Who Are The Sons Of God?

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

Who are the sons of God? There are two groups of Christians who have different views with regards to who the sons of God are mentioned in Genesis chapter Six? Some Christians believe that they are fallen Angels. Where as, another group of Christians believe they are human beings from the faithful line of Seth. So which viewpoint is correct?

In this article, I will give my reason, from Scripture, why I believe that the sons of God in Genesis chapter Six are faithful human beings from the line of Seth.

Fallen Angels

In the book of Job, the holy Angels in Heaven are called the "sons of God" (Job 1:6 & Job 2:1). This, along with the reference to the phrase the "sons of God" (Genesis 6:1), are two Old Testament quotations to this term. It is on this basis that some Christians believe that Moses is referring to fallen Angels (Job 1:6 & 2:1). The Genesis account records how the sons of God looked upon the daughters of men lustfully and fell for them. People who hold the view that Angels married women believe that a super-hybrid race of beings was created in this interaction. And it is these Creatures that God sent down into Tartarus. 

The Line Of Seth

The other view is that there were faithful men of the line of Seth who fell for ungodly women. These men were truned away from serving the Lord to worshiping other deities. - We have many references to human beings being called "sons of God." These Scriptures (Romans 8:14,19; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2) all call human beings sons of God.

The Book Of Enoch

There is a book called Enoch that dates a 100BC with some fragments dating to 200-300BC. This book gives an account of Angels marrying women. But what we must remember as Christians is that this book is not canonical and is therefore not a part of divinely inspired Scripture.

We have to put the Bible first in all matters of faith. 

Angels Or Humans

As we have seen, the Bible calls both Angels (Job 1:6 & 2:1) and humans (Romans 8:14,19; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2 sons of God.

So which is correct?

Jesus' Own Words

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is refuting the Sadducess with regards to marriage in the resurrection. The Sadducess were a group of Jews who didn't believe in either the resurrection of the dead or Angels. They tried to tempt Jesus by giving him an account of a woman who's husband had died, then after his death, she married his Seven brothers. They posed the question to Jesus asking him who's wife she would be in the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33). Jesus said, "In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven (Matthew 22:30 KJV). In other words, Angels don't marry and reproduce - so in the future resurrection of the dead, neither will human beings.

Conclusion

So, as we can see from Scripture (Jesus' own words) Angels don't marry. So they, the sons of God mentioned in Genesis Six are men.

The Ruler Of The Air

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

This post is not to glorify Satan in anyway whatsoever, but to show from Scripture that Satan is the evil ruler of this present world (age/system). 

Kingdoms Of The World

In two of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew and Luke), we see Satan trying to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ (Chapter Four). In this temptation, Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of this world if he will bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-10). If these kingdoms were not Satan's to give, then how could he offer them to Jesus?

After Jesus' ascension into Heaven (when he receives all power and authority), we read in the book of Revelation that the Dragon (Satan) "gave power unto the beast" (Revelation 13:4). This beast has ten horns on it's heads (Revelation 13:1). These horns are ten kings that rise up (Revelation 17:12). As we know, kings have to have kingdoms to rule over. So these horns are kings who reign over kingdoms. 

Their (The Beasts And Kingdoms) Ruler

The Apostle Paul in his Second letter to the Corinthians calls Satan the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), stating that Satan is the present ruler of this world (age).

In another letter, the Apostle Paul calls Satan "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). The Greek reads "the ruler of the power of the air."

The Apostle John who wrote the book of Revelation, says that "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19). The Greek word for wickedness can also be translated as "the evil one" (NKJV).

Jesus himself calls Satan the "prince of the world" (John 14:30), clearly stating that Satan is the ruler (prince) of the world (order).

As we can see from the above Scriptures, Satan is the "god" and "ruler/prince" of this present wolrd (fallen age/order).

The Sovereign Lord

I would like to say that the absolute ruler of the Heavens and the Earth is the only true God, Jehovah. It is he alone that is Universal Sovereign and Supreme Ruler of all things. 

Notes

The first beast mentioned in Revelation 13 is the combining of the four major kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome) that Satan uses to attack Israel.

