The Revelator

The World Before Adam
by The Revelator

We were all born in a religious world and a society that has basically accepted the premise that the creation is six thousand years old. Although this belief is not accepted and held by the non-religious world, it is nevertheless taught in many church groups. The problem and the misunderstandings come as a result of "humanly" interpreting the first few chapters in the book of Genesis. Common sense should tell us that there are serious problems with the concept of a six thousand year old creation. Archaeology has over the years clearly demonstrated and proven that this theory is indeed a myth. It is true that civilization, as we know it, started approximately six thousand years ago and had it's origins in Adam. This is all well documented in true history, and is also supported by the Bible. It is very important that we need to understand the meaning of certain words in the first two chapters of Genesis. The "design" of scripture that God has chosen in the first few chapters of Genesis demands the correct understanding of certain key words, and how God intended these words to be used in scripture.

The Genesis "Recreation"

There is a reason why I have chosen the word "recreation" instead of the word "creation", as we shall see. We need to now look at the first two verses in the Bible. Gen. 1:1-2 states, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form, and void".

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (KJV)

The earth was also in "darkness" and was covered with water (verse 2). My question is, did God create the earth this way? I find it interesting that the word "heaven" used here is singular according to the King James Version. I do believe this translation has it correct in stating this heaven as being singular. There is a very important reason for the heaven in Gen. 1:1 to be singular as you will so discover as we progress in this study. Deut. 10:14 and 1 King 8:27 show a comparison of heaven (singular) with heavens (plural).

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD'S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is]. (KJV)

1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (KJV)

These scriptures show that there is more than one heaven. The phrase "the heaven and the heaven of heavens" can be explained to mean that there are at least three heavens. Indeed, this is what the apostle Paul stated in 2 Cor. 12:2, since he referred to the "third" heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (KJV)

Would this not mean that the other heaven or heavens were already in existence before the "beginning" of the creation in Gen. 1-1? The apostle Paul also shows in Rom. 1:20 and Col. 1:16 that there is a visible creation and an invisible creation.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (KJV) ...

Who Is the Church?
by The Revelator

There is much that could be said about the Church of God that is mentioned many times in the new testament. However there is also much that could be said about the churches of this present-day religious world. The contrast between the one (singular) Church that the Bible talks about, and the present day divided churches (plural) is very profound and shamefully different. This subject of what is the Church that this booklet will address, is not what people might assume the Church is from God's point of view. We have all been born in a world that has spawned many religions, sects and church groups. It is as if one could go "shopping" for any church of his or her choice, and be comfortable in one's taste and liking when it comes to a form of worship or social function. Usually this is what a church is to most people as it only serves as a social function or an emotional fulfillment. A church must satisfy a person's need to "feel good", either with the minister's sermons or the church functions. A person must also feel comfortable with the other people that attend. There seems to be enough churches to go around for everyone's likes and dislikes. When a person for some reason disagrees with a sermon or has difficulty with the theology (if the church even has any), he or she can always "pull stakes" and attend some other church. It usually is just a matter of time that they will find some other reason, or some other offense that causes them to "shop" around elsewhere to satisfy their "spiritual" and "emotional" needs.

Then there is always the business and financial aspect of a church. It seems the church is always low on funds, and there is always the need to remind the faithful members of this dire and desperate situation. It is dependent always on the flow of cash for it's survival (according to the pastor). Also the pastor must never teach any "new" or controversial teaching that the members do not already agree with. There is always the danger that the "hired" pastor will for some unforeseen reason find himself without a "job". Therefore his messages must always be comfortable for all listeners and his sermons must always be very "nice", and by all means he must convince his "flock" that he truly cares for their souls. He must also have the ability to cause his members to become emotionally involved with his sermons. He must also occasionally demonstrate his faith by performing a so-called "healing" ceremony or some other "moved by the spirit" emotional display. It is very dependent on one's ability to speak and to explain wisdom to others for him to be accepted to be a pastor of a church. This is far removed from what motivated the early believers in the days of the apostle Paul. Paul stated that he did not come to people with excellency of speech, or wanted to skillfully explain some wisdom. Paul simply wanted to proclaim the truth and testimony of God! The modern day ministers are trained in seminaries to perform in the opposite manner of the way the apostle Paul stated ...

What Is Man?
by The Revelator

This is a subject and a question that is taken so much for granted in today's fast-paced materialistic world. Most important, the Creator of man is also taken for granted, and is generally rejected along with the Creator's answer to this profound question. We are a nation and a people that generally is occupied with the vain and empty things of this world, which are "things" that do not feed and satisfy the soul. All these "things" do not provide the answers to what we really need to know about ourselves. As a rule we do not consider the relevancy of questions such as what is man, and why is man here on planet earth? We more or less put a religious "twist" to these types of questions, and leave questions of this nature to our "learned" theologians to explain.

It seems we do not take the time to consider and to really mentally dwell on the awesome reality of the existence of an all knowing, all wise, and all powerful Creator God. We should take the time daily to set aside a special time for prayer and meditation, and to really consider the uniqueness of man; and the beauty, splendor and harmony of creation itself. It seems we are so involved with little things in daily living that the eternal things so easily will escape us. We normally with no fore-thought very causally take the eternal things so much for granted, therefore we truly cannot be thankful as we should be. All the material blessings that we all enjoy, are also taken for granted along with the source and the Great Giver of these blessings. We are a very unthankful spoiled people, and that fact is also taken for granted! We are somehow "programmed" to believe that our so-called prosperity was earned and made possible by something that we have done to deserve all this goodness.

