Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God …and I will write upon him my new name.

We Christians are monotheistic believing in one God. In spite of the fact that He gave us His inspired words in the Holy Bible as basis for our belief, we cannot agree on the name of our God.

2 Tim 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Pet 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

“I AM THAT I AM”

In the beginning Christians believed that the name of God is “I AM THAT I AM” as revealed to Moses:

Exo 3:13  And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

Exo 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Exo 3:15  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

“Jealous”

As God led the Israelites in the wilderness, He told them His name is Jealous.

Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

“LORD”

Later, as God continued dealing with His people to whom He entrusted His words, He spoke telling them His name is “Lord.”

Isa 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Taking the “letter” of the word, how could God be so unpredictable as to change His name so often? The truth is these are all descriptive titles of God mistaken to be His names. This therefore caused concern to all Bible believers that the Roman Catholic Church, the oldest sect, through Cardinal Peter Galatin, conceived Jehovah for the name of God. In the Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, p. 88 this is written:

"The reading Jehovah is a comparatively recent invention. Jehovah is generally held to have been the invention of Pope Leo the 10th's Confessor, Peter Galatin (De Arcanis Catholic Veritates 1518, Folio XLIII), who was followed in the use of this hybrid form by Fagius Drusius. Van de Driesche, who lived between 1550 and 1616, was the first to ascribe to Peter Galatin the use of Jehovah, and this view has been taken since his day."

The King James or Authorized Version of the Bible which was published in 1611 A.D. thus carried this name:

Exo 6:3  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Isa 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

In recent times however, further revision of this name was made that now it is adapted by many modern translations of the Holy Bible. Father God is called Yahweh.

“Yahweh ”

The Samaritan pronunciation Jabe approaches the real sound of the Divine name. The other early writers transmit only abbreviations or corruptions of the sacred name. Inserting the vowels into the original Hebrew consonant text, YHWH, we obtain the form Jahveh or Yahweh, which has been generally accepted by modern scholars as the true pronunciation of the Divine name. It is not merely closely connected with the pronunciation of the ancient synagogue by means of the Samaritan tradition, but it also allows the legitimate derivation of all the abbreviations of the sacred name in the Old Testament.

Name of God in the Old Testament

The truth is God had not yet given His name in the Old Testament to His chosen people as revealed to Isaiah in:

Isa 52:6  Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

Perhaps many people are wondering why in an unequivocal manner God said, “My name is” such as, “I am that I am, Jealous, and Lord.” And then later pointing He had yet to reveal His name to His chosen people. What a disparate statement coming from the Lord. The reason is revealed by Jesus to His Disciples in:

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

The Testament of salvation

After the Fall as every Bible believer knows, man needs God’s assurance for salvation. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob revealed this covenant in:

Gen 17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Later, God made known that this testament of salvation was not exclusive to the “seeds of Abraham” but to all people belonging to Christ.

Rom 9:6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Requisite for a Covenant or Testament

It is fundamental to a testament that, for its fulfillment, it requires the death of the testator or the maker thereof. This is revealed to Apostle Paul in:

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Who can refute and repudiate that the God of Abraham is the maker of the testament of salvation. The declaration was “heard from His mouth” in Genesis 17:7. This therefore required God’s manifestation in the flesh. Let us now compare the different translations of the Holy Bible for God to fulfill His promise for salvation:

KJV or Authorized Version of 1611

Bishops’ Bible of 1568

1 Tim 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 Joh 3:6 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Modern versions of the Holy Bible vaguely render this promise:

NIV (New International Version)

1 Tim 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: Heappeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

1 Joh 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

The American Standard Version

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

1 Joh 3:16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Good News Translation - Second Edition

1 Tim 3:16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: Heappeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit,  and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.

1 Joh 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!

Contemporary English Version

1 Tim 3:16 Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human. The Spirit proved that he pleased God, and he was seen by angels. Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory.

1 Joh 3:16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That's why we must give our lives for each other.

Christian Standard Bible

1 Tim 3:16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: Hewas manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

1 Joh 3:16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.

The Douay-Rheims Bible

1 Tim 3:16 And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.

1 Joh 3:16 In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The Amplified Bible

1 Tim 3:16 And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [ R2 God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.