Scriptures

All Bible quotes taken from the AV/KJV Bible except for 1 John 5:19 where both the AV/KJV and NKJV are referenced. 

An Antichrist (2 John 1:7)

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

In this brief article, I will explain who the 'antichrists' of the Apostle John's Day were. 

Scripture

The Bible reads, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7).

Text

In the above Scripture ( 2 John 1:7), John mentions that there were "many deceivers" in the world. These false teachers went out into the world teaching false doctrines. The false doctrine that they were teaching was that Christ had not come in the flesh. 

One of the core Christian tenets is the belief that Jesus Christ came in the flesh (born of a virgin) and lived a human life. There was a group of people called the Gnostics who believed that flesh is evil. There was also another group of people called the Docetists who taught that Jesus appeared as a mere human. These two groups of people denied the literal physical body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The belief that Jesus was human (flesh) is equally important as the Doctrine of the Trinity or the belief of being saved by grace.

Conclusion

As we can see, John makes it clear that to be a TRUE believer of Jesus, you have to believe that he had (and has) a literal physical human body.

Notes

The Authorised (King James) Bible.

Key Biblical Words In Eschatology And Prophecy

 A.C.PIke

Introduction

In this brief article, I am going to mention and explain some key terminologies to help us understand the meaning of eschatology and Prophecy.

Terminology

The Seven churches (Revelation 1-3) are the seven locations where Christians are gathered for worship and fellowship. 

The seven bowls, seals, and trumpets are God's jugements. 

The Great Red Dragon, the original Serpent, the prince of the air, the god of this system, Belial, Satan the Dragon, is a fallen Angel.

A third of the stars that fell from Heaven are Demons.

Michael is the Archangel or Chief Angel.

Angels (Messengers) are spirit beings who serve and worship God.

The woman who flees is 'true' Israel - God's people.

The Synagogue of Satan are Jews who have rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

The Head of gold/The Lion with Eagle's wings is Babylon.

The Arms of silver/The Bear/The Two Horned Ram is the Medo-Persians.

The body of brass/bronze/ The Leopard/ The Ram is Greece.

The Little Horn is Antiochus VI.

The King of the North and the King of the South are Egypt and Syria, respectively. 

The Legs of Iron/The Terrible Beast/The Beast from the Sea is Rome.

The Ten Heads/Ten Horns/Ten Crowns are the Pagan nations that later become the European kingdoms.

The Little Horn is the Papacy.

The Great City is Rome. This is the geographical location of Imperial and Papal Rome. 

The Beast represents a Kingdom, the Woman represents a False Religion, and the Merchants represent Traders.

The False Prophets is a false Religious System (apostate Christians).

The sheep are believers (one fold of Jews and Gentiles) coming together to worship God.

The Goats are the unbelievers. 

The Wheat are the true believers, the Tares are false Christians, and the Field is the world.

Conclusion

As we can see, knowing the above terms helps us to understand eschatology and prophecy more clearly.

Addition

I am mentioning these terms because, God willing, I hope to do an in-depth article about Eschatology and biblical prophecy. 

Notes

More to be added along with Scriptural References. 

Six Books That All Christians Should Read

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

Below is a list of books that all Christians (especially Protestant and Reformed ones) should read. 

Some of these books might be too advanced for a new Christian. So they are generally recommended for someone who is a little bit more mature in the faith. Whereas other books are essential to a new Christian to help them build their knowledge of the truth and equip them in their walk with the Lord.

The Recommended Books

One ) The Holiness Of God 

By John Charles Ryle.

Two) The Sovereignty Of God 

By Arthur Pink

Three) The Great Awakening 

By Charles Hodge

Four) The Bondage Of The Will 

By Martin Luther

Five) Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God 

By Jonathan Edwards

Six) The Mortification Of Sin 

By John Owen

Conclusion

All of these books are a blessing to the people who read them. But most importantly, Christians need to read their Bible. 

Note

I am hoping to add (in the future) a small view of these books and some information along with a brief biography of their authors. 

The Field Is The..........?