We were all born in a society that reminds us constantly that man has finally "evolved" to this point in history to achieve almost anything man sets his mind to, or that man desires to possess. Indeed this is true! We have produced advanced technology that has allowed man to even achieve space travel in a small way. However the fact is, man is not aware of his very limited and helpless condition! Who does man think he is, and what really is man? This world is filled with many beliefs and religions with each claiming to have some understanding of the answer to this profound question. However we must go to a source other than within ourselves to discover this answer. The answer to this question is found in the Creator's instruction manual (the Bible) that came along with the product, being the creation of Adam (man). In Psl. 8:4, 144:3 and Job 7:17 it states that King David of Israel, and a man called Job also asked God this same profound question.

Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son ...

The Seventh Day
by The Revelator

What is this subject known as the seventh day? It obviously takes you back to the creation week of the first and second chapters of the book of Genesis. We are all aware that God sanctified and blessed the seventh day of the creation week. We are also aware that God "rested" on the seventh day from all his work that he created and made. God set this day apart (sanctified it) from all the other days. The question we have to ask; what is so special about the seventh day, and for that matter we also have to ask; what is the seventh day? It is directly associated with what is called the Sabbath day that Moses instituted under the old covenant (Exod 20:10at is the purpose of this type of ceremonial law of working six days and resting the following (seventh) day? What about the other written ceremonial laws directly associated with Sabbath keeping? Israel was given these laws to show them something they otherwise could not understand. God could do no less than to show them physical types and patterns to be observed in ceremonial fashion to explain his plan of redemption for his people. They still did not understand because of unbelief and hardness of heart. This is explained in the fourth chapter of the book of Hebrews, which I'll cover later. These physical ceremonial works of the old covenant obviously pointed toward something spiritual. The "works" of working six days and resting the following day (seventh) by the law of the Mosaic seventh-day Sabbath represented, and was patterned after, the old "six-day" creation and a certain continual "rest". By obedience to the sacrificial laws and also the ceremonial laws of the Sabbaths, the Israelites had a temporary "remedy" for sin; and this obedience at same time pictured and pointed toward a "spiritual rest". All the prophets write about this "spiritual rest".

The Spiritual Rest

I want to now list the scriptures that I feel highlight the true Sabbath or God's rest. Please keep in mind that from these following scriptures is a truth about God's true Sabbath which is so important to understand. The ceremonial "works" commanded to a carnal-minded people called Israel were designed as lessons to show a "remedy" for the sin of Adam, and also pointed toward God's Sabbath rest. The book of Psalms has many verses dealing with a kind of spiritual rest. Here are just a few that I have chosen, however there are many more scriptures that could also be shown. Psl. 95:11 shows that Israel did not enter into God's rest, yet they did enter into the land of Canaan; which we all know to be a fact.

Psalm 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. {that...: Heb. if they enter into my rest} (KJV)

This was a very serious matter since God swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest. This "wrath of God" will be explained later in the book of Hebrews. Psl. 116:7 shows that souls can return to a certain kind of "rest". Christ also talked about this "rest" for our souls which will be discussed later.

Psalm 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with ...

Repentance and Obedience
by The Revelator

It is very rare to hear the subject of real repentance and real obedience being discussed among Christian churches in this present-day religious world. This booklet will address the profound importance for believers to develop a child-like humility, and to have a child-like willingness to obey our Heavenly Father. Although a form of repentance is recognized by most sincere Christians, it is however obvious that this subject fails to have the power of conviction in the liberal-minded churches of today. Most important, Christians are not aware of the danger of believing false doctrine; which simply means to believe lies about God! Generally speaking, sincere Christians never consider that they might be deceived, and that they might be believing false teachings about God. Deceived Christians simply are not aware that they are deceived! However it matters very much what the doctrines are that determine how and what we believe about God! Indeed, the main theme and warnings of the new testament is not only based on moral standards, but for saints to guard themselves against believing false teachings and false doctrines!

All that sincere Christians seem to know, and what they have been taught is that they must never hate; and that they must always try to be "good" people. They have also been told to "love" everybody and all people, and they must by all means "tolerate" everything and all manner of life-styles. The problem with this "reasoning" shows that people do not seem to understand the definition of the word "love", since they will tend to act out their feelings and misguided emotions with what they think is "love". We are truly a deceived people when we do not seem to understand that in order to "love" there must also be a profound hatred toward certain things. We have indeed lost the art of common sense when we as a supposedly "Christian" society with all our churches cannot explain or understand the obvious difference between love and hate. We have been conditioned by our "learning" institutions and by our liberal-minded churches to regard even the very word "hate" as something bad or evil. It is time to examine this accepted "Christian" view point of "love" and "hate", and begin to look at these words the way God looks at them. This is what real repentance and real obedience toward our Heavenly Father is all about! It doesn't seem to enter into the minds of sincere Christian people that God himself has a profound hatred toward certain things and attitudes, as it shows in Pro. 6:16-19.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness [that] speaketh lies, ...

The "Man of Sin"
by The Revelator

We are told in the Bible that there will come a time when this present evil world will be under the control of an individual that the apostle Paul called the "man of sin". Paul stated that this individual will sit in the temple of God, and he will somehow be able to show and convince the world that he ...