1 Joh 3:16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [ R12 in Him].

Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

1 Tim 3:16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit. F9 He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven.

1 Joh 3:16 We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Physical death

It appears that the modern versions avoided citing the word “GOD” in 1Timothy 3:16 and, instead, substituted “He” or “Christ.” In The Douay-Rheims Bible nothing  is  mentioned at all regarding  this matter.    And in 1 Joh 3:16, to further emphasize that God fulfilled His testament with His death, only the KJV or Authorized Version of 1611 and the Bishops Bible properly renders as:

1 Joh 3:6 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Many people cannot comprehend how the Spirit and invisible God could possibly die, and further asking, “Where was God if Jesus was the Father before His resurrection?”

Many people forget that only the BODY dies at physical death. The Spirit of God (Eccl 12:7) and the soul remain alive. This was demonstrated when Lazarus the beggar and the Rich Man died as it is written in Luke 16:22-24.

Only One God

Christianity, a monotheistic religion is very vocal in the belief of only One God. Many verses support this doctrine:

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Only one creator:

Neh 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein…

Isa 44:24  Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.

The general notion however is it is Jesus, the Son of God, who manifested Himself in the flesh. Hence the mystery is hanging between the relationship of Jesus and FATHER God, the maker of the testament who is supposed to fulfill it. Added to this mystification is the following written about God who cannot be a man:

Num 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

In the New Testament books it is written Jesus is truly a man:

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

It is here that we hear our Lord Jesus rebuking the people specially the Scribes and Pharisees:

Joh 8:54  Jesus answered…it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55  Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him.

Joh 8:19  Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Clues for God’s identity

Father God indicated His identity in the New Testament from the testament He made in Genesis 17:7 . This is related to the requisite for its fulfillment in Hebrew 9:16 .

In the book of Genesis (FATHER God speaking):

Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

In the book of Revelation (Jesus Christ speaking)::

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

FATHER God kept on saying, “I am he.” And Jesus confirming by saying, “I am he” in the following:

FATHER God speaking:

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa 52:6  Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

And more verses in the following:

Isa 48:12  Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

Isa 41:4  Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Now this sweeping statement Jesus Christ told His listeners:

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

“God was manifest in the flesh” therefore, as rendered in the KJV and Bishops’ Bible match up Simon Peter’s confession of Jesus. He is the Testator of the Testament of salvation, called the CHRIST, Savior, Redeemer or Messiah. At the same time Simon Peter rightly recognized Him as the Son of God, the Anointed One.

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Simon Peter recognized Jesus in His two roles:

• First – Jesus as FATHER God, the God of Abraham and Moses
• Second – Jesus as the “begotten Son of God” showing the example to the chosen as their model.

Compared to the people at Caesarea Philippi who did not recognize Jesus after having seen and heard Him speak:

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

This truth has not passed away in our time where people reading the Holy Bible have different recognitions of Jesus:

• Some say, “Jesus is only a man and not God.”
• Others say, “Jesus is only a mighty God for there is a supreme or Almighty God.”
• Still others say, “Jesus Christ is the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit.”
• Many people say, “Jesus is both God and man and He is the second person of the Trinity.”

Let us remember what Jesus told Simon Peter that He could only be identified by the “revelation of the Father.” Therefore without divine revelation, no one can honestly claim having identified Jesus, thereby exempt from His rebuke in:

Joh 8:19  Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

The religious leaders talked to Jesus stalking and trying to catch Him with His words. They had to pay Judas Iscariot 30 pieces of silver to identify Him. And Judas did it with a kiss.

The Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14) cannot comprehend Jesus is FATHER God in the flesh.  It is because he “leans unto his own understanding” (Prov 3:5) thereby exposing falsity of trust by not relying on God for divine guidance. Therefore the Natural Man is limited to recognizing Jesus as the Son of God in reading the following:

Joh 5:19  … Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do…

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Joh 14:28  … If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

And after His resurrection from the dead, He told Mary Magdalene:

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

How many people can claim having recognized Jesus as Simon Peter identified Him with His two roles?