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

This text of Scripture is often misunderstood for various reasons. I have seen (and read) Christians who say that the wheat represents true Christians, the tare represents false Christians, and the field represents the world. They then use this Scripture to teach that we should tolerate false Christians and their teachings with-in the Church? But is this true? In this article, I will take a brief look at this Scripture, and its correct meaning. 

Scriptural Texts

"The kingdom of God is likened unto a man who sowed good seed into his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir didst thou not sow good seed in the field? |From whence then has it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Whilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay lest while we gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers , Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to throw them: but gather the wheat into my barn" (Matthew 13:24-30). 

It's Meaning

In verses 37- 41  Jesus explains the meaning of this parable. The Sower who sows the field is Jesus (v 37). The field is the world (v 38). Christians are the good seed and non-Christians are the tares (v 38). Our enemy is the Devil who sows the tares (v 39). The harvest is at the end of the world, and the Angels are the reapers (v 39). In the end times, these tares will be gathered and burnt in the fire (v 40). It is Jesus who sends his Angels out at the end of the world (age) to "gather out of his Kingdom all that offend (tares)" (v 41)*. These tares will be thrown into a furnace (v 42), and the righteous will shine in the Kingdom (v 43).

The people slept, so the enemy came along and sowed tares among the wheat. This happens when complacent Christians fall asleep spiritually and do not have the full armour of God on. So the Devil comes along and brings false Christians and their teachings into the world to lead people astray. 

Jesus doesn't gather these tares out of the Kingdom straight away for fear that the wheat may also be pulled up! So he lets them both grow together until the end of the world. He does this because we need true Christians in the world to preach the Gospel message to mankind so that they can be saved.

Conclusion

As we can see, the field is not the Church, it is the world. This Scripture has nothing to do with true Christians tolerating false Christians and their practices in their Church. It is about false Christians living in the world among true Christians, - and that as true Christians, we must avoid false Christians and their doctrines and practices. 

Notes

*The gathering of all who offend and removing them from God's Kingdom refutes the beliefs that the righteous will be removed from the earth and the unrighteous will remain. 

Jesus uses two different words for 'world.' In verse thirty eight he uses the word 'kosmos' which means "order" to denote the entire world. In verse Thirty Nine he uses the word 'age' to denote the present wicked system that will pass away.

Reference

AV/KJV Bible

Colossians 2:16 Feast Days

 A.C.Pike

Introduction

This is a Scripture that is often used by Christians to justify the celebration of Roman Catholic Religious Days such as Christmas, Easter, and Lent, and secular Days like New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. But is this Scripture really about this? In this article, we will see that Colossians 2:16 has nothing to do with non-biblical secular or so-called religious Days. 

Colossians 2:16 And It's Meaning

This Scripture reads, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (AV/KJV).

The Apostle Paul was writing to Christians in the Church at Colossae. In the area of Colossae, there were both Jews and Gentiles (Romans and Greeks) who were living and working there. The Christian Church had both Jewish and Gentile believers attending their services and fellowshiping together. Also, there were Jews who still practiced the Mosaic Law and Gentiles who believed in and worshipped the Greco-Roman deities that lived in the City. So a mixture of beliefs and practices was present in Colossae.

This Church had become heavily influenced by Jewish thoughts and beliefs. This is why Paul told the Church that God had blotted out the ordinances that were against us (v14). Jesus' death on the cross fulfilled the Ceremonial Laws and types and shadows in the Old Testament. It ended the Judicial Penalties for sins and transgressions that were committed under the Nation of Israel. But most of all, it forgave us ALL (both Jews and Gentiles) of our sins. 

We no longer have to observe the national Feast Days of Israel. We no longer have to eat the Passover Lamb, or divide the clean and the unclean foods. These are not legally binding on a Christian. 

The Jews in the first Century were trying to make Christians feel obligated to observe the Ceremonial and Festive Days of the Jews.

This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about.

Conclusion

As Christians, we are not under Ceremonial requirements or Judicial penalties of the Law. Also, they are no longer binding on the Jews.

Notes

The Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible.