THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGE In Revelation 12:7&9 we read And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 9- And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (If we look carefully here in verse 9, it says: And the great dragon was cast out, … and who is that? It says that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Now here the Word of God tells us that Satan deceiveth the whole world. Now we all know that God is a God of love, and He will warn the people like He has in the past. We go back to the Word of God, to just before the flood, when Noah warned the people of the destruction coming. We all know the result of the rebellious people that would not turn to God, and that they followed their own minds. Then later on in history we see the city of Nineveh. God sent Jonah to warn the city of Nineveh, and fortunately they repented and God spared that city.) Let us now turn to the book of Revelation 14:6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people, (Now we all know that angels are messengers. Before Jesus was born, an angel appeared unto Joseph and Mary giving messages concerning Jesus, and also before John the Baptist was born, an angel appeared unto his father and told him of the child that was to be born. Before Samson was born an angel appeared unto his parents and told them of the things concerning the child). In Revelation 14:6, please notice that it says, having the everlasting gospel to preach. It’s not an old gospel, it’s not a new gospel, but it is the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people. So friends I’m sure you will agree that this is a message for the whole world. Verse 7 says: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. please notice that is says here, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him;… (You see friends, if I had a flat, and you were staying in it, and I came and asked for the rent, obviously it would be because I’m not getting it. Now our Heavenly Father is asking, it says here, …, Fear God and give glory to him;… somebody else is getting the glory, and that would only be his enemy, Satan. Why? It says here for (means because) the hour of his judgment is come: Friends, is come, is present tense. It does not say, has come or will come, it says here very clearly, for the hour of his judgment is come: Right now we ask ourselves what must we do? It says here, …: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Let us go to Exodus 20:11: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,… (Is this not the same God that we are being referred to?) Let us go again to Rev. 14:7: … : and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Here in Exodus 20:11 it clearly says: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Yes friends, this is the Word of God, and it clearly tells us that the whole world is deceived. I know that some people say ‘Oh, yes, this is the old Jewish Sabbath day.’ Friends let us have a look at what the Word of God says, for it is the only truth that we have.) Let us read in Exodus 20:10: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:… (It does not say, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy Jew, it clearly says, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God). You see friends, the Jews never made this world, God made this earth, He made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. HE made them. Let us continue reading in Exodus 20:10: … : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (Now we see that the whole world today is deceived. Now if we look carefully, the Bible very clearly says that the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God. Which is the seventh day? Well friends, the whole world says that Sunday is the first day and the dictionary agrees. They also speak of Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They say that Jesus was crucified on Friday, as they say Good Friday, he was in the grave on Saturday, and he was resurrected on Sunday. Well they say he was resurrected on Sunday and they also say that Sunday is the first day of the week.) Let us go to : Mark 16:1,2,6,9: AND when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Note, the Sabbath was past, when they wanted to do that) 2- And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (Friends let us read verse 5 as well) : And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. (afraid) 6- And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Now it very clearly says in verse 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, … and in verse 6 the angel said he is risen. (So that is true, Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, which is as they say Sunday). In the above scriptures the fact may be slightly hidden, but it is very clearly stated in verse 9: Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. (Bearing the above in mind, we must remember that the Word of God clearly teaches, But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God. So we see that the world has been terribly deceived. You see friends, when the Word of God clearly states that the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God, and people say that that is the old Jewish sabbath, friends THAT is open rebellion against the God of heaven. That is arguing against the Word of God, which is the only truth we have in this world.) Let us now turn to: Revelation 14:8: And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Now notice, it is talking here of that great city Babylon. Now originally if we go back into the scriptures, just briefly after the flood, Nimrod rebelled against the God of heaven, and he said he is not going to worship a God he cannot see, he is going to worship a god that he can see. They built the city of Babylon and the Tower of Babel. Babel = Babylon. And he set up there sun worship. Now they worshipped, I would like to say this in Afrikaans, Hulle het the son aanbid op Sondag, en hulle het die maan aanbid op Maandag. (They worshipped the sun of Sunday and worshipped the moon on Monday) (Moon day) and now friends, we all know that the sun is a fire, and that fire worship is Devil worship. Friends, have you ever heard them say, ‘Hierdie man sny sy gras op the heilige Sondag’? Ja, op the heilige Sondag, the heilige SON – DAG. Die heilige dag van die SON. Dit is baie duidelik nie the heilige dag van God nie. ‘This man is cutting his grass on the holy Sunday’? Yes, on the holy Sunday, the holy SUN – DAY. The holy day of the SUN in the sky. This is obviously not the holy day of God. Yes friends, Satan has the whole world worshipping on his day, and