First role – Jesus as the CHRIST means the Messiah, Savior, or Redeemer. In this role, JESUS clearly points to FATHER God who made the Testament of Salvation as Testator. And He fulfilled it with His death on the cross when He said, “It is finished” (Joh 19:30).

Second role – Jesus as the SON (of the living God), the Anointed one, serves as model showing the way to the chosen of God.

• Jesus as FATHER God:

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the MESSIAHthe Prince …

Isa 43:11 (Father God speaking)  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Is there a savior beside Him, at His right hand?)

Isa 63:16  Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our REDEEMER; thy name is from everlasting.

Isa 44:24  Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

• Jesus as SON of God:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Pet 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

Other Apostles and Disciples of Christ recognized Him “by the revelation of the Father” as Simon Peter did:

Joh 1:49  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Joh 11:27  She (Martha) saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Joh 1:41  He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

The NAME foretold

FATHER God had to manifest Himself in the flesh in order to fulfill His testament clearly points to Jesus!

Philp 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The following is what every Bible believer knows. It is hoped many people perceive the significance of the name JESUS.

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest… (2nd role) 33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;  and  of his kingdom  there shall  be no  end (1st role).

What is being overlooked by many people regarding the message of the angel to Mary is that FATHER God had to manifest Himself in the flesh in order fulfill His testament of salvation. They only see Jesus in His role as Son of God.

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Are the following revelations not sufficient to recognize Jesus in His role as FATHER God?

Luk1:33  And he shall reign … and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

FATHER God speaking, is there a savior beside Him? Is there another savior sitting at His right hand?

Isa 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Luk 22:69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

In the end, Jesus will consolidate His role as FATHER God after having fulfilled His Testament of salvation with His glorified body:

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor (Comforter), The mighty God, The everlasting Father…

These two roles of JESUS were revealed to Joseph, the husband of Mary:

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21  And she shall bring forth a son (role as Son of God), and thou shalt call his name JESUS (the Savior): for he shall save his people from their sins (role as FATHER God).

The identity of Jesus was revealed to Old Testament saints by FAITH! And this is what God means by FAITH.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Abel, in offering a lamb (Gen 4:4), already “saw” Jesus in His role as FATHER God fulfilling His Testament of salvation! So were chosen of God offering the blood of animals as required of them in the Pentateuch.

The HOLY SPIRIT

God in His FATHER manifestation (Isa 64:8, 63:16) was clearly perceived as such in the Old Testament even to “those on the outside” (Mark 4:11-12). However, further revelation is needed for FATHER God’s promised INHERITANCE in His Testament of salvation. Literally, God’s covenant was intended to the Israelites, more specifically to the “priests.” This was revealed to Ezekiel and confirmed by Peter:

Eze 44:15  But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary…

“Priesthood” refers to the chosen of God and was revealed to Peter in:

1 Pet 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

The “priests” are chosen to take charge of the “sanctuary of God.” The Natural Man sees the “sanctuary of God” as the sacred altar and holy objects within. What is sacred to God however is the message of His words that leads to eternal life. That is why praises to Him are directed to His words.

Psa 56:10  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

Only the chosen, now priests unto God, who have the great spiritual message from the “letter” of the word can keep them sacred.

1 Pet 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Keeping the divine message of the words is the kind of spiritual sacrifices God expects from His chosen. This is His “name” to be hallowed.  

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Exo 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

FATHER God, promised Himself to be the INHERITANCE in His testament of salvation: to His chosen:

Eze 44:28  And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance…

Psa 16:5  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…

However FATHER God could not be acceptable to the chosen as demonstrated in the following:

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

FATHER God therefore had to take the characteristics of a dove (Mat 3:16) to complete His plan for salvation. Thus at Pentecost, it was the Holy Spirit with these characteristics that the Disciples received. This is the promised INHERITANCE!

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Father God in His human manifestation, “Emmanuel that means God with us” (Mat 1:23), is Jesus in His two roles (Mat 16:16-17), as Father and Son.

The Second Coming of Christ?!

How many people realized the following promise of Jesus to His chosen leading to the further identification of the Holy Spirit?

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Is not the HOLY SPIRIT that fulfilled the commitment of Jesus Christ? Is it easy for many people to accept that JESUS, in His role as FATHER God, is actually the HOLY SPIRIT? The following verses appear to be contradictory to this truth in the view of the Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14):

Jesus’ ascension to heaven!?

Act 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. 10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11  Which also said, Ye men of 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.

Very clearly, human perception dictates (the use of the intellect and senses) that Jesus is now in heaven above. However, to the Disciples of Jesus He demonstrated that He could make Himself visible or invisible after His resurrection (many verses). He showed Himself to Magdalene thinking He was the gardener (Joh 20:13-16). He showed Himself to His eleven Apostles (Mar 16:14). He walked with two of His Disciples in going to Emmaus (Luk 24:13-32), and more appearances and disappearances on other occasions. Very clearly, Jesus made Himself visible or invisible as His purpose dictates.

Let us view the following in the light of what God wants to convey to His chosen. Is it physical or spiritual? Let us be reminded that God is speaking a “unique language” or in parables (Ezek 20:49, Psa 78:2, Mar 4:34).

Jesus’ descent from heaven!?

1 Thes 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (trumpet) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Human perception views this event to happen in the future. However, there is one basic truth leading to the revelation of God for this great phenomenon.

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus is the Word of God:

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Therefore Jesus must be the Truth (Joh 14:6) in the word “yesterday, today, and in the future.” How many people realize and accept this truth? Jesus Christ classified the people into two classes on this matter:

First class – the “chosen of God”

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:  12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

Second class –“those without”

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Isa 6:8  … Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Ezek 17:2  Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel.

The general notion is that Christ’s ascension “and a cloud received him out of their sight” in Acts 1:9-11 happened literally that now He is in heaven and waiting for His second coming. The general belief for this occasion is the long awaited “end of the world.”

1 Thes 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

We are reminded always that God speaks parables or a “unique language.” The “letter” of His words symbolizes some things having spiritual meanings. Early in His ministry, Jesus demonstrated this when He told His listeners, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Very clearly then, the two classes of people were revealed.

Related to the second coming of Christ, let Him through His words reveal the meaning of the following:

• “The dead in Christ” – in the view of the Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14), these are the people buried in the cemetery. But to God the “dead” are the people walking on the streets, working in the factories, offices, etc. who cannot understand the great message of His words.

Prov 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understandingshall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Eph 5:13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

• “With a shout” – for many people, hearing the truth in the word is like a trumpet blown with many decibels that they flee so as not to hear it.

1 Thes 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (trumpet) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

• “An archangel” – to the Natural Man this is a messenger of God from heaven dressed in white with wings. But to God it may be Simon Peter telling the good news of the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile, being an Italian centurion:

Act 10:1  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2  A devout man, and one that feared God …3  He saw in a vision …an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Act 10:20  Arise therefore…21  Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek…22  And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God…to hear words of thee.  10:23  … And on the morrow Peter went …24  …And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27  And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 33  …Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

• “He cometh with clouds” – The Natural Man visualizes Jesus coming from the clouds. Jesus is the TRUTH (Joh 14:6) in the word! To God, clouds that contain water later drop as rainfall symbolizes His doctrine:

Deu 32:2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.

• “Every eye shall see him” -- Jesus is the TRUTH in the word. With His command to His Disciples, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations,” the chosen of God having received this great revelation of His words cannot help but to share this to all. This is how, “every eye shall see him” even those who “pierced” or hate the real message of His words.

The foregoing truth in the word therefore concludes that the Second Coming of Christ is simply the time when the chosen receive the Spirit of God. This was true in the life of the Old Testament saints, true to the Disciples of Christ at Pentecost and true today. True in the future when God accepts the humility of people “like little children” (Mat 18:3).

The end of the world?!

Many people think the “end of the world” is the physical demise of planet earth. But to Christ, before this, He has yet to complete the number of souls He knew with His foreknowledge would believe in Him.

In our time therefore, the “end of the world” and Christ’s coming actually refers to the demise of the “spiritual earth” that actually refers to the chosen. This happens when God calls His chosen to hear His voice and believe the truth. Very clearly “earth” symbolizes people in the following:

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Truly hearing the voice of God would end man’s NATURAL and commences his SPIRITUAL state. This is the “coming of Christ” in his life:

The NATURAL man:

1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The SPIRITUAL man:

1 Cor 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Conceivably this is what Christ meant after telling His Disciples the “signs for the end of the world” in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Indeed, “The Lord change not” (Mal 3:6), and Jesus proved His words to be true all the time. Then the following is seen very clearly by the real believers.

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The “end of the world” and the “second coming of Christ” actually refers to “born again” (Joh 3:3). This is the transformation of the chosen from Natural Man to a Spiritual Man. Jesus gave this great revelation to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to Him one night:

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except  a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“Born of water” implies immersion where “water” symbolizes the “letter” of the word. This is total belief and acceptance of the inspired words of God in the Holy Bible:

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

“Born of the Spirit” follows the total acceptance of the “letter” of the word with the revelation of truth thereon from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, “water and Spirit” are the two witnesses to the truth. A person is “born again” when TRUTH comes to his life. This is his transformation from “spiritual goat” to “spiritual sheep” as Jesus in His role as Son of God is pictured as a Lamb (Joh 1:29). The “sheep and the goats” are clearly distinguished at Judgment Day (Mat 25:31-34).

2 Cor 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Second Coming of Christ happens in the life of the chosen when they receive the promised INHERIANCE that marks the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them.

By divine revelation, everything related to the “literal-physical move” of Jesus Christ, such as His ascension to and coming from heaven are but the dictate of the intellect and senses of the Natural Man that are not qualified to “discern spiritual things.”

Let us remember Jesus Christ after His resurrection was not recognized even by His Disciples. He made Himself visible or invisible as He wished. But the Natural Man is not expected to comprehend spiritual things that can only be spiritually discerned.

1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

To the Spiritual Man however, everything is clear as it is discerned and revealed spiritually:

1 Cor 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

“Born again” is actually a miracle not seen by many people that benefits the soul. However, the enemy of God counterfeits it with wonders visible to many people that benefit the body. How many people accept the following?

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

“Born again” marks the endowment of INHERITANCE promised by FATHER God in His TESTAMENT of salvation (Ezek 44:28). This is the promise of JESUS in His role as FATHER God to His Disciples in:

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

With this, the chosen become the “temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16), and only to them that the following applies:

1 Cor 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The name of God?!

Jesus commanded His Disciples that the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit should be declared in sharing the gospel of truth:

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Simon Peter, who recognized Jesus “by the revelation of the Father” in Matthew 16:16-17, was the first among the Apostles to follow the command:

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

With this NAME revealed to the Disciples, Jesus told them to rely on in sharing the gospel of truth:

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my nameshall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

In the name of JESUS CHRIST!

Without divine revelation of this NAME, professing apostles having heard and read the name of God now perform the following wonders to the amazement of many people.

• Persons “devil possessed” are restored to sanity
• Speaking in tongues or “strange language” is heard in the chapels, churches, and prayer meetings
• Serpents are held without hurting them
• Healing of different kinds diseases is seen to the amazement of many

However, our Lord distinguished His Disciples from persons who are subject to His rebuke in John 8:19, “If ye have known me, ye should have known my Father also.” Today, God’s chosen clearly recognize the genuine miracles from the counterfeit:

Mat 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mat 24:25  Behold, I have told you before.

The test for the spurious or counterfeit:

1. Do these professing apostles receive the revelation of God regarding His name? Are they not subject to the following rebuke?

Joh 8:19  … Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Why do we hear from them the following alibi for not having truly identified FATHER God?

“The infinite FATHER God cannot be truly and clearly identified with the finite mind of man. To do so, we will be like God. Just believe and do not lose faith in God.”

