Tag: Second coming of Christ

Are Angels the sons of God?

To examine this question, I have to first take this in a step-by-step process. In order to understand certain “hard” or “difficult” passages, I must take it one line at a time understanding that a verse-by-verse comparison must be accompanied by “context”.

By doing a scripture search using the phrase “sons of God” lets, see where it leads.

My first stop

(Gen 6:1)  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
(Gen 6:2)  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
(Gen 6:3)  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
(Gen 6:4)  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Now I’m going to put down my anchor for a moment. This passage is one of those “strange” sounding scriptures. It really stands out from the others in the chapter.

It reminds me of the time I first read Genesis chapter five.

“..and so and so begat so and so and he lived for a long time and he died.”

One generation after another generation, then out of nowhere you read this “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

What?

Whether you understand what just happened or not, the statement seems out of place. You want to look at it deeper. It’s the same with chapter six. So let me analyze this more. In chapter six You have the following characters:

  • sons of God
  • daughters of men
  • Noah
  • Noah’s three sons
  • others

But I have questions that the context may or may not answer.

Question:

  • Who are these “sons”? and why are they called “sons of God”?
  • If they are ordinary men, then why wouldn’t they be called “sons of men”? I mean the females aren’t called “daughters of God”. Again, I’m speaking as one who is just reading through the Old Testament. I haven’t gotten to the New Testament yet. Though I have not read the New Testament yet (bear with me for a few minutes) there are countless multitudes of OT saints who have not either. Wonder how they were able to understand these passages? (More to come).
  • Why isn’t Noah ever referred to as a son? God even calls him a “just” man and “perfect”.
  • Why aren’t Noah’s sons called God’s sons? They did marry daughters of men, right?

Now stop for a moment and contemplate what was just stated. No Man of God was ever called a son of God in the OT. Ever! Look through each book of the prophets. If God referred to them as a son, at all, it was “son of man”; Ps 8:4;Ezek 2:1,3,6;2:8;Dan 8:17.

And then we are told that Giants were born to these “daughters of men” after the “sons of God” came in unto them. How do I know that? Look at the verse closer:

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Isn’t it interesting that the Holy Spirit placed this information about “boy meets girl and boy and girl get married and have children” right in the MIDDLE of giants and men of renown? It’s as if the middle phrase is connecting the two.

Now I don’t know how big the giants were, mainly because I haven’t gotten to the verses about post-flood giants yet (if post-flood giants are the cursed sons of Ham, where did the pre-flood come from?), but I hear some folks say that they were big. It could be that everyone was bigger back then: They certainly lived a lot longer, so not out of the question. But the fact that giants are listed as such tells me that they were distinct from other “big men”, if indeed, people were taller back then.

It looks like I will have to “pull up” anchor and continue through the OT to try and find out who these “sons” are. As strange as the context of Genesis six seems, maybe there is a clearer answer. Next stop Job.

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 2:1  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

Now what makes these “sons of God” interesting is that they are presenting themselves before God along with Satan. Now Satan is a bad guy so the question I have is “Why would he be presenting “himself” to God along with these others”? The chapter 2:1 verse makes it clear that Satan is “presenting” himself. Can the “sons” see him? They don’t say anything to him if they do. We aren’t exactly told one way or the other. Can we assume that they can see him? The only way the “sons” could see him is if they too were spiritual beings.

Job 38:7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

I have a question for the older, more mature believers.

As a young Christian who is working his way through the bible, is it against scriptural interpretation to accept an explanation of a question I have, about a subject or character, from the same book?

 Let me ask it this way.

Is it ok to assume that anywhere I see the phrase “sons of God” in the book of Job I can use the definition given in the same book? If the context in chapter 2 is not perfectly clear about who these sons are then shouldn’t I use the meaning in chapter 38?

If I can then I have my answer!

There is no doubt that the “sons of God” in 38 are anything other than spiritual beings because in the context (I’ve been told by more mature folks that context is important and the context, to me, seems to be creation) God had just laid the foundation of the earth; verse 4, when the morning stars and sons of God shouted for joy. Man hadn’t even been created yet (especially if this was the initial pre adamic earth).

Now if I go with this interpretation then I think I have a foundation as to what these “sons of God” were doing when they were presenting themselves, along with Satan, before God. If they truly were angels, or morning stars.

Ok wait! Are angels called “morning stars” or “sons” elsewhere in the Old Testament? This is important because I don’t want to assume this important point.

Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 
Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 

If Lucifer was a son, then who was his father? There are only three options I can think of.

  • Man
  • Angel
  • Jesus/God

Lucifer was called “son of the morning”. How can the “morning” be a father? When I think of “morning” I think of watching sunrises over the eastern sky; the smell of ham and eggs on the stove, and enjoying coffee. I don’t think of “morning” being a person. But I do see, in the scripture, things like “Love”, and “Truth”, and “Life” being a person. Could “morning” be a person as well?

 I’m really trying to reason this out. Lucifer, before he fell, was called a son. Obviously, he isn’t called a son now, he “musta” lost his sonship and above this he was never, ever called a Son, with a capital “s”.

As a matter of fact only one person, that I’m aware of is called the Son. Now before moving into the NT what were the “sons of God” doing in Job when presenting themselves? It is totally conceivable that “angels” would have to present themselves on occasion to God. Even Satan had to do that.

(Psa 82:1)  A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
(Psa 82:2)  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
(Psa 82:3)  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
(Psa 82:4)  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
(Psa 82:5)  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
(Psa 82:6)  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
(Psa 82:7)  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
(Psa 82:8)  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Are angels or spiritual beings also called gods [little ‘g’]?

1Sa 28:13  And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

Is this one of those times, in Job, that the “sons of God” were presenting themselves? I believe so and God is making it clear that He was not pleased by their actions. They were in danger of judgment! Just as a father would tell his children to “straighten up!”, God in His love for his creation, is giving fair warning.

But the argument presented by others are that angels have nothing to do with “Deliver the poor and needy” or “do justice to the afflicted and needy”. Therefore, this can’t be spirits or angels. Does not the scripture call angels ministering spirits? Are not spirits taking part in judgment in our present evil age?

Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 
Dan 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. 11:1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

I can’t even contemplate how much the angels (Holy and Unholy) effect the earth and her inhabitants by their involvement. Even now this present world has been put in subjection to higher entities. [See Heb 2:5]

 What if they decide to disobey God and not fulfill their duty? It’s happened before. Or have all the angels that would rebel against God rebelled by now? Is there no future rebellion? What meaneth this verse?

Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth...

Is this version an historical event or is it not future? Is this not a future fulfillment of John 12?

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Now when we move into the New Testament, we see the “sons of God”. Actually, it is in the New Testament that we learn that Adam is called God’s son.

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. 

The context of chapter three is a list of fathers and their sons. It makes sense that God would be Adam’s father.

In the NT the term “son of God” always refers to men. But not just any man. Men that have experienced the new birth. A birth not made through human intervention or natural, earthly processes. A supernatural creation.

John 3:3-7; A new creature; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15.

Come to think of it, sort of like angels. Angels have no earthly origin. They were created without a mother: They, like Adam, and twice born men, have a heavenly Father but no mother.

Now the case against such an idea as this state that men have the “power” to become “sons of God” but not all born again believers are sons. That is partly true. Actually, it is fully true but some teachers don’t see the division that the scripture speaks so much about; 2 Tim 2:15

The moment you believe and are born again you are a “son of God”.

Gal4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Php2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
1Jn3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

In a sense we are all first-born sons, but many will sell their birth-right and forfeit their inheritance. Sonship is the same in regard to our future reward. We are born sons but there is a dual application because the scripture also makes it clear that there is a sonship that is conditional and future.

Mat5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Another way to try and grasp this concept would be that  the “first born inheritance” is ours to lose. As some teachers have rightly written about dual sonship, I won’t spend any more time on that other than to include verses for the benefit of the reader. Romans 8:14-19

I could go on about the duel meaning of being a son of God for the descendants of Adam but for me the evidence is clear that the term “son[s] of God” refers to that which is born of the Spirit. Whether angels or sons of Adam, it is a supernatural experience that can only happen by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Two Signs of a World in Apostasy

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

In His usual fashion our Lord Jesus makes such a profound revelation using few words. Yet volumes of commentaries by men have been written to extrapolate and expound on them.

Like Peter, we are faced with such a dire warning; Matt.26:34. But let us not brush it aside, and deny it, like Peter. Let us dive into the deep end of the water and plumb its depths.

IN, a prefix, L. in, is used in composition as a particle of negation, like the English un, of which it seems to be a dialectical orthography

EQ’UITY, n. [L. oequitas, from oequus, equal, even, level.]

1. Justice; right. In practice, equity is the impartial distribution of justice, or the doing that to another which the laws of God and man, and of reason, give him a right to claim. It is the treating of a person according to justice and reason.

The Lord shall judge the people with equity. Psa 98.

With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity. Isa 11.

 

Iniquity, therefore, is the sin of not being impartial in distributing justice. At its roots, it is injustice toward some and favoritism toward others.

Two signs of a world in apostasy and total rebellion are: injustice and the loss of natural affections among mankind. The latter being the result of the former. This will usher in the end of the age and the judgment of God. Our Lord is repeating what was issued by the prophet Isaiah seven centuries prior.

Isa 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

Isa 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Isa 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

“..Truth is fallen in the street, and there she may lie to be trampled upon by every foot of pride, and she has never a friend that will lend a hand to help her up; yea, truth fails in common conversation, and in dealings between man and man, so that one knows not whom to believe nor whom to trust.” M.Henry

 

The prophet gives us such a bleak picture of the state of mankind leading up to the appearing of the “Son of righteousness”. Truth was being trampled on by “religious” men; 1Samual 8:3, Jeremiah 6:13, Micah 3:9-11. Justice and judgment were only for the rich; while the poor had no one to intercede for them; Isaiah 3:14,15 ; Ezek 22:29. It was the “Me generation” of old. It is true that there is “nothing new under the sun”. It was a generation of entitlement. To put in modern terminology; It was a “dog eat dog” world.

The prophet lays out why the Lord God came down at such an appointed time. In the passages in Isaiah 59 we are given a glimpse of both the first coming of our Lord Jesus, and the consummation of the “age of grace”. It had been the prophetic style of the prophet; Isaiah 11:1-10. At his first coming we read of the people having no shepherd; Mark 6:34. Even the teachers and religious leaders cared for nothing but their own authority and were more concerned with losing that then tending to the needs of his people; John 11:47,48. There was no other solution to the problems facing man. In His concern for this people, he had to come down to defend and deliver those that were oppressed. He came to be the intercessor offering salvation.

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

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

The world at Christ’s first coming was very bleak.

The Jews had no Shepherd

Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Gentiles had no hope .

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Christ would have passed us by if not for his compassion.

The account of our Lord walking upon the water in Mark chapter six and Matthew chapter fourteen is a prophetic revelation of the current state of the world and the Savior’s intercession.

Mar 6:47-51 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

 

  • The toil of rowing is symbolic of man’s struggle in this life. The futility and hopelessness from cradle to grave
    • The disciples had no hope of gaining any distance against such odds: “the wind was contrary unto them” verse 48. Satan is the “prince of the power of the air”; Eph 2:2 
    • We are a lavished generation living in a time when every comfort imagined is available to indulge in. It is hard to imagine the hardship of men and women’s lives prior to our own, let alone at the time of Christ’s advent. Though, from the very beginning, man was destined to work, the hardship and toil of life was not God’s original design for man. This was a result of sin.

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The fourth watch of the night is a key to understanding God’s prophetic calendar.