it says that Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city Babylon. Now a brief look at Babylon. Babylon in history was, and we can go back to the scriptures for all these things. Babylon was overthrown by the Medes and the Persians, the high priests of Babylon fled to Pergamos. You see, Satan’s headquarters was in Babylon. But Satan moved his headquarters to Pergamos. The same sun worshipping priests that were in Babylon when Babylon was overthrown by the Medes and the Persians, fled to Pergamos). Now it is wonderful how our Heavenly Father knows everything. In Rev. 2:12 it says: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13- I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Yes friends you see, Satan moved his seat, his throne, his false religion to Pergamos. And our Heavenly Father says: I know that you are there where Satan dwelleth. Known in history later on Pergamos was overthrown by the Romans. Those same high priests that were in Pergamos, or shall I not say exactly the same high priests, but in history generally speaking, the same system of religion which was formed in Babylon, which moved to Pergamos, moved to Rome when Pergamos was overthrown by the Romans. Yes friends, that religion is still in Rome, it’s the Roman religion.) Now let us go to Rev 14:8, it says: And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (She and her. SHE made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of HER fornication. In the scriptures our Heavenly Father refers to His Church as a beautiful and comely woman. But there is also another woman, which is called the mother of harlots. Yes friends, a woman is a church, and when it talks of SHE made, (it is referring to a woman, a church) all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (her again is a woman). So this church in Babylon, this mother of harlots, which is sitting in Rome has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Now, wine, it is something fermented, like the Bible says, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. (false doctrine) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Galatians 5:9). Now, the false doctrine of Rome. All the nations are holding fast to this doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, which is nothing but sun worship.) Now we’ll take another one or two points, for example: CHRISTMAS The 25 December? They say that it is the birth of our LORD, but the Bible very clearly says that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the shepherds were sitting and watching their sheep at night. Now if we go back and have a look, in December it snows in old Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. And you know friends, I don’t know very much about farming, but as far as I know, no shepherd will have his sheep out in the snow. Well, the 25th of December is not the birthday of our dear LORD JESUS, and you see, in the Northern hemisphere, don’t forget, they were worshipping the sun. And don’t forget this was in the Northern hemisphere, and towards the 24th of December the days started getting shorter, and they were worshipping the sun, and they said, ‘Oh, our god is dying, because the days are getting shorter.’ But after the 24th of December, the days start getting longer, and it was finally fixed that the 25th of December, they called it Christmas, the very word explains itself, CHRIST – MASS in Afrikaans KERSFEES, die fees van die kerse. (The feast of the candles). And we all know that fire worship is Devil worship. Now, if we go back to Babylon, they were worshipping the sun, and Nimrod’s wife Simirymus was expecting an illegitimate child, and she was only a commoner, she had no royalty in her, and to secure her position in the Church in Babylon. She was expecting this illegitimate child, and she said, ‘This child, this boy, this son, he is Tammuz, Tammuz the sun god.’ And Nimrod is now up there in the sun. Nevertheless, the 25th of December, when the heathen came into the Church, they said, ‘No man, you know we can’t join with you people, and we know that the Bible says, after the death of our LORD, men will strive for position.’ And they said, ‘Man, if we can get these people in, you know there are a lot of heathen, and if we can get them into the Church, man we will make a good business.’ So, they lowered the standard of Christianity. Remembering what the heathen said, ‘Well, we cant’ come and worship with you people, because our god has a birthday.’ They said. ‘That’s all right, we won’t call it the birthday of the s u n in the sky, we’ll call it the birthday of the S o n of God.’ Also as things happened, there are many, many things that have been handed down from Paganism and they have tagged on Christian names to make it plausible to the heathen). We read here in Ezekiel 8:12: Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. (now) (God refers to His Church as Israel, He refers to His Church as His holy mountain, Mount Zion, beautiful and comely woman, daughter of Zion, and so when you see Israel I’m sure you will understand that God is referring to His people. You will notice that the verse, which we have just read, is referring to now. Every man in the chambers of his own imagery (in otherwords in their own mind), for they say, the LORD seeth not, the LORD hath forsaken the earth. THAT’S NOW FRIENDS.) EZEKIEL 8:13 says: He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. 14- Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. (It says here, Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women (women are Churches again) weeping for Tammuz.) And as we go on it says: 15- Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. (Our Heavenly Father says, turn around again, I want to show you something even worse that they do.) 16- And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, …(Friends between the PORCH AND THE ALTAR. What is between the porch and the altar? The porch is where you come in, and the altar is where they preach from. Yes friends, right in the congregation.) Let us continue reading in verse 16, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. (Yes friends, in the house of the LORD, they worship the sun toward the east. Now these are things that are done through deception. Satan would never put his name upon a Church. I think everybody would run away, but when he decides to join them and preach the Word of God, which he does), because the Word of God clearly says in: 2 Cor. 11:13&14: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14- And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15- Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (So we see here, that Satan’s ministers are preaching righteousness, and where would you expect to find ministers preaching? Obviously behind a pulpit.) Let us go back to Isaiah 14:12, it says here: How art thou fallen from heaven, 7O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Now, it says here, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,… I do not know if your Bible has a reference column, it has a number 7 there, and in the reference column it says, or O Day Star. Now what is the Day Star? I know many people say that the Day Star is Venus, but friends, Venus is not a star. A star has it’s own light. Venus is a planet; it reflects the light of the sun. So which is the Day Star? If you go out in the day and you look up, what star do you see? Yes the sun is a star, planets are planets and stars are stars. The sun is a star. Well it says here, How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,… In otherwords, O Day Star. You see, Satan set his worship up as sun worship.) It says here in verse 13: For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14- I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Yes friends, Satan said he would be like the most High. If he is going to be like the most High, God has a day, then he will have a day, God has a Church, then he will have a church. Worst still, he said he will sit in the mount of the congregation. In otherwords he will sit in God’s Holy Mountain. (God’s Church). 2 THESS. 2:3&4: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4- Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (God has a baptism, then he will have a baptism, He said he will be like the most High. Well friends, this is just touching here and there on a few instances. The Christmas tree for example, it’s also in the Bible, and many other things. If you take for example, Let us have a quick look at the: CHRISTMAS TREE. JER. 10:1&2: HEAR ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2- Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. (What are the signs of heaven?) because it says, for the heathen are dismayed at them. We go back to the creation in GENESIS 1:14 it says: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: (Yes, they divide the day from the night, the sun and the moon. They are for signs and for seasons. So the signs of heaven are the sun and the moon.) And the Bible says: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; (in otherwords, the sun and the moon.) It says for the heathen are dismayed at them. (What do they do?) It says in JER. 10:3: For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4- They deck it with silver and with gold; (Friends have you ever seen those trees? They deck it, they decorate it, and it’s always with silver and with gold.) ; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (I do not know if you have noticed they even put a star on top, and as we know a star is a sun) (And it goes on to explain that:) 5- They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: …(and so it carries on. Friends have you ever seen that tree? It says that they cut a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it will silver and with gold. Yes friends, our Father warns us that these are the ways of the heathen, and we must not do these things, because these are the things that the heathen do, that worship the sun and the moon and the stars). Then we come for example to: EASTER: Easter, they talk about Good Friday. Friends it’s strange, it’s always Friday, and you know, the other strange thing about it is, it is never the same date. The funny thing is, that Tammuz was the sun god. The word Easter comes from Ishta, the goddess of fertility. Have you ever wondered what rabbits and eggs have to do with the crucifixion of our dear Lord Jesus? Well you see, Tammuz was the sun god and Ishta was the goddess of fertility. And we all know how rabbits breed, and eggs are chickens and so on, and this is where it comes from. It comes right back from Babylon. They worshipped the sun. You see, Tammuz was the sun god and Ishta was the moon goddess, and have you ever heard them talk of the old queen of heaven? When the moon comes out from behind the clouds, they say ‘ O there goes the old queen of heaven.’ They use to refer to the moon as the queen of heaven.) In JER. 7:17 it says: Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18- The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. 19- Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? (Yes it says here that they were making cakes to the queen of heaven. Yes friends, they still make those cakes, they call them HOT CROSS BUNS. They make these cakes to the queen of heaven, and our Heavenly Father is calling His people out of Babylon. You see, some people think that Babylon is going to be rebuilt and God’s people are going back into Babylon, and then he will call them out of Babylon again) The word of God clearly says in: ISAIAH 13:19&20: And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20- It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. (Yes friends, just like Sunday has been handed down to us by Paganism, and worst still it is branded by the actual name of the sun god, it is the actual day of sun worship. (SATAN WORSHIP). Now our Heavenly Father is asking us to choose between the Seventh Day Sabbath of the Lord our God, which shows allegiance to the mighty creator of this earth, because there is only one true God, and He is the creator of Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And He is the only God that rested on the Seventh Day. And He blessed and hallowed it. It is actually a memorial of His creation, and by showing our allegiance to the mighty, sovereign of this universe, by taking hold of His Seventh Day Sabbath; we show our allegiance to the mighty God of Heaven. And our Father is asking us to come out of Babylon. By taking hold of the first day, SUNDAY, the day of the sun, we are showing our allegiance to the enemy of our Heavenly Father). In REVELATION 14:9 it says: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10- The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Have you ever heard the worldly saying: “There is no rest for the wicked”?) (Yes friends there is a very in depth study here that we can go into, this beast is referring to the false church and her doctrine, and the mark of this beast, the mark of her, this church, her authority is the first day SUNDAY which has been handed down all the way from Babylon and our Father is saying in REVELATION 14:8:) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Babylon is fallen, is fallen. Our Heavenly Father is calling us out of