And to justify this shortcoming, with enticing words, they try to convince people that identification of God is progressive. This culminates when man is taken to the heavenly kingdom.

2. Do they subscribe to the intended benefit from the miracles of God?

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

3. To demonstrate the intended benefit from the miracles of God, do these professing apostles realize the significance of “opening the eyes” of the man “born blind?” This man after healing, he recognized Jesus and therefore he is no longer subject to His rebuke in John 8:19 by saying, “FATHER God is a mystery incapable of clear identification.”

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

4. Are these professing apostles and their followers still waiting for the second coming of Christ? If so, they make Jesus remiss of His promises in the following?

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Mat 28:20  …, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This only proved they have not truly identified the real Jesus leading to the clear identification of FATHER God also. Therefore the answer to the following questions is not yet clear to them:

• Who is the Testator of the Testament of salvation?
• Who is the promised Inheritance in the Testament?
• Who did the Disciple receive as Inheritance at Pentecost?
• How did Jesus fulfill His promise of “being with His Disciples till the end of the world?”
• Where is Jesus Christ at this very moment?

“Lord, Lord”

It is here that our Lord warned the people of those claiming to be His apostles:

Mat 7:21  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.

Mat 7:22  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 thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These professing apostles have not received the “revelation of the Father” on the clear identification of JESUS CHRIST as Simon Peter did in Matthew 16:16-17. “Ye that work iniquity” indicates they do not even know the truth in His words. Many of these professing apostles have been exposed in this article.

Many people think that hearing the word and reading the Holy Bible is enough for them to know the truth. They remain “blind” to the following prohibitions?

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

For disregarding the foregoing taboos, someday these people would claim and tell our Lord:

Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Today the name JESUS CHRIST is heard in the chapels, churches, cathedrals, prayer meetings, Bible studies, and prayer rallies; and wonders thought to be miracles are witnessed by many people. But Jesus forewarned His chosen.

The NEW NAME of God!

The Shepherd separates His flock from the goats, as God separates His chosen few from the rest of the people that the latter cannot mingle with the former. This is by giving His NEW NAME as password.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

“Him that overcometh&;rdquo;

This indicates man’s triumph over himself in overcoming human nature of “leaning unto own understanding” regarding the word of God:

Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

So also with man’s nature of depending on another instead of trusting God:

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

“A pillar in the temple of God”

This initial triumph over oneself makes a person “born again of water and of the Spirit” (Joh 3:5). By a miracle, the chosen are transformed to spiritual “sheep.” Thereafter they are given this “new name of God” as password, thereby becoming members of the “flock.” In another sense the chosen become parts of the “temple of God.”

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

“I will write upon him the name of my God”

It is Jesus that is referred to in Rev 3:1, “He that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.” He says, “I will write upon him the name of my God.” Very clearly this points to Jesus in His role as Son of God as seen while still nailed on the cross.

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

And after His resurrection when Magdalene tried to touch Him:

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

In this role, Jesus acting as “model to His brethren” (Rom 8:29) must have known first this mysterious NAME of God. This serves as “password” or passport to eternal life. One element of the “password” that many people would certainly reject is what Jesus told the multitudes who heard Him say:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Paul who used to be a persecutor of Christ and His Disciples received this message and wrote:

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Definitely Jesus was not referring to physical life when He mentioned “life.” Rather He was referring to spiritual or eternal life. And the “spirit that quickeneth” pertains to the word revealing the “spiritual message” because the “letter” only serves as basis for the truth:

2 Cor 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

“I will write upon him my new name”

All of a sudden the tenor was changed into first person speaking, “I will write upon him my new name.” Having identified Jesus “by the revelation of the Father” (Matthew 16:16-17), the same Jesus now is clearly talking in His role as FATHER God.

Who can claim having this “new name of God” as password or passport? This is given exclusively to the chosen. While many people come across this “name” that refers to Jesus, only the chosen know it by divine revelation.

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and hisname is called The Word of God.

