THE MORNING STARS (PART #4)
by Pastor Jeromy John Visser
(Introduction:)
Naturally, the very first commandment forbids the worship of cherubim; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 & Deuteronomy 5:7). Because angels are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14), oftentimes men have developed the drab habit of worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator Himself (Romans 1:25). This activity is explicitly prohibited throughout scripture yet the practice is still in effect today by many professing Christians.
To prove this point, Paul recorded in Colossians 2:18-19; “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” That's not to say that Yahweh in transitional form doesn't sometimes appear in the model of an angel, just that Christ alone is to be worshiped (1a).
Paul's statement is interesting in that it ties into an earlier section of this same epistle proving that Jesus is the Creator; “For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are upon earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Understanding that the triune God created the morning stars or "host of heaven" should make it apparently obvious that those who pray or bow down to angels are insulting Yahweh.
For example, when the apostle John fell down at the feet of an angel during his apocalyptic visions he was promptly told; “See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). For double emphasis he was later told “See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God” (Revelation 22:9). "Worship God" is a commandment.
Furthermore, the worship of devils could be considered a lesser form of angel worship or simply idolatry as it's serving other lowercase "gods." This practice was forever forbidden by Yahweh (Leviticus 17:7) because many ancient Israelites engaged in the ritual (Deuteronomy 32:17 & Psalm 106:37) including Moses' brother Aaron (Exodus 32:22-24). This grim idea of devotion to demons was attempted by Satan during one of his temptations of Christ (Matthew 4:9 & Luke 4:7) which will be covered in detail later in this series.
Consider that Paul warned against those who follow devils as opposed to God two times in his own epistles claiming that this tradition will be especially pursued in “the latter times” (I Corinthians 10:20-21 & I Timothy 4:1). Perhaps the best part about those who deify or revere other gods besides Yahweh is that they will eventually be abolished entirely alongside their own false idols (Revelation 9:20) “and they shall no more be remembered: and also I [God] will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zechariah 13:2).
It should be stated that angel worship is not only condemned by the Word of God but by many early protestant reformers like Martin Luther (2b) and John Calvin (3c). It's even admonished in 23rd chapter of the Westminster Confession which states; “Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creature.” Of course, this was because Luther, Calvin and their early churches all viewed the pope as antichrist and believed the papacy to be the whore of Babylon.
“Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold” (Daniel 13:31 or Story of Susanna 1:31) but unfortunately she was also deleted from the start of the book of Daniel in the original King James Version by puritans in 1825 AD. Whether considered "cannon" or not, Susanna gives instruction on how a virtuous woman should behave in the face of adversity (or attempted rape) and is practically a foreshadowing of Jesus' dealings with the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11). It also proves that angels often do Yahweh's "dirty work."
After two "elders" attempted to blackmail Susanna into forcible sex by threatening to bear false witness against her, she appealed her case to Daniel who promptly found the imposters guilty. His sentence against them was “thou hast lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you” (Daniel 13:55-59 or Story of Susanna 1:55-59). While the children of Israel did according to the Law of Moses and put them both to death this statement proves that angels can blemish souls.
Most Christians are familiar with the biblical story about Daniel being cast into the lion's den. After being found unharmed the next morning in the sealed trench, Daniel tells the king of Babylon Darius; “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me” (Daniel 6:22). While the Biblical description alone proves that this angel wasn't a mere man who happened to be a part-time lion-tamer, the apocryphal book of The Story of Bel and The Dragon gives much further background into how he was spared.
There were seven lions sealed in with Daniel
who had been adapted to being fed two sheep and dead men daily. An
“angel of the Lord”
appears to the prophet Habakkuk telling him;
“Go, carry the
dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions' den”
but when Habakkuk states he's unaware of Daniel's location
“the angel of the
Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through
the vehemency of his spirit (4d) set him in Babylon over the
den” (Daniel
14:28-42 or Bel and The Dragon 1:28-42).
Like Satan having the ability to "teleport" Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple
during his own ineffectual temptations (Matthew 4:5), the numerous actions
ascribed to angels in scripture are supernatural and cannot be accomplished by
flesh man. In the case of Daniel being fed by the prophet Habakkuk,
“the angel of the
Lord set Habakkuk in his own place again immediately”
and the king of Babylon quickly fed Daniel's accusers to the seven hungry lions
(Daniel 14:39-42 or Bel and The Dragon 14:39-42). In life, we all reap what we
sow.
Perhaps no prophet taught more about angels than did Enoch who “was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). In one single chapter he names seven “holy angels” and even gives their duties to Yahweh; Uriel “over the world and Tartarus [or Hell],” Raphael “over the spirits of men,” Raguel “takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries,” Michael “over the best part of mankind and chaos,” Saraqael “over the spirits who sin,” Gabriel “over Paradise, the serpents and the Cherubim” and Remiel “over those who rise” (Book of Enoch 20:1-8) (5e).
The Wisdom of Solomon mentions God's love for the Israelites during their exodus by affirming; “Thou feddest thine own people with angels' food, and didst send them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content every man's delight, and agreeing to every taste” (Wisdom 16:20). An important thing to notice about manna is that it was able to sustain man so that God “might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Deuteronomy 8:3) (6f).
(Intention:)
Aside from showing the reality of angels and their supernatural acts, my intention with this series is to help other Christians fine-tune their ability to spot the false prophets among us. In today's apostasy there are plentiful imposters that deny the reality of cherubs and perhaps more importantly, demons and fallen angels like Lucifer. One can't call themselves "identity" if they can't even detect the enemy of the authentic Israel people. Some say such pretenders have good intentions but I feel their attacks on foundational truths are calculated.
It's essentially easy to spot a large amount of these deceitful Bible teachers, they usually ramble on about their own "contributions" to the Christian movement or pointlessly gab about nonsense while never really discussing the Word of God. The enemy is never content to be a "low man on the totem pole" so they will usually rise to higher positions that offer them added power over legitimate believers and greater control over what information is presented. Many become moderators on White Nationalist forums by buying the right to ban others.
The next and fifth part of this series will examine the seduction of Eve and the morning stars that were present in Eden, the garden of Yahweh. In addition, we'll look deeper into some phenomenal actions performed by angels during the Apolistic age like the one who freed Peter (and his missionaries) from prison and another that massacred Herod causing him to be “eaten of worms.” It's my prayer that this suite of sermons are a blessing to others and hope some will print them out for the benefit of newer Christians. War for Christ! Amen.
(+-alt-notes-+)
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(1a) To further illustrate
this point, John Calvin wrote; “The orthodox doctors of the Church have
correctly and wisely expounded, that the Word of God was the supreme angel,
who then began, as it were by anticipation, to perform the office of
Mediator. For though he were not clothed with flesh, yet he descended as in
an intermediate form, that he might have more familiar access to the
faithful. I am rather inclined, however, to agree with ancient writers, that
in those passages wherein it is stated that the angel of the Lord appeared
to Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, Christ was that angel” (John
Calvin's Christian Institutes, Pages 161 & 195 / 1599 AD). (2b) Those who still cling to the fictitious Catholick church should give heed! Historical anti-Semite and protestant reformer Martin Luther recorded this tremendous attack on the papacy; “Although the angels in heaven pray for us (as Christ Himself also does), as also do the saints on earth, and perhaps also in heaven, yet it does not follow thence that we should invoke and adore the angels and saints, and fast, hold festivals, celebrate Mass in their honor, make offerings, and establish churches, altars, divine worship, and in still other ways serve them. For this is idolatry, and such honor belongs alone to God” (Martin Luther's Smalcald Articles, Page 15 / 1537 AD). (3c) When dealing with this same topic of angel worship, John Calvin wrote down this foundational truth for all impending churches; “Even Paul appears to have had a severe contest with some who so exalted angels as to make them almost the superiors of Christ. Hence he so anxiously urges in his Epistle to the Colossians, (Colossians 1:16, 20) that Christ is not only superior to all angels, but that all the endowments which they possess are derived from him; thus warning us against forsaking him, by turning to those who are not sufficient for themselves, but must draw with us at a common fountain” (John Calvin's Christian Institutes, Page 199 / 1599 AD). (4d) The Bible also describes angels with wings that can fly, for example; “Above him [Yahweh] were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two wings they covered their feet and with two they were flying” (Isaiah 6:2). As stated in the third part of this series, Gabriel appears to Daniel having “the appearance of a man” (Daniel 8:15) but has the ability to “fly swiftly” (Daniel 9:21). One of the most frequently asked questions regarding this chain of sermons is whether or not angels have wings. Rest assured, this question will be answered in an upcoming segment. For now, read Stars and Trees In The Garden of Yahweh (2005). (5e) Scripture doesn't indicate exactly how many seraphim exist but there are a number of references that show there are scores of angels. For example, Psalm 68:17 tells us “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels.” Daniel 7:10 adds that “ten thousand times ten thousand” stand before God and Jesus asks His zealous apostle “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)? A legion can contain 4,500-6,000 a piece so the precise number is unable to be counted by man. More information in Trees and Stars In The Garden of Yahweh (2005) (6f) Be sure to download the free online book Our Fathers Ate Manna by Pastor Visser available only from Covenant People's Ministry. This 24 page e-book is also available in paperback form and provides Christians with an extensive overview of God’s food Laws as found in both the Old and New Testaments. Designed to be a handy field manual for the serious Christian, this volume goes one step further by proving Jesus Christ is God Himself who lovingly provided followers a set of guidelines. When Biblical food Laws are properly followed and applied Christians can achieve optimum health, blessings and immunity. More information in Our Fathers Ate Manna (2006). |
[ Date:
Sunday, June 10th, 2007 ]
(Last Page Update:
March 28, 2010)
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