Babylon. And I know it sounds impossible perhaps, and you might not understand, or you might not even believe me at this stage, but friends, America, I don’t claim to be a prophet or anybody special, but I would like to tell you that America is going to force Sunday as an holy day. When this happens friends, you will find in the Word of God clearly stated, the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Soon after America forces this, the rest of the world will follow suet, enforcing Sunday as an holy day. And after this, there will be a death decree that will go out against those who refuse to accept Sunday as an holy day, the holy day of the sun, and who stand by the Word of God as the only test of doctrine, and if it is not written in the scriptures and it cannot stand the searching light of the scriptures, friends, be sure it is the only test that we have for any doctrine.) The Bible says in PSALM 146:3:4: Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4- His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. (Now we know that our Heavenly Father is coming for the saints, therefore let us find out who the saints are, let us see who are those that are patiently waiting for Him.) Let us read here in : REV. 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Yes friends, the saints of God keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And the faith that Jesus had, was the Bible, and the Bible only). THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGE CONTINUES: KNEELING (RESPECT FOR GOD) HOW TO WORSHIP GOD (It is not good enough showing people to worship God on the seventh day, in His holy sanctuary, if we do not show them how to worship Him in that time and place.) Let us now turn to REV 14:6&7: And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7- Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Please notice here that God is asking here for three things: He is asking us it says, Fear God, (that’s one), and give glory to Him; (that’s two) for the hour of His judgment is come. And the third one says: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Let us now turn to REV 22 and see if we can pick up some idea of worship here. REV. 22:8&9 says: And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9- Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (Please notice, it says here in verse 8, …, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. And in verse 9 it says, Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: … (And at the bottom of verse 9 it says,) worship God. (In otherwords do not fall down and worship the angel, or anybody else, Worship God). Let us turn to PSALM 95:6&7: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 7- For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8- Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (So here we see it says: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.) PHILIPPIANS 2:8-10: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9- Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10- That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Notice: not on one knee, on both knees) Let us now turn briefly to: REV. 4:10: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11- Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Please notice, before they spoke to God, it says, The four and twenty elders fall down before him. (It says that in verse 10.) In verse 11 it says: Thou art worthy, O Lord, … Note: Before they spoke to God, they fell down to worship). Then in REV. 5:14 it says: And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. REV. 7:11 says: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, And in REV. 22:9 we see the angel says worship God. Obviously the right thing would be to look to Jesus our perfect example. Let us have a look at: MATTHEW 26:36: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 39- And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, … (please notice here that before Jesus spoke to His Father, He was on His face. It says, and he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt). Let us see one of the temptations that Jesus had to meet in the wilderness, and we will notice that God’s people today are being tempted with the same temptation. Remembering that God’s people are now in the wilderness of sin on their way to the heavenly Canaan. Let us see in: MATTHEW 4: 8-10: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9- And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10- Then saith Jesus unto him. Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (It would appear that Satan is busy with the same temptation when God’s people are required to fall down and worship God). Now we all know the story of Nebuchadnezzar, Let us start here in DANIEL 3:1 It says: 1- NEBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2- Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3- Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4- Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5- That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: (Notice it was required of them to fall down and worship.) 6- And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (please notice as we go through these scriptures, every time it talks about falling down and worship.) 7- Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 8- Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9- They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10- Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11- And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 12- There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Notice, they serve not, it says: thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up). 13- Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14- Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15- Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, (notice, it is referring to worship, everytime here about falling down.) ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. (Please notice that they were not careful to answer the king in this matter, because they were standing for the TRUTH OF GOD, there was no compromise, it says very clearly: …O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.) 