“He or His” definitely refers to Jesus Christ who, in the beginning is the Word. Needless to state, the Speaker and the Word cannot be separated or alienated from each other in like manner FATHER God and SON of God are incorporated in just one physical body. Emmanuel that means “God with us” now presents a clearer view of God!

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“The Word was made flesh.”

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

No question there is only One True God! He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Exo 3:15  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

There is only One Creator!

Neh 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein…

Isa 44:24  Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.

Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Psa 144:15  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

1 Cor 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

This is the first of all the commandments that Jesus told a humble Scribe (Mar 12:28).

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

It is actually a prerequisite to the Two Great Commandments:

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Cloth dipped in blood

This is Jesus in His role as FATHER God who made the Testament of Salvation and fulfilled it by shedding His blood on the Cross! Now His “new NAME” is revealed to His chosen!

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Definitely this does not refer to the “letter” but the “spirit” of the word, for the “letter killeth, but the “spirit giveth life.”

2 Cor 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

With this revelation of the “new name of God,” the ministers of the New Testament are likewise identified. They are the chosen few who alone speak the “language of the Lamb” that gives everlasting life. They are those who submit to, and preach, the truth of the following:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Who among professing apostles of Christ believe and preach the miracle of “opening the eyes of the man born blind” whose significance is hereto demonstrated?  Did it benefit the “flesh” or body?

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

The Pharisees who heard this realized the spiritual significance of the miracle of Jesus:

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Jesus Christ gives the spiritual significance of His miracles that benefit the soul instead of the body:

• “The lame walk” not on the streets, but “to walk in the Spirit”

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

• “The deaf hear” not the voices of people around, but the truth in word

Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mar 4:23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 14:35  … He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

• “A leper is cleansed” not of his rotting skin, but for his face to shine like that of Moses after talking to the Lord

Exo 34:35  And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

• “Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead” not as the Natural Man understands. “Death” has another meaning to God. “Raise to life” simply means to be “born of water and of the Spirit” and this is mistaken to be called the Second Coming of Christ or the Rapture.

Prov 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understandingshall remain in the congregation of the dead.

All people are “dead” in the eyes of God for they are “out of the way of understanding.” Only the “poor in spirit” (Mat 5:3) believe this. Hence, they are the ones “raised from the dead” as our Lord did to Lazarus. This also happened when Jesus died on the cross that “many bodies of the saints which slept rose” from the graves.

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

“They went into the holy city and appeared unto many” actually means those who benefited from the testament of salvation, at the resurrection of our Lord, they were “born again” and began spreading the gospel of truth to many people.

Signs for the believers

These are the signs for the true followers of Christ:

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my nameshall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

“In my name”

With the “new name of God,” that is, the “SPIRITUAL WORD,” the chosen of God perform great miracles as Jesus in His role as Son showed the example. These can never be counterfeited by professing apostles and prophets of Christ.

“Cast out devils”

“Devils” stand for anything opposed to Christ. Christ is the truth; and “devils” therefore symbolize falsehood and deceptions. By the power of the “SPIRITUAL WORD,” God’s spiritual NAME, nobody can resist and refute the TRUTH as Jesus demonstrated to the Scribes, Pharisees, and other religious leaders.

“Speak with new tongues”

The “spiritual word” is the new language or “tongue” that Jesus Christ was heard speaking. Without our Lord expounding on His words, how many people understand the intended meaning of the following?

• “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Joh 2:19)
• “Eat my flesh, drink my blood.” (Joh 6:54-56)
• “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” (Mat 5:30)
• “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out.” (Mat 5:29)
• “The vine, fig and olive trees refused to be king of the trees, and only the bramble accepted the position.” (Judg 9:8-15)
• (Plus many more)

What we hear from people are purely conjectures, or opinion out of philosophy, human wisdom that God condemns (1 Cor 1:19-21) . Let us consider the following after our Lord told the multitudes:

Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Today, it is the reverse. The oldest sect uses the foregoing to gather and keep multitudes of her followers! But for Jesus, He lost many of His disciples:

Joh 6:60  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

Joh 6:61  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Then Jesus told His Apostles:

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Joh 6:69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

“Take up serpents”

The rods of the wise men of Pharaoh turned into serpents, counterfeiting the miracle of God for the rod of Aaron becoming a “serpent” (Exo 7:11-12). However this serpent ate all the serpents from the rods of the sorcerers. The serpents from the rods of the sorcerers symbolize the deceptions coming from Satan that the chosen hear but they are not affected at all.

