mouth of the Somme River to begin the Norman Conquest of England.
1290: An earthquake in China killed 100,000 people.
1331: The Battle of Plowce between the forces of the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order.
1396: Thousands of Church of Rome "Crusaders" (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy) who had been taken prisoner by Ottoman (i.e. Turkish; listen to our Sermon The Ottoman Empire)
forces under Sultan Bayazid at the Battle of Nicopolis the day before
were beheaded. Among those executed were members of the royal families
of France, Germany and Burgundy.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the longest in human history. It occupied a
vast area of Europe and the Middle East, including the land of Israel,
for centuries. It was the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the British
Empire that permitted the present-day state of "Israel" (which is
actually Judah; see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel Of Judah) to come into existence (see A History Of Jerusalem: The British Mandate).
1529: The Siege of Vienna began when Suleiman I attacked the city (see also A History Of Jerusalem: Constantine and Muhammad).
1540: The Church of Rome's Pope Paul III gave approval to
Ignatius Loyola for the founding of the Society of Jesus, known as the
Jesuits (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy).
1590: Pope Urban VII died 13 days after becoming Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history (see also The Struggle For The Papacy).
1605: The armies of Sweden were defeated by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Battle of Kircholm.
1669: The island of Crete in The Mediterranean Sea fell to the Ottomans after a 21-year siege.
1785: The "Episcopal Church" in the U.S. was founded when
Anglicans met in Philadelphia to create a denomination independent of
the Church of England. The Episcopalians left (but continued the
erroneous doctrines of) the Church of England, that left (but continued
the erroneous doctrines of) the Church of Rome. All 3 were and are
"state religions" (i.e. the Church of Rome, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church" of the United States) that deny the Biblical Truth of the Church of God - which knows and recognizes no man-made political boundaries (see also What Is The Church? and What And Where Is Babylon Today?; also A Biography Of Abraham: Abrahamic Religions).
1791: Jews in France were granted French citizenship.
1821: Mexico declared independence from Spain (Texas succeeded from Mexico 15 years later, in 1836).
1822: Jean-François Champollion announced that he had deciphered the Rosetta stone.
1825: In England, the first locomotive to haul a passenger train was operated by George Stephenson.
1854: The first great disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner occurred when the steamship Arctic sank with 300 people aboard.
1905: The physics journal Annalen der Physik received
Albert Einstein's paper "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its
Energy Content?." The paper introduced Einstein's famous E=mc2 equation.
1918: During the First World War (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars),
Canadian commandos stormed the Canal du Nord, a section of the German
Hindenburg Line, capturing over 7,000 prisoners and 205 artillery guns.
1923: Martial law was declared in Germany.
1939: Warsaw, Poland capitulated to the invading German forces (see Presidential Quotes On War, Terrorism, Religion).
1959: A typhoon battered the Japanese island of Honshu, killing almost 5,000 people.
1964: The Warren Commission released the official report of its
investigation of the assassination of President John Kennedy with the
conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the shooter and that he acted
alone. "Conspiracy theorists" continue to disagree with the findings
with various counter-claims e.g. Oswald could not have fired shots from 2
different directions at the same time, FBI marksmen found it nearly
impossible to repeat the rate of fire and accuracy using Oswald's cheap,
bolt-action rifle that, as well, was later found to have a bent sight
that would have caused Oswald to fire nearly a foot above, and to the
left, of Kennedy's head at that range.
1970: King Hussein of Jordan and Al Fatah guerrilla leader Yasser
Arafat met in Cairo with 10 Arab chiefs of state and signed an
agreement ending civil war in Jordan.
1996: In Afghanistan, Taliban forces seized control of Kabul and hanged former President Najibullah.
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