17- If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18- But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Please notice that these people here spoke with boldness, and they were not careful in answering the king in this matter, because it pertained to the worship of God. That is why they never withdrew or compromised in any way. We all know what finally happened is they were thrown into the fire, the three of them.) 23- And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24- Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25- He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Please notice here, that when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the burning fiery furnace, the Son of God – JESUS, was with them, and Jesus had every right to be with them, because they were standing for the truth of God, and they never at any stage backed down, not even for the king, because they worshipped the God of the Universe. Friends, you know, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you know, they were commandment keepers, and I believe they had the Law of God written in their foreheads, that they sin not against Him. Let us see what commandment they were holding fast to here.) Let us go to: EXODUS 20:4&5: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5- Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: (WHY?) for (means because) I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6- And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Please notice here, it says: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: You see God reserves this respect for Himself, this worship. Because it says here: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, … In otherwords, Thou shalt bow down thyself to Me and worship Me. In otherwords, to God and worship God. That is why God is asking for the glory. Now friends, you know if somebody had to put a golden image up in God’s house where we worship, I don’t think one of the people there would fall down and worship that golden image. But you know dear friends, when you really come to think about it, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, reserved that worship for God. That respect, and that is why they would not bow down to the golden image. Now friends, you know, if the folk will not bow down and worship the golden image, but on the other hand, they refuse to give God that respect, to bow down and worship Him, then for all intense and purpose they can just as well bow down and worship the golden image. So, it doesn’t help, if they will not worship the golden image if you brought it into the Church, but if they refuse to give this glory to God. And God is asking for the glory. It says: Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. There has been one or two scriptures that have been used to try to get God’s people not to show respect to Him, and not to worship Him, in the true way in which our Heavenly Father has asked for. The one scripture that is used is: 1 KINGS 8:22&23: 22- And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23- And he said, LORD God of Israel, … (They say: You see, you can stand and pray. But friends, let us have a very good look, because the Word of God clearly tells us in): Let us have a look at: 1 KINGS 8: 54: 54- And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. (Please notice, it says here): And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication… (He had finished praying friends, unto the Lord). he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees… (In otherwords, while he was praying, he was on his knees. But now I want you to notice he speaks to the people). In 1 KINGS 8:55-58 it says: 55- And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56- Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57- The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58- That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. (Friends, please notice, he was not speaking to God, he was now speaking to the people of Israel. So we see there are, well, we have heard of different types of prayer. Some talk about an invocation, and some speak of a convocation, and some speak of in Afrikaans, ‘n Hoofgebed and ‘n Skietgebed and a main prayer, and a short prayer, and ‘n Slotgebed. But you know dear friends; there are only two things. The one is a PRAYER, and the other is a BLESSING. Now let us see what is the difference between a prayer and a blessing. Because you know, we should know these things, because we will have to give a reasonable explanation from the scriptures for our belief. And you know dear friends, I think this is quite a reasonable explanation that we’ve been through. Let us have a look at what the difference is between a prayer and a blessing.) Now we go here to: NUMBERS 6: 23-27: (Our Heavenly Father will show us what a blessing is). 23- Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, (Please notice, it’s not speaking to God, he is now speaking to men, and when man speaks to man, he does not have to get on his knees.) Now it says here: Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise shall ye bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, (You see friends, we don’t even have to close our eyes, because we are speaking unto men). 24- The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: (Please notice, our Heavenly Father is very precise in pointing out who we are speaking to, it says: Thee everytime. It’s talking to people). 25- The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: (Friends we can’t miss it, it is very obvious who we are speaking to). 26- The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27- And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (What is His name? His name is the Lord). The LORD bless thee, and keep thee The LORD make his face shine upon thee…. The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,…. The LORD everytime. And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. Please notice, that every word is spoken to MAN here, and that is why we also read in: 1 KINGS 8: 54&55: 54- And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven. 55- And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,… (Now that we have seen from the Word of God that Solomon stood and prayed, and after finishing the prayer he got up off his knees, OUR Father is showing us here that when a man stands praying, he stands on his knees.) Here is the other scripture that is used to try and get God’s people not to worship Him as God requires: For example: (Bearing in mind the example of Solomon standing and praying, standing on his knees). MARK 11:25: 25- And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Is it not wonderful how the Word of God explains itself?) Dear friends, we trust that this study has been a blessing unto you, and we thank you for your time and your patience, and fare ye well For further info. or studies please phone: Errol Cell: 082 765 9498
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 09:05:03 +0000