“Drink deadly thing”

Satan is the “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4). The chosen are still in this kingdom of Satan. In their physical life they are in the midst of “deadly things” or all kinds of distraction, attraction, and deceptions. Our Lord Jesus in His role as Son showed the example of overcoming all these. Hence He expects His chosen to endure by the power of His “new NAME” the SPIRITUAL WORD!  

“White stone”

And here is another thing special to the chosen of God:

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new namewritten, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

A “stone” once was revealed to the Israelites in the wilderness as the “writing block” with which The Ten Commandments were “written with the finger of God.”

Exo 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Throughout man’s spiritual history, the two tables of “stone” were not described as “white.” This is because The Ten Commandments were simply followed in their literal meaning which, to God, only “cleanses the outside of the cup and platter” (Mat 23:26). Thus exposing the false apostles:

2 Cor 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

This article and those in the website, www.purechristianity.org, demonstrate the difference between the “letter” and the “spirit” of the word.

“Let him hear”

After opening the “deaf ears” of the chosen, they could now hear what the Spirit tells them. To those who endure, and this is progressive in the eyes of God in their lifetime, they are privileged “to eat of the hidden manna.” “Manna” symbolizes the word of God and it is only to them that the “spiritual word” is revealed feeding their “spiritual life.”

“New name written”

The “new name” is actually the mysterious “name of God” as earlier expounded and this refers to the following:

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Who among the people professing to know JESUS CHRIST claim having the “white stone?” True to what is written only the “poor in spirit” (Mat 5:3), the “babes in Christ” (Luk 10:21), are privileged to have it.

With the revelation of this “new name of God” which is the SPIRITUAL WORD, or the TRUTH from the “letter” of the word, the following will strike the false apostles for they find themselves in the dark:

Psa 74:18  … O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Psa 31:3  … for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psa 54:1  … Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Psa 79:9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

Psa 135:13  Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

Isa 63:16  Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Something to think about from this article:

Did Jesus/God speak except in parables?

Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Were Christ Apostles authorized to expound on the words of our Lord?

Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

How about Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and other Old Testament prophets? How about New Testament professing apostles and prophets of Christ, can they expound on the great message of our Lord? This is the great mystery hidden from ages past:

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

And it is for this reason that only they can truly praise God through His words:

Psa 56:10

In God will I praise his word:
in the LORD will I praise his word.

Psa 56:11

In God have I put my trust:
I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Psa 56:12-13

Thy vows are upon me, O God:I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my  feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

END

By: Adiel A. Jeziel, a pseudonym
The name of the author was derived from Biblical characters:
Adiel (1 Chronicle 27:25) – meaning witness of the Lord
Amittai (Jonah 1:1) – meaning, true, fearing
Jesiel (1 Chronicle 12:3) – a warrior in David’s army

The “author” recognizes the incapability and unworthiness of anyone assuming authorship of anything about God. Thus, his inconsequential role and obscurity less the reader’s attention be diverted from the Word.

The “author” has been in search of the identity of God since childhood. He is now in the twilight years of his life. Before leaving, it is his obsession to share with people who likewise cherish eternal life, whatever he received from the Lord. To him, this is the most precious “treasure” he could possibly possess in this chaotic and messy world, that is not subject to obsolescence, theft, and exhaustion, of which our Lord aptly put, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

Request:

If this short treatise became a blessing to you, please share it to whoever would love to hear the message. Better still if you reproduce it provided it is copied faithfully.

• Gen 17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
• Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
• 1 Cor2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The “name of God” is what is being discussed in this article. It is the “mysterious name of God” that is only revealed to His chosen. That is why jesting is an abomination to God when talking about His words (Eph 5:4).

• 1 Cor 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…
• Mat 23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.