  • We understand that 1000 years are represented by a day.
    • 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  • It is also referred to as a watch in the night
    • Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
    • The 12 hours of dark are divided into 4 watches; the fourth ending at sunrise

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

The darkness shows the spiritual state of the world: both Jew and Gentile.

All of mankind is exemplified in this account. Though the Jew had the Oracles of God, they had apostate from it in part by the religious leaders who had added to it to suit their own end.

Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

[For a more in depth study of the darkness, see the article:
How great is that darkness!]

Our Deliverer, though not affected by our storms, nonetheless, is touched by our infirmities.

“..and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them” verse 48

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

He first sees: verse 48. He then comes, assures the disciples, enters in fellowship, and calms the storm.

What the future holds for the world and its multitudes of lost people.

Just as it was at Christ’s first advent, the world will become darker, The winds of change, tribulation, and trials will blow harder, and men will continue to reject the light. Just as the disciples were afraid and thought that their salvation was just a ghost; Mark.6:49, the world will not comprehend nor understand that their salvation is nigh. They will even reject such hope and help; John 1:5. “darkness comprehended it not.”.

What can God’s people expect going forward.

We still have a Savior who is not affected by the storms; He is one who can speak peace to our troubled souls. He can also calm the storms of life. Jesus will do all that while condescending to our low estate.

Is Jesus in your boat? All mankind is on a journey called life in which their boat will one day reach that eternal shore. But for most of the world Jesus won’t be with them.

 

 

When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,-

Unknown waves before you roll;

At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,-

Though fear and conflict seize your soul:

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,

O how lonely death can be;

At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,

For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore-and finding it Heaven!

Of touching a hand-and finding it God’s!

Of breathing new air and finding it celestial!

Of waking up in glory-and finding it home!

 

Finally Home, By Don Wyrtzen and L. E. Singer

 

The sign of the Son of man in heaven

“..And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven..” Matt.24:30a

 

“Are the signs in the heavenly bodies to be regarded as literal? Yes. (a) For this very purpose they were created.”  Gen 1:14  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:

Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 64

 

We are next informed that “the sign of the Son of man shall appear in the heaven” What is this sign? Some have said that it means only ‘the Son of man the sign;’ but this were to make the sign of His appearing and His appearing (though they are stated distinctly) but one and the same thing.

Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 66

 

This author agrees with Mr. Govett that these are two distinctive things and that is why the Holy Spirit made them thus. It was upon a careful study of Rev. chapter six that it dawned on me what this sign might be.

The Spirit, through the apostle John, reveals that the consummation of this present age; and in particular the final years is summed up in 7 seals in God’s heavenly book. The sixth seal is particular and unique in that it has, what seems like upon first glance, the Son of God returning before the seventh seal. It is the seventh and last seal in which the seven trumpets of God are blown. Remember it is the last trump in which the Son of God returns to the earth in victorious fashion at Armageddon.

But it is the sixth seal where the people of the earth cry out to the rocks and mountains.

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

 

It is said that He is “sitting” on the throne when they see him. The Lord Jesus is said to be riding on a white horse along with his saints at the battle of Armageddon.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

There is surely a distinction between sitting and riding and that we should not assume it is the same. To do so would affect the literal interpretation of the scripture unless we are lead otherwise.

Could it be that the sign that our Lord speaks of in Matt 24 the signaling the beginning of final judgment upon earth? The Lord is seen by the peoples and tribes of the earth as preparing to rise up in judgment. The authority of the Son of God seen by the fact that He is seated on the throne of judgment.

 

Psa 82:1  A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Psa 82:2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Psa 82:3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Psa 82:4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psa 82:5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Psa 82:7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Psa 82:8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. 

The Lord is warning the inhabitants of the earth of the coming judgment. But has God done this in the past? Has he revealed himself before final judgment? Yes, most assuredly He has.

Exo 14:24  And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

Exo 14:25  And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 

One might argue that no one has seen the face of God and lived. My answer to them would be “correct”. For the Egyptians that saw His face died immediately after.

Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exo 14:26  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

Exo 14:27  And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Exo